Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good combination of second chance romance and spy story. The book opened twelve years before the main story. Sloane and Annabeth are teenagers in the throes of first love. They are full of plans for their future, including marriage, as soon as Annabeth is old enough. But fate has other plans for them. Sloane is approached by a man who tells him that Annabeth's father is selling secrets to the French. He promises Sloane he won't turn in her father if Sloane goes to work for him as a spy and smuggler. Sloane will do anything to protect Annabeth from the scandal of having a traitor for a father, so he agrees. But he can't tell Annabeth why he's leaving, so he just disappears.
Sloane is back in London twelve years later, his spying days behind him. He's turned his smuggling into a successful business, but rumors that he was spying for the French have made him a social pariah. He avoids society whenever possible and doesn't care about their opinion of him. When he gets word that Annabeth is in danger because of either his or her father's actions, Sloane is determined to protect her. The trouble is Annabeth wants nothing to do with him or his protection.
Sloane's abandonment devastated Annabeth, and it took her years to put him behind her. She's engaged to Nathan, a good man she can depend on. Their relationship may lack the fire of her time with Sloane, but passion isn't everything. She's furious when he reappears in her life, claiming she's in danger and trying to get her to leave London. But when she is kidnapped and only escapes with the help of her maid (who isn't really a maid), she agrees that she needs help.
I loved that Annabeth wouldn't sit back and be taken care of. The news that she is in danger because someone wants one of her father's papers has her determined to be involved in finding the paper. Sloane walks a fine line between truth and deception, keeping what is in that paper a secret. There's plenty of action as he and Annabeth travel all over while attempting to find the missing document. It doesn't take long for their old feelings to come back to life, but Annabeth isn't sure she's ready to trust Sloane with her heart again. It doesn't help that she's certain he's still keeping secrets, and his lack of trust feels like another betrayal.
I liked seeing the changes in Sloane and Annabeth. She is no longer the naïve teenager who believes love is all she needs. Her strength, determination, and resourcefulness amaze Sloane. At the same time, Annabeth can see that Sloane is just as charming as ever and more confident than he was as a boy. Both need to let go of their past hurts and bitterness before they can look to a future together. And to do that, they must learn to trust each other. It wasn't easy, but the emotional clearing of the air gave me hope for a bright future for them.
The suspense of the story was well done. I was glued to the pages through each step of the search. Some intriguing twists kept Annabeth and Sloane on their toes. As the story progressed, I got the feeling that there was more to the missing paper than they knew. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was resolved, and the bad guy was caught in his own web.
As is usual with the author's books, the secondary characters play critical roles in the story. Annabeth's fiancé, Nathan, is a nice guy, and I felt bad for him once Sloane reappeared on the scene. Not only does he do the right thing, but he also becomes an active participant in resolving the mystery. Also involved is Verity, a former spy partner of Sloane's. She is bold, beautiful, and extremely good at what she does. The antagonism between her and Nathan is hilarious, and the sparks of attraction leap off the page. It looks like they will be the main characters in the next book, and I can't wait to read it. I also adored Annabeth's grandmother, Lady Lockwood. She is a hoot to watch as she keeps everyone in line.
#netgalley
Sloane is back in London twelve years later, his spying days behind him. He's turned his smuggling into a successful business, but rumors that he was spying for the French have made him a social pariah. He avoids society whenever possible and doesn't care about their opinion of him. When he gets word that Annabeth is in danger because of either his or her father's actions, Sloane is determined to protect her. The trouble is Annabeth wants nothing to do with him or his protection.
Sloane's abandonment devastated Annabeth, and it took her years to put him behind her. She's engaged to Nathan, a good man she can depend on. Their relationship may lack the fire of her time with Sloane, but passion isn't everything. She's furious when he reappears in her life, claiming she's in danger and trying to get her to leave London. But when she is kidnapped and only escapes with the help of her maid (who isn't really a maid), she agrees that she needs help.
I loved that Annabeth wouldn't sit back and be taken care of. The news that she is in danger because someone wants one of her father's papers has her determined to be involved in finding the paper. Sloane walks a fine line between truth and deception, keeping what is in that paper a secret. There's plenty of action as he and Annabeth travel all over while attempting to find the missing document. It doesn't take long for their old feelings to come back to life, but Annabeth isn't sure she's ready to trust Sloane with her heart again. It doesn't help that she's certain he's still keeping secrets, and his lack of trust feels like another betrayal.
I liked seeing the changes in Sloane and Annabeth. She is no longer the naïve teenager who believes love is all she needs. Her strength, determination, and resourcefulness amaze Sloane. At the same time, Annabeth can see that Sloane is just as charming as ever and more confident than he was as a boy. Both need to let go of their past hurts and bitterness before they can look to a future together. And to do that, they must learn to trust each other. It wasn't easy, but the emotional clearing of the air gave me hope for a bright future for them.
The suspense of the story was well done. I was glued to the pages through each step of the search. Some intriguing twists kept Annabeth and Sloane on their toes. As the story progressed, I got the feeling that there was more to the missing paper than they knew. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was resolved, and the bad guy was caught in his own web.
As is usual with the author's books, the secondary characters play critical roles in the story. Annabeth's fiancé, Nathan, is a nice guy, and I felt bad for him once Sloane reappeared on the scene. Not only does he do the right thing, but he also becomes an active participant in resolving the mystery. Also involved is Verity, a former spy partner of Sloane's. She is bold, beautiful, and extremely good at what she does. The antagonism between her and Nathan is hilarious, and the sparks of attraction leap off the page. It looks like they will be the main characters in the next book, and I can't wait to read it. I also adored Annabeth's grandmother, Lady Lockwood. She is a hoot to watch as she keeps everyone in line.
#netgalley
