Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti
Flirty Rotten Scoundrels #1
Historical Romance
June 23, 2026 by St. Martin’s Griffin
ARC

Review by Angela

This book is just what I needed. It’s fun, it’s sexy, and it’s romantic. I’m a sucker for a disreputable rogue, or charming conman, who falls in love and settles down into wedded bliss. Add in a found family of other charming rogues and conmen/women and I’m all in.

Scandal of the Summer introduces Lady Ruby Ballimore, who is smart and competent, but never seems to do anything right in her father’s eyes. She’s almost assuredly on the shelf and hates that she’ll never be what is expected in London Society. After an evening where she once again seems to say and do the wrong thing and basically humiliates a Marquess who is important to her father’s diplomatic career as Ambassador to Monfalcone, she hatches a plan with her two best friends, Alice and Tamsin, to have a summer of freedom by taking up residence at the Princess of Monfalcone’s Cornwall estate, and pretending to be her ladies-in-waiting.

The only problem is that the estate is already occupied by Captain Malcolm Archer, conman and smuggler, and his ragtag crew. As Malcolm is the only member of the household who is actually supposed to be there, having three lively women of the ton show up at the front door, out of the blue, is a disaster in the making. Add in the smuggled goods all over the house and the fact that Ruby may have seen Malcolm during his last con job, and Malcolm knows he needs to get them to leave, by any means necessary.

Let me tell you, I read this book practically in one sitting. I fell in love with every single character. There is something special about a story where there is true love and loyalty between a group of people bound by circumstances and choice. When Ruby and her friends arrive at the estate, they know right away that something is wrong and they try their hardest to figure out what that is, just as Malcolm and his crew are trying their hardest to get the women to give up and leave. All the while Malcolm and Ruby have this attraction to each other that they can’t fight, although they really try to. Everyone is involved in the antics, and it’s a fun time watching them all try to outsmart each other.

The battle of wills and attraction between Ruby and Malcolm is a delight to watch as it unfolds, and Vasti leaves the bedroom door open as this couple falls quite passionately into bed and into love. Malcolm might be a conmen and smuggler, but he is full of heart and honor. Ruby is unsure of herself in society but given a bit of freedom knows exactly what she wants, and that’s Malcolm. I could be wrong, but I do not remember a third act breakup, even though there were several chances for the author to have given them one, instead they stay by each other’s side time and again and choose to be honest.

There is a bit of drama, and several twists and turns and surprises, toward the end that tie up this couple’s HEA into a nice little bow. Their found family is safe for now. But as this is the first book in a new series, I’m sure there will be more adventures to come. I cannot wait.

Final grade- B+