Lady Scandal (Steamy Scandals, #1) by Larissa Lyons

Lady Scandal (Steamy Scandals, #1) Reviews

• 
  Missy

  The writing was not engaging. It was too wordy so I skimmed a lot. The story has a very short prologue, 7 chapters, and an epilogue. I stopped skimming after Chapter 4. It’s obvious that these two will be together but I didn’t care about their “journey.” Based on the reviews, this story occurs in one room in one day. That’s their journey to love.
  
  The heroine is interviewing for a second husband and the hero is applicant number 24. Once the hero passes the first stage, they begin taking off pieces of their clothing to show each other their body parts.
  
  
  “I have it! I’ll trade you my petticoats for a glimpse of your masculine protrusion,” she finished on an embarrassed, brazen whisper.
  
  […]
  
  “Good God, will you stop? My male part. My manly projection. My masculine protrusion? So you want to see my cock? If you want to see it, you damn well better be able to say⁠—”
  
  “Aye!” She stared at him defiantly, determinedly, as if his crude language didn’t put her off in the least. “Your cock. Your pr-prick! Your phallus. Your sword, bayonet, yard, bodkin, dagger, dirk. Your penis,”
  
  
  I don’t know how steamy hot this story gets (since it’s advertised as such) but the beginning of that scene ☝️is anything but sexy. So I DNF at 51%.
• 
  Elena R a.k.a. Lunies R

  
  http://samsawesomness.blogspot.com/
  
  My Spewing Juicy thoughts, are here!
  
  The Synopsis is straight on, and explains exactly what the story is about. It just leaves out a few minor details *ahem, takes deep breath* *EXHALES*
  
  
  My thoughts: I've never read an historical romance before, that was situated on one scene, one room and lots and lots of flesh bearing and loose clothing. Yeesh! Ooo! Hold on a second, it's because the scene is based on an interview.The heroine of the story is looking for a rich husband who can also satisfy his wife in bed,and in return,the chosen applicant gets to have her. An amiable wife, ready to bear his children. Pfft!! Well, it was one heck of an interview. The H/H were like two horny teenagers exploring one another bodies. Gwad! They even fed each other the names of male and female genitals. For instance all in one paragraph I learned how many ways to say "penis", examples: Manly Projections,Masculine Protrusion, Cock,Prick,Phallus,Sword,Bayonet,Yard,Bodkin,Dagger,Dirk (hehe) and clearly last but not least "Penis" I don't need to be taught any of the above, I was looking forward to a hot Historical Romance as the blurb explained.
  
  Oh! Before I forget,there's more!! How many ways can a person say "ass" in the matter of speaking? According to the heroine, there's, Posterior,Backside,Derrière,Hindquarters, all these wonderful words are known as someones "Arse" plain ole' English "Butt".
  
  I continued reading to finally loose my patience when they started speaking of "The Hero Spewing his comings" I lost myself in thought with laughter. From the applicant Mr. Tanners words " I peaked earlier. Over there. *points to food tray* he stresses and pales further.I spewd, spent. Fired in the air. (& because the heroine is so dense, this is what she says) Fired what in the air? Hero: Discharged my chitty.Fetched my own mettle.Spewd my spunk. Jetted my juice!!"..........
  
  I'm still not quite sure how I finished this read.Basically,in my POV, it's two strangers, talking profoundly about their genitals, wanting to touch each other bodies and are ready to set off their orgasms like a dango volcano. Which Mr. Tanner makes it known, that his earlier "comings" are on the tray to be seen as display. Bleh!
  
  This novel was a total turnoff for me.It could have used less of the educational "names". The novel itself,was a short story and because of it, it could have used more shagging/sweaty, Oh my hotness scenes! Too bad, I read on the complete opposite. I guess I do have patience after all :P
  
  
  
  
• 
  Miz Love

  This has got to be one of the most refreshing books I’ve ever read. It’s funny—and by that I mean side-hurtingly funny, the kind of laugh that makes you cry. I laughed so hard at one point my husband laughed at me laughing.
  
  An absolute treasure of a book, Lady Scandal is guaranteed to brighten up the worst of days. Honestly, I sat up straighter with this line: The notice scandalized the ton. It was so blunt, so funny after following an utterly delightful notice placed in the newspaper at the start, that I smiled knowing I’d get a brilliant read. Don’t you just love it when that happens?
  
  The best thing about reviewing is that I frequently find authors who delight me, who write with such glorious wit, such fabulous inborn talent that it makes me smile until my face hurts. Larissa Lyons has that wit, that talent, and if all her books are written in this way, I want to read every single one of them.
  
  Lady Scandal, Juliet, has hidden behind a screen while her friend has interviewed prospective husbands. They come to win her hand in marriage, but Juliet has specific needs and, despite needing a husband with money pretty quickly, she won’t just take anyone. Her last husband, an older man who had no idea how to treat a lady, did things that made her shudder, right down to not eating properly, so to wed a man with the same traits just wouldn’t do. Also, she wants to find her husband visually appealing, not someone who makes her shrivel away from his unwanted touch. She wants to be allowed the chance to be herself—a lady in public but a woman in private. Will she ever find a man like that? Does he even exist?
  
  After seeing who has presented themselves to her so far, she’s despairing of ever finding the perfect mate—until Zeus arrives. He has his own reasons for having to jump through hoops in order to just get a meeting with Juliet, and one of them is to reclaim his birthright. What he doesn’t bargain on, though, is his goal becoming unimportant once he sets eyes on Juliet. They have a fantastic conversation while disrobing—you have GOT to read this book to see why they disrobe—and both realise they have found the person they have been seeking their whole lives.
  
  This book is charming—so bloody charming it charmed my socks right off! I adored it. There are some lines in there that had me laughing so very hard, had me smiling, had my eyes misting and, much to my surprise, tears prickling. It is not difficult to become attached to these two. They are alive on the page, so very THERE, that you can see them, feel them, hear Juliet’s throaty laughter—laughter she has always thought made her sound like a crone but something Zeus loves.
  
  I won’t give anything away, but I promise you, if you like regency, you’ll love this.
  
  Best Bits: Willing wax pot.
  
  …like a pointy pebble in his boot.
  
  …um, things centred above and between.
  
  …nearly bugged to Bedfordshire and back.
  
  “Partake of a scone, please,” the melodious voice demanded.
  “And if I do not care for a scone?”
  
  “With…bedding you?” he said raggedly.
  
  “Would you perchance show me your male part?” (This is the line that had me roaring.)
  
  Masculine protrusion.
  
  Bobbing bauble.
  
  “I’ll teach you, you know. …” (Tears stinging here!)
  
  “Here now, we’ll do it together.”
  
  The last line. Wonderful!
  
  Verdict: I can’t praise this book enough. Regency fans, if you like gorgeous wit in with your devilishly superb, well written, sexy reading matter, Lady Scandal should be on your “Must Read” list. If you’ve never tried Regency because you think you may not like it, it doesn’t matter one jot—this book is the one I feel will switch you on to Regency. Please, just buy it. It’s so well worth the asking price!
  
• 
  Emma

  This had me smiling all throughout the book. From page one till the end I was thoroughly entertained. It reminded me of a play that takes place in one spot. Which this story did for the most part. I could not help but fall in love with Juliet. She was so innocent but intelligent. She knew what she wanted and the difference between what she needed. She was able to blend both to make sure she got the best of both worlds. What she did was supremely daring and gutsy. But she no longer cared what the ton thought. She was going to live her life her way and that was that. Zeus ... now he was a character not to be forgotten. Since he was young, he had goals and kept them and ultimately accomplished them save one. That is where Juliet came in. She had what he coveted and went after it. The interview began with Zeus and Juliet's companion Olivia. Then progressed directly with Juliet. She knew he was the one. I loved the banter between them and the exchanges they made for information. I had to laugh. I really like Zeus. He was the genuine article. There was no guile in him. He was humane towards others and kind to animals. He was not cunning or deceitful. He was a self-made man and did not preen about like a peacock. He was down to earth and honest. I absolutely adored him and his middle name. LOL His mother was creative and insightful. Wishing him the best in his life whether she was with him or not. The epilogue was the icing on the cake. I really loved this book and highly recommend it. Do not pass it by. You will not be disappointed. P.S. I wonder if anything will become of Olivia and candidate twenty-five? Hmmm. Guess I will have to wait and see.
  
  I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
  
• 
  Kristy Mills

  I didn't realize this was a short story. I thought it was regular book length, and the only reason I bought it was because of the price. I think I got it for $2.00 on Amazon. I guess that should have clued me in.
  
