Reviewed by Francine:
This is a lovely and rather unusual
tale of a woman who has few choices in life, and while Aster Tanner prefers
honest pay for honest work she is well aware of the life that may have become
her lot had she taken another path to monetary gain. Set prior to Napoleon’s
first defeat and exile to the Island of Elba, English agents of the crown are engaged
in spying missions behind enemy lines
Aster is a familiar sight on the streets of Regency
England and always accompanied by her little dog, and to the casual eye she
would never pass muster as an enemy agent. But Captain Mcintyre, of the Second
Dragoons, views her position as secretary-cum-aide to a cryptographer as not
only unusual, but downright dangerous. Her femininity is distracting and
somewhat enticing, and what in the devil is a woman doing working for a
cryptographer who poses as a mere army supply officer? Mcintyre sets out to
unravel the mystery of Aster, and duly expects to unveil an enemy agent with a
little romancing. Then comes the dreadful news of a murder, the threat of
kidnap, and suddenly Mcintyre’s heart is at odds with his head. When Aster goes
missing can a little dog then save the day, unravel a greater mystery, and
prevent Mcintyre from losing his credibility as a true hero? Ah well, buy the
book and find out. Beware though: from
the outset this novel reads in the vein of a Traditional Regency with a sweet
flavour, but it does have sensual love scenes.
