So ummmm right off the bat, the title of this story is misleading. Sophia is not a virgin, and she did not ruin Lord Gray. In fact, if anything, Sophia seemed to save Tristan from a life of doing what his mother wanted (for example marrying a woman whose name he could not remember).

To be honest, I liked these characters. Sophia isn't the kind of heroine that you typically get in historical romances - and for me that gave her an edge. I liked that she wasn't afraid to take risks, and was determined enough that when she had a plan, she saw it through (even if said plan wasn't the best). I also enjoyed Tristan's character, although I would have liked to have seen more of him before he left Bow Street - and more on why he ended up with the nickname that he did.

When paired together, these two made quite a formidable team - and one of the things that made them so much fun was the fact that up until the last half of the book they weren't tripping over themselves to be in a relationship. In fact, the blatant mistrust and dislike between the pair made the sexual tension all the more fun. I enjoyed watching these two as they learned not only to trust one another, but come to rely on one another as well.

Where this lost a star for me, was in the fact that the ending seemed to end a little too abruptly without tying up all of the loose ends. Yes, our couple got their happily ever after, but with some of the conspirators are still at large, it just didn't feel "finished" to me. However, I did enjoy it enough that I would read more from this series to see if those "villain's" make another appearance (or at least get their comeuppance) in one of the other stories.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray is a rollicking good story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wasn’t familiar with Anna Bradley prior to reading it and I know now I will read more of her works. She has written quite a good romance but it deviates from traditional Regency as it is darker and grittier which tended to undermine the romance at times. That didn’t bother me, because there was so much mystery and action going on. The two main characters were great. Tristan, Lord Gray was a former Bow Street runner and Sophia Monmouth was a master of disguise. They started out as enemies but became closer as they contended with events that happened. I commend the author for incorporating relevant historical information into the story which for me is a plus. The epilogue was beautiful. This is a book I happily recommend to fellow HR fans. I thank Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions stated in the review are my own. Book rating: 5 stars; Heat level: 4.

The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray is the first volume in the new Anna Bradley’s series, titled The Swooning Virgins Society.
The author has already been published in France with A Wicked Way To Win An Earl that I read and loved for the same reasons I loved this one.
Clearly TVWRLG is a favorite. There’s everything I like: very likeable characters, a beautiful evolution for the love story, humor, emotion, suspense, and a beautiful happy end we can believe in.

The novel features Tristan Stratford, Lord Gray, and Sophia Monmouth. Tristan is a former Bow Street Runner who had to quit his job to become earl after his older brother’s death. Sophia is an orphan who was raised by a noble woman, Lady Clifford. The latter also took three young women under her wing (Cecilia, Georgiana and Emma) and she provides for their education in her school for young girls, Clifford School.
The establishment is well known by the Bow Street Runners, and so by Tristan, who considers Lady Clifford’s young students as outlaws. However, she has well-connected relations and no proof was found to take them out of circulation.
When our heroes meet, Sophia is hidden on the roof of Tristan’s neighbor’s house. He first mistakes her for a young man and decides to follow her in order to confound her. Between the high-speed chase and the revelation of the young woman’s identity, the hero understands why she was there. I won’t tell here and I’ll let readers discover exactly why. 
Tristan is inevitably very suspicious, however the immediate attraction he feels for the heroine has him hesitating on his actions, and he takes advantage of an unofficial investigation given by the magistrate to go on watching her.
Gradually as the story progresses and our heroes rub shoulders together, the hero’s basics in term of justice begin to bend, and he understands that, when feelings meddle, you just have to find the middle point.

The book’s suspense is very well done and even if I had doubts on the whys and the wherefores of the investigation, I only had the answers at the end. By the way, when I closed the book, I had all the answers to my questions. The second volume will be about one of Lady Clifford’s protégées, but clearly no plot will link the two volumes.
I also appreciated the fact the author talked about areas I didn’t know at all: Seven Dials, St. Clement Dane’s Church… The descriptions are precise, showing she made researches. The Bow Street Runners’ presence can’t mislead us on the period (especially when you know they stopped their activities in the 19th century).

I liked the different good characters: the hero, his friend Lord Lyndon, the heroine, the other wards of the school, Lady Clifford, Daniel Brixton and Jeremy Ives. I won’t tell you about the secondary characters because I’d like for the readers to discover them, but I can tell Jeremy is the one who broke my heart.

