Heloise Marlowe is a former blacksmith and fencing instructor. She uses her unique skills for The Wimpole Street Widows Society, a secret group of widows who help the less fortunate. Heloise accepts their latest case on behalf of her sister-in-law. She plans to seduce Dionysus’s owner, so she can secretly search within the gaming club’s inner sanctum. Heloise never anticipated growing close to Ethan or losing her heart to the man. Will she find what she is looking for in his club? Or will Heloise forfeit the mission?

Ethan Sinclaire is part-owner of a popular gaming club. He is haunted by the betrayal of his younger brother, who nearly destroyed Dionysus’ reputation. When Ethan learns about the rumors involving his business, he starts secretly investigating the matter. He is not about to let anyone, least of all the woman sniffing around the place, to destroy all he has built. Will Ethan be able to trust Heloise with more than his heart? Or will she betray him like his brother did? And will Ethan find the culprit behind the dirty dealings?

It did not take me long to like and connect with Heloise. The whole blacksmith and former fencing instructor, professions that are not common for women. I love how Heloise fumbled in her seduction attempts with Ethan. It shows that she is not the type of woman who goes around seducing men or enticing them. What I adore the most about Heloise is how she selflessly helped her sister-in-law. She could have left the girl to fend for herself, to fix her own problems. Instead, Heloise suffered from a guilty conscience to honor her late husband’s last wish.

Oh boy! What can I say about Ethan! There is just something about the grouchy, closed-off hero types that really get to me. Add in that Ethan is haunted (or tortured) by the memory of his brother’s betrayal. Yum! What I love the most about Ethan is how he came from nothing. He had no rich family member giving him a helping hand. Ethan, along with his two brothers and two friends, built a successful empire from scratch. Plus, he does not let the aristocracy intimidate him.

TO HEIST AND TO HOLD is the first book in Christina Britton’s newest historical romance series, WIMPOLE STREET WIDOWS SOCIETY. I admit, at first, I was a little uncertain about the series premises. The widow aspect is what threw me off. For some bizarre reason, I am not fond of reading about widowed heroines. I have yet to figure out why. Just an odd quirk of mine. It was the gaming club angle that interested me most. I have always been a sucker for stories that take place in such establishments. Which is kind of ironic since I do not care to gamble myself.

However, as I read, the characters grew on me. I like how the main couple, along with most of the side characters, are from the working class. It is a nice change-of-pace from the usual titled characters.

I wonder if the author plans to pair the widows up with Ethan’s three business partners. Teagan definitely! But the one who piqued my interest the most is Parsons. I kind of hope he will be paired with Iris. Something about their dynamic appeals to me. * fingers crossed*

Christina Britton launches her newest series with a clever, compelling blend of intrigue, romance, and emotional depth. To Heist and to Hold is everything I love about historical romance: rich character dynamics, immersive storytelling, and a heroine who redefines what it means to be formidable.

Heloise Marlowe is not the typical Regency widow—she’s a former blacksmith, a fencing instructor, and now a member of the covert Wimpole Street Widows Society, determined to balance the scales of justice. Her mission to infiltrate the Dionysus gaming club by seducing its enigmatic owner is bold, dangerous, and unexpectedly vulnerable. Ethan Sinclaire, a self-made man fighting to restore his club’s reputation, is her match in every way—cunning, guarded, and ultimately disarmed by Heloise’s fierce heart.

The romance between them simmers with tension and complexity. Every glance and every stolen moment is earned, making their eventual unraveling feel both inevitable and intimate. Britton’s prose strikes a perfect balance between sharp wit and emotional resonance, layering sensuality and trust into a story that’s as romantic as it is suspenseful.

With a working-class cast, a deliciously subversive twist on traditional tropes, and a touch of vigilante flair, this novel feels fresh and empowering while still delivering the kind of sweeping, satisfying historical romance readers crave.

An outstanding start to the Wimpole Street Widows Society series—this one hits the jackpot.

Thank you to Forever and Christina Britton for the ARC.

To Heist and to Hold is a fun Regency romp with a lighthearted tone and charming characters. While the title hints at adventure, the stakes stay fairly low throughout—but that only makes room for a surprisingly tender and romantic story. A delightful read for fans of historical romance with a touch of mischief and a lot of heart. Great start of the series as well.

