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Regency Spies & Secrets #1
A Dangerous Pursuit
An heiress. A spy. And a love worth fighting for.
Welcome to book 1 in the exciting new series Regency Spies & Secrets from bestselling author Laura Beers.
Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honor her mother's legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavory parts of London.
Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown, since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. As he searches for the enemy, he discovers a meddling heiress that keeps stumbling in at the most inopportune times, making him wonder if she is perhaps the spy he has been sent to find.
Despite mutual dislike, Baldwin agrees to help Madalene, but only if she stays far away from the investigation. A promise that Madalene has no intention of keeping. Will headstrong Madalene and duty-driven Baldwin be able to work together, especially since so much is at stake?
Will Baldwin choose between saving the Crown or saving an obstinate woman that he has unwittingly fallen in love with?
Welcome to book 1 in the exciting new series Regency Spies & Secrets from bestselling author Laura Beers.
Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honor her mother's legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavory parts of London.
Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown, since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. As he searches for the enemy, he discovers a meddling heiress that keeps stumbling in at the most inopportune times, making him wonder if she is perhaps the spy he has been sent to find.
Despite mutual dislike, Baldwin agrees to help Madalene, but only if she stays far away from the investigation. A promise that Madalene has no intention of keeping. Will headstrong Madalene and duty-driven Baldwin be able to work together, especially since so much is at stake?
Will Baldwin choose between saving the Crown or saving an obstinate woman that he has unwittingly fallen in love with?
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2021
285 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Laura Beers
77 books501 followersLaura Beers is an award-winning author. She attended Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. She can't sing, doesn't dance and loves naps.
Laura lives in Utah with her husband, three kids, and her dysfunctional dog. When not writing regency romance, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr Pepper.
You can connect with Laura on Facebook, Instagram, or on her site at www.authorlaurabeers.com.
Laura lives in Utah with her husband, three kids, and her dysfunctional dog. When not writing regency romance, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr Pepper.
You can connect with Laura on Facebook, Instagram, or on her site at www.authorlaurabeers.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
March 20, 2021
2.5 Stars. This story had the elements to be an exciting and interesting spy-themed HR, but the execution left something to be desired for me. The plot was all there. There were a lot of threads and all seemed to have some sort of resolution, which was impressive. They were not all the most plausible resolutions, but at least there were no loose ends, except those that clearly lead into future stories in this series. However, the narrative and storytelling was weak and the character development lacked depth.
In terms of narrative style, this is not one I prefer. So much of this story is told through dialogue. The dialogue was often simple and to the point, and it really didn’t seem like the way spies and criminals would talk. The society dialogue was more believable, but often boring because it was filled with mundane details. For the spies, there was often dialogue and actions that seemed way too obvious, and the hero was often times putting his loved ones at risk by his ineptitude. He really was a terrible spy and investigator. He often took people and situations at face value, even when there was reason for suspicion. He also weirdly suggested the heroine put herself in danger to help him out. Another weird action on his part, as he is assisting the heroine in finding her friend, who is a missing person, he is harshly blunt and tells her time is of the essence, then proceeds to say he’ll start investigating tomorrow, like 24 hours is no big deal. INNEPT SPY. INNEPT HERO. The criminals were similarly inept. The women in general shined brighter in this book.
There was backstory that should have lended itself to better character development, but it felt pretty shallow. I think this partly do to how much of the story is told by dialogue. That just didn’t work well for me. This is a kisses-only book, and the romantic tension was not very strong. I was not very invested in the romance. All in all, while this story was complete and whole, the storytelling didn’t suit my tastes. Others may enjoy it more.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.
In terms of narrative style, this is not one I prefer. So much of this story is told through dialogue. The dialogue was often simple and to the point, and it really didn’t seem like the way spies and criminals would talk. The society dialogue was more believable, but often boring because it was filled with mundane details. For the spies, there was often dialogue and actions that seemed way too obvious, and the hero was often times putting his loved ones at risk by his ineptitude. He really was a terrible spy and investigator. He often took people and situations at face value, even when there was reason for suspicion. He also weirdly suggested the heroine put herself in danger to help him out. Another weird action on his part, as he is assisting the heroine in finding her friend, who is a missing person, he is harshly blunt and tells her time is of the essence, then proceeds to say he’ll start investigating tomorrow, like 24 hours is no big deal. INNEPT SPY. INNEPT HERO. The criminals were similarly inept. The women in general shined brighter in this book.
There was backstory that should have lended itself to better character development, but it felt pretty shallow. I think this partly do to how much of the story is told by dialogue. That just didn’t work well for me. This is a kisses-only book, and the romantic tension was not very strong. I was not very invested in the romance. All in all, while this story was complete and whole, the storytelling didn’t suit my tastes. Others may enjoy it more.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.
did-not-finish
November 18, 2024DNF @ pg.107 or around 37% in.
Started with the audiobook of this one, but didn’t love it so I switched to mainly reading it on KU.
It did have a lot of info dumping and telling, rather than showing. Also her thoughts weren’t italicized which was strange to me.
I’m not sure how she inherited her mother’s property as I didn’t think women could inherit land or such things in this time period? In many ways, the word “foolhardy” comes to mind when thinking about her.
They were often at the other’s throat which got to be too much very quickly. This is the kind of enemies to more I can’t stand because they’re being rude and straight-up hostile towards the other but then thinking about them later about the other’s appearance. 🙄
This book made me realize that I like my spy books to be about fake problems, not historical wars and details about different sides like this one was. I just don’t know enough—nor have a major interest—in the history of England and her relationships (or lack thereof) with other countries. Because of this, I did find the assembly/House of Lords parts dull and unnecessary.
