Scandal Wears Satin (Dressmakers, #2)

by Loretta Chase

A blue-eyed innocent on the outside and a shark on the inside, dressmaker Sophy Noirot could sell sand to Bedouins. Selling Maison Noirot's beautiful designs to aristocratic ladies is a little harder, especially since a recent family scandal has made an enemy of one of society's fashion leaders. Turning scandal to the shop's advantage requires every iota of Sophy's skills, leaving her little patience for a big, reckless rake like the Earl of Longmore. The gorgeous lummox can't keep more than one idea in his head at a time, and his idea is taking off all of Sophy's clothes. But when Longmore's sister, Noirot's wealthiest, favorite customer, runs away, Sophy can't let him bumble after her on his own. In hot pursuit with the one man who tempts her beyond reason, she finds desire has never slipped on so smoothly ...

• ISBN10: 0062100319
• ISBN13: 9780062100313
• Publish Date: 26 June 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[stacey_is_sassy]

Right in front of their noses...

It's amazing how you can see what you want to see instead of what is in front of your face. I'm very guilty of this when I'm proofreading my own work. Sometimes I'm shocked at re-reading what I've previously written and find words that don't even make sense or seem remotely correct. It's like my brain thinks a word and my hands type something somewhat close...sounding/meaning. I guess we're all guilty of seeing what we expect...like maybe a French heiress instead of a dressmaker.

I really liked this story...well mostly. I find myself continuously squinty-eyed when the hero is an obnoxious buffoon who casts a lady he meets into the slot of mistress instead of the wife. Well, this guy is not the smartest tool on the shelf by his own admission. It still frustrated me that he took nearly the whole book to see this incredibly smart and interesting woman as more than what was between her legs. Luckily, in good historical romance fashion, he comes good and I loved him by the end.

This series has been thoroughly entertaining. Each of the sisters is an original and I loved that they use their intelligence as well as their looks to succeed.

Again, the narrator does a fantastic job. Like the first book I listened to in the series, the only character I find annoying (listening to) is Clara. It's a touch little girly whiney (shudders).

I will definitely be going on in the series.

[nitzan_schwarz]

Okay, this is easily one of my favorite historicals I've ever read. And I have to admit, I didn't expect to like this quite this much. I wasn't quite impressed with the first one, after all.

But Scandal Wears Satin won me over so quickly. First, I loved both Sophy and Harry. Harry, because he was so chill and fun and self-deprecating, and he was pretty much all in from the beginning. Sophy, because she is a phenomenal actress, a level-headed woman who is not ashamed of hers or her body, and I was here for it!

Seriously, I wish more couples were like this in historicals. The kind that have fun with each other, and banter, and are always kind of awed with the other one, and are so low on angst yet keep your heart racing.

Seriously, if you're wondering whether to read this book - DO IT! I had great fun with it and enjoyed every second of it, truly.

[Rowena]

This is the second book in the Dressmakers series by Loretta Chase and it’s yet another winner for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance that sprang forth between Harry and Sophy. They were such a cute couple and I enjoyed each and every single scene between the two. This book starts off not too long after the last book ended. Marcelline is the new Duchess of Clevedon and is deliriously happy with her husband. She’s in love and in that newlywed happy bubble, leaving the other two sisters to worry about what their sister’s happiness would cost their family business. They’re not unhappy with the marriage but they are worried.

They’re worried that they’ll lose their biggest client, Lady Clara who used to be “engaged” to the Duke of Clevedon. Now, Lady Clara may have forgiven the Noirot sisters but her mother hasn’t and her mother is the mother hen of the ton. What she says goes, if she doesn’t want anyone going to the Noirot sisters for their dressmaking needs then you can bet the farm that nobody will.

This book follows Sophy Noirot as she tries to save that relationship and the client. Lady Clara has been ruined at a ball, on purpose by a cad of a man named Adderly and instead of letting Lady Clara’s brother, the sexy Earl of Longmore meet that asshole at dawn, she talks him into helping Clara first. Lady Clara takes off and Sophy rushes after her with Harry.

Harry is very attracted to Sophy Noirot. He’s also a big time flirt and accomplished womanizer. He’s biding his time with the lovely Miss Noirot but he means to have her. Sophy is just as attracted to Harry but won’t succumb to temptation because she won’t start a relationship and put their family business in further jeopardy by poaching another man of the ton. Not that her reservations mean anything to Harry. He wants her, plain and simple. To hell with everyone else.

Watching Harry and Sophie come together was a great way to spend a few hours. Their story was sweet and refreshingly different from what I’ve been reading lately. I’ve been reading a lot of YA books and needed something different so I picked this one up and am super glad because I really enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the characters and it’s made me excited for Leonie’s story. I’m curious to see who she ends up with.

Loretta Chase did a fabulous job of sucking me right back into the world of dressmaking and romance. She writes stories that just makes me sit up and take notice. It wasn’t any different with this book and while I couldn’t remember much from the first book, it didn’t stop me from jumping right into the thick of things with this book. It was an enjoyable read, one that I will definitely be re-reading. It’s a definite keeper so yes, I definitely recommend this book.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5