Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I've really enjoyed Sophie Jordan's books in the past. She is very good at writing strong female characters even when her settings make it difficult for them to be taken seriously or are limited by their circumstances.

I both really liked Valencia's backstory and found it so hard to read. My heart broke for her in her prior marriage and hoped with her for the freedom that comes with being a widow. I liked Rhain as a characters a lot, but I felt like the romance between them contained exactly zero conversations about who they were as people and just relied on their attraction to each other. There was no moment when we saw her talking to someone about her opinion on marriage changing from "never again" to "sure, sounds great". It jut made the rest of the story seem like we were missing crucial moments between them where they show who they are to each other.

So, this one felt a little flat to me. It was spicy but without reason or purpose or conversation and that's no enough for me or what I've come to expect from Jordan.

Synopsis:
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?

This was a quick but ultimately unsatisfying read. I have no critique about the heroine, indeed Valencia was a strong, smart, and resourceful woman who was trying her best to navigate being a young widow.

However, the love interest was so flat. He was rude with her initially because he was so overcome with lust which is not endearly in the least. Especially when later we are supposed to believe he's very progressive about women because he lets his sisters and mother do what they wish. Later, he falls into protector mode predictably but the conversations between the two love interests are so short and unsubstantial. Suddenly they are professing their love for each other and it felt rushed. I was all for Valencia taking back some freedom and power for herself and it's not at all believable that she goes from being adamant about not falling in love with someone she barely knows again after getting out of an abusive marriage, to just rushing to the altar.

I also wish there had been more details with the sisters and their introduction to society. I thought there might be some funny anecdotes or Valencia having to guide them through their first ball. But that's all dropped for the second story line.

On page 100, there is an error where it reads "Sutton had taken his first wife..." First needs to be changed to second.

I hope the final edition will have a note at the beginning letting the reader know that there is on page domestic violence and sexual assault.

Classic Sophie Jordan! I really , really enjoyed this book. I could not wait to read about Valencia! I thought her story was very unique... in a very unhappy first marriage...when the new Duke of Dedham shows up there is no room left for her at her old residence. For me Sophie Jordan is such a master of building tension! I just love the witty comments and funny scenerios. Can't wait for the next book in this series! There is a reason Jordan is an automatic read for me!

I ADORED this book. Sophie Jordan is one of my favorite historical romance writers, I've read everything she's put out thus far, and this latest series of hers, The Scandalous Ladies of London, might be my favorite one yet.

More than anything else, I feel like Sophie Jordan, along with Joanna Shupe, knows how to write a romance novel where both parties really earn their happy endings. Valencia and Rhain both had their own hangups as individuals and as a couple but I also found it refreshing that once they admitted to themselves that they cared for each other, there wasn't a lot of tedious back and forth like there is in less... mature romance novels so to speak.

Another thing I really love about this series is that Sophie Jordan's heroines are in their 30s! I like the idea that women who aren't in the first blush of youth get a second chance, or even a first chance, at love when they've been previously denied it by their society. One of my main gripes about historical romance is when the heroines are in their late teens/early 20s and the heroes are often a decade older, and it just feels kind of eye-rolling even if there was some truth to it among the upper classes.

And lastly, I'd be bereft if I didn't comment on how delicately and empathetically Jordan handles sexual violence in this novel. I'm not giving away any spoilers, but in a way, it reminded me of how Thomas Hardy handles Tess's rape in the book, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, in that it was subtle but also deeply poignant, and stayed with the reader long after they closed the book.

The first book of the series was heavier on the romance. In this book, I understand the heroine is recovering from her trauma at the hands of her late husband; the author executed that turmoil with aplomb. What was missing, however, was input from the hero. I would have liked to see more of his internal POV throughout the story. Still, I really enjoyed the friendship between the ladies and am certainly excited to see what else this author has in store for these characters.

Special thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Sophie Jordan's new series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, tells the stories of the women of Regency England who have survived their debutant years and difficult marriages but who yearn for freedom and life. The Duchess is wrapping up her year of mourning after her husband died. She is ready to live again after years of torment, when the new Duke arrives with his huge family of sisters. She prepares to pack up and go to the dower house in the country when a deal is struck. She will prepare the new Duke's sisters for their introduction to the Ton and in exchange she will have enough money to remain in London. As you might suspect, sparks fly between the dowager Duchess, Valencia, and the new Duke, Rhain. While it takes a while for the two to give in to their feelings, it is worth the wait.

I recommend this one if you are looking for a really quick read. However, I don't recommend this if you are looking for a lot of chemistry between the two main characters. I feel like we were told about their passion for each other, rather than being shown that passion.

This book had a lot to enjoy, but overall fell short of my expectations. The close friendships that the main character holds brought comfort and interest to the story, but the love interest was rather flat and ordinary.

Valencia married the man she loved. She's a duchess. What more could she want? Everything. Her husband has changed. She's left to fend for herself only to find her home invaded by a new family. She's trying her best to adjust to her new situation.

This is a great story and I can't wait for more in this series.

Second in the series…Valencia never truly know what live was even being previously married. She lived in misery and heartache for as long as she could remember. She had her friends that she count on but never really confine her darkest secrets to. Rhain came into a dukedom that he was not ready to have. He came with an agreement Valencia in order to help the transition. Valencia and Rhain started spending more time together and falling in love.

I enjoyed this story. As painful as it was to see the turmoil of Valencia’s first marriage, it was realistic to see real life occurrences of abusive marriage that most romance books sometimes skim through. The negative thought that I have about the book is that I think that Valencia should have told Rhain about her past more effectively. I wanted to see that be a major point of connection.

Overall, I really enjoyed this HEA.

For fans of regency romance, this book will definitely tick most of your boxes! Great chemistry with the MFC and MMC, loved the plotline of the extended family of the Duke, and the development of the main characters. My only complaint is I think it could have benefitted from 100 more pages of development with the various characters. I felt like it was possibly edited to be shorter than it needed to be. I wanted more!

Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the plot moved at a good pace and kept me interested. The book was a bit shorter than I expected, or maybe it was also a fast read. The romance felt a little slow, though I get the author's why. I felt like for most of it, the main pair didn't do enough talking. Too much of it was just hearing their thoughts but when they were in the same room they were quiet (and often staring at each other.) I need more open communication. Glad we could hear his thoughts though, which helped.
I haven't read the 1st book so I didn't know the back story of the friends but luckily you didn't need to. I was really glad that the author didn't try to make us memorize the 6 sisters individually, which I had been dreading since seeing that in the synopsis. I can see that there are several women who might make a future appearance as a heroine of her own book, though odds point to Hazel. I was surprised that we were given some chapters from Hazel's perspective but I didn't mind. It makes sense to set up the premise of the next book and to show that our current heroine might not know everything. I kind of want to know more about Hazel so I might read the next book though I'm not in a rush to go back and read the first.

Sophie Jordan writes the best historical romance! I don't know what kind of magic she puts into her writing, but I am taken in, hook, line, and sinker with her writing. This is everything I wanted from an historical, and it has a strong FMC, which I absolutely appreciate. I love getting multiple character perspectives, especially from secondary characters. It adds so much to the reader experience.

The Duchess was really everything I want from a HR: a quick, enjoyable, sweet read.
I didn't even realize this was the second in the series, so I definitely plan on going back and reading The Countess.
I am really excited to see where this series goes next, and I look forward to all of Sophie Jordan's new releases!

This book was absolutely brilliant. The eye-catching cover drew me in and the first chapter ensnared me. I read this book in a day. I could not put it down. This book has everything needed for a splendid story. Well-written and likable characters, intrigue, a kind, handsome hero, and the heat only a very talented author can write. The Duchess is book two of a very entertaining series. I look forward to other books in this series and by this author. Although, is not absolutely necessary to read book one, The Countess, I highly recommend it.

I received this book from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an honest review.

I love the way this series is written. Reading POVs of secondary characters is really fun and getting to hear the story from multiple perspectives is refreshing. I enjoyed the premise of this book as well. Valencia, Dowager Duchess of Dedham is rid of her horrid abusive husband and is going to enjoy the freedoms a young widow can enjoy. When the new Duke arrives he is a rugged hunk of man and she’s wildly attracted to him. He is wildly attracted to her. So naturally they avoid each other and he is a jerk who secretly wants to take care and protect and love her. She helps usher his six hoyden sisters in to society so she can stay in London. My only complaint about this book is that I don’t feel like there was enough time on page with out two MCs for their love story to feel developed. They rarely spoke and seemed to dance around one another until she goes in to his room and they bang in silence and she leaves and all the sudden they’re madly in love. I would have liked to see more dialogue or moments with them together earlier in the book that made me feel their chemistry and connection a little more. That being said, I still loved the book and the characters and I enjoyed watching Valencia get a happy ending and grow as a character, even seeing her stepmother in a warmer light. I can’t wait to read what comes next!

I was so excited to get this book. I read it so quickly. I loved it.

There are sections of past violence against the heroine from her old husband so I did want to warn anyone who may be unsettled by that.

Valencia is finally through with the mourning period of her husband she doesn’t mourn, it’s then where the new Duke comes to town and puts her plans of freedom at a risk. They make a deal. She helps him get his 6 unmarried sisters ready for high society and he’ll provide her with more money for her freedom.

I so badly wanted to see Valencia be loved and cherished, things she always deserved, but hadn’t received in years. Rhain was the perfect man to show her that. Right away he believed she deserved more and we love that in a man.

This book was fast paced and highly addicting. Thank you NetGalley and Avon books for the ARC.

sophie jordan does it again. she's the go to author for a healthy representation of historical romance woman, with deservingly best happily ever after romance.

you may or may not have liked valencia in the countess but be prepared to truly see her life through her pov, which the author excells at and I'm already dreading and accepting of when we would get hazel's story because it would not be rainbows.

with the heaviness of the characters, the much needed and appreciated light heartedness stems from the Duke's family, more like his unwed sisters who are so unique and entertaining that I was in splits half the time.

you should definitely pick this out. sophie jordan is quickly becoming one of my favourite hr romance authors