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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

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?

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from January 22, 2024
      Jordan’s scintillating second Scandalous Ladies of London Regency romance (after The Countess) follows Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, whose freedom is finally in sight as her socially mandated year of mourning the accidental death of her abusive ex-husband draws to a close. Then attractive Welshman Rhain, the new Duke of Dedham, arrives at her London home (now his) with his six unwed sisters and mother in tow. Before Valencia can depart London for the remote dower house in Yorkshire, Rhain, who is unaccustomed to the rules of London society, asks Valencia to help his sisters navigate the social season. Valencia’s continued residence at the townhouse puts her and the new duke in close proximity, especially as their quarters share a tempting connecting door. Though Valencia is reluctant to be under any man’s control ever again, she can’t help her attraction to Rhain, whose good-hearted kindness will make readers swoon. In a plot development that Jordan masterfully utilizes to expose the dark side of glittering Regency society, the stolen moments of happiness between this well-suited duo are marred by blackmail when someone claims to know a scandalous secret Valencia harbors. The resilient heroine, powerful emotional and sexual chemistry, and hint of intrigue make this one to be savored. Agent: Maura E. Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Assoc.

    • Library Journal

      July 1, 2024

      Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, finally escaped the clutches of her callous husband when he died the previous year. Only one thing could hinder her newfound independence: the new duke. When uncouth and unkempt Rhain arrives from Wales with a half-dozen unmarried sisters in tow, it is clear they have no clue how to navigate society. Valencia agrees to be their guide in exchange for the money she needs to continue living in London. Living with Rhain, however, soon inspires Valencia to seek satisfaction for more sensual needs as well. Jordan continues her "Scandalous Ladies of London" series (after The Duke Starts a Scandal) with a novel that offers a mature consideration of the grim challenges faced by women in Regency England's society. Narrator Mary Jane Wells gives an engaging, expressive performance of this dramatic story. From thrilling to thoughtful, she expertly captures every moment, yielding an absorbing listening experience. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a richly detailed Regency romance about scandal and self-reliance. Recommended for fans of J.J. McAvoy, Martha Waters, and Joanna Lowell.--Lauren Hackert

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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