My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Synopsis
The saucy Yvette de
Maupassant is used to danger. She’s spent the last 10 years spying for
England in Napoleon’s court. Now that her work has been discovered, she
must hide, and what better place than the remote wooded estate of the
Earl of Carrolton? Her friend Miss Thorn and that delightful cat Fortune
place her in a position where she can pretend to be companion to the
earl’s sickly mother. Yet one look at the earl has Yvette rethinking why
she wants to stay.
Gregory, Earl of Carrolton, is used to
power. So why does one moment in the company of his mother and spinster
sister leave him feeling powerless? And why does the look in a certain
Frenchwoman’s eyes leave him weak at the knees? As danger draws closer,
Gregory and Yvette must work together to protect her, his family, and
the future of England, as they discover the greatest danger and delight
is falling in love.
My Review
I love how individual the characters in this series are! The author does a wonderful job of giving each one a distinct personality with a range of mannerisms, strengths, and struggles. Yvette is especially unique because she is a former French spy (for the British) with a tragic history, yet she has a way of improving the situation she finds herself in. I loved her spirit and the way she stood up to Gregory's mother and sister, while still staying in their good graces. It was interesting how she had such compassion for Gregory and felt safe with him, yet is not sure about him and his true nature because of her trust issues.I liked getting to know Gregory and how he dealt with his family dynamics. It was nice to see how Yvette's influence on them all improved their own relationships with each other. A lovely Regency romance, as always!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Excerpt
Men. They must have
been discussing what to do about her situation, yet they all stared at
her as if she’d floated down from the ceiling dressed in chicken
feathers. Mr. Villers’s mouth even hung open.
“Vite, vite,”
Yvette said, coming to join them. “You must be quick. Meredith is with
her ladyship, but I will be wanted shortly.”
Mr. Mayes
brightened. She’d met the solicitor last month at Foulness Manor, the
home of her friend Harry. Of course he would want news of
Meredith—unless Yvette missed her guess, he intended to court the lady.
“Miss Thorn is still here?” he asked.
“For
the time being,” the earl told him. Then he stepped forward to take
Yvette’s hand in his. Such a large hand. Hers disappeared inside it, yet
she felt perfectly comfortable.
“Miss de Maupassant,” he said,
“Mr. Mayes and Mr. Villers came to let us know they have identified the
man pursuing you. You must be brave. It is your cousin.”
The
room dimmed. She must have swayed on her feet, for his hand slipped
around her waist as if to hold her upright. She clung to his hand, to
his warmth. She could not let her fear rule her.
“I should have
known Claude would be involved,” she made herself say. “I am only
surprised he crossed the Channel himself. Where is he now?”
“We’re
not sure,” Mr. Mayes admitted. “One of our best men, Lord Trevithan,
nearly caught him in London, but he managed to escape.”
He
would, even from the dashing Lord Trevithan, who’d recruited her for a
spy. Her cousin was a survivor. So many wrongs could be laid at his
door, yet he always escaped capture, like a cockroach scuttling away
from the light.
“You’re safe here,” the earl said in his deep voice, hand still holding hers. “He has no idea where you are.”
Yvette
shook her head. “He had no idea where I was. Why do you think he
allowed you to see him in London? He wanted you to know he was in
England. You hurried to tell me, and he will hurry to follow you.”
Mr. Villers straightened, and Mr. Mayes’ handsome face tightened.
“You’re
right,” the solicitor said. “We were fools. Carrolton, there’s nothing
for it now. We’ll have to find another place for Miss de Maupassant.”
The
earl stiffened, but once more the room seemed to darken. Leave
Carrolton Park? She had only been here a few days, but she felt as if
ribbons bound her to the place.
Check out the other books in the Fortune's Brides series . . .
Synopsis
After spending the last
ten years following her late husband on campaign, the irrepressible Jane
Kimball finds herself badly in need of a position to support herself.
Marriage holds no appeal; she’s not likely to find a husband like her
Jimmy again. But when Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency offers
her a post with the Duke of Wey, Jane feels drawn to help the lonely
widower with his three daughters. He may seem a bit aloof, but Miss
Thorn’s cat Fortune approved of him. Why should Jane doubt a duke?
Alaric,
Duke of Wey, commands his staff, his tenants, and the halls of
Parliament, managing vast holdings in England and across the seas. Why
is it he cannot manage his own daughters? As an old danger rears its
head, he comes to rely on Jane’s practical nature, her outspoken ways to
navigate the waters of fatherhood. And when necessity dictates he take a
wife, thoughts turn to an unlikely governess who might make the perfect
bride.
Book Two
Synopsis
After caring for a
crotchety countess, Patience Ramsey wants a more purposeful position.
So, when Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency offers her the post
of assistant to amateur apothecary Augusta Orwell, Patience jumps at
the chance. Then her new employer introduces her at an Easter house
party as the bride-to-be of her nephew Sir Harold Orwell. Miss Thorn’s
cat Fortune may approve of Sir Harry, but Patience has no interest in
borrowing the handsome baronet. She’s had her heart trampled on by false
promises before.
Sir Harry has enough on his hands trying to
restore the family name while spying for the English against the
French. But the pretty Patience could cover for him when he must ply his
trade during the house party, so he convinces her to agree to the
charade. As Harry’s work brings danger closer, he begins to realize
Patience embodies everything he could want in a wife. Can he convince
her to overlook the scandals surrounding him and exchange their false
engagement for a true love?
Book Four
Releasing November 2018!
Synopsis
Lydia Villers is
determined to leave behind her life as a social butterfly and do what
she's always dreamed of doing--pursue a career in science. A shame the
only scientist willing to assist her is the one man she had once hoped
to wed. Frederick, Viscount Worthington, Worth to his friends, has been
betrayed once too often. How can he believe Lydia's intentions are true?
With the help of Miss Thorn and her beloved cat Fortune, a determined
young lady and a jaded lord might just discover that only together do
they make the perfect chemistry.
