Review:
I can’t resist new or debut authors. It makes me so happy when a book by a new author captures my imagination. As such, I rarely turn down the opportunity to read debut books – even if I’m not entirely sure about the premise. Historical romances with a spy-theme seem rather ubiquitous. I often wonder what Napoleon would think if he knew he would live in infamy as the scourge of Regency romances. Anyway, I decided to read Tracey Devlyn’s debut, “A Lady’s Revenge,” and I am eternally grateful that I did. Devlyn offers a unique twist the hero-as-tortured-spy theme with a hard-hitting and emotional romance that makes me believe this author is here to stay.

Guy and Ethan are on a mission to France to rescue a fellow, female spy known as the Raven. When they infiltrate the place where she is being held, they interrupt a ghastly torture scene. While Guy believes that the person being tortured is a slender male, and not his target, he cannot leave the poor man to his torture. He is stunned to learn that the man is actually Cora deBeau, a woman he knows very well. Guy grew up close to the deBeaus and is devastated to learn about Cora’s situation. Things get even worse for Guy when he learns how Cora came to be involved in the investigation that got her captured.

The fact that Cora is spy, one who is brutally tortured made this romance very different for me. Then there is the fact that Cora is a highly important and legendary spy who has sacrificed so much for her country. In fact, Cora got close to the man on whom she was spying by becoming his lover. For Cora, this was all part of her lifelong quest to avenge her parents’ murder.

Guy is determined to protect Cora and to give her a chance to heal from her ordeal. There are definitely tender feelings between the two, feelings that Guy has tried to deny for years because of his own work as a spy. After almost losing her, Guy is not willing to let her slip through his fingers again.

This story is quite dark and angsty, especially for a historical romance – and this might be one of the reasons I found it to be such a refreshingly different read. Cora is a very strong and determined woman. She made a choice to become a spy and find those responsible for her parents’ deaths, despite the fact that she believed this choice would render her unmarriageable. But Guy won’t let her be alone, and I love him for this.

“A Lady’s Revenge” is an impressive story that turns the well-used spy trope in historical romance on its ear. While I did get a bit tired of the way that the bad guy kept turning up – and with the ease with which he kept getting to the heroine, this tale kept me glued to my ereader. The heat between Guy and Cora made me a firm believer in their romance. Tracey Devlyn’s debut is a winner, and she very nicely introduces the characters in her upcoming books. I’m hooked – and I will follow where Devlyn goes next.

Buy this book from Amazon now!
Author Link:  http://traceydevlyn.com/
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Book Disclosure: An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley