In The Accidental Debutante, Eliza Gray runs away from the circus, where she has been working as a horsewoman/bareback rider on her much loved horse Percy. She was taken in by the circus at the age of seven when she was separated from her nursemaid in a crowd in Bath. Being deprived of love at such a formative age, she flees the circus in hopes of findng her real family.

On her way she has an accident and Raven, Lord Purfoy, rescues her and takes her to his friends Corinna and Alick. If you have read the authors other novels, you will be familiar with these characters and a few others, from An Unsuitable Heiress. It was wonderful to be reunited with such familiar and much-loved characters, but this novel does also work as a standalone. I was particularly happy to see Taz, Purfoy’s tiger (or liveried groom). Taz instantly bonded with Eliza over their shared love of horses.

Raven was the perfect male main character in a Regency novel, flawed, damaged by past tragedy, and yet still capable of love in spite of himself. I found it refreshing how soft he became when around Eliza, in spite of his formidable character when dealing with other people.

Eliza was so intrepid and fearless, with a resilience that shone from her. When she gets the opportunity to find out the truth about her past and who she is, she approaches it with a stoicism far beyond her years, completely prepared to face her future head on without hesitation. I loved how Eliza could fit effortlessly into all sections of society. She was equally at home chatting with the circus folk, as she was mingling with the Ton at a magical ball that was considered to be the event of the season.

In addition to the attentions of Purfoy, Eliza also receives a marriage proposal by American Zadoc Flynn, which lacks any romantic inclinations, but makes complete business sense to him, recognising her skills and knowledge about horses.The big question is should Eliza follow her head or her heart?

I make no secret of my admiration for the novels of historian Jane Dunn, since her first novel The Marriage Season was published in 2023. They contain a significant blend of historical accuracy, exemplary Regency romance and modern sensibilities without ever feeling too modern or formulaic.

The Accidental Debutante is a captivating romance that will transport you to a Regency England that is historically grounded with a modern subtlety that does not detract from a story of love, resilience, courage and families lost and found.

Sweet and thoughtful

This is a very engaging regency romance. Our heroine has been brought up as a circus performer after being lost from her family as a child. But, she has been longing for a real family and runs away from the circus. Lots of heat and thoughtful exploration of what family really means. Romance and heat but very closed door (no explicit sex). Very good book for your summer reading, escapist but thought provoking.

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

Alone and lost at just seven years old
Eliza has been raised in a circus and is daring and bold.
However she dreams of finding her family
And so her adventures begin you see.

Being knocked down wasn’t what she had planned
Nor was recuperating in a home that is oh so grand.
However surprised she is at this twist of fate
Secrets need sharing before it is too late!

A fun historical romance I enjoyed all the way through
With friendship and more as Eliza decides what to do
There are twist a-plenty before all is resolved
Requiring Eliza to keep being bold!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this my honest review.

Jane Dunn’s delightful Regency romances are in a class of their own and this talented storyteller is back with an enchanting tale guaranteed to make readers swoon: The Accidental Debutante.

Eliza Gray is a legend at Prebbles Flying Circus, however, the daring horsewoman has always harboured a desire to find her family and discover who she really is and where came from. Fate takes a hand when she is knocked down by a curricle driven by Raven, Earl Purfoy, who is mortified at having caused Eliza a moment’s hurt. Determined to make up for his carelessness, Raven deposits Eliza in the care of two of his closest friends who immediately take her under their wing and encourage her in her quest to find her family.

Eliza quickly goes from the rough and tumble of the circus to rubbing shoulders with the Ton in polite society. However, she quickly realises that she’s got far more than barbed comments from society matrons and scurrilous gossip to worry about when she crosses paths with American Zadoc Flynn, who is on the lookout for an English bride to take home with him back to New York.

Will Eliza ever be reunited with her family? Will she find her place in the world? And will it be Mr Flynn or Lord Purfoy who will make this accidental debutante the happiest woman in polite society?

Jane Dunn’s books are a historical romance reader’s dream. She writes with style, verve and panache and elevates the genre by understanding the norms and mores of the time and bringing the past to light by immersing the reader in the world she so exquisitely creates. The Accidental Debutante is a sparkling, irresistible and wonderfully romantic tale liberally sprinkled with humour, emotion and pathos that I struggled to put down.

With wonderful characters, wicked wit, heartfelt drama and spellbinding romance, The Accidental Debutante is another superb Regency delight from Jane Dunn readers will thoroughly enjoy.

