Scandal of the Summer

by Alexandra Vasti

A desperate debutante meets a ragtag smuggler in this sexy Regency romp by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti.

Eccentric heiress Lady Ruby Ballimore has had enough of the Marriage Mart. After offending yet another Very Important Marquess—and imperiling her father’s diplomatic career—Ruby flees London for the holiday house of a glamorous (and better yet, absent) princess. Armed with a forged invitation and accompanied by her like-minded friends, Ruby arrives at the Cornwall estate expecting a summer of blissful freedom.

Instead, she discovers a derelict mansion and the most suspiciously charming man she’s ever met.

Former privateer and current con artist Captain Malcolm Archer has dragged his ramshackle crew into a new life. Posing as staff at a princess’s abandoned estate provides the perfect cover for Archer’s smuggling scheme (not to mention free rent). Everything’s going according to plan—until an unorthodox London heiress crashes the party.

But when Archer and his crew attempt to frighten off their uninvited guests, Ruby’s unfazed by insect invasions and sham sea monsters. Harder to ignore? The scorching heat between the rakish pirate and the debutante who can see right through him. As sparks fly, deceptions run wild—because in this Great Cornish Fake Off, the only thing riskier than telling the truth is falling in love.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Pirates, Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Alexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.

Reviews

[Jillian]

For the love of all that is holy please bless me with an ARC of this because I cannot wait til June and will internally combust if forced to

[hailee]

was just sent the widget & my entire day has been made

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

I received an arc!!!

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti is a warm, witty Regency historical romance about an unconventional London debutante and a ragtag smuggler finding love amid disguises, hijinks, and high stakes in the Cornish countryside. Lady Ruby Ballimore simply wants a break from the relentless Marriage Mart, and when she absconds with a forged invitation to a holiday estate alongside her spirited friends, she expects laughter and freedom under sunlit skies, not a crumbling mansion and a mischievous pirate posing as staff.

What follows is a delicious dance of slow-burn chemistry between Ruby and Captain Malcolm Archer, threaded through with clever banter and shared vulnerability, all set against a backdrop that feels refreshingly playful within the Regency genre.

From the moment you meet Ruby, her unfiltered joy at life and resilience in the face of expectations made me grin with delight, even before the tension with Malcolm truly ignited. This is not a story where love springs up instantly, it simmers thoughtfully, convincing you Ruth truly sees Malcolm beyond his rakish reputation and he sees her bold heart beneath her social missteps.

The secondary cast adds so much texture, making the Cornwall estate feel vibrantly inhabited and full of surprises. I was enchanted by the unpredictable twists and the chemistry that feels heartfelt rather than manufactured.

I felt buoyed by the author’s voice, which blends historical charm with a wink of modern freshness. I’d rate this 4 out of 5 stars.

[Cindy ✩☽♔]

I’ve enjoyed this authors previous works, so when I was invited to review this title naturally I hit yes on the netgalley read it widget.

I’m excited to see what this latest book brings 👀

[Mia Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexandra Vasti always writes wonderful characters who are full of heart and guaranteed to be in situations that will make you laugh and Scandal of the Summer is no exception! Lady Ruby has never really fit in the ton so it is a delight to see her find someone (other than her wonderful best friends), who will love her because of who she is and not despite it.

In addition to Scandal in Summer being a wonderful romance I was giggling and kicking my feet watching Ruby match wills with Archer. I am always amazed by the situations Alexandra Vasti manages to get her characters into that are absolutely ridiculous and work perfectly in the context of their characters and the story.

If you are a fan of historical romance, a romcom or a book with a bit of adventure this will be right up your alley! I can't wait to read more in this series. I have some guesses about who the next book will be about and I am already excited!

Thanks to St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Romance is one of my favorite genres, and Alexandra Vasti is a breath of fresh air when it comes to new(ish) authors in this genre. This book was so fun, full of the adventure the HR genre is known for and swoon worthy characters.

If you’re a fan of the HR genre, you are definitely going to want to read this one!

Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin Publishing for the Advanced Copy! This one hits shelves in June 2026!

[Sara]

Dance with free
with many flower around
with yr sound full the place
with bold of my heart
danc to chang
many air that cold at past
many time that i want a trust
many hunger to be in love lost
dance to to run a dream
to sew sucandal of time
to lost in beloved eyes
to drew new path of day
to be me nt momea thee want
dance to spring seasson will come
with love and joy
with sweet air and dew
with fly above of sad
dance to be in love

[maddie (thenmaddieread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

an absolute delight, as per usual from vasti

thank you smp for the arc!

[ChrissyKReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Romance Summer!!!!

Alexandra Vasti is always a hit. Scandal of the Summer is the perfect Summer Historical Rom Com. Expect a fun cast, steamy chemistry from the leads, and even a mystery to solve. I went in blind and had a great time. I think I would've enjoyed the audio even more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨ Vasti does it again, my favorite historical romance author delivered another gem of a book.

[Aamira]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun ride. And it’s not surprising. Alexandra Vasti is an expert at creating complex, lovable characters, particularly plucky heroines, light hearted, humorous plots, and tender hearted love scenes mixed with the right amount of spice. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Ruby and Malcolm, and while it was a whirlwind of a plot that kept me engaged, there were a bit of misses uncharacteristic from Vasti’s previous titles.

Let’s talk about what I loved. The opening scene was fantastic and a wonderful way to introduce Ruby to us. Ruby is a spirited and brave woman who speaks her mind even to her own detriment at times. I loved how passionate and knowledgeable she was about interior design. She’s quiet and loyal, and it was heartbreaking to me that such a thoughtful, loving woman could not get her father’s approval. I cheered for her when she decided to take control of her life and came up with the scheme to spend the summer at the abandoned house of a glamorous princess as her lady in waiting. As a reader, I could feel her yearning for the freedom to be herself without any judgment or fear of saying the wrong thing. And I wanted this for her and her quirky friends.

Malcolm was unfairly dishonorably discharged from the navy and has taken it upon himself to take care of the crew who’s decided to follow him. I love a found family trope. It’s honestly one of my favorites. I wish there would’ve been more development of these side characters. But more on that in a minute. I like Malcolm as a romantic hero. He’s very charming, but below the surface you can see that he’s a man afraid of losing his loved ones and who will do anything to protect them. When he gets the post of steward at the princess’s mansion, he secretly brings his crew along who pose as staff. You can imagine the chaos that ensues when these two groups of people, each lying about their identity, collide. It was hilarious watching Ruby and Malcolm, who obviously have different objectives, try to outdo the other.

I thought the progression of their romance was well-paced and totally bought them as a couple. The lies get found out fairly early on, and I appreciated the honest communication each had with the other. Though I will say that I wish there was more clarity when it came to Ruby finding out one particular secret Malcolm was holding onto. It would’ve been great to see her work this out before admitting to him that she already knew.

As I mentioned, I love a good found family trope. I was disappointed when there wasn’t much depth to the individuals that made up Malcolm’s crew. We get a little bit more of Lamentation and Gerry than we do of Eugene and Wall, but not much. For starters, how old are Lamentation and Gerry? I get the sense they’re young, but it’s unclear how young they are. Eugene and Wall are mostly talked about and have very few (VERY FEW) scenes. I feel that they need to be more developed or cut from the book as they don’t really add to the narrative.

Look, Vasti is a talented writer, and this book has great bones for sure. It just feels a bit rushed, and the plot is not as tight as her previous books. This didn’t take away my enjoyment from the book, but it did raise questions that weren’t resolved by its conclusion. Would I still recommend this? Abso-freaking-lutely. It’s still a fun-filled novel with really lovely characters. And I cannot wait for the next two books in the series.

[The Nightwatch Desk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Ruby Ballimore, the eldest daughter of an Earl, has failed to find a husband for a fourth season. After embarrassing her father during an important event, she's determined to free herself from society. So, she convinces her friends to move to a princess' country estate in Cornwall (under the guise of being her ladies-in-waiting).

For the last two years, Captain Malcolm Archer and his crew have been staffing Pomeroy House. He’s been using it as the base of operations for his smuggling business. To keep things going, he needs to scare off the three women, but instead he finds himself utterly charmed.

🪻Adult Fiction
☀️Regency Romance
🪻Heiress x Smuggler
☀️Wallflower Heroine
🪻Humour & Schemes
☀️Open Door

'Scandal of the Summer' is a fun regency story with a passionate romance, a holiday house, and lots of puppies. It’s loaded with a motley of entertaining characters and an abundance of hilarity.

Ruby is a clever wallflower who's always making a fool of herself at parties. She's considered 'strange' by the upper class because of her interest in antiquities. Her story is about gaining confidence and learning to love herself.

Malcom is skilled at projecting confidence and playing different characters to get the job done. His number one goal is to keep his team fed and safe. At his core, he's a protective softy who’s also loyal, charming, and intelligent.

The romance starts off with immediate attraction between the main characters. I love that Ruby sees right through Malcolm so easily, when no one else does. She sets him completely off-balance and he's deliciously down bad.

This book gets a bit messy in the last quarter, but not in a way that affects the romance. It was a bit all over the place when it could've been more straightforward and gratifying.

If you enjoyed Alexandra Vasti's other stories, then this one is of a similar vein. It's set in the same world as Belvoir's Library but marks a promising start to a new series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cass · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! all thoughts and opinions are my own ✨

2.5 stars ⭐️ hmm... feeling a bit conflicted over this book. from a technical perspective, it's written very well—but i think i just wanted more out of ruby and malcolm's story.

let's start off with the good stuff: i absolutely love secrets, forged identities, and mad attempts to keep these falsehoods under wraps. so i was obviously having the time of my life at the beginning of this novel, when all the characters were lying about their true roles at pomeroy house. i also really enjoyed the back-and-forth nature that was archer's crew versus ruby and her friends. it was funny reading about these seasoned criminals trying to scare away a trio of "delicate" ladies, only for each attempt to backfire spectacularly.

i think my biggest gripe with this book is that the two halves each felt like a completely different story. the beginning is all about the stress of keeping real identities hidden, as well as presenting malcolm and ruby's budding romance. the second half, however, follows a royal kidnapping and a ridiculous assassination attempt. and somehow, despite these crazy hijinks, i still felt as if the novel dragged in some areas. the pacing was truly all over the place.

i wish we'd gotten more of a build-up between ruby and malcolm. their romance progressed far too quickly for my liking—i understand that the author was trying to make room for the latter half of the book, but there is such a thing as biting off more than you can chew. there was a lot going on in this novel, and the pacing and emotional depth suffered as a result.

in conclusion, if you like quirked-up stories that require you to suspend a certain degree of disbelief, you'll probably enjoy scandal of the summer. personally, i was looking for something a little more grounded, so it wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

[Christina Startt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through the goodreads giveaway! My first ever win!

I had mixed feelings about this book throughout. It was a fun story overall, but I kept finding myself itching for more depth.

In all fairness, I don't read many books that are more strictly considered romances, but I spent most of my time wishing we were being shown more character development or back story while the romance was being set up. I wanted more from each main character's friend groups, too.

By the end, I realized that I would have loved this story silly if more emphasis had been on the adventure and rescue, and characters' relationships and connections, with the romance coming to be in the interim. Instead, the first half the book is geared toward the main couple getting together, but that process felt shallow to me. I felt I was just being told things about them, rather than being shown why they were they way they were. We were being given tropes, but I didn't feel like the characters were fleshed out enough for me to savor the tropes. However, in the last 50-100 pages, I started seeing instances of the side characters getting more fleshed out and exuding their personalities. We got more interactions between the main couple and their antagonists we'd only been told about , which helped drive home their past suffering and present realizations that they were free to make their own choices and forge their own paths.

Perhaps an adventure and the found family trope weren't the intended goal, since it is a romance, but shifting the focus to those elements would have made the romance richer to me. I became more invested and connected to the characters and plot at the end, when I'd wanted that much sooner.

All of that said, there are some exquisite lines and moments between the main couple, one of my absolute favorites being, "Touching her felt like an impossible extravagence."

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most romantic novel I've ever read, and to be clear, I have read an amount of romance novels that can best be qualified as "embarrassing". Our male lead, Archer, is down bad from basically the beginning, and while he has a number of insecurities, including that "she's too good for me" complex (which makes more sense in the historical novels, where that would've absolutely been a societal issue - she was "too good for him" economically), that doesn't totally stop him from pursuing her politely and sweetly. He's also a con artist/pirate, and his smuggling antics were very cute. And he's just sooooooooo sweet to our female lead. He really got me when "he couldn't help himself" and purchased a book he knew she'd love on an outing (it was a "he knit her socks" moment, iykyk) and his yearning was almost palpable. And he's nice to dogs and garderns, and idk he was basically the ideal mean. The female lead is also a lot of fun - Vasti tends to write erudite characters, and Lady Ballantine was no exception with her passionate interest in interior design. She also is constantly correcting men, which gets her into trouble, and like, GIRL SAME. There's also a fun-adventurey-piratey plot with shenanigans.

My only complaint is that it isn't actually called "The Pirate Inside Me". 5 stars. Pretty much the perfect historical romance (for this reader, anyway). I already widely recommend Vasti's books, and I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for the eARC, which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. The Scandal of the Summer will be out in June!

[Annie the Lesbrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had everything! Ruby Ballimore has been through many seasons and so have her best friends Alice and Tamsin. When Alice makes yet another blunder and identifies new marbles as fake, her father is disappointed once again. Fearing she can’t take another second, Ruby dreams up a summer of no restrictions. She wants a place where she can be herself and so can they. When she reads about the Princess’s Pomeroy House, it seems like the perfect plan, until she finds a full staff already living there.

Malcom Archer had his job legally, at least that much is true. However, his navy friends who literally followed him into sea and battle, were not. To make ends meet while they bide their time at Pomeroy house, the group engages in various smuggling schemes. It’s just his luck that three women show up on Archer’s doorstep, claiming to be the Princess’s ladies in waiting. The house is in disrepair, there are dogs everywhere, and this was not what he was expecting. Plus, Ruby, the woman who unearthed another of his schemes is one of these ladies. The two butt heads as Archer tries to hide his nefarious dealings and get the thee ladies to leave. Little do they know that the real issue is a political plot for the princess’s life, just under their noses!

This story was full of charm, wit, and steam! It’s a fabulous pairing and great fast pacing! Overall, just a joy!

[iowagirlreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐚 Scandal of the Summer 🐚
Alexandra Vasti
Flirty Rotten Scoundrels #1

Available Now!
5⭐️/3🔥
Thank you for including me in the traveling arc for this book!

What an utter delight! I was so excited to be a part of the traveling arc for this story and let me tell you...this was such a fun ride. I love historical romance and this was such a unique take on the genre. Malcom Archer and Ruby Ballimore have definitely met their match in each other! Ruby makes plans with her two besties to spend the summer at an estate in Cornwall, but when they arrive they find it already occupied by a crew of smugglers and con artists.

The hijinx only ramp up from there! The verbal sparring and banter between Malcolm and Ruby had me laughing so many times. I just loved her snarky, witty comebacks and the way they went back and forth. But beyond the laughs, Alexandra Vasti created such a delicious, angsty connection between them that kept me completely glued to the pages. The spice was fantastic and felt so earned because of that electric tension they shared from the start!

This story also had amazing found family aspects for both of them, and I loved how they all came together for quite the rescue mission! I cannot wait to see where this series goes in the future. After reading this one, I think I might just know which characters we’re following next...and I’m already ready for it!

🐚 Historical Romance
🎭 Con Artist Hero
🎀 Sassy & Witty FMC
🌐 Different Worlds
🏠 Forced Proximity
🗣️ Top-Tier Banter
🔥 Spicy & Sweet
🫶🏻 Found Family

[Chelsylynn91 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really torn on this book. There were several spots where I was rolling my eyes at how neat and tidy everything managed to come together. I think the reason I didn’t enjoy it in this but I do enjoy it in like Shakespeare for example, was because there was nothing particularly clever that allowed for the conclusions to align how they did. I know it’s uncharitable to compare any author against Shakespeare, that just happened to be where my mind went. I wish there had been more time spent on Ruby’s interests. Perhaps she could have saved the day with her architectural knowledge. I really loved that she was sort of autism coded at the beginning and it made me sad that she lost that after the first couple of chapters. I wanted her to be a complete menace with her special interests.

All of that being said, I did still enjoy this. I thought it was sweet and fun and light. It did skim the surface of some deeper topics but kind of pulled back rather than diving in. The descriptions were really beautiful and I found myself blown away by a few sentences.

One I loved:
“[…] She felt like a soap bubble, thin and floating. Her heart was in her throat as she looked at him, and worse— Far worse. She feared her heart was in her eyes."

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Release Date: 6/23/26

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was a sweet historical romance with a lovable cast of characters and some
good spice!

Lady Ruby Ballimore has hit her limit with the marriage market and craves a summer of freedom. Armed with forged documentation, she and her two best friends pose as ladies in waiting to an Italian princess who has a summer home in the country, which has remained empty for years. When they arrive, they find the mansion in disrepair and the staff woefully unprofessional and unprepared for guests.

Captain Malcolm Archer, dishonorably discharged from the navy, has found a job as the steward of the princess’s manor house. However, he is harboring his crew of misfits and making ends meet by engaging in some light smuggling.

Ruby and Malcolm obviously hit it off and the sparks fly amidst both of their pretenses.

I found this to be very engaging. Full of yearning, a great found family, and some funny situations. I love Vasti’s ability to draw me into the story and make me root for this ragtag bunch of smugglers and outcasts from polite society. The ending felt a little rushed but it was still satisfying.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Lady Ruby is an out-there heiress who flees London’s marriage market and hides out at a princess’s supposedly empty Cornwall estate, only to find the run down building occupied by Captain Malcolm, a former privateer and now con artist, posing as staff to run a smuggling scheme. The Captain tries to get Lady Ruby out of the property by concocting various schemes, but instead appear to be no match for her as she returns the favor. As both sides try to deceive and outmaneuver each other, an undeniable attraction begins between the two.

I love everything written by this author, as there is always a fun plot with lots of steam, and of course this book does not disappoint in either category. The banter between Ruby and Malcolm is great, and their chemistry together is very well-depicted. I loved the setting of the run-down estate, too. Plus, there was a good dose of character vulnerability and growth, which adds a deeper layer to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexandra Vasti is growing to be one of my favorite regency romance authors. So much of this book was filled with tropes that I didn't know I needed and more. Ruby Ballimore and her two best friends Alice and Tamsin are off to have the summer of their lives without the pressure of London society. What is supposed to be a peaceful summer ends up being one with a mystery and adventure.

What I Liked: I loved every single character (except for her father of course). I really enjoyed the Ruby and her intellect. Malcolm as the MMC was wonderful. The focus on pirates, smugglers, and hijinks was a breath of fresh air. The yearning in the book was so good. The cast of characters was brilliant and one of my favorite groups of people to come together. And the best part - no third act break up <3 <3

The ending felt rushed, but not so much that it deterred me from the story.

This is my favorite Alexandra Vasti novel, and I am so so so thankful that I was able to read this early. I absolutely devoured it and it had everything I wanted and more.

[Heather Bunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, I inhaled Scandal of Summer in one sitting! Alexandra Vasti is officially the queen of historical rom-coms. 👑🕯️

If you love the 'forced proximity' trope (stuck together on a journey? Yes please!), this book is perfection. The chemistry between these two was sizzling from page one. But can we talk about the main character for a second? He was driving me absolutely crazy! I love a protective hero, but he was so stubborn about being "honorable" and not ruining her reputation that I wanted to shake him. 😩

I was literally yelling at my Kindle, "Just kiss her already, you fool!" It was so frustrating watching him fight his feelings when they were clearly obsessed with each other. But honestly? The tension made the moment he finally caved feel electric.

The banter was witty, the steam was top-tier, and the ending had me swooning hard. It wasn't perfect (I wished it was longer!), but it left me with the biggest smile. If you need a quick, spicy historical read, pick this up immediatly.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

This period piece centers on an intelligent, independent heiress and a con artist whose lives become entangled through their own acts of deception. While initially suspicious of each other, they gradually form an alliance to protect their secrets from the outside world that eventually turns into something more.

Ruby is ahead of her time (think Eloise from Bridgerton vibes) and her ways are seen as eccentric and embarrassing by her father (who is so annoying). After unsuccessful seasons in London society, Ruby has lost much of her confidence. From the events of his past, Malcolm believes himself unworthy of both the loyalty of his crew and Ruby’s love. But together, they see past each other's insecurities and love each other for who they truly are.

While Ruby is romantically naive, there is still plenty of spark and spice. I really enjoyed this book. It is clear that Ruby and Malcolm are ridiculously in love and utterly devoted to each other.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Migdalia Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy I got to visit the vasti-verse again!

