Constantia is Miss C., the satirical cartoonist for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses. When the ladies who work for the magazine receive letters threatening to reveal their identities, Constantia panics. She already thought someone was following her. In the rush to flee London, she is hit by a carriage. She is rescued by Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland. She recognizes Alistair as he has been the subject of her caricatures on occasion. She pretends to have amnesia to keep him from questioning her. Alistair is not the kind of gentleman who leaves a lady in distress, even one he knows has mocked him. They travel together to his country estate where he plans to introduce her as his sisters’ art tutor. Their trip is interesting, and they come to see each other differently. This is an entertaining slow-burn romance with a bit of mystery. I liked Alistair and Constantia. The secondary characters, especially Alistair’s sisters, are likeable and bring added wit and humor to the story. Constantia has been running from her secrets and fears for years. Alistair has inherited an earldom that is suffering financially. There is a surprise or two, the good kind and a happy ending.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I think this was my favorite in the series so far! Ali stair and Constantia complement and bring out the best in each other. I loved the setting away from the city and the magazine, his sisters were amazing, and even though I briefly forgot the “mystery” even existed, it resolved in a very unexpected way. And I really enjoyed all the art and details in the descriptions. Just a really enjoyable histrom all around!

Pretending amnesia...

Constantia is an artist, a sort of grifter who reinvents herself, she is employed at Goode's Guide to Misconduct, with Alistair being a frequent target of hers.

Alistair is an earl to a household overrun with females. He's a decent sort, more of a fuddy duddy than a rake so he can't understand why Miss C. targets him. But he takes her in when she is sort of injured in an accident and he knows who she is. But Miss C. is faking amnesia...
Recommend.

It was an enjoyable read to this series. I think i liked the previous book more, though these two are so adorable self-sacrificing and the yearning was next level. It's always fun when you have an artist MC as you don't know what kind of portrait you'd get of their love interest. I would say that the ones Constantia makes are kind of both. I didn't love her assumptions about him as they seemed to very strong on a basis of nothing and she kept being surprised by it though I don't recall anything other than his proximity to Miles Devereux that made him remotely a rogue. The man is too poor with too many sisters! Anyway I digress. I loved the big reveal and would enjoy more of the series. It has been really fun and I love seeing the cameos from Lady Stalbridge and Lord Manwaring. I hope he gets his own story or novella!

Steam: 🔥
Heart flutters: ❤️

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was steamy, fun, action packed and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

I really enjoy Susanna Craig books. Sometimes the 'lady's magazine' storyline - which does show up in a lot of HR - is a bit trying but I like her books enough to go with the flow, and there's enough mystery here to keep you reading!

Known only as “Miss C.” Constantia Cooper creates satirical cartoons for Mrs. Goode’s. Yet when a scandal at the magazine threatens to expose her, Constantia packs up and flees. In her haste, she is struck by a carriage and suffers a blow to the head, but she is rescued by Alistair Haythorne, the Earl of Ryland, whom she has depicted in her cartoons. Feigning amnesia seems Constantia’s best strategy to prevent Alistair from discovering her secret. Soon Constantia and Alistair grow closer, and they find their feelings growing for each other. Yet Alistair needs to marry an heiress to keep his family’s estate intact, and Constantia’s past is dubious.
Both characters are delightful, and I particularly enjoyed Alistair, who shows such affection for his sisters and also Constantia. There is plenty of chemistry between them, making for a great read. Again, this book has a great pace like the others in the series, and the touch of mystery helps to keep the story engaging.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The premise of this book was delicious: Constantia works for a ladies magazine where she makes satirical drawings. Alistair, a stuffy peer, has been the target. She gets into an accident in front of his house and he takes her in to care for her.

Both of them are involved in a misunderstanding, but I'm glad it didn't last too long.

These two were very well matched, and both made incorrect assumptions about the other that turned out not to be true. His sisters were darling. I'd read a series just of them. The romance is very hot and when Alistair tells her that he's not a rake, my cold heart melted.

Thank you to Kensington for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Smoke and mirrors_____3.5

I’m not sure why I pulled back from this title in the Misconduct series.
I loved all the characters Constantia, Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland, and his wonderful sisters. They were all fabulous.
Constantia is the sketch artist for the ‘Magazine for Misses’ broad sheet, talented and so attractive—but a lady with dark secrets.
Constantia is different sort of character but who she really turned out to be was just a step too far for me.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Constantia is the anonymous satirical cartoonist at a ladies’ magazine and is always fearful of being followed. When all the writers at the magazine receive some suspicious letters, she goes on the run, only to be hit by a carriage in the street and knocked unconscious. Luckily, Alistair, the Earl of Ryland is there to save the day, although he doesn’t quite know what to do with her. When she wakes up, she pretends not to know him (even though he knows her) and he promises to take care of her until she gets her memory back. They have a bit of a contentious relationship, since he’s often the subject of her unkind cartoons, but Alistair is really the sweetest guy and mostly worried about taking care of his seven sisters. It’s chaos and calamity and actually a really great story.

This story follows Constansia, Miss C, who is the artist for Mrs. Goode's Magazine for Misses, who tries to make a run for it after learning that someone has found out the identities of the authors for the magazine as she is currently in hiding and does not want to be found, and Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland, who jumps in to help her after she gets hit by carriage in the street outside of his townhouse. Miss C as she's known for a majority of this book fakes amnesia as a way to convince Alistair to keep her under her protection and get her out of the city. Alistair has been depicted in her satirical drawings quite a lot as a miser and a rogue, but none of this really bothers him all that much. He's at his wit's end already dealing with a scantily funded earldom and 7 sisters who are in need of dowries, three of whom are quite wild. The feelings develop between Alistair and Constansia on their road trip to his crumbling abbey in the moors and bubble over after he's installed her in the house as the art tutor for his 3 youngest and wildest sisters. I really loved the sisters in this book. I do kind of hope for a spin off with them in it. The romance was very cute as they were both pretty wary of each other but learned more and more that they liked as the story progressed. Where the story lost me a little bit was again near the end when all is revealed. It was bonkers and a little cheesy, but not in the way that I typically like. Overall though, it was another really fun and cute romance from Susanna Craig. I am intrigued to see who is next up in the series.

This was a cute read by one of my favorite authors. Ms Craig has a knack for giving the reader lots of funny stuff which enhances the story line. I like how the characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. This is a feel good book that can be read as a stand alone even though it's in a series.
Known only as “Miss C.” Constantia Cooper works a an cartoon artist for Mrs. Goode's. She is
talented and hides her work under anonymity. When a scandal newspaper threatens to expose her situation and packs up to leave but is struck by a carriage. When she awakens, she fakes amnesia and is helped by a gentleman she knows.
Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland is the man who rescues Constantia. He know who she is and is the bane of his existence. She has a bad opinion of him in the cartoons she draws. He threatens to tell about her activities, so he gets her to teach his sisters how to draw.
As they become involved with each other, secrets abound and love is the key.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.


Reading Progress

Miss C has lived a tough life. Her fear draws her to constantly change her life and move at a moment's notice. Her art has kept her solvent and if she lives frugally, she can survive. As fear causes her to race into the night, the least likely man to help her arrives. The Earl of Ryland is a misunderstood character. He is my favorite character in this advance reader copy I received. This is a lovely story with a fairytale ending.

4.5 Stars
Known only as “Miss C.” Constantia Cooper creates satirical cartoons for Mrs. Goode’s. But her anonymity hides a more shocking secret—one that requires she remain elusive. When a scandal at the magazine threatens to expose her, Constantia packs up and flees. But in her haste, she is struck by a carriage and suffers a blow to the head. Fortunately, she’s rescued by a gentleman. Unfortunately, he is all too familiar. Feigning amnesia seems Constantia’s best strategy. Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland, would never turn away a lady in distress—even if he’s often the target of said lady’s biting satire. In fact, while “Miss C.” recuperates, he will have her teach his sisters to draw. But secrets make interesting bedfellows and as Constantia and Alistair grow closer, their opinions of one another change—drastically.
The third book in the series & whilst characters do overlap it can easily be read on its own. I loved both Alistair & Constantia. He has a heart of gold, loves his many sisters but is on his uppers his father nearly bankrupted the earldom. Constantia has secrets & has been running for years. I loved the chemistry between the couple & loved their journey to a HEA. Whilst primarily a romance there’s also some intrigue & mystery, which I love. There are also surprises & very likeable secondary characters, especially the Haythorne siblings

Rating: ⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars)

This book is the 3rd one in Goode's Guide to Misconduct and introduces Constantia Cooper, known anonymously as "Miss C.," a satirical cartoonist. Her anonymity conceals a significant secret, and when scandal threatens, Constantia flees, only to suffer an accident and be rescued by Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland—a frequent target of her caricatures. Feigning amnesia becomes her somewhat precarious solution.

Constantia is portrayed as an intelligent and resilient heroine with an artistic talent. Her predicament and initial reactions are somewhat engaging. Alistair, while a hero, is initially a victim of Constantia's wit. Their forced proximity as Constantia recuperates and teaches his sisters to draw leads to an evolution in their perceptions. The interplay between them is present, moving towards an attraction, despite Alistair's pressing need to marry an heiress to secure his family's estate.

My observation is that while the external pressures add tension, they sometimes felt less intricate than the internal journey of Constantia and Alistair. Furthermore, the overall execution, despite its promising elements, did not fully resonate, leaving some aspects feeling underdeveloped or less impactful than anticipated. This book may appeal to readers who enjoy intelligent heroines and complex heroes, and a story where secrets and societal expectations challenge the path to love. While it offers some witty moments and a captivating premise, the overall delivery might not fully satisfy all readers seeking a truly compelling escape.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the advanced reader copy.

Daughter of a disowned debutante and a painter, Constantia’s skill with pen and paper has helped her survive all these years on her own. A life always in motion, always looking over her shoulder, never staying in one place too long – until she runs into a carriage.
Rescuing an unconscious lady on his doorstep wasn’t part of Alistair’s plans. He has bigger problems; his late father’s debts, seven sisters, five dowries and a crumbling estate. But, he’s a gentleman, and even if this woman’s pen mercilessly mocked him, he can’t just leave her.

She needs to disappear, and he needs to vacate his town home. He believes she’s lost her memory... why not let him? She already knows what kind of man he is, doesn’t she?

A road trip, a mishap and a no-bed inn.
Morning wood, impromptu shopping and a dark cloud.
Five rambunctious sisters, one disagreeable aunt and a portrait commission.
And slowly the world starts shifting on its axes...

I loved meeting these MCs! Two loners, very much used to only depending on themselves, and Alistair is just about the sweetest, unintentionally charming and caring man.
The slow burn build-up with a hint of danger lurking at all times, the gloomy setting, the clumsy endearing budding romance, the whirl of emotions warring within, and finally the discovery of common ground – all very intriguing and beautifully written with a delectable splash of steam.
But the ending! It came out of nowhere, caught me off guard and surprised me with a grand fairytale twist! It was excellent, and a little bonkers. You’ll either hate it, or you’ll love it.

This was a captivating read; a small story part of a bigger world. Do you need the previous books to enjoy this one? No. Do I recommend them? Yes, they are great fun!

3.25 stars due to the writer's way with words, but I can't bump up to 4. I really liked the last book in this series, but the lack of chemistry between these MC's and the leisurely pacing with unrealistic payoff were disappointing. The first sex scene around the 70% mark feels shoehorned in (there is a self-pleasuring scene slightly before that that feels even more out of place) and intriguing events that could have happened never unfold.

I found MFC Constantia overall brittle and humorless. She spends most of the book spurning MMC Alistair, either considering him to be too stodgy or a deceptive rake like his friend. Like the MMC in the first book in this series, Alistair seems like a decent, regular guy (well, as regular as an earl could be during the Regency period). He's struggling with financial issues but tries to help Constantia out and really doesn't deserve her ire. She takes so long to warm up to him that I just didn't believe in their romantic connection. The first kiss scene is a good example of an opportunity to build their relationship that instead ends awkwardly.

The storyline starts on a suspenseful note that is diluted quite a bit by both Constantia's admission for running, which seems rather weak, and the out-of-left field third act revelation.

Bottom line: the sexual tension needed to be taken up a notch, the MC's needed a chance to really connect emotionally, and the plotting needed to be stronger for this to be a 4-5 star read for me.

This is the 3rd book in Mrs Goodes guide to misconduct . This story is about Constantia, a cartoonist, for the Mrs. Goode's magazine.
Constantia knows someone is following her. When she gets a note addressed to her in her real name, she decides it's time to flee. But before she gets far, she has an accident and is unconscious. She is taken into the home of The Earl of Ryland, Alastair.
When she finds out that he is leaving town , to go to his country home, she hitches a ride with him. She needs to flee London to get away from whoever is following her.
And so the romance begins.
I loved this story. It was a little bit of a fairy tale story, but in the end, everyone got their happily ever after
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

We both feel like Susanna Craig is a great historical romance author who flies under the radar. Her books are funny, sexy, lighthearted romps⁠ (aka everything Meg and Laine want out of historical romances).

This one is about Constantia, who is the artist providing the popular society caricatures and cartoons for Goode's Magazine for Misses. She's not only anonymous for the magazine - she's living in hiding due to a fraught past which I will not reveal here! As the book opens, all of the contributors to the magazine have been threatened with exposure. Constantia flees, only to be hit by a carriage right outside of Alistair, Lord Ryland's doorstep. The big issue? Alistair knows who she is, AND knows that he's been her favorite whipping boy in the Magazine. So Constantia makes one of her signature good decisions and pretends she has amnesia, throws herself on his mercy to get out of town, and hopes for the best.

See what we mean by "romp"? This is a great setup, and we were HERE FOR IT as Alistair and Constantia take a road trip, encounter only one bed at the inn, and start confiding in each other.

Would we both have been a little happier if this couple hadn't been separated (by choice 😔) once they arrive at Alistair's estate? Sure. But we both really loved the level of heat, especially, how their past "experience" was handled. I was particularly tickled by the ultimate resolution of their "but HOW can we be TOGETHER?" conflict (it's pretty bonkers without being angsty, which is my particular preference). And we both loved that Alistair is a truly gentlemanly hero without being too good to be true.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This is the third book in the series.
Miss C is the cartoonist for the periodical, who has been mocking Alistair for his stogy ways.
She has someone following her, and when she is struck by a carriage, coincidentally in front of Alistair's house he takes her in.
He is on the way to his country house, so rather than let her fend for herself. he takes her with him.
The chemistry is good between them; there are a wonderful cast of secondary characters, plot twists, secrets, and a bit of steam.
All in all, it is a great light read.