Book Details
A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal
Secret femme-fatale in training Millicent Whittenburg needs to escape her unpleasant betrothal. Taking matters into her own hands, she plans her eventual ruin! Then she can disappear from society to carry out the Queen’s deadly missions. Step 1: seduce the one man who despises marriage more than her!
However, she hugely underestimates her target. Major General Beaufort Drake. Fearsome private investigator, he’s notoriously cold and visibly battle scarred. But Millie’s scandalously public kiss awakens a deeply suppressed desire in Drake. Instead of allowing them both to succumb to shame he does the unthinkable, and offers for her hand in a convenient marriage.
Nothing prepares them for the fireworks when a fearless damsel collides with a dangerous Major General! And as their secret missions align they face their hardest test on the glittering battlefield – a week long wedding house party where there is nowhere to escape…only new and wicked lessons to be learnt!
Hello Book friends!
Today I’m reviewing the new historical romance from author Darcy McGuire, A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal. In this historical fiction romance we follow Millicent Whittenburg, a forward thinking, femme-fatale in training in need of way out of an unwanted betrothal. With the unknowing help of Major General Beaufort Drake, Milli rids herself of her stepmothers choice in husband, to find herself in more trouble than she realized in her recklessness to gain her freedom.
Review of A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal
This one was tricky.
You have a young woman desperate to get away from her abusive step-mother and neglectful father. Milli has the means to free herself from her situation and takes a rash chance on a man she knows would be honor bound to protect her. What she doesn’t expect is finding a love she didn’t know she could have or felt she deserved.
So here’s what I thought didn’t work for this one. There is on page physical abuse Milli suffers by her stepmother. It’s very intense and close to being described as being flogged. When authors take on forms of abuse, especially when it’s on page, they walk a fine line of its significance to the story when portraying something horrifying in humanities capability of being cruel.
My question I had from these interactions with the stepmother was is this necessary to have this much dedicated on page violence? Plus, the time for those types of wounds to heal isn’t a few days or a week. If you’re asking me to stomach the main character being abused and then have her miraculously healed a week later, I’m going to have some very concerning questions.
My suspense of disbelief can only be held for so long.
A Few More Thoughts
Even though I had issue with one of the villains of the novel and the reality of how human beings heal, the romance friends is what you’re going to enjoy. How Milli and Drake start to create a safe haven for each other from the very beginning. Traversing a dangerous attraction that could undue them both (in an oh-so-good-way). It’s fun to see them rile each other up and explore the endless possibilities of what can be.
Please be sure to see the content warnings before reading this one.
Happy Reading ~ Cece
RATING: 
– Satisfyingly Inked
About the Author
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’. The first book will be published in June 2024.
publication details
| Pub Date | ISBN | Page Count | Publisher | Age Group | Source & Format | Review Posted Online |
| 12-Oct-24 | 978-1836035428 | 312 | Boldwood Books | Adult | NetGalley, Digital ARC | September 16, 2024 |
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Welcome Reader!
I’m Cecelia and I’m so glad you’re here! You’ll find honest reviews, book recommendations, along with other bookish essentials. So happy you stopped by!
– C
ABOUT THE CREATOR
CECE BECKMAN
Cece holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach. She lives in California with her husband and children. When she’s not reading or writing reviews she can be found wandering book aisles at local bookshops, drinking iced cold lattes with cold cream foam, or passing the time with her cats.
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