✨The Duke Starts a Bath…and His Housekeeper Walks In <3✨

The Duke Starts a Scandal felt very in line with the rest of the series! It seemed very short and read very quickly, so it lacked some depth, but honestly I don’t mind. I got what I needed out of it, and I think I’d have been more disgruntled if the battles were harder won 💁‍♀️ There were a few aspects that I thought were really going to haunt our characters—so I was a little worried in the middle there—but it chose the low-angst route that I can’t help but appreciate sometimes.

My one real wish is that it was steamier and that the steam started earlier on, but I understand why it waited until it did. She was under his employ for most of the book and Lucian was definitely not into the power imbalance or taking any perceived advantage…but I still wanted them to bang it out more lol. Or the scenes we got could’ve been a little fuller. However, the fact that he made her breakfast added about ten million sexy points to his tally. I also loved the cellar scene!! So fun.

Oh I also needed them to recreate that cover scene because god damn??? (The same thing happened with book three.) I do get disappointed when covers don’t reflect the book, plus I don’t even think this one reflects their dynamic (he was the dominant one). I searched the book and while he pressed her against walls, she reciprocated nary a time. It’s a hot cover, but bait n’ switching is less hot. Maybe it spells a bonus newsletter scene? *wink wink nudge nudge*

In all honesty, I contemplated rounding down to three stars because it was rushed and there were a few other issues, but I had a genuinely good time. I was also like, would I have wanted more angst?? No lol so don’t complain. *real conversation between me and me.* Also they both had very rough backstories so they deserve some peace! There was a cute side romance, which I’d love a novella about, as it was very fast-paced as well! I also wanted to see the characters from past books—we got mention of them but no appearances.

Overall, I just think it’s good to be honest about the purpose the book is serving! Truly, I don’t regret reading it, I will in fact read it again, and I had fun with it. But it’s a book for people who have fun with an easy, breezy low-angst romance from time to time. (People who crave the angst? Maybe stay away from the entire series.)

I’m not sure if this book marks the end of the series, but if it does I’ll be sad! I’ve enjoyed the series as a whole, with book one being my favorite. All the books are light and easy and make even better rereads—this one should be no exception!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5


Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

3.75 ⭐️


Historical romancee time! This is my first book by Sophie Jordan and it definitely will not be my last! This book has a workplace romance (Duke x housekeeper) and the chemistry between Lucian and Susanna was swoon worthy as well as emotional! I haven't read the other books in the series but after reading this, I'll be going back to read the other books in the series! I did think the pacing was a bit weird, like the pacing wasnt smooth 😭.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper, for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a fine romance. It had the potential to be a much better one than it was, but it will do the trick if you want a quick and angsty historical romance.

In the prologue, the Duke of Penning's housekeeper, Susanna, has a confrontation in the middle of a storm with a man on a horse who claims to be the rightful Duke of Penning. (And if you've read the other books in the series, you know sooner than Susanna did that he's telling the truth.) Cut to Chapter 1, when they've apparently been at odds for two months. She struggles to be deferential, he's on the verge of firing her because she irks him. They don't have sparkly, witty repartee; he's gruff and feels judged by her, and she's anxious and feels judged by him. We're meant to take some or all of that as sexual tension, but it's the uncomfortable kind because we haven't experienced it build up. We went from one, decidedly non-sexual confrontation to the next confrontation months later, and it's hard to differentiate the energy between the two encounters. Apparently, his sisters realize they are gaga for each other, but we only learn this later when it comes up in a dispute.

Their friction all comes to a head at a house party where, in the course of 3 or 4 days, an improbable number of events happen. It's the whole of their romance, from first kiss to first declarations to first revelations to HEA, all apparently happening in against the backdrop of a house party he's hosting and she's working at.

In other words, it's the kind of packed plot you would expect after a solid build up--where everything has to happen all at once because things are primed to explode--except we miss that building up because it happens off-page between the prologue and Chapter 1.

If you are someone who wants the action without the build-up, you will likely really appreciate this one. I prefer a slow burn and not an immediate explosion, so this one was good but ultimately not one I'll read again.

I think what struck me so much in this book is the vulnerability that both of our main characters have and how this was really their story of finding comfort in each other. Sophie Jordan writes deliciously fun and bonkers historical romance and I have been loving the continuation of this series with “The Duke Starts a Scandal”. The push and pull between Lucian and Susanna is delicious and I am so happy to see their story unfold in this book. A must read for any historical romance lover!

Sophie Jordan’s “The Duke Starts a Scandal" skillfully weaves together forbidden passion, buried secrets, and societal expectation in the final installment of The Duke Hunt series.

Lucian, the newly appointed Duke of Penning, is a man with a lot on his mind. Burdened with the weight of familial expectations, and haunted by a difficult past, he believes securing an aristocratic wife and advantageous matches for his sisters will protect the family from harm if scandal comes.

Susanna Lockhart, a housekeeper at the Penning estate, has served the various legitimate and illegitimate Dukes of Penning for the greater part of a decade. She’s diligent and hardworking, never allowing herself to indulge in romance again. However, the undeniable and maddening chemistry between her and Lucian awaken feelings she’d long buried.

Both the hero and heroine struggle to reconcile the ghosts of their past with the wish to love and be loved in return. When the Duke throws a party at the estate, a specter from Susanna’s past threatens to topple her carefully constructed new life.

Again Susanna must face the danger of being banished from a community after committing no crime except loving a man from a different social class. Lucian is dragged, kicking and screaming at points, to the realization that he can choose love without abandoning his duty to his family.

"The Duke Starts a Scandal" deftly handles the upstairs/downstairs dynamic, as Lucian seeks to never use his power to coerce Susanna into his bed. As her employer, it’s important to see him stress emotional and physical consent first, never leaving her feeling like she had no agency. This light touch means fewer on-page intimate scenes compared to many Sophie Jordan novels, but the amount of tension keeps the story plenty steamy.

One of the most emotionally stirring scenes occurs outside the passionate moments, however. When Lucian opens up to Susanna and is vulnerable about his past, she does not judge him nor validate the awful way society treats people in his situation. Susanna also chooses to let him in, even though the truth is dangerous to a woman in her place, and he reacts without judgement either. In this tender moment, the couple’s happily ever after feels certain.

This novel can be read as a standalone, as the main complication in The Duke Hunt series is covered well in this installment. The Duke Starts a Scandal is perfect for fans of Tessa Dare, Eloisa James, Sarah MacLean, and Diana Quincy.
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Tropes: Forbidden Love, Boss/Employee, Scandals, Big Duke Energy
Heat Level: 1.5/5, open door, on page
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Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date Oct 24th, 2023.

Sophie Jordan did a fantastic job of creating a story with excellent pining. Lucian is the newest Duke of Penning and he can't help but pine for his housekeeper. This story had excellent pacing and kept the story moving. I love the sisters and how they helped aid the situation.

This was a nice & emotional regency romance. The hero was more of the loving & gentle type in action which was why it was strange gif him to often be described by the heroine as ice cold, but other than that inconsistency, very enjoyable!

When she was young, Susanna Lockhart made one mistake that changed her life and has worked hard to make a new name for herself. She worked her way up from maid and is now the housekeeper to a grand estate. Lucian, the new Duke of Penning, has a lot to prove. He craves respectability, and he knows the only way to go about it is to find a suitable wife. The only problem? He can't keep his eyes off his feisty housekeeper. Susanna knows romance isn't in the cards for her, especially with her employer, but that doesn't stop her from craving his touch. Both have secrets that would ruin them, but isn't love worth the risk?

I've enjoyed this series so far, but I have to say, this one is my least favorite. It just felt so bland. It felt like so many other historical romances I've read with the same premise. The pacing felt off, and the resolution wrapped up too quickly. Another thing that bothered me was that Susanna and Lucian kept saying how they would be ruined if their pasts got out, but then once they did, it was like no big deal. I did like a few things, like how headstrong Susanna was and Lucian's relationship with his family, but that was it. It's a shame because I enjoy Jordan's writing, but this one didn't work for me.

