This is the first book in Garwood's Crown Spies series that focuses on the men (and in a few cases, women) that worked for British Intelligence in the late early 1800's.
Alexander Michael Phillips, the Marquess of Lyonswood ("Lyon" to those who know him), is retiring from working for the government after many years of service to the crown. He is also never getting married again after losing his wife and child in childbirth... not so much because he mourns their loss, but more so because the child was not his: it was his brother's; thus, he has serious trust issues when it comes to the fairer sex. Yet here he is out at a society function for the first time in a very long time as escort to his younger sister who is having her first season when he hears of an interesting new arrival: "Princess Christina." Little is known about her background except that she is the daughter of a gentleman, and she was not raised in England as her history only goes back two months' time to when she arrived to live with her aunt. A good mystery has always intrigued Lyon, and though he has given intelligence gathering up the official capacity, his curiosity gets the better of him, especially when he meets her and sees that she is not only the most beautiful woman he has ever seen but is also very different from any lady he has ever known.
Until very recently, Christina lived with a Native American tribe and was raised as one of them, though her tribal parents hired a tutor for her to learn "white language" and mannerisms as they knew eventually she would need to return to England to assume her position among the other young ladies of her ilk. As the story unfolds, the reader gets pieces of a journal Christina's mother wrote before she passed away, and the story of how she ended up in the Dakotas with the tribe is revealed. Christina must return to claim her heritage or it will default to her father, a man she knows from her mother's entries to be ruthless and cruel; thus, she refuses to allow that to happen. To ensure it does not, Christina must marry before her 19th birthday which is only a few weeks away. She plans to be married "temporarily" as she wishes most to return to where she considers her home to be: with her tribe, but once she meets Lyon, she cannot deny that spending more time with him holds quite a bit of appeal.
The more (or less) Lyon learns about Christina, the more he is intrigued - who is this woman and where did she come from? Her mannerisms and misuse of the English language amuse him, and her passion sets him on fire. As much as he swore to never give his heart to a woman again, he cannot help but fall in love with Christina. But can Lyon convince her to stay with him? And what will happen when her life is in danger?
What I liked:
--- The banter between the mcs is fun and funny - Christina's "oddities" make her all the more likeable as the h of the story (one of my favorite parts is when Lyon is observing his very nervous fiancee out on the lawn with the other ladies from a window where his friend asks which one she is... his response: "the one eating the shrubbery"
--- Lyon is the damaged alpha male you just can't help but swoon over
--- Very fast-moving plot with numerous moving pieces (but not too many to confuse things)
--- STEAMY goodness!
What I didn't like as much:
--- A couple inconsistencies ... for example, James was the oldest brother, yet while he was alive, Lyon was known as Lyon/Marquess of Lyonswood - that shouldn't have been the case if he was the 2nd son and/or his title should have changed when James died
--- I wish that Diana (Lyon's younger sister) and his friend got their own story - they were fun characters that could have been explored much more
--- Lyon's mother was more an annoying plot point than anything else and didn't really lend much to the story
Overall, a signature Garwood story with all the elements I enjoy: likeable characters, mystery/intrigue/danger, quick moving story line, steamy goodness galore, and a satisfying HEA!
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
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