Rating: 
Summary: A fun, lighthearted read........
Review: "That Scandalous Evening" was a pleasure to read...I wouldnt necessarily rank it up there with my all time favorites,but let me tell you...this book had some of the hottest love scenes I've ever read....When Ransom and Jane were intimate in the maze...Oh my....and in the attic..well..don't get me started...do yourself a favor and read this story!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Christina's Back With Another Great Read!
Review: After the mystical A Well-Favoured Gentleman, Christina Dodd's That Scandalous Evening is a very down-to-earth story about a very pompous Marquis and an artist heroine. In fact, this is a book where the hero plays the role of the true villian as well. Having spent eleven years in poverty and under a miserly brother-in-law's care, Jane Higgenbottoms finally reappeared in society after a scandal to chaperone her niece. Of course she met the Marquis of Blackburn, Ransom, again and sparks fly all over for the both of them. I'm not going to reveal the nature of the scandal, except that it involves the nude statue of Ransom - go read it! :) Anyway this is a very strong story of Jane's growing realisation of her own self-worth and strength. Throughout the book she spars with the very pompous, very arrogant Ransom, and she is determined to control her life even as things go beyond her control. I like Jane, she is intelligent and strong enough to stand up for her convictions and ideals. I have problems with Ransom initially. He is, at first glance and all the way to the final last two chapters, stubborn, pompous, arrogant, self-absorbed, and a villian of the story. But Ms Dodd redeemed him towards the end, when he begs forgiveness from Jane. I walk away from this book feeling that thoe two will do along pretty well. Their love is not the ideal love one might have wished, but it is strong, strengthened by the imperfections of both of the characters. My only complaint is a lack of epilogue. I dearly want to read about a repentant Ransom building Jane her studios and taking her to Italy. My enjoyment is slightly undermined by only having to imagine that, and not getting any confirmation from the author!
Rating:
Summary: Nice book
Review: Christina Dodd and indeed many of her contemporaries delight in bringing us female characters who show strength and independence in the mans world that was the Regency era. But here that truly is the best thing about the very enjoyable story that is `That Scandalous Evening'. Jane Higgenbothem was completely ruined 11 years prior to the opening of the book, when as a result of a nude sculpture she made of the man she worshiped as a god (Jane's words, not mine), her subsequent behaviour and the resultant public scandal, Jane fled the fashionable ton. He sister died shortly after, and Jane has spent the intervening years sketching, painting, bringing up her niece, and spending a miserable time as unpaid housekeeper to her penny pinching brother in law. With the exception of the joy of spending time with her niece, she has generally lived in a state of near poverty and dependence on an unwilling relative. Now, however, it is time to launch Adorna in society, and her brother in law has told Jane that she will not be welcome in his house once Adorna is safely married. The object of her desire, Lord Blackburn, more than any embarrassment at the scandal per se, was scandalised instead by a singular inaccuracy of the statue, that made him a laughingstock. Now hardened and saddened by his experiences at war, he has returned to London a more weary, more mature individual. He meets up with Jane and is intrigued by her, but more than that recognises that the protection of the resurrection of their scandal may enable him the breathing room to scour the ton for a suspected traitor and spy. I knew I'd like the book, because Dodd wrote it and I've enjoyed every other that I read. That turned out to be the case of course, but I enjoyed it even more than I thought. Jane is such an intense person, who feels things so deeply, so passionate in her rages and hurts, so intense about her art (she has not sculpted since That Scandalous Evening. As soon as she does, she gets into trouble again). The call of the art of Europe is a genuinely strong one, and her love for Adorna, her beloved dead sisters child, is all that holds her to England. Even as she falls in love again with Blackburn, she is torn by her love for and joy in her art. We get inside Blackburn's head on occasion, which was necessary for me to like him (otherwise I'd have to wonder what Jane saw in him). Jane's view of him is remarkably perceptive, except of course that she has little idea of the depth and warmth of his feelings for her. It is delicious to become so involved in a character, and caught up in the emotional storm with them. I very much enjoyed this book for that reason, and highly recommend it to all readers of romance.
