Scandal Of The Year
Laura Lee Guhrke

Avon / HarperCollins
January 15, 2011 / ISBN 978-0-06-196316-2
Historical Romance / London, October, 1903
Amazon

Reviewed by Linda Young

Julia becomes the scandal of the year when her husband finds her in bed with Aidan Carr, the Duke of Trathan. Her husband obtains a divorce after a hearing in an open court. What no one knows is that she welcomes the divorce so that she will finally be free of all the pain and evil that is her husband. She has never told anyone what he had done to her and why she kept running from him, not even her family. While she is on the witness stand, Julia sees Aidan standing in the back of the courtroom. She can see the anger and the pain in his face. Even though she feels some guilt, she does not regret what she did to be free of her husband.

Aidan watches as Julia once again is the cause of scandal and pain in his life. How can he ignore his secret desire for her? He has spent his whole life proving that he is nothing like his father, that he is the perfect example of how a Duke is suppose to conduct himself. How will he ever find his duchess now with this scandal hanging over his head and his constant memories of him kissing and touching Julia?

No matter how much they try to avoid each other, Julia and Aidan keep running into each other. Then, to top it off, Julia approaches the Duke and asks for his advice. What ensues becomes a trial of restraint, and Aidan's patience is tested to its limits. Julia cannot stand to be touched by a man. Yet, she secretly wonders what it would be like to be touched by Aidan. Will Aidan discover Julia's secrets and will he still want her if he does? Will Julia finally give in and allow Aidan to touch her?

This was one of those can't-put-it-down-till-it's-done books. It grabs you right from the beginning and doesn't want to let you go at the end. This was my first book by Guhrke. Yes, I'm hooked. I loved the way Aidan tried so hard to stay the stiff and proper Duke while Julia was constantly ribbing him about needing to loosen up. Their bantering was a joy to read throughout the book. I also believe that the way Guhrke touched on the way a woman acts, and reacts, when she has been traumatized by the actions of a brutal husband was nicely done. Although Julia was a strong survivor and came out of it better than most, it was still a topic that wasn't discussed often back in those times. I strongly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical romance, a fun read, and some hot passion.