This is a charming Regency romance that blends classic tropes with refreshing twists. When Eliza Gray—an orphan raised in a circus—gets bowled over by the dashing and remorseful Earl Purfoy, her life takes a dramatic turn from acrobatics to aristocracy.

Thrust into the glamor of London society, Eliza's journey from outsider to debutante is filled with wit, heart, and just enough scandal to keep things deliciously tense. The sparkling ballrooms, whispered gossip, and a slow-burn love triangle with the brooding Lord Purfoy and ambitious American heir Zadoc Flynn provide all the makings of a delightful historical escape.

Eliza is a strong, spirited heroine whose quest for identity and belonging grounds the romance in something deeper. The supporting cast—especially the Wolfe couple—add warmth and texture to her journey.

A satisfying mix of drama, romance, and a heroine you can root for until the very last page.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Jane Dunn’s The Accidental Debutante is a lively and heartfelt Regency romance that blends intrigue, romance, and self-discovery. Eliza Gray, once a daring circus equestrienne, flees the only life she has ever known in search of her lost family. Fate intervenes when she is injured by Raven Purfoy, the brooding Earl burdened by his own painful past. Taken in by friends of the aristocracy, Eliza suddenly finds herself thrust into London society, navigating glittering ballrooms, whispered secrets, and the attentions of two very different suitors—Purfoy, whose guarded heart she longs to unlock, and Zadoc Flynn, a pragmatic American with ambitions of his own.

Dunn layers her story with themes of identity, belonging, and resilience, while weaving in rich historical detail and a spirited dose of horse racing lore. Eliza shines as a heroine—fearless, resourceful, and determined to chart her own course. The chemistry between her and Purfoy is both tender and slow-burning, making their eventual romance all the more satisfying. With its blend of emotional depth, clever twists, and immersive Regency atmosphere, The Accidental Debutante will charm fans of Georgette Heyer and Evie Dunmore alike.

A tale of reinvention, love, and the courage to face both the shadows of the past and the promise of a brighter future, this is a delightful addition to Dunn’s growing Regency collection.

3.5 out of 5
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
I like this author's 'unlikely' Regency heroines, some more than others. Her books are well-written and her characters are fun.
Eliza has decided to leave her life as a circus equestrienne, but she's run down by Raven Purfoy, who feels responsible for her care. They have moment. He 'settles' her with his friends Corinna and Alex (from a previous book). At the beginning, Eliza pretends to have amnesia, and is taken under Corinna's wing until it can be determined where her family is.
There's a complicated plot involving an important horserace, blackmail, the old 'girl dressed as a boy' motif, and threats from Eliza's past.
I began to have trouble believing everything that was going on. as a lot of the plot devices seemed pretty transparent.
We do get a happy ending eventually, but for me, it took A LOT of patience on the part of the reader. Good for a lazy vacation read.
Recommend to Regency romance fans, fans of Georgette Heyer. You can read this book as a standalone, but if you've read her other books, you'll appreciate the continuing arcs of the other characters.

This was a fun Regency read. I loved the circus element, and the way Eliza’s horse skills, paired with her gumption and savvy, helped her carve out a place in society. Her found family were warm, endearing, and gently supportive. The cast included a perfect blend of heroes, villains, and caretakers, and the story was well paced, with plenty of drama and intrigue.

Lord Purfoy was reminiscent of Darcy, his proud, closed-off exterior protecting a caring heart. Almost running down Eliza made for a great meet-cute, and I enjoyed watching their chemistry build. I was surprised to find another book already set in this world - I can’t wait to go back and read it. A perfect read for fans of Bridgerton and light historical romance.

Thank you to the publishers for this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

This was a captivating, well written, and very engaging regency historical romance. It has so many emotional issues and twists that kept me very entertained. I enjoyed how an accident led to such a beautiful love and a wonderful life. I highly recommend reading!

I liked a lot of things about this book. I love it when a heroine has a niche interest in a book, especially if the author weaves it throughout the novel, so I was charmed by Eliza's passion for horses. Also, I loved Raven from the start! And don't even get me started on that group of friends! They were all just amazing, and I had so much fun seeing them! The only thing was that the book was quite predictable for me, maybe cause I've read too many historical romances at this point lol, but still had fun with the plotline!

In this entertaining new Regency romance novel from Jane Dunn, readers follow escaped circus performer Eliza Gray as she leaves the circus behind to find the family she lost as a child. Knocked down by a carriage driven by Raven, Earl Purfoy, and injured, Eliza feigns memory loss and makes her society debut with the help of Corinna and Alick Wolfe, who also help her track down her family. As she learns how to navigate high society and her new friendships -- and whatever is going on with Raven and American Zadoc Flynn -- and works on finding her family, Eliza must discover her feelings and what she really wants from her life now that she has this accidental fresh start. Packed with characters and incredible historical details, readers will love the chemistry between Eliza and Raven, and their dynamic really pulls readers into the story. The attention to detail and the complex backstories, plot points, and drama really immerse readers in the story and create a fascinating backdrop for Eliza’s journey of self-discovery and her relationship to Raven. Entertaining, steamy, and fun, readers will love this new Regency romance novel, its incredible characters, their great chemistry and relationships, and its amazing details.

The Accidental Debutante picks up where An Unsuitable Heiress left off, continuing the story of three unforgettable friends—Alick Wolfe, Ferdinand Shilton, and Lord Purfoy. Introduced in the first book, they form a force of their own within the ton—arrogant, unconventional, and utterly indifferent to society’s expectations. But each of them carries hidden secrets and personal baggage that threaten their dreams and their chances at a happy ending.

This installment follows the brooding and insufferably handsome Lord Purfoy and Eliza Gray, a circus performer with a mysterious family past and a fierce determination to uncover the truth about her lineage. Their relationship is full of twists and emotional tension, as both carry painful histories—his filled with sadness, hers marked by cruelty and injustice. The story kept me hooked, eager to see how they would overcome their pasts.

I'm especially curious about Ferdinand Shilton. Throughout both books, there are subtle hints at a tragic and possibly very dark backstory. I can't wait to dive into his story next—he may turn out to be the most complex of them all.

Eliza Gray is an outstanding bareback rider doing stunts at Prebbles Flying Circus under the name, Clorinda the Winged Venus. She was found wandering the streets in Bath when she was only a young child and was assumed to be an orphan. She has lived in the circus since, was trained and has been performing for the last 12 years. She dreams about finding her family and finally decides to leave the circus and get a job as a maid in a noble home, while looking for her family. On her way to the house she has been directed to, she is knocked down by a curricle driven recklessly by Raven, Earl Purfoy, who was "in his cups". Worried that she might be sent back to the circus, Eliza pretends to have amnesia. Raven is feeling responsible, so takes her to the home of his friends, Corinna and Alick Wolfe, to recover. They take an immediate liking to her and Corinna is sure that she is part of society. They invite her to attend a ball with them and support her entry into London Society. Eliza feels an immediate attraction to Raven, and it is reciprocated, but he has no desire to marry or get involved with anyone. Alick's cousin from America, Zadoc Flynn has purchased a racing mare that he plans to take home to the US to develop a stable of racing horses, he also hopes to bring home an English bride, specifically Eliza Gray. Will Eliza find her family? Is she of noble blood? Will Raven act upon his feelings?

I enjoyed this story of romance, intrigue, friendship and horses. My one niggle was that the Wolfes accepted Eliza so quickly and introduced her to society without having any evidence of who she really was. Beyond that, I enjoyed the story of this young woman trying to find out where she belonged. She was an amazing horsewoman and I liked how she and Earl Purfoy's groom became friends and he kept her secrets. Much of the book is set around riding, taking care of the horses, training horses and talking about them. I enjoyed seeing how much Eliza loved horses and how important they were to her life. Watching Eliza and Raven fight their feelings for each other was amusing at times and frustrating at others. He had a big secret that was keeping him aloof from most people, but eventually shares it. There is a misunderstanding, partly a miscommunication situation that almost derails the budding relationship between them, but luckily Raven isn't too stubborn and he does listen. There is also a plotline about inheritance, illegitimacy and gambling that added much to the story. An Accidental Debutante is an enjoyable romance, despite the one issue I had with the story. I enjoyed the characters, the friendships that developed, the horse racing and of course the romance. If you enjoy good, clean historical romance, you might want to pick this one up.

4 out of 5 stars


If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a Regency-era horse girl with a traumatic circus past collided (literally) with a brooding earl then The Accidental Debutante is your answer. Eliza escapes her life in the circus in search of answ answers. But she’s nearly run over by a man whose idea of romance is a glower and a growl. Naturally, this makes him irresistible. Listen, I don’t make the rules, but I’ll gladly follow this one.

This novel is dramatic but refreshingly so. Eliza’s love for horses isn’t just quirky window dressing; it grounds her character and gives the plot actual horsepower. See what I did there?

At times, I did feel like I was missing key context, particularly in the dynamics between the hero and the secondary characters. There was clearly more history there, but as readers, we weren’t fully let in on it.

Thanks to NETGALLEY and the publishers for the ARC.

A good read! I enjoyed the characters. I liked the storyline. I thought it was fast paced. A must read!

As a disclaimer, I DNFed this book so my review is based off of what I did read. I was honestly just not hooked by what I did read and really wasn't encouraged to continue.

DNF @ 20%
Unfortunately I'm finding it really hard to stay focused / interested in this book. It feels like it's moving really slowly. I'm also not a fan of the multi POV. I don't mind third person but when it skips around between all the characters it's just hard for me to follow.

I also think that this would have been better if I had read some of the previous books. I believe the author when she says it's a standalone but for me personally I think I need to read the other ones and I'm not interested enough to do that.

The circus, horse racing,a love triangle, Lord Byron quotes- this Regency-era romance had a lot going on! Eliza is a talented performer who wants to learn more about her past to secure her future. Many of the characters were introduced in a previous book, and I wished that I had read that one first.

Eliza was found at the age of seven wandering the streets crying and was taken in by Mrs. Prebble of The Prebble's Flying Circus. As an adult, Eliza is a circus performer but decides to sneak away to learn of her family. Rav is drunk driving his carriage and runs her down. He takes her to a friend's house to recover. She can speak as if she's from the streets or as upper class, fitting in to each situation. The friend couple introduces her to society and she must make a decision between the two men interested in her. The book is closed door and written in a quaint writing style (for lack of a better word) you might find wearying.

This was a well written book, with a fab heroine Eliza. She's as mad about horses as she's about our hero Raven. Her personality really shines through, she's kind, she just enjoys the little joys of life and is very likeable.

Both books in this series has been about found families, real or created and the camaraderie and support is very well done.

Cannot wait to see what's next.

#TheAccidentalDebutante #NetGalley

This novel. started well, butt. I found the middle section rather unformed. I also found the Byron lauding and quoting on tthe overly. Romantic side.. by which I mean that it is the sort of thing every very young person does, and one that they then grow out of.
I felt that some. editing would have sharpened the storyline, and that the whole business of the girls being hallf sisters wa far too obvious from the beginning.
I was also confused as to why Elizabeth married the old lord Bathwick as she was either already in a relationship, or started one asap. What happened to Eliza's mother's parents? Surely, there must have been some reason for the marriage, and were they also dead? A missing link I thought.
Overall, much too much on the. BYRONIC romantic limb of writing style from midway through for me.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a pretty good read. I did enjoy the romance that grew between characters. It was just a slow read.

Its a circus out there....

Eliza works in the circus as a trick rider. Earl Purfoy knocks her over and he sends her to his wealthy friends for care. She also meets a wealthy American, Zadoc Flynn. Its a juggling act, as to who will win the girl. Eliza is also looking for her mother.
Recommend.

Eliza is an intriguing central character with a mystery to solve as to her upbringing. She can mimic whichever strata of society she finds herself in but her earliest memories point to her having a respectable and fairly affluent family. As self defence, she finds herself having to mislead the people who are trying to help her. She feels guilty about this.

Raven is the dashing lord who has made sure that she is safe and under the care of his closest friends. Up in London for the Season, he is a confirmed bachelor but you feel that there is a sensitive side beneath the surface.A trauma in his family has left him determined to avoid any future heartbreak. Eliza finds herself with a choice to make. She has the chance for a respectable but loveless marriage to a rich American but hankers after a true love affair. There is plenty of period detail which shows you a believable world with some interesting characters. It has all the ingredients of a Regency romance and depicts plausible friendships and a touch of humour too.

In short: family secrets and a glittering romance