That all said, I read about a hundred pages in and decided “meh, I’m going to DNF this.” I don’t like not finishing a book when I’ve wasted a day on it and then have already read a third of it, but I wasn’t interested in this plot and frankly, I have plenty of other books to read. The final straw was men at a coffeehouse saying disparaging comments and leering at a woman there and commenting on wanting to bed her. It’s obviously looked upon as wrong by the male lead, but no, thank you, I’ll pass. Such a bummer too because I usually like spy books! :(
I’m not going to Main Content info on this book, but see above for rude comments from drunk men and know that there’s also some grief for the main girl for her mother; Hints to prostitution and women being kidnapped from what I read.
Started with the audiobook of this one, but didn’t love it so I switched to mainly reading it on KU.
It did have a lot of info dumping and telling, rather than showing. Also her thoughts weren’t italicized which was strange to me.
I’m not sure how she inherited her mother’s property as I didn’t think women could inherit land or such things in this time period? In many ways, the word “foolhardy” comes to mind when thinking about her.
They were often at the other’s throat which got to be too much very quickly. This is the kind of enemies to more I can’t stand because they’re being rude and straight-up hostile towards the other but then thinking about them later about the other’s appearance. 🙄
This book made me realize that I like my spy books to be about fake problems, not historical wars and details about different sides like this one was. I just don’t know enough—nor have a major interest—in the history of England and her relationships (or lack thereof) with other countries. Because of this, I did find the assembly/House of Lords parts dull and unnecessary.
That all said, I read about a hundred pages in and decided “meh, I’m going to DNF this.” I don’t like not finishing a book when I’ve wasted a day on it and then have already read a third of it, but I wasn’t interested in this plot and frankly, I have plenty of other books to read. The final straw was men at a coffeehouse saying disparaging comments and leering at a woman there and commenting on wanting to bed her. It’s obviously looked upon as wrong by the male lead, but no, thank you, I’ll pass. Such a bummer too because I usually like spy books! :(
I’m not going to Main Content info on this book, but see above for rude comments from drunk men and know that there’s also some grief for the main girl for her mother; Hints to prostitution and women being kidnapped from what I read.
March 15, 2021
2 stars
A clean regency romance between a naïve, meddling heiress & a bully of an agent of the crown, with more of a focus on solving a mystery than on the romance. I disliked both MC’s, found the dialogue wordy & clunky, was annoyed by historical inaccuracies (such as anachronistic social behaviors & etiquette), & was frustrated by several unrealistic plot points & thin or missing character motivations. It’s not the worst book I’ve read, but I don’t think it’s worth the read.
[What I liked:]
•Oliver is an amusing character, a lovable rogue (or at least that’s adopted persona). He’s a side character, but I liked him much better than either MC.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•The writing, both narration & dialogue, are a bit melodramatic & too fluffy for my taste. I prefer more realistic sounding dialogue. Much of the dialogue is wordy, frivolous, & fluffy, & could have been much tightened.
•Some details felt a bit historically inaccurate to me, although I’m not an expert. For example, unwanted visitors show up outside Madalene’s calling hours & she receives them in a sweaty riding habit immediately after dismounting a horse; it just doesn’t seem like proper etiquette for the time yet there’s no acknowledgement of that fact in the story, nor any reason provided why she wouldn’t change first. She’s also on a first name basis with some of her servants, when I think the employers generally addressed servants by their surnames. Madalene, a gentlewoman, goes into dangerous & disreputable places without any safety precautions nor trying to be surreptitious but it never affects her reputation; that’s an implausible outcome to me, & her recklessness is unrealistic.
•Some plot points are very unrealistic. One person is being robbed at gun point in a sketchy alley & he announces he’s going to disarm the robber instead of just doing it. What kind of strategy is that? Then he immediately offers the robber a job without any knowledge of the man’s background. I get he’s (supposedly?) compassionate, but that’s not very shrewd for a guy who’s supposed to be a government spy who needs to maintain secrecy in his home. Who also disdains the poor & their struggles in his dealings in the political arena.
•Baldwin, a nobleman, behaves very inappropriately towards ladies, physically grabbing them & threatening them in broad daylight. Surely he could be intimidating without being so inappropriate & harassing. I thought that was unrealistic behavior, & not very smart of him.
•Baldwin is a very unsympathetic MC. He’s a bully, inconsiderate of loved ones, doesn’t respect others (including family members he claims to love), is an elitist rich dude who tries to block social reforms, is kinda sexist, & has an unattractive personality. Yeah no, not my idea of a romantic hero.
•Madalene is more tolerable, but she comes across as foolish & reckless, rather than brave & smart/strategic. She’s arrogant in that she never takes good advice & takes many unnecessary risks, thinking she always knows better. She’s not my idea of a strong woman character, although I think that’s what the writer was going for.
•What’s the romance supposed to be based on, other than a subtle physical attraction between the MC’s? They’re not nice to each other, are unreasonable with each other, annoy each other, don’t like or respect each other (for good reasons), & neither one wants to get married. I don’t get the appeal on either side. Then suddenly—insta love! Not my favorite.
•Baldwin doesn’t think very logically or strategically for a supposedly skilled spy. He wants to ignore social unrest & focus all government attention & funding on national security/the military in a time of peace—even though the current largest national security threat is social unrest...I’d get it if he didn’t believe that position but was manipulatively using that argument to further another agenda, but he honestly seems to believe it. And yes, real people do have logical blind spots like that, but he’s supposed to be a brilliant strategist in touch with political issues & intrigues, & this just makes him seem naive & definitely out of touch. Also, it’s another reason for me to not respect him much, & he’s an MC.
•Lots of character motivations aren’t established. Why does Baldwin randomly decide to help Madalene with her investigation, risking his rapport with his boss? Why does a secret group let a total stranger join with almost zero vetting? Why would the family of a ransacked house not clean up the mess, & just leave it there for days? Why would Marie tell her prisoner all details of her plans?
CW: murder, sex trafficking
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
A clean regency romance between a naïve, meddling heiress & a bully of an agent of the crown, with more of a focus on solving a mystery than on the romance. I disliked both MC’s, found the dialogue wordy & clunky, was annoyed by historical inaccuracies (such as anachronistic social behaviors & etiquette), & was frustrated by several unrealistic plot points & thin or missing character motivations. It’s not the worst book I’ve read, but I don’t think it’s worth the read.
