“A superpowered twist on Victorian romance!” —Publishers Weekly This series? THE NEVERS + BRIDGERTON mashup!What’s a reluctant viscount to do when the woman he can’t have becomes the woman he can’t live without?Viscount Julian Alexander works dutifully to protect London’s outcast clairvoyants. But when the woman he’s sworn to keep from harm threatens to turn his orderly life and League of the … threatens to turn his orderly life and League of the gifted upside down, he finds himself craving her above all others. And with her brash American ways driving him to distraction, he fears the ensuing chaos could expose them all to danger.
Psychic healer Lady Piper Scott is tired of being ignored by the man she desires. In an impulsive bid to draw his attention, she slips her protective leash to pose as a medium for bored aristocrats. But when an arsonist turns the séance into an inferno, her plan simultaneously succeeds and fails when Julian flies into a rage… and then whisks her away to his mansion, alone.
Confronted with the woman’s implacable persistence, the handsome nobleman worries that giving into his heart will only inch her closer to those who would abuse her power. But Piper is more resolute than ever to prove her place is by his side, opposing their enemies together.
In the first in Tracy Sumner’s captivating League of Lords series, mysticism in Victorian England is the setting for a sizzling love affair . . .
League of Lords Series:
#1 The Lady is Trouble (Julian & Piper)
#2 The Rake is Taken (Finn & Victoria)
#3 The Duke is Wicked (Sebastian & Delaney)
#4 The Hellion is Tamed (Simon & Emma)
more
This is the first book in a new series League of Lords, and now I want to read any other book which is part of this series. This story is about Julian who has mystical powers and he protects a society of people with mystical gifts, but the one who he is most attracted to is Piper who is always getting in trouble and he always has to save her. This is the first book I have ready by Tracy Summer and I enjoyed the way she writes a story, once I was into the story, I did not want to put it down. I needed to know what happened.
I received a free copy of this book by the author for my honest opinion.
“Scandalous Scott had returned to the proper side of the ocean”
Lady Elizabeth Piper Scott, granddaughter of an Earl, sent across to America for her own safety is making herself known to the ton as a scandalous young woman. However some know that beneath all that she is a gifted healer, back to claim her rightful place in The League “the Occult Earl” began, in part , to make sure she had something and some others to care for her. Little did she know just how much she is cared for…
Viscount Julian Alexander, Lord Beauchamp, has done all he can to fulfill the last request of The Earl. Piper’s gift still ran her, and leadership in the group would tear her apart unless she got hold of it. Will that ever happen ? Her grandfather always told her that healers healed and that should be her focus.
Since the age of 15 Julian has loved Piper. Can his gift be tamed? Is Piper his key? And, does she know it? Can be save them from themselves? And others with gifts…are they safe?
Author Tracy Sumner has often described herself as a romance writer who reads romances and her love of the genre shows in every line. This book dances around paranormal and can be a bit erotic at times, but it all comes together very well, is very believable and highly entertaining. I highly recommend this book to you. 5/5
[Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
She does indeed cause some trouble.
Lady Elizabeth Piper Scott has loved Julian Alexander, eight Viscount of Beauchamp since he was 15. She never knew he loved her too. Many years later, they are still at odds. She’s still chasing him and he’s still protecting her but remaining emotionally absent. Something’s got to give.
I’ve read so many negative reviews where the reviewer didn’t even finish the book. Wrong on so many levels. At the beginning of The Lady is Trouble, I really didn’t like the hero. I thought he was a bit of a jerk who belittled the heroine. Even several of the supporting characters were disrespectful of Piper. I’m so glad I kept reading and finished this book. The story was interesting, and gradually the hero became the man he should have always been. Actually, the story evolved into a very tender but intense love story. In the end, not only was the ending very happy, the epilogue was sigh-worth.
I do, however, have one negative pet peeve. Although I love descriptive writing, I wish Tracy Sumner would have dialed down the wordiness. I ended up skimming a bit.
Still, this was an entertaining read. I look forward to reading the next book.
Content 411: In addition to swearing and vulgarities (no “f” word), there is some very descriptive sexual content.
I love Gaslamp novels, and this one was special. The paranormal element isn’t intrusive or over-complicated like in other Gaslamp stories I read, but it seamlessly flows with the romantic plot.
The beginning wasn’t easy though. I found hard to understand the world building or follow what was happening. But this is a personal thing. Other readers might not have the same problem. Anyway, I’m glad I kept reading because the story of Piper and Julian, the way they tiptoe around each other and their chemistry are awesome. And once grasped the basics of the world building, the rest comes quite easily.
I absolutely loved the overall concept of this story. The struggle of right or wrong, life and death assailed the h/H to distraction. I adored the history of when the H met the h when he was fifteen. He spent many, many years denying his love for the h. But she was spirited and independent. She would never concede defeat in her pursuit of his love. The secondary story was about the paranormal League they were building. Taking children, adolescences, adults who had special gifts that if known, society would deem them part of the occult. The League would lodge them and feed them. Keep them safe; help them to harness their gift so that it could be used for good not evil and lessen the emotional madness each had within themselves for they did not understand their gift. When a serious threat came, they prepared the best they could. In the end things could not have unfolded any differently than it did. I would have given this a five-star rating however, the scenes did not flow easily from one to another. I had to stop and think that there was a scene change that happened without easing me into it. Another problem was that there was more than one instance that the pages repeated themselves and it threw me off. But if one can overlook those issues than this is a wonderful book to experience.
Julian Alexander, the Viscount Beauchamp, has the gift of being able to get visions from objects, he knows how society at large treats people with “gifts” and he is the leader of a group of people with supernatural gifts. He does his best to protect and educate these people, people shunned and feared by society, he cares for them all, but none more than Elizabeth Piper Scott, the granddaughter of the man who rescued him and helped him learn about his gift and how to control it. He has not seen Piper in three years, not since her grandfather was murdered by a person trying to abduct Piper to control her gift. But he has just learned from his lover that Piper is back in town. Shunned and angry, Julian goes to find her and save her – again.
Piper seems to attract trouble, she came to London to force Julian to let her take her rightful place in the League – her grandfather started the group because of her and her gift – she wants to be a part of it!! But her plan to get Julian’s attention didn’t go as expected and she may have accidently caught the hotel room on fire – she escapes the blaze and is looking for Finn, another member of the League and Julian’s “adopted” brother when Julian finds her and whisks her away to Harbingdon – an estate he has purchased and is using to house members of the League.
Once there, they will learn that Finn has been having dreams about a woman who seeks to abduct Piper to use her gift. Piper can “read” auras and is known as a healer, it is a rare gift and many people would do anything to control it. Piper wants to use her gift to help the other members and Julian, but Julian seems hell-bent on keeping her hidden. Piper has loved Julian since she met him and she thought he might return her feelings. But that hope was shattered the night of the attack, when her grandfather died and Julian hid her away and seemingly forgot about her. Piper is done hiding and fighting her attraction to Julian. She wants to take her place in the League and claim Julian’s heart. But Julian isn’t ready to give in and may never be.
I thought the idea of this story sounded great, a steamy historical romance with paranormal undertones – how could it not be? Well, it did not quite work for me, I am sorry to say, I didn’t care for the writing style, I found it wordy and vague, almost as if the author didn’t want the reader to know what was going on. I never really understood what Piper’s gift was or how she used it and as much as I tried, I was never really able to get immersed in the story. In addition to that, I was irked by the incorrect formal address (A viscount’s daughter isn’t “Lady” she is “Miss” and even if she was “Lady Elizabeth”, she is most certainly NEVER Lady Scott) and then I found the final confrontation with the villain to be extremely anticlimactic. So unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book and I am not sure I would read the next book in the series.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Sizzling, sexy, and seductive! The love story between Piper and Julian is filled with twists and wonderfully written sexual tension. A true page-turner, I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
I received an ARC of The Lady is Trouble by Tracy Sumner from Netgalley. Lady Elizabeth Scott, aka Piper, granddaughter to an Earl and Julian Alexander, Viscount Beauchamp have mystical talents. However, these special powers collide with each other and their coming together becomes difficult. This is the first story I have read by this author and she has me thoroughly intrigued The story introduces many other characters with special powers as well, people with supernatural abilities and talents and each troubled with their inability to understand their gift. Julian hopes to create a safe haven, a League, for them where they are neither harrassed nor made pariah because of their gift…a place for “healing and support and assistance”. A beautiful love story of facing whatever comes in the way to achieve a HEA.
A little bit of magic and romance.
I saw this one on hidden gems and just knew I had to get it my problem is that my sister saw it too only it was on Booksprout. Since we can only post one review Crystal and I will be writing this critter together. What I liked was Julian and Piper I love books that have strong characters that are even so flawed. Okay now it is my turn l adore paranormal and then you put it into Victorian England and that is just a win-win for me. Like Sandy, I enjoy a good character and well-written plot but give me magic any old day. Both Crystal and I loved the book and hope you check it out we both recommend it. We did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
The Lady is Trouble
Tracy Sumner
League of Lords Series
Fantasy Romance
Adult
Piper Scott was born in a messed up world. Not only was her mother an actress and her father a gambler, but Piper is special as well. She is a healer. Not like she gives people herbs to heal wounds, no that’s normal. Piper heals people suffering from magical powers who can’t control themselves or their abilities. Unfortunately the one person she wants to help the most is the man she loves and he does everything in his power to keep his distance from her. Will these two ever overcome their fears and their problems or will a third party tear them apart for good?
This was a very interesting read. It contained two of my favorite romance genres. It is a fantasy, with it’s magical abilities, but it is also a historical romance that includes earls, dukes, and viscounts. I really loved how well they were blended and how you felt for them trying to survive in the world of the rich while also keeping their powers a secret. I loved the characters in this story. Not only the main characters but the side characters as well. Everyone had a sad but great back story and they really grew as characters. The main Heroine and Hero especially grew as characters. Piper became a little less headstrong, while Julian was able to let go of some of his fears.There are many characters I hope to see get their own books after reading this story.
I recommend this story to lovers of fantasy and romance. Also if you enjoy a good story about two people overcoming their own insecurities as well as a bigger problem to find out what they really want, then try this story.
I received a free ecopy of this book from Tracy Sumner for my honest opinion.
Fine story with lots of steam and fully developed characters. A nice change of pace from Regency romances! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Lady Is Trouble League of Lords, Book 1 brings a intriguing premise to the story. I really enjoyed having a paranormal element aspect to a historical regency era novel. This is a complicated story and you need to pay attention from the beginning. As I restarted the audio a few times as I was confused and felt I was missing something. I love the supernatural magic swirling through the pages and the descriptive language used including the descriptions of the auras. Suspense mystery and a bit of spicey scenes.
Kimberly M. Wetherell did a marvelous performance of this audiobok. Her annunciations and clairvoyant voice bring the story to reality.
After reading and reviewing The Rake is Taken, Book 2 of the League of Lords series, I knew I had to find and read Book 1 — THE LADY IS TROUBLE.
This title, provided as a free advance review copy, did not disappoint me. Because it is Book 1, more time is spent setting up the back story of a shadowy world of extraordinary people just trying to survive the already fraught world of British society while dealing with supernatural gifts.
The League is a community to try to keep them safe. Think Dr. Xavier and the X Men school without all of the special effects.
In THE LADY IS TROUBLE, our hero and heroine grew up together and have a deep bond — whether or not they both want it. I loved watching Piper grow up and finally earn respect while also watching Julian learn to balance his enormous responsibility with lightheartedness.
After reading both of these books, it’s obvious there should be a Book 3. I can’t wait.
I will start by stating that the second half of this book more than makes up for the frustration of the first. Piper and Julian are part of a group with extraordinary talents. Julian reads objects and Piper can help control talents and is a healer. Both had difficult childhoods due loss of their mothers, leaving them to suffer from actions of cruel/indifferent fathers. They meet as teenagers when Piper’s grandfather rescues her and starts a “league “ of people with these talents. The two fall in love, but before they can declare their feelings, Piper’s grandfather (who Julian feels indebted to) makes him promise to never act on his feelings for Piper. Fast forward three years…
What I did not like is that of course during that time, Julian gets to sleep around and have a life in society, while Piper is left to flounder in society and be snubbed. Also once her grandfather dies, she is kept “safe” in the country and kept in the dark of what the group is doing (and they wonder why she rebels).
However, the second half of the book delivers on building the group/setting the ground work for the series which I found to be an interesting and unique plot twist. I grew to like Julian and root for them as a couple. There are plenty of steamy scenes in the second half as well as heartfelt emotion. Looking forward to the next book in the series! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found it hard to get into this book initially. At times I felt like I missed part of the story only to realize later flashbacks/details were being revealed later in the novel. I really liked the whole idea of people with mystical powers living among us though. The ongoing suspense tied to mystical abilities on top of the emotional turmoil of Julian and Piper made for an interesting read in the end.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
The Lady is Trouble is the first book in the League of Lords series. The book centers around Julian Alexander and Lady Piper Scott. Piper loves Julian is tired of waiting on him to realize it and decides to do something about it. While Julian is busy protecting those with paranormal abilities he he feels needs to protect Piper. Piper will aim to use her gifts to help Julian see that the future is possible for them to be together.
I recieved an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
Supernatural talents lead to dangerous actions and love. A group of extra talented people work together to keep other group members from being harmed. Longing finally turns to love we 2 members reunite. I have read other book in this series and have enjoyed them greatly.
I have a tendency to gush when I read one of Tracy Sumner’s books. I am truly in awe of her ability to weave words together to create images and feelings. She conveys the emotions of the characters and describes the scenes in vivid detail, immersing me in the worlds and with the people that she creates. Sometimes it’s hard to remember it’s fictional. Sometimes the words claw their way inside of me and I just have to put them on paper (so to speak) to relieve myself of the burden of carrying them alone because they are so poetic and need to be shared. I sound like a fangirl. Guilty.
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Piper Scott, and with Julian Alexander as seen through her eyes. This is the first book in the League of Lords series, focused on individuals with supernatural powers. Julian can see through the eyes of the person who last touched an item while Piper can see auras and can heal people, particularly those who struggle with their “gifts.” Theirs is a case of love at first sight, but Julian feels compelled to push aside those feelings because he feels a greater need to protect her than anything else. Plus, her grandfather, as he lay dying, told Julian that Piper was not the one for him. Like a fool, he believes he owes it to her dead grandfather to deny his love for her. As you can imagine, that doesn’t work out so well.
Meanwhile, the League is forming, its headquarters at Harbingdon, a property purchased by Julian, the home staffed only by those who have “gifts,” few of whom have ever been trained for the positions they hold, which leads to some interesting problems. Julian is convinced that only having those with “gifts” as a part of this enclave will help to protect them from prying eyes. Unfortunately, one villain in particular, Sidonie, is quickly closing in on their location via a connection through Finn’s dreams. When Piper inevitably meets Sidonie, she is horrified to discover she has no aura. “Only skin, bone, and madness.” Further, she sees Sidonie’s hair “snarled, a black demon hanging down her back,” a very apt and foreboding observation/metaphor.
I unknowingly read The Rake Is Taken prior to reading this book, which is fine in terms of understanding, but it gave me what is probably a different take on Finn. I couldn’t help but notice the frequent descriptions of him: “…a born trickster, able to bend the truth seven ways to tomorrow and come out clean.” At one point, Piper observes, “If a crowd hadn’t surrounded Finn as he lounged against a marble column, a careless sprawl calling to the cats in the room like a putrid plate of tuna,” she would have requested his assistance. The descriptions of Finn paint a picture of a man I’d be intrigued to know (if I hadn’t already read the sequel), with phrases like: “carefully crafted facade,” “unruffled mein,” “the height of elegance and ease on his worst days,”
“he pushed off the cart with an agile kick and a jaunty wave,” and “strolled as if he owned the space.” “The handsome face, the immaculate dress, the intelligence Finn stored in a portmanteau, and placed at his side during most encounters made people overlook him.” “Finn, who’d slipped into the role of bastard son like he slipped on his drawers, one easy, elegant leg at a time.” Truly, I could go on about Finn as he is a complex and riveting character, but he’s really only a small part of this story. My focus should be on Piper and Julian.
