Enjoyed the continued story line and back story and eventual plot twist - loved the friendships and learning more about the characters.

This book was really good. I enjoyed Ivy and Edward's relationship. it was sweet. It was also spicier than I expected. Good book though. Loved the ending.

This fourth book in The Queen's Deathly Damsels series was a captivating, exciting, and heartwarming historical mystery romance. I really enjoyed the characters as they evolved both personally and also their chemistry for one another. I highly recommend reading!

Bridgerton fans looking for a historical romance addiction, look no further than the 4th in the series - the Most Unlikely Lady. I have not read the others, and it didnt matter at all, as they are stand alone books.
A gorgeous Victorian romance full of action, emotion, drama, romance, intensity and adventure, The Most Unlikely Lady is a fun historical tale with a resourceful FMC. A superb historical romance fans of the genre will read in one sitting, Darcy McGuire’s A Most Unlikely Lady is a must-read. I loved it and am going to buy the previous ones now. Also, its an absolutely beautiful cover, as they all are. Nice and bright and very eye catching.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Queen's Deadly Damsels are still working to uncover the leaders of the Devil's Sons, a sex-trafficking organization led by unknown aristocrats. On her first night as the headmistress of an orphanage, the usually timid Ivy confronts an intruder intent on kidnapping one of her charges. She musters her courage and shoots him. He's able to get away and now Edward, Duke and Police Commissioner of Scotland Yard becomes involved. He must protect Ivy and the children. No hardship since he sees the beauty and courage in Ivy that she thinks is missing. Mentally abused by her father, with the help of Edward and her Deadly Damsel friends, she discovers her empowerment and strength. The organization's Crow and Wolf are accounted for, now we need to discover the identity of the Snake. I can't wait!

I read this and a bunch of other historicals back to back, so unfortunately this one did not really stick out to me, it just blurred with the rest I have read recently.

This was an entertaining regency romance and thriller. It has a first time romance, with lots of exploration, some surprise spice, and healing after trauma. The MMC is very patient and encouraging, and let's Ivy move at her own pace, after suffering mental abuse from her family.
The crime mystery plotline was intriguing and added tension and drama, as it explores some dark layers and villainous characters in society. I liked the support from Ivy's friends, the comedy aspects when they are talking about scandalous events, and the bond Ivy has with the children.

⭐ 4
🌶️ 1.5
🥵 Spicy chapters: 15-16, 17, 21
📚 Tropes/Themes: Inspector x governess-ish, romantic suspense, spicy lessons, tortured hero, trauma healing
👀 Dual POV 3rd person
💔 Triggers: Foster care/orphanage, adoption, toxic/abusive parents, mentions of: child/sex trafficking, suicide, & being institutionalized, very slightly graphic mentions of CSA

💬 This was an enjoyable read! This is the 4th book in the Queen's Deadly Damsels series, and the second one I've read (I've read #2 and now #4 lol) but functions well as a standalone. I had grand plans to read books 1&3 but life 😅

I loved the mystery aspect- something I remember from the second book. And I didn't figure this one out until the very end so it kept me guessing. I also really loved reading as both the MCs help each other work through their trauma and heal. The romance aspect of the story was so sweet and extra swoony. You could just feel the tension between them. McGuire does a great job of blending the romance and mystery elements together into one story.

I did have some questions in the beginning that took a while to be explained which made me feel a little lost, and I realized I really dislike regency/UK slang for genitals. I get that's a weird thing to realize but since this is spicy and the commissioner has a very dirty mouth 😏 it stuck out to me.

I would caution readers to check triggers with this book, it was darker than I expected and while most things were just mentioned as part of their past, they are important to the plot.

This fourth book in the story is a cute one with a lot of 🌶️. Ivy and Edward were a sweet couple, but really Philippa and Olivia were much more interesting to read . I anticipate an enemies to lovers for those two ladies soon .

My rating 3.5 ⭐️

Overall, this was an enjoyable and intriguing read. I love when historical romance mixes with mystery, adding suspense and tension, and this series has both of them. While I enjoyed the mystery part in which the Duchess of Dorset and her Damsels, better known as Queen Victoria’s Deadly Damsels, work hard to take down the Devil’s Sons, a group of powerful men involved in human trafficking and prostitution, I wasn’t very convinced by the romance aspect. I am not a fan of insta-love, so Edward and Ivy’s romance didn’t really work for me and, sometimes, I felt it repetitive and that it took too much of the story. A Most Unlikely Lady is not my favourite book of the series, but I will definitely keep reading it.

Without a doubt, this is the best book in the series so far! From the very first page, the plot pulls you in with its gripping tension, layers of secrets, and a delicious undercurrent of mystery. The chemistry between the characters crackles with energy, and the romance? Absolute chef’s kiss — the perfect blend of instant attraction and a deeper, meaningful connection as they get to know each other.

I especially adored the forced proximity trope and the playful “please teach me” moment (you know the one 👀).

We also make serious progress on the Devil’s Sons storyline, and get some juicy glimpses into Philipa’s arc — I’m beyond excited for her book!

