by Sophie Jordan
Book: The Scandalous Ladies of London #2
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: March 26, 2024
Genre: Adult, Historical, Romance
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Book Links: Goodreads Amazon
The thrilling second book in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s
amazing new high concept series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, which
chronicles the lives of a group of affluent ladies reigning over glittering,
Regency-era London, vying for position in the hierarchy of the ton . They are
the young wives, widows, and daughters of London’s wealthiest families. The
drama is big, the money runs deep, and the shade is real. Life is different in
the ton . “I liked my husband well enough … but I like him even better dead.”
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?
My Review: Valencia is free. Free from her husband, morning and hiding away
from society.
If you remember her from the first book, then you already have a look into how her husband was and how he was found dead.
But now, it's truly Valencia's turn to shine. What better way to step back out into society than on her birthday of all days.
Well.... maybe she can shine a little later. First she has to get over the yacht fiasco and then being tossed out of her home. So maybe her birthday wasn't how she expected it to go, but I'm sure she'll be back on top in no time.
It doesn't take long before her friend hear the news and arrive at the house. The way they reacted to the new Dukes sisters and their manners or lack there of. But Val is invited to stay for dinner and so she does and looks her very best at it.
Just when Val thought this was her last night, the Duke offers her a proposal. One she cant really refuse and he is already willing to do and give more than her late husband has. Plus she would get to stay in her home. So Val agrees.
As the story progresses, it gives you everything you've come to expect from a
Sophie novel and then some. You will enjoy these characters and getting Val her
story and finally a happy ending that she so deserves.
I'm so excited I've gotten to read this copy early on as
I couldn't wait for more since the last book.
This is a series worth reading as are any and all of Sophies work.
