"The Lady Knows Best" by Susanna Craig is a unique take on the typical historical romance that puts a modern twist on the genre. Daphne Burke, serving as the advice columnist 'Miss Busy B.' for a ladies' magazine, finds herself in a predicament when her advice leads to a public breakup of an engagement. When Miles, Viscount Deveraux, the scorned nobleman, proposes to Daphne as an answer to his predicament, she pretends to agrees to a courtship with a plan to reject him spectacularly at the end by exposing him in the Goode's Guide to Misconduct.

Craig's novel is a refreshing read with unexpected twists until the very end. This book ties into her previous series Rogues & Rebels that covered Daphne's older siblings, and the novella Nice Earls Do.

This was completely adorable and I loved every second of it. Daphne is clever but overshadowed by her brilliant brothers and sisters. Miles is a supposed rake who is charming and really quite sweet and wanting to be loved.

Their give and take and secrets and hidden motives made for more drama than might otherwise have been had, but that just made it more fun. The banter was great and their chemistry was off the charts from the beginning.

Daphne sets out to expose him for the devilish rake she assumes him to be, but everything she reveals just makes her like him more.

I love the magazine for misses and how it gives the girls who write secretly for it agency over some of their lives while offering to open the minds of its readers. It's such a great setup for a series and I know I will enjoy future installments just as much.

Now that I think of it, this story has a very pride and prejudice style setup and story arc which is maybe part of why I love it so much and why it worked so well for me.

I absolutely devoured this, reading it and the prequel novella AND some of the sequel in one day. Susanna Craig's writing is breezy and both easy and pleasant to read, without the awkward turns of phrase that trip me up when reading some romance novels.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Zebra Books for providing an early copy for review.

I was a big fan of the author's Live and Let Spy series, so I knew I had to get my hands on the first installment in her new series.

Daphne Burke secretly writes an advice column for a ladies magazine. She ends up on the bad side of Miles Devereaux after she advises a reader to not go through with her marriage to him. Miles uncovers Daphne's secret identity and blackmails her into helping him find a bride so he can win a bet. Daphne offers herself up for marriage, all the while planning on exposing Miles and his rakish ways. But they both might end up with more than they bargained for...

A strong-willed heroine and a redeemable hero, it's pretty much the perfect recipe for a historical romance. Their relationship builds slowly, and they are quite open with each other about everything. There were plenty of interesting side characters who I'm sure we'll see again in future installments.

This is the first of a new series, Goode's Guide to Misconduct, and it is off to a smashing start! There is a prequel novella to this which I think would be a good idea to read before this, just to get a little background information on the ladies' magazine. Daphne is secretly the advice columnist for this magazine and she used her position to dissuade the fiancé of Miles, Viscount Deveraux, to leave him after she spies him playing a game of chess with another woman. Miles needs to marry soon in order to not lose a bet, and when he finds out Daphne is the one who wrote the column advising his fiancé to call off the engagement, he uses blackmail to get her help in finding a replacement bride. But Daphne has plans of her own. She wants to write an expose about the devious ways of rakes and warn innocent young ladies not to get caught in their games. So, she plans to offer to marry him herself, but then turn him down two weeks later and write the expose. But as she spends more time with him, his exterior layers start to fade and she sees a different side of him. A side that she could quite possibly fall in love with.
This was a delight to read. I liked Daphne's strong character, and also the willingness to see behind Miles' rakish exterior. It was fun to see Miles win her over. I enjoyed the fun and light hearted romance between them. They were both interesting characters and they had great chemistry. This was a fun Regency romp and a great start to the series. I look forward to reading more!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I adored Miles and Daphne's story! It was so much fun watching these two together! I can't wait to see what comes next in the series!

What a lovely start to a delightful new series. Susanna Craig never disappoints.

Miles and Daphne were both very likable characters, and their chemistry was wonderful.
I loved this take on the fake dating trope with the wager and the blackmail as a catalyst.
The side characters were so charming and interesting that at times, they seemed to overshadow Daphne and Miles.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable romance with some super swoon worthy parts and a fantastic plot. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am a fan of Susanna Craig's spy series, so when I saw she was starting a new series, I was excited to start at the very beginning. However, I felt pretty lost for a first novel, and it was pretty disconcerting. I love a good nod to previous series, but this was more than that, and it definitely detracted from my overall enjoyment. I don't think I would recommend this unless you read the Rogues and Rebels series first.

2.5 stars rounded up

Book Review/More Than A Review: The Lady Knows Best by Susanna Craig

Content Ratings:
Violence: 2/5
Sexual Content: 3/5
Profanity: 1/5
Alcohol Use: 4/5

The Lady Knows Best by Susanna Craig is an intriguing historical romance novel that offers a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and adventure. Set in the Regency era, the story follows the intelligent and determined Lady Rosalind Rhees as she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind her father's mysterious death.

One notable aspect of this book is its portrayal of violence. While the story does contain some intense moments and suspenseful scenes, the violence is relatively mild. The author skillfully balances the need for tension and action without resorting to excessively graphic or gratuitous depictions. Readers seeking a gentler level of violence will find this aspect of the book acceptable.

In terms of sexual content, The Lady Knows Best falls into the moderately steamy category. The romance between Lady Rosalind and her love interest, Bryn O'Neal, is portrayed with sensuality and passion. The author tastefully explores the emotional and physical connection between the characters, with a few intimate scenes. However, explicit details are handled with discretion, making it suitable for readers who prefer a moderate level of sexual content in their romance novels.

Profanity is relatively minimal in this novel. The author maintains a clean and refined language style that is consistent with the Regency era setting. Readers who prefer books with minimal profanity will appreciate the author's attention to maintaining a more formal tone.

Alcohol use is quite prevalent throughout the story, which is not surprising given the Regency era setting where it was common for characters to partake in social drinking. The author portrays characters consuming alcohol during various social gatherings, but excessive or problematic drinking is not glorified. While alcohol use is present, it is handled in a realistic and historically accurate manner.

Overall, The Lady Knows Best by Susanna Craig is an engaging historical romance novel that offers a captivating blend of mystery and passion. With its moderate levels of violence and sexual content, minimal profanity, and realistic portrayal of alcohol use, the book strikes a good balance for readers who enjoy a Regency-era romance with a touch of intrigue.

I love the premise of this series, and I thought this first book was great! Overall, I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

What a start to a series with a strongheaded heroine and a rake who needs to be married -- quickly, but whose betrothed dumps him because of an advice column. Written by who else? Daphne Burke, a member of the ton who does not realize that advice can have consequences. Miles, Viscount Deveraux must win his wager that he will find a bride, and Daphne is the woman to help him keep his fortune intact. This clash of wills, leading to the inevitable and anticipated HEA, is one to embrace. Susana Craig outdoes herself in the start to what is going to be a wonderful series. (I received an eArc from NetGalley; opinions mine).

This series has potential and I look forward to the next isntallments. This one was fun and I like the cast of characters that we go to meet and hope we see more of the,

I would like to thank netgalley and Kensington books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable.

Susanna Craig is definitely a must read historical romance author. Her writing is quippy, charming and engaging. The Lady Knows Best is a perfect start to a new series and Craig shines in this fun, well paced and sensual romance! This novel can easily be read as a standalone, but any lover of Susanna Craig will be delighted in the interconnections of past novel characters. Craig opens her world up with this novel and give a really lovely entry point to explore her works and be interested and intrigued to read her other series.

I am always attracted to an independent heroine who uses her voice in the writing of a periodical column. Our heroine is clever and witty and easily knows how to speak her might and stand up for what she believes in. I love that his novel is a sweet and straightforward one, in which our heroine will learn that rumors are not always to be believed and that our hero will, unbeknownst to him, learn how to shine his brightest. This novel is sexy and sensual, the chemistry between the hero and heroine is build on wit, humor and understanding. I love that this romance is between two people who are different than what the other person might have bargained for. I love that these two learn to respect each other. I love that these two learn to meet eye to eye. I love that they both challenge each other. Their relationship is sensual and their physical relationship beautifully portrays the lightness and trust they have for the other.

I would definitely highly recommend this novel by Susanna Craig, it is a lovely entry point into her works for anyone looking to find another historical romance author. I am definitely looking forward to the future novels in this series!

Daphne is one of many Burke children and she has struggled to find her place amongst her successful brothers and sisters. When Daphne stumbles across a meeting for the writers of ladies’ magazine, Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses—also known as Goode’s Guide to Misconduct, she provides some excellent advice to a letter that the group had received. So starts the Miss Busy B column of advice. This could be her way to be successful and finally accepted by her brothers and sisters. Little does she know the impact of her advice and how it will shape her future.

Miles or Viscount Deveraux, or ‘that devil Deveraux’, is known throughout the Ton as a rake. Then his engagement falls through and society comes to know he must marry before the end of June to ensure he wins a bet. All because of advice provided by Miss Busy B. When Miles discovers the identity of Miss Busy B. he will either expose her secret identity or Daphne will find him a new wife by the end of June.

When Daphne sacrifices herself to be Mile's new betrothed, she thinks it's the end of the world. However, the more time they spend together the more Daphne sees the real Miles. Will Daphne regret her bargain? Will Miles turn out to be an honourable man? And how will her family cope with these secrets and lies?

Oh this was so much fun! You could feel Daphne's sacrifice but also Miles's wooing. I really liked the slow unveiling of Miles's true character and reading Daphne's reactions. The side characters are delightful, especially Lady Deveraux - she is hilariously cunning. I can't wait to read the next in the series!

The book started a little slow for me especially the first couple of chapters were confusing and created a lot of questions. How did Daphne know about writing such great advice columns without any practice? Did she hit the jackpot with her very first article? If I kept aside these questions and once we got into the story, I was thoroughly charmed with Miles and Daphne. I especially loved how the author wrote about the various struggles that Miles is going through even though it doesn’t seem like that to people around him. I would definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I was really intrigued by the setup for not only this novel, but what I expect to be a whole series. The clever, independent, not quite acceptable by Society’s standards women who write Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses. It’s already known as the Magazine for Mischief before our heroine Daphne gets involved as an advice columnist, but her fiery responses encouraging young ladies to reject rakes and chase their own happiness certainly adds to the reputation.

This book is mainly opposites attract – Daphne is outspoken and sensible, Miles is rakish and charming. Of course they’re drawn to each other and annoyed about it. But since Daphne is trying to write an article about rakes that might ruin him in the process, and he’s trying to marry her to win a bet, there’s also enough suspense to keep the story moving. How will Miles react when he finds out that she plans to jilt him? What will Daphne write when she discovers there’s great sweetness and depth underneath his rakish exterior? And when does this stop being about bets and winning and who will come out on top?

I really enjoyed the main characters and their romance. Miles is a wonderful flirt, and it was fun watching Daphne discover how much she likes being flirted with, being seen rather than overlooked in favor of her talented older siblings. And the supporting characters were wonderful and really added to the story. I especially liked Miles’ grandmother and his best friend.

Overall, this is a solid start to the series (I enjoyed it more than the prequel, personally) and I’m looking forward to more.

I could not finish enough of this book to be able to leave a comprehensive review, but I hope it finds its audience and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

This was another great romance from Susanna Craig: light, fun, and a bit of hijinx. I always like her characters and this is no exception. I didn't find this story be quite as funny as past books, but I'm excited for a new series and can't wait to see where this one goes. Miles and Daphne were a delight, though I often lost the thread of bet, especially on Daphne's side, and maybe that's the point? Either way, more of all of this please!

I couldn’t even make it to the halfway point?? I really enjoyed the prequel novella that was released so I was hopeful for the series. This one lacked connection between the MCs and the pacing was off to the point I reread a third of the book and it still didn’t keep my interest. Everything was kinda just “fine” and I wanted to swoon. I didn’t need to even be wowed? But I did need a reason to turn the page.

Thank you for the advance reader copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I liked both of the main characters. Especially as more time went on and more of who they truly were was revealed. Even some of the other people in the story added to it. However, I just wish I'd loved it more. I struggled at times to push through the story but I did want to know how it ended. I'm thinking other people probably would enjoy it more because it was pretty well written. Not sure why, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
It does get points for a satisfying H.E.A. because I wasn't sure how that could happen. And the following Epilogue makes it even sweeter.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”