Victorian Historical Romance with Suspense
He has African blood; she is half Indian. The British aristocracy is cruel to anyone who doesn’t fit their mold. Regina was destined to marry a baron, but each of her previous fiancés met an untimely end. This latest one may be the worst yet. Though marrying him makes her skin crawl, she’s willing to do it to protect her mother and sister from society’s scorn.
Then she meets Leo—a private investigator who is as dangerous as he is tempting. Could the secret buried in his family history be the key to solving her dilemma? Perhaps, but first they’ll have to survive the threat of a villain set on destruction.
I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like Victorian historical romance with suspense, class conflict, and an interracial couple facing both external danger and societal judgment.

DNF at 87% - this is just bad. The final straw is they’re being SHOT AT and he’s worried that she’s mad about not showing up for dinner?! I hate books where all the tension can literally be solved by a five minute conversation. This mmc is extraordinarily unlikable.

Another great book by Addy Du Lac! There is a lot of smoldering attraction, some outright kissing, and a bit of meddling (good and bad), all of which combine to make an engaging story. Yet, while I understand that for the time period people of the ton were to do what was considered right & proper for their station, it grated a little that both main characters had to tolerate the ignorance of others. Neither of them should have been made to feel obligated to live according to the dictates of others, and that includes parents! Aside from this, I loved it and look forward to the next in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this arc, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

This historical romance gives us a hero and heroine of mixed heritage. The difficulties they will face won't surprise anyone. However the way they deal with them is definitely entertaining. The British high society has never been keen to embrace those who look different, especially when they are more beautiful or wealthier than they are.
We have an evil villain who is killing his way to a title. How can that be proven, and can he be stopped? That is for our hero to discover, or is it?
A steamy romp, with fabulous characters and a fascinating look at other cultures and customs.
Great fun.

If you love Regency-era romance with Bridgerton vibes and a dose of action, this book is a total treat! The story stands out with its diverse cast, including a romance between an Indian woman and a Black man, which brings rich layers of cultural and racial tension into the plot. The chemistry, drama, and fast pace make it an entertaining read. While the frequent cursing feels a bit off for the historical setting, it adds a modern, edgy flavor that works if you’re reading for fun.

I found this novel interesting and enlightening, in that it illustrated cultural heritage and customs. It is also suspenseful from the beginning to its conclusion. That being said, I was unable to relate to the main characters and found the plot implausible, although the attraction between Regina and Leo blossomed and evolved into a fairytale conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I tried a new-to-me historical romance author and quite enjoyed this historically accurate depiction of multicultural Victorian England!

Rajani "Regina" Mason has been engaged to Baron Starkley since she was 15. Unfortunately, the baron keeps dying, so she's had at least 3 different fiances over the years.

Leo is a PI who just might have a baronial secret in his ancestry. But it's not worth going back to the family who disowned his grandfather for marrying a formerly enslaved woman just to get a title. When he realizes, though, that the barony comes with a fiancee he's already half in love with, it's the best argument to claim his inheritance yet.

I loved the setup and the complex feelings each character has about their relationship with England and the aristocracy. I also really liked the historically appropriate version of an equal partnership in marriage, and Rajani's frustration with her husband's refusal to meet her halfway. While I found the pacing just a little on the slow side, I'm really glad to have tried Addy DuLac's writing. I'm totally down to read more!

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

(4.5 stars)
If you love Regency-era romance with Bridgerton vibes and a dose of action, this book is a total treat! The story stands out with its diverse cast, including a romance between an Indian woman and a Black man, which brings rich layers of cultural and racial tension into the plot. The chemistry, drama, and fast pace make it an entertaining read. While the frequent cursing feels a bit off for the historical setting, it adds a modern, edgy flavor that works if you’re reading for fun.

So we have our second book in the Troublemakers Trilogy, and honestly these women are not the trouble makers! The bad guys in these books are truly awful people. I liked that both Regina and Leo are not white and they are not the same race so we were introduced to struggles that were similar but very different at the same time. When Regina finally had the hard conversation with her family, wow the feelings I felt for her. I am glad that her mother especially seem to come around but when she explained her position a little more, it seemed so blind as she explained how exemplary Regina's father had treated her. I also liked that Regina held Leo accountable when he was not acting right. Very Steamy again. I can't wait to read more by this author.


Note: This book does not ignore the race of either MC and there is some derogatory terms around race used.

Miss Mason's Secret Baron is the second book in The Troublemakers Trilogy.

Typically, historical romances are peppered with drama and mystery but are lighthearted overall. I found the issue of race from a mixed-race family interesting as well as a bit educational. In this book Regina attends a school to learn how to be a Baroness. When the story begins, we learn she is on her third fiancé and soon to be her fourth. It takes time to learn why they are dying. to our knowledge she has no feelings for them, just the desire to finally be married. As weel as put distance from Leo Kingston, a PI, she sees wherever she goes. While drawn to him, he puts everything at risk to protect her mother and sister from the racist views of the British ton.

Leo Kingston has worked hard to build a career, until a family secret is revealed which threatens his identity and future. This secret will make him long and hard about whether to carry on with the life he knows or to grab at a new life that will change everything for him and the beautiful Regina Mason, who appears to need rescuing now that her life is now being threatened.

While I found this to be an interesting story, I also found it difficult to like the character of Regina and her family. No matter how much was revealed about why they behaved as they did, there was little warmth between Regina and her mother. In the beginning, the story is more about what the family needs/wants than what is best for Regina. Of course, there must always be struggle and discourse in a story, but for me, it was hard to relate to what the family endured, because the mother was written so demanding and unyielding in her expectations for Regina. Once Regina finally marries, we see the same behavior from Regina when she does not know why her husband is keeping things from her in an effort to protect her. Again, I found it difficult to like the character.

📙Title: Miss Mason's Secret Baron-The Troublemakers Trilogy #2

✍🏾Author: Addy Du Lac -I read Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain and gave it 4 ⭐

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

Format: eBook 341 pgs.

Genre:
*Victorian Historical Romance
*Multicultural Interests

Tropes:
*love @ 1st sight
*arranged marriage
*immigrants
*assimilation
*interracial relationship

👆🏾POV: 3rd person

⚠️TW: racism, classism, SA mentioned, overbearing parents, virgin h

🌍Setting: London 1852

Summary: Regina has had a marriage contract to the title of Starkley since she was a child. After four of the Starkleys died before marrying Regina, she reconnects with Leopold who helped rescue her friends Elodia and Ada. Both are attracted to each other, but a new Starkley (Harrison) comes to claim Regina as his wife, and Regina and Leopold must deal with social injustice and hatred from the ton in order to be together.

👩🏾Heroine: Regina/Rajani Mason-22, had 4 fiancés die, can protect herself and was given a gun by her father.

👨🏾Hero: Leopold "Leo" Kingston-a private investigator, was a British officer and worked at Scotland Yard.

Other Characters:
*Mrs. Madhaui Mason + Captain Mason-Regina's parents
*Lillian- Regina's 8 yr. old sister
*Elodia 'Ellie" + Ada -Regina's BFFs
*Viscount Melbroke-Elodia's father
*William + Naomi Kingston-Leo's parents
*Mrs. Theodosia "Theo" Burghley-Harrison-was in love & engaged to Leo's great-grandfather Leopold Starkley
*Albert Upton-Mrs. Theo's nephew
*Mr. Richard Thornfield-Ada's brother/Leo's BFF and Elodia likes him
*Edward Harrison- the new Lord Starkley becomes Regina's 4th fiancé. He was a lieutenant in the army w/ Leo in India.
*Mrs. Alyssia Harrison-Edward's mother

🤔My Thoughts: I enjoyed everything from the cover to the interracial relationship between Regina and Leo. They dealt with racist people who tried to keep them in their place, but they handled it with dignity. I loathed Harrison and his mother who planned to use Regina to get what they wanted- wealth and status. I laughed at Aunt Theo and Leo's interactions because Leo loathed hand-outs or any connection to the ton. I can't wait for Elodia's book!

⭐Rating: 5/5
🔥Spice level 4/5

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Dragonblade Publishing, and Addy Du Lac for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

For as long as I can remember there has always been a belief that mixed marriage is both taboo for the couple, non acceptable to others, and incredibly harmful for the offspring, who never receive acceptance. So this second book interested me as much as the first one did and I wasn't disappointed. As a mother, who has adopted four racially different children, my heart is always both on the side of the children as well as ready to fight for any and all unacceptable put downs. This is so clearly written from two offsprings who have lived with this even back in the 1800's. We have moved forward to some degree, but it has taken hundreds of years to shift forward by even a small foot. To have an author willing to creativity bring this to the forefront for people to read and contemplate is braver abound. Well done and bravo!

