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The Gentleman Spy
A spy. His Ward. And a battle of wills that sparks with chemistry.
After years abroad as a spy for England, an injury forces Beauden Calverleigh home. But what he finds upon his return is more captivating—and vexing—than he could have ever imagined.
Emerald, the longtime ward of the Calverleigh family, has blossomed into a vision of beauty and independence during Beau's absence. Running his estate with a deft hand and a determined spirit, she meets his homecoming with a mixture of resentment and defiance.
With every challenge she throws his way, Beau finds himself drawn to her fiery nature and beguiling charm. As he struggles to reconcile his duty as her guardian with his growing desire for her, he stumbles upon a daring smuggling ring with designs on something much bigger and more treacherous than running illegal brandy.
When Emerald retreats to London for the season, Beau follows. It isn’t long before he discovers danger lurks around every corner, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his ward safe.
In a world where passion and peril collide, will he seize his chance at happiness before it's too late?
The Gentleman Spy is a steamy guardian/ward Regency romance perfect for readers who enjoy lush writing and being caught in the emotional grip of a story.
After years abroad as a spy for England, an injury forces Beauden Calverleigh home. But what he finds upon his return is more captivating—and vexing—than he could have ever imagined.
Emerald, the longtime ward of the Calverleigh family, has blossomed into a vision of beauty and independence during Beau's absence. Running his estate with a deft hand and a determined spirit, she meets his homecoming with a mixture of resentment and defiance.
With every challenge she throws his way, Beau finds himself drawn to her fiery nature and beguiling charm. As he struggles to reconcile his duty as her guardian with his growing desire for her, he stumbles upon a daring smuggling ring with designs on something much bigger and more treacherous than running illegal brandy.
When Emerald retreats to London for the season, Beau follows. It isn’t long before he discovers danger lurks around every corner, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his ward safe.
In a world where passion and peril collide, will he seize his chance at happiness before it's too late?
The Gentleman Spy is a steamy guardian/ward Regency romance perfect for readers who enjoy lush writing and being caught in the emotional grip of a story.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2024
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179 people want to read
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May 4, 2024
If you are looking for a historical romance with just the right blend of action, romance, steam and a touch of mystery, search no further!
31-year-old Lord Beauden “Beau” Calverleigh returns after many years to the estate Oakmoss Manor in Kent, after discovering his father Lord Avon has passed away through a letter from his now-ward Miss Emerald Doubleday. She is about to turn 21, taken in by Beau’s late father, and has been living with his mother the dowager and sister Louisa – as well as running state affairs in Beau’s absence.
Unknown to them all, he works for the Home Office as a spy, traveling to various countries to aid the Crown in any way he can. Now he is back, Beau realises how beautiful a woman Emerald has turned out to be, and she realises just how much she has missed him. Such a relationship is frowned upon but try as hard as they might to deny it, as vexing as they find each other, sizzling desire blossoms between them.
But with the discovery of his secrets and an imminent threat (and something that concerns his father’s death), Beau must do everything in his power to not only protect the Crown but his ward too.
This is told from the third-person past-tense narrative from Beau and Emerald’s perspective.
OVERALL OPINIONS
I really enjoyed this. This was a delightful quick read with many great elements: recovery from grief, found family, forbidden romance – not to mention a masquerade ball (my favourite!). Georgia’s style of writing is reminiscent of Jane Austen and Julia Quinn with her own beautiful, unique and spicy touch. When I was younger, I used to read Charlotte Betts historical romances, and this reminded me of her work, specifically “The Spice Merchant's Wife” but more for my age range now.
Indeed, I was reminded of Pride & Prejudice (more the 2005 film) as Beau helps Emerald into the carriage and neither of them is wearing gloves. There is a reference to Austen’s novel when someone asks Beau: ‘Who do you think you are? That Mr Darcy fellow?’. Ultimately, the vibes we get in this story are more akin to Emma as we have this dynamic of an older man with a younger woman, who have known each other for years. The novel The Mysteries of Udolpho is mentioned in passing, which has to be a reference to Northanger Abbey as this story is mentioned here.
I loved the slowburn here between Beau and Emerald, I would have liked this to have moved along quicker so it was more halfway through the book, but it made the wait worth it. I like that they both share a vulnerable moment where they grieve for Beau’s father, that was very touching. I love the way Beau protects her every time. That masquerade scene too, I was blushing like mad! The fact that Beau goes as a pirate – dayum!
I love Emerald, her sharp mind and witty jokes. Emerald’s determination to run the estate reminds me of Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. It is so nice that she wants to be so helpful, but it is ashame she wants to feel included and fears everyone will leave. Beau took up the job because he wanted to make his own mark elsewhere, which is in its own way similar but different. I am obsessed with him, he is charming and sexy but also jealous of other suitors – as he should!
It's also sweet that they point things out that they notice about the other in one chapter, like how she always wants sweet food if she hasn’t slept well or his love of Mirabelle mousse.
The guardian/ward trope is not weird here as far as I am concerned because Beau has spent more time away than actually been there, plus she was his father’s ward and the role of guardian has passed onto him. The age gap is also acceptable.
<< Setting (Location/Year) >>
The location is mainly set in Kent and London.
Though never explicitly mentioned, it can be seen that this novel is set some time after 1815 (but potentially before 1824). Near the end of the book, Emerald visits the theatre to see a play about the Battle of Waterloo, which occurred in 1815.
It could be estimated that it is around 1815-1817. This is suggested as Edmund Kean, a famous Shakespearian actor mentioned performing the play, would have been performing in Drury Lane from 1814-1817 as he signed a 3-year contract with them.
A few other clues that helped estimate the year were:
• a character within the book is revealed to be a sympathiser of Napoleon, and the Napoleonic Wars were from 1803-1815
• Emerald plays Beethoven’s Symphony Number 5 which was first released 1808, so that helped narrow it down to after 1808
• there is talk of Lord Byron’s works and that he is still alive at this point: (‘Do you think you'll meet him in London?’). Byron passed away in 1824.
<< Accuracy? >>
This book is fairly accurate in terms of places and events around the time – and, for me, inaccuracies don’t usually matter. The only few things are the following:
🠚 Emerald’s name. It is too modern for the period, but I can let this one slide.
🠚 Tattoos. This is really neither here nor there because tattoos have been around since 3000 BCE (Before Common Era). In Europe, there was a crazy for them in the 1870s and the first documented tattoo salon in Britain was Sutherland Macdonald in 1894. This is all after the time of the book – but, I can easily believe a random place to get tattoos. After all, pirates and sailors would get them. And it does add an interesting layer to Beau’s character having one.
🠚 A play about Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo where Edmund Kean played Napoleon does not exist
<< Positives >>
🠚 I especially loved how kind everyone essentially is in this book (this makes a change), how even when Emerald disobeys Beau he cannot ever find it in his heart to reprimand her but instead teases her about it. This is the same with his mother and sister, supporting him and not hating him for neglecting his duties.
🠚 Esther and Louisa are so lovely, it is nice that Emerald has them for company. I like Esther the most, she is so joyful.
🠚 I adored the humorous moments and quotes. To name a few: Beau and Emerald racing each other; and Emerald trying to search Beau’s room but has to hide because he arrives home early.
<< Negatives >>
The main thing I would like to talk about is the family motto of the Calverleigh family. I want to be quite clear, I loved it but I wish it had a bigger role in the book. The words are “as familiar to him as his own name” – but why is this? Is it solely that as a child he had studied it so much he memorised it, or is it that the words weigh heavily on them. He could have opened up about this to Emerald.
🠚 Then we come to the typo in the motto. The words for the motto are: “fortitudo, patentia, properitas” – in Latin there is no such noun as “properitas” though “proper” means speed/making haste and, if put into Google translate, (which we all know is not always accurate, “properitas” comes up and means speed). I believe what the author is actually trying to say is “prosperitas” which means prosperity/success.
🠚 Thus, the translation of the motto is the following:
Emerald’s stepmother and half-sisters are mentioned, but I would have liked to have seen them as they would have added some strain and provided more hostile characters to the story.
FAV QUOTES
• There was nothing more damnable about being home than discovering the woman he was most drawn to was the only one he couldn’t have.
• All at once, he was too close, too tall, too beautiful.
• Her intelligence, and her unwillingness to hide it, was as surprising as it was attractive.
• ‘Passion cares nothing for your resentments; disdain can be overcome with understanding. We are capable of feeling both at once and in equal measure.’
• Somehow, in gaining the knowledge he wasn't who she'd believed, she'd lost a piece of who she thought she was.
• ‘Mrs Kettleman plays for stakes so low even a clergyman could sit at the table’
• ‘Information if power. Power is dangerous. You are mine to protect.’
• ‘In your hands I am formless, unfastened. Bury me in your deep sweet, in your grief, in your splendour.’
• ‘There's nothing trite about wishing for something–or someone–to call your own.’
• ‘Me.’ ‘You until you go away again.’ ‘Me.’ ‘You until—’ ‘Me, dear one. Always.’
• ‘What do you want, little bird?’ ‘This. You. More. Everything,’
• He took her hand in his own and placed it upon his chest. Against her palm, she felt the eager beat of his heart calling to her like an echo in time, as if she’d lived the moment a hundred different ways in a hundred different lives.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, and I’d like to thank Georgina North and Booksprout for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
When she spotted him, his mouth curved into a private smile just for her. Even as she moved beyond where she could see him, she knew he was watching her. The very same way she knew she never had and never would love another man so long as there was breath in her lungs.PLOT SUMMARY
31-year-old Lord Beauden “Beau” Calverleigh returns after many years to the estate Oakmoss Manor in Kent, after discovering his father Lord Avon has passed away through a letter from his now-ward Miss Emerald Doubleday. She is about to turn 21, taken in by Beau’s late father, and has been living with his mother the dowager and sister Louisa – as well as running state affairs in Beau’s absence.
