Book Review
Jan. 14th, 2024 08:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariBetter Off Wed
by Susanna Craig
In this historical romance, two very different kinds of spies meet, work together, and fall in love. Laura Hopkins' alter ego is Lady Sterling, a mysterious femme fatale type who steals from and ferrets out the secrets of powerful men who take advantage of their female servants. Jeremy Addison is a member of the British Army's spy corps - he specializes in code-breaking and rarely engages in fieldwork. However, his superior officer gives him the assignment of finding Lady Sterling and convincing her to use her skills for the Crown. When Laura and Jeremy do find each other, they also quickly find themselves stranded and masquerading as newlyweds at the manor of the boorish Lord Thornton, a man who not only abuses his servants but may also indulge in some more treasonous vices. Laura and Jeremy endeavor to discover Thornton's secrets and also discover that they are falling in love.
The espionage plot was just about equal to the romance plot in this book, and they complemented each other nicely. I liked the way both plots increased the heat and the stakes in parallel. Jeremy is a very kind, considerate, and honorable man, as well as that rarity in romance novel heroes - a virgin. Laura is a very clever, brave woman who is willing to put herself on the line for what is right. I like how both she and Jeremy value their independence and respect each other's agency and independence. I also loved seeing a couple really work well together as a team of equals.
by Susanna Craig
In this historical romance, two very different kinds of spies meet, work together, and fall in love. Laura Hopkins' alter ego is Lady Sterling, a mysterious femme fatale type who steals from and ferrets out the secrets of powerful men who take advantage of their female servants. Jeremy Addison is a member of the British Army's spy corps - he specializes in code-breaking and rarely engages in fieldwork. However, his superior officer gives him the assignment of finding Lady Sterling and convincing her to use her skills for the Crown. When Laura and Jeremy do find each other, they also quickly find themselves stranded and masquerading as newlyweds at the manor of the boorish Lord Thornton, a man who not only abuses his servants but may also indulge in some more treasonous vices. Laura and Jeremy endeavor to discover Thornton's secrets and also discover that they are falling in love.
The espionage plot was just about equal to the romance plot in this book, and they complemented each other nicely. I liked the way both plots increased the heat and the stakes in parallel. Jeremy is a very kind, considerate, and honorable man, as well as that rarity in romance novel heroes - a virgin. Laura is a very clever, brave woman who is willing to put herself on the line for what is right. I like how both she and Jeremy value their independence and respect each other's agency and independence. I also loved seeing a couple really work well together as a team of equals.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-15 02:46 am (UTC)I really love what sounds like the absolute density of lying going on here.