I really enjoyed this entertaining romance novel by an author new to me. The story is very well written, with lots of banter, LOL moments, unexpected twists, a criminal investigation, espionage, a preposterous house party, suspense, danger and some passionate love scenes. Millie and Beau are endearing characters with sizzling chemistry from the start.
Millie is a strong heroine who hates being controlled and contained by men. Beau is a jaded alpha hero who needs to be in control. Naturally, tensions arise between them.
I loved their witty dialogues and their amusing, self-deprecating thought processes.
I haven't read the previous book yet, but I was able to follow the plot very well and will do so soon.

Millicent „Millie“ Whittenburg
is the freedom-loving, emancipated daughter of a Marquess who wants to become a private investigator for Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. To this end, she secretly trains with Lady Philippa Winterbourne, the Duchess of Dorsett. When her malicious stepmother tries to force her into a betrothal, Millie decides to let herself be compromised by another man at her engagement ball and her choice falls on Major General Beaufort Drake, Earl of Tetly, who is known for his aversion to women and marriage. She can then withdraw from society and concentrate on her future missions.
Major General Beaufort „Beau“ Drake, Earl of Tetly is a scarred war hero who now works as a private investigator for the Prime Minister. Since his fiancée jilted him during his military service and married his brother instead, he no longer trusts any woman and is not interested in marriage. However, he has been attracted to Millie ever since he first saw her.
When she kisses him at the ball and they are caught, he is furious but decides to propose to her anyway. A woman is the perfect cover for his future missions and a marriage of convenience with separate lives suits him just fine.
However, their mutual attraction grows stronger and stronger, but Millie is not allowed to reveal her secret work to Beau and then they are both set on the same target...

Overall, a fun read that I am happy to recommend!

📖: A Lady's Lesson in Scandal (The Queen's Deadly Damsels Book #2)

✍🏾By: Darcy McGuire-new to me author

✨Rating: 4/5

Format: eBook 332 pgs.

🌍Setting: London

📅 Publication 10/12/24, Read 10/12/24

👆🏾POV: dual, 3rd person

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Darcy McGuire for this ARC❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Historical Romance

Tropes:
-arranged marriage/marriage of convenience
-h/H not virgins
-evil stepmother
-private investigators

⚠️ TW: sex trafficking, sexism, physical/mental abuse-h, blackmail, SA mentioned-not H/h

💭Summary: Millie is on a mission to get out of an arranged marriage by her horrible stepmother. Since her mother's death when she was born, it had been Millie and her father Henry. At Millie's first season out, Henry married Patricia who's only 6 months older than Millie. Avoiding scandal from her 1st love Franklin, Millie joins The Queen's Damsels. She trains as a private investigator under Lady Philippa's tutelage. They make a plan to seduce Major General Drake in hopes of ending her engagement with Lord Tread- an old miser only 2 years younger than her father. Drake has sworn off women after being betrayed by his fiancée and brother. Millie knows once they are caught, he will refuse to marry her, and she can go her own way.

🎭The characters

🚺 Heroine: Millicent "Millie" Whittenburg-27, tall, strong, red haired. She's tormented by her stepmother and lost her father's favor after her ex-lover exposes her as ruined.

🚹 Hero: Major General Beauforte "Beau" Drake- 36, Earl of Tetley, scarred after being held a POW for 2 years. Betrayed by fiancée Nora who married his younger brother Godric and closed his heart to women forever.

- Lord Bartholomew Tread-a Viscount, Millie's betrothed who is only 2 years younger than her father

-Lady Philippa Winterbourne-Duchess of Dorsett, a wealthy widow in the favor of Queen Victoria. Trains Millie as femme fatale private investigator

-Patricia Whittenburg-Marchioness, Millie's stepmother

-Henry Whittenburg-Marquess, Millie's father

-Ivy Cavendale-Millie's BFF, a social pariah whose father and brother recently died under suspicious circumstances.

-Lord Franklin St. George-Millie's 1st lover

-Lieutenant Robert Killian-Drake's friend, held captive w/ Drake, recently married to Hannah Simmons (also trained by Philippa)

-General Reynard Renquist-a rake, also held prisoner in the Anglo-Afghan war

🤔My Thoughts: I didn't read The Secret Life of a Lady (The Queen's Deadly Damsels #1), but this was fine as a standalone. I loved Millie and Lady Philippa as strong, resourceful women who kick butt. They showed the double standard of men being able to sleep around but when women do it, they are ostracized. Also, both Drake and Millie were PIs but for Millie it was a dangerous job Drake tried to forbid her from continuing. Patricia's abusive treatment while Henry remained silent could have broken Millie's spirit, but with Drake and Lady Philippa by her side she shows her resilience. Both had the added pressure of finding out about the sex trafficking ring financed and organized by wealthy men of the ton.