Unknown to them all, he works for the Home Office as a spy, traveling to various countries to aid the Crown in any way he can. Now he is back, Beau realises how beautiful a woman Emerald has turned out to be, and she realises just how much she has missed him. Such a relationship is frowned upon but try as hard as they might to deny it, as vexing as they find each other, sizzling desire blossoms between them.
But with the discovery of his secrets and an imminent threat (and something that concerns his father’s death), Beau must do everything in his power to not only protect the Crown but his ward too.
This is told from the third-person past-tense narrative from Beau and Emerald’s perspective.
OVERALL OPINIONS
I really enjoyed this. This was a delightful quick read with many great elements: recovery from grief, found family, forbidden romance – not to mention a masquerade ball (my favourite!). Georgia’s style of writing is reminiscent of Jane Austen and Julia Quinn with her own beautiful, unique and spicy touch. When I was younger, I used to read Charlotte Betts historical romances, and this reminded me of her work, specifically “The Spice Merchant's Wife” but more for my age range now.
Indeed, I was reminded of Pride & Prejudice (more the 2005 film) as Beau helps Emerald into the carriage and neither of them is wearing gloves. There is a reference to Austen’s novel when someone asks Beau: ‘Who do you think you are? That Mr Darcy fellow?’. Ultimately, the vibes we get in this story are more akin to Emma as we have this dynamic of an older man with a younger woman, who have known each other for years. The novel The Mysteries of Udolpho is mentioned in passing, which has to be a reference to Northanger Abbey as this story is mentioned here.
I loved the slowburn here between Beau and Emerald, I would have liked this to have moved along quicker so it was more halfway through the book, but it made the wait worth it. I like that they both share a vulnerable moment where they grieve for Beau’s father, that was very touching. I love the way Beau protects her every time. That masquerade scene too, I was blushing like mad! The fact that Beau goes as a pirate – dayum!
I love Emerald, her sharp mind and witty jokes. Emerald’s determination to run the estate reminds me of Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. It is so nice that she wants to be so helpful, but it is ashame she wants to feel included and fears everyone will leave. Beau took up the job because he wanted to make his own mark elsewhere, which is in its own way similar but different. I am obsessed with him, he is charming and sexy but also jealous of other suitors – as he should!
It's also sweet that they point things out that they notice about the other in one chapter, like how she always wants sweet food if she hasn’t slept well or his love of Mirabelle mousse.
The guardian/ward trope is not weird here as far as I am concerned because Beau has spent more time away than actually been there, plus she was his father’s ward and the role of guardian has passed onto him. The age gap is also acceptable.
<< Setting (Location/Year) >>
The location is mainly set in Kent and London.
Though never explicitly mentioned, it can be seen that this novel is set some time after 1815 (but potentially before 1824). Near the end of the book, Emerald visits the theatre to see a play about the Battle of Waterloo, which occurred in 1815.
It could be estimated that it is around 1815-1817. This is suggested as Edmund Kean, a famous Shakespearian actor mentioned performing the play, would have been performing in Drury Lane from 1814-1817 as he signed a 3-year contract with them.
A few other clues that helped estimate the year were:
• a character within the book is revealed to be a sympathiser of Napoleon, and the Napoleonic Wars were from 1803-1815
• Emerald plays Beethoven’s Symphony Number 5 which was first released 1808, so that helped narrow it down to after 1808
• there is talk of Lord Byron’s works and that he is still alive at this point: (‘Do you think you'll meet him in London?’). Byron passed away in 1824.
<< Accuracy? >>
This book is fairly accurate in terms of places and events around the time – and, for me, inaccuracies don’t usually matter. The only few things are the following:
🠚 Emerald’s name. It is too modern for the period, but I can let this one slide.
🠚 Tattoos. This is really neither here nor there because tattoos have been around since 3000 BCE (Before Common Era). In Europe, there was a crazy for them in the 1870s and the first documented tattoo salon in Britain was Sutherland Macdonald in 1894. This is all after the time of the book – but, I can easily believe a random place to get tattoos. After all, pirates and sailors would get them. And it does add an interesting layer to Beau’s character having one.
🠚 A play about Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo where Edmund Kean played Napoleon does not exist
<< Positives >>
🠚 I especially loved how kind everyone essentially is in this book (this makes a change), how even when Emerald disobeys Beau he cannot ever find it in his heart to reprimand her but instead teases her about it. This is the same with his mother and sister, supporting him and not hating him for neglecting his duties.
🠚 Esther and Louisa are so lovely, it is nice that Emerald has them for company. I like Esther the most, she is so joyful.
🠚 I adored the humorous moments and quotes. To name a few: Beau and Emerald racing each other; and Emerald trying to search Beau’s room but has to hide because he arrives home early.
<< Negatives >>
The main thing I would like to talk about is the family motto of the Calverleigh family. I want to be quite clear, I loved it but I wish it had a bigger role in the book. The words are “as familiar to him as his own name” – but why is this? Is it solely that as a child he had studied it so much he memorised it, or is it that the words weigh heavily on them. He could have opened up about this to Emerald.
🠚 Then we come to the typo in the motto. The words for the motto are: “fortitudo, patentia, properitas” – in Latin there is no such noun as “properitas” though “proper” means speed/making haste and, if put into Google translate, (which we all know is not always accurate, “properitas” comes up and means speed). I believe what the author is actually trying to say is “prosperitas” which means prosperity/success.
🠚 Thus, the translation of the motto is the following:
fortitudo, patentia, prosperitasI believe Georgina should consider adding a translation of the words into her book.
(bravery, patience, success)
Emerald’s stepmother and half-sisters are mentioned, but I would have liked to have seen them as they would have added some strain and provided more hostile characters to the story.
FAV QUOTES
• There was nothing more damnable about being home than discovering the woman he was most drawn to was the only one he couldn’t have.
• All at once, he was too close, too tall, too beautiful.
• Her intelligence, and her unwillingness to hide it, was as surprising as it was attractive.
• ‘Passion cares nothing for your resentments; disdain can be overcome with understanding. We are capable of feeling both at once and in equal measure.’
• Somehow, in gaining the knowledge he wasn't who she'd believed, she'd lost a piece of who she thought she was.
• ‘Mrs Kettleman plays for stakes so low even a clergyman could sit at the table’
• ‘Information if power. Power is dangerous. You are mine to protect.’
• ‘In your hands I am formless, unfastened. Bury me in your deep sweet, in your grief, in your splendour.’
• ‘There's nothing trite about wishing for something–or someone–to call your own.’
• ‘Me.’ ‘You until you go away again.’ ‘Me.’ ‘You until—’ ‘Me, dear one. Always.’
• ‘What do you want, little bird?’ ‘This. You. More. Everything,’
• He took her hand in his own and placed it upon his chest. Against her palm, she felt the eager beat of his heart calling to her like an echo in time, as if she’d lived the moment a hundred different ways in a hundred different lives.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, and I’d like to thank Georgina North and Booksprout for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
October 5, 2024
2.5 stars
This had all the elements to be interesting, but wasn’t. The storytelling was long on telling, and short on engaging the reader, the action felt flat, and I remained emotionally detached from the characters. At no point did I care whether they achieved a happily ever after, and the escalation to sex close to the end felt awkward and, well, physically impossible considering the garments women wore in this time period.
This had all the elements to be interesting, but wasn’t. The storytelling was long on telling, and short on engaging the reader, the action felt flat, and I remained emotionally detached from the characters. At no point did I care whether they achieved a happily ever after, and the escalation to sex close to the end felt awkward and, well, physically impossible considering the garments women wore in this time period.
May 9, 2024
I have a think for Napoleonic era stories, so I was predisposed to loving this book, which is a steamy historical romance with a spy storyline woven throughout. It was fast and fun, with some nice tie-ins to Georgina North's previous book. This was a treat for a new reader or one who knows North's work already.
Emerald's father stipulated that she'd become the ward of a friend, Lord Avon, after his death instead of remaining with her stepmother and two step-sisters. After his death, she moved to the Calverleigh family's estate, Oakmoss, and wound up being trained to manage the property because the first-born son didn't seem to have any interest. When Lord Avon died, Emerald fully took over while Lady Avon and her daughter mourned. The heir, Beau, was on the continent supposedly having fun, but the reality was that he was spying for the crown. Beau finally comes home due to an injury and disrupts the smooth operation established by Emerald. There's tension between the two, there's also a budding attraction. Beau is plagued by his attraction to his ward.
Lady Avon realizes she's neglected Emerald and decides to give her a proper season. At the same time, Beau is investigating a plot to blow up parliament and follows his family to London. The events of the season provide a beautiful backdrop to the forbidden romance and investigation.
While this is a fast read, there are passages that are lovely and lyrical. There are romantic scenes that aren't spicy (you know it's good when even a kiss on the hand is hot) and plenty that are. I found myself wishing it was longer because I was enjoying the writing!
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for advanced access to this book!
Emerald's father stipulated that she'd become the ward of a friend, Lord Avon, after his death instead of remaining with her stepmother and two step-sisters. After his death, she moved to the Calverleigh family's estate, Oakmoss, and wound up being trained to manage the property because the first-born son didn't seem to have any interest. When Lord Avon died, Emerald fully took over while Lady Avon and her daughter mourned. The heir, Beau, was on the continent supposedly having fun, but the reality was that he was spying for the crown. Beau finally comes home due to an injury and disrupts the smooth operation established by Emerald. There's tension between the two, there's also a budding attraction. Beau is plagued by his attraction to his ward.
Lady Avon realizes she's neglected Emerald and decides to give her a proper season. At the same time, Beau is investigating a plot to blow up parliament and follows his family to London. The events of the season provide a beautiful backdrop to the forbidden romance and investigation.
