A Lady Never Surrenders by Sabrina Jeffries

A Lady Never Surrenders is Celia's story. As the youngest Sharpe, she's had to fight to find her place (and value) in her family. And it's been a struggle -- she's not an important and well-liked marquess like her brother or a gifted writer like her sister. And, as the last unmarried Sharpe, the future of her siblings (and herself) rests on her shoulders and her ability to find a husband -- which is difficult for Celia, who has never felt desired or wanted ... or beautiful.

But she is. To Jackson Pinter, Bow Street Runner. Who fell in love with her the first moment he saw her (and has continued to love her ever since).

But Jackson knows his place in the world -- and he knows he is too far below Celia to even try. And so love and longing are folded up and kept locked up in his heart -- hidden from Celia, who only sees "Proper Pinter" who disapproves of and argues with her constantly.

Celia has two months to find a husband -- and she has enlisted Jackson's help to investigate her prospective suitors. Celia has no grand illusions of making a love match. She just wants to get it over and done with as an obligation to her older siblings.

Jackson wishes with all his heart that he could be the man to change Celia's mind about marriage and love, but he must do what he was hired to do -- and sets out to find out about Celia's suitors.

As he continues his inquiry into the Sharpe's parents' deaths ... and his investigation of Celia's three prospects, Jackson sees more and more that he wants Celia, deeply and desperately -- that he is willing to entertain the dream of having her in his arms and being the one to show her how lovable she is.

Jackson and Celia have to deal with their insecurities before they can face each other. He has to deal with the demons of his questionable parentage and she has to face the scandal of her parents' death and to find out what love is. Neither of them have had good examples of love -- so they dance around each other and deal with each other the only way they know how -- with sharpened tongues, claws unsheathed and pistols locked and loaded.

When Celia finally allows herself to be unguarded and lays her weapon down -- it is both literal and figurative -- and a definitive moment in the life of a girl who has always had to arm and protect herself.

After two years and five novels, the Hellions of Halstead Hall have all finally settled down -- and the mystery surrounding their parents' death finally finds resolution.

It is fitting that Jeffries ends the series with Celia and Jackson -- whose lives and struggles echo those of Celia's parents. With Jackson and Celia coming together, the past, and the present are resolved -- and the future is determined. While the Sharpe family's past is one of dark tragedy, their futures are full of promise and love.


Final note: I really love how Jeffries "solved" the mystery of the double suicide/murder -- it all fits in and makes sense.