[What I liked:]
•Oliver is an amusing character, a lovable rogue (or at least that’s adopted persona). He’s a side character, but I liked him much better than either MC.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•The writing, both narration & dialogue, are a bit melodramatic & too fluffy for my taste. I prefer more realistic sounding dialogue. Much of the dialogue is wordy, frivolous, & fluffy, & could have been much tightened.
•Some details felt a bit historically inaccurate to me, although I’m not an expert. For example, unwanted visitors show up outside Madalene’s calling hours & she receives them in a sweaty riding habit immediately after dismounting a horse; it just doesn’t seem like proper etiquette for the time yet there’s no acknowledgement of that fact in the story, nor any reason provided why she wouldn’t change first. She’s also on a first name basis with some of her servants, when I think the employers generally addressed servants by their surnames. Madalene, a gentlewoman, goes into dangerous & disreputable places without any safety precautions nor trying to be surreptitious but it never affects her reputation; that’s an implausible outcome to me, & her recklessness is unrealistic.
•Some plot points are very unrealistic. One person is being robbed at gun point in a sketchy alley & he announces he’s going to disarm the robber instead of just doing it. What kind of strategy is that? Then he immediately offers the robber a job without any knowledge of the man’s background. I get he’s (supposedly?) compassionate, but that’s not very shrewd for a guy who’s supposed to be a government spy who needs to maintain secrecy in his home. Who also disdains the poor & their struggles in his dealings in the political arena.
•Baldwin, a nobleman, behaves very inappropriately towards ladies, physically grabbing them & threatening them in broad daylight. Surely he could be intimidating without being so inappropriate & harassing. I thought that was unrealistic behavior, & not very smart of him.
•Baldwin is a very unsympathetic MC. He’s a bully, inconsiderate of loved ones, doesn’t respect others (including family members he claims to love), is an elitist rich dude who tries to block social reforms, is kinda sexist, & has an unattractive personality. Yeah no, not my idea of a romantic hero.
•Madalene is more tolerable, but she comes across as foolish & reckless, rather than brave & smart/strategic. She’s arrogant in that she never takes good advice & takes many unnecessary risks, thinking she always knows better. She’s not my idea of a strong woman character, although I think that’s what the writer was going for.
•What’s the romance supposed to be based on, other than a subtle physical attraction between the MC’s? They’re not nice to each other, are unreasonable with each other, annoy each other, don’t like or respect each other (for good reasons), & neither one wants to get married. I don’t get the appeal on either side. Then suddenly—insta love! Not my favorite.
•Baldwin doesn’t think very logically or strategically for a supposedly skilled spy. He wants to ignore social unrest & focus all government attention & funding on national security/the military in a time of peace—even though the current largest national security threat is social unrest...I’d get it if he didn’t believe that position but was manipulatively using that argument to further another agenda, but he honestly seems to believe it. And yes, real people do have logical blind spots like that, but he’s supposed to be a brilliant strategist in touch with political issues & intrigues, & this just makes him seem naive & definitely out of touch. Also, it’s another reason for me to not respect him much, & he’s an MC.
•Lots of character motivations aren’t established. Why does Baldwin randomly decide to help Madalene with her investigation, risking his rapport with his boss? Why does a secret group let a total stranger join with almost zero vetting? Why would the family of a ransacked house not clean up the mess, & just leave it there for days? Why would Marie tell her prisoner all details of her plans?
CW: murder, sex trafficking
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
April 9, 2021
England 1814
A regency tale filled with a mystery, suspense, slow budding romance, a missing French spy, the hero, a spy for the crown and of course the heroine, who is looking for her missing teacher.
Baldwin, Marquess of Hawthorne, is on his last case for the crown. Locating a french spy who is in the midst of unrest. The last person he expects to encounter is Madalene Dowding, looking for the missing teacher at her orphanage.
As these two meet, the sparks fly, at first, just the irritating ones but it seems that may turn around as they keep going in the same direction!
Great start to this new series and love the cover!
A regency tale filled with a mystery, suspense, slow budding romance, a missing French spy, the hero, a spy for the crown and of course the heroine, who is looking for her missing teacher.
Baldwin, Marquess of Hawthorne, is on his last case for the crown. Locating a french spy who is in the midst of unrest. The last person he expects to encounter is Madalene Dowding, looking for the missing teacher at her orphanage.
As these two meet, the sparks fly, at first, just the irritating ones but it seems that may turn around as they keep going in the same direction!
Great start to this new series and love the cover!
June 18, 2021
Readers looking for a top-notch Regency thriller with well-researched details and carefully layered plotting will love “A Dangerous Pursuit”.
Read full review in the 2021 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 17, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋
A Marquess working for the Government, and a Governess in charge of an orphanage come together to search for a missing maid, during their sleuthing they find a chemistry between them is growing.
There search takes them to some unlikely places and throws them together, putting both of their lives in danger.
Enjoyable and entertaining read
My first from this author.
I found the characters engaging and the story was enjoyable and satisfying to read.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋
A Marquess working for the Government, and a Governess in charge of an orphanage come together to search for a missing maid, during their sleuthing they find a chemistry between them is growing.
There search takes them to some unlikely places and throws them together, putting both of their lives in danger.
Enjoyable and entertaining read
My first from this author.
I found the characters engaging and the story was enjoyable and satisfying to read.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
June 30, 2021
This is a great start to the Regency Spies and Secrets series. Madalene Dowding has been mourning the death of her mother for 6 months. To honor her mother, who was very charitable, Madalene opened an orphanage which includes a school. When Miss Hardy, one of the teachers, goes missing Madalene is determined to find out what happened to her and prove she was murdered.
