Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the heroine of this insightful and unusual Victorian romance, is stifled at the Buccleuch family’s home. Her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, have invited a large number of friends to their Scottish home, Drumlanrig Castle. Lady Mary organises the moorlands shooting party, after she’s come to the attention of Colonel Walter Trefusis. He finds her A MOST INTRIGUING LADY.

The two main characters are based on real historical people, about whom not much is known. As Mary did not marry during her first Season, like many titled young ladies, she demonstrates the life of a single woman. Basically; boring. She has only pin money, must attend her mother on travels, and is accompanied by a chaperone until she turns twenty-five, after which she is hardly considered marriageable anyway. To put her great talents to use, and exercise her mind, Mary turns into a subtle detective. Colonel Trefusis, whom she calls Tre, is suffering from the shock of the Crimean War, and not considered to be a good match. He works at Whitehall and is establishing the Intelligence Service. While he swiftly falls for Mary, they can’t marry.

From an early adventure seeking a stolen brooch, and moving on to a firm’s missing money and intelligence documents purloined by a gang of thieves, the chapters are set a few years apart. Our characters meet, feel attracted, and gracefully withdraw, until the time should be right. The movements are like a stately dance, the elegant surroundings counterbalanced by frequent chats with the working staff and a Nellie Bly-like escapade. The details are excellent, such as the outlay upon a picnic for the shooting party, and Mary’s tweed skirt having a strip of leather along the hem to protect it from brambles. Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, is undoubtedly writing from experience, and her co-writer Marguerite Kaye is famous for the in-depth research of her many historical romances.

This is a writing partnership to be reckoned with, and I love the strong characters and the sense of women’s fiction they have produced. Other historical figures are drawn upon, from the Wingfield and Wellesley families particularly, and a note at the back explains what is known and what is created to fill the gaps. A previous book, HER HEART FOR A COMPASS, began this Buccleuch Family series. A reader can jump straight into A MOST INTRIGUING LADY and pick up the story. Look forward to a sumptuous and exciting tale with characters who grow and learn.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Being the youngest daughter of a Duke and Duchess, Mary, wants her freedom to do as she wants to, but her parents want her to get married and give them grandchildren.

Whilst at a party she meets Tre and she feels a connection to him. Together they begin to investigate and crack crimes, soon Mary is thinking whether getting married is a bad thing to do after all.

I like the mystery part of this story as well as the love element.

I recommend this book.

'He had flippantly said she was a balm to his fevered brow after seeing her on the parapet had cleared his headache. He now realized it was true. She was good for his soul.'

Set amongst the glamour of aristocratic Victorian society, A Most Intriguing Lady is the sweeping tale of romance between Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, an independent young woman and wannabe sleuth, and Colonel Walter Trefusis, a Crimean war veteran, who beneath his quiet façade has secrets of his own.

Tre, as he becomes known to Mary, meets our heroine when he is a guest of her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, at their home at Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland in 1872.

Mary is beguiling. A quiet, unassuming wallflower on first inspection, but a brave, intelligent, independent young woman, keen to defy society's expectations, who intrigued Tre when he witnessed her walking boldly across the parapet, unbeknownst to her parents' guests during their dinner party.

Spanning five years, their story is one of mystery, intrigue, secrets, and ultimately, love.

I loved Mary and Tre together. It took them some time to become a couple - and they did hurt each other along the way - but they were soul mates and kindred spirits since they first met. They were able to talk openly to each other and confide in one another. Trust and friendship were there between them, right from the start.

'The moments when she forgot herself when their eyes met in a shared joke or a memory. Or when she allowed herself to acknowledge what had been there from the first between them, an affinity. Kindred spirits.'

I loved seeing glimpses of Mary's mother's life, and Tre's Aunt Louisa was fabulous! I laughed so much when she and Mary were in the mud baths!

This is my first time reading Sarah Ferguson's work and I fell in love with this story. So much so that I have bought the first book, the story of Mary's sister. And I'll be looking forward to her future releases. I hope we'll see more of Mary and Tre again sometime.

