⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Better Off Wed is an intriguing, sassy romance. Full of spies, vigilantes, and code breakers, this novel grabs your attention on page one and doesn’t let go.

Captain Jeremy Addison, Viscount Sterling, is a spy for the Crown. Miss Laura Hopkins, a genteel-bred young lady, becomes Lady Sterling at night – an avenging angel for abused and assaulted women. Through chance and fate, the couple is thrown together and combines their skill sets to help a woman in need. Jeremey is the ultimate gentleman yet is haunted by a dark past that threatens his future happiness. Laura is smart, savvy, and full of spunk. Her moral compass is sound, and she risks everything for those women who are used terribly by powerful men.

Jeremy and Laura are both stand-out characters. They breathed life into this seductive, intelligent plot. Their attraction is instantaneous, and their youthful innocence is endearing. The storyline had depth and focus; it moved well and kept my attention throughout. The marrying of spy and vigilante themes was unique and memorable. The couple’s connection is honest and comes from tentative sensuality.

Better Off Wed is the third book in the Live And Let Spy series. This was a clever, witty, passionate book. Susanna Craig has combined action and passion for creating a vivid, unusual romance. I loved the intricate plot, excellent and lovable characters, and deep, emotional dialogue. This romance kept me turning the page and wanting more!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lady Stirling meets Lord Stirling and things heat up. This is a fresh look at history and how being a Lord or Lady has its problems. Fun story with some interesting twists and turns. Pick it up if you want some light reading.

I really love this series! Historical romantic suspense with spies and strong female characters? Yes please! In Better Off Wed our heroine is secretly an avenging angel, stealing from predatory men and giving it to the women they leave in their wake. Our hero is a spy and codebreaker, told to find and recruit her. The story was a lot of fun, a bit steamy, and does a good job of low key integrating with past books in the series. It's not my favorite of the lot- our heroine sustains an injury partway through which makes her more passive than I would like, and there are some plot things that you don't want to look to hard at, but overall a very solid installment in a fantastic series. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! Susanna Craig's writing is always so detailed, so thorough. I loved the previous novel in the series, and this one is a wonderful addition.

This novel centers around Captain Jeremy Addison, or Lord Sterling, and Miss Laura Hopkins--Lady Sterling. But they're not married! You'll have to read the novel to find out how all of this works, but I promise you, it makes sense once you read it. Jeremy is the most adorable beta male--bumbling, awkward, smart. He's precious. He's also a code-breaker for the British army. Laura Hopkins is a lady in British society, but she's harboring a big secret: she's a Robin Hood-type vigilante who steals money and secrets from the rich and powerful to right the wrongs that these men have done to others, mostly helpless females. She's loud, opinionated, strong, and brave. She makes an excellent HR heroine. This is most definitely a grump-sunshine situation, and Craig does an excellent job navigating it.

My favorite part of the the novel is that this strong, independent woman falls in love first. Not only does the reader not expect this, but neither does Laura! It takes Jeremy a little longer (because he's pretty clueless.) The only sort of problem I had with the novel is the lack of steam. The other novels had more, and I missed that in this one. Other than that, this book was wonderful, and it is another excellent addition to Craig's series.

2 stars

For a book that is supposed to be about loving and spying, there is not a lot of either.

Having read the first two books in the series (which are very loosely connected), I figured picking up the next one would be a breeze. Turns out I was wrong. This book requires a fair amount of prior knowledge from the second book, which I read back in March, and the precious little context that we were given here didn't really help. It took me quite a bit of time to get into the groove of this story because of that.

Another issue that I had with getting into the action was the somewhat bland nature of the characters. They don't really have any discernable personalities to make them interesting and while they have intriguing professions, they spend so little time actually doing them! I found it hard to care about the spy plot or their love story when we are just meandering through a series of lengthy conversations.

Based on the end of this book, there is going to be a fourth installment in this series. I'm honestly going to have to think long and hard if I am going to continue as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

<b>"As I tried to tell you before, it was not he who asked me to find you."
"Who, then?"
"Someone who found it amusing to send Lord Sterling in pursuit of Lady Sterling."</b>

<b>Genre: </b> historical romance
<b>Tropes: </b> reluctant allies, one bed, fake marriage, forced proximity
<b>Series: </b> Love and Let Spy #3 (can be enjoyed as a stand-alone)
<b>Cliffhanger: </b> No
<b>Spice: </b> 2/5
<b>Rating: </b> 4.5 ⭐

<i>I have received an ARC through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and left voluntarily. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy. </i>

<b>"Outrageousness can itself be a distraction."</b>

This book was a delight! I couldn't put it down and I'm really looking forward to read the rest of the series! It was a definite page-turner and I enjoyed every second of it. It's the first time I'm trying something from this author and, even though Better Off Wed is #3 in a series, it was a great stand-alone that made me want to read the previous two books as well. And I'll definitely pick up future works signed by Susanna Craig.

<b>》》<u>The Plot</u>《《</b>

Laura Hopkins is a young lady who, assuming the alias of Lady Sterling, has decided to avenge the girls who have been mistreated or compromised by their employers. Even though some may call it theft and blackmail, Laura considers it the least bit of justice those girls deserve.

Captain Jeremy Addison, ex army and current spy for the Crown is surprised when his superior delegates him to find the notorious Lady Sterling and persuade her to lend her abilities as a spy for the Crown as well. Especially since the reason he was chosen for this job was his viscount title: Lord Sterling.

So when the two of them meet and are forced to pose as newlyweds, thing get interesting. Forming unexpected alliances, spying, playing chess, sharing one bed and being in a constant state of admiration and distrust are just the tip of the iceberg.

<b>"It sounds like the plot of one of those ridiculous plays Aunt Mildred and Julia adore."
"It sounds like a happy ending."</b>

I loved this waaaay more than I was anticipating and I thought it had the perfect balance of romance and mystery. It was fast-paced, but the relationship between Laura and Jeremy wasn't rushed, as it was developed marvelously and in such a way that it wasn't only enviable, but also believable.

<b>"Stab him, you mean?"
"Yes, indeed."
"Good heavens! Where?"
"In whatever soft spot he is ungentelmanly enough to expose to you." </b>

The side characters were also pretty well portrayed and the general feeling of authenticity was a great plus. There were lots of great scenes, like the moment they had to start playing newlyweds, discovering the peculiar set of chess or unexpectedly being poked by a book while kissing, the dialogs were always smart and enjoyable and the ending was fulfilling and nice.

<b>》》<u>Characters and Relationships</u>《《</b>

👩🏼 <u>Laura Hopkins - Lady Sterling</u>

<b>"Lady Sterling had been born of darkness.
Not the darkness of night, though much of her work was done between dusk and dawn. No, her name had been forged in the dark souls of men."</b>

She was a great female MC, with a lot of compassion, sharp wits and clever observations. No damsel in distress, a bit intriguing and with plenty of bold ideas, she was lovable from the beginning and definitely worth the attention.

🧑🏻‍💼 <u>Jeremy Addison - Lord Sterling</u>

<b>"Laura." That voice again, that wonderful, scolding, scandalized voice, the vowels of her name shaped by a hint of laughter. </b>

The way he says 'Laura'....*chef's kiss*. Ahhhh, the feels...
Anyway, Jeremy was sweet and hot at the same time, had that perfect look that steals hearts and there was no way you could go through this book without daydreaming about him.

🧑🏻‍💼👩🏼 <u>Jeremy and Laura</u>

<b>"I don't think you're concussed. But say something clever so I'll know for sure."
"And what makes you a suitable judge of my cleverness?"
That cross answer earned her a lopsided smile. "See? Right as rain."</b>

Banter, forced proximity, fake relationship and one bed trope? Come on, what more can you ask for? The dynamic between the two of them was perfect, the relationship had a great built up and it was simply a delight to witness the two of them going from strangers to allies and then to something more.

