Book Review: Unladylike Rules of Attraction

By Mrs P on Jul 25, 2024

"Wealth and estates are inherited by birthright, not earned, Anya."

Amita Murray ~ Unladylike Rules of Attraction

Synopsis

Anya Marleigh is a singer and sitar player in Queen Charlotte's court. She is left a fortune by Dowager Countess Budleigh, one of her elderly clients who used to hire her for musical evenings.

But there is a condition attached. Anya must marry before her next birthday if she wants to see any of the fortune. The executor of the will is an insufferably conceited man who must consent to her marriage - if he doesn't give his consent, the fortune reverts to him.

But Damian Ashton is only part of the problem. The Budleigh family see Anya as a usurper. They believe the fortune is rightfully theirs, and they will do all in their power - including accusing Anya of murder and Damian of some dubious and criminal dealings - to get their hands on the fortune.

Now Anya must do everything she can to thwart their efforts, save herself from the gallows, and at the same time, resist the powerful attraction she feels towards Damian - who surely is only interested in keeping the Budleigh money.

Can Anya sort out the tangle - or must she lose her heart to find her fortune?

Review

Well, Anya is currently my favourite Marleigh sister. Much as I enjoyed Lila's story, I related to Anya so much more: her nerve, her gall, her gumption... OK if I'm honest it was mainly her attitude. Although she's stubborn, she's also high-spirited, dedicated and righteous.

Anya's adventure - and it is an adventure - begins with a game of cricket, involves mischievous goats, highwaymen and a fair few romps... but there's also friendship, love and lust, plus a few near-death experiences. In short, it's the full package!

Murray writes such fantastic characters who are all so vivid - from the loveable Jeremy to the despicable Clara - and we also see a few familiar faces from Unladylike Lessons in Love, including Anya's sister Lila. As for Damian, well it's hard not to fall for him considering the facts... Not least because he's pretty hot and his scenes with Anya are pretty damn racy, so if you're missing your Bridgerton fix then this series could just fill the void (not a euphemism), as there is plenty of sexy steam.

Yet this is not just a steamy tale of lust; far from it. The storytelling is sublime and we have the perfect mix of plot, character and smut to please everyone. There's also humour to balance out the peril and it's a real page turner, as we root for the characters who deal with issues of class, sexuality, race and gender. And did I mention the goats?

A brilliant historical romance that will leave you eager to devour the third Marleigh Sister novel as soon as it's available!

Rating: 5 out of 5.