"A brand new spicy upstairs/downstairs historical romance featuring the Queen's Deadly Damsels!

Dare she risk revealing her secrets?

In the world of upstairs and downstairs, Lady's maid Penny Smith is able to work anonymously, quietly hiding in the shadows of of Lord William Renquist's household. She's seeking out perpetrators of the Devils Sons and she suspects the man she works for to be a member. But when she meets the infamous Liam, she's taken aback by his disarming eyes and feels her resolve begin to waiver.

Liam's intrigued by his newest maid. But as much as she invites a deep desire within, he knows he must keep his distance. Not only because society says so, but because he is the son of a wicked man and the sins of his family need to be repaid. He has made a vow to the Queen to avoid distraction and assist in her mission."

Could they share a mission and perhaps more?

If Bridgerton and Nancy Drew had a book baby it would be this book. I love this series so much! The books are quick, fun reads and a great palate cleanser. I love a good upstairs/downstairs spicy Cinderella story and that happens in each book of this series.
The only thing I wish there would have been was a little more at the end of the story that showed how the couple navigated society accepting the relationship since it was a main pain point during the "courting phase".

I loved this first two books in this series but honestly this one just didn’t work for me . Penny and Liam just didn’t make sense to me ; plus there seemed to be so much repetition in the book which seemed to make it longer than it needed to be .

My rating 2.5 ⭐️

I was lucky to read this as an arc and I am very grateful and it was similar to the housemaid but much better!! Penny Smith anticipates her employer’s needs and blends into the background making her the perfect spy for the prime minister against a suspected member of the Devil’s Sons. There’s only one problem. When she meets the guilty marquess, his actions don’t match the evidence against him. Lord William Renquist defies her every expectation and sets her traitorous heart racing.

Lord William Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway and secret spy to Queen Victoria, must infiltrate the Devil’s Sons, tearing the brotherhood apart from the inside. His mission – to bring evil men to justice while atoning for the sins of his family, proving honour is stronger than tainted blood. There’s only one problem. A canny maid who is always in the right place at the wrong time and who deliciously challenges his every order.

Liam and Penny are unknowingly playing a dangerous game from opposite sides of justice. And at a masked ball, forbidden attraction burns into something far more complex as their secrets spin into daring confessions. This battle against their enemy will only be won if Penny and Liam can work together.

Warning: this review might contain slight spoilers!

Wow, this book was definitely one of my favourite reads so far in 2025 - I was not aware this was part of an interlocked series but, for me, it could easily be read as a standalone.

This thrilling, passionate and whirlwind of a historical romance brought me so much enjoyment and joy whilst reading. There was so much within the pages of this book to enjoy so let's unpack it!

Our female protagonist Penny, a strong willed and loyal-to-a-fault maid, is such a likable character. As a reader, you could completely understand and sympathize with her pain, her inner struggles and her unwillingness to allow anyone to control her fate. And the fact that she could defend herself in a battle? Icing on the cake!

Liam, short for William, is our male protagonist and, for a character to have such a dark past with inner demons to control, I love his hidden softness and compassion for others. His relationship with his father is a stark contrast to the relationship Penny has with her mother and this is something I thoroughly enjoyed and something that many readers of both genders can relate to.

Their romance is undoubtedly the main focus of this book, which is not a problem since it's a historical romance novel. However, if I had to be picky; there were just a few moments where I wished we could step away from the romance and focus on the plot that brings these two together and add some more conflict and drama besides the sexual tension. There were also some consistency errors, one scene in particular has the characters all leaving but somehow all back in the room just a few sentences later so some more clarity on this could benefit the reader. And, again, this is just me being picky, I would have loved to have seen more between Penny and her mother to drive home Penny's need to succeed in her mission. Perhaps seeing her mother decline might have increased the suspense and the drama for Penny?

Overall, I thoroughly loved this book and I am excited to see what else Darcey McGuire brings to the historical romance table!

📖: The Confessions of a Lady (The Queen's Deadly Damsels Book #3)

✍🏾By: Darcy McGuire-Read A Lady's Lesson in Scandal, gave it 4 ⭐

✨Rating: 4/5

Format: eBook 320 pgs.

🌍Setting: London 1848

📅 Publication 2/9/25, Read 1/24/25

👆🏾POV: dual, 3rd person

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Darcy McGuire for this ARC💙! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Historical Romance, Adult Fic

Tropes:
-espionage
-wealthy vs poor
-illiterate h
-mutual attraction/pining
-opposites attract
-forbidden romance

⚠️ TW: sex trafficking, feminism, physical/mental abuse, attempted SA, grief, death of siblings, virgin h, kidnapping

💭Summary: Penny is spying for the constable and working for the Marquess of Stonewall-Liam- as a maid who will rid the world of The Devil's Sons. The Sons are wealthy male rogues who trick young women promising them jobs as maids, but when they come, they are drugged and sent to Europe into prostitution. Liam has his own mission from Queen Victoria to infiltrate The Devil's Sons and take down the secret organization.

🎭The characters

🚺 Heroine: Penny Smith-a housemaid/spy for Prime Minister Russell/Commissioner Worthington

🚹 Hero: Lord William Renquist "Liam"- Marquess of Stoneway, a spy for Queen Victoria

- Harriet Smith-Penny's mother in prison for vagrancy for 10 years

-Constable Sweet-works for Commissioner Worthington who will pay for evidence against The Devil's Sons. He helps Penny get a job working for Liam

-Lieutenant Robert Killian-Liam's close friend, married to Hannah

-General Reynard Renquist- Liam's younger brother, was a member of The Devil's Sons -deceased

-Theodore-Liam's half-brother-deceased

-Major General Beauforte "Beau" Drake- Liam's close friend, married to Millicent

-Lord Charles Barrington-Liam's connect into the Devil's Sons, knew Reynard


🤔My Thoughts: I didn't read The Secret Life of a Lady (The Queen's Deadly Damsels #1), but this was fine as a standalone. I loved how powerful Penny was in doing the work to free her mother. She had a mission but interacting with Liam had her struggling with helping Harriet and pursuing love.

I devoured The Confessions of a Lady in one sitting—it's that captivating! This spicy historical romance is set in the world of upstairs/downstairs drama, where Penny Smith, a seemingly unremarkable housemaid, secretly serves as a spy for the Prime Minister. Her mission is to keep an eye on Lord William Renquist, the Marquess of Stoneway, who is suspected of being involved with the Devil’s Sons. But as Penny gets closer to Lord Renquist, she finds herself questioning everything she’s been told. His actions don't match the evidence, and instead of a villain, she encounters a man who challenges her heart and her loyalties.

The chemistry between Penny and William is electric from the start. Their slow-burn attraction is masterfully built, culminating in a deliciously intense forbidden romance. The setting of a masked ball adds a layer of tension and mystery, and the contrast between their social statuses—maid and marquess—heightens the stakes for their relationship. What I loved most about the book was the way it balanced the intrigue of espionage with the heat of their connection, all while exploring themes of trust, duty, and redemption.

McGuire’s writing is engaging and vivid, and I couldn’t get enough of the well-developed characters. Penny is clever and resourceful, and William is both honorable and flawed—an irresistible combination. The plot twists kept me on my toes, and though I would have liked a bit more depth in the final resolution, The Confessions of a Lady is a thrilling, steamy read. If you enjoy historical romance with a strong dose of suspense, this book is a must-read!

This was a book about Penny, a maid in the household of William, a marquis. There’s espionage, intrigue and love. The initial description sounded entertaining, which is why I requested to read it. I always love a good upstairs/downstairs story. However, the plot ended up being quite far ferched and ridiculous. The characters fell in love way too quickly (even for a romance novel), and it just felt so forced. It was mostly enjoyable to read, but not one that I’d re-read.

This is an historical mystery and love story that makes an important point about status where your class should not matter but often does. It is great to see a strong female lead as well. However, I found the premise behind the love story unrealistic. A decorated marquis and war hero who had been tortured and endured much privation in conflict falls for a lowly maid. In fact, and against his better judgement while being an agent for the Queen seeking to uncover and punish an awful sex trade he becomes obsessed with the maid. Surely a man of that character and experience would be able to show more self control and wisdom. This love story became the main bill of fair, relegating the more important issue, taking down the sex trafficking ring to one side. Shame, I would have liked a different emphasis.

An Upstairs/Downstairs themed Historical Romance combined with spies & spice.
Penny is the housemaid to Liam Renquist. Penny is illiterate, yet sharp. Liam is an unfulfilled Marquess. Both have individually been recruited as spies to defeat the menace of the Devil’s Sons society. Intrigue, adventure and seduction ensue.

It’s an interesting plot and enjoyable read, yet at times seems implausible. I reminded myself that it is a Victorian era romance, not an historical tome.

Unbeknownst to me, this was the third in a series, but can definitely be read and enjoyed on its own without confusion.

