L'Ange de Vengeance, that's what the French called Lilias
Fairchild, widow of Major Fairchild, whom she had
accompanied in his battles during the war. Alastair
Whitmore, Marquess of Angelstone, better known as Angel,
never forgot the beautiful woman he had seen at Waterloo:
wild with grief, avenging her husband's death, and her
broken heart. What he didn't expect was meeting her at a
Society event a few years later, and she remembers him as
well.
The fearless Lilias instigates the affair with the
enigmatic Angel, but as their liaison progresses, he
wonders if his paramour is hiding more secrets than he
is. He watches her discreetly but when she drops her
reticule and he finds a medallion identical to those left
by the Death Adders, assassins of political figures, he
fears she might be involved with the deadly association.
IN BED WITH A SPY is the second instalment in the
brilliant A Spy in the Ton series, and those who
have not
read the previous book will have no problem following as
sufficient details are provided by the author. IN BED
WITH A SPY is Angel's story, whom we had briefly met in
Ms. Alexander's debut novel The Smuggler Wore Silk. I was
anxiously awaiting this book; I had found Angel a very
compelling character, and I was thrilled to learn IN BED
WITH A SPY was his story; the book exceeds my wildest
expectations! He and the deliciously seductive Lilias, a
strong and brave woman, make a fabulous couple: as they
try to mend their broken hearts, their passion burns high
amidst treachery, secrecy and murder.
IN BED WITH A SPY is more subdued and nuanced than The
Smuggler Wore Silk. It's reminiscent of great British spy
novels albeit set in the Regency era with just the
perfect touch of romance. I found most remarkable that
the tone, the texture, the atmosphere, the colours even
are entirely different from the first book: IN BED WITH A
SPY is not just another book in a series, it is
undeniably Angel's book. When the action and the romance
become more intense, it becomes a real page-turner, and
the last few chapters lead to a spectacular conclusion.
IN BED WITH A SPY is exquisitely written; Ms. Alexander's
prose is elegant, as alluring as her characters, and she
writes a mean action scene. I especially loved the oft
forgotten little details: stockings and gloves; and the
way Lilias uses her fan to flirt is positively divine!
It's so cleverly described that I could picture her
seductive half-smile, her barely lifted brow; it's a joy
to read how perfectly Ms. Alexander understands and uses
the subtleties of seduction. I am thrilled with Angel's
story, and I cannot wait for the next instalment in this
fabulous series.
Revenge has never been so seductive.
When her husband is killed at Waterloo, Lilias Fairchild
takes up his cavalry sword and boldly storms the front,
earning herself the nickname Angel of Vengeance. But there
is another angel on the battlefield who is just as
single-minded, and just as ruthless…
Alastair Whitmore, the Marquess of Angelstone, is a
British
spy. Code name: Angel. Still haunted by a first love
felled
by assassins, his mission draws him to Waterloo, where he
is
captivated by a beautiful and mysterious woman fighting
amongst the men—a woman who becomes his most intoxicating
memory of war.
Passion has never been so dangerous.
Two years later, Lilias and Angelstone lock eyes in a
crowded ballroom and the memory returns in an exhilarating
rush. The history they share, and hide from the world, is
as
impossible to ignore as the heat of their attraction. But
it’s that very connection that spells doom for their
scandalous affair. When someone from the shadows of their
past proves a dire threat to their lives, passion might
not
be enough to save them.
Excerpt
"Angelstone." She said it softly, so that he was compelled
to look at her face. Calmly, to hide the churning inside
her. Desire twined with loss. Lust merged with the need to
belong. The smile she sent him was full of invitation, the
finger flicking at her bodice a deliberate temptation. "Are
you ready to dance?"
His eyes went dark. Jaw clenched. A quick indrawn breath
rippled the air.
And then she was desirable.
"Indeed?" she mused aloud. He had seemed difficult to read,
his thoughts hidden behind a wall of charm and the impassive
mask of a spy. Apparently he had lost his ability to hide
his thoughts. Desire was something she recognized plainly
enough, and it sent a wicked thrill singing through her. It
was good to feel that way again, however fleeting.
It wasn't the brandy that caused the reciprocating desire
coursing through her. She'd found him attractive before. The
brandy only stripped away her better judgment. Falling in
lust with Angelstone—a spy—would be the height
of folly.
At the moment, it seemed the most reasonable thing in the world.
"Do you know the worst part of this entire situation?" After
setting down her glass she moved slowly forward, watching
him watch her.
"I can't imagine." Tawny eyes gleamed, stalking her every move.
"I spent six years of my life making love to a man, and I
barely knew him. I don't know if his love for me—his
desire for me—was real or an act." She couldn't
move backward in time to find out. But she could move
forward. She needed to move forward. She needed to
erase six years of uncertainty.
Angelstone was just the man to do it.