TITLE: The Scandalous Vixen
AUTHOR: Tracy Sumner
SERIES: The Duchess Society
SERIES ORDER: 2
AVAILABLE IN KU: Yes
PUBLISHED: 01/06/2022
GENRE: Regency Romance
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
BLURB:
In this enemies-to-lovers Regency romance by award-winning author Tracy Sumner, a bold lady and a ruthless duke realize they need to agree to an ardent alliance to get what they want.
He knew at first sight.
She knew at first kiss.
Helena Astley, Lady Hell to the ton, has plans. To control her father’s shipping business, to live her way, by her rules. Her plan is going remarkably well until one ill-advised kiss invites the duke she doesn’t want but cannot resist into her life.
Hardnosed Roan Darlington, Duke of Leighton, cares little for society or finding a duchess. The only person ever to challenge him is the incorrigible, infuriating Helena Astley. The one woman he’s never been able to forget. When they’re caught in a ruinous situation, Roan offers her an alternative. A sham engagement she can break off after Christmas.
As they discover a world of forbidden pleasure, Helena must decide if she can relinquish a heart she vowed to withhold from the only man powerful enough to seize it.
And Roan must decide if falling madly, passionately in love is worth the risk.
MY REVIEW:
The Scandalous Vixen is book 2 in Tracy Sumner’s series, The Duchess Society, and I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I have never read Tracy Sumner before but I am definitely adding her to my list of authors to read! This book had everything I love about romance books: the sizzling hot chemistry, the slow burn, the pining, the sex!!! *aggressively fans self*
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Marriage of Convenience, Forced Proximity
Angst: Low
Steam: High
Roan Darlington has been in love with Helena Astley since he saw her roaming the seashore without a care in the world. Unfortunately, ill-timed words have caused a riff between the two. Can Roan persuade her that the boy who uttered those words is not the same as the man before her today?
I really loved this story. Although this was an enemies-to-lovers romance, I never really got the impression that they were actual enemies. Roan realized that he screwed up and kept trying to apologize. Helena was avoiding him, but it had more to do with her being equally infatuated with him and thinking they could never be together because of their difference in social standings. That said, the banter and the tension between the two, the slow burn, the pining, made me think of Dom and Ally from Lucy Score’s By a Thread; which is another phenomenal enemies-to-lovers story!
I loved Roan. He’s protective of his family and friends. He’s quick to react, which sometimes gets him into trouble. He doesn’t care for his title and would rather marry for love than money or status. I loved how he acted around Helena and I loved that he respected her, I loved Helena. She’s strong and resilient, especially considering her decision to work put her in the ton’s gossip rags on the daily. She and Roan both had obstacles to overcome but they helped each other overcome them. I loved the side characters! I need to go back and read this series from the beginning. While the book is a standalone, it would give context to how the side characters/couples met and how the Duchess Society started. We also get a peek at the couple in the next Duchess Society book, Pippa and Xander. Pippa is Roan’s sister who is hopelessly in love with Roan’s friend, Xander, who has sworn off love but may be attracted to Pippa as well.
I highly recommend this book if you like steamy historical/Regency romance and a good enemies-to-lovers story.
Thank you to Book Sirens and WOLF Publishing for giving me an advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.