This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
This is the first time that I have read this author. I know I know, it probably shocks some of you on that. I am not sure why, maybe its because hardly any of her books are in audio and I always like to have a backup for historicals on the methods of reading it. But I finally bit the bullet and picked this one up and it was such fun! And wow was it authentic. The dialogue especially just made me feel like I was really in the Victorian age from the gutter snip style of dialogue to the Aristocratic style, it all worked so well together and I appreciated what the author delivered.

First Line
By the time the whistle finished shrilling, Nell was already out the door.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Simon St. Maur
Recently inherited an earldom. Has a good jolly sense of humor, knows how to entertain people around him, but has a deep heart that surprises others.

The Heroine: Nell Whitby
Nell is from East End, she grew up poor and is barely surviving. She is sassy and strong and independent and generous towards others

Summary
Nell Whitby finds out that a certain earl treated her mother poorly and when he rejects her letters to him of her being his daughter, she comes for him out for revenge, but she doesn't find her father, she finds a young handsome man, in the nude, who disarms her quickly and then proposes marriage to her. Well, Nell isn't one to let a good opportunity pass her by to create a better life for herself and she reluctantly agrees. Nell and Simon have mutual interests so it makes sense for them to come to a marital agreement, but there is a connection between them that goes far deeper. But there are also enemies who don't want to see them receive what they are striving for and will stop at nothing to keep it from happening...

What I Loved
This basically has everything that you need in a solid historical romance. I really enjoyed the authenticity in this story. And what really drew me in the most was the connection between Nell and Simon. They really connect in all the ways I love to see a couple bond to. They have a sexual attraction and when they get together....its empowering. Man these two could make me curl my toes without even thinking, that is how much chemistry is on the page. But there is also so much more to their relationship than that. I enjoyed how they get along with each other, the way they just "play" together and fight for each other when its needed the most.

The plot was especially fun to see. I really didn't expect there to be any intrigue really, but the way it catapults in the third act was especially thrilling.

What I Struggled With
No surprise to anyone but the heroine. Now I was drawn to some aspects of her character, but I just didn't feel the growth in her. It just felt almost superficial at times and I didn't feel the heart I wanted to from the heroine or really any type of solid redemption to really make her more likable. She was especially prickly in the beginning, but to be honest, the only reason it softens is because of the hero, not because of her character growth in any real way.

Overall View
A Lady's Lesson in Scandal was a intriguing story that brings two opposites into a mutual accord and their connection breathes fresh air into the story that makes you searching for more.

Favorite Quote(s)
Loving him would not be easy. It would mean never again completely belonging anywhere – save with him. But she would belong with him. He would be her home, she thought.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian Era
Character Types: Earl
Themes: Prickly Heroine, Class Difference, Fun Witty Banter
Tropes: Rags to Riches, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend of both

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments. ( )

i love this book ( )

Great chemistry and dialogue between the h/h but it really felt like this should have been a novella. A lot of filler (nicely written but filler just the same) with the same ground trodden repeatedly. I'm also dubious of the setup of poor partner teaches rich partner the morality of using wealth for good when nothing about the system is challenged. ( )

A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
4 Stars

Living under the thumb of her odious stepbrother in the slums of London’s East End, Nell Whitby resigns herself to a life of poverty and hardship. However, on her death bed, Nell’s mother imparts a secret regarding her daughter’s true identity that sends Nell to the upper echelons of London society and into the arms of Simon St. Maur, a notorious rake who immediately recognizes the value of the woman in front of him.

One of those rare historical romances that actually presents the social realities of the Victorian age - slums, child workers, dirty factories and the selfish and decadent ton.

The story is a charming mix of Cinderella and Pygmalion with Nell’s transformation from dirty ragamuffin to elegance personified. Nell is stubborn with an acerbic wit and her banter with Simon makes for lively reading. My one nitpick concerning her character is the rather silly misunderstanding toward the end of the book, which results from her refusal to confront Simon over something she overheard. Nevertheless, considering her brutal upbringing, it is not surprising that Nell has trust issues.

Simon is an exceptional hero. Although he starts out as rather mercenary in his plans for Nell, his obvious affection and growing attraction for her results in some excellent chemistry and an entertaining love story.

The secondary suspense plot is well-developed with an exciting climax and resolution.

In sum, A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal is a well-written romance with appropriate attention to historical accuracy for the time period. I will be on the lookout for more books from this author. ( )

I enjoyed this one. A wee bit melodramatic and flowery in places, and repetitive in others. But I thought it did a good job of depicting the differences in class, as well as the battle between mind and heart.

The heroine's struggle is learning to trust her heart, and trust in her dreams. To believe in the impossible. And ultimately to believe in love. Duran does a good job of depicting her struggle and journey.

While there is a villain and supporting characters - the majority of the book is focused on the relationship between Simon St. Maur, Earl of Rushden, and Nell (the missing Cornelia, the old Earl's daughter). It's mainly their thoughts, and dialogue. And through their relationship - the author explores issues of trust, faith, and belief in love.

I didn't find it as dark as some reviewers, but I also read George RR Martin's Dance of Dragon's prior to it along with various urban fantasy novels and Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth, which combined basically make this book look sort of fluffy and rather light in comparison. I suppose if you are used to fluffy romance novels, it probably seemed really dark to you? Like most things - it depends on what you are comparing it to. Also, I don't tend to categorize "romance" as necessarily equaling light, happy, and fluffy.

In some respects I preferred it to Judith Ivory's The Proposition - which felt a bit silly in places and played more like a comedy, so far less realistic. This feels more realistic, and grittier.

Overall - I recommend. I'm a hard grader. I only give 4 or 5 stars to books that knock my socks off. ( )