Baldwin Radcliff, Marquess of Hawthorne, is finally back home after a three year mission in France. He has to work one last case for the Crown, then he'll retire from the spy game and take his seat in the House of Lords. His case--finding a French spy among a group of radicals. His job would be a lot easier if a certain heiress wouldn't keep turning up at the worse times. Maybe if he agrees to help her find out the truth about Miss Hardy, she'll stay away from his case. Can a headstrong heiress and a duty-driven spy work together? You know what they say about the thin line between hate and love. Will Baldwin choose between saving the Crown or saving an obstinate woman that he has unwittingly fallen in love with?
I love Regency, mysteries, and hate to lovers tropes, and this book had all three. I'm also a big fan of Laura Beers' books so I was all in when I started this Regency spy story. I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to know what happened to the teacher, what the truth was behind her death, who the French spy was (I had my suspicions about that), the reason behind the French spy's plot, and how Madalene and Baldwin would get together.
This is a fun read. Madalene doesn't care about her reputation so she goes where "proper" young ladies wouldn't dare to be seen and keeps crossing paths with Baldwin. I loved when Madalene went to visit her good friend Jane and discovered this Lord she kept butting heads with was Jane's brother! Oh and Baldwin's reaction that Madalene is friends with his sister!! I love those types of scenes--they're such fun.
I like that the author writes female characters that aren't the usual damsel in distress. They're headstrong and fairly capable. Usually that infuriates the male character to a degree which leads to clever banter and surprise on their part when they're suddenly attracted to each other. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this new series, as Laura Beers is one of my favorite Regency authors.
Baldwin Radcliff, Marquess of Hawthorne, is finally back home after a three year mission in France. He has to work one last case for the Crown, then he'll retire from the spy game and take his seat in the House of Lords. His case--finding a French spy among a group of radicals. His job would be a lot easier if a certain heiress wouldn't keep turning up at the worse times. Maybe if he agrees to help her find out the truth about Miss Hardy, she'll stay away from his case. Can a headstrong heiress and a duty-driven spy work together? You know what they say about the thin line between hate and love. Will Baldwin choose between saving the Crown or saving an obstinate woman that he has unwittingly fallen in love with?
I love Regency, mysteries, and hate to lovers tropes, and this book had all three. I'm also a big fan of Laura Beers' books so I was all in when I started this Regency spy story. I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to know what happened to the teacher, what the truth was behind her death, who the French spy was (I had my suspicions about that), the reason behind the French spy's plot, and how Madalene and Baldwin would get together.
This is a fun read. Madalene doesn't care about her reputation so she goes where "proper" young ladies wouldn't dare to be seen and keeps crossing paths with Baldwin. I loved when Madalene went to visit her good friend Jane and discovered this Lord she kept butting heads with was Jane's brother! Oh and Baldwin's reaction that Madalene is friends with his sister!! I love those types of scenes--they're such fun.
I like that the author writes female characters that aren't the usual damsel in distress. They're headstrong and fairly capable. Usually that infuriates the male character to a degree which leads to clever banter and surprise on their part when they're suddenly attracted to each other. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this new series, as Laura Beers is one of my favorite Regency authors.
June 24, 2021
This is the first installment in the Regency Spies and Secrets series, and it is off to a fantastic start! If you like Regency novels and also enjoy some danger, excitement, and thrills, then this book is for you. This book introduces us to Madeleine and Baldwin. Madeleine has no need for a husband and values her independence and is very passionate about the orphanage that she runs. Baldwin, after having been thought dead by everyone, returns home after three years working for the Crown. He is on his last assignment before retiring, and doesn't need an inconvenient, meddling lady getting in the way of completing his mission. Madeleine's friend disappears, and as she sets out to find her, she crosses paths with Baldwin. He is initially annoyed with her, but eventually decides to help her. As mystery and intrigue surround them, they grow closer and the sparks were definitely flying. It was a lovely romance filled with excitement and suspense.
I've enjoyed many sweet Regency novels by Ms. Beers, so I was excited to try out this one. It was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
I was gifted a free copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I've enjoyed many sweet Regency novels by Ms. Beers, so I was excited to try out this one. It was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
I was gifted a free copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review.
August 31, 2022
This is the first book in this series. It was very exciting. It was part spy thriller, and part murder mystery. The heroine was very strong willed, titled and wealthy She was also smart, kind, and generous. The hero, and his younger brother are both spies for England. The oldest code named Falcon, is following a group of revolutionaries in France during the war. Their leader was killed, but his daughter was coming to England, so he finally comes back to his home as Viscount, and will find her, and finish his assignment. The two main characters do not get along at first. When her close friend disappears she turns to him. He just seems so competent. He agrees, but asks her to stay out of it. I really love the way this book flowed. Plus the intrigue was very good. It kept the pages turning. I liked her companion, and his family. The ending was just perfect, and I loved the epilogue. 5 stars.
August 1, 2021
Can't finish this. The characters are not appealing in the least. Baldwin disappears for 3 years when his father dies to spy. No word to his mother and sister who deal with the loss of their father and him. Madeline doesn't follow any of the rules of society on where she goes - alone. First she goes to a coffee house and then a gambling house -alone.
A person would have to be ignorant of the time period to enjoy this.
A person would have to be ignorant of the time period to enjoy this.
March 16, 2021
Beautiful heiress Madelene Dowding has finished the required six-month mourning period for her mother. Her focus is on the orphanage her mother had always wanted and ignoring the matchmaking mamas and their senseless sons. When her friend goes missing, Madelene sets out to find her, no matter the cost. Her path crosses that of the newly returned Marquis of Hawthorne, who has his own secrets. Will they ever see eye-to-eye or will the plot hanging over them end a romance before it has begun?
I've seen this author's books associated with some of my favorite authors, so I was excited for the chance to read this. The premise sounded fascinating: a young lady who ventures into the unsavory side of London in pursuit of the truth and a lard who spies for his country. There have been several spy-Regency books that have been marvelous reads.
