Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous
Review: Jane has a gift with clay and in her first season, she falls for Blackburn and decides to model him. Unfortunately, being an innocent school-room miss, she misses some 'vital' detail and when the statue is exposed by a malicious rival, both Jane and Blackburn are in shame.. but of course, for different reasons!! Years later, Jane is chaperoning her niece to town when their paths cross one more time and the story begins...This is NOT your everyday Regency story, so don't expect to be bored or to go through the pages looking for the 'juicy' parts. The whole book is 'juicy parts' and Christina Dodd will never allow you to flip through a page without reading every word in it! Excellent reading, different, original, and very-well written.
Rating:
Summary: Well done!
Review: Miss Jane Higgenbothem was an innocent English miss with an enormous crush on Ransom Quincy, Lord Blackburn. Her love inspired her to sculpt a very nude Blackburn... unfortunately, the statue was revealed at the most inopportune time, at a ball... in front of everyone who was ANYONE in the ton. When Jane tries to explain, it only gets worse, leaving her to flee back to the country in ruin. Ten years later, she's back. But this time it is to see that her beautiful niece has the stunning debut she lost. But Blackburn still holds a grudge... and a hidden desire that could destroy Jane once more. This is a romance you won't be able to put down once you start. Jane is smart, funny, and different. Blackburn is more than enough man for her, even if she doesn't quite understand proportion when she first molds him into clay. Their romance is both tender and fierce, reflecting their personalities. You will be cheering for them by the time you read the final page.
Rating: 
Summary: It Was An Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie...
Review: Miss Jane Higgenbothem, now a spinster, had a disastrous London season eleven years ago. She had secretly adored the arrogantly handsome Ransom Quincy, the Marquess of Blackburn. In her romantic fervor, she had used her imagination and skill as an artist to create a sculpture of Ransom. When the statue was exposed at a ball, it revealed her secret adoration and made him a laughingstock. For the sculpture was a nude, and certain anatomical parts were way under proportion. She has since been living in near poverty at the house of her brother-in-law, who treats her as a servant. Returning to London after all this time, she is now chaperone to her beautiful niece. It doesn't take long before she runs into Ransom at a ball. Jane has always intrigued Ransom, and now that he's working undercover to expose a sky ring, perhaps the perfect diversion would be to court her. But his troubles are just beginning. For it's not long before Ransom begins to suspect Jane may be one of those spies, and once the two of them are found in a compromising position, then things really heat up. Christina Dodd rarely fails to deliver a wonderfully constructed humorous story, and she certainly hits the mark with this one. The nude statue is hilarious, and even better is the nickname Ransom is given after the unveiling. I won't spoil it by giving it away, but I still laugh every time I think about it! The love scenes are quite erotic which is something else I've come to expect from Ms. Dodd. This is a five star keeper. Read it and be prepared for a laughing good time!
Rating: 
Summary: 'That Scandalous Evening' was not very scandalous!
Review: No, it was not very scandalous, but yes, it was enjoyable. Different, not quite refreshing, but yes, different! The heroine was older than your average 17 - 20 year old debutante and artistically talented. Not only was she talented, but she was intelligent. If you're looking for something substantially different than your average (non-historical) romance novel, try Christina Dodd
Rating:
Summary: Scandalously Entertaining
Review: One by one I am reading all of Christina Dodd's novels to date and I haven't been disappointed yet! Another good story - well written, aptly paced, humourous and decidedly hot amourous adventures! Ten years prior to the story's setting the very talented and innocent Miss Jane Higgenbothem's secret crush on the devastatingly handsome Lord Blackburn was spitefully exposed to the ton. He was outraged, she was mortified and left London. Now, as the chaperone to her beautiful niece she is back, hoping to stay undiscovered in the background, but that would not be so. She comes face to face with Lord Blackburn and he is surprised to see that she has changed, and he decides that she would be a good cover for him to use as he leads the ton to believe he was re-entering society rather than spying for the home office. As any good regency, romance novel goes - the inevitable attraction is born and no surprises, other than the deft use of this wonderful wordsmith in letting you become a fly on the wall to the delightful dialog and entertaining battle of the sexes. Great story and just enough suspense in figuring out the spy gamesters - super use of the beautiful but shrewdly dumb niece Adorna. You will also get a kick out of some of the other minor characters as well. Great summer read!
Rating:
Summary: Scandalously Entertaining
Review: One by one I am reading all of Christina Dodd's novels to date and I haven't been disappointed yet! Another good story - well written, aptly paced, humourous and decidedly hot amourous adventures! Ten years prior to the story's setting the very talented and innocent Miss Jane Higgenbothem's secret crush on the devastatingly handsome Lord Blackburn was spitefully exposed to the ton. He was outraged, she was mortified and left London. Now, as the chaperone to her beautiful niece she is back, hoping to stay undiscovered in the background, but that would not be so. She comes face to face with Lord Blackburn and he is surprised to see that she has changed, and he decides that she would be a good cover for him to use as he leads the ton to believe he was re-entering society rather than spying for the home office. As any good regency, romance novel goes - the inevitable attraction is born and no surprises, other than the deft use of this wonderful wordsmith in letting you become a fly on the wall to the delightful dialog and entertaining battle of the sexes. Great story and just enough suspense in figuring out the spy gamesters - super use of the beautiful but shrewdly dumb niece Adorna. You will also get a kick out of some of the other minor characters as well. Great summer read!
Rating:
Summary: One of romance's finest writers
Review: Over a decade has passed since debutante Jane Higgenbotham fled London society after causing one of the worse scandals to hit Regency England. The shy Jane constructed a nude statue of the man she desperately coveted, notorious rake Ransom Quincy, the Marquess of Blackburn. Assuming THAT SCANDALOUS EVENING has long been forgotten by the Ton, Jane returns as the chaperone for her niece. Everyone remembers Jane and her sculpting. However, no one recalls Jane as much as Ransom does because that kiss he shared with her remains implanted in his brain. He also has never forgiven her for turning him into the joke of society. Ransom also has some circumstantial evidence that makes him wonders if Jane might be a French spy. Soon, he begins to court her and their dormant passion blazes into a forest fire of love. Christina Dodd has a reputation for scribing some of the best historical romances on the market today. Her latest novel, THAT SCANDOLOUS EVENING, will enhanc! e her reputation as one of the leading lights of the Regency romance sub-genre. The intriguing main story line will thrill fans because the scandal adds a unique element to the relationship of the charming lead protagonists. Though the sub-plot involving the French spy adds little depth to the tale, the novel will be recognized as one of the top Regencies of the year. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Unlikeable Characters
Review: That Scandalous Evening is one of Christina Dodd's lesser entertaining novels. The plot and characters are coherent, but the unlikability of the main characters mars reader enjoyment. Miss Jane Higgenbothem's obsessive devotion to the handsome and arrogant Ransom Quincy, Marquess of Blackburn, led her eleven years before to sculpt a secret, full-sized naked model of him in clay. Unfortunately, someone stole the sculpture and unveiled it at a huge party where she, Blackburn and the rest of the ton beheld the exquisite but scandalous art object in horror. Jane was so socially ruined that she had to leave London. Lord Blackburn, an arbiter of society, was laughed at but not ruined. In revenge and passion he nearly deflowered Jane before her departure. Now Jane is back with her gorgeous, charming and insightful niece Adorna, who is making her societal debut. For his own secret and unromantic reasons, Lord Blackburn decides to pursue Jane, only to find himself falling in love with her even while he suspects she may be a spy for the French. For her own part, spinster Jane is no longer the love struck, naïve girl who worshipped Blackburn's perfect body and grace so many years before. She does not trust his advances yet is unable to completely rebuff them. This novel is marred by a hero and heroine who are both too stuffy and proper. In addition, Blackburn has an insufferable superiority complex and cruel indifference to others that makes him very unattractive, despite any good looks and superficial charm he may possess. He eventually (very late in the book) grows beyond these, but without the earlier glimmers of goodness, it's too late. I disliked him most of the book. Jane is a talented but self-repressed artist who is afraid of offending others by practicing her art. I did feel sympathy, but her utter propriety at all times was boring. Toward the end she became annoying when she refused to even consider that Blackburn might really love her'when he, his best friend and others repeatedly stressed his love for her. Also, she refuses for too long to forgive Blackburn his former suspicion that she could be a spy. She won't allow herself to show him any affection and is harsh and bitchy with him at every opportunity. While it would be horrible to find out that one's husband had suspected one of being a spy, she carries it too far and comes off as mean-spirited. I have enjoyed other Christina Dodd novels and hope that future ones I read will not be spoiled by such unlikable characters.
Rating:
Summary: Unlikeable Characters
Review: That Scandalous Evening is one of Christina Dodd�s lesser entertaining novels. The plot and characters are coherent, but the unlikability of the main characters mars reader enjoyment. Miss Jane Higgenbothem�s obsessive devotion to the handsome and arrogant Ransom Quincy, Marquess of Blackburn, led her eleven years before to sculpt a secret, full-sized naked model of him in clay. Unfortunately, someone stole the sculpture and unveiled it at a huge party where she, Blackburn and the rest of the ton beheld the exquisite but scandalous art object in horror. Jane was so socially ruined that she had to leave London. Lord Blackburn, an arbiter of society, was laughed at but not ruined. In revenge and passion he nearly deflowered Jane before her departure. Now Jane is back with her gorgeous, charming and insightful niece Adorna, who is making her societal debut. For his own secret and unromantic reasons, Lord Blackburn decides to pursue Jane, only to find himself falling in love with her even while he suspects she may be a spy for the French. For her own part, spinster Jane is no longer the love struck, naïve girl who worshipped Blackburn�s perfect body and grace so many years before. She does not trust his advances yet is unable to completely rebuff them. This novel is marred by a hero and heroine who are both too stuffy and proper. In addition, Blackburn has an insufferable superiority complex and cruel indifference to others that makes him very unattractive, despite any good looks and superficial charm he may possess. He eventually (very late in the book) grows beyond these, but without the earlier glimmers of goodness, it�s too late. I disliked him most of the book. Jane is a talented but self-repressed artist who is afraid of offending others by practicing her art. I did feel sympathy, but her utter propriety at all times was boring. Toward the end she became annoying when she refused to even consider that Blackburn might really love her�when he, his best friend and others repeatedly stressed his love for her. Also, she refuses for too long to forgive Blackburn his former suspicion that she could be a spy. She won�t allow herself to show him any affection and is harsh and bitchy with him at every opportunity. While it would be horrible to find out that one�s husband had suspected one of being a spy, she carries it too far and comes off as mean-spirited. I have enjoyed other Christina Dodd novels and hope that future ones I read will not be spoiled by such unlikable characters.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating story, troublesome heroes
Review: The story is well-developed and heart-rending, yet the heroes (including side-characters)troubled me. Jane is so passive and victim-like in the beginning, not truly fighting to be the artist she claims to be. In her disastrous first season she makes a sculpture of her beloved Muse Lord Ransom Blackburn and covers with a tiny fig leaf what she cannot know. After her secret and her unrequited devotion to Lord Blackburn is discovered, scandal follows closely. The high and mighty Lord Blackburn who is now the laughingstock of the ton because of the practically non-existent male appendage of his statue seethes with rage and revenges himself on poor Jane when she comes unchaperoned to his house to explain and set things right. He tries to (nearly successfully) seduce her, but is interrupted by his sister and her companions. He refuses to marry Jane afterwards who is as a result ostracized from society and forced to live in virtual drudgery at her abominable brother-in-law's house for the next eleven years. She is quite fatalistic and doesn't do anything to alter her situation. She isn't a heroine, but a plain and dutiful spinster who would never even dream of revenging herself on the society (embodied in the anti-hero Lord Blackburn). A touch of a character like Rhett Butler would have done her good. I just don't like to read about people who always play by the rules, especially not when they have all the reason in the world to not play by the rules. Yet the heroes here are more realistic then those in an average romance novel. Jane's uncourageous acceptance of her plight and Lord Blackburn's utterly silly male pride (this ludicrous event still itches him after 11 years !), it absolutely made cruel sense. What other reviewers found funny I found heartrending: When she returns to society as the chaperone of her niece the inexperienced and ivory-towered Jane still doesn't know why everyone laughed at her statue and why Lord Blackburn is still so furious. Nobody of her so-called friends ever told her, although she asked about it many times. Even Violet an old friend of her doesn't care to tell the now 28 years old Jane the truth, when she again inquires about it . Although this is realistic I found it gut-wrenching to imagine how spinsters were artificially kept silly back then and how people laughed behind their backs about their naiveté. The laughter virtually stuck in my throat. And Lord Blackburn: I simply hated him for his ignorance of the real facts of life. War has changed him, but he still prefers to live in the artificial and shallow world of the ton. Until the end he does not realize (and also not his interfering sister who got on my nerves) what he has done to Jane with so little reason. It was all about his private parts! He casually ruined another person's life because of that! And the worst and most unfair was that he knew Jane couldn't knew about her "crime". He simply punished her cruelly for the naiveté the society he represents inflicts on women like her. There was much more realism in this story than I like to have in a romance novel. Only in the end the "heroes" both showed that they had truly matured and gained substance which added a bit of romance to an otherwise quite sad story.
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