Review: A Scandalous Arrangement
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 9, 2011
4-1/2 starsI initially overlooked this story because of the product description--it sounded like this story was going to be all about the arrogant nobleman who blackmails the common lady to service him in exchange for keeping her secrets. When positive reviews for this story started popping up, none of which even alluded to this twisted arrangement, my curiosity was piqued. I had to know.Lord Adam Fitzroy, a major in the Queen's army, is on leave and travelling home. While on route, a beautiful woman bursts into his dining room in need of assistance, which he readily offers. He hopes to see her again, but is shocked when they meet an hour later in the local brothel. But that shock is nothing compared to the astonishment he feels when he is introduced to her yet again the next morning as his mother's paid companion. Adam tries to figure out just who this woman is and promises her he'll keep her secret from his mother IF she spends the night with him.Florentina Grantley, a Spanish émigré, doesn't know if she can trust Lord Fitzroy with her secrets; why she was traveling the London road evading pursuit; why she was going inside a brothel, and why she gave him a false name; but she doesn't want the dowager duchess to know. Too many lives rely upon her secret activities, and she won't let anyone get in her way.One thing that really stood out to me about this story was redemption. When I first read about Adam propositioning Florentina and how he initially treated her, I was really disgusted with him and was ready to put the book down. But I forged on. Then I read about their night together and found redemption in that initial behavior. When Florentina does something so completely stupid (truly a Too Stupid To Live moment) and can't get out of it on her own (and I kept thinking maybe she could get out of it because of certain facts about her past) I just hung my head and thought "she's lost all my respect." But I forged on. Then I read about how she learned from that TSTL moment and pulled off a stunning act all on her own and found redemption in her character. Then I thought "she isn't a completely useless heroine."There were several moments like those in the book, where the characters grew, learned, developed, and redeemed themselves.This story isn't about how they have sex every night in exchange for his silence and then fall in love. That so did not happen and is nothing like that. Yes, Adam is a jerk in the beginning and propositions her, but the truth of her identity comes out soon enough and the story turns into so much more.I loved both Florentina and Adam. I especially loved their conversations. Florentina has so much sassiness to her and life. Adam has so much cunning and charm. They need all these abilities and more as they try to solve Florentina's problems as well as Adam's. Also, Adam's mother is amazingly wonderful. I loved how she plays her part in the family circle and in Florentina and Adam's courtship.Don't let the product description put you off like it did me. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance and pushed through my initial doubts, because I found a great story with a great plot, characters, and romance.