3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I love a good forbidden romance so the prospect of this book along with the maid turned spy plotline was very exciting! This was a quick and enjoyable read over and the romance was definitely steamy.

Pros: I loved that Penny was a fierce and independent woman, she was so capable it was refreshing to read a historical romance with such a strong leading lady. I enjoyed the espionage element of the plot, it added tension and stakes to the story.

Cons: the relationship of the two characters felt much too rushed for my tastes, I struggled to believe they were in love after 2 weeks. This didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy their relationship, just that the speed took ne out of it a bit. This was also true for the lack of barriers to their love, I wish there was a bit more resistance to a peer and maid getting together openly to add a little realism and additional tension.


This was an enjoyable read, and a great remedy for those looking to fill a hole left by Bridgerton!

The Confessions of a Lady by Darcy McGuire was a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance with plenty of heart and intrigue. The story pulled me in right away with its mix of romance, secrets, and a touch of scandal.
The main character was graceful yet flawed, and her journey was both emotional and compelling. I really enjoyed how the author peeled back layers of her character as the story progressed. The romantic tension was well-executed, and the chemistry between the leads felt genuine and heartfelt.

One of the standout aspects was the historical setting, which was beautifully described and added a lot of richness to the story. The attention to detail in the period’s customs and societal norms brought the world to life without ever feeling heavy-handed.

If I had a minor criticism, it would be that some of the secondary characters could have been developed a bit more to add even more depth to the story. However, this didn’t detract much from my overall enjoyment.

This is a charming, well-written romance with a dash of drama and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. If you love historical romances with strong characters and a captivating storyline, The Confessions of a Lady is a wonderful choice!

Fresh off a Bridgerton binge, I thought this would be right up my alley, but sadly, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

The setup is intriguing: Penny, a maid-turned-spy, and Liam, a marquess with his own secret mission, are thrown together in a high-stakes game of espionage and attraction. There’s plenty of tension, masked balls, and whispers of danger, but something about the execution didn’t quite work for me. The pacing felt uneven, and I struggled to connect with the characters or fully invest in their romance.

That said, I can absolutely see this appealing to fans of slow-burn historical romances with a touch of intrigue. No shade to the author—this just wasn’t my vibe this time around.

If you’re a fan of the genre, it’s worth checking out to see if it clicks for you!

Absolutely thrilled to read an ARC of this book. I loved the first two in the series and this third instalment didn’t disappoint.
The end of the book felt a bit rushed, but besides that it was a great read.

Thank you Boldwood Books & NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!

This was an enjoyable & quick read! I’ve been liking this series, and I always love a good “forbidden” (heavy on the quote unquote) romance; in this case one between a marquess and his maid. Lots of fun (though IRL I’m not sure how smoothly this would’ve gone).

I will say I wasn’t fully convinced that these 2 were in anything but lust by the end, but hey🤷🏻‍♀️ Penny’s “he’s guilty/he’s innocent/I love him/he’s awful” attitude gave me some whiplash. Also I would’ve loved to have read more about Penny’s mother towards the end!

Another good addition to the series!

Loved the writing style and characters. I felt immersed and connected with the characters, which doesn’t happen often for me with the romance genre. I also adore the cover, thank you so much for allowing me to read this arc!

4+ stars

A continuation of Darcy McQuire’s Queen’s Deadly Damsels series.

Penny Smith is a maid working in Lord William “Liam” Renquist’s house. He’s suspected of being part of the evil Devil’s Sons, an organization previous books have also worked to uncover and bring to justice. Penny is working with the authorities and spying on Liam.

Penny is determined to unearth Liam’s secrets while being drawn to him, and him to her, despite their obvious class differences.

I’ve read the two previous books in this series as well and have enjoyed all of them. I appreciate how the author dives right into each story and mystery, explaining what we need to as the story progresses instead of setting things up with a chapter or two of background details.

While each story is mostly independent of each other, I’d recommend reading the series in order. A fun series indeed!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for making this book available. All opinions are my own.

Though the third I the series, this worked well enough for me as a stand alone book. Penny and Liam were engaging as characters, complex and intriguing enough to make up for the mild back story I was missing from the first two books. It’s fine on its own, but I’m sure it works better when read as a series in order.

