I try really hard to only request NetGalley books that I think I’m going to enjoy, because I truly want to give good reviews for them. Sadly, I didn’t care for this book at all. We meet and hear the backstory to every single lady’s maid, horse, and servant that Petra comes across, and it feels like a lot of extra info that isn’t needed. Lots of telling rather than showing. The story ambles along without much happening, then dives into some twisted areas that I had no interest in reading about. This book wasn’t for me.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A fun mystery, not really a romance.

This book is a unique combination of mystery and historical, but it skews heavily toward mystery.
There was a lot of world building. Like, too much exposition. Also, some of the plot/character decisions did not make a lot of sense to me.
It wasn’t exactly right for me, but if you’re looking for a mystery set in the Victorian era this might be worth picking up!

Star Rating: 2/5
CW: Death, confinement

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book got off to a slow start. I felt like shelving it by 10% but decided to give it a few more chapters. I was 20% of the way in before I felt like it was worth reading. There were an abundance of names and titles to learn and sort out before I could get invested in the story. After such a slow and confusing start, I would have left this book unfinished if I had not received it in exchange for a review.

The writing is a modern political view set in the regency era. The protagonist is pro women’s rights (which leads to the mystery/conflict) and pro-lesbian/gay relationships (which adds nothing but a pro-LGB worldview to the story.) There were no explicit sex scenes, although several were referenced or the story picked up just after the scene. I was happy that the protagonist could bring freedom to the captive women, but will not be reading any more of this author’s work.

Wowza! What an amazing book this is! If you are a Bridgerton fan then it is right up your alley. Cover to cover, so fast paced. I couldn’t put it down! Would highly recommend!

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally is a very cozy mystery that perhaps hits too close to home in regards to how women can be treated. While the beginning was slow, the intrigue was there from the beginning. Once the pace picked up, I couldn’t put the book down! Petra is an amazing MFC and she is inspiring in her confidence. Then ending though really had me going “wth.” I’m assuming there will be another book, and I cannot wait to read it. If there is not, I’m not sure what I’ll be doing with my life.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was okay? It was at its core just trying to do too much. Too many names, too many threads. Plus it clearly wanted to be billed as a romance despite it really just being a mystery. Also has a cliffhanger ending I personally don’t love, especially when I’m confident I won’t read a sequel.

A pinch dry, with a heroine who seems to notice things just a little bit later than she should. Some of the supporting characters are fun but there is this super rape-y guy who spoils what may have been a pleasant reading experience.

3/5 stars! I'm a huge fan of Regency stories, but this one didn't meet my expectations. The title was fun and the premise was interesting, but the payoff wasn't there. A lot of the premise reminded me of a storyline in a different fantasy book that handled asylums, so that took me out of the story as well. It was an average read and I think many readers will still enjoy it. But Petra just wasn't for me.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Bridgerton-like mystery! loved Lady Petra and her adventure while trying to solve the disappearance of her friend. wished there was more romance :/ but excited for the rest of the series!!

I want to thank the publisher and netgalley for this eARC.

The story had a promising beginning, what with Lady Petra having gone horse riding wearing breeches. Then, it went on for half a chapter more about her changing clothes and we suddenly find out about Duncan.
Then, she goes to her godmother's house.

In all this, the writing style suffered. I could not care less where she was going and therein was the problem for me. It was not engaging for me.
I had very high expectations going in having read another period mystery.

Dnf at 25%.

This was a quick and interesting read. I enjoyed Petra’s tenacity and intellect. She is a woman that would inspire even women today to do what they want and to heck with what society deems appropriate. She consistently outwits the men around her. Reader’s will find themselves feeling outraged for the women of the ton whose fathers and husbands don’t appreciate their value and individuality. I love the contrast between the men in society who are morons and intelligent supporters of the independent women. There is also a wide range of classes represented in a positive light, from Teddy the orphan to the woman who helps run the apothecary, and the servants who are all so helpful to Petra. I enjoyed this book.

A must-read for every woman who wants to achieve her goals with grace and confidence. Brilliant! 🙌 Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

This novel is a perfect blend of Agatha Christie meets Bridgerton. Everything we love about a classic, “who done it?” ensconced with acerbic wit, charm, and poise of the Bridgerton era.

I gravitate towards strong female characters, and really enjoyed the mind and thoughtfulness of Lady Petra. She is certainly one to be admired.

Definitely a must read!

This was an interesting read. It's definitely a mystery with Bridgerton type vibes (solely because of the Regency era and gossip factor) which I thought was fun. The main plot line was entertaining, I liked that it was centred around this ridiculousness that was being a woman in that time period. This book really highlights how little control women had over their lives and the unfortunate results of men making decisions on their behalf. It touches on how little society understood mental health and I always appreciate a book that does a decent job with these topics.

That being said, the imagery in this was a little much for me personally. A lot of description, a lot of monologuing - it just isn't my preferred writing style. Some bits were a little bit dragged out, but I still enjoyed the story and the characters.

"Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord" by Celeste Connally, it was the best book I have ever read. It reminds me so much of a mixture between Sara Maclean & Stacy Reid style of writing. It's heartwarming, women empowerment, love have no boundary and Jane Austen in 2023.

Thank you!

I just reviewed Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally. #NetGalley
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

This novel is extremely well written. There is no fault there, however, it builds so slowly. I just got bored. Many other readers have loved it. I can’t decide if it was a romance or a mystery.

"Bridgerton" meets Maisie Dobbs in this witty, fast-paced rom-com/mystery! Fans of Evie Dunmore and lovers of girlbosses of all eras will have a blast with Connally's wild child protagonist.

Who cares if a lady wants to act a little headstrong sometimes? Apparently, the men in the 1800s were less than interested in any woman who was smart, strong, opinionated, anxious, tired, caring, or overall just had thoughts that might go against their own. In a period when women were only property of their fathers and then their husbands, it was easy for them to take away your freedom. Lady Petra decides she doesn’t want to give herself over to matrimonial slavery and decides to remain a “spinster”, the derogatory word for women who decide not to marry. She doesn’t mind, with her horses and her parties and her freedom to run her little house in London exactly how she wishes. That is, until something starts happening to the women in her circle, and she starts hearing the name of a “Dr. Drysdale”. She fights not just for her own freedom, but the rights of all of her female acquaintances.

Lady Petra is a relatable, confident, common woman today. She cares for everyone around her (except those who have lost her respect), she works hard for the things she believes in, and she never lets people walk all over herself or those she cares for. Many modern women see themselves in the many sides of Lady Petra, her strong will and personal desires paving her way through the world. The story flows through time well, there doesn’t feel to be any weird time jumps or any filler moments that drag out. While my only possible “issue” with this book is that the story doesn’t have too much mystery and some of the “big” surprises are foreseeable and expected. However, just as the readers settle into confidence of Lady Petra and the story and path she’s taking, the author puts in moments of suspense and a final cliff-hanger surprise that has me FROTHING for a next book to tell me all about how Lady Petra deals with this new problem. I’m hoping that Celeste Connally is planning to continue writing about our Lady Petra, because I, for one, am ready to hear even more about her adventures and impacts on her society.

DNF. The first few chapters felt like a lot of info-dumping and turned me off to wanting to continue reading. After sifting through some other reviews here, it just sounds like it doesn't reach its full potential in any of the areas it goes out for: mystery, romance, social justice, etc. Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I actually really enjoyed this book.
I think Petra was a really engaging protaganist who was just so competent. I loved how well she knew herself and her needs. I love that she used every advantage she has to make her restrictive world work for her. I love that she was a genuinely kind person, who cares for her friends, and their well being. That she doesn't judge anyone's life choices, or identity.
I also liked how the world that was set up. Yes, it's a historical romance that takes place during regency England, but there is still a diverse (ish) set of characters. While not exactly racially diverse, there are different classes represented, and different sexualities, not to mention the many different personalities.
I think my only complaints with the book would be that many of the antagonists were so incredibly evil, they were almost comical. I also felt that the epilogue, and its final sentence especially, was unnecessary. The book tries to end in a bombshell that is clearly setting up another book. But I think that information would have been better if it was relayed to Petra by the main antagonist during the climactic scenes, as a way to sow doubt and conflict. And honestly, the chapter before served as a good epilogue on its own, so I think the author/editor should have made a choice between the last two chapters - it didn't need both.