Scandalous by Karen Robards

I don’t read too many historical romances fortunately I found Scandalous by Karen Robards. She is a new author to me. I find her writing style easy and enjoyable to read. Scandalous was a delightfully funny book. I found myself laughing through many parts of it. Robards writes many comical scenes and twists of mystery and that kept me turning the pages.

England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the next male heir -- a distant cousin -- and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast.
Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive, Gabby arranges beautiful Claire's London season. She'll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus, Gabby's plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious stranger's deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks off each other -- and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling in love....

Gabriella Banning is the eldest of three girls raised by a cruel and loveless father. When her father dies he leaves his girls nothing and they are forced to rely on the kindness of the half brother they barely know. When Gabriella’s servant returns from her brother’s with news of their brother’s demise she has to think fast or she will be homeless as well as her sisters. Against the advice of a trusted friend she decides to carry on as if nothing has happened. After all she has the letter her brother wrote giving them her permission to move forward with plans for her sister Clair’s season. Her plan is working well until she runs into an unexpected turn of events. Her brother shows up in London. Or so everyone thinks. Who is this man masquerading as Marcus? How can she get rid of him without exposing herself? Will her and her sisters get their happily ever after?

“Marcus” is on a mission and cannot divulge its details to anyone. His mission is compromised by Gabriella and her younger sisters. If she reveals his secret his mission will fail. He needs everyone to believe that he is indeed the late Duke of Wickham. He thinks his secret is safe because he knows that she knows her secret will be revealed if she outs him to everyone. He finds himself oddly attracted to Gabriella and the sparks fly between the two of them. Can he convince her to keep his secret in return for keeping hers?

Scandalous flows together pretty well. Though the plot of was enjoyable parts of it were also predictable. I enjoyed the humorous situations and scenes between Marcus and Gabriella. Clair and Elizabeth were good secondary characters. Their naiveté throughout Scandalous played well into comedy of the situation. Scandalous is the first book in the Banning sister trilogy and I look forward to learning more about Clair and Elizabeth in Irresistible and Shameless. Karen Robards is a good writer. This was a very pleasant and charming historical romance.