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Gentlemen of London #1
A Treacherous Engagement
He was only supposed to find her sister. Falling in love wasn’t part of the agreement.
Miss Dinah Ashmore has a problem. Her sister has gone missing, and the constable isn’t taking it seriously. She decides to take matters into her own hands by hiring a Bow Street Runner, not understanding the danger she has put herself in.
Nathaniel Calvert, Earl of Hawthorne, is an agent of the Crown. His assignment is to root out a radical group and bring them to justice. When Miss Ashmore mistakes him as a Bow Street Runner and explains her plight, he suspects that the missing sister might be connected to his case.
As Nathaniel works to stop the threat on the Crown, he realizes that Dinah isn’t content with just being brushed aside. She is determined to be part of the effort to bring her sister home, no matter what the costs are. When Dinah’s actions cause her life to be threatened, Nathaniel must keep her safe as he attempts to ignore their growing attraction. And when the truth is finally revealed, will Dinah be able to accept Nathaniel’s lies and trust that love will conquer all?
As the first novel in a new series by author Laura Beers, A Treacherous Engagement begins the Gentlemen of London series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era. All books in this series have their own Happily-Ever-After and are best enjoyed in proper order.
Miss Dinah Ashmore has a problem. Her sister has gone missing, and the constable isn’t taking it seriously. She decides to take matters into her own hands by hiring a Bow Street Runner, not understanding the danger she has put herself in.
Nathaniel Calvert, Earl of Hawthorne, is an agent of the Crown. His assignment is to root out a radical group and bring them to justice. When Miss Ashmore mistakes him as a Bow Street Runner and explains her plight, he suspects that the missing sister might be connected to his case.
As Nathaniel works to stop the threat on the Crown, he realizes that Dinah isn’t content with just being brushed aside. She is determined to be part of the effort to bring her sister home, no matter what the costs are. When Dinah’s actions cause her life to be threatened, Nathaniel must keep her safe as he attempts to ignore their growing attraction. And when the truth is finally revealed, will Dinah be able to accept Nathaniel’s lies and trust that love will conquer all?
As the first novel in a new series by author Laura Beers, A Treacherous Engagement begins the Gentlemen of London series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era. All books in this series have their own Happily-Ever-After and are best enjoyed in proper order.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2022
906 people are currently reading
2078 people want to read
About the author
Laura Beers
77 books497 followersLaura Beers is an award-winning author. She attended Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. She can't sing, doesn't dance and loves naps.
Laura lives in Utah with her husband, three kids, and her dysfunctional dog. When not writing regency romance, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr Pepper.
You can connect with Laura on Facebook, Instagram, or on her site at www.authorlaurabeers.com.
Laura lives in Utah with her husband, three kids, and her dysfunctional dog. When not writing regency romance, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr Pepper.
You can connect with Laura on Facebook, Instagram, or on her site at www.authorlaurabeers.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
November 7, 2023
1 star
Oh what a drag to finish this one! Pure painful torture. I am sorry to say that this book was just bland and badly written. All characters were wooden, talking in wooden dialogues and the plot was underdevelopped with so much contrivedness it hurt my eyes. There were parts and digressions that were so ridiculous that I wanted to cry, in disbelief or in agony I don't know. I know this is supposed to be Regency with people being in control of their emotions, but the way Dinah and her aunt stoically discussed Evie's sudden disappearance and going about their social lives was plain inanity.
The H was arrogant in a bad, grating way and the h was irritatingly silly as hell (going round in unhelpful circles of 'Oh Evie, I miss you, how could you leave me?' 🙄😴). Their romance was insipid and contrived. I wish them luck as they are perfect for each other.
I only started reading this because the cover was gorgeous (the only positive point in this ordeal), and I forced myself to finish it because my wish to add to my reading challenge was stronger than my wish to dnf this. One star is very generous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2022
Rating: 2.5/5.0
“A Treacherous Engagement” shows much promise. And as far as the intrigue goes, it delivers on that promise.