The Accidental Debutante, by Jane Dunn, is the 5th book in a series of Regency Romances. It can be read as a stand alone, but there is crossover of characters from previous books in the series. I had not read any of Jane Dunn’s prior novels, so these characters were new to me. It would have been helpful to have read her prior novels for more context with the characters.

This book is the story of Eliza, a circus acrobat performer, who runs away from the circus in search of a better life. She is hit by a curricle the night she escapes, and is injured. Raven, Earl Purfroy is the driver, and takes her to a friend’s home to recover. These friends, the Wolfe family, take in Eliza, and decide to launch her in to society. Eliza is also searching for her birth family, who abandoned her as a child in Bath.

Eliza meets another love interest, Zadoc Flynn, an American heir to a fortune, and must decide between him and Raven. She encounters many challenges as she negotiates her new world of high society in London. She finds comfort in caring for and riding horses throughout the novel. She searches for her place in the world of the ton, which is completely different from the circus or the world she was born into.

The writing style of this novel felt dated. The third person narration didn’t work for me. However, the author skillfully captures the world of Regency London. She also creates a story full of romantic love and also love for family through the characters in the novel. While her writing style didn’t appeal to me, I think Historical Romance readers would appreciate this author’s traditional style. Readers who have read the prior books in this series would also really enjoy this book and seeing what previous characters are now doing.

Thanks to Jane Dunn, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If I could inhabit Regency England I would do so in the world this clever author brings to life so beautifully. From the moment Eliza Gray steps into the path of Raven, Earl Purfoy and disappears under the spinning wheels of his curricle I was beguiled by the story of a spirited young woman in search of her family and of an imperious young man who isn’t prepared for the effect that Eliza’s beauty and charming personality will have on his heart.

Whilst those who have read The Unsuitable Heiress will recognise many of the characters who play such an important role in the story, it can also be read as a standalone for it is Eliza and Raven who take centre stage in a deliciously sweet Regency romance. The world of sumptuous ballrooms, with gloriously appealing characters comes alive, from the eccentric American millionaire in search of a suitable wife, to the ale and onion smell of Prebbles Flying circus and the supreme equine competence of Clorinda, the Winged Venus. I raced through the story reluctant to leave Eliza alone for a second and eager to learn more about her search for a long lost family.

Strongly redolent of a bygone age when young ladies weren’t expected to ride astride or dismount their horse by somersaulting from its saddle, Eliza Gray is a breath of fresh air in a world which constrained its women in tightly laced corsets and Parisian lace and gave them not an ounce of freedom to be themselves. I loved every word and said a reluctant goodbye to this wonderful young woman, wishing her much happiness in a future she so well deserved.

Beautifully written, and impeccably researched An Accidental Debutante is another fascinating glimpse into the vagaries of Regency life, and of the challenges of finding love when you least expect it.

Eliza Gray was a circus performer and although she excelled at her job, she wanted more from her life. While she was running away she came into contact with Lord Raven Purfoy. Although they do have an attraction to each other, Raven fights against it, due to his family experiences. Raven takes Eliza to stay with his good friends. There was a lot happening in this book, Eliza is trying to find her family and an American cousin of the family she is staying with adds complications for her. There are also one or two unlikeable characters. I loved the banter between Raven and his groom, Taz. This was an entertaining read which ends happily. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is great for fans of Georgette Heyer, a lovely regency romance with likable main characters and fun side characters. I felt like it went on a little long, but I enjoy the writing and the characters so I was fine with that :)

I’ve read all of Jane Dunn’s Regency romances to date, and they are fabulous and a real treat I look forward to whenever I hear about a new release. The Accidental Debutante is a welcome addition to the collection, and this time it has some connections to one of her previous works, although new readers need not fear. They won’t miss anything by jumping in here, other than the joy of reading the first book.

Our main character, Eliza, is a charming, feisty young woman, determined to find her way in the world away from the circus, although she feels an enormous tug to actually leave it, and her beloved horse. Corinna, by contrast, is a woman who’s experienced something similar and hopes to ease her passage into society, confident that Eliza will be discovered by her lost family. Add in to the mix a collection of horses (I always love all the horse characters), the outspoken, Taz, and of course, his moody, master, Purfoy, playing the part of uptight gentleman (there always has to be one), and not to mention their American cousin, who bucks against English sensibilities, and we’re set for another engaging stroll through Regency London (well, often a gallop), that will ensnare fans of the genre.

If you’re lucky enough not to have read any of Jane Dunn’s Regency novels, then you’re in for a real treat, and for fans who’ve been there all along, The Accidental Debutante will undoubtedly delight you, just as much as it did me.

Eliza Gray was seven when she got lost and was taken in by a circus. Since then, she's been trained and worked on doing elaborate tricks on horseback. She has long desired to find her family and home and leaves the circus one night after her performance with plans to find work and embark on her search in free time. Unfortunately, she's run over by a vehicle travelling too fast and driven by an inebriated Raven Purfoy. Next thing Eliza knows, she's set up in the home of the Wolfes, close friends and neighbors to Rav. It's not long before Eliza is caught up in the social scene, attending balls and meeting many people in society. It's a whole new world and eventually she does find out about her family.

I really enjoyed this and liked Eliza's background as a circus performer. I do ponder the circumstances keeping her from being reunited with family at the time, but her experience does drive the story quite a bit. The romance between Eliza and Rav is fairly slow burning but there's plenty of story aside from that to keep them both occupied. One thing I like about the series is there are character who don't fit the norm totally. While I am aware this isn't likely to have gotten a person very far during the time in reality, I like the idea of these more unique characters. I've read the book previous in this series so I already knew the main characters. I think someone could read this without having read previously, but it definitely provides a bit more background to have that earlier experience.

Overall, this was a really good read, and I rate it 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for giving me a free advance reader copy. My opinions have been provided voluntarily.

1817

Prebbles Flying Circus performs in Astley’s Amphitheater with their star performer, Clorinda the Winged Venus, who rides on her horse, Percy. Her real name is Eliza Gray and she was lost on the streets of Bath when she was a young child. She was found by Mrs. Prebbles and brought into the fold of the circus. Now, she is determined to leave and find her family. As she fights the wind on the streets, she is blown in front of a curricle driven by Raven, Earl Purfoy and hits her head. Raven is frantic that he may have killed her and he and his tiger, Taz, stop and help her up. She has a gash on her head and claims to have lost her memory. So, he leaves her with his good friends, Cory and Alick Wolfe. Cory is so kind to hear and Eliza confesses the truth to her about her background and they welcome her into their home. Eliza meets some of their friends and Cory prepares Eliza for her first ball.

Eliza often sees Earl Purfoy and is also introduced to an extremely wealthy American friend of the Wolfe’s, Zadoc Flynn, who has come to England to find some good horseflesh and hopefully to find a bride.

Eliza meets and makes new friends. But she is trying desperately hard to find her mother and father. In addition, she has try and avoid a despicable rake who does nothing but put her down. Boo-Hiss to him!

I liked the characters and how they were all such good friends. Cory is an amazing woman who is not only articistically talented but is also kind, generous and loving. I would say she is my favorite character. Come join this group of close friends as they introduce the lovely Eliza Gray to society and help her in her search for her family. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
You can definitely enjoy this one without reading the other books in the series, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have read those. This was a unique and interesting plot and I enjoyed the characters. It has a slow start, but once it picked up, I was intrigued.

This story follows Eliza Gray, a spirited circus performer with a mysterious past, whose life changes when she crosses paths with Raven, Earl Purfoy—a brooding nobleman with his own demons. Their initial collision sets off a chain of events that propels Eliza into London’s high society, where she must navigate glittering balls, scandalous gossip, and the attentions of an ambitious American suitor while searching for her true family.

I loved Eliza’s courage, independence, and deep connection with horses. Raven, despite the silly name, is a broody, Byronic hero who is just perfectly suited here. The supporting cast, particularly the warmhearted Wolfe family, adds depth and charm, while the American heir Zadoc Flynn also has some depth beyond just being the third leg of the love triangle.

I will be looking for the rest of this series!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Eliza got lost when seven years old and was taken in by the owner of a circus. Later in life, Eliza decides to run away from the circus, in which she was raised, to find her family and life a more quiet life. During the night she ran away and was knocked down by Raven Purfoy’s curricle. From there, we follow her as she meets Raven’s friends, one of them being Zadoc Flynn, an American heir and cousin to one of Raven’s friends, and accidentally enters London society. We learn more about her, her relationships and her family.

The start of the book was interesting, after that the first half of the book was somewhat slow-paced. Around about 50% the pace picked up and the story got more interesting. I do think the premise was interesting, but something in the writing was not catching my attention. The book is a part of a larger series but is described to be a standalone. I have not read the other books in the series, and I did not have any trouble keeping up with this one, so it most definitely can be read by itself. I do think some topics could have been discussed more such as the incident between lord Davenport and Eliza or what happened to Eliza when she was seven years old.

Eliza Gray works at the Prebbles Flying Circus. She is a goddess on horseback, and her performance is the best attraction. She has been at the circus since Mrs.Prebbles found her wandering in Bath at a young age. Eliza doesn't know who her family is or if Eliza is even her name. She decides to finally leave the circus and her best friend, Rose, behind and begin her search for her parents and any family she may find.

Things don't go as Eliza planned, but I believe things went even better for her. She was lucky to stumble upon Earl Raven Purfoy, and he then took her to the Wolfe's, who showed her nothing but kindness and a feeling of being home and among family. Eliza will find heartaches in her search for her family but will gain very important people in her life.

Loved this story, Eliza is such a beautiful character, and her love for horses shows her true kindness and empathy. Corinna Wolfe is the nicest of all the characters and one of my favorites in this historical romance.

Thank you, Netgalley and Boldwood Books, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Eliza Gray is a circus performer with stunning acrobatic skills and a deep affinity for horses. The circus took her in as a small child, and she can barely recall her former life. Still, she wants a family and has made up her mind to leave and find her true roots. A near tragedy puts her in the path of an Earl and his friends, and it's a life-changing experience. This romantic story has a pleasing uniqueness and a believable Regency setting. There is a mix of new characters and some from previous books, as well as an engaging romance between Eliza and Rav. Eliza is courageous and willing to defy convention despite her upbringing; she has a naivety that makes her emotional journey turbulent. The romance is lyrical and gentle but engaging to read. It's a lovely story with complex characters and a vibrant historical setting.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Eliza is running away from the circus, where she’s lived since she was seven years old, desperately wanting to find her family and to find her home. Buffeted by the stormy wind she falls into the path of a speeding curricle driven by the drunken Lord Purfoy and is injured, losing her memory as a result. Lord Purfoy is horrified, as it brings back memories from his past, and he quickly takes Eliza to his friends’ house and asks them to care for her until her memory returns. Eliza is welcomed by the Wolfe family and when they learn why she fled the circus they promise to do all they can to help her find her family. In the meantime, they introduce her into society.

I really enjoyed this book; it has all the ingredients for an absorbing regency romance. A handsome, brooding hero; a feisty heroine; a dastardly villain; a rich, respectable but bluff suitor and a surprising new female friend. The characters interacted well with each other and the friendship displayed between the main characters was heart-warming. It was good to catch up with Alick, Rav, Ferdy and Corinna following their exploits in An Unsuitable Heiress, but this book can be read as a standalone. Maybe we’ll find out what happens to Ferdy in the future?

An enjoyable story! There was so much depth of feeling in this story. Eliza's character is so hopeful, and she's willing to take take steps to make her dreams come true. Raven seemed stuck. He refuses to change and would rather be miserable. The entire cast of characters was fun which made for an enjoyable story.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the uniqueness of the fmc being a circus performer who runs away from the circus to find out who she is. I also love that the mmc is a horse boy and the found family of the characters.

Trigger warning for sexual assault

It builds up it’s reminds bridgeston

A daring young lady, a dashing English Earl and a bluff American millionaire in search of a bride. Who will win the hand of the mysterious Eliza Gray? 💍

At Prebbles Flying Circus. the daring Eliza Gray captivates audiences with her breathtaking feats on horseback. Yet beyond the applause, she harbours a longing to find the family she lost as a child and discover who she truly is.

Fate, however, takes an unexpected turn when Eliza is unceremoniously knocked down by a curricle driven recklessly by Raven, Earl Purfoy. Dazed but intrigued, she cannot help but notice Purfoy’s commanding presence.

For his part, the dashing lord, is mortified at his carelessness and resolves to assist the spirited yet intriguing young woman. He deposits her in the care of his dearest friends, Corinna and Alick Wolfe, who encourage Miss Gray in her search for her family and sponsor her entry into London society. The glittering balls and scurrilous gossip of the ton are a far cry from the circus ring and Eliza finds herself the subject of intense speculation and unwelcome advances.

As a most accidental debutante, Eliza has to navigate the complexities of high society and her new friendships. Her quest for family and belonging becomes perilously entwined with Zadoc Flynn, an American heir of a New York plutocrat, who intends to take home with him the finest racing horse money can buy...and an English bride.

Can Eliza uncover the truth of her past and the family she longs for? And will it be Mr Flynn or Lord Purfoy, or indeed her new female friends, who help her find her place in the world?

In a tale of courage, passion, and self-discovery, this lost orphan must decide where she truly belongs.