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

Life is never easy when one has to steal and deceive to survive. Living a double life can be trouble when both lives begin to intertwine as is does for Selina, who pretends to be a widow lady escorting her sister about in hope of making a match and her persona as fortune teller who tells women of places to donate money to. Selina has no desire to be tied down to anyone and trouble for her comes in the form of a Bow Street Runner and son of an earl, Harry Sheffield. Harry has no desire to be tied down, even though many of his family are encouraging him to wed. He believes in justice, is relentless, and too intelligent for his own good. He plans to prove this fortune teller is a thief and fraud and believes Selina can help him. What began as each working their own angles turns into an affair that brings love and hope into the mix. But Selina's secrets and past catch up with her, yet Harry still needs her help to solve a case that has haunted him for years. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their path to understand the choices one made to survive?
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An unconventional love story between a Constable for Bow Street and a woman who is desperate to ease her "sister" into London society. A fortune -teller and a thief, Selina plays a game constantly hiding from Harry who she really is. In his search for a murderer, their paths continue to cross. Eventually Selina reveals all to Harry because she loves him. Can Harry go with what his heart wants him to do? Great start to the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Selina Blackwell does what is necessary to make sure she and her sister survive, even if that means masquerading as a fortune teller one minute and a society widow the next. Harry Sheffield does what is necessary to solve a case, even if that includes enlisting a widow to help him thwart a fortune teller he suspects is swindling his mother.

I enjoyed the story, for the most part. I occasionally enjoy historical romances that take place outside of ballrooms so I really liked that aspect of this story. I also loved (finally!) finding out who the Vicar was, even if I guessed it really early on in the story.

I loved Harry. I am all for a way too serious workaholic for a hero. And he definitely was that. And because I loved him, I felt he could’ve done far better than Selina. I know she had a terrible childhood, but lots of people do and they don’t turn out to be jerks. It just seemed like an easy excuse for her to what she wanted to achieve her goals.

I will give A Scandalous Bargain a try because the hero in it sounds interesting even if I didn’t particularly like Beatrix all that much either.

A Secret Surrender does not seem like Darcy Burke’s typical writing – it is even better! Yes, there are some very sensual moments, but not overly so. Burke takes care and caution when discussing a difficult trauma lived by Selina. (no spoiler here)

Harry is the son of an earl, yet has not chosen a life of leisure. First, he was a barrister, but wanted to make an even greater impact choosing to become a Bow Street runner instead. Thus, him chasing a possible thief when Selina trips and falls, literally, at his feet. Selina is kind of a con artist who Harry is investigating, but for his father. His father believes Selina’s alternate identity as a fortune teller is swindling Harry’s mother.

As you learn more about Selina and her ‘sister’ Beatrix, you see where they came from and how they are trying to improve their lives. It just so happens Harry is also investigating an arson/fire in which Selina believes her brother died. So, she decides to keep an eye on him. They kind of circle each other and still find time to fall in love.

I loved Harry’s family and Selina’s family by choice. They add strength and adorableness to the lives of our main characters. As part of The Untouchable series, I rooted for these two to come together regardless of very far apart their lives and childhoods were from each other.

P.S. (not added for Amazon or Twitter review)
The book established Selina just found out her brother was alive and had not perished in the fire years prior. But, at Location 1391, 34% (according to my Kindle) this line reads, “She suddenly realized part of coming back to London to find Rafe had been to show him that she’d managed quite well on her own ….” Yet, she thought he perished in the fire until this point.

Thanks to NetGalley and Darcy Burke for a chance to read an early copy of this book!

The sumptuous cover caught my eye, and I've been meaning to try reading Darcy Burke for a while, so checking out this book seemed like a no-brainer. This specific book didn't totally work for me, but I enjoyed her voice enough that I'll be checking out some of her other books.

The series name The Pretenders maybe should have clued me in -- deception-based plots are not my favorite. Here we have our heroine Selina masquerading as a fortune-teller, perpetuating a few other frauds to help her and her family get by. I never warmed up to her, since it seemed like she really enjoyed her life of deceptions and petty crimes; I think her moral compass is more wayward than mine. The pacing of the deception also frustrated me, since it does take up a significant portion of the book and some major beats of the story. I also wasn't particularly interested in or satisfied by the mystery of a long-ago fire and a mysterious criminal.

I know I've spent all of this time complaining about the book, but I actually did like it. The author's voice kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed the hero's relationship with his family. I look forward to trying another book by Darcy Burke, though I'll be more picky about the storyline next time. And I just KNOW that someone reading this review will think I'm an uptight snob (probably true) and get a huge kick out of our heroine's unrepentant desire to do whatever it takes to protect and provide for her family!

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.

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.

Thank you to Darcy Burke and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a frequent regency romance reader and there are certain things I generally love in a book:

Strong, independent and intelligent female lead.
Strong, protective, smart and loving male lead.
Some reason/problem why the two of them cannot be together.
A plot that involves solving a crime, a murder mystery or some outside threat.

This book had all four of those. Selina is strong and independent. She's not looking for marriage because she doesn't really see that as a possibility for her. Her goal is to help her sister Beatrix find a love match. Harry is sweet, kind, protective and feels a pull toward Selina that he's never felt before. I love when the lifelong bachelors finally meet their match.

My stress was wondering how the characters would be able to move past their differences to be together and I felt the tension as it approached the moment when the truth would be revealed. I loved the ending. It addressed everything that happened and set them up for a positive future without feeling like things were left unsettled. I am also of the mindset that romance books must ALWAYS feature an epilogue so I was really happy to see that. All in all, this was a great read that featured everything I love in a regency romance (except for the Duke but Harry is a pretty great character ;)

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.

A Secret Surrender is the first in Darcy Burke's new series, The Pretenders. In it, we meet Selina. Selina had a very difficult childhood growing up. At the point we meet her in the book, she has almost no one. Her brother is presumed dead, she has no parents to speak of, and she must take care of herself and her "sister" Beatrix. She does so through deception and theft. Harry is a Bow Street runner and son of an earl. He begins to investigate a fortune teller that he believes is taking advantage of his mother and her money. Little does he know that the fortune teller he is investigating is none other than the woman he has recently found himself attracted to - Selina.

If you are someone who enjoys a historical romance that takes place outside the ballrooms of Mayfair than this book is definitely for you. I enjoyed that aspect of it. You may also enjoy this book if you are someone who likes when two characters seem truly very wrong for each other and you can't wait to see how they figure it out and get past their differences to come together.

This was a tough read for me. I liked Harry and his family. I just mostly felt so bad for him. Selina really is an unlikeable character. Not only is she lying to him and stealing from his friends and family she doesn't really seem to feel ashamed of what she is doing until the very last pages of the book and even then the remorse just didn't come across as very strong. There is a reason for the deception but it just never sat right with me and I couldn't get past how much I just really didn't like her and all her lies. It was just too much.

That being said, Burke is a good writer. I like that she is not afraid to try something different than so many other books out there. This one just wasn't my favorite simply due to the story line. I will definitely be back for future books from her.

This book didn't work for me as much as others by the same author. I enjoyed the hero and his family a lot, but struggled to connect to the heroine. I don't mind a criminal heroine, in fact I think they're fun, but I just didn't ever connect with this woman until pretty late in the book. That being said Darcy is a good writer that always manages to entertain me, and this book was still some fun for me. I think this is still a book you should read and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Will her way of life cost her the love of her life.

I have read some earlier reviews and people say they do not like Selina at the beginning. Sure she is not an easy character to appreciate but I loved her for all her flaws. And flawed she is. Deceptive, cunning, shrewd. So inadequate and defective, she is perfect. She has known most of her life deception and trickery and when once in her life she followed the rules, she paid a dear price. So she went back to her old life and acted as she had to to survive.
Sure she grows a conscience quite late but how could she had held with her livelihood if she thought about the harm she could cause even if she only targeted wealthy dupe.
Harry is the honorable by the book guy, he understands circumstances can push someone on the wrong path, so everyone deceives a chance at being better. So he even changed his professional route from barrister to runner, with the hope to deliver a better justice if he is a the beginning of the journey.
Why he has no place for a spouse in his life, yet Selina intrigues him, she is so unlike any of the other ladies he has come to know.
I loved how Harry with his kindness slowly breaches her defenses, and whatever she does to distance herself from his attack to her broken soul, she can shake him out of her system and because of their chemistry she became aware of her many misdeeds.

Mrs Burke with this first in a new series grants us an amazing tale of seing past someone’s mask and accepting the other what ever its faults.
5 stars

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

4 stars

Good story. I think we've met Harry before in some other books. Selina has had to play many parts to survive. The fortune teller is the part that ensures she meets Harry. He's concerned that she is deceiving his mother and taking money from her under false pretences, which she is: to help fund a season for Beatrix (heroine of the next book in the series).

There's good characterisation, not too many villains, lots of secrets that are bought to the fore and a HEA. I think a reader will enjoy this book and series. Darcy always delivers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Secret Surrender is the first book in Darcy Burke's new series, The Pretenders. As a frequent romance reader, pickiness is not my forte. What automatically drew my eyes to this novel was the cover. I could feel the chemistry of hero and heroine radiating from it. After reading the synopsis, the story sounded promising.

The story follows Harry, a constable with a strict moral compass who is given the task of investigating the popular fortune-teller, Madame Sybila. As he is conducting this investigation, he is also tackling personal demons and failures while being confronted with a shift in his morals and ethics.

The heroine, Selina, is a woman of many secrets and even more schemes. As a proficient lady of disguise, she is set on finding the answers to those secrets while posing as both the elusive fortune teller, Madame Sybila, and the gentile widow, Lady Gresham.

As their paths cross, their feelings only grow stronger as their schemes and investigations increase in length. They must tackle their growing love and fondness for one another without losing sight of their individual goals, creating an intense battle between justice and love.

Being aware that this particular novel is the beginning of a new series, I understand the need for exposition, but sadly, I could not finish this novel.

There were elements I enjoyed, such as the familial and platonic relationships the hero and heroine had with their specific groups of family and friends. I also adored Selina’s lack of perfection as a heroine. She knows herself and is aware of the fraud she is committing, while also keeping the emotions of others in mind. Harry’s desire for justice is commendable as he is not only focused on crimes and criminals. He is keen on understanding why criminals are the way that they are and what leads them to a life of crime.

As for what I did not enjoy, the pacing was quite slow for my liking. Due to the web of interconnecting plots, I was left puzzled at times, which slowed down the pace more. The writing style was a lovely balance of saccharine and blunt, but I wish there were more in-depth descriptions of the characters, as they were difficult to differentiate at moments. There was much to be desired in the writing style.

Overall, this book has potential. I am willing to continue this series to see how the stories will intersect with one another. If you liked this book, I recommend reading Temptations of a Wallflower and Dare to Love a Duke by Eva Leigh.

The hero and Bow Street constable, Harry Sheffield, was a kind, caring man with a family who adored him. I quickly grew to like his character but never warmed up to Selina Blackwell, aka Madame Sybila. She was too shifty and scheming for too long in the book which made her declaration of love for Harry less believable. For the relationship to eventually work, Harry had to go along with Selina's deceit rather than have Selina become as upstanding as Harry. It was disappointing that to form a relationship with Selina, he had to lie the fami!y who loved him.
I am looking forward to Rafe's story but am hoping Beatrix is more than the kleptomaniac that this story hinted at.

At the beginning of the story I was not impressed with Selina. She is not very likeable at all in my opinion. She manipulates at every turn and feels no remorse. On the other hand I loved Harry. He is upfront, honest and has loads of integrity. (BTW, the cover model for Harry is one of my favorites on historical romances.) As I kept reading, I was thinking there has to be something about Selina I am missing. There are a few twists in the book that I liked. The further I got into the story, I realized that what Harry was trying to do for the children in the community is exactly what Selina needed as a child and then the light went off and I felt sorry for Selina. By the end of the story I did like her. She truly loved Harry. I see that Beatrix is the next story and I have to wonder how she will overcome. I also hope that Rafe gets his own story.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Sweet and spicy, with one of the more affable heroes and daring heroines I’d seen in a while. Darcy Burke never disappoints!

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. So typical of Darcy Burke's books. Well written. You get deception, desire, revenge, hardship, strong characters with wit and history. In other words, delightful suspenseful read!

While reading, A Secret Surrender, I kept wondering how the truth about Selina was going to come out. It seemed as if she just kept digging herself deeper and deeper, I was cringing while reading it. In the end I did not like how it all turned out. They made Harry into a liar and put everything he believed into question.