The hero is a character of great integrity: there’s Good on one side and Bad on the other. He’s quite surly and withdrawn, but when we know about his childhood and his recent past we understand why. I especially liked the evolution of his realization and the way he lets himself be caught by the feelings he has for the heroine.
The heroine is a very determined young woman, who makes her own choices according to what she believes in. She’s also very strong and knows how to extricate herself from dangerous situations, even if she will sometimes need the hero in the book. Her actions are sometimes risky but they are calculated risks.
There are not many love scenes but the attraction is very present, as I already said, and we believe in their feelings and in the HEA.

The only downside concerns the word virgin in the title, and by extension in the series, but I won’t say more about it. The word “swooning” is well chosen however. Indeed, the heroine and her friends (future heroines) are fans of Ann Radcliffe, but they think the heroines in her books pass to much time swooning. In TVWRLG, they are reading The romance of the forest.

You’ll have understood I loved this book and I can’t wait to read the second that will be titled The Virgin Who Vindicated Lord Darlington, expected in February 2021.

3.5 STARS

This is the first book of a new series entitled “The Swooning Virgins Society”, a title inspired by Anne Radcliffe’s books, especially “The Romance of the Forest” which is the book that the girls in the story are reading together. This is a series about a group of girls who live at Lady Clifford’s school for wayward girls… but the school is not what it seems.

What to expect from this book? It’s a novel that is inspired by gothic novels, there are even references to some of the writers of the time in it, it has a gothic feel to it. But it also reminds me of old detective and murder stories, the settings and environment of the story made me think of Sherlock Holmes and Jack The Ripper or Doctor Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. Not that the story has anything to do with any of them but the feeling of underlying anger, fear, misery and danger is there. It’s so exciting.

It’s 1793. ‘The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray’ begins one night when Lord Gray, the former Bow Street Runner known as The Ghost of Bow Street, is staring out of his window and suddenly he spots a young boy lying on his neighbor’s roof. Thinking that he might be a thief, Tristan, Lord Gray, goes out to chase the lad who is actually pursuing another man. The third man leads them to the place where Tristan’s best friend was murdered, but before the boy could do anything to the man, Tristan catches him only to discover that the boy is actually a young lady.

Sophia is trying to find out who framed Jeremy, a friend she loves like a brother, for murder when a giant man trapped her. She thinks Jeremy is innocent, while Tristan is convinced that the young man is guilty. This is the story of two people trying to solve the same murder from opposing angles each of them. On top of that Tristan thinks that Sophia has something to do with the whole thing.

Sophia is a brave young woman. She witnessed the murder of her own mother in Seven Dials, one of the worst parts of London, when she was only six. She is the first of the girls that took shelter at Lady Clifford’s school. The school is actually a cover, the girls are given an education but they are also trained to fight and solve mysteries in order to bring justice to corrupt powerful men. Sophia moves like a ninja, so to speak, she’s agile, she’s fast, she’s smart, and she’s resourceful. She is the one closest to Jeremy, a simple young man who works for the school, so that’s why she choses his case, she is the one who will save him from Newgate and the scaffold.

Tristan is described as very handsome and big, with a scar on his face and more in his fingers. He’s quite serious and severe. He hates the fact that after his brother’s demise he inherited an earldom and thus had to give up a job that he loved and that he was good at, more than that. He was the best and the most famous of the Runners. But before he leaves London for his estate and affairs, he elongates his work with the Runners because he wants to see the one who killed his best friend hanging from a rope.

Sophia and Tristan meet during a chase and will have to work together to solve the case. But before that happens they will have to learn to trust each other while at the same time love is knocking on their doors.

Speaking of love, this romance is a slow burn one. Because they’re enemies, they are on such terms that they’ll need to find common ground before even having the chance to fall in love, there’s sexual tension and attraction right from the start, but not love. Because they can see each other quite clearly, virtues and faults, but they can’t see each other’s hearts. They’re too far apart for that. Enemies to lovers at its purest.

**** 4.5 Stars Rounded Up ****

Oh! What a lovely, fun, exciting read, and just what I needed. It is well-plotted, well-written, very exciting, and romantic. I usually like one of the main characters and am more neutral on the other – but that isn’t the case here. They are wonderful characters who are deep, complex, and fully formed, and I adored both of them.

