Lady Reckless

Steamy Scandals #3

by Larissa Lyons

A mysterious sea captain aiming to stay out of trouble.

And a young widow who isn’t your average damsel in distress…

After a grievous year, Susanna Oliver seeks a bit of joyous adventure. At least she thought she did, until being stranded at a questionable tavern during a winter storm, completely unchaperoned, and accosted by a rowdy crew of soused blackguards.

Since a blast during the war stole his hearing, Captain Leopold Tucker excels at going unnoticed for the benefit of his country. So when a spirited, much younger woman is threatened by the ill-mannered swaggerers, what in blazes possesses Leo to step forth and proclaim her as his own?

Susanna already escaped one destructive marriage that ended in tragedy. Reckless or not, she cannot help but trust the strong yet vexing stranger who promises to protect her for the night.

When they steal a kiss that surpasses their wildest expectations, Leo is faced with a far bigger dilemma than ensuring Susanna’s safety. For how can a deaf, older—ahem, experienced—former sailor hope to win the daring beauty’s heart for all their years to come?

Lady Reckless is the third book in a fun adult Regency romance series perfect for readers who love witty banter, humor, and steamy scandals resulting in feel-good happily ever afters.

Genres: Regency, Forced Proximity

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

A lifelong Texan, Larissa writes steamy regencies and sexy contemporaries, blending heartfelt emotion with doses of laugh-out-loud humor. Her heroes are strong men with a weakness for the right woman.

Avoiding housework one word at a time (thanks in part to her super-helpful herd of cats >^..^<), Larissa daydreams about brownies, chocolate-covered peanuts, and 007. She’s been a clown, a tax analyst, and a pig castrator (!) but nothing satisfies quite like seeing the entertaining voices in her head come to life on the page.

Reviews

[Lynn_G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having buried an infant just a few months prior to being widowed, Susanna embarks on an adventure solo, something she’d long wanted but could never have under her cru3l, horr!ble husband’s watch. Waylaid by a hired coach accident, as she approaches a rundown inn she’s immediately set upon by ruffians intent on doing her harm. Just as she fears she’ll be accosted, a bellowing, towering man rushes to her aid.

Deafened in combat, Leo has of necessity given up his naval captain’s command, but is still involved in defending England against threats both abroad and domestic. When he witnesses the would be attack on the bedraggled but lovely raven haired young woman, Leo intercedes, declaring she’s his lady love.

As they evade the band of miscreants intent on revenge, their mutual attraction turns passionate. When Leo learns they’re connected via Susanna’s sibling, he decides to escort her to join her family for the holidays.

Will Susanna want more than just a moment out of time with Leo after all she endured with her late husband? Or will the noble captain bow out lest she feel obligated to him for protecting her, rather than out of love?

This was a superbly written, emotional, and steamy historical romance that never dips into maudlin territory. Woven into the main love story is intrigue, humor, and the beauty of acceptance of both one’s past and current circumstances. It’s a beautiful book that works as a standalone, although it is part of a series. This was a new to me author and now I must immerse myself in Larissa Lyon’s back catalogue.

I was fortunate to have received an advance reader copy from booksirens, and I’m very pleased to share my wholehearted recommendation.

[Zena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Knight in Shining "Amour"!
This is my voluntary review having just finished reading an early copy of this book:
I wasn't as happy with this book as I was with the previous two for two reasons. The first was that I felt one had to be familiar with the characters and stories of the previous two in order to be able to follow what was going on in this new story and the second was that the story in this third book seemed to jump all over the show (for me anyway).
I did love the idea and themes of this story though, as well as the lovely personalities of Susanna Oliver and Captain Leopole Tuck (and let's not forget the clever canine, Reaver).
That these two characters were able to figure out a way to communicate successfully with each other was such a huge success and such treat!
What I really did love was how the Captain was always putting Susanna first and how he managed to pick up that she needed saving or rescuing whenever she did and then become her Knight in Shining "amour".

[Jennifer]

Age gap of 16 years: Leo is 40, Susanna is 24 and widowed.

[Sarah Ess · Rating 2 out of 5]

The set up of this book had me on board, and the majority of this story takes place over the course of one night. Navy man, Captain Leo Tucker, comes to the rescue of a young woman, Susanna Oliver, travelling alone as they – and many others – are stranded in a coaching inn during a snowstorm. I’m following so far. Leo has a dog who gets his own POV (love it, I’m all for animal companions). Other men stranded in the inn drink too much, gets handsy with Susanna, Leo comes to the rescue (!) and trouble ensues.

Here's where it lost me – too many people mentioned and too many POVs! References were made to plots from what (I’m assuming) must be previous books.. something with Susanna’s brother and a lady who ran a newspaper.. and I have no clue because I did not read that book. The use of epistolary to fill in background details of Susanna was.. ok.. but again confusing, the letters were to, or from, her sister.. or her sister-in-law.. or both? I’m still not sure who was who here. I admit that near the end I was reduced to skimming until I got to the parts with Leo and Susanna because I honestly didn’t know what was going on with all these other people.. Squirrel Beard what? Duke in disguise who? Long lost daughter how? Smugglers plotting where? Evil guy why? It was kinda all over the place. It maybe would have been ok if all of these storylines were just mentioned in passing, but they were given over to entire sections and chapters so it was hard to ignore.

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

[Sven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been much better with better editing and streamlining. However, the characters Leo and Susanna are very sweet together, and their vibes are the best.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Booksprout and Booksirens for copies of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is book 3 of the Steamy Scandals series and is connected to the previous 2 stories with some cross over characters, relationships amongst characters, and references to circumstances in the previous two books. It would be of benefit to have read the previous two books to appreciate this story fully. There are frequent references to Susanna in Lady Imposter, as well as some of her circumstances, including the loss of a baby, so please be aware of this if this is a sensitive issue for some.

It is a historical romance with instant love/lust vibes, spy intrigue/adventure, hidden identities, forced proximity/road trip adventure, second chances.... and there is a dog and he has commentary to make as well (and this is different from some of Larissa Lyons' other stories - which have a decidedly feline bent).

This story features a widow seeking to enjoy her freedom, and escape the past of her miserable marriage and the traumas associated with it. Susanna Oliver, the sister of Nathaniel Oliver (the captain from Lady Imposter, book 2 of the series) and co-conspirator/matchmaker with her nieces, Nathaniel's daughters, is coming out of her period of her mourning for her husband, a man she definitely does not mourn, considering how miserably he treated her.

But her plan to seek adventure and joy at the end of a tunnel of misery faces serious challenges when her journey is stopped by a terrible snow storm, forcing her to make her way on foot to the nearest inn, where she is accosted by a group of rough, dangerous men, drunk and seeking to take advantage of a vulnerable woman travelling alone.

Into the fray steps the hero, retired sea captain Leopold Tucker. He was injured in battle, and no longer able to captain a ship, but instead works for the government in a clandestine manner using his talent for reading lips. He was stationed at the inn to secretively seek information when he observes the woman being accosted and felt forced to step in to claim her as his. Knowing the men she was accosted by, and fearful that they would not give up their claim to her person, the captain uses his hidden resources and hides her away until the storm clears and they can escape.

The night leads to them discovering much about each other and exploring their attraction, and discovering each others vulnerabilities and much to admire about each other. But they still have secret fears and vulnerabilities. For one, Leo is deaf from his battle injuries and this makes communication between the two difficult, until Susanna discovers his hearing loss. But she accepts his disability and utilizes what she has on hand to communicate with him, reusing the papers from old letters she has kept. This exposes to them connections in their lives, but also some secrets and vulnerabilities in Susannas's past that she is not ready to reveal to anyone as yet.

A quirky and intriguing story. I was drawn in in Lady Imposter as to what was going on with sister Susanna, and am glad to have found that she makes her way to her brother, with a large adventure in between and an HEA for her. The use of letter writing was a good mechanism to give more information as to her past, and I liked out it came up later to expose that past and her secret vulnerabilities to Leo. Interesting crossover connection to the last book also, as that was one of the ways we were introduced to Susanna's voice in Lady Imposter, through a letter she sends in their matchmaking efforts to gain Nathanial a wife, in response to the Lady Scandal advertisement. I also loved the little cross over of characters with the vicar from the other two stories, and my appetite is whetted for a bit more of him and hopefully some more adventure and an HEA for him.

