The year is 1910 and it has been five years since the great scandal at the sugar mill in Kävlinge shattered Desiree's life. Once she was the jewel of society, the daughter of a powerful sugar king and raised for one purpose - to become a perfect wife. But after a betrayal that broke both her heart and reputation, she has lived in the shadow of the scandal. No one wants her anymore.

As another Christmas approaches and time is running out, she goes against her older sister Harriet's advice to remain unmarried. In a last-ditch attempt to save herself, she accepts an arranged marriage with the reclusive professor Arvid Krook in Lund. He is her exact opposite, quiet, strict and difficult to reach, and life in the university city comes as a shock.

Their marriage begins in the cold, but as the December days pass, something changes. Among Lucia songs, glittering Christmas balls, swirling sugar dust and the snow-covered sugar mill, quiet moments of warmth and closeness begin to take root. However, marriage is not the salvation she hoped for. And how will she ever be able to trust a man again after everything she has been through? As doubts and secrets pile up, she finds an unexpected way back to herself. In the shadows, she begins to draw dresses and what begins as an escape soon becomes something bigger, something dangerous, and yet another scandal looks like it will be her downfall.

Will Christmas be the redemption she has dreamed of or will the truth destroy everything?

The Scandalous Christmas is an atmospheric romance about betrayal, longing and the courage to sew your own happiness in a time that wants to keep you in place. Where love, scandals and silk dresses are woven together in a December full of irresistible drama.