Part of my 2023 reassessment of books I read … so I rated this 4 stars because I thought Duran’s writing was compelling enough. But as I reread my notes and highlights, I’m feeling my rating should reflect my initial thoughts about the book - that I didn’t like it much, actually! I also think after having read an amnesia book that I really enjoyed in spite of disliking that trope (Sherry Thomas’s Tempting the Bride) I find how the amnesia was used in this book to be an even bigger weakness. 2.5 stars

- - -

Original review: Amnesia books aren't for me, I don't think. They bore me! I am bored reading about how bad people are literally knocked into being morally upstanding while other characters are all, "ooh, ahh, this new version of so and so makes them soooo interesting and whatnot boringness bla bla bla". I actually much preferred Crispin Burke as he was first presented - the second born son of a Viscount who was dangerously ambitious. Jane was fine - she sure tried hard to be deceptive. I was drawn into the story at the beginning of the book, however it became a bit tedious after about 20% and the magic I felt from the first pages was extinguished. shrug.

I’m not sure the rest of this series will be for me so I may just focus on reading Duran’s standalone books. HOWEVER, I think Meredith Duran is an amazing writer which is why I gave this book 4 stars even though it really isn't for me. ( )

Charming easy read, lovely characters and sharp narrative. I missed a bit more of angst, but it was overall a good book. ( )

Let me be your villain

Do you think that's swoony? Well it is. Meredith Duran once again writes a subtly crafted, beautiful, lush, and complicated romance. I'm going to ATTEMPT not to read her backlog like I sometimes binge on broccoli. I say broccoli, and not something bad for you because these books have a hell of a lot of substance. In addition, I'm really appreciating the Lockwood story arc and now I cannot wait for February 27.

The self-discovery, becoming a person worthy of another you admire, and all of that made this an incredibly finely crafted romance. It is somehow this crazy plot line and manages to be understated. Lovely!

Oh, and I know I just recently created a heroes to lick shelf, and now there's a common theme of sexy hairpins. To the shelf it goes. ( )

A LADY'S CODE OF MISCONDUCT centers around the story of Jane Mason and Crispin Burke. Crispin Burke is a political associate of Jane's Uncle Philip and doesn't seem to be a very nice person. Ok.. he's horrible. But you never really know what has happened to a person to make them the way they are. Jane is the heir to her father's fortune and her uncle is trying to get control of it because he thinks he deserves it. She's desperately trying to get out of her uncle's house (and out of marrying her cousin) so that she can be free to go and do what she wants.

This story captivated me from the first chapter. It's like an E ticket rollercoaster ride with ups and downs, twists and turns. The characters seem so real it's like they were playing out their story just for me.

Meredith Duran is a new-to-me author and she has a new fan. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the tortured hero, enemies to lovers or plain Jane (no pun intended) heroines.

I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley for my honest, unbiased review. ( )

Brought together by desperation ...

Crispin and Jane seem like total opposites. He's a darkly brooding man with a past. She's used to life's finer things, raised with the utmost of class. When circumstance removes the rose colored glasses from this woman of means, she will stop at nothing to even the score. Yet will her plan of action, be her biggest risk or their greatest gain? A Lady's Code of MisConduct is a courageous trek through the ravishes of a broken heart as it travels the pathway to love. Meredith Duran turns darkness into light with this wickedly enchanting read. ( )