This is not the story I thought it would be, and I am very excited by that fact. I am in awe that the author took the brave stand to show a man as the victim of domestic violence. To be honest, for as much as I enjoyed the rest of this book, that is the one piece that sticks with me. And it makes me a little proud to be a reader of her work. I liked Beatrix. I liked that we get to see the resolution to most of her family drama. But it’s Thomas who truly captivated my imagination. His reactions. His emotional state. Everything he says and does rings true as the survivor of a psychopathic narcissist. (And really, that’s probably the politest thing I can call his late wife.) The author’s research skills shine through in the way she created his character and handled the situation. Now, with the hope of finding out who their parents were, I’m anxious to get my hands on Rafe’s book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley.

So good, so good, so good. It kept me at the edge of my seat! The H &, H are such good people, who have had so serious trouble in their lives. I never write a spoiler, so I will just tell you to read this story...then you'll be just like me waiting anxiously for the next story cuz I just gotta know who...!

I enjoy every single book Darcy Burke writes. A Scandalous Bargain definitely stands out as an interesting and can't put down edition! It is the second book in her The Untouchables: The Pretenders Series. It will work as a stand alone, but I think you would enjoy it more by reading the first book.

Beatrix (Linley) Whitford has a colorful background and has come to London for the season in hope of reconnect with her father. Her Father is the Duke of Ramsgate and her mother was his mistress. Beatrix was abandoned after her mother’s death and being sent to a school. I loved getting to read Beatrix’s story. Beatrix peaked my interest in the first book because she steals thing unintentionally (doesn’t even know she is doing it) and I love historical inclusions of characters who are caring for/exploring their mental health.

We open the book with Beatrix in disguise while spying on her father from the vantage point up a tree. She witnesses a woman next door fall to her death. The woman who fell was Thea, Lady Rockburn. Lord Rockburn’s wife was essentially estranged and seeking divorce.

Beatrix runs to help and meets Lord Rockburn (Thomas). There is something strange in the tone of their meeting... it’s more a meet cute than an omg we just saw someone fall to their death. I was wondering about this until it is addressed later in the book!

What I love about this series is the mixes of class, work, survival tactics and mental health. So many twists and turns in the story where Beatrix and Selina’s identities could be exposed. Also, there is some delightful falling in love and steamy times! Hope you enjoy too!

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

#AScandalousBargain #DarcyBurke #HistoricalRomance #netgalley

I loved the first book in this series and looked forward to getting to see Beatrix's story, but I found this book to be a little bit of a letdown. It just felt like everything was a little too easy between Beatrix and Tom. It's not that I wanted a story of high drama, but considering everything that happens with these characters from the death of Tom's wife to Beatrix's past to her problems with her father I just felt things should have been a little more difficult for them. I appreciated that Tom didn't shame Beatrix for her past, but it's brushed over so quickly it makes you wonder why certain aspects of the backstory were even mentioned. I'll be curious to see if Beatrix and Selina's schoolmate will make an appearance in the final book of the series (otherwise, again, what was the point of appearing in this book).

4.5 stars

Lovely read. Part of the Pretenders series but you don't need to have read book 1 to enjoy this one, though in that book you get a glimpse of Beatrix's kleptomania habit. Tom is out on the balcony when his wife falls off it to her death. The only witness is up a tree spying on her disappointing father. They agree a scandalous bargain but eventually things end up coming to light. The passion is good as is the romance. This isn't a clean story and realistically Beatrix isn't some simpering virginal type. There's a continuing mystery about Beatrix's 'siblings' which is intriguing. I will definitely look out for book 3.

I'd heartily recommend this work. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With murder, intrigue, thievery and a healthy dose of romance, this regency novel has it all. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Contains steamy scenes, if that’s not your cup of tea.

When Thomas's wife dies under suspicious circumstances, Beatrix is the only who knows he's innocent of murder. But Beatrix's behavior is not exactly above reproach, making her a poor witness in his defense. Her reputation could be ruined if certain facts come to light. They agree to protect each other's secrets, but at what cost? And what happens when their plan begins to unravel?

Darcy Burke gets the award for the most innovative "meet cute" of 2020 (at least in my book). This is a high stakes, high emotion story that hooks you from the beginning. I adore the characters in the Pretenders series and can't wait for more!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received of this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Darcy Burke Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up

This was my second historical romance by Darcy Burke and just as with the first, I really enjoyed this too! Although this is the second book in her Pretenders series, and we do encounter characters introduced in the first book (Selina, Harry, Rafe), it can very much be read as a standalone. Were some elements of the story a little improbable and often predictable? Yes, but that honestly didn't stop me from enjoying it. I think if I were more discerning about the time period and how the hero/heroine meet, then I *might* have an issue with it. As it is, I thought it was a unique meet-cute and I enjoyed how their relationship unfolded. It was a fast-paced and entertaining historical romance and exactly what I was looking for when I chose to read this book.

I found Beatrix and Thomas to be very likeable characters. I appreciated how Beatrix's main goal for her Season wasn't to snag a husband but to reconnect with her father who abandoned her as a child. She has a strong independent streak and she's delightfully sharp-witted. I felt like she complemented Thomas' character very well, as she can really hold her own and she proves it time and again. My heart went out to Thomas because, after a childhood of abuse, all he wanted was a happy and supportive marriage and he got quite the opposite. I adored how much he cared for his daughter and how despite his ex-wife was a terrible person, he still tried to do right by her for his daughter's sake. Their connection was a little surprising at first but I liked how their unlikely friendship grew into romance and it did get pretty steamy between these two! I'd say 4/5 on the steamy scale.

There were some loose ends that I wish had been tied up or better addressed and that's why I didn't rate this higher. For starters, Beatrix's half-sibling completely fell off the radar after it seemed that he'd play a bigger and more supportive role. There was also the issue of Beatrix's compulsive stealing that didn't have a resolution and was kind of brushed over at the end for the HEA.

Overall though, this was an enjoyable romance and a series with characters that I'm looking forward to reading more of! If I'm right in guessing the next book will be about Rafe then I'm really looking forward to it because I'm liking the sound of his story :) I'd recommend this for those who enjoy a fast-paced historical romance with strong heroines, likeable heroes, and a good dose of steamy connection!

As always, wonderful stuff!!!

If you are a fan already you won’t be disappointed. The chemistry between the two main leads was very believable. I give it 4 out of 5! A must buy for winter.

Lord Rockbourne is having an argument with his wife of five years when she comes after him with a pen knife and as he moves away she goes over the balcony rail to her death. Beatrix is in a tree near there and sees the whole thing. They meet on the ground next to his wife's body. Beatrix has been climbing the tree watching the Duke next door who happens to be her father. They can't tell anyone that she was there or what she saw.
While she comes to see if he is okay and he wants to sit and talk, they become more attracted to each other. It is an interesting story which will reveal the secrets they each have. You will enjoy it from start to finish.

I don't think there is much better than stories that have characters that connect. I found Darcy through netgalley months ago and am just hooked on her books because of these continuing stories. The Pretenders series is so much fun and the 3 main characters are just so compelling. You feel so much for them and their story as you read. Keep them coming!

The Scandalous Bargain by Darcy Burke

T0his book follow the trials and tribulations of Beatrix Whitford when one night she witnessed a woman falling from a balcony in the dead of night and her path crosses with Lord Rockbourne.

The story is full of drama, twists and turns. Everyone has a secret and many lies spread around.

Yet another great novel by Darcy Burke.

Very good read beautiful characters and some very spiteful ones too.

Stolen hearts, stolen moments, stolen objects!

From being left in an upper class girls' boarding school upon the death of her mother, where she was mercilessly bullied, eventually running away preferring life on the streets, and from thence to the top echelons of society, illegitimate daughter of a Duke, Beatrix Linley has just one wish. To make contact with her father the Duke of Ramsgate, of whom she has rosy memories. Beatrix yearns to be accepted and acknowledged as part of the family, albeit quietly.
Which goes in part to explain why she was sitting in a tree in the grounds belonging to Thomas Devereaux, Lord Rockbourne, disguised as a youth.
Beatrix spends her nights climbing this tree dressed in men's clothing in order to spy on her father. Only this night her gaze is caught by an argument between Rockbourne and his wife that ends in tragedy.
So Beatrix is a witness to what went on, something that becomes a both a blessing and a conundrum. And making contact with her father--well that's a whole nother story! There's also the problem of Beatrix's kleptomania! Whenever she's worried or anxious she takes things, something she's not consciously aware of until later.
We join forces with Beatrix's chosen family and some new additions, once again enjoying their stories as they rise from the underbelly of London to more prominent positions.

A Darcy Burke Publishing ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I really wanted to like this book because I usually like most of Darcy Burke's other books, but I couldn't get into this one because I was so put off by the illogical and improbable way the H and h met and how they kept meeting in such a fashion. It was also obvious which way the story was going, what would happen, and how it would all clear up in the end. I also had no sympathy for the h's psychological problem that I'm sure was cured by "true love," which is beyond reason (though I really don't know if it was cured, I couldn't force myself to read that far). Read her other books and skip this one if you want any kind of reasonable belief for Regency behavior. One star for adequate editing for typos, grammar, sentence structure, etc. At least you don't have to struggle through those kinds of annoyances in the reading of the book.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this intricate, uncommon historical romance. The premise and the meet cute were unique and immediately grabbed my attention. Beatrix is a dauntless heroine, trying to forge a connection with the father she never knew.
Thomas is a man trapped in an untenable marriage with a woman who is everything selfish and nothing nurturing to their daughter.

When fate throws these two searching souls in one another's paths, they become irrevocably yoked together.

I loved everything about this wonderful love story. Well-written, witty dialogue, original plot and robust character development.

After having met Selina and her sister-not-by-blood Beatrix in A Secret Surrender, I was very happy to see that after Selina got her happy ending, this story will be about Beatrix. A Scandalous Bargain will take you back to the early years where Selina and Beatrix have met. So, it gives you more insight into both Selina and Beatrix. It also discloses why Beatrix became the most handy in picking pockets and lifting goods.
And we meet Thomas Deveraux, who is unhappily married to Thea. When Thea dies under suspicious circumstances, Thomas is under investigation by the Bowstreet Runners (yes, that's where Harry works...) for murder. The problem is, that he can't ask Beatrix to act as a witness, because she saw the whole event, while spying on Thomas' neighbor, and her father: the Duke of Ramsgate. Because Beatrix is an illegimate child, her father has send her off to a boarding school and then ignored her. And now Beatrix wants to restore the band with her father, but is unsure of how to proceed. And the unplanned encounter of Beatrix and Thomas leads to a wonderful story, with a lot of twists and turns. We meet old acquaintences and new friends, a real treat!
Find out for yourself in this wonderful story of lies, cheating, surviving the odds and doing the right thing. Maybe Thomas can find actual love and maybe Beatrix has already found the family she has been looking for all her life. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Thomas Devereaux, Lord Rockbourne, regrets ever marrying his wife, but when she suffers a fatal accident, he's suddenly on the Bow Street's radar. It seems his mother-in-law is making claims that Tom killed his wife. The more Bow Street investigates, the more things point to Tom's guilt. His only witness, Beatrix Linley, cannot come forward if she doesn't want to have her reputation in tatters. How could she explain that she was in the tree outside the Rockbourne home spying on her the duke, her father who abandoned her years ago?

I liked Thomas who by trying to do the honorable thing in protecting his dead wife's reputation finds himself the number one suspect in a murder investigation. He was the perfect flawed hero. I wasn't so enthralled with Beatrix. She has a habit--both conscious and unconscious--of stealing items from events she attends. While this is mentioned a number of times, once Thomas declares his love, it seems to disappear. I'm not sure that could happen so quickly. Also, throughout the book, the penknife is mentioned and when it's finally revealed it was stolen by Beatrix and pawned, it almost seems like an after thought and nothing else is mentioned about it.

I found it easy to put the book down a number of times and it took me almost a week to finish it. While I usually adore Ms. Burke's books, this one just wasn't as riveting as some of her other books.

This story starts with jump and doesn't stop as the author weaves her magic. Beatrix grows up the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Ramsgate and when her mother dies, he sends her off to school. She desperately wanted his attention and was left very lonely but eventually turns into an excellent Pretender and fashions in her mind how to get his attention.

Now out on her own, she spies on her father from a tree in the next door neighbor, Thomas Devereux. Having overheard him and his wife continually fighting, she observes the wife falling off the balcony to her death! One thing leads to another and the story begins!

She and Thomas begin to form a bond, after all, he had been tricked into the marriage of his varigo wife and Beatrix had is fighting her own dreams. A wonderful story that reveals hidden feelings and several twist and turns, these two needed each other and it left me with a hugh Sigh as I turned the last page!

4.5 stars - A Scandalous Bride is a fantastic read! The hero is a viscount who’s been married to a despicable woman. When she dies in a tragic accident. his life somehow gets worse and better, too. The heroine is a duke’s illegitimate daughter who has had to fight for everything since her mother died. The H and h both deserve a HEA and them finding it with each other is beautiful. This read has all of the Darcy Burke hallmarks - strong heroine, worthy hero, honorable friends and just enough sexy to keep things interesting. I enjoyed it!

Beatrix Linley is the bastard daughter of the Duke of Ramsey who returns to London to reveal herself to her long lost father. While spying on him in the neighbors trees, she witnesses the tragic death of Viscountess Rockbourne one evening while fighting with her husband, Thomas Devereaux. After Tom is blamed for his wife's death after years of emotional abuse and Beatrix is on the verge of social ruin, will they find happiness in each other's arms?

This was my first book of The Pretenders series and I was a little concerned if I would be lost, but the author did a great job of filling the reader in on the back story without letting it overtake the main story. I enjoyed the storyline in this, as Beatrix ended up not being the typical "damsel in distress" but was a strong and determined heroine that helped Tom out. This was a delightful story and I can't wait to read book #3 of the series!

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinion.