Review by Kayleigh
Every time I read an Alexandra Vasti book, I declare it my favorite; Scandal of the Summer is my new favourite Vasti book ever.
Favourite Quote:
“Show me,” she murmured. “Do your worst. I want to know what sort of villain you are, Malcom Archer.”
”Yours,” he said hoarsely.
And then he went down on his knees and showed her.
Book Synopsis:
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.
Review:
I am obsessed with Ruby, Malcolm and their cast of friends and characters and I can’t wait for everyone else to catch up with my obsession. Ruby is a smart, sensitive, and of course, a little quirky lady. Her father is a very important man who is ruthless in trying to develop his career. Ruby is far smarter than most people realize and doesn’t quite fit into society well. After an unfortunate party where her intelligence discovers a forgery, instead of being celebrated and applauded for her intelligence, she is shunned for speaking too much and out of turn and embarrassing the man of the house, who spent a lot of money on something that isn’t real. Desperate to get away from the city, she, alongside her friends, concocts a plan to move into an abandoned estate that is loosely connected to her father‘s position. She just wants a summer away from rules and society and her father‘s disapproving glare.
Of course, this path cannot go smoothly, and when Ruby and her friends arrive at the estate, she finds a fairly abandoned mansion with one Malcolm Archer, supposedly the manager of the estate. There is immediate distrust and attraction between Ruby and Malcolm, but the two of them find themselves having to work together when a body is found in the library.
There is mystery, intrigue and ridiculously hilarious attempts for both the pirates led by Malcolm, and the wealthy women led by Ruby, to both try to get rid of each other whilst also trying to solve the mystery happening at the house. Everything is seemingly going to plan, well, as much of a plan as Ruby and Malcolm can have, when the foreign princess shows up and then mysteriously gets kidnapped. Suddenly, Ruby and Malcolm find themselves in even hotter water, not just between themselves, but also in a plot that could take down royals and impact their world.
Good God, am I obsessed with Ruby and Malcolm I know I’ve already said it, but I need to say it again. They are just plain fun. She is smart, courageous and very misunderstood by her family and society at large. She has learned to see herself through their lens and doesn’t realize just how incredible and special she is. Luckily, we have Malcolm, a tragic sailor who lost everything he had when he was removed from the Navy and is trying to redeem himself from one decision many years ago. Malcolm is, of course, freaking gorgeous and is a smart enough man to see just how incredible Ruby is. Ruby and Malcolm have heat, and I have loved getting to watch the two of them fall for each other. Ruby and Malcolm learn to trust each other, but also go on incredible character growth themselves, which is always my favourite part of a romance story. Their love is steamy and feels so well deserved as they fight for each other throughout the book.
Scandal of the Summer filled me with joy and glee as I read it, partially for the bonkers plot, but also for the excellent characters and friends in the story. I am really hopeful that this is not the last that we get to see of Ruby, Malcolm and their crew. Alexandra, if you’re reading this, I would like a book two right now, please and thank you.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