The Duke Starts a Scandal by Sophie Jordan

It put me in tears. She delivers such an emotional story about love, hate. fears. and she is fighting for those who are not privileged to live such a dire life. This story brings to mind about struggles of who we are and where we fit in society. Do we judge our values based on perceptions or do we stick the middle finger to community and live our own life? Lucian is no average Duke and Susanna is a woman, he can not bend to. But isn't your average Duke and he doesn't bend to anyone, but will he bend to her?

Absolutely breathtaking and swoon-worthy! Sophie Jordan never disappoints.

10/10

We finally meet the Duke of Penning. The final installment of the series is a delightful read.
Lucian and Susana have an encounter on a ride that sets up how they start to treat each other at the beginning. Lucian and Susana are both holding on to secrets from their past. They both understand that they have an underlying current of attraction although non of them want to act on it. Soon they become involved in each others lives and they learn to love each other.
I loved the easy reading. What I did struggle with at a couple of times is a wanted the story to go Deeper and keep it at surface level.

I'm not a fan of the writing style. I feel like the characters say the same things over and over and over. Pages and pages of her saying that she was the Duke's housekeeper, which we gathered at this point. Then the Duke starts saying the same types of things in his chapters, talking about his old life and how he's different. Different different different. Not his old life anymore.

This book was a fantastic addition to the series. The eye-catching cover and title grabbed my attention. Sophie Jordan's unique writing pulled me straight in immediately. The story flowed at a good pace throughout. Very entertaining. All the characters were well-written. The author wrote main characters, Susanna and Lucian, the Duke of Penning, in great depth. It does get a bit steamy.
This book is part of a series that could be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend the series. This is a book and series I will read again. Sophie Jordan has became a favorite author of mine.
I received this book from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for an honest review.

Lucian Ross is the newest Duke of Penning, a role he intends to take seriously. He hopes his peers never learn about his sordid past, so Lucian hosts a week-long party to secure respectable, aristocratic spouses for him and his sisters. However, his young housekeeper proves to be a distraction. The termagant entices his dark desires. Will Lucian tempt exposure and scandal to have her?

Susanna Lockhart works as the housekeeper at Penning Hall, a position she excels at. There is something about her newest employer unsettles her. With her position on the line, Susanna strives to prove her worth to him. She never anticipated the attraction brewing between them. However, Lucian’s house party brings someone that could expose Susanna’s own past and destroy her. Can Susanna resist Lucian?


Lucian slowly won me over. At first, I did not like his personality. However, as I learned Lucian’s background, the many sacrifices he made for his sisters, my opinion quickly changed. I admit that it is a nice change-of-pace for the hero to have the “sordid” past. What I love the most about Lucian is his refusal to abuse the employer-and-employee relationship. It is a line he refused to cross no matter what.

Susanna is a woman who knows her place in a noble’s household. I like how she has no lofty aspirations. Susanna is quite proud of her accomplishments. She started out as a maid and slowly worked up the servant hierarchy to become Penning Hall’s housekeeper. What I admire the most about Susanna is how she refused to submit to her enemy’s threats. She rather her past be exposed than subjugate herself to him.

THE DUKE STARTS A SCANDAL is the fourth book in Sophie Jordan’s historical romance series, THE DUKE HUNT. The story can easily stand alone. I suggest reading the first book, THE DUKE GOES DOWN, to understand how the dukedom landed in Lucian’s hands. One of the nitpicks I have is that I wanted Lucian and Peregrine to meet.

I really enjoyed this book. It ties with THE RAKE GETS RAVISHED, book two in the series, of being my favorite. I stayed up late to read as much as I could (hence why I finished this book in two days). Another nitpick (small) I have is that I wished the couples from the previous books would have made an appearance in the plot. I missed them.

A newly placed Duke with secrets to hide is not supposed to draw attention to himself by creating a scandal with his Housekeeper. That’s what he’s not supposed to do…

Lucien and Susanna both have secrets in their past they want to remain in their past. He’s a newly seated Duke who finds his housekeeper too attractive. She hasn’t felt much of anything in a long while but her new employer pushes all of her buttons.

I liked the forbidden romance part of this book. Different class romances are one of my favorite. I find them unrealistic but incredibly romantic. There’s nothing like going against the express wishes of society for the love of your life.

This book was a quick read. It’s a slow burn, but when it gets there it hits. And There was no third act breakup!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Firstly, Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Harper Voyager, and Sophie Jordan for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had fun, but overall, The Duke Starts a Scandal wasn’t the most substantial or enthralling historical romance, and the scandal didn’t feel all that scandalous – or at least there weren’t real consequences to the scandal.

Lucian, the newly inherited Duke of Penning is a brooding angsty yet real noble gentleman with a scandalous past, and Susanna is a proper and efficient young housekeeper of the dukedom who also has a scandalous past.

I enjoyed the chemistry between these two, but because the dialog seemed a little overburdened and the general pace of the book seemed off is why I’m giving it 3 stars.

I felt that there could have been more developed around Lucian's past, as a male sex worker, and there were a few moments that felt like missed opportunities to deepen the romance between Lucian & Susanna; like Billings accosting Susanna and Lucian catching it, and Susanna kissing Lucian as a distraction.

A solid three stars.

Not the best from the author. There was barely any scandal at all! I think there were interesting threads, but they were brushed aside anytime there was a chance for it to unravel. Even the main antagonist felt forced and the way it was resolved made little to no sense because the characters were flat.

Susanna and Lucian's story is less one of upstairs/downstairs. With her being the housekeeper. To his newly minted Duke of Penning. More upstairs meets downstairs on a midway landing.
As both the maid and the master are trying their best to out live pasts that if discovered would see them each disgraced.

Making matters worse...
There is a very inconvenient attraction that try as they might, both find it hard to ignore.
And as fate does...it sets about doing its best to see that they spend as much time exploring said attraction as possible.
This book is a different take in plot expression.
Seeing as there is little to no sex for the majority of the story.
Giving both readers and each the other time to come to know the things that endear, entice, and enchant.
A most Herculean task indeed.
Seeing as most of the time. The two main characters spend most of their time trying to out run their unfortunate pasts and each other.
Lucian coming off as a very lovable and lost lead in the process.
A great help to the legitimization of Susanna and Lucian's relationship comes unexpectedly by way of the discovery of Lucian's sister in the arms of his valet.
So...
By book's end. Readers are routing for the success of not one, but two romances.
Both built on love, respect, desire, and understanding.

Reviewer's Note
The Duke Starts A Scandal is the fourth and last book in the Duke Hunt series. As such, it may be read either as a stand-alone or as part of its intended series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing the review copy on which my honest critique is based.

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

Ok, so the beginning started out well enough. After being ruined and kicked out of her house Susanna becomes housekeeper for The Duke of Penning. Old Duke dies new Duke comes in. She doesn’t believe he’s the Duke because some other dude came in and said he was the duke. Whatever- Lucian really is the Duke and other guy ??? (Goes to jail, killed? Just kicked out of the house? Dunno) For some reason Lucian hates Susanna- Susanna hates him because he’s rude to her.

Prior to being a Duke Lucian is a sex worker??? He’s afraid (kind of, not really) of people finding out. Has a house party, dude from her past recognizes Susanna and sexually harasses her and blackmails her to tell the Duke who she really is. She just decides she’ll quit instead.

Dukes sisters notice he’s got the hots for Susanna so they lock them in the wine cellar. Within minutes of being in wine cellar they both profess their deep dark secrets (sex worker, non virgin) He won’t bang her cuz she’s his housekeeper but goes down on her anyway? Instead? Once they’re out of wine cellar Susanna quits and leaves.

Susanna bounces to her lesbian aunts cottage, Lucian finds her professes her love they bang. Go back to Duke estate and punch blackmailer bad guy. Lucian proposes to Susanna in front of all the staff and everyone is happy. DUDE NEVER EVEN KNEW HER REAL LAST NAME! It was just so rushed and goofy. I didnt Understand the point of Lucian having such a checkered past like it did nothing for the story. I’ve never read anything by this author before and sorry to say this is probably the last.

I loved this book. The plot was a little thin but it did what it needed to do. It was also a quick read which I appreciated. I am curious about the widow and I am PRAYING for the follow up.
Steamy. Funny. Romantic. 4 stars

I loved everything about this book!! Sophie Jordan knows the deal. She writes a fantastic historical romance that hits all the spots. Characters and Plot were fabulous and I would recommend this book to other fans of historical romance.