She sacrificed her future to save his life.
He survived only to return home and find she is betrothed to another.
Will her confessions set them both free?
Lady Grace made a bargain with the devil in exchange for information that would guarantee the safe return of the man that her heart refused to relinquish.
Matthew Stanford, The Marquess of Harrington, returns to England and retreats to his … the devil in exchange for information that would guarantee the safe return of the man that her heart refused to relinquish.
Matthew Stanford, The Marquess of Harrington, returns to England and retreats to his empty country manor to regain his strength. His days were preoccupied with devising plans that would see the man responsible for his brutal imprisonment pay the ultimate price for his misdeeds. But at night, the woman whose image helped him survive plagued his dreams.
They had once worked together as a cohesive team. Will revenge and jealousy prevent the couple from doing so again? Or will her confessions of love be the driving factor that compels them to join forces once more?
Confessions of Lady Grace is the final book in the Agents of the Home Office series. An intriguing, heartwarming novel with unexpected twists and surprises. Guaranteed to tug on your heartstrings.
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Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. I felt every emotion. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last. Simply a GREAT read!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
ONE FABULOUS THRILL RIDE
Outstanding! Rachel weaves a web around you so intricately and precise, drawing you deeper into this heartfelt wonder and pulling the strings, spinning in all the passion, desire and spicy touches, propelling this baby to life flawlessly. A roaring whirlwind of vexing exigencies and perplexing events, observing the arduous trials and heart pounding triumphs, stumbling through the daunting twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. Trudging a minefield of daring drama, unnerving situations, perilous intrigue, escalating danger and spiraling suspense, traversing the cunning manipulations of vicious iniquity, malicious deeds and heinous intents, propelling this baby to a whole new level. intents, propelling this baby to a whole new level. The magnetism, attraction and chemistry collides with such intensity, unmasking profound emotions, drawing our characters closer, binding them to one another beautifully. The characters are complex and genuine with traits and qualities that add depth and diversity, transforming into charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and vivid descriptions that feel as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Rachel, thanks for sharing this lil’ fella with us.
The conclusion of the 4 part series is a moving, heartfelt story. Many twists and turns leaves the reader reading long into the night. Surprises kept my interest and the characters were portrayed in such a way that I cared deeply about their lives. A wonderful story with lots of excitement and romance!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lady Grace made a bargain with the devil in exchange for information that would guarantee the safe return of the man that she loves. Matthew Stanford, The Marquis of Harrington, returns to England and retreats to his country estate to regain his strength & recover from nearly two years as a prisoner. His thoughts of Grace helped him survive.
This is the final book in the series it could be read on its own but to fully understand about PORFs and the different relationships I would recommend starting with the first book & read in order. Matthew & Grace are meant to be together & their love has endured over the two years he was a prisoner but Grace is now betrothed to someone else & the villain is still at large. A well written book that answered most of the questions I’d had throughout the series. Strong characters with the good guys being lovely & the villain horrid. I really liked Matthew & Grace & thoroughly enjoyed the rocky road to their HEA. I was drawn in from the start & my interest was held all the way through
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
An exhilarating finish to a fantastic debut series. With powerful female leads and the men who are their match in every way, the Agents of the Home Office books provide hours of engaging reading.
Confessions of Lady Grace ties everything up neatly in a story loaded with twist-filled adventure and schemes.
The full review is on my blog Carpe Diem Chronicles.
Confessions of Lady Grace is the fourth and final book in author Rachel Ann Smith’s series, Agents of the Home Office. This story focuses on Matthew Stanford, The Marquess of Harrington & Lady Grace Oldridge, two characters who we met at the beginning of this series. Both characters have played predominant roles in the previous books and there has been an underlying current of something between them that I was anxious to find out about. Although I do believe their story could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire series to get to meet all the wonderful previous characters and understand the plotline better.
