This was my first time reading something by this author and it definitely won't be my last. It is the first book of the Improper Ladies series. Lady Diana saves the Earl of Ballantine, Damian from highwaymen's attack on his coach, and when they encounter each other in a chance meeting afterwards, they strike up a friendship. Her father wants her to marry the man of his choice, but Diana wants to live a little before entering into a dull marriage.
Damian is quite taken with Diana, but he works for the Crown and wants to continue his dangerous work, which means he doesn't have the luxury of settling down. When Diana's friend goes missing, she asks Damian for help in finding her. He knows he should not get involved, but he can't seem to resist Diana. Damian and Diana were great together and had amazing chemistry. The witty dialogue between them was such fun to read. I found this to be a well-written and entertaining story that kept my attention from start to finish.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I really enjoy strong, unconventional heroines. Diana fits the bill. In the beginning of the book she saves Lord Ballentine (Damian) from highwaymen. This is where the reader learns that Diana gets things done. Her friend has been missing for two months and the case has run cold. Diana decides to enlist Damian's help. These two are very good together. The story regarding her friend had a very touching hea. The end where Diana sees Damian and RUNS into his arms is THE reason why I read romance.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Lady Diana Stafford is looking for a lover before her father forces her to marry the man he chooses. After three seasons of her rejections he's had enough. A spy for the Crown, Damian, the Earl of Ballantine, isn't looking for a wife until his hair is grey. Meeting Diana is a distraction to his work, especially when she tries to help. It's enough to drive a man crazy. He can't say no when she asks for his help in solving a mystery. But becoming lovers? When Diana's father arranges her marriage without her consent, she's desperate for help. Damian's mission to discover the French spy in London just got easier.
Fast paced with a swoon-worthy hero.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

5 stars

Lovely story. Our heroine's father is desperate for her to marry. He's going to take her to the season and expects her to marry the man he chooses.
Lady Diana likes to ride in briches and wants to find her own lover. Whilst riding the estate she sees some highwaymen start to attack a coach and fires her gun and they run off. She finds the man in the coach is the Earl of Ballantine. He works for the crown and suspects that someone if trying to assasinate him. He doesn't want to marry but is intrigued with Diana. Diana wants his help in finding her friend who has been kidnapped and society suspects has been killed. Damian is also trying to find the traitors and Diana helps in this but this does mean that a suspect then takes an interest in her and her father agrees that this man can court her. There was jeopardy towards the end as I didn't think Damien would be able to save the day. I enjoyed it and recommend this story.
As this is the start of the series I think we were introduced to Diana's friend a potential for book 2

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

This was really good! I enjoyed the spy mystery almost as much as the romance. I enjoyed the writing, characters, and plot. This is the first book from this author I’ve read but I will be reading more! I recommend this!

The mysterious lord Ballantine has vowed he will not marry any time soon. Lady Diana want to liaison before she is resigned to a ‘proper marriage’.
Lord Ballantine will not ruin the lady who is an innocent. Controlling desires for the crown is a hard job especially when it concerns lady Diana and her safety.
This really took on a different turn than I thought it would which is actually quite refreshing. A different kind of book for a wonderful treat. I look forward to seeing more int his series as its fairly obvious which LAdy will be next.
I received a complementary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion I have given is my own. I am disclosing this according to the guidelines.

This is the first book in a new series. It has a lot going on with the romance but then there is a mystery and a touch of intrigue all wrapped up in a spying storyline. Dianna is a feisty and Damian protective with them both having likable characters with good chemistry between them. An enjoyable read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first in a new historical romance series. Our naughty heroine is a Duke's daughter. Her friend has gone missing and nobody is searching for her. That means our heroine must find a way to discover her whereabouts. Our hero has a few secrets to protect and others to discover. He hasn't got time to be distracted.
A sweet romance with exciting adventures ahead. The characters are both strong and independent. I look forward to more like them in the rest of the series.
Good fun.

A nice start to the new series, which is a successful mix of romance, spy story, mystery and a touch of intrigue. The characters are likable, the chemistry between them is good and there are a few steamy love scenes.

Lady Diana wants to experience life and passion before she marries a man of her father’s choice. She also needs help finding out what happened to her best friend, who vanished after she was kidnapped. When she meets the enigmatic Damian Beaumont, Earl of Ballantine, she knows he is the one she wants as a lover.

Damian has been in the espionage service of the Home Office for years and doesn't want to change anything, especially not get married, which would make him vulnerable.
At a house party that he has to attend to unmask French spies and recover stolen documents, he meets Diana again, who soon sees through his mission and doesn't stop meddling in his affairs. She is also eager to seduce him and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep his distance...

If you like unconventional heroines and spy heroes, you will enjoy this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First in a series by a new to me author. It was a slow start with a lot of telling and flashbacks. The romance and spy element picked up and were fine, but I kept leaving and coming back to it and it never kept my attention. YMMV

A very engaging and well crafted story and romance. Damian and Diana make a great couple, I enjoyed their interaction and chemistry. A good start to this new series of Improper Ladies.

I'm quite picky about romance books: I want my protagonist to be quite the firecracker sometimes with the male interest, and for him to be completely and utterly devoted to her.

I found exactly that on The Mysterious Lord Ballantine.

This is very picky trait and very "my own taste" type of thing, but I much prefer it when love interests are in the same social class. Perhaps this is why I don't normally read regency romances, despite I actually quite liking them; it's because all I find is either "poor girl rich man" or "poor boy rich woman." Give me variety, please!

This book was a treat, no other way to describe it. I've had the fortune to read historical romances where some social issues are addressed tactfully, but never taking away from the main romance and oversaturating the plot; only a good flow can do that. Add that to the thrilling aspects of Lord Ballantine's work with the Crown, everything mixes up wonderfully, making this book a total snack read. Very well, Maggi Andersen!

Spies, mystery disappearance, romance and more. This is just a taste of what you will find in this new series. Diana has a plan but needs Damian's help. She is very creative and determined to have her way and poor Damian is completely lost when he realizes he can't stay away from her. There's a lot of detail in the story as well as some true history which makes this an enjoyable read. Interesting characters as secondary figures leading the reader to wait with batted breath for the next book to be published.

Well-written and enjoyable, I found this romance kept my interest throughout, as Lady Diana Stafford kicks against the rules of conventional society. Diana wants a meaningful marriage and the right to think for herself, without being under the thumb of a domineering husband. Having saved the Earl of Ballantine from probable death, she feels drawn to him and when he asks her to dance at a ball, she is left in a state of turmoil. Damian cannot help but be attracted to Diana. She certainly is not a shy violet and challenges him at every turn. With a spy ring to uncover and documents to retrieve, Damian does what he can to keep Diana out of mischief, but trouble finds her anyway. The suspense ramps up towards the end, and the near escape Damian and his friends make from enemy territory convinces him that it is time to take matters into his own hands and hopefully convince Diana to spend her future with him. The novel is a standalone and comes to a lovely conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5 Stars
When Lady Diana Stafford saves the Earl of Ballantine from highwaymen’s attack on his coach, a chance meeting leads to a diverting friendship with the earl. However, this Season her father plans to marry Diana to the man of his choice. Diana has other ideas. Take a lover, and she could have lovely memories of romance before a dull marriage. Those plans become secondary, though, when she hears that her dearest friend Anne has been kidnapped. Everyone but Diana believes that the marquis’s daughter has been killed. But she requires a gentleman to help her search for her friend. Damian Beaufort, Earl of Ballantine, works for the Crown. He wishes to continue his dangerous missions, which makes having a wife and family impossible.
The first book in a new series & a well written romance with the added bonus of intrigue & spies. I loved both Damien & Diana their attraction was apparent from their first meeting & the chemistry between them sizzled, I also loved their banter. They both have an agenda, he’s to find some missing documents French spies & traitorous Englishmen, she wants to find Anne. The pace was very good & the pages flew by & I was so engrossed that I read until the small hours to finish it
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

She's independent, he's a spy...

Lady Diana is very independent and does not want to wed the man of her father's choosing. She wants a fling and knows who she wants to indulge with. Damian.
Damian works as a spy for the Crown. He doesn't want to take on a wife and family while doing so.

Diana has a missing friend. Things go a little sideways here. But still a spicy read.

I enjoyed reading this book. Once I started reading The Mysterious Lord Ballantine I didn't want to put it down. The characters are great and the storyline hooked me from the start. I don't want to spoil this book for anyone so I won't go into details. I recommend reading this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Diana is an independent single woman who tries everything to get out of marrying the men her father introduces her to. She becomes intrigued by the mysterious Damien who is a spy for the crown. She helps him discover information in exchange for him helping her to find her missing friend. All the while they must deny their mutual attraction. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

Tale of intrigue and suppressed romance.
Damian works as a spy for the Crown often completing dangerous missions.
He first encounters Diana when she saves him and his carriage from two armed men by firing her own gun.
Diana has a will of her own, riding in men’s clothes and independently making decisions about her life.
She begins to become embroiled in his clandestine affairs despite his discouragement and fear for her life.
Many plot twists and adventure is on almost every page.