He considers her eccentric, she thinks him smarmy, the ton finds them a well-suited pair of lunatics.
Lady Felicity Nicolet, known affectionately to her intimates as Ferocity, has had the privilege of being the eldest of the Duke of Pelham’s daughters. She has been the leader of the pack, and she and her six sisters have grown up isolated in the Yorkshire Dales under the wildly unsuitable tutelage of their unconventional father and rather original housekeeper.
Felicity’s father has gone along happily, convinced every idea that arrives in his head must be acted on, imagines himself hilariously funny, considers the niceties of society other people’s problem, and does not hesitate to tell a bald-faced lie when it amuses him. He leaves a trail of offended people behind him wherever he goes, including Mr. Percy Stratton’s father.
Mr. Stratton, the eldest son of Viscount Denderby, has been watching his friends fall one by one to the parson’s noose. He will not be chained! Unfortunately, the viscount disagrees with his son. This leaves Percy with only one choice—he must become the most hapless and unsuccessful suitor who ever set foot in London. Operation Sadly Hopeless is born.
When Felicity sets eyes on the grim-faced Earl of Rustmont, she is instantly struck, though the earl does not return her admiration. Mr. Stratton claims that if Lady Felicity appears to look upon him with favor, the earl will go mad with jealousy. What Percy does not bother to explain is that his father will refuse to sanction any connection to her father—thereby leaving his son the supposed victim of a doomed affection and still very much a bachelor.
While so many couples take very usual routes to a church, an unleashed Bengal tiger might be the only thing that can bring this pair together.
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Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination.
A Series of Senseless Complications Book 1: Lady Ferocity Book 2: Lady Graceless Book 3: Lady Impatience Book 4: Lady Dramatic Book 5: Lady Liar Book 6: Lady Suspicious Book 7: Lady Fearful
By the time I was eleven, my Irish Nana and I had formed a book club of sorts. On a timetable only known to herself, Nana would grab her blackthorn walking stick and steam down to the local Woolworth’s. There, she would buy the latest Barbara Cartland romance, hurry home to read it accompanied by viciously strong wine, (Wild Irish Rose, if you’re wondering) and then pass the book on to me. Though I was not particularly interested in real boys yet, I was very interested in the gentlemen in those stories—daring, bold, and often enraging and unaccountable. After my Barbara Cartland phase, I went on to Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen and so many other gifted authors blessed with the ability to bring the Georgian and Regency eras to life.
I would like nothing more than to time travel back to the Regency (and time travel back to my twenties as long as we’re going somewhere) to take my chances at a ball. Who would take the first? Who would escort me into supper? What sort of meaningful looks would be exchanged? I would hope, having made the trip, to encounter a gentleman who would give me a very hard time. He ought to be vexatious in the extreme, and worth every vexation, to make the journey worthwhile.
I most likely won’t be able to work out the time travel gambit, so I will content myself with writing stories of adventure and romance in my beloved time period. There are lives to be created, marvelous gowns to wear, jewels to don, instant attractions that inevitably come with a difficulty, and hearts to break before putting them back together again. In traditional Regency fashion, my stories are clean—the action happens in a drawing room, rather than a bedroom.
As I muse over what will happen next to my H and h, and wish I were there with them, I will occasionally remind myself that it’s also nice to have a microwave, Netflix, cheese popcorn, and steaming hot showers.
I laughed and I laughed. One of the funniest books I've read. Lady Felicity is the eldest daughter of seven daughters of the Duke of Pelham. A very unorthodox family. It's her first season, and her father, sisters and their housekeeper are in London. Unfortunately, they must rely on the Duke's sister, Lady Marchfield, to be her sponsor. As the duke calls her Lady Marching Orders, she tries to control the situation, but the duke refuses to comply. Lord Percy Stratton, refuses to be chained and puts his plan into place, Operation Sadly Hopeless. Unfortunately his plan doesn't work. A very clean entertaining romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
First in a new series about an eccentric Duke and his seven daughters. What a hoot this story was, I laughed out loud on several occasions and thoroughly enjoyed the blossoming romance between Lady Felicity and Percy Stratton. The mother hen housekeeper is positively machiavellian and the youngest daughter Valor is a cutie pie. I can’t wait to find out what happens when the accident prone Grace takes her place in the Ton. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Archer for supplying me an arc copy of Lady Ferocity to read and review.
