Published: 20 June 2013
Publisher: Sphere (Little Brown UK)
Pages:384
Price: RRP £7.99 Amazon Price £5.75
Author: Carole Matthews
Review Rating: 10/10
Review Rating: 10/10
A Whiff of Scandal was a book that I almost put down and back on the shelf, but something about the blurb, the cover and the way the characters in the village were behaving convinced me to continue on and read their story. I am so glad that I did. It has been such a long time since a book has had me laughing out loud in the bath, on the sofa, in the park, ... basically anywhere I could read, I read this book and this book made me laugh out loud. It was almost ridiculous (my laughing that is) if it wasn't so entertaining!
The book begins with the nosey neighbours across the road spying on the newbie, Rose who is an aromatherapist from London. They are sisters whom live together and are the stereotypical old ladies whom have nothing better to do other than to spy on their neighbours and spread rumours. Rose gets a reputation as a "lady of the night" thanks to one of the ladies, but is later supported by the other sister who changes her mind after visiting Rose for an aromatherapy appointment.
There's something you should know about the people who live in this village - they all have names connected to aromatherapy; Basil, Melissa, Rose, Anise,...etc. The dishy man of the village is Dan (Spikenard) who lives at Builder's Bottom ( the name of his house) with his long term girlfriend Gardenia. Dan and Rose have several encounters, one even involving being dressed like a Viking! But do they get together? Well Rose came to the village to run away from her past - we all do that or at least wish we could, we dream of it - Rose does it! But what is she running away from? Cliff Richard? NO! That's one of those nosey old ladies' rumours again. Don't believe everything you hear. Even Mr Patel at the local shop gets things wrong from time to time.
What about Rose's stalker? Calling her and breathing heavily down the phone? Does she know her stalker? Who is it? And what about when her once dream guy finally offers her the world? Is it enough? Can you really mix your past with your future? Is there such a blend for an aromatherapist?
Rose is very skilled at what she does, so much so that she regularly blends together Passion oils for her new best friend Melissa who is married to the local policeman - but what's Melissa hiding, and is Frank (her husband) the last to know?
And what about the building development proposal to build apartments? Will it cause uproar or will it be welcomed? Will the villagers pull together or will it cause a divide? Then there's the proposal - who is it that is made a romantic offer of marriage? And what will the neighbours say?!
There are more Whiffs of Scandal in this book alone than there ever could be in a year of Corrie! If you want a thrilling laugh out loud, comedy romance, and a reason to smile everyday, then you really must read A Whiff of Scandal. I'd love to know what happens after A Whiff of Scandal, and what becomes of Builder Bottom, and do those old ladies ever stop spying on their neighbours with ladders and binoculars? I guess that's a scent of the future I must simply ponder on... for now... maybe ;)
About the Author : Carole Matthews
Carole Matthews is the Sunday Times Bestselling author of twenty-four novels, including the Top Ten Bestseller A Cottage by the Sea. She is published in more than thirty countries and her books have even sold to Hollywood. In 2013 Carole was shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan award for fiction about Life and Love.
For all the latest news from Carole, visit www.CaroleMatthews.com and follow her on Twitter and connect with her along with thousands of fans via Facebook.
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