There was a fantastic amount of research put into this book and the locations used. It makes me want to visit the places mentioned. It was also wonderful how this is a fictional work inspired by real characters who are ancestors of Sarah Ferguson. Whilst the author also used several of her own experiences in the story, which gave greater depth to the tale and the way it touches the reader's heart.

If you love period romance with a hint of detective work and strong female characters, you'll love A Most Intriguing Lady.

A Most Intriguing Lady is released on March 30th. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Mills & Boon for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this! Thanks to Net Galley/ Mills and boon Publisher for the early arc copy, it’s not your typical historical romance loved the solving of difficult crimes within the society and a little bit of spice it was N all round lovely entertaining by read

Mary is the youngest daughter of a Duke and Duchess. She wants her independence but her parents wish for her to marry and have children. At a house party, Mary meets Tre and they have an instant connection. They start solving crimes together and Mary starts to wonder whether a marriage would be so bad.

I really enjoyed this. This has a mystery element as well as the romance element which I really enjoyed. I thought the characters were great and well developed and I was really rooting for their romance.

Overall I really enjoyed this and I can't wait to see what this writing duo release next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mills & Boon for the ARC.

A Most Intriguing Lady follows Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott and Colonel Trefuis from a house party in Scotland, across England and Scotland as they battle what the hearts want versus their own expectations of themselves.

I really wanted to enjoy this, I don't read much Victorian era romance, however this didn't hit home for me unfortunately. I found the back and forth of the romance frustrating (the obstacles in the way didn't feel insurmountable) and I wish there had been more of the detective elements. What I really wanted this book to be was a crime solving romance. I also didn't love having the 3rd POV of the duchess, it didn't add a lot to the story.

Having read Her Heart for a Compass though, I enjoyed hearing snippets of characters from that and seeing what they were up to after their book had ended.

I’ve not read any books by Sarah Ferguson before, so I honestly didn’t know what to expect. But I have to say that I absolutely loved it. It’s been a while since I’ve outwardly smiled with excitement when reading a book.
I liked Mary’s character and thought the mixture of her personality combined with her character of wanting to be helpful, was a lovely combination.
There was a modern feisty streak to her which worked wonderfully without coming across as overbearing and made her easily relatable.
The friendship/relationship with Tre was a slow burn, which I think worked at the pace that it did, as it allowed us the see the intricacies and development from friendship to love. It was also nice to see that Mary wasn’t looking to be saved or play the traditional role of a female of that time, but wanted to be genuine help in Tre’s life and career. The balance between them both was truly beautiful.

Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott is the youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch.

Whilst hosting a grand week-long event with her parents at their Scottish Castle, Lady Mary leaves in the middle of a formal dinner to escape the stifling limitations imposed by the aristocratic Victorian era. She feels the need to perform a privately rebellious act and is accidentally viewed by Colonel Walter Trefusis.

This is the start of a brief partnership where they are driven to solve the mystery of a vanishing brooch and an extortion attempt by one of the guests.

Meeting again a few years later, they unite to resolve another delicate mystery and find love simultaneously.

I wasn’t aware this novel was part of a series when I started it, but the references to Lady Mary’s sister, Lady Margaret, had me investigating the back catalogue. Fortunately, this can be read as a standalone book.

The storyline kept me intrigued, and it was an enjoyable page-turner. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. I found the characters well rounded out and engaging in and of themselves.

I would like to thank HarperCollins and #NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy #AMostIntriguingLady in exchange for my honest review. This book was due for release on March 30, 2023.

With thanks to netgalley, and the author for gibing me the chance to review this book

A most intriguing is a good, and well paced romance book, but not your typical mills and boon. An Most enjoyable read.


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She's done it again. This is the second book by Sarah, Duchess of York that tells the story of wallflower Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott who has a huge secret. In plain site she moves effortlessly between the ballrooms and the stunning palaces of Queen Victoria - an era which I love and have always have since studying it at school.

She's the woman who saves the day but upon meeting Colonel Walter, she finds herself as part of a, most unlikely and maybe spirited alliance. This is a gorgeous book that tells their story in a time where following her heart isn't the right thing. It's not way society or her family wants.