Does not disappoint. The plot was engaging and found the characters easy to like. Though, I’ll be honest I don’t know why I feel particularly invested in Ivy and itching to know her story. Can’t wait for the rest of the books in the series.

An interesting concept, but the execution fell a bit flat for me by the end. As someone who has not read the previous entries in this series, I was still able to keep up with and enjoy the characters and plot. An enjoyable time!

This was a fun period romance/mystery that I breezed through in 24 hours. I found the mystery portion of the plot intriguing (although I didn't realise it was the third in a series until a few chapters in - it would've helped to read them in order!). The heroine was a scrappy young maid with a tough upbringing, and her background was a nice contrast to leading ladies in other historical romances. Overall I enjoyed the book - thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I’ve been a big fan of this series from the start, and the first two books? Very good. They struck that balance between historical romance, humour, and a touch of mystery. Naturally, I dove into The Confessions of a Lady with high expectations. While it was an enjoyable read, this one didn’t quite hit the same high notes for me.

The story kicks off with Penny and Liam, Lord Renquist, colliding in spectacular fashion. Penny’s convinced Liam is a dangerous criminal and is determined to prove it, but she’s barking up the wrong tree. Little does she know, Liam is actually a secret agent working for the Queen. What’s at stake? Oh, just Penny’s mission to save her mother from a life in prison and Liam walking the tightrope between exposing criminals and maintaining his privileged position in society.

Let’s talk characters. Penny, a housemaid, and Liam, the Marquess of Stoneway, are worlds apart in status, and their tangled family histories make things even more complicated. But they’re both honourable, good-hearted people trying to do the right thing, which makes them easy to root for. However, their romance felt… rushed. The attraction between them burns hot and fast—too fast for my liking. It’s intense and impossible for them to resist, which leads to plenty of swoony moments. But compared to the slow-burn chemistry in the earlier books, this one felt like it skipped a few steps.

The plot moves at a brisk pace, with plenty of action and high-stakes drama to keep you turning the pages. I appreciated the adventurous and thrilling elements, but for me, the heart of the story—the romance—didn’t quite deliver. It wasn’t about the lack of steam but the lack of depth in their connection.

I missed the humour and sharper wit that made the first two books so memorable. And while I’m still a fan of Darcy McGuire’s writing, this book didn’t quite shine the way its predecessors did. That said, I’ll absolutely be keeping an eye out for what this author does next.

Overall, The Confessions of a Lady is a solid three-star read for me—good, but not great. If you’ve been following the series, it’s worth a read, but it might leave you missing the magic of the earlier books.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The class struggle was a real highlight of this book! The stakes were clear throughout the book, and though I did have a feeling about who the Big Bad was early in the book, the reveal was satisfying!

This book had me so stressed the entire time!!

Penny Smith, a fiery maid meets her employer, the very handsome Liam/Lord Renquist & it turns out they’re both working to oust an evil society within London, but neither of them know the other is doing it. It’s a thrilling book full of spice & a FMC who is anything but helpless.

Honestly though, I stayed STRESSED through this whole book. I spent the entire thing thinking Penny was going to get caught doing something or another & then like be killed or something. I appreciate that I loved her enough to care about her wellbeing. Overall, well done!

For every person who laments historical romance that focuses on the aristocracy, there's the heroine of The Confessions of a Lady. Penny is an illiterate housemaid who grew up in prison because her parents were incarcerated for being homeless. The Vagrancy Act of 1824 made sleeping rough illegal, sending many to jail. As an adult, Penny is working as a maid and a constable she knew from prison convinces her to help him gather evidence of the human trafficking operation that spans this series. She hopes to get "reward" money for her work that will get her mother out of prison.

She works in the home of Lord William Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway. Though illiterate, she knows the seal of the traffickers, The Devil's Sons, and searches for documents bearing it. What she doesn't realize is that the Marquess is also trying to bring the Devil's Sons to justice, working as an undercover agent for Queen Victoria. William (Liam) is a disillusioned war veteran who inherits his title when his brother dies prior to this book.