3.75 ⭐
1.5 🌶️
tropes: hate to love, disabled MMC, cinnamon roll MMC, strong FMC


Millie, who is secretly training to be an investigator with the Duchess is stuck in a forced engagement arranged by her emotionally and physically abusive stepmother. In an effort to free herself from the arrangement and devote her time to the queen’s service, while at a ball to celebrate said engagement she forces Major General Drake to kiss her in public because surely when they are caught he won’t “do the right thing” and marry her right? And then won’t her fiance call off the engagement?


This was a cute story with a cute plot line, and overall I enjoyed it. As Millie and Drake are falling in love, they are also both (unbeknownst to the other) trying to figure out who is kidnapping young girls to force them into a sex-trafficking ring so you’re also trying to figure out who is doing that. I do wish there had been less growling from the MCs- they both growled a lot and that there had been more of the plot dedicated to what Drake was doing for the investigation. Mostly it was just he needed to talk to someone or figure something out or plan something. Along with that based on the description I did expect there to be more spice. I laughed so hard when Drake got turned on by Millie’s ankles though.


This was a sweet story, and a quick read that I would recommend to people who enjoy spicy regency romances.

This book was really fun. A slow burn. And it's basically Bridgerton meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Which made the plot a whole lot more interesting. Definitely check it out. It's worth reading.

Darcy McGuire is a new to me author and I enjoyed reading A Lady's Lesson in Scandal! It took me a minute to get into the book because it's written in 3rd person and the writing seemed a little stilted to me; however, I enjoyed the book once I got into the plot!

I loved how strong-willed Millie is and all her training to make her become even stronger, both mentally and physically. I also liked that our Hero is a scarred veteran who never thought he'd get a second chance at love. The mystery that goes on throughout the plot also kept me interested in the storyline.

Overall, if you are into historical romances with a mystery plot, this is the book for you!

3.75 Stars

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC - this is my honest review*

I always love a well-executed historical romance. Darcy McGuire definitely delivered on that front.

A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal is the second book in the Queen’s Deadly Damsels series which follows Millie Whittenburg, the latest protégé of the Duchess of Dorsett. At her own engagement ball to a repugnant older man, Millie seduces Major General Beaufort Drake knowing that it would save her from her the undesirable marriage. Drake, having sworn off women after the end of his own engagement years ago, would never want to marry her as a replacement …right? Wrong. Millie shakes off one potential husband only to wind up with another - one much too virile, handsome, brooding and honourable.

Secluded at a week long house party ahead of their wedding, Drake and Millie investigate rumours of missing girls…while investigating if maybe their marriage was meant to be after all.

I really liked this - the romance was sweet with a bit of spice thrown in. Drake’s physical and mental trauma from his experiences during the war were well articulated, as was Millie’s desire for equality. A couple of threads fell a bit by the wayside and the disappearance plot line was a bit weak, but it was otherwise a solid historical romance.

I recommend for fans of Lisa Kleypas, Stephanie Laurens, Connie Mason and similar.

There was so much to enjoy about this book. I loved the character of Millie and how determined she was to succeed in her mission for the Queen. Drake is also on a similar mission but for the Prime Minister. He has a very traumatic background and is very anti-love. However, the more time Millie and Drake spent together, the more they became attracted to each other. I enjoyed the moments of the ongoing feud between Philippa and her butler, Stokes and the banter between Drake and his friends. I had read the first in the series so they were not all new characters to me. I loved the character of Billy Bright, he was such a loveable young imp. There were two main niggles for me, one was Millie being referred to as Miss, when as the daughter of a marquess she would have the title of lady and also there were some truly horrible people who didn’t get their comeuppance. However, I did find it to be an entertaining read and I look forward to the next in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Millie wants to escape a marriage of convenience to a much older man. Compromising herself with a man who abhors marriage is her chosen form of escape. While Millie is one of the Queen's Deadly Damsels, she appears to have met her match in Drake. Secret investigators, mystery and romance make up this Victorian historical romance. It is told from Millie and Drake's viewpoints and has interaction and introspection. There is an evil society at the root of this story that abducts and sells young women. The danger Millie finds herself in and Drake's reaction to it are at the core of their conflicted relationship, but their differences are believably resolved. It's a passionate story mirrored by their emotional commitment. I like the protagonists, the dynamic between the investigators and the chemistry between Millie and Drake. I like the witty dialogue and the sense of danger countered by many humorous moments, making this an engaging read,

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was such a fun read ! It was the first book i read from this
Author and i absolutely want to read more !
I’m in my regency era and this was wonderful

A typically enjoyable read, this story takes a darker turn that the first novel in the series - however the story was well written and engaging.

An excellent story! Loved the strong female characters as they clashed with strong men. Millie is a mix of strength and confidence, yet she still misses the attention of her father since he remarried. Drake has a lot of sorrow and scars. The two together are explosive!

This book really needs content warnings. I was absolutely blindsided by how dark and detailed things got. The cover and blurb lead us to believe that this would be a fun rom-com situation and even after reading the first book I did not expect how far things went in this book.

I will not be reviewing on socials as I do not post anything lower than 3 stars

Riveting Victorian adventure/romance!

Millicent Whittenburg is a member of a secret group of Queen Victoria’s sleuths led by the formidable Duchess of Dorsett. Millie’s been training with the Duchess, Phillipa Winterbourne, to be a Queen’s investigator. The Queen needs to keep an eye on her House of Lords and certain villainous members.
Unfortunately Millie is being forced into marriage with a repulsive, elderly man, Viscount Tread, a friend of her father’s and “wicked” (truly!) stepmother. (I’m frequently disgusted by Millie’s avarice stepmother Patricia. A nasty piece of work. How did Millie’s beloved father, Marquess Whittenburg, allow Patricia to make so much angst and trouble for Millie? Dreadful woman! Pitiful father!)
Millie’s attending a ball where her betrothal is to be announced.
Her way to escape? Entrap someone into marriage, and then refuse to marry them.
Only Millie didn’t have the measure of her target, Major General Beaufort Drake, Earl of Tetly, a scarred warrior hero, and private investigator for the Prime Minister.
I’m not going to lie, a fiery intimate life develops between the two. It is indeed spicy as the sub title allows.
What happens brings the past and future into collision. A tangled story of love and deceit, of romance and mystery.
An intriguing addition to McGuire’s Deadly Damsels series.

A Boldwood Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Darcy McGuire for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Lady's Lesson in Scandal coming out October 12, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I enjoy this series. I love regency romances with some action! I loved the first book. I think Millie was a strong heroine. I don’t think her and Beaufort had as much chemistry as the couple in the first book, but I liked it. There seemed to be a lot of villains in this book. I would check out more books by this author!

This was everything and more.. I can't say how much I loved this book really, Millie and Beau - Drake are just amazing.. Who wouldn't like a feisty woman with a secret, who wants nothing more than be a paria só she could leave the society and live her own life but then she meets Drake, the man with who she tries to make a scandal but that ends up in backfire because now they have to married

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first in this series and was a bit disappointed with the story being very different from what the synopsis had described, this was just the same. Mostly another sex education lesson for the main female character with a bit of an investigation thrown in for good measure.

I really enjoyed the parts about the secret missions and lessons Millie has with the Duchess, but there are so few and far between that they feel like another story all together! I don’t mind a bit of sexy stuff in a book but this rather took over again.

Not sure if I’d read any more, unless the secret training is upped a bit more and more is mad of trying to catch some bad guys.

3.5/5 rounded to 4. A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal is the author’s second book and also second in The Queen’s Deadly Damsels series. This was a new to me author and was able to read this as a standalone.

There were several things I enjoyed about this book. The plot was interesting and I love when the best laid plans are ruined. I enjoyed the characters, a tall curvy heroine that is training to be an investigator for Queen Victoria. Millie was proud of her curves and it was a characteristic that stayed in the forefront of her character. She was a strong heroine with determination and also a lot of empathy that made her easily lovable. Drake also was lovable but had a tougher shell to crack. A hardened war veteran that had been tortured from the Anglo-Afghan war and was now working as an investigator for the Prime Minister.

I always like it when the MC have different experiences but both have to overcome a similar internal problem to reach their HEA. Drake and Millie had both been burned by prior loves and no longer trusted the opposite sex. Their ability to trust one another took a while but was rewarding when they did.

My heart hurt for Millie and the relationship with her father. It was sad for Millie to lose that relationship with him but also angry at her father for treating her as he had. I would’ve liked to have seen their relationship brought back into the story at the end.

There were a few things though that I wasn’t as big of a fan of. They may not bother other readers but I had a hard time letting them go. I didn’t like the sapphic blackmail subplot the stepmother had on Millie. It rubbed me wrong and also didn’t make sense to me on how the lines were drawn for the stepmother to make that conclusion. The villain at the end was surprising but also seemed like a complete change in character that made it harder to believe. The main plot of taking down the Devil’s Sons wasn’t resolved or made clear if it would carry on.

Overall, it was an intriguing story and loved the connection and healing between the MC.

There are four detailed encounters that were steamy and tender.

CW: contains on page violence

I received an advance ecopy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3 Stars
One Liner: Okay! Liked the first book better

Millicent Whittenburg has been secretly training as one of the Queen’s ladies to join a deadly mission and find the gang trafficking young women to France. However, she needs to first get out of the horrible betrothal finalized by her evil stepmother. There’s only one way – seduce a man who hates marriage.
Major General Beaufort Drake has scars on his body and a rock for his heart. While the war gave him the scar, his then fiancée’s betrayal made him hate women and stay away from matrimony. However, Millie’s attempts to escape her fate stir a few feelings in him.
With both on the same secret mission, a marriage of convenience might benefit them, even if they realize their hearts are at risk of loving the other.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Millie and Beau (Drake).

My Thoughts:
The book works as a standalone though the characters have met in the earlier one. Reading that is not mandatory but could help see that the MCs had a couple of conversations (banter of sorts).
This series is predominantly steamy romance (~4). The mystery and danger are a subplot and take center stage only in the last quarter. The writing has a contemporary flavor as most books in this genre tend to be.
There’s quite a lot of drama in this one – evil stepmother, shitty exes (jealousy and all that), a struggling relationship (or the lack of it) between the main characters, the mystery of the gang, etc. Some of it works.
For me, the bright spot was Billy Bright, the young lad from book one. Boy, the kid brightened up the scenes whenever he was around. Lady Phillipa, once again, makes her presence felt. I hope she gets her own book.
While the previous book also had a dark backstory for the FMC, the chosen track in this book did not appeal to me. A certain scene, especially around 15% was unexpected. What made sense in the previous book doesn’t work here since the characters and the resolutions are different. Just look at that yellow cover and the flowery design on it. I didn’t expect something this triggering to happen. What’s worse is that the person responsible doesn’t even pay for their actions. No justice! Also, after a point, the issue isn’t even discussed again.
There’s one more random piece of information about a different character that’s revealed and left hanging. Possible that it will be tackled in the next book. Since I did guess a bit from the earlier scene, I knew what the trigger would be. It might affect other readers, though.
Quite a few issues are supposed to be presumed as settled (sorted off page). This doesn’t make the ending as satisfying as it should be. I wanted a more comprehensive approach to tying up at least the major subplots. Only one gets a sort of resolution.
To summarize, A Lady's Lesson in Scandal has its moments but doesn’t appeal to me as much as the previous book in the series. I had high hopes for this since I liked both characters, but the execution wasn’t great. Hopefully, things will be better in the next book. Fingers crossed!
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I was a bit disappointed by this second book of the series. I loved the first and I had great expectations, but even if I enjoyed this one, I didn’t like some of the things that happen in the book. First, the evil stepmother is really TOO much. She seems a parody, the epitome of all the evil stepmothers in literature. I don’t believe for a minute that strong, confident Millicent would have accepted to be treated like that, and all because of a threat that’s at best shallow. Second, I found that the excess of humor very often clashed with the general plot of the book and with some of the tropes (tortured war hero, abused daughter, traffic of human beings). I usually like a subtle mix of humor and angst, but here the angst was totally missing. In general, though, I found the book entertaining and I’m still willing to read the next in the series.

This is the first book I have read in this series although it is the 2nd that didn't affect my reading. It styles itself very much as a 'romp' as you could guess from the cover. However it had everything I like It has spies, scarred heroes, strong female just in a more light hearted and fun way. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.