I love historical romance and I enjoyed reading Lady Ferocity. Felicity and her sisters are unconventional and their father is eccentric, in the best of ways. I love the banter between them and it reminds me of my own sisters. The romance between Felicity and Percy is sweet but a little slow going for me. It took me halfway through the book to feel attached to their relationship, but it did take off after that. (Yes, there really is a tiger.) It is closed door which is my personal preference. I do think that the shifts in point of view were choppy throughout the book. It could be hard to tell whose perspective it was following and it changed in unnatural places. But, I did enjoy having perspectives from multiple characters. Overall, I think Lady Ferocity is a great start to A Series of Senseless Complications.
Lady Ferocity by Kate Archer is a highly amusing book about a family of seven daughters, Felicity (Ferocity) being the eldest. Ferocity only shows up occasionally. They are a family of eccentrics whose father is a duke and possibly the most eccentric of all. They are ostracized from the ton but it doesn’t really matter as they live in the country anyway. The duke’s sister shows up, intending to usher Felicity through he season and wreaks havoc on the family, disapproving of nearly everything they do and say. She is not met with open arms but the family takes the path of least resistance and deals with her as long as they are able. Mr. Percy Stratton is the son of the Viscount Denderby, who along with his wife has determined it to be time Percy is married. They lay the law down to him but he has a plan, as he is not ready to marry. He will locate the most unlikely person available, who would never accept him and pursue her, convincing his family he will be happy with no one else. You guessed it: Lady Felicity.
Percy is clever, almost too clever. Felicity is not nearly as difficult as her nickname suggests, But perhaps the most amusing part of the book its the bit where her father, the Duke of Pelham, sees what his going on between the two and steps in. They have no butler, just a housekeeper, Mrs. Right, who sees to it that there is no butler. All of the things she does, which are many and extremely creative and amusing, she does with the tacit approval of the duke. It makes his life easier. This is the funniest Regency romance I have ever read and I congratulate Kate Archer on that feat. The characters are entertaining and the plot is passable. Well worth the read.
I was invited to read Lady Ferocity by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #KateArcher #LadyFerocity
Felicity and her family are hilarious, and the story is a great escape. I laughed out loud often, although there were some thrilling, tense moments. Mrs. Wendover and Lady Valor are too cute, and Mrs. Right is a menace.
I laughed a lot during this book. I loved that the Duke was eccentric, but it usually was within in reason. He didn't take a lot seriously (including himself) most of the time. I also worried that the girls would be very naive since they grew up so far away from most society and sounded rather sheltered. And while they were, they were also sensible about many things. They just didn't understand all the crap nice society dictates, even when that stuff makes no logical sense.
I'm glad Felicity got over her initial infatuation pretty quickly. Her logic kicked in and she started to look at Stratton as a serious suitor.
Stratton and his "I will not be chained" led to one of my favorite payback scenes I've read.
A delightfully charming regency romance that masterfully weaves together a cast of memorable characters. The story follows Felicity, our spirited heroine, and Percy, the dashing hero, whose arrangement of convenience inevitably stirs deeper emotions. Their pretend relationship—each harboring their own motives—unfolds against a rich backdrop of supporting characters, including a eccentric duke, Felicity's father, her intriguing sisters, and an ever-present housekeeper who adds authentic period flavor to the narrative.
While this closed-door romance excels in creating a sweet, slow-burning attraction between our leads, one might wish for more intimate moments between Felicity and Percy—not necessarily in the physical sense, but rather those quiet, meaningful exchanges that truly illuminate their growing bond. These additional scenes could have further heightened the emotional payoff of their inevitable union.
Despite this minor shortcoming, the novel proves to be an entertaining escape into the regency era, leaving me eager to discover future installments in the series. The author's talent for crafting an engaging narrative while maintaining period authenticity makes this a worthwhile addition historical romance readers!
P.S. I received the ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade publishing and all opinions are my own.
I liked this specific sub-genre a long time ago in college. Then there was a lull when I kept trying it in between but several felt repetitive at best. I still persist, and when this book came along I realised why I do it. When a fun book like this clicks, it makes one’s day. I was unfortunately not in time to request the next three books but thankfully I didn’t stop with just one of the books in this series.
