His Scandalous Viscountess

His Scandalous Viscountess

Lustful Lords #3

by Sorcha Mowbray

★★★★☆

Once upon a time, a boy and a girl fell in love…but prestige, power, and a shameful secret drove them apart. Julia fled abroad after the death of her husband, Lord Fallthorpe. She has finally returned to England, but little has changed.

Except for her.

As a dowager marchioness, Julia lives and loves where she pleases. And the obnoxious son of her dead husband does not please. But what can an independent woman do? Why, create a scandal, of course! Viscount Wolfington is no stranger to the wagging tongues of the ton. Between being a Lustful Lord and the scandal of his birth, he learned long ago that society had little use for him. So when he walks into The Market and finds the woman who once stole his heart being auctioned for a night of debauchery, he jumps at another chance to hold her--even for just a single night.

As Julia and Wolf unravel their pasts, will villainy win again, or will love finally conquer all?

The Plot

Engaged to be married but left alone in the middle of night, Julia Wallthrope parents forced her to marry an older man who was unkind to her. After her husband died, she fled to the Far East to escape her lustful stepson and was a lover to a powerful Sheik.. But 10 years later she returns to London and tries to stir up scandal so her stepson will not want to marry her anymore. Wolf and Julia run into each other and, through some forceful efforts on Wolfs part, he offers to help fake an engagement to ward of Lord Wallthropes advances. But pretending the engagement leads to old feelings coming to the surface.

My heart just broke for Julia and what she had to endure after Wolf left her. I really felt the sense of abandon she must have felt from Wolf and her parents when she had to marry Lord Wallthrope. The telling of those past events really set the stage for the struggle Julia had when faced with Wolf again and the charge of emotions they both felt. I thought it was laid out really well to help convey those intense feelings of love, abandonment, doubt, fear and uncertainty they both felt.

The Heroine

Lady Julia Wallthorpe has been to hell and back; Wolf broke her heart when he let her to marry the old Lord Wallthrope who was abusive. Because of that, she is fiercely independent and refuses to remarry and be at the mercy of a man ever again. Can’t blame her! It takes sometime and healing for her to realize Wolf is different.

The Hero

Viscount Wolfington knows he abandoned Julia when they were younger, but, threatened with the exposure of his illegitimacy, he had to leave her. He has always loved her and is determined to do anything to keep her safe this time. He is a good man at heart and proves it to Julia throughout the book.

The Steam

Lots and lots of steamy scenes!

Stand Out Moment

When Julia finally opens up to Wolf about her past marriage and her feelings about it all.

Who Would Like This

Anyone who likes hot, steamy scenes with lots of romantic wooing from the Hero!

Final Thoughts

This was probably my favorite of the series so far. The plot was interesting with several twists to help it along, but I also really felt the emotional tension between Wolf and Julia.

Tropes

Titled Hero, Rake Hero, Alpha Hero, Second Chance, Fake relationship, Jilted Bride, Kidnapped, Trauma, Friends to Lovers, Widow, illegitimate heir