This is the seventh book in the Palace of Rogues series. I so enjoyed being back at the hotel with some of my favorite characters from the previous books. That said, this romance has a significant age gap–the leads have twelve years between them–and that, along with unnecessary third act drama, held it back from being a higher grade for me. It is still a Julie Anne Long gem, though, and readers will be immersed in the story.

Catherine Keating (Cat) is a clever, witty, beautiful country girl who gets the chance to go to London for a season and stay at the Palace of Rogues. Her friend Lucy is on her way to London with her godmother and they invite Cat to join them. Cat is from Northumberland where she lives with her father, a country doctor, and she and her father hope this will be the perfect opportunity for her to find a husband.

Her first night at the hotel, she meets Lord Dominic Kirke, who is staying there because his townhouse caught on fire after his mistress hurled a lamp at him in a fit of rage. (He refused to give her an emerald necklace.) Cat is delighted to be in London and is singing and dancing around her room after a delicious dinner when Kirke comes to her door and asks her to quiet down. He is an imposing man–he is famous for his passionate speeches in the House of Commons.—Cat is astonished by his good looks and beautiful Welsh accent. He is nothing like any man she has ever seen before and she is attracted to him, even if he is a little rude about her loud noises.

Cat and Lucy are invited to balls with their chaperone, Lady Wisterberg, but when they are at the balls, Lady Wisterberg spends all her time at the faro tables. Soon young men begin to notice Cat. This does not go over well with several of the (jealous) young women of the ton and a few tease her and make her anxious about her wardrobe.

One night, she escapes to a quiet bench surrounded by trees and a cool breeze coming through the doors and it’s there that she meets Kirke again. He is also seeking refuge from the ball after being hit in the mouth by another lord over politics. Cat witnessed Kirke’s skirmish and they enjoy a lively conversation about ballroom etiquette. He is surprised by how much he enjoys talking with her and offers her advice on how to handle the ton’s crocodiles (mean girls). She is in awe of his worldliness and admires him even more when he shares his passion about child labor legislation.

Kirk is jaded and over the years, has hardened his heart to love after a heartbreak when he was young. There are no barriers on Cat’s side. She is ready to fall in love and is already smitten with Kirk. They continue to run into each other at even more balls and are captivated with each other. Kirk soon realizes that Cat is basically unchaperoned. Despite telling himself it’s a bad idea, he starts looking out for her. Everyone knows Kirk never dances but he shocks everyone when he takes a turn on the ballroom floor with Cat. His attention makes her sought after and soon her dance cards are full and she is having a wonderful time.

As the days progress, Cat and Kirke find themselves spending time together and truly enjoying one another. He thinks she’s clever and wants to impress her. He offers to help her with her search to find a husband by sharing information about the young men she dances with. He sees her looking radiant at the balls and she thinks he is beautiful and admires his deep, elegant voice.

As has been the case in all the books in this series, the best parts of this novel take place at the Palace of Rogues. It’s wonderful to revisit the lively cast of characters in the parlor after dinner. Currently, the group is reading The Arabian Nights and having heartfelt discussions. Dot, in particular, has a lovely story arc in this one and, of course, the humor in the book shines.

What didn’t I love? Well, there is a large, rather awkward age gap between the leads–Kirke is 35 and Cat is 22–and, as their relationship became more intimate, I was a bit uncomfortable with the gap in their experience (It didn’t help that Kirke is known for his affairs and mistresses). And, though I enjoyed, mostly, watching the two of them grow close, in the last third of the book, the two share unnecessary drama which took me out of the story.

This book didn’t sparkle for me like the others in the series but it is still a good time. It’s full of Long’s trademark charm such as the scene where Kirke tells Cat she reminds him of clover. (His favorite place to escape to is a patch of clover where he grew up in Wales) and the ending is very sweet.

I think this book stands well alone but if you want to know more about the characters at the Palace of Rogues I recommend reading After Dark with the Duke. Cat shares some dances with Lord St. John Vaughn who we first met in I’m Only Wicked with You and I hope he gets a book of his own.

If a hardened rake falling for an innocent miss trope is your catnip, My Season of Scandal is for you. I recommend this to readers who like historicals with humor and passion, as long as they don’t mind the age gap. If you love spending time at the Palace of Rogues, you’ll enjoy this visit even if the romance isn’t one of Long’s best.