The Honorable Miss Lucilla Iverson is an exceptionally unconventional young heiress trying her best to be unexceptionally conventional despite her love of horses and racing curricles. When she attracts the attention of a hardened older bachelor, a duke, no less, it sets the ton afire with anticipation.
Many young bucks seek her approval, including a notorious (and now penniless) gamester who intends to marry Miss Iverson and her money whether or not she agrees. On an inside track for Lucilla’s attention is Oliver, Lord Hartwell, despite a near miss at running her over while driving his phaeton in the company of his cousin, the handsome and mysterious duke. Which of the three will win her heart and hand, to live happily ever after? That is the question!
This story is written very descriptively, not from the perspective of the main characters, but from the perspective of someone watching them and describing what they are doing. So like someone watching a movie and telling you what they see, instead of you watching the movie yourself. It often happens that an entire page is filled with descriptions and you only read one or a few lines in which the persons are talking to each other. I had a bit of trouble connecting to the main characters and to the story because of it. But the author certainly tried to make it an entertaining story and it will be enjoyed by many people, because the writing is also making you feel you are in that era where everything is dictated by all the rules set by society.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am grateful for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not for me, I’m sorry. It felt more like an YA book and simply could not connect. Thank for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

Ms. Clarke is a new-to-me author, and if I'm not mistaken, this is her first book. I think it was a very pleasant debut, and I'm excited to see more of her work. The plot was interesting and held my interest all the way through and the storyline had a nicely-paced flow. I like stories with unconventional heroines, and Lucilla was just that. She is in her first season and must decide which of the three potential prospects, a duke, his cousin, or a notorious gamester, has her best interests at heart. The characters were interesting and unique and I enjoyed following their story.
This was a nice debut book and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I enjoyed this book very much, Lucilla is a strong minded, independent woman and the three male protagonists are all interesting characters.
The story in itself is very entertaining but I found the book a bit 'draggy' in that it seemed the author was .making the book longer than it needed to be. Having said that it is an easy read and I can recommend it for a light summer read. My thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the Author for an ARC of 'Exceptionally Unconvential'

I so desperately wanted to like this book. The blurb sounded like it was right up my alley. Needless to say, I was excited as I sat down to read this one during a perfectly rainy Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, I could not seem to connect with the book or the attitude of the characters. Now, I do not mean this in a negative way, rather more so in a way to account for the tone and actions of the characters. As I was reading the story, I found myself feeling as if this book was more Young Adult. The problems felt so juvenile, and the characters were vapid and shallow. I wish the characters had more. . . I guess character and resolve within their actions and behaviors. I was simply disappointed.

ARC provided by The Wild Rose Press, Inc via NetGalley, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.

This book had a little bit of everything. You had a little Austen. A little bit of Heyer. Though predictable in parts, it's still engaging.

Lucilla, (The FL) is somewhat of a female corinthian. Interestingly enough, she has a lot of pluck and backbone for a girl of the times. She can ride, shoot, and engage in fisticuffs with the best of them. No fainting miss here.

And to her contrition when they meet, the male leads literally try to run Lucilla over.

Having lost his father at an early age Oliver, Lord Hartwell is a man much used to being under his mother's conniving thumb. Tired of his cousin’s easily led state, The Duke of Saliston (George Male Lead 2) whisks Oliver from Lady Hartwell's clutches to teach him the ropes of manhood and all the ways to comport himself in polite society. But forces are at work in the form of a money-hungry cousin determined to steal the happiness they have all newly acquired.

If you really need a good regency romp, this will fit the bill nicely. The author took some risks and didn’t fall prey to the usual rake meets girl. Rake falls in love with girl after a bazillion misunderstandings troop. Which has its own place, but it's always good to switch it up. So if you need something different, this one's for you. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with this one, and I’ll make sure to keep my eye on this author in the future.

I tried, I really tried, to like this book. I had read that one reviewer had compared it to Georgette Heyer, and that put me in favor of approaching it with a good outlook. But I was highly disappointed. I found the characters shallow and with neither the wit, humor, or personality of GH's characters. I really couldn't engender any feeling for any of the characters in the story. I cannot inordinately fault grammar or spelling, which can be a deal-breaker for me, but I also was not willing to bend over backwards to forgive rather a rather juvenile story line with cliqued characters and a dastardly villain too obvious to whom to grant the benefit of the doubt. I am sorry that I can't recommend what appears to me to be a rather "young adult" attitude to the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Exceptionally Unconventional is Victoria Clarke’s first book. I felt this was a promising effort for a first book. Miss Lucilla Iverson is in her first season and must navigate the treacherous waters that include an older duke, his cousin, and a notorious gamester. Beyond that, Lucilla must decide who has her best interests at heart when making friends with the other debutantes. Add Lucilla’s unconventional love of horses and curricles, and you get an interesting young lady.

This book has an intriguing, exciting plot. The story unfolds from many different points of view. The characters are vivid, and the storyline moves well, and even though were a lot of moving parts, it was not convoluted. I would have liked a lot more romance between the main characters. Lucilla and her choice of groom needed more time on the page together, courting and getting to know one another. I also would have liked a few more demonstrations of affection.

That being said, I enjoyed the writing style. The storyline caught my eye. This was a medium-paced plot, but there was always something intriguing happening. The bones of this book are lovely; I feel with a sprinkling of more sweetly romantic moments that this author could really shine.

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

This is a new author to me and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. We have some great character's including dogs and horses and a feisty heroines, some mystery and a villain. The only complaint I had was I found it very hard to tell who the hero was going to be as a Duke and his Nephew both seem involved. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is very cute and I much enjoyed it.

Written in the style of Georgette Heyer, we meet Lucilla Iverson who is heading to London for her first Season. Cilla loves horses, is an accomplished whip - and is somewhat incensed to be almost mown down in the Stafford streets by two gentlemen in an out of control carriage.

The carriage is being "driven" by the very sheltered young Earl of Hartwell and his uncle, George, Duke of Silaston.

They're mortified and impressed by the dressing down from young Cilla, and it isn't long before they meet again in London.

The story trips on nicely from there - covering their growing friendships, Olly's (Hartwell's) growth in to a fine young man, and a rather persistent and nefarious suitor for Cilla's hand.

The writer is clearly a great fan of Heyer and Austen, and I enjoyed this book - though I think it perhaps lacks some of the daftness and humour that defines both those authors.

A few little typos that could be tidied up in a final edit.

I recommend, and I'd look out for another book by this author.

Received an ARC from Netgalley.

I was so disappointed by this story, except the ending, which saved the book.
This review may contain spoilers.
The heroine in this story is a young lady, 18 years old who is having her first Season. While they stop at an inn on the way to London, the heroine and her maid takes her dog for a walk. She is almost ran over by a young man, 21 years old and his guardian, 38 years old. She immediately gets up and berates him for being cow-handed and harming the horses instead of the harm that she and her maid suffered while they were diving out of the way. Both men are impressed by her, but the younger seems to have fallen in love at first sight.
The heroine continues to London and is a favorite,even though her self-proclaimed best friend takes every opportunity to insult and knock her down. The heroine also captures the attention of the younger man's cousin, who is 28 years old. So the heroine has three suitors for her hand.
I enjoyed this story. It was about a spirited party girl who immersed herself into her presentation and fashion and what parties to go to. Normally, I do not like these types of characters. I feel the people who have the most, should help the underprivileged. This doesn't happen. The heroine and hero are both bubble wrapped and insulated from the bad side of life, even though the hero has an evil mother and had the heroine kidnapped. I give this book 4 stars because it was good and I recommend reading, if this is your thing.

Enjoyable read! If you like feisty heroines, mystery,adventure and romance you will enjoy this page turner!!