This story has everything, stoic, handsome hero; smart, sassy, tender heroine; some seriously evil villains and a slew of other characters! Great plot! I don't every tell spoilers in my reviews, but this is a romance/mystery that you won't be able to put down. I found Tristan to be a wonderful man! He's inherited a title he never wanted. Sophia is an orphan from Seven Dials, who was lucky to have been chosen to attend a special school for girls. The adventure starts when Tristan thinks he sees a corpse on the roof next door.

After other corpses, visits to Newgate, scary visits to graveyards, our couple discovery they can't live without each other...and they just might not!

I hope this is the beginning of a series by Ms. Bradley as there are other characters in this story I'd like to get to know.

A feisty and independent woman, Sophia, tries to find justice for her friend who is wrongly accused of murder. In doing so she enlists ex bow street runner and newly inherited Tristan who is Lord Gray. This is the first book in the Swooning Virgins Society series. I’m not sure why this series is named this as Sophia is neither one of those things. I look forward to the next book in the series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.

Tristan Stratford, Earl of Gray, former Bow Street Runner finds himself back on the job when he encounters Sophia Monmouth in the dark streets of London. The murder of his best friend haunts him and he sees justice in hanging his murderer. Sophia wants to prove that the young man set to hang is innocent. As Tristan and Sophia search for the real killer, they find more clues that lead to connections in very high places. These two definitely butt heads. Tristan has met his match!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

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This is the first in a new series by Anna Bradley, whom I LOVE. I think she's my favorite writer. I just adore her descriptions and her tensions and her love scenes and kisses are so hot and poetic at the same time...sigh.

Anyway. This book had a different feel than the others by her I have tried. This book has way more plot going on, more danger, more mystery/crime solving and less on the romance. This makes me very sad. Very, very sad. The romance in this book is SO GOOD. But I do think it was secondary to building the entire case and main problem taking place in the story. Some of you may prefer this. I'm hoping her future books amp up the romance in this series because she does it so so well.

In this story, our heroine Sophia, became an orphan at a young age. Her story is quite heartbreaking. She was rescued by Lady Clifford and schooled at the Clifford Charity School for Wayward Girls. A school where more goes on than it seems behind the closed doors. Sophia has spent her life in the shadows. She's very agile, invisible in the London night, and ready and eager to stalk those that must be stalked and brought to justice. She's a tiny thing, and prefers wearing trousers to get around, especially since she's developed a love for traveling on rooftops.

Tristan was a bow street runner. Was, because he has now had to take on the responsibility of the earldom and is now Lord Gray. But it's very hard to leave his past career behind when he suddenly spies someone on his neighbors roof lying in wait. Tristan still isn't over the gruesome murder of his colleague and fellow bow street runner. He refuses to return to his country estate until justice is served. But when he meets Sophia, she challenges everything that he thinks he knows about justice.

This book is not particularly steamy. It has a few kisses, then 1-2 full open door scenes around 80%. She does write explicitly, but they aren't especially long in this book. I find her love scenes and kisses filled with feelings. I adore them. Though in this book I was desperately wishing for more. More balance with the love and crime solving. A bit more tension.

Give this book a try if you like:
-a splash of enemies to lovers. There's a bit of time in the beginning when they are feeling each other out and they definitely aren't friends.
-Some type of crime/murder mystery to solve. This one is the main plot in the book and some of it might surprise you as you get to the conclusion.
-A bit of action. There's plenty of running through the London night, some attacks, stalking
-class differences – hero is an earl and heroine is born in the gutter of seven dials
-a non virgin heroine. Yes, I know, the title. I was pretty disappointed. But Sophia has had one lover but she's not vastly experienced.
-Heroine disguised as a man – she regularly runs around in trousers and Tristan actually believes shes a boy when he first meets her.
-A bit of darkness with a crime to be solved, multiple murders taking place/talked about, and a corrupt justice system being experienced

So, I liked a lot of this story. I was interested in the solving of the murders and the look into the justice system. However, I have also been feeling really depressed about things going on in current events and I didn't love it all in my face during my 'escape time'. But Bradley did it wonderfully and I was still interested in everything going on and wondering what was going to happen. I wanted more romance, more of them focused on each other instead of the crimes that were paramount here. I was also sad that Sophia wasn't a virgin, the title made me expect it, but as I read I also understood about her group of swooning virgins and that it didn't mean they themselves were virgins. I just prefer that, I'm sure others won't care about it. The action was fast paced and wonderfully written and I was super engaged and waiting on my toes for what would happen.

The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray
By: Anna Bradley
Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️

This book is first in the series and features Tristan and Sophia. This is an opposites attract story. She is full of life and wiling to take chances to help people she loves. He is dull, responsible, and resigned to do his duty as the Earl by settling down and getting married to the lady of his mothers choosing.

- H likable? Yes. Tristan has recently come into title after his older brother’s death. He is a former Bow Street runner, aware of his duty to his mother and the earldom.
- h likable? Yes. Sophia is reckless, stubborn, and willful. She is an orphan who was taken in by Clifford School. She is trying to save a male servant who was framed for the murder of a Bow Street Runner.

- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 48%
- First time they sleep together: 75%
- OW/OM drama? No
- H/h cheat? No
- Steamy? No
- Did I skip pages? Yes, the murder mystery ones
- Big secrets? No
- Did I cry? No
- Cliffhanger? No
- How it ends: HEA
- Recommend? Yes. I really enjoyed interactions between Tristan and his best friend Lyndon. The focus of this book is on the finding the person who killed the bow street runner not the romance.
Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC.

I loved this book! This was definitely a darker and grittier historical romance and it was oh so good. Both the main characters are crime fighting badasses, just one does it as a Bow Street Runner and the other is a nighttime vigilante.

Sophia Monmount was rescued as an orphan by Lady Clifford who collects orphans and trains them to help her seek justice against bad aristocrats "under the table" so to speak. Sophia is not your usual heroine. She isn't a lady, there are no glittering ballgowns and fan waving for her. In fact, she spends the majority of the book sneaking around London at night dressed in breeches. Sophia is on a mission to clear her friend who has been wrongly charged for murder. She is fierce and strong, but also vulnerable and feminine. I just loved her!

Tristian Stratford is the second son of an Earl, who has made his way in the world as a Bow Street Runner. With the death of his brother Tristian now finds himself retiring from being a runner and assuming the position of Earl, a position he never wanted. While waiting around to see his friend's killer brought to justice, he meets Sophia in a rather unorthodox manner.

Tristian, known as the Ghost of Bow Street, meets his match in Sophia. She challenges him in ways he has never been challenged. Tristian has a strong moral compass and believes in the justice system, a system which Sophia claims is failing the lower class of London. She calls his whole belief system into question, but in a good way.

I just loved their bond they formed while unraveling this mystery of Sophia's friend. While Tristian is a rule follower, Sophia is a rule breaker who takes big risks. The first half of the book is a slow build up, laying the foundation of the characters and the story they are in. There is attraction, lust and a mutual distrust between them at first. The second half of the book builds on their relationship and their trust begins to grow. Sophia and Tristian become a team and it is magical.

I loved this breakaway from the traditional historical romance. This was a breath of fresh air. It brings to light the injustice of the justice system during this time period and I really appreciate all the research the author put into this. I really enjoyed the author's note at the end which is full of historical facts she incorporated into this book. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series!

I started this book with low expectations. I don't know why as I am a big fan of Anna Bradley, but I was quickly swept up in the thrill of the chase. I usually can figure out the bad guy well before the big reveal. I was kept guessing with this and was shocked by the reveal. 

This story is well-plotted, with engaging characters. There is a natural flow to it, and it keeps the reader engaged. There is the perfect balance of intrigue, danger, romance and sex. 

I don't get the name of this book as neither of our main characters are virgins. Sophia had one previous lover, and she openly admits this to Gray before anything happens. This is no one affects the story, but it was a bit of a surprise given the title.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a solidly written romance with lots of classic tropes and a much loved HEA. While the book felt a little slow to start, once embedded in the story, there is plenty of action and romance to keep the reader engaged.

The main characters were likable and show some growth, their romance is rooted in finding a middle ground on issues of trust and justice. The premise of the Swooning Virgins Society is a great base for a series. Lady Clifford and her carefully selected crew of smart women adds a fun flair to the romance genre. The background of solving a murder gives the book a little more excitement in addition to the love story.

This will make a great cozy fall read and I look forward to seeing more books in this series.

This story started out kind of slow and confusing, but then it got down to business. The heroine is a orphan that Lady Clofford collects. She doesn't take just any child in, she is training them to slide round London and correct justice from behind. Very ingenious. The hero is a second son who inherited the earldom after his brother died. He was a second son who worked as a detective for Bow Street. At first I thought he was very old, like in his 30's, but he became younger as the book moved along into a more serious minded younger man in his mid 20"s. The heroine is 20-ish. There is a great deal of intrigue and kidnapping people from prison and everyone gets bashed on the head at one time or another,,,,that is an exaggeration. But a lot of head bashing does go on for a romance novel. I like the mix of aristocrat and common people in this story. I am sure there were many people who inherited titles and looked at the ton like they had been taken out of normal and placed into delusionia. There was some learning about the justice system. This book was all over the place, but in a controlled and comprehensive manner. Most authors can't do that and this author was able to take a romance story plot and turn it into a memorable love story. I look forward to seeing what else this author has written. I highly recommend it with 5 stars. The grammar and spelling are correct and the story has a definite beginning and end with no dangling bits.

Two souls in pain.
Sophia Monmount. Rescued as an orphan by Lady Clifford. The first of several rescues and taught many useful skills by Lady Clifford. She gathers information.
Lord Gray, retired bow street runner, upset over the murder of a dear friend.
Their worlds collide and despite their suspicions of one another, they must work together to achieve the goal they both desire ...at the moment.
Together they endure intrigue and danger, both getting attacked and injured. Eventually they stop fighting their lust and enter a steamy and sensual arrangement. They come to realize their 'lust' is love...the enduring kind.
Plenty of action and intrigue and erotic scenes make this book a fast read.
Recommended for like heat with their romantic mystery. That it is historical also is just another plus.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and offer my opinion freely.

My first thought was that this book is better than the somewhat cheesy (and misleading) title.

This was my first Anna Bradley book and I’ll definitely say that the characters are probably the best part of this book. Sophie is smart and likable and Tristan is likable too with a pretty strong sense of justice.

An interesting plot with a somewhat modern take on the era - with a friend of Sophia’s wrongfully imprisoned for killing Tristans’s friend.

Full review to come closer to publication date.

An enjoyable read by Ms. Bradley that includes action, romance, and spying. Sophia is an intriguing woman, smart, witty, loyal, and clever. She is able to get around with none the wiser, until one day she draws the Ghost of Bow Street's attention. Tristan has a title that he never wanted and formerly worked for Bow Street. He believes in justice and bringing down those responsible. He is curious about Sophia and is frustrated with her plans to discover the true killer, who killed a friend of Tristan's and wrongly put Sophia's friend in jail for the murder. Tristan keeps an eye on Sophia, who has her own agenda, for justice has already been served. However, his original decision changes when more facts come to life. Sophia and Tristan begin to work together to discover the truth of the matter and it goes deeper than they suspected. Neither thought feelings would enter into the equation, but time is running out and Sophia's involvement has put a target on her back.
I received this novel as an ARC from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Set in 17th century England, the book provides an interesting story line with many unique features. A female detective, marrying out of class, females with self determination, and supportive male roles. The first few chapters are somewhat slow as the author sets up the time and place. The plot takes off right after that and becomes a page turner. The title is misleading as Sophie admits that she is not a virgin. The loose end of Sophie's parentage is not resolved at the end of this book. A good read for a weekend or during travel.