Sophia Monmouth has lived at the Clifford Charity School since her mother was murdered when she was seven years old. She lives there along with her friends Cecilia, Georgiana, and Emma – all under the guidance of Lady Amanda Clifford. The household is in a huge state of upset because Jeremy Ives, a member of the household, has been arrested and accused of murder. Everyone who knows Jeremy knows he is innocent, but nobody wants to hear it. It is Sophia’s mission to find a way to free Jeremy and she doesn’t intend to fail. Sophia is a tiny sprite of a woman who is quick, agile, crafty, and highly skilled at disguising herself and blending into the shadows. Sophia knows a servant of Lord Everly, Peter Sharpe, is lying about Jeremy – this isn’t Sharpe’s first involvement in a criminal case. She has been trailing him all over London and he always ends up back at the scene of all of the crimes – St. Clement Dane’s church.

Tristan Stratford, formerly a Bow Street runner known as the Ghost of Bow Street, is now the Earl of Gray. He never had a desire to be the earl but had no choice after the death of his brother. Tristan is only in London to wrap-up some affairs and to see justice done for his friend Henry Gerrard, a Bow Street runner, who was brutally murdered. The murderer has been arrested and is awaiting trial – Tristan cannot wait to see him swing. One day, as he’s looking out his window, he sees a boy lying totally still on Lord Everly’s pediment. The child is so still – totally unmoving – until – he’s up, off the pediment and…. Is he trailing someone? Tristan heads out and trails the boy – until he catches him …er…well catches HER. Oh! My!

Tristan and Sophia come from two very different backgrounds and they have very different views of justice and just how equal it is. Sophia manages to turn Tristan upside down and inside out. He thinks she’s a lawbreaker, but he’s drawn to her. Can he fight his attraction and bring her to justice? Is she really a lawbreaker? Their journey toward the HEA is one filled with danger and excitement.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Tristan and Sophia’s story. Now, you’ll have noticed that I gave the book 4.5 stars and rounded it up. The reason I did that is that I learned more about the Clifford Charity School and its mission by reading the book blurb than I did from the book. I have absolutely no clue why Lady Clifford began the school, why she takes in these girls, what the mission of the school really is, etc. It really annoys me when a book raises a lot of questions in my mind and doesn’t answer them. Maybe future books in the series will enlighten me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a fun read, but didn't reward reflection – while the plot was fun and I enjoyed the sparring between the characters, the story lacked emotional depth. Also, I would have loved to have seen more of the School for Wayward Girls, which was a major selling point in the blurb, but felt pretty much like an ordinary boarding school in the end.

The title of the book is incorrect because Sophia was not a virgin or an innocent. She was a feisty, courageous, and very smart heroine who was on a mission to save an innocent. I wish we had gotten more background on Lady Clifford's school because it would've added more depth to Sophia's upbringing. Most of the story was tied around a mystery and the hero & heroine's struggle to work together. I did like her pluck and courage to speak her mind.

While some are sipping tea and honing their feminine skills, Sophia Monmouth is climbing on roofs and chasing criminals. Comes in Tristan Stratford, Lord Gray, a former runner known as The Ghost of Bow Street, and Sophia's quest to exonerate her friend might become more complicated than she had imagined. Fear not, sparks fly between Sophia and Tristan, and the enemies of yesterday might well likely become the lovers of today.
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This was my first read by Anna Bradley, The story is well-written and Bradley weaves in seamlessly both mystery and romance. That said I felt as if the mystery plot overshadowed the romance. Both Tristan and Sophia are fascinated by one another, but their relationship felt a bit tepid at times, and the mystery plot-twist alone failed to keep me hooked till the end. It made for a pleasant and entertaining read, but it is not a book I would revisit again. I think this read would best suit fans of the enemy to lovers trope who also enjoy slow-burn reads with a sprinkle of suspense and mystery.
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3,5/5 ~
#fridayinaprilbookreviews
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I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sophia Monmouth is an orphan who was rescued by Lady Clifford and schooled at her Charity School for wayward girls. Tristan Stratford, Lord Gray, is a former Bow Street Runner. The two meet after Tristan notices Sophia on the rooftop of his neighbor’s house. They join forces to solve a murder.

This is a well-written, emotional read. Tristan is a swoon worthy hero, Sizzling romance, mystery which keeps you turning the pages.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this well written historical romance/adventure very much. It's the first time I've read anything by this author and it won't be the last. The story is set in 1793 London and Sophia and Tristan are busy trying to prove a young man is innocent of a murder. She was brought up on the streets and he's a newly appointed Earl after the death of his brother. He had been a Bow Street Runner. They don't like each other at the start, but quickly find themselves working together to find the real murderer. There's lots of running, climbing and action through London's dark streets.

The story was entertaining and whilst the H/h were constantly together in most scenes, the romance was slow burn and believable. I did think the main character's dialogue, mannerisms, morals etc were pretty modern, but a lot of historical romances are written this way these days. I enjoyed the way the author described the poorer areas of London - plus I liked the street dialect belonging to the local people - it was nicely written and entertaining. This is a story with romance woven through, not the reverse.

(Small points :- The penal colony in 1793 was at Botany Bay, New South Wales. (Australia was named in 1824). 'Gotten' was not a common English word of the era - they used 'got'. Also 'Bow Street Runner' was a nickname and Officers at Bow Street never referred to themselves as such. It was considered a derogatory term. With the moon behind the clouds in darkest 1700's London - at midnight - I'm not sure how anyone could determine hair, eye and skin colour in the blink of an eye. However, it was handy to have the H/h's descriptions settled so quickly. LOL)

I recommend this story. it's light, entertaining and a great way to spend a few hours relaxing. My thanks go to NetGalley and Lyrical Press for the eARC in return for my honest opinion.

The name of this book does not line up with the story. It was totally different from what I was expecting. This story had murders, mystery, cunning, skill, mystery and of course romance. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the sex scenes which I always skip ( that is just my choice and is the only reason I gave this book a 4 *). The characters where wonderfully written and likable. The story is easy to understand and follow. It is a book that keeps you turning the page. I will be looking forward to reading the next one. I received this book as an ARC and freely give my review.

I recieved an ARC of this book from the author via Netgalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tristan Stratford, Lord Gray, is a former bow street runner who has recently retired since he inherited the Earldom from his brother. He is a staunch believer in the justice system and wants to see his friend's murderer hanged. The person accused of murder is Jeremy Ives, a student of Miss Clifford, who is a simple man who doesn't understand the crime he committed. Jeremy is like a brother to the heroine, Sophia Monmouth, and she will do anything to save Jeremy including trying to convince Tristan to help her.

I'll admit that I had never read Anna Bradley and the title had me thinking that this book would just be okay. I was wrong! I really loved this book. Sophia was such a fun character. She was always doing things like sneaking around and coming up with crazy schemes. Tristan had trouble keeping up with her, but once he fell for her he was all in. He trusts her instincts, believes her, and protects her. These characters were really fun and well-developed. I am excited to read a story about Miss Clifford, her girls, and Lyndon.

The only thing I disliked was the title because it really doesn't mesh with the story, but don't let that keep you from reading this because this was a fun story packed with intriguing characters, lots of mischief, and my favorite trope class difference.

The story was good. Murder, mystery, an enigmatic school, a wily woman, and an earl -ex Bow Street Runner coming together to save A mans life and solve a crime.

It was mostly story and not sex scenes, which I did like. It gave more intellectual love growing before falling into bed.

The only thing I didn’t like was that I found out the title is false. It states in the title Virgin, but she was not. In my opinion, if it says it on the box it should be true on inside.

Other than that, it was a nice romance novel.

Can spying and danger lead to love? Sophia is a enigma to Lord Gray who once was or actually still is considered one of the most famous Bow Street Runners of all time. Poor Sophia has some how run afoul of Lord Gray which could pose a problem and hinder her investigation into helping a friend wrongly accused of murder.

However, if Sophia would play her cards right she just could get the skills of the best investigators to aid her if she wasn’t so suspicious of everyone who is an noble!
How are these two going to come together or are they going to be at cross purposes and mess up each other’s lives?
The author does a superb job on keeping the flow of the book moving and the only thing I wish is that there would have been more from the other characters in the book such as the other girls and more on Sophias background. I think the author lost a bit there that either she is saving for the next book which would be fantastic to carry it on as a series. I know that I would be interested and intrigued!

I would like to thank the authors and publishers who work diligently for us the readers.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting but this story was just so amazing in a lot of ways - romance, plot, tension, mystery and crime. And, this may be the first book by Anna Bradley I have read believe it or not but won't be the last.

