Say You'll Be My Lady
Series: The Unconventional Ladies of Mayfair #2
Author: Kate Pembrooke
Published February 22nd 2022 by Forever

Goodreads Synopsis
Opposites attract in this irresistible Regency romance, where a proper gentleman who lives by the ton's rules and a lady who lives to break them try to resist one another—perfect for fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton series.

Lady Serena Wynter doesn’t mind flirting with a bit of scandal—she’s determined to ignore society’s strictures and live life on her own fiercely independent terms. These days, she chooses to pour her passions into charitable causes with the vibrant group of ladies in her Wednesday Afternoon Social Club. But there is one man who stirs Serena’s deepest emotions, one who’s irresistibly handsome, infuriatingly circumspect, and too honorable for his own good...

Charles Townshend, former boxer and consummate gentleman, worries Serena’s reckless nature will earn her the ton’s scorn…or put her in serious danger. Though Charles isn’t immune to the attraction between them, a shocking family secret prevents him from ever acting on his desires. But it seems Lady Serena doesn’t intend to let his penchant for propriety stand in the way of a mutually satisfying dalliance.
Goodreads

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

As the daughter of a duke, Lady Serena Wynter should be happily married by now, but she cares more about her social causes, and the Wednesday Afternoon Social Club that entering the marriage mart. The only man, other than her lost beau who died at battle at Badajoz, is Charles Townshend, a former boxer and gentleman, MP and friend of the family. But he believes himself firmly beneath her, and though he loves her, he wouldn't scandalise her and her family with the truth of his parentage. Best friends, they can tell each other just about everything, but they are holding back their feelings, and when they find an orphaned child, Jem, living in the slum, and foster him together, they can see what their future would be like as a family. Will they be able to tell each other the truth, and be together?

I loved book 1, but simply adored Say You'll Be My Lady! Friends to lovers is another trope I adore, as well as found family, and Pembrooke uses both of them so well in this book. We met Serena and Charles in the previous book, and I knew they would fall for each other, if they hadn't already, so reading their love story was fantastic. Because of how close they were, they were able to talk to each other about so much, and it was easy for them to take on the parental roles Jem needed from them when he was found and adopted. They had secrets which may have been scandalous to some people, but when they eventually revealed them to each other, it changed absolutely nothing about their feelings - they still loved each other, but were self sacrificing and willing to step aside for the other to be happy. There's a scene towards the end of the book that seemed straight out of Pride & Prejudice (if you've read it, you'll know which one), that had me cackling as I read it. I honestly could not put this down, and am really happy there's the announcement about a third book at the end of this - Phoebe deserves her romance!

Dates Read:
February 11-12, 2022

Rating
4 Stars