I did not love this book. When I started it I really wanted to and I must say that I did enjoy Eliza Gray as a character as well as Corinna, Alick, and all the other secondary characters. The premise was not bad between Eliza searching for her family, building new friendships and the chemistry between her and Raven was decent. Where I struggled a lot was with Raven and how he treats the relationship between Eliza and himself, especially towards the end after the races etc. as far as grand gestures went he did and ok job of making up for it but his mindset when it came to relationships and his with Eliza just turned me right off unfortunately and the way he treated her without even talking it through properly or trying to see her side. This one was really not for me.

The Accidental Debutante was a fun regency romance to read. I enjoyed getting to see some of the characters from a previous book. As well as getting to know Raven Purfey better and meeting Eliza.
After a very unexpected meeting, Eliza and Raven end up seeing each other more and more.
Though the story seemed to drag on a bit, it still kept me engaged in reading on to the end.
I did enjoy how the author shares how things were in the Regency England era.
All in all, The Accidental Debutante was a fun regency story to read.
Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This latest novel by Jane Dunn is a perfect read for fans of Jane Austen or Julia Quinn - Pride and Prejudice meets Bridgerton! Filled with lively and entertaining characters, it tracks the quest of circus runaway Eliza Gray to find her birth family.
Although humourous and mostly light hearted, the book does reflect the plight of young regency era ladies who are without society family or fortune, reliant on the generosity of others to survive and move forward in life.
This book works well as a standalone and is very enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.

Another brilliant book from this very talented author. I loved the MC, and got totally absorbed into her story.

The Accidental Debutante by Jane Dunn is a delightful Regency romance that transports readers to a world of witty banter, social intrigue, and tender feeling. The story centers around Eliza Gray, a spirited young heroine with a dubious circus past, who finds herself catapulted into the glamorous but bewildering world of high society as an "accidental debutante."

The author deftly combines classic romance tropes with fresh, modern characters. Eliza is a refreshingly spunky, smart heroine who demands to forge her own path in life rather than passively slipping into society's expectations. Her journey of self-discovery and the slowly building love with the dashing Lord Purfoy, whose wit hides more complexity, rings true and is compelling. Their chemistry is a slow-burn delight.

The author infuses the writing with warmth and humor, and the Regency era springs to life without ever weighting the story beneath a landslide of detail. The stakes are real, the emotions are sincere, and the pacing will keep you on the edge from start to finish. The Accidental Debutante is a charming escape for everyone who hungers for a smart, swoon-worthy romance with a heroine who isn't above breaking her own rules. It's a fine read that leaves one smiling long after.

I thought that this was a really great, well-written novel. The only drawback for me was that I wasn’t very interested in the talk about horses, but as that seems to be a highlight for many other readers, I suspect that I’m in the minority on this one.


Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Jane Dunn never fils to disappoint. A romance involving a feisty lady, a gentleman and a rich American. Lots of horse talk which is pleasing and adds to interest. This tale has a back story of a girl who was lost and joined the circus and her quest to find her family with her adventures and of course, the romance, on the way. A good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader copy I received of this book.

Eliza Gray has spent the last 12 years of her life working as a trick rider for the circus in Regency England. She was found at the age of seven, wandering around Bath and was taken in by the circus owner. However, this was not a loving childhood or an easy life. Jane is now an adult and wants to find her family so she sneaks out of the circus one night and heads into London to find work. On her way there, she's almost killed by Raven, Earl Purfoy as he drives his carriage through the streets at night. Raven can't leave a wounded woman on the sidewalk, nor can he take her to his home, so he asks his friends and neighbors, Alick and Corinna Wolfe, to help the young woman recover. Eliza is terrified to be sent back to the circus so she tells them she has amnesia following the accident but she can't keep that up for long if she wants to find the truth of who she is and where she came from.

This was my first book by Jane Dunn and it was kind of a bizarre place to drop into her novels because this book heavily overlaps with her earlier book, An Unsuitable Heiress. While I wasn't confused at any point in the book, I did feel like I was missing some context for the relationships between Purfoy and his friends that would have been helpful in understanding why he behaves the way he does.

