The Secret Life of a Lady by Darcy McGuire - Book Review

Publication Date: 14th June 2024 

Genre: Regency Romance (Spy Mystery)

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Works better as a romance 

Lady Hannah Simmons prefers to blend into the background and likes being a wallflower as it keeps her secret identity safe. She is a trained assassin of Queen Victoria and takes up several dangerous missions. Hannah also has many weapons on her most of the time. 

 Private Investigator to the Prime Minister and ex-war hero, Duke Robert Killian, knows he is a damaged man with a lot of weight on his shoulders. However, his latest job brings him face-to-face with Hannah (who seems to be in the same case). The spark between them is instant, but they need to get the heart of the case before things get complicated. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Hannah and Robert Killian. 

My Thoughts: 

This is primarily a romance with a bit of mystery and danger thrown in. Since I knew that’s how it would be, I enjoyed the book for what it offered. 

The books deals with themes like PTSD, past secrets, missing and dead people, etc. Despite the darkness of the subject, there’s enough light in the book to make it an easy and breezy read. 

The main characters have their pasts, which allows them to be much more than their looks. I quite liked how this is balanced and aligned with the genre’s specifications. 

Naturally, there is lust at first sight and a good dose of steam (almost 4, so be warned). It flows well with the narration and continues to keep the % moving (very important). At the same time, the pacing doesn’t make the characters feel distant. I think that’s because the filler content is kept to a minimum. 

The side characters come in varied colors and temperaments. This mix allows readers to easily track who is who and what role they play in the overall plot. 

However, the mystery element is super weak. I was expecting this, so I went with the flow. There’s some action towards the end, but if you read it solely for the thriller elements, you’ll be disappointed. 

There’s potential in the book and the characters. This is likely the first book in the series, as there are a few loose ends (and no epilogue!). I hope Drake gets the next book. That man needs to heal ASAP. 

To summarize, The Secret Life of a Lady is a steamy romance with some intrigue to spice things up. Read it as a romance to enjoy it more. I would definitely pick up the next book (whenever it is available).  

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheSecretLifeofaLady