True Spies

Lady Elinor, ignored and neglected by her husband for over a decade, has had enough. She’s come to crave excitement, which she finds in a flirtation with a supposed spy. Unbeknownst to her, her husband is an actual spy, and considering retirement. When an enemy discovers their identities, adventure ensues. Paying homage to the movie True Lies, Galen (Lord and Lady Spy) brings real creativity and verve to the challenge of transforming the story into a Regency romance. Her Elinor is a resourceful and lively heroine, and as the dastardly Foncé closes in and Elinor is dragged into the plot, she acquits herself admirably. Baron Keating is believably smart enough to be a spy, but too obliviously self-centered to bother telling his wife. Galen’s action scenes are exciting yet never too dark. Her choice of period details adds an extra layer of humor to the action: the Prince Regent, for example, may be assassinated at Lady Hollingshead’s garden party! This lighthearted, fast-paced cloak and dagger romp will amuse even the most discerning Regency reader. Agent: Joanna MacKenzie, Browne & Miller Literary Associates. (Sept.)