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!

In this spicy upstairs/downstairs romance, maid Penny Smith sneaks into Lord William "Liam" Renquist’s world to spy on him, thinking he’s part of the infamous Devil's Sons. She doesn't realise that the brooding marquess is working undercover for Queen Victoria to take down that same criminal gang from the inside. As they keep crossing paths and secrets clash, their undeniable chemistry becomes a steamy affair that could mess up their missions.

Things I Loved:
Awesome mix of intrigue and romance with loads of plot twists
Great chemistry between the feisty Penny and the noble Liam
The class difference is done well, with some real challenges
Steam factor: High, with quite a few open-door scenes

Minor Downsides (for me):
The romance moved a bit fast since they start so suspicious of each other.
Almost a miscommunication trope (although with good plot justification!)

This is perfect for fans of:
Strong female leads in historical settings
Enemies-to-lovers with a spy twist
Historical romance with a some suspense
Love stories that break class barriers

This novel can be read alone, but I would recommend reading the first two in this series for extra enjoyment of some of the characters that appear. I promise you won't regret it!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing a copy for my review. All opinions are my own.

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

A forbidden romance with just a hint of distrust. I was so in the story, I couldn't put it down!

Penny is such a strong character. Knowing her love could never be out in the open because she knows her place in society, brutal. I would have cried so many times. Also, having a mother in prison?! If my mom wasn't beside me for such important moments, I would've again cried.

I can't wait to see all the ladies of this series kick serious ass when the final battle against the Devil Sons finally comes.

I enjoyed the third book in this series. The beginning of the book was tough and i had to force myself through the first couple chapters. However, once through, i enjoyed the story and read in one sitting. I like this series and enjoyed seeing Penny again, but I am still a little confused on how and why she moved from millie to the new job. after done, i reread the second book.

I did enjoy this when Liam and Penny were in the same room together but I feel like the book took itself a little too seriously - on one hand a regency romp but on the other dealing with the sordid world of human trafficking. A bit much for a romance, perhaps.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free ARC. All my views and opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of historical romance genres, and “Confessions of A Lady” was such a treat for me to read. The initial push and pull between Penny and Liam was entertaining to watch, but I am glad the author allowed their chemistry to unfold at a quicker pace.

The book in itself is action-packed, and I found the plot involving the Devils Sons group intriguing, and I do feel the author might benefit from adding a book or two more to this series to give the overarching story a satisfying conclusion.

I did not know that this book was part of an ongoing “The Queen’s Deadly Damsels” series, so I was bit confused at the introduction of more supporting characters. I suggest to read the first 2 books of the series to enjoy “Confessions of a Lady” more.

As much as I loved the last book in this series, I think I adored these characters and their story even more in this one… is that possible??

Penny is completely different from the previous leading ladies in this series, through her actions, station, and attitude. I adored her as main character, especially after meeting her in the previous book.

One thing that I never thought I’d say is that this series has made me kinda love miscommunication?? Okay maybe just miscommunication when it comes to you accidentally fighting your significant other because one of you is working for the queen and the other is working for the prime minister…

This book was packed heavy with plot twists, mystery, romance, and betrayal. I absolutely loved the upstairs/downstairs aspect and thought it was so well done. I loved seeing Liam care for Penny and watching these two fall in love! 🥹🫶🏻

And of course, I loved seeing all of these amazing characters again and their friendships.

My only itty bitty bit of confusion was Liam’s relationship to Drake and Killian… since I thought they were friends with his brother. Either way, I enjoyed their backstory!!

I really enjoyed this story, moves along at a really good pace. I thinks it's the first proper class difference historical romance I've read, not just fallen on hard times etc. Penny is from St Giles, bought up in paupers prison fighting to survive. Liam, Lord Renquist is part of the elite in society. Penny works as a maid for Liam and instant attraction. Liam is trying to infiltrate a sex trafficking gang to bring it down, Penny thinks Liam is part of the gang and wants to find the evidence to convict him. The romance is open door, with Penny being confused by her attraction to someone who could be part of the nefarious gang. Its part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.

*The Confessions of a Lady* by McGuire quickly pulled me into its world of Regency England, where espionage and forbidden romance take center stage. The story follows Penny Smith, a housemaid on a secret mission to uncover the truth about Lord William Renquist, a nobleman she believes is tied to the notorious *Devil’s Sons* trafficking ring. From the start, I was invested in Penny’s internal struggle. She’s tasked with exposing a man she believes to be a villain, but when she meets him, he doesn’t match the image she had in mind at all. The tension between duty and doubt is palpable, and I found myself questioning along with her whether she could trust her instincts or the mission she’d been given.

On the other side, there’s Liam, who’s undercover for Queen Victoria with his own agenda—seeking justice for his family’s past. Despite knowing that he and Penny are on opposite sides, I could feel the undeniable chemistry between them. It was a bit of a slow burn, but when their connection deepens, it’s electric. There’s a lot of secrecy between them, and while I enjoyed the slow unraveling of their relationship, I did feel that their romance developed a little too quickly, especially considering the high stakes and all the emotional baggage they both carried.

What I really appreciated about this book was how the tension between their growing feelings and their conflicting missions added layers to the plot. The masked ball scene was the perfect turning point, where their attraction intensified into something real. But I did wish the emotional payoff had been given more time to breathe. Some moments felt rushed, especially when the stakes were so high. Despite this, I was still hooked by the suspense and the way the author balanced romance with intrigue.

Overall, *The Confessions of a Lady* offers a compelling mix of mystery, romance, and the kind of slow-burn chemistry I love. While it’s not without its pacing issues and a few predictable twists, it’s still a fun, engaging read. Fans of historical romance with a touch of espionage will find a lot to enjoy, even if I wish the emotional depth had been explored a bit more fully.

Book 3 was just as exciting and thrilling as book 1 and 2. Liam and Penny are cute and have a great vibe together. As always they are working on the opposite sides to solve the same mystery.

Great add to the series.