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A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

Internationally bestselling author Sophie Irwin brings us another fresh, witty take on a romantic escape led by a deeply lovable heroine determined to start living on her own terms

When shy Miss Eliza Balfour married the austere Earl of Somerset, twenty years her senior, it was the match of the season–no matter that he was not the husband Eliza would have chosen.

But ten years later, Eliza is widowed. And at eight and twenty years, she is suddenly left titled, rich, and, for the first time in her life, utterly in control of her own future. Instead of living out her mourning quietly, Eliza heads to Bath with her cousin Margaret. After years of living according to everyone else’s rules, Eliza has resolved, at last, to do as she wants.

But when the ripples of the dowager Lady Somerset’s behavior reach the new Lord Somerset–whom Eliza knew, once, as a younger woman–Eliza is forced to confront the fact that freedom does not come without consequences, though it also brings unexpected opportunities . . .

Book Information:

A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin
Genre: Historical Romance
Expected publication July 6, 2023 by Penguin Books

A Lady’s Guide to Scandal is the perfect example of a love triangle done well. In the beginning, I wanted so much for this to be a Persuasian-esque story about Eliza getting back together with her first love, the new Earl of Somerset. However, Eliza heads to Bath soon after their meeting and very quickly I found myself cheering for Lord Melville instead. Both are wildly different personalities but each one clearly cares for Eliza, and by the end I just wanted everyone to be happy.

Sophie Irwin is quickly becoming my favorite historical romance author. Her books are witty and humorous with such endearing characters you can’t help but love. There were a few questionable choices in this book that gave me pause, but I was eventually won over and content with how everything ended. Romance is obviously the primary focus, but Irwin’s books have substance and along the way Eliza transforms from a meek, duty-bound widow into a spirited and self-assured woman. I loved both books in this series and can’t wait to see what comes next!