Forget the debutantes in THE COUNTESS, the first installment in Sophie Jordan’s The Scandalous Ladies of London. This clever new historical romance series isn't about the teenage girls (because aren't 17- and 18-year-olds still pretty much children?), but rather about their mothers and other women who are not quite in their prime. While these "ladies of London" are not in the early blush of youth, they still want to have romance and love in their lives.

"THE COUNTESS is a perfect novel for those of us 'of a certain age' who are tired of reading romances simply because so many of them feature girls to whom we can't relate."

Lady Gertrude, the Countess of Chatham, is married to a man who charmed and courted her, married her, and then went to live on his own with a succession of mistresses at hand. He saw her enough to beget a son and daughter, but when no more progeny were forthcoming, he stopped visiting her. Basically, the Earl and the Countess of Chatham live entirely separate lives. He married her for her family money, and he goes directly to her parents to get additional monies to fund his extravagant lifestyle. That way he never needs to see his wife.

However, the Earl’s daughter is now on the marriage market, and he recognizes a chance to cash in. He's ready to "sell" her to the highest bidder. Any male interested in marriage, with the deep pockets to continue the Earl's dissolute and ostentatious way of living, will have a chance to marry her. Whoever has the most money gets Lady Delia's hand no matter his age or background.

Unfortunately, Lady Delia's mother, Tru (Lady Gertrude's preferred nickname), is helpless to do anything about this situation. Her heart aches for Lady Delia, and she does not want her daughter to end up like her --- in a loveless marriage. But the plot thickens as Tru meets a mysterious gentleman at a gathering of the ton. She is afraid that her image as the "Cold Countess" --- due to her emotionless, straight-laced demeanor --- will be cracked as she is undeniably attracted to this handsome, irreverent stranger.

The plot is not terribly innovative as the stranger, Jasper Thorne, turns out to be the suitor who the Earl wants to marry Lady Delia. But it's the uniqueness of the characters and the dialogue that makes this romance worth reading. Jasper is more attracted to Tru than he is to her younger, inexperienced daughter. Plus, he is a few years younger than Tru.

With Jordan's capable narrative, we soon realize that Jasper is noble, and he possesses ethics and morality that the Earl does not. It's difficult not to root for Jasper despite the obvious obstacle --- the husband. In those times, divorce was just not a possibility. And Tru does care about her family's reputation.

We really don't see a way for the book to end happily, but Jordan comes up with a lovely ending, which is a must in every romance. And by the time we turn the last page, we have met the other "scandalous ladies of London" who are Tru's friends. They certainly will be the subjects of subsequent entries in the series, and their exploits will make for enjoyable reading. There is even a bit of a mystery begun here when the husband of one of the other ladies is found dead at the bottom of the staircase at the Chathams’ house party. I'm sure that a future installment will delve into this death.

THE COUNTESS is a perfect novel for those of us "of a certain age" who are tired of reading romances simply because so many of them feature girls to whom we can't relate.