A well developed racially diverse book that portrayed the biases of the time realistically.

Ada is on a mission to rescue her brother and recruits his friend Basil to help. Their relationship of the course of the mission develops but is thwarted on every front since Ada is half Chinese. The conversations and interactions between the protagonists but the romance could have probably had more build-up time.

Ready to read books 2 and 3.

#netgalley #MissThornfieldsDaringBargain

Historical romance? I'm in.
FMC is discriminated against, and she is not part of the Ton? Never seen this. I mean, women were discriminated against because of their gender a lot around this time, but this story has a racist component. I'M IN!
MMC is her brother's friend, and he is the second son and not the heir? I love this! The difficulties of the second son if their parents are not rich enough can make a great story. I'M IN!
I listened to the audiobook, and it was great! I hope the author and the narrator can work together again. They make a great team!

3.5
This was an enjoyable, cute little book. I was initially drawn to it because of the cover. I love when Historical Romance books have POC protagonists. I was pleased that the cover actually matched the character for once.

I was sold on this story and the characters from the Prologue. I'm a sucker for female friends who defend and support each other. Luckily Ada and her friends check off all the things I love about these little friend groups; fiercely loyal, sense of social justice, slightly rebellious, and willing to speak their minds and take matters into their own hands.

I was a bit annoyed with Basil's reasons for the third act "breakup", but I often get frustrated with communication breakdowns and "for your protection" male bullshit. Outside of that, I really liked Ada and Basil's relationship and had fun listening to this book. I'm looking forward to continuing the series as the next two audiobooks release.

As far as narration, I was very impressed by Mei Mei MacLeod. The voice she chose for Basil didn't match how I saw him in my head exactly, but you could distinguish which character was speaking just through her voicework, and her various accents were impeccable. She's also only one of maybe 3 narrators I've heard correctly pronounce the word "timbre", so mad props for that.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia/Recorded Books for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

🎧 Title: Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain-The Troublemaker's Trilogy#1

✍🏾 Author: Addy Du Lac- I read One Season with the Duke and gave it 4*

📅Publication date: 5/13/25 | Read:6/5/25

🗣️Narrator: Mei Mei MacLeod voices all the characters with standouts from Ada, Basil, and Richard. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍♀️‍➡️Run Time: 7:39

Genre:
*Victorian Historical Romance
*Multicultural Interests
*Mystery

Tropes:
*marriage of convenience
*arranged marriage
*female/male friendship
*brother's best friend
*slow burn romance

👆🏾POV: 3rd person dual

⚠️TW: kidnapping, racism, classism, bullying, physical abuse, death of parents, virgin h

🌎 Setting: London, 1851

Summary: Ada suffered from bigotry and abuse at boarding school when she was fifteen until she met misfits-Elodia and Regina. Now, she lives with her brother Richard after their parent's deaths, but he goes missing. His friend Basil saw him kidnapped and is willing to do anything to get him back. He connects with Ada to protect her, and her friends suggest a marriage of convenience. Ada wants to save the mills and find Richard while under Basil's protection.


👩🏾 Heroine: Adelaide "Ada" Thornfield-20, half Chinese/half white out for the season

👨🏾 Hero: Basil Thompson-32, Richard's BFF went to school together, a 2nd son

🎭 Other Characters:

* Richard Thornfield- Ada's older brother
* Elodia "Ellie" Hawthorne + Regina "Gigi" Mason-Ada's BFFs from Ms. Pollitt's School for Young Ladies
* Mr. Trent-Richard's foreman for their family's merchant business
* Lady Sterling + Viscount Gerald-Basil's parents
* Hamilton-Basil's brother
* Leo-a private detective & Richard and Basil's BFF
* Felicity Ashwood-was to be Basil's betrothed, chosen by his father

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the POC rep with Ada, Regina, and Elodia. Ada was naive to trust Mr. Trent who was creepy to me. She took a chance on Basil, and it paid off. Her friends were so supportive and cared about protecting her. I rooted for Basil and Ada as they slowly fell in love and ignored all the people against their relationship-mainly Basil's family.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 4/5 🌶️ kissing, H/h 1st time together

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, RB Media | Recorded Books, and Addy Du Lac for this ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book, I thought it was kind of unique for the genre but I wanted more yearning/tension. I also.qas disappointed that the MMC didn't really work for the resolution but I was also happy for the FMC for taking charge.

Overall an entertaining book and will be reading more from this author in the future

Rating 5⭐
Spice 🌶️.5

ALC REVIEW

I didn't know what I was expecting, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had a lot more comedic relief than mystery. And for some reason, my brain didn't compute that the story was historical romance lol. So that was fun lol.

I really loved Ada's friendship dynamic with Elodie and Regina. It really pour the emotions of true love and loyalty what pure friendship have for each other. Not to mention the 3 of them basically kidnapped Basil to marry Ada lol

The pacing of the story was quick, but surprisingly I personally didn't feel it was rushed. Was the romanced rushed? Well sure, but its historical ficiton, it can't be as bad a Bridgerton Book 2 (ifyjyk).

I can't wait for Regina's book next, as it's heavily implied what its going to entail.

I received the ARC through Netgallery.

This is an historical romance. I loved the storyline and characters. The narrator did a great job. 5 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and RB Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

was given the ALC by NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars, rounded up.

Slowly just migrating my way back into historical fiction/romances/thrillers etc, and it’s just making my little heart happy.

I really enjoyed this book, the trio of what will be the main female characters for this series are tight-nit friends and ride-or-die for each other. For the first book we have Adelaide (Ada) and Basil, they get married as a way to protect her dowry and try to find Ada’s brother, who had gone missing.

One thing leads to another once her brother is rescued (partially saving himself honestly), and the marriage of convenience turns into one that might be ideal for them both.

The pacing was good, the storyline was low stakes but engaging to keep one intrigued. I loved the development of Basil and Ada’s relationship, was it a bit rushed? Sure, but I wasn’t bothered. And there is a nice sprinkling of spice.

Excellent first instalment to this trilogy, give me the next one!

First in a new series by a newer author.

There are many aspects about this I like- I like the introduction of other cultures, I like the three ladies, the plot had good moments. But I feel the writing isn't very polished. And the character development could be better. I have hopes for future endeavors by the author. I will definitely check out the rest of the series, as I do like the three ladies so well.

Mei Mei MacLeod narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain is an absolute gem of a historical romance that hits all the right notes—witty, emotionally resonant, and delightfully bold. Addy Du Lac crafts a heroine who is as clever as she is courageous, and a hero whose brooding exterior hides a deeply honourable soul. Their chemistry crackles from the first page, and the stakes of their bargain unfold with irresistible tension.

What sets this book apart is how effortlessly it balances classic Regency charm with a thoroughly modern sensibility. Miss Thornfield is no passive damsel; she’s a woman with agency, ambition, and a sharp tongue that makes for sparkling dialogue. The plot is engaging, with just the right amount of twists to keep the pages turning, and the emotional payoff is deeply satisfying.

Du Lac’s prose is elegant and immersive, painting a vivid picture of the era without ever bogging down the pace. Fans of Tessa Dare and Evie Dunmore will find much to love here. This is the kind of book you stay up too late reading—and then immediately recommend to all your friends.

A triumphant, swoon-worthy read. I’ll be eagerly awaiting Addy Du Lac’s next release.

I requested this book because I read Addy Du Lac’s book with entangled when it came out and there was a good amount of angst and characters who didn’t always do the right thing. Unfortunately, this one was lacking in the tension I was craving. It was a nice story with a great narrator, but it struggled to capture my attention for long periods of time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5


I received a a free ALC from the publishers. All opinions are honest and my own.

Para empezar aclaro que este es de los primeros libros que leo de romance histórico, por lo tanto no tengo mucho con que compararlo.

Me gustó Ada, su personalidad es muy agradable y si bien parecía tener tendencia a ser mas calmada no dudo en defenderse, ni se dejaba engañar fácilmente. Me pareció acertado que el libro fuera desde diferentes puntos de vista, no solo de nuestros protagonistas, eso siempre agrega mas a la trama. Me encantaron Elodia y Regina y ya quiero leer sus libros.

"We look too different to belong here and act too different to belong there. We are both of us caught in the middle."

Como persona que emigró desde niña esta frase realmente me conmovió mucho, siento que es un sentimiento en comun que compartimos.

Por otro lado no me gustó mucho que el libro contiene representaciones de racismo, xenofobia y sexismo explícitas. Entiendo que es algo que debe ser representado en libros, pero siento que tratandose de un romance es mejor hacerlo de forma implícita, aunque sé que es una preferencia personal. Tambien me hubiese gustado mas que el romance se desarrolla de forma mas lenta, ya que despues de muy pocas interacciones lo protagonistas ya estaban seguros de sus sentimientos.

3.5/5⭐
5/5🎧 (solo)

El audiolibro (en inglés) está narrado por Mei Mei MacLeod quien hace un excelente trabajo.

If you love Bridgerton, you’re going to devour this book.

Set in a lush, historical romance era with that same Bridgerton-esque flair, this story stands out with its beautifully diverse cast, especially the Asian female lead, Addie, who steals the show. When her brother is kidnapped and tortured over a debt, Addie is forced into a marriage of convenience with a powerful (and very swoon-worthy) white aristocrat who just so happens to be her brother’s best friend. Plus, there is a delicious slow burn and one-bed situation.

Addie’s fierce loyalty and the close-knit group of besties who rally around her add so much heart and strength to the narrative. The book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like racism and classism, but handles them with care and impact.

This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last

Ada Thornfield was ostracized from a young age for being half Chinese, and her parents deaths leave her brother Richard as her only remaining family. At twenty years old she is looking forward to entering the season this year when her brother suddenly goes missing. Richard’s best friend, Basil, goes to find Ada to ensure she’s safe from these kidnappers and together they devise a plan to marry in order to protect the Thornfield family business in case the worst has happened to Ada’s brother. Its the perfect plan, once Richard is found they can annul the marriage and part ways amicably, and in the worst case scenario Ada can still have control of her family’s legacy. It’s simple, as long as they don’t develop any complicating feelings…

I listened to the audiobook version of Miss Thornfield’s Daring Bargain and I really have to give credit to the narrator Mei Mei MacLeod! Her voice brought life to the story and she did a wonderful job with all the different characters and pacing. I really enjoyed listening to her!

The premise of this book is what drew me in, and the unique cast of characters and storyline kept me. I really liked Ada as a main character, she was capable and had conviction but was still sweet and loyal to her family. Her friends were funny and it was endearing how they did their best to help with her brothers disappearance, but also were protective when it came to Basil. The multicultural representation and prejudices Ada and her family experienced were well done and I liked that it was a real plot point and realistic portrayal of issues people of color experience on a regular basis. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story and am happy what Addy DuLac has brought to the table!

The general idea of the book was lovely, however I do think the execution could have been a bit better. Ada and Basil did have instalove/lust and that brought me out of their romance. It seemed unrealistic that after five years of not seeing or speaking to each other, not to mention the last time Basil saw Ada was when she was still a child, that he would suddenly be overwhelmed with desire for her as a woman. Also, Ada at one point, and quite literally days after her brother is kidnapped, is thinking that she’s a little happy about the situation because it let her be in this position with Basil? That’s a little crazy. Their relationship also comes off as superficial because the majority of thoughts they about each other is purely physical and they actually haven’t spent much time together throughout the timeline of the book. I wish there had been more depth in their relationship or at least we could have seen more of it develop.

I was so excited for the plot of the book, a historical romance with kidnapping, high stakes mystery, and adventure, but all of the points of conflict seem to get resolved too quickly and easily. I wish we had more of the kidnapping arc. I actually wouldn’t have minded the kidnapping being over halfway through if the familial conflict had more of an impact on the story. There was so much setup and potential for juicy angst, tension, and forbidden romance but it seems from one page to the next, Basil’s family just completely changes their minds. There also wasn’t much follow up to Richard’s kidnapping, it would have been great if the relative they initially thought was behind it was actually behind it. Because of the way that part played out, it took out the gravity of Ada and Basil having to go through their fake marriage. The blurb promising scandal fell short as there actually wasn’t any scandal it seemed. There was the tickling of rumors and that was that.

Overall this was an enjoyable audiobook, the narrator was fantastic and the premise of the story is intriguing. I think what fell short for me was the potential. Ada and Basil had a good romance, but it could have been a GREAT one if we just had a little more emotional connection and depth. The overarching plot was exciting, but would have had me at the edge of my seat if the stakes were a little higher and consequences more real.

I do recommend giving this book a go, especially enjoyers of historical romance, brother’s best friend love interest, solving mysteries, POC representation, and strong female characters.

Daring Bargain

I struggled to write this review because the first half of the book was great and then went extremely down hill. It had great dialogue, especially in tense scenes. It was easy to follow even when multiple were people present. The narrator does an excellent job throughout. But the emphasis on how she’s grown up felt icky because harping on the fact only drew attention to it in a bad way.
All the „my best friend’s sister/my brother’s best friend” mentions eventually got on my nerve. So repetitive and uninspired. If you enjoy the trope you might have a different experience ob that front.
I found the characterizations to be believable (except for the cartoon villain) and wished Ada’s friends didn’t disappear for most of the book.

NOW.
SOME MILD SPOILERS AHEAD.
…
…
…
Ostensibly, Richard is Basil’s only friend. What about Leo? Him and Basil seem close and bonded. And Basil is Richard’s best friend, and Ada lives with Richard, how come she and Basil haven’t seen her in at least five years? It makes no sense.

THE ROMANCE.
It’s insta love. More like insta lust, really, and I hated it. They’re suddenly in love, but it feels superficial because it’s always in the context of how smooth her skin is etc. They have all this physical intimacy that is not for anyone’s benefit but haven’t actually spent much time together. Individually they’re great, but together, she becomes immature and he’s patronizing. Yuck.

PLOT AND PACING
After 50% mark/midpoint, the book dissolves into a meandering slug. The stakes are swiftly eradicated. Family tension, Basil/Richard tension, it all flies out the window.

As I said, I really enjoyed the narration and kept hoping for the book to get back on track (silly me). I definitely won’t be continuing the series, which had such important representation and started so well!! I don’t know what happened.

Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for providing me with a copy.

This book combines suspense, romance, and a touch of mystery, making for an engaging read. The story explores themes of race, entitlement, societal expectations, family relationships, and found family (though they already found it, it’s more about seeing the dynamics of their relationships with each other and how they have each other's backs). The romance is fast-paced since it develops over a short period of time. Ada knows what she wants, stands up for herself, and defends anyone she suspects is being talked about badly. She is emotional yet strong. Basil is loyal and honest. He will do anything for his friends and newly found wife. I also enjoyed that we had diverse characters.

The narration is well done. The narrator made the characters’ voices feel authentic and kept me engaged throughout.

I loved this book so much! A cute story with a different feel than any other historical book I've ever read! Ada, the main character, was definitely my favorite character in the entire story. A delicate girl, but with a lot of personality who knows exactly what she wants from life. I also really enjoyed the discussion about prejudice and image that she brings, along with the other characters. Very delicate, sensitive and well developed. I became so obsessed that I started and finished the audiobook today! Basil... my God... what a wonderful protagonist. I love this man's honesty and character! I also felt close to him, because of the value he places on friendship and his loyalty. I already want to read the other books in the series and all the other Addy books I can get my hands on! ❤️

Let me start by saying this is one of the best narrators I have heard to date. Her voices for each character were so good I would have believed it was a full cast.
The story was great, with a bit of mystery, history, and romance. The characters were interesting and make you want to follow all of the side characters in their stories next. This had a bit of a Bridgerton vibe but with an even better boss babe feel to the main character.

Rated 3.5 Stars

Miss Thornfield’s Daring Bargain was an interesting read. I loved the premise of it but wasn’t all the way sold on the reasons for the marriage and the romance was a little lacking. However, I did find it enjoyable even though it was slow moving. I loved the suspense and mystery aspect that was woven into the story. I also loved that it drew parallels between the current state of this world and the story being told. It dealt with racism, prejudice, immigrants, entitlement and so much more. I loved that it was a diverse cast of characters and can’t wait to read the next in the series.

The narrator did this story and its characters justice. I loved her characterizations she did them so well. I definitely enjoyed listening to her she made this such an entertaining and engaging read.