The story was very well written, and great characters in Tristan and Sophia. I loved how besotted he was with her and the intrigue and danger was a good balance between the passion between them.

An exciting page turner that kept me up until the early hours.

The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray, by Anna Bradley. This was a beautiful story. Simple as that. Thank you to Anna for the wonderful opportunity of reading this romantic suspense. I was intrigued.
I was very impressed and I was drawn to the intense drama. The suspense and the exciting passion that transpires between Tristan and Sophia is superbly written. The book was written like a Saturday night TV drama. Anna’s writing instantly drew me in with the suspense that takes place in the beginning. Her descriptive details plays on the readers imagination as the creepy shadows runs threw the darkened cemetery.
Her descriptions of the scenes from the book, helped me to visualize the story as it played out in my mind. This helped me get comfortable with the book and feel the intensity. The passion. The rage. The trust and the betrayal Tristan and Sophia felt during their investigative journey.
I also enjoyed being able to connect with the characters in the book. This really tugged on my emotions. It had me rooting for a good outcome for the lead characters. Anna’s ability of writing a love story while adding mystery, suspense and some crazy drama, is profound. The witty banter, the tender moments and the darken moments are written so well.
Tristan and Sophia team up together to help the Bow Street Runners uncover a murder. At the same time they must rescue Sophias friend Daniel from the noose. Things don’t seem to go so well between the two from the beginning of the investigation. Trust, lies, and secrets play a big part between the two. To help them, longtime friends are called upon to lend their expertise.
As the duo gets closer to the truth in the darkened ally’s and cemeteries of London, Tristan and Sophia recognizes the attraction that that seems to be growing between them. Tristan realizes that he must protect his feisty little Pixie, Sophia. Little does Tristan know that his Pixie can take care of herself. Sophia’s character is written so well. She didn’t play the innocent, scared girl in this book.
She took charge of the situation and stared down the darkest danger that stood before, as Tristan stood by her side. These two people are woven together so well. As I read their tender, heart warming moments. I was able to see that the writer wanted her readers to get to know the characters. Having Tristan and Sophia share their struggles of their past and how they were able to overcome them, accomplished that.
From that point, the strong desires that Tristan desperately tried to hold back from Sophia, exploded with a seductive love dance behind closed doors. I recommend this book with two snaps and a “ Tribble?! Where are you man? What the devil are you standing there for?” Until next time my fellow readers...read on! I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.

I loved this romance. It had all the elements of a lovely regency mystery romance. The action was exciting and the plot moved quickly. The romance was spicy and sweet, which I adored. The "villan" made sense at the end as well. I think my only hesitation in reviewing this book is the title.... the author makes it clear that neither the hero nor the heroine are vigins. There is a reference to the title in a sweet scene, it's really just the virgin part that seems out of place and odd. I will 100% be reading the author's other books!

When Sophia Monmouth, of the Clifford Charity School for Wayward Girls seeks to clear the name of a friend set up for a murder he did not commit, she does bargain on being caught by Tristan Stratford, the former Bow Street runner, now Earl, Lord Gray. One question remains, was Sophia really captured or did she ensnare Tristan from the very beginning?

Typically I am not a fan of the "who done it" romances, as often it overtakes the hero and heroine falling in love. This was not the case with this story. Sophia and Tristan were well matched and very quickly got over any misconceptions they had of one another. I am hoping that future books delve into the background if the Clifford girls, as I have yet to figure out what happened to cause them to be brought in by Lady Clifford. There was a lot left unanswered about what happened with Sophia as a child. I am assuming Lady Clifford will have a story of her own that brings those pieces together.

In the meantime, I was very satisfied by this first book in what I am expecting to be a great series.

Historical fiction with a female sleuth, add in some romance...SOLD!!! When I read the description of this, I was super excited to read it, and I was not disappointed. I love the mystery and action in the novel! Add in some romance and it is a fun, exciting read. I can't wait fo rthe next one!!!!

I have read almost all books by this author and she never disappoints in terms of writing style: fluent, witty, entertaining. However, I must admit it took me over a third of this romance before I could connect. Too much setting up for both the plot of this book as well as the rest of the series took away from the romance itself. The other upcoming books in the series sound interesting, I'll be looking forward to reading them.