I received a copy of Three Sins and A Scoundrel by Tracy Sumner from NetGalley. This is the last book of the Duchess Society series by the author. This historical romance fiction book follows the second chance romance of Cece Willoughby and Jasper Noble. They were in love as teenagers, but due to certain family pressures, Cece chooses to marry another man, leaving Jasper heartbroken. After many years, now they are back in each other’s lives, and it’s not a coincidence. I haven’t read the five preceding books, so I chose to read this book as a standalone.
Cece and Jasper were neighbors growing up. They were partners in crime and eventually, fall in love. When Cece is pressured to marry someone else, she agrees and asks Jasper to let her go. Jasper Noble is an ex-spy and is now, part of the Leighton cluster, spending his life in shadows. The man Cece once loved and knew has changed completely. Cece is a widower; she never forgot the love she was forced to give up and decided to make herself known in London. She knows that Jasper hasn’t forgiven her for breaking his trust and his heart, but she wants to try.
In a second chance romance, I think it is necessary to have a well-defined history followed by angst, which really works for this trope. This book has both, and it works well for the plot. The person Jasper has become today is born out of his heartbreak and leaving behind his past. His father was abusive towards him; Cece was the only good thing in his life. Once she asks him to leave; it changes things for him. Cece made a sacrifice for her family. Now, as a widower, she wants to see if the romance can be rekindled. Both these characters are extremely stubborn in their own way. Their meeting only solidifies the fact that the chemistry between them hasn’t died down. There are a lot of suppressed emotions, passion, and yearning between them that I enjoyed.
I did not completely understand the other members of the gang, because I skipped the previous books. However, it did not affect how the story flowed. Cece and Jasper have their hangups about each other. Neither is willing to move ahead by forcing the other to change, which is such a genuine conflict. Do you accept the person as he is now? Or do you expect him to revert to the guy you knew? Jasper and Cece have been through a lot; Jasper’s past has completely shaped his present. The whole acceptance theme is prominent from start to finish. The writing was slightly confusing at times. I did not understand who was speaking, which bothered me a little bit. The chemistry, angst, and romance almost made up for it, for me.
I loved reading Three Sins and A Scoundrel by Tracy Sumner. It is the kind of historical romance that I enjoy reading. It has interesting characters, a second chance romance trope, and angsty as well as passionate romantic scenes. It was fun to read as a standalone too. I liked reading it a lot.
*Click on the book cover above to get a copy.
Books and blues 