The Lady Plays with Fire by Susanna Gregg is the newest in the Goode’s Guide to Misconduct series. The novel introduces us to Julie Addison (secret theater critic) and the Earl of Dunstane (secret playwright) and their dance toward courtship.

Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses is the newspaper of the times. Of course, no unmarried lady should be reading such a forward thinking magazine. Certainly, Julia Addison being a vicar’s daughter should know better, but she is the secret critic writer for the theater! Julia has been keeping her secret on the downlow, when she meets Graham McKay, the Earl of Dunstane. Neither of them knew that the box had been rented to the other. That is the beginning of their cat and mouse game!

Situations happen that could unmask either of them. Their choices become more perilous. The Lady Plays with Fire by Susanne Gregg is a good read.

The Lady Plays with Fire by Susanna Craig
Goode’s Guide to Mischief series #2. Historical romance.
Julia Addison knows she’ll never be able to fulfill her dream of acting on a stage. Instead she’s a lady’s companion, with a secret life writing stage and theatre reviews for Mrs Goode’s Magazine for Misses. One such review has the Earl of Dunstane, Graham McKay, writing an entire satire about reviewers. When Julia meets Graham, they are both enamored, but Julia more so because he can give her access to a newly created play that she’ll be able to see before it opens. But she needs to be careful not to disclose her hidden agenda or she and the magazine might well be exposed and shut down.

A historical romp of mixed up rolls and hidden agendas. I was waiting for the older companion to be part of the conspiracy somehow, but alas, that was just me, looking for another surprise. We do get a bit of society as well as behind the scenes theater and a meeting with Mrs Goode. Clandestinely, of course. And an improper romance behind the theater curtain.
But don’t let me give away all the secrets. Historical romance is all the rage now, you know.
Appealing and melodramatic in the best way.
4.25

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

I've enjoyed a lot of Susanna Craig's books, but for whatever reason, The Lady Plays with Fire never really engaged me.

Graham McKay is an earl, but he's also the notorious playwright Ransom Blackadder. And when he sees a review by similarly pseudonymous Miss on Scene that pierces to the heart of his work and critiques not the play but his project, he gets angry. Angry enough to write a whole play about it and also to work to expose her. But Miss on Scene is Julie Addison, for whom secrecy is paramount. When the two meet as themselves and begin to fall in love, their respective secrets threaten their happiness.

The idea of dueling writers should have grabbed me immediately, but I never really found myself invested in Graham and Julia. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for this book, but their chemistry never popped and the tension between them never grabbed me. The situation - Julia attending rehearsals for Graham's play and helping him to rewrite it without knowing it was actually his play - struck me as more contrived than anything. And even though much of the plot hinges on Julia's exposure, I never really worried.

All of that said, there's nothing really wrong with this book. It functions as a perfectly fine historical romance, even if it never really sparkles.

3.25/5

A Scottish earl who secretly writes scandalous plays and the daughter of a clergyman who secretly pens reviews are a perfect match in The Lady Plays with Fire. Susanna Craig’s second Goode’s Guide to Misconduct novel features two likeable characters who are taken with each other in person while unknowingly sparring with one another behind the scenes.

Julia Addison wished to be an actress once upon a time, but now the lady’s companion has settled into writing reviews as “Miss on Scene.” Graham is an earl who used his Ransom Blackadder alter ego to pull his estate out of danger. Blackadder is cynical and cutting but Graham is rather sweet. He’s gruff at first but there’s a marshmallow heart inside of him that I found endearing. Julia is kind and sweet as well, but she’s got a steel spine that won’t let her back down. When Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses is targeted because of Blackadder she’s determined to convince the playwright’s patron to sway the author to something less dangerous, never knowing the man she’s dealing with is the writer himself.

Julia and Graham make a charming couple and they have an easy chemistry that makes The Lady Plays with Fire entertaining. For a book centered around the theater this is not a dramatic read; rather it’s a fun and engaging romance that’s good to escape with. I quite enjoy Julia and her fellow “Goode girls” and am very much looking forward to seeing where Craig takes them next.

"The Lady Plays with Fire" is a delightful read. Julia is a delightful character who enjoys the independence she has as a companion. She is up to all kinds of "mischief." Graham seems so stern and grumpy, yet Julia is still able to see the good within. An enjoyable story to read!

And the bonus novella about Lady Stalbridge was such a sweet story. I loved the encouragement she receives from her stepson.

"The Lady Plays with Fire" is a fun and fairly light read. Both main characters are hiding identities and their hidden identities are enemies, even as their real life selves come closer and closer to being lovers.

I really liked both Julia and Graham. There was definite chemistry between them from the start and the grumpy/sunshine vibe really worked for them. Julia is smart and independent, and Graham likes her that way. I loved that there is no third-act break-up, especially since this story could have easily gone there for an easy plot point. The side characters are enjoyable, and while this is part of a series, it works well as a standalone.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own,

I really enjoyed Julia and Graham's story! It was a lot of fun watching these two "hunt" for the other without realizing who they were truly after.

To be or not to be!

It was not the most fortuitous of introductions. Julie Addison goes with her sort of aunt / companion Mrs Hayes to the theatre. They’ve obtained the use of Graham McKay, Earl of Dunstane’s box for the season from the Box Manager. The Earl apparently stayed in the wilds of Scotland.
Imagine her consternation to find the Earl occupying said box. What?
The theatre’s full so there’s no chance of seats somewhere else.
Reluctantly Graham allows them to join him.
Little does he know that Julie is actually “Miss on Scene” who writes theatre reviews for a relatively new women’s publication “Mrs Goode’s Magazine for Misses.”
By the same token no one is aware that Graham is the infamous playwright Randome Blackadder who’s currently writing another scathing play ridiculing his audience, including the reviewer Miss on Scene. Graham is both appalled and struck by Miss on Scene’s latest review of his work.
The doyen of the magazine Lady Deveraux is understandably nervous about the turn of events. After all the magazine is shrouded in secrecy. No one wants their identity revealed.
Much of the tale’s tension is tied up with the secrecy and with the to-ing and fro-ing and even woo-ing between the Earl and Julie.
An interesting conundrum that facilitates some cheeky repartee, perilous moments of near discovery, and delightful scintillating scenes.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Ransom Blackadder, aka to very few as Graham McKay, Earl of Dunstone, is a satirical playwright. Miss on Scene, aka to even fewer as Miss Julia Addison, is the theatre critic for Goode’s Guide to Misconduct. They meet as the result of a mix-up at the earl’s theatre box, that is the earl and Miss Addison. Bladder is determined to use his latest play to wreak revenge on Miss on Scene. Without knowing it, he invites his nemesis into the preparation for the play. As they spend time together, Graham and Julia become quite fond of each other, maybe falling in love. What will happen when they each learn the truth of secret identities? This is a well-written entertaining story fill with secrets, humor, a bit of drama, a mystery, and an unexpected romance. Graham and Julia are wonderful characters. They are both intelligent, independent, and, in their own way, outspoken. The side characters are amusing and charming. The story holds your attention and comes to a delightful end. Great narration by Elizabeth Jasicki.
I received an ARC this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy, clever, fast-paced and charming. I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

When “Miss on Scene” the theater reviewer for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses, writes a review that enrages Graham McKay, the Earl of Dunstane, who also happens to be the playwright Ransom Blackadder. He decides that she needs to be exposed and taught a lesson and he is just the man to do it! He writes a new play with every intention of humiliating the critic. But once he gets to London, things do not go as planned and soon exposing Miss on Scene takes a backseat to getting to know the very intriguing Miss Julia Addison, the companion of the woman who was mistakenly sold his theater box. After so many years of being alone, Julia awakens something he thought long lost and he wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with her. But with so many secrets between them, is there any chance of a future between them?

Miss Julia Addison has loved the theater for as long as she can remember and since a career on stage is not an acceptable calling for a young lady, she instead became a companion to her sister in law’s aunt and is the theater critic for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses. She meets the arrogant Lord Dunstane when he shows up in their theater box, which turns out to actually be his box. She knows that he is Ransom Blackadder’s patron and uses that connection to learn about Blackadder’s new play – a play that is rumored to be about Miss on Scene. A play that could ruin not only her but also all the women of the magazine. But she never counted on falling for the grumpy Lord Dunstane or that he could be the source of her greatest happiness or her utter ruin.

This was another wonderfully written installment of the Goode’s Guide to Misconduct series with a unique plot and amazing characters. I enjoyed this book, Graham and Julia’s banter was delightful and their chemistry is undeniable. The book has secrets, witty banter, wonderful characters, steamyish love scenes, tears, betrayal, a surprising twist, revelations and a hard won HEA complete with and epilogue (as well as a bonus novella). I really enjoyed this book, but honestly, it dragged a bit in the middle before things picked up for the ending. Overall, it was a great story and I would happily recommend this title and am looking forward to the next book.

4, maybe 4.5 stars

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

I really enjoyed reading this book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Craig writes from the heart bringing a sensational story for those who love romance. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone.
Graham McKay, Lord Dunstane, is a Scottish Earl is a man with lots of debt from a family in which he's the last one. He doesn't suffer fools and finds no humor in his soul. His outlook on life being a playwright under the assume name of Blackadder attacks a literary critic by the name of Miss on Scene. The critic is Julia Addison who writes for the Mrs Goode's magazine for independent young women. Julia is the sister of Captain Sterling and sister-in-law of Laura from Better off Wed in the Live and Let Spy series.
When Graham meets Julia he's attracted to her but they both have secrets. Will they share their hidden identities to make the relationship work? I hope they do, because I love a happy ever after, don't you?
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Graham McKay leads a double life as the reclusive Earl of Dunstane and the satirist playwright Ransom Blackadder. Blackadder’s harshest critic is the anonymous Miss on Scene, a columnist for the scandalous Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses. Graham’s plan to expose the reviewer’s identity is disrupted when he meets a modest ladies companion, Julia Addison, clergyman’s daughter and fellow theater buff. Graham quickly discovers that Julia is a force of nature with the power to unearth his secrets and uproot his notions of success.

This was my first Susana Craig read and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed this battle of razor-sharp wit between the grumpy Darcy-esque introvert, Graham, and the fiery, fearless Julia. I love that the imperturbable Graham is full-on gobsmacked by Julia immediately and didn’t know what to do with his feelings. It was fun to watch him flail a bit as he tried to calculate his best way forward in their acquaintance. I love that Graham and Julia are the ideal intellectual foils to one another. I think that Graham was better developed as a character than Julia, and that he was the lifeblood of the novel.

I liked the underlying premise of the series being an underground, anonymous periodical designed to inform and provide practical advice to high society young women about topics they would not normally be exposed to. In fact, I wish there had been more time devoted to the inner workings of the paper and the writers.

I also loved the character of the older Mrs. Hayes, Julia’s aunt by marriage and her employer. She is so shrewd, and I enjoyed watching her pull strings with perfect subtlety. I’m glad that Julia has her in her corner.

I do think the novel is a bit too long as it starts to lose momentum at about 50% and doesn’t really pick up again until about 75%. I think it suffers from the fact that all of the story lives on the surface of the narrative. An interconnected or adjacent subplot with other characters would have worked well and given the novel some much needed depth in order to more fully explore its main themes, including the purpose of ambition, the price of success, and the inherent vulnerability of allowing oneself to be known.

Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, hidden identity, bluestocking x rake, age gap (19, 29)

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

One of our secret columnists, Julia, has made an enemy of a certain playwright for her scathing review of one of his plays. That playwright is the pseudonym of grumpy Scottish earl Graham who prefers solitude and sarcasm. On a chance meeting at the theater, Graham and Julia meet face-to-face without knowing that the other person is their secret rival. However, they continue to run into each other in London and then Julia is trying to find out more information and subsequently influence a play that Graham is a patron of. It’s kind of messy to follow, but things heat up once they realize their attraction for each other and Graham opens up about his history. While this book felt like a slow start for me, I enjoyed seeing these two come together and how the final drama was resolved.

I loved Susanna Craig's last series, and this one is just as good. It's a romance between two people who both have secret identities.

Graham McKay, Earl of Dunstane, is a famous playwright under the name of Ransom Blackadder. His works are poorly regarded by critics but still very popular. When he receives a negative review from an anonymous critic writing in a magazine for young women, Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses, better known as Goode’s Guide to Misconduct, he decides he must teach her a lesson.

Julia Addison is companion to an elderly matron and the sister of a Viscount. She lives a quiet life, but no one knows that she is actually Miss on Scene, the theatre critic for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses. Julia has always loved the theatre and being the magazine's theatre critic is a great joy for her.

Graham and Julia have a meet cute when she and her employer take their box seats at the theatre only to learn that the theatre's manager has double booked the box. Graham is rarely in London, so the manager has been selling his seats to other patrons. Graham is annoyed at first, but he soons finds himself captivated by Julia. She's equally intrigued by the grumpy earl.

This is a really fun romance. Double secret identities, a great theatrical setting, and a little bit of grumpy meets sunshine make for an excellent read.

I highly recommend this one!

In this second installment of Miss Goode's Guide to Misconduct, by Susanna Craig, we find Julia, lady's companion by day, secret play reviewer by night. She writes for the wildly popular, subversive, and underground "Magazine for Misses", a periodical that requires its writers to go incognito. Unfortunately, the lid is about to be blown right off of their carefully crafted creation, because Julia has messed with the wrong playwright! Speaking of hidden identity, no one is aware that Graham, Lord Dunstane, is actually the ghostwriter for the elusive Ransom Blackadder, the most despised and yet revered playwright of the day. Julia and Graham are initially strangers who quickly find passion in one another arms, neither knowing that underneath it all, they're the fiercest of enemies. But what happens when their identities are revealed?!?

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and I found many moments of brilliance in this book as well. The characters were likable and relatable; their backstories the perfect amount of exposition without drowning out the plot. The spicy scenes were perfection! I was also on the edge of my seat multiple times, wondering how things would unfold.

Much of the story required the reader to suspend belief. Several plot points seemed unrealistic or fizzled out quickly when they could have been drawn out over more of the story to create better tension. In many ways, it felt like this book turned into a cozy mystery, despite the fact that it had been built primarily as an historical romance. Unfortunately, it felt like, the two genres watered down one another.

Bottom Line: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries and spicy historical romance will enjoy this book!

Trigger warnings: a knife goes completely through someone's hand, a person is gagged and tied up in a closet, a person is held at knife point

I'd like to thank @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Miss and a Lord – both have secrets and secret identities – One wants revenge – and the other wants protection. I loved this book from the meet-cute to the last word in the epilogue and I hope you will love it too.

Miss Julia Addison is the daughter of a clergyman and she always longed for more freedom than a young lady of that period was allowed – especially a clergyman’s daughter. The opportunity to gain a small measure of freedom came when Mrs. Mildred Hayes’s niece (and companion) married Julia’s brother. Julia stepped in to become Mrs. Hayes’s companion – and in doing so, she gained the freedom to become the theater reviewer for Goode’s magazine. Well, no, nobody knows she is the one writing the reviews – it is all done under a secret identity, but she is very happy with that arrangement. At least she’s happy with it until she discovers that Ransom Blackadder, a satirical playwright, is seeking revenge against her for a review she wrote about one of his plays. Oh!

Graham McKay, the Earl of Dunstane, writes satirical plays under the pseudonym Ransom Blackadder. Those plays are always great successes and bring in lots of much-needed money to save his estates. All the reviewers are writing scathing reviews (which he wants as they bring in the audience) – all except one who writes something different. He absolutely cannot have that and he’ll go to great lengths to identify and unmask that reviewer. How dare she!

Julia intrigues Graham from the first time he meets her at the theater. Will their secrets keep them apart even though they care for one another? Can either or both of them come to trust the other enough to share their secret?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fast-paced, witty, entertaining book and can recommend it. So, grab a cup of tea, find a cozy nook, and be prepared for a lovely afternoon spent with Graham and Julia. You’ll be glad you did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think this series got off to a slow start - the prequel novella was fine, and the first book was a bit better, but The Lady Plays with Fire is far and away the strongest book in the series so far. 100% the Susanna Craig I fell in love with during her previous series. I loved both the leads - their common obsession with the theater bringing them together was such a fun twist on the typical boy meets girl. Both Graham and Julia have their secrets, but nothing felt dragged out or overdone. It was just fun from start to finish.

Graham and Julia - I do love the trope of grumpy man meets his match and lets his inner softie show, so I was delighted with how their romance plays out. She opinionated and insightful, and he’s a man who needs someone who won’t let him walk all over her. Their chemistry is palpable from the jump, so it’s really about can their feelings survive all those secrets?

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love a historical romance with a strong female who follows her dream and a grumpy male. I found this book to be a medium in the spicy column and a 5 in the fun read column.

On the surface, they are falling in love with each other. But their secret identities are ‘fighting’ each other. Which one will prevail? Lovely romantic tale about the journey to finding one’s other half with whom one shares a common passion and a villain from an unexpected character!