A Scandalous Journey

by Susannah Carleton

Book Overview

Few people know that George Winterbrook, Earl of Weymouth, is a hopeless romantic--who refuses to marry for any reason but love. His plans are thwarted when an eccentric divorce kidnaps him and nearly blackmails him into a false marriage. But fate brings him a breathtaking savior in Beth Castleton--an Anerican who's not certain she wants to marry, either.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451207122
• ISBN13: 9780451207128
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Debut!!

When the Earl of Weymouth finds himself kidnapped, he is rescued by an unlikely hero...Beth Castleton. In Beth he finds a woman to admire, a friend, a woman whose reputation might be ruined because she saved him. He does the only honorable thing open to him...he offers to marry her. And is promptly refused.Beth Castleton won't settle for less than love, and won't allow Weymouth to settle either. But when gossip of their adventure reaches the ears of the ton, she's left with two options, accept his offer, or leave London. Because she loves him she does the only thing she can...she leaves.A regency with a wonderful twist, Susannah Carleton's debut novel is simply wonderful!

Great Build-up

This book had an excellent plot- not what I was expecting from a traditional regency. It was innovative and still had the requisite "guy gets the girl" ending. The only letdown was that the ending was rather rushed and it felt like a lot of action was shoved into the last two chapters that could have easily filled a few more. This book would have made an excellent novel without being rushed, and more detail could have been added after the wedding. Is the rumor true about a maximum page length for regencies?

Highly recommended!

Beth Castleton was an American who moved to London where her only living relatives resided. She met George Winterbrook, Earl of Weymouth, at a house party during one of her first Society parties. She was humiliated when he, a stranger, gave her a direct cut! She would have been happy to never set eyes on him again. Fate had different ideas. Lady Arabella Smalley kidnapped George, his four year old niece, Isabelle, and the child's "governess". Her plan was to use Isabella as blackmail and force the earl into marrying her. However, Lady Arabella did not know that Beth was NOT the governess. Nor did she expect Beth and George to escape, taking along a couple of her unhappy servants! She chased the group all the way back to London. Now "Society" had to be dealt with. ***** Lady Arabella Smalley is the type of villainess that readers LOVE to hate! I am amazed that this is actually a debut novel! It is very well written and the characters are perfectly developed! Author Susannah Carleton is one to keep your eye on! If her next release is as grand as this one, she will be on her way to fame. I expect to be hearing this author's name on the lips of many fans in the near future. Highly recommended reading here! *****

Fabulous debut!

Scotland and London - 1813George Winterbrook, Earl of Weymouth is in a quandary. Bound and blindfolded, the earl suspects the noises and smells in the background are not attributed to a normal house party. When the blindfold is removed, his suspicions prove correct. A true thorn in the side of society, Lady Arabella Smalley has kidnapped George so she can marry him - by whatever means necessary. George is her intended ticket back into society. Using the earl's summarily and similarly kidnapped niece and her governess as blackmail, Arabella very nearly gets her way. She doesn't count on the earl and the "governess" concocting an escape plan.Beth Castleton is not having a good day. Actually, it hasn't been a very good week, although she has only just found out she's been unconcious for the past five days. An orphaned American, Beth has moved to London to be with her only surviving relatives. She never imagined she would be the victim of mistaken identity thrown into the company of a man who recently gave her the cut direct. When the earl explains about the kidnappings and begs her to take his niece to safety, how can the proper, practical and compassionate Beth refuse?What follows is a brave escape by George, Beth, George's niece Isabella, and two servants more than ready to leave the employ of the ... Lady Arabella and her cohorts. Confusion, mayhem and a gunshot wound to Beth's shoulder all preceed a mad, scandalous journey to London with Lady Arabella nipping at their heels.Ms. Carleton creates a delightful cast of characters in this dramatic and sometimes humorous traditional Regency tale. George is presented as an honorable, romantic hero, very protective of his loved ones, including Beth. Beth can't help but start feeling tender toward the earl, but is still confused by his impolite reaction to first meeting her. Secondary characters, especially that of the Scottish maid, Moira, who defects from Lady Arabella, are just as endearing as the main characters. George's friend Elston begs for his own story to be told. Ms. Carleton guarantees his tale will be forthcoming in February, titled THE MARRIAGE CAMPAIGN.Don't miss this exciting and tender debut by the talented, skillful Susannah Carleton!

Vicky's View

A Scandalous Journey by Susannah Carleton (Signet, September, 2002) combines a story of intrigue with a comedy of manners in a charming blend. Miss Beth Castleton, an American, is accidentally drawn into the abduction of a child, the niece of the Earl of Weymouth. She and the earl must work together to return the child to her father, overcome numerous complications, and somehow pass off the weeks of their journey from Scotland to London without bringing society's censure upon themselves. Ms. Carleton manages both the intricate details of the journey and the delightful evolution of romance between Beth and the earl. Other than the despicable villainess, Lady Arabella, all of the characters are delightful. The London social scene comes alive through Ms. Carleton's pen, and the romance grows convincingly from cooperation through attraction through denial to fulfillment. I recommend the book highly and look forward to many more from Ms. Carleton in the future.Victoria Hinshaw