While this is a fast read, there are passages that are lovely and lyrical. There are romantic scenes that aren't spicy (you know it's good when even a kiss on the hand is hot) and plenty that are. I found myself wishing it was longer because I was enjoying the writing!
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for advanced access to this book!
May 13, 2024
(2.5 stars) This was a big disappointment to me. This is the third book by this author that I have read and there was definitely no charm involved for me. It gets three stars anyway for continuing with those watercolor painted covers that I like so much.
The romance is not very convincing. I have no idea why these two really decide they are in love. I guess we are supposed to like it because it's a ward/guardian relationship but that's not one of my favorites. Then there is some spying and smuggling involved. But that's fairly underdeveloped and uninteresting. Add to this a smattering of family relationship misunderstandings.
That leaves me with a book that's just okay. But it has a pretty cover, as I said before.
The romance is not very convincing. I have no idea why these two really decide they are in love. I guess we are supposed to like it because it's a ward/guardian relationship but that's not one of my favorites. Then there is some spying and smuggling involved. But that's fairly underdeveloped and uninteresting. Add to this a smattering of family relationship misunderstandings.
That leaves me with a book that's just okay. But it has a pretty cover, as I said before.
December 9, 2024
3.75 stars (reason for deduction below with spoilers). It was a light read, I liked that Emerald had enough sass and I appreciated the detail in her every day life running the estate. That part was very well done.
We don't really see a relationship develop, they have some run ins and skirmishes but not a lot of building. I liked the premise but it was more a vehicle to tell their story rather than something compelling to read about.
Highlights & Spoilers:
There is some good dialogue-
Finally, he spoke. ‘How long have you resented me?’
‘How long have I lived here?’
----------
and she doth protest too much here:
She shifted her weight from one foot to another. ‘I don’t resent you. I detest you: your apathy, your total want of duty, your complete disregard for what you owe your name, your lack of respect for those who depend on you, your decision to avoid your responsibilities at the expense of others. Most of all, your ability to do so.’
This was cute, when he was doing everything to avoid her:
After that, she’d almost found him in the library. He’d heard her kid boots making a soft shushing sound on the marble floor, and had flung himself right over the back of the claret-coloured couch, landing on his healing elbow in a graceless heap of wool and superfine and praying she wouldn’t do more than glance in the room before moving on to the next.
This was heartfelt:
‘You wish me gone again?’ Beau didn’t know why the answer mattered to him, but he asked the question anyway.
‘I wished you here when we had a year without summer and many of the crops failed. I wished you here when the Hamiltons’ barn went up in flames, and when scarlet fever took three of the Jones children and two from the Bowers. I stayed up so many nights wishing for your return that I ran out of stars to wish upon.’
And this gem of emotion:
'After your father died, it was easier to let grief consume me than to leave my rooms knowing wherever I went, he wouldn’t be there.’
Peeves- really...
She gets shot in her side and is in bed 3 days with a fever, infection, yet the very next day she is up and around (IN A CORSET I assume) eating breakfast like no big deal, wanders the house and then the maid is getting her ready for dinner? Where did the day go and why isn't she in horrible pain?? Especially shot in the ribs??
And the accident with the hackney (where she was unconscious but no damage?), the urchin running into her- all Babin? I don't think so if he had decided to take her with him to France... red herrings to bloat the plot?
We don't really see a relationship develop, they have some run ins and skirmishes but not a lot of building. I liked the premise but it was more a vehicle to tell their story rather than something compelling to read about.
Highlights & Spoilers:
There is some good dialogue-
Finally, he spoke. ‘How long have you resented me?’
‘How long have I lived here?’
----------
and she doth protest too much here:
She shifted her weight from one foot to another. ‘I don’t resent you. I detest you: your apathy, your total want of duty, your complete disregard for what you owe your name, your lack of respect for those who depend on you, your decision to avoid your responsibilities at the expense of others. Most of all, your ability to do so.’
This was cute, when he was doing everything to avoid her:
After that, she’d almost found him in the library. He’d heard her kid boots making a soft shushing sound on the marble floor, and had flung himself right over the back of the claret-coloured couch, landing on his healing elbow in a graceless heap of wool and superfine and praying she wouldn’t do more than glance in the room before moving on to the next.
This was heartfelt:
‘You wish me gone again?’ Beau didn’t know why the answer mattered to him, but he asked the question anyway.
‘I wished you here when we had a year without summer and many of the crops failed. I wished you here when the Hamiltons’ barn went up in flames, and when scarlet fever took three of the Jones children and two from the Bowers. I stayed up so many nights wishing for your return that I ran out of stars to wish upon.’
And this gem of emotion:
'After your father died, it was easier to let grief consume me than to leave my rooms knowing wherever I went, he wouldn’t be there.’
Peeves- really...
She gets shot in her side and is in bed 3 days with a fever, infection, yet the very next day she is up and around (IN A CORSET I assume) eating breakfast like no big deal, wanders the house and then the maid is getting her ready for dinner? Where did the day go and why isn't she in horrible pain?? Especially shot in the ribs??
And the accident with the hackney (where she was unconscious but no damage?), the urchin running into her- all Babin? I don't think so if he had decided to take her with him to France... red herrings to bloat the plot?
May 20, 2024
I love historical spy/romance stories but it took me quite a while to get into the story. The characters didn’t really grab me until about half way through.
I did like the enemies to lovers theme but I guess I couldn’t understand Beau’s immediate fascination with Emerald. It was like a love at first sight sort of thing but he didn’t seem the type and the author didn’t really convince me that it could happen.
There were several steamy scenes in the book which were well written.
I liked the book well enough and I plan to read more of this author.
I did like the enemies to lovers theme but I guess I couldn’t understand Beau’s immediate fascination with Emerald. It was like a love at first sight sort of thing but he didn’t seem the type and the author didn’t really convince me that it could happen.
There were several steamy scenes in the book which were well written.
I liked the book well enough and I plan to read more of this author.
May 2, 2024
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’d like to start off by saying this is the first book I’ve read by Georgina North and I was very happily surprised. The writing was light and engaging and I had a hard time putting it down. She did an excellent job transporting me back in time and creating a convincing and compelling story.
I’m not usually a fan of the spy-mystery subplot in a romance, but in this case, the author made it work very well for me because it didn’t overpower the romantic aspect of the novel and managed to keep it simple yet interesting.
What I liked most about this book was its Hero, Beau. Not because he was particularly interesting or sensual or anything like that. In many aspects, he was very much like any Hero in a romance book. But he did have one virtue in particular that made him stand out from most, at least for me, and that was that he acted very honourably towards the heroine. I loved the restraint and control he showed and how he waited. It also made for an exquisite slow burn.
And while we’re on that subject, I love it when authors can make you burn with a simple touch of the hand or a light kiss on the wrist. Sex is very overused in romance books to try to create chemistry between the characters, so I find it very refreshing when authors find other ways to explore and build chemistry, and Georgina North does it very well in this book. Although, I guess I would understand if people who prefer a quicker burn might find it slightly boring. I, however, enjoyed it immensely.
Now, to the reason I decided to give this book 4 stars instead of 5. It was not an easy decision. I went back and forth several times, but in the end, I went with 4 for one not-so-simple reason: the heroine, Emerald. Don’t get me wrong, I liked her very much, and I thought she was a very interesting character. The issue I had was that I felt like the more the story progressed, and the more Beau fell in love with her, the more of her personality was lost. After a certain point, I didn’t really see her personality stand out anymore. I felt like she just floated, or drifted, from one scene to the next. Maybe that was just me and I expected her to stand out more, I’m not sure, but I felt a little disappointed and it made me sometimes wonder why Beau was still so heavily falling for her.
Last but not least, I’d like to mention how much I adored the cover. I am so tired of seeing the same covers in Historical Romance books over and over again. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, I think you should. The cover fits and describes the book perfectly: a breath of fresh air.
I would definitely recommend this book to all slow-burn Historical Romance lovers out there, and I’m very excited about reading more from this author.
I’d like to start off by saying this is the first book I’ve read by Georgina North and I was very happily surprised. The writing was light and engaging and I had a hard time putting it down. She did an excellent job transporting me back in time and creating a convincing and compelling story.
I’m not usually a fan of the spy-mystery subplot in a romance, but in this case, the author made it work very well for me because it didn’t overpower the romantic aspect of the novel and managed to keep it simple yet interesting.
What I liked most about this book was its Hero, Beau. Not because he was particularly interesting or sensual or anything like that. In many aspects, he was very much like any Hero in a romance book. But he did have one virtue in particular that made him stand out from most, at least for me, and that was that he acted very honourably towards the heroine. I loved the restraint and control he showed and how he waited. It also made for an exquisite slow burn.
And while we’re on that subject, I love it when authors can make you burn with a simple touch of the hand or a light kiss on the wrist. Sex is very overused in romance books to try to create chemistry between the characters, so I find it very refreshing when authors find other ways to explore and build chemistry, and Georgina North does it very well in this book. Although, I guess I would understand if people who prefer a quicker burn might find it slightly boring. I, however, enjoyed it immensely.
Now, to the reason I decided to give this book 4 stars instead of 5. It was not an easy decision. I went back and forth several times, but in the end, I went with 4 for one not-so-simple reason: the heroine, Emerald. Don’t get me wrong, I liked her very much, and I thought she was a very interesting character. The issue I had was that I felt like the more the story progressed, and the more Beau fell in love with her, the more of her personality was lost. After a certain point, I didn’t really see her personality stand out anymore. I felt like she just floated, or drifted, from one scene to the next. Maybe that was just me and I expected her to stand out more, I’m not sure, but I felt a little disappointed and it made me sometimes wonder why Beau was still so heavily falling for her.
Last but not least, I’d like to mention how much I adored the cover. I am so tired of seeing the same covers in Historical Romance books over and over again. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, I think you should. The cover fits and describes the book perfectly: a breath of fresh air.
I would definitely recommend this book to all slow-burn Historical Romance lovers out there, and I’m very excited about reading more from this author.
May 8, 2024
This slow burn rivals-to-lovers romance between Emerald and Beau is mesmerising!
He’s the first born son of a powerful earl, determined to be more than an adornment to the title, and an intuitive and talented spy for the Crown.
Orphaned at a young age, she’s his father’s ward, a second daughter to his mother and a more willing and capable heir than he could ever dream to be.
Both are driven by their own personal sense of duty towards the family and their longtime crushes on each other, but are waylaid by propriety and a smuggling operation threatening The Crown.
While he’s doing his darndest to resist the temptation that kept him from home much longer than necessary – a.k.a. her, she’s claiming her ground for she fears the loss of her new found family and her purpose more than her new guardian, and challenges him at every opportunity
And what gentleman doesn’t relish a tantalising challenge?
Rusticated as he may be by his superiors, Beau can’t help but notice some local seedy dealings and decides to covertly investigate with the help of a few trusted friends. Intrigued by his elusive and secretive nature, Emerald’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she unknowingly gets tangled up in a messy situation beyond her control.
There’s a little of everything in this story - changing family dynamics, yearning, jealousy, protectiveness, sizzling tension, caretaking, the thrill of a season, a clever battle of wills and witty repartee, and some very endearing vulnerable moments as well. But, let’s not forget the glib villains, intrigue and conspiracy - it’s not exactly a mystery, but cleverly executed and with a wry sense of humour.
I liked both MCs and the way the author laid out their points of view and disclosed their history - their rivalry makes sense, and so does their attraction and hesitation - and I really enjoyed the flow of their relationship.
A very entertaining read with just a splash of steam, captivating and colourful, nicely paced and beautifully written with a surprising twist near the end, giving it that little extra!
He’s the first born son of a powerful earl, determined to be more than an adornment to the title, and an intuitive and talented spy for the Crown.
Orphaned at a young age, she’s his father’s ward, a second daughter to his mother and a more willing and capable heir than he could ever dream to be.
Both are driven by their own personal sense of duty towards the family and their longtime crushes on each other, but are waylaid by propriety and a smuggling operation threatening The Crown.
While he’s doing his darndest to resist the temptation that kept him from home much longer than necessary – a.k.a. her, she’s claiming her ground for she fears the loss of her new found family and her purpose more than her new guardian, and challenges him at every opportunity
And what gentleman doesn’t relish a tantalising challenge?
Rusticated as he may be by his superiors, Beau can’t help but notice some local seedy dealings and decides to covertly investigate with the help of a few trusted friends. Intrigued by his elusive and secretive nature, Emerald’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she unknowingly gets tangled up in a messy situation beyond her control.
There’s a little of everything in this story - changing family dynamics, yearning, jealousy, protectiveness, sizzling tension, caretaking, the thrill of a season, a clever battle of wills and witty repartee, and some very endearing vulnerable moments as well. But, let’s not forget the glib villains, intrigue and conspiracy - it’s not exactly a mystery, but cleverly executed and with a wry sense of humour.
I liked both MCs and the way the author laid out their points of view and disclosed their history - their rivalry makes sense, and so does their attraction and hesitation - and I really enjoyed the flow of their relationship.
A very entertaining read with just a splash of steam, captivating and colourful, nicely paced and beautifully written with a surprising twist near the end, giving it that little extra!
May 12, 2024
I am hesitant to read ARCs these days, because I am picky and don’t tend to pull punches. But I knew I was in safe hands with Georgina North. I gave her second novel, Painting the Duke, five stars, and enjoyed her first, The Rake of Tamarix Hall, even if the last 20% went a bit haywire. She’s an excellent writer in what I’d call a traditional Regency style: it feels period-appropriate in a kind of Heyer way (but without the antisemitism, natch).
The FMC in The Gentleman Spy is Emerald Doubleday, a ward in the house of Beau Calverleigh, who has recently returned home to England after years abroad working as a spy for the British government. His father had died four years previously, and in Beau’s absence, Emerald took on the running of the estate. Georgina North didn’t write this in a, like, feisty girlboss way; Emerald is good at it and is annoyed when Beau comes back and wants to take over, but over the course of the book, you see just how much it weighed on her and how much she resented him for it.
Their early interactions are therefore spiky, but they can only fight their mutual attraction for so long, obvs.
This is a slow burn, more or less necessarily. As Emerald’s guardian, Beau doesn’t want to take advantage, which I liked for this story. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of heat between them, though, especially in a certain garden during a certain masquerade. 🔥
It’s also really tender, and both characters have convincing backstories that have left them with emotional scars.
No spoilers, but Beau does something for Emerald toward the end of the book that made me cry, and you should know that I cry over a book, like, three times a year MAX. It was beautiful.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The FMC in The Gentleman Spy is Emerald Doubleday, a ward in the house of Beau Calverleigh, who has recently returned home to England after years abroad working as a spy for the British government. His father had died four years previously, and in Beau’s absence, Emerald took on the running of the estate. Georgina North didn’t write this in a, like, feisty girlboss way; Emerald is good at it and is annoyed when Beau comes back and wants to take over, but over the course of the book, you see just how much it weighed on her and how much she resented him for it.
Their early interactions are therefore spiky, but they can only fight their mutual attraction for so long, obvs.
This is a slow burn, more or less necessarily. As Emerald’s guardian, Beau doesn’t want to take advantage, which I liked for this story. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of heat between them, though, especially in a certain garden during a certain masquerade. 🔥
It’s also really tender, and both characters have convincing backstories that have left them with emotional scars.
No spoilers, but Beau does something for Emerald toward the end of the book that made me cry, and you should know that I cry over a book, like, three times a year MAX. It was beautiful.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 25, 2024
Beauden Calverleigh is an English aristocrat recently returned to England and Emerald Doubleday is his ward a handful of months away from her majority in this post-Napoleonic, drawing room romance by Georgina North. It's somewhat of an enemies-to-lovers story.
I enjoyed this romance for the most part. It is a story rich in most details yet a little light on the hero's backstory. (We suspect he was some sort of agent for the government. He certainly has an unusual set of skills. A recent injury is mentioned as the impetus for coming home but no significant information is provided about it.) Aware of his desire for the lovely but impoverished Emerald, Beau tried to play the part of the protective guardian. The pair clash over the management of the estate, a task Emerald had taken on.
I was initially unsure where the story was going but things picks up when Beau initiates an investigation of a local landowner and a plot is uncovered. I think introducing this sooner would have benefitted the story.
Beautifully written, this story is somewhat of a study in manners. It is mostly closed door except for the epilogue.
I enjoyed this romance for the most part. It is a story rich in most details yet a little light on the hero's backstory. (We suspect he was some sort of agent for the government. He certainly has an unusual set of skills. A recent injury is mentioned as the impetus for coming home but no significant information is provided about it.) Aware of his desire for the lovely but impoverished Emerald, Beau tried to play the part of the protective guardian. The pair clash over the management of the estate, a task Emerald had taken on.
I was initially unsure where the story was going but things picks up when Beau initiates an investigation of a local landowner and a plot is uncovered. I think introducing this sooner would have benefitted the story.
Beautifully written, this story is somewhat of a study in manners. It is mostly closed door except for the epilogue.
May 21, 2024
This book was such a ride!
A big plus for me as a reader is always character development and boy do these two have a wonderful ARC!
Beau is a spy, he's been away from home for years on mission while leaving his family behind. Emerald is the girl his father took in when her father, his friend, died. Beau hasn't seen her or his family for years as he and his father had a falling out over his thoughts on Beau's career. She writes to him to ask him to come home, she's been looking after his estate after his father's passing.
I love how well-timed all of the reveals were in this book, the dual POV, and the banter! The side characters add a lot to this book as well, so many strong female characters and we love to see it.
Obviously, Beau is drawn to this beautiful and capable woman but she and everyone else is put out with him because they think it was selfishness that kept him away for so long, not duty to country. It would be a lot easier if Beau wasn't so attracted to her but of course he is :D The stakes were just the right amount for this book! They kept increasing and I got so anxious for Beau's reveal to Emerald for the real reason he had been absent. I loved that she was piecing it all together and her spying on the spy... top-notch idea and execution. Their whole dynamic… was such a romp and so heated. The spice level is not very high in this book but I felt with the tension there was just the right amount! It added to the story and was well-timed at the end. I also loved Beau's declaration. He really is Mr. Darcy James Bond in such a delectable way. And I could see why he and anyone else would fall for Emerald, she is THAT girl. Highly recommend!!
I received an ARC Copy of this book and this is my review.
A big plus for me as a reader is always character development and boy do these two have a wonderful ARC!
Beau is a spy, he's been away from home for years on mission while leaving his family behind. Emerald is the girl his father took in when her father, his friend, died. Beau hasn't seen her or his family for years as he and his father had a falling out over his thoughts on Beau's career. She writes to him to ask him to come home, she's been looking after his estate after his father's passing.
I love how well-timed all of the reveals were in this book, the dual POV, and the banter! The side characters add a lot to this book as well, so many strong female characters and we love to see it.
Obviously, Beau is drawn to this beautiful and capable woman but she and everyone else is put out with him because they think it was selfishness that kept him away for so long, not duty to country. It would be a lot easier if Beau wasn't so attracted to her but of course he is :D The stakes were just the right amount for this book! They kept increasing and I got so anxious for Beau's reveal to Emerald for the real reason he had been absent. I loved that she was piecing it all together and her spying on the spy... top-notch idea and execution. Their whole dynamic… was such a romp and so heated. The spice level is not very high in this book but I felt with the tension there was just the right amount! It added to the story and was well-timed at the end. I also loved Beau's declaration. He really is Mr. Darcy James Bond in such a delectable way. And I could see why he and anyone else would fall for Emerald, she is THAT girl. Highly recommend!!