The Accidental Debutante reads like an old school historical romance from the late 80s to early 90s. I was not surprised when I got to the About the Author to find that she is a historian and author of nonfiction by trade and has written biographies of people like Daphne du Maurier. This novel has all the hallmarks of the older historicals with a modern sensibility. The POV is third person omniscient, which is incredibly rare in historical romance today. Jane Dunn head hops constantly, sometimes shifting mid-paragraph. The vibes of the characters and dialogue also felt very late 80s. It's hard to describe if you haven't read those books but if you are a seasoned reader of that era of historical romance, you'll recognize it as soon as the book starts.

I liked a lot of things about this book. The heroine is a horse girl. She has spend her life in the circus working with horses and is more comfortable with them than people in many cases. A lot of this book takes place while she is out riding or around the topic of horse racing and breeding. I love 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.

The hero is an alpha asshole, which worked for me! Again, he feels of a time in a way I don't often see in new historical romances. I don't know how his asshole exterior and Never Had A Feeling nonsense would play to a new reader in the genre but as someone who grew up on Garwood and Harlequin Historical heroes, I was locked in. And his name is Raven! Raven! If you're going to put an alpha hero on page, he needs a name like that to support his bullshit behavior.

Now, you will need to just go along with a couple of Romance Law things to enjoy this book. Jane Dunn is a biographer so I know she knows the legal points were incorrect but it served the book to have the law against the heroine. Just know going in that what you know about inheritance law in Regency England will not apply.

I enjoyed The Accidental Debutante. It was very different from any other new historical romance I have read this year (and that's saying something– I read a lot of new titles) and I am intrigued to read this author's other books.

The Accidental Debutante by Jane Dunn

Jane Dunn’s The Accidental Debutante swept me away into a world of Regency charm, witty banter, and heartfelt romance. The story centers on a daring young lady who finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight—and paired with a dashing lord whose charm hides deeper layers.

What I loved most about this novel is how it balances classic romance with fresh, relatable characters. The heroine is delightfully bold and clever, refusing to simply be a pawn in society’s game. Her journey toward self-discovery and love feels genuine and earned. Meanwhile, the lord is the perfect mix of roguish appeal and quiet vulnerability, making their slow-building chemistry absolutely irresistible.

Jane Dunn’s writing sparkles with humor and warmth, and the social intricacies of the Regency era come alive in vivid detail without ever feeling overwhelming. The stakes feel real, the emotions ring true, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish.

The Accidental Debutante is a delightful escape for anyone who loves a smart, swoony romance with a heroine who knows how to make her own rules. It left me smiling long after I closed the book, and I’m already eager to see what Jane Dunn writes next.

Are you like me and a huge Bridgerton fan? Do you feel like the wait between seasons seems endless and then the season is over in a flash? Well, I have a fix for you. Jane Dunn's series of Regency Romances make you feel like you are right in the middle of a Bridgerton set. I devour these. I have yet to read one I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The Accidental Debutante is about a young lady who got separated from her family in a crowd in Bath when she was 7, and the owner of Prebbles Flying Circus discovers her and takes her in. Now, she is an adult, performing daring acts with horses for the circus, but she desperately wants to run away and try to find her parents. The problem is, she was so young when she was taken, she has no idea their names, or where they live. The night she runs away, she is knocked down by a curricle driven recklessly by Earl Raven Purfoy. She hits her head on the pavement, and she feigns memory loss in order to gain a place to stay for a night or two until she works out a plan. 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. Zadoc Flynn, an American heir of a New York plutocrat keeps proposing marriage to her, wanting to whisk her away to America, but her heart is with Raven Purfoy. There is a love triangle, a quest to find her family, balls, and friendships are forged. Sounds great, doesn;t it?

“The Accidental Debutante” is part of a series by Jane Dunn, however this book can be read as a stand-alone, which I appreciated. I’ve the feeling that if I’d read the earlier books in this series, the amount of names at the beginning would not have felt as overwhelming as it did. This book takes place during the Regency Era in England. We follow Eliza, a circus girl, who captures the heart of Lord Purfoy. At times this book flowed a bit slowly and a bit too formally for my taste. Additionally, some things came across a bit oddly - such as Lord Purfoy hinting that he knew that Eliza didn’t lose her memory and while being attracted to her, keeps her at arm’s length due to some tragedy in his past (which one is it sir?). This book missed the mark for me, but I found the idea interesting. I think if one likes Regency era books (Bridgerton!) and a slow romance, this book would be up your alley.

A lovely romance in the Regency tradition of Georgette Heyer. The Accidental Debutante is the beautifully written story of a circus girl who captures the frozen heart of a handsome Earl. As always, Jane Dunn vividly captures the atmosphere of Regency England, and presents a cast of engaging characters.
Although The Accidental Debutante definitely works as a standalone, be aware that reading this one first will give some spoilers as to the outcome of one of her previous novels, as it follows the same characters a couple of years later.
Dunn’s stories are always uplifting and gloriously romantic, and this one is no exception. It celebrates love of family, honour, and finding a sense of belonging, as much as the joy of love between a romantic couple. Sit back, suspend your disbelief and enjoy every moment.

Eliza as a main character is quite an impressive presence and wholly unladylike when it comes to her occupation and interest. She is quite skilled in equitation and tells herself she needs to be independent which I quite enjoyed. However, this book was a bit too much like a fairytale to me with all those people being so general and overly kind towards someone from a different social class.

I enjoyed aspects of this book. I enjoyed the horse aspect and the kindness of the surrounding characters; even if I find it hard to believe. I feel like more time should have been spent on Lord Purfoy to better develop his inner monologue. He seems to change his mind towards Ms Eliza out of nowhere and it all just comes off as forced. And his dialogue with Eliza didn’t present As natural. In fact I found it very awkward and hard to believe. I really liked Eliza and her character and would have loved more time on the horse, in Bath and really would have liked to see more bad happen to Davenport. I really didn’t like him. At all. But in a good way. Despite the lack of any spice, this wasn’t a bad book. It just seemed forced and the story just didn’t flow for me

Clorinda the Winged Venus, star attraction at Prebble’s Flying Circus come to the end of her act with a delicate backward flip to land on the rump of her horse Percy with a flourish. She is saddened as this is her last performance with Percy and her friend and fellow equestrian Rose Bowman.
It was time, she had decided to discover who she was, as her past seemed to start as an abandoned child, rescued by Mrs Prebbles and bought up in the Circus life. She has memories of a different childhood, which are faint but very real.
Walking the freezing streets of London in the dark was, she realised, not the best idea. As she turns away from a building, she is caught by a gust of wind just as a speeding curricle comes around the corner. Thrown into the path of the horses, she hits her head on the cobbled road with a thud.
Raven Purfoy, The Earl of Hartford Castle, leaps from his vehicle to help the stricken person only to discover this stricken person coming to her senses but with no idea where she was going or where she had come from.
He takes her to his long-time friends Alick and Cory Wolfe’s home where she can be safely cared for until she does come to her senses. Raven lives next door and the Wolfe household is a place for a large, happy group of people who gather their daily.
So begins a Regency Romance, The Accidental Debutante, laced with drama that will once again entertain and beguile as Rav learns to face his demons, and Eliza is determined to discover her past.
Can they make a future together or will they let the tragedies of the past change what could be a promising future, is at risk until Rav realises what a fool he has been, Eliza is in danger and an appalling wager will make the difference as to what their future holds.
The Accidental Debutante sees old friends grace the pages but is a standalone Regency Romance from Jane Dunn created in true Regency style.

Eliza is a circus performer in Regency-era London, a scandalous career as far as society is concerned but the only one open to her. She has no memory of her childhood before being rescued from the streets as a child, and she grew up in the circus. As an adult she chooses to leave the circus to finally find her parents. But on her way to do so, Lord Raven "Rav" Purfoy, inebriated after a night of gaming, runs over Eliza with his carriage. Oops! Taken under the wing of Lord Purfoy's friends, she soon meets Zadoc Flynn, the rich American who's also her host's cousin. Eliza longs to find her lost family, and she must navigate London society while also examining her own feelings about love and her future. I do enjoy historical romances but this was not really the book for me. The writing style was a bit formal and overly descriptive for my tastes, and I had some trouble fully engaging with the story and characters. It was an interesting premise but the story was kind of a slow starter, and there were parts that seemed far-fetched even when trying to suspend disbelief. Rav was kind of a jerk to Eliza, and Flynn was a bit over-blown in his American-ness, although thankfully they both mellowed over the course of the book. I was engaged with the mystery of Eliza's family, which is the main reason why I kept reading. The book is described as a standalone that's part of a larger series. I haven't read any of the other books but I didn't have any trouble following the story. That said, because there are characters in this story that appeared in previous books it's possible I might have enjoyed this one more if I'd read the whole series. If you're in the mood for a multi-character, family mystery, opposites-attract, quasi-love triangle, low spice historical romance, this is the book for you. Publishes June 14, 2025. This review is based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed all of Jane Dunn's Regency romance books, and this one was no exception. It does revisit characters from An Unsuitable Heiress, which means certain aspects of that novel's ending will be spoiled for you, but if that doesn't bother you, this can easily be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed seeing familiar characters back again after their happy ending, their everyday lives interweaving with and supporting Eliza and Raven's story. Said story felt like it wrapped up a bit quickly for me, but any idiosyncracies were absolved for me when I read that Dunn's intent was to make this book celebrate love in all its forms (including grief, the other side of the coin), which it definitely does and which we definitely need right now. Overall, I highly recommend this latest release.

I absolutely loved this from the very first page! The way the characters interacted and how their individual personalities were portrayed and shaped the story was in my opinion brilliantly written. When Eliza Gray falls in front of Lord Purfoy’s carriage she has no idea how much her life is going to change. Raven, Lord Purfoy, immediately takes her to his good friends Alick and Corinna Wolfe to tend to her needs. The Wolfe’s assist Eliza in being entered into society and she finds herself the centre of attention but she also receives some unwelcome advances. Raven has always sworn to never marry and Eliza is determined to find out who she really is but as their relationship develops will these things still stand? I devoured this wonderful story and found that it had a bit of everything from drama, to romance to heartbreak. I highly recommend reading this. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

a brilliant regency romance and so much more.
Eliza was a great character. she had will,determination and yet was vulnerable at times due to circumstance that were never her fault. watching her navigate her feelings around her future and even who she is in the present felt relatable to anyone with those same questions.
because Eliza doesnt know her own family and instead has grown up as a performer in the circus. but after a fateful accident she gets guidance from kind sources who get her into the London high season and society. but there is much more than knowing herself to navigate here, she has to mingle with those she doesnt know she can trust or are just out for a gossip or worse.
she finds herself getting mixed with an heir who wants a prize wife and a prize racehorse(not sure which order he prefers!) but there is also that man who helped her start her place in the society. and also the friends she has met and been nothing but kind to her along the way. who will help ELiza find who she is, who she can be, or just that she is ok as she is and so start from there. and where will she finally find her home?
another great book of a time we never knew but this genre has helped us see in all its glory,

The premise was interesting, but the whole story was ruined for me because the hero was rather unlikeable. He keeps making snide comments to the heroine indicating that he knows she didn’t lose her memory. He is attracted to her, but he doesn’t want to fall in love because of an earlier family tragedy. He makes obnoxious comments to his best friend about his family and love for his wife. All he cares about are his horses. He’s just living the boring, meaningless life of the rich. And the heroine falls for him because he somehow reminds her of the horse she had to leave when she fled the circus. Huh? It was all rather disappointing and a bit tedious.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.