  Anyway, the whole story takes place in one room, one scene really. It was not very realistic at all. I can understand the instant attraction between two people, but by the end of the book, they already knew they couldn't live without one another and they were in love. It sounded more like they were "in lust." And there were some really awkward parts. Like when Mr Tanner stood there for her to inspect him... all of him. That was so weird.
• 
  Megan Berry

  I did finish this book but it was a bit of a chore. It was VERY wordy, to the point that I had to really concentrate not to lose track of the conversation before the end of the sentence. It had a really good premise, but I think it just got over complicated by the author adding too many excess words. It also pretty much took place in one room within a few hours time. I feel like it would have been more interesting to break it up a bit and add something else. It also wasn't the usual regency romance, for those that are sticklers, I didn't like some of the language that was used, it didn't really fit in with the time period.
• 
  Christopher Denton

  A Naughty Novella
  
  Lady Scandal is a rather naughty novella that will entertain any fan of Regency bodice-rippers. Most of its quick-paced action takes place in one room over the course of a few hours, but there are plenty of details packed into this romantic tale to satisfy Regency-lovers. Enough, in fact, to cause Lady Whistledown’s quill to catch fire!
  
  This entertaining Regency romp begins with an advertisement placed in several society papers, but not The Times, for a wealthy bachelor in wont of a wife. This is an intriguing opening that quickly hooked this reader. The advertisement itself is brief but witty and most certainly caught Lady Whistledown’s attention!
  
  Juliet is introduced as a lady of quality in a diminished state, both physically and financially. She has plenty of tied wealth in the form of property across four shires but no liquid assets. Her plans to reverse this situation are ambitious and demonstrate that she is a proactive protagonist.
  
  She is soon established to be a likable protagonist through the care and attention paid toward her by her staff and her kindness and her lack of snobby attitude toward them. Juliet is clearly quite an angel…though not completely innocent. A series of tragedies, the most recent of which have left her with a broken leg, effortlessly gain the readers’ sympathy.
  
  What’s at stake is quite clear in this fast-paced novella. Juliet is a widow in wont of a new husband to solve all her problems. Zeus is seeking revenge. The interesting question is whether or not these potentially conflicting goals can be reconciled in some way so that both protagonists gain from any possible arrangement.
  
  Both protagonists also have interesting flaws that must be taken into consideration. Juliet brings along with a whole cart load of responsibilities and debts. Zeus not only possesses a most terrible and embarrassing name but he also lacks a noble one to pass down to any potential children. He is nouveau riche, an anathema of potential marital matches in Regency England.
  
  The main part of this fast-paced tale takes part within one room over the course of only a few hours. Despite the limited setting and time lapse, the story is entertaining and whimsical. It is also at the scorching end of the heat spectrum with unexpectedly explicit details for a Regency romance. The vocabulary introduced to describe such actions is extensive and entertaining in itself.
  
  The only real flaw of this entertaining and steamy tale is that it stretches the suspension of disbelief by encouraging the reader to believe in instalove. After meeting one another for the first time, within the course of a few hours the protagonists are enamored of one another to the extent that they have the whole rest of their lives planned out. However, this can and does happen in real life, and the confident third-person narrative is both immersive and convincing.
  
  The details about Juliet’s rundown property are quite delightful and gradually introduced in a natural way as the story develops. The Regency vocabulary used throughout is always entertaining and gives the novel a whimsical feel.
  
  This is a tongue-in-cheek story that the reader should not take too seriously. It is designed to make you laugh and keep you turning the pages rather than dealing with stuffy Regency notions of propriety. Personally, I found this naughty novella entertaining and easy to read. If you enjoy steamy bodice-rippers, you’ll love reading about Juliet and Zeus’ eventful interview. I rate it 5 out of 5.
  
  Notice:
  
  I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, but this review is my honest opinion of the book.
• 
  Jamie Bee

  When You Want Wicked Regency Erotica...
  
  Well, that was something completely different! The language that the author used, full of Regency slang, is very colorful, which was fun. There is so much talk (and doing) of acts of an intimate nature that I would essentially call this Regency erotica. There is a plot, or at least a well-conceived backstory. Interestingly, except for the prologue and epilogue, the story takes place all during the heroine's interview of the hero for the advertised position of husband! I quite liked the ad itself in the prologue. Scandalous, indeed! I did feel like there was an information dump when we met each character, which I'm never a fan of. And the story felt told to me rather than shown. There's an adage in writing, particularly fiction writing, that authors should show, not tell. If authors fail to do this, a story cannot be immersive whatsoever, and it can make it difficult to get into. It creates a wall between the narrator and the reader. But if you're just in it for the erotica aspect, you might not mind. If you're intrigued by the concept of Regency erotica, you might want to check out this book.
  