As always we get Vasti's signature feminist characters and storylines, super-steamy scenes, and lovely characters.

This novel packs a lot of plot into one book. Suffice to say: our main characters Ruby and Malcolm, are both lying to each other about what exactly they're doing at a mansion on the gorgeous Cornish coast. As soon as they make pact to tell the truth and join forces, they get pulled into an international kidnapping plot, which brings them face to face with the people in their lives that have been keeping them back from their true selves.

Love and loyalty were the big themes. I absolutely adored Malcom's large and loyal crew and Ruby's group of friends who support each other no matter what.

This regency was a perfect mix of romcom and adventure. Highly recommended for fans of Vasti's and those who have yet to read any of her books- come in the water's warm!

Thank you to Edelweiss and St. Martin's Griffin for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5


Ruby siempre ha sido demasiado para la alta sociedad londinense y el día que expone un fraude artístico en un salón elegante termina por sellar su ruina social. Decidida a escapar del juicio constante, idea un plan tan audaz como imprudente junto a sus dos mejores amigas: instalarse en una mansión costera de Cornualles haciéndose pasar por damas al servicio de la princesa. Lo que no espera Ruby es encontrarse allí con Malcolm, el enigmático administrador de la propiedad, un hombre con un pasado turbio, demasiados secretos y una clara razón para no querer visitantes. En un verano marcado por mentiras, arte, deseo y segundas oportunidades, Ruby y Malcolm se verán obligados a confrontar lo que esconden y decidir si es posible construir algo real a partir de un escándalo.


__

No vi venir esa traición.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Tatiana]

Scandal of the Summer is a fun, swoony Regency romp that blends sharp humor, intrigue, and heartfelt romance. It took me a little time to settle into the world and characters, but once I did, I was completely hooked.

An unconventional heiress escaping the Marriage Mart crosses paths with a charming, secretive man who is very much not what he appears, and their cat-and-mouse dynamic is a delight. Both are hiding things, both are far sharper than society expects, and watching them challenge—and slowly trust—each other is where the real magic happens. Beneath the hijinks, there’s genuine heart as the story explores women navigating rigid expectations and a hero shaped by loyalty, responsibility, and past wounds.

The romance delivers solid heat, swoon, and emotional payoff, making this an engaging, feel-good historical with depth. I’m fully invested in these characters and excited to see where the series goes next.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE book of the summer I’m calling it right now!

This book has everything you could possibly want from a historical romance. Smugglers, ladies, hijinks, pissing off society, and the best found family.

The slowwwwww burn between Malcolm and Ruby was absolute perfection and the toe curling spicy scenes were worth the wait. These two are the definition of soulmates! I love how their relationship was a prominent part of the story, but the plot line mainly focuses on the “ladies-in-waiting” and *major spoiler involving a princess*.

This book has my favorite trope ever: found family. Vasti writes it SO well, and with all the struggles Malcolm and Ruby face with their biological families, their found families play such an important role in the story.

Thank you to Alexandra Vasti for having me on her ARC tour for this book and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better compliments I can give this romance was that it was unpredictable. When you read as many historical romances as I do, you begin to predict what will happen next and Alexandra Vasti keeps the surprises coming with fresh characters and unexpected plot turns.

First of a series and I am very interested to see where the author takes the characters next, which I assume are her friends, Alice and Tamsin.

Action, adventure, espionage, kidnapping, escape, and great banter. Ruby sees right through Malcolm and all he’s ever relied on is his charm and lies.

A very enjoyable romance.

Thank you Edelweiss+ and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the premise - three young ladies become fast friends when they are shunned by the ton for various transgressions. They concoct a scheme to have a "summer away" by pretending to be ladies-in-waiting at the Cornish home of a princess who is probably never going to set foot in England. What could possibly go wrong? The house is in shambles, and the staff seem...odd. Nice, but evasive and seemingly untrained. Malcolm Archer, the steward (and the "footmen") are also mouth-wateringly gorgeous. Something is up, and Lady Ruby Ballimore is going to use all of her big brain, vast knowledge, and powers of observation to figure it out. If she can ignore Archer's slow, sexy, dimpled smile, that is.

This is going to be a trilogy, which makes me so happy!