Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain

The Troublemakers Trilogy #1

by Addy Du Lac

Caught between his family and convictions, can a daring miss change everything?

As the daughter of an old wealthy merchant family, Ada was looking forward to this London season with her friends, but all her plans grind to a halt when her beloved older brother, Richard goes missing. Basil Thompson is the only thing standing between herself, what remains of her family and a life of isolated humiliation. Surrounded by enemies and with her list of allies growing thinner by the day, she strikes a daring bargain with him. They will marry long enough to find and secure her brother, then Basil can seek an annulment and leave her behind.

Basil is a man on a mission; come to London and meet his new fiancée. When he sees his friend Richard get kidnapped, the mission changes to saving him and protecting Richard’s sister Ada. But blood is thicker than water and keeping up with Ada Thornfield is a mission unto itself. Before he knows what is happening he has agreed to help her by way of an elopement, despite the fiancée his father has already arranged for him. Soon he finds himself caught between his convictions and the thwarted expectations of his family.

Between Gretna Green and London their feelings are changing faster than they can plan for or protect against. With every passing day their temporary arrangement threatens to give way to scandal, an all-consuming passion and a love that threatens to hold fast and disrupt the best laid plans, regardless of the consequences.

With scandal looming, and danger around every corner, these two must fight for their unexpected love and guard against the enemy without and within…with a little help from their friends.

This series is part of Dragonblade's Flame line, so this is a scorching-hot read with open-door steam.

Read in Kindle Unlimited!

The Troublemakers Trilogy
Book 1 - Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain
Book 2 - Miss Mason's Secret Baron
Book 3 - Miss Hawthorne's Unlikely Husband

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Marriage Of Convenience, Historical, Audiobook, Interracial Romance

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2025

About the author

Born in the tropical paradise of Trinidad and Tobago, Addy Du Lac moved to the US with her mother at the age of twelve. She began writing historical romance while she received a double major in History and Creative Writing from the University of South Florida. She enjoys writing books with diverse characters and steamy happy endings. When she isn’t plotting her next series, she enjoys reading, traveling, and tempting her fate with new recipes.

Addy Du Lac lives in Tampa Florida with an eclectic library of books and a carefully curated wall of beautiful men.

Reviews

[Hannah B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this book because I read Addy Du Lac’s book with entangled when it came out and there was a good amount of angst and characters who didn’t always do the right thing. Unfortunately, this one was lacking in the tension I was craving. It was a nice story with a great narrator, but it struggled to capture my attention for long periods of time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5


I received a a free ALC from the publishers. All opinions are honest and my own.

[Nici · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to write this review because the first half of the book was great and then went extremely down hill. It had great dialogue, especially in tense scenes. It was easy to follow even when multiple were people present. The narrator does an excellent job throughout. But the emphasis on how she’s grown up felt icky because harping on the fact only drew attention to it in a bad way.
All the „my best friend’s sister/my brother’s best friend” mentions eventually got on my nerve. So repetitive and uninspired. If you enjoy the trope you might have a different experience ob that front.
I found the characterizations to be believable (except for the cartoon villain) and wished Ada’s friends didn’t disappear for most of the book.

NOW.
SOME MILD SPOILERS AHEAD.
…
…
…
Ostensibly, Richard is Basil’s only friend. What about Leo? Him and Basil seem close and bonded. And Basil is Richard’s best friend, and Ada lives with Richard, how come she and Basil haven’t seen her in at least five years? It makes no sense.

THE ROMANCE.
It’s insta love. More like insta lust, really, and I hated it. They’re suddenly in love, but it feels superficial because it’s always in the context of how smooth her skin is etc. They have all this physical intimacy that is not for anyone’s benefit but haven’t actually spent much time together. Individually they’re great, but together, she becomes immature and he’s patronizing. Yuck.

PLOT AND PACING
After 50% mark/midpoint, the book dissolves into a meandering slug. The stakes are swiftly eradicated. Family tension, Basil/Richard tension, it all flies out the window.

As I said, I really enjoyed the narration and kept hoping for the book to get back on track (silly me). I definitely won’t be continuing the series, which had such important representation and started so well!! I don’t know what happened.

Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the daughter of an old wealthy merchant family, Ada Thornfield was looking forward to this London season but then her beloved older brother, Richard goes missing. Basil Thompson is the only thing standing between herself, what remains of her family and a life of isolated humiliation. They will marry long enough to find and secure her brother, then Basil can seek an annulment and leave her behind. Between Gretna Green and London their feelings are changing faster than they can plan for or protect against.
A well written series starter, which made me smile. I liked both Basil & Ada & liked their journey to a HEA. I do like the brother’s best friend & road trip tropes. The characters were interesting & not your usual characters as Ada is half Chinese, so it was different. A well paced book that kept me turning the pages
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5. Releases 3/20/25.

—brother's best friend

—historical romance that isn't all about standard issue caucasians

—nooooooooooo don't grow up and turn into a sexy person my honor can't take it

—marriage of convenience

Heat Index: 6.5/10

The Basics:

Ada was supposed to have a fun season; unfortunately, her brother Richard just had to go missing, and now she needs his friend Basil's help to find him and save her future. But like, the easiest way to do this is obviously to marry Basil. They can always get an annulment once they've completed the mission? Right? Right? Riiiiiight?

The Review:

If there's one word I can use to describe Addy Du Lac's approach to historicals, it's "charming". She writes with a light hand in a manner that mixes the modern and the classic.

Which, speaking of, this is obviously going to get comparisons to Bridgerton because it's a diverse historical romance (Ada and Richard are of Chinese descent on their mother's side; but they're not alone, and Du Lac has tended towards diversity in her historicals so far, which is lovely). But Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain is more rooted in reality, which means Ada does racism, and the world in which she lives isn't the postracial utopia that is Netflix's Bridgerton. As a disclaimer, I'm a white woman, and I can't speak as to how well Ada and Richard work as representation; nor can I speak much as to how race is handled in this book in general. I can say that it seemed well done to me, and I find Du Lac's approach to diversity in historical romances preferable to what Bridgerton does. It's never super heavy, but it does feel more... aware? A midpoint between harsh reality and "nothing wrong ever happens anymore it's fine don't worry about it".

Like, don't get me wrong. This is a fun, frothy book. And it know what the reader wants. When Basil gets all hot and bothered on waking up to Ada being just A Little Too Close? Delightful. His general dismay at her not being a skinny little girl anymore? Hell yeah. That's what we're here for. I don't know if they necessarily like... desperately needed to get married to find Richard? But to be real, the fact that they were like "Seems legit, I'm sure an annulment will be easy" made it more fun for me.

But Basil, bro—if you're gonna get this thing annulled, you kinda need to NOT bang her. Just a note. I know it's challenging.

If there's one thing I can say, it's that Basil and Ada are both genuinely kind people whose relationship progresses fairly quickly, in part because they are nice people. Really, why shouldn't they be together? They're nice and they're hot. Let's do this. Du Lac writes lovely people in a lovely way, and I do enjoy it; but I'd kind of like to see her writing people who are a bit harder to enjoy in the future. Not constantly, write your heartsong, but as a treat?

Like I said, Ada and Richard aren't the only people of color in this novel, and I look forward to seeing the stories of Ada's friends, also biracial women, down the road. This was a fun setup for what looks like a romp of a series, and I'm very interested to see what comes next.

The Sex:

While it takes a bit for Basil and Ada to fully give in, when they do—well, Du Lac writes a good sex scene. It's nothing super over the top, but the connection between Basil and Ada is palpable, and I was very "good for Her" TM about it.

Conclusion:

Any historical romance fans looking for something on the lighter side will definitely like this. And frankly, I'm always happy to see historical authors who branch away from the usual cast of white characters. While this is very classic in some ways, it branches out in others, and I had a good time!

