I just love this series and these matured widows and older ladies in their 30s lol. Ugh the ton is a vainglorious place. Valencia is finally free of her abusive Duke husband only to be at the mercy of the next in line. She is 32 years old and set to go to the Dower house but this attractive Welshman asks her to stay to help him with his 6 unwed sisters who are not society ready.
I adore when there is so much resistance cause the attraction is so great and you can see from both of their POVs as to why they are resistant.
As usual there is someone trying to disrupt their unofficial plans cause money and power are always enough to cause commotion.
I just love Sophie’s voice and characters. They are so delicious and the stories read so fast, I get sad they are over :)

I’m such a big fan of Sophie! All her historicals have been wonderful. I really enjoy the characters, the group of ladies that are friends, and the how the women are strong! I enjoyed the dynamic between Valencia and Rhain. Theyre were a perfect match! I enjoyed how Valencia stood her ground, helped the sisters, and was strong! This was a fun, quick read! I can’t wait for more from Sophie!

I enjoyed Valencia and her story, however I wish there was more. In the end it seemed rushed and insta-lovey.

valencia, the dowager duchess of dedham, is finally ready to embrace the freedoms afforded to a society widow when her late husband’s replacement arrives in london. rather than retreat to the remote dowager house in yorkshire, she quickly strikes a bargain to remain in london—with her own home and allowance—in exchange for introducing his six younger sisters to society, but living under the same roof as the intriguing new duke proves more tempting than she expected.

i can’t lie, i feel misled. the blurb promised a regency romance with a subplot about the duke’s many sisters; instead, i got an attempt at a regency-era big little lies. i’m not opposed to the concept, but it isn’t what i signed up for and it was lazily executed. jordan tried to cram too many storylines into too little space and none of them were particularly well done—valencia and the new duke are insta horny for each other, and the sisters are little more than set dressing. it’s a quick, easy read if you’re just looking to scratch the bridgerton itch while we wait for season 4.

This is an interesting story of a young widow who is now a dowager due to her widowhood despite being a young woman. It's an interesting romance with introspection on how the ton values women solely for providing children and nothing else.

After an unhappy, violent marriage, Valencia is enjoying her first year of widowhood until the new Duke of Dedham shows up with his six unmarried sisters to take over her house. With little money and no desire to leave London, She and Rhain, the new Duke, strike a bargain. He'll pay her an amount large enough for a comfortable life if she'll lead his sisters into Society and find them husbands. The story goes back and forth in time one year to the house party where her husband is killed falling down the stairs (also in book one). There is some danger and excitement while Valencia discovers Rhain is nothing like other men in her life and can be trusted. This series has slightly older heroines in their thirties who are fighting for their independence from men who have control of them. I enjoyed this second book more that the first and am looking forward to more from this series.

It made me feel a bit of an expert in skim reading. You can do it throughout this book and not miss on anything, I read it in like three hours. If there were ever a book that feels like the author wrote it in a sprint, it's this one.

Nothing groundbreaking, the same old themes and setting. No complex plot or layered characters, and I just don't have any words for the ending.

It’s very enjoyable to read about a strong woman who knows what she wants and is surrounded by good friends. The Main character is no ingenue and has not had a happy relationship in the past, now finding hope of a second chance in an unexpected place. A solid story line with good characters, while not particularly unique it was still a good read and I would imagine the characters become better developed throughout the series.

It's a historical romance summer extravaganza! In the second of the "Scandalous Ladies of London" series, Valencia, the absurdly young Dowager Duchess of Dedham is about to get kicked to a dower house in the wilds of Yorkshire by the new Duke six of his twelve sisters. Valencia has social polish, though, and the new Duke's family decidedly doesn't, so she finds herself a temporary job, and stay of banishment as she introduces the sisters to the ton.

I really enjoyed the characters in this romance. Valencia and Raine are both powerful characters in their own right, and their developing love affair sparkles.

There is plenty of room for more in this series, and I look forward to it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

This was a quick and fun read. I really enjoyed having mature MCs both in their 30s. It definitely created a different dynamic. The tension was palpable throughout the story and I couldn't wait for Valencia and Rhain to finally give in to what they were feeling. Overall I was happy how things progressed for their relationship and their HEA. I am very invested in this group of friends and can't wait for the next installment.

