265 books
—
490 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Lady Be Good (Rules for the Reckless, #3)” as Want to Read:
Lady Be Good
(Rules for the Reckless #3)
by
The third searing novel in the Rules for the Reckless series by Meredith Duran, the USA Today bestselling author of sexy and evocative Regency romances in the tradition of Sarah MacLean.
Catching the Lady Red-Handed
Born to a family of infamous criminals, Lilah Marshall has left behind her past and made herself into the perfect lady. Working as a hostess at Eveleigh's, Londo ...more
Catching the Lady Red-Handed
Born to a family of infamous criminals, Lilah Marshall has left behind her past and made herself into the perfect lady. Working as a hostess at Eveleigh's, Londo ...more
Get A Copy
Mass Market Paperback, 367 pages
Published
July 28th 2015
by Pocket Books
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Lady Be Good,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Lady Be Good (Rules for the Reckless, #3)
Jul 21, 2017
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
paperback-or-hardcover,
favorites-2017,
m-f,
loved-it,
romance,
historical,
losing-the-v-card
*4.5 stars*
If you are a historical romance lover and you aren't reading Meredith Duran you are missing out on something VERY special.
Lady Be Good is another stellar book in the very good Rules for the Reckless series. No, you don't have to read the series in order (I bounced around), but you'll want to buy up the whole series after just one book. They are that good.
I read a lot of romance, and a lot of M/F historical romance, and I'm a jaded, picky reader. What Meredith Duran does better than m ...more
If you are a historical romance lover and you aren't reading Meredith Duran you are missing out on something VERY special.
Lady Be Good is another stellar book in the very good Rules for the Reckless series. No, you don't have to read the series in order (I bounced around), but you'll want to buy up the whole series after just one book. They are that good.
I read a lot of romance, and a lot of M/F historical romance, and I'm a jaded, picky reader. What Meredith Duran does better than m ...more
Well, on I plow through this series.
Why only 3 stars, when Duran has a writing style that is really top-notch? Once again, I have a problem with the borderline abusive hero and the heroine who subordinates her own needs and desires in order to smooth the way for the hero.
Christian is a war hero bent on revenge and worrying about protecting his family from the Russian renegade who tortured him then organised the death of Christian's brother and had promised to get the rest of his family.
Lily is ...more
Why only 3 stars, when Duran has a writing style that is really top-notch? Once again, I have a problem with the borderline abusive hero and the heroine who subordinates her own needs and desires in order to smooth the way for the hero.
Christian is a war hero bent on revenge and worrying about protecting his family from the Russian renegade who tortured him then organised the death of Christian's brother and had promised to get the rest of his family.
Lily is ...more
3.3 stars
This is my first Meredith Duran book and I enjoyed the intriguing story, intelligent writing, fascinating characters and sensual love story.
This is book 3 in the series but can easily be read as a standalone.
I love Lily’s character. She’s intelligent, tenacious, ambitious and courageous. We see it in her determination to fulfil her sister’s dream and make a better life for herself; in the hard-work and self-discipline needed to become a perfect lady; in her desire to earn an honest living as a h ...more
This is book 3 in the series but can easily be read as a standalone.
I love Lily’s character. She’s intelligent, tenacious, ambitious and courageous. We see it in her determination to fulfil her sister’s dream and make a better life for herself; in the hard-work and self-discipline needed to become a perfect lady; in her desire to earn an honest living as a h ...more
I love Ms. Duran's writing and her "unusual" heroines! This book was no exception.
...more
That is how a historical romance should be written. One of the best books I've read in this genre. The characters are real and mature. The heroine is not your typical lady. She is from a rather scandalous background and I loved every minute in Lilah's shoes. I must admit: I haven't sympathized to any heroine so much for a long time. She is brilliant, intelligent, she is strong - a survive, she is funny - oh yes, I couldn't stop laughing while reading this book. She is no damsel in distress and c
...more
This is third in a series. By all means, read the others. Certainly read them before this one, though none of those characters seem to matter in this book, really. I'd reconsider continuing on to this one, though, as the story relies on a lot of dumb conveniences and the plot only works if you don't care about things like, well, plot.