Thanks to Addy Du Lac, Dragonblade, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain by Addy Du Lac is a third person multi-POV historical interracial romance. Ada and her older brother, Zhen-Yi, are wealthy merchants and members of Victorian society but are ostracized due to being half-Chinese. Zhen-Yi leaves Ada at a boarding school, she meets Regina and Elodia, two other biracial women in Victorian society (South Asian and Black, respectively) and becomes their friends. When Zhen-Yi is kidnapped and taken to a debtor’s prison so their uncle can take control of their estate, Ada enlists the help of Zhen-Yi’s friend, Basil, and convinces him to marry her so she can keep her brother’s assets.

One of the things I really appreciated is that racism and the biracial experience are not brushed aside in favor of the romantic Regency fantasy. We don’t get page time on where so much of that wealth comes from, but we do have discussions on orientalism and how East Asian young women would be viewed as obedient dolls or treated with disgust. Ada is cut off from her culture as she has never been to China and was raised away from her family, which adds another layer to her experience that the narrative directly acknowledges.

Basil doesn’t exoticize Ada and is shown to be sympathetic to her and brother’s experiences even if he is ignorant to some of it. He has some knowledge of Mandarin but does refer to Zhen-Yi as ‘Richard,’ which I assume Zhen-Yi asked him to do at some point. It’s nice to read an interracial romance where differences are acknowledged without fetishizing those differences and making it uncomfortable. Basil being friends with Zhen-Yi does help sell the fact that he has genuine affection for Ada.

Ada has a lot of anxiety and apologizes a lot to Basil in the early days of their marriage of convenience. She pushes the relationship half of the plot forward while Basil takes care of getting her brother out of prison. In many ways, I think Ada is a bold character because she does go after what she wants and takes risks, but she’s still held back by societal norms and not wanting to force herself on others.

Content warning for depictions of anti-Asian and anti-Black racism and sexism

I would recommend this to fans of Bridgerton looking for more explorations of racism and biracial characters and readers looking for an interracial Victorian romance

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go ahead and read the blurb – there’s no way I could summarize this thrilling story any better.

Ada & Basil
She’s the daughter of a wealthy English merchant and his Chinese wife, and he’s the discarded spare of a haughty earl. They’ve known each other forever, but never quite moved in the same circles – he’s her brother’s best friend from school and almost a decade her senior.
She learned early on to deal with Society’s bias and found a safe haven with her two best friends who are also from mixed descent. He quickly understood he would have to make his own way in the world, and that there was more to people then the colour of their skin.
They were never supposed to mix and match, but fate and a nefarious fiend had other plans...

With its multicultural cast of mains and the sizzling fast-paced flow, this book had a very strong Bridgerton vibe – the series, not the books – but the prejudice, snobbery and downright racism made it feel a lot more realistic. It’s thoughtfully written and all of it is wonderfully entwined with found family, strong friendships, and a wide variety of love in all its shapes and sizes.
Both MCs are strong and sensible people, fiercely loyal to each other even though theirs is supposed to be a marriage of convenience with an expiration date, and way in over their heads when it comes to love. It takes them by storm; he spooks, she fights – a passionate and lively dynamic with some witty nudges from her brother and friends.

It was a very entertaining and delicious read – different, fresh and captivating – and while the couple had their happily ever after, the book ended rather abruptly with a few loose ends, so I can only assume these will be nicely tied up in the coming two tomes of this trilogy.
I, for one, cannot wait to find out what happens next!

[WhippedStitchReads (J.A.Y) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 5⭐
Spice 🌶️.5

ALC REVIEW

I didn't know what I was expecting, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had a lot more comedic relief than mystery. And for some reason, my brain didn't compute that the story was historical romance lol. So that was fun lol.

I really loved Ada's friendship dynamic with Elodie and Regina. It really pour the emotions of true love and loyalty what pure friendship have for each other. Not to mention the 3 of them basically kidnapped Basil to marry Ada lol

The pacing of the story was quick, but surprisingly I personally didn't feel it was rushed. Was the romanced rushed? Well sure, but its historical ficiton, it can't be as bad a Bridgerton Book 2 (ifyjyk).

I can't wait for Regina's book next, as it's heavily implied what its going to entail.

I received an ALC through Netgallery. All opinions and thoughts are all of my own.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this author last year and routinely check to see when her next book is coming out. I’m so happy to see that she has a series now! This was very a steamy read. I really enjoyed how the romance and the story of the kidnapping was interwoven. I thought it was the correct amount of both and neither took away from the other. I liked Basil more than I remember liking the other books MMC. But I love when there is a strong female friend group and this book does have that. I love when the MFC has strong bonds to relay on when she is going through it that is not just the MMC. But is there for her and I loved that he stood up to his family when it came to their criticism of their relationship. I think the next book will be her brother and friend; I’m excited.

Note: This book does not ignore the race of the MFC and there is some derogatory terms around race used.

[Rainelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty exciting book. The adventures Ada shares with Basil is quite entertaining. I found the book to be fun in certain sections. The author did a splendid job with the plot, involving the different characters personalities. Now I will add that I would have liked Ada’s age to be a little older than twenty. Perhaps the author could added Ada’s character age to be around twenty- four or older. There are just some things in the book that take place as to where a well seasoned young woman of more maturity can handle. It’s hard imagining a young woman in her twenties or younger in the throes of sexual pleasure with a grown man. Maybe if the writer was to hint at the main female characters age or give a guesstimate age or not bring up the age of the females at all, could be a solution.
Especially if the young woman freshly out of her teen years. It’s difficult to interpret the scenes and it takes away the enjoyment of that connection with the book. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ada Thornfield was ostracized from a young age for being half Chinese, and her parents deaths leave her brother Richard as her only remaining family. At twenty years old she is looking forward to entering the season this year when her brother suddenly goes missing. Richard’s best friend, Basil, goes to find Ada to ensure she’s safe from these kidnappers and together they devise a plan to marry in order to protect the Thornfield family business in case the worst has happened to Ada’s brother. Its the perfect plan, once Richard is found they can annul the marriage and part ways amicably, and in the worst case scenario Ada can still have control of her family’s legacy. It’s simple, as long as they don’t develop any complicating feelings…

I listened to the audiobook version of Miss Thornfield’s Daring Bargain and I really have to give credit to the narrator Mei Mei MacLeod! Her voice brought life to the story and she did a wonderful job with all the different characters and pacing. I really enjoyed listening to her!

The premise of this book is what drew me in, and the unique cast of characters and storyline kept me. I really liked Ada as a main character, she was capable and had conviction but was still sweet and loyal to her family. Her friends were funny and it was endearing how they did their best to help with her brothers disappearance, but also were protective when it came to Basil. The multicultural representation and prejudices Ada and her family experienced were well done and I liked that it was a real plot point and realistic portrayal of issues people of color experience on a regular basis. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story and am happy what Addy DuLac has brought to the table!

The general idea of the book was lovely, however I do think the execution could have been a bit better. Ada and Basil did have instalove/lust and that brought me out of their romance. It seemed unrealistic that after five years of not seeing or speaking to each other, not to mention the last time Basil saw Ada was when she was still a child, that he would suddenly be overwhelmed with desire for her as a woman. Also, Ada at one point, and quite literally days after her brother is kidnapped, is thinking that she’s a little happy about the situation because it let her be in this position with Basil? That’s a little crazy. Their relationship also comes off as superficial because the majority of thoughts they about each other is purely physical and they actually haven’t spent much time together throughout the timeline of the book. I wish there had been more depth in their relationship or at least we could have seen more of it develop.

I was so excited for the plot of the book, a historical romance with kidnapping, high stakes mystery, and adventure, but all of the points of conflict seem to get resolved too quickly and easily. I wish we had more of the kidnapping arc. I actually wouldn’t have minded the kidnapping being over halfway through if the familial conflict had more of an impact on the story. There was so much setup and potential for juicy angst, tension, and forbidden romance but it seems from one page to the next, Basil’s family just completely changes their minds. There also wasn’t much follow up to Richard’s kidnapping, it would have been great if the relative they initially thought was behind it was actually behind it. Because of the way that part played out, it took out the gravity of Ada and Basil having to go through their fake marriage. The blurb promising scandal fell short as there actually wasn’t any scandal it seemed. There was the tickling of rumors and that was that.

Overall this was an enjoyable audiobook, the narrator was fantastic and the premise of the story is intriguing. I think what fell short for me was the potential. Ada and Basil had a good romance, but it could have been a GREAT one if we just had a little more emotional connection and depth. The overarching plot was exciting, but would have had me at the edge of my seat if the stakes were a little higher and consequences more real.

I do recommend giving this book a go, especially enjoyers of historical romance, brother’s best friend love interest, solving mysteries, POC representation, and strong female characters.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧 Title: Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain-The Troublemaker's Trilogy#1

✍🏾 Author: Addy Du Lac- I read One Season with the Duke and gave it 4*

📅Publication date: 5/13/25 | Read:6/5/25

🗣️Narrator: Mei Mei MacLeod voices all the characters with standouts from Ada, Basil, and Richard. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍♀️‍➡️Run Time: 7:39

Genre:
*Victorian Historical Romance
*Multicultural Interests
*Mystery

Tropes:
*marriage of convenience
*arranged marriage
*female/male friendship
*brother's best friend
*slow burn romance

👆🏾POV: 3rd person dual

⚠️TW: kidnapping, racism, classism, bullying, physical abuse, death of parents, virgin h

🌎 Setting: London, 1851

Summary: Ada suffered from bigotry and abuse at boarding school when she was fifteen until she met misfits-Elodia and Regina. Now, she lives with her brother Richard after their parent's deaths, but he goes missing. His friend Basil saw him kidnapped and is willing to do anything to get him back. He connects with Ada to protect her, and her friends suggest a marriage of convenience. Ada wants to save the mills and find Richard while under Basil's protection.


👩🏾 Heroine: Adelaide "Ada" Thornfield-20, half Chinese/half white out for the season

👨🏾 Hero: Basil Thompson-32, Richard's BFF went to school together, a 2nd son

🎭 Other Characters:

* Richard Thornfield- Ada's older brother
* Elodia "Ellie" Hawthorne + Regina "Gigi" Mason-Ada's BFFs from Ms. Pollitt's School for Young Ladies
* Mr. Trent-Richard's foreman for their family's merchant business
* Lady Sterling + Viscount Gerald-Basil's parents
* Hamilton-Basil's brother
* Leo-a private detective & Richard and Basil's BFF
* Felicity Ashwood-was to be Basil's betrothed, chosen by his father

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the POC rep with Ada, Regina, and Elodia. Ada was naive to trust Mr. Trent who was creepy to me. She took a chance on Basil, and it paid off. Her friends were so supportive and cared about protecting her. I rooted for Basil and Ada as they slowly fell in love and ignored all the people against their relationship-mainly Basil's family.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 4/5 🌶️ kissing, H/h's 1st time together

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, RB Media | Recorded Books, and Addy Du Lac for this ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

[Rosadoreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been so bloody excited to talk about this book in particular. I had the BEST time reading every single page of this. A DIVERSE cast of characters, a troublesome girl group, deep bonds and friendships, high stakes plots, SHENANIGANS, drama. All of this, amidst a kidnapping and a rushed elopement, it still managed to feel warm and fuzzy. I had so much fun and I wanted this book injected into my veins and the sequel in my hands right now (it's out guys, with the trilogy finishing up later this year). This book felt like watching the most bingeable TV show and Addy Du Lac is going to become an auto-buy author I can FEEL it. It's called the Troublemakers trilogy and these characters literally cannot stay out of trouble, even though they mean well, and I want to see how each of them get stuck in a conundrum and get themselves out of it (all while falling in love). There is best friend's sister drama and brewing dynamics among both the girl group and the boy group, so I can see the found family forming before my very own eyes! ✨️

I was invested in the friendships as much as I was the relationships, and yet the relationship remained forefront for me. I loved both Ada and Basil, brought together by the peril of their mutual loved one, they were a couple who were so careful and swoony with each other that despite the rushed time constraints the plot put on them, their relationship was magnificent. A favourite scene of mine is the gang being faced with their families at the train station after running away to Scotland to help their bestie get away with a (well intentioned) scheme. Giggling and kicking my feet to say the least. Historicals give such good scandal and drama because the stakes are actually high and I am gnawing at everyone's legs to pick them up if you like contemporaries and romantasies because historicals have got it all! Addy Du Lac just happens to be writing the perfect marriage of all the elements you could want in one and she is the PERFECT place to start! 🫶

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 3.5 stars // review contains content warnings **

Ada is resourceful, courageous, and loyal. She asks for and goes after what she wants - even if that means she has to talk her brother's best friend into eloping with her for a marriage of convenience in order to stay safe. Basil is a kind, caring, steady, and protective hero who's fighting (amongst other things) his inner demons to remain married to his wife and not see their union annulled. 

I found some of my favourite tropes in Miss Thornfield's Daring Bargain: road trip, older brothers best friend, found family, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, only one bed

We definitely need to see more diverse characters in historical romances and this one delivered on that point with diversity across classes and cultures.

I didn't much care for the couple of short chapters where neither the hero or heroine were present. I understand the purpose of these chapters but I’d have preferred there to be more focus on the couple developing their love for each other instead. 

This is the first in a new trilogy with a few teasers or unanswered questions after a hard fought for HEA that I hope will be addressed in the next book. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for allowing me to read this romance ahead of publication date. 

Content warnings for: derogatory language, racism, sexism, classism, assault, kidnapping, open door scenes

[Amanda Iman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
This was an enjoyable, cute little book. I was initially drawn to it because of the cover. I love when Historical Romance books have POC protagonists. I was pleased that the cover actually matched the character for once.

I was sold on this story and the characters from the Prologue. I'm a sucker for female friends who defend and support each other. Luckily Ada and her friends check off all the things I love about these little friend groups; fiercely loyal, sense of social justice, slightly rebellious, and willing to speak their minds and take matters into their own hands.

I was a bit annoyed with Basil's reasons for the third act "breakup", but I often get frustrated with communication breakdowns and "for your protection" male bullshit. Outside of that, I really liked Ada and Basil's relationship and had fun listening to this book. I'm looking forward to continuing the series as the next two audiobooks release.

As far as narration, I was very impressed by Mei Mei MacLeod. The voice she chose for Basil didn't match how I saw him in my head exactly, but you could distinguish which character was speaking just through her voicework, and her various accents were impeccable. She's also only one of maybe 3 narrators I've heard correctly pronounce the word "timbre", so mad props for that.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia/Recorded Books/Dragonblade Publishing for access to the audiobook ARC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Para empezar aclaro que este es de los primeros libros que leo de romance histórico, por lo tanto no tengo mucho con que compararlo.

Me gustó Ada, su personalidad es muy agradable y si bien parecía tener tendencia a ser mas calmada no dudo en defenderse, ni se dejaba engañar fácilmente. Me pareció acertado que el libro fuera desde diferentes puntos de vista, no solo de nuestros protagonistas, eso siempre agrega mas a la trama. Me encantaron Elodia y Regina y ya quiero leer sus libros.

"We look too different to belong here and act too different to belong there. We are both of us caught in the middle."

Como persona que emigró desde niña esta frase realmente me conmovió mucho, siento que es un sentimiento en comun que compartimos.

Por otro lado no me gustó mucho que el libro contiene representaciones de racismo, xenofobia y sexismo explícitas. Entiendo que es algo que debe ser representado en libros, pero siento que tratandose de un romance es mejor hacerlo de forma implícita, aunque sé que es una preferencia personal. Tambien me hubiese gustado mas que el romance se desarrolla de forma mas lenta, ya que despues de muy pocas interacciones lo protagonistas ya estaban seguros de sus sentimientos.

3.5/5⭐
5/5🎧 (solo)

El audiolibro (en inglés) está narrado por Mei Mei MacLeod quien hace un excelente trabajo.

Gracias a NetGalley y RBmedia por el ALC.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆☆ YouTube | Tumblr | Instagram | Storygraph ☆☆

Really Freaking Weird! -- May Wrap Up as Reread, Rewrite, Burn || 23 books!

Er, okay. I like the idea of this book a lot, love to see BIPOC characters in historical romances, the tropes were right up my alley, but unfortunately the plotting of the story let this down. I just felt like the set up didn’t make a lot of sense under scrutiny and the romance developed so fast that I wasn’t really sold on any emotion between them. It was incredibly insta-love/lust and the characterization of Ada was more young and naïve than I’d like… at least at times. Other times she came across more mature and level headed. It was inconsistent.

I liked the friendship between the three women and would have loved if that got more page time. The actual plot both took so long to do anything, but then resolved so quickly. Around the halfway point, the drive of the story just dissolved. It was just wonky pacing. I wish I liked this more 😕

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Victorian Historical Romance with Danger, Class Conflict, and Heart
Ada’s brother was kidnapped, and her only hope of saving him was his best friend, Basil. Marriage was never part of Basil’s plan, but when Ada found herself surrounded by danger—including betrayal from someone she trusted and a scheming uncle after her family’s fortune—he stepped in to protect her. Their agreement was clear: marry temporarily, find her brother, and then part ways. But matters of the heart are rarely simple.
Basil’s aristocratic family wanted nothing to do with a merchant’s daughter—let alone one with Chinese heritage. Between social prejudice, personal danger, and a deepening emotional bond, Ada and Basil found themselves fighting on every front.
Who had taken Ada’s brother—and why? Could Basil bring him home safely and keep Ada out of harm’s way? Their alliance was never meant to last, but love often has its own plans.
This is an engaging read with class tensions, intrigue, and emotional depth. Recommended for readers who enjoy Victorian historical romance with marriages of convenience, suspense, and a couple determined to defy the odds.

[nerdy.bibliomaniac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the ALC by NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars, rounded up.

Slowly just migrating my way back into historical fiction/romances/thrillers etc, and it’s just making my little heart happy.

I really enjoyed this book, the trio of what will be the main female characters for this series are tight-nit friends and ride-or-die for each other. For the first book we have Adelaide (Ada) and Basil, they get married as a way to protect her dowry and try to find Ada’s brother, who had gone missing.

One thing leads to another once her brother is rescued (partially saving himself honestly), and the marriage of convenience turns into one that might be ideal for them both.

The pacing was good, the storyline was low stakes but engaging to keep one intrigued. I loved the development of Basil and Ada’s relationship, was it a bit rushed? Sure, but I wasn’t bothered. And there is a nice sprinkling of spice.

Excellent first instalment to this trilogy, give me the next one!

[Timitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Review

Rated 3.5 Stars

Miss Thornfield’s Daring Bargain was an interesting read. I loved the premise of it but wasn’t all the way sold on the reasons for the marriage and the romance was a little lacking. However, I did find it enjoyable even though it was slow moving. I loved the suspense and mystery aspect that was woven into the story. I also loved that it drew parallels between the current state of this world and the story being told. It dealt with racism, prejudice, immigrants, entitlement and so much more. I loved that it was a diverse cast of characters and can’t wait to read the next in the series.

The narrator did this story and its characters justice. I loved her characterizations she did them so well. I definitely enjoyed listening to her she made this such an entertaining and engaging read.

Copy provided by publisher through NetGalley

[Ashley Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Bridgerton, you’re going to devour this book.

Set in a lush, historical romance era with that same Bridgerton-esque flair, this story stands out with its beautifully diverse cast, especially the Asian female lead, Addie, who steals the show. When her brother is kidnapped and tortured over a debt, Addie is forced into a marriage of convenience with a powerful (and very swoon-worthy) white aristocrat who just so happens to be her brother’s best friend, plus a delicious slow burn and one bed situation.

Addie’s fierce loyalty and the close-knit group of besties who rally around her add so much heart and strength to the narrative. The book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like racism and classism, but handles them with care and impact.

This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

One can only sympathize with folk born of mixed marriages where racial prejudice is rampant. They have to work harder than any other person to earn respect and acceptance, and even then they hardly ever fit in as reflected in this novel. Ada is fortunate in that she made good friends at school and that her brother had protected her, but when he goes missing, it is his close friends who come to her rescue. Basil's marriage to Ada may have been the easiest and quickest solution to keep her safe, but it created even more complications when it came to explaining themselves. Through it all, there is suspense, wit and romance that kept me entertained to the successful conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sarai]

Not sure what to rate this. There's a lot of drama and some spice, with a marriage of convenience and a diverse cast of characters. All good things! I really enjoy these short and sweet historical romances and think they make great palate cleansers. I think I just wanted less drama, and more depth? The villains seem a bit cartoonish, and I thought some of the dialogue didn't really fit the time period. There are so many great themes that could've been explored deeper here, since Ada is half Chinese and society is not very accepting. I think maybe if the author had more time to dive into these it would have been great.

[Yase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the mystery aspect of the book, even if it was a bit obvious. It wasn't high stakes, it was cozy and entertaining. I found it interesting that the fmc Ada was mixed (half chinese), since most historical romances are not that racially inclusive. I also like that the mmc Basil wasn't the "heir". He didn't have a huge inheritance and was trying to pave his own path.
I would recommend this book everyone that likes the trope marriage of convenience and enjoys historical romance (and obviously Bridgerton). I also think that this could be a great palate cleanser.

Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook arc!

[Jayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in a new series by a newer author.

There are many aspects about this I like- I like the introduction of other cultures, I like the three ladies, the plot had good moments. But I feel the writing isn't very polished. And the character development could be better. I have hopes for future endeavors by the author. I will definitely check out the rest of the series, as I do like the three ladies so well.

Mei Mei MacLeod narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Priscila Vera Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical romance? I'm in.
FMC is discriminated against, and she is not part of the Ton? Never seen this. I mean, women were discriminated against because of their gender a lot around this time, but this story has a racist component. I'M IN!
MMC is her brother's friend, and he is the second son and not the heir? I love this! The difficulties of the second son if their parents are not rich enough can make a great story. I'M IN!
I listened to the audiobook, and it was great! I hope the author and the narrator can work together again. They make a great team!

[Sven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well developed racially diverse book that portrayed the biases of the time realistically.

Ada is on a mission to rescue her brother and recruits his friend Basil to help. Their relationship of the course of the mission develops but is thwarted on every front since Ada is half Chinese. The conversations and interactions between the protagonists but the romance could have probably had more build-up time.

Ready to read books 2 and 3.

#netgalley #MissThornfieldsDaringBargain

[BookKraves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Addy Du Lac, and it won’t be my last! It reminded me why I love historical romance—the charm, the slow burn, and the escape into another era.

The story follows Ada, the daughter of a wealthy merchant family, eagerly anticipating her London season. But when her brother goes missing, everything changes. Her brother's best friend, Basil, is the only one who can help her. To secure her family’s wealth and save her brother, Ada proposes to a temporary marriage with Basil—one that he can annul once the crisis is over.

I really liked both Basil and Ada. Their dynamic felt fresh, and this book put a great twist on the marriage of convenience trope. Ada’s boldness stood out—she goes after what she wants despite society’s expectations, which made her such a compelling heroine. The quick road trip added tension and heat to their relationship, making their growing connection even more engaging.

I also loved Ada’s best friends! They were fun, supportive, and I can’t wait for their stories. As someone who reads a lot of interracial and diverse romances, I appreciated the representation across classes and cultures in this historical setting.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and somewhat steamy story of Ada and Basil. What I found interesting was this author took on interracial topics and issues in a period where cultural differences were truly very unique and segregated. Ada makes friends with other racial girls so it's very much a wide scope. Basil, helps her as they marry for convenience and to help save a family member.

I really enjoyed the different plot and outlook.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying this is one of the best narrators I have heard to date. Her voices for each character were so good I would have believed it was a full cast.
The story was great, with a bit of mystery, history, and romance. The characters were interesting and make you want to follow all of the side characters in their stories next. This had a bit of a Bridgerton vibe but with an even better boss babe feel to the main character

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Richard Thornfield is kidnapped it puts his sister Ada in danger. For her safety, she proposes a temporary marriage to her brother's friend, Basil Thompson. Once Richard is rescued, they will get an annulment. Basil and Leo Kingston rescue Richard and catch the kidnapper, but he escapes and goes after Ada. Basil goes into protector mode and realizes he loves Ada, but is he good enough to be her husband?
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.