Historical romance and a slightly unbelievable rags to riches story. Good characters who are not typical to the time.

4.5 stars -This is an engaging romance about a heroine Selina Blackwell, who has many incarnations including: fortune teller (Madame Sybila) and widow (Lady Gresham). Her hero is Harry Sheffield an accomplished bow street runner and sone of a nobleman.

Sheffield is falling in love with Lady Gresham, suspicious of Madam Sybila, and completely unaware that they are both aliases of Selina.

He’s the most understanding nobleman she’s even met. Her secrets and familial connections are just dangerous enough to ruin everything. Witnessing the story unfold and the love blossom was a real treat!

Darcy Burke is my go to author for historical romance and A Secret Surrender encapsulates every reason why.  I would read this book again and I would buy it for a friend looking to get into historical romance.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I found myself falling in love with main characters Selina and Harry. I love how strong and sure Selina was and Harry was very sweet. I loved how their relationship developed and felt the chemistry between them. I also adored most of the side characters, in particular Beatrix and Harry's 3 sisters.

This book was very well written and it moved at just the right pace to keep me wanting to continue reading. I was so invested in the story that I read the entire thing in 1 day because I couldn't put it down.

The only thing that stopped me from being able to give this book a full 5 stars was that a few things that happened throughout the book seemed to be a little bit too convenient to help the plot move forward but it was still a really great historical romance story and I will definitely look to read more from this author in the future.

I'm always excited when I see the potential for a criminal romanced by a lawman (a constable in this case)! Selina is a con-woman trying to support herself and her best friend while they work towards their respective goals. 

Harry, a straight-laced gentleman that works for Bow Street, was an interesting character. While technically a part of the ton, unlike most second-born sons, Harry skips over purchasing a commission or becoming a man of the cloth and chooses to work within the justice system. I loved seeing his rigid ways upended by the enigmatic Selina.

As enjoyable as I find the concept, I think I just didn't connect with the characters enough for this romance to really blow me away. Harry was the easiest to understand, but Selina baffled me almost as much as she did Harry. Some of the scenes felt rushed and incomplete as they spent time together. Their first kiss came out of the blue and I ended up rereading the lead up twice to see if I missed something that would turn the conversation from relatively mundane to this searing passion. It's definitely a bummer because I love stolen moments at a soiree. The pacing issue also extended to a mystery surrounding Selina. I can't share much without a spoiler, but I do think that big reveal could have had more impact. That said, maybe my lack of connection to Selina muted that emotional punch for me. As odd as the pacing felt early in the book after Harry discovered the truth regarding Selina's other identity everything seemed to click together.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the criminal/inspector aspect of the relationship and the obstacles that created for the couple. When considered separately, I enjoyed Selina and Harry but something was missing from their relationship for me. So while I enjoyed the book, it just missed the mark just a bit for me to truly rave about it. I'm really looking forward to Beatrix's romance in the next book though! 

CW: References to a past sexual assault

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 — A woman pretending to be a lady while pretending <i>not</i> to be a fortune teller is pretending to not be attracted to the exact wrong man: a Bow Street Runner investigating one of her alter egos. 

See more on my <a href="http://instagram.com/historyandharlots/">Instagram</a> & <a href="https://historyandharlots.blogspot.com/">blog</a>

—

This is my first book from Darcy Burke, and is the first in a new series from her (The Pretenders). This book centers around Selina, a chameleon who tricks and lies to get what she needs to survive. She pretends to be Madame Sybila, a fortune teller, by day, fleecing aristocrat clients with tarot card readings and fake donations to a charity; and by night (and other times of day) she is Lady Gresham, a baronet's widow in London with her sister Beatrix for Beatrix's Season. 

There was a lot of potential with this book, and I did enjoy Darcy's writing and character building. But to me, it suffered from far too much plot. Maybe it was my fault for jumping into this expecting a historical romance, when this book is more attempting at mystery and intrigue than a romance. I don't love mysteries, because to me the mystery has to be done really well for it to work within the confines of both a historical setting and a romance novel. There were so many twists in this book, so many layers of deceit and deception, that some of the shock value was lost on me.

Selina meets Harry Sheffield, the second son of an earl and a Bow Street Runner, in both of her personas: as Madame Sybila (as he wants to prove she's a trickster who's guilty of fraud) and as Lady Gresham (who he finds himself attracted to for her practical and straight forward personality). Harry is compelling and likable... I liked the dynamic of him and his meddling family, the fact that he was an earl's son but chose to work. On the other hand while Selina is likable at times, I think we're made to feel sympathetic for her for all she's been through — that because of her past, it makes her lies appropriate or necessary. I couldn't buy into that. I felt sympathy for her and her past but it didn't excuse the lies and scheming to me. (I couldn't have forgiven her as Harry had.)

