I’ve mentioned this before, but I found Loretta Chase and Lord of Scoundrels through Ali Hazelwood’s and Adriana Herrera’s Historical Trailblazers collection and this fan art specifically:
I loved it so much that I just had to know what this book is, and let me tell you — it did not disappoint!
The no-spoiler TLDR version: Lord of Scoundrels is such a delicious book! It’s rightfully called one of the best (if not the best) in the genre, and I had such a fun time reading it. As always, I have thoughts, and I loved the first half more than the second one, but Jessica Trent is a queen, and Dain needs hugs. Lord of Scoundrels also features one of the most erotic non-sexual scenes ever written, similar to the hand flex of Pride and Prejudice 2005, so do with that what you will.
- My rating: 4⭐
- Heat level: 2🌶️
- Standalone or series? I read it as a standalone, and then found out it’s part 3 of a series? I don’t think the books are especially connected overall, so you too can read it as a standalone.
- Content warnings: Parental abandonment and neglect (off and on page), shooting, drinking, gambling.
- Page count: 384 pages (on my e-reader)
- Read if: Honestly, just read it, it’s fabulous!
Summary
When her brother starts hanging out with the notorious Marquess of Dain, Sebastian Ballister, and gambling money and his good name away, Jessica Trent travels to Paris to set them both straight. But she doesn’t expect how attracted she’d be to Dain, or how attracted he’d be to her.
They can’t seem to stop meeting, and their passion for each other needs an outlet. When both of them threaten to ruin each other’s reputation, somehow they end up married. But not everything is perfect, of course, and Dain has some secrets and things to deal with.
Thoughts & Feelings
You know, I normally don’t like feisty heroines. Not in the sense that I have something against women who stand up for themselves (the opposite, obviously) but more so that “feisty” and “sassy” in books (romantasy, often) usually means zero good sense or brains, and that their personality melts away as soon as they get together with the hero. And I sort of feared that the heroine of this novel would be like that.
Fortunately, Jessica Trent is everything but that. She understands society and people very well, and she works smartly within the confines she’s given. She knows how to manipulate the situation in her favor and how to get people to do what she wants them to do. She can shoot better than any man, and I was surprised to find that she’s not afraid to actually do it on page. How refreshing!
Dain, on the other hand, is not your typical broody hero. He genuinely has something to be broody about, and he’s genuinely an asshole, no misunderstanding about it. But he’s also smart and starved for love, so he complements Jessica perfectly.
And it was so charming to watch these two fully self-possessed people be so confused on what to do. Jessica didn’t expect a man she can’t so easily play with, and Dain didn’t expect Jessica at all. So both of them are attracted to each other and falling in love, all the while being so lost about how it happened. Smart idiots in love.
It’s so fun to read their banter, from start to finish. And it’s also fun to read them trying to manipulate the society and other people together. You can really see why they’re perfect for each other.
And that scene where he takes off her glove, one button at a time, in a shop full of people! It’s one of those that will stick with me for ages, and it’s more erotic than most sex scenes I’ve ever read. And then when she shoots him and he’s all like “well played, Jessica” even though he’s fainting! That was so funny.
All that said though, I did enjoy the first half more than the second half. When they get to England and his home, the story shifts into something else and it was not quite as interesting as their courtship. I wished for more of their antics, but the book became more about Dain and his trauma and past, which is fine and needed to be worked out anyway, but it took over in a way I didn’t like all that much.
I would have preferred it if the whole story was about Jessica and Dain trying to manipulate each other and the society, all the while falling in love and the story ends when they get together.
I’m not the biggest fan of (spoilers ahead) secret kids or how this child in particular was handled, and felt like Jessica may have overstepped a bit.
There’s also a lot of mentions of sex workers and I’m not sure if they were treated all that well in this book (by the narrative, not historically). At times it felt like maybe there was some respect for them, but with the number of synonyms used for the profession and just overall what happened on-page, I’m not all that convinced.
But these things aside, I really do understand why people love Lord of Scoundrels so much, and I loved it as well. It’s a fantastic love story (that could have, perhaps, been more) and it’s very well-written. The prose, and especially the dialogue is divine. I was thoroughly impressed by it all.
So, if you’re interested in historical romance, I would highly recommend Lord of Scoundrels. Be prepared that the hero spends on-page time with other women (though no intercourse happens, I believe) and his previous dalliances are a big part of the storyline. Don’t expect a hero like in modern-day romances (bad reputation, but heart of gold); he’s an asshole and unapologetic about it.
I’m very curious to read more Loretta Chase books, though. And of course, if you have any recommendations that are like Lord of Scoundrels, but just that first part before they marry, I’d love to hear it!
