This was such a cute, entertaining read. If you’re looking for deep, this isn’t your jam, but if you’re looking for a quick and lighthearted read, THIS is your girl

RATING: 3/5 STARS

I usually love the reverse age gap trope and enjoyed the first book of this series but couldn't get into this one.

I enjoy the ensemble cast Bridgerton-meets-Gossip Girl concept of this series and this entry started off reasonably promising, but unfortunately the romance wasn't sufficiently developed and the ending is just too rushed to make it very memorable or satisfying, so what would have been a solid 3 or 3.5 stars is getting rounded down for that alone (although I'll still read the next in series as I'm looking forward to the story of Val's stepmother, which will hopefully be better done).

I found the first book in the series, The Countess, to be a bit of a let down given how much I have previously enjoyed some books by Sophie Jordan. I requested the second for review in the hopes that the stories would blossom, or that the through-narrative would coalesce. Unfortunately, neither of those things happened.

The characters are pretty bog-standard for romance, neither being super interesting or likable. The through-plot of the women "going their own way" once they (sometimes too conveniently) become widows doesn't hold the attention in any of the ways that an otherwise fun premise could. The book was a fast read, but most of the plot happens in a few exposition heavy chapters at the end. The HEA results from two people who have shared a handful of conversations and some underwhelming sex deciding to marry and just slot part and parcel into the old Count's life.

For me, I think this series is done.

I struggled a bit with this one because it was hard for me to like the “hero.” I found him to be very hypocritical in thinking that he was a good guy, and yet constantly behaving and acting in ways that I found problematic. From the first interaction between him, and the heroine, he immediately behaves in a way where he is blaming her for the last other men feel towards her, and he treats her really very shabbily because of that. And yet the book kept portraying him as a really fair justice, minded, equity, focused, good guy. So I just really struggled with that discrepancy between what we saw him doing, and thinking about the heroine versus what the book kept telling us about him. Frankly, I thought that the heroine just deserved better. I really could not get past the fact that and there is a slight spoiler coming Here as to one of the things that happens early in the book………. I just could not get past the fact that he decides to kick her from her home even though he knows that she has nowhere else to go, and his reason internally is 100% because he finds her to attractive. So he basically ruined her life and blames. Her and treats are in a way that he wouldn’t treat her if she weren’t attractive to him which means he’s making his lust her problem.

I mostly skim-read as I found the opening chapters to be pretty dull. Rhain add Valencia seemed like really standard and unremarkable MCs and there were definitely too many sisters to keep track of. Just didn't get swept up by this one at all.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Sophie Jordan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I LOVED the first book in this series and sadly didn’t enjoy this one as much, but it was still a fun and romantic read.

This book follows Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, as the new duke moves in. Her backstory is tragic and readers really start to root for her while reading. I loved the flashbacks and the mystery that surrounded them as well. Once again, her friend group is amazing and I loved meeting the duke’s sisters.

If you like regency romances, be sure to check this one out!

Another incredible book in Sophie Jordan’s latest series. I love how Sophie is telling the stories of women in tough places finding their voice and their love of their lives. This book, like her others, is fast paced and full of witty dialogue with a twist that you won’t see coming. In this novel, Sophie has once again kept the reader’s interest by jumping back and forth to a previous house party while simultaneously keeping the story going as the hero and heroine fight against their very clear attraction for each other. It is steamy in all the right ways, adding to the plot rather than detracting and I loved how Sophie built tension once again. I give it five stars for another great book in the series that makes me excited to read the next one.

When the first 90% is 3.5 stars but the last 10% makes you want to throw the book into the river, it gets 1.5 stars.

