Book Title: TO LOVE A SPY
Character Name: Valencia
Where do you live?
On a remote island of the southern coast of England. My fellow residents—most of them are smugglers or individuals who prefer not to cross paths with any type of official authority—mind their own affairs and don’t ask questions. And that suits me just fine.
How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place?
It’s a place of wild, untamed beauty—which I suppose has a certain irony, as the same words are often used to describe me. However, in my heart I’ve never felt comfortable here because it reminds me of my greatest failure. I came here as penance for letting down the people who trusted me to get a dangerous job done. However, I may soon be leaving. Out of the blue, Lady Luck has offered me a second chance to prove myself, and despite the fact that all the odds are stacked against me, I intend to seize it . . .
Speaking of failure, what was your greatest failure?
My personal answer is that my foot slipped at a very inconvenient moment, allowing my adversary to stab me and leave me for dead. But if you asked my superiors at Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Extraordinary Young Ladies, they would likely tell you that I’m a trifle too hard on myself. I tend to brood, and worry that my best isn’t good enough. But my self-imposed exile from the fray has given me time reflect on my past mistakes, and I’m confident that I’m ready to return to action.
Umm, what, exactly, did you do for a living?
In a nutshell, I was a secret agent—a member of a secret regiment of highly trained women warriors, whose job it is to keep Britain safe from its most dangerous enemies. The assignments called for a variety of skills, including espionage, theft of vital documents, and rescuing hostages. There were times when the use of lethal force was necessary, so needless to say, my arsenal of skills with both weapons and my bare hands are rather well-honed. (In other words, you don’t want to mess with me.)
Do you have any enemies?
Yes—and I see the cunning French assassin’s devil-cursed face in my dreams every night! He laughed at the fact that a woman had dared to cross blades with him, and mocked me for thinking I was his equal in martial arts. However, he made a grave mistake in not finishing me off when he had the chance. There is an old adage about he who laughs last, laughs best . . . though in this case, I intend that the “he” will be a “she”.
What is the most pressing problem you have at the moment?
Hmmm, it’s hard to decide. First of all, I have to convince my former commander that he doesn’t have a prayer of success in completing his current mission unless he agrees to take me with him. But actually, he really doesn’t have a choice, as I’m the only one who can get us both off this island and to France. So I would have to say that confronting my mortal enemy once I get to Paris is a rather daunting challenge. But this time around, I am older and wiser—and have no intention of letting him get the best of me.
Is there something that you need or want that you don’t have? For yourself or for someone important to you?
Hmmm, now you are really getting personal! I don’t usually talk about my feelings—we Merlins are trained to be strong and stoic. But since I know you won’t reveal my secrets, I’ll admit I that I yearn for love. I’ve heard that it can be a strength, not a weakness, though I can’t say for sure.
Strangely enough, I think my former commander is also wrestling with his emotions. He’s even more reserved than I am, but my sense is that he, too, feels there’s something elemental missing from his life. Perhaps this coming mission will help us both find a kindred spirit with whom to share our adventures.
Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Extraordinary Young Ladies #4
When a mission of critical importance arises, Lord Lynsley, the enigmatic head of Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Extraordinary Young Ladies, is forced to take on the assignment himself. But when things take an unexpected turn, he has has no choice but to ask for help from a former agent whose injury during a botched mission ten years ago forced her to retire from the elite unit of unconventional lady spies.
Can old wounds—both physical and emotional—be put aside in order for them to work together to destroy a new weapon that may give Napoleon and the French an insurmountable edge in the war against Britain and its allies? The mission takes them into the heart of enemy territory, where danger threatens from all angles, and to have any hope of survival they will have put aside old hurts and trust each other . . .
Mystery Historical | Romance [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: June 3, 2025, e-Book , / ]
Andrea Pickens is a graduate of Yale University, where she majored in art and intellectual history. She has a master's degree in graphic design from the Yale School of Art and Architecture, and is currently the creative director for two sporting magazines. A lifelong fan of Jane Austen, Ann Radcliffe, and the Brontes, she resides with her husband in Connecticut, where she's working on getting her golf handicap down to a respectable number.
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