A Liaison with Her Leading Lady follows Ruth Connel, who has inherited her father’s failing theater and the reclusive playwright and actor Artemis Goode, who she convinces to write a play to save the theater. Artemis reluctantly agrees, but she’s hiding a secret. She hasn’t written anything since she left London, disgraced by an ex-lover, and even when she forces herself, the text is awful. She’ll have to trust Ruth’s troupe to help her make magic on stage again. And she might also entrust Ruth with her broken heart.

This was a fun, historical romance. Good tension between the main characters. Loved the side characters. The pacing was on point. The romance was a little spicy at parts but also had good relationship building. If you’re into period, sapphic books, you’ll probably be into this.

3 stars - I liked it

When Ruth Connell inherits her father’s beloved theater she unfortunately finds that it's in debt and she has only weeks to pay up otherwise she will lose it. To save it she finds herself turning to reclusive playwright Artemis Goode in the hopes that a new play will lead to success. But as they work together to save the theater, it also leads to growing feelings between them.

This was an enjoyable historical romance that seemed to really showcase theater and how precarious it can be. Ruth and Artemis were interesting women who have both been dealt difficult blows and are recovering from them in different ways. Ruth is struggling to overcome her grief from the recent death of her father and deal with managing and saving the theater she inherited from him. Artemis was a renowned playwright and actor who was forced out of her career by her ex-boyfriend and manager who spread rumors about her.

These two had a very instant-love/lust relationship with them being attracted to each other from the start and having a bit of a one night stand almost right away, but then are pushed apart by fear. While I enjoyed their story overall, I did have a few issues with some things. Artemis is a bit of an asshole in the beginning and says some very hurtful things to Ruth but never actually apologizes. This was very disappointing because I thought she needed to really apologize and grovel some. My other issue was that for the majority of this book their relationship felt more like they were just lusting for each other and not creating an actual relationship. I think if there had been more discussion between the two about their relationship and feelings, and a little less about the theater, then I would have enjoyed it a little more.

Overall, this was an enjoyable queer historical romance with an interesting setting. I think if you are a theater nerd, then this would probably be the book for you.

TW: death of a parent; grief; cheating ex discussed;

I liked this! It was lovely, funny, sweet, sexy, and it's always good to see more queer representation in Harlequin's historical line up!

There is something extremely moving – as a queer woman – to sit with a Mills and Boon/Harlequin historical romance involving two women in my hand. A Liaison with Her Leading Lady is romantic and touched with theatrical warmth. It’s not wholly perfect but it reigns as Lotte R. James’ best book yet.

Actress Ruth Connell’s family theatre lies under threat of foreclosure. She’s determined to keep the place her father has poured years of sweat and blood into alive at any cost.

The idea comes to her that charming a playwright with an established name into producing an original script for her troupe to put on might save everything. She approaches Artemis Goode, a well-respected writer with a hit under her belt, and offers her the task.

Artemis has become reclusive in response to a secret heartbreak, but the challenge and persistence of Ruth makes her take on the task. Sunny Ruth and indrawn Artemis seem like total opposites, but soon it’s not just the theatre Ruth is obsessed with saving – she wants to draw Artemis into the light and convince her that love is worth trying for a second time.

The theatrical prose is really what helps highlight Ruth and Artemis’ romance; it’s a charming exploration of coming out into the light after spending a long time in the darkness, and a lovely story about the importance of trying and trying again to get your dream rolling.

I loved Ruth’s strength of conviction, and Artemis’ belief in the importance of art. I loved the way their romance grows out of a mutual respect and desire to help each other. It’s a solid romance, with wonderful supporting characters.

I keep bringing up the book’s appreciation for art, and that’s such a crucial part of the romance here. Words, and the poetry of the playwright, are all key to the center of this story. That and the beauty of the romance are what makes A Liaison With her Leading Lady so very good. I grew up reading Harlequin Historicals - books that entranced me but only ever provided straight protagonists during my youth, so to have this book has fed my soul. I loved it, and so will anyone yearning to find true love on the page or the stage.

A bit too heavy on the theater stuff at the detriment of the main relationship. The writing was also a bit clunky.

If you enjoy reading books that are set in the 1800s, you will enjoy this!
Ruth's dad has died leaving her to run the theatre. What she didn't know was that her dad had numerous debts and if she doesn't figure it out, the theatre will cease to exist.
She has an idea to have Artemis wrote a play that they can premier at her theatre, since all art people know who she is and that she has been out of the limelight for years. Artemis does agree to do so and comes to the theatre to write. The two women become close and realize there is more than a working relationship between them.
Definitely a must read for those interested in historical books.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Desperate to save her beloved father's theatre, actress Ruth seeks out famed dramatist Artemis in an attempt to coax her out of her self-imposed exile from the English stage.

This is a delightful and unusual historical romance, following as it does two women who live on the fringes of respectable society in Regency England. The author has worked in theatre herself, and her experience and understanding of stagecraft shines through during the whole story, aided by plenty of research into the changing theatre scene at the time.

Ruth and Artemis are compelling leads, with well-developed backstories and motivations. Both heroines are passionate about theatre, and I enjoyed seeing how they encourage and enable each other to overcome the mental barriers that have prevented them from embracing their full potential. Artemis's struggles with writer block were well-written, and her attempts to work on the melodrama were laugh out loud funny. I also loved the camaraderie between the theatre company.

However, I did feel like the romance was a little insta-love - the characters are drawn to each other immediately, though they do take a little time to get together. While I enjoyed their relationship, I wish the author had portrayed more of what it was that drew them together and made them certain that this was a true and lasting love, especially as the timeline is quite short. And I would have liked to read the plot of the farce as well as the melodrama!

What a surprise to discover this author’s writing! I’m not a fan of historical romance typically, but this was so well done, I tore through the story. It was light and poignant and emotional, with beautiful turns of phrase throughout.

First of all the ARC formatting gave me headaches. Just because it's an eARC doesn't mean I have to read a badly formatted copy.

Besides that I was glad to see a non nobility focused historical romance. We don't have many sapphic historical romances and I'm glad we get to have perspectives non centered on the monarchy and its minions.

However despite the interesting threads of the story and the competent writing I was unfazed by this romance. Neither Ruth nor Artemis were particularly compelling character and their romance was fast paced lacking the yearning I was hoping for.

I liked the premise of this book, but I didn't find it particularly well written nor did I feel a real connection between the main characters, Overall, I found it pretty boring.