Regina and Leo burned up the pages. They had such a sweet relationship. Find yourself a man who treats you like he did Regina.
Thank you to Dragonblade for the copy of this book. Op

An Anglo-Indian heiress and a private investigator from Caribbean descent; here’s a pairing you don’t read every day!

Her daddy is a former military man who did very well for himself. His arranged marriage turned into a true love match, but love can’t protect his wife and daughters against a viscous, racist ton – and so he betrothed his eldest, Regina, to a baron when she was but fourteen for protection. Now, many years and three deceased barons later, number four has finally turned up to claim his bride, except he’s a vile entitled bigot with an even worse mother...
Enter Leo, former military and Scotland Yard man turned PI with a soft spot for Regina – a soft spot she fully returns, betrothed or not – and Aunty Theo, a sarcastic brilliant old meddling bitty ready to turn everybody’s world upside down.

This was an exhilarating read! It’s a rich story; colour, flavour and culture with just the right amount of spice. On the flipside, there’s also a lot of racism, prejudice and white folk entitlement. You know exactly what’s gonna happen right from the start, but, man o man, the build up! And then the climax! Excellent!
The in between was sometimes a bit much for me, but this could absolutely be due to the fact it was nearly impossible to put this book down. These characters are intense. She’s dutiful and stubborn, a loyal daughter, struggling between what’s right and what’s right for her. He’s equally stubborn, uncertain if he wants to trade his current life for a new, even more challenging one. Her life and her happiness are in his hands, and he feels the weight.
And that’s about all I can share without giving it all away...
It’s a gorgeous, action-packed book. Different, thrilling and delicious. Read it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Heat Index: 6.5/10

—interracial romance sans white people

—expectations of assimilation

—FAMILY! SECRETS!

The Basics:

Although her father essentially sold her out when was a child—with hopes of her becoming a baroness—Regina is no closer to marrying now than she was then. And she's four dead fiancees deep. She needs to marry to make life easier for her mother and sisters, outsiders in the Ton; too bad she keeps crashing into PI Leo Kingston, who very much makes her heart (and other things) flutter. Leo is similarly distracted by Regina, which is bad because he's dealing with a family secret of massive proportions...

The Review:

Another fun, lighthearted historical romance from Addy Du Lac—which, despite that aspect, keeps its eye on the prize both in terms of love and smart observations about people of color amongst Regency England's elite.

One thing that's cool off the bat, and hard to find in any romance subgenre, not just historicals, is that this is an interracial romance... that doesn't feature a white person. Regina is biracial and of South Asian descent, and Leo is a Black man. One thing I continuously appreciate about Du Lac's historicals is that the race of her characters does matter, and it does impact them—but she takes care to make sure it's never carelessly thrown in for "points". A lot of Regina's story has to do with her being separated from her heritage as a part of this familial attempt to assimilate. While I think Du Lac is careful to not fall into "tragic outsider" stereotypes (Regina is very upfront about her life and her options) it's still quite something for our heroine to deal with. And Leo can understand some of that.

As a white reader, I really can't speak to how well Du Lac executes Regina's history and relationship with Indian culture (there are a couple of moments I wondered about from Leo's perspective, but eI also can't compare his perspective to a white hero's). There are interesting details I really appreciated, like Regina being able to speak Hindi while her sister can't, due in large part to the pressure their parents put on them to be English.

And so what happens when this woman who's had ALL of that put on her falls for a man who's in many ways the opposite of what her parents have been plotting? It's a big obstacle, and I think the chemistry between Regina and Leo makes you believe that she would be willing to risk it all for him. And this really is a "risk it all" romance.

One of the villainous forces is Regina's fiance of the moment, Harrison. I should say that he is incredibly dehumanizing to both Regina and Leo—and that's obviously the point, I get the decision and support it. Just wanted to give a heads up!

For all that it tackles heavy topics, I wouldn't call this a heavy book. Du Lac's writing style is naturally light and flows easily. She may write villains, but her heroes and heroines have (so far) been fundamentally good people who deserve love, and that's no different here. You truly do root for Regina and Leo to end up together (and, spoiler alert...).

The Sex:

The sex in this book is fairly explicit, but remains in the looooovemaking realm versus the WHAM, BAM space. It's tender and intimate, and I found the way Leo treated Regina super sweet.

The Conclusion:

I continue to appreciate Addy Du Lac for writing books that are both on the side of historical romcom and willing to acknowledge that like? Yeah? The Ton kinda sucked, dude? You can have all the fun and pageantry while weaving in some reality. Like, why NOT have both?

