A Scandalous Adventure — Lillian Marek

Rating: 3.5/5
Quick take: A globe-tinted Victorian escapade with romance, ruin, and a dash of danger.
Two-sentence summary: A scandal sends our pair far from Mayfair and straight into an adventure that asks who they are when no one’s watching. The journey knocks off their polish and finds the people underneath.
What I loved:

Travelogue atmosphere—trains, ports, and ruins you can almost smell

A heroine who grows brave in small, believable steps

A hero whose protectiveness evolves into partnership (not control)

Set pieces that feel cinematic without losing the character focus

A theme of reputation vs. self that threads the whole book
Wish list: a mid-book detour lingers a beat too long; one secondary villain reads thin.
Heads-up: Moderate peril; mild–moderate steam.
For readers who like: Meredith Duran’s moodier travels, Deanna Raybourn-adjacent vibes.
Full review:
Marek leans into the fantasy of running away from the ton and finding yourself. The locations aren’t just backdrops; they test the couple, forcing practical choices and private truths. I appreciated that the heroine’s courage isn’t a makeover—it’s a muscle she keeps using. The romance is at its best when they’re solving problems side by side, translating friction into trust. A prolonged stopover slows the pace, and one antagonist could use more shading, but the payoff is sweet, and the last chapters click into a hopeful, satisfying close.

I think this is my favorite in the series so far. I really enjoyed watch Suzannah come out of her shell and learn to live life a little bit. Staufer was a great compliment to her personality, without it being too storybook perfect. Olivia finally gets a break after living a very horrible life as well. I was surprised to find the politics and court maneuvering a very good part of the story. It's so easy for that to take over in a story, but this was layered just right to create an atmosphere that let the characters experience danger and grow into their own.

I really enjoyed Max and Susannah's story! I loved the interaction between the two of them. It had me laughing out loud. I can't wait to see what the next adventure in the series will be!