What do you think?
Sirens & Spies
The Spy and the Nightingale
Passion sizzles and a lie becomes the truth when a spy and a widow pose as lovers to pursue a dangerous man.
Driven by duty . . .
British spy Nathaniel Blackmore has one objective: find and apprehend an Englishman suspected of treason in France in the tumultuous year after the Napoleonic Wars conclude.
Intrepid Scottish widow Isobel Graham, grieving the loss of her husband at Waterloo, is determined to find her missing younger sister. Her desperate search leads her to Paris on the fringes of Nathaniel’s investigation.
Entangled by choice . . .
Posing as lovers to infiltrate Paris’s most dissolute society, they plunge into ever-widening circles of vice, from an opulent gambling hall to a club catering to debauched desires. In a perilous world of shadows and lies, genuine attraction is a complication.
Compelled by desire . . .
Fueled by danger, their charade as lovers ignites into incendiary passion and something unexpectedly tender – except their relationship isn’t meant to last beyond the mission’s end.
Driven by duty . . .
British spy Nathaniel Blackmore has one objective: find and apprehend an Englishman suspected of treason in France in the tumultuous year after the Napoleonic Wars conclude.
Intrepid Scottish widow Isobel Graham, grieving the loss of her husband at Waterloo, is determined to find her missing younger sister. Her desperate search leads her to Paris on the fringes of Nathaniel’s investigation.
Entangled by choice . . .
Posing as lovers to infiltrate Paris’s most dissolute society, they plunge into ever-widening circles of vice, from an opulent gambling hall to a club catering to debauched desires. In a perilous world of shadows and lies, genuine attraction is a complication.
Compelled by desire . . .
Fueled by danger, their charade as lovers ignites into incendiary passion and something unexpectedly tender – except their relationship isn’t meant to last beyond the mission’s end.
410 pages, ebook
Published July 24, 2026
About the author
Lea Hollis
5 books11 followersLea Hollis writes award-winning steamy historical romance, receiving the 2026 Emily Award and the 2025 Golden Heart Award. Her abiding love for historical romance began when her grandmother introduced her as a teenager to Regency romances.
Lea has worn many professional hats besides that of author. This includes secondary school science teacher, professional pastry cook, and field biologist. She lives in the Upper Midwest, United States, with her human family, one dog, and four snakes. When not spending time with family or writing, she is often found hiking, dabbling in nature macro photography, knitting, or baking sweet treats.
Lea has worn many professional hats besides that of author. This includes secondary school science teacher, professional pastry cook, and field biologist. She lives in the Upper Midwest, United States, with her human family, one dog, and four snakes. When not spending time with family or writing, she is often found hiking, dabbling in nature macro photography, knitting, or baking sweet treats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 30, 2026
Thanks to Book Sirens for the complimentary copy of The Spy and the Nightingale.
There is almost nothing that frustrates me more than a book that has so much promise, but has a structural issue that means the plot doesn't work. This book had so many things I love: espionage, a Napoleonic War veteran hero, a heroine on a quest, external conflict. But the way the conflict was structured left something to be desired.
Isobel Graham has lost everyone in her family. Her husband was killed at Waterloo, her sister was abducted, her mother died of consumption, and her father died of a broken heart shortly after. Her only remaining family member still alive is her sister, so Isobel has committed to finding her. The last lead on her sister was in France, so she heads there, following the trail of the man she suspects took Lucy. As she's searching Paris for her sister, she's stopped by Lieutenant Nathaniel Blackmore, a former army officer who is in France as an agent for the Foreign Office. It turns out he is trailing the same man as Isobel, so they decide to team up. Nate will capture a criminal who has been violating both British and French law, and Isobel will find her sister. But the only way for them to infiltrate the circle of criminals is for Isobel to pose as Nate's mistress in a notorious club, putting her in potential physical danger from the kind of men who took her sister.
There was so much promise in this book that it almost makes me mad that an editor didn't fix the issues with the structure. Let's start with what I really liked, and then I will get into the issues I had with the plotting of the novel.
I am trash, trash, I say, for a Napoleonic War veteran in my Regency romance. In this case, we have two of them. Nate served in the army on the Peninsula before he was recruited by the Foreign Office, and Isobel traveled Europe with her husband's regiment, serving in a hospital after Waterloo. Both of them were traumatized by the war. I loved that aspect of the story because it showed the different ways the Napoleonic conflict impacted Europe.
Part one of the book was the espionage plot, where Isobel and Nate were working together to get the bad guys. I thought the pacing, conflict, and character work in the first part were great. I had a lot of fun with the fact that these two were posing as lovers and ended up succumbing to their attraction. Honestly, the book could have ended at the rescue, then had an epilogue, and I would have loved it.
The second part of this book did not work for me. We went from incredibly high external stakes, the espionage and kidnapping plot, to an internal story in rural Scotland where there were absolutely zero stakes in the romance plot. If Lea Hollis wanted to have a second part of the novel set in Scotland, we needed some kind of extension of the espionage plot. There needed to be another bad guy out there who was a danger to Lucy or something to raise the stakes. Part one had so much conflict that part two felt like a comedown.
I get more annoyed reading a book that could have been fantastic with some basic plot adjustments than I do reading something that is just bad. This needed a developmental edit, and it could have been absolutely fantastic. 3 stars.
There is almost nothing that frustrates me more than a book that has so much promise, but has a structural issue that means the plot doesn't work. This book had so many things I love: espionage, a Napoleonic War veteran hero, a heroine on a quest, external conflict. But the way the conflict was structured left something to be desired.
Isobel Graham has lost everyone in her family. Her husband was killed at Waterloo, her sister was abducted, her mother died of consumption, and her father died of a broken heart shortly after. Her only remaining family member still alive is her sister, so Isobel has committed to finding her. The last lead on her sister was in France, so she heads there, following the trail of the man she suspects took Lucy. As she's searching Paris for her sister, she's stopped by Lieutenant Nathaniel Blackmore, a former army officer who is in France as an agent for the Foreign Office. It turns out he is trailing the same man as Isobel, so they decide to team up. Nate will capture a criminal who has been violating both British and French law, and Isobel will find her sister. But the only way for them to infiltrate the circle of criminals is for Isobel to pose as Nate's mistress in a notorious club, putting her in potential physical danger from the kind of men who took her sister.
There was so much promise in this book that it almost makes me mad that an editor didn't fix the issues with the structure. Let's start with what I really liked, and then I will get into the issues I had with the plotting of the novel.
I am trash, trash, I say, for a Napoleonic War veteran in my Regency romance. In this case, we have two of them. Nate served in the army on the Peninsula before he was recruited by the Foreign Office, and Isobel traveled Europe with her husband's regiment, serving in a hospital after Waterloo. Both of them were traumatized by the war. I loved that aspect of the story because it showed the different ways the Napoleonic conflict impacted Europe.
Part one of the book was the espionage plot, where Isobel and Nate were working together to get the bad guys. I thought the pacing, conflict, and character work in the first part were great. I had a lot of fun with the fact that these two were posing as lovers and ended up succumbing to their attraction. Honestly, the book could have ended at the rescue, then had an epilogue, and I would have loved it.
The second part of this book did not work for me. We went from incredibly high external stakes, the espionage and kidnapping plot, to an internal story in rural Scotland where there were absolutely zero stakes in the romance plot. If Lea Hollis wanted to have a second part of the novel set in Scotland, we needed some kind of extension of the espionage plot. There needed to be another bad guy out there who was a danger to Lucy or something to raise the stakes. Part one had so much conflict that part two felt like a comedown.
I get more annoyed reading a book that could have been fantastic with some basic plot adjustments than I do reading something that is just bad. This needed a developmental edit, and it could have been absolutely fantastic. 3 stars.
August 11, 2026
One of the most well written books I have ever read.
July 26, 2026
4.5 ⭐ Paris, espionage, intrigue; Scotland, coastal walks, cozy cottage. What's a girl to do? This book was both parts exciting/suspenseful, and cozy/slice of life, and I loved both worlds so much.
Told in two parts, this story shares the intertwining lives of two people who, outwardly, couldn't be more different. MMC Nathaniel, is a spy for the British Foreign Office, after having served in the Napoleonic Wars. He is working in Paris, pursuing a ruthless smuggler, Compton, and his unsavory associate, Dubois. A widow of the Napoleonic wars, FMC Isobel is searching for her sister, whom she believes has been trafficked by Compton and Dubois. She has been searching for her sister alone for months when she is apprehended by Nathaniel. Trust isn't easy for either of them, but their overlapping objectives push them into an uneasy alliance that turns into something more.
