Reviewed by Francine:
All in all, the premise of this Georgian novel tells
the story, to a point, but there is an underlying thread from the previous book
that is long in the coming of its reveal. The prologue provides a modicum of
the previous book, whilst the why of it remains a mystery throughout Moonstone Conspiracy. Nonetheless, the
book admirably stands alone as a thrilling and fast-paced “second chance” romantic
adventure. As a sequel to Moonstone
Obsession, and not having read the former I could liken Lady Abigail to Becky Sharp, the reckless heroine from Vanity Fair (Regency era) and I did
surmise Abigail as fairly self-obsessed with little or no conscience when
anything or anybody stood in her way to that of which she desired in the
previous book.
Abigail indeed leads an existence verging on
the dangerous regardless of her parents, regardless of men who fall by the
wayside or wisely look elsewhere for a wife. Equally the backdrop to the story involves
the French Revolution, not least the “Elusive Scarlet Pimpernel” who enters
centre stage here and there, and the hero, Daniel Ridgeway, is no lesser a spy
and man of action than the former. Thus Abigail meets her match in Daniel, and
the Pimpernel’s ruthless streak perhaps in part brings Abigail to her senses,
that one has to give a little if one wishes to get away with the ultimate prize
and win the day!
The Book’s Premise:
Revolution in France, rebels in England, and
one woman caught in the crossfire...The powerful sequel to Moonstone
Obsession
For her unwitting participation in a plot to
embezzle the Exchequer, Lady Abigail Houghall has spent the last two years
exiled to the city of Bath. A card sharp, sometime mistress, and target of
scandalous gossip by the London Beau Monde, Lady Abigail plots to escape her
gilded cage as well as the prudish society that condemns her. But the times are
not easy. France is in chaos, the King has been executed, and whispers of a
similar revolution are stirring in England. And because of Abigail’s
participation in the robbery plot, the Spymaster of England is blackmailing her
into passing him information about the members of London’s upper crust.
When dashing English spy Daniel Ridgeway takes
a seat at her card table and threatens to expose her for cheating, Abigail has
no choice but to do as he demands: seduce the leader of the revolutionaries and
learn what she can about their plot. As she’s drawn deeper into Daniel’s
dangerous world—from the seedy backstreets of London to the claustrophobic
catacombs of a war-torn Paris—she realizes an even more dangerous fact: she’s
falling in love with her seductive partner. And the stakes of this game might
just be too high—even for her.
