Historical Rom-Com – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti

Series: Flirty Rotten Scoundrels #1

Release Date: June 23, 2026

After yet another social debacle, Lady Ruby Ballimore knows it is time to leave London and plans to take her best friends Lady Alice Eppington and Miss Tamsin Drake with her. Ruby’s father is the Earl of Hangleton and he is the English ambassador to the small principality of Manfalcone, so when she learns that Princess Serafina of Manfalcone has cancelled her trip to her vacation home in Cornwall, Ruby decides to take advantage of the princess’s absence and spend the summer there, the three of them posing as the princess’s ladies in waiting – what could go wrong? They arrive in Cornwall and are surprised to find the castle rundown and inhabited by Malcolm Archer, a gorgeous former sea captain and his crew. It is clear that they are hiding something and don’t want the ladies to stay, but clearly Malcolm has underestimated Ruby – it is definitely going to be a summer neither will ever forget!

Malcolm Archer was once a promising Naval officer, who rose above his humble origins to captain his own ship, it seemed like his life was finally moving in a positive direction, until the unthinkable happened and he let his feelings make a decision that cost him his career. After being dishonorably discharged from the navy, his former mentor helped him get the job of steward to Princess Serafina’s Cornwall castle. As no one was living in the home and the princess had no immediate plans to visit, there was no need for a full staff, leaving Malcolm to support the crew members that followed him after his discharge. He fell back into his former ways and began smuggling to provide for everyone and the ever-growing dog population. When his latest venture is ruined by none other than Lady Ruby, he returns to Cornwall to regroup – only to had Lady Ruby to show up on the doorstep, insisting that the Princess sent her. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to recognize him from the social event that caused her to leave England, but he can’t hope for that luck to hold and does his utmost to make her leave – which involves a lot of hilarity but is ultimately unsuccessful.

This was such a fun story! It is well-written, nicely paced and had an amazing cast of characters. This story is filled with emotion, self-discovery, found family, lots of dogs, unexpected guests, abduction, steamyish love scenes, laugh out loud antics, betrayal, loyalty, a hero ready to burn the world for his love, a lot of plot twists and finally a very satisfying ending complete with an epilogue. This is the first book in a new series, and I am already looking forward to the next installment! If you are looking for a fun read that isn’t fluffy or silly – this is the book for you – it delivers an emotional story but still makes you laugh and leaves you with a smile on your face. Highly recommended!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

You Had Me at Heist by Christina Britton

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Wimpole Street Widows Society #2

Release Date: June 16, 2026

Mere days after the death of her beloved mother, Iris Rumford’s childhood home was burned to the ground to hide the theft of her mother’s life work. Iris was devastated and offered sanctuary by her godmother, Sylvia Lutton, Lady Vastkern, for the next five years, Iris tries to put her loss behind her and assist the Wimpole Street Widows Society with her botany knowledge and other skills. But when she learns that the Earl of Durand is claiming that her mother’s life’s work is his own and goes a step further to say that she stole his work! Outrage consumes her, and the widows all agree, the man needs to be stopped! But that is easier said than done, first they need to find the stolen papers and that won’t be easy since the earl has hired Oliver Beckett, a former Bow Street Runner to keep his estate secure. And to complicate things even more, Oliver Beckett is the most intriguing man Iris has ever met, and she is falling hard for him!

Oliver Beckett stood by his convictions a year ago and it cost him his livelihood and his family’s security. After almost a year without employment, Lord Durand was the first person to offer him a position and while he doesn’t like or trust the man, he can’t afford to let his personal feeling interfere with his job again. So, when he comes across Iris Rumford spying on Lord Durand’s greenhouses in the predawn hours, he is immediately suspicious and also a bit enamored by her. The more he gets to know her, the more he wants to help her, but doing the right thing in the past has hurt his family and he can’t let that happen again. Will he risk everything for love, or will he play it safe and lose the love of his life to keep his job?

I loved this installment; it is well-written and nicely paced and Iris and Oliver are a wonderful couple who are just perfect for each other. The story has a lot of emotion, a heroine with a compulsive disorder, a hero who would burn the world for her, great secondary characters, a nasty villain, some spice, a lot of love, found family and finally, a very satisfying ending complete with an epilogue. This is the second book in the series, but this book could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would enthusiastically recommend it to my fellow historical romance readers!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

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