It is during the winter of 1803 that Napoleon Bonaparte secretly plots to invade England by way of the English channel Spies are everywhere. They are French, American, but most are British. Their task is to gather any information that will stop Bony.
British Commander Duncan Alysham is a seasoned King's Man, or spy, known as Tide Watcher. His friend and mentor, Baron Edward Sunderland has asked him to locate his 19-year-old daughter, Lisbeth, who eloped with Alain Delacorte to France, married him and they have a son, Edmund. His free-spirited daughter refused to marry the man her father selected for her. She quickly found Alain was cruel and abusive to her, tired of her, and tossed her out. He moved with his son to his mother's where she cares for both of them. Forced to work as a waitress in a rowdy bar, Lisbeth has one plan for her future. Get her son back and return home to England. When Duncan finds Lisbeth, he knows immediately she can help him in his mission. He promises her he will get Edmund back to her, return her home to England if she helps him complete his mission.
Her mission is to become a housekeeper/apprentice for the inventor American Robert Fulton. Fulton has discovered a submarine and torpedoes that could help win a war for the Brits against the French led by Bonaparte. She becomes a heroine, works with Fulton and he proposes marriage to her promising to care for both Edmund and Lisbeth. But her feelings for Fulton are not the flaming attraction she feels for Duncan. Can there be a future for her with Duncan?
Lisa Chaplin makes a sterling debut into the Historial genre in THE TIDE WATCHERS. Good research on the era and exciting information on spymasters, spies, code names, and their perilous missions. Facts about Napoleon and Fulton as we go on an exciting adventure filled with drama, great history, and a nice touch of romance. A read that will keep you turning the pages as Lisbeth and Duncan complete their mission and face their future. Will it be together? I see a sequel from Ms. Chaplin and I will look forward to continuing her journey. She has a new fan. Merci Beaucoup!
In the tradition of Jennifer Robson, comes this compelling debut that weaves the fascinating story of a young woman who must risk her life as a spy to help stop Napoleonβs invasion of Great Britain in the winter of 1803.
Though the daughter of an English baronet, Lisbeth has defied convention by eloping to France with her new husband. But when he breaks her heart by abandoning her, she has nowhere to turn and must work in a local tavern. Her only hope for the future is to be reunited with her young son who is being raised by her mother-in law.
A seasoned spy known by his operatives as Tidewatcher, Duncan apprenticed under Lisbethβs father and pledged to watch over his mentorβs only daughter while he searches the Channel region for evidence that Bonaparte has built a fleet to invade Britain. But unpredictable Lisbeth challenges his lifelong habit of distance.
Eccentric, brilliant American inventor Robert Fulton is working on David Bushnellβs βturtleββthe first fully submersible shipβwhen he creates brand-new torpedo technology, which he plans to sell to the French Navy. But when his relationship with Bonaparte sours, he accepts Tidewatcherβs help to relocate to the French side of the Channel, but he refuses to share his invention. With an entire army encamped in the region, blocking off all access, Tidewatcher must get that submersible, along with someone who knows how to use it, to uncover Bonaparteβs great secret.
When Lisbeth is asked to pose as a housekeeper and charm Fulton so she can learn to use the submersible before the invasion fleet sails, she will be forced to sacrifice herself for her countryβbut is she willing to sacrifice her heart when sheβs already lost it to anotherβ¦?
A fast-paced, deeply-researched, and richly imagined novel, The Tide Watchers explores a long-hidden, chapter of Bonaparteβs history.
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