Having never read one of Ms. Abrams titles, I was intrigued to try something new. THE SPY'S KISS, a historical romance set in England during the early 19th century begins as most stories do by introducing and developing the main characters.

A very handsome and aristocratic Julien Clermont arrives at Boulton Park expressing an interest in the earl's butterfly collection and a hidden interest in the earl's niece, Serena Allen. Serena came to live at her uncle's estate due to a scandalous seduction that ruined her reputation and makes it difficult for her to face the judging eyes in London. As a result, she prefers seclusion. Weaving in and out between Julien and Serena is Serena's cousin Simon, who's full of mischief and provides some comic relief. As the story unfolds, you begin to find out Julien's real motive and how personal it is, not to mention who he really is.

As the introduction is set, there are many characters introduced with no real descriptions, as well as a confusing political plot that forces the involvement of the two main players. With so many people coming and going, the development of any character, especially the main players, never becomes clear. You learn about their pasts in bits and pieces. When Serena's scandal finally unfolds, her feelings about it are never clear, only that she hates London and Frenchmen, and yes, Julien is French. He's a likable and honorable man, which makes him a perfect match for Serena, but their true feelings for each other are not revealed until toward the end. And although there is love, the passion is lukewarm.

To be fair, despite my lack of enthusiasm for this storyline, the writing is quite good, and I would consider reading this author's earlier books.