Slightly Sinful / Mary Balogh 271 p.

Slightly Sinful / Mary Balogh 271 p.

Alleyne Bedwyn is a military courier serving at the Battle of Waterloo when he is thrown from his horse and left for dead.  When he awakes in a brothel, he thinks he is in heaven.  Though he has lost his memory, his mind works find.  Rachel convinces him that she only plays the innocent.  She is filled with despair as her ex-fiance and minister has absconded with the brothel residents entire life savings.  They are filled with revenge.  The group only waits for Alleyne and his one-eyed Sergeant to heal.   When Alleyne as Jonathan agrees to play Rachel's husband so that she can get her inheritance, the plot becomes more twisted as she feels more and more unwilling to play this plot out against her uncle for who she comes to care.

Beyond the sunrise / Mary Balogh 384 p.

Beyond the sunrise / Mary Balogh 384 p.

Jeanne Morisette and Robert Blake went through the throes of first love when she was 15 and he, 17.  Her father forbids the romance when Robert's illegitimacy is discovered.  Her final words were so harsh, he joins the military.   During the Napoleonic Wars he rises through the ranks to become a captain.  They meet again when both are spies; and neither knows the other's role; and she doesn't even recognize him.  Even the lies they must tell each other doesn't keep a romance from slowly flourishing.  She especially plays her spy cards close to her chest.  Robert doesn't have a clue as to her real role.  He captures her when he breaks out of a French prison.  Dragging her back to the British lines as a French spy gives them ample opportunity to explore their budding romance.  Interwoven into the romance is the fascinating description of Wellington's masterful defense of Lisbon by using a series of forts, built in secrecy, the Lines of Torres Vedras.

Web of Love / Mary Balogh 420 p.

Mary Balogh in the Web of Love tackles the subject of how guilt and grief can turn to love in this second in the Amberley family series where a young woman loses her beloved husband at the Battle for Waterloo and finds herself caring for his badly wounded best friend, Lord Dominic Eden.

Balogh richly describes the pre-battle social life in Brussels as the Duke of Wellington prepares for the final battle with Napoleon.  She shows the seamier side of war, the horrific carnage of war, and the medical care of the time.  She presents a warm story of love between Ellen and her husband as well as a very believable new love developing. This work is steamy, amusing, upbeat, strong sense of place

Similar reads include works by Amanda Quick, Mary Jo Putney, and Julia Quinn.

LORD AND LADY SPY / Shana Galen / 378 Pages - First in a Series

Galen provides a fun romp about a husband and wife who haven been keeping secrets from each other for years. It is 1815 and England has just defeated Bonaparte and won the war.

Lady Sophia Smythe is Saint, a daring English spy, who has worked for the Barbican group most of her adult life. Her husband, Lord Adrian, is rather boring and spends all his time away from home so never misses or suspects her other activities.

Adrian Galloway, Lord Smythe, also works for the Barbican group as Wolf one of their most successful agents. He has a beautiful, young wife at home but she always seems to be more interested in her charities than in him.

Now that the war is over their services as spies is no longer required and they have both been retired and sent back home. What will they do now that they have all this time to spend with each other? Can they leave the thrilling life of a spy behind them and more important, can they rediscover the attraction they once had when  first married?

Princess in Love / Julianne MacLean / 339 pgs.

Princess Rose has always had a crush on Leopold Hunt, Marquess of Cavanaugh; but he was secretly engaged to another and could not return her affections.  Now that Rose is about to enter a political marriage with Archduke Joseph to unite two kingdoms, Leo's engagement is broken and he is now free to pursue Rose.  Now having to choose between two suitors and decide between love or duty; Rose thinks she's made her choice when a plot is uncovered and Leo is accused of attempting to murder and overthrow the King (Rose's beloved brother).  Is Leo innocent or is he just using Rose?  Will she stand by Leo or just throw him to the wolves (which is what I was rooting for)?

Entertaining, not predictable, and not overly sappy.  All of the male characters major and minor, in the book were sweet, kind and understanding; I had a few *sigh* and *awww* moments at how loyal and dedicated they were to their ladies.