The Duchess - The Scandalous Ladies of London

The thrilling second book in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's amazing new high concept series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, which chronicles the lives of a group of affluent ladies reigning over glittering, Regency-era London, vying for position in the hierarchy of the ton. They are the young wives, widows, and daughters of London's wealthiest families. The drama is big, the money runs deep, and the shade is real. Life is different in the ton.

"I liked my husband well enough ... but I like him even better dead."

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 h er 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?

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"Sharp, sexy, and blissfully salacious, The Scandalous Ladies of London is an adrenaline-soaked, romantic delight. I flew through this in one sitting, completely unwilling to stop until I reached the perfect last page. This book is precisely what I love most about romance! " - Christina Lauren

"Bestseller Jordan (the Duke Hunt series) will have readers rooting for adultery with this risqué and alluring series launch. Jordan conjures such chemistry between Tru and Jasper-and makes Lord Chatham so odious-that readers will leave any qualms at the door. The tantalizing struggle between love and honor at the heart of this delectable romance keeps the pages flying." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

"Jordan gives readers a clever and high-drama twist on the traditional Regency romance but keeps the heart of what makes the genre so popular and beloved. Historical romance fans who like their romance with a dash of soap opera antics will eat this book up and anxiously await more scandals in future volumes." - Library Journal on The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

"The first entry in a new series for Jordan, and it's a strong start built on a slow burn and a forbidden love...fresh and engaging, Jordan writes a more mature heroine thoughtfully... a surprising and charming Regency romance." - Kirkus Reviews on The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

For the launch of her latest Regency-set series, Jordan smartly deploys her skill for creating sensually charged romance and red-hot passion while at the same time giving a cheeky nod to two popular television series that feature housewives, both real and desperate, with her entertainingly sudsy cast of female characters. - Booklist on The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

"Jordan knows how to deliver the heat...a compelling read." - BookPage

"Jordan...makes a firm argument for more historical romances that dare to live outside the ballroom or even the aristocracy altogether. Her love scenes crackle (don't worry, the book makes good on its deliciously clever title) ... for those looking for a historical romp that goes a bit further afield than a 19th century estate, The Duke Goes Down is a delightful diversion."
- Entertainment Weekly