Jane Dunn is quickly moving her way up my list of must read regency romance authors! I really liked her other books earlier this year and this has been my favorite so far! Ivor and Angelica were such an opposites attract situation that I absolutely loved. You will swoon --
definitely add this one to your TBR!!

A Scandalous Match comes out next week on January 17, 2024, and you can purchase HERE!

What Angelica could not know was that Ivor Asprey was himself rattled by how she had released some suppressed energy that had awoken him to the power of love united with desire. It was an unruly force he thought he had banished from his life for ever, but now it crackled within, resistant to restraint. For a man who had come to pride himself on his control and authority in the world, it was alarming to find he longed to embrace this more vivid life. How dangerous love could be to all the settled virtues he had sought: what enchantment had Miss Leigh cast over him?

This was my favorite of Jane Dunn's three novels by far. The heroine is charming, the romance plotline was never predictable but turned out exactly as I had hoped. The subtle inclusion of consent was a lovely touch. There were touches of kissing and steam, but nothing outrageous. I loved diving into the world of Regency theatre and all of the wonderfully researched period adventures, but with nods to modern inclusivity and consent movements. Each character was memorable and lovable (if they were meant to be). I am still caught up in the thrill of the ending as I write this review. A near-perfect read.

'Nightly at the Covent Garden Theatre in London, an enchanting actress is wowing the crowds with her affecting portrayal of Ophelia. Preyed on by rakes and opportunistic young bucks, feted by dukes and earls, even the Prince Regent himself, Angelica Leigh is a sensation. But in Regency England, beauty and talent are not enough to be considered marriage material, so when the eminently eligible Lord Charles Latimer sets his heart on Angelica, his uncle is sent to intervene.'

Another light, lovely romance from Jane Dunn. Following on from her first two books I have read, this story doesn't disappoint. I liked the heroine, Angelica, she knows her place in the world and is happy to be the successful actress who takes London by storm. Charles is the typical foolish, idealist who fancies himself in love with her, something she takes lightly and a large pinch of salt. Along comes Ivor, his uncle who has been given the task by his sister, of getting rid of the pesky actress. However the more contact he has with Angelica along with his young daughter's liking for her, the greater becomes his admiration. A very nice read perfect for a rainy afternoon. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood for the chance to review A Scandalous Match.

Angelica Leish has been wowing the crowds with her portrayal of Ophelia at the Covent Garden Theatre in London. Yet when Lord Charles Latimer sets his sights on Ophelia, his mother the Duchess of Arlington is horrified. She beseeches her brother, the Honourable Ivor Asprey to talk some sense into him. Ivor, a highly respected and wealth lawmaker, believes that Ivor will see reason in due time, but visits Angelica to appease his sister. When he meets Angelica, he too finds himself captivated by her.
This was a sweet romance between the likeable Ivor and sweet Angelica. To add to the entertainment is Ivor’s eleven-year-old daughter Elinor, who quite mischievous. Whilst this was a sweet, clean romance, I did find other side stories tended to detract from Ivor and Angelica’s relationship. Consequently, I found myself wishing that a greater focus and more time could have been given to exploring their relationship.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Since the death of his wife, Ivor Asprey has devoted himself to good causes and the education of his beloved daughter. However, when he is asked to head off an affair between his impetuous nephew and an actress he is compelled to act. His nephew is heir to a Dukedom and the actress someone of obviously low morals. He finds himself entranced by Angelica and his daughter loves her so he is faced with upholding his morals or following his heart, wherever that might lead.

This is the third in a series of regency romances by Dunn and maintains the standards of the others. They are light as gossamer, have very little substance but are thoroughly enjoyable. For a little light reading that can be finished in a couple of hours this book is perfect!

This novel just didn’t do it for me. At first, I thought it was going to be like Georgette Heyer’s delightful novel, Faro’s Daughter, since the plot was very similar. An aristocratic bachelor is asked by his bossy sister to try to pry his nephew away from an unsuitable woman. In this case, the woman was a prominent actress whose mother is the mistress of a rising industrialist. But the book lacked all the wit and humor that Heyer’s books have.

We are told over and over again that the Honorable Ivor Asprey is a rising Whig politician who is sponsoring important reform education on child labor and Catholic Emancipation. So he can’t risk any scandal to his name to preserve his ability to push forward his legislation. Since it’s 1814 and I happen to know that Catholic Emancipation won’t happen until 1829 and the Factory Act won’t be until 1833 [I teach this stuff], I’m not too breathless waiting for Ivor to pass his legislation. In fact, it would have been more realistic if this book were set in the late 1820s.