But can Mary get her happy ever after?

This is a gorgeously written book that sees The Duchess of York tell the story of one of the Victorian ages forgotten heroines. The cover is absoutely stunning and fitting of a former British royal Duchess second book.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one! Not what you expect from a traditional Mills and Boon at all, I felt it was more a subtly amusing historical detective story.

Mary is a Lady in the Victorian era, a sibling far down the pecking order in her family, who feels ignored and left behind. She is determined to do as she wishes as far as she can, and finds herself solving mysteries that affect people she knows. She meets Colonel Trefusis at a party held by her father, and over the years they meet multiple times and he joins her in her secret detective work.

Lots of will they/won't they end up together, many interesting side characters (Lady Rolle was a particularly favourite of mine), and all in all a very entertaining read.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel, having not read Sarah Ferguson's first, however I really enjoyed it. Mary was a wonderful heroine, demure when was needed as befits the society in which she was brought up in, yet there was a modern feisty streak to her which I loved and allowed us, the reader, to relate easily to her.
The relationship with Tre was a slow burn but it was lovely to see their friendship grow and their understanding that they did love each other.
I also really enjoyed the added historical notes at the back of the book and as a result, will be eager to read the first book.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

A tale of the first stirrings of women’s lib. In Victorian England. Lady Mary making herself unapproachable and unattractive gets through being a debutant unmarried. Helping to manage family estates and events on occasion she meets up with a kindred spirit and senses a mutual attraction but determined to avoid marriage as a dutiful wife and mother, she fends him off at arm’s length that she does successfully over some five long years while she experiences life a in different roles; amateur detective, agony aunt, and secret agent working undercover for military intelligence as one of her beau’s staff, before finally giving way to her pent up emotions to fulfil her destiny as the dutiful wife??? A most fascinating story.

Absolutely loved this one! I was lucky enough to get an ARC from Netgalley and I devoured it in a few days. I actually found myself rushing things so I could continue reading!!! You can tell it is a great book when you order the other book in the series, halfway through reading!!

I loved the characters of Lady Mary and Trefusis, in fact all of the characters were really enjoyable - Lady Rolle was a particular favourite of mine. The story is really well written and the will they wont they of their relationship, was built up well. If I could have one criticism it would be the part when Lady Mary becomes an undercover spy, was a little unbelieveable, but as I loved everything else I could overlook this.

I was even more intrigued to find that most of the characters and places in the book are real, which makes it even more fascinating!

5 well earned stars.

This is exactly what you want from a Mills and boon book!
Abfub storyline with a bit of spice. Really enjoyed it.

Written in the vein of a traditional historical romance story, this is like slipping on a comfortable pair of slippers and curling up with a mug of hot chocolate. The delight is that it has none of the cringe moments and the neat working of some real people, places and events into this tale gives it a solid polish. There are no real surprises here, but it is very nicely done

Not a typical historical romance book and it was slow in parts so I struggled to enjoy it. The author being so well known drew me to the book. The historical elements were dubious in parts but it was a light hearted read. Thanks to Sarah Ferguson and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

I found the writing style on the derivative style with not enough humour or original.ity to intrigue me further than 2 chapters.
I failed to read further as the characters were not introduced with enough depth and neither was the plot .

Pleasantly surprised by how easy I feel into Mary’s story & how she was trying to find her place in the world!
Loved:
- Not your typical historical romance
- Loved the Victorian setting
- Mary’s determination
- the take on ‘female detectives’

Struggles:
- the pace in the parts was slow

3.5* rounded up!
Full review to follow on my insta blog @the.readinglife

Lady Mary does not allow the rigid conventions and expectations of her time to stifle her colourful personality and sharp intellect, but instead embarks on a double life, using her natural detective skills to great success.
Along the way, she encounters Colonel Walter Trefusis ('Tre' to his friends). He also has mysterious secrets, the pair fall in love and ...well, you'll just have to read the book to find out if they achieve their happy ending!
A gorgeously evocative, sweeping romance, with fascinating period detail.