Description
Description
A desperate debutante meets a ragtag smuggler in this sexy Regency romp by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti.
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.
About the Author
About the Author
Alexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Delightful in every way!" --Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton Series
"Told in alternating viewpoints, this steamy and tender feminist Regency romance has plenty of enchanting characters and fun banter. Readers already ensconced in the Vasti-verse, and those new to Vasti's (Ladies in Hating) work alike, will revel in her latest." --Library Journal, starred review "Alexandra Vasti writes with a clever, glittering voice that makes each page sing. I fell hard for Ruby and Archer, their delightfully bonkers antics, and the whole cast of unforgettable characters. An incandescent gem of a book." --Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of What Happens in Amsterdam "Scandal of the Summer is tremendously good fun, told with the same witty voice and depth of heart I've come to expect from every Alexandra Vasti novel. The outrageous plot kept me turning the pages, and the antics of the amazing ensemble cast left me laughing out loud. This is one summer romance read not to be missed!" --Emily Rath, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Things "Alexandra Vasti is back with another romp full of mistaken identities, scorching hot tension, and hilarious fun. Sexy, thrilling and I was smiling from ear to ear reading every page! Vasti has solidified herself as an absolute star!" --Danica Nava, USA Today bestselling author of Love Is a War Song "A delightfully diverting seaside caper, full of quirky and endearing characters, including a keenly observant, dangerously smart heroine and a roguish seafaring scoundrel of a hero with a heart of gold, that will have you kicking your feet all the way to their happily-ever-after!" --Amalie Howard, USA Today bestselling author of Never Met a Duke Like You "It's a pleasure to see an attraction slowly develop between [Ruby and Malcom], described with Vasti's signature blend of steam and silliness... An entertaining summer Regency romance filled with yearning and antics." --Kirkus "Vasti's wonderfully entertaining caper is full of heroism and romance." --Booklist
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
St. Martin's Griffin
Pub date:
2026-06-23
Length:
368 pages
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