He meets the actress, Angelica, and immediately feels something for her even though he tries to buy her off to leave his nephew alone. Of course, she has no intention of marrying his nephew, the heir to a dukedom, but she’s still insulted. Then events interfere and he gets to know her better while saving her life, family, and reputation. They’re suddenly in love. Poof! He’s no longer worried about the damage to his reputation. Maybe he knows that his bills are going to take almost another generation to pass.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Angelica Leigh is enchanting audiences with her nightly portrayal of Ophelia at the Covent Garden Theatre. She is beautiful, charming and a veritable sensation. But when Lord Charles Latimer sets his heart on her, his mother is horrified. Angelica is definitely not suitable marriage material.
The Honourable Ivor Asprey, a well-regarded, hardworking, and rich parliamentarian, is seen as ideal husband material, but as a widower with an eleven-year-old daughter Elinor, he has abandoned any romantic notions. His sister, the Duchess of Arlington, Lord Latimer's mother, is heartbroken over her son, despite Ivor's assurances that his crush on the actress will fade. He reluctantly agrees to visit Angelica and warn her off. But there's something about Angelica Leigh that draws attention, and even the austere and upright Mr Asprey finds he cannot resist her allure.
I picked this up because the storyline is reminiscent of Georgette Heyer’s Faro’s Daughter [one of my favourites]. The initial premise is similar but it diverged pretty quickly. Angelica is sweet, a little naïve and much more of a damsel in distress.
Ivor is a likeable hero – strong, upright and honourable but with shades of mischief. He had suppressed his impulsive side but Angelica and the scrapes she ends up in bring them to the fore. He risked so much to help Angelica in all her endeavours.
There is added to the mix Ivor’s mischievous and matchmaking daughter Elinor who I loved, Angelica’s wastrel father, her new friend Isobel and a dastardly Lord who will resort to all manner of machinations to make her his.
This was an entertaining romp with many delightful moments but I did feel that the main couple didn’t really spend an awful lot of time together. Their relationship could have been a little more developed. There was too much mention of how infatuated Ivor’s nephew was with Angelica. Angelica’s many thoughts focussing on the fact there is some degree of excitement between them even after she realises she loves Ivor and Charles becoming engaged to Isobel is irritating. I did feel a little sorry for Isobel – she came across as being a consolation prize for Charles rather than he realising that Isobel is his true love. I also don’t know why it was never actually confirmed by Ivor that he was the one who had helped restore Isobel’s home and independence. Angelica surmised that he had risked his reputation for her so many times but it was all very vague.
Overall this is a really well written, clean story and I enjoyed it very much. I received an advanced review copy via Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a fun romp through Regency London this was. Angelica was a spirited heroine and Ivor made for a dashing hero any woman of sense might swoon over. A delightful cast of well-drawn and interesting secondary characters added to my enjoyment. This beautifully written story in the romantic tradition of Georgette Heyer had me enthralled.

A Scandalous Match is a fantastic book that must be added to your 2024 TBR.
This book gives me Lisa Kleypas "Hathaway series", it will make you laugh, cry and fall in love with both characters.

10/10

A Scandalous Match is a romantic story surrounded by historical facts in a moment where women were judged by every society standard of the time without any right.

Angelica Leigh is a young actress whose mother is the mistress of a rich man. Even though she is as respectable as any other girl of the ton, she is judged as an easy woman for her profession and parental relations. When a young man and heir of a Duke falls “in love with her” is her meddling mother who enlists the help of her brother to eliminate the possibility of a love match. Due to different circumstances is the widowed uncle who ends up helping Angelica through all her problems along the way.

I personally was not captivated by the story or its characters. They were cute but not really interesting.
Reading this book is the same feeling as watching a lifetime channel movie in Christmas.

I am extremely grateful to have had the chance to read this wonderful novel. Once I started I wasn’t able to put it down. Jane Dunn brings the Regency to sparkling life with incredible depth of knowledge and skill. Fans of Georgette Heyer will enjoy spotting the comparison works that may have provided this very talented author with her initial inspiration, but she is clever in taking the plot in original and unexpected directions; I kept thinking that I could guess how the romantic tangles would develop, but I was always wrong. It’s hard to single out an aspect for specific praise, but if I must, I loved the heroine’s character and spirit, and her very sympathetic desire to take charge of her own life. She is both a realistic Regency heroine and someone modern women can identify with. Strongly recommend! (And I loooooove that ending).

Gifted actress Angelica captures hearts as Ophelia, but faces a dilemma when a young lord pursues her. His uncle Ivor, a respected widowed father, intervenes—but soon finds Angelica’s charms increasingly hard to resist.

The writing style of this book is rather formal, with understated emotion. The story is engaging and may appeal to Georgette Heyer fans.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Jane Dunn writes a good Heyer style romance but this one didn't quite hit the same level as her previous book. It seemed overlong and repetitive. A couple of typos/editing errors too which will hopefully have been corrected before publication.