Read full review in the 2022 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
“A Treacherous Engagement” shows much promise. And as far as the intrigue goes, it delivers on that promise.
Read full review in the 2022 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
April 11, 2022
I'm always excited when Laura Beers has a new series and I really enjoy Regency spy stories. This story introduces us to the Gentlemen of London, agents of the Crown, who are out there keeping England safe. Although Nathaniel Calvert, Earl of Hawthorne has been a spy for 10 years, his family has no idea where he goes or what he does when he's not home. His latest assignment is to find a missing agent, the same agent that was a mentor to him.
Dinah Ashmore's sister, Evie, is missing and because the constable's theory that Evie ran off to Gretna Green with a secret suitor is preprosterous, Dinah feels she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands and hire a Bowstreet Runner to find her sister. Mistaking Nathaniel for a Runner (thanks to his burgundy waistcoat, Dinah hires him to find Evie. Could the search for a missing woman be connected to the missing agent? Nathaniel thinks they could be.
Dinah and Nathaniel have the funniest meet-cute and they spend quite a bit of time at odds with each other because Dinah is can be headstrong and stubborn. I would imagine it would be quite difficult to try to get someone to go along with your plan(s) when you can't reveal your true identity. The story has quite a few twists to keep it interesting. When dealing with agents not everything is as it seems at first, or even second, glance.
I liked watching Nathaniel realize his feelings for Dinah might be deeper than just keeping her safe while he worked the case. I also liked the side characters. Worsley and Talbot, the agents that guarded the entrance to the building were quite intertaining with their schemes--the one with the roses was quite funny. I hope to get Lord Haddington's story soon, as I suspect he has feelings for Dinah's sister Evie. I also want to know more about Nathaniel's younger brother Hugh.
Dinah Ashmore's sister, Evie, is missing and because the constable's theory that Evie ran off to Gretna Green with a secret suitor is preprosterous, Dinah feels she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands and hire a Bowstreet Runner to find her sister. Mistaking Nathaniel for a Runner (thanks to his burgundy waistcoat, Dinah hires him to find Evie. Could the search for a missing woman be connected to the missing agent? Nathaniel thinks they could be.
Dinah and Nathaniel have the funniest meet-cute and they spend quite a bit of time at odds with each other because Dinah is can be headstrong and stubborn. I would imagine it would be quite difficult to try to get someone to go along with your plan(s) when you can't reveal your true identity. The story has quite a few twists to keep it interesting. When dealing with agents not everything is as it seems at first, or even second, glance.
I liked watching Nathaniel realize his feelings for Dinah might be deeper than just keeping her safe while he worked the case. I also liked the side characters. Worsley and Talbot, the agents that guarded the entrance to the building were quite intertaining with their schemes--the one with the roses was quite funny. I hope to get Lord Haddington's story soon, as I suspect he has feelings for Dinah's sister Evie. I also want to know more about Nathaniel's younger brother Hugh.
September 23, 2023
This was almost a DNF but there was so little substance I was blowing thru it quickly and kept with it. It didn’t get any better by the end of it tho.
The dialogue was as mechanical and stilted as the characters. It was bizarre how it would volley back-and-forth with single sentences each between the characters. Often the sentences would be as little as 2 to 3 words like they were trying to save their breath and couldn’t afford to say anything of worth. The repetitiveness of the dialogue also didn’t help. The exact same phrases would show up a couple chapters later, sometimes multiple times.
To make matters worse, Nathaniel was terrible at his job as a spy. He didn’t know how to blend in, wasn’t observant, is extremely simple, and had no clue what was going on around him half the time. And Dinah was a 20 year old who acted like a 12 year old - impulsive, naive, obsessed with and wholly (weirdly) dependent on her sister. The romance between the two felt very forced.
