Review: To Lure a Proper Lady (Duke-Defying Daughters #1) by Ashlyn Macnamara

Print Length: 266 pages

Publisher: Loveswept (March 29, 2016)

From Goodreads.com: When Lady Elizabeth Wilde and her sisters are summoned once again to their chronically anxious father’s deathbed, she’s shocked to find that his worries are at last justified. He’s terribly ill, and Lizzie suspects poison. But when she seeks help from the Bow Street Runners, her request is answered by a rough-hewn rogue known only as Dysart. Though his irreverent charm by turns shocks and captivates her, a man of Dysart’s background is an altogether inappropriate choice for a duke’s daughter—isn’t he?

Although Dysart has his reasons to disdain polite society, the promise of supplemental income from a noble’s coffers is too tempting to deny. But if Dysart means to apprehend the culprit who poisoned the duke, he’ll need to avoid any and all distractions—like the delicious swish of Lady Elizabeth’s hips. Yet as the investigation begins to unearth secrets he’d rather remain hidden, Dysart must decide at a moment’s notice whether to hold Elizabeth at arm’s length . . . or pull her dangerously close.

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

This book hit a solid middle of the road for me.  There wasn't anything that particularly stood out for me, but I didn't completely hate it either. 

For the most part, I enjoyed these characters. The Wilde sisters were an interesting bunch, and the supporting characters really brought this story together. I especially liked their Great-Aunt who seemed to know more than she let on. In fact aside from the sisters themselves, she was my favorite. 

One thing I did find a bit hard to believe however is that Dysart - who has made a career out of being a Bow Street Runner - seemed to have such a hard time getting to the bottom of this mystery. In fact it seemed like he didn't even solve the mystery himself, but rather had the answer land almost squarely in his lap. I felt there could be been a lot more done with his character that would have made him seem more realistic. Also, the fact that he seemed determined to paint one character as the villain simply due to a past encounter was a bit annoying. It seemed as though he was entirely too focused on this one individual and that was the reason he was unable to put things together in a more timely manner. 

As for the romance itself, it was sweet. Yes - there is some sexual encounters before marriage (which if this is not your cup of tea, you can just as easily skip over these parts and not miss anything crucial to the story). I felt that they had a romance that sort of blossomed over time, even though you could tell there was an almost instant attraction between them. 

Overall, I would continue on with this series if for nothing else than to see what the author does with the other two sisters, as well as see more of Lizzie and Dysart. I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy a little mystery with their romance. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                          To Lure a Proper Lady is available from Amazon.com