The Duchess Review

By Sophie Jordan

Scandalous Ladies of London Book 2

Star rating: ★★★★☆

Blurb

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?  

Genre: Historical Romance

Read if you Like:

💌 Widowed heroine

💌 He's her diseased husband heir

💌 Abusive relationship survivor

💌 Suspense

My Thoughts:

The latest book in the Scandalous Ladies of London series is here and it picks up where the intrigue from book one left off! While you could potentially read this as a standalone I would highly recommend reading The Countess before this one as it will help with the backstory.

The Duchess is perfect for romance readers who like intrigue and a little suspense thrown in with their romance. This book focuses on Valenia's terrible relationship with her first husband nearly as much as her relationship with the new Duke. While there is romance, Valencia's life and her struggles are the focus of the story.

This book is a quicker read (just over 200 pages) and you notice the brevity in getting to know the side characters. I would have loved to get to know the new duke's family better. However, if you want a fast read that is fun with a lower amount of spice this is the perfect series for you. I am hooked and will be continuing the series when what I am guessing will be called the Marchioness comes out.

Spice rating - 🌶️🌶️- There is one open-door sex scene and a few kisses.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with an arc of this book to review. All opinions are my own.