Julian, seemingly always in control, is “unmanned” by Piper. Early on, we have a window into his mind as he regards Marianne (his mistress), with “eyes the color of fresh cow dung.” Later, as he tries to restrain himself when it comes to Piper, he presses “his hands to the desk to keep them from following commands his mind issued at rapid speed.” “He didn’t know if he could fight her when two infinitesimal letters—no—were all separating them.” When he eventually submits, he admits to her, “…you are the only treasure my gift has given me.”
When near Julian, Piper “…felt as diaphanous as the smoke surrounding her, dissolving in his arms.” Her connection/distance from him is metaphorically portrayed like this: “The scent of him drifted to her, subtle, woodsy, close to the ground but not rooted.” Unable to reason with him, she remembers she has another option: “As he’d told her on more than one occasion, she would make an excellent thief. So, she’d steal his heart if he would not readily give it to her.”
Their interactions are always intense, passionate (“Her power rose as his attraction raced across the space like a bullet discharged from a pistol.”), even out of control, yet also fun. “She was an angel in his arms and a determined, independent fury out of them.” She makes him laugh like no one else can, and she burrows into his soul, finding places he hides even from himself. “She had punctured a hole in his life and let blissful contentment flood in. Let joy and fun flood in.”
They banter, as she tries to downplay her feelings for him with lies (directed at him) and he tries to hide his love with denial (directed at himself). “…she whispered, the denial as fragile as one spun with gossamer thread. She could hear the lie ringing between them like the village’s church bell…He laughed, razor-sharp, an uncharitable retort.” Another time, Julian questions Piper’s stitching skills as she strives to sew his wound closed, she responds, “Are you expecting daisies on your arm?” Julian laments, “You’re not helping.” Piper responds, “Our goals differ.” Later, he confides in her: “My desires sit at the opposite ends of the galaxy. I want to shield you from danger while I spread you like butter over my body. And I cannot find a way to combine those two with any judiciousness.”
I think the reason I love Piper is because, like so many of Tracy Sumner’s heroines, she knows herself, she knows what she wants, and she’s unwilling to settle for what society tells her she can have. In the words (thoughts) of Piper, “Men were encouraged to obtain what they wanted, confess desire, yearning, attraction, while women were left to ache and burn, forced to hide their feelings where no one could see them.” This is another masterpiece worth reading.
The Lady is Trouble is the first book in the League of Lords series by Tracy Sumner. Viscount Julian Alexander has taken on the task of protecting people who are “different” because of their unique abilities, they possess gifts and have trouble learning how to use their talents and are generally shunned by society. He took over the League from Piper’s grandfather, and has sworn to protect her from harm especially because there are people who want her because of her gift of a healer.
He has feeling for her but won’t act upon them because of his pledge to her grandfather. He sends her away for her own protection but she is tired of being ignored so she acts out so he will find her. She knows they belong together and will do whatever it takes to get him to realize this too.
I loved the character of Lady Piper Scot she was funny, brave, devious, loyal, daring and caring. Julian took some time to like because of his sense of honor but eventually he can’t ignore his desire for Piper and his walls come down.
Tracy Sumner did a great job of setting up the background of the League, and introduction of characters for the next books in the series and I can’t wait to read them.
“I love you…Obsessively. Ardently. Maddeningly.”…“And you know it. You always have.”
Lady Scott is trouble. She was pushed aside from a young age that she carried anger for that abandonment. Anger that had her acting impulsively trying to get the attention she never had. So while she acts foolishly, her upbringing explains her behaviors.
Julian is the opposite, he’s prudent and composed. And even though he fell in love with her even before laying eyes on her, he tries to run away from her out of duty and safety. But Lady Scott is not one to easily surrender and she doesn’t mind chasing him until he can accept how he feels.
Four stars because sometimes the story was confusing and it also sometimes had harsh transitions .
I received a free copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it