Scandalous by Kris Bryant

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


4.5 rounded up.

I’ve become a pretty big Kris Bryant fan over the years. Yes, I’ve liked some of her books better than others, but there’s always something good in them. I went back and forth several times before requesting Scandalous from NetGalley because I have a hard time with the lying that is a given in a twin-swapping story. One of the love interests is going to be fooled and, for me, it’s almost always an uncomfortable situation. I’m a firm believer in open, honest communication – both in real life and in my romance novels. There’s plenty of angst and drama to be found without miscommunication or lies to be needed as a plot device. But I like Bryant, so I figured, what the hell?

Luckily, the deceit doesn’t last long and then we get lots of communication. Sure, there’s still some things that either or both don’t want to talk about, but it wasn’t used as a way to ratchet up the drama.

Hollywood is full of scandals…what’s one more?

When Amelia’s identical twin sister, Zoey, asks her to step in for her at a conference for supernatural TV shows while she auditions for a blockbuster movie, Amelia reluctantly agrees. She could use the money to keep her mini highland cow rescue, Mizzou Moos, afloat. She can pretend to be famous for twenty-four hours. What could possibly go wrong?

Lindsay Brooks hates playing babysitter to the stars, but that’s part of her job as assistant producer for the breakout show Thirteen Witches. Things get confusing when sparks fly between her and one of the main leads at the con, and all hell breaks loose when evidence surfaces of the actress and her identical twin switching places. Everyone’s in an uproar about getting duped, but Lindsay’s more concerned about finding out which twin she made out with.

That kiss made her melt and no one else has ever made her feel like swooning, but tracking Amelia down and getting to the truth might change the course of her career. She’s prepared to lose her job, but losing her heart would be scandalous.

I loved Lindsay and Amelia together. Very different women with different needs and careers but they fit so well together. But the best part of the book? The animals, hands down. And the little logo at the beginning of the book makes me so happy! It’s worth picking up a print or ebook copy just to see it. Also, my wife absolutely refuses to let me get a mini cow. She’s mean but also probably very smart to deny my life’s dream of owning a cow.

There’s also some intrigue mixed in with the love and sweet, sweet farm babies. It was fine. I’m not sure how much it adds or takes away from the main story, but it was fine.

My only real issue with the book will probably be fixed by the time it’s published. There were still lots of typos, extra or missing words, and stuff like that. All proofreader stuff and I don’t know that it went that far before NetGalley got it.

So, as far as I’m concerned, Scandalous is another hit for Ms. Bryant.

Big thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for hooking me up with an ARC!



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