BEFORE THE SCANDAL, BOOK 2 THE NOTORIOUS GENTLEMAN TRIOLOGY
SUZANNE ENOCH
ISBN: 978-0-06-145674-9
July 29, 2008
Avon Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street New York, New York 10022
Mass Market Paperback
$6.99/$7.99
384 pages
Historical
Rating: 4 cups

Colonel Phineas Bromley has never been known for being trustworthy. He went off to war because he could not stand to be at home anymore nor the person he was becoming. Ten years have passed and a letter from his sister makes him want to go home again. He is not sure what he will find nor what he will have to deal with. But he just may become the man he has tried to be for so long.

Alyse Donnelly has always dreamed of her best friend Phin and when he went off to war, so went her life. Things just fell apart and now she is living at the mercy of her cousin and her aunt. It is not how she would wish things would be but there are no other prospects because of something she did in her past. Now with Phin coming back, she wants to dream of what life could be but who knows how long Phin will stay this time. It is not worth a broken heart no matter what her heart wants.

Receiving a letter from his sister makes Phineas rush home. It is a shock to find that the letter is not true but something is going on. He must find out because whatever it is certainly is not helping his brother’s condition. Knowing he will never get the answers he needs coming in as the prodigal brother, he must assume the role of the highwayman. Having to wear a mask keeps his identity a secret yet may just get him the girl he always wanted with too much at stake. Phin knows he must keep the focus on himself so that nothing happens to his family. If it all goes wrong, he wants the blame to fall on his shoulders. He hopes that nothing will, but only time will tell.

Phineas Bromley may not be a perfect gentleman but I could not help becoming infatuated with him. I could understand the struggle Alyse was going through because their bond became so strong. Ms. Enoch sure knows how to write not only strong male characters but also female characters that are very easy to relate to. This is one author that will not disappoint you at all. A romance that will sweep you off your feet is just how this one was for me and I could not wait to find out if Phineas and Alyse ended up together and the truth came out for whomever was behind all the schemes!

Krista
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
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