The book was tiring at times. One plot jump or surprise after another. <spoiler>The Vicar is responsible for some big fire that happened years ago. Harry is pursuing the Vicar. Selina's brother was killed in the fire! Wait - Rafe is alive! He's the Vicar. He didn't tell Selina because... I'm not really sure, still. Mrs. Winter is terrible at keeping up appearances for the charity house. Luther is in love with Selina. The Vicar <i>wasn't</i> responsible for the fire?? Luther is Mr. Frost? Mr. Frost isn't the evil one?? Betrayal within Bow Street?!</spoiler> The cherry on top was the multi-page mansplaining of motivation and plot and betrayals.

A Secret Surrender is a book about a con artist and Bow Street Runner. I've read books by Darcy Burke.and I usually enjoy them; This is her typical writing style as all of her books. But for some reason I cannot seem to connect to the characters. I think the problem is that I'm indifference to Selina's character. Otherwise it was an ok book.

A Secret Surrender is the first book in The Pretenders series by Darcy Burke and I'm definitely looking forward to picking up the next one to see how this series moves forward.  

This story involves Selina Blackwell, someone who has learned to do whatever she needs to in order to survive.  When Selina returns to London to give her sister a Season, she does so in the form of Lady Gresham.  The thing about Selina is that she also needs to make money to support them so she is also a fortune teller known as Madame Sybila and she draws the interest of a Bow Street Runner, Harry Sheffield, who's father happens to be an Earl...and not fully supportive of his wife's patronage of the fortune teller.  Based on his father's nudging, Harry starts to investigate Madame Sybila and things begin to get interesting.

Selina has a lot of secrets but as she begins to form a relationship with Harry as Lady Gresham, she has to figure out what is most important to her.  Not only is she trying to maintain secrets and multiple personalities but the brother she thought was dead just happens to be someone Harry is interested in tracking down.  I enjoyed how these characters' relationship was built and thought Burke did a great job of keeping the core of the story at the front of mind.  

The secondary characters were all interesting and I will definitely grab the next book in this series to see where Burke takes it.  If you're looking for an engaging historical romance, check this one out!

Historical romance is one of my favorites, especially when the women are portraited as independent, fiery and feisty. And Darcy Burke has done this perfectly in A Secret Surrender. Selina Blackwell has survived orphanage and hardships in her early years. Together with her thieving sister, she uses several aliases to survive in society. One of them is being fortune teller Lady Sybila. 
Harry Sheffield doesn't like that his mother is being swindled out of her money by a fortune teller. When he needs a bait, he turns to the mysterious and witty lady Gresham. Little does he know that she and Lady Sybila are the same person. Selina isn't proud of all the lies and personas she has used to survive. But she will not end up at the poverty house again, ever. Not even, when the honest and attractive Bow Street runner Harry is hot on her heels. But will she give up on her chance of love, to ensure her sister will establish her name in society?
Find out for yourself in this wonderful story of lies, cheating, surviving the odds and doing the right thing. Maybe the world isn't as black and white as Harry thinks. And maybe Selina can learn that besides all the shades of grey there is a much more colorful world. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Although, I loved the storyline, it was a very slow moving story and difficult to get into. I get the reason why Selina started on the path that she did but it was like there was no remorse for cheating and robbing so many people blind. That bothered me a little about her character and also how Harry kind of just glossed over their crimes. That part of the storyline just didn't work for me. I really loved Harry's character and liked his integrity and honesty. So it was difficult to see him just move past that part of Selina. It feels a little unrealistic considering all that Harry stands for and I felt like it was written to wrap the story into a HEA. 

This is the first book in "The Pretenders" series. There are some characters from a previous series, "Untouchables" that we meet again in this book, that I really enjoyed. I am interested to see what happens with Rafe in the upcoming books. 

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

This new series will be an interesting take on a well-worn genre. Each of the protagonists is pretending to be something they are not. In this case, a woman who's a little bit Artful Dodger and a little Jane Eyre allies with a high-born Bow Street Runner and his matchmaking family. She's got a kleptomaniac adopted sister, a booming business as a phony fortune-teller, and a bunch of shady characters from her past threatening to ruin everything. My main complaint is that one of the most intriguing people from her past is killed off in this novel, and therefore won't be in any future books.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

I've read several books by this author before and I really loved them. So I had very high expectations going into reading this book. And it definitely lived up to my expectations. I was hooked from the very first page. I would highly recommend this book, or any other book by this author!

