I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Pippa Chester has always stayed in the background following events in her past which left her scarred. Her only saving grace was joining the Ladies Covert Academy, taking lessons in fencing and self defence. When one of her friends goes missing, Pippa knows she needs to help find her, and not just because Lydia's handsome brother, Jack, is blackmailing her.

A new series and author for me, but it was such fun! Jack may be Earl of Hartwick, but family will always come first. After Lydia, his younger sister, doesn't come home from her charity meeting, Jack goes to find her, and rather than finding ladies doing charity work, he sees Pippa practising with her epee in the garden, and soon realises that there's more to the group than meets the eye. Blackmailing Pippa for help, he knows it's wrong, but he'll do whatever it takes to get his sister back. I loved that Jack soon realised that Pippa was strong, and didn't need protecting all of the time, and that she can help him like he never expected. Their chemistry and attraction didn't hurt though, but they fought in vain to deny it. I loved the mystery of the plot line too, and it's clear that it's setting up for the whole series, which I can't wait to read! A lovely start to a new series.

Could blackmail Lead to Romance?

Jack's sister disappears, and to find her, he resorts to blackmail. He knows that something strange is happening at the charity organization to which his sister belongs, and it might be linked to Lydia's disappearance. What is a man to do? There are no leads. Blackmail is his next option. Pippa has secrets, and she will help him to stop him from exposing those secrets and the organization that gave her back her life. What will Jack and Pippa uncover on their journey to find his sister? One thing they might find is love if Pippa could forgive Jack’s blackmail. Where did Lydia go? Was she kidnapped? Did she elope? For the answers, you would want to pick up this entertaining historical romantic adventure. Romance, intrigue, and secrets await.

This is the first installment of a new series, Ladies Covert Academy, and it is also my first time reading something by this author. I love finding new authors to follow, and this one is definitely a keeper! I was pulled into the story from the very start and it had me captivated till the very end. The storyline was well-paced and the twists and turns in the plot kept me turning the pages, anxious to find out what happens next. The story was a perfect blend of romance, mystery, intrigue, and e even some humor. Pippa was a wonderful character. Independent and strong-minded and not letting society dictate her life. Jack first comes off as rigid and set in his ways, always wanting to be in control, but we begin to see him become a more warm and sweet person, supporting those he loves. The story was well-written and highly entertaining and the characters were relatable and endearing, I couldn't help but fall in love with them. I think this was a lovely debut and am looking forward to continuing the series.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Thanks, NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the gifted copy of How to Court a Covert Lady. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Unfortunately, I’m giving this novel two out of five stars.

Miss Pippa Chester has dreams beyond knitting and sewing like the typical society miss. She reads, writes, and fences at the Ladies Covert Academy, or Ladies Charitable Association to the outside world. Ladies come to the academy to pursue interests unacceptable to society, such as self-defense, botany, and politics. Pippa’s efforts at self-defense; however, seem as though they’ve come to naught when she’s blackmailed by Lord Jack Hartwick into helping him find his missing sister or he’ll reveal the Academy’s secrets. Embarking on a mission with more danger than they anticipated, Pippa and Lord Hartwick come to an unsteady understanding – and then much more – as they set out to find the missing Lydia.

Honestly, I really liked the premise of this book. It reminded me of The Inferno Club series by Galen Foley, which I found to be enjoyable. However, reading through the novel, it became pretty clear that there was an agenda to the book, the plot wandered, and the progression was unoriginal.

How to Court a Covert Lady involves a group of empowered women who want more from life than what it has to offer them. Of course, there had to be smart women throughout history who wanted academic pursuits – otherwise, I wouldn’t be writing this post or voting. I liked the idea of having a “secret” organization dedicated to it, and that the group did actual charity work to maintain their cover. However, it blows my mind that this group was not discovered soon after it started, because all Jack had to do was hide in the bushes and watch Pippa fencing to figure out that it wasn’t a charity club.

Speaking of bad detecting, Pippa makes some solid observations about Lydia’s disappearance, which is partly why Jack wants to keep working with her. But, there is one point early on in the book where Pippa chastises Jack for not investigating Lydia’s room – and then, much later, realizes that she neglected to search her office in the Academy. I thought that was a pretty hypocritical point and also didn’t reflect the insight that Pippa had previously shown.

Since we’re on Pippa and her insight, let’s get to the not-so-hidden feminist agenda of this novel, which irritated me. I have no issue with empowered women. I have rights because of empowered women. But, there are such things as subtlety and finesse, and this feminist agenda had none of it. Pippa, at one point, actually uses the word “misogyny” to Jack while chastising him. We also see through her perspective how she’s ‘seeing Jack change’ throughout their acquaintance to respect women. From Jack’s perspective we get much of the same: “maybe women can think about politics, etc.”

I think that even if Pippa were mute, she would still portray a strong woman, and that’s why the overtness of feminism in the dialogue bothers me. If Hartwell had removed every verbal piece of that issue out of the novel, you still would be reading about a strong woman and a man whose opinion of women had altered by the end. The feminist dialogue is unnecessary, and I feel that it actually took away from the book rather than added to it. Nothing that Pippa said altered Jack’s opinion of her; his mind was changed because of what he observed.

The talk about misogyny in this novel bothered me, but so did the literal use of the word misogyny. Britannica says that the term wasn’t popularized until the 1970s, which I looked up for the sole purpose of it not seeming right in this novel. The constant use of ‘LCA’ as an abbreviation for Ladies Covert Academy was also very 21st century and I don’t think it would have been used in the time period.

Let’s get to the plot and progression so I can wrap up. I found both the mystery and romance plots to be multidirectional and poorly executed. The solution to Lydia’s disappearance was staring me in the face from the moment we got a grasp of who Lydia was, but it took Jack and Pippa forever to follow the trail. I didn’t really mind that, because detecting is hard work, but there was so much back and forth between the mystery and romance elements of the story that it was quite maddening to follow. I believe the two could have been tied together more elegantly so there were fewer jumps from logic to romance in a period of time.

I’m glad the mystery plot was at least completed, but the conclusion was pretty disappointing and I think Pippa and Jack took quite a few logical reaches to get to the conclusions they did. There was one involving Debrett’s Peerage leading them to the culprit and I’m still not sure how they accurately got from A to B, given their sometimes dubious investigative skills. The culprit also appeared like a Bond villain at the end, which was over the top.

The romance plot was full of love-at-first-sight waxings, the usual conflict of splitting up to save a reputation, and the inevitable denouement where we realize that happiness trumps reputation.

All in all, I found this novel to be disappointing as far as romances and mysteries go. There wasn’t really anything unique in either. I recognize that writing a novel is really hard work and that this is one of Hartwell’s first books – so I hope that I can give a more positive review of her future works. Loved the premise, not the execution.

How to Court a Covert Lady by Jenny Hartwell is a Regency romance with a different story. Most of the traditional stories have been done to death, so lately there have been a lot more off-beat kind of stories, like this one. Jack Dashwood, Earl of Hartwick, was beside himself. He had lost his sister, well, she had disappeared. He knew she went every day to the LCA, Ladies’ Charitable Association. What she did there, he didn’t really know, but it was the last place she’d been seen. He came upon Miss Phillipa (Pippa) Chester who was a member and tricked his way past the butler. Once inside, he was introduced to the person in charge, a Lady Rowling. She had no information about Lydia to offer, but promised to quiz the membership. Jack couldn’t let it go and Pippa was his way in, to further information. She turned out to be his partner.

To be fair, Jack started off every bit a stuffed shirt earl. He was misogynistic, thought he was always right, and bossy, with no sense of humor. Pippa considered not getting involved, but she was worried about Lydia. To be fair, most of the good ideas and clues came from her. It took Jack a while to notice that. They searched, she lied to her mother about where she was, they searched, and finally found her. Getting her out of the situation she was in proved to be more difficult. By the time she was rescued, Jack saw women, his sister, included, differently than he had before. It was exciting reading. I liked it.

I was invited to read How to Court a Covert Lady by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #JennyHartwell #HowToCourtACovertLady

Jack Dashwood, Earl of Hartwick, is desperate to find his sister, Lydia. He knows of her association with the Ladies Charitable Association. He meets Pippa Chester ready to enter the house of the LCA and uses blackmail to get her help to find Lydia. The LCA is for ladies only and has secrets that can't be revealed. Jack and Pippa work together to find Lydia with a surprising way to find clues. It's a perilous journey that moves at a fluctuating pace to deal with Pippa and Jack's internal struggles and finding Lydia. Just when you think these two move forward to conquer their problems, they both take a step back.
I found it a little long to read, with a few things that bogged down the story.
Lots of heat.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Miss Pippa Chester hid away in fear for years after a traumatic event. Now with the help of the secretive LCA she is finding the courage to change.

Jack Dashwood, Earl of Hartwick is desperate to find his missing sister. He doesn't cope well when things are out of his control.

This is a fun filled, slightly steamy historical romance. The

characters are very different from the normal members of the ton we meet in historical romance series. This is the first in a new series and I foresee they are all going to be fun, like this one.

Great fun.

A Fun & thrilling misadventure encircled romance!
HOW TO COURT A COVERT LADY was an exciting read that interweaved so many gems in its intricate fabric that I couldn't help but become entangled. Creating this well put together romance that unfolded and built from the mysteries and delicious personalities encased within the LCA - a covert club masquerading as the Ladies Charitable Association - to a clue hunting misadventure to find one of its members, Jack's missing sister, Lydia. As sparks flew and intrigue bubbled beneath their mutual attraction... between our secret encumbered leads, the perceptive covert master fencer, Pippa and steadfast Earl, Jack, from first collison.
Hartwell, a new but marvellous find for me, hooked me in instantly with her engaging writing style that pulled and thrilled with its exciting quick pace, witty banter and well defined, multifaceted characters that vividly resonated and jumped from the page.
Pippa and Jack, swirled with this delightfully compelling maelstrom of intriguing vulnerability and strength and had this engaging ability to look deeper, cut each other to the quick and gradually rebalance each others fears. That touched and played my emotions effortlessly as I laughed, swooned and thrummed with nervous tension as they struggled to desperately scratch out hints to uncovering Lydia's disappearance while attempting to fight their deep heady attraction... and thankfully failing spectacularly in all its intimate steamy yumminess. Reshaping their embarked on journey to one of self growth and reawakening. That shifted through Jack's blackmail of Pippa into helping him in the first place and this instabond born of electric connection and purpose, as it evolved through an acceptance and desire that inspired compromise and a tough conflict to overcome their own personal demons, in the hope of forging a future together. Jack battling a reluctance to relinquish control - too certain of his own point of view and a forged safety in self-reliance - and an inbred prejudice of the time that perceived the assumption in female fragility and underestimation, while, Pippa fought to master her tormenting anxiety and fear for her own safety. Ultimately bringing together two souls, cracked and broken by past trauma, as they slowly learned each other was the glue they needed to put themselves back together and move forward to a happier future.
Acculminating in the crafting of one fun package that I'd happily read again. With a host of subcharacters that are already so vividly imprinted in my mind I can't wait to see where their futures take them too...Jane and Dev and Lydia and Benedict. Marking this book for me as an exciting new series introduction and a well crafted tale that's been finely polished from the very first page to a very statisfying conclusion! Loved it!

4.5 Stars

Pippa Chester witnessed a horrible crime. She’s spent years inside her home with the belief it was her only safe haven. Slowly, with the encouragement of her younger brother and her introduction to the Ladies Covert Academy, Pippa is learning how to protect herself from anyone who’d wish to harm her. With a year of frequent visits to the academy for secret fencing and knife throwing lessons, Pippa is a little less anxious about leaving home. When she bumps into the brother of another member of the LCA, she believes she’s doing a good deed. Once she introduces Jack Dashwood, Earl of Hartwick, to the benefactress of the LCA, she thinks her job is done. Jack Dashwood has other ideas.

When Jack finds out his sister, Lydia, never made it home after a visit to the academy, he is desperate to find her. After Pippa gets him a meeting with the benefactress, he doesn’t receive much help. In a panicked state, he decides to blackmail Pippa into helping him. She has to help Jack find Lydia or he will spill the true mission of the LCA.

Pippa and Jack go back and forth between lust and anger, all while falling in love. Jack feels tremendous guilt about falling for Pippa while his sister could be suffering or even dead. While Pippa doesn’t know Lydia well, she wants to help any way she can and protect the secrets of the LCA.

Pippa is a generous soul who has overcome so much grief and anxiety in her life. She blooms as Jack awakens the woman inside her. Jack’s deep love for his sister tugs at Pippa’s heartstrings. Jack’s world spins off its axis with Lydia’s disappearance and his rigid need for control is threatened. The bumpy journey the pair take puts their lives and futures in mortal danger.

There were times when I thought they had no way out, but thankfully, Hartwell gave us the happily ever after Jack and Pippa deserve. I can’t wait to read more of this series when Hartwell releases book two, Secrets of a Covert Lord, and book three, Winning the Covert Lady’s Heart, soon.

I received How to Court a Covert Lady for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

⭐️ Absolutely A Perfect Romance with a little bit of Blackmail included - Definitely a #MustRead⭐️

When you take a chance on a new author you’re never quite sure what expect - let me tell you, Jenny Hartwell has written a wonderful story - the characters are multifaceted, the pacing is perfect, the romance is full of emotion, the chemistry between the MCs sizzles, there is some adventure and mystery mixed in, and the ending leaves you completely satisfied! What more could a reader want in a romance novel.😉 All of the ladies of the “Covert Academy” are likely to have just as good stories and I am eager for Jane & Dev’s story which I think will be next.

I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone so not going to do any recap - just know going in the story grabs your attention and keeps ahold of it until the very end! ⚔️

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄

Once in a while you find that book where the story just has it all. The characters, the story, the chemistry, the pace, the ending, everything! This book is just that. I loved loved loved it and can highly recommend this book.
Pippa is a girl who joined the LCA, the Ladies’ Covert Academy, under the guise of the Ladies’ Charitable Association. It is a secret school for young girls to pursue their dreams, which in Pippa’s case is to learn fencing. When Jack’s sister Lydia, also a member of the LCA, is missing, he tries to visit the LCA headquarters to find clues as to what happened to his sister. Here Jack and Pippa have a chance encouter and out of fear that Jack will blow the cover of the LCA they team up in the search for Lydia.
What I liked is how this story progressed and that the writer perfectly reveals layers of the personalities of the characters, their growth as a person and the mystery of what happened to Lydia. She keeps building up the suspense and I found it difficult to put the book down and get some sleep, it is that well written! The conclusion is also very well handled in my opinion; every issue and concern and question is addressed and comes perfectly together in the end, without the usual cliches or over the top ridiculous endings that so many books have. The author wraps everything up perfectly without rushing to the conclusion or dragging things on to fill pages. This book keeps the pace and keeps you guessing and reading until the end.
I also loved the characters. Jack is a loving brother, genuinely concerned for his sister and his worries for her are evident in his actions, thoughts and choices. He feels very responsible for her and you slowly discover why he feels so strongly and what kind of man he is. The same for Pippa, she’s a determined woman, very brave but she has fears of her own that she learned to face. When a new situation arises, she doesn’t let her anxieties stand in the way of taking action, but she overcomes them and grows in self confidence. And she speaks her mind! By doing so, she taught Jack to take a look at himself and change and grow. I loved that.
I loved their gradually developing friendship, relationship and you just saw them slowly fall in love. Nothing forced, they just grew closer, emotionally attached and it was beautifully written throughout the book. I loved that their emotional bond was essential and it was not a two dimensional physical attraction without depth and an emotional connection between the two of them.

Quote: “She needed to talk to him, to unravel the mystery of his actions. And more than that, she needed to see him, needed their eyes to connect across the room, needed his lips to twitch from a shared amusement.”

Quote: “Jack wanted to tell her how he felt about her. However, he scarcely understood it himself. All he knew was being with her, and being challenged by her, made him feel truly alive.”

There are no unnecessary secondary characters, everyone has their own place in the book. Pippa’s cousin Jane could be the main character in the next installment of this series, along with the mysterious Dev, lady Rowling’s Indian servant. There is chemistry between them and the groundwork is laid for their story. I cannot wait to read about them, too!
I laughed every Pippa had to come up with a lame excuse for her absence to her mother and aunt. I sometimes wondered if her mother suspected something but just decided to accept her daughter’s excuses despite knowing they were bogus. I think not, but it was possible.
Jack’s friend Benedict Lovell is an easygoing chap and has a good sense of humor. Not much is said about him but I liked him and the writer could write Book 3 about him, if you ask me.
Please do yourself a favor and buy and red this book! I can highly recommend it and I will definitely add this author to my list of favorite writers. She is incredibly talented and I cannot wait to read more of her books.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am grateful for this opportunity. I will purchase this book dor myself because I want to keep and reread it in the future. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A new author to me and what a great introduction. It had mystery, romance, humorous banter & great chemistry. I was drawn in from the beginning and didn't want to put this down. The characters were a delight and I can't wait to read more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

For years, Miss Pippa Chester hid away in fear until a covert academy for ladies posing as a charity group taught her to fence. Blade hidden, Pippa confidently re-enters London society, but her new life is threatened when a handsome, flinty-eyed lord blackmails her. Pippa must help find his missing sister or he’ll expose the secrets of the academy Pippa would do anything to protect. Jack Dashwood, Earl of Hartwick is frantic to find his sister, and when her supposed charity group fails to assist, he takes matters into his own hands. The lovely Pippa is as good at finding clues as she is with a sword, and soon they’re chasing leads together. As Pippa and Jack battle thieves, a duel, and shadowy powers in parliament, they must trust in the most powerful weapon of all…their hearts.
I believe this is the author’s debut historical romance & a very good starter it is. It had mystery, romance, humour, wonderful banter & sizzling chemistry. I was drawn in from the beginning & devoured this captivating read in an afternoon. The characters were a delight & I loved the enemies to lovers trope. I look forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

What a delightful start to a new series! I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining romance with two dysfunctional characters who needed one another to find fulfillment and wholeness in their broken worlds. With Jack's sister missing, he essentially blackmails Pippa into assisting him in discovering what happened to Lydia. Their adventures take them across the country, overturning every lead they can find until it dawns on them that Lydia has left her own trail of breadcrumbs. Ultimately their mission is successful, but not without some misunderstandings and compromises having to be made. The dialogue is witty and the attraction between Jack and Pippa is explosive. I received a copy of their well-written and exciting romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Absolutely fabulous! Jenny Hartwell’s writing in her historical romance debut is superb! Every relationship throughout this story brought something new to the tale, from the romance of the hero & heroine down to the love of a random inn owner and his wife. An astonishing delight! Packed with romance of course, but also action, mystery and humour. It ticks all the boxes to be an incredible read that I would gladly read again. Pippa is the perfect resourceful heroine who stands on her own two feet and refuses to bow to society’s norm. Despite, or because of, her fears, she has learned to protect herself and that combined with her natural smarts make her u beatable. Jack, the seemingly typical starched, control freak Lord actually learns a thing or two along the way to become the sweetest, supportive partner and brother. All of the ladies of the Covert Academy show such promise to be equally lovable heroine in their own stories. I cannot wait to read Jane & Dev’s story next as I’m sure it will be a delight. Jane has already shown such a delightful humour and wit, I’m excited to see where her story leads. I am so glad I picked up this book, and look forward to mor writing from this fantastic new writer,

This is a very exciting book to read! They each had to deal with responsibilities and trauma at a young age. The LCA plays a center role in the mystery the two has to solve and i love how the day was saved. This book is hard to put down and promises a lot of interesting and exciting tales to follow.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

This captivating regency read will have you giggling over the enemies to lover banter and biting your lip with the crackling chemistry between Jack and Pippa.

All is not what it seems at the LCA…to the ton the ladies committee is another charity organization but to the members it’s a covert ladies academy where they are able to pursue interests and endeavors not always suitable for gentile ladies.

When Jack’s sister, an LCA member, goes missing he blackmails Pippa, the lady fencer, into helping him search for her or else he’ll reveal the true nature of the LCA!

I loved every minute of this read and can’t waIt for the next in the series. I’ve totally fallen for all over these characters and can’t wait for them to each get their HEA!

Hartwell is a new favorite author!

This was my first read from Jenny Hartwell and I definitely enjoyed it! Well-done character development, interesting story line and enjoyable secondary characters. Not super steamy, but there was tangible chemistry between Pippa and Jack. It was lovely to watch them influence the other - Pippa opening Jack's mind to new ideas and Jack helping Pippa open her eyes to the beauty living alongside the scary stuff in the world around her. I am looking forward to future installments in this series, and look forward to finding out more about the school's origins and the threats against it.

4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

Expect the unexpected, open your mind and your heart, and hold on tight. You will experience every emotion, and your head will be so full of thoughts and feelings that you won't be able to stop thinking about it for a long time. And when you make it to the end, you'll be changed. Welcome to the Jenny Hartwell Fan Club