Introducing Miss Joanna
Series: Once a Wallflower #2
Author: Maggi Andersen
Published November 12th 2020 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
She’s hoping to find true love.

He prefers to remain single and bring criminals to justice.

When a dangerous gang threatens her life, his heart is on the line.

London, 1817

When Miss Joanna Dalrymple’s father inherits a fortune from a relative, he sells his haberdashery and turns his attention to seeing his beloved daughter settled in the manner he’d promised her mother. He leases a townhouse in Mayfair for the Season and engages a lady to ease their way into Society. At her first ball, Jo makes a new friend, Letitia Cartwright, who introduces her to the baron, Lord Reade. Dark-haired and handsome, he towers over most men, and his teasing manner is not what one finds on a ballroom dance floor. Jo learns from Letty that Reade is not looking to marry. It intrigues Jo. There is something mysterious about the baron. An air of danger surrounds him. But Jo has decided her husband must be a quiet gentleman who would welcome her widowed father into their house, so when the elegant Mr. Ollerton pursues her, Jo welcomes his advances.

Gareth, Baron Reade, an agent for the crown, is investigating the disappearances of several young women at the request of the Prince Regent. The lovely redhead, Miss Joanna Dalrymple, has captured Reade’s attention. Against his better judgement, his interest in her deepens. His good friend, Brandon Cartwright, has the annoying tendency to read Reade’s mind, and to voice what’s on his. Brandon urges Reade to marry and cast aside the low spirits which have plagued him since Waterloo. But Reade refuses to inflict his dark moods and nightmares on a wife. Trouble is, Joanna, a forthright young lady, becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. Especially when it appears she might be in danger. Has she become involved with the Virdens, the couple Reade has under suspicion? While he has no intention of caring for anyone again, he becomes determined to protect her.

Will it take a matter of life and death for them to realize they cannot live without each other?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Miss Joanna Dalrymple's life turned around when her father inherited a fortune, and she was launched into society. The first gentleman she meets is Gareth, Lord Reade, who catches her eye, and intrigues her, though he has no intention of marrying yet. Reade is hiding something though, the fact that he is an agent for the crown, and being with someone, especially after what he experienced at Waterloo, is too much for him. But Reade can't stop thinking about Joanna, and when it seems that she is involved in his most recent case, can he separate his feelings from his work?

This was a quick read, and the added plot line of the intrigue of the missing girls kept me hooked. I liked Joanna and Reade together, though I don't think their chemistry was as good as it could be. There were sweet moments between them, and I did like that he believed in her strength as they knew each other more. A nice Regency read.

Dates Read:
June 14-15 2023

Rating
3 Stars