"My Lady's Secrets" is a novel set in Regency England that follows the story of Cressida, a young woman who is separated from her husband and is viewed unfavourably by high society. After spending years as a spy during the Peninsular War she returns to England. The book introduces many new characters right away, each with their own history and connections. This was very confusing, as it felt like I was starting in the middle of their story instead of at the beginning. While it's appreciated that the characters have complex backgrounds, it would have been better if they were presented more gradually.

The book is well-researched, but unfortunately, I found it difficult to enjoy. However, other readers may find it to their liking. One thing that stands out is Cressida's strong character, which is unusual for a Regency romance novel. "I would like to express my gratitude to Katy Morgan, Aria and Aries publisher, and NetGalley for offering me the chance to provide my honest review of this book. The cover of the book is absolutely stunning, and it caught my attention right away. After reading the description, I was eager to dive into this book." Unfortunately, I was only able to read up to 55% of it before I had to stop.

My Lady's Secrets | Katy Moran

Cressida and Greville have long since been estranged. Their three year marriage is marred with scandal and betrayals. But they meet again when Greville catches Cressida behind enemy lines. Acused as a traitor to the crown, Cressida is offered to act as a spy, and Greville must see to it that she delivers. Is it to late to rekindle their old flame?

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I was lent an advance reader's copy of this book in place of an honest review. Thank you to the publishers at Head of Zeus and to Netgalley.

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I thought about this book a lot in the days follwing my finishing it. I love the romance and the pining most of all, and how Moran developed the chemistry between the characters. This is very different from my thoughts about it duting the first 15-30% of the book when I felt as if I was on the verge of adding it to my small pile of DNFs. I was lost in the number of namea and the quick pace of events, I felt like I couldn't catch up.

Thankfully I persevered and about halfway through I was too invested in the book to put it down. And when I finished it, I read the first parts again and it all made sense then. I suppose one just needs to get used to the narrative.

This is the first book I read of Moran's. Her prose seems to be loaded and economical. It took a lot of getting used to. But when I did, I loved it.

This book comes out in July this year.

Genre: Historical Romance

#netgalley #myladyssecrets #books #bookreview #bookrecommendation

I had to DNF this book, it was a good attempt at a feminist, historical romance but I did not enjoy the writing style. I found myself confused and unable to follow the book and could not connect with the characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.

“My Lady’s Secrets” had such a lovely cover and intriguing description that I couldn’t resist wanting to read it immediately!

I liked that the chapters alternated between the POVs of the estranged married couple Cressida and Greville. However, there were several other characters that were introduced by either just a first or last name, and then they would be referred to by the opposite, so I found that confusing and was looking for more consistency to keep the characters straight.

Sadly, I was often lost by the story. The beginning of the book left my head spinning and I was overwhelmed by all the characters, backstories, flash backs, and current events. It felt like I started in the middle of the book instead of at the beginning. I struggled to get through the first half of the book. However, I much preferred the book’s pacing after the halfway mark and onward. I think this book would have read better for me if the pacing was like the second half of book throughout the entire story.

Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with any of the characters in this book. While Cressida was a truly unique character and a strong female lead, I often felt annoyed by her actions. I was expecting more romance and received more politics instead. I did enjoy the murder mystery twist later in the story, but it wasn’t enough to redeem more than a 3-star rating from me.

Overall, this particular book was not a good fit for me, but it may be a good fit for adults who enjoy historical fiction with less romance. I may look into a different book written by this author to see if I connect with a different set of characters.

Net Galley notes
Don’t expect a this to hit the beats of a romance. This is historical fiction that struggles to get off the ground. I typically like a story that starts with action, but this threw too much at you too fast. This is one of those rare instances where a little telling would have been better than the nonstop showing. The scene setting is good, but I needed more time with the main characters rather than a history lesson or a large cast of supporting characters. So I never cared about Cressida or Greville enough to watch them overcome their anger and learn their story. I never cheered for them to get back together, and at the end I wished we had seen them have an important conversation rather than just be told it was about to happen.

I had a little trouble getting into it, but Cressida’s orneriness definitely helped pull me in! I also loved the writing style. I read it slower than a lot of books, but there was just a lot to take in and work through. I think it fell a little flat for me because of my reading preferences.

