The Scandalous Vixen by Tracy Sumner

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Duchess Society, #2

Release Date: January 06, 2022

Roan Darlington, the Duke of Leighton fell hard for shipping heiress Helena Astley years ago on a Dorset beach, but when he finally talks to her, he botches it badly and will spend the next ten years trying to rectify his mistake, but his reputation for being quick to temper and a profligate rake does nothing to further his cause. But Roan is nothing if not persistent and is finally able to coerce her into joining him and his friends at his country estate for Christmas, by promising that his friend’s wives, who run the “Duchess Society” will tutor Helena’s younger half-sister, Theodosia in ton etiquette alongside his younger sister, Philippa. He proposes a faux engagement, that she can break when she returns to London. He just hopes that spending time with her will finally satisfy his burning desire for her once and for all!

Dubbed Lady Hell by the ton, Helena Astley is a successful businesswoman with a thriving shipping empire and an independence that sets her apart from most unmarried women in London. For years Helena has simultaneously hated and desired Roan, but she has no desire to give up her independence or her fortune for any man, least of all a womanizing rake like him. But when he offers her a chance to help her younger sister, it is all the excuse she needs to finally give into the temptation he has always poised without seeming desperate. Helena is no fool, she knows that despite their “engagement” ruse she could never be anything more than a fling to Roan, but even that knowledge doesn’t stop her from agreeing to join his house party. But when a kiss, ten years in the making, spirals out of control, Helena finds herself married to Roan. But can these two find their way to HEA or will they let their insecurities keep them from surrendering to what is clearly the love of a lifetime?

This was a well-written, nicely-paced story with very likable and relatable characters. This story is filled with witty banter, insecurities, great secondary characters, steamyish love scenes, good friends, and a happily ever after, complete with an epilogue that nicely sets up the next book. Overall, I liked both Roan and Helena and enjoyed their love story, but I am not sure why it took ten years for them to get together since they clearly had many interactions over the years. I also found it a bit hard to believe that Roan was pining for her all those years, considering the sheer number of women he slept with during that time. Those things aside, this was a very enjoyable, quick read that I am happy to recommend to lovers of steamyish historical romance. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

4 stars

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

The Brazen Bluestocking by Tracy Sumner

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Duchess Society, #1

Release Date: September 16, 2021

Lady Hildegard “Hilde” Templeton has been tasked with bringing Lady Matilda Delacour-Baynham’s fiance up to snuff and if she does, she is sure that Lady Matilida’s father, the Earl of Hastings will hire The Duchess Society to advise his four other daughters on their journey to wedded bliss – a commission she sorely needs, as she has a lot of responsibilities and not a lot of money. She is sure she can get Tobias Streeter; a shipping magnate who is of Romani blood, and if gossip is to be believed, all-around bounder ready for the ton. But meeting him in person shocks her to her core – she has never had such an instant attraction to a man, granted Tobias is the most attractive man she has ever seen, but this is more than that. She reminds herself that she needs to focus on the prize and ignore whatever it is simmering between them. Easier said than done, especially when she learns the “Rogue King of Limehouse Basin” is a very nice man who among other things rescues orphans and cats.

Tobias Streeter is the illegitimate son of a Romani woman and a Viscount, life has not been easy but Tobias has made a fortune and is ready to follow his dream of working with famed Architect John Nash, but for that, he needs more than money, he needs connections to the ton and has found the perfect woman in Lady Matilda, as theirs will be a white marriage and he won’t have to change his lifestyle or worry about love. But that was before he met Lady Hildegard Templeton and she turned his world upside down and to make matters worse, as if his inconvenient attraction to her wasn’t bad enough, it appears that someone is trying to kill him. Soon he has choices to make, but a lifetime of fearing love makes it hard to accept that is what he is feeling or what he deserves. It isn’t until the real possibility that he could lose Hilde forever comes up that he finally knows what he has to do, but is it too late?

This was a very interesting story with very well-drawn characters and a somewhat unusual storyline. I really liked Hilde and Tobias, but their fears and seemingly contrived misunderstandings/misinterpretations dragged on a bit too long for my liking. There is also the fact that he was engaged to someone when the story opens, so there is also a bit of a cheating vibe – yes, his engagement was a business deal and his fiancee didn’t care if he had other women, but to me – cheating is cheating AND his fiancee was her client – so no, just no. That said, they never really crossed a line that made me want to stop reading and in the end, everything is as it should be. So if you are looking for a fresh story with great characters, true love, lots of interesting secondary characters, a soulmate type love, orphans, misgendered cats, steamy love scenes, abductions, grand gestures imagined but don’t happen, surprising twists and finally a HEA that began to seem impossible, then this is the book for you! This is the first book in the series, but there is a prequel novella that features her business partner, so you might want to read that first, but it isn’t strictly necessary to enjoy this story. So after some bumps in my reading journey, I ended up loving this book and can’t wait to read the next one!

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