Lady Be Good by Meredith Duran

Historical romance novels have been around forever. I remember reading them as a teen and even today, they are still a popular choice for many readers of romance. I was able to review a new release this month that is written by a historical romance pro. A third in a series, but definitely a stand alone read, this was my first read by this author.

Lady Be Good by Meredith Duran
Published by: Pocket Books
ISBN 9781476741376
Publish Date: July 28, 2015

The third searing novel in the Rules for the Reckless series by Meredith Duran, the USA TODAY bestselling author of sexy and evocative Regency romances in the tradition of Sarah MacLean.

CATCHING THE LADY RED-HANDED
Born to a family of infamous criminals, Lilah Marshall has left behind her past and made herself into the perfect lady. Working as a hostess at Everleigh’s, London’s premier auction house, she leads a life full of art, culture, and virtue. All her dreams are within reach—until a gorgeous and enigmatic viscount catches her in the act of one last, very reluctant theft.

CHASING ONE RED-HOT PASSION
Christian “Kit” Stratton, Viscount Palmer, is society’s most dashing war hero. But Kit’s easy smiles hide a dark secret: he is haunted by a madman’s vow to destroy anyone he loves. When his hunt for the enemy leads to Everleigh’s Auction Rooms, he compels Lilah to help him. But one tempting touch may be their undoing—for what Kit needs threatens all Lilah holds dear, and losing her may destroy Kit.

My Thoughts:
I love a great romance, especially when it includes a strong willed woman. The author has created a wonderful heroine in this new book that made this a pleasure to read. Lilah is street smart but working on being cultured too. Christian is a hero that everyone wants to love and he has his eye on Lilah in more ways than one. Working together becomes a challenge for both of them and the result is a bit of a witty read with some fun scenes added in for a well rounded story.

The beginning of this book was a bit slow for me but as the plot thickened, so to speak, I enjoyed the read even more. The character development was really great and the storyline was interesting. I think the draw the main characters had for each other could have been developed a bit more so that they had a more intense connection. Historical romances rely a lot on glances, words, and illicit touches rather than steamy scenes and some of that build up was lacking other than once or twice. While I know they had feelings for one another through some actions, not talking about it until the last part of the book seemed strange.

The author did a great job with the historical back story and the other characters that supported were interesting and refreshing. They added a lot to the story and created an overall delightful read. Plus allowing for a set up to another in the series. The book ends with the happy ever after, just like we love and crave.

Meredith Duran offers twelve other novels to her readers, all in the same genre. I love her writing style and depth in story development so it is easy to say that I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future. If you enjoy historical romances, she is one to check out!

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.