This fourth book in the story is a cute one with a lot of 🌶️. Ivy and Edward were a sweet couple, but really Philippa and Olivia were much more interesting to read . I anticipate an enemies to lovers for those two ladies soon .

My rating 3.5 ⭐️

Overall, this was an enjoyable and intriguing read. I love when historical romance mixes with mystery, adding suspense and tension, and this series has both of them. While I enjoyed the mystery part in which the Duchess of Dorset and her Damsels, better known as Queen Victoria’s Deadly Damsels, work hard to take down the Devil’s Sons, a group of powerful men involved in human trafficking and prostitution, I wasn’t very convinced by the romance aspect. I am not a fan of insta-love, so Edward and Ivy’s romance didn’t really work for me and, sometimes, I felt it repetitive and that it took too much of the story. A Most Unlikely Lady is not my favourite book of the series, but I will definitely keep reading it.

Without a doubt, this is the best book in the series so far! From the very first page, the plot pulls you in with its gripping tension, layers of secrets, and a delicious undercurrent of mystery. The chemistry between the characters crackles with energy, and the romance? Absolute chef’s kiss — the perfect blend of instant attraction and a deeper, meaningful connection as they get to know each other.

I especially adored the forced proximity trope and the playful “please teach me” moment (you know the one 👀).

We also make serious progress on the Devil’s Sons storyline, and get some juicy glimpses into Philipa’s arc — I’m beyond excited for her book!

Highly, highly recommend this one — it's a must-read for fans of romance with depth, drama, and just the right amount of spice.

BOOK: A MOST UNLIKELY LADY
AUTHOR: DARCY MAGUIRE
PUB DATE: JUNE, 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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For me, this book was an okay read, it's smack in the middle. I liked the FMC, I didn't really like the MMC and I felt the book was more focused on the romance and I didn't get much on the mysterious band of bad guys they were fighting. It was disappointing because I wanted more of that.
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The FMC was amazing and she overcame so much trauma from the men in her life. She really grew into herself as the headmistress of the orphanage and I admired how hard she worked and cared for the kids. I liked the MMC in the beginning, but that soured when I read what he did. As far as I'm concerned, he was guilty and should feel guilty!
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I liked the other side characters, especially the women who fought hard to keep the snake, the wolf, the crow. It was brave of them and they all seem interesting. I wouldn't mind reading other books in the series.
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The book was okay, the characters had an okay chemistry and relationship and I'm glad the bad guys were taken care of. It was a fast, simple read.
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Another entertaining read in this series filled with witty dialogue, emotional trauma and strong protagonists. And of course a fulfilling romance with some great and well written open door scenes.

I liked Ivy, I liked Edward and they just suited each other well.

#AMostUnlikelyLady #NetGalley

It's Ivy's story in the fourth book in The Queen's Deadly Damsel series. It's a romantic tale with a curious mix of naivety and passion. When Ivy has a dangerous encounter in her new role, she draws the attention of Police Commissioner Edward Worthington. Forced proximity increases the attraction. Ivy may be naive, but she is courageous and a valued member of the Deadly Damsels, and she proves this on more than one occasion. Both Ivy and Edward have dark pasts, which they must come to terms with before they can find happiness together. I like the fast-paced storytelling, the spicy romance and the dynamic between the damsels. It's a lovely story full of humour, poignancy and romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I just love that I can pick up a book from this series and KNOW it is going to be good. This was no exception! Definitely more romance forward, but I just adored Ivy and Edward so much that I honestly didn't really care that their blossoming relationship took up all the oxygen in the room.

Lady Ivy Cavendale has watched all her friends find their partners and happiness. But that life will never be for her -- her father has made sure of that. But when the Police Commissioner Edward Worthington is forced to move into the orphanage she now manages in order to keep her and the children safe, she is surprised by the feelings that his presence inspires.

Edward has his own reasons for never wanting to marry, but he can help Ivy learn how good it can be between two people who trust and admire each other. He is desperate to teach her that sex is something to be cherished, not feared. He just needs to make sure he never asks for too much.

Tender and beautifully written, quickly becoming one of my favorite all-time historical romance series!

Loved that we got to have Ivy’s story. Her and Edward had such good chemistry and helped each other overcome the demons of their past.

This was very nearly a 5 /5⭐️ from me! It made me laugh, made me tear up, and even blushed! It reminded me of Jane Eyre's meets Bridgerton, and I loved the dark mystery moved into the plot.

It blew me away how much I fell for this book! Life was really an inconvenience because I could NOT put it down! I struggled with the upper class POV to begin with, and I was worried the characters would grate on me with their hoity toityness, but around 25% in, I was hooked!

I loved the inner monologue throughout the book as if the characters were arguing with themselves. They were so funny and full of banter!

The FMC is your typical delicate little "wallflower" but with a fiesty protective side to her that ignites a passionate flame in the broody MMC. Together, they explore their growing relationship (and eachother) and there's one scene in particular (IYKYK) that will definitely get your heart racing! If there were more scenes like that, it would have made it a 5/5 for sure, but I like my spice as smutty as it comes, so maybe I am just being too greedy!

I have never been more excited to realise that this was 1 of 4 standalones in the series, never run so fast to Amazon for the others!

Another fun historical cozy mystery from Darcy McGuire. Loved it and can’t wait for her next in the series!

I absolutely adored this book and love all books by Darcy McGuire!! Can't recommend this series more !!

I'd say generally any of these books can be read as standalones (this is the fourth book in the series) though there are small spoilers for the previous books. Each book has is own unique characters and plot, though Ivy (the main fmc) was a background character in the previous books. I love when books get straight into the action instead of setting the scene, worldbuilding etc, from the first few sentences this book takes of running!

Ivy and Edward's chemistry and love grew naturally throughout the novel, and I felt that instead of being distracted by the criminal subplot it added just enough tension to keep me on my toes!

This was a great book! I really enjoyed the character development, strong friendships, and witty banter (especially between Edward/Reading and Philippa/Stokes). All of the characters were easy to relate to, and the book was smooth to read and very engaging.

I enjoyed that Edward and Ivy had quite a bit of chemistry in all of their interactions, especially towards the end of the story. Their personalities really seemed to fit together well, and I loved the support and advice Ivy received from her friends (and the fact that all of their husbands were huge green flags)! The mystery portion of the story that they needed to investigate and figure out was also very engaging.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review. Overall, I would recommend this book and any others that the author writes!

A great mix of investigation and romance!

I liked this romance. I found the main characters, Ivy and Edward, captivating. Both carry secrets and hidden wounds that impact their current lives. Following a dangerous incident, we assist in the special relationship developing between them while they investigate. We gradually discover their pasts that explain their actions and their contradictory natures. I enjoyed the intrigue, suspense, and investigation combined with the romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A very enjoyable romp

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had not read the previous books in the series but felt right at home with the characters. The plot is a great mixture of mystery, romance, and historical events, some spicy bits that can be skipped if you are not of fan of such. This is a very enjoyable romp!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley but this review represents my honest opinion. I loved the beginning of this book. I've been fascinated with these characters for a while and I was so happy to get their book that I read it immediately. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed in where it went and the pacing. For characters who were so traumatized, the healing just didn't feel genuine. I wish authors would avoid certain topics if they're not going to handle them more in depth. The author also usually balances the spicy content with the story much better than they did in this book, where it felt like the plot actually stopped at one point and then continued after 100 pages of nothing but spice.

Still, it's a fast, easy read with a satisfying end for these characters. It's a decent installment in a series with a couple of unexpected twists and cute relationships and characters. I'm glad I read it and fans of the series should not miss it.

Ivy Cavendale, the daughter of a deceased archduke who was deranged and dissolute, decides to take control of her life. She wants to move away from her aunt and live independently. The opportunity arises when her friend, Olivia, offers her the chance to run an orphanage. Ivy accepts without hesitation.
One of her first nights on the job, a man tries to break into the room where the girls are sleeping. Ivy, who is trained in self-defense by her friend Philippa (one of the infamous "Queen's Deadly Damsels"), grabs her gun and shoots the intruder, saving the girls.
Entering Edward Worthington, Duke of Landbourne and Metropolitan Police Commissioner. He is investigating a criminal gang called the "Devil's Sons" (a name that speaks for itself) that is involved in shady dealings and prostitution. Edward is also a friend of Philippa's and has been asked to protect Ivy at all costs. Naturally, Edward is interested in Ivy. When he learns about the nighttime raid, he immediately goes to her and offers to stay at the orphanage until the culprit is found. Does this seem like your usual Korean drama's plot to you, too?
My favorite part was the investigation, even though it only takes up a small part of the story.
As for the characters, both Ivy and Edward have difficult pasts. Scarred by a manipulative and disturbed father, Ivy has decided that she never wants a romantic relationship. Edward, on the other hand, carries a sense of guilt for something he did in the past and believes he doesn't deserve happiness. Ivy is somehow intriguing, though somewhat predictable at times. Edward, however, is just "meh." He enters the story by brutally beating up another character and then wallowing in his personal martyrdom. To quote Philippa, "Good God! You sound as dramatic as a young miss at her first ball. Should I call Stokes to bring you some smelling salts?" Exactly.
What is my favorite character? Reading, Edward's secretary, is my favorite character. He's Edward's Victorian version of Alfred. Unfortunately, he only appears at the beginning. I also liked Stokes, Philippa's butler. Together, they're hilarious. I hope they have more of a presence in the other volumes of the series.
Important note: the book is spicy and explicit. One of the scenes reminded me of bondage. In short, he says he'll stop if she tells him to (safe word).

I hadn't read any of the previous books and was able to understand the story well enough. Ivy's story is so sad. Her courage is amazing. The author does an excellent job or writing her character. Edward is an interesting character and I appreciated his character's past and how it holds him back from love. A book with deep topics that cause one to reflect. I truly enjoyed it!

The abused daughter of a villain, Lady Ivy Cavendish, finds her power and the love of a noble Duke/Scotland Yard Commissioner in McGuire's 4th "Queen's Deadly Damsels" novel. This can be read as a standalone (the side characters just won't mean much to you).

Lady Ivy Cavendish has taken on a new project since her evil father murdered her evil brother and himself in one of the previous books. She's been trained by Lady Phillipa to be a Queen's Deadly damsel and help them take down the final two partners in a sex trafficking scheme AND she's been put in charge of an orphanage of 30 kids. When the orphanage is burglarized, Commissioner/Duke Edward Worthington moves in to protect Ivy and the kids and solve the case. Forced-proximity, plenty of balls, and slow-burn romance ensue as Edward struggles to hold his passion for Ivy in check until she works through her father's abuse.

Sexual teaching/healing and all-around spiciness occur but....it's in an orphanage with 30 kids in the rooms next door. Take a cold shower! Also, what kind of orphanage has only ONE lady for staff? She doesn't ever cook them a meal, teach them anything, bathe them, clean the house, etc. At one point she reads them a story. What?! Are the kids entirely self-sufficient and all get along perfectly without any discipline, mediation, etc?? I feel like we needed a different setting or more staff to help it all make sense. Never did a child wander into her room after a nightmare or otherwise cock-block the couple. Is that believable? Absolutely not.

Also, the big showdown with the villain near the end felt eerily familiar to the one in the first book. Didn't the damsel get drawn away from a ball to be confronted in a stable then as well? I could be wrong, I read a lot of these books. Anyway, two evil overlords down, one to go. Or is it an evil overlady?!

Thank you to Boldwood Books for this ARC!

First of all thank you to the author and publisher for giving me an advanced reader copy on NetGalley! Also I just need to say I have read all of the other Deadly Damsels books in the series and this one might be my favorite. I think Darcy McGuire might be one of my new favorite historical romance authors along with Evie Dunmore and Liana de La Rosa.
Okay enough fangirling, let’s get concrete! Why did I enjoy this novel as much as I did?? Leading into this book, I wasn’t sure how McGuire would be able to take Ivy from her traumatized and emotionally and sexually shut off place to a place of healing and openness to love and pleasure. I actually wondered if this would be the weakest of the series because I wasn’t sure you could believably take Ivy from point a to b within a single novel. I was wrong. Ivy and Edward’s growth felt earned and sexy despite the trauma that preceded the characters. Also Edward was such a fucking dream! Truly the sweetest, sexiest, and most empathetic partner Ivy could have asked for me.
In addition, being the vengeful fuck that I am 😂 I always love that the villains in these novels experience *consequences* for their evilness. (Get ‘em girls!) The only thing I would ask McGuire to change in the future is having the endings occur a little less quickly. I feel like I often end up stunned that the book is over because so much happened in the last 2-3 chapters!

Darcy McGuire is becoming one of my historical romance authors—her books are sweet but spicy, funny but dark, and packed with enough intrigue to keep me flipping pages way past bedtime. And Ivy Cavendale is my new favorite heroine. She’s got this whole "shy wallflower with a secret knife collection" thing going on, and I am obsessed. The book opens with her taking charge of an orphanage (already wholesome), but then an intruder breaks in, and instead of panicking, she shoots him. Not fatally, but still—iconic. And when Commissioner Edward Worthington (who, by the way, is a duke *and* a detective, because why not) shows up to investigate, their chemistry is instant. He’s all brooding and protective; she’s all "I don’t need a man, thanks." The romance is slow-burn in the best way—lots of lingering glances, accidental touches, and Edward being ridiculously patient with Ivy’s trauma (her backstory is rough, fair warning). But when they finally get together? Whew. Let’s just say McGuire doesn’t skimp on the steam. Plot-wise, it’s part love story, part spy thriller, with a villainous group called the Devil’s Sons pulling strings in the background. The last third of the book is basically one big, dramatic showdown, and I ate it up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. Opinions are my own.