I received an ARC Copy of this book and this is my review.
April 30, 2024
I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I think Georgina North is a talented writer who has created a charming and immersive novel. The details of time and place are spot on, and set the stage for the love story of the main characters to unfold.
I did enjoy the spy element, which added some adventure. I think there was a good balance of this aspect of Beau's life, which lended credibility to his actions, which at times seemed selfish.
This is where I ran into some trouble. I never really fell in love with these characters. It took nearly the entire book for me to be convinced that Beau was good enough for Emerald.
I also found the paseing a bit off at times. As I approached the end of the novel, I started to worry that a happy ever after might not be possible.
Ultimately, loose ends were tied up for the most part, but it felt a little rushed or out of sink with the slower burn of the majority of the story.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, with all the pleasing elements of a romance set in a historical time period.
I think Georgina North is a talented writer who has created a charming and immersive novel. The details of time and place are spot on, and set the stage for the love story of the main characters to unfold.
I did enjoy the spy element, which added some adventure. I think there was a good balance of this aspect of Beau's life, which lended credibility to his actions, which at times seemed selfish.
This is where I ran into some trouble. I never really fell in love with these characters. It took nearly the entire book for me to be convinced that Beau was good enough for Emerald.
I also found the paseing a bit off at times. As I approached the end of the novel, I started to worry that a happy ever after might not be possible.
Ultimately, loose ends were tied up for the most part, but it felt a little rushed or out of sink with the slower burn of the majority of the story.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, with all the pleasing elements of a romance set in a historical time period.
May 26, 2024
Worth every word!
I absolutely love how Georgina North writes her characters. I could have spent double the time reading Beau and Emerald's story, but sadly, the page count ran out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely love how Georgina North writes her characters. I could have spent double the time reading Beau and Emerald's story, but sadly, the page count ran out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2024
I absolutely love this book. Slow burn, enemies to lovers, ward and guardian, intrigue, smart and capable heroine, hero thought to be a rake but actually a spy for King and country, jealous hero. The spice is on the low side and arrives very late in the book. The excitement and intrigue along with the historical romance gave it a Lisa Kleypas feel. If the author gets Maryjane Wells to narrate the audiobook, I will definitely buy it!
Thank you to the author for this ARC and the opportunity to give my unbiased review.
Thank you to the author for this ARC and the opportunity to give my unbiased review.
May 27, 2024
Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.
This is a slow burn, age-gap enemies to lovers romance with a hidden identity/spy thriller adjacent story, and lots of unresolved childhood/parental angst themes. There was definitely Regency James Bond vibes for me.
This story packs a lot in for a historical romance. Beau Caverleigh, the only son, and heir to an Earldom and a long noble family lineage left home many years ago to make his own way in the world and earn something that he can claim for himself, rather than staying at home, and learning to take the reins of his inheritance from his father. With a talent for languages, and burning ambition, he gained employment with the Home Office and trained to be a successful covert operative. He kept this mostly hidden from his family, but refusing to live and learn from his father caused them to butt heads as it was. Things became worse when he revealed to his father what he was doing, since the danger to his life that Beau faced through is spywork threatens the continuation of the Caverleigh line. The growing chasm between father and son pushed Beau further away and he spent years travelling the Continent, spying on behalf of England.
Even when he receives notice about the death of his father, he is reluctant to give up his calling to return home and become the Earl... it is five years afterwards before he reluctantly makes his way home, forced to retire to his estate to heal, after sustaining an injury after a mistake on the job.
When he returns though, he is not celebrated as the prodigal son by his mother and sister. Instead, he finds himself given the cold shoulder as they cannot understand his abandonment, thinking he was off pursuing selfish pleasures rather than taking responsibility for his family, and not knowing what he was truly doing. Also, he finds that management of the estate has been overtaken by Miss Emerald Doubleday, the young woman raised as a ward by his father. The problem is Beau as complex feelings about her, including resentment as his father took her under his wing and taught her business and estate management when Beau refused to learn it by his side. But his feelings about her become further complicated because she has grown from a young girl to a beautiful, competent woman that he has an unseemly attraction to, especially as he has inherited the guardianship role for her, and she has not yet reached her majority.
Emerald also has childhood angst and issues, having lost her mother at birth, and unresolved issues with her father, which will never be dealt with because of his death. She has no real family, as her stepmother and stepsisters have only a nominal letter writing relationship with her, with no invitation to be more involved in their lives, and her was sent as a child to live with the Earl and his family. The former Earl has taken the role of father to Emerald and she feels a strong sense of loyalty and obligation to them, as her adoptive family, especially after his death. Thus she has put off her own needs and wants to take over the estate, when the countess fell apart upon losing her husband. In the five years since his death, Emerald has managed the estate and business of the Earldom, despite not gaining anything from it. However, with Beau's return, she is fearful of losing everything - her role, her home... perhaps even the only family she has known.
It doesn't help that she had a childhood crush on the handsome young man many years ago, and on his return, those feeling have returned to haunt her.
This is a steamy angst filled give and take with resentment and misunderstanding playing tug of war with attraction and the sense of the forbidden. Throw into that his spy past coming back to haunt them and put Beau's loved ones at risk, and it was a thoroughly thrilling and enjoyable read.
4.25 stars out of 5
This is a slow burn, age-gap enemies to lovers romance with a hidden identity/spy thriller adjacent story, and lots of unresolved childhood/parental angst themes. There was definitely Regency James Bond vibes for me.
This story packs a lot in for a historical romance. Beau Caverleigh, the only son, and heir to an Earldom and a long noble family lineage left home many years ago to make his own way in the world and earn something that he can claim for himself, rather than staying at home, and learning to take the reins of his inheritance from his father. With a talent for languages, and burning ambition, he gained employment with the Home Office and trained to be a successful covert operative. He kept this mostly hidden from his family, but refusing to live and learn from his father caused them to butt heads as it was. Things became worse when he revealed to his father what he was doing, since the danger to his life that Beau faced through is spywork threatens the continuation of the Caverleigh line. The growing chasm between father and son pushed Beau further away and he spent years travelling the Continent, spying on behalf of England.
Even when he receives notice about the death of his father, he is reluctant to give up his calling to return home and become the Earl... it is five years afterwards before he reluctantly makes his way home, forced to retire to his estate to heal, after sustaining an injury after a mistake on the job.
When he returns though, he is not celebrated as the prodigal son by his mother and sister. Instead, he finds himself given the cold shoulder as they cannot understand his abandonment, thinking he was off pursuing selfish pleasures rather than taking responsibility for his family, and not knowing what he was truly doing. Also, he finds that management of the estate has been overtaken by Miss Emerald Doubleday, the young woman raised as a ward by his father. The problem is Beau as complex feelings about her, including resentment as his father took her under his wing and taught her business and estate management when Beau refused to learn it by his side. But his feelings about her become further complicated because she has grown from a young girl to a beautiful, competent woman that he has an unseemly attraction to, especially as he has inherited the guardianship role for her, and she has not yet reached her majority.
Emerald also has childhood angst and issues, having lost her mother at birth, and unresolved issues with her father, which will never be dealt with because of his death. She has no real family, as her stepmother and stepsisters have only a nominal letter writing relationship with her, with no invitation to be more involved in their lives, and her was sent as a child to live with the Earl and his family. The former Earl has taken the role of father to Emerald and she feels a strong sense of loyalty and obligation to them, as her adoptive family, especially after his death. Thus she has put off her own needs and wants to take over the estate, when the countess fell apart upon losing her husband. In the five years since his death, Emerald has managed the estate and business of the Earldom, despite not gaining anything from it. However, with Beau's return, she is fearful of losing everything - her role, her home... perhaps even the only family she has known.
It doesn't help that she had a childhood crush on the handsome young man many years ago, and on his return, those feeling have returned to haunt her.
This is a steamy angst filled give and take with resentment and misunderstanding playing tug of war with attraction and the sense of the forbidden. Throw into that his spy past coming back to haunt them and put Beau's loved ones at risk, and it was a thoroughly thrilling and enjoyable read.
4.25 stars out of 5
May 7, 2024
The Gentleman Spy by Georgina North is a captivating historical romance novel set in the Regency period. The male main character, Beau, has inherited his earldom after his father’s death 4 years before the opening of the novel. Beau has stayed away from the family estate for many years while secretly working as a spy for the Home Office. His return is met with some guarded skepticism especially by his father’s ward (who is now his ward), Emerald, who on the cusp of her 21st birthday (and 10 years his junior) is clearly not a little girl anymore. She’s independent, has run the estate in Beau’s absence, and has grown into a beguiling woman who still harbours the crush she’s had on Beau for years. I loved the chemistry between these two, the hint of the forbidden, and the sparks that fly as Beau tries to resume his responsibilities to the family and estate. The spy part of the story was well-thought out and although not usually my cup of tea, was woven seamlessly into the story.
The story takes place in the Kentish countryside and in London over a three-month period which worked well to develop the growing attraction between Beau and Emerald. Beau has numerous scars, both physical and mental, and Emerald harbours her own fears and insecurities. I really liked how protective Beau was of Emerald and his attempts to do what his duty dictates. His reckoning with his past neglect of his family and his on-going duty to the Crown enhanced the novel and made his character more admirable.
