This is quite a unique historical romance. It felt like an old-school histrom mixed with a reality tv show. Overall it wasn't for me, but it is well written and I could see the series being perfect for someone else.
I thought I would be thrown off by the cheating, but that really wasn't it. Without spoiling much, there is an HEA and the actual romance was well done. But it almost didn't feel like a historical- it felt so modern in so many ways, that sometimes I would find myself picturing the characters in the present day. That was the part I disliked actually.
It is a fresh take on the genre. There is some setting up for the characters of future installments in the series, which was a bit clunky. I'm undecided on if I'll read future installments of this series.

Star Rating: 2/5
Tropes: Forbidden romance, group of girlfriends, slow burn
CW: Infidelity, toxic relationship

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, a thank you to Avon and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

The Scandalous Ladies of London is Sophie Jordan's first book in a new series which follows the sophisticated, and at times catty, women of the ton and the scandal filled romances that are apart of their lives. This story follows Lady Gertrude, Tru, as she navigates her notoriously unfaithful husband while helping her daughter enter the marriage mart. The season is turned on its head when Tru meets Jasper, a younger rich man, who catches her eye at a party while courting her daughter.

This was a very unique regency romance as it highlights and fights against the idea that women must suffer their loveless marriages in silence. Jordan does a wonderful job of introducing readers to this new series and sets up the next several housewives that will be highlighted. These ladies truly are scandalous and will leave readers eager to devour their confessionals one by one. Another beautifully well done regency romance from Sophie Jordan.

Let me just start off by saying that I loved this cover. It is what drew me to try this book. However, I loved the premise but it fell short for me. It felt as though something was lacking. I think the many POVs bouncing around took away from the main story. I really loved Tru and Jasper. The book was scandalous and lived up to its namesake! Suffice it to say, I do look forward to the next book and will absolutely give it a try.

3.5 Stars

I'm a sucker for a forbidden romance. I read this blurb and saw that it was about a married woman who has an affair with her daughter's potential suitor...in Regency England and I couldn't sign up for this ARC quickly enough.

Jasper and Tru have an instant connection that is only heightened by the fact that there should be nothing between them at all. I loved their first meeting, although it was a little predictable that it would happen, it set the expectation for what was to come nicely.

I loved their connection. I loved that while her husband was vile, it wasn't really used as any type of justification for her behavior

The only thing missing, and this is a thing for me, is a bit of a spoiler so I won't get into it...suffice to say for a romance to check all the boxes it needs to have certain things and this was missing just one...which admittedly isn't even an issue for a lot of readers and didn't ultimately keep me from enjoying the book.

I enjoyed and recommend this title and I'm going to be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.

3.5 Stars. This first book in a new series which is essentially The Real Housewives of the Regency, follows Lady Gertrude, Tru, as she navigates an unfaithful and greedy husband, a daughter entering the marriage mart, and Jasper, the younger very rich man, who catches her eye at a party. The complicated dynamics of a loveless society marriage are at the forefront in the is tale of Tru and her friends of the ton.

This was a very unique regency romance as it breaks a major rule that many readers consider an essential part of the genre. There is a of course an HEA, but Tru does sleep with a man she is not married to. I’m usually one who DNF’s at he first sign of cheating, but like with Lorraine Heath’s Waking Up with the Duke, I was fine with it in this book. However, just because I was fine with it does not mean that others will be. I really did like Tru and Jasper together, but their story was a bit too much of a slow burn than I was expecting from a Sophie Jordan novel.

As this was the first book in a new series there was a lot of exposition introducing us to the various characters that will carry the series, which made some sections of the book very slow. While the plot of this book was focused on Tru and Jasper, there were sections from the POV of other characters including Tru’s husband, Tru’s daughter, the and a few of Tru’s friends who will likely be the “housewives” in the next couple books. As a fan of the Housewives TV series, I liked that each chapter started with a quote from Tru that would be comparable to a confessional quote on the show. I will say that because of the time spent with the other characters I am invested in their stories, going forward, but I really hope that the other books will be a bit faster paced.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read, and enjoyed, a few Sophie Jordan books. I liked that main characters of this romance were over 30.
But a fair amount of time was spent introducing characters and their histories and relationships. The characters felt tropey even by romance standards and it was hard to keep track of them because there was so many.

If you like regency romance books or Bridgerton you may like this.

The Countess is the first in the unique new series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, by author Sophie Jordan. I'm not exaggerating when I say it felt so different than any other historical romance. The stakes just felt higher and I honestly didn't know how it was going to end. I also need to mention how absolutely gorgeous the cover is. As soon as I saw it, I needed to add it to my TBR.

Tru is in a horrible marriage. Her husband is a wastrel who is inattentive and cruel to say the least. Chatham ignores his daughter and wife because they have no worth to him. He moved out after his son was born and hardly ever returns. Once he gets wind that his daughter is entering the marriage mart and is considered to be the diamond of the season he returns to force her into a marriage as soon as possible to secure funds for his frivolous lifestyle (it's expensive keeping mistresses happy.) He's picked out a tycoon named Jasper Thorne and is prepared to offer her up to him any way he can.

