Evelyn Hadley-Attwater has it all ---a genteel Victorian life replete with loving husband, ball gowns and elegant parties. No one, including the man she married, suspects that she was once "Eve," a spy for England's most enigmatic inteliggence agency. Summoned for one final assignment, the excitement of her former life and memories of her mysterious, flirtatious boss "Sir" prove too tempting.My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander is an amusing, witty historical romance with lovely central and secondary characters. The main couple is happily married and very much in love with each other. Yet, their lives are also full of secrets that lead to misunderstandings, lack of trust, impulsive actions and hurt feelings.
Adrian Hadley-Attwater is a respectable, dignified gentleman. But even the most proper gentlemen have secrets of their own. Secrets from the rest of the world, from their families, from their wives. Secrets that have a price. Now, as a veil of secrecy frays, a tantalizing game of cat and mouse will test the bounds of unfailing love...
I enjoyed this book for the "game of love" that takes place between the two main characters. There's much to be said about the way in which Ms. Alexander made this story work by taking two married people who love each other deeply, and basically just need to reinforce that one very important truth to each other. The romance is also quite well integrated with the "spy" storyline, actually it can be said that one cannot be separated from the other. That is how well integrated it is. Very well done! And, the secondary characters in this story add sexual tension (as in the case of Max and Celeste), or family atmosphere (as in the extensive Hadley-Attwater family), without taking the focus away from the main couple.
Was this book a perfect read for me? No. There are a few niggles here and there, the pace slows down somewhat through the middle of the story, and there's some question about lack of sexual tension between the two main characters. However overall, this is a solid book that I recommend as a delightful historical romance read.
Category: Historical Romance
Series: Sinful Family Secrets #2
Publisher/Release Date: Zebra
Source: Kensington Books
Grade: B
Visit Victoria Alexander here.
Buddy Review at Breezing Through:
I'm doing something different this time! I posted a Mini above, but if you would like to read my complete thoughts on My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander, please head over to Breezing Through where I was invited to do a buddy review with the lovely Nath!
Sounds like an interesting premise. I don't think I've ever read Alexander so I'll have to look into this one. Thanks for the great mini, Hilcia!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good, I think it's time I give this author a chance because I always love the sound of her books but I never check them out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review.
I read the buddy review--I felt like I was sitting with you and nath over coffee, listening to you discuss the book! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm adding this one to my list. I like the idea of a story about a married couple! Because yet again ... we KNOW romance doesn't end after marriage! :D
Thanks for joining me in this buddy review, hils! I'm so happy you read and enjoyed My Wicked Little Lies!! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Tracy, it's a actually a kind of fresh premise. A happy married couple as the central characters in a romance. I hope you do give it a chance.
ReplyDeleteChristine, I'm so glad you enjoyed our buddy review! We love to chat and chat about a book. lol! And, I think YOU will really like this book... and again I definitely agree with your statement. ;P
Nath, thank you for inviting me! I had a wonderful time. It says something about how much we both enjoyed this book that this was the fastest review we've ever done together, lol!
Alex, I missed answering tor comment!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Alexander, I also need to read more books by her. This looks like a good series and I'm going to follow through by reading it.