Title:  In Search of Scandal
Series:  London Explorers #1
Author:  Susanne Lord
Genre:  Historical Romance
Published:  December 1, 2015
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

A DARING EXPLORER

All of London is abuzz with the tale of Will Repton. The lone survivor of a massacre in Tibet has returned to England a hero, but the traumatized explorer has no time for glory. Another dangerous expedition awaits. Nothing will deter him from his quest, and no one will unearth his secret—until Will meets Charlotte Baker.

IS NO MATCH FOR AN ADVENTUROUS HEART

Vivacious Charlotte Baker also has a mission—to find a man whose bold spirit matches her own. When she meets Will Repton, she immediately recognizes him as her soul mate, and she’s naively willing to turn her back on the rules of propriety to ensnare him. Will is torn between his fascination with Charlotte and his vow to finish his quest. He knows what it is to risk life and limb—but what if his most perilous adventure doesn’t lie across an ocean, but within his own lost heart?

Read on for my thoughts on In Search of Scandal.  No true spoilers, promise

Susanne Lord’s captivating debut novel, In Search of Scandal will have you believing that she is an old hand at writing amazing Historical Romance.  And convince you that since this is her first – what wonders we have to look forward to in her next stories.  I don’t normally go all fangirl over an author’s debut novel.  Yet this story could have been told by a writer who has been doing this for years into her writing career and I wouldn’t have been surprised.  What I am is delighted to be able to have experienced Ms Lord’s beginning so that I can continue to follow her stories from the very first release.  I’m convinced that there will be more charming, engaging stories beyond this series.  I personally believe her talent is that good.

Will is now a man on a mission, and a very different man than had set sail on this particular expedition so many months ago.  While Will has always been more bookish than dashing, being the lone survivor of a massacre has given him a reputation that he is rather uncomfortable with.  He desperately needs to go back to that area, and he will allow nothing or no one to interfere with that decision.

Charlotte is not exactly a woman of her times.  In many ways she still holds on to the the naivety of her youth and upbringing.  On the other she has experienced so much more of the harshness of life than many of the young woman in her circles.  She has followed the exploits and discoveries of Will and and she is perhaps a bit in love with him from afar.  When they finally meet she is convinced that they are meant to be together and will do everything in her power to convince Will of that fact.

Will does not deny his attraction to Charlotte, but his decision to head out on another expedition is the height of danger for anyone involved.  Since he cannot turn away from his decision he is trying his best to dissuade Charlotte’s determination that they are a perfect match.  Charlotte must marry for many reasons that ensure she will take a wealthy, well established husband and soon.  She wants that man to be Will, but if he truly will not budge on his decision then she must look elsewhere.

In Search Of Scandal is a story that will grab your attention and not let go until the final page.  The characters, both main and secondary, are truly believable and realistic… many you might recognize from your own neighborhood.  There is a comfort with the characters, as if I’ve known them for a very long time that isn’t easy to explain, it’s more of a feeling, a reaction to the characters and their personalities.

I would highly recommend In Search of Scandal for any reader who loves a good romance no matter the time period.  If you maintain a To Be Read pile I hope that you move this story to the top of that list not only for your enjoyment but to be ready for the second novel in this series that releases later in 2016.

Take a risk on a new to you author’s debut novel.  I do not believe you will regret it – at all.

*I received an e-ARC of In Search of Scandal from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle