Talk about a reformed bad boy. Rafe Blackwell, like any man it seems, is rather reluctant into admitting how much he truly likes Anne Pemberton. A distraction he doesn't need, as his focus is very much on finding his heritage, and revenge.

Anne thought she would never see Rafe again, and now he seems to pop up everywhere she goes. She is rather persistent, and I love how she is there for him. Trying to help him in any way she can, while also trying to convince him that their mutual attraction isn't a hassle, but rather a blessing. One time with more success, than the other.

A Rogue To Ruin was an excellent historical romance. I loved the main characters, and the secondary characters from previous books (even though I haven't read those, yet). Besides the romance, there definitely is an element of mystery as well. Trying to uncover what happened to him, his sister, and their parents. It was all quite exciting, with some nice twists and turns.

*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Discoveries!

I loved that bad boy Rafe Blackwell (Bowles) met the woman he finds irresistible in a bookstore. Anne Pemberton has suffered a setback, well really a close escape, when her fiancé turns out to be a crook, an extortionist. She was left at the altar. (Rafe was involved in this). Needless to say society places their disapproval on Anne.
Anne’s not worried. “Much to [her] parents’ horror, she’d declared herself a spinster and moved into a house in Cavendish Square owned by her friend Phoebe, who was now the Marchioness of Ripley.”
Unfortunately her godfather is worried by her declaration of independence and seems to be pushing her towards engaging in social events.
Meanwhile Rafe is hiding a secret, a tawdry background in the underbelly of London, abut how he arrived there and who he is is clouded. He has been searching for information he can only see in dreams.
As Rafe and Anne become more closely involved with each other their world is about to be shocked.
A pleasing read where secrets have power and surface impressions are not always true.

A Darcy Burke Publication ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

A Rogue to Ruin by Darcy Burke is the third and last book in her Pretenders Series. I loved the entire series and highly recommend reading them all! Our heroine is also a supporting character in a connected series (A Duke Will Never Do, The Spitfires Book 3). A Rogue to Ruin will however work as a fun stand alone with mystery, action and romance.

What I loved most in A Rogue to Ruin is the mystery of Rafe and Selina’s past. Two children saved from a fire only to become orphans scraping for survival on the streets of London. Rafe Blackwell was raised a thief and reinvented himself a few times over. He has remembered a bit from his childhood and is trying to piece the mystery together.

Anne Pemberton is such a kind person and is hiding out at her sister’s home til her “scandal” passes. In hopes of saving family reputation she was engaged to a man who was arrested for extortion on their wedding day. Prior to this, Anne had a poor chaperone who leaves her to herself at a bookstore once a week. There she meets “Lord Bodyguard” who she falls for but leaves behind when she becomes engaged.

This book is definitely best in series and I couldn’t put it down! The romance and mystery are so beautifully written and interwoven. Once you pick up this book you will not be able to put it down! I loved Anne and Rafe’s chemistry. Loose ends from the series get tied up as well in such a satisfying way. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Darcy Burke for the ARC in exchange for a review.

I could not gobble this book down fast enough. All the tantalizing little hints about what was truly going on that we’d uncovered in previous volumes of the series, finally come into full light. And I was desperate to see how they’d all play out; what it would take to get the happy ever after I longed to see. It felt to me that Rafe’s story is told through moments of self-discovery. Even his relationship with Anne is about learning to love himself in spite of, possibly even because of, the choices of his past. Anne’s journey is also about discovery, but more about the people around her than herself. I loved where this story took us, and adored the way it ends. However, I hate that the series is over and I have to say “goodbye” to these characters now.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

This was such an enjoyable book. Two friends find each other only to lose touch. Anne is such a free spirit and enjoys life. Rafe is a lost soul. They become friends and explore together. Such an emotional ride! Can't wait for her next book.

Rafe Blackwell and Anne Pemberton meet, when he saves Anne from the attention of some unsavoury characters in a bookstore. From then on, they agree to keep their identity secret and share several afternoons, exploring parts of East London that Anne has never seen. To Anne, he is Lord Bodyguard and to him, she is Miss Dazzling. Yet when they part after sharing an unforgettable kiss, Anne cannot forget him. However, she agrees to marry another, only to find her soon to be husband, charged with criminal offences. When they meet again, Rafe finds himself facing his attraction to Anne, yet hiding his former life as a thief from her.
Whilst I enjoyed the previous two books, this was my favourite in the series. I loved both characters and I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of a romance between Rafe and Anne, when they discovered a friendship before their romance. Darcy Burke just continues to get better in the depth of her stories. She has created two wonder characters in Rafe and Anne. The gentleness that Rafe shows Anne is full of love and respect in its tenderness. This is in stark contrast to his life in East London, yet so very believable when he is with her. Anne’s enthusiasm for life and her love for Rafe, is difficult to suppress and yet, I found her confidence in him, the foundation for his ultimate belief in himself as a person.
This book was such a joy to read and it will definitely be one that I will keep to reread. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this unconventional Regency Romance! Stunning, suspenseful and sexy, this novel kept me guessing.

3/5 stars

This book is part of a series, and despite having not read the previous books, I did not feel lost or confused on any aspects. A Rogue to Ruin functions well as a standalone.

We are first introduced to Anne and Rafe when they meet at a bookshop. Rafe decides to show Anne some of the sights in London as they spend several afternoons together exploring. Despite the bond/friendship they form, Anne and Rafe don’t know each other’s names—preferring anonymity. However, despite their arrangement, Anne does not show one day.

Months later we find out our heroine Anne is ensconced in scandal after her betrothed was arrested at the altar for extortion. Living with her sister and brother-and-law, she is surprised to find the very man she met all those months ago, Rafe, show up at their doorstep.

Rafe is on a mission to figure out more about his past. Besides knowing he and his sister were saved from a fire that claimed their parents’ lives, his past is murky. Even more conflict and confusion is added when Rafe discovers who is actually is and that he is heir to an earldom. All the while Anne is determined to try to forge at least friendship between them again now that they have been reunited.

I found the pairing of Anne and Rafe to be lovely. They are quite contradictory in their personalities and histories. Anne is open and upfront raised as a gentleman’s daughter. Rafe keeps his secrets close and is uneasy to trust and grew up in East London stealing and committing crimes to survive. Personally, I adore this kind of dynamic for characters as it gives a balanced duality to their relationship.

Overall, I thought it was a good book. It was well written and that the plot was very solid. There is murder and betrayal, but also love and family. There is a little bit of mystery at first as well. As the book goes on you really warm up to the main characters. There are many layers to the story and while I don’t think it is completely necessary to have read the other books in the series, it does seem like they’d help for characterization for the side characters who are very involved in the plot/story as well.

My main complaint is that it felt like the relationship between Anne and Rafe wasn’t too fleshed out or established before Anne declared herself in love. At other moments, there was also some uncertainty of trying to figure out what Rafe really wanted as his thoughts and actions tended to contradict himself when it came to Anne.

After learning his true identify, former crime lord Rafe is eager to take back the place in society that's rightfully his. Yet he knows that a man with his dark past is not a proper match for an innocent gentlewoman. So he pushes away Anne, the mystery women he fell for even before he knew her name. She's having none of it—she's determined to have him. No other man has ever made her feel so daring and yet so protected. When he uncovers a murder plot, Rafe realizes that more is at stake than their hearts—now their lives are in danger, too.

I was happy to see Rafe get his HEA in this book. Despite his past, he's strong and honorable and devoted to making the world better for vulnerable orphans like he and Selina were. Anne is a good match for him, with her combination of innocence and worldliness. She refuses to give up on him, no matter what.

The plot is full of twists, yet the intrigue never overwhelms the romance. This is a fun, emotional story, and I hope this book isn't the end for these characters. Maybe we'll see North's story in an upcoming book!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Rafe Blackwell and Anne Pemberton come from completely different worlds: the former money-lending thief and the gently-bred lady. But the two find themselves unexpectedly drawn towards one another after a chance encounter at a bookshop. When they lose contact, neither could imagine the adventure that would bring them back together once more. Family secrets, scandal, stolen children and truths that are about to change the course of everyone's lives...but at what cost?

I really liked the fact that the main characters from the previous two novels of the series took such an active role in this one. The unnecessary amount of random swearing aside, I enjoyed the story being told here, though I did feel that some parts seemed rather abrupt.

The story itself was a sweet one. Despite their differences, Rafe and Anne seem to suit each other nicely. I like that Rafe didn't try to hide or deny his good deeds once Anne discovered them. He wasn't ashamed of the work he did for the orphans, though I did feel that the story sort of glossed over that as a means to an end. I would have liked to hear more from Annie and it would have been nice to see where that connection between her and Anne might lead. And whatever happens to Lorcan? He's just dropped from the storyline with a faint mention towards the end. I feel like I was left with quite a few unanswered questions, but not in that thought-provoking cliffhanger way.

I haven't read the two book in this series and I found this to be a bit of a detriment because there was a lot of backstory. Anne and Rafe relationship developed naturally and had some great spark at times.
An all round pleasant read!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Pemberton meets a man in the book store. She doesn't give her name and neither does he. They have a great time together every week at the same time. Rafe Bowles and his sister, Selina have survived by their wits from a young age when they were taken from their home during a fire. Now Anne has fallen in love with Rafe but he does not want any of it.
Rafe is out to find out who he really is. Anne's godfather holds the key. At some point Anne has to take sides. Which will she choose?

“I’m not proud of my past but I am proud I survived it.”

