The Earl of Morrey by Lauren Smith – a Review

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Description:
Letty Fordyce knows three things about her future husband:

Lord Morrey is a dangerous man.

He frightens her.

She desires him.

Adam Beaumont, the Earl of Morrey, is full of dark secrets. His brooding and mysterious allure draw women to him like moths to a flame. But he fears he can never marry, not when his secret life is full of constant danger.

Letty doesn’t want to be like other women, she wants a life for herself and a happy marriage to a respectable man, not someone with secrets like Lord Morrey.  Yet from the moment she meets the charming rogue and he steals a kiss, she can’t think of anyone else. 

When a night of terror sends her into Adam’s arms, she’ll be forced to choose between the life she thought she wanted and the man she’s falling in love with.

Review:

Author Lauren Smith has penned another wickedly exciting historical romance. This one is not only romantic but is also an intriguing tale of espionage and danger.

Adam Beaumont is the Earl of Morrey and a member of the Court of Shadows, the King’s elite spy organization. He is a man whose job was to end any threat to the Crown. An agent of His Majesty who worked to keep the monarchy safe, as well as to protect the kingdom from foreign threats. He did this to atone for not being able to save his friend John Wilhelm, who was also a spy and killed in the service. Adam wanted revenge for his friend’s life.

The story begins with Adam attending a ball, where he was to protect an agent of the King. He watched as Lady Edwards left the ballroom and he began to follow, believing her to be in grave danger. However, the woman he thought was a French agent, was the younger sister of his friend James Fordyce, the Earl of Pembroke. She was merely helping Lady Edwards repair some damage to her hair do. Adam had noticed her for a long time and truly desired her. While they were trying to sort out what was happening, Adam noticed a pistol barrel aimed at them from the doorway. He grabbed both ladies and pulled them to the floor as the pistol fired.

In the aftermath of the firing the assailant got away. Adam told Lady Edwards a crowd would be coming to see what the noise was, and they couldn’t be seen together. Lady Edwards left by the window and into the gardens, leaving Adam alone in a retiring room with Lady Leticia Fordyce. He apologized to Lady Leticia for what he was about to do. He pulled her to him and kissed her, just as many men opened the door and walked in, one of them her brother.

Adam told James what happened, after the other men left. However, he also told James that he thought he would have to marry Leticia to protect her from not only scandal, but that the other spy had seen her and would think she was connected to the spy organization. He was the only one that could protect her…

And the game is afoot! This marvelous page turner begins with a bang and doesn’t stop until the end. I try not to do spoilers, so this is just the general gist of the beginning and now I can tell you what I found so enthralling.

The action, both dangerous and the romantic kind is well done. The conversations are natural and well-written. There’s a bit of humor in the poor girl marrying a man she hardly knows. Yet she’s actually quite brave, under the circumstances. They do fall truly in love during all the ensuing antics. I’d love to be more specific, but oh how I love to let people read the story themselves and discover all the marvelous adventures. And the adventures are plentiful!

Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and settle in for a wonderful read. My kudos to author Lauren Smith on another wonderful book.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy supplied for Review