A BRAND NEW spicy upstairs/downstairs historical romance featuring the Queen's Deadly Damsels!
Another compulsive read from an author who seems to do no wrong. I absolutely devoured this one… You will want to clear your afternoon to read this one straight through, so riveting!

The Confessions of a Lady is the third installment in the Queen's Deadly Damsels series. Penny Smith obtains a position as a maid in Lord William Renquist's houshold in order to find evidence of his membership in a depraved club - The Devil's Sons. This proof would earn her a reward that could free her mother from prison. Unbeknownst to Penny instead of being a villian, William is secretly working for the Queen to bring down the club from within. Romance and intrigue ensue making for a fun fast-paced story. If you are a fan of a little spice, mystery, and intrigue in your historical romances, this is a good one. #NetGalley. #ConfessionsofaLady

I could not get into this book. It moved extremely slowly, especially at the beginning. The “twist” to the crime that was being investigated was obvious from the first few pages. I am not a stickler for historical accuracy in romance, but there were multiple plot points that strained credulity. Disappointed, as I had high hopes for this one.

Thank you to Darcy McGuire, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love a historical romance, especially one set in a post-regency, Victorian setting. Unfortunately, the pacing felt off and the plot fell flat because of it. There was a lot of repetition that should have been edited out to streamline the plot. I liked the characterisation but felt it was too insta-lust between Penny and Renquist to really root for them. A solid 3 stars with further editing.

I had trouble getting into this book. I discovered that it is part of a series and will try to go back and read the earlier books, in the hopes that this installment might be more engaging once I read the others

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t picked up a historical romance in a minute and this one didn’t disappoint! Penny was a great FMC, with a difficult backstory and lots of grit. Even if she was the maid she always knew her worth and could hold her own, and Liam was obsessed with her from the beginning and didn’t care what type of title or society she came from. 🥰
This book kept me hooked with the suspense of both main characters being vigilantes and trying to uncover a secret society without the other knowing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a suspenseful romance!

Thanks Net Galley for the ARC!

Darcy McGuire was able to weave a strong tale that I was hoping for from the concept. It uses the historical romance perfectly and was engaged with what was happening in the story. The characters worked well with the time-period and was engaged with what was happening. I enjoyed the way the story was told and was glad I was able to get into this world.

I sadly did not enjoy this read at all. The plot was very weak and predictable. The "twist" towards the end felt unnecessary and somewhat disappointing. The book was too full of cliches and I didn't believe in the romance between the two main characters. It felt far more lustful, than love.
I would not recommend this read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Confessions of a Lady by Darcy McGuire!

This book was a delightful and spicy read! Imagine a blend of Bridgerton and Law & Order SVU, and you'll have a good idea of what to expect. We follow Penny, who unexpectedly finds herself undercover as a maid, tasked with accusing the Marquess, Liam, of some serious crimes. But, in a delightful twist, they fall for each other, uncovering secrets about themselves along the way.

I truly enjoyed diving into this story; it was such an easy and engaging read. On a spice scale, I'd give it two and a half out of four chillies. 🌶️🌶️

While I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and the sizzling chemistry between Penny and Liam, I did find a few aspects that detracted from my overall experience. There were some anachronisms that felt a bit out of place for the time period, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. Additionally, at times the narrative got a bit bogged down in excessive details and descriptions, which felt unnecessary to the plot.

However, despite these minor hiccups, the captivating storyline and the unexpected twists kept me hooked. I was genuinely surprised by certain characters not being who they initially seemed, which added an element of excitement and intrigue.

Overall, I'm giving The Confessions of a Lady 3 stars. While I had a good time reading it, it might not be a book I revisit. This is the third book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone with different characters in the same universe. If you're looking for a light, fun, and breezy historical romance with a touch of mystery, definitely give it a try!

A spicy upstairs/downstairs spy adventure with a lot more passion than plot. Romance lovers will find this a quick, heart-racing read, but little thin on the spy plot/through storyline of the series.

Millicent's former maid, Penny, has taken a position in the home of the new lord Renquist to determine if he is also a part of his brother's evil plot and earn reward money to free her mother from debtor's prison.

Liam, Lord Renquist is thankfully, the opposite of his father and brother and wants to make amends for his family's evil doings by taking down the Devil's Sons as a covert agent.

The moment he meets Penny, it's love at first sight, but pressing an upstairs/downstairs relationship isn't the honorable start to his new life. They fight their attraction to each other but ultimately a spicy love affair ensues, and they team up with the rest of the Deadly Damsels and their hubbies to take down 1/3 of the baddies.

Now we know there are three main baddies the ladies need to take down in the sinister Devil's Sons gang before they ship off or kill any more young women which means at least TWO more books to this fun and sexy series!

This historical romance that had me hooked from the first chapter. It’s sexy, it’s sweet, and it’s just the right amount of dramatic intrigue. If you’re into upstairs/downstairs romances or Bridgerton-style passion, this one’s going to make your heart race.

At its core, the story is about Penny, a smart and resourceful housemaid working as a spy for the prime minister. Her mission? To gather intel on her employer, Lord William “Liam” Renquist, a marquess suspected of being tied to a shady criminal organization called the Devil’s Sons. But as Penny digs deeper, she starts to see a man who’s more complicated—and a lot more appealing—than she expected. Oh, and Liam? He’s also a spy working against the same enemy, which just adds to the delicious chaos.