  I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
  
  My book blog:
  https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
• 
  Kaye

  🛡️🛡️ONE INCREDIBLE STORYLINE🛡️🛡️
  Delightful! Larissa delivers with this incredibly uniquely spun debacle, serving up one killer storyline and engaging plot, pulling you deeper into this tangled web, until everything else ceases to exist, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Entwined, combined and tightly woven, baring the adorable quirks and defying bents, disclosing the explosive ups and agonizing downs, breathtaking in it's simplicity and rousing in it's depth, thrusting this baby to life flawlessly. The attraction and chemistry collides with such ardor, unmasking profound emotions, drawing our characters closer, binding them to one another beautifully. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits adding depth and diversity, transforming into genuine charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and such vivid descriptions that feel as though you were transported to the middle of ground zero with them. Fantastic job Larissa, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
• 
  Emily Pennington

  When Lady Juliet Letheridge’s father wants to arrange a marriage for her after the death of her husband, the headstrong young lady decides to handle the situation herself. Her last arranged marriage had been dreadful! So this time around, she will take care of the matter on her own. She does have sense enough to hide her identity, but she shocks London by actually advertising for a husband! That just isn’t done!
  
  Zeus Tanner, a handsome rogue, answers the ad in the hope of getting his hands on some property hinted at in the ad. A wife is not the goal, but obtaining the property could turn out to be the rightful restoration of his stolen birthright. The details of the interview will be quite fascinating to the reader as Lady Juliet “examines his credentials” up close and personal!
  
  It is highly unlikely the reader has come across a story like this one, but keep an open mind and prepare to laugh out loud at this strange situation that unfolds before us. Keep it all in the spirit of fun and you will enjoy what you read.
  
  
• 
  Rose

  The main characters had great flirtatious banter. They’re well equipped for each other in wit and sexual attraction, but the story took too long to get where these characters needed to be. Zeus’ original intentions in answering Juliet’s ad was written be a good conflict between their immediate attraction to each other but then it became a fleeting “issue”, which was disappointing.
  
  The author does a great job creating chemistry and setting the scene between the characters but I wanted more story than 300 pages of banter.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Margaret

  A destitute widow advertises for a husband with money to restore her estates and attributes no lady should ask for in references. She has her reasons and only a man smart enough to accept them will win the prize. Applicant number twenty-four has the right answers and references, but has secrets that could end his interview. Together they may have the right fit. A very provocative book with a lot of heat.
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Rebecca

  Short, filthy and hilarious as expected, though also unexpectedly touching at points, and peppered with period slang in a way that made it unexpectedly educational.
  
  Zeus and Juliet are wonderful, not to mention Juliet's friend/companion Olivia/Wivy, and her ex-boxer footman Jacks.
  (I'm also very excited to see that Wivy and her ex-naval gentleman are getting their own book!)
• 
  Victoria

  A frippery
  
  Wished there was more actual narrative and some respect for the poor guy who had to stand around naked while being ordered about. I am sure there is some flip of gender roles on this but bad behavior by women is no better than bad behavior by men. Maybe Olivia's story will be a bit more well rounded.
• 
  Cecilia Rodriguez

  Lady Juliet Ashland places a scandalous advertisement for the position as her next husband.
  Zeus Tanner shows up for the interview with a secret agenda.
  The story is erotic, with a light humorous tone.
• 
  iread

  I have never read a story quite like this. The plot is extremely ridiculous and humorous. Most of the story is a long, steamy scene with some unexpected revelations about the characters unfolding. If you don’t mind steamy romances, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
  
• 
  Barbara

  The first book in The Marriage Scheme series a well written story that kept me turning pages, I found myself smiling as I read. I want to read more in this series.
• 
  Martinique

  What a fun premise! I also really enjoyed the characters. A bit of wit and spice, with humor too. I'm excited to read more historical romance and more from this author
• 
  Christine

  Funny and cute 😊
  3,5 ⭐️
  
  
  Not that steamy, unfortunally 🤭