I struggled through for nearly three quarters of the book making excuses for continuing as I went along. The thing is, the main plot is driven by an idiocy that's a ...more
I struggled through for nearly three quarters of the book making excuses for continuing as I went along. The thing is, the main plot is driven by an idiocy that's a ...more
I enjoyed this book generally, but the premise of a criminal who's trying to make something of her life by working as a "hostess" in an auction company marrying a viscount who's just dispatched a crazed enemy ... I don't know. I just can't quite suspend my disbelief. I do still want to read the next book, though.
...more
Reread on December 31, 2020: I love Meredith but this isn’t her best book. The rereading process has been interesting as it’s easier to rank/compare the backlist. A lot about this romance does not hold up (ughhh at the solider hero backstory/arc in the British Empire).
Let’s say three stars for nostalgia, compelling prose, and heroine Lilah. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my reread but I’m *extremely* aware of certain problems. The romantic connection isn’t good when compared to other Duran books ...more
Let’s say three stars for nostalgia, compelling prose, and heroine Lilah. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my reread but I’m *extremely* aware of certain problems. The romantic connection isn’t good when compared to other Duran books ...more
3.5 to 4 stars for this enjoyable read. I liked both H and h. Christian is a brave, honourable war hero, although like any person who has experienced war, he is deeply affected by the experience. He doesn't see himself as a hero, just someone who did what he had to do. But now a man from his past, a bitter old Russian who has a grudge against Christian from the war, has followed him to England. He is out to destroy Christian and everyone he loves.
Lilah, or Lily, is from a different world than C ...more
Lilah, or Lily, is from a different world than C ...more
This is a hard book for me to rate. I love Ms. Duran's writing and the complexity of her characters. And yet, I kept putting down this book and not feeling an urge to snatch it up again. The leads remained at a remove for me. I liked them but didn't feel them--unlike many of Ms. Duran's other heroes and heroines. I sense I may come back and raise this rating to four stars but now, when the book is in my very recent past, I'm underwhelmed.
...more
Hmmm. Definitely not my favorite by the author. The romance between a dashing war hero and a former thief turned action house hostess was not that interesting for me. I found myself intrigued more by the secondary characters-the main characters of the next book in the series and it's never a good sign!
...more
3.75 stars rounded upto 4
I started Meredith Duran's Rules for the Reckless series many years ago, but I somehow never got the chance to continue reading it after Fool Me Twice. The last couple of years have been lacking in good historical romances. Big publishers have been releasing some pretty disappointing historicals lately, so I decided it was time to 1) discover new indie historical romance authors and 2) go back to authors that I know won't disappoint me. Hence, my return to this series.
Lady Be Good is superbly wr ...more
Lady Be Good is superbly wr ...more
A heroine who was a pro thief who wants to lead a normal life as a career girl. A war hero hell-bent in getting his revenge. We are talking about two bad-asses who came together and eventually fall for each other - Victorian style.
I love me a smart and sassy heroine - not the type who is annoyingly sarcastic and abrasive but the kind who knows what she wants, knows how to get it and has mad skills. Lilah Marshall used to be a pro thief thanks to the training she got from her uncle (who happens ...more
I love me a smart and sassy heroine - not the type who is annoyingly sarcastic and abrasive but the kind who knows what she wants, knows how to get it and has mad skills. Lilah Marshall used to be a pro thief thanks to the training she got from her uncle (who happens ...more
Lady Be Good: Rules for the Reckless 3
by Meredith Duran
Coming in the middle of a series one would think that either you missed part of the story, or that you would not have fresh eyes of the author, in this book you would be wrong. Lady Be Good is a standalone book, and it draws the reader into the high society and political intrigue of the English aristocracy. Lilah Marshall is the WhiteCastle London equivalent of the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Her father’s criminal enterprises co ...more
by Meredith Duran
Coming in the middle of a series one would think that either you missed part of the story, or that you would not have fresh eyes of the author, in this book you would be wrong. Lady Be Good is a standalone book, and it draws the reader into the high society and political intrigue of the English aristocracy. Lilah Marshall is the WhiteCastle London equivalent of the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Her father’s criminal enterprises co ...more
This book didn't work for me. I liked the heroine, who was plucky, tough, independent and not scared of pursuing her dreams of a better existence for herself. The hero, I had issues with. He used her in the beginning without remorse. Even when he saw that she was forced to steal the letters out of fear for her safety, he felt no qualm utilising her fear to achieve her submission to his blackmailing. He treated and spoke to her disrespectfully at times, like she was a common whore. Even when he a
...more
The last book I read from this author was good but I should have remembered that was an anomaly. I give the story two stars and both of those belong to Lilith. She was a fantastic character. Clever, strong, bad ass with a knife. But she was plopped into a nonsensical plot with jerk of a love interest she had no chemistry with.
It says something when you spend much of the book hoping Lilith and Catherine would run into the sunset together.
It says something when you spend much of the book hoping Lilith and Catherine would run into the sunset together.
I have to agree with Dabney's review at Goodreads - the book had its moments, but I never really felt emotionally connected with the main characters. The psychotic Russian and the random acts of violence, some of which seemed utterly pointless (the random shot in the woods at the country estate, the trap-pit in the same woods) didn't interest me in the least, unfortunately.
...more
I put off reading this for a long time because I kept hearing how bad it was and how subpar compared to other books by Meredith Duran, but I liked it. I should've read it sooner! It's not my favorite of her novels, but it kept me entertained the whole time. Even the least of Meredith Duran's books is superior to most of what's out there these days. A solid 3.8, I'd say. ;)
...more
When it comes to a Meredith Duran novel, you know you're getting near perfection. Every words Meredith writes is golden, and pure poetry. So is the case with Lady Be Good. The story might feel familiar, but the way it's presented is new and fresh, and very lyrical. Case in point is one of my favorite segments from this novel:
"Touch her, indeed. One of her cheeks bore a smudge. He very much wished to remove it for her. With his tongue."
That small excerpt, like many more in this novel, made me swo ...more
"Touch her, indeed. One of her cheeks bore a smudge. He very much wished to remove it for her. With his tongue."
That small excerpt, like many more in this novel, made me swo ...more
Lady Be Good by Meredith Duran is a 2015 Pocket Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book as an XOXpert- The official street team of XOXO After Dark.
How is it that I have not read anything by this author previously? Well, now that she is on my radar, I will be adding more of her books to my TBR list.
Lilah comes from a family of thieves, but it is her greatest wish to live a decent, honest life. That goal means ever so much more to her now, since she wishes to honor her sister's mem ...more
How is it that I have not read anything by this author previously? Well, now that she is on my radar, I will be adding more of her books to my TBR list.
Lilah comes from a family of thieves, but it is her greatest wish to live a decent, honest life. That goal means ever so much more to her now, since she wishes to honor her sister's mem ...more
Lily/Lilah Monroe/Marshall has been tasked with Stealing A Thing. Except she gets caught by Kit Stratton, aka Viscount Palmer, who needs A SPY ON THE INSIDE while he attempts to find the crazy Russian traitor who is after him. SPARKS FLY.
1. This was the story of two hardened, competent people falling into feelings with one another. However, some of the competency does seem to flake off a bit once they're ~lusting which is probably realistic because boners are distracting or whatever, but. I wan ...more
1. This was the story of two hardened, competent people falling into feelings with one another. However, some of the competency does seem to flake off a bit once they're ~lusting which is probably realistic because boners are distracting or whatever, but. I wan ...more
Why did it have to end so cornily, Meredith Duran?? In my head the publisher made her slap on the cheesetastic final lines in this book.
Look, this isn't even close to being one of Meredith Duran’s best novels. In fact, it’s one of her worst, but even her so-so novels like this are better than most of what’s out there. I really love Duran’s prose and it elevated a rather tired plot to something I found worth reading. I’m thinking this book was sort of the perfunctory prequel to the next novel, L ...more
Look, this isn't even close to being one of Meredith Duran’s best novels. In fact, it’s one of her worst, but even her so-so novels like this are better than most of what’s out there. I really love Duran’s prose and it elevated a rather tired plot to something I found worth reading. I’m thinking this book was sort of the perfunctory prequel to the next novel, L ...more
Not quite as good as the first two, but enjoyable nonetheless. I adored Lily, and the chemistry with Kit was steamy. I just found the ending a bit anti-climatic. Catherine was a total bitch, but became likeable near the end. I can't wait to read about Uncle Nick in the next book!
...more
God, I loved this book so much! I haven't read a historical for awhile, and to stumble on such little gem was everything.
Why read this one? you'd ask.
The heroine is a total badass who does not take mansplaining kindly. A former thief determined to climb out of the gutter and onto the social ladder, Lilah Marshall works as a hostess in an auction house where she manipulates guests with her refined accent, easy smiles and witty flirtations.
Her former life left her with mad skills, however. Her un ...more
Why read this one? you'd ask.
The heroine is a total badass who does not take mansplaining kindly. A former thief determined to climb out of the gutter and onto the social ladder, Lilah Marshall works as a hostess in an auction house where she manipulates guests with her refined accent, easy smiles and witty flirtations.
Her former life left her with mad skills, however. Her un ...more
There's not much I haven't already said about Duran at this point. Another solid, intriguing read from her. I loved the art world, underworld, thief upbringing...setting. And truly, Meredith has created some of my favorite heroines.
...more
I love a great romance, especially when it includes a strong willed woman. The author has created a wonderful heroine in this new book that made this a pleasure to read. Lilah is street smart but working on being cultured too. Christian is a hero that everyone wants to love and he has his eye on Lilah in more ways than one. Working together becomes a challenge for both of them and the result is a bit of a witty read with some fun scenes added in for a well rounded story.
The beginning of this boo ...more
The beginning of this boo ...more
I really needed this book in my life. It was just so much fun to read! I never get tired of strong women in my historicals, and the men forced to tame them. I love watching a woman bend society's rules, and this book gave me not one, but two strong women!
Lily is such a good heroine, strong-willed and jaded but with just enough innocence to make her seduction fun. Kit, the arrogant yet troubled war hero, was a bit on the rakish side. I loved it! He had no qualms about flirting with her, or takin ...more
Lily is such a good heroine, strong-willed and jaded but with just enough innocence to make her seduction fun. Kit, the arrogant yet troubled war hero, was a bit on the rakish side. I loved it! He had no qualms about flirting with her, or takin ...more
This was almost a DNF for me after the first few chapters. I'm glad I stuck with it since it got better towards the end, but if I hadn't, I wouldn't have missed much. Simply put, I hated the hero. He was selfish, spoiled, self-pitying, manipulative and stupid; and he didn't get better by the end of the book. I love anti-heroes but their stories only work for me when I can see why they do what they do and why the heroine loves them - they don't need to be redeemed by the end but some character gr
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinopsis en Español // Synopsis in Spanish | 1 | 2 | Mar 20, 2015 11:35AM |
Readers also enjoyed
MEREDITH DURAN blames Anne Boleyn for sparking her lifelong obsession with British history. She is the author of twelve novels, all published by Pocket Books. Her debut, The Duke of Shadows, has been translated into thirteen languages and was ranked among the top 100 romances of all time by NPR and All About Romance. Her other books include RITA award winner Fool Me Twice and her February 2017 rel
...more
Other books in the series
Rules for the Reckless
(6 books)
News & Interviews
Happy Women's History Month! One of the undisputedly good things about modern scholarship is that women’s history is finally getting its due....
73 likes · 11 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Is that what you want?” he asked very quietly. “Protection?” “Oh, who knows?” This man had shown her that she knew herself far less well than she’d imagined. “I thought what I wanted was simple—to be a lady.” Her laughter felt false. “It was my sister’s plan, actually. We would remake ourselves. Our accents, our deportment. For gentlemen never tell a lady—a proper lady, like Miss Everleigh—to take it on the chin. It’s their duty to shelter her from harshness. And that seems quite pleasant, never to be expected to endure. To be free to pursue better things, like . . . beauty and honesty and honor. So we—I—set out to become that kind of woman. A woman whom men seek to protect.” What”
—
1 likes
“She had a girlish fullness to her face, which made a provocative contrast to the self-possession of her bearing as she opened her eyes and smiled at him. She’d known he was looking at her. She’d let the moment draw out, for some private feminine reason. The knowledge brushed over him like fingertips—stealing away his breath.”
—
1 likes
More quotes…