Thanks #NetGalley for an advanced copy of #TheDuchess by Sophie Jordan in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were likeable and you wanted to root for them to find their HEA. I especially liked the sisters and how they added to the overall story not only as a humorous sideline but to show the characters of the MCs. I read another series by Jordan and wasn't sold on her as an author but this series is turning that around for me. I look forward to reading more of her work and more of this series.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of The Duchess. I thought that the premise was really good and believable, and I thought that the writing was one point. However, what didn't work for me was how the plot diverted into something unbelievable as well as the time jumps into the past. I thought that there could have been more character development between the two as well.

This book was good! I love when it's a comfort read, but not necessarily super predictable. I read it fairly quickly and would recommend to anyone!

zThis story captured the Regency era beautifully and the chemistry between Valencia and Rhain sizzles. However the story ends abruptly, leaving the reader wanting more. Overall it is a thoughtful and spicy historical romance.
Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm not sure how I'm feeling about this Sophie Jordan series where all of the heroines are widows. That's never been a trope I enjoy and there's really only so many ways to do it. In this one, Valencia is a new widow and she's determined to live her life fully now that she's out of mourning. Her husband's heir has moved in with his wild sisters and she decides that the way she's going to grab life by the horns, so to speak, is by having an affair with said hot brawny man.
I definitely liked this book better than the last one but again: I'm just not sure if I'm looking forward to the next book if they all pretty much have the same premise "older divorced woman". Which is a shame because Sophie Jordan can write such fun, clever stories when she sets out to!

In The Duchess (The Scandalous Ladies of London #2) by Sophie Jordan, Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, is learning to live life as her own woman a year after her husband—a wretched cad—has died. Now that she’s free to live how she desires and attend parties she chooses, life should be perfect and sweet. Until the new duke unexpectedly arrives with his wild, unwed sisters and mother in tow and moves into her home like it’s his, which it unfortunately now is, interrupting her newly uncomplicated existence and ruining her chance to live her life finally.

Jordan’s lively and emotional writing, narrative style, and vibrant, detailed descriptions drew me into the novel. She develops her conflicted, complex, relatable, likable, and fallible characters that you can’t help but love and root for to have all the happiness in the world through sweet, funny, emotional, and suspenseful interactions. The colorful, natural-sounding dialogue and Jordan’s language use fit the novel’s historical setting, characters, and theme.

A brawny, arrogant, rude, humorless Welshman with a sexy accent that weakens Valencia’s knees, Rhain is nothing like the Ton’s noblemen. Unfortunately, he believes that Valencia is spoiled and vain, which is so far from who she is. Isolde is beautiful, funny, and likable in her brutal honesty, but she barely has enough to live on. She’ll need the new duke’s support to stay in London and finally live the life of freedom she’s longed for as a widow with all the pleasures it can afford her.

Since his sisters wish to marry but need more preparation for introduction to society, interaction with the Ton, or survival of its scrutiny, Valencia and Rhain make a deal. Valencia will prepare his sisters for the season, usher them into Good Society, and help them become betrothed. Rhain will provide Valencia with the financial security and independence she needs to survive life in London and yearns for.

After spending time together sharing her home, where she has become a guest, Valencia realizes she doesn’t want to be safe. Rhain may be the most extraordinary adventure of her life. She wants Rhain, even though he may be dangerous to her heart and body. Can she resist him—even though she has vowed never to risk marriage again?

Jordan explores the depth of Valencia’s strength, courage, and resilience despite the limitations of her choices, finances, and power to control her own life and be safe in her own home with a stark honesty that stays with you. Lonely, isolated, and traumatized by her previous marriage, Valencia filled with heartache and longing. But she’s set on avoiding marriage and love, preferring her freedom. She’s unprepared for a man like Rhain and the feelings and desire he inspires in her. The novel includes flashbacks to Valencia’s marriage that help reveal her character and what brought her to where she is now. Rhain doesn’t care for the English and their ways. He’s surprised by Valencia, who’s unlike anyone he’s ever met. Valencia wrecks him, interferes with his control, and makes him think and want things he shouldn’t.

Their intense attraction is present between them from their first meeting, though Valencia and Rhain fight it. It’s why Rhain is, regretfully, such a jerk to her initially. As they spend time together sharing Valencia’s home, which has become his, they learn more about each other and grow closer. Though Jordan nicely develops the attraction and connection between Valencia and Rhain with steamy, emotional, sexy, and intimate kisses and interactions, I would have liked to see more development of Valencia and Rhain’s relationship.

Steamy, emotional, sweet, angsty, and funny with a bit of suspense, The Duchess is a fast-paced, regency historical romance that fans of enemies to lovers, forced proximity might enjoy.

Avon provided an advanced review copy via Netgalley for review.

Content Warnings:



Content warning: domestic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual assault, and discussion of past miscarriages and infertility

Valencia has enjoyed her year of freedom as the widowed Duchess of Dedham, until the new heir is found. Unexpectedly taking over the house which is now no longer hers, are the new Duke, his mother and six unmarried sisters. Now she is the Dowager Duchess of Dedham. Valencia must leave London and retreat to York to the Dowager house, but she's not giving up yet. Her proposal is to launch his sister's in Society to find suitable husbands. Unexpected is the heat and connection between the new Duke and Valencia. But staying in London is no longer an option when her secret is no longer a secret.
Jordan hasn't lost her touch in this series. I've read the first two books and I'm anticipating the next one.
Explicit sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Picture this: Your horrid husband dies. You wait the required year of mourning. You are just about to take back your life and finally live for you, when all of a sudden a new duke arrives and moves in to your (his now) home with his mother and six (six!) sisters. For the first time in her life, Valencia felt that her freedom had finally arrived. She endured more than any one person should have to and now she was ready to finally live. However, Rhain (the new Duke) arrives and declares she is being kicked out of her home and sent to the country.

There were a lot of parts I enjoyed about this book. The sisters were a lot of fun. They brought such life to the house and the contrast with Valencia's previous life was heartwarming. I loved seeing Rhain interact with them and care for them. I liked that Rhain truly seemed like such a good person. Unfortunately, this just wasn't the slow burn I prefer and there were several aspects to the book that just didn't sit well with me. It enjoyed the conversations about women's choices and freedoms and Valencia's unapologetic nature for going for what she wants.

I think that if you are a regency romance lover this could be a great book for you....especially if you're not needing a slow burn like me. It's fun, scandalous, and lighthearted for the most part. I would recommend to those wanting a book with good feminist vibes.

The Duchess follows Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, as she reenters society after "mourning" her husband for a year. Valencia is actually quite pleased that she now has the freedom to do as she pleases given her title and status. Unfortunately, the heir to the title of Duke has just been found working at a mine in Wales, and so he, his mother, and his six sisters have come to move into their home, forcing Valencia out. Valencia and Rhain strike a deal: she can stay in London as long as she helps usher his eligible sisters into high society. Sparks fly, but Rhain was never planning on staying in London and Valencia has some secrets of her own. The characters were interesting and they all had distinct personalities. It brings in characters from Jordan's other book in the series, although it isn't necessary to have read that before reading this one. This was a really enjoyable regency romance and it will be perfect for fans of Bridgerton or period romances in general.

April 1822 - London

Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, 32, lost her husband a year ago. Now that her mourning period is over, she can start to live again. Valencia and Dedham had a good life together early in their marriage. But when he had an accident, it left him in extreme pain and cruel to Valencia and others around him. So, for Valencia, it was a relief when he finally died.

When the Duke died, his successor had not been found until now, a year later. Hailing from Wales, Rhain, 35, the new Duke of Dedham, has made his entrance into Valencia’s home and is very surprised that she has not taken up residence in the remote Dower House. Rhain brings with him his mother and his six sisters that are unwed. The other six sisters are married and back in Wales. The girls are ill-mannered, loud, and uncouth. Rhain needs someone to prepare his six sisters for their debut to society. He realizes that Valencia would be the perfect person to do this as she is a Duchess and has had many years in society herself. So, she agrees to stay and help with his sisters and in return, he will see that she is well-rewarded for her time.

Before long, Rhain and Valencia find themselves attracted to one another but do their best to stay away. With much back and forth in dialogue, they may be attracted to one another but there is something that keeps them apart.

Oh, dear. This just did not make it for me. I felt like Valencia was one who felt sorry for herself and often seemed to find herself in situations where men looked down on her and talked down to her. Too much Woe is Me. I’m hoping this book is just a One-Off as I have enjoyed other books by this author.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.