Blog Tour: Six Degrees of Scandal (Scandalous #4) by Caroline Linden

Enter to Win a Print Bundle of the Scandalous Series Books 1-3, 

Includes LOVE AND OTHER SCANDALS, IT TAKES A SCANDAL 

and LOVE IN THE TIME OF SCANDAL

SIX DEGREES OF SCANDAL

Scandalous #4

Caroline Linden

Releasing March 29th, 2016

Avon Books

Olivia Townsend is in trouble and out of options. Pursued by a desperate man in search of a lost treasure, which she doesn’t have, she’s got only two things in her favor: her late husband’s diary, which she was never meant to see… and the man who was her first-and only-love. Losing him broke her heart, though she’s been careful to hide it for the last ten years. But when he comes to her aid and vows to stand by her this time, no matter what, she can’t help but hope things will be different this time.

James Weston has blamed himself for letting Olivia down when she needed him years ago, and he will not do it again. Fortunately, his unusual life has equipped him well to outsmart the villain chasing Olivia. Unfortunately, being so near her again threatens to expose every secret in his heart…even those that should stay hidden forever.

BUY NOW

Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Review:

I have a feeling that this is the final book in the series. I don't remember anyone who doesn't have a book yet, but most importantly, in this book we finally learn who Lady Constance really is. She helps our main characters with their lord Clary problem. In the end she is the one whose actions succeededin forcing Clary to stop harassing Olivia. I won't say anything else because I don't want to spoil the surprise (and no I didn't do that already) but you definitely won't see her coming. Her identity is not something you can see coming even if you try.

As I was writing this review I realized that Jamie's friends might get their own stories, especially considering the last part of the plot. I wouldn't mind if the author decided to write more books and I would welcome it. A continuation of the series might give me a motive to finish Penelope's book. If like me, you haven't read the book, but you want to read her book before you read Six Degrees of Scandal. Some of the most interesting parts of her book's plotline are spoiled in this one and it might ruin some of the other book's fun. I wanted to see Joan and Sebastian and well as Douglas and Madeline. It was nice knowing Madeline's secret while our characters here spoke about her not knowing who she is. Olivia and Jamie spend most of their time trying to solve the mystery behind her late husband’s diary and trying to fix their relationship. . After the prologue I wasn't sure if I was going to like Jamie, but I did. He is not going to be a book boyfriend to me, but he knows that he made mistakes and he earned some cookies. For me as well as Olivia, who realizes that Jamie wasn't the only one to blame.

The one question that was on my mind the whole time I was reading the book was why Olivia didn't have children. Was it because she couldn't conceive or because she took measures about it or simply because her relationship with Henry stopped being physical after some time? Honestly, I would have liked to know more about her marriage since that's what was keeping them apart for 10 years.

Overall the book was very good, the pace had a nice rhythm that doesn't allow the reader to get bored, the characters aren't one dimensioned and the readers get the chance to re-visit some of their favorite characters. The balance between the mystery and romance was just right.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt:

A tapping beside her broke into her thoughts. She glanced out the window and saw the boy who had lured her into trouble, grinning as he crouched out of sight next to the carriage. “Do you walk in the woods?” he whispered.
Alarmed, she shook her head, even though she did walk in the woods every chance she got. Telling him that would only cause her more trouble.
Disappointment flickered over his face. “Oh well.” He stepped back. “Good-bye, then.” He walked back to his family. Olivia eyed them curiously. The father was tall and lean, and his wife was very pretty, with a gloriously beautiful gown. Two girls about Daphne’s age stood beside her, although the blond girl was fidgeting in boredom and ran up to her brother as he approached them. He laughed at whatever she said, the carefree sound floating back to Olivia’s ears. Neither of his parents reproved him for laughing on Sunday.
The Herbert coachman finally snapped his whip and set the horses in motion. Olivia watched the Westons as the coach drove away. Upstarts they might be, but they looked like happy ones.
She had almost forgotten the impudent boy several days later, when she finished her lessons and was able to slip out of the house. Mother wouldn’t approve, but Mother had gone into town to the dressmaker, and Miss Willets, the governess, was fond of sneaking a glass of sherry and having an afternoon nap when Mother was away. This suited the girls quite well. Daphne retreated to the nursery with her dolls, where she fashioned new dresses for them out of scraps of Mother’s discarded gowns, and Olivia stole a book from the library and headed for the woods. Mother said Shakespeare was vulgar and too exciting for ladies, which made Olivia eager to read his plays, even though she was forced to hide away to do so.
There was a quiet little glen not too far from Kellan Hall, the Herbert home, with a fallen tree and enough sun to be pleasant without being hot. Settled on the tree, with her feet propped on a nearby stone, Olivia had just reached the magnificent scene where Romeo revealed himself to Juliet and professed his love in words that would rend the heart of any sentient being . . . when someone spoke behind her.
“I thought you didn’t walk in the woods.”
She gave a little scream and dropped her book. “You—you,” she spluttered. “I am not walking!” It was a stupid thing to say, but he had interrupted at a very inopportune moment. Would Juliet return Romeo’s love?
“Oh, did you come into the woods by carriage?” He jumped over the tree trunk and scooped up the book. “Romeo, eh? Do you like it?”
She glared at him and reached for the book. “Yes.”
He handed it back. “It wasn’t one of my favorites. My sisters wanted to act it out, but Penelope kept giggling when she was supposed to be dying.”
Olivia’s eyes widened. Dying? Which character died? She hoped it wasn’t Juliet. “Don’t tell me any more!”
“I liked that Henry V, though,” he went on. “Smashing good battle. I’m James, by the way. James Weston.”
She gave him a reproachful look. It wasn’t proper for a gentleman to introduce himself to a lady, and he ought to know that, even if he wasn’t a gentleman. “I know.”
He grinned. In the sunlight his brown hair had an auburn hue, and his eyes were sharp and lively. He couldn’t be much more than thirteen or fourteen, but he was already tall in Olivia’s view. “And you’re Miss Olivia Herbert of Kellan Hall.”
“Yes.” She lowered her gaze to her book, hoping he would go away.
“So,” he said after a moment, “if you only walk in the woods to find a place to read, you must know about the waterfall.”
Her eyes stopped taking in the words on the page. “Waterfall?” she asked, intrigued in spite of herself.
He tilted his head and gave her a sly smile. “I can show you.”
Slowly she closed the book. “Is it far?”
“No.”
And before she knew it, she was following him along a winding track through the trees, to where a small stream splashed over a fall of rocks. It was no taller than Olivia herself, but it brought a smile to her face. She’d lived at Kellan Hall all her life and never discovered it.

Caroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a math degree from Harvard University and wrote computer software before turning to writing fiction. Ten years, twelve books, three Red Sox championships, and one dog later, she has never been happier with her decision. Her books have won the NEC Reader’s Choice Beanpot Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA’s RITA Award. Since she never won any prizes in math, she takes this as a sign that her decision was also a smart one. Visit her online at www.carolinelinden.com.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads