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.

When Constantina Cooper, the artist for “Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses”, receives an anonymous letter demanding her attendance of a staff meeting in an unknown hand, she is sure that she has been found out and knows it is time to move on. She goes to the meeting on the off chance that Lady Stalbridge, the magazine’s editor, has hired a new secretary. But that hope is crushed almost immediately when Lady Stalbridge arrives just as bewildered as everyone else. Certain that she is the reason for the odd letters, she bolts and plans to leave London, that plan is also crushed when she collides with a carriage and is knocked unconscious. When she wakes, she is the home of the Earl of Ryland – a man she regularly features in her “What Miss C. Saw” aka “the Unfashionable Plates” cartoons for the magazine. The earl knows who she is and is in the process of leaving London, so she feigns amnesia to enlist his help. But she never expected to fall in love with him or his family, but as a penniless nobody, she has nothing to offer him except the possibility of danger thanks to her family. A possibility that soon becomes reality and may separate them forever.

Alistair Haythorne, the Earl of Ryland is broke and has rented out his London townhouse, so he is in the process of packing up to retire to his country estate with his sisters when a commotion outside draws his attention. He immediately recognizes Constantina and summons help for her. He knows her connection to the magazine and contacts Lady Stalbridge, who informs him that she believes Constantina might be in danger – thus triggering Alistair’s protective instincts. He offers to take her with him and to protect her until she regains her memory. He has always been attracted to her and intrigued by her, but he doesn’t have the luxury of indulging his own desires. His father left the estate in debt and with seven sisters to provide for, he will have to marry for money, which makes his feelings for Constantina inconvenient. An inconvenience that becomes almost unbearable when he asks his aunt to find him a rich bride and she hires Constantina to paint his portrait. Forced to spend time with her, his feelings deepen and soon he doesn’t know how he can live without her. But when her life is in danger, he knows there is no way he can let her walk away.

This installment of Goode’s Guide to Misconduct is a well-written, nicely paced story with very likable characters and a bit of intrigue. This book has a lot going on but manages to stay on track remains primarily a romance with some mystery to keep things interesting. The book held my interest with an artistic heroine with a mysterious background, an impoverished hero with a heart of gold, wonderful secondary characters, a road trip, faked amnesia, lurking danger, warm love scenes, shocking revelations and finally a seemingly impossible HEA. I enjoyed this story and would happily recommend it to my fellow HR readers. This is the 3rd book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

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

Another entertaining instalment in the series. This gave me that warm gooey feeling and I can’t wait for the next book.

I found this a bit tiresome. It was more like a fairy tale romance than a novel with believable characters and plot. The heroine draws cartoons for a ladies magazine in Regency England. For some reason that it takes too long to find out, she’s terrified and convinced that she has to flee London. She is hurt by a carriage and rescued by the hero, the Earl of Ryland. For her own reasons, she’s included him in her cartoons even though she doesn’t know him. He’s very poor, but they decide to travel together to his estate. There’s the obligatory stop overnight and having to share a bed. Of course.

The resolution is totally unbelievable, but you knew something like this was going to happen so that there could be the HEA. I liked the Earl, but the heroine was a bit tedious.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The Lady Makes her Mark by Susanna Craig was an historical romance with a little suspense. The novel is the third book in a series, although it can be read as a stand alone. The series follows the women who make up the writers of Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses, a women’s periodical. This particular novel follows Constantina Cooper, the illustrator of the political cartoons of the paper.

Unfortunately the periodical contributors need to be kept secret as this is not an acceptable occupation for women at this time. Constantina Cooper has more to hide than others. She has not shared her name with the other women and when a note comes in threatening to expose them all, she knows it is time to move on. Only to be hit by horses and a carriage.

Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland heard the accident in front of his house and ran out to help everyone. Somehow he ended up with an unknown woman in his house and his bed with no memory of what happened and why it happened due to her concussion. Alistair, left with no choice, takes Constantina home to his property (not having any other choices) to finish healing even though she often made fun of him in her cartoons.