Unfortunately, while the plot was interesting, it did not have the characters to pull it off. I was constantly confused at the actions of both main leads. Madelene confused me the most. She came across as spoiled because it was constantly pointed out that she could do as she pleased because she was a young, beautiful heiress. And she would just do that, with no regard for her reputation until it suited her to be concerned. (Also, why did she take up boxing? It is never explained how she became interested in this unusual pastime.)
They proclaimed Lord Hawthorne as a skilled spy who evaded the French on foreign soil. But in the entire course of this story, he has some rather idiotic plans and did not have the caution someone in his position must have needed. Lying well (And he doesn't even do this well) does not a spy make. When they are together, this pair mostly argue and insult each other until suddenly...they love each other.
I had the feeling both characters would do something just for the plot to happen. None of it had a natural flow, and they both had contradictory behavior. The dialogue was stilted and often used for exposition.
Overall, this just wasn't a book for me and I doubt I will continue with the series. I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
I've seen this author's books associated with some of my favorite authors, so I was excited for the chance to read this. The premise sounded fascinating: a young lady who ventures into the unsavory side of London in pursuit of the truth and a lard who spies for his country. There have been several spy-Regency books that have been marvelous reads.
Unfortunately, while the plot was interesting, it did not have the characters to pull it off. I was constantly confused at the actions of both main leads. Madelene confused me the most. She came across as spoiled because it was constantly pointed out that she could do as she pleased because she was a young, beautiful heiress. And she would just do that, with no regard for her reputation until it suited her to be concerned. (Also, why did she take up boxing? It is never explained how she became interested in this unusual pastime.)
They proclaimed Lord Hawthorne as a skilled spy who evaded the French on foreign soil. But in the entire course of this story, he has some rather idiotic plans and did not have the caution someone in his position must have needed. Lying well (And he doesn't even do this well) does not a spy make. When they are together, this pair mostly argue and insult each other until suddenly...they love each other.
I had the feeling both characters would do something just for the plot to happen. None of it had a natural flow, and they both had contradictory behavior. The dialogue was stilted and often used for exposition.
Overall, this just wasn't a book for me and I doubt I will continue with the series. I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
March 25, 2021
A Dangerous Pursuit by Laura Beers is a part of the Regency Spies and Secrets series which introduces us to Miss Madelene Dowding, a comely miss whose mother dies just six months ago and left her bereft. She lives with her companion, Mrs. Foster as she has reached her age of majority. Because of her mother she has started an orphanage for girls and while she doesn't work there she drops in often. The headmistress is Edith Hardy, a woman Madelene had known in school and doing a wonderful job. She is supporting her mother and sister and trying to pay off gambling debts left by her father. Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne is home for the first time in three years. Having been out of touch performing his duties for the crown, his family thought he was dead so they have welcomed him coldly. On his last case, he is visiting a coffee shop as he had heard revolutionaries were meeting there. What he saw was Miss Madelene Dowding: most unsuitable. Then he ran into her in a gambling den. He was concerned for her reputation and asked what she was doing there. She then told him how Miss Hardy had disappeared and she was looking there for her, assuming this was the man to whom the gambling debts of her father had been owed. It was at that point he decided to help her to find her friend.
Baldwin was not going to give in to his mother's' wishes and find a bride. He knew he would have no eventually, but not yet. He loved his work being a spy and was not yet ready to give it up. Madelene was a beautiful woman, but headstrong an opinionated. Exactly what he was not looking for, no matter what his mother and sister thought. They got embroiled in a mystery finding Miss Hardy, which fit hand in glove to the mystery he was working on for the crown. He nearly died, as did she, but she had never felt more alive than working with him. It was a good story, with heart-pounding moments. It was also a lovely romance, between two people for whom romance held no temptation until it was upon them. It was beyond charming, and I hope to see more of this series.
I was invited to read a free ARC of A Dangerous Pursuit by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. #netgalley #adangerouspursuit
Baldwin was not going to give in to his mother's' wishes and find a bride. He knew he would have no eventually, but not yet. He loved his work being a spy and was not yet ready to give it up. Madelene was a beautiful woman, but headstrong an opinionated. Exactly what he was not looking for, no matter what his mother and sister thought. They got embroiled in a mystery finding Miss Hardy, which fit hand in glove to the mystery he was working on for the crown. He nearly died, as did she, but she had never felt more alive than working with him. It was a good story, with heart-pounding moments. It was also a lovely romance, between two people for whom romance held no temptation until it was upon them. It was beyond charming, and I hope to see more of this series.
I was invited to read a free ARC of A Dangerous Pursuit by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. #netgalley #adangerouspursuit
March 30, 2021
The first book in the new series Regency Spies & Secrets was fun to read. The spy in this story is actually a Marquess who has been away form his home for three years spying on the French. When he discovers a plot involving a French spy on English soil, he finally returns home. Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is not the same man that left home three years ago after the unexpected death of his father. He has seen too much and it has made him hardened and also highly suspicious. As he has received permission from the Home Office to pursue the case and discover the spy- he keeps coming into contact with a young feisty woman in some unsavory places. He is beginning to suspect she is following him so when he finds her in his home, he treats her very harshly. Finding out she was his sister's friend from finishing school didn't have him treating her any better. He even begins to believe she may be the spy he is after.
Miss Madalene Dowding is still recovering from the death of her mother six months ago. She has opened an orphanage in her name to honor the memory of her mother. When the head of the orphanage goes missing, Madalene starts looking for her in some unsavory parts of London. She keeps coming into contact with a very rude intolerant Lord. Even after she finds out he is the older brother of her good friend Jane- she has nothing good to say about him.
This story has lots of intrigue as the mystery of the missing headmistress at the orphanage actually seems to overlap discovering who is behind the plot to cause a revolution. Baldwin may actually need the assistance of Madalene to help him infiltrate the group behind the plot. Along the way their feelings for each other may actually change from intense dislike into something much stronger.