Rating:
Summary: Strong Female character enlivens the Regency world
Review: Christina Dodd and indeed many of her contemporaries delight in bringing us female characters who show strength and independence in the mans world that was the Regency era. But here that truly is the best thing about the very enjoyable story that is 'That Scandalous Evening'. Jane Higgenbothem was completely ruined 11 years prior to the opening of the book, when as a result of a nude sculpture she made of the man she worshiped as a god (Jane's words, not mine), her subsequent behaviour and the resultant public scandal, Jane fled the fashionable ton. He sister died shortly after, and Jane has spent the intervening years sketching, painting, bringing up her niece, and spending a miserable time as unpaid housekeeper to her penny pinching brother in law. With the exception of the joy of spending time with her niece, she has generally lived in a state of near poverty and dependence on an unwilling relative. Now, however, it is time to launch Adorna in society, and her brother in law has told Jane that she will not be welcome in his house once Adorna is safely married. The object of her desire, Lord Blackburn, more than any embarrassment at the scandal per se, was scandalised instead by a singular inaccuracy of the statue, that made him a laughingstock. Now hardened and saddened by his experiences at war, he has returned to London a more weary, more mature individual. He meets up with Jane and is intrigued by her, but more than that recognises that the protection of the resurrection of their scandal may enable him the breathing room to scour the ton for a suspected traitor and spy. I knew I'd like the book, because Dodd wrote it and I've enjoyed every other that I read. That turned out to be the case of course, but I enjoyed it even more than I thought. Jane is such an intense person, who feels things so deeply, so passionate in her rages and hurts, so intense about her art (she has not sculpted since That Scandalous Evening. As soon as she does, she gets into trouble again). The call of the art of Europe is a genuinely strong one, and her love for Adorna, her beloved dead sisters child, is all that holds her to England. Even as she falls in love again with Blackburn, she is torn by her love for and joy in her art. We get inside Blackburn's head on occasion, which was necessary for me to like him (otherwise I'd have to wonder what Jane saw in him). Jane's view of him is remarkably perceptive, except of course that she has little idea of the depth and warmth of his feelings for her. It is delicious to become so involved in a character, and caught up in the emotional storm with them. I very much enjoyed this book for that reason, and highly recommend it to all readers of romance.
Rating:
Summary: Improbable but so funny!
Review: Despite the many many improbabilities in this book, I have to say that I enjoyed this one hopelessly. There are many improbabilities in the story, as "wmr-uk" has pointed out. Sometimes I bother to list all of them, sometimes I don't. And frankly, sometimes I enjoy a book so much that I don't care. As froth (or as Regency romp), it is fine with me. In the latter category are THE DUKE AND I (although there are some serious themes), the Quick novels that I enjoy (SCANDAL, SURRENDER, RAVISHED, DANGEROUS), and a few others such as Ashworth's MY DARLING CAROLINE (although that was not a keeper). Let me say that if you care only about historical inaccuracies, this book is a miserable read (an F, or a one-star). But if you want a light-hearted romp (for the first half at least), this book merits between three and four stars. I do have problems with the book (apart from the historical inaccuracies). This is honestly one book that mostly uses the Regency as wallpaper, although not as badly as some other books (or authors). The first half of the book is light. It is mostly about Jane and Ransom (an odd name, I agree, but I have seen worse from Quick), and how they get married despite an old society scandal. The comedy is not really subtle, and it is distinctly sexual. If you have a strong (or exclusive) preference for comedies of manners (witty dialogue), this book will not satisfy you. There is a significant second plot - Jane is suspected of spying for the French or passing information to the French (although you would think that even a blockhead would find another character more suspicious). And this is where the book falls apart. First, the hero's and the government's suspicion of Jane is not based on any convincing premise. [Why should she spy for the French?]. Second, when the Marquess is convinced that his new wife is a spy, he does not treat her very well. [No physical abuse, if I recall, but hardly any tenderness and lots of accusations]. Some or most readers might be put off. While he grovels at the docks most satisfyingly, this might not be enough to satisfy some readers. I really won't go into a detailed discussion of other historical issues and accuracy. Yes, the situation described is extremely improbable. Not only would the nasty society debutante have been ruined, but so would Jane. She would have been unable to chaperon any respectable young lady, because the assumption would have been made that she had seen the Marquess in the nude (i.e. she was hopelessly compromised). The hero and heroine spend a lot of time alone together without being compromised (yikes!) and they use first names freely. But, if I required any Regency I read to be historically accurate, virtually none would be acceptable. Even Dorothy Mack (a seasoned writers of traditional Regencies) has her heroes and heroines use first names. And forget about Mary Balogh and Carla Kelly. I am not sure that even Diane Farr gets *every* detail accurate although she is the closest to the true Regency social conventions and practice. This book is not really a re-read, but it amused me and kept me engrossed. And I could fully sympathize with Jane Higginbotham's desire to carry on in her chosen pursuits. If you are interested in a painter heroine (one who paints well and wants to be a professional painter), try the Hazard book I mentioned above (THE SINGULAR MISS CARRINGTON), or Evelyn Richardson's LORD HARRY'S DAUGHTER.
Rating: 
Summary: Something missing
Review: Having just finished re-reading this book, I can't help feeling that there is something missing from the story. Miss Jane Higgbothem worshiped Lord Blackburn during her first disasterous season. The action in ths story centers around their interactions when they meet again years later. What seemed missing was more detail/explanation about the two characters feelings for each other. I wasn't really sure why Miss Higgbothem felt so strongly about Lord Blackburn, or whether he felt anything for her or was just using her as a distraction for his other activities.
The secondary characters were the saving point of the story for me. The scenes involving Blackburn's sister and those with Miss Higgbothem's niece were delightful and fun.
Rating:
Summary: Great fun, but not Dodd's best...
Review: I adore Christina Dodd's books, and I've enjoyed every one of them. This one made me laugh and feel poor Jane's humiliation, while still falling in love with Blackburn. That said, I did think it took too long to 'get the plot going'. Because I have read many of Christina Dodd's books, I knew to hang in there. I was very glad I'd kept reading because the book took off about halfway through. However, I wouldn't recommend this for one's first Christina Dodd book.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is entertaining, funny, boldly sensual.
Review: I enjoyed this book tremendously! It's the first I've read by Miss Dodd, and it won't be my last. I liked the clever banter between her main characters. Miss Higgenbottom's experiences are hysterical, particularly when she discovers why her scuplture isn't quite accurate in its depiction of the male physique. I chuckled out loud when she realized her error. Yet I found her to be endearing in her innocence. Miss Dodd does a nice job of developing her characters, tells an entertaining tale, and she writes terrific steamy love scenes that go on for pages! This is a delightful read! I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: A realistic romance?
Review: I enjoyed this romance because it was more realistic than most, had good character development and left you wondering about the characters' lives after the book ended. The heroine was not the typical "young miss" of a teenager who somehow manages to enthrall a much older gentleman, but rather a mature woman still seeking her place in life. Even after their marriage (my only caveat is that most of us like some details on the wedding itself, dear authors!), the couple still struggles to come to terms with each other. It was enjoyable to have an historical heroine with a career for a change. You can read about Jane's niece Adorna and her son in Dodd's Move Heaven and Earth, which only makes one want to know more about Adorna.
Rating:
Summary: Once again, Christina Dodd has a winner!!
Review: I just finished "Scandalous Evening" and I must say that Christina Dodd's literary style just keeps getting better and better. Jane Higgenbottom is a truly competent and gifted heroine, and Ransom Quincy is ever the reluctant hero. I especially enjoyed the scenes when Adorna, Jane's younger sister makes men do completely idiotic things without any effort at all. I really enjoyed this book!
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