A Match Made in Scandal

by Melody Thomas

Book Overview

An obsession that blooms into scandal Since childhood, Ryan Donally adored Rachel Bailey, though the brilliant, beautiful lass saw him as just another rowdy boy. The years pulled them apart, carrying Rachel to a place of responsibility and respect few women of her time enjoyed . . . while Ryan ascended to undreamed-of heights of wealth and success, and bound his heart to another. Now fate has brought them together once again--and Rachel sees not the...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060742313
• ISBN13: 9780060742317
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

An Emotional Roller Coaster

Unique in her choice of lifestyle (she drinks and smokes and has never married), Rachel Bailey has always secretly been in love with her business partner and childhood annoyance Ryan Donally. Rachel wishes to be an engineer and actually has performed engineering duties under the shadow of various male employees and now she wants to be recognized for her work in a time where admitting a woman is working on a project can kill your business. Ryan has no intention of allowing Rachel recognition as a matter of a fact the board of the major corporation he heads is secretly planning on doing away with D & B Industries and absorbing it into their bigger corporation. Ryan knows this information will crush Rachel. Ryan has always loved Rachel even though he married her best friend years ago and has not seen Rachel since his wife died in childbirth. Rachel accused Ryan of killing her friend and then fled to Ireland...now to protect his heart he will do anything to get her to go back to Ireland. Ryan has made a business arrangement that includes marrying an heiress, the one thing that has driven Ryan all these years is the desire to be recognized as an equal among the British aristocrat and marrying this heiress will help soften his Irish roots. Rachel is now 29 years old and even though she has lived and breathed D & B Industries, she wishes for the one thing she can never have, a relationship and future with Ryan. She knows if they were involved, a secret she has kept could ruin Ryan's business. Ryan's fiance's ruthless uncle will stoop at anything to get what he wants and will not hesitate to destroy Ryan and Rachel if the marriage to his niece doesn't go through. This is one of the most complicated, emotionally up and down, intense relationships I think I've ever encountered in a romance novel. It is very unique both in the characters, the plot and the writing that you almost forget you are reading a romance novel. However, do not despair, their is romance a plenty and it is hot. Great book. I now will go back and find any books in this series its that good.

Wow this was indeed a roller coaster ride - lots of emotion!

Two very stong characters, Ryan and Rachel, meet again at a ball to honor Ryan for his achievements in engineering design. this is to be the biggest night in Ryan's night - and there Rachel is bringing him back to all the things he seems to want to bury, his past, his family, his wife's death - why is he running so hard to escape all of these memories. And why is it only Rachel that can seem to infuriate him and send him into a lustful rage at the same time. Rachel who just turned 29 is trying to come to grips with what she truly wants out of life. Mostly, she says she wants recognition in a mans world for her engineering accomplishments in the D & B company but in reality hidden beneath is her underlying love of Ryan which seems to gone unrecognized for all these years. However things immediately heat up when they meet on the terrace and it is sizzle instantly - going back and forth between angry words and passion. Both so strong willed it is amazing that they are able to recognize what is truly between them. Ryan seems to be at the point in his life where all this recognition and the ruthless takeovers are leaving him empty. He is about to marry some heiress which he could absolutely care less about all in the name of aquisiton and merger. Rachel is so afraid of getting her heart broken again she keeps puting up barriers after their passion explodes. Amazingly Ryan's family seems to be conspiring to get these two together as the good brother and priest handfasts them into wedded bliss (have no idea of this is historicaly accurate) but it sure made for a great plot. Rachel, even after she truly realizes her love for Ryan is so afraid she will destroy him with her past indistrections. In many ways this plot is more like a contemporary than a historical - which is the only reason I did not give it 5 stars. To see this couple begin to come together was so romantic - I loved it when Ryan decides to court her and sends her the very romantic gift of engeneering tools (and she knew how much this meant because he never wanted to share as a child and these were his tools) that was so different and so special. He fights hard for her, and eventually decides that everything in his life is not worth loosing the love of his life. Well written, truly a deeply moving and romantic book!

Friends become lovers

Ryan Donally and Rachel Bailey have known each other for years. Ryan had been in love with Rachel as a young man, but she had a crush on his older brother. It's not hard to believe that considering Ryan used to put spiders in her hair. They were just not ready to be in love with each other. After an emotional outburst following his wife's funeral, neither Ryan nor Rachel have seen each other in over four years. Now in a crowded ballroom, Rachel seeks to make amends with Ryan and see her goddaughter again. When they meet, their feelings aren't just friendly. They spark with attraction and spice. However, there are a couple of problems. Ryan is set to become engaged, while Rachel harbors a secret that could ruin them both. Life and love are never easy for these two. A Match Made In Scandal is a story of two friends who are seeing each other in a different light after years apart. Ryan is so focused on his business and his daughter, that he doesn't have time for love. He is marrying to help secure his business. When he sees Rachel again, all of his old feelings resurface. I could see him start to change from a ruthless businessman to someone who found love is worth more than money. Rachel is way ahead of her time. She is not only educated but owns part of a successful small company. Despite her success, she is not taken seriously, except by her grandmother and close friends. However, that doesn't stop her from going head to head with Ryan. Her ingenuity and generous heart certainly give Ryan a run for his money. The characteristics that attract Rachel and Ryan to each other, also seem to drive them crazy at some point. Even though Ryan's ambition and drive are admirable, I feel like he was disillusioned by it all. Everything was about the next dollar or deal. He was becoming too cynical and hard. On the other hand, Rachel was a bit too idealistic. What a wake up call it was for her to see that life isn't always the way she planned. In spite of their opposite views on their business, I could see flashes of admiration through out the book. They had a camaraderie and familiarity that was difficult to miss. I enjoyed how Ms. Thomas weaved the past and present so seamlessly throughout A Match Made In Scandal. I didn't feel bogged down or bored at any part. When Rachel's past comes back to haunt her and Ryan sees he could lose her again, it finally pushes him into taking action to get what he wants. The chemistry between the two was hot. It combined the familiar past with their new-found feelings to create a love that is unique. Overall, A Match Made in Scandal shows that you can find an everlasting love in old friends. Lee Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

HOT HOT HOT Heated romantic suspense

I found the characters to be multi-dimensional and the author weaves a mystery into the story without slowing it down or interrupting the romantic flow. The plot and characters seemed fresh, the pace was quick, and it was a totally engrossing read. It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with both the palatable passion and the keen sense of danger infused in the story. The plot moved along at a great pace. Full of enjoyable supporting characters and stories. A Match Made in Scandal was an emotional roller coaster, and I felt all the pain and joy they did. I was so engrossed, I read it in a day. Wonderfully written! And very sexy historical Romance book. A Match Made in Scandal is a book I know I will be reading for years to come. It's a keeper.