How to Survive a Scandal

A would-be-duchess turns dishwasher in Parish’s delightful Regency debut. Benedict Asterly, a low-income member of the landed gentry, happens upon Lady Amelia Crofton half-frozen in an abandoned stagecoach and, in trying to revive her, unwittingly compromises her reputation, as they are discovered sitting together by a fire with Amelia in partial undress. Amelia’s fiancé, the Duke of Wildeford, calls off their engagement immediately, leaving her only one alternative to save her reputation: she must marry Asterly, a stranger. But can Amelia part with her dreams of becoming duchess for a life of cooking her own meals and cleaning up after herself in her titleless husband’s modest country estate? Asterly and Amelia are charming protagonists, and their growing affection for one another plays well against their mutual misconceptions about each other’s lifestyles. Amelia discovers there’s more to herself than her social graces as she helps Asterly save his manufacturing business and the livelihoods of his workers, while Asterly learns to value those same graces, along with Amelia’s savviness and spirit. The country setting and reversal of fortunes plot set this debut apart. With the perfect combination of drama, sensuality, and emotion, this refreshing story is sure to make a splash. [em]Agent: Kari Erickson, Hill Nadell Literary. (May) [/em]