Title: The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels (Dangerous Damsels #1)

Author: India Holton

Publisher: Berkley Books 2021

Genre: Historical romance Fantasy

Pages: 324

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spring TBR

Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She's also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it's a pleasant existence. Until the men show up.

Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he's under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman.

When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her--hopefully proving, once and for all, that she's as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.

Oh this was just delightful! We get a mix of pirates, romance, historical capers, modern humor, and even a few steamy scenes towards the end. I loved every single page of this story. Cecilia isn’t necessarily my favorite character, but her relationships with other characters were just such fun. I loved the back and forth with Ned and the back and forth with her Aunt. The villain was appropriately over the top and full of cheese and yet still very dangerous. The houses are delightful extra characters as they battle it out over the Moors. And the rest of the Wisteria Society adds the layers we need to understand this world. I sped through this one and cannot wait to get my hands on the second book. I can’t wait to read Alex’s story.

Dangerous Damsels

• #1 The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

• #2 The League of Gentlemen Witches

Next up on the TBR pile: