Scandal of the Summer

Author: Alexandra Vasti Title: Scandal of the Summer Publisher: St. Martins Griffin Date Published: 06/23/2026

Read Dates: 05/18/2026- 05/19/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

 📖 I received a gifted e-book ARC. The following is my honest review✍🏻

Scandal of the Summer is a multi POV historical romance that mostly focuses on ex-Captain, current con-man Malcolm, and the unconventional, adventurous Lady Ruby. Ruby can’t seem to keep herself from awkward social situations that embarrass her politically ambitious father, and after yet another disastrous dinner party, she concocts a scheme to lay low at a vacant royal house for a few months with her two best friends, posing as ladies in waiting. The house is occupied by Malcolm Archer and what remains of his former crew, a safe place to land and convenient storage for various smuggling and forgery endeavors! Each group is trying to fool the other that they are exactly who and where they should be, until unexpected events bring them all closer than anticipated!

This was my first Alexandra Vasti romance, and it was so much fun! I’ll definitely be looking into others. I loved how well it showed the difficulty the ladies had in balancing people-pleasing and desire for acceptance with their conflicting desire to be themselves and embrace their interests. I loved that Captain Archer, while unorthodox in his methods, was really just trying to create stability and safety for those he cared about. It was a fun read and a setup for a new series, I’m assuming centered and Lady Ruby’s friends.

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.