Rose Stevens has left her London life behind her to settle in the quiet village of Great Brayford. She has bought a little cottage where she can live and run her Aromatherapy business from. Rose is looking for a fresh start away from her complicated past with her ex-lover Hugh. However, things don't quite go to plan due to the nosy neighbours jumping to the conclusion that she is offering far more than a back massage and essential oils. Plus she meets Dan, who she is instantly attracted to but he is already spoken for by one of the village's most beautiful and high maintenance residents.
A Whiff of Scandal is another great book from Carole Matthews. The writing is very witty and engaging, I loved all of the characters. Angelica and Anise are the two elderly sisters living opposite Rose, Anise is the driving force behind convincing the other villagers that Rose is actually a lady of the night. I warmed to Dan too, Rose's arrival in Great Brayford makes him realise that his long-term relationship has not been right for a long time. Rose ties all of the characters together and I enjoyed the fact that she had some flaws too. Rose is not proud of some of her past actions yet she appears to be heading towards making the same mistakes all over again.
I think that Carole Matthews really showed eccentric British village life. Rose has to prove who she really is so that the other villagers can't keep jumping to conclusions however comical the results. A Whiff of Scandal is a good, entertaining read that I would recommend.