I found the language to be at times overly formal and ornate, and a bit distracting at times. Overall I did enjoy it though, especially with the narration and perspective from the dog's point of view, and the interesting hints as to the stories of the other men involved in the clandestine mission that Leo was a part of. I presume there will be more to their stories in the future and that the greater mystery of what they are investigating will be opened up in future stories.

3.5 stars out of 5

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Characterization and Trauma

I've been reading this author for a long time, and I believe she's one you will either deeply love or strongly dislike. She has a particular way of writing that appeals to the right reader, but may not to others. I fall squarely in the former camp. I absolutely adore her stories. Part of what I really appreciate about her as a writer is that she does deep characterization exceedingly well. She pulls you right into the story as we see the world through the characters’ eyes. The inner dialogue the perspective characters have is funny and charming, often mirroring the goofy way we think about things as we experience our world. Usually, the conversation sparkles with wit, making banter a delicious treat, and usually, there is a lightness that is hard to achieve well in Regency writing and still seems “of the era.” This book certainly had some excellent banter, though in a unique way as the hero is deaf due to an injury suffered when he was in the navy.

While still exceedingly well done, this book is a departure for this author. It has much darker elements in it, including the heroine having a recent past of marital abuse and losing a child. The marital abuse goes beyond what we typically see in fiction; you will be appalled at what her husband put her through. The hero and heroine meet in a wayside tavern far off the beaten path during a storm. He's become a homeland spy of sorts; he's there trying to figure out what's going on with the particular band of bad guys. Despite his deafness, he can pick up many clues from his other senses and is very observant, making him a good spy. The heroine has had quite a day by the time she gets to this place, the post carriage taking her to visit family for the holidays having overturned during the lashing storm, requiring her to walk quite a ways to even get to the shelter of the tavern. Even more unfortunately, as a single woman traveling alone, she is immediately targeted as she just approaches the door. Of course, our hero jumps to her aid. Again, the way the author drew out this scene, shifting in perspective (without head-hopping!) between the hero and heroine truly helps us get a better sense of the true contents of their characters. Both are such truly decent people who deserve to be treated well by others, but their pasts have not been kind to either of them.

The hero takes a little too long to disclose his hearing limitations. In fact, he never discloses them; after being frustrated by his non-responses and incorrect responses, the heroine figures out he is deaf. I love how the author made use of different ways of communication that were perfect, drawing out the getting-to-know-you phase. I loved it when the heroine had the bright idea to dig out paper and pencil so she could ask him questions. Attraction grew between them quickly but believably. I'm a long-time Regency reader who's very fussy about people of that era being shown as people of that time, not as contemporary minds transported into the bodies of those who lived 200 years ago. (Unless it’s a sci-fi time travel romance!) From any other author, I think I would have had issues with that in this book, but the deep characterization the author provides makes these people and what they faced so universal and so relatable that I can't quibble with some ways of thinking that may be more modern than Regency.

Not only does the couple have the forced proximity of being stranded in a tavern during a rainstorm that turns into a snowstorm, but the author forces it even tighter when they seek refuge and spend a fair amount of time in a hidden expensive and cozy carriage! This is where things really start to get interesting! Through the use of writing and his speech, they get to know each other's names and some of their backstory. I love how, despite their difficult pasts, they are so respectful and compassionate towards each other and what they've been through. If only we all treated each other as well as these two did. I could go on and on about this story, but suffice to say, I found it an absolutely delightful story I can recommend without hesitation.

The only warning I would give is that if you have had (or have) an abusive spouse or have had sexual trauma, this book may be triggering.

I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Fanosse23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in Larissa Lyons’ Steamy Scandals series, and unfortunately, it was my least favorite. For some reason, I found it harder to stay fully engaged with the story compared to the previous books.

The hero, Captain Leopold Tucker, is nearly deaf from a war injury but uses his skill at reading lips and blending in to work undercover. His path crosses with Susanna Oliver Mitchell, a widow trying to escape her troubled past. When Susanna is accosted at an Inn by drunk men, Leo intervenes, claiming her as his own to protect her.

Susanna’s backstory is heart-wrenching—she’s endured a cruel marriage and is grieving the loss of her child. Traveling to her brothers, because she wants to get away from her old life, she finds herself unexpectedly relying on Leo, and their connection starts with an irresistible kiss that sparks their shared adventure.

