The Taste of Temptation

I don’t know HOW I missed the first in this series, as I loved Kelly’s Governess series, but miss it no more, the second book in The Matchmaker of Edinburgh series has plenty to recommend it, and it’s set in Victorian Scotland, with characters who are taking advantage of the potential in this upwardly mobile society. Caroline Burkett has spent the past years in London as the subject of scandal, derision and idle gossip. When her engagement to a viscount fell through, her mother filed a breach of promise suit, and Caroline was left to fend off journalists, societal censure and the embarrassment of public interest into her most trying time. Although she won a settlement, the money went to solicitors and debts, leaving her with little and a need to stay with relations as an unmarried woman. She’s decided that Scotland is her best shot, and moves in with her brother (a banker) and his wife, with an introductory letter to Moira Sullivan, the Matchmaker of Edinburgh. She’s closed herself off to flights of fancy concerning love, and wants little more than a quick marriage to ensure her security and remove herself from the notice of the tabloids. Jonathan Moray is a self-made man, coming from less than nothing, he’s managed to purchase and make a success of two newspapers: the leading gossip tabloid of Edinburgh, The Tattler, and the leading and well-respected daily that presents actual news that is important. He wants to start an evening edition, but his own determination not to borrow against either paper or place himself in debt have him needing to increase circulation and improve the bottom line before adding the newest release. When one of his ‘spotters’ sees Caroline arriving at the station, he knows that one thing will make his dreams of an evening edition come true: convince her to share the “real” story of her engagement, being set aside and the trial. He intends to charm, cajole and even scare Caroline into agreeing to his terms, he knows that she may be shorter of funds than originally thought, and that becomes a consideration as well. Kelly takes us on a ride with two characters who are completely unaware of their own worth and desirability. Caroline is beautiful, intelligent, honest and loyal: the right man would be honored to have her, and while she considers herself ruined and tainted, she believes that the very limited options for women of her time have her constrained to say yes to the first taker. Moray is so consumed with making a success of his papers and keeping his past a secret, determined that love is a pipe dream and that his coming from less than nowhere doesn’t make him a viable option for any woman: and this obsession he has for Caroline is little more than wanting the story to quiet his insatiable curiosity. Fortunately, for both of them, the secondary characters in this story are not above a bit of manipulation, straight talk and some serious interference. From his best friend Gavin and his wife Ina (a sculptor) to his editor Eva, her partner Catriona and even Moira and the dressmaker Mrs. Parkem are all wiling to push, prod and even speak plainly to have them see what is right in front of their eyes. Fortunately, even if delayed and right at the brink, they both see sense and dare to bare their hearts and dreams, living a life together that neither could have dared to hope for. Kelly’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, the dialogue sharp and a sense of both the societal pressure and self-esteem play on the progression of the relationship and story: making the place and the people easy to understand, enjoy and cheer for. A read in one sitting story that shows dreams, even those far beyond what is ‘conventional’ can come true. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

On the cusp of a new era, Jonathan Moray is a self-made man, one who has built his printing business on other people’s scandal. However, even though he will do whatever it takes to get the news out first, he nevertheless has a deep sense of right and wrong, and adheres to a code of morals. Initially Caroline Burkett, the young woman who took the unprecedented step of suing her fiance for breach of promise, is fair game and Jonathan stakes his future on her story. As he gets to know Caroline through the machinations of Edinburgh matchmaker Moira Sullivan, Jonathan and Caroline find they have more in common than they first thought. I found this book to be very well written, and for an advanced reader copy, it was surprisingly free of grammatical and spelling errors I felt the unfairness of Caroline’s situation, that after having been strung along for years, her fiance ditched her when a rich heiress came on the scene, and that she had surprisingly little support from her family. It would appear that everyone was looking after their own interests rather than protecting her. As the book came to an end, I got really worried that Caroline was going to take the line of least resistance and get married regardless of the cost to her, all the while hoping that Jonathan would get his head screwed on the right way. I enjoyed the characters in this book as well as insights into the advances and state of technology in the Victorian era. Despite Victorian times having a reputation of being emotionally repressed, this book brought out the signs of change taking place in society. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Caroline Burkett has fled to her brother’s home in Edinburgh, as she is desperate. After suing her former fiancé for breaking their engagement and causing a scandal in the papers, her only hope of starting over is to enlist the help of Edinburgh’s famous matchmaker, Moira Sullivan. Born to a butler and maid, Jonathan Moray fought hard to find his place in Edinburgh society. Now a powerful newspaperman, he can make or break a person’s reputation with his headlines, but Jonathan knows his success isn’t guaranteed. He needs salacious stories to keep his readers enthralled, and Caroline’s story is just the sort to sell papers in droves. Jonathan finds a way to meet Caroline at the theatre & their attraction starts. Then Moira introduces Jonathan and Caroline at a salon, Caroline knows the editor is exactly the wrong man to associate with if she wants to find a husband and restore her reputation, but even as another, more suitable suitor Robert Trevlan begins to court her but he also has secrets & he made my skin crawl. Another well written well paced story with very well developed characters. Jonathan & Caroline are attracted to each other but they also like each other & are able to actually to talk to each other. Caroline is so desperate to marry to put the scandal behind her & to finally be free of all the press attention she’s had for years. Jonathan knows if his humble beginnings emerge then he could lose everything. There are misunderstandings along the way for the pair to resolve. I look forward to more books in the series My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read