The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess by Sophie Jordan (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @avonbooks for the review copy of The Scandalous Ladies of London:  The Countess by Sophie Jordan.

Do you like to read or watch scandalous stories?  Scandalous stories always make me think about soap operas.  My family were die hard Young and the Restless fans while I was growing up.  I loved that show and all of the scandalous storylines.  Sadly after I got out of college and went to work, I stopped watching it. 

Lady Gertrude married a man that her parents approved of and thought she would have a happy marriage.  Unfortunately the Earl of Chatham was never a considerate lover and spent his time with his many mistresses and one night stands rather than with his wife.  Now twenty years into their marriage, they live completely separate lives.  Her daughter, Delia, has now come out into society and Lady Gertrude “Tru” hopes that she will be able to make a love match.  Her husband has other ideas and hopes that she can marry a rich suitor that can support his gambling addiction.  Tru meets a mysterious man at an event and feels an immediate attraction for the first time in her life.  She is horrified to learn that this man, Jasper Thorne, is the man that her husband has decided will marry her daughter.  Tru and Jasper are close in age and have an undeniable attraction.  Attraction to her daughter’s suitor is unacceptable.  What will Tru, Jasper, and Delia do to find their own happiness?

I enjoyed this story and was indeed scandalized by this plot.  I thought it was funny though showing the age differences in courting couples.  It was okay for a thirty-something man to be trying to marry an 18 year old whose mother is also in her thirties.  Tru is 37 and Jasper is 33. It was interesting to have the woman be older in the relationship.

This book had fake dating, lust at first sight, and forbidden love.

I would call the steam level of this book medium.  There was a lot of buildup, but it was mostly closed door.

Tru had an entire group of friends who played a part in the story.  We saw pieces of their lives and stories too and I’m sure they will be the focus of future books in this series.  The Duchess of Dedham is the focus of the next book, and we get a sneak peek at the end of this book.  This book was told through multiple point of views including Tru, Jasper, and some of her friends.

Lord Chatham is a very one-dimensional villain.  It was hard to understand why Tru and her parents were fooled by him before she was married.  Jasper at times put me off when he tried to come-on to Tru before he knew who she was . . . but he did know he was going to be courting Delia.  I was disturbed that he was okay with having a mistress while courting another to be his wife. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable regency romance with delightful older (thirty something) main characters.

The Scandalous Ladies of London:  The Countess by Sophie Jordan was published on March 28, 2023.