The emotional journey of these characters felt so real. Isobel year had been marked with grief. In the span of eight months leading up to the start of the story, she lost her husband in the war, her mother to consumption, her father to heartbreak, and her sister was sold by her "sweetheart" to sex traffickers. She was scared, overwhelmed, and had next to nothing to lose. Nathaniel was a soft, warm person to ally herself with. Nothing was rushed. She didn't rush Nathaniel to open up to her; Nathaniel didn't push Isobel through her grief for his own ends. They let each other find their way on their own time. Their time in Paris was exciting; Scotland was healing. I wanted these characters to end up together, sure. But I also wanted to see them find wholeness and happiness.
The story was beautifully told; the epilogue made me cry. Even the acknowledgements made me cry! I actually didn't realize this was Lea Hollis's first novel until I finished the book. What a fantastic first book! I will be keeping my eye on her future publications. I can't wait to read the second book in this series (about Isobel's sister, Lucy) when it comes out this fall!!
The only reason I knocked half a star off is because I didn't quite feel the spark or chemistry between the characters until about 20%. But once the sparks started flying, it was great!
**Thank you to Fair Holly Press and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Told in two parts, this story shares the intertwining lives of two people who, outwardly, couldn't be more different. MMC Nathaniel, is a spy for the British Foreign Office, after having served in the Napoleonic Wars. He is working in Paris, pursuing a ruthless smuggler, Compton, and his unsavory associate, Dubois. A widow of the Napoleonic wars, FMC Isobel is searching for her sister, whom she believes has been trafficked by Compton and Dubois. She has been searching for her sister alone for months when she is apprehended by Nathaniel. Trust isn't easy for either of them, but their overlapping objectives push them into an uneasy alliance that turns into something more.
The emotional journey of these characters felt so real. Isobel year had been marked with grief. In the span of eight months leading up to the start of the story, she lost her husband in the war, her mother to consumption, her father to heartbreak, and her sister was sold by her "sweetheart" to sex traffickers. She was scared, overwhelmed, and had next to nothing to lose. Nathaniel was a soft, warm person to ally herself with. Nothing was rushed. She didn't rush Nathaniel to open up to her; Nathaniel didn't push Isobel through her grief for his own ends. They let each other find their way on their own time. Their time in Paris was exciting; Scotland was healing. I wanted these characters to end up together, sure. But I also wanted to see them find wholeness and happiness.
The story was beautifully told; the epilogue made me cry. Even the acknowledgements made me cry! I actually didn't realize this was Lea Hollis's first novel until I finished the book. What a fantastic first book! I will be keeping my eye on her future publications. I can't wait to read the second book in this series (about Isobel's sister, Lucy) when it comes out this fall!!
The only reason I knocked half a star off is because I didn't quite feel the spark or chemistry between the characters until about 20%. But once the sparks started flying, it was great!
**Thank you to Fair Holly Press and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you are looking for something to fill the Spymasters series hole in your heart, this book is it! Isobel is desparately looking for her sister, who she fears has been trafficked. She follows the trail from London to Paris, where she is spotted by Nathaniel who works for British intelligence and is investigating the same men for different reasons.
They end up working together, and having to pose as lovers to infiltrate the club where the bad guys work. The forced intimacy of pretending a mistress arrangement, while acting on their physical attraction, while at the same time knowing almost nothing *real* about each other other than that attraction and given and received trust is lovely. The romantic build and increased intimacy coupled with the tension of the investigation and rescue of Isobel's sister are genuinely thrilling.
Success in Paris means an end to their intimacy, both the real and the pretend. Isobel and Nate are forced to assume another layer, where they were pretending to have not become real lovers while they were pretending to be lovers. They both move on, Nate to wrapping up the investigation and arresting bad guys, and Isobel to Scotland with Lucy to recover at her cottage there.
The Scottish section of this book shows Nate and Isobel trying to establish a real connection, to see if what they had while undercover can face the light of day. The same couple that had frank and clear communication in Paris seems to have stalled out. They both long for the other, yet do nothing to move the needle or express their feelings. Lucy is the reader stand-in here, repeatedly telling them what is going on and urging them to be honest and communicate and realize that they are being wooed. I appreciate that Hollis needed them to make this transition, but this section was way too much of a slow burn for me. They fell in love and lust in a little over a week, did we need months of them nearly never on page together, being told but not shown that they took walks and kept company, and little or no movement towards intimacy, with emotional honesty lagging physical intimacy? It was simply too much painful buildup to get to where they had effortlessly been before.
