I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is part of the Queen's Deadly Damsels Regency romance series. I read the previous book in this series, and I enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to reading this one as well.

I quickly warmed to the main characters, Millie and Beau. I found Millie endearing and Beau very charming. He also struck me as gentlemanly and heroic; the kind of man who would sweep you off your feet. I really like the way the author writes - in a way that allows the reader to understand the thought processes and feelings of the characters, and identify with them in a lighthearted, humorous kind of way.

This had just the right amount of spice, and I felt the romance too. It was light enough to read in one sitting, and I found it satisfying. It left me with a smile on my face.

There were some brief references to characters and events in the previous book, but this is a different story with different characters, so you can read this one as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Darcy McGuire’s A Lady's Lesson in Scandal is a fun and fast-paced historical romance packed with wit, intrigue, and sizzling chemistry. The story follows Millicent Whittenburg, a bold heroine with a secret agenda: to ruin herself and escape her unwanted betrothal by seducing the one man in London who despises marriage more than she does—Major General Beaufort Drake. But things take a surprising turn when the hardened investigator, instead of resisting her, makes an unexpected counteroffer: marriage.

Millie is a delightful character, bringing a refreshing twist to the typical Regency heroine. Her determination to take control of her fate, combined with her secret training as a femme fatale, makes her both charming and unpredictable. Major General Drake, with his battle scars and gruff demeanor, is the perfect foil. His suppressed passion and protective instincts clash with Millie’s free-spirited nature, leading to sparks flying both in and out of the ballroom. Their forced proximity at a week-long wedding house party only heightens the tension and allows for plenty of scandalous encounters and humorous misunderstandings.

While the romance is filled with steamy, well-written moments, the plot’s espionage elements could have been explored more deeply. The stakes around their secret missions feel a bit underdeveloped, leaving readers wanting more details about the dangerous world they are navigating beyond their romantic entanglement. Nevertheless, the witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and the balance of romance and scandal make A Lady's Lesson in Scandal an engaging and highly entertaining read for fans of Regency romance.

Millicent meets her match.

I enjoyed A Lady's Lesson in Scandal.
Millicent's plan to ruin herself so she can become a femme-fatale goes awry when her target, Drake breaks the rules and offers for her. Millicent's training wheels are still on, as she's stymied by Drake (who I really enjoyed). There's a mystery, definitely some steam and lot's of chemistry in this book.
Recommend.

Millicent Whittenburg is desperate to get out of becoming betrothed so she decides to put into practice the idea of compromising her honour with a gentleman more of her own choosing. Major General Beaufort Drake, is no pushover but Millicent discovers, to her cost, that Drake, when confronted with Millicent’s suggestion rises to the challenge. He doesn’t, however, as yet, know of Millicent’s involvement as one of the Queen’s investigators.

Those who have read the first book in this Deadly Damsels series will be aware of the foundations of the story and so to have another femme-fatale and one as deadly as Millicent makes this story into a rollicking good romp. Wickedly spicy and with passion burning up the pages both Drake and Millie have met their match which, between them, keeps the passion, and the spice right up at boiling point.

These stories are great fun to read, not to be taken too seriously but at its core there is a sharp message which reminds us of how little choice women in the Victoria era had not just over their own bodies but also their limited sense of freedom and autonomy. The author writes well, with razor sharp wit and more than one caustic put down and with a real sense of the women in the story calling all the shots. It’s also a passionate love story with some truly steamy moments which helps in making Millie and Drake into characters you won’t forget in a hurry.

It’s perfectly possible to read A Lady's Lesson in Scandal as a standalone story but it does make sense to get to know some of the recurring characters as that way you understand what makes them tick. I’m already looking forward to book number three in the Deadly Damsels series.

I did read the book but will not post review on blog as I found it a bit too “spicy “ for my blog. Sorry.

A captivating Regency romance that delivers on intrigue and emotional depth.
Captivating Plot: Darcy McGuire's A Lady's Lesson in Scandal immediately draws readers into a world of secrets, romance, and danger. The fast-paced plot, filled with twists and turns, keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.
Strong Female Lead: The heroine, a skilled private investigator, is both bold and compassionate. Her determination and intelligence make her a fascinating character to follow. She was described as tall and curvy.
Charismatic Hero: The hero, a government agent, is loyal and protective. His chemistry with the heroine is undeniable, creating a compelling romantic connection.
Intriguing Mystery: The novel's mystery element adds depth and suspense to the story, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

Sensitive Topics: It's important to note that A Lady's Lesson in Scandal does contain sensitive topics, including human trafficking, parental abuse, and rape. While these themes are handled with care, readers should be aware of their content.

Overall, A Lady's Lesson in Scandal is a highly recommended read for fans of historical romance and mystery. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression. While this could be read as a stand alone, for the best reading experience I would start with the first book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read!
I really liked Millie as a side character in the "Queen's Deadly Damsels" first book and I am happy to say that I loved her as the fierce and witty female main character in this installment. Her banter and unlikely partnership with Beau make a for great read and the mystery portion of the story is quite intriguing. Cannot wait for the next book.

Millicent Whittenburg is part of a covert group of Queen Victoria's investigators, led by the powerful and cunning Duchess of Dorsett. Trained by the Duchess herself, Millie has been preparing to serve as one of the Queen's sleuths, tasked with keeping a watchful eye on the questionable members of the House of Lords. However, her personal life is in turmoil, as she's being forced into marriage with the repulsive Viscount Tread—a wealthy, elderly friend of her father’s and her manipulative stepmother, Patricia. (Patricia is truly despicable, and it's baffling how Millie’s father, the Marquess, ever let this woman have so much control over his daughter’s life.)

At a ball where her unwanted engagement is set to be announced, Millie plots her escape—by ensnaring someone else into a marriage and then refusing to go through with it. What she didn’t anticipate was her target, Major General Beaufort Drake, the scarred but captivating Earl of Tetly, who also happens to be a private investigator for the Prime Minister. Sparks fly, and what starts as a scheme becomes something far more intimate. The chemistry between Millie and Beaufort is undeniable, and the story heats up as their fiery romance blossoms.

What follows is a thrilling mix of love, secrets, and lies, where the past collides with the future. This is an exciting new chapter in McGuire’s Deadly Damsels series, blending romance and mystery in equal measure.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the connection between the fmc and mmc and that she was given her freedom to choose to marry him. Can’t wait for the next one.

Ever since her father remarried to her wicked stepmother, Millie’s life has been one hardship after another, the most recent of which is an unwanted betrothal. But she has a plan to escape. One that involves tricking the prickly, stone-hearted Major General Drake into kissing her in order to ruin her reputation, leaving Millie free to escape into the service of Her Majesty’s team of elite spies. Her plan goes sideways when instead of spurning her, Drake makes a marriage offer of his own. Are their feelings real, or just the result of a one-time mistake?

I had a lot of fun getting to know Millie as a main character, and I liked that she was tough but not invincible, and vulnerable but not a damsel in distress. The writing was fast-paced, and had a good balance of dialogue and description, and even though this is the second in a series, it was completely readable as a standalone book. The pacing was generally good, but I felt that the ending was a little too rushed and some of the plot lines did not get satisfying conclusions as a result.

As with the first book, I liked the romance in general but thought that some aspects of it fell a bit flat. Millie and Drake fell head over heels for each other instantly, and in my opinion did not have a lot of depth to follow it up with. I think a little more detail into why they liked each other beyond their physical attraction would have gone a long way. But, if you’re looking for a quick, steamy Victorian romance with a feisty main character, this may be the book for you. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

3.5/5 It’s refreshing to see a main character who fantasizes about punching people as often as I do.

Are you looking for spicy historical fiction to read? If so, this is the book you should be picking up!
Along with steamy spice you get so much more.
Romance
Strong female characters
Witty dialogue
Mystery suspense
Definitely a fun read that had me finishing it in one day.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I received the arc of A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal from Boldwood Books and NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing an e-copy to review.

I LOVED reading this one. What a fun, engaging adventure. Sometimes you just click with an author’s voice and that’s exactly what happened with this one for me. I got the same feeling reading this as I do watching the best old romcoms. Darcy McGuire will definitely be an auto-read author for me from here on out. I have not read the first book in this interconnected standalone series but I am now looking forward to the chance to revisit this world without having to wait for the next book in the series!

This book is for you if: You like fun historical romances with a touch of mystery and adventure.

This book is not for you if: You are bothered by insta-ish love and more spice than plot. (I am not bothered by these things when they are well executed, and I found them to be very well executed here!)

This book moves quickly, beginning with Millie trying to ruin herself during gher own engagement ball. The plan turns out differently than she had hoped for when the .an she chose who famously hates women and the institution of marriage insists on marrying her. Drake had his heart broken when he returned from the war and his betrothed had married another. They both have secrets that keep them apart despite their developing feelings.
I will definitely be going back to read Hannah and Killian's book and any future books in this series of scandalous independent women.

Fun historical romance

This is an excellent escapist book, a historical romance starring a strong heroine and a strong hero with unexpected plot details. I am going to read the previous book in the series, but didn't find that my enjoyment of this book suffered from not reading the first in the series.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Spicy, male female, historical romance. I love an age gap that isn't too large and where BOTH are adults with fully formed frontal lobes. The female lead Millie is 27 and the male lead Beau is 36. This is the the second book in the Queen's Deadly Damsels series and can be read as a standalone. Well written with humor, twists and turns, some suspense, and steam.

Although this is the second book in the series, I read it as a standalone and it worked wonderfully. This is a fun, sexy romp I'd recommend to fellow fans of Alexandra Vasti, Tessa Dare and Lisa Kleypas. If you like your Historical Romance full of witty banter, eccentric escapades and feats of derring do - like I do - you'll find much to enjoy here.

Millicent Wittenburg is a red-haired stunner who doesn't fit into society - too tall, too curvy and too outspoken. Forced into an unwanted marriage by a harridan of a stepmother (shades of Cinderella), she decided to take her fate in her own hands and stages a setup at her engagement dinner to "ruin" herself - a public seduction of the most standoffish, aloof man she knows: Major General Beauford Drake.

Disfigured by a facial scar from war (echoes of Beauty and the Beast), Drake prides himself on his self-control. After a disastrous broken engagement, he is determined to need nothing and no one, and devotes himself absolutely to his work as a spy and fixer for the Prime Minister.

He is also a stickler for honour, and Millie's hopes of quickly being spurned so she can live a quiet life with friends in the country is dashed. She has a secret as well: she and her friends help Queen Victoria, in the same manner as Beau and his war-time friends, gathering intelligence behind the scenes where soldiers can't usually go.

The highlight of this story is the relationship between Millie and Beau, as they gradually learn to trust each other and initial grudging respect and admiration deepens into something more. There are some pacing problems and a little too much miscommunication but overall this is a charming romance, with spice, humour and heart. Enjoyable! Looking forward to Ivy's book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC; Released on October 12th, 2024

I really enjoyed this entertaining romance novel by an author new to me. The story is very well written, with lots of banter, LOL moments, unexpected twists, a criminal investigation, espionage, a preposterous house party, suspense, danger and some passionate love scenes. Millie and Beau are endearing characters with sizzling chemistry from the start.
Millie is a strong heroine who hates being controlled and contained by men. Beau is a jaded alpha hero who needs to be in control. Naturally, tensions arise between them.
I loved their witty dialogues and their amusing, self-deprecating thought processes.
I haven't read the previous book yet, but I was able to follow the plot very well and will do so soon.

Millicent „Millie“ Whittenburg
is the freedom-loving, emancipated daughter of a Marquess who wants to become a private investigator for Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. To this end, she secretly trains with Lady Philippa Winterbourne, the Duchess of Dorsett. When her malicious stepmother tries to force her into a betrothal, Millie decides to let herself be compromised by another man at her engagement ball and her choice falls on Major General Beaufort Drake, Earl of Tetly, who is known for his aversion to women and marriage. She can then withdraw from society and concentrate on her future missions.
Major General Beaufort „Beau“ Drake, Earl of Tetly is a scarred war hero who now works as a private investigator for the Prime Minister. Since his fiancée jilted him during his military service and married his brother instead, he no longer trusts any woman and is not interested in marriage. However, he has been attracted to Millie ever since he first saw her.
When she kisses him at the ball and they are caught, he is furious but decides to propose to her anyway. A woman is the perfect cover for his future missions and a marriage of convenience with separate lives suits him just fine.
However, their mutual attraction grows stronger and stronger, but Millie is not allowed to reveal her secret work to Beau and then they are both set on the same target...

Overall, a fun read that I am happy to recommend!

📖: A Lady's Lesson in Scandal (The Queen's Deadly Damsels Book #2)

✍🏾By: Darcy McGuire-new to me author

✨Rating: 4/5

Format: eBook 332 pgs.

🌍Setting: London

📅 Publication 10/12/24, Read 10/12/24

👆🏾POV: dual, 3rd person

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Darcy McGuire for this ARC❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Historical Romance

Tropes:
-arranged marriage/marriage of convenience
-h/H not virgins
-evil stepmother
-private investigators

⚠️ TW: sex trafficking, sexism, physical/mental abuse-h, blackmail, SA mentioned-not H/h

💭Summary: Millie is on a mission to get out of an arranged marriage by her horrible stepmother. Since her mother's death when she was born, it had been Millie and her father Henry. At Millie's first season out, Henry married Patricia who's only 6 months older than Millie. Avoiding scandal from her 1st love Franklin, Millie joins The Queen's Damsels. She trains as a private investigator under Lady Philippa's tutelage. They make a plan to seduce Major General Drake in hopes of ending her engagement with Lord Tread- an old miser only 2 years younger than her father. Drake has sworn off women after being betrayed by his fiancée and brother. Millie knows once they are caught, he will refuse to marry her, and she can go her own way.

🎭The characters

🚺 Heroine: Millicent "Millie" Whittenburg-27, tall, strong, red haired. She's tormented by her stepmother and lost her father's favor after her ex-lover exposes her as ruined.

🚹 Hero: Major General Beauforte "Beau" Drake- 36, Earl of Tetley, scarred after being held a POW for 2 years. Betrayed by fiancée Nora who married his younger brother Godric and closed his heart to women forever.

- Lord Bartholomew Tread-a Viscount, Millie's betrothed who is only 2 years younger than her father

-Lady Philippa Winterbourne-Duchess of Dorsett, a wealthy widow in the favor of Queen Victoria. Trains Millie as femme fatale private investigator

-Patricia Whittenburg-Marchioness, Millie's stepmother

-Henry Whittenburg-Marquess, Millie's father

-Ivy Cavendale-Millie's BFF, a social pariah whose father and brother recently died under suspicious circumstances.

-Lord Franklin St. George-Millie's 1st lover

-Lieutenant Robert Killian-Drake's friend, held captive w/ Drake, recently married to Hannah Simmons (also trained by Philippa)

-General Reynard Renquist-a rake, also held prisoner in the Anglo-Afghan war

🤔My Thoughts: I didn't read The Secret Life of a Lady (The Queen's Deadly Damsels #1), but this was fine as a standalone. I loved Millie and Lady Philippa as strong, resourceful women who kick butt. They showed the double standard of men being able to sleep around but when women do it, they are ostracized. Also, both Drake and Millie were PIs but for Millie it was a dangerous job Drake tried to forbid her from continuing. Patricia's abusive treatment while Henry remained silent could have broken Millie's spirit, but with Drake and Lady Philippa by her side she shows her resilience. Both had the added pressure of finding out about the sex trafficking ring financed and organized by wealthy men of the ton.

3.75 ⭐
1.5 🌶️
tropes: hate to love, disabled MMC, cinnamon roll MMC, strong FMC


Millie, who is secretly training to be an investigator with the Duchess is stuck in a forced engagement arranged by her emotionally and physically abusive stepmother. In an effort to free herself from the arrangement and devote her time to the queen’s service, while at a ball to celebrate said engagement she forces Major General Drake to kiss her in public because surely when they are caught he won’t “do the right thing” and marry her right? And then won’t her fiance call off the engagement?


This was a cute story with a cute plot line, and overall I enjoyed it. As Millie and Drake are falling in love, they are also both (unbeknownst to the other) trying to figure out who is kidnapping young girls to force them into a sex-trafficking ring so you’re also trying to figure out who is doing that. I do wish there had been less growling from the MCs- they both growled a lot and that there had been more of the plot dedicated to what Drake was doing for the investigation. Mostly it was just he needed to talk to someone or figure something out or plan something. Along with that based on the description I did expect there to be more spice. I laughed so hard when Drake got turned on by Millie’s ankles though.


This was a sweet story, and a quick read that I would recommend to people who enjoy spicy regency romances.

This book was really fun. A slow burn. And it's basically Bridgerton meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Which made the plot a whole lot more interesting. Definitely check it out. It's worth reading.