Author: Debra Elizabeth
Genre/Age: Historical Romance
Series: Age of Innocence Series (Book Three)
Publisher: Self-published
Format: ebook via Goddess Fish
Rating: ✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Miss Hannah Richardson is enjoying a Season in London. She's not looking for a husband, at least not this Season. She wants to enjoy herself before settling down to married life. All that changes, however, when she sees the Duke of Wetherby. He's tall, dark and impossibly handsome and someone Hannah wants to get to know better.
Camden Darkin, the Duke of Wetherby, is not fond of attending soirees, dinners or balls, but his latest mission for the Crown demands he mingle with the ton. He has vowed not to marry because of his dangerous work and the constant bevy of beauties anxious mothers throw into his path is not tempting him in the least. That is, until he meets Hannah Richardson, a young woman unlike any other he's ever met. Can he learn to love or will his hardened heart rob him of the very thing he needs the most.
Camden descended the stairs leading into the garden and kept to the shadows as he moved closer to the couple. He had to make sure that Charles was safe. Just as he was about to turn the corner and spy on them, a sound alerted him that he was not alone in stalking Charles and Lady Sargent. He turned, ready to defend himself and Charles, if necessary, only to be confronted by Miss Richardson. What was she doing in the garden? She could easily foil the opportunity for Charles to get answers from Lady Sargent. He did the only thing he could think of.
He pulled the delectable Miss Richardson into his arms.
Her eyes flashed and she opened her mouth to protest, but before she uttered a sound, his lips captured hers. The kiss was hard and demanding, and when he teased his tongue across her lips, they parted, inviting him in.
He deepened the kiss, and his tongue swept over hers as he explored every inch of her exquisite mouth. He wanted to keep on kissing her all night, but he heard Charles and Lady Sargent whispering as they headed back into the parlor. He reluctantly broke the kiss and set Hannah back on her feet.
She stood dazed, staring at him while she got her bearings back. He was about to apologize for his impetuous kiss when she slapped him hard across the face. “How dare you?” she choked out. “You wicked man.”
Camden rubbed the sting on his cheek. “That’s quite the slap; certainly not something I’m used to. My apologies, Miss Richardson, but tell me this—if you didn’t want me to kiss you, why did you follow me into the garden?”
Hannah’s entire being was burning with indignation, her cheeks a flaming red and her lips swollen from his kiss. She was irresistible. He wanted to kiss her again, but did not relish the idea of another slap. He waited for her answer, but none was forthcoming.
“Just as I thought. You crave wickedness and wanted me to kiss you. Perhaps it would be prudent for you to return to the other guests now. Unless, of course, you’d like me to kiss you again? Is that why you’re still out here in the garden?”
He pulled the delectable Miss Richardson into his arms.
Her eyes flashed and she opened her mouth to protest, but before she uttered a sound, his lips captured hers. The kiss was hard and demanding, and when he teased his tongue across her lips, they parted, inviting him in.
He deepened the kiss, and his tongue swept over hers as he explored every inch of her exquisite mouth. He wanted to keep on kissing her all night, but he heard Charles and Lady Sargent whispering as they headed back into the parlor. He reluctantly broke the kiss and set Hannah back on her feet.
She stood dazed, staring at him while she got her bearings back. He was about to apologize for his impetuous kiss when she slapped him hard across the face. “How dare you?” she choked out. “You wicked man.”
Camden rubbed the sting on his cheek. “That’s quite the slap; certainly not something I’m used to. My apologies, Miss Richardson, but tell me this—if you didn’t want me to kiss you, why did you follow me into the garden?”
Hannah’s entire being was burning with indignation, her cheeks a flaming red and her lips swollen from his kiss. She was irresistible. He wanted to kiss her again, but did not relish the idea of another slap. He waited for her answer, but none was forthcoming.
“Just as I thought. You crave wickedness and wanted me to kiss you. Perhaps it would be prudent for you to return to the other guests now. Unless, of course, you’d like me to kiss you again? Is that why you’re still out here in the garden?”
Dare to Love a Spy will be $0.99 during the tour.
Links:
Website:https://twoendsofthepen.blogspot.com/p/romance-titles.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Debra.L.Martin.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dlmartin6
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Debra-Elizabeth/e/B005XYN2YE
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for honest review.**
I spy, with my little eye... a great historical romance filled with stolen kisses!
Dare to Love a Spy is the first book I've read by Debra Elizabeth. Rest assured, it won't be my last! This story pulled me in from the first digital page and I carried my Kindle all over the house, reading while I cooked, baked cookies, and fed my toddler!
Hannah's first season as an eligible maiden is going splendidly. She has attended soirees and fancy parties, thoroughly enjoying herself and in no hurry to become permanently attached to any man. That is, until she catches the eye of the most eligible bachelor and suddenly she decides that a pairing with a handsome duke is exactly what she wants.
Marriage is not in the cards for Camden. After the loss of a dear friend and fellow spy, he can't see himself putting a woman through the pain of becoming a widow and his job makes that a very strong possibility. However, after crossing the brazen Hannah, Camden can't seem to stop himself from stealing a kiss. Or two...
Soon, Camden is enthralled in a mystery to find a murdering damsel and a quest to win Hannah's affection. Neither task is simple, especially when business and pleasure seem to cross at every turn. Protecting Hannah from the dangerous truth becomes just as problematic as wooing her.
This story was full of things that I liked. The pacing was quick and there was plenty of dialogue and interaction between the couple to make their affection believable. I was happy to see that the mystery did not overpower the story and hinder the romance. That happens often in books with a secondary plot.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more in the way of love (intimate) scenes, however. We don't get a real love scene until the epilogue and after watching the blossoming romance, I wanted to see the couple's first time together and the passion that would have undoubtedly made it quite a show. The epilogue was a nice addition, though.
Dare to Love a Spy is the first book I've read by Debra Elizabeth. Rest assured, it won't be my last! This story pulled me in from the first digital page and I carried my Kindle all over the house, reading while I cooked, baked cookies, and fed my toddler!
Hannah's first season as an eligible maiden is going splendidly. She has attended soirees and fancy parties, thoroughly enjoying herself and in no hurry to become permanently attached to any man. That is, until she catches the eye of the most eligible bachelor and suddenly she decides that a pairing with a handsome duke is exactly what she wants.
Marriage is not in the cards for Camden. After the loss of a dear friend and fellow spy, he can't see himself putting a woman through the pain of becoming a widow and his job makes that a very strong possibility. However, after crossing the brazen Hannah, Camden can't seem to stop himself from stealing a kiss. Or two...
Soon, Camden is enthralled in a mystery to find a murdering damsel and a quest to win Hannah's affection. Neither task is simple, especially when business and pleasure seem to cross at every turn. Protecting Hannah from the dangerous truth becomes just as problematic as wooing her.
This story was full of things that I liked. The pacing was quick and there was plenty of dialogue and interaction between the couple to make their affection believable. I was happy to see that the mystery did not overpower the story and hinder the romance. That happens often in books with a secondary plot.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more in the way of love (intimate) scenes, however. We don't get a real love scene until the epilogue and after watching the blossoming romance, I wanted to see the couple's first time together and the passion that would have undoubtedly made it quite a show. The epilogue was a nice addition, though.
In closing...
I would definitely like to read the previous books in this series, as well as future installments. Four suns!
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