The blossoming of the relationship is made more interesting by the armour each tries to maintain against the onslaught of emotions they each face. In addition to their restrained mutual attraction, Beau and Emerald must learn how to manage the estate and their relationship as ward and guardian while being forced to live together in the family’s home. I really enjoyed how much these two were depicted as equals and that their mutual attraction was based on a deeper connection that they both felt. This is a slow burn romance, but there is delicious yearning that builds and culminates in some steamy scenes towards the end. The spy subplot is deftly woven into the story and added an element of danger without overshadowing the main romantic plot. The light-hearted scenes provided well-timed comic relief from some of the heavier elements. There’s a delicious masquerade that heats things up, a lovely group of side characters who support each other (especially Beau’s mother and sister), and beautiful prose that make this a wonderful read.
I fell in love with Georgina North’s writing after reading her earlier novel, Painting the Duke, and that same exquisite writing continues in this book. She writes with historical accuracy, lyrical expression, and emotional depth. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy an exceptional historical romance with a bit of heat and that is fully engrossing from start to finish! I love the covers of her books, too; so original and gorgeous!
I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story takes place in the Kentish countryside and in London over a three-month period which worked well to develop the growing attraction between Beau and Emerald. Beau has numerous scars, both physical and mental, and Emerald harbours her own fears and insecurities. I really liked how protective Beau was of Emerald and his attempts to do what his duty dictates. His reckoning with his past neglect of his family and his on-going duty to the Crown enhanced the novel and made his character more admirable.
The blossoming of the relationship is made more interesting by the armour each tries to maintain against the onslaught of emotions they each face. In addition to their restrained mutual attraction, Beau and Emerald must learn how to manage the estate and their relationship as ward and guardian while being forced to live together in the family’s home. I really enjoyed how much these two were depicted as equals and that their mutual attraction was based on a deeper connection that they both felt. This is a slow burn romance, but there is delicious yearning that builds and culminates in some steamy scenes towards the end. The spy subplot is deftly woven into the story and added an element of danger without overshadowing the main romantic plot. The light-hearted scenes provided well-timed comic relief from some of the heavier elements. There’s a delicious masquerade that heats things up, a lovely group of side characters who support each other (especially Beau’s mother and sister), and beautiful prose that make this a wonderful read.
I fell in love with Georgina North’s writing after reading her earlier novel, Painting the Duke, and that same exquisite writing continues in this book. She writes with historical accuracy, lyrical expression, and emotional depth. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy an exceptional historical romance with a bit of heat and that is fully engrossing from start to finish! I love the covers of her books, too; so original and gorgeous!
I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 7, 2024
The Gentleman Spy is a slow burn guardian ward romance that is extraordinarily well written by Georgina North. Beauden Calverleigh is forced to return home after an injury, curtailing his activities as a spy. Beau has spent years avoiding coming home after the death of his father. He returns to find that his father’s ward Miss Emerald Doubleday has blossomed into a beautiful and capable woman and has taken over the running of the estate in his absence. Unfortunately, he is now her guardian until she comes of age and so cannot act on his desire for her. Added to that Beau accidentally stumbles upon a smuggling ring that are possibly plotting treason.
Emerald has spent most of her life feeling unwanted by her real family. Adopted into Beau’s family and treated with affection by them all she is determined to make herself indispensable. She is infuriated by Beau’s seeming lack of responsibility but equally captivated by his charms. When she stumbles upon his mysterious comings and goings in the dead of night, Emerald realises there is more to Beau than meets the eye. Can the two overcome the danger that is following them and achieve their happy ever after?
This is the second book I have read by Georgina North. I absolutely loved Painting the Duke and I found The gentleman Spy to be just as good. It is set in the same world but is not really a sequel as although we do meet Vivienne and Brick, they are not a main part of the story.
I initially had issues with Beau because he had stayed away so long before returning and would possibly not have returned if injury had not forced his hand. But the more I read the more I liked him. I loved that his honour would not let him take advantage of his position as Emerald’s guardian. He waited till she could make her choice freely with no obligation. Emerald is also a very likeable heroine. Both leads had reasons for their actions and it was a little heartbreaking when you realise Emerald’s motivations for taking over so much of the responsibilities of the estate.
The story has much to keep the readers interest and it never drags at any point. The spy plot is interwoven with the romance and I don’t feel it ever became unrealistic or too jarring from the time period as many such novels tend to do.
I received an advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a well written romance with a satisfying HEA.
Emerald has spent most of her life feeling unwanted by her real family. Adopted into Beau’s family and treated with affection by them all she is determined to make herself indispensable. She is infuriated by Beau’s seeming lack of responsibility but equally captivated by his charms. When she stumbles upon his mysterious comings and goings in the dead of night, Emerald realises there is more to Beau than meets the eye. Can the two overcome the danger that is following them and achieve their happy ever after?
This is the second book I have read by Georgina North. I absolutely loved Painting the Duke and I found The gentleman Spy to be just as good. It is set in the same world but is not really a sequel as although we do meet Vivienne and Brick, they are not a main part of the story.
I initially had issues with Beau because he had stayed away so long before returning and would possibly not have returned if injury had not forced his hand. But the more I read the more I liked him. I loved that his honour would not let him take advantage of his position as Emerald’s guardian. He waited till she could make her choice freely with no obligation. Emerald is also a very likeable heroine. Both leads had reasons for their actions and it was a little heartbreaking when you realise Emerald’s motivations for taking over so much of the responsibilities of the estate.
The story has much to keep the readers interest and it never drags at any point. The spy plot is interwoven with the romance and I don’t feel it ever became unrealistic or too jarring from the time period as many such novels tend to do.
I received an advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a well written romance with a satisfying HEA.
May 11, 2024
This was such a lovely read! Sometimes I forget how much I love historical romance novels, so when it's been a while, it's like a breath of fresh air diving into one. I was swept away by this story quickly, so interested to see how Beau and Emerald were going to clash heads about his absence and the running of the estate. The romance was so well done! A slow burn that had just the right amount of steam. I kept wondering how everything was going to progress when I realized I wasn't catching on to things like I should have. The build up to the romance wasn't the overly obvious thing I was expecting, it was communicated with cleverness and subtly. I was knee deep in the middle before I realized it had even begun, but when it hit me, it hit me hard. I could hardly put this book down in the second half.
Besides the excellently done romance, this book was full of intrigue, action, overcoming grief, and found family. I love that Emerald was able to find a home with Lady Avon and Louisa. That instead of just being a ward seen as a charity case, she was like a sister / second daughter. When Lord Avon died, she took one more responsibility than anyone her age should have to, but she carried on with strength and fortitude. It was heartening to see her being able to let her guard down with Beau, to show how all her losses impacted her, and how she kept going anyway. For Beau, I did love the buildup of layers of his history with his father and him eventually telling his family what his career was. Even though it was no secret to me as the reader that he was a spy, I didn't fully understand why he wanted to be one when he already had responsibilities and privilege at home. He came across as a little arrogant and selfish in the beginning, but everything was slowly peeled back to reveal his desires and motivations, and how his grief kept him away. Talking with Emerald, I think Beau was able to finally start healing from the loss of his father and have a certain kind of acceptance for what his future would be.
Overall, this was such a great combo of action and romance, with wonderful writing and language that is true to the time period, yet feels modern. I will definitely be checking out the author's other work, especially Painting the Duke, which looks to be about the Duke and Duchess of Hazelhurst's love story.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Besides the excellently done romance, this book was full of intrigue, action, overcoming grief, and found family. I love that Emerald was able to find a home with Lady Avon and Louisa. That instead of just being a ward seen as a charity case, she was like a sister / second daughter. When Lord Avon died, she took one more responsibility than anyone her age should have to, but she carried on with strength and fortitude. It was heartening to see her being able to let her guard down with Beau, to show how all her losses impacted her, and how she kept going anyway. For Beau, I did love the buildup of layers of his history with his father and him eventually telling his family what his career was. Even though it was no secret to me as the reader that he was a spy, I didn't fully understand why he wanted to be one when he already had responsibilities and privilege at home. He came across as a little arrogant and selfish in the beginning, but everything was slowly peeled back to reveal his desires and motivations, and how his grief kept him away. Talking with Emerald, I think Beau was able to finally start healing from the loss of his father and have a certain kind of acceptance for what his future would be.
Overall, this was such a great combo of action and romance, with wonderful writing and language that is true to the time period, yet feels modern. I will definitely be checking out the author's other work, especially Painting the Duke, which looks to be about the Duke and Duchess of Hazelhurst's love story.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this book from an author that was new to me. It is a gripping, fast paced story with a slow burn forbidden love guardian/ward romance full of emotional insights, spy action, twists, suspense, danger and some steam.
The characters are very endearing, I loved their chemistry, their bickering and banter and how the tension and passion between them grew as the story progressed.
Beauden Calverleigh always wanted to be more than a name on an ancestral list and a legacy, he wanted to achieve something for himself and so a decade ago he decided to become a spy for the Crown and had never regretted his decision, much to his father's distaste. Not even the death of his father almost five years ago and his new status as Earl of Avon could persuade him to return home. However, when he is injured during a failed mission on the continent, he is forced to return home for a while and go into hiding.
He is not a little surprised to learn that he has also inherited his father's ward, and that in his absence she has managed both his estate and his household and supported his mother and sister.
Emerald Doubleday has lost the people she loved over and over again throughout her life, including her guardian, the late Earl of Avon, who treated her like his own daughter and taught her how to manage an estate, a task she was only too happy to take on after his death.
That's why she's not particularly thrilled when enigmatic Beau shows up out of the blue and wants to take over his duties, even though she's been infatuated with him since they first met years ago when he came home for a brief visit. But he didn't even notice her then, and now he's questioning her competence.
Beau is fascinated by Emerald and feels immediately drawn to her, even though she challenges and provokes him at every turn, but he is her guardian and therefore she is off-limits to him. When he comes across dangerous machinations in his neighborhood, Emerald is also inadvertently drawn into it and they are both in danger...
If you like historical romance novels which are peppered with suspense and spice, you are sure to enjoy this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters are very endearing, I loved their chemistry, their bickering and banter and how the tension and passion between them grew as the story progressed.
