With gorgeous, contemplative phrasing, absorbing characters and a clever and unpredictable story line, The Lady Knows Best is a remarkable must-read.

Miles and Daphne were an odd couple and their journey to love was strange but beautiful. It was very interesting to see the difference between Miles the rake and the actual vulnerable man. He was thoughtful, caring, even a little idiotic at times. I like the way Daphne learned new things about him and about herself.

Miss Daphne Burke, the quiet, sensible, overlooked wallflower in a large family. She has no interest in the marriage mart. Unlike her younger sister Bellis she’s happy to stay out of the limelight. Isn’t she? Miles, that devil Deveroux, handsome and shallow, typical rake. Only interested in gambling and women. Isn’t he?

This is an unusual take on the regency romance, Irish heroine, radical views, feminism. Daphne was a thoughtful land rounded character and Miles not just vanity itself as we get to know him. There’s a cast of supporting characters, some who we meet only briefly, that signposts a series of stories in this world. The magazine, which on reading the synopsis, seems like it will be a large part of the story. It isn’t, and that’s no bad thing. We don’t get too many characters or too much dialogue.

A couple of things, I’m not sure what a “brownstone” is, much less what it’s doing in regency London. The other is I did found that it did begin to drag a little, the same thoughts from both main protagonists repeated, as ever they never just talk to each other. Overall an enjoyable romance, and I would read more from this series.

Daphne is hidden behind an alias Miss Busy B as an advice columnist. Viscount Deveraux's fiancee dumps publicly in a letter to her. Deveraux thinks that the columnist should rescue him and marry him instead. She intends to turn him down in a big splash to ruin her reputation at the end to set herself free.... but she really likes him....

Love both Daphne and Deveraux. They are both flawed characters who are still likable. Love their banter and fights. I love how fast paced the story is.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.