From USA Today Bestselling author Darcy Burke, your next Regency obsession: The Pretenders! Set in Burke’s popular 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?Book One: A Secret SurrenderA survivor of the mean streets … mean streets of London’s East End, Selina Blackwell has learned to be a chameleon, and in her current iteration as a fortune-teller, she’s able to provide a Season for her sister. Only, Madame Sybila can’t be a chaperone, so Selina takes on another identity as the proper Lady Gresham. But when a Bow Street Runner takes too much of an interest in her business, it seems the crimes of her past will finally come to light.
Determined to prove that Madame Sybila is a fraud bent on fleecing London’s elite, Harry Sheffield enlists the help of the alluring Lady Gresham in exchange for introducing her to Society’s best. With his busy career and aspirations for the future, Harry has no time for marriage, but an affair is just right—until he discovers the lady’s disarming secret. Whatever his feelings for her, he can’t ignore who she is and who she’s been. And when she holds the key to the one case he couldn’t solve, he must choose justice or love.
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Many secrets, lies, and gritty characters make for a book you can’t put down. I was hooked from the start with their first meeting and the instant attraction between them. This story continues the mystery of “the vicar” from the last book in The Spitfire Society series and it was a twist I never saw coming when it was all revealed.
Selina and Harry are made for each other and everyone can see it, but all the secrets hanging over them could destroy everything between them. I loved how the chemistry between them kept things light and pulled them from darkness when needed. They needed more than an affair and their love helped them find the truth in everything.
Selina has lost her true self over the years after having to do anything to survive and overcome the past. I loved her from the start because she did what she had to but also wanted to make things right and help people. She finally found her true self and the love she deserved.
Harry may come from a completely different upbringing than Selina, but he cares for people and wants justice for a crime that others forgot about. He knew deep down that he couldn’t let her go. I loved him from the start because he cares about those that others don’t seem too.
Copy provided for an honest and voluntary review.
A compelling love story about Salina who grew up in abject poverty fighting to survive anyway she can, even into adulthood, and Harry who is a Bow Street runner on the right side of the law. When Harry discovers the dishonest nature of Selina, he has to decide is he can accept, and forgive, illegal acts Selina performed as she struggled to make a life.
“I’m just wild about Harry…”
Wow! Darcy Burke’s A Secret Surrender is a bright, entertaining, first offering in her new series The Untouchables: The Pretenders. She provides two engaging, main characters that I loved. Harry Sheffield is a constable for Bow Street and also the son of an Earl. He has become my latest, new book boyfriend. His protagonist is Selina Blackwell, a woman with an unusual background and upbringing. Selina has a talent for adopting many personas. She has done so to survive. Harry is anxious to prove that Madame Sybila, the fortune teller, is a fraud. And, why is he drawn to Lady Selina Gresham? His regimented life, lived according to rules is upended. There are mysteries and murders to solve. The writing and dialogue flow well in this work with an interesting trope. The secondary characters were great and integral to the plot. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it. I was gifted an ARC of A Secret Surrender which in no way affects my voluntary review. All opinions stated are my own. Book Rating: 4 ½ stars; Heat rating: 3 ½ – 4 stars.
A Secret Surrender by Darcy Burke
The Pretenders #1
What would you do to survive? Would you lie, cheat, steal, run cons, do whatever it took to save yourself and someone you cared for as deeply as a sister? Some would and some think they would not and yet…in a situation like that my guess is that a child might do what it took to keep body and soul together. Selina was lucky enough to have a slightly older brother by her side for the early years of her life on the streets and the skills she learned stood her in good stead when she and her friend Beatrix found themselves alone and in need of a way to make a living. We don’t hear much about those years as the book begins when the two women have already made it to London so Beatrix can have a season and make her mark. But will either Selina or Beatrix achieve what they set out to do?
What I liked:
* Selina: savvy, capable, intelligent, willing, and able to do what it took. She didn’t plan to fall in love with Harry but fall in love she did.
* Harry: intelligent, loves to solve puzzles, knows the law, sees in black and white…until he meets Selina and shades of gray appear. He did not plan to fall in love with Selina but fall in love he did.
