Scandal of the Summer

Scandal of the Summer

Author: Alexandra Vasti
Genre: Historical Romance / Regency Romance / Romantic Comedy
Book Rating: ⭐ 9/10
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5

Description

Lady Ruby Ballimore is officially done with the Marriage Mart.

After offending yet another powerful marquess—and potentially damaging her father's diplomatic career—the eccentric heiress decides it's time to escape London. With a forged invitation in hand, Ruby and her equally adventurous friends head to a glamorous princess's Cornwall estate, expecting an entire summer of freedom.

Instead, they find a crumbling mansion…and a suspiciously charming man pretending he belongs there.

Captain Malcolm Archer is a former privateer, current con artist, and the leader of a ragtag crew of smugglers. Posing as the staff of an abandoned royal estate gives them the perfect cover for their operation—and free accommodations.

Then Ruby crashes their carefully constructed scheme.

Malcolm and his crew try everything to scare their unexpected guests away, from insect invasions to fake sea monsters, but Ruby isn't easily frightened. Even worse for Malcolm, she's clever enough to realize that something about their supposed household staff isn't adding up.

What neither of them planned for is the scorching attraction growing between the rebellious debutante and the rakish smuggler.

With both sides hiding secrets and increasingly ridiculous deceptions piling up, Ruby and Malcolm find themselves caught in a game where getting discovered could ruin everything.

But the greatest danger might be falling for the person who's been lying to you all along.

Sexy, adventurous, and delightfully chaotic, Scandal of the Summer combines Regency romance with smugglers, con artists, seaside mischief, and sizzling chemistry for a historical rom-com that feels like one big summer adventure.

Tropes / Mood

Regency Romance • Heiress × Smuggler • Former Privateer MMC • Rakish Hero • Rebellious Debutante • Opposites Attract • Forced Proximity • Fake Identities • Everyone Is Lying • He Falls for Her • Cornwall Setting • Seaside Romance • Found Family • Con Artist MMC • Pirates & Smugglers • Adventure Romance • Banter • High Chemistry • Spicy Historical Romance