The relationship between the Marquess and his illiterate maid moves quickly and think including some time jumps might have made it more believable. Still, this was a fun romp. We have a Cinderella-like ball scene where Penny gets to dress up and dance with Liam. We also have all the characters from previous books in the series make an appearance.

I've enjoyed this romps and hope they continue!

The Confessions of a Lady by Darcy McGuire delivers an intriguing blend of historical romance and suspense, perfect for fans of espionage, forbidden love, and richly layered characters. As the third installment in The Queen's Deadly Damsels series, this book continues the fight against the notorious Devil’s Sons with a story that skillfully combines action, romance, and intrigue.

Penny Smith, a determined maid with a mission to free her mother from prison, infiltrates the household of Lord William Renquist, the Marquess of Stoneway, believing him to be a member of the Devil’s Sons. However, Liam is far from the villain she expects—he’s working undercover for the Queen to dismantle the organization from within. Their conflicting agendas create palpable tension and a dynamic push-and-pull as their undeniable attraction grows.

Penny stands out as a strong, fiery protagonist, balancing authenticity to the time period with modern sensibilities. Her resilience and quick wit make her captivating, while Liam’s brooding demeanor and gradual softening add emotional depth to their relationship. The upstairs-downstairs dynamic between them is engaging, though at times their romance felt rushed, particularly given the stakes and Penny’s initial distrust of Liam.

The plot is packed with twists and action, keeping the reader hooked as secrets unravel and loyalties are tested. The espionage storyline is particularly compelling, weaving danger and mystery into the narrative. McGuire’s attention to historical detail enhances the atmosphere, although a few moments of spicy romance may feel abrupt or out of sync with the characters’ arcs for some readers.

While this book can be read as a standalone, returning readers will likely appreciate the recurring characters and overarching storyline more deeply. The complexity of Liam’s relationships with other characters—like Drake and Killian—adds richness, though some details could have been clarified further.

Overall, The Confessions of a Lady is an enjoyable read with a mix of drama, romance, and suspense that will appeal to fans of historical romantic thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

McGuire’s work to bring modern sensibility to historical romance is admirable, echoing the hopes of readers committed to the genre. While some of the beats for Penny and Liam did not hit for me and felt a little rushed, the B-plot was tight and kept the reader guessing about which characters should be trusted. This worked as a standalone for me, but I imagine reading the others in the series would only enhance the reader’s connection to the interesting cast of characters on the page. Overall, a strong historical romance that I enjoyed! Thanks to Boldwood Books & NetGalley for the ARC.

I had fun reading The Confessions of a Lady! Penny and Liam’s chemistry kept me hooked, and I liked how their relationship grew naturally. There’s plenty of drama, intrigue, and action, which made the story exciting.

I didn’t realise it was part of a series, so I was a little confused by some of the supporting characters. I’d recommend starting with the first two books to fully enjoy this one. Overall, it’s an engaging historical romance, and I’m looking forward to more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Confessions of a Lady is the third in the series The Queen’s Deadly Damsels, therefor it does take a few chapters to be able to establish the characters, should it be the first book in the series read.
This becomes apparent early in the storyline, although at various points it takes a little sorting out as to how the characters interact with one another, particularly when it come to the friendship between Lord William (Liam) Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway and Killian and Drake, men he had served together with in the bloody war against Napoleon.
Penny is a maid recently appointed to his household. She is determined to discover the evil she believes he is involved with, and in doing so get a reward from the Crown to help her free her mother from goal.
Liam is equally determined to gain access to the brotherhood known as the Devil’s Sons, to destroy it from the inside out. He is also a secret spy for the Queen. When these two come together sparks fly: Penny will not bow down to a Lord and Liam believes Penny is hiding her real purpose in his household.
An upstairs/downstairs style plot is not one which needs a lot of attention to understand what is going on, the racy sections of the story could be a little less, but overall it is a Regency Romance that makes an enjoyable read for relaxing afternoon.

Cute, funny and esay to read!
I really liked Penny and Liam, and the way their lovestory evolved.

I havent read the first books in this series, but it worked well as a standalone.

A thanks to NetGalley for the ARC