4/5

It’s always the fiance, never the bride for Lady Kay Matheson. With two failed engagements in her back pocket and her reputation in tatters, her engagement to a wealthy American businessman could be her last hope to keep her family afloat. When the man she failed to elope with, Devlin Sharpe, returns after many years away having found wealth, success, and an engagement of his own, their past comes roaring back to life—threatening to uphold the trend of her never making it down the aisle.

The Scandal at the Savoy series continues with a third installment focused on the unlucky in love, Kay Matheson. This tension filled Victorian era historical oriented around a second chance romance could not have been more aligned to my tastes if it tried. Bad Luck Bride establishes a strong central romance with a supporting cast from previous books (Delia my love) making appearances and lending their opinions. Knowing the crumbs to Kay’s backstory interspersed in former installments, like Lady Scandal, I knew this second chance arc was going to rely heavily on the pining and the forced confrontations. The attention Guhrke pays to Kay and Devlin’s failed romance only deepens the bitterness in their reunion and that delicious delicious angst. Bad Luck Bride’s focus on the responsibility placed upon women to uplift their families fortunes and stations was a strong tether for Kay’s perspective and why her previous relationship with Devlin ended the way it did. It’s not just about reconciliation for these two, but stepping out of their upbringings to embark on a new journey side by side. Bad Luck Bride is a true historical romance treat, a strong addition to a series all about unlikely heroines finding love and fighting for the futures they yearn for.

Another fun read by Laura Lee Guhrke! This time the story focuses on Lady Kay Matheson who has yet to make it down the aisle. A scandal from her past has tainted her reputation and she is hoping to start fresh when the young man from her past returns to the scene and causes quite a stir.

I really enjoy this set of characters and their escapades. It reminds me of Bridgerton but a little less rigid and more tongue in cheek. I thought this premise was a bit more fun than the second book in the series and overall enjoyed the storyline. I appreciate that previous characters from the series continue to make an appearance as well! Thank you to Forever Publishing for the ARC!

Family, duty and obligations, society, gossip mongers have a lot to answer for what she and her love has to endure. But love the second time around is sweeter. Enjoyable read about love no time or distance can erase.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and am leaving my review voluntarily.

This book was amazingly easy to read through - an incredibly well paced story and nuanced main characters with depth. It was easy to get engrossed in the storyline and a lovely second chance romance. The MCs get separated in their youth and are reunited years later, having gone through many personal (and financial!) transformations. They need to work through and resolve the misunderstandings, reconnect and come to terms with each other’s growth. Angsty, poignant, well developed story by Laura Lee Guhrke. Well recommended!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this amazing advance copy.

Laura Lee Guhrke is an auto-buy (or auto-request) for me; there are very few of her books I haven’t enjoyed. This one was another winner. I have loved the Scandal at the Savoy series, and while this book wasn’t my favorite of the series, it is very, very good. After reading about Kay and Devlin and getting bits and pieces of their history in previous books, I was looking forward to reading the entirety of their story here, and I wasn’t disappointed. Their romance was believable—the way they came back together was understandable. As always, Ms Guhrke writes characters well, including the supporting characters. I loved seeing a lot of Delia again (she has been my favorite character in this series), and I’m hoping Kay’s sister Jo will get her own book. My one quibble—and why this book is a 4 rather than 5 star for me—is that the pacing was a bit off. Our two leads didn’t really get together until the 90% mark, and we got none of their happily ever after—not even an epilogue. I would have liked to see some streamlining of the build up to their renewing their relationship so that we would have more of their HEA.

Thanks so much to the publisher (Forever) for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Lady Kay Matheson needs her wedding to a wealthy American to take place. She hopes it will repair the damage a failed elopement and broken engagement has done to her reputation. Kay never imagined she would run into the very man responsible for her downfall. She is determined not to allow Delvin Sharpe to ruin her chances to secure her family’s future. Will Kay change her mind once she learns the truth behind their separation? Or will she forsake love for her family’s security?


Devlin Sharpe is the disgraced, unwanted son of a baron. He returns to England a wealthy businessman and engaged to a marquess’ daughter. Devlin never anticipated running into the woman who broke his heart or learning about her engagement. He tries to avoid Kay, but fate has other plans. They both soon learn the real reason behind their breakup and separation. Can Devlin fix all the wrongs of the past? Or will he allow Kay to slip through his fingers for the final time?

I could not help but empathize with Kay. The poor woman has endured a lot, especially being the unfortunate victim of gossip and rumors. She also bears heavy responsibility for her mother and sister’s future. What I hate the most is how Kay did not have many options available to provide for her family, thanks to gossipmongers. Women faced many restrictions back then. There was only so much they were allowed to do.

Devlin is amazing! He made something of himself through hard work. Devlin chose a trade school over the colleges for nobles. What I love the most about him is how Devlin noticed Kay when their peers overlooked her. He did not see a red-haired, chubby girl but a delightful woman. I also like how Devlin disliked how she disparaged herself or bowed to others wishes, sacrificing her own wants and desires.

SERIES: Yes, it is the third book in Laura Lee Guhrke’s Victorian romance series, SCANDAL AT THE SAVOY. This story can easily standalone. However, I suggest starting with LADY SCANDAL, book two, before this one. Much of Kay and Devlin’s reunion and interactions happen in the background. I love how Delia (from LS) plays an important role. Simon (from LS) and Max (from BOOKSHOP CINDERELLA) appear here or there. Sadly, Evie (BC) is only mentioned.

This book follows Lady Kay Matheson and Devlin Sharpe — who we were briefly introduced to in Lady Scandal (book #2). Fourteen years ago, Kay and Devlin ran away to elope, but were foiled before they could. Now, they are engaged to other people, and ofc they were low-key pining for each other the entire time. Low-key ofc. ofc.

I really enjoyed Kay and loved her dynamic with her younger sister. Atmosphere A+. I do wish we saw Kay and Devlin have more growth as a couple in the main timeline. Overall, really enjoyed this read and thought it was the best out of all of the series...

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC :)

Lady Kay Matheson has had the worst luck in the romance/marriage department, heartbroken and dragged through the mud by journalists and members of society over her failed elopement and jilted second chance at love. Devlin Sharpe is finally engaged to be married after a disastrous history with Kay that left him angry and brokenhearted. They run into each other unexpectedly, where unresolved feelings and thoughts are running wild.

Read if you swoon over:
*** Victorian romance
*** Second chance romance
*** First love never forgotten
*** Enemies to lovers

This is book 3 in the “Scandal at the Savoy” Victorian romance series, and might be my favorite one of them all. All my favorite tropes involved, the sizzling chemistry - I’ll take it all.

Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Laura Lee Ghurke is autobuy for me, a master romance writer with tight prose, believable plot and characters, and genuine swoon. I really enjoyed this entry in the excellent Savoy series, I think it only struggled a bit with pacing in the last quarter. I didn’t fully understand the new obstacles to the couple, and wished their reunion had more time together, exploring how/why they were still in love, after years apart. Still, a very solid and enjoyable read! Absolutely recommend.

I normally am not a fan of second chance romances, but Laura just changed that. This was brilliant. Kay and Devlin were so perfect together and I loved watching them fall in love again. I loved their chemistry, the way they banter and the sweet moments, they were everything. Loved their chemistry side characters, Kay’s mother had me laughing with her histrionics. This book had me smiling, an absolute joy to read.

The Bad Luck Bride is a touching, second-chance Victorian romance. Although many aspects of the story are familiar, this well told tale accurately and movingly portrays the dismal choices facing women during this era and how much of their lives were ruled by men –fathers, brothers, husbands– in ways large and small.

Unexpectedly reunited 14 years after their failed elopement, Lady Kay Matheson and Devlin Sharpe are each newly engaged and planning lavish weddings during the London Season. Their financial situations have changed considerably during the past 14 years. Kay, the daughter of an earl who had a decent dowry during her first season, found out after her father’s death that the estate was heavily mortgaged and in debt. She is engaged to Wilson Rycroft, an older American millionaire with a 15-year-old daughter. Kay and her family are counting on the settlements from Kay’s marriage to provide financial security and stability for her mother and younger sister, Josephine. Josephine is making her debut into society, a step that was delayed due her father’s death.

Devlin was the impecunious fifth son when he and Kay eloped. After the elopement was interrupted, he left shortly thereafter for South Africa. Devlin has since made a fortune in hotels and other investments. He has returned to London with his fiancée, Lady Pamela, for a short visit for his wedding.

Devlin and Kay each harbor resentment and feelings of betrayal regarding the aftermath of the unsuccessful elopement. Based on inaccurate or incomplete information due to the efforts of Kay’s parents to keep the couple separated, each of them has a skewed view of the circumstances and thinks the other person abandoned them to their fate.

Kay and Devlin have a lot of misunderstandings to work through and much emotional growth to undergo before they are able to understand the full picture and contemplate a future together.

This entry in the Scandal at the Savoy series is a solid addition to the first two books, and I think it could be read as a stand alone. Although the general story is not uncommon, this is a well -paced story with an appealing couple, who learn they must fight for the future they want together.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ReadForeverPub for the ARC.

An angst filled second chance romance for the ages! I absolutely fell hard for Bad Luck Bride.

I enjoyed all the angst and drama between Kay and Devlin. These two had a rich backstory that will make romantics swoon and cry at the same time. I liked that these two didn't immediately fall back in love, they had to grow first as people which I felt was realistic. Their reconciliation was well written and moving.

This plot has so much drama that I couldn't put it down. I mean Kay and Devlin are set to marry different people so that brings it's own shenanigans. Plus there's a lot of family stuff happening that causes issues. I was never bored.

A great book for lovers of second chance romances and angst.

It was not my normal genre but it was a typical romance i suffered through it not a big fan or romances