The Meddler
Series: A Series of Worthy Young Ladies #1
Author: Kate Archer
Published February 10th 2022 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
A Mistaken Lord and a Meddling Lady!

Welcome to book 1 in one of the most anticipated series A Series of Worthy Young Ladies from bestselling author Kate Archer.

Six highly placed matrons mourn their lack of daughters until they devise a scheme to launch eligible girls in need of assistance, and so The Society of Sponsoring Ladies is born.

Miss Georgiana Wilcox, eldest daughter of the sixteenth Baron of Manley, has done just what she liked in her little corner of England. She is not unaware that her family’s fortunes have been dwindling for the past three generations, nor that her upbringing has not been up to snuff. Her father has regrets from time to time, as his daughter has never had a tutor, musical or otherwise, and he never did get around to purchasing a proper sidesaddle. For all that, Georgiana is rather cheerful regarding her circumstances and imagines she’ll marry some dashing soldier who might pass through the neighborhood. That is, until the Countess of Mendleton devises a plan to launch her in London.

Jasper Stapleton, Viscount Langley and heir to the Earl of Mendleton, is rendered speechless over his mother’s latest plan. Some unknown and penniless lady from an equally unknown family is to be taken under Lady Mendleton’s wing. As his mother is a great adopter of the needy—human and canine both—he presumes the young lady is one more lost soul to be rescued. He determines he’ll have nothing to do with the project, as he’s far too busy working for the queen. Though, he does find Miss Wilcox very pleasant to look at. More than pleasant, actually.

Jasper is directed by Queen Charlotte to achieve what appears to be a simple task—discover the villain who dares talk to the newspapers about the king’s maladies. As he digs deeper, though, it becomes apparent that gossip is the least of their problems. The Stuart has left Russia and Jasper believes he may be in England, poised to take advantage of the incapacity of the king and make a run at the throne. Worse, he discovers evidence that Miss Wilcox is a part of it.

Can Jasper unravel the plot in time to keep Miss Wilcox out of the Tower? Or perhaps he will realize that it’s him that needs saving…
Goodreads

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

When six ladies of the ton come together to form a society, sparked by their wish to launch a girl into society having never had their own daughter, Miss Georgiana Wilcox never expected she would be the first girl chosen. The daughter of a baron with little means to fund a Season, Georgiana has been raised without the usual accomplishments, and is more at home riding astride than in a side saddle. However, she wishes to marry, and knows that the kindness of Lady Mendleton is not to be scoffed at. But there's only one snag in the plan, and that's the Lady's handsome son, Jasper, Viscount Langley. She's attracted to him but knows he's too far above her status, and he's committed to his work for his queen.

This was a decent start to the series. I liked the premise of the Ladies forming their group because of their wish to launch a daughter, and can see the series being a great one. Georgiana and Jasper were decent characters, and I enjoyed their romance. I do wish they had spoken to each other a little more, especially Georgiana to Jasper. She knew that there was something wrong with the two villains, and she should have mentioned it, particularly when Jasper was so linked to the Queen, and the King's health. If she had, then life would've been so much easier for the pair, and there wouldn't have been any moments of heartbreak between them. The main villain was almost comical in his villainy, but it was fun nonetheless. I'm looking forward to book 2.

Dates Read:
May 19-20, 2023

Rating
3 Stars