Dangerous Deceptions (Palace of Spies #2)

Dangerous Deceptions

by Sarah Zettel

Edition: Kindle, 2014

Synopsis: As a lady in waiting in King George’s London court, Peggy has survived a forced betrothal, royal scandals, and an attempt or two on her life. And now she has a new problem: her horrible fiancé has returned to claim her! To save her neck, or at least her hand in marriage, Peggy joins forces with her cousin Olivia and her sweetheart, Matthew. But if she doesn’t play her cards right, her career as courtier and spy might come to an end at the bottom of the river Thames . . . 

Peggy Fitzroy has taken her place as a lady in waiting, this time under her own name. However, everything she endured before is nothing to the trouble that now awaits her. Her betrothed has returned to claim her, there are rumors of another Jacobite plot, her fellow ladies in waiting are plotting, and she still is unsure where her father is.

This book had a lot packed into it. Our rather reluctant spy is not taking well to the fashion of the time and as a lady in waiting she has to be seen at her best. (While I did find her complaints about corsets of the time being so terrible, I did appreciate that there is a part where said corset provided some protection.) She has a few tentative allies and more enemies than she can keep track.

While I do admit that Peggy is clever and resourceful, I do think she is a terrible spy. She’s learned some tricks since the first book but she flounders under the weight of everything she is dealing with.

Still, it was enjoyable so I round my 3.5 up to a four. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light-hearted historical adventure.