Above painting: Louis Jean Francois - Mars and Venus an Allegory of Peace

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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Guest Historical Romance Review: My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander

Thank you so much to Kira Decker, who has done a guest review for us! 


My Wicked Little Lies (Sinful Family Secrets) by Victoria Alexander

About the Book:


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 intelligence agency. Summoned for one final assignment, the excitement of her former life and memories of her mysterious, flirtatious boss "Sir" prove too tempting. . .

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. . .

Available in Ebook and Paperback
ISBN: 978-1420117066
Zebra Books

My Review:


I have to admit, this book surprised me. I loved the premise that the two main characters were already married instead of the typical storyline of getting to that result.

Although the plot is lacking depth in some places, the characters themselves are delightful. Evelyn is a feisty young woman who has left the adventurous life of a spy behind for the quiet safety of marriage. Having been married for two years the heroine, Evelyn Hadley-Attwater, finds herself drawn back into her past life as a spy. A past she has never quite figured out how to explain to her prim and proper husband, Adrian, an Earl in London’s high society.

Adrian, truly in love with his wife, also has a past about which he neglected to inform his wife. His fears that Evelyn may not love him as much as he thought, lead him to develop outrageous schemes to determine whom she really does love. Him or his alter ego, Sir. Adrian shows how sometimes, love can make a fool out of you even after you are married.

The story transported me into London’s high society in the late 1800s and the not so proper goings-on between the privileged upper class. In an almost keystone cop like series of miscues, the twists and turns kept me entertained. Even though the events were predictable in many places, the comedic miscommunications made the adventure enjoyable and I found myself wondering just how the characters would extradite themselves from the problems of their own crafting. The secondary characters, especially Beryl, added to the comedy and the side romance of the sidekick characters Max and Celeste, was a nice contrast to the relationship of Evelyn and Adrian. I chuckled at the absurdity of situations that could have been avoided with simple communications. Marriage is often like that and Ms. Alexander captured that beautifully.

An enjoyable read with a fresh twist on the normal romantic story.


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