Thanks to Addy Du Lac, Dragonblade Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are y own.

3.5 stars – A compelling, culturally rich romance with a few pacing hiccups

Addy Du Lac’s Miss Mason’s Secret Baron offers a refreshing take on Victorian romance with two mixed-race leads—Regina, of Indian descent, and Leo, a Black private investigator—whose love story unfolds amid family secrets, social constraints, and lurking danger.

What really sets this apart is the honest, often painful depiction of racism and microaggressions, both in society and within their own families. The cultural details, especially Regina’s longing for her Indian heritage, give the story depth and resonance.

The romance is clever and well-earned, but the plot sometimes meanders, with a few too many detours that slow the momentum. Still, this author shows real promise. I’ll be watching to see what Du Lac writes next.

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

This was enjoyable and I loved that the heroine and the hero were both BIPOC. It shows the ton in a different, less flattering light.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Miss Mason's Secret Baron by Addy Du Lac is a third person multi-POV POC love Victorian romance. Regina’s father has been planning on her marrying a baron her entire life in an effort to help her find a place in white London society. When the second baron Regina is engaged to passes away, her engagement moves to Harrison, a man more interested in his title than in respecting Regina. But Leo, a military man and investigator, is actually next in line for the barony and he’s willing to fight for Regina.

Race in the Victorian era is explored through Regina, birth name Rejana, who is a biracial Indian woman and Leo, a Black man with a white great grandfather. Multiple members of society take great issue with either of them moving into the peerage and Regina has spent a great deal of her life being looked down on by members of London society who are aware of her father’s ambitions for her but attribute all of them to her Indian mother. There are a lot of microaggressions and very overt racism on the page with the usage of a slur. Like the previous book in the series, the plot does recognize that fetishization of Asian women exists and the expectations for immigrants to conform to the majority. Harrison only has three chapters but they are reflections of the violent racism that existed at the time. How he talks about Regina is dehumanizing and the way he talks about Leo is just as bad though different. I know for some people that reading a romance is all about escapism and living the fantasy, but, for me, I do appreciate it when an author is willing to explore the realities of how the time period worked including the social issues even if they are uncomfortable.

Between Regina and Leo’s POV, I enjoyed Regina’s the most. Her chapters explore a lot of the complications that biracial individuals who grow up cut off from half of their heritage deal with. Her parents were married in India but moved to England and raised her and her sister there, slowly cutting them off more and more from Indian culture with their mother purposefully trying to make them more English. Regina can speak Hindi but her sister can’t and there are some things Regina has retained, like several traditional Indian dances, but she goes by a more Western name in society. Regina has done everything she can to hold on to as much of her culture as she can but she is reliant on her mother to help her, which creates friction between them even if Regina understands the whys and this helps shows the complex and often difficult choices any parent in this position has to make.

This is the first POC love Victorian/Regency romance I think I have ever read. I’ve read ones between two people of color of the same race and I’ve read ones where one of the leads is white, but not a book in the romance genre in this time period where both characters are navigating racism in very different but parallel ways. I’m kind of shocked there aren’t more of these because there were people of color living in England at this time and there is definitely an audience for them if the Bridgerton fandom is anything to go by. I’m really hoping that the next book is between Ada’s brother from the last book and Elodia so we can have a Chinese man and a Black woman having a romance in this era. I really want more of these across the gambit of joyful escapism to honest depictions of society and I will be reading anything Addy Du Lac puts out in the historical romance space.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and depictions of racism

I would recommend this to fans of Regency/Victorian romance looking for characters of color as the leads and readers of historical romance who like more realism in their stories

This book is an absolute delight, blending romance, danger, and a dash of intrigue with such effortless charm. I was completely hooked from the moment I met Regina. Her wit and resilience make her an unforgettable heroine, and I couldn’t help but root for her happiness. Then there’s Leo; charismatic, complex, and ruggedly captivating. His inner conflict over embracing his newfound legacy or staying hidden adds a rich layer to his character. The chemistry between Regina and Leo is undeniable, full of tension and longing, and their banter is as sharp as it is entertaining. The way they challenge each other while slowly letting down their guards is just perfection. I love how the story balances light-hearted moments with deeper themes of identity and loyalty. The author masterfully captures that sense of being trapped by societal expectations while desperately wanting freedom. It’s enchanting, heartfelt, and just the right amount of daring.