It seems like December is going to be about rereading some of my favorites from 2021, so of course the first one had to be The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. The Jane Austen references are frequent, hilarious, and incredibly clever. There are constant references to famous lines that Holton turns on their heads, and Charlotte's habit of relying on the Austen heroines of her imagination to help her when she's unsure what to do (besides being a little too relatable) is such a lovely way for a neurodiverse HR heroine to have adapted to having difficulty in social situations. But in that moment she realized they were halfway across the footbridge, with the river tossing glints like sharp blades beneath and the pirate watching her with an alarming stillness in his eyes. Her heart leaped, and she closed her mouth, swallowing what felt now like a thorn. Ned is so charming. He loves to love Cecilia. Cecilia is a pirate in the making and with fire in her personality. She can be slightly dumb towards the end but it's okay, it showed how patient Ned was with her. The chemistry and the witty banter is chef's kiss. I was laughing, blushing and smiling throughout. No, I mean those moments when nothing important is happening, such as during travel. After supper. Before sleeping. Or whilst one's opponent reloads their gun.”

Victorian lady assassins fighting the patriarchy, flying houses, AND...an ONLY ONE BED trope?! Fun fun fun' 5***** Reader Review The plot is pretty simple, the pirate and the witch hunting for an amulet for their own purposes. Both enemies to each other, find themselves in a position where they become allies. It sounds good but I had problems with it in the sense, that except for the romance I had zero interest in the amulet which was a major part of the plot. It was supposedly very powerful and blah blah blah but all I cared about was the romance, which India Holton does write well. Christina: At the beginning of the book, you provide a “Table of Significant Characters,” which is quite long. Did you have any trouble juggling the cast? Which character do you feel most drawn toward? If books are truly a portable magic, then The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is a satchel full of powerful spells and glittering fairy dustThe only reason it isn't getting a higher rating is the the plot was a bit all over the plot. like what was the plot you ask? i couldn't tell you 🙈🙈 This was basically just vibes and romance, with some action in parts. And the sheer ridiculousness of it all got a bit overwhelming at times. but otherwise it was really good!! 🫶 India: No, the cast all were quite clear in my mind. Many of those names only appear briefly in the text. The Table of Significant Characters was a gesture towards old-fashioned novels, and an opportunity to have some more fun. I guess I feel most drawn toward Cecilia, she and I became good friends on the journey, although there’s something in everyone that I can relate to even a little. Having sympathy for your characters (even the villains) enables you to go deep with them, and to give them the arc they most deserve. Recommended for: HR and/or fantasy readers, Janeites, romance lovers, enemies to lovers fans, readers familiar with Victorian/Romantic lit, anyone looking for a good laugh

Oh.” She stopped, frowning at the narrow, green-fenced bridge that lay across the Avon River ahead. “I did not realize.” He loitered near the river, hatless once again and indecently dressed: he wore no tie, his waistcoat was secured with pewter buttons, and his trousers were far too tight. The way he had his sword belt slung low around his hips inexplicably disturbed Cecilia. it has the charm of a netflix original that would be all the rage on release only to be forgotten about a month later due to the binge model by its general audience after it begins the careers of young british stars whilst rejuvenating the careers of beloved british actors - i say this as a compliment, so please do take it as such. witty, sometimes too clever for its own good, never afraid to be unserious, this truly was an experience. This book was absolutely not what I was expecting based on the blurb provided by the publisher, I was expecting a fun, Victorian romp along the lines of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and I ended up with a Mel Brooks and Monty Phyton Victorian-era fantasy collaboration. I finished this book and my first thought was – what the hell did I just read? Even now, a day later, I am still not sure. So this ends with a strong four stars, though I know I'll have to be in the right mood if I plan on going further in the series.

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With a piratical heroine who would rather be reading and a hero whose many disguises hide a (slightly tarnished) heart of gold, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is the perfect diversion for a rainy afternoon with a cup of tea. What fun!" —Manda Collins, author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem Basically, Cecilia is a lady pirate, but not your ordinary pirate, no, she is a junior member of the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels – a group of ladies that steal, try to assassinate each other, drink tea and fly their houses (yes, not pirate ships - pirate houses). Cecilia hopes to be made a senior member of the society and is sure that is about to happen since another member has hired an assassin to do her in.

Ah" Her tone seemed to express that she considered joking equivalent to a cup of green tea distasteful and to be politely ignored if at all possible. "Are you ready?" Cecilia and her aunt are a part of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, a ladies’ society where they discuss things like embroidery and guns. Charlotte and Alex have the best banter, and I loved their enemies-to-lovers romance. From their very first meeting, it’s clear there’s a spark between them, and their chemistry is off the charts! Both characters are layered and interesting, and their stories and growth as they slowly fall in love are fantastic. The secondary characters are as entertaining and dynamically developed as Charlotte and Alex, and I adored the representation of strong, independent, and supportive women. Then Captain Lightbourne, at least. I’m only Italian in my paternal ancestry, and it’s fair to say that was most likely a fantasy of my mother’s.” No you won’t, she thought as she left the footbridge and proceeded into the city center: I shall be nothing more overt than a silence, a shifting of the air perhaps gently scented with lilacs, when I come again into your presence. You will see only the knife I leave in your rib cage. Just who shall assassinate whom, Captain Charming Ned Flirting Lightbourne?

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Cecilia almost said yes. It lay like a sugared rose petal on her tongue, small yet delicious. She opened her mouth to speak it aloud. If books are truly a portable magic, then The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is a satchel full of powerful spells and glittering fairy dust." —Lynn Painter, author of Better Than the Movies Cecilia, our heroine, is from a long line of Cecilias, though according to the hero of the book, she is the best Cecilia of them all. She is a first-rate scoundrel and pirate who wants more than anything to take her place alongside the great scoundrel pirate ladies of her family. She has alas though been interning as a pirate for years and has become stalled in her attempt to be awarded a full seat at the table of the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. Being the baby of the family, Cecilia has a difficult time convincing her elders she's ready to adult. Since all of the characters in the novel are paradoxes, Cecilia is also a very proper Victorian young lady with upright morals and ethics, which are endless sources of perplexity for a pirate hero trying to court her. Ned Lightbourne (one of his many aliases) is a skilled pirate as well, in addition to being a courtier under Queen Victoria, a member of the secret service, an orphan, an Italian assassin, and a lovely beta hero to Cecilia's own confusing personalities. They meet when Ned is commissioned by one party to rescue her and at the same time by another party to assassinate her. Cecilia feels assured that she too will likely have to assassinate Ned, if only he weren't so good-looking and didn't wear such tight-fitting trousers. Ned in the end is rarely confused about his role in Cecilia's life because he took one look at Cecilia and fell in love. I'm generally not a fan of instant love, but trust me when I say that in this whimsical story, the author makes it work. Our main characters are Cecilia Bassingthwaite, who is both a proper lady and a pirate, and Ned (of uncertain last name), who has so many different identities he is basically five different characters in the book. I would also definitely recommend reading book one first. If you like Jane Austen, The Princess Bride, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Fun Times, Good Times, Sexy Times, and myriad other Times, I’d say give it a bang.

Suddenly, he was at her side. Cecilia sighed, lowering her book and looking at him sidelong beneath an arched eyebrow. She did not know how to more clearly convey her disdain, but he just grinned in response. She’d donned a long-sleeved, high-collared dress, boots, gloves, and wide-brimmed hat, thereby leaving no part of her exposed to the evils of sunlight. Then, having selected a book to read along the way, she’d raised her parasol, promised her aunt she would be on the alert for bad air, and at last set out across the waste. Madam,” he said in an aggrieved tone. “I merely wish to ensure your safety so that when I come into your bedroom—” The League of Gentlewomen Witches is the second book in the Dangerous Damsels trilogy by India Holton and it is a superbly entertaining sequel. With playful dialogue, openly crafty characters and a sizzling romance, this is truly a tale to enchant its readers.PDF / EPUB File Name: The_Wisteria_Society_of_Lady_Scoundrels_-_India_Holton.pdf, The_Wisteria_Society_of_Lady_Scoundrels_-_India_Holton.epub The circular window in its gable, curtained with lace that had been spun by a convent of elderly Irish nuns made mad by the haunting pagan song of selkies, could dilate open for the deployment of cannons without affecting the window box of petunias set beneath. Never before in her life had she done more than shake a gentleman's hand. To have his arms around her, his palm pressed against her lips, was—was—Unacceptable! Atrocious! Rousing! No, wait, revolting! I beg your pardon, Captain Lightbourne, but I’m afraid I cannot be diverted from my schedule. Thank you for your consideration, however, and if you’ll just return my bracelet I’ll bid you good day.”