A tale about love and family secrets, where characters are not what they seem and loyalties will be put to test. More complex and serious than I usually go for, A Rogue to Ruin was still a solid historical romance if you enjoy a bit of drama and lovely characters.

Anne and Rafe meet by chance outside a bookshop. Anne is a lady and Rafe is a commoner, but their different backgrounds don’t prevent them from becoming friends.

“Where is your chaperone?”

“I don’t need one.” She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “You see, I’ve a bodyguard instead."

They don’t know each other's names, yet every week they meet at the same spot.
Until one day, Anne doesn’t show.

Rafe convinces himself it’s for the best, they couldn’t be together after all.
He can’t believe when, months later, while trying to discover the truth of his origins, their paths cross again.
Will they be able this time to stay away for each other? Or is it a chance they could finally be together?


I always enjoy kind characters. Both Anne and Rafe are generous, lovely and caring. They truly deserved each other. Their love is simple and pure, but it would have to overcome a lot of obstacles to finally triumph.

One of my favourite features in this book was that Rafe owned a bookshop and he provided orphans housing and employment there. I love children in books so, even though they only appear in a couple of scenes, I still fell for them. They tried to leave Anne and Rafe alone and spied on them, so if they kissed they would have to marry. It was so adorable!


“Mr. Bowles needs someone to look after him the way he looks after all of us.”


My only problem with their romance is that the first part of the book, when they first meet and fall in love, felt too short for me. I would have wanted a couple more scenes of them going from friends to lovers, since it was the key of the whole story.

The rest of the story was about discovering the identity of Rafe’s parents and, once they did, they had to prove who they really were. I find it a bit slow, but I’m not a fan of family dramas, so this kind of plot was not really for me.

Overall, it was a solid romance with likeable characters and a bit of drama. It was more complex, serious and realistic than the historical romances I usually pick, but I still enjoyed it. I only wish the part where they fall in love was longer.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written historical romance with kind characters and family drama.


She took his hand between hers. “You will never suffer again. Not while I draw my breath.(...) I told you that you’re mine. I protect what’s mine.”

Will the truth unleash forces set against them ...

I do think if I loved the row previous books, I just adored this one, it has everything to grip you from page one to the end.
A tale of lost innocence and betrayal only love can cure.
From the previous book, I had an inkling about where Rafe and his sister’s chase would lead them. Not the just the whys and hows.
Rafe is a man of many layers, he did what he had to to survive, he rose himself from the gutters by not being a weak kid, he fought and won but lost too, still he also tries with his own means to help other street urchins to come out of the poverty spiral by giving them a goal. Still he can’t shake him off from the thought he is a man from the slums just better dressed.
And after three decades of knowing only loss after loss, he can not bear the idea of following once again the path of more heartaches if it comes to naught.
Anne is the obedient girl with a wild streak, she follows the rules but is happy from time to time to turn them around. Thus how she had one of her most enjoyable time scouring the streets of London with a stranger who calls to her inner self. Yet she still obeyed and tried to make up for her elder sister’s failures in the eyes of her parents, but her own attempt turned a disaster too. And while she is not sad of the outcome, she wants something else and London’s Society seems to not be able to offer her a way out.
Until a second chance encounter.

Oh my!
How awesome they were together. Anne never shies away from a challenge, she is true to herself and does not lie. She tells what she thinks and acts like she wants.
She is the one seducing Rafe, at her own pace, under his guidance, she crumbles one brick at a time the walls he built around himself. She refuses his rebuff, and digs her way to his heart, yet never breaking through with force, only extending her hand and awaiting him to reach for it.
Rafe did everything to reject her, but she stands her own and drills her path with force of kindness, sympathy, innocent seduction and trust. So he is soon a man drowning and she becomes his lifeline to a different future.
The love scenes were sensual, scorching and filled with humour, everything to make you swoon but smile too.

On his quest for truth, he is never alone, his sister and “adoptive sister” are always close by, each supporting the other.
This is more than a romance, it is a tale of love in all its forms. Love from a man to a woman, love between siblings, love between friends.

So do not deny you a great moment, and follow Rafe and Anne’s journey.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen detailed foreplays and lovemaking scenes.

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Who loves a story with a guy from the illegal side of the tracks but not a villain? Yes, please. I knew Rafe’s story would be fantastic and it is more than that. It is such a wonderful read with the internal strife within Rafe that will not allow him to bring others down with him, of course unless they need to be brought down. Darcy writes an amazing story that shows us just that. Anne loves him unconditionally and even though he does not believe it, that is what he needs. The vulnerability of Rafe and his losing his first love and wife to learning to love again is such a turning point in the story.

This ARC was acquired thought NetGalley but it isn't related to this review.

I really liked this book, I wasn't sure since I wasn't familiar with the author or the characters so I didn't know what to expect, so once I started read it, it was a happy surprise to see how quickly and easy was to read this book, which is always a good thing on my book, see what I did there, okay bad joke, but is always good when a book is easy to read, when you can get immerse in the story.

