Whee ... this has a hint of Susan Johnson to it. If you can slip past a kinky little juvenile (pun intended) quasi-erotic bedroom scene, the rest of the story will hold your attention. But, it only gets truly interesting in the last chapter when the plot finally starts to heat up. Unfortunately, it's only to wrap up the story!

Not one of her better stories, in my opinion, but still better than many of the other offerings in this genre.

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Oh, I did enjoy this one; a little more meat to it than the usual Regency romance and angst. An independent businesswoman (waaay before her time)finds romance and passion with a rake. Throw in a little foreign intrigue, a splash of patriotism, some interesting secondary characters, & you have a thumbs-up. Enjoy.

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One of my favorite authors. She writes a great story with loveable characters. Her writing is fast-paced, has lively dialogue and with the great sexual tension everyone loves with a romance. I am looking forward the the rest of the trilogy!

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Excellent! Almost as good as her debut novel, My False Heart, which I think IS superb.

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Excellent book--can't wait to read the next in the series!

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This was a great read, I loved the strong lady and her strength to stay true to what she wanted and believed in. Lots of tension, danger, and suspense. Has a great storyline that keeps a good clip and doesn't lag. A good series.

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This book was just okay. Carlyle seems to still be refining her style. The dialogue was great in parts, especially towards the middle. She writes great love scenes. But the epilogue dissolves into pure schmaltz. It feels wooden and false. When you develop two characters that spar with each other, let them continue to do that, even after their happily ever after.

The story was suprisingly complex, taking a modern problem (women balancing work and life) and fitting into a historical setting. Carlyle makes it work, which surprised me a little. Xanthia's situation is believable, for the most part, and her inner dialogue rings true. There's not enough development of the relationship between Zee and her brother, and vague hints about an abusive childhood seem to suggest a backstory that is never satisfactorily explained.

For all the shortcomings, this is a book worth reading. I can see Liz Carlyle becoming a favorite, as her writing improves. It was good enough to bring me back for the second book of the series.

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An excellent read. I have ordered the next books in this series.

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