Overall it was just such a surface story without substance, and was not believable at all, and honestly rather annoying.
The dialogue was as mechanical and stilted as the characters. It was bizarre how it would volley back-and-forth with single sentences each between the characters. Often the sentences would be as little as 2 to 3 words like they were trying to save their breath and couldn’t afford to say anything of worth. The repetitiveness of the dialogue also didn’t help. The exact same phrases would show up a couple chapters later, sometimes multiple times.
To make matters worse, Nathaniel was terrible at his job as a spy. He didn’t know how to blend in, wasn’t observant, is extremely simple, and had no clue what was going on around him half the time. And Dinah was a 20 year old who acted like a 12 year old - impulsive, naive, obsessed with and wholly (weirdly) dependent on her sister. The romance between the two felt very forced.
Overall it was just such a surface story without substance, and was not believable at all, and honestly rather annoying.
March 10, 2024
DNF
I found the characters flat and one dimensional, the plot boring and predictable and the writing stilted.
The characters all spoke in the same manner so one character’s speech pattern was the same as another’s.
The writer uses short, declarative sentences much of the time instead of using more variety so the words don’t flow as nicely as I expected.
I prefer actions to show the character’s feelings rather than them telling the reader how they feel.
This book and writing style isn’t my cup of tea I’m afraid.
I found the characters flat and one dimensional, the plot boring and predictable and the writing stilted.
The characters all spoke in the same manner so one character’s speech pattern was the same as another’s.
The writer uses short, declarative sentences much of the time instead of using more variety so the words don’t flow as nicely as I expected.
I prefer actions to show the character’s feelings rather than them telling the reader how they feel.
This book and writing style isn’t my cup of tea I’m afraid.
May 2, 2022
2.5-3 stars for me. The storyline has great potential and the story kept me engaged, but I feel like more could’ve been done with it. The dialogue was quite formal in a way that made it a bit unbelievable. I felt like I kept saying, “people don’t talk like that.” It was hard to get a sense of each character’s personality when the dialogue was similar in phrasing and style for all the characters. The love story could’ve been further developed as there was not a lot of interaction to support this love story, at least in the first half of the book. I did like the premise, the plot, the misunderstandings, and the characters so it was overall a decent read, just not my favorite. Not sure I’ll read the rest of them simply because of the clunky dialogue.
June 14, 2023
This book didn’t do it for me. I found the dialog clumsy and the romance awkward. There were a lot of misused words and incorrect historical detail that kept taking me out of the story. The characters were inconsistent and uninteresting. And the plot just went around in circles, with nothing really happening or the same things being said over and over. It was really unsatisfying. DNF.
January 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! Fun characters and good character development.
My only complaint is that at the beginning I felt like I was missing some context. Overall though, I really enjoyed it and would read it again!
My only complaint is that at the beginning I felt like I was missing some context. Overall though, I really enjoyed it and would read it again!
April 17, 2024
It started so good and then all the characters talked and acted the same way + some things made no sense 🫢
March 28, 2022
Gentleman in service to the Crown! Yes, please! Nathaniel Calvert otherwise known as the Earl of Hawthorne is on the case of a missing agent which happens to also involve a missing girl. The girl's sister, Miss Dinah Ashmore will stop at nothing to find her sister so she hires him thinking he is a Bow Street Runner. As he works to solve the case of both missing persons, he keeps butting heads with Miss Dinah who is determined to be apart of her sister's rescue. This puts her in danger and the only one who can help her is Nathaniel knowing his ruse as a Bow Street Runner could ruin his chance at happiness with Miss Dinah as well as his secrets.
There is nothing like a good spy regency with the spice of romance. I was so happy that Laura Beers returned to the London Gentlemen who spy to keep England safe. This story was full of mystery and romance from a determined Earl and a head strong Miss. Definitely a wonderful start to a new series. I look forward to the next one!
There is nothing like a good spy regency with the spice of romance. I was so happy that Laura Beers returned to the London Gentlemen who spy to keep England safe. This story was full of mystery and romance from a determined Earl and a head strong Miss. Definitely a wonderful start to a new series. I look forward to the next one!
June 13, 2022
A Treacherous Engagement
(Gentlemen of London #1)
By Laura Beers
I enjoy reading Historical’s now and again so when I stumbled on to Laura Beers A Treacherous Engagement blurb I thought why not give a new author to me a go.
It’s not my normal type of read, but it certainly was an read that was quick, had suspense, spies and a young lady who needed help to find her missing sister.
Dinah Ashmore just wanted to find her missing sister and when she didn’t think the Constable her aunt had called in gave hoot one way or the other she decided to find someone who would help her.
Enter Nathaniel Calvert, Earl of Hawthorne, spy for the King and accidental Bow Street Runner. All right he pretended he was a Bow Street Runner but that was to help the young Lady he had just met. He knew she would just get into trouble if she were left to her own devices.
With Dinah keeping Nathaniel on his feet it wasn’t long until he started to see her as not just a job or a friend, he began to have feelings for her.
I have to say there was a delightful pair of gentleman spies who provided all sorts of mirth and humor in this story..I hope we are lucky enough to see them again sometime in a future book.
This book did exactly what I wanted to do, give a short read with a good plot, excitement and some laughs!
(Gentlemen of London #1)
By Laura Beers
I enjoy reading Historical’s now and again so when I stumbled on to Laura Beers A Treacherous Engagement blurb I thought why not give a new author to me a go.
It’s not my normal type of read, but it certainly was an read that was quick, had suspense, spies and a young lady who needed help to find her missing sister.
Dinah Ashmore just wanted to find her missing sister and when she didn’t think the Constable her aunt had called in gave hoot one way or the other she decided to find someone who would help her.
Enter Nathaniel Calvert, Earl of Hawthorne, spy for the King and accidental Bow Street Runner. All right he pretended he was a Bow Street Runner but that was to help the young Lady he had just met. He knew she would just get into trouble if she were left to her own devices.
With Dinah keeping Nathaniel on his feet it wasn’t long until he started to see her as not just a job or a friend, he began to have feelings for her.
I have to say there was a delightful pair of gentleman spies who provided all sorts of mirth and humor in this story..I hope we are lucky enough to see them again sometime in a future book.
This book did exactly what I wanted to do, give a short read with a good plot, excitement and some laughs!
April 15, 2022
Secrets old and new, danger and romance. Wonderful!
This book will keep you turning pages as secrets are reveled and more secrets hinted at. Nathaniel, Earl of Hawthorne, is an agent for the crown. He fills his days working to protect England while his parents push him to marry. When he is mistaken for a Bow Street Runner by Miss Dinah, who’s sister has vanished, he goes along with the mistake feeling that it may be related to the case he has been assigned. Soon secrets upon secrets are revealed, some old and some new, but the most concerning thing to Nathaniel is what to do when the woman you are drawn to does not even know your true name. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
This book will keep you turning pages as secrets are reveled and more secrets hinted at. Nathaniel, Earl of Hawthorne, is an agent for the crown. He fills his days working to protect England while his parents push him to marry. When he is mistaken for a Bow Street Runner by Miss Dinah, who’s sister has vanished, he goes along with the mistake feeling that it may be related to the case he has been assigned. Soon secrets upon secrets are revealed, some old and some new, but the most concerning thing to Nathaniel is what to do when the woman you are drawn to does not even know your true name. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
June 22, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, I have liked all of Laura Beers books I’ve read. Romance + Spies is her to-go and I’ll be here for it!
This is an easy read plot based story with hidden identity, forced proximity, action and damsel in distress plot. Not as much character growth. Sometimes the dialogue writing seems stiff and Laura loves using the word “bobbed”. Each book has it multiple times which I never forget but makes me question if people do bob their heads that often 😂
I do feel the title is misleading here because I thought it was be an arranged marriage to avoid scandal scenario which is why it was treacherous but not at all. But I would read the rest of the series as this book kept my interest and I couldn’t put it down.
