4 Stars
Blog Tour & ARC Review: The Secret Life of a Lady (The Queen's Deadly Damsels #1) by Darcy McGuire
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Series: The Queen's Deadly Damsels #1
Author: Darcy McGuire
Published June 14th 2024 by Boldwood Books
Goodreads Synopsis
Never Underestimate a wallflower!
Lady Hannah Simmons is a quintessential wallflower, unassuming, dowdy yet ignored by most. But underneath her plain exterior, Hannah is hiding a thrilling secret! Unbeknownst to the rest of the ton, she is Queen Victoria’s leading femme fatale, slipping unnoticed through the streets of London and listening to scandalous whispers from lords and ladies. But with daggers in her stockings and pistols in her pockets, Hannah's mission is to apprehend a deadly killer.
Private Investigator to the Prime Minister, damaged, yet devastatingly handsome ex-war hero Duke Robert Killian always puts duty first. However, when he finds himself competing with the intriguing Lady Hannah on the same daring task, his blood boils with frustration - and desire! Is it possible to seduce this vexing woman whose not afraid to put herself in danger and achieve the upper hand?
Hannah enjoys Killian's attempts to distract and tempt her, but she has never faced an adversary she couldn’t overthrow. And Killian has never met a challenge he couldn’t conquer...until now. The gauntlet has been thrown, can they finish their jobs and resist the temptation?
Keep your friends close…and your enemies even closer!
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Lady Hannah Simmons might appear to be your usual, run of the mill wallflower, but she's hiding the fact that she is one of the Queen's deadly damsels. Using the fact she can easily hide amongst the crowds to discover the ton's secrets, Hannah has never failed yet, but Robert Killian, a Duke, ex-war hero, and investigator for the Prime Minister is about to put her to the test. Neither is about to give up the challenge, or the thrill of the chase, without a fight.
When this book popped up on my NG account, I knew I needed to read it. I loved historical romances, especially when there's a mystery aspect, and The Secret Life of a Lady fit all that, and more. Hannah is the illegitimate daughter of a duke, and currently she lives and works for her stepmother, the dowager duchess, as well as for the Queen. Her background is just good enough to get a foot in the door at ton events, but lowly enough that she can come and go without much notice. Except from Robert, who spots her straight away, and is intrigued enough to follow her. A duke himself, his background is impeccable, and the fact he is also a decorated war hero doesn't hurt either. He wants Hannah, but the difference in their stations is difficult for him to overcome - he's very much a Darcyesque figure in this. I liked that Hannah made him work for her love and respect, and he changed for the better because of it. This book was a really good start to a new series, and from a new author who I'll be on the lookout to read again in the future.
Dates Read:
June 4-5, 2024
Rating
4 Stars
Darcy McGuire is an award-winning New Zealand-born writer now living in the Pacific Northwest. She will write a five-part Victorian romance series for Boldwood, focused on a group of ‘Deadly Damsels’.
