Series: King's Elite (Book 2)
Imprisoned by her past
Set free by her enemy!
Charged with high treason, Lady Jessamine Fane's under
the watchful eye of icily calm Lord Peter Flint. A task this spy won't be
swayed from, no matter how alluring his prisoner! Only, it's not long before
Flint realizes tenacious Jess hides a lifetime of pain. With so much at stake,
can he afford to take a chance on their powerful attraction?
This was an excellent enemies-to-lovers story. It is the
second book in the King's Elite series, where the members of the Crown's spy
agency have been trying to shut down a French spy/smuggling ring that has members
in the highest echelons of British society. Though each book can be read as a
standalone, they are better read in order as each one builds on the previous
ones.
In this book, Lord Peter Flint is tasked with escorting Lady
Jessamine back to England to stand trial for treason. He is well-known for his
cool, calm devotion to duty, and he is determined to deliver her safely to
London. However, Jess does not make it easy for him. She is feisty, brave, and
determined to escape from his custody. The opening salvos in their battle are
impressive and set the stage for an interesting battle of wills.
I loved both Peter and Jess. There is more to each of
them than the other realizes, and their voyage of discovery was a delight to
read. Peter's devotion to duty runs bone-deep as he follows in his father's
footsteps as a member of the King's Elite. As a young agent, he made a mistake
with a female prisoner that had a lasting effect on him; he will not trust
anything that Jess says to him. He is also a gentleman who has five older
sisters, and his protectiveness for the female of the species cannot be denied.
Jess is an amazing young woman. Torn from her home in England when her French
mother ran away with her lover, Saint-Aubin, Jess was subjected to unthinkable
neglect and cruel abuse. After her mother's death, Jess was forced to help him
with his smuggling/espionage ring. More clever than Saint-Aubin realized, Jess
found a way to betray him. She is determined to free herself from both the
English and Saint-Aubin and live life on her own terms.
The relationship between Jess and Peter was
confrontational at the beginning. I had to laugh at the sight of her pelting
him with bread as she screamed French insults at him. In spite of that, Peter defends
her right to be treated humanely, something that ends up biting him in the butt
when it gives her the chance to escape - twice. Though frustrated by her
actions, he can't help but be impressed by her cunning and determination. By
the time he catches up with her the second time, he has to redo his entire plan
for getting her to London while using her as bait to draw out both the French
and the English traitors who want her back in their hands or dead. It isn't too
long before the sparks of confrontation turn into the sparks of attraction, but
both are reluctant to lower their guards. I liked seeing the trust slowly grow
between them as they try to keep Jess safe from Saint-Aubin. As their trust grew,
so did their love for each other. But until Jess is proved innocent of the
charges against her, there is no way that they can be together.
The suspense of the story was fantastic. I was glued to
the pages from start to finish. With all evidence pointing toward Jess's guilt,
Peter was determined to get her to London to stand trial while at the same time
laying a trap to catch those in charge of the operation. Jess's attitude did
nothing to change his mind. But as more of Jess's past was revealed, it became
clear that there was more to the story than he knew. Peter is wary of trusting
what Jess says, and Jess is unwilling to share everything in an attempt to
protect herself. It isn't until she spots Saint-Aubin himself that she
confesses all to Peter. As the depth of her knowledge becomes clear, the need
to protect her intensifies. As all the players converged on Peter's home in
Cornwall, the tension was palpable. There was a terrific scene with Peter,
Jess, and Lord Hadleigh as Peter finally convinced Hadleigh of Jess's
innocence. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as treachery nearly won the
day, though of course, the good guys prevailed.
The secondary characters were terrific also. Lord Gray
has some great moments as he provides backup for Peter. He is also outspoken in
his dismay over some of his friends' romances. This makes me especially eager
to read his story and see how Cupid's arrow brings him down. Peter's mother was
one of my favorites. Her outspoken attitude regarding any hint of
"tomfoolery" made me laugh, even as it frustrated and embarrassed
Peter. I also loved her pragmatic attitude toward what was happening, having
had years of experience with Peter's father and his activities. I especially
loved her acceptance of Jess and the way she pulled Jess into the family
circle. Though he was only doing his job, there were moments when I detested
Lord Hadleigh's attitude toward Jess. I loved seeing his eyes get opened to the
truth and the effect it had on him.
My only problem with this book, as with the first one, is
one of the author's writing quirks. I'm told it is a British thing, though I
haven't come across it in any other British author I've read. Phrases such as
"she was stood" or "Jess found herself sat" instead of "she
stood" or "she found herself sitting" tended to pull me out of
the story because they sound wrong to this American reader. I expect I will get
used to them the more I read from this author, but it's hard going right now.
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