The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

by Sophie Jordan Narrated by Justine Eyre

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan kicks off her 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.

“My husband is a good man... just ask all the women he has bedded.”

Wealthy society maven Lady Gertrude knows how the world works. If her husband is less than faithful, it's an acceptable price to pay for her coveted position at the apex of London's most fashionable set. No exclusive soirée or lavish ball is complete without her and her group of decadent, well-connected friends. And this Season promises more excitement than usual: Tru is launching her daughter into Society, helping her navigate the cutthroat Marriage Mart, complete with fortune hunters, jealous debutantes, and malicious gossips.

As skilled as Tru is at playing the high-stakes games of the ton, she never expects to meet her match-until Jasper Thorne begins to court her daughter. Jasper needs a titled bride, but when he meets Tru, all his carefully laid plans go up in smoke. The attraction between Tru and Jasper is undeniable...and unacceptable. To indulge in an affair with her daughter's suitor would be ruinous. If it becomes public, she'll never survive the scandal. Especially as it becomes clear that he wants more than one night...he wants the impossible. He wants forever.

A sizzling story of scandalous ladies, irresistible temptation, and the dangers-and joys-of being true to yourself.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"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, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Soulmate Equation

"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)

“Jordan knows how to deliver the heat…a compelling read.” — BookPage

"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

"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

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

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that the young lady everyone assumes is mousy has uncharted depths...particularly when there’s a scientific sister, an aphrodisiac, and the stepbrother of a duke around. Creative, unique, and racy—this story is not unlike the very elixir around which it is based.” — Jodi Picoult on The Virgin and the Rogue

"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 on The Duke Goes Down

New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren

This book is precisely what I love most about romance!”

Kirkus Reviews

2023-01-12
Delia’s mom has got it going on.

Lady Gertrude, the Countess of Chatham—known in the ton as the Cold Countess—is pleased. Her daughter, Cordelia, has debuted and has already merited a mention in a gossip rag sure to attract attention. The Countess, or Tru to her friends, knows how to play high society’s games, and she'd rather use her skills to help her daughter land in a happy marriage than focus on her own loneliness. Unfortunately, that same mention has reminded her absent lout of a husband that he has a daughter he might use to generate an infusion of funds, and though the season has barely begun, the Earl of Chatham immediately arranges for Delia to marry Jasper Thorne, who “has very deep pockets” but lacks a title and a wife. Tru prepares to push Jasper from their lives, but on meeting him, she finds that from behind he is “virile and strong,” and from the front, he's the same man who propositioned her just the evening before. It turns out that Jasper wants to marry because he has a 10-year-old daughter in need of a mother, but despite the potential consequences, he is compelled to keep pursuing Tru. He even arranges with Delia—who has no wish to marry him—to pretend there's a continued suit between them so he can visit the Chathams' country house simply for the chance to seduce Tru; after an entire adulthood in a loveless marriage, this means Tru finally has the chance to experience real affection and passion. But despite their magnetic attraction, she remains the Countess, and he remains in need of an actual wife—making their happily-ever-after dependent on fate alone. This is the first entry in a new series for Jordan, and it’s a strong start built on a slow burn and a forbidden love. Though the ending feels a bit contrived, the rest of the story is fresh and engaging, and Jordan writes a more mature heroine thoughtfully. The rest of the scandalous ladies of the series are seemingly introduced throughout the book, which slows it down at times but is rewarding in the end—and fans of this installment will look forward to reading their stories next.

A countess falls for her daughter’s beau in a surprising and charming Regency romance.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175914239
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/28/2023
Series:	The Scandalous Ladies of London , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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