Reviewer: Tracy Lost to a Spy (All the Queen's Spies #3) by Sharon Cullen
Series: All the Queen's Spies #3
Also in this series: Wed to a Spy, Bound to a Spy
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: March 13th 2018
Format: eARC
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 222
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Series Rating:
Ladies in waiting can’t help noticing more than they let on. After so many years at the court of Mary, Queen of Scots, Emma Howard sees quite plainly that the royal couple is anything but happy. Reeling from a failed marriage herself, Emma sympathizes with her beloved queen. But the last thing she wants is for the king to be murdered, let alone to witness the shocking act herself. With her whole world turned upside-down, Emma is saved by the quick thinking of a lowly printer . . . who, unbeknownst to her, is one of England’s most daring spies.
At Queen Elizabeth’s behest, Tristan has been stirring discontent against the Scottish nobility. Now that the king is dead, his mission is even more critical. There’s only one complication: the exquisite courtier who’s unexpectedly fallen under Tristan’s protection. Emma rouses his body and his soul. But after she learns that he’s a traitor, the fate of two nations hangs on her response. Tristan’s prepared to risk his life in exchange for hers. Will Emma do the same for the man she’s come to love?
Emma Hamilton lives at Holyrood Palace and is close with Mary, Queen of Scots. She feels safe there and Mary has been kind to her since her Emma’s evil husband died. She’s a Scot through and through and doesn’t plan on leaving the palace any time soon.
One night while walking home from dinner she witnesses what might be a murder but before she can think too long on it, there’s an explosion and Emma is knocked unconscious. The sound rouses the Edinburgh residents from their homes, including printer Tristan Fitzherbert. He finds Emma and takes her back to his home above the print shop to nurse her back to health. He did this as he could tell she was nobility by how she was dressed and feared that she would be arrested when she was found as she was so close to the explosion site.
Emma fears all men after her husband treated her so badly during their marriage. She’s frightened when she wakes up in a strange place but Tristan puts her at ease and soon she’s enjoying spending time with him. As the explosion killed the King consort, Lord Darnley, they talk a lot about that and Emma tries to sort out what she saw that night. Tristan, for his part tries to get Emma to see that the Queen’s right-hand man, Bothwell, is most likely responsible for the death. The more he talks, the more she sees things might not be as safe in Holyrood Palace as she thought. In just a few days she starts to have feelings for Tristan and he for her. Emma’s a smart girl, however, and soon figures out that Tristan isn’t necessarily who he says he is – a lowly printer. More like an agent for Queen Elizabeth of England. She fears for his safety when she hears about printers being gathered up and questioned for printing seditious placards but what can a woman do to help the man she loves?
This was another wonderfully intriguing book by Sharon Cullen. I’m just loving this series so far and this book was no different.
Emma and Tristan were farther apart in station then I think the previous couples in the series were so that made it a bit more interesting for me. They were so cute together! The main part of the story takes place in the span of about 2 weeks which is a short time to fall in love, but I guess when you know, you know. The pair just clicked from the first and of course Tristan’s protectiveness kicked in when Emma was hurt.
I’ve loved reading about all of the intrigue throughout this series. When I first started I didn’t know much history about Mary, Queen of Scots but I’ve done a little reading up on her since then and I think Cullen has kept pretty closely with the actual events in history, taking just a little license with it all.
If you haven’t read any of the books in this series I definitely recommend them.
All the Queen’s Spies Series
Rating: 4 out of 5
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