The Art of Scandal
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4.4 • 32 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A “wildly steamy, utterly heartwarming” debut filled with romance, artistic ambitions, political scandal, and finding love where you least expect it (Tia Williams).
Publishers Weekly Best Romance Book of 2023 · Chicago Public Library Best Romance of 2023 · A "Sarah’s BookShelves" Best Debut of 2023
"Love would be so much easier if it were perfect..."
On the night of her husband Matt’s fortieth birthday, Rachel Abbott receives a sexy, explicit text from her husband that she quickly realizes was meant for another woman. Divorce is inevitable, and Rachel is determined not to leave her thirteen-year marriage empty handed. Meanwhile, Matt, a rising star mayor with his eye on the White House, can’t afford a messy split in the middle of his reelection campaign. They strike a deal: Rachel gets one million dollars and their lavish house in the wealthy DC suburb of Oasis Springs, as long as she keeps playing the ideal Black trophy wife until the election.
Then Rachel meets Nathan Vasquez, a very handsome, very lost twenty-six-year-old artist, and their connection makes Rachel forget about being the perfect politician’s wife. As Rachel reawakens Nathan’s long-dormant artistic aspirations, their attraction becomes impossible to resist. But secrets are hard to keep in a town like Oasis Springs, and Nathan has a few of his own. With the risk of scandal looming and their hearts on the line, they’ll have to decide whether the possibility of losing everything is worth taking a chance on love.
The Art of Scandal is a sizzling, conversation-starting debut about rekindling passion, the transformative power of art, and finding love in unexpected places.
Includes a Reading Group Guide.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Black's steamy and evocative debut kicks off at white liberal D.C. mayor Matt Abbott's 40th birthday party, where his Black wife, Rachel, discovers he's having an affair. Knowing she signed an ironclad prenup, Rachel fears destitution should she leave Greg outright and negotiates for a million dollars and their suburban home in exchange for her silence during campaign season. But playing the perfect politician's wife becomes harder after she meets Mexican American Nathan Vasquez, 10 years her junior and the scion of another prominent local family. Nathan, an exceptionally good listener, offers comfort, respect, and admiration for Rachel as both a woman and an artist. Their emotional affair is stop-and-start as both try to fight their undeniable connection. Things heat up, however, when Rachel chooses Nathan as the featured artist at an upcoming gala she's hosting. As their feelings intensify, so does the risk of their affair causing a scandal that will destroy both their lives. Subplots about Nathan striving for independence from his domineering family and Rachel rediscovering the passion for art that she put on hold to support Greg add emotion and nuance to the story. As poignant as it is passionate, this marks Black as a writer to watch.
Customer Reviews
Scandal, Shock and Awe!
Baby scandal after scandal, shockers, revelations, romance, oh my! This book is filled with characters all harboring deep seated truths, concealed behind fake facades. But as we know what is done or hidden in the dark will come to light, and ba-by Ms. Black had everyone confronting their truths. Thinking I was just picking up my next easy read, I thoroughly enjoyed these tortured characters. This is a complete story, with what feels like an honest ending, and I loved it!
An amazing must-read debut novel!!
I absolutely love this book! “The Art of Scandal” has it all; secrets, indiscretions, family drama and an undeniable attraction between Rachel and Nathan. Their meet-cute at the local drive-in was emotional and it was the beginning of a secret relationship that could ruin both of their lives, but one they couldn’t live without. I love Rachel’s determination to find the woman she once was before she sold her soul to her husband Matt and his power-hungry family. She has a good life, her daughter has been well taken care of but something was missing, and she found it with a man who reminded her that she was worthy and deserving of the dreams she left behind.
The storyline was intriguing and fast paced as we watched Rachel deal with her new life and the “arrangement” she made with her unscrupulous husband. Nathan’s family dynamic was tailor-made for a reality series and he just wanted to live his life on his own terms, while losing himself in his artwork and with his growing feelings for Rachel, the woman who made him feel whole. I was captivated by all the characters from the moment I began reading and I stayed up late one night to finish, because I never knew what drama they would throw at each other next. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and I am glad I had the opportunity to read this amazing book.