Nate and Isobel are given logistical support in Paris from Amelie, a brothel owner we met in the novella Velvet Intrigue, a freebie in Hollis's newsletter. This books takes place over a decade past the events of that novella, whither the MMC from Velvet Intrigue? I smell a future book! This story stands alone, but I tell you what, I am absolutely waiting with baited breath for the next in the series which focuses on Lucy, and what happened to her.
4.5 stars, dinged a star for the slow pacing of the Scotland section but bumped back up because of general exciting plot, with a setting that we don't see as often in historical romance.
Thank you to the author for an arc.
They end up working together, and having to pose as lovers to infiltrate the club where the bad guys work. The forced intimacy of pretending a mistress arrangement, while acting on their physical attraction, while at the same time knowing almost nothing *real* about each other other than that attraction and given and received trust is lovely. The romantic build and increased intimacy coupled with the tension of the investigation and rescue of Isobel's sister are genuinely thrilling.
Success in Paris means an end to their intimacy, both the real and the pretend. Isobel and Nate are forced to assume another layer, where they were pretending to have not become real lovers while they were pretending to be lovers. They both move on, Nate to wrapping up the investigation and arresting bad guys, and Isobel to Scotland with Lucy to recover at her cottage there.
The Scottish section of this book shows Nate and Isobel trying to establish a real connection, to see if what they had while undercover can face the light of day. The same couple that had frank and clear communication in Paris seems to have stalled out. They both long for the other, yet do nothing to move the needle or express their feelings. Lucy is the reader stand-in here, repeatedly telling them what is going on and urging them to be honest and communicate and realize that they are being wooed. I appreciate that Hollis needed them to make this transition, but this section was way too much of a slow burn for me. They fell in love and lust in a little over a week, did we need months of them nearly never on page together, being told but not shown that they took walks and kept company, and little or no movement towards intimacy, with emotional honesty lagging physical intimacy? It was simply too much painful buildup to get to where they had effortlessly been before.
Nate and Isobel are given logistical support in Paris from Amelie, a brothel owner we met in the novella Velvet Intrigue, a freebie in Hollis's newsletter. This books takes place over a decade past the events of that novella, whither the MMC from Velvet Intrigue? I smell a future book! This story stands alone, but I tell you what, I am absolutely waiting with baited breath for the next in the series which focuses on Lucy, and what happened to her.
4.5 stars, dinged a star for the slow pacing of the Scotland section but bumped back up because of general exciting plot, with a setting that we don't see as often in historical romance.
Thank you to the author for an arc.
Review of advance copy
Tropes: MC's team up to solve a mystery; forced proximity
Steam level: 3
First in a series
3.5 stars rounded up. The writing style is excellent, the supporting cast is intriguing, the opening chapters draw you in with suspense and a slow-burn attraction between the MC's that evolves into a fiery chemistry (the first open-door scene was one of the best I've read in a long time). The first 75% has all of the signs of a smart, sensual, Regency-set spy yarn.
I wasn't a big fan of the final 25%. (Possible spoilers ahead)
Through Part One, set in France, the tension simmers. The dialog and descriptions are detailed and methodical, with scandalous meetings and sinister conversations involving the morally bankrupt villains whose "trade" involves more than smuggled French wine. Both the steam and quietness between the MC's works well amidst this background; two lonely souls who have been emotionally dislocated by the ravages of war and are searching for a safe haven. This theme kept me going as I waited for the elements in the main conflict to come to a head.
Unfortunately, I felt let down by the plot structure. While there is an exciting scene involving MFC's sister around the 70% mark, the confrontation involving the baddies and MMC is told, not shown, in Part Two. Instead, there is a rather sedate backdrop in Scotland where the MC's gravitate toward their HEA. Their chemistry loses momentum here, as they seem to be virtual strangers again. I think I needed to see more joy or humor, at least, between them.
It feels like in the last quarter of the plot the author decided how she wanted the second book to go, and started thinking more about that and how to wrap up this HEA.
Overall, I would give the first part of this book 4.5 stars and the second part 3.
This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author and Booksprout for this opportunity.
Steam level: 3
First in a series
3.5 stars rounded up. The writing style is excellent, the supporting cast is intriguing, the opening chapters draw you in with suspense and a slow-burn attraction between the MC's that evolves into a fiery chemistry (the first open-door scene was one of the best I've read in a long time). The first 75% has all of the signs of a smart, sensual, Regency-set spy yarn.