The author has a unique narrative style. It is part serious literary and the other part laughing at itself. That’s the best I can describe it. The couple in this book are young and idealistic in their own ways. They set out to face the season with their own private goals. One wants a happy marriage with an ‘ideal’ man and the other wants to avoid marriage at all costs. Their paths cross and a mutually advantageous suggestion is made. What happens next is almost pure chaos.
The family is the icing on this cake. They are random in this believable manner. The sisters are all unique ( and there are a lot of them) but the one thing that holds them together is that they are a team. Lady Felicity is the first of her siblings to be courted and to consider marriage so she is learning about everything on the go. All the things that puzzle her make sense in the context.
I found the writing highly entertaining all the way through. I even found some of the recurring dialogues funny for some reason. I would highly recommend the author and this series to fans of the genre. I received two books as an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
What a whimsical, heartwarming joyride this book turned out to be! With eccentric heroines, hopeless (and hilarious) suitors, and a dash of tiger-induced mayhem, this story had me smiling from the first page to the last.
Lady Felicity Nicolet—better known as Ferocity—is the perfect blend of fierce wit and heartfelt vulnerability. Watching her navigate London society with her wildly unconventional upbringing was an absolute treat. And Mr. Percy Stratton? A reluctant suitor with a plan so disastrously clever it couldn’t not backfire—he stole my heart with his dry humor and reluctant charm.
The chemistry between Felicity and Percy sparkles in a story filled with clever dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and a cast of colorful side characters I sincerely hope we see more of in future books. It's a romance that doesn't rely on heat to be satisfying—it wins you over with charm, heart, and a refreshing sense of fun.
This is the first book in A Series of Senseless Complications, and if this debut is any indication, we’re in for a wildly entertaining ride. If you love sweet historical romances with a touch of madcap comedy, then look no further! This will certainly satisfy!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Lady Felicity Nicolet, known affectionately to her intimates as Ferocity, has had the privilege of being the eldest of the Duke of Pelham’s seven daughters. She’s now about to make her debut in society. Mr. Percy Stratton the eldest son of Viscount Denderby, has been watching his friends fall one by one to the parson’s noose. He will not be chained! Unfortunately, the viscount disagrees with his son. This leaves Percy with only one choice—he must become the most hapless and unsuccessful suitor who ever set foot in London. Operation Sadly Hopeless is born. When Felicity sets eyes on the grim-faced Earl of Rustmont, she is instantly struck, though the earl does not return her admiration. Mr. Stratton claims that if Lady Felicity appears to look upon him with favour, the earl will go mad with jealousy. The start of a new series & another unconventional, witty, often hilarious book. The Duke is just one of a kind & his daughters are chips off the block. I really liked both Percy & Felicity & their pretend courtship, which certainly had its moments! A well written fun read which I enjoyed & left me smiling I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
Lady Ferocity is only that name because of here temper. AKA Lady Felicity. For the most part she is well mannered. Her family is considered eccentric mainly because they do not form to society's norms but what fun is that? I found this novel quite fun and hilarious. Mainly those with a gaggle of sisters would identify with this family. I am here to tell ya, it's spot on. No two sisters are a like. I love the house keepers take in all of it! My afavorite part in the whole book? Mrs. Right was seated on the floor with Valor dead asleep in her arms. Her other sisters had made their way into the dining room to demolish what was left on the table. Lady Marchfield, like any wise general, had left the field when it became apparent she would lose the battle. Lord Marchfield had fetched a brandy for both himself and the duke and sat bemusedly on the staircase.........Now you will have read why the queer thing was happening. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.
This was such a fun read. I did not doubt it as it was by Kate Archer, and she authors stories that have you laughing out loud repeatedly while at the same time cheering for the MCs.
In this book, the main characters are Lady Felicity or Ferocity as she is known, although she rarely loses her temper and Percy Stratton who will inherit the Viscountcy from his father. His father is determined that Percy marry and set up his home and Percy is just as determined not to be. His favourite phrase is "I will not be chained"! Famous last words!
For Felicity, her father the Duke of Pelham is hilarious to his family, constantly informing all who will listen that he is determined to get his daughters married as soon as possible and bar the door to them come Christmas! Of course, all his daughters know that the duke is all bark and no bite, but the rest of the ton is shocked to say the least.
A wonderful start to the series. Lots of promising characters to get to know in future books, including that Machiavellian housekeeper cum butler cum surrogate mum to the girls, Mrs Right!
I received an ARC from the publishers and NetGalley and submit my honest review voluntarily.
I Loved It! Kate Archer has written one awesome rom-com that hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. Take one eccentric Duke and his seven daughters plus one very original housekeeper and you have a hilarious journey to find the eldest daughter a husband. Percy Stratton finds himself totally mystified with the Duke of Pelham and his daughter. Percy comes up with a plan to avoid being married as his father demands, he wont be chained down! But as plans usually go they end up full of crazy twists and turns. Lady Ferocity is filled with laughter, family unity, you will fall in love with each character as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you into their story, the book flowed well from one thing to another without being forced and the scenes are so strikingly detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that you can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
Kate Archer has given us readers a well written, action packed, plus plenty of laughter in Book 1 of her new Series: A Sense of Senseless Complications as well provides a good BLURB. Love the characters from the Duke & his flock of 7 daughters, their impetus housekeeper (who also traveled to London for the Season, & most of his household's maid & the young men who served meals & stuff.) & his young Footmen.
The girls ranged from 18 to 7 years old, then the Duke's sister who was part of the Ton. The Duke had a strange reputation but he didn't much care because he said & acted exactly like he wanted to.
I could not control my laughter reading this extremely needed read and the Housekeeper waa glorious.
I will be reading this whole Series when it completely comes out. Don't miss this because it is a must read that you will not forget. There is some heroism inside, too.
What a fantastic way to start a new series! First if you haven't read this author, I'd highly recommend starting this series. She writes, doesn't use AI and is always producing remarkable stories. A duke, who always thinks he's right has seven daughters and no sons. That is the beginning of a hysterically funny family. Because he's never wrong or so he believes, he and his family have irritated the ton for years. Now the girls are of marriageable age and Felicity aka Ferocity is the oldest. Her neighbor father can't stand the duke but his son, Percy needs her to stay unmarried. The entire cast of characters are so engaging, it's hard to tell which one I love the best. Oh! Did I forget to mention a tiger as well. I promise this is one series and author you don't want to miss out on.
What a cute and funny story. I love how the family made Percy pay when Felicity found out what he’d done. From chains on the front step, wine order cancellation, changed grocery order (all cabbage), and the laundered clothes being donated to charity - this family is serious about payback. One of my favorite moments in the book was the sneezing incident when Felicity was trying to woo the Earl of Rustmont. I never thought a simple sneeze would cause me to laugh for pages on end. And oh that sweet Percy - he had a cat named blueberry, supported Felicity’s baking (this was a big deal for me) and agreed with her changing her name to Tulip if she wished. What a cutie patootie (operation sadly hopeless 😂😂😂). I love quick palate cleanser reads, and this book takes the cake. I would have loved 100 more pages of Percy and Felicity’s love story.
Don't be put off with the silliness of this family - trust me they grow on you. At first I thought it was a little much, but oh how wrong I was. You start to understand the Duke and how he runs his household, which had me laughing more than any novel I've read.
This is such a unique and entertaining story that I read it too fast and missed the antics of this household. I've already pre-ordered the next in the series.
Very interesting main and secondary characters, clean story with only a few kisses. I felt a connection to this couple and enjoyed their journey to HEA.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, clean and I found it romantic. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you some extra tidbits to decide whether to purchase. (ljb)
A fast-paced comical fake courtship romance. Some of it seems inspired by the comic novels and memoirs of the aristocratic Mitford sisters. One novel featured a figure based on the Mitford "Farve", who was given to amusing and incomprehensible outbursts, and is rumored to go on "servant hunts" like the ones mentioned in Lady Ferocity. There were six sisters, and their romances were more erratic than the ones in Regency Romance: one became a Nazi, and the other a communist, and a third fell in love with Hitler. The heroine's hay fever and fierce temper, as well as the hero's unflappablity, provide a pleasing contrast, and there is deft deployment of tigers, stoats, and stuffed rabbits.
I have read all Kate Archer's books and they are always a fun cast of eccentrics. This book is easily the funniest I have read - I laughed out loud more than once.
Percy, son of Viscount Denderby will not be chained! His father is insisting he gets married so he creates a ruse where he pretends to fall in love with Felicity, daughter of a very eccentric Duke. Felicity is trying to attract the attention of a quite stick-ish Earl after an unfortunate sneezing incident.
There are pranks, siblings, misunderstandings and a bit with a tiger... I thoroughly recommend.
With a diabolical housekeeper who loves her charges, the seven daughters of a country Duke, and the young heir of a newly minted Viscount determined to never be chained in marriage, at least in the foreseeable future, this story had me totally entertained. Sometimes you need characters that care naught for the ton's opinions, and just go their own hysterical way. The Duke is considered by the upper ten thousand, to be deranged to put it mildly. He is anything but that. He's astute, loves his girls, and brooks no attempts to change his way of life. Some may not like the lengths he goes to thwart his sister's interference, but I read it in good fun.
When the eccentric Duke brings his seven daughters to London to launch his oldest, Felicity, chaos ensues. Percy, trying to avoid marriage that his father is trying to push him into, decides to make a deal with Felicity. He will pretend to court her and she will then be able to make another man jealous enough to want her. Realizing that Percy is willing to overlook her family's eccentricities, they start to consider making the courtship real. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.
He will not be chained, or so he thinks. When love strikes, it changes all his plans, but what happens when Lady Felicity discovers the truth? Percy wants to thwart his father, but he does not think love will upset the balance of his world.
This story is absolutely hilarious. Felicity and Percy might have been the stars of the show, but the side characters were fantastic, too. I loved the duke’s antics, and I enjoyed his most unconventional housekeeper. This might be my favorite story by this author. It kept me reading, long after bedtime.
A delightful and intelligent romantic comedy that had me laughing out loud and emotionally invested from start to finish. The humor is sharp, the characters are eccentric yet lovable, and the writing style is refreshingly witty—reminiscent of Terry Pratchett at his most playful. I especially adored Felicity and the Duke, both of whom felt deeply relatable in all their quirky brilliance. The story is full of chaotic charm, memorable moments, and surprisingly insightful reflections on relationships. A truly joyful read—I’m already diving into the next one!
Adorable and hilarious. The irascible Duke of Pelham has 7 daughters and the eldest, Felicity is ready for her first season in London. Together with their scheming housekeeper, the duke and his family storm London much to the despair of the duke's proper sister and most of London society. At first trying to use Felicity for his own purposes to avoid marriage as insisted upon by his viscount father under the threat of being cut off, Percy quickly falls under the spell of Felicity and her oddball father. A teeny bit overlong, but overall super charming with some genuine laugh out loud moments.
I have never met such an excentric cast of characters in a historical romance before. I couldn't stop giggling all through the story. To think that this is the first in what will obviously be a seven part series filled me with glee. I almost felt sorry for the Duke's poor sister. I love the Duke and Mrs Right.
Our hero surprises us with nerves of steel.
A sweet romance that doesn't need any steamy bits to make it a thoroughly enjoyable read.
This first book in the new Series of Senseless Complications was a captivating and well written historical romance about an eccentric Duke and his seven daughters. This story evolved around his eldest and her debut into the ton. It was extremely humorous and witty, with so many off the wall incidents that kept me highly entertained. I really enjoyed the daily dynamics and the delightful characters, including the cook. I can't wait for the second book. I highly recommend reading!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I do not like historical romance or "nobles" so much so that I was shocked how much I loved this book. First off the characters were just great my two favorites were the Duke and Lady Valor. This is also one of the funniest books I've ever read.
My favorite passage from the book
“Do you want a newspaper?” Wiles asked. “God no,” Percy said. “Whatever disasters in the making our government are up to just now, I’d rather not know.”
Well, i have mixed feelings. The book was entertaining, but I was not fond of the writing style. It was almost like a screen play that relies on the acting ability of the actors involved. No one had any depth, which I supposed was intentional, but I don't care for each person's entire personality to be contrary to their names. Were their funny parts? yes! it was entertainment. But it wasn't uproarious. The most interesting person in the whole book was the 7 year old.
Other reviews have covered the synopsis of this book, which was an absolute delight. I laughed so hard at times I cried. I'm glad the hilarious duke had seven daughters as I look forward to reading how each of them will be launched into Society to find husbands. Each daughter has their own personality, so I look forward to reading what their father and housekeeper have up their sleeves. Hint: do not cross either of them!