A NOTE OF SCANDAL

In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, Olivia Delancey, daughter of Baron Pettigrew and composer of rousing martial marches, sells her compositions to the Beacon, using her friend Martin Purdy's name. Michelle Ford's crisp tones fit perfectly with the manners of the Regency period, during which women of means were sheltered from the world. William Marsh, the Beacon's owner, falls head over heels for Olivia while he searches for the true composer of the wildly popular tunes. As this romance moves from episode to episode, Ford's characterizations shift from shrill women to sexy ones, from bashful men to those of bluff and bravado. Stick with Ford's performance to learn which of Penttila's characters will survive society's inflexible conventions to achieve personal happiness. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2013]