Beauden Calverleigh always wanted to be more than a name on an ancestral list and a legacy, he wanted to achieve something for himself and so a decade ago he decided to become a spy for the Crown and had never regretted his decision, much to his father's distaste. Not even the death of his father almost five years ago and his new status as Earl of Avon could persuade him to return home. However, when he is injured during a failed mission on the continent, he is forced to return home for a while and go into hiding.
He is not a little surprised to learn that he has also inherited his father's ward, and that in his absence she has managed both his estate and his household and supported his mother and sister.
Emerald Doubleday has lost the people she loved over and over again throughout her life, including her guardian, the late Earl of Avon, who treated her like his own daughter and taught her how to manage an estate, a task she was only too happy to take on after his death.
That's why she's not particularly thrilled when enigmatic Beau shows up out of the blue and wants to take over his duties, even though she's been infatuated with him since they first met years ago when he came home for a brief visit. But he didn't even notice her then, and now he's questioning her competence.
Beau is fascinated by Emerald and feels immediately drawn to her, even though she challenges and provokes him at every turn, but he is her guardian and therefore she is off-limits to him. When he comes across dangerous machinations in his neighborhood, Emerald is also inadvertently drawn into it and they are both in danger...
If you like historical romance novels which are peppered with suspense and spice, you are sure to enjoy this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2024
This was such a fun, heartwarming read! The overall plot was well rounded and the romance was both steamy and entertaining. The style of writing shows there was a lot of research into the dialect and turn of phrase which left me super impressed and feeling more true to the time period. You can tell a lot of attention to detail was put in this and I loved coming across new vocabulary as much as I loved the fun romance and smidge of danger.
The characters are not overly complex and the chemistry felt real. Beau cracked me up while perfectly portraying the heroic male lead and Em felt genuine and appropriate for the time period in that she was playful and investigative yet not too naive nor too progressive. (I love a strong female lead for the most part but not so much that they always end up being the social outcast and just don’t care, especially in a time period where appearances and status are everything.) She had friends and made them, she had supportive parental figures and people she considered family, and she has a good head on her shoulders. All qualities that I super appreciate and made her so very sincere.
Going back the romance, I adore a bit of the forbidden which was present here, but even more so I loved the resolution to this problem. It wasn’t drama for the sake of drama but rather a real world issue that became something they decided together. Likewise they were wonderfully sweet to each other as often as they teased one another. If that’s not a happy ending, I don’t know what is.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy for free for an honest review. You have a new follower for sure!
The characters are not overly complex and the chemistry felt real. Beau cracked me up while perfectly portraying the heroic male lead and Em felt genuine and appropriate for the time period in that she was playful and investigative yet not too naive nor too progressive. (I love a strong female lead for the most part but not so much that they always end up being the social outcast and just don’t care, especially in a time period where appearances and status are everything.) She had friends and made them, she had supportive parental figures and people she considered family, and she has a good head on her shoulders. All qualities that I super appreciate and made her so very sincere.
Going back the romance, I adore a bit of the forbidden which was present here, but even more so I loved the resolution to this problem. It wasn’t drama for the sake of drama but rather a real world issue that became something they decided together. Likewise they were wonderfully sweet to each other as often as they teased one another. If that’s not a happy ending, I don’t know what is.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy for free for an honest review. You have a new follower for sure!
April 24, 2024
The Gentleman Spy by Georgina North is a historical romance centering around Emerald, a ward living on an estate and Beau, her guardian. It isn’t as bad as it sounds. Emerald was initially Beau’s father’s ward, but after his death, her guardianship is passed onto Beau, who is close to her age.
The plot of this book is a bit convoluted. Beau is a spy, but it isn’t really explained how or what he does. Additionally, Emerald at one point moves to London to be out for the season, but she is still surrounded by the same people she was with back in the town. Maybe this was a misunderstanding on my part.
The romance itself was sweet, if a little slow paced. Emerald and Beau start out as enemies. Emerald is strong-willed and a well-written female character. She has been running the estate in between Beau’s father’s death and Beau’s return to the estate. She is smart and loves to learn things. Beau, annoyingly, doesn’t believe this is a women’s place and wants to take over after not being present at the estate for years. Eventually they fall in love, this seems to be something that has built throughout the years. I did appreciate some of the protective nature to Beau’s feelings of Emerald.
Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars. I did struggle with bits of it, but it was not a bad historical romance. I found it entertaining and unique and the characters were well written and had distinct personalities.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot of this book is a bit convoluted. Beau is a spy, but it isn’t really explained how or what he does. Additionally, Emerald at one point moves to London to be out for the season, but she is still surrounded by the same people she was with back in the town. Maybe this was a misunderstanding on my part.
The romance itself was sweet, if a little slow paced. Emerald and Beau start out as enemies. Emerald is strong-willed and a well-written female character. She has been running the estate in between Beau’s father’s death and Beau’s return to the estate. She is smart and loves to learn things. Beau, annoyingly, doesn’t believe this is a women’s place and wants to take over after not being present at the estate for years. Eventually they fall in love, this seems to be something that has built throughout the years. I did appreciate some of the protective nature to Beau’s feelings of Emerald.
Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars. I did struggle with bits of it, but it was not a bad historical romance. I found it entertaining and unique and the characters were well written and had distinct personalities.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 18, 2024
This author was new to me so I didn’t know what to expect as I began reading this story.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Georgina’s beautifully written dialogue and well-developed characters!
This story has spies so lots of suspense and trying to figure out the good guys from the bad. The bad guys and the plot around their story take up a sizable amount of this book. However, the main characters, Beau (the spy and Viscount) and Emerald (his ward (inherited when his father passed away)) definitely get their full pages of dialogue and angst and banter and unbelievably well written prose!
While reading, I highlighted (in my Kindle version) many sizable passages of exquisite writing some was pure poetry!!
The only reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I was disappointed at the lack of heat (steamy scenes). There was definitely chemistry between the Beau and Emerald and because Emerald was Beau’s ward anything between them is forbidden until she reaches her majority so I get it but they don’t kiss until he proposes at 90% but their is a more intimate scene earlier at 74% where I feel they should have kissed but didn’t, it was all very frustrating (and not in a good way).
All in all, this story was beautifully written with well-developed characters and a plot that kept me engaged, enthralled and turning pages well into the night!
I will definitely be reading more from Ms North, Well Done!! 🌹📚
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Georgina’s beautifully written dialogue and well-developed characters!
This story has spies so lots of suspense and trying to figure out the good guys from the bad. The bad guys and the plot around their story take up a sizable amount of this book. However, the main characters, Beau (the spy and Viscount) and Emerald (his ward (inherited when his father passed away)) definitely get their full pages of dialogue and angst and banter and unbelievably well written prose!
While reading, I highlighted (in my Kindle version) many sizable passages of exquisite writing some was pure poetry!!
The only reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I was disappointed at the lack of heat (steamy scenes). There was definitely chemistry between the Beau and Emerald and because Emerald was Beau’s ward anything between them is forbidden until she reaches her majority so I get it but they don’t kiss until he proposes at 90% but their is a more intimate scene earlier at 74% where I feel they should have kissed but didn’t, it was all very frustrating (and not in a good way).
All in all, this story was beautifully written with well-developed characters and a plot that kept me engaged, enthralled and turning pages well into the night!
I will definitely be reading more from Ms North, Well Done!! 🌹📚
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 18, 2024
Beauden (Beau) returns home to Oakmoss Manor to step into the role of Earl of Avon a few years after his father’s death. Despite his father's disapproval of his lack of interest in his inheritance, Beau had pursued a career as a spy abroad. Now, compelled by injury, he must return home.
During his absence, Miss Emerald Doubleday, his father's ward, had proven herself adept at managing the estate. As Beau grapples with his newfound responsibilities, he finds Emerald transformed into a remarkable woman, though he masks his interest.
Meanwhile, Louisa, Beau's sister, has formed a close bond with Emerald, who, despite the dowager's affection as well, continues to feel insecure. She is also upset that her role as pseudo-steward in Beau’s absence is now “gone” as she continues to resent his absence in the past as she assumes that he was shirking his responsibilities to the family.
Despite his noble intentions, Beau finds himself drawn to Emerald's beauty and intelligence. When he stumbles upon a smuggling operation, danger forces them to confront their feelings, leading to a compelling journey of romance and self-discovery before we reach the satisfying end.
Personally, I wished we had more time to delve into the dynamics of their initial encounters at the age of 16 for Emerald and 26 for Beau and where possible a faster pacing to move towards the final act which was full of suspense and romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
During his absence, Miss Emerald Doubleday, his father's ward, had proven herself adept at managing the estate. As Beau grapples with his newfound responsibilities, he finds Emerald transformed into a remarkable woman, though he masks his interest.
Meanwhile, Louisa, Beau's sister, has formed a close bond with Emerald, who, despite the dowager's affection as well, continues to feel insecure. She is also upset that her role as pseudo-steward in Beau’s absence is now “gone” as she continues to resent his absence in the past as she assumes that he was shirking his responsibilities to the family.
Despite his noble intentions, Beau finds himself drawn to Emerald's beauty and intelligence. When he stumbles upon a smuggling operation, danger forces them to confront their feelings, leading to a compelling journey of romance and self-discovery before we reach the satisfying end.
Personally, I wished we had more time to delve into the dynamics of their initial encounters at the age of 16 for Emerald and 26 for Beau and where possible a faster pacing to move towards the final act which was full of suspense and romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2024
After years abroad as a spy for England, an injury forces Beauden Calverleigh home. He loves his life as a spy, he doesn’t regret the argument with his father about his choice, and tries to keep his career a secret upon his return, since only his father knew the truth of why he left.