Alistair is in dire straits. He has a bevy of sisters that he needs to provide dowries for. The property is crippling him with the huge amounts of repairs and his workers can only get the minimum from the lands. Alistair needs a miracle, Constantina is probably not it.

The Lady Makes her Mark by Susanna Craig was a good read.
This book comes out May 27th

A fun enemies (well, not quite but sort of) to lovers secret identities romp. Constantia, a talented artist who has been cartooning Justin is rescued by him when she falls and hits her head. She finds herself tutoring his five (five!) sisters in drawing while Justin fusses around trying to figure out how to save the estate and provide dowries. See, he's an impoverished Earl who must find a rich wife but what about Constantia? This is a nice fluffy read that skews toward a more modern telling. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good one for a lazy day.

After an accident, cartoonist Constantia suffers amnesia. She’s rescued by Alistair, Earl of Ryland, her frequent satirical target. As they grow closer, scandalous secrets and dangerous threats complicate their budding romance.

This is a fun book with likable characters. Constantia and Alistair are opposites who fit perfectly together. She’s artistic and adaptable, while he’s more disciplined and straightforward. The novel is romantic with a bit of steam.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This third instalment in Susanna Craig’s historical romance series features Constantia Cooper—a sharp-witted, secretive cartoonist for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses (try saying that three times fast). When it looks like the contributors to the magazine might be exposed, Constantia bolts… and promptly hits her head outside the home of Alistair Haythorne, the Earl of Ryland.

Alistair’s broke (as in: must-find-an-heiress-ASAP broke) and trying to retreat to his crumbling country estate, but when Constantia—aka “Miss C,” the woman who once drew unflattering cartoons of him—literally falls into his path, he steps up and takes her in. Soon she’s at his estate, supposedly teaching his sisters to paint, but let’s be real—we’re all here for the slow-burn tension, hidden pasts, and will-they-won’t-they romance.

I really enjoyed the second book in the series, so I had high hopes for this one—especially with a heroine like Constantia. She’s not conventionally beautiful, she’s guarded, she’s smart… my usual catnip. And Alistair? A genuinely good guy under pressure. On paper, these two should sizzle.

But here’s the thing: while I appreciated the realism of both of them holding back (she’s protecting secrets, he’s in financial ruin), it muted the chemistry. I didn’t feel that delicious romantic tension until well past the halfway mark—closer to 60%. Before that, it felt more like a polite dance than a smouldering slow burn. Add to that a slightly more serious tone—missing some of the humour that sparkled in book two—and it just didn’t quite hit the high notes for me.

Still, it’s a nice love story. A solid three stars from me. I’m definitely sticking with the series—there’s potential in the setup for the next one. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Lady Makes Her Mark was a decent light read. Constantia must leave once again after a letter threatens to reveal her identity. Only she is injured in her way out of London by a carriage and who should help her but the Earl of Ryland, the target of her cartoons.

Alistair recognizes the artist who has made it her mission to ridicule him in her cartoons but he must help her no matter that he has no money in which to help himself let alone another person

Alistair decides to allow Constantia come to his home to become a drawing teacher for his many sisters and she agrees as she has nowhere else to go.

While the sparks fly between the two, the relationship between the two feels less developed and the ending is ridiculous honestly. But it is light romance.

3 stars

The Lady Makes a Mark by Susanna Craig is part of a series is about the women behind an anonymous magazine for young women. Women publishing a magazine in Regency London is quite scandalous, so all of the women involved keep their identities secret for fear of being ostracized socially.

Artist Constantia Cooper draws satirical cartoons for the magazine under the name Miss C. When her identity is in danger of being made public, she decides to run, because she has a secret past that she's afraid will catch up with her. After an accident, she ends up at the house of the impoverished Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland, which is awkward since he's a frequent target of Miss C's cartoons. Despite this, he helps her escape from London and brings her to his family estate to be an art teacher for his five unmarried sisters. Sparks fly between Constantia and Alistair, but she's got secrets and he needs to wed an heiress to save his estate and provide dowries for his sisters.

This book has all the things I love about historical romance: a road trip, only one bed, enemies to lovers, an impoverished estate, a secret past, danger, women fighting societal standards, fake amnesia, and mutual pining. Constantia and Alistair are very into each other, but there are a lot of obstacles keeping them from coming together. I particularly liked how they had to overcome the fact that she's been publishing nasty cartoons of him, based on her dislike of rakes and her mistaken impression of him.

Although this book is part of a series, it's not really necessary to read them in order. This book takes place concurrently with the second book. There are some mild spoilers for the earlier books, but nothing major.

Whew I did not see this one coming! It is a delightful ending and beginning to Mrs Goode’s Magazine for Misses!
We have Miss Constantia who is always on the run! She knows someone is after her but always is one step ahead of them!
When she visits the magazine and is given very startling news she runs again before hearing all of it right into a carriage accident!
Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland observed the accident and with enough on his impoverished plate intervenes and now he’s stuck with the very person who has made fun of him!
Constantia fakes amnesia and her fear of someone following her makes her agree to go far from London and become a drawing or art teacher to Alistair s sisters!
Alistair is so broke he was planning on taking the mail coach but thanks to Constantia they are able to travel in comfort!
These two have chemistry a plenty but no reason to act on it! She is a teacher and Alistair must make a hard choice of marrying for money to save his estate!
Alistair finds himself in poverty from a selfish father who lived and breathed art! Constantia is also a gifted artist but no where near as obsessed as Alistair’s father was!
These two can’t possibly have a future can they? What if Constantia stops running and find out why someone wants to find her!?
The true facts of her birth are so impossible and extraordinary it must be read to be believed! Bravo what an inspirational story!

In a vibrant world of satire and romance, Constantia Cooper, known as "Miss C.," is a talented cartoonist for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses, using her wit to critique society. However, her anonymity is crucial as she's drawn the ire of many powerful figures, including Alistair Haythorne, the Earl of Ryland, who often finds himself the subject of her biting humor. When a scandal at the magazine puts her in danger, Constantia flees, only to be struck by a carriage right outside Alistair's home. Rescued by the very man she has lampooned, she pretends to have amnesia to evade her pursuers. Alistair, burdened by the financial strain of his crumbling estate and the pressure to marry a wealthy heiress, takes Constantia in under the guise of needing her to teach his sisters art. As they spend time together, their assumptions about one another begin to shift, revealing unexpected layers of personality and vulnerability. Amid their developing romance, threats against Constantia's life loom, complicating their budding relationship. With humor, tension, and the allure of secrets, this novel explores how love can thrive even in the face of danger and societal expectations.

Romance readers will love the delightful chemistry between Constantia and Alistair, two characters with engaging secrets and sharp wit. The slow-burn romance is filled with tension and misunderstandings, making for a captivating read as their relationship evolves. The addition of Alistair's sisters adds a playful dynamic, enhancing the narrative with humorous moments and heartfelt connections. The book's setting in a historical era infuses a sense of adventure and intrigue, while Constantia's cleverness as a cartoonist provides a refreshing twist on traditional romantic tropes. Readers will be surprised by the fun plot twist, as well as the satisfying fairy-tale ending that leaves you craving more stories from this charming world. All in all, a fun read that is easy to get lost in. I've read and reviewed some of this authors other books and this one is just as enjoyable. This particular series has been a lot of fun. Here is the review for book #2. Book #3 is out May 27, 2025. Thanks for Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Constantia has been on the run for years. She thinks someone is trying to kill her. When all the women working at Mrs. Goode's magazine for Misses receive a threatening note, she takes off running into the street and is hit by a carriage in front of Alistair's house. Good Samaritans bring her inside and when she wakes she feigns amnesia. Alistair knows she's faking her memory loss but goes along with it realizing she needs help. He's on his way to his crumbling country estate because he's broke and renting out the main house. With seven sisters, five still unmarried, he's in desperate straits. Constantia is the magazine's cartoonist, so he'll bring her along to teach his sisters art even though he's often been the subject of her satirical cartoons. I thought this set-up would be full of excitement but it was actually very mellow and slow. The fairy tale ending was no surprise. I enjoyed his sisters and hope to see them in future books.