Format: ebook
Published: May 16th, 2023
Age: Adult
Genre: Historical (Regency) Romance
Rating: 5/5 Stars
I love Regency Romance, but I especially love when Regency Romance moves us a bit away from the ton and gives us characters a bit different, with separate struggles than dukes and earls. So, I was very much looking forward to Amita Murray’s Unladylike Lessons in Love, and I really wasn’t disappointed.
This is a Regency Romance with a mystery at the core, as Lila Marleigh and Ivor Tristram work together, looking to solve a crime and prove the innocence of a Lascar, who will likely be hanged if they can’t find the real culprit. Threaded throughout is a portrayal of the period that strips away some of the romanticism and explores the racism and sexism of the time. Lila is on the outskirts of the ton due to her birth, as she is the illegitimate oldest daughter of an English earl and an Indian woman. Despite this, she’s quite successful running a gaming club, and has forged her own place in this world. Enter Ivor, who accuses her of being his father’s mistress, before the two get pulled into the mystery of a crime committed in Ivor’s own home.
I read this feeling like Murray had really done her research. Don’t get me wrong – I’m no expert when it comes to historical accuracy and facts in historical fiction, but I feel like a good writer can make things feel period-accurate, even when they’re not, whereas a poor writer might end up making accurate things ring false.
As it was, I believed in the characters and the setting; they felt real and I liked how Murray covered such a wide scope within the story, taking us from glittering parties to seedy pubs. As we move through London to uncover the truth of what happened, Lila and Ivor grow closer, and we see more of the characters around them, too. I was completely wrapped up in both the story and their relationship, and if you’re looking for historical fiction that combines romance and mystery really well, this might be what you’re looking for.
Reading Challenge
Romance Readers Diversity Challenge 2025 ❤️
Prompt: A book featuring an interracial couple
Progress: 3/12
Unwrapping Words 