Although I haven't read the other books in the series, I absolutely adored this final installment in the Marleigh Sisters series. Mira is clever, bold, and refreshingly unladylike in all the best ways. The mystery kept me guessing, the romance was slow-burn perfection, and the setting in Devonshire added a moody, windswept charm. Amita Murray has a gift for blending sharp humor with emotional depth. The stakes feel real, and the characters are delightfully messy and human. If you love historical fiction with a feminist twist, a dash of scandal, and a heroine who refuses to play by society’s rules, this one’s for you.

As a disclaimer, I DNFed this book so my review is based off of what I did read. I was honestly just not hooked by what I did read and really wasn't encouraged to continue.

This story is written with a diverse perspective which I enjoyed. I have not read other books in the series as this was a free advance copy I received. I had no issues with not reading the other stories and didn't even realize it was third in a series. Mira is a complex character who does a great job of hiding her feelings. The cast of characters are amusing and add a lot to the story. The pacing of the story felt a little slow to me, but it was still an enjoyable read.

It was an easy, room-com read. Entertaining to get through. It was good to see the Marleigh sisters all get their happy endings. I give 3 stars because it was good, but it was a predictable romance.

3 of 5 stars

This felt like Bridgerton’s talkative cousin who can’t help repeating themselves. The book had real potential though. I mean, a secret gossip columnist, a suspicious murder, a brooding wrongly-accused love interest, it was all there.
But the execution got bogged down in clunky repetition and name-dropping every other sentence. And I do mean every other sentence. Why?!

Chemistry wise Mira and Finn have decent chemistry, though they fall for each other faster than you can say “Finnegan Underwood” (and you’ll be saying it a lot). Sorry couldn’t help myself. Much like the author.

The romance takes the lead while the mystery mostly loiters in the background, occasionally waving for attention. I don’t really know if the mystery was necessary because of that. Felt like it was just there to be there.

That said, the diverse cast (my fave part) and the initial setup kept it from being a complete miss. There’s something charming about it, if you’re not bothered by certain quirks with the writing style. The plot was messy and chaotic at times, and definitely over-explained, but I can’t say it was boring.

ARC provided by NetGalley, review is my voluntary.

I really enjoyed that this book has diverse characters, mystery, and intrigue. More specifically, the characters have interesting backstories that I find are generally lacking in other historical romance books. For example, the FMC is from India and the MMC is from the West Indies. Furthermore, their backgrounds actually play significant roles in their current lives and ways of thinking and behaving. The mystery element is also nice, although I personally don't think histroms need mystery in order to be interesting.
I think this is what the Bridgerton series wishes it were. Well done!

An Unladylike Secret by Amita Murray isa great historical fiction romance.
I enjoyed this a lot and am looking forward to the other installments.

After reading the first book in the Marleigh Sisters series, I was convinced that this is the historical romance series for= viewers of Netflix's Bridgerton. The eponymous sisters are three illegitimate daughters whose mother was Indian and whose father was English. All three are pursuing unconventional careers, and all three have tenuous ties to Society. The first book, Unladylike Lessons in Love, introduces us to a fashionable gambling club. The second book, Unladylike Rules of Attraction, even features a cameo from Queen Charlotte. And the FMC of this one, An Unladylike Secret, is a celebrated anonymous gossip columnist. Not only are the three sisters of Indian origin, the series also includes other BIPOC and LGBTQ+ characters. Ever since the first season of Bridgerton aired, every new historical romance series is pitched as "Bridgerton meets [insert trope here]!" But in this case, I think it's actually a fair comparison to say this is Bridgerton Meets Romantic Suspense.

OK, let's talk more about this specific book! As I said, this is the 3rd in the Marleigh Sisters series, and it focuses on the youngest Marleigh sister, Mira. Mira is a gossip columnist who, months ago, reported overhearing an argument between the Underwood brothers during which Finnegan Underwood (illegitimate older son) threatened to slit his younger, legitimate brother, Stephen Underwood's, throat. When Stephen ends up dead a few weeks later under suspicious circumstances, Finn is forced to go on the run (especially since he was found next to his brother's body). Stephen's widow begs the anonymous gossip columnist to help clear Finn's name, as she's convinced he didn't do it (and it's better for her, financially).

Since this is a romance novel, it's perhaps unsurprising that Mira ends up falling for Finn. But the conflict involves more than just clearing his name, since Finn holds a grudge against the "tawdry, cheap" writer who ruined his reputation and his life. What did surprise me was how quickly Finn and Mira get together, and how relatively drawn out the resolution to the mystery plot felt. This makes sense, since the mystery takes a back seat to the romance (Finn doesn't much care about clearing his name except that it's preventing him from being with Mira). That said, I thought the pacing worked really well, and I liked that the early relationship building led to a believable crisis later in the text. The true focal character here is Mira, although Finn does get a few POV chapters, and I personally thought it was great.

Do I recommend reading this on its own? Maybe - I don't think you miss any plot points from skipping the other books. But I do recommend the full series, especially for people looking for more diverse historical romance reads!

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

An Unladylike Secret is the third book in Amita Murray's charming historical romance series The Marleigh Sisters. The heroines are Anglo-Indian women, which was a nice change of pace. The series arc dealt with the three oldest sisters, and my question is this: Are we going to get a chance to find out about their missing younger triplet sisters?! Please don't leave me hanging!

Mira Marleigh lives with her dear friend Ursula and accompanies her to society events. Little does anyone know, besides her sisters and Ursula, that Mira is the anonymous author of one of the most popular society circulars under the nom de plume Aurelius. Keeping a low profile allows Mira to see and hear all that's going on. One of Mira's circulars reported on the heated argument between brothers Finnegan and Stephen Underwood. When Stephen turns up dead two days later, her circular had everyone believing that Finn killed his brother. Mira heads to Devonshire to search for the real culprit. While there, Stephen's widow Lucretia is desperate for Aurelius's help to prove Finn innocent. Mira, acting as Aurelius's "assistant", agrees to help. When she meets Finn, who is on the run and has turned to smuggling, she must keep the secret of her authorship from the intriguing man while the attraction between them blazes. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!"

I have really enjoyed this fun series! The premise of three sisters who are estranged but are beginning to reconnect with each other has been very interesting. The sisters are all wonderful characters; but like the two prior books, it's the leading men who make this series shine! Let's start with Mira. She seems to be a prickly woman to me, having to keep her true self from everyone but her sisters and best friend. It's difficult for her, having to keep her successful writings a secret; her publisher doesn't think anyone would read her circular if it was known the writer was female. The more I got to know her, however, the more likable she became, her insecurities making her more approachable. Her parents died by drowning, and she was terrified she would die the same way. Her sisters tried to get her back into their lives, but she resisted. But Finn? Oh, no, he could not be resisted! Finn was my favorite character; I just adored him! He was the son of a white man and an enslaved woman. Since he was illegitimate, he could not inherit his father's estate. He was, though, left property in Surrey from an uncle. His brother Stephen did not treat Finn kindly at all. They had an argument when Finn was trying to get Stephen to behave responsibly. When he would not, Finn threatened to kill him. Days later Stephen was dead and Finn was on the run, smuggling and trying to avoid Bow Street Runners. He was entranced by Mira, even when she was yelling at him. She did not tell him her true identity; that didn't end well. The two had amazing chemistry. Steamy times were just that; have ice close at hand. There were secrets, lies, revelations and reunions. Finn was my favorite character, but two others really stood out. Ursula, Mira's best friend, was always studying plants, but she also had a dry sense of humor that made me chuckle. (And it seems Ursula had a wee secret of her own!). And Kenneth...oh, how I loved Kenneth! He was a homosexual man in a time when it was illegal and deadly. He agreed to be the face of Aurelius at Mira's request, and he had me laughing every time he appeared (except for the couple of times he made me cry). The duel between Kenneth and Finn was the highlight of the book! Now, do we get to find out about the missing triplets, please?

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Loads of action and mystery in this one. Mira is a secret gossip columnist who may have contributed to a man being accused of murdering his own brother. She’s at the Devonshire coast with her roommate and friend to find out more about the situation from the deceased man’s widow. And of course, she crosses paths with our dear fugitive Finn and maybe kinda sorta falls in love with him. But they’re got a mystery to solve and an innocence to prove, all while Finn does not know that Mira is the writer behind his downfall. Loved all the tangled web of plot in this book.

As always, Amita Murray marries regency era romance with mystery, intrigue and just a bit of darkness. I enjoyed the final book in the Marleigh sister's journey. Mira was a nice character to follow, seeing her character grow into a more outspoken and proud version of herself. I can't say I was moved by her romance with Finn though, they were okay. It felt very insta love which isn't my favorite. The murder mystery aspect was very fun, though I did find myself getting a little lost at times. The ending was a bit abrupt for my taste as well, I would have liked an epilogue picking up after all the conflict was taken care of and to see them shine as a full couple. There's a lot going on in this one, I would recommend reading the first two books before this one, as it keeps you informed of the world and family relations a bit better.

TW: brief mention of CSA, nothing too graphic but it could be unsettling for those with triggers around that subject.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyage for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

After finishing An Unladlylike Secret I have to go back and read the first two books! I loved Mira's character development as she figures out what her future holds. This is a historical fiction romance meets murder mystery. What we can witness is just a glimpse of the full story. While the actual romance part was pretty sudden - for my tastes - I loved their interactions. I loved reading An Unladylike Secret before bed. We are able to see both Mira and Finn's perspectives and witness the angst, miscommunications, and yearning.

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

This is the third book in the series and focuses on the third Marleigh sister, Mira, who is a society reporter.

The book follows the adventures of Mira and Finn, who Mira ‘accused’ of murdering his stepbrother and must now work with him to clear his name.

I enjoyed it because of the mystery which kept me guessing and for the multicultural aspect. The author briefly explored the issue of colonialism and slave trade and I loved the main characters’ dialogue.

There were some hilarious scenes and all the characters delivered. The description of the Devon coast was superb. I enjoyed Mira’s reunion with her sisters.

If you love historical romance with a dash of danger then you should read this.

Mira is one of the Anglo-Indian Marleigh sisters in Regency England, and she secretly writes a circular filled with the latest spicy society gossip. Her most recent article nearly accuses Finnegan Underwood of murdering his brother, a claim that throws both his life and hers into turmoil.

This book is a captivating blend of romance, mystery, historical fiction, and social commentary on class and race. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself turning pages quickly. 4 stars.

Thank you to Avon Paperback and NetGalley for providing an early read in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. 4 stars.

An Unladylike Secret is a Regency romance with a dash of mystery, following Mira Marleigh—a woman living quietly on the surface but secretly writing a gossip column under the name “Aurelius.” Things take a turn when one of her articles leads to a murder accusation, and she ends up teaming up with the accused, Finnegan Underwood, to find out what really happened.

The premise is fun, and the banter between characters—especially Finn and Mira’s friend Ursula—really works. The writing is engaging, and there’s definitely some charm to the story. But overall, the plot felt a bit all over the place. There’s a lot going on, and while it never gets boring, it also never really dives deep into anything. The mystery doesn’t pick up until late in the book, and the romance happens quickly without much build-up.

Mira is a tricky character. She’s complex, which is great in theory, but she often comes across as a bad friend, sister, and partner—and she doesn’t really grow much by the end. Finn, on the other hand, is a standout. He’s well-written and easily the highlight of the book for me.

So while the story didn’t fully click for me, the writing and a few strong characters kept me reading. If you’re into historical romances with smart dialogue and don’t mind a lighter mystery, this one might be up your alley.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for an advanced copy in exchange for and honest review.

"From the author of Unladylike Rules of Attraction comes the swoon-worthy, suspenseful final installment of the Marleigh Sisters series.

Mira Marleigh, as far as the public is concerned, is an unassuming companion. She quietly drifts through London society accompanying her dear friend and confidant, Ursula. Mira flies under the radar, which is exactly how she likes it, because unbeknownst to everyone besides her sisters and Ursula, she is the anonymous author of one of the most popular society circulars under the pseudonym Aurelius. As a purveyor of society gossip, keeping a low profile allows her to see and hear nearly everything. But is this prosaic, passionless persona that she has carefully constructed really who Mira wants to be?

When one of her circulars detailing a heated argument between the blue-blooded brothers Stephen and Finnegan Underwood ends up as the basis for the case against Finnegan when Stephen turns up dead not two days later, Stephen's widow, Lucretia, is desperate for Aurelius's help in proving Finnegan innocent. So, acting as Aurelius's "assistant," Mira travels to the coastal town of Devonshire where she agrees to help the young widow.

But a chance seaside encounter with a smoldering mystery man might change everything...will he be the key to unlocking the truth, and perhaps Mira's heart, or could he be her downfall?"

I'm just saying, if you're trying to stay undercover, don't pose as an assistant...

The premise of An Unladylike Secret initially intrigued me. A gossip columnist named Mira accidentally implicates someone in a murder and then teams up with him to uncover the real culprit.
Unfortunately, the execution left a lot to be desired. I won’t say this book was bad as it was obvious by the descriptions that this was a labor of love for the author, but I had to force myself to turn the pages. There was action and the mystery was pretty much fleshed out but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being underwhelmed. The mystery itself was intriguing enough but I had hoped that by the end I would be so enthralled I’d go back to read the stories of her sisters, but I found I didn’t care how we had come to this point in their stories.
Finn was a delight, but the class distinctions made no sense. The belief that one of them could move in society with ease while the other could not was something that pulled me out of the story given the historical context. I also didn’t like Mira. She had nothing to recommend as a friend or a lover and her inner dialogue kept me from connecting with her. She wasn’t bad per say but just Eh. I may go back and start with the other two books for context but for now this book is a solid 3 Stars.
I didn’t hate this book, I just really struggled with be immersed in the story. I just could not get invested in the plot.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I really liked book 1 in the series, quickly got bored with book 2, and book 3 was disappointing as well. I'm not sure what it is, but I am guessing the authors writing style is what bothers me the most. it's tedious at best.

#netgalley #AnUnladylikeSecret

Thank you Book Club Girl for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy. I enjoyed the strong female lead character of the book, as well as the addition of LGBTQ characters in the historic time setting of the book. I would describe this as a romantic historical mystery, and it was an engaging and well written read.