Moran clearly put a lot of research into this book, and it showed on every single page. Each piece of information she gave us was perfectly thought through and detailed, and piqued my interest enough to want to research the events of this book further. Some reviews have suggested that there was too much history included and that the reviewers felt like they were missing some vital information, and while I can agree with that, I do like it when a book makes me need or want to do external research to understand the plot. But, I understand that not everyone thinks like me.

However, the writing style, for me, felt a little dry and a little too info-dumpish at times. And for the first 50% of the book, I was considering DNFing because I just found it too difficult to properly immerse myself into the novel and the characters. I had to keep flipping back and re-reading parts of the novel because I couldn't completely understand or even remember certain plot points, and what the characters were actually supposed to be doing. By Chapter 5, I felt like I had to start the book again because so much had been thrown my way and characters were referencing the early chapters and it left me feeling confused and a little overwhelmed. But, I'd say the final stretch of the book, perhaps the final 30%, I finally got into the book, found my stride, and had a great time.

Actual rating was 3.5

3.5. "My Lady's Secrets" is a novel set in Regency England that follows the story of Cressida, a young woman estranged from her husband and tarnished in the eyes of high society. After spending years as a spy and following the drum during the Peninsular War, she returns to England. The book delves into various political themes, including the rise of the Luddite movement and the assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Percival, just before the outbreak of the War of 1812. However, at its core, the story revolves around Cressida's efforts to reconcile with her husband, Lord Greville, and rebuild her social standing. While "My Lady's Secrets" is not a typical historical romance, it intertwines fictional characters with real historical figures, such as Lord Byron, who plays a significant role in the narrative. The book provides a unique perspective on the era, blending romance with political intrigue and societal commentary.

There are several aspects of "My Lady's Secrets" that I found particularly compelling. First and foremost, the choice to set the novel against the backdrop of the tumultuous events of 1812 provides a rich historical context that enhances the narrative and immerses the reader in the time period.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its exploration of the hypocrisy prevalent in Regency society, particularly regarding the double standards applied to men and women. The novel deftly highlights the different standards of acceptance imposed by polite society, where actions that could tarnish a woman's reputation often went unpunished for men. This theme adds a layer of social commentary that resonates with contemporary issues, making the story feel both timeless and relevant.

The book is written in a unique style—it doesn't employ the light and breezy language typical of romances, which might be off-putting for some readers, although it worked for me.

Despite its intriguing concept, the execution left something to be desired in certain aspects. My primary concern with the book lies in its demanding nature, requiring considerable commitment and focus from the reader right from the start. While the plot starts off dynamically, the details of the circumstances unfold gradually over time. While this approach may have been intended to draw the reader in, in practice, it results in a slow buildup where the reader may not fully grasp the direction of the story for the first 40% of the book or more. Consequently, many readers may find it challenging to push through this initial stage, leading to a sizable number of people abandoning the book unfinished. Compounding this difficulty is the large number of characters introduced early on, many of whom appear indistinguishable at first. While I find the main characters of the book, particularly Cressida, Lord Greville, and Byron, to be well-developed and engaging, the abundance of side characters further complicates the reading experience and can make it harder for readers to become fully invested in the story.

There were moments when I considered setting the book aside, but the intriguing historical backdrop compelled me to persist. The latter half of the book surpasses the first in quality. Ultimately, historical fiction enthusiasts may find this book appealing. However, it's important to note that it deviates from the light adventure/romance story suggested by the cover.

This was very different to a lot of Regency romances I read, and was quite complex and political. I loved the romance at the heart of it - I thought Cressida and Greville were written beautifully - but at times it was very confusing and felt like a book in a series. A little more contextualising for the reader would have been ideal, and perhaps a smaller cast of characters.

I loved this book! It was so unexpectedly charming. My only issue was with the pacing between POVs. The Dual POV lends itself well to most stories in my opinion, but it skips around a lot between chapters which can be kind of disorienting. Once you figure out what is going on though, thoroughly enjoyable!

This was so freaking good!!!! I could not put this book down! I love a good Regency Romance with some Spy work in it and this one was absolutely perfect. I have completely fallen in love with Greville and Cressida and their story!!!! I could not get enough of this book! Love love love. 5 stars!!!
I just reviewed My Lady's Secrets by Katy Moran. #MyLadysSecrets #NetGalley
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At first I said no 8 chapters in. But I kept thinking about the characters and how it would end.

I stopped because I was concerned about vulgarity in the book - not a fan. But it was not a lot and didn’t over power the story.

The cover is gorgeous. I enjoyed the story because I love a good story with spies and intrigue.

There is A LOT going on in the book. I enjoyed how it ended and this could almost be a series of the main couple.

I just reviewed My Lady's Secrets by Katy Moran. #MyLadysSecrets #NetGalley

I feel bad always when I have to say that I didn't like a book, but I just didn't enjoy the writing style and I didn't really like the story and I couldn't get into it even half way through,

Thank you to Aria and Aries and Katy Moran for an arc copy of My Lady’s Secrets to review. I had great hopes for this book with it’s intriguing premise and what I assumed would be a second chance love story with a bit of mystery/adventure. To be honest, I scrapped by finishing this by forcing myself to the end to not DNF.

The characters were bratty and childish – arguing, clashing and zero chemistry between Cressida and Grenville. Why they married in the first place, I am at a lost. OK there is a completed history between them, which I still don’t fully understand but to be honest I didn’t care enough to go back to try understand it. There are a lot of characters to keep track of in the book and to be honest it was confusing and I thought too busy.

Not the right historical romance for me, which is a shame as the premise was great and the writing itself descriptive and pulled you into the regency glamour of big houses and titled society. The characters didn’t charm or ensnare me.

Katy Moran's "My Lady's Secrets" embarks on a daring journey through historical fiction, espionage, and a touch of romance, all while weaving in the presence of Lord Byron. However, in its attempt to encompass so many themes and genres, the novel occasionally loses focus, leaving the reader somewhat overwhelmed.

The narrative begins in medias res, thrusting readers into a world teeming with intrigue and complex characters. Yet, despite this abrupt beginning, the story struggles to find its footing as numerous characters enter the scene without sufficient introduction. As a result, understanding the dynamics between them becomes a challenge, hindering the reader's immersion. The retrospective sections exploring Cressida's past evoke a picaresque quality reminiscent of Defoe's Moll Flanders. these stories could have been revealed more elaborately and gradually. Such an approach would have allowed for a deeper exploration of her inner struggles and motivations. Gradually unfolding her backstory would have urged the reader to develop a stronger connection with Cressida and a deeper understanding of her actions.

One of the novel's shortcomings lies in its titular promise. While the title hints at a focus on the maid, the narrative primarily employs a conventional third-person perspective. This missed opportunity leaves readers longing for a more intimate exploration of the maid's role and insights.

Despite its flaws, "My Lady's Secrets" is not without merit. Moran's intricate plotting and historical detail showcase her skill as a writer, and the inclusion of Lord Byron adds a touch of literary flair to the narrative.

Special thanks to Katy Moran, Aria and Aries publisher, and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story and the Characters were well written. The romance had me sat on the edge of my seat anticipating what will happen next. The story kept me interested the whole time. The writing was beautiful!

I really enjoyed this book! Definitely was not what I was expecting, but in a good way. I also quite like the dual POV aspect of it.

The only negative I have to say about this book is the fact it jumps quite a bit between a few chapters. It does take a second to figure out what is happening in a specific chapter but half of the chapters do not jump.

I was really excited about this book until I remembered how much Lord Byron annoys me. There is so much we know about him, but we always focus on the flights of fancy and not what a miserable person he is. I had to DNF this book, as I couldn't get into the story and couldn't force myself to get through it.

This book is probably going to be among my top 10 favourite books I read in 2024. It has my full recommendations. I hope everyone loves it as much as I did!

Thank you to Katy Morgan, Aria and Aries publisher and NetGalley for letting me give my honest review of this book.

I, unfortunately, had to dnf this one around the 50% mark. The story for me felt all over the place and was not invested in the characters. I usually try not to dnf arcs but I could not continue past this point.