The author does a remarkable job conveying Leo’s frustration with his hearing loss and how skillfully he navigates the world. Susanna’s effortless ability to help him was a touching aspect of their relationship, and I enjoyed the addition of Reaver, Leo’s loyal pet, to the story.

Leo and Susanna’s journey is anything but typical, packed with danger, unexpected encounters, and a growing bond. Leo’s character stands out—not just as an older, brooding hero, but as a man defined by his kindness and fierce protectiveness. The revelation that Leo knows Susanna’s brother adds a layer of complexity, and the action keeps you on edge, with the promise of more stories to come involving secondary characters.

While the plot was compelling and I loved the main characters, I struggled to connect with the writing style this time, which felt different from the earlier books. Still, seeing familiar characters from previous installments was a nice touch that added continuity to the series. I like Larissa Lyons witty tales and look forward to reading more of her stories.

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

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew I haven’t read from this author in a while and definitely missing out! This struck so many chords! My dad suffers hearing loss as a Vet so I definitely shed a few tears reading this “long” novella!
We have a hearing impaired “deaf” Captain Leopold Michael Tucker aka Leo is undercover on assignment with a gift for being able to read lips and blend into the crowd!
Susanna Oliver Mitchell arrives at a rowdy filthy inn unchaperoned and is instantly set upon by foul swine in human form!
Her unlikely rescuer is Leo who manages to hide her from the vermin who want to treat her like a doxy!
Susanna has suffered a horrible marriage and even recent loss of her baby she does not need anymore heartache in her life! She is thankful to be a widow!
The chemistry between these two is amazing and somewhat light hearted despite some communication issues!
When Leo discovered how tortured Susanna past was she believes he’s disgusted with her! This could not be further from the truth! This is a most unusual courtship avoiding miscreants, stage coaches and finding a respectable inn! If you like older, grumpy heroes who thought that they would remain in darkness and silence then Leo is your man! He is so much more than his hearing loss with a heart of gold!
The fact that he knows Susanna’s brother is a surprise plus in this tale! It is never a dull moment and at least two more stories evolve out of this! Can’t wait to read! This puts you in the Holiday spirit with a sigh and a smile! Bravo
I received an ARC copy for my unbiased review!

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable Regency romance with stranger to lovers, instalove, road trip and age gap tropes, very likable characters and full of touching emotion, wit, LOL moments, twists, steam, angst, suspense and a hint of danger. I love the author's playful storytelling with her puns and stylistics used, her varied OV (including animals) that bring a smile to your face. Although some of the characters are connected to the previous book in the series, this instalment can be read on its own.

After years of imprisonment in a miserable marriage with an abusive and controlling husband, widowed Susanna Oliver Mitchell rejoices in her newfound freedom and longs for an adventure. Alone, she sets off on a journey to her brother and his family to spend Christmas with them. On the way, however, she is involved in a stagecoach accident and ends up in a run-down inn, where she is immediately mobbed by a bunch of drunkards.
After losing his hearing in a battle, former sea Captain Leopold „Leo“ Michael Tucker leads a life in solitude and silence with his faithful dog. He continues to work for the Navy on land and and investigates undercover a gang of smugglers and traffickers within the Navy. When Leo‘s suspects harass a young woman at the inn, he immediately rushes to her aid and together they go into hiding...

Overall, a heartwarming story with wit and steam, you are sure to enjoy!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Florida Girl Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, love, love, love the character of Leopold Michael Tucker, retired Naval Captain, who is deaf due to a war injury. He isn't wallowing in depression because of his injury but was working with a spy team investigating smugglers. He is a fascinating character who was written as a man dealing with challenges of life displaying strength and intelligence and later kindness. He is accompanied by his mutt, Reaver.

Susanna Oliver Mitchel is a lovely young widow seeking an adventure after enduring a marriage filled with restrictions, disappointments and tragedy. She, due to no fault of her own, stumbles into the midst of the dangerous investigation and straight into the arms of Leo! She doesn’t realize that he is deaf and decides that he is rude.

