"Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord" is a delightful regency cozy mystery that will transport readers to the elegant and intriguing world of 19th-century high society England. Lady Petra is a spirited and intelligent young woman. It is thought that she has to marry and if she doesn't something must be wrong with her. Her friend Gwen disappears and Lady Petra is trying to track down what happened to her.
Lady Petra is an engaging character who rebels against societal norms. Men keep trying to get her under control which creates a great subplot.
This book is a wonderful start to a new series.

Thank you to #netgalley, #CelesteConnally, and #MinotaurBooks for a copy of this book.
#ActLikeaLadyThinkLikeaLord

1815, amateur-sleuth, class-consciousness, cozy-mystery, England, false-imprisonment, first-in-series, historical-novel, historical-research, historical-setting, murder, new-series, read*****

After something of a slow start it swung into high gear and thoroughly kept my attention to the end and beyond. Social history along with misogyny are the most obvious threads beyond the romantic interest. Convincing characters, clear world building, unusual twists and creative red herrings. I loved it! Hope the author is working on the next installment!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Lady Petra lost her fiancee and has resolved never to marry. She inherited money from her mother but her uncle has other ideas and convinces her father to have her institutionalized.

A thoroughly diverting Regency romp with what I very much hope is series potential. I would be more than happy to read more installments as Petra and Duncan thwart villains, solve mysteries, and continue their feminist exploits through England.

A fun and intriguing read with interesting characters and a quick pace. The plot was creepy and well thought out.

On her return to London, Petra, the unconventional daughter of an earl, learns of the recent death of her friend Gwen. Sadness turns to puzzlement when her friend’s former footman reports seeing Gwen two weeks after her reported death. When the footman is murdered, Petra is determined to find the truth. But the truth is much bigger and darker than she realizes, and Petra is now a threat.

The first half of the story tries to do too many things. Petra is a free-thinking woman, and her declaration that she will remain single reflects that and is a key plot element. Unfortunately, other examples of her enlightened thinking are unnecessary distractions (ex: Juddy in the garden and Moors) and one (pregnant servant) had me wondering if I’d missed a previous book. I would rather have had more scenes developing the characters’ relationships. Once the focus turns to the mystery, the writing tightens up, characters show more depth, and the pace picks up. While I figured out the mystery early on I still wanted to see it unfold. This mystery wraps up, but the epilogue makes it clear there will be another adventure for Petra and friends.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed the story. A nice little mystery based in the 1800s, the characters are captivating, especially the leading Lady Petra. the writing is a little different and took a little bit of getting used to but once the plot hooked me in I barely noticed it anymore.

I hope this author writes a sequel to this story because I would love to keep reading about Petra and her entourage.

I thoroughly appreciate a great book set in the 1800’s in England.
Celeste Connally did not disappoint me with the intrigue and mystique in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord.
Petra, the spirited young woman that dares to ignore the rules of polite society, along with Duncan, the man she known since childhood. Along with a host of friends, family and con men, some causing laughter; some causing trouble and pain.
#CelesteConnally
#ActLikeALadyThinkLikeAMan

Very intriguing historical mystery novel. Looking forward to Lady Petra's next adventure.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

A cozy mystery in a Regency setting. With a terrific MFC. Wit. And, with a dash of romance? Oooh, please do go on…

I was really looking forward to reading this since it was a Regency cozy mystery as opposed to a Regency romance, and happily found it to be engaging and well written.
* Warning - it does start off a bit slow but picks up.

I really do enjoy a cozy mystery and this one was just what I needed; it held my attention and kept me interested.



Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC!

I think there is definitely an audience for this book - unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. For one, I was expecting something a little more propulsive from the jump. With comps like Bridgerton and Agatha Christie, I wanted to really dive into the story but it took a while to get going. Perhaps because it took so long, or perhaps because of the content, I was really underwhelmed and uninterested in the mystery. And as far as the romance, it had all the right beats, but I couldn’t connect to it.

For the right reader, this is a well-written book and it clearly sets up a sequel - I’m just not the right audience for it! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin;'s Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A LORD by Celeste Connally.

Set in 1815 London, England, Jane Austen the author of Pride and Prejudice is still living. Women's best chance at that time was marrying well. I still think of that opening line "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." The dark side of women marrying well is described vividly in the first of the Lady Petra Forsyth cozy mysteries.

Lady Petra Forsyth is the only daughter of the Earl of Holbrook. She has a nefarious uncle who disapproves of her lifestyle. He is the only brother of her mother who died years ago. Her mother left her only daughter an inheritance that would enable her to have independent means. Her father, the Earl, is a kindhearted father.

When Petra hears a rumour that a good friend died, a servant reports seeing the same friend alive. Unfortunately before Petra finds out more information, someone kills the servant. Not only does Petra need to find out what happened to her friend but she also must find the killer before the killer strikes again.

Meanwhile, a childhood friend, Shawcross, returns from the Wars and he assists Lady Petra. I loved the dialogue between Lady Petra and Shawcross.

During Lady Petra and her crew's investigations, they learn that there is a sham doctor helping men of peerage dispose of their wives, sisters, nieces and female relations who are "different". These women sent away for "health reasons" to help them recover.

This is a cozy mystery though there are a few scary scenes.

Trigger warnings: Misogyny, Mind Games, Bullying, Brief Violence, Mental Illness, Brief Sexual Assault

A Regency read through and through

More Jane Austen than Christie. Throw in a decent amount of Bridgerton and you have it.

Headstrong heroine, check. Brooding male lead, check. Wonderful group of older women adding color, pomp and rescue, even better. While the romance was a little rushed towards the end, there at least was some good foundation lain in early chapters.

The mystery itself was a bit long in arriving and it was semaphored for a while before the reveal but it was a nice change from the usual “accidental” death inheritance changing someone’s status. Both for our rock-solid heroine, Petra, and the mystery.

The Christie does show up in the cruel plans by the definite not male leads. Cads and worse. But while they are expected, I was surprised at how much of the male background characters fell into this category.

But, like all the reels would say, “watch” until the end. Not a cliffhanger per se……but chills.

Pub Date 14 Nov 2023 | Archive Date 28 Nov 2023
St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books

I received an advance copy to review from NetGalley. In no way was my review influenced by this.

I was hooked by the title and description. I love Jane Austen and I love Agatha Christie and this is their love child.
A strong confident female lead that shirks the expectations of the time and does what she wants while solving murders. PLUS an enemies to lovers thrown in? Perfection.

I did struggle in the first half of the book as it was a bit slow and very dialogue heavy. But the second half was flawless.

Will definitely be reading the next installment.

Petra is a young woman who has declared to the world, that she will never marry. She had been engaged but her fiancee died and her heart was broken. After her period of mourning, she also sees the world as a place where women are not allowed to be themselves. Since she has been raised to be an independent woman, that does not sit well with Petra.

She loves to ride horses. She has managed her father’s homes since she was 16 after her mother died. She is a strong and intelligent woman. She is also stubborn and kind to others.

Petra’s independence is not something that is accepted by the people in power. The people in power happen to be men. And those men are determined to put women who are an inconvenience in a place they will never bother anyone again.

When Petra begins to see the possibility of missing women, she decides to investigate.

Petra is a brave and intelligent woman. She has the ability to solve puzzles. She also has the determination to do exactly that. She will not leave any stone unturned. She is an admirable woman.

The other characters in the book are not all admirable. In fact, quite a few are perfect examples of villains. And those villains are all dangerous to women who do not fit the mold of what is acceptable.

The plot starts out very slowly. The first part of the book establishes the situations and relationships which will play large parts in the plot. I would have liked things to move faster and be less about descriptions and explanations.

This is the first book in a series and the ending leaves no doubt that there will be a second book.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

This story follows Lady Petra, who is very headstrong and vows to live life in her own way. Lady Petra is on a mission to unravel the mystery surrounding suspicious deaths that happen to the ladies of the ton.

The beginning of this book was a bit hard to get through. The way the author info dumps could've been done in a more entertaining way. However, the story gets intriguing around 30% of the way through. Once I got past the beginning, this book held my attention and definitely fulfilled my need for escapism. Lady Petra and her friends really made this for an interesting read.

I'd love to thank Celeste Connally for the opportunity to read this arc and escape the world for a bit.

If you love Victorian era mysteries and romance then this book is for you! When our FMC becomes aware of certain sinister going ons and disappearances, she sets out to find out what's happening and why and how it's all connected. It kinda gave me Enola Holmes vibes with more romance. I really wanna gush about this book more but I don't wanna spoil it bc I think it's best to go into blind. Just know I loved it and had a very fun time.

The title and book description instantly sparked my interest in this Historical Fiction novel, combining elements of Mystery and Romance. Set in 1800s London, Celeste Connally skillfully incorporates a feminist perspective through the main character, adding a unique and refreshing twist to the Regency-era mystery genre. The author adeptly captures the historical atmosphere of the Victorian period, where women were perceived as the weaker sex, confined to domestic duties, and expected to pursue marriage while limiting themselves to the roles of agreeable wives and dutiful daughters. Lady Petra Forsyth, however, defies these societal norms with her intellectual prowess, fearlessness in expressing her opinions, and her preference for activities such as riding in breeches. This brings a strong feminist perspective to a conventional society.

Moreover, the author successfully portrays the emotional strength of a woman who has experienced love and loss. While the initial pace of the book felt slow, I am delighted that I continued reading, as the story progressively gains momentum. The mystery that unfolds is intricately crafted, constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat. The author skillfully reveals clues and plot twists that heightened the suspense and made the reading experience truly captivating.

On the other hand, I found the romance aspect to be rushed. It would have been beneficial for the author to delve deeper into the chemistry between Petra and Duncan. Including more scenes where they realize their feelings for each other could have added depth to their relationship. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery element and found the ending to be highly engaging compared to the way these books generally end. It had me on the edge of my seat where I am turning pages to ensure if I read it right?

I would give this book a 3.75 but rounding it up to 4.

P.S. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book for review. It is important to note that the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

✨Book Review -Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord ✨

✨The Plot✨
A mystery set in the Regency-era, Lady Petra hears that a family friend has died recently, but suddenly she’s getting reports that people have seen her walking around the ton! Other disturbing reports reach Petra, who is determined to solve the mystery.

✨The Characters✨
Lady Petra is spunky and determined, she cares greatly for her friends and her family. Unfortunately, she follows her heart instead of her brain too often and ends up making mistakes the reader can see coming.

Duncan - I wish there was more Duncan, I enjoyed the book more when he was there to bicker with Petra

✨Overall, this was a fun mystery set in the regency era. This is not a romance novel, and I would not expect to find it on a shelf next to Bridgerton. The first 13 chapters are all about the ton, and societal niceties, but the rest of the book is a well paced mystery that will have you worried and flipping thru the pages!

✨Would I reread? No, but I would probably read book 2
✨Would I recommend? To historical intrigue fans or mystery fans, not to romance readers or readers looking for Bridgerton. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC, in exchange for a review!

In the beginning this book was a bit slow, butt he second half sped up considerably, The characters were well developed and quite likable which made the reading more enjoyable, however, the mystery was predictable and it was less romance focused than expected. If this book could speed up its pacing it would be wonderful.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.