Penny and Liam have a spark that practically jumps off the page. Their banter is sharp, their stolen moments are sizzling, and their connection feels both tender and electric. I loved how their romance unfolded amidst danger and secrets. I also liked how Penny is such a strong character. She’s determined, clever, and never lets her position as a maid define her. She’s not afraid to call Liam out on his privilege.

The book is part of McGuire’s Queen’s Deadly Damsels series, but you don’t have to have read the first two books to enjoy this one (though I’ll definitely be going back to check them out).

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I have found my way into the ‘feral romance’ portion of the literary world and I’m not complaining. The tension and lusty madness that takes place in this book kept me up until 2:30am and I finished it in 2 sittings. I am in love with Penny and Liam, both super tough, both wanting better for the world even at their own expense, and both ready to fight figuratively and literally to make it happen. The touch her and die is strong with this one.

The plot is also dark and deep and related to stopping sex trafficking, which is one thing I really love about this series. It’s something I make an effort to learn about in my personal life and rooting for characters in a fictional story gives me hope that good will prevail in reality, too.

I have a feeling I know whose storyline next and I am highly anticipating it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review Posting Jan 31, 2025

This book was an enjoyable read. There were a few instances that were a little morbid for my tastes but over all I liked it and would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. The following is my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I quite liked the characters and I loved the plot. I am usually not a fan of historical romance, but this book was enjoyable right to the end. And if it hooked me, I am sure it can hook many others :)
Minor negative, I felt like the book blurb uncovers more than it should, as I kept wondering when that ball will happen, so that’s why I give it 4 stars. That part made the start very slow for me.
However, I enjoyed the plot in general, and especially the part after the ball. I am looking forward to reading more books from this author in the future, as well as the first two books I haven’t had a chance to read.

The world building/begging plot felt so dense for a historical romance that I lost all interest in the main characters and felt myself trying to skip parts of the book to see if any of it interested me. Ended up DNFing at 20%

Penny is a housemaid with a mission. She works as a maid in the house of Lord William Renquist and although she spends her day as a servant, her ultimate goal is to find out who is harming the local serving girls and selling them into servitude. Penny soon realizes that although she sees the Lord as a potential suspect, the Marquis’s reputation and how he treats his staff don’t add up. Romantic and spicy entanglements ensue.
A suspenseful and steamy story about an upstairs/downstairs dynamic set in England, this story gives Little Dorrit vibes - her parents live in the workhouse and she is working to set them free - and the romance between the main characters is complicated and delicious. I like both personalities too, she has a take-no-prisoners attitude that she employs with everyone, and the Lord is secretive but solid, and a grumpy-charming main male character. I loved the combination of mystery and romance, and although I have not read the first two novels in this series, I enjoyed this book so much that I am immediately placing them on my TBR list. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to read and review this story after reading the previous one last fall. I'm generally a sucker for an upstairs/downstairs romance, and this didn't disappoint. Penny does an excellent job of reminding Liam over and over again that even if he has the best of intentions, his life and experience as a titled man is vastly different than his female domestic staff. The romance between the two felt realistic, though I'm glad that I knew about the trials suffered by the heroes in the previous books as this one does not outline the reasons that Liam is so tortured beyond hinting at battle and torture.
That this does not wring out miscommunication, and instead has the two main characters working together against the primary conflict of the book was a great narrative choice. I always love when there is no final act breakup and the conflict and tension comes from outside the couple.

The hard working maid just started her job.
The Lord who recently lost family members.
She can`t seem to speak her truth when adresssing her imployer.
He can`t seem to stop thinking about her.
With both persons, everything is not as they seem.

This is my first review here on netgalley. My first book read through the webpage. And I am sad for the stories I will read after this one.
Why? You ask. Well because I devoured this book in three short setting. Everytime I read the book I had a huge smile on my face. This book is honestly pretty darn perfect. Other books I read after will have a big shoes to fill.

I got a tip that in netgalley reviews, you should start with something you enjoyed. Then write something you did not enjoy about the book. Honestly? With this book the faults are just nit picky, because it is that great of a story in my opnion. But I can nit pick a bit, I prefer books with chapter names, and illustrations at the start of chapters. This book as far as I know dont have any ND(neuro diverse) characters, which is a small minus. But in all honesty, these points are insignificant. The story is still a marvel of storytelling. A love story that is sweet, a underdog story that satisfies, unpredictable twist.

I feel like this book, did not have one redundant word. Every word, every sentence had a point and purpose.
I loved the charcters in the book, the setting, the storylines, the dialouge.
Darcy Macguire has a new devoted fan in me.

Trigger warning:
mentions of past violence.

Thanks to netgalley for this review copy and than you Boldwood books for publishing this amazing book.

This is the third installment in the "Queen's Deadly Damsels" series and it might be my favourite so far.
I adored the chemistry between maid-turned-spy Penny and Liam, a marquess with a hidden agenda. Enemies to lovers, great banter, a masquerade ball, and another piece of the puzzle in the hunt for the Devil's Sons - what's not to love?! Cannot wait for the next book in the series!

The book successfully weaves together historical fiction and espionage, featuring an engaging plot about taking down a criminal organization called the Devil's Sons. The story presents complex characters, and both main characters - Penny & Liam are driven by a compelling sense of social justice.

However, my problem lies with the inconsistency of Penny's character development. Despite believing Liam was responsible for her mother's imprisonment and involved in sex trafficking, her intense sexual attraction to him seems implausible and contradicts her motivations. So all through the book I wasn’t able to relate to the characters or commit to the story author is trying to tell.

Thank you NetGalley for ARC. All opinions are my own.