Readers are pulled into the story with the clever use of different POVS. I found the characters well written and realistically portrayed by using conversations between Leo and Susanna (even if he doesn't hear it all, we do), notes back and forth and his discovery of every unposted letter to her family that he ends up reading without her knowing.

This story is romantic, intimate, steamy and laugh out loud. This is my first book by Larissa Lyons and the 3rd in her Steamy Scandals. Based on Lady Reckless, I am reading Books 1 and 2!
I received an advanced review copy and am leaving a voluntary review based solely on my reading experience.

[Mary Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Reckless is one charming read. You shake yourself at the end, just as the hero does, when you realize these protagonists have only known each other two days. Yet I bought their romance completely, so nicely does Lyons sell it.

And Lyons’ hero is unusual in that he’s completely deaf, a naval captain who lost his hearing in a battle and now works as part of an undercover team trying to break up a criminal gang. But Leo is willing to risk everything when he sees Susanna, a woman traveling alone and being harassed by those same men Leo is trying to learn more about.

This is unquestionably an insta-love story (I mean, two days!), but what Lyons does to sell this is give you a strong sense of the aching loneliness that both Leo and Susanna have been living with. Susanna’s secrets are deeper than Leo’s, but both have been strongly shaped by what they’ve been forced to bear in their past. And seeing how Susanna adapts to and addresses Leo’s deafness is wonderful.

There are marvelously loopy malapropisms scattered throughout Lady Reckless, giving it a unique and quirky tone. And you have to love it when a book has passages from the POV of the hero’s dog (who even gets a bit of his own HEA!).

I haven’t read the rest of this series, but now I want to. Lyons has given readers an engaging treat in Lady Reckless.

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, fast paced story. Full of action, adventure, sadness, love, intrigue, suspense, hopes, society and twists. Leopold is a "retired" sea captain after a cannonball hit his ship and left him deaf. He's on a mission in a small town and sitting at a table in a tavern trying to gather info on smugglers. It's there he runs into Susanna , who arrives at the tavern after the coach runs off the road due to bad weather. After being put in a terrible position, Leo helps her escape from these men trying to take advantage of her. She talks and can not believe he really is listening to her or just not hearing her. She finds out that he is deaf and depends on reading lips. She is a widow and not missing her husband but looking for an adventure and true love. Both receive everything they want for Christmas ans the rest of their lives. Has lots of fantastic characters and storyline/plot. Lots of action and steam in this story. Would recommend this fabulous book and the rest in the series to everyone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The absolute romance of it all shone through more than anything for me in this book. The hero, Leo, comes to the aid of Susanna Oliver who is making her way, alone, to her brother's. He moved hell and high water from their first meeting to protect her. Susanna deserves a love like the one that develops between them after a nightmare of marriage to her late husband.

Also interesting to me is that Leo is deaf. Having a deaf daughter myself I know about the communication issues between deaf and hearing people. The author gave a fair portrayal of how Leo and Susanna 'talked'. I love how his being deaf didn't stop him being helpful not only to her but to the government that he works for too.

At times the dialogue between some of the characters went over my head a little. Not because of what they were saying, but the way they were saying it. It's hard to describe, but putting it as simply as I can, it seemed old-fashioned language.

On the whole, I enjoyed the story and loved the ending.

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

[Charmaine Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susanna Oliver Mitchell is a young widow who was physically abused by her husband. After enduring a marriage filled with restrictions, disappointments, and tragedy, she is looking for an adventure and on her way to her brother’s home, she is left stranded at a tavern where she stumbles into an ongoing investigation to trap a gang of smugglers.

Leopold (“Leo”) Michael Tucker, a retired Naval Captain, who, due to a war injury, has lost his hearing and now works as a government spy is sitting quietly at the same tavern observing the smugglers. He notes them start to give Susanna a tough time, being a single woman who enters the tavern. He comes to her rescue and saves her from the smugglers. He is an older gentleman, but the attraction between the two is good. There are lots of laugh out loud scenes and tender moments that will keep you engaged and enjoying the story. I especially loved reading about Leo’s mutt, Reaver!

I enjoyed this and would recommend it. I received an ARC from Book Sirens and submit my review voluntarily.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely brilliant!

The two main characters (Susanna & Leo) are simply excellent; the supporting ones (including Reaver!) all appropriate to the plot; the settings well-described, and the major plot-lines consistent & gripping.

I had a slight concern in the opening chapters as to whether the author had overused the regency speech patterns (superfluously loquacious perchance?) however I was glad to see that this calmed down to be a very readable book indeed.

Although I loved the use of Susanna's "unposted" letters to fill in the history, the best aspect of this book by far is the portrayal of Leo - not simply his past or his current emotions, but his means of adapting to the loss of his hearing [not a spoiler, it's in the book description], of how he picks up only fragments of speech (and then, only under certain circumstances) and how the pieces he misses are sometimes vital.

I have not read either of the two preceding books in this series (each is standalone but apparently has slightly overlapping characters) but I will definitely be looking to remedy that!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Captain and His Lady . . .

Sea Captain Leopold Michael Tucker, made deaf when a cannonball was fired at his ship, was currently spending some time in a rowdy tavern, noticing the heavy boisterous crowd of drunken revelers. Susanna Oliver, forced inside when the weather became too dangerous to risk further damage to the carriage and passenger, becomes an immediate attraction for the drunken men who have nefarious plans for her. She has been a widow since her cruel and abusive husband passed away; and it seems her bad treatment may soon be repeated. But Leopold is not willing to let them get away with their actions and steps in to claim that the lady is his. He offers her his protection and she somehow senses that she can trust him. Although he is deaf, they find a way to communicate with each other. Will these two strangers end up becoming exactly what the other needs? Will they find love and happiness they can share forever?

[Sewanee Kracalik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in Larissa Lyons' Steamy Scandals series, and i have to say it could've been my favorite. However, even though it's a fantastic storyline, it is very confusing. It jumps around way too much.

One minute you're in a steamy love scene and wait a minute the dog is talking?,

The hero, Captain Leopold Tucker, is deaf from a ship explosion, but uses his skill at reading lips and blending in to work undercover and yet he has trouble reading the heroine, Susanna Oliver Mitchel’s lips.

Susanna's backstory is heart-wrenching-she's endured a cruel marriage and is grieving the loss of her baby. Traveling alone to her family's home because she wants to get away from her old life and have one adventure, she finds herself unexpectedly needing a hero and Leo jumps in with both feet. Its attraction at first sight. As i said it's a great storyline and could've been a fantastic read. So I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars.

[Pat Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very different story of Susanna and Leo. He has lost his hearing, she has lost her naive outlook on life from her less than kind husband. It was difficult reading some of what she went through, but her spirit to rise above is very awe-inspiring. Watching Leo try to work through his situation was very informative and I loved how the author dealt with his reading lips. I absolutely adored Reaver and wish my pet could do the same! I did find the writing style a bit hard to understand. Though the writer was probably trying to write in the style of the time, I found it difficult to read at times- thus the 4 stars. But don’t let that take away from a very well plotted story with wonderful characters- especially as we see some of the same characters from the other books in the series.

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

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun as always! Susanna was trying to enjoy her newfound freedom but things got dangerous. Luckily Captain Leo Tucker was on hand to rescue her. At first, Susanna wondered why a nice man like Leo was rudely ignoring her. She then learned that he lost his hearing due to a war injury. His (mostly) faithful dog Reaver was on hand to act as a second pair of ears.

This ties into the previous book "Lady Imposter." Susanna is Nate's sister. I have read the series, but I had the urge to go back and do a bit of rereading. A couple of nice tidbits about future main characters were offered. Leo's deafness was dealt with in a realistic and dignified manner.

This book had the steam and the witty dialog that I have come to expect from this author. The personification of Reaver was an additional treat.

I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.

[Miaowwow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Love it when authors go a little off-piste using MCs away from the norm and in unusual scenarios. No luxury, grace or glamour but a real down to earth love story full of intrigue, enduring spirit and honesty.

The FMC is a young widow, freed from an abusive marriage, spirited and ready to take chances. The MMC is older, a salty seadog captain retired from active duty, having been made deaf in battle, now working undercover. Can’t miss out Reaver, the captain’s hound dog, who is a delightful addition to the story.

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

This is the third book in a series, first that I have read, all which can be read as stand alone stories but have inter connected characters. I am keen to read more and would definitely recommend to all that enjoy this genre.

[Cheryl McTyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a Larissa Lyons book, and she doesn't disappoint with Lady Reckless. Leo Tucker is a deaf former Naval captain. Susanna Mitchell is young widow, abused by her thankfully deceased husband. He rescues her from a group of drunk, rowdy men and she saves him from loneliness. My favorite character may be Reaver, but Lyons' always has a wonderful 4-legged character in her books. This is a stand-alone book, but having read Lady Scandal and Lady Imposter it was fun seeing references to the first two in the series.
This book had steam, suspense, thieves, age gap romance, and possible hints to more books based on the Vicar and the Squirrel. I thought there were a few loose ends, but over all I truly enjoyed this book.

[Julie Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable read this story is ….

A widow and a retired sea captain meet under dangerous circumstances where he steps in to save her from being molested by drunken filthy men at an inn she has stumbled into …..

The captain being Hard of hearing and she so full of chatter manage to communicate as they start a relationship that grows in trust and sizzling passion .

Their journey together is dangerous and faces many trials yet romance blossoms to full bloom .

This story is both exciting and romantic … it also has danger and tragedy but with humour and light hearted moments that are swoon worthy .

Oh and how can I forget the dog ? The totally loyal and almost human companion to the captain makes you smile .

A great read enjoyed it lots .

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it wasn't the worst book I ever read, but it wasn't the best either. Some spots were a tad confusing as to whose point of view  should know you received this book for free.

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

it was that required to an additional read to figure it out.

The characters were likeable as well as interesting and appealing to the reader. It was a rather quick read despite the confusing parts. Reading the other novels isn't necessary but it would help the reader understand references to previous events. It didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of this novel. 3.5 stars

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

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey To Find Happiness and Love

As hard as it is to hear about some very unsavoury or difficult realities in life, I think it really makes the story much more authentic. I found both Susanna and Leo to be genuinely good people each on their own journey to find happiness. The multiple points of view were very interesting as well – although I did have to go back and reread some sections if I put the book down for a while to just remember who exactly was talking. With perseverance, adaptations and empathy, anything -even a wonderful HEA-is possible!

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

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third bookb in the Steamy Scandals series. I admit I haven't read the first two stories. It wasn't intentional beginning with this one, but it didn't make any difference. This story had so much action, drama, intrigue, and mystery, including emotional issues, nefarious plots, passion, and so much more od interest and excitement. The characters were determined, strong-willed, complex, and interesting. It was a unique and entertaining love story with passion and steam that tells of deafness among other losses. I enjoyed how entertaining this romance is and how happily it ended. I recommend reading!

[NelleRenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it would be beneficial to have read the other books in this series as some characters overlap. I liked that the hero had a disability as he was deafened during a battle, but he put his lip reading skills to a good use. The heroine has become widowed (from an abusive husband) and also lost her baby so she is off on an adventure to reestablish herself. The only trouble is some ruffians want her for themselves. Luckily the hero steps in to save her by proclaiming she is his love. Then the story gets interesting and how she communicates with him. It was a good story with some steamy moments. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Reckless is such and apt title for this adventure. A second chance at life and love for both characters. Susanna's run in with Leo was precious but precipitous. Will he be her salvation or more trouble? Her past life of abuse ended only by her widowhood.

She has to learn who she can trust. Susanna has a penchant for falling into the wrong hands. Will there be someone to save her this time? Can Leo make it in time to be her hero again? Or will he be too late. Suspense and angst the whole way through. I voluntarily read a free book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Cindy Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I really liked the main characters, Leo and Susanna, I fell in love with Reaver, Leo's dog. The own down side of this novel is that occasionally I had to go back to figure out who is talking, especially when Leo is reading Susanna's letters/notes. It now appears that there may be TWO followup novels as a new character (somewhat) the minister who married the pairs in Lady Scandal and Lady Imposter shows up again and shows he is willing to throw a punch. I can't wait! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the series is terrific. It can be a standalone but I would recommend reading the others beforehand. Leo is a detective with a hearing issue. Susanna is a widow who has survived a horrible marriage and great sorrow. They come together in a different way but they both need to learn to have trust and faith in each other. They are genuine characters that come across with true realistic personalities. The writing style is a bit different because it includes multiple points of views instead of just the main characters. Hard to put down.