Author Cathy Maxwell is to be commended for the chances she takes in A Scandalous Marriage, but her execution is flawed for a variety of reasons. For one, the flashbacks at the start of the book slow down the pacing of the book. The action eventually picks up, and when the hero tosses in a few surprises, the story gets moving. Characterization also becomes a problem in this book; I never connected with the heroine, possibly because her motivation is at times unclear. When a heroine risks her reputation for a tryst, I want to know why.

Devon Marshall is trying to reach London before his grandfather dies. In the English countryside, Devon finds something unexpected – Leah Carrollton, the beauty he fell in love with in London. Soon after Devon finds her, Leah goes into labor. The difficult birth is interspersed with flashbacks to the secret trysts they shared in London.

After the child is born, Devon persuades Leah to marry him. This match is guaranteed to shock because their families are locked into a centuries-old feud. Because of misunderstandings, both new and old, their relationship starts off on shaky ground. In addition, Leah and Devon must face angry relatives on both sides. Devon works toward healing his relationship with his grandfather. But a secret could destroy everything.

Unlike many other romance heroines, Leah is truly ruined. That’s an interesting twist, as is the chance to see her adjust to wealth after living in poverty for a while. But because of the structure of the book, I never understood why she made the choices that led to both scandal and pregnancy. For most of the book, I felt closer to Devon. Despite his noble background, he is an independent and self-made man. He loves Leah, but because she hurt him in the past, he has become cautious. Luckily, his feelings for the baby bring them closer.

The secondary characters move the plot, but for the most part, they don’t move the reader. Several important characters remain in the background for too long, and some are too melodramatic to be believed. Devon’s grandfather was a well-realized character. Leah’s mother and brother both had potential, but their scenes came off as rushed.

At the beginning, the action switches from the present to the past. Many important events happen in the background. Because of this, the reader is distanced from the action. Although not uninteresting, especially during the harrowing descriptions of childbirth, the author did not achieve as much intimacy between the reader and the characters as I would have liked. Though I admire author Maxwell for experimenting with form, better follow-through would have been even better. And, while the story picks up after the marriage, the narrative at times moves too quickly through important events. Disastrous things happen, but without the expected disastrous consequences.

I had a hard time believing some of the chances Leah took. For example, during a clandestine meeting with Devon, she accompanied to him to the docks, and then stood on his shoulders so that she could see into a second-story window. Do these sound like the actions of a Regency debutante? Also, readers who are concerned about historical accuracy might wonder how come Devon is able to use someone else’s special license to marry Leah.

Readers who don’t demand an intimate connection to a romances’ main characters will probably enjoy A Scandalous Marriage for the way it takes chances with both form and character. Readers who want to feel closer to the characters, especially the heroine, might want to try another book.