During his absence, his father’s ward Emerald has been running the estate quite efficiently, she resents his return, and what it could mean for her. He is her guardian, and she has always had an attraction to him but these days, he mostly frustrates her.
She challenges him at every turn, but he cannot deny his growing desire for her, and when danger lurks, he will do everything to keep her and his family safe.
The characters are well written, Emerald is smart, competent, and strong willed, Beau has integrity, and honor, unfortunately he is ignorant about the knowledge Emerald has in running the estate, and tries to take over. They start out as enemies, disagreeing about everything, but anger turns to desire, and eventually love.
This is my first story by this author but it won’t be my last. If you enjoy an entertaining spy story, with some unexpected twists and turns, secrets, family expectations, misunderstandings and a sweet love story, this book should be on your to be read list.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
During his absence, his father’s ward Emerald has been running the estate quite efficiently, she resents his return, and what it could mean for her. He is her guardian, and she has always had an attraction to him but these days, he mostly frustrates her.
She challenges him at every turn, but he cannot deny his growing desire for her, and when danger lurks, he will do everything to keep her and his family safe.
The characters are well written, Emerald is smart, competent, and strong willed, Beau has integrity, and honor, unfortunately he is ignorant about the knowledge Emerald has in running the estate, and tries to take over. They start out as enemies, disagreeing about everything, but anger turns to desire, and eventually love.
This is my first story by this author but it won’t be my last. If you enjoy an entertaining spy story, with some unexpected twists and turns, secrets, family expectations, misunderstandings and a sweet love story, this book should be on your to be read list.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 23, 2024
The Gentleman Spy by Georgina North is the second book I've read by the author. Her writing style is delightful, and I love the lyrical flow of words. She takes her time with her characters, and it allows the reader to get the feel of the Regency Times.
Emerald Doubleday is the ward of the Earl of Avon who treated her as his daughter. She has been running the estate in the absence of the heir since the Earl died 4 years earlier. She is capable, brilliant and just shy of her 21st birthday. The heir, Beaudean Caverleigh, who has reluctantly returned from working abroad to take over the duties of the earldoms His unexpected appearance sets the heir and his beautiful, young word at odds and the conflict and chemistry between he and Emerald begin.
Georgina has included a mystery within the romance which is one of my favorite plotlines. She has a great combo of action, danger, romance and steam.
It is the captivating story of a man fighting against his developing feelings to maintain his honor and a young woman who is fighting the success of the estate and her place in family that she loves.
If you like a well-researched Regency Historical Fiction, then read the Gentleman Spy. I also adore the beautiful watercolor covers on Georgina North's books!
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy and am leaving my voluntary review based solely on my reading experience.
Emerald Doubleday is the ward of the Earl of Avon who treated her as his daughter. She has been running the estate in the absence of the heir since the Earl died 4 years earlier. She is capable, brilliant and just shy of her 21st birthday. The heir, Beaudean Caverleigh, who has reluctantly returned from working abroad to take over the duties of the earldoms His unexpected appearance sets the heir and his beautiful, young word at odds and the conflict and chemistry between he and Emerald begin.
Georgina has included a mystery within the romance which is one of my favorite plotlines. She has a great combo of action, danger, romance and steam.
It is the captivating story of a man fighting against his developing feelings to maintain his honor and a young woman who is fighting the success of the estate and her place in family that she loves.
If you like a well-researched Regency Historical Fiction, then read the Gentleman Spy. I also adore the beautiful watercolor covers on Georgina North's books!
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy and am leaving my voluntary review based solely on my reading experience.
May 15, 2024
This is my first regency romance read, and I enjoyed it so much! It’s romantic and wistful, all characters likeable enough. I appreciated that the main guy and girl character had their own character story arc. In a lot of romances it seems like the guy characters are fairly one dimensional, but this one had more substance for sure! It was a pleasurable read with cozy environments such as the English countryside, London with parties and masquerades, and slow burn scenes aplenty!
I left 4 stars because I found some interactions not super believable. The biggest one being how cold the main guy ‘s mother we towards him in the beginning. Even if a mother is upset at her only son, she’s not going to be huffy, avoidant, or passive aggressive like a sibling. And some of the tension/disagreements between the main guy and gal characters seemed forced and not believable, but this is a fictional romance so my expectations were low for realistic things happening.
I definitely want to read more books by this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I left 4 stars because I found some interactions not super believable. The biggest one being how cold the main guy ‘s mother we towards him in the beginning. Even if a mother is upset at her only son, she’s not going to be huffy, avoidant, or passive aggressive like a sibling. And some of the tension/disagreements between the main guy and gal characters seemed forced and not believable, but this is a fictional romance so my expectations were low for realistic things happening.
I definitely want to read more books by this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 17, 2024
As a major historical romance fan I am always voraciously reading new titles in the genre and this one is an absolute gem. Its a beautifully crafted tale with all the hallmarks of a captivating regency tale with a backdrop of espionage and intrigue alongside the usual glamour and ballrooms.
I particularly enjoy the exquisite antagonism between Emerald and Beau and the unique twist on the guardian/ward dynamic. After several years away as a secret agent of the Crown, Beau finally returns home to his estate several years after his father has died only to find he has inherited a ward in the feisty and robust Emerald. A ward, who in his absence, has taken on all his responsibilities of running the estate and is now reluctant to put pushed aside.
I adore Emerald as a character, she fights for herself and has backbone and is more than a match for her infuriating guardian. It is such a delicious twist on the guardian/ward age gap romance and a delight to watch them struggle with their attraction and face the dangers they find themselves in together.
Its a riveting wonderful read and I can't wait to read more by this author.
I particularly enjoy the exquisite antagonism between Emerald and Beau and the unique twist on the guardian/ward dynamic. After several years away as a secret agent of the Crown, Beau finally returns home to his estate several years after his father has died only to find he has inherited a ward in the feisty and robust Emerald. A ward, who in his absence, has taken on all his responsibilities of running the estate and is now reluctant to put pushed aside.
I adore Emerald as a character, she fights for herself and has backbone and is more than a match for her infuriating guardian. It is such a delicious twist on the guardian/ward age gap romance and a delight to watch them struggle with their attraction and face the dangers they find themselves in together.
Its a riveting wonderful read and I can't wait to read more by this author.
May 18, 2024
After years abroad as a spy for England, an injury forces Beauden Calverleigh to return home. However, he is startled to find that Emerald, the longtime ward of the Calverleigh family, has blossomed into a vision of beauty and independence during his absence. Emerald has run the estate since his father’s death and appears to resent his resent his return. Yet, Emerald has long thought of Beau and struggles to hide her feelings for him, despite believing him to be a wastrel. Beau is also determined to keep Emerald at arm’s length as he struggles to hide his growing desire for her. However, he has also found that a smuggling ring is present and that both he and Emerald have been drawn into its dangerous path.
The relationship between Beau and Emerald slowly builds from their first meeting. Whilst for most of the book, their feelings are kept hidden or conveyed through glances, it is only in the last quarter that the chemistry explodes. Likewise, the intrigue of the smuggling ring and the people involved is slowly uncovered, drawing the reader in. This was a great read and I look forward to reading more by this author.
The relationship between Beau and Emerald slowly builds from their first meeting. Whilst for most of the book, their feelings are kept hidden or conveyed through glances, it is only in the last quarter that the chemistry explodes. Likewise, the intrigue of the smuggling ring and the people involved is slowly uncovered, drawing the reader in. This was a great read and I look forward to reading more by this author.
July 8, 2024
I am a bit torn about this story. I’m in my “Regency romance period” and it has very good reviews so I decided to read it. The story is quite original because there is no character who is trying to get someone’s fortune or secure a rich husband. However, the writing, although enjoyable and easy to read, sometimes feels like reading a script. The scenes are often described as if if the reader is watching a film and not enjoying a novel. This puts me off a little bit because the beauty of ready is that you can get deep into the characters feelings and you don’t need chapters from different point of views (a bit amateurish if I may say so). I felt as if some of the “steamy” parts were a bit forced, except maybe when each character is on their own. They could have easily been removed or toned down a bit to get into the characters’ feelings, leaving only the very last one which does make sense.
I would definitely give 4 stars to the story but everything else is a 3 stars.
Having said that, I did enjoy reading it and if you’re in the mood for a regency romance it is definitely worth it.
I would definitely give 4 stars to the story but everything else is a 3 stars.
Having said that, I did enjoy reading it and if you’re in the mood for a regency romance it is definitely worth it.
April 25, 2024
The gentleman spy was a surprisingly good discovery for me. I really enjoyed reading it. Thought it was interesting and good chemistry between the main characters. I heartily recommend it!
Emerald’s life growing up has been saddened by death and aloof family relations until she’s come to live with the Earl of Avon and his family, the only problem is the handsome and unnerving son who she hasn’t been able to stop having feelings for.
Beauden Calverleigh has finally returned after his father death four years ago. He has a secret career no one in his family, except his deceased father knows about, so when he returns home he also finds a beautiful girl who he hardly remembers as his father’s ward and inconveniently now his ward. He’s attraction to the highly competent girl is a problem especially when dangerous suitors start to roamed about. He knows need to defend and protect his love ones even if he loses himself in the process.
Lovely reading!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Emerald’s life growing up has been saddened by death and aloof family relations until she’s come to live with the Earl of Avon and his family, the only problem is the handsome and unnerving son who she hasn’t been able to stop having feelings for.
Beauden Calverleigh has finally returned after his father death four years ago. He has a secret career no one in his family, except his deceased father knows about, so when he returns home he also finds a beautiful girl who he hardly remembers as his father’s ward and inconveniently now his ward. He’s attraction to the highly competent girl is a problem especially when dangerous suitors start to roamed about. He knows need to defend and protect his love ones even if he loses himself in the process.
Lovely reading!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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