<b>"I did not think I should ever find any man willing to let me be ... myself."
"As changeable as a spring wind, in other words."
"Yes."
"My very favorite season," he whispered.</b>

<b>》》<u>Conclusion</u>《《</b>

It was a great read and I simply couldn't put it down. I'm happy I have discovered this author and I will most definitely pick more of her books when I'll be looking for catchy historical romances with well-written characters and relationships.

<b>"Well, those who danced must pay the piper, as the old saying went.
And tonight, she meant to present the baron with his bill."</b>

3/5

Laura Hopkins is a woman on a mission, masquerading as Lady Sterling to help women in need--specifically, those that have been harassed, assaulted, or otherwise mistreated by their employers. Do her methods involve blackmail? Yes, but these men are sexual predators, so I don't care. Her scheme is thrown off by the arrival of a Lord Sterling, however, who has actually been sent to investigate her.

Yes, this does leading to Laura and Lord Sterling (Jeremy) posing as newlyweds. Yes, this book has both a fake relationship and the only one bed trope. If you're in the mood for a caper, it's a quick, fun read with a good bit of heart. Laura is a genuinely good person, and it's lovely to see her caring for other women and ensuring that the men responsible for their harm receive their comeuppances. Similarly, Jeremy is a great guy--bookish, kind, and a virgin hero! Cheers for virgin heroes all around!

There really isn't much that I can critique about this book. It's well-written, entertaining, and gives us a couple of things that we don't often see in historicals--the outright feminist heroine (okay, this is becoming more and more common, but still) and the aforementioned virgin hero, which is a favorite trope of mind. Also, dirty chess. We love dirty chess!

I will say, however, that I kind of had a hard time with fully connecting with it. I think that Laura and Jeremy being just like... good people doing good things... Kind of threw me off a bit. I wish there had been more internal conflict within either one of them. Jeremy was a bit bland for me.

In a similar vein, this book does have heat, but I think Craig waited a bit too long before deploying it. I didn't feel as if the characters were actually longing for each other until about halfway through, and there honestly could have been a lot more tension. It kind of felt like Jeremy drank a bit too much respect women juice, and didn't fully get that sometimes, you kind of want to be........ less respected. In the right setting.

But with that being said, if you're after a read with two pretty unproblematic people making sure that justice is done, this is the one for you. It's fun, cute, and entertaining. I would compare it to Evie Dunmore's books in a lot of ways. If you've had success with those, you will most likely enjoy this one.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Better Off Wed is the third book in this series about members of the British Army’s intelligence service during the Napoleonic War…and the women who fall in love with them. Laura Hopkins is an unusual lady of her time. Under cover of her made up character of Lady Sterling, she avenges powerless women who work for men of the nobility who feel that they are entitled to “have their way” with them. Governesses, maids, cooks who are sexually abused by the Lord of the manor and then cast out when they become pregnant. Lady Sterling steal money from these men to give the the homeless women and she takes something to be used as blackmail should they try to abuse household staff again. She also leaves her calling card for these men so they know who the retribution is for.
Coincidently, the real Lord Sterling is a code breaker for intelligence service and he’s assigned to find Lady Sterling and determine if she might make a good spy for the Crown too. They meet and sparks fly! Will Laura become the real Lady Sterling or continue her masquerade?

I love Susanna Craig's Love and Let Spy series. Who's That Earl was absolutely spectacular, as was One Thing Leads to a Lover. Better Off Wed was also pretty good, although it was much slower than the other two, and the stakes seemed a little less high due to the nature of the characters, unfortunately. It doesn't make me any less excited for the fourth installment of this series, but it did feel like a placeholder compared to the other two books. I would have liked more intrigue and scenery and I feel like the characters could have been more fleshed out. However, General Scott seemed even more enigmatic in this one than in previous and that in and of itself is an intriguing concept going into the next book.

I was hooked by the “love and let spy” on the front cover of this book. Romance and intrigue coming together in one fun book? Thank you! Laura Hopkins moonlights as a mercenary to right the wrongs men have done to women. For Laura, it is a small measure of justice. However, she does get in a bit over her head and runs into someone who is named Lord Sterling and claims to be her husband. Then the fun begins. Lord Sterling really is a spy for the crown. He’s been on a lot of missions, but might be ready to settle down. While Laura and Jeremy know they are just acting the part, they begin to wonder if their feelings for each other are real. The chemistry was definitely there for these two characters, but as a reader you could tell that they appreciated each other’s cleverness and talent for the spy business. They were both good at what they did. I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, fast read and is a perfect weekend read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book!
This is my favorite Susanna Craig yet! I loved the name coincidence , I loved the way the plot came full circle , I loved the virgin hero!!! Jeremy was so dreamy. And did I LOVE Laura!
Read this right away you won’t be sorry.

She’s an avenging angel…who tempts him like the devil…
If Miss Laura Hopkins desired a husband, her beauty, brains, and fortune would make it easy to acquire one. Instead, Laura prefers to put her charms to another purpose entirely. Using the alias Lady Sterling, Laura helps young women who have been mistreated or compromised by their employers. Some might see it as theft and blackmail. For Laura, it is a small measure of justice. But while in pursuit of her latest target, Laura is unexpectedly aided by a gentleman who announces that he is Lord Sterling.
As a spy for the Crown, Captain Jeremy Addison, Viscount Sterling, has been assigned all manner of dangerous missions, though none as complicated as investigating the beguiling Lady Sterling. Forced to pose as newlyweds at the home of a disreputable earl, Laura and Jeremy forge an unexpected alliance…and a passionate connection. But can such a dangerous masquerade possibly lead to a real, lasting love?
Lady Sterling and Lord Sterling, an infamous couple.
Laura and Jeremy are the best part of this story!
Susanna Craig has written a marvelous story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first read by Susanna Craig and I was pleasantly surprised. I generally don't enjoy romances that double down as mysteries but this was well done and, in some aspects, quite refreshing. I didn't care much for the feminist vibe or for the bonkers coincidences (of names, of a biological father showing up just when he was supposed to, and several others that left me rolling my eyes and saying "seriously?!") but the characters are engaging, the dialogues witty and engaging and the story is nice. My favorite thing about the book was the hero who was not the usual alpha we find when he is in the army or in Royal service. Jeremy was a bit of a nerd which made him adorable and a lot more believable. Loved him. All in all, a satisfying read.

I knew I would love this as I have loved the first two books in this series, and I was delighted to be proven correct.

I loved the setup for the story -- fake marriage and only one bed tropes are great fun -- and Jeremy and Laura were wonderful characters to root for. I also loved the way they based their deceptions on scandalous plays. Also can I just say that having General Scott order Jeremy (reluctant Lord Sterling) to find (and marry!) Laura (pseudonym Lady Sterling) was just. Chef's kiss.

The villains are dastardly and the way Lord and Lady Sterling's occupations collided -- rooting out traitors and punishing men who force themselves upon their staff and then throw them out -- was both convenient and allowed them to rapidly become closer. The fake marriage and Laura's injury also helped with that, as it forced them into close proximity and to rely on one another.

I loved that their attraction was based a great deal on one another's cleverness. I appreciate cleverness myself, and finding a hero and heroine who are each not only clever but can appreciate the cleverness of their unwitting accomplice / partner is rare. I also greatly appreciated that neither expected the other to give up the occupation they cared deeply about in order to have a life together. This was a departure from previous books in the series and highlighted their mutual respect for one another.

This story relied quite a bit on coincidence but not enough that it bothered me. And the characters and their dynamic made up for it. I read it in a day and was thoroughly invested in it the whole time. Often in books -- especially romance -- there comes a section where the story drags and I put it down for awhile. With this one I stayed up late, reading past my bedtime to reach the end.

I hope there are more books in this series coming because I will absolutely read them.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an e-arc for review.

Thanks to NetGalley, I received an ARC from the publisher.. This in no way impacted on my view. I love how different and exciting this series is. Give me a good spy romance any day. This book can be read by itself but the background characters are a bit more fleshed out if you've read the previous two.

Miss Laura Hopkins is living a life she sees as worthy, important and necessary. To the best of her ability, she rights the wrongs of women who were in some way abused by their employers by using the alias Lady Sterling. She uses her cunning, quick mind and beauty as tools of her trade. That is, until she meets the ACTUAL Lord Sterling.

Captain Jeremy Addison is a master code-breaker for the crown and only recently discovered he is next in line for a title. He's fiercely protective of his mother and sister and is doing his best to rid the debts of the previous Lord Sterling. Jeremy and Laura are going about their sneaky business when they are forced to team up and pretend to be a married couple to infiltrate the home a serial sexual harasser and possible spy for the French.

I love how honest and sweet Jeremy is towards Laura as they slowly get to know each other and become comfortable in their forced proximity. (At one point the phase "only one bed' is written, which I LOVED. *trope air horn sound*) It is also specifically stated that Laura's life is already complete but would certainly be enhanced by Jeremy's presence in it. Great reveal towards the end moves the last of the barriers for this couple's HEA. Love this series!

Miss Laura Hopkins has veered from the normal life of society and has taken on the role of Lady Sterling - a champion for mistreated and abused working class women. The novel opens with Lady Sterling pursuing the latest lord with bad morals to help a housemaid who has solicited her services. The night mostly goes without a hitch but her dealings have attracted the attention of the British Army intelligence, who is looking to recruit a new spy. Captain Jeremy Addison is tasked to track down this Lady Sterling to see what she is all about. And that’s when things start to get juicy — did I mention that Captain Addison is actually Lord Sterling?

This was an enjoyable novel! It was an easy read that I gobbled right up anxious to see what our two protagonists got into next. Lots of mischief and improvising together as they worked see the next lord with bad morals get his comeuppance. 4 stars.

Review based on digital Advanced Reader’s Copy from Net Galley and Kensington Books.

Laura is a one woman vigilante who goes by the name Lady Sterling. She helps women who were abused by their male employer by stealing from the men, and when possible, using blackmail to deter them from future abuse. Jeremy is a code breaker for the British government who also happens to be an impoverished Lord Sterling. The plot becomes convoluted, unbelievable coincidences, secondary characters with no depth. As for the main characters, Jeremy is perfect. Almost too perfect. He’s honest, handsome, listens to Laura,, admires her work and he blushes. Laura is a bit self important and not very likable. The ending tied everything up in a few pages which was satisfying. .

This book has so many holes where people just figured things out without any problem at all. An intelligence officer who works on decoding codes is sent to investigate a woman calling herself Lady Sterling who robs men who have treated women badly and then gives the money to the victims. Our hero actually is Lord Sterling. He figures out right away who the woman is, finds her, and then without any consultation at all besides some significant looks, they decide to pretend they’re married.

They’re investigating the evil earl who not only sexually harasses his female servants but is also, apparently, in charge of codes to send information to the French. We are never told what sort of information he has access to or why the French use him to send all their messages.

None of it makes much sense, but hey, we can have a pretend couple who have to share a bed and will fall in love over a week together. Sure. I didn’t buy much of any of it.

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.

"Lady Sterling" got my attention from the beginning. I just found out this is a book part of a series, which is good to know, I will be reading more books by this author. Love her character as a brave and smart woman!

The Love and Let Spy series is my first introduction to Susanna Craig and I couldn't be more thrilled. This takes all the fun of historical romance and expands it to spycraft and intrigue without getting too bogged down in the politial aspects of the time that would requre a ton of exposition for the reader to understand.

I love how Susanna writers her characters and particularly how she places then in the confines of their time with a modern lens. Laura is independent and unwilling to sit by while men take advantage of people without agency around them. In contrast to that Jeremy is a man with a title but still little options and he uses his skills to serve the Crown and hunt down Lady Sterling to see if she can help.

I appreciate how Susanna gives both main characters their own points of view. It gives the story such a rich background within the time period and truly lets us get to know the characters without losing all the suprise.