A gorgeous hist-rom tale perfect for Regency Era and Georgette Heyer fans. I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Opinions are mine.

I usually like Jane Dunn's regency books, but this one dragged to me. Angelica is a beautiful young actress who has taken London by storm for her portrayal of Ophelia in Hamlet. Lord Charles Latimer, heir to a dukedom, fancies himself in love with Angelica and wants to marry her. Of course this won't do, and Charles' mother sends her brother, Ivor, to discourage the beautiful actress from pursuing his nephew. You know what happens from here. For me, there was too much internal dialog and the romance was flat. Angelica also needed rescuing many, many times; I prefer a heroine who can solve her own problems. And I got tired of hearing about Angelica's hair. This is a quick book with absolutely no sex, and fans of classic regency will probably enjoy A Scandalous Match. Rounding up to a 3-star book.

I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is more of a traditional regency, but was still enjoyable.

4.5 stars

A good story, has a Sylvester vibe. Angel is an actress and she has gained Ivor's nephew Charlie's attention. Ivor's sister, the duchess is vehment that Charlie, a duke's heir, shouldn't marry an actress so she asks Ivor to go and bribe Angel. Angel is furious that Ivor should have such a low opinion of her. Angel has been brought up mainly as a lady as Amabel, her mother, has a very generous protector. (I did feel a bit sorry for the protector's homely wife). Angel keeps getting into scrapes which Ivor ends up helping her out of...Ivor's daughter Elinor really likes Angel and has said that if Ivor marries Lady Linus she will run away. Ivor has been a scamp in his youth but is now a serious politician, Of course there's a baddy who I didn't think get enough due desserts. Good book would probably like a bit more passion.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A pleasant, old fashioned regency with a nasty villain, some questionable, entertaining characters and of course, the passionate, romantic couple. Angelica is the heroine, a young actress who was raised by and lives with a demi-mondaine mother., She, herself is virtuous but is increasingly under seige by men who want her. There is also a young man who is a duke's heir, who has more serious intentions but not his family's approval. His uncle tries to break things up, only to be attracted to Angelica himself. It's all somewhat predictable, as well as entertaining and very romantic. A clean read.

Lord Charles Latimer has fallen in love with Angelica Leigh, an actress who has found acclaim portraying Ophelia in a current production of Hamlet, in which she 'drowns' realistically in a river of real water on stage. His mama is scandalised and asks her brother The Honourable Ivor Asprey to intervene and try to buy her off. Ivor is a reforming politician, a widower with a young daughter, he is reluctant to interfere in his nephew's affairs, particularly when Charles will soon be deemed capable of making his own decisions. Nevertheless, he agrees and visits her backstage where he makes a complete hash of the whole thing and only succeeds in antagonising Angelica who honestly had no intention/expectation of marrying Charles in the first place.

Angelica and her mother lived hand-to-mouth for many years until her mother found a kindly protector who set them up in a lovely house in Mayfair and continues to lavish them with gifts and money .Angelica's mother wants Her to find a rich husband, but Angelica is more interested in her career as an actress, even if it does leave her open to bawdy comments and invitations to be the mistress of wealthy men. Well spoken and educated, Angelica knows the reputation actresses have but she is determined to live her own life.

So far, this seemed very similar to the beloved Georgette Heyer novel Faro's Daughter (although in that case the heroine ran a gaming hell). Unfortunately for me that is where the similarities ended. I happily confess that I am not a historian but I find it very hard to believe that a member of the aristocracy would allow his only daughter to associate with an actress, particularly one who had murky parentage. Similarly, given the licentiousness of the theatre audiences of the time, I don't believe an aristocrat would take his young daughter to the theatre. In addition, Angelica' befriends the daughter of a nobleman who lost his fortune gambling and then committed suicide, once her inheritance is restored and she is once more an eligible marriage prospect she still consorts with Angelica - something I can't believe her stepmother would ever have countenance.

Added to the unbelievability of the plot, this just seemed to drag, with side plots involving Angelica's missing father, a romance between Ivor's man of business and his daughter's governess, rehearsals for a new play, a one-dimensional villain, Ivor's political concerns, and his daughter's match-making.

Loved the cover.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Have you read all of Georgette Heyer’s books and looking for a new author? If so, this is your lady, Jane Dunn. I’ve loved all her regency books so far. The beginning of this one reminded me a lot of Faro’s Daughter by GH. It’s a great story and great characters but for some reason when I put it down for a break, I wasn’t too eager to pick it back up again. Still a great book for regency fans :)


Read this is you like….
-regency romance
-widower, single dad
-a dash of Cinderella story