Tru attends a séance where she meets a mysterious man. They have immediate chemistry and Tru considers for the first time stepping outside her marriage. She's never felt desired by a man before and is used to the ton calling her the Cold Countess behind her back. They regrettably part without anything other than a kiss between them. Of course the next night, her husband makes the whole family attend a ball to meet Delia's prospective suitor and it's none other than the mysterious man Tru kissed the night before.

The push and pull of chemistry between the two was sizzling. I've never been a fan of cheating in books but Tru deserved every happiness after suffering a marriage with Chatham for all those years. Jasper is a few years younger than Tru and pretty much gone for her from first sight. He was always trying to convince her to give into their feelings. I was really quite nervous how a book like this could end with an HEA. I think the ending worked out quite as it should. I don't know if that type of a resolution can continue to be replicated with the other characters stories without suspending a lot of disbelief and becoming repititious. I'm really curious to see what direction the next in the series go in.

I will say that I wasn't quite as sure about the numerous point of views included. I understand it's a set up for the series, but in the first book it was a great deal to keep up with. The book begin slowly but the pace picked up after Tru and Jasper meet. There are quite a few scenes that don't gloss over the not so great aspects of marriage for a variety of characters. The tone of this novel was much darker than anything I've read from Jordan before.

Tropes included: cheating, daughter's suitor, older heroine, class difference, house party, fake relationship (Jasper and Delia), forbidden

All in all, everyone who enjoys historicals should give this one a go if they are looking for something new and refreshing. The Countess lives up to its series name and is indeed scandalous. I give Jordan credit for trying something different. She was successful in creating something that kept me guessing but still felt familiar to the Historical romance genre that I love.

Thank you to Sophie Jordan, NetGalley, and Avon Harper Voyager for a copy of this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #sophiejordan #thecountess #avonharpervoyager #scandalousladiesoflondon

Sophie Jordan is a must-read author for me. The fact that the main characters of this romance were over 30 and the FMC is older than the MMC is a welcome diversion from traditional historical romances. Overall, I enjoyed this romance between a mother of debutante and the man who is initially interested in her debutante daughter. My one critique is how much time was spent world-building for future books in the series. A fair amount of time was spent introducing characters and their histories and relationships. It felt like the romance between the MCs wasn’t as fleshed out as a result and the conflict quickly resolved. I did find myself invested in several of the side characters, however, and I will be absolutely looking forward to their books!

My thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Sophie Jordan for access to an e-ARC in return for an honest review.

Sophie Jordan writes incredible historical romance, her style sucks you in every time. If you are a fan or Bridgerton, you'll definitely love this! There are a lot of characters and it starts a little slow, but Sophie delivers!

Tru has been unhappily married for twenty years, embracing the moniker of the "cold countess" as she lives independently from her husband with her two children. When her husband learns that their daughter is the toast of the season he sets about finding a rich husband for her. Enter Jasper Thorne.
Unfortunately Tru has already met Jasper, in a scandalous moment on the balcony of a seance where he propositioned her. Now Tru finds herself increasingly drawn to a man who is courting her daughter (or is he?).
I never really got into this book, and the resolution was a little dramatic and silly for me. But overall a decent historical romance.

While a quick peruse of other reviews shows this is a minority opinion, this book was not a great pick for me. Now, I have previously read, and enjoyed, a few Sophie Jordan books, so this surprised me quite a bit. While previous books were rated somewhere in the realm of “solid, though not revolutionary,” this one fell very flat.

The characters felt tropey even by romance standards and so much time was spent introducing them and all the ways they interconnect that I feel I didn't get much story. Granted, the introductory book in a series requires a lot of exposition AND a plot that makes you want the next book, so this may just be an unfortunate consequence of world-building. As for the romantic pairing…not feeling the chemistry there. I love a “lust at first sight” as much as the next, but this didn't sizzle.

****SPOILERS AHEAD****
As for the plot, the HEA (and seemingly the HEAs of other series stars) seems to hinge heavily on the unfortunate demise of the pesky spouses. How many dead aristocrats can tumble by in order to wrap up the narrative? The plot felt like ever so much build up then ever so little resolution.

All that said, I would like to read the next one since I think there is a really neat premise in here and I can see a few pathways to a strong through thread. I am hoping that this was a one-off just not being the right book for me.

I really enjoyed this twist on the traditional historical romance genre. I am a fan of Sophie Jordan's books, and I anticipate I will also like the reading the next books in this new series of hers. I"m not giving anything away by saying that books focusing on the love lives of the mothers of the ton is a concept I had hoped one day to read and now it is here.

I really love Sophie Jordan books! So I was thrilled to have been given this one early! I loved the trope(daughters suitor) and was excited to see how it would go! It didn’t disappoint at all! Tru and Jasper are wonderful! Try is a Countess, a mother of 2, and lives separate from her no good husband! She’s going to launching her daughter into her first season. So when she finds out her husband has found the perfect husband for Delia, Tru isn’t expecting it to be the man she encounter at a party, with whom she had an instant List connection with! Jasper is self made, has money and no title, and a father. He’s looking for lady to marry for his daughter. He wants to do good by her. So when Jasper decides he wants Tru, him and Delia come up with a plan to fake court in hopes he can get closer to Tru! This book really had me on edge with their tension, steamy kisses, and slow burn goodness! I loved how Jasper didn’t give up on going for what he wanted no matter the outcome! Plus this held a few surprises along the way! This book had so many fun characters that I can’t wait for their stories!

I’ve been really into regency romances lately, and I have to admit, it’s probably my new favorite one! Can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!

This book has a lot of interesting tropes I’ve never read before with some elements that are a liiiiittle sketch. But overall, it’s the Scandalous Ladies of London series. It can’t be that title and the scandal be women who just want to sneak out to a gaming hell like every other HR out there.

Tru is married to a complete jerk who checks all the boxes for a big fat divorce but obvs, this is HR and earls and countesses don’t get divorced! They get side lovers! Well, earls do. Tru has been, well, true to her husband despite the fact that he’s grade A garbage.

Jasper is a hotel tycoon with a ten year old daughter we never meet. I’m forever grateful to Sophie Jordan for this lovely trope. More absentee father’s in romance please. I don’t need a chapter of little girls going, “Papa, I need a mother and I want you to be happy.” Sucks all the sexual chemistry right out of the book!!

Jasper and Tru meet and obvs they don’t exchange names because that’s not what you do when you have sexually charged conversations with strangers. You make heated glances and take panting breaths and then leave. Everyone knows this. So then it’s really fun when these two meet.

Lady Chatham, please Mr. Thorne, the man selected by your sucky husband to court and marry your daughter.

I’ll admit, Stacy’s Mom was in my head for a portion of this book.

Definitely scandalous, and a scandal I haven’t seen before so I tip my hat to Sophie Jordan for that. My only complaint is the ending which I won’t spoil but will write a note to the publisher about because how they gonna do me dirty like this?!

Excited for this series and all the scandals to come!

ARC provided by the publisher, review is my own.

One thing I appreciate about Sophie Jordan is how competent she is as an author, whether she's writing anything from new adult to dystopian YA to historical romance; sometimes that's all you really need, and this book was one such example. I thought the plot was too neatly resolved in the end, but I liked the ensemble cast and the main couple here, and look forward to reading other books with these characters!

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Sophie Jordan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This was a super entertaining historical romance and it’s really unique. I was engaged the entire time and the writing was really fun. It reminded me a lot of the Bridgerton books in a good way!

This is a unique take on Regency romance and has a really interesting plot. It follows Gertrude, aka Tru, who is the mother of a debutante. She’s in a loveless marriage and is looking for something more. She meets Jasper in the beginning and they instantly hit it off, but then she realizes that he is meant to be courting her daughter…

I was a little scared about this premise and worried that Jasper may like both Tru and her daughter, but that thankfully didn’t happen! I loved getting to learn more about all of the characters, especially Tru. The romance was cute and it was nice seeing Tru realize that she deserves more than she was getting.



I recommend this one! It’s a fun Regency romance full of fun tropes and modern elements.

The Scandalous Ladies of London

by Sophie Jordan
Enjoyable historical romance with a bit of action as well. Satisfying tale.

"The Scandalous Ladies of London" is a new take on the Regency romance. Instead of the heroine of the story is the debutante's mother, not the debutante herself. In Sophie Jordan's take on the the genre, Gertrude (or Tru as she prefers), the Countess of Chatham is trapped in a loveless marriage to the Earl, a lecherous, amoral spendthrift for whom the women in his life exist for only two purposes-sex and as a source of income to support his lifestyle. Tru fell squarely into the second category, as the Earl needed her dowry to replenish his diminished coffers. Now Tru can see history repeating itself, as her beloved daughter is now of an age to be presented and married-and the Earl has it in mind to basically sell her to the highest bidder. Tru will go to any lengths to see her daughter happily settled-including some she would have never thought possible.

I really enjoyed this take on the familiar Regency romance-both because the heroine was older, and the world Sophie Jordan pained in her story was probably more true to real life than the hearts and flowers romance standard. Tru and her friends are married, but not always happily and not always for the right reason-either for monetary or dynastic reasons that make more sense to the time when women were commodities for men to dispose of, rather than the authors of their own fate.

This was a good little historical romance. I liked the chemistry between Tru and Jasper and I really liked that the charade between Tru's daughter Delia and Jasper was not drawn out or that there were any added feelings on their part to complicate the main relationship.

I think it was a little jarring to have the additional POVs from Delia and side characters such as Tru's friend Valencia. This didn't add significantly to the story or characters and just became confusing. I would also have liked to see Tru interact with Jasper's daughter somehow, since he was supposedly only marrying at all for her benefit. The issue of Tru's husband being alive was laughably solved in one of the most rushed endings I've ever read.

But overall a light and quick romance perfect for a plane ride.