With the hero’s mental lusting for the heroine introduced in the fourth paragraph of the first chapter, I suspected that Scandal of the Year was going to be a challenge for me to read. I hoped that the scene was just an anomaly, but, sadly, it was just one of many that did not work for me.

James Rying owns a successful plantation in Barbados. A major tropical storm destroyed his crops and his house, leaving him with an immense need for funds. So when he receives a letter from a former employee of his cousin, stating that the individuals in London calling themselves George and Edith Crompton are imposters, he views this as a opportunity of a lifetime. Not only is he his cousin’s heir, but if he can prove that the two are frauds then he should be able to collect a reward. After viewing the couple and their exquisite daughter at the theatre, he realizes that he doesn’t know if the individuals are impostors or not since it has been twenty years since he last saw them. His cousin and his wife spent most of this time in India, and have recently returned to introduce their daughters to society. Going undercover is his best options, so he pays a footman in the Cromptons’ household to leave, and then arranges to take his place. This will give him the opportunity to gather the evidence he needs to expose the fraud.

Blythe Crompton loves everything about her introduction to society: the admiration, the gossip, the dancing, and especially appealing is the potential of an advantageous marriage to the Duke of Savoy, even though he is old enough to be her father. The problem is that she is a commoner, and the Duke’s daughter has stated unequivocally that she will never let her father marry someone so beneath him. But she has a perfect plan to eliminate that problem with the help of the new footman, James.

Within the first couple of chapters, I felt that Blythe’s characterization was all over the place. First she displays avarice in wanting to marry rank to take her place in high society and be lauded as a wonderful hostess, then she displays her egalitarian side with James, the new servant. Next, she wants to best the Duke’s daughter even though she wishes that she didn’t have to marry the Duke, because she so wants to marry for love. However, it would please Daddy if she did marry him. Many of the changes could be explained by character growth, except they happened so fast, that they come across as inconsistencies, rather then transformation.

James’ characterization is not as problematic, but he blows hot and cold. He thinks that Blythe is a cunning social climber but when he realizes that she is easily hurt by society’s snubs he surmises that must mean that she is not shallow. He gets upset when she looks right through him when he is in his servant’s disguise but then worries about her bringing attention to him. Even though he feels attracted to her, he plans on using her to divulge her parent’s ruse.

I can forgive a lot with a plot or even characterization if the author gives readers witty dialogue. Sadly, I found it quite ordinary. The book is not badly written, but neither the plot or the characters nor even the dialogue made me want to continue the book. Finally after reaching the end, I was even more dissatisfied with the over the top ending.

This book is the third in the Heiress in London series. If you have read the other two books, and want a sense of closure, then you might enjoy this book or if you are a fan of the books published under the author’s pseudonym, Barbara Dawson Smith. Otherwise, I would give this book a pass.