The characters were so likable right from the beginning and so human that once that the story starts to get complicated by say that get to the climax, you only want the best for them.

Something that I love with romance books is when one is like "grumpy" and the other is an open sunshine, but as soon as the grumpy open their heart, turns out that they are the most loving human beings, and that makes my heart so full, I love it, I think that is my favorite trope over enemies to lovers.


I highly recommend this book for those who love romance is the book, the romance in this book filled my heart with so much love, and I read it before Valentine's Day, so it was the perfect read to get in the mood.

The only reason I didn't go with 5 stars is I PREFER when this kind of books end with them having a family and living happy forever.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. This is one part of a series. I had read all of the stories and I do enjoy a good series. This was probably my least favorite. In my opinion the conversations just didn't seem to flow correctly. I would explain it better if I could. However, if you have read the rest of the series I would urge you to read this one as well.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A Rogue to Ruin is the third in Darcy Burke’s Pretenders series, which is in turn part of her Untouchables world. It can be read as a stand-alone, although I do think understanding the connections between the characters does make the story richer. In spite of having read the books most immediately relevant to this one, I did find I had to go back and refresh myself on who everyone was, and feel that this would have been a good opportunity to include a character guide (like a cast of characters), to help new readers keep the cast straight and have a frame of reference, and readers who are familiar but may have forgotten to refresh themselves as to who everyone is, as there are so many characters across the multiple series.

However, the romance between Anne and Rafe is a beautiful one in its own right, once separated from the minor issues of navigating the large world Burke has built. It’s such a sweet premise to have them meet in the past and have that spark, and then meet again years later now that both of their lives have changed.

While the “tortured hero saved by love” trope is not a favorite, I ended up liking Rafe for the most part; as he’s a genuinely good person, in spite of the events they have embittered him. And Anne embraces him wholeheartedly with all his flaws, and their dynamic was definitely one of the more endearing depictions of this trope I’ve read.

This is another enjoyable historical romance from Darcy Burke, one I think fans of the genre will love.

Darcy Burke is definitely one of my favorite historical romance writers! After being a little disappointed with A Scandalous Bargain I was so excited to see her back in top form with A Rogue to Ruin. I have been curious about Rafe since I got my first glimpse of him in a Duke Will Never Do and again in A Secret Surrender. The love story between him and Anne is fantastic and I equally enjoyed the mystery surrounding the death of his parents. Anne is another breath of fresh air among the leading ladies of historical romances - she is headstrong, outspoken, and goes after what she wants. I appreciated that she didn't abandon Rafe after learning of his past and instead double downs on her commitment to and love for him (this was not surprising, but the author could have easily had that as another obstacle for them to overcome - can't state enough how glad I am that did not happen). I also really enjoyed getting more of Selina and Harry. I have to apologize to Ms. Burke after criticizing having Deborah show up so fleetingly in Scandalous Bargain, it now makes perfect sense. I only wish we had gotten to see what she wrote to Selina and Beatrix! A great end to another great series!

So many intriguing layers to this story!

This story simply blew me away. We knew a little about who Rafe was from Selina's book and got a few more hints from the second in this series, but even so I was hardly prepared for the stunning revelations in store for this family! The author takes us back to the beginning, where secondary events detailed in A Duke Will Never Do (Spitfire Society #3) laid the groundwork for the romance in this book. The sheer brilliance of the author in so deftly connecting all four books is more than enough reason to read it, but if you've read either of the earlier two books of The Pretenders then you absolutely do not want to miss this one.

Selena and Beatrix were pretenders from the start, doing whatever they had to in order to survive and make a life for themselves. Rafe was always in the background, contributing and complicating in equal measure, waiting until the time was ripe for his story to play out. This book gives us an entirely different connotation of the pretender label as the truth about Rafe and Selina's history is finally revealed and it is nothing short of heartbreaking. Harry's father's reaction to the news about his new daughter-in-law nearly brought me to tears.

Throughout it all, Rafe's traumatized heart is slowly repaired by the no-nonsense blunt force named Anne. She sees him for who he really is, even when she's the last to know the specific details. I adored these two together and their romance is my favorite of all I've read by this author.

There's a very satisfying HEA in store, providing closure and peace for the entire family. I especially appreciated that the author didn't take any shortcuts with Rafe's tragic history with Anthony, allowing these two to honestly address their issues in a way that added emotional depth and realism to all the interconnected friendships between the assorted men in this fictional world.

This book is an excellent example of the author's storytelling genius. Everything I've read by her is exquisitely compelling, and this one is quite possibly her best to date. Intrigue, suspense, Regency manners, and a steamy, swoon-worthy romance - it's all here, and it's perfectly done. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.