* Beatrix: a woman with sticky fingers but a heart of gold. I really want to see what happens when her story is told in book two.
* Rafe: Intriguing brother of Selina that I need to know more about – can’t wait to read his story!
* Harry’s family: what a blessing they are and so much fun. I am wondering if perhaps Jeremy, Harry’s twin, might end up married in this series, too.
* Maggie: a bit player but one that was key to the story. I hope she and her brother managed a better life.
* The way Selina managed to make a life for herself and Beatrix – her strength of will was amazing.
* The relationship between Harry and Selina was believable and real and I was hoping they would manage their HEA by the end of the story.
What I did not like:
* That Rafe and Selina had their future stolen from them – do want to know more about how that happened.
* The evil men that were revealed at the end of the book – I was glad they were caught.
* Having to say goodbye to the cast of characters knowing it will be awhile before book two is ready to read.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely!
Thank you to NetGalley and Darcy Burke Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Selina Blackwell has learned to do anything she can to survive, and lately she’s posing as the fortune-teller Madame Sybila in order to fleece the ton’s wealthy. She needs the money so she can provide a Season for her sister. In order to chaperone her sister, she also becomes the very proper Lady Gresham. But when a Bow Street Runner Harry Sheffield takes too much of an interest in her business, her schemes could start to unravel. The more time Selina spends in Harry’s company, the more she’s attracted to him. Can she balance her life of crime with her growing feelings for Harry?
I really enjoyed this story especially since it didn’t all unfold amidst glittering Society balls. I loved Harry. He was so honorable and a perfect hero. I felt bad for him when he was so spectacularly betrayed by those closest to him. Ms. Burke makes Selina a likable character even though she was a criminal. Without any spoils in this review, I was pleasantly surprised by how all the different plot lines were tied up. I love stories about Bow Street Runners and this one was an excellent start to a new series from Ms. Burke.
I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
A woman who grew up POOR. Her best friend is now her ‘sister’ and she is trying to launch her into society. But they need money and a scam seems to be the only way to raise it. Until one her ‘clients’ husband asks his son to check her out . . . . and she has to scam him too. Can this turn out good for any of them?? Lots of twists and turns before the good happens!
A con woman, Selina, confronts bow street runner Harry as she tries to give her sister a season. Harry and Selina realize they have a mutual interest in each other as well as in an old unsolved murder. I thought that Harry was a little too understanding when he finds out Selina has lied about everything she is. I received an Arc from NetGalley and Darcy Burke Publishing for my honest review.
Selina, a girl raised on the streets, pretends to be a widowed lady and fortune teller. She is trying to help her friend get a husband. she meets bow Street Runner Lord Harry, who is investigating the fortuneteller to make sure she is not cheating his mother. Good plot.
This is the first book in the new series The Pretenders, by Darcy Burke. This book to me was a little different then some of her other books, it had more intrigue. This book is about Selina who grew up on the streets and had to lie and steal to survive. She is pretending to be a fortune-teller to give her sister a season. Selina is very smart, calculating and always planning her next steps. Harry Sheffield, a son of a Earl, is a constable for Bow Street and starts to investigate the fortune-teller his mother is going to. Don’t get me wrong, Harry is a nice guy and I liked his character, but I felt he was a little too easily deceived by Selina, I thought he as a Bow Street Constable should have been a little more on to all the deceit Selina was doing. Darcy Burke writes a story so intriguing I did not want to put it down, I needed to find out what happened next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was an entertaining read with engaging characters. Harry Sheffield is an excellent Bow Street Runner and his investigations bring him into contact with Selina Blackwell. Selina has a complicated background and although Selina and Harry are every attracted to each other, there are things in Selina’s life that could cause severe problems. I had no idea how things could be resolved. Harry does have a very interfering family but they are looking out for his best interests. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
A wonderful start to this series with glimpses of past characters. Harry is steadfast in his search for justice, first as a barrister and now as a Bow Street investigator. Selina is a woman playing many roles in order to survive. Their paths cross as his father sends him to investigate his mother’s dealings with her. It becomes a game trying to hide her true self from him while trying to keep from falling in love as well. Darcy Burke has once again created in Selina a flawed character that is still lovable. Despite all the horrible things that has happened to her she has not lost her humanity and can still feel remorse and love deeply. It is a great story of family and forgiveness with a lovely happy ending.
Ms Burke loves to present herself a writing challenge and she does it so well. This story is the journey of a Bow Street Runner and a woman chameleon who will do anything to survive. You can see the train wreck coming in the first chapter but I’m still compelled to read to see how she crafts a very satisfying happily-ever-after from this set up. This is a well crafted book.
Selina Blackwell grew up on the streets of London, stealing with her brother to survive. She had a few breaks in her life that allowed her to get an education and skills to become the mistress of disguise she is today. When we meet her she’s playing two roles, Madame Sybila a fortune teller and Lady Gresham who is launching her younger sister’s first season in London. As Madame Sybila she tells rich society ladies fortunes and solicits funds for an imaginary charity for wayward children. These funds allow she and her sister-of-the-heart, Beatrix to pretend to be society ladies. Selina is seeking two things. One, to find the person that caused her brother’s death. And secondly to reunite Beatrix with her natural father the Duke of Ramsgate and hopefully find her a titled husband. She soon finds herself in the investigations of Henry Sheffield, Bow Street Runner, who is determined to prove Madame Sybilla a thief.
Henry Sheffield is the younger identical twin, therefore second son of The Earl of Aylesbury. He was a barrister and now is a Bow Street Investigator. He has a strong sense of right and wrong and seeks to further justice. It has come to his father’s attention the Lady Aylesbury is giving funds to Madame Sybila who he’s sure is a thief and fraud. He asks Henry to look into the matter. Selina had learned to keep her enemies close and so starts the twisted path to keep Henry from discovering her rouse.
This story tumbles along a path that keeps Selina on her toes and Henry befuddled by Selina’s deceptions. Along the way they get to know each other and fall deeper in love. What a well crafted and captivating story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.
A Secret Surrender, by Darcy Burke, will be available at booksellers on 8-7-2020. This is book 1 in the new Pretenders series. I’d say it’s off to a good start. We’re given a straight laced Bow Street Runner, Harry Sheffield. He’s a guy who is constantly looking for the next thing to catch his interest, keep him from being bored but also to be useful. He went from being a barrister to runner, that’s a big cut in pay. He works and keeps to himself. Our heroine is Selina, with lots of identities, so what’s her real last name, who is she really. Cons and deception and hustles are how to make money to survive. She needs a safe place to land. They seem like an impossible couple and it starts out that way. Attraction turns into admiration that turns into hot flirting. The next story, A Scandalous Bargain, is out in October 2020. It carries the story on from here with another family member.
#DarcyBurke #Netgalley #historicalromance #romance #bowstreetrunners #ThePrentenders
Selina Blackwell is pretending to be Madame Sybila and Lady Gresham. She was dealt a negative lot in life and spent her younger years immersed in crime while growing up in the bad part of town. After her brother Rafe sent her away to school she met Beatrix. Beatrix is the bastard daughter of the Duke of Ramsgate and has become quite adept at stealing jewelry over the years. Although Beatrix is not her blood sister they struck up a sisterly relationship at school and during the years that followed. Because they have no one to rely on but themselves they resort to thievery and Selina tells fortunes as Madame Sybila. As Lady Gresham, Selina wants to introduce her sister Beatrix into London society. So this is the life they have lived in order to stay safely away from the scumbags of the world, keep food on their table and a roof over their heads.
Harry Sheffield, bow street runner and second son of the Earl of Aylesbury, is investigating fortune teller Madame Sybila. His mother has been seeing Madame Sybila and his father is not happy about it. He thinks she is a charlatan and wants Harry to prove him right.
Harry has literally just ran into Selina as Lady Gresham. She knows he is watching Madame Sybila and is keeping an eye out for him so he does not discover all her secrets. But they are attracted to each other and actually begin a relationship where they are trying to help solve the mystery of the Saffron Hill fire. Selina believes her brother died in the fire and Harry lost a young woman in the fire who he was trying to help.
If you have read any of Darcy Burke recent books you will remember some of the supporting characters that appear in this book. I do have to say I really love the Sheffield family. They tease, they worry, and they love which you can see through their conversations and actions.
I couldn’t get into this one right away, but the further along the story progressed the more I was able to enjoy it more and more. I think this is due to the fact that even though there were few options for these ladies they were still taking advantage of people that they were also befriending at the same time. On the other hand if Selina would have just come out and admitted to her secrets it would have made for a super boring story. Even though it was not my favorite of her books it was still a good read with a little mystery. We all want our happily ever afters and to know that forgiveness for our sins will always be granted. This is part of the reason why we read, to believe in what may never happen in reality. I am not sure what path Beatrix’s life will take, but I am very interested to see who may tame Rafe! I received an ARC of this book and chose to post my review.
A Secret Surrender is a phenomenal historical romance by Darcy Burke. Ms. Burke has given readers a book that will keep them glued to their e-readers with this well-written book. Kudos to Ms. Burke for the spectacular cast of characters in this book. Selina and her brother lost their parents at a young age and moved to London with their “uncle.” They learned to lie, pick pockets, scam, cheat and do anything to stay alive until Selina’s brother sent her off to school where she’d be safe. Harry is a constable for Bow Street and is investigating his mother’s fortune teller and a fire that happened years ago. Harry and Selina’s story is loaded with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense. I loved this book from cover to cover and look forward to reading more from Darcy Burke in the future. A Secret Surrender is book 1 of The Pretenders Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Bookfunnel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wow! What a way to start a series. This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat through the entire story. A Secret Surrender is the story of Selina Blackwell, a young lady who by day is the fortune-teller Madame Sybila. Selina has a very troubled past which is hinted at throughout the story. Harry Sheffield, a Bow Street Runner, is investigating Madame Sybila and Selina, “Lady Gresham” accidentally trips in front of him whereby Harry catches her. The relationship between Selina and Harry is a house of cards and you keep waiting for them to tumble down. Slowly you see the character of Selina unfold as Harry investigates Madame Sybila. We are introduced to many side characters that help build the story, but the story between Harry and Selina is incredible. A Secret Surrender is one of those stories where you find yourself so absorbed you forget to go to bed!
Adventure wraps itself around you as it steals away with your heart. Selina and Harry are a captivating pair. Chess is their game of choice and there’s always a twist waiting to upset the game. Burke exercises more than the heart with her unpredictable storytelling. She puts the mind to work as well. A Secret Surrender is a stunning whirlwind of danger, romance and emotion that pulls readers into a dynamic seduction that is hard to break free of.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Growing up on the streets of East London, Selina Blackwell learned to play whatever role was necessary to survive. Her latest disguise is that of a fortune teller whose income she supplements with donations to a supposed home for orphans. But since she needs to chaperone her adopted sister’s London season, Selina also takes on the identity of a respectable widow, Lady Gresham. When a Bow Street Runner takes a keen interest in her endeavors, Selina is left grasping to keep her crimes and her past secret.
Since his mother has developed the habit of visiting the fortune teller Madame Sybila, Bow Street Runner Harry Sheffield has been asked by his father, the Earl of Aylesbury, to investigate the woman’s legitimacy. Since the fortune teller refuses male clients, Harry enlists the beautiful widow, Lady Gresham, to help him. Selina agrees since she can’t turn her nose up at the chance to develop connections to the aristocracy. Harry is too busy with his work to want marriage, but he’s eager to begin an affair with the lovely Selina, until he begins to discover the truth of her as her secrets unravel. Harry finds himself torn between his work, what he knows of crime and criminals, and his feelings for Selina, especially when he learns she has information that could help him solve the case that has haunted him for the past four years. Harry is left to choose between his sense of justice and the one woman to ever stir thoughts of forever in him.
This was quite an interesting story, but it took awhile for me to get into it. This was quite different from Darcy’s other books and, while I loved Harry, I struggled to like Selina. She kept up her lies for too long and missed a lot of perfect opportunities to confide in Harry. Her reasons were somewhat understandable and justifiable up until the end when it became apparent she had someone who would be happy to support her, but she turned this down and continued her crimes out of pride. Nonetheless, I couldn’t hate her, she just didn’t quite live up to where I wanted her to be. After the betrayal he faced, I’m amazed Harry could trust at all and he’s definitely a special hero. I also appreciated that much of this story was Selina figuring out who she truly was beneath her lies and false identities and I liked the idea of her starting anew, honestly with Harry and of him having someone to care for him for a change. I loved the twists and turns of this story and look forward to Beatrix’s and Rafe’s stories now, though I’m most excited by Beatrix’s hero.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Harry Sheffield, grew up as the youngest twin son of the Earl of Aylesbury, but he never enjoyed the rules and functions of the Ton. He was educated be a barrister – a position he remained at for several years but it did not fulfil him. Harry had a deep down belief of finding justice for people, so he became a Constable for Bow Street and found himself to be extremely happy in the position. His current investigation was one his father approached him about – his mother was going to a fortune teller and also donating to a charity Madame Sybila was promoting for orphaned children. His father believes Madame Sybila is a fraud and so is the charity.
Madame Sybila/Lady Gresham/Selina Blackwell are some of the names she has used throughout her life but who and where is the real Selina? She grew up on the harsh streets of London and was put to work as a pickpocket as soon as she was old enough – her brother sent her away to a girls school when she was a teen and there was talk of putting her to work as a prostitute. It was here she met her sister, not by blood but they shared in everything. Selina was hired as a governess when she was older and her employer raped her and she ran away. She went back to the school and helped her sister, Beatrix, escape and they have stayed together since that time. Now they are in London, Selina is portraying Madame Sybila/Lady Selina Gresham at the same time and nothing good can come from the investigation Madame Sybila.
When Harry and Selina run into to each other (literally), there is an instant attraction. The questions the intelligent constable has for her and the sly fox that she is from growing up on the streets is very entertaining. Who will win in the end – our honest, honorable and intelligent hero or our lying, deceiving, fraudulent heroine? I will leave you to read the book and find out but it is full of lies, fraud, thievery, deception, murder, arson – and yes, explosive hot romance between Harry and Selina! Darcy Burke has given her readers an excellent story that moves along at a good pace to keep your tuning pages and the main and secondary characters were likable and well fleshed out. I will be looking forward to Beatrix and Rafe’s story in the future.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
Intriguing romance, full of surprises!
Other than having confidence that we’ll get a terrific HEA in the end (which we certainly DO), nothing about this book is the least bit predictable. The story is filled with twists and turns and surprises that made me go back and re-read sections right away to see the foreshadowing events through a more knowledgeable lens.
At the heart of it all is a set of hearts – Harry’s and Selina’s – that are weary and guarded and yet still filled with hope. These two are thrust into each other’s lives and from the very beginning, the deceptions and secrets are only surpassed by the sizzling attraction and soul-deep connection they share. Every scene, every dialogue reveals a little bit more of the mysteries and made this book a truly non-stop, can’t-put-down book addiction.
Family is a solid theme throughout the book, and it encompasses all forms of how families are made. Rather than the common approach of book heroes having tragic lone-survivor-type backstories, I appreciated the breadth and depth of Harry’s extended family. Selina’s family, too, figures prominently in the story, but of course in a much different manner.
Themes of right-vs-wrong, the crime of poverty, the dearth of survivable options for orphans (especially girls), betrayal and trust, and the overall interdependence of all the classes are touched upon throughout the book. This is a truly immersive story, one that is guaranteed to induce a book hangover and make you wonder just what year it is when you resurface to your normal life.
I loved every bit of of this delightful romance, but I especially rejoiced at the final triumph. And it’s worth noting that I don’t think I’ve ever read a marriage proposal that included so many names! This is not just a stellar Regency romance; it’s such a timeless tale that it could be set at any point in history and still resonate with its readers.
Read this one, read the previous books (The Spitfire Society series), and mark your calendars for the upcoming books featuring the rest of the Pretenders who we met in this book. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.