This is the story of Selina and Harry.  Harry, the second son of an earl, longs for purpose in life and therefore has become a bow street runner.  He finds fulfillment in helping people and solving crimes.  One such crime that his father asks he look into is a fortune teller, Madame Sybilia, whom his mother and other society ladies see often (and donate money to, of course).

Selina is the infamous Madame Sybilia, but you wouldn't know it based on a French accent and a heavy black veil.  She has not lived the comfortable life Harry has and has to find other means to support herself and her sister (who isn't a blood relation, but as close as two sisters could be) as she launches her into Society.  To everyone else, she is Lady Gresham, a widow, whereas a select few know her true identity and what tricks she is up to.  She is quite interested in keeping Harry close as she learns he is investigating her, as well as a fire that Selina believes killed her older brother.

The story is engaging in the same way many of Ms Burke's book are.  I gave this a four-star rating because I enjoyed the plot, the banter between characters and the steam between the hero and heroine.  Personally, I would have enjoyed a slightly longer book as the ending felt marginally rushed and tied up too neatly, too quickly, for my liking.  These are complex characters and while a happy ending is guaranteed, I would have liked more pages dedicated to getting there instead of everything just magically working out in short order.  I recommend this book if you're looking for a fun read and a view into the underworld within London.

Darcy Burke never fails to disappoint. Her characters are well written and fleshed out. I love books about siblings and the ladies they fall for, so this was right up my alley! I recommend to any historical romance readers looking for a few fun hours to escape!

.Set in the world of The Untouchables, indulge in the saga of a trio of siblings who excel at being something they’re not. Can a dauntless Bow Street Runner, a devastated viscount, and a disillusioned Society miss unravel their secrets?
The introduction to a new series this book which is one of those books that includes a previous series.

At an early age, Selina Blackwell learned to be a chameleon in order to survive. No stranger to fraud, deception, and deceit, Selina plays the roles of both the dubious Madame Sylbia and Lady Gresham. When Madame Sylbia catches the attention of Harry Sheffield, the second son (younger twin) of the Earl of Aylesbury and a Bow Street Runner, the sins of her past and present finally catch up with her. Their interactions and the mutual attraction will determine her future.

It was refreshing to read a Regency novel without being inundated with fancy balls and a petty “scandal” where two characters are caught unattended in a dimly lit library. No, in A Secret Surrender, the author Darcy Burke raises the stakes and goes all in. 
Selina is as deceptive as they come, and in this case, her choices are quite understandable, although not enviable. Harry has a strong sense of justice that deviates from the idealized concept of justice. When it comes to Selina, Harry must then redirect his moral compass for love’s sake.   

The characters and story were very engaging, although the last portion of the story came to some far-reaching conclusions in order to wrap things up neatly. Harry’s choices, in the end, weren’t ideal, but they were understandable. It will be interesting to see what happens with Rafe. 

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. 

Selina just wants stability for her sister. Her role as Madame Sybil, fortune teller extraordinaire, is a necessity because it provides them with the funds to launch a debut. But a Bow Street runner is convinced it's all a sham and a way to fleece the unsuspecting- including his mother. 

Harry Sheffield makes it his mission to uncover Madame Sybil's deception. He is beguiled by Selina, sans her Madame Sybil veil, and when he realizes they are one and the same chaos ensues.

A fast paced Regency romp and comedy of errors sure to be enjoyed by fans of historical romance.

This is a fascinating, sweet and romantic story. Selina must masquerade as a fortune teller in order to support herself and Beatrix, the woman she calls her sister, and to launch Beatrix into society. Harry is a Bow Street Runner who is looking for the person who set a fire 4 years before, and is also looking into the fortune teller his father insists is taking advantage of his mother. Harry and Selina first meet when she intefers with his ability to chase a child pickpocket. When she learns that he's been looking for the man who started the fire that killed her brother, she has two reasons to stick close to him. After meeting Harry and beginning to have feelings for him, she starts to detest the life she must live. And even though both Harry and Selina insist that they're not interested in marriage, both begin to picture a future together. They both end up learning some shocking things about the past, and who is responsible for which crime. Harry is a dedicated, fair and kind gentleman. Selina is a strong, independent and caring woman. And the supporting characters are intriguing.

This was such a great story of two survivors.  Noah and Jilly melted my heart...  They both find healing together a 5 start read 

Happy Reading 
Lisa

I normally like Darcy Burke but this is not one of my favorites.  I just could not get into liking the the character of Selina or Lady Gresham or whatever name she called herself on any given day.  I am going to say do yourself a favor and pass on this one.