I wasn't a big fan of the final 25%. (Possible spoilers ahead)
Through Part One, set in France, the tension simmers. The dialog and descriptions are detailed and methodical, with scandalous meetings and sinister conversations involving the morally bankrupt villains whose "trade" involves more than smuggled French wine. Both the steam and quietness between the MC's works well amidst this background; two lonely souls who have been emotionally dislocated by the ravages of war and are searching for a safe haven. This theme kept me going as I waited for the elements in the main conflict to come to a head.
Unfortunately, I felt let down by the plot structure. While there is an exciting scene involving MFC's sister around the 70% mark, the confrontation involving the baddies and MMC is told, not shown, in Part Two. Instead, there is a rather sedate backdrop in Scotland where the MC's gravitate toward their HEA. Their chemistry loses momentum here, as they seem to be virtual strangers again. I think I needed to see more joy or humor, at least, between them.
It feels like in the last quarter of the plot the author decided how she wanted the second book to go, and started thinking more about that and how to wrap up this HEA.
Overall, I would give the first part of this book 4.5 stars and the second part 3.
This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author and Booksprout for this opportunity.
June 26, 2026
This book had so many great moments.
The characters interacted well; their personalities grew; the situations were tense at times, and tender at others.
Beginning with the heartbreak of widowhood, the loss of her parents, and the coercion of her sister to leave with a man who abandoned her into the hands of another — Isobel leaves for France to attempt to find and rescue her sister. She has no idea how, nor of the danger she has put herself into with the decision to act alone.
While not immediately obvious, it is opportunistic that she is captured by a man who has also been following the fiend responsible for her sister’s entrapment. He takes her into his protection, and ensures her safety as they now work together to reveal this man and his heinous acts, even though they initially had different goals.
He helps rescue her sister and ensures they return safely to London, where they visit her father’s solicitor to take possession of the cottage bequeathed to her, in Scotland. She and her sister live there, each trying to work through grief from the past in their own ways.
The culprit is finally caught, as well as his associates, and the MMC finds himself wondering how he will continue his life forward — what choices will he make? He decides to visit the sisters and tell them that the case is concluded. He remains there to assist with repairs and work through his own mental state.
This book was beautifully written, and works through the self-discovery of people who have been formed or used by others and circumstances. It is well worth reading.
The characters interacted well; their personalities grew; the situations were tense at times, and tender at others.
Beginning with the heartbreak of widowhood, the loss of her parents, and the coercion of her sister to leave with a man who abandoned her into the hands of another — Isobel leaves for France to attempt to find and rescue her sister. She has no idea how, nor of the danger she has put herself into with the decision to act alone.
While not immediately obvious, it is opportunistic that she is captured by a man who has also been following the fiend responsible for her sister’s entrapment. He takes her into his protection, and ensures her safety as they now work together to reveal this man and his heinous acts, even though they initially had different goals.
He helps rescue her sister and ensures they return safely to London, where they visit her father’s solicitor to take possession of the cottage bequeathed to her, in Scotland. She and her sister live there, each trying to work through grief from the past in their own ways.
The culprit is finally caught, as well as his associates, and the MMC finds himself wondering how he will continue his life forward — what choices will he make? He decides to visit the sisters and tell them that the case is concluded. He remains there to assist with repairs and work through his own mental state.
This book was beautifully written, and works through the self-discovery of people who have been formed or used by others and circumstances. It is well worth reading.
Read
June 10, 2026This book started out AMAZING and the ending was great but the middle was just not it..
A Spy and A beautiful widow who is in search of her sister in the midst of danger however there's a case that needs to be solved on his end as well.. after all he is a spy for England.. but despite them trying to keep their differences, passion flares and feelings become apart of the package..
I loved that despite everything that Isobel has been through she doesn't give up on her sister, and Nathaniel could have easily become a bitter resentful person however he isn't.. I loved these characters, even the side characters.. this author really did an amazing job with not only the main characters but side characters.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy was it felt like a cliff hanger when it came to how things happened between the enemies and how the ladies escaped to freedom.. I wish we could have had more insight into that part..
But other than that I enjoyed this book..
I can't wait to read the next book in this series..
I received this book as a gift from the author for an honest voluntary review and this is purely my own personal opinion.
A Spy and A beautiful widow who is in search of her sister in the midst of danger however there's a case that needs to be solved on his end as well.. after all he is a spy for England.. but despite them trying to keep their differences, passion flares and feelings become apart of the package..
I loved that despite everything that Isobel has been through she doesn't give up on her sister, and Nathaniel could have easily become a bitter resentful person however he isn't.. I loved these characters, even the side characters.. this author really did an amazing job with not only the main characters but side characters.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy was it felt like a cliff hanger when it came to how things happened between the enemies and how the ladies escaped to freedom.. I wish we could have had more insight into that part..
But other than that I enjoyed this book..
I can't wait to read the next book in this series..
I received this book as a gift from the author for an honest voluntary review and this is purely my own personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really well worked romance with plenty of intrigue at its heart. Isobel is set upon finding her sister who has been abducted and transported to Paris just after the battle of Waterloo. Alone in Paris, and running out of funds, Isobel is in desperate straits until she is found by Nate, a spy attempting to uncover and destroy a trafficking and smuggling ring, which by coincidence was responsible for the abduction of her sister. A passion develops between the two as they set about helping each other achieve their aim. The romance is created in a realistic way. They spend a week together hunting down the villains but that is no guarantee love will develop. That took time especially as both were grieving and learning to cope with the devastation of war. There is plenty of reflective writing as they come to terms with their circumstance but I would have liked more detail about conflict incidents. In particular where the ringleaders get their comeuppance which was reported rather than described. However, this was a more intense,. realistic plot compared to many other books of the same genre and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
July 24, 2026
Emotionally complex, sizzling romance!
I am a slow reader, but I flew through this in just two sittings. Nate is a delicious hero who is both dangerously competent and deeply human. Isobel has been through hell, and while she is thoroughly battered by it, she is also resilient in a way that only a powerful heroine can be. They are excellent foils for each other, and I fell head over heels in love with them both.
The primary plot is full of danger, suspense, action, and billowing steam. This most definitely does not take place in a prim and proper drawing room or ballroom! But one of my favorite things about the story is that the relationship is not all adrenaline, where you are thinking “but will they last in everyday life?” It is much richer and more grown-up than that. Hollis lets us see them flounder in the real world and try to find themselves without the simple aphrodisiac of adrenaline, and that adds so much texture and richness to their story.
This story is fun and full of action, danger, and steam, but it is not fluff. It is deeply moving and one of my favorite reads of the year!
I am a slow reader, but I flew through this in just two sittings. Nate is a delicious hero who is both dangerously competent and deeply human. Isobel has been through hell, and while she is thoroughly battered by it, she is also resilient in a way that only a powerful heroine can be. They are excellent foils for each other, and I fell head over heels in love with them both.
The primary plot is full of danger, suspense, action, and billowing steam. This most definitely does not take place in a prim and proper drawing room or ballroom! But one of my favorite things about the story is that the relationship is not all adrenaline, where you are thinking “but will they last in everyday life?” It is much richer and more grown-up than that. Hollis lets us see them flounder in the real world and try to find themselves without the simple aphrodisiac of adrenaline, and that adds so much texture and richness to their story.
This story is fun and full of action, danger, and steam, but it is not fluff. It is deeply moving and one of my favorite reads of the year!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A solid historical romance and being set in Paris, just after the Napoleonic Wars, added some really interesting history to it. We read so much from this era set in England it was a refreshing difference.
Lea Hollis’ writing is beautifully descriptive and the plot was exciting, with lots of danger and intrigue.
However, I struggled with the length of the book and I felt that it could have done a ruthless edit to tighten it up a little more.
The contrast of the first part of the book set in France, with the remainder, much quieter and introspective part, set in Scotland was well done. And gave our characters a chance to really fall in love after the frenetic, high stakes action in France.
I'd would have loved an author's note to understand more about the political machinations going on in France after the Napoleonic Wars.
I received an advance copy of this book at no charge. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Lea Hollis’ writing is beautifully descriptive and the plot was exciting, with lots of danger and intrigue.
However, I struggled with the length of the book and I felt that it could have done a ruthless edit to tighten it up a little more.
The contrast of the first part of the book set in France, with the remainder, much quieter and introspective part, set in Scotland was well done. And gave our characters a chance to really fall in love after the frenetic, high stakes action in France.
I'd would have loved an author's note to understand more about the political machinations going on in France after the Napoleonic Wars.
