This is the third book in Minerva Spencer's exciting series. However, it was my least favorite. Characters from the first two books get shoehorned into the middle section, slowing down the plot immensely. The parts about slavery are difficult to read, especially when the majority of characters are white; that seemed like a strange choice. The romance doesn't sizzle as much as her previous novels, but the writing is always excellent.

Captain Martin Bouchard started life as a slave but has risen in the world to helm his own ship, which hunts and captures slavers to free their human cargo. When he encounters such a vessel and discovers an English missionary’s intrepid, irritating daughter aboard, he can’t help but be intrigued. Sarah has spent her whole life in Africa, but finds herself suddenly on her way to England with the handsome, arrogant captain. With weeks on the ship together, the two are drawn together even as they resist.

This was an emotional ride. Both Martin and Sarah have trauma in their pasts, which affect their relationship. As with the two previous books in the series, there’s a shift in tone near the end toward an adventurous climax. But overall, an entertaining read.

Very good story. Ms. Spencer delves into the background of the characters, and as a result, you have a good understanding of them.

I’m a bit disappointed. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the prior two books in the series and I’m not sure if I can pinpoint why. Martín’s story is compelling, yet I’m bothered by some of his actions. I almost stopped reading because I wasn’t sure how he could or should redeem himself. The make up scene for the hero and heroine was almost too easy.

Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC!

I wasn't sure I could get into this story , but I'm glad it stuck with it. Martin is an interesting character whose has lived a brutal life. It is easy to understand his brutality. Sarah is a strong young woanwho will do whatever is necessary. I enjoyed her boldness. Thisstory is about slavery, brutality, redemption and love. Well done.

I've read all the books in the Outcasts Series. In Scandalous, Minerva Spencer does not disappoint. She has found the perfect woman for Captain Martin Bouchard. Sarah Fisher, a virginal missionary, has the capacity to love and care for people deeply. She's a woman of courage and she takes a stand for what she believes in. Martin has risen above the circumstances of his birth and with the help of his friend, Hugh Redvers, has made a success of his life. Outwardly he is vain, arrogant and in command, but inside he is wounded. Sarah sees the man inside as Martin sees past Sarah's plain countenance to the beauty inside. I consider myself a fan of Minerva Spencer and would buy/read anything she wrote.

Can she accept him for whom he is while he forgives himself for his own past.

Martín Étienne Bouchard is a former slave who ran away from America and became a privateer.
He shaped himself in the man he is now along the encounters he had on the way to his now-self.
At first sight he could have passed as being the vilain as he appears vain and uncaring but by sharing his thoughts the author reveals the tortured and broken man he is.
He is easily angered, haughty and arrogant, it is his way of dealing with his freedom dearly won. He is prone to fit of temper now he is released from his shackles, and he has every right to hold his head high for his own achievement.
And there is one person who seems to combine everything to bring the worst out of him.

Sarah Fisher a missionary’s daughter finds herself in a dire predicament when kidnapped among her neighbors as a slave for trade. She is an incredible woman, never a damsel in distress, always taking matter in hands whatever the outcome could be. She is not perfect, she struggles with her feelings and her upbringing lessons but she is a good woman, aware of her faults and chastising herself when she is not enough christian for her own taste.
Her more philosophical than Christian view of life put her on the path of a well known corsair.
The one man whom stirs the worse and the better from her, too bad he sees her only as an annoyance.
But does he really?
It was nearly impossible to put this book down, I read while walking, even while showering!
I needed absolutely to know what came after.

Mrs Spencer conducted a sizzling tale of redeeming where blindness and mishaps from the main couple caused a lot of hurt from one to another due to their awkwardness to communicate properly. They were unable to convey their feelings without putting their feet in the cookie jar, ineptly bringing the worst of the other out.

Martín reacts badly to kindness, he is like a caged animal, he strikes and bites. More suspicious to nice words than insults.
Sure at time, he is quite the wicked wretch. Bringing pain in return for his own hurts. I would have slapped him more than one time on the head, but Sarah while not reacting as badly as him is equally guilty of miscommunications and misconceptions.
What stunned me the most is that Martín’s behavior should have rattled me but I was so engrossed in the story, something to add to my praise of the author’s talent, I accepted it as part of his journey towards his healing.
Martín, sure, reaches summits of arrogance and haughtiness. He is such an aggravating man, portrayed as unable to see past his nose. But it is all a masquerade, him parading as a civilized man when inside he is consumed by a fury that eats him alive. Sarah could be his anchor if he does not drown before he accepts his own feelings.

This was my first read by Mrs Minerva Spencer and it will not be the last. Her tale is vivid and colorful with fleshy flawed paper heroes honor bond to right the wrong done around them.

I just have one interrogation, with an acute accent on Martín?
Edited review : a friend of mine got an explanation from the author, Martín origin’s name is not from a French fellow but a Mexican, why an accent.

A fat 5 stars

I was granted by Netgalley and the publisher Kensington an advance copy. I purchased also my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Sarah Fisher is a missionary. She wants to continue her parents' work in her homeland, but slavers kidnapped nearly everyone on their island. Sarah sees an opportunity to help her people escape, but unfortunately, finds herself at the mercy of another man, Captain Martin Bouchard. When one of the crewmen's life is at stake, Sarah offers her body in exchange for his life.

Although Sarah isn't his type, Martin finds no reason to turn her down. It isn't long before she turns the tables on him, and Martin determines just to be rid of her. Unfortunately, fate has other plans. Martin must take Sarah back to her family in England. How will Martin ever survive the trip? More may be at stake than just his sanity.

SCANDALOUS is expertly crafted. Page after page, I was drawn deeper into the story. I have wanted to know more about the wicked Martin ever since he was introduced earlier in author Minerva Spencer's OUTCASTS series. Martin has overcome such terrible circumstances and has rose above despite it all. He is a hero to admire. He struggles with the proper way to treat people based on how he was brought up so I had to bear that in mind a lot when I didn't care for his behavior toward Sarah. Thank goodness Sarah is strong, courageous and possesses a good back bone. Without it, she would have never been able to get past Martin's defenses. It is obvious they love one another early one, but I feel the struggle to reach their HEA is very realistic. SCANDALOUS is why Minerva Spencer is one of my favorite authors!

A privateer named Captain Martín Bouchard sails his ship, the Golden Scythe, to capture ships loaded with slaves off the coast of Africa. This particular ship,The Blue Bird, is Dutch and also carries an English lady. From the first time the lady sets foot on his ship, Martīn's life will never be the same. A lot of insecurities on both sides makes it very difficult for Sarah and Martín to build any kind of relationship. It's definitely rough seas for these two. Spencer always has the most unusual characters with peculiar tendencies that either bring a chuckle or a hope for their demise. I have to say I missed the pets in this one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This novel deals a bit with slavery, where people in Africa were sold and bought and transported. What some of the slaves were forced to do, impacted them in different ways. Captain Martin Bouchard was a slave once and did whatever he could to escape. Now, commanding his own ship as a privateer and working with the British government, he goes after those slavers with a vengeance. He life was straightforward until he meets Sarah Fisher, a missionary working in Africa who was taken with the people of the village to be sold into slavery. Sarah is different from any woman Martin has ever encountered, especially when she points a pistol at him and offers herself to save the lives of others, even though she detests what the slavers did, she is a Christian and believes in forgiveness. As they travel to England, both develop feelings, but Martin does not understand what they mean, for who could love a former slave with a horrid past? When Martin's past returns, he will do whatever is necessary to keep Sarah safe, even if it is from himself.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an emotionallly packed historical romance and I'm conflicted on how to rate it. On one hand it was beautifully written, the characters well fleshed out and the storyline compelling. Both main characters come from difficult backgrounds. Sarah a missionary than a forced slave who happens to be captured by the elusive pirate, Martin.
Now Martin is an escaped slave who finds wealth in capturing slave ships, freeing the slaves and keeping the loot. He becomes infactuated with Sarah but is so scarred by his past as a slave that he cannot fathom a future with her, who ends up having rich relatives. What ruins it for me was Martins constant tantrum when Sarah is attended by other men and his wallowing pity parties about not matching up. At some point you just want him to man up and go after what he really wants.
But as a whole it was good novel with tough subject matters and strong characters.