BEFORE THE SCANDAL – Suzanne Enoch
The Notorious Gentlemen, Book 2
Avon Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-145674-9
July 2008
Historical Romance

Quence Park Estate, England – Early 1800's

Lieutenant Colonel Phineas Bromley is returning to his family estate after ten years fighting Bonaparte all over the continent. All those years of war, fighting, injuries, withstanding conditions that no one should have to endure; but none of it matters after the accident he caused that hurt and crippled his brother William. A letter from his younger sister Beth says William is gravely ill and begs Phin to come home. But when he arrives home, his sister Beth is happy to see him, and William, well, he is the picture of health, as much as can be expected, and appears to still hate Phin for what happened when he was seventeen. But gradually Phin sees all the signs that Quence Park is having trouble, and before long the estate might become bankrupt. What is going on, and who is behind all the "accidents" that are happening to his beloved house?

Before the scandal that befell Alyse Donnelly years ago, her life was fun and exciting, full of the love from her parents. But an unfortunate liaison with a man who jilted her in the middle of a party, then the deaths of her parents, and suddenly Alyse is the companion to her Aunt Ernesta at her old house. Her aunt now lives in Alyse's old bedroom, and Alyse has her old maid's room. But she is saving her money pound by pound and hopes to leave someday. That is, until the night Phin Bromley returns, and she remembers the way she adored him at seventeen and how he left her and his whole family to never return. But now Phin actually talks to her, and he is no longer the young man she knew but a mature, battle-hardened soldier who really doesn't know his rightful place in his family.

When Phin and Alyse meet again, they are drawn together because of their past history, and also by the fact they are both outsiders in society and among their families. But troubles and mysterious happenings on Quence property cause Phin to become "The Gentleman," a French highwayman known around the area years ago. He has a second life, and despite all the "accidents" that are happening, his brother William refuses to let Phin know or help with everything that is going on. So, will Alyse learn of "The Gentleman"? Will Phin solve the puzzle of the accidents, and will their attraction for each other help or hurt their situations? Only Phin and Alyse can save their own lives and perhaps start new lives together.

Once again Suzanne Enoch has brought England and its society into full view as we learn the story of Alyse and her descent from society's darling to living on the grace and favor of her cousin and her aunt. Little more than a servant, Alyse has to struggle mightily with keeping her mouth closed, and that surely has to be a hard job. And Phin's struggle with the ruin he caused the family ten years ago still eats away at him. From the whole English countryside society aura to the mystery that surrounds Phin's estate, Ms. Enoch has written a masterful novel that draws you into Phin's and Alyse's stories and how they each must confront their situations.

Phin has two other friends who ride to join him to have a part in getting to the bottom of Phin's troubles: Sullivan Waring, and Lord Bramwell Lowry Johns, fast friends from fighting Bonaparte, they are ready to help at a moments notice. Aunt Ernesta keeps Alyse busy doing anything she can to show her who's in charge of her life. Richard is Alyse's cousin and heir to her father's estate where she now lives. And Richard's friends, Smythe and Ellerby, seem to be knee deep in everything that goes on.

BEFORE THE SCANDAL brings together the best of the English novel: a damsel whose birthright was taken from her, a brave soldier back from the war to save his family, and his rambunctious friends who will do anything to help a mate. The Notorious Gentlemen series started with Sullivan's story, and Lord Bramwell's story is sure to have even more emotion behind it. The story of these three (formerly) notorious gentlemen who meet the women who will change their lives around is sure to enthrall everyone who enjoys historical romances this month and in the months to come.

Carolyn Crisher