I am looking forward to the next stories in this series hopefully with some of the other characters from this first book.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
Miss Madalene Dowding is still recovering from the death of her mother six months ago. She has opened an orphanage in her name to honor the memory of her mother. When the head of the orphanage goes missing, Madalene starts looking for her in some unsavory parts of London. She keeps coming into contact with a very rude intolerant Lord. Even after she finds out he is the older brother of her good friend Jane- she has nothing good to say about him.
This story has lots of intrigue as the mystery of the missing headmistress at the orphanage actually seems to overlap discovering who is behind the plot to cause a revolution. Baldwin may actually need the assistance of Madalene to help him infiltrate the group behind the plot. Along the way their feelings for each other may actually change from intense dislike into something much stronger.
I am looking forward to the next stories in this series hopefully with some of the other characters from this first book.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
April 14, 2021
This was a cute story, and as you’d probably guess from the cover, is a mystery, suspense, slow burn romance.
Madeline is a wealthy woman who plays by her own rules. She was such a refreshing character to read about. Usually it is the gentleman who is wealthy and dealing with society mothers trying to find their children a wealthy match. It was a funny twist to see Madeline trying to ward off unwanted suitors. But that is small element to the story. The main story is full of suspense. Kidnapping and spies and revolutions being thwarted, and at the center of it all, Baldwin.
I loved his character, he’s been gone undercover for the past three years. When his case brings him back home, he keeps running into Madeline as she is trying to find her kidnapped friend. Which ultimate leads him to helping her and a trust forms between them. It was cute seeing how their interactions changed throughout the story. From complete hostility to close friends. It was definitely a slow burn romance, but the ending is so sweet and you’ll finally get to see the romantic side of Baldwin.
If your looking for a suspenseful romance, give this one a try!
Content (will contain spoilers)
Sexual content:
-Women in low cut clothing, which would have been scandalous for the time.
-Leering looks from men, nothing too creepy.
-Some kissing
Language: none that I recall.
Violence: The book is about spies and a revolution.
-Guns, bombs, boxing, nothing all that descript.
-A plot to assassinate men of importance.
-Women are kidnapped with intent of being sold but are not physically harmed.
Madeline is a wealthy woman who plays by her own rules. She was such a refreshing character to read about. Usually it is the gentleman who is wealthy and dealing with society mothers trying to find their children a wealthy match. It was a funny twist to see Madeline trying to ward off unwanted suitors. But that is small element to the story. The main story is full of suspense. Kidnapping and spies and revolutions being thwarted, and at the center of it all, Baldwin.
I loved his character, he’s been gone undercover for the past three years. When his case brings him back home, he keeps running into Madeline as she is trying to find her kidnapped friend. Which ultimate leads him to helping her and a trust forms between them. It was cute seeing how their interactions changed throughout the story. From complete hostility to close friends. It was definitely a slow burn romance, but the ending is so sweet and you’ll finally get to see the romantic side of Baldwin.
If your looking for a suspenseful romance, give this one a try!
Content (will contain spoilers)
Sexual content:
-Women in low cut clothing, which would have been scandalous for the time.
-Leering looks from men, nothing too creepy.
-Some kissing
Language: none that I recall.
Violence: The book is about spies and a revolution.
-Guns, bombs, boxing, nothing all that descript.
-A plot to assassinate men of importance.
-Women are kidnapped with intent of being sold but are not physically harmed.
March 17, 2021
3.5 Stars
Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honour her mother’s legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavoury parts of London. Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquis of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. Despite mutual dislike, Baldwin agrees to help Madalene, but only if she stays far away from the investigation. A promise that Madalene has no intention of keeping.
The first in a new series & I found it to be enjoyable but whilst it is fiction I would have liked more historical accuracy. I liked both Madalene & Baldwin but felt I never got to know them & would have liked their characters to be more developed. I did enjoy their banter, which was the highlight of the book for me. The plot did have some inconsistencies but found they didn’t impede my enjoyment. So I have mixed feelings about it but would continue with the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honour her mother’s legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavoury parts of London. Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquis of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. Despite mutual dislike, Baldwin agrees to help Madalene, but only if she stays far away from the investigation. A promise that Madalene has no intention of keeping.
The first in a new series & I found it to be enjoyable but whilst it is fiction I would have liked more historical accuracy. I liked both Madalene & Baldwin but felt I never got to know them & would have liked their characters to be more developed. I did enjoy their banter, which was the highlight of the book for me. The plot did have some inconsistencies but found they didn’t impede my enjoyment. So I have mixed feelings about it but would continue with the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
March 17, 2021
4.25 stars
First novel by this author and I enjoyed it. Some of the language was not for the time period, nor was the h worried about her reputation. But the story line held my interest and I liked the banter between the H/h. So if you are a stickler for Regency Rules, you may have a problem with this at times.
Interesting secondary character's and I will be watching to see if they get their stories. This is a clean story with a few kisses.
This had suspense and intrigue. I figured out who two of the villains were right away but still liked the journey the author took me on to see them revealed.
I did have a problem near the end of the story when the h goes missing. The H goes to the orphanage and to find out info. Why didn't he check with the last person who was with the h and who divulged certain information? Not saying more so no spoiler's.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, some romance, clean and a cute epilogue 6 months in the future. I will be reading more by this author and did enjoy this story. (ljb)
First novel by this author and I enjoyed it. Some of the language was not for the time period, nor was the h worried about her reputation. But the story line held my interest and I liked the banter between the H/h. So if you are a stickler for Regency Rules, you may have a problem with this at times.
Interesting secondary character's and I will be watching to see if they get their stories. This is a clean story with a few kisses.
This had suspense and intrigue. I figured out who two of the villains were right away but still liked the journey the author took me on to see them revealed.
I did have a problem near the end of the story when the h goes missing. The H goes to the orphanage and to find out info. Why didn't he check with the last person who was with the h and who divulged certain information? Not saying more so no spoiler's.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, some romance, clean and a cute epilogue 6 months in the future. I will be reading more by this author and did enjoy this story. (ljb)
March 18, 2021
I enjoyed this intriguing Regency mystery as it kept my interest from beginning to end. Madalene is an independent and fairly self-sufficient young lady who has no need for marriage, let alone a husband. She is passionate about the orphanage that she opened in honour of her beloved mother and that takes all her concentration. Lord Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, on the other hand, has just arrived home after a prolonged absence serving the crown. When Madalene keeps on invading her territory, he becomes suspicious of her, and sparks fly. The romance in the book builds very slowly, but the mystery and the plot that had to be uncovered, keeps the reader enthralled. I enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to reading more by this author. The story is a standalone and comes to a successful conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
March 19, 2021
Miss Madalene Dowding is an heiress who would much rather spend her time at the orphanage she has opened than in society. She is still mourning the death of her mother and doesn't like all the matchmaking mama's trying to find a rich bride for their sons.
Baldwin Radcliffe, the Marquess of Hawthorne is an agent for the Crown and has just returned from three years undercover in France. Not being able to tell his family where he has been causes hurt feelings. Even though he is home he is still leading a double life.
This is an interesting historical romance filled with danger and intrigue. Our heroine is no spoiled miss just spending her money. She is brave and loyal and more than able to take care of herself and those she loves.
This is the first book of a series that I will definitely be reading more of.
Great fun.
Baldwin Radcliffe, the Marquess of Hawthorne is an agent for the Crown and has just returned from three years undercover in France. Not being able to tell his family where he has been causes hurt feelings. Even though he is home he is still leading a double life.
This is an interesting historical romance filled with danger and intrigue. Our heroine is no spoiled miss just spending her money. She is brave and loyal and more than able to take care of herself and those she loves.
This is the first book of a series that I will definitely be reading more of.
Great fun.
April 9, 2021
This was... something. I've said before how if I don't like the main characters of the book, I'd probably won't like the book and that's exactly what happened here.
Our heroine, like I get she's naive but... she was just plain dumb and irresponsible in her actions. I couldn't connect with her at all.
The hero is possibly one of the worst spies I've ever seen but that's not why I didn't liked him, I dislike him because Baldwin is a rude antisocial bully inconsiderate elitist sexist pig.
That mixed with the weird unrealistic plot and the sometimes too pompous and over dramatic dialogue it was too much for me.
This was a miss for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Our heroine, like I get she's naive but... she was just plain dumb and irresponsible in her actions. I couldn't connect with her at all.
The hero is possibly one of the worst spies I've ever seen but that's not why I didn't liked him, I dislike him because Baldwin is a rude antisocial bully inconsiderate elitist sexist pig.
That mixed with the weird unrealistic plot and the sometimes too pompous and over dramatic dialogue it was too much for me.
This was a miss for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2021
Not worth time
Early on I found myself utterly hating the hero. What he says and how he behaves is condescending and offensive. If anything, over time, nothing improves. The hero is an offensive ass. Moreover, the author’s storyline is more full of holes than Swiss cheese. It offends by relying on reader ignorance and demands the reader to ignore common sense. It is not emotionally or rationally rewarding. Skip this read.
Early on I found myself utterly hating the hero. What he says and how he behaves is condescending and offensive. If anything, over time, nothing improves. The hero is an offensive ass. Moreover, the author’s storyline is more full of holes than Swiss cheese. It offends by relying on reader ignorance and demands the reader to ignore common sense. It is not emotionally or rationally rewarding. Skip this read.
March 16, 2021
So good!
Another fantastic book by Laura Beers. Great characters, riveting plot and some romance along the way. A wonderful start to a series and I can’t wait for book 2!
Another fantastic book by Laura Beers. Great characters, riveting plot and some romance along the way. A wonderful start to a series and I can’t wait for book 2!
Want to read
March 16, 2021Eligible for a 2021 Swoony Award, to nominate/vote click here: https://tinyurl.com/y593ce67
October 28, 2025
Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is a secret spy. He has been gone for three years, serving on a secret project. Now that he is back in England, he meets one of his sister's closest friends, Madeline Dowding. He soon gets embroiled in the case of Madeline's missing headmistress.
Madeline asks him to help her find her missing headmistress (of the orphanage she has opened). Reluctantly, he agrees. He soon finds out about a scheme whereby men kidnap women from the London streets and sell them to a captain who sails away with them to India.
This story is not engaging. The elements are there, but there is no tension. Much of the dialogue between Madeline and Baldwin is trite and uninteresting. I wasn't convinced that they were really interested in each other enough to marry.
However, the final straw was when Baldwin decided to use Madeline as bait. I couldn't believe what a dope this author created. I've tried a few by this author and given her a chance to improve; I don't plan to read any more.
Regency Spies & Secrets – Total of 4
** 1. A Dangerous Pursuit (2021)
2. A Dangerous Game (2021)
Madeline asks him to help her find her missing headmistress (of the orphanage she has opened). Reluctantly, he agrees. He soon finds out about a scheme whereby men kidnap women from the London streets and sell them to a captain who sails away with them to India.
This story is not engaging. The elements are there, but there is no tension. Much of the dialogue between Madeline and Baldwin is trite and uninteresting. I wasn't convinced that they were really interested in each other enough to marry.
However, the final straw was when Baldwin decided to use Madeline as bait. I couldn't believe what a dope this author created. I've tried a few by this author and given her a chance to improve; I don't plan to read any more.
Regency Spies & Secrets – Total of 4
** 1. A Dangerous Pursuit (2021)
2. A Dangerous Game (2021)
March 21, 2021
After the death of her mother, Miss Madalene Dowding, decides to honour her mother’s legacy by funding an orphanage. When a teacher goes missing from the orphanage, she takes it upon herself to discover the woman’s whereabouts. In her search, she finds herself battling with Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, an agent of the Crown. In trying to find a French spy that is working with a group of radicals, Baldwin has no time for Madalene, yet he agrees to help her, so long as she stays out of his investigation. As their investigation gathers pace, they soon find that their initial intentions are difficult to stick to.
An enjoyable start to the series with two interesting characters. Both quite headstrong, I enjoyed their witty dialogue and found this the winning element. Whilst the plot didn’t always move at a fast-enough pace, I found the characters helped to overcome these inconsistencies.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
An enjoyable start to the series with two interesting characters. Both quite headstrong, I enjoyed their witty dialogue and found this the winning element. Whilst the plot didn’t always move at a fast-enough pace, I found the characters helped to overcome these inconsistencies.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 3, 2021
A good start to a new series. A Dangerous Pursuit is the story of Madelene, an heiress to a fortune. She has opened an Orphanage, in her late Mother’s memory. While in London, she learns her friend and headmistress of the orphanage, was missing. While she is trying to investigate what happened, she runs into an infuriating man, Baldwin, who turns out to be the Marquess of Hawthorne. Baldwin has just returned, after serving three years as a spy in France. He is on edge and trying to solve another case. He and Madelene continue to rub each other the wrong way, but he decides that he could help her find her friend. The adventure and mystery keep you attention throughout the story. This is a slow build romance, with a HEA in the end. I would rate it PG for espionage suspense, murder, hostage situations. Mild kisses, talk of being with women out of wedlock. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to the next book, maybe Jane or Oliver’s story??
January 19, 2025
I enjoyed this historical romance story with all the characters that were within this book. The main characters were Miss Madalene Dowding and Baldwin Radcliff.
Miss Madalene Dowding wants to honor her mother, so she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. Her mother has passed away. This is why she is doing this. When a teacher from the orphanage goes missing, she decides to find out what happened to the teacher. While she is looking, she meets a guy.
Baldwin Radcliff is the Marquess of Hawthorne. He has been away from his home. The case that he is working on has him returning home. It is the last mission before he retires. While working the case, he meets a young woman.
This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. There were a few giggles within. There is a bit of a mystery within. It was fun trying to guess.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Miss Madalene Dowding wants to honor her mother, so she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. Her mother has passed away. This is why she is doing this. When a teacher from the orphanage goes missing, she decides to find out what happened to the teacher. While she is looking, she meets a guy.
Baldwin Radcliff is the Marquess of Hawthorne. He has been away from his home. The case that he is working on has him returning home. It is the last mission before he retires. While working the case, he meets a young woman.
This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. There were a few giggles within. There is a bit of a mystery within. It was fun trying to guess.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
May 5, 2021
A great mix of spies, radicals, kidnappings and suspense
Madeline has recently been orphaned and left a very wealthy woman. With some of her wealth she establishes an orphanage for girls placing her friend from school, Edith, as headmistress. As she tries to get to the bottom of Edith’s disappearance, she continues to encounter Baldwin. Baldwin has recently returned to England after an unexplained absence of three years. Even his family are unaware of his activities as a spy during that time. Now he in search of radicals threatening England. But as he and Madeline continue to cross paths and irritate each other in the process, it begins to appear that they will need to work together for either to succeed. This is a wonderful mix of suspense, intrigue and danger, I highly recommend it.
Madeline has recently been orphaned and left a very wealthy woman. With some of her wealth she establishes an orphanage for girls placing her friend from school, Edith, as headmistress. As she tries to get to the bottom of Edith’s disappearance, she continues to encounter Baldwin. Baldwin has recently returned to England after an unexplained absence of three years. Even his family are unaware of his activities as a spy during that time. Now he in search of radicals threatening England. But as he and Madeline continue to cross paths and irritate each other in the process, it begins to appear that they will need to work together for either to succeed. This is a wonderful mix of suspense, intrigue and danger, I highly recommend it.
June 27, 2021
Something that Laura Beers does very well - writes defiant, independent, not-a-damsel in distress heroines. Madalene is no different. She is fierce and in a class by herself having the means to be independent. She runs an orphanage that will help the orphans develop the skills they need to work and support themselves.
Baldwin is an agent for the crown who was presumed dead. He has one last mission and needs to take his place in the House of Lords.
These two were a perfect powder keg that found themselves seeking the same things. The story was fraught with adventure and of course romance as only Laura Beers can do with a regency spy novel.
Her characters are complex and the story was good, though I admit to figuring things out before they did with the mystery and who the bad guys were. Even so that did not detract from the story.
Baldwin is an agent for the crown who was presumed dead. He has one last mission and needs to take his place in the House of Lords.
These two were a perfect powder keg that found themselves seeking the same things. The story was fraught with adventure and of course romance as only Laura Beers can do with a regency spy novel.
Her characters are complex and the story was good, though I admit to figuring things out before they did with the mystery and who the bad guys were. Even so that did not detract from the story.
March 24, 2021
The first in the series of Regency Spies and Secrets. We meet Miss Madalene Dowling, a young lady that has just lost her mother. In her memory, Madalene has opened an orphanage for young ladies, to give them a chance to have a better life. Education is a must and through her solicitor has hired a young woman to teach them French. Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is working his last case as agent of the crown. His plan after he retires is to join the House of Lords. We get a glimpse into the project of workhouses and the people that run them and handle the money. As the two of them meet, they form a mutual dislike, but find that they are helping each other even when they do not want too. I enjoyed the plot and found the situations they were in interesting.
April 24, 2021
Regency Spies and Secrets is the first book in the series. Miss Madalene Dowling is a young lady grieving for her mother. Madalene loved her mother so much and because her mother was a good woman she had opened an orphanage for young ladies in her mother's name, to give them a chance to have a better life. Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, returns home after being gone for three years, is working his last case as a spy for the crown. Baldwin finds Madalene in a coffee house which is not for young women of Madalene's station. He suspects she is spying on him and distrusts her on sight. Madelene is a strong willed young woman and it appears that Baldwin may have met his match.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
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