Highly, highly recommend this one — it's a must-read for fans of romance with depth, drama, and just the right amount of spice.

BOOK: A MOST UNLIKELY LADY
AUTHOR: DARCY MAGUIRE
PUB DATE: JUNE, 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🥷🏼👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏼
For me, this book was an okay read, it's smack in the middle. I liked the FMC, I didn't really like the MMC and I felt the book was more focused on the romance and I didn't get much on the mysterious band of bad guys they were fighting. It was disappointing because I wanted more of that.
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The FMC was amazing and she overcame so much trauma from the men in her life. She really grew into herself as the headmistress of the orphanage and I admired how hard she worked and cared for the kids. I liked the MMC in the beginning, but that soured when I read what he did. As far as I'm concerned, he was guilty and should feel guilty!
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I liked the other side characters, especially the women who fought hard to keep the snake, the wolf, the crow. It was brave of them and they all seem interesting. I wouldn't mind reading other books in the series.
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The book was okay, the characters had an okay chemistry and relationship and I'm glad the bad guys were taken care of. It was a fast, simple read.
🥷🏼👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏼

Another entertaining read in this series filled with witty dialogue, emotional trauma and strong protagonists. And of course a fulfilling romance with some great and well written open door scenes.

I liked Ivy, I liked Edward and they just suited each other well.

#AMostUnlikelyLady #NetGalley

It's Ivy's story in the fourth book in The Queen's Deadly Damsel series. It's a romantic tale with a curious mix of naivety and passion. When Ivy has a dangerous encounter in her new role, she draws the attention of Police Commissioner Edward Worthington. Forced proximity increases the attraction. Ivy may be naive, but she is courageous and a valued member of the Deadly Damsels, and she proves this on more than one occasion. Both Ivy and Edward have dark pasts, which they must come to terms with before they can find happiness together. I like the fast-paced storytelling, the spicy romance and the dynamic between the damsels. It's a lovely story full of humour, poignancy and romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I just love that I can pick up a book from this series and KNOW it is going to be good. This was no exception! Definitely more romance forward, but I just adored Ivy and Edward so much that I honestly didn't really care that their blossoming relationship took up all the oxygen in the room.

Lady Ivy Cavendale has watched all her friends find their partners and happiness. But that life will never be for her -- her father has made sure of that. But when the Police Commissioner Edward Worthington is forced to move into the orphanage she now manages in order to keep her and the children safe, she is surprised by the feelings that his presence inspires.

Edward has his own reasons for never wanting to marry, but he can help Ivy learn how good it can be between two people who trust and admire each other. He is desperate to teach her that sex is something to be cherished, not feared. He just needs to make sure he never asks for too much.

Tender and beautifully written, quickly becoming one of my favorite all-time historical romance series!

Loved that we got to have Ivy’s story. Her and Edward had such good chemistry and helped each other overcome the demons of their past.

This was very nearly a 5 /5⭐️ from me! It made me laugh, made me tear up, and even blushed! It reminded me of Jane Eyre's meets Bridgerton, and I loved the dark mystery moved into the plot.

It blew me away how much I fell for this book! Life was really an inconvenience because I could NOT put it down! I struggled with the upper class POV to begin with, and I was worried the characters would grate on me with their hoity toityness, but around 25% in, I was hooked!

I loved the inner monologue throughout the book as if the characters were arguing with themselves. They were so funny and full of banter!

The FMC is your typical delicate little "wallflower" but with a fiesty protective side to her that ignites a passionate flame in the broody MMC. Together, they explore their growing relationship (and eachother) and there's one scene in particular (IYKYK) that will definitely get your heart racing! If there were more scenes like that, it would have made it a 5/5 for sure, but I like my spice as smutty as it comes, so maybe I am just being too greedy!

I have never been more excited to realise that this was 1 of 4 standalones in the series, never run so fast to Amazon for the others!

Another fun historical cozy mystery from Darcy McGuire. Loved it and can’t wait for her next in the series!

I absolutely adored this book and love all books by Darcy McGuire!! Can't recommend this series more !!

I'd say generally any of these books can be read as standalones (this is the fourth book in the series) though there are small spoilers for the previous books. Each book has is own unique characters and plot, though Ivy (the main fmc) was a background character in the previous books. I love when books get straight into the action instead of setting the scene, worldbuilding etc, from the first few sentences this book takes of running!

Ivy and Edward's chemistry and love grew naturally throughout the novel, and I felt that instead of being distracted by the criminal subplot it added just enough tension to keep me on my toes!

This was a great book! I really enjoyed the character development, strong friendships, and witty banter (especially between Edward/Reading and Philippa/Stokes). All of the characters were easy to relate to, and the book was smooth to read and very engaging.

I enjoyed that Edward and Ivy had quite a bit of chemistry in all of their interactions, especially towards the end of the story. Their personalities really seemed to fit together well, and I loved the support and advice Ivy received from her friends (and the fact that all of their husbands were huge green flags)! The mystery portion of the story that they needed to investigate and figure out was also very engaging.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review. Overall, I would recommend this book and any others that the author writes!