Thank you to NetGalley for this complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book offers a unique blend of historical fiction and espionage, with an intriguing premise centered on taking down the criminal organization known as the Devil's Sons. The plot is engaging, and the themes of social justice provide depth to the narrative. Both main characters, Penny and Liam, are driven by noble motivations, which make their goals admirable and the stakes high.

However, Penny's character development feels inconsistent and detracts from the story's impact. Her belief that Liam is responsible for her mother's imprisonment and involved in sex trafficking creates a foundation for conflict. Yet, her intense and inexplicable sexual attraction to him feels out of place and undermines her motivations. It creates a dissonance that made it difficult to relate to her or become fully invested in the story.

While the book has strong thematic underpinnings and a promising premise, the characters' actions and relationships didn't resonate for me. As a result, the story failed to fully deliver on its potential. That's why I'm giving it 1.5 ⭐.

A BRAND NEW spicy upstairs/downstairs historical romance featuring the Queen's Deadly Damsels!
Another compulsive read from an author who seems to do no wrong. I absolutely devoured this one… You will want to clear your afternoon to read this one straight through, so riveting!

The Confessions of a Lady is the third installment in the Queen's Deadly Damsels series. Penny Smith obtains a position as a maid in Lord William Renquist's houshold in order to find evidence of his membership in a depraved club - The Devil's Sons. This proof would earn her a reward that could free her mother from prison. Unbeknownst to Penny instead of being a villian, William is secretly working for the Queen to bring down the club from within. Romance and intrigue ensue making for a fun fast-paced story. If you are a fan of a little spice, mystery, and intrigue in your historical romances, this is a good one. #NetGalley. #ConfessionsofaLady

I could not get into this book. It moved extremely slowly, especially at the beginning. The “twist” to the crime that was being investigated was obvious from the first few pages. I am not a stickler for historical accuracy in romance, but there were multiple plot points that strained credulity. Disappointed, as I had high hopes for this one.

Thank you to Darcy McGuire, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love a historical romance, especially one set in a post-regency, Victorian setting. Unfortunately, the pacing felt off and the plot fell flat because of it. There was a lot of repetition that should have been edited out to streamline the plot. I liked the characterisation but felt it was too insta-lust between Penny and Renquist to really root for them. A solid 3 stars with further editing.

I had trouble getting into this book. I discovered that it is part of a series and will try to go back and read the earlier books, in the hopes that this installment might be more engaging once I read the others

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t picked up a historical romance in a minute and this one didn’t disappoint! Penny was a great FMC, with a difficult backstory and lots of grit. Even if she was the maid she always knew her worth and could hold her own, and Liam was obsessed with her from the beginning and didn’t care what type of title or society she came from. 🥰
This book kept me hooked with the suspense of both main characters being vigilantes and trying to uncover a secret society without the other knowing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a suspenseful romance!

Thanks Net Galley for the ARC!

Darcy McGuire was able to weave a strong tale that I was hoping for from the concept. It uses the historical romance perfectly and was engaged with what was happening in the story. The characters worked well with the time-period and was engaged with what was happening. I enjoyed the way the story was told and was glad I was able to get into this world.

I sadly did not enjoy this read at all. The plot was very weak and predictable. The "twist" towards the end felt unnecessary and somewhat disappointing. The book was too full of cliches and I didn't believe in the romance between the two main characters. It felt far more lustful, than love.
I would not recommend this read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Confessions of a Lady by Darcy McGuire!

This book was a delightful and spicy read! Imagine a blend of Bridgerton and Law & Order SVU, and you'll have a good idea of what to expect. We follow Penny, who unexpectedly finds herself undercover as a maid, tasked with accusing the Marquess, Liam, of some serious crimes. But, in a delightful twist, they fall for each other, uncovering secrets about themselves along the way.

I truly enjoyed diving into this story; it was such an easy and engaging read. On a spice scale, I'd give it two and a half out of four chillies. 🌶️🌶️

While I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and the sizzling chemistry between Penny and Liam, I did find a few aspects that detracted from my overall experience. There were some anachronisms that felt a bit out of place for the time period, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. Additionally, at times the narrative got a bit bogged down in excessive details and descriptions, which felt unnecessary to the plot.

However, despite these minor hiccups, the captivating storyline and the unexpected twists kept me hooked. I was genuinely surprised by certain characters not being who they initially seemed, which added an element of excitement and intrigue.

Overall, I'm giving The Confessions of a Lady 3 stars. While I had a good time reading it, it might not be a book I revisit. This is the third book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone with different characters in the same universe. If you're looking for a light, fun, and breezy historical romance with a touch of mystery, definitely give it a try!