I received an advance copy of this book at no charge. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an arc copy from Lea Hollis in exchange for a review, but even without this I would definitely have picked up a copy! An engaging historical fiction filled with swoony romance (I loved Nate as a love interest), and an interesting and empowered heroine, Isobel, who is in France to find her missing sister. She gets caught up in Nate's work as a spy for the foreign office on the back of Napoleonic era France and ends up joining him on some dangerous (yet sexy!) missions. I thought it was a good, fresh take of the Regency romance, and I really liked the thrilling side plot that strengthened the romance. I loved the side characters too, and I really liked Lucy's element (Lucy being Isobel's sister) and I'm excited to see where book 2 will take her story and uncover the mystery about her. Definitely one of my new favourite historical romance authors!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oooh, this a tough one. I was totally impressed with the way Isobel and Nate's relationship started. I was completely smitten and on the edge of my seat. This is excellent writing. It feels very like Joanna Bourne. But it turned wayyy too dark for me. When they visited the club, I really hated the position that Isobel found herself in, and I wanted to snatch her right out of there, away from those creepy lechers. Then the vibes turned dark and desperate between the two mmcs, and I'm just too vanilla for this. I'm not the intended audience. I feel like we went from Joanna Bourne to Anne Stuart. I DNFed at 60%.
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
September 6, 2026
I loved this historical romance set mostly in Paris and then in Scotland. Isobel is a widow who actually was in love with her first husband - which I loved to see for once - and is grieving him while looking for her sister in Paris. Nathaniel is a veteran of the peninsular war and a spy who is looking for the same man that Isobel supposes her sister is with. They are thrown together in a whirlwind romance where the lines between what is real and what's pretend blur... The book has great representation of grief and overcoming it and I like that even though the romance at first is quite fast-paced
Review of advance copy received from Author
The romance is an afterthought in this book filled with suspense and intrigue. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Isobel and Nathaniel meet in war-torn France at the end of the war. Both are still reeling from their personal losses. Isobel is searching for her missing sister and Nathaniel is an undercover spy on a mission. The author expertly depicts individuals barely hanging on who join forces for a time. The chemistry between the two is strong from the beginning and kept my interest despite the weighty theme.
Review of advance copy
There's always a thin line between charades and the real thing because underneath everything there is an emotion that cannot be easily placed but will catch people by surprise in the end. Danger in the mix, will pull two souls together in a bid to protect and find out the truth of a matter. Danger, intrigue, staying ahead etc. you will love this story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 30, 2026
I read historical romance relatively infrequently - but when I do this is the perfect book to scratch that itch. It had all the things I love - a propulsive plot, immersive settings and a great set of characters. I loved both of the leads, and the romance between them felt so real. Nate and Isobel were fantastic and I really enjoyed both of their journeys, and how they came to trust and then love each other.
Definitely going to be getting the next book
Definitely going to be getting the next book
September 22, 2026
New author for me. I completely enjoyed this story. From the premise, it is a dark and heavy romance. Isobel has had so much loss in her life, she is now in search of her sister. Nathaniel is a spy that is infiltrating a ring that would like to stir the government. Their paths cross and it sets them on a course that they have to learn to trust each other. During this, they fall in love but don’t acknowledge it. They do come together and truly fall in love in a way that is necessary for both.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nate is kind and thoughtful, always letting Isobel take the lead in their romantic interaction, and a badass spy. Isobel is intelligent and courageous, all while dealing with intense trauma in a realistic way. The spicy scenes are HOT and true to where the characters are in the progression of their relationship.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I could hardly put this book down! Definitely a "one more chapter" experience for me - I always wanted to know what would happen next. Very believable reactions to extraordinary circumstances - great characters throughout the book.
Hopefully I won't have to wait long for Lucy's story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Hopefully I won't have to wait long for Lucy's story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
A story of a spy who seeks the aid of a maiden looking for her sister in war torn France. It's a story of intrigue and I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 27, 2026
This was a great read. The characters are interesting and well developed. The plot is absorbing. And, the section at the end where the characters translate excitement into love in real life is unique and satisfying.
August 21, 2026
Really enjoyed this, very interesting story
Review of advance copy
This is a well written story with lots of spice, intrigue and sorrow. I love how the characters interact. There is a sense of such openness and honesty while not being able to be fully honest. Pain exists for both Isobel and Nathaniel, yet they are able to allow their attraction to exist and thrive in the short time they might have. Lots of intrigue and unknowns as they draw closer. A full bodied read that leaves you satisfied.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews