The Lady Is Daring (Duke's Daughters, #3)

by Megan Frampton

[Lynn]

4.5 stars

A Victorian romance between two people who found love on their terms.

As the daughter of a Duke, tired of the expectations placed on her, Lady Ida Howlett wants to be free, to explore and satisfy her thirst for knowledge and adventure. However, with two sisters married it was her turn to fulfil her parent's wishes...to marry a man she barely knows.

Bennett, Lord Carson has successfully avoided getting married twice. On each occasion, his intended brides ended up marrying men better suited to them, namely his best friend and his younger brother. With family responsibility weighing him down, he wonders if he would ever find and love a woman who meets his personal requirements. Only, the woman he desires is far different from what he thought he wanted in a bride.

Ida is definitely a woman who stands out in a crowd, and justly so. She's highly intelligent and very outspoken. She is a breath of fresh air and stands out like a sore thumb. In contrast, Bennett is a swoon-worthy gentleman with a far differing temperament to the Duke's youngest daughter yet, common interests spark an attraction neither can ignore. He encourages Ida to seek out her sister but also is cautious to make sure she is aware of her actions always. He is her protector but he respects her wishes too.

What drew me to both the protagonists is their individuality. Both don't fit into their roles within society, so instead, they made their way in life on their terms, even though it was looked down upon by their families. With both families having an existing connection and experience of scandal between them, the path for the daring pair runs smoother than either could have expected, even though many bumps appear along their journey to a happy ever after.

The Lady is Daring is the third book in the Duke's Daughters series and Megan Frampton is a new author to me. Although characters from the previous books appear in this novel, the narrative's written as a standalone. I appreciated the humour and wit in the author's writing and heartily enjoyed the comical setting. It made a refreshing change to read a historical romance set in the middle of the nineteenth century and I'll look out for more soon.

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Avon via Edelweiss +***