So we finally get Grace & Matthew’s story! I’ve been watching this couple in the previous books in the series and was hoping we would get to see them finally get together and gain their HEA. Ms. Smith did a wonderful job with the storyline and bringing these two characters together. I loved seeing all the past characters from the previous books and catching up with them and their situations. Grace’s relationship with her father was heartwarming and how she dealt with his dementia made me love her even more. She was a fabulous, strong young woman who had a lot to deal with. It’s obvious that these two characters love each other but both had their obstacles to overcome.
This was such a fabulous conclusion to this series. Although I’m sad to see this series end, I can’t wait to read Ms. Smith’s next series, The Hadfields! The Hadfields start out with a character from this current series and I’m dying to get his story, Landon Neale, the Earl of Hadfield. But until the new series comes out, I highly recommend you pick up this book and check out the Agents of the Home Office series. Rachel Ann Smith did a wonderful job with this series and all the characters. An extremely enjoyable read!
Rachel Ann Smith
Confessions of Lady Grace: A Steamy Regency Romance (Agents of the Home Office Book 4)
This romance has spies, action and intrigue.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was totally enthralling. I read it in one sitting. The story was beautifully written I felt as if I was there experiencing everything Grace was feeling. A must read for anyone who loves a book that connects to their heart. A must read!
I reI received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The fourth book in the Agents of the Home Office series a well written suspense story that kept me turning pages. This is Matthew Stanford, Marquess of Harrington and Lady Grace’s story, there is suspense, drama, danger, evil, villains, secrets, torture, and a second chance. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lady Grace and Matthew, Marquess of Harrington play a dangerous spy game to punish the traitor who tried to kill him off and keep her from marrying his son. There were plenty of twists and turns and suspenseful moments in this steamy Regency spy romance. I felt for Matthew who has post traumatic stress after being imprisoned and tortured. It is not necessary to read the previous books in this series to follow this story, but it is helpful to better understand the characters and spy network.
Lady Grace Oldridge, better known as Madam Foreign Secretary, yearns for the lover she hasn’t seen for two years. Matthew, Marquess of Harrington, returned to England after captivity and torture in Spain. Little does he know that the woman he’s never stopped loving was blackmailed in return for his release. A common enemy of the Home Office, Lord Burke holds all the cards for Grace to marry his son, Tobias.. or does he? What is this secret group known as PORF and the connection with the crown jewels?
A passionate love story with the twists and turns of spies and lies.
Can be read as a standalone, but there are connecting characters in this series with women equally as strong as the men in their work for the Crown.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
A great plot with great twists.
This is not a sweet little Regency romance no this one has a bit of a bite to it and it was so good. This last installment in the Agents of the Home Office series was the best one yet. In this piece, Grace must sacrifice her freedom, any happiness that she may have, and her future to save captive agents. One of those agents is the man she loves with her whole heart. Full of action and danger you so want the fates to smile down on Matthew and Grace. This book was splendid and a great addition to a wonderful series. If you have the other books you need to pick this one up, but if you are new to this series pick up all the books in the series you will glad you did. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
It’s a matter of trust…and following orders.
And deals with a devil, of course.
Grace and Matthew worked together, but then things get convoluted and well, Matthew is imprisoned and Grace ends up…having secrets.
He’s driven by revenge. She wants answers.
It’s a matter of trust, remember?
Recommend.
If you like a romance with action, spies, and a great plot, then this is definitely the book for you. I loved how well the action and plot were written and how the characters fit perfectly with the story. I couldn’t imagine them any other way! The romance, though definitely steamy, was still sweet and perfect. The characters complemented each other perfectly. The story was full of action and unexpected moments. I haven’t read the other books in this series yet, but I will definitely be reading them soon. I definitely recommend this book and suggest you read this soon!
Although I enjoyed this book, I think I would have got greater enjoyment if I had read the previous books in the series. There were rather a lot of names to grapple with at first. There are a number of plots that are happening, involving different people, all in the attempt to bring down the villain. Grace and Matthew have a number of things to sort out between them. I hope more is told of Mr. Jones in future books, as well as how Tobias got on. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Confessions of Lady Grace
A Steamy Regency Romance Agents of the Home Office Series #4
Rachel Ann Smith
https://www.facebook.com/rachelannsmit11/
Release date 08/20/2020
Publisher Penford Publishing
Blurb :
She sacrificed her future to save his life.
His life means nothing without her.
Will her confessions set them both free to love?
Lady Grace’s bargain with the devil guaranteed the life of the man she will always love, but the price was giving him up forever. Now Matthew has returned to England, and she finds it impossible to let him go.
Freed from a hellish prison on the Continent, Matthew Stanford, Marquess of Harrington, retreats to his country manor. His days obsessed with thoughts of exacting revenge upon the man responsible for his captivity. His nights are plagued by memories of Lady Grace, the woman whose image spurred him to survive—and who replaced Matthew with another as soon as he was out of her sight.
Once they worked together, as close as two people can be. Now jealousy and wounded pride keep them apart. When Lady Grace’s confessions compel them to look past their broken hearts, they join forces to exact the revenge they both desperately crave—and perhaps find their way back to love.
Confessions of Lady Grace is the final book in the Agents of the Home Office series. An intriguing, heartwarming novel with unexpected twists and surprises. Guaranteed to tug on your heartstrings.
My review :
When she would pay any price for her lover’s freedom, will he understand it …
As I have only read the previous book, so it is certain I missed some of the previous events that landed the heroes to their today’s circumstances.
Yet the author took time to summarize it.
Which is very useful as all the couples previously lionized in the first three books have a role here.
But it still not the end as a sequel series will continue the other enigmatic characters story.
While Lady Mary’s tale was a rollercoaster of a road trip, Lady Grace’s is a drama with the up and down linked to Society’s rivalry, everyone wanting a piece of the cake.
Grace is a follow to the letter the rules kind of woman, since she took unofficially her father’s role, managing his agents crew and the many missions. Until she has no other choice to make a bargain with the Devil to free the man she loves.
And now she must pay her due.
She has a very loving relationship with her aging father, and treats him with respect and love in his moment of lucidity.
Mathew is in some way the opposite of Grace, a driven man, impulsive which landed him in his actual predicament. Yet unknown to him the price Grace has to pay for his freedom when he only sees her as fickle.
He came back a different man, broken and only now powered by revenge.
I had my moments at being upset at both of them, at Grace for letting their relationship fester by not telling him the truth sooner, and at Matthew for selfishly choosing his own goal over his love.
But their love is stronger than everything and everyone’s manipulation if they can find a way to overcome every impediment sets against them.
Now I am left with question about Mr Jones and Tobias, and I do hope they will be featured in the upcoming series.
4.25 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author and here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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Confessions of Lady Grace weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of intrigue, revenge, suspense and love that will hold you spellbound from the moment you begin the journey with Matthew and Grace until the very end! Rachel Ann Smith has written a hearthelt story that brims with tension-building twist, characters that are well thought out and each one comes across clearly as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale, with appearances from characters from the previous novels, and great dialogue which brings this read together perfectly. Since Matthew has returned from the continent, from a diabolical prison, he finds Grace betrothed to the traitorous Lord Burke’s son. As their feelings are swirling around and around their world turns upside down and right side up not knowing if they will be able to be together finally! As the conspiracy unfolds beautifully with drama, searing passion, grief, trials and tribulations, turmoil and the uncertainties build and tensions escalate with twist and turns abound that will keep you guessing until the end in this outstanding story!
Series: Agents of the Home Office #4
Publication Date: 8/20/20
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I’m bummed that it is the last book in the series. Of course, there is a new series on the way and it is related to this one. So, I’ll be excited to see how that goes, but we have to wait until next year for it. The author tried to wrap up the loose ends with this book, but I was still left with some questions – or maybe I just didn’t like the author’s solutions – who knows?
Let me say that it is better if you read the entire series – in order. The story builds, the characters are filled out and the villain is for the entire series. You CAN start with a book other than the first one, but you won’t get the full understanding of what a PORF is, the organization behind it, the people in the organization, etc. There are a lot of characters in each book – and more than one storyline – so it is probably easier to keep up with all of that if you already understand what is going on in the background. All of that said – I think I could have picked up this book as the first one in the series and I still would have enjoyed it.
If you read the earlier books, you know that somewhere in each book (usually toward the end), one of the agents would take off for the continent against the orders of the Home Office and/or the Foreign Office. Those agents were all captured in Spain and held for over a year until Lady Grace Oldridge made a deal with the devil to free them. That deal will cost Grace her happiness, her freedom, and her future, but it will save the one and only man she’s ever (or will ever) love. The deal? She must marry the son of the villain of the series.
Matthew Stanford, Marquess of Harrington, is the man Lady Grace sacrificed her future for – but he doesn’t know what she did. He only knows that the woman that he’s loved his entire life is now betrothed to the son of his worst enemy. How could she just give up on them like that? Granted, he shouldn’t have taken off as he did – and gotten himself captured – but, for her to just stop loving him and betroth herself to another is unforgivable. He spent the better part of a year being tortured and his body is now scarred and he’s bent on revenge against the series villain who is responsible for Matthew’s capture. Maybe he doesn’t really have room in his life for Grace anyway…
Matthew finds that he cannot avoid Grace and as they have to work together to solve some other issues, he realizes she’s not willingly or happily betrothed – and then he learns why she’s betrothed. As they work together with the other agents to finally bring the villain to an end, they also work toward their own HEA.
I really liked these two characters and I loved that they got their HEA. I loved the story as well, it was well-written, well-paced and all of the supporting characters were wonderful. I particularly loved Grace’s father who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. I loved how he and Grace dealt with each other. The book had a little bit of everything – mystery, vile villain, secrets, and a little bit of steam – what isn’t to love. Don’t expect any historical correctness in the book, but it is still a fun read.
I have to wonder if we’ll ever learn any more about Mr. Jones and Lord Ellingsworth. They just up and left for America yet Ellingsworth is now the head of one of the PORF families – so what happens there? Then Jones – I thought he was a little cold to leave as he did and when he did – he’d just met his sister after all. So, I’m hoping in the next series, The Hadfields, we will be offered some more insights because that series is also about the PORF group.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the fourth and last book in the Agents of the Home Office series. This has really been an amazing series and I am sad to see it end. If you’ve missed any of the books, then you definitely want to go back and read them all. What I love about this book and the whole series is the powerful female leads and heroes that are their perfect match. This is definitely a well-written and compelling story. With all the conflict and drama that Lady Grace encounters, I was entirely captivated by this story and could not put it down. This is truly a page-turner and had me engrossed in the story all the way through. I enjoyed this story and I will definitely be looking forward to Ms. Smith’s next series!
I was gifted an advanced reader’s copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Heroine Anachronistic; Conflict Easily Resolvable
Though the author did not make this 100% clear in the book description, this is not a stand-alone book. As this is the first book I have read in this series, I found myself utterly confused at the beginning of the book about who all the distinct characters were (both seen and mentioned) and their shared histories. Honestly, I think authors should provide little explanations here and there in a book like this, even for those who have read the previous books, as romance readers are voracious—reading many books between installments of a single series—and at least a month goes by between installments of a series, making the readers apt to forget the details unless the author reminds them. In this case, there were 5 months between series’ installments.
I loved the way the heroine treated her father, who is clearly suffering from dementia. Other than that, I didn’t really like the heroine. She didn’t come across to me as a true Regency heroine. For one thing, she seemed far too modern. It’s hard to imagine a Regency lady doing all that she did, both personally (giving away her virtue before marriage or betrothal) or professionally (a woman just would not have had such power or commanded such respect). Honestly, it seems inconceivable. It drove me up a tree that the couple’s entire problem hinged on her not having an honest discussion with the hero, though she struck out on that first night to do so. It wasn’t really made clear why she changed her mind at the last minute. I just don’t like books that hinge on problems that can be easily solved. Kind of makes the book feel like a waste of time for me. A chasm so easily crossed is not really a chasm at all. Because I didn’t like the heroine and what kept them apart was ridiculous, I didn’t enjoy this story.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.