4 Stars! This is the first book in ‘Wimpole Street Widows Society’ series and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Heloise and Ethan and I liked both of them. She’s trying to seduce him to gain access to his club. She was so awkward, it reminded me of myself when I try my hand at flirting. Suspense, intrigue, mystery, seduction, surprises, female boxing, a ‘bad guy’, steamy sexy times, with an HEA ending and much more. I really liked that the widows aren’t all aristocrats, mostly servant class. That was a nice change. Worth checking out, I enjoyed it.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

A fascinating series about an incredible group of widows with different skills help to solve crimes and mysteries. Going undercover is hard but complications arise when one is tasked with having to seduce without the skill set. You get some amusing scenarios and bewildered reactions. I enjoyed the interaction between the main characters and their developing relationship as well as the camaraderie of friends. Highly recommended read.

I received an ARC of this book and leaving my review voluntarily.

I loved every second of this. It had the grit, the seduction, and the emotional slow burn that I crave in historical romance, but it also had something so deeply tender at its core. The writing is lush and clever, with a kind of charm that doesn’t rely on frills. It’s sharp where it needs to be, soft where it matters, and always full of feeling. The romance doesn’t rush. It earns every inch of trust, every glance that lingers too long, every vulnerable confession that slips past carefully built walls. I’m completely in love with Heloise and Ethan’s story.

A great intro to a fun new series from Christina Britton. I love that the majority of the characters are from working class origins, with few mentions of Lord and Lady Whosie-Whatsit. The spice arrived sooner than expected, but was very satisfying (wink, wink). And then add in the mystery/caper, and it was simply a terrifically well-rounded, fun book! Thanks to Forever for the ARC.

Christina Britton has done it again.  Another remarkable story, another superhit adventure. I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of To Heist and To Hold from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed the story. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Christina Britton is absolutely amazing and this first book is an incredible starter to her Wimpole Street Widows Society series. Heloise Marlow, promised her dying husband that she would always take care of his sister. Her sister in law is now in trouble after having lost her employer's jewelry at a casino where she believes there is cheating going on by the dealers at the tables. Her employer has threatened to blame her of theft if she is unable to retrieve the jewelry. Heloise, along with the ladies in her Widows Society home, determine a plan to infiltrate the casino to retain possession of the jewels. Ethan Sinclaire is the main owner of a gaming casino named Dionysus and is very strict in his adherence to honesty in his casino and is determined to ferret out why his casino is being associated with possible cheating. When Heloise arrives under the guise of a boxing manager, he is immediately on alert as to the coincidence of timing and believes that she may be associated with the malignment of his casino. What ensues is absolutely amazing and mesmerizing. The way the two main characters develop a tendre for each other, whispering sweet nothings yet opening themselves up truthfully is captivating. This story is exceptionally well written and the visualizations are vividly clear while reading the goings-on. A must read!

To Heist and to Hold is a fun, regency era romance. The MCs are interesting (a vigilante widow and a casino owner) and the tension between them was enjoyable. The idea of this storyline was unique and entertaining, especially if you enjoy the dynamics of historical romances. I overall enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Ethan Sinclaire with a few other men pulled themselves out of the gutter and created a successful gaming facility. They are proud to run an honest club and Ethan is concerned when he hears a rumour that there has been cheating. This is what starts the adventures of Heloise and her fellow widows as it is her sister in law who claims to have been a victim of the club. This story has everything; interesting characters, romance, deception, intrigue and action.

This was so funny and romantic. The characters fighting off feelings and being in denial whilst still serving the most swoonworthy and exquisite romance sent me on an emotional roller coaster. The heat was sizzling between them and I love the witty banter especially because of the historical atmosphere and setting, it added to the overall worldbuilding. The plot in itself was really funny between the characters and how they ended up finally giving in. I highly recommend this to readers looking for even steamier Bridgerton romance level witb insane chmeistry and emotional depth.

a perfectly solid histrom but nothing that blew me away like some of britton's others

arc via netgalley

This is my least favorite of this author. I honestly didn’t like both main characters. Therefore, my enjoyment of the story just isn’t there. I thought the plot was thin. She seduces the mmc to get access to his gaming hell to find jewels. He doesn’t trust her but has sex with her than suddenly he’s in love. She barely did anything to find the jewels but had sex plenty of times. I liked Iris and some other characters but when I don’t like the main ones, I have trouble rooting for them.