This book is about a dowager duchess (Valencia) who doesn’t want to be kicked out of her home by the new duke (name already forgotten) and the new duke who is insta horny for the dowager and wants her out of his home cause you just don’t hook up with your dead distant relative’s widow. But a deal is struck up and the dowager is gonna help get the dukes six YES SIX sisters ready for debuts and get them all married and Obvs the duke will pay her handsomely for this. But we aren’t truly given this story. There is basically little to no time on page given to this transformation of these six sisters, you hardly know their names. For such a dire need that the duke requires to get these uncultured girls ready, Valencia basically get them hair cuts and new clothes and problem solved. Instead we are given a lot of flashbacks about her previous marriage. Which didn’t really make sense to me? Like why do we care about this and why isn’t there more conversation and interactions between our two love interests?! It felt so disjointed and I was confused as to the story that’s trying to be told here. Is it about this deal you’ve struck up with this duke or is it about how your husband died?? Like what? What is driving this story?? The love story or some past marriage I don’t care about?? But, I’m just going along with it and yeah there’s like zero emotional intimacy in this book but I’m in a slump desperate to make myself believe this book will be worth 4 stars, so I’ll just have a happy attitude and move on.

Until the final final act which is so LUDICROUS, RIDICULOUS, and all things OUS that I just couldn’t freaking believe it. If this book is going to be more thriller, mystery, intrigue, whatever, let it be that. Don’t drop this nonsense on me with 10% left and try to get me to believe in whatever the hell is going on at the end. I was so annoyed that THIS is why we had to read chapter after chapter of flashbacks, not to establish a relationship between the hero and heroine, oh no, it’s to set up this “epic” ending that is just plain awful. It’s so cringy, I was groaning out loud. Which is absolutely where you want to be when two characters say I love you for the first time 🥴🥴🥴

I’ve reached the point in my reviewing career where I just don’t give a crap and if it deserves scathing reviews, it’s gonna get it and this one deserves some scathing reviews.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I've really enjoyed Sophie Jordan's books in the past. She is very good at writing strong female characters even when her settings make it difficult for them to be taken seriously or are limited by their circumstances.

I both really liked Valencia's backstory and found it so hard to read. My heart broke for her in her prior marriage and hoped with her for the freedom that comes with being a widow. I liked Rhain as a characters a lot, but I felt like the romance between them contained exactly zero conversations about who they were as people and just relied on their attraction to each other. There was no moment when we saw her talking to someone about her opinion on marriage changing from "never again" to "sure, sounds great". It jut made the rest of the story seem like we were missing crucial moments between them where they show who they are to each other.

So, this one felt a little flat to me. It was spicy but without reason or purpose or conversation and that's no enough for me or what I've come to expect from Jordan.

Synopsis:
It’s been a year since her wretched cad of a husband died and Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, is finally her own woman. Flitting from party to party, freedom is sweet and life should be perfect. Until the new duke surfaces.
Nothing like the haughty noblemen who populate the ton, Rhain, the newly minted Duke of Dedham, is a big brawny Welshman with an accent that makes Valencia’s knees go weak as he boldly moves into her home with his six wild unwed sisters. The rude and humorless usurper thinks her vain and spoiled. But with a pittance to her name, Valencia needs his support to remain in London and enjoy all the pleasures her new position as a merry widow has to offer.
So a bargain is struck. Valencia will usher his sisters into Good Society and see them happily betrothed. In return, he’ll give her the financial security and independence she craves. But the more time they spend beneath the same roof, the more she realizes it's not safety she wants but the dangerously seductive Rhain. Valencia has vowed never to risk marriage again. And yet how can she resist the tempting man when he might be the greatest adventure of her life?

This was a quick but ultimately unsatisfying read. I have no critique about the heroine, indeed Valencia was a strong, smart, and resourceful woman who was trying her best to navigate being a young widow.

However, the love interest was so flat. He was rude with her initially because he was so overcome with lust which is not endearly in the least. Especially when later we are supposed to believe he's very progressive about women because he lets his sisters and mother do what they wish. Later, he falls into protector mode predictably but the conversations between the two love interests are so short and unsubstantial. Suddenly they are professing their love for each other and it felt rushed. I was all for Valencia taking back some freedom and power for herself and it's not at all believable that she goes from being adamant about not falling in love with someone she barely knows again after getting out of an abusive marriage, to just rushing to the altar.

I also wish there had been more details with the sisters and their introduction to society. I thought there might be some funny anecdotes or Valencia having to guide them through their first ball. But that's all dropped for the second story line.

On page 100, there is an error where it reads "Sutton had taken his first wife..." First needs to be changed to second.

I hope the final edition will have a note at the beginning letting the reader know that there is on page domestic violence and sexual assault.

Classic Sophie Jordan! I really , really enjoyed this book. I could not wait to read about Valencia! I thought her story was very unique... in a very unhappy first marriage...when the new Duke of Dedham shows up there is no room left for her at her old residence. For me Sophie Jordan is such a master of building tension! I just love the witty comments and funny scenerios. Can't wait for the next book in this series! There is a reason Jordan is an automatic read for me!

I ADORED this book. Sophie Jordan is one of my favorite historical romance writers, I've read everything she's put out thus far, and this latest series of hers, The Scandalous Ladies of London, might be my favorite one yet.

More than anything else, I feel like Sophie Jordan, along with Joanna Shupe, knows how to write a romance novel where both parties really earn their happy endings. Valencia and Rhain both had their own hangups as individuals and as a couple but I also found it refreshing that once they admitted to themselves that they cared for each other, there wasn't a lot of tedious back and forth like there is in less... mature romance novels so to speak.

Another thing I really love about this series is that Sophie Jordan's heroines are in their 30s! I like the idea that women who aren't in the first blush of youth get a second chance, or even a first chance, at love when they've been previously denied it by their society. One of my main gripes about historical romance is when the heroines are in their late teens/early 20s and the heroes are often a decade older, and it just feels kind of eye-rolling even if there was some truth to it among the upper classes.

And lastly, I'd be bereft if I didn't comment on how delicately and empathetically Jordan handles sexual violence in this novel. I'm not giving away any spoilers, but in a way, it reminded me of how Thomas Hardy handles Tess's rape in the book, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, in that it was subtle but also deeply poignant, and stayed with the reader long after they closed the book.

The first book of the series was heavier on the romance. In this book, I understand the heroine is recovering from her trauma at the hands of her late husband; the author executed that turmoil with aplomb. What was missing, however, was input from the hero. I would have liked to see more of his internal POV throughout the story. Still, I really enjoyed the friendship between the ladies and am certainly excited to see what else this author has in store for these characters.

Special thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Sophie Jordan's new series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, tells the stories of the women of Regency England who have survived their debutant years and difficult marriages but who yearn for freedom and life. The Duchess is wrapping up her year of mourning after her husband died. She is ready to live again after years of torment, when the new Duke arrives with his huge family of sisters. She prepares to pack up and go to the dower house in the country when a deal is struck. She will prepare the new Duke's sisters for their introduction to the Ton and in exchange she will have enough money to remain in London. As you might suspect, sparks fly between the dowager Duchess, Valencia, and the new Duke, Rhain. While it takes a while for the two to give in to their feelings, it is worth the wait.

I recommend this one if you are looking for a really quick read. However, I don't recommend this if you are looking for a lot of chemistry between the two main characters. I feel like we were told about their passion for each other, rather than being shown that passion.

This book had a lot to enjoy, but overall fell short of my expectations. The close friendships that the main character holds brought comfort and interest to the story, but the love interest was rather flat and ordinary.

Valencia married the man she loved. She's a duchess. What more could she want? Everything. Her husband has changed. She's left to fend for herself only to find her home invaded by a new family. She's trying her best to adjust to her new situation.

This is a great story and I can't wait for more in this series.

Second in the series…Valencia never truly know what live was even being previously married. She lived in misery and heartache for as long as she could remember. She had her friends that she count on but never really confine her darkest secrets to. Rhain came into a dukedom that he was not ready to have. He came with an agreement Valencia in order to help the transition. Valencia and Rhain started spending more time together and falling in love.

I enjoyed this story. As painful as it was to see the turmoil of Valencia’s first marriage, it was realistic to see real life occurrences of abusive marriage that most romance books sometimes skim through. The negative thought that I have about the book is that I think that Valencia should have told Rhain about her past more effectively. I wanted to see that be a major point of connection.

Overall, I really enjoyed this HEA.

For fans of regency romance, this book will definitely tick most of your boxes! Great chemistry with the MFC and MMC, loved the plotline of the extended family of the Duke, and the development of the main characters. My only complaint is I think it could have benefitted from 100 more pages of development with the various characters. I felt like it was possibly edited to be shorter than it needed to be. I wanted more!