This is an easy read plot based story with hidden identity, forced proximity, action and damsel in distress plot. Not as much character growth. Sometimes the dialogue writing seems stiff and Laura loves using the word “bobbed”. Each book has it multiple times which I never forget but makes me question if people do bob their heads that often 😂
I do feel the title is misleading here because I thought it was be an arranged marriage to avoid scandal scenario which is why it was treacherous but not at all. But I would read the rest of the series as this book kept my interest and I couldn’t put it down.
July 4, 2022
3.5 Stars
This was a fun read, and (as always with this author’s books) there was danger and some mystery to go along with this regency time period. It’s one of my favorite things about Laura Beers’ books!!! I wish we got to see a bit more development to Nathaniel and Dinah’s romance, but otherwise the plot kept me engaged and wanting to see how it ended. I am especially interested to see if we get a story about Evie soon, or that we might get to revisit other favorite characters in future stories!
This was a fun read, and (as always with this author’s books) there was danger and some mystery to go along with this regency time period. It’s one of my favorite things about Laura Beers’ books!!! I wish we got to see a bit more development to Nathaniel and Dinah’s romance, but otherwise the plot kept me engaged and wanting to see how it ended. I am especially interested to see if we get a story about Evie soon, or that we might get to revisit other favorite characters in future stories!
June 1, 2022
Oh my good-ness! An Earl who is a spy for the crown, a young lady who mistakes him for a Bow Street Runner, a conspiracy group - what is not to love about this book.
Miss Dinah Ashmore is on a mission to find her sister. She knows that something is horribly wrong and that she did not go to Gretna Green as the constable believes. In desperation, she sees a Bow Street Runner on the streets and hires him on the spot.
You know this isn't going to end well for the Earl when she discovers who he really is. A Treacherous Engagement This is a story that you want to keep reading. I found myself ignoring dishes and laundry to see if it would end favorably. I needed to know if Dinah and Nathaniel could get past all deceptions and become a couple.
Oh yeah, this book isn't only about romance. Nathaniel is infiltrating a dangerous group to find out who the leaders are and stop them before they assassinate the Prime Minister. He also has a great group of friends that I am looking forward to reading about in future books!
Miss Dinah Ashmore is on a mission to find her sister. She knows that something is horribly wrong and that she did not go to Gretna Green as the constable believes. In desperation, she sees a Bow Street Runner on the streets and hires him on the spot.
You know this isn't going to end well for the Earl when she discovers who he really is. A Treacherous Engagement This is a story that you want to keep reading. I found myself ignoring dishes and laundry to see if it would end favorably. I needed to know if Dinah and Nathaniel could get past all deceptions and become a couple.
Oh yeah, this book isn't only about romance. Nathaniel is infiltrating a dangerous group to find out who the leaders are and stop them before they assassinate the Prime Minister. He also has a great group of friends that I am looking forward to reading about in future books!
February 17, 2023
I've enjoyed most of Laura Beers books but for some reason I had trouble getting into this one and dint make it past the first few chapters. I just didn't relate to Dinah or Nathaniel and the pace felt slow. After reading books 5 and 6 of the series I had to return and try again and while I still felt the beginning was slow I knew I wanted to finish it and the second half of the book was great. Taken with what I know now of the rest of the series (Worsley and Talbot are some of my favorites) I can definitely recommend reading. I wish I'd finished it earlier but I must have started it during a rough week. I loved meeting Evie and her aunt and Reginald and Rutledge. I'm excited to read more now.
April 7, 2022
“ There are many distractions in life and even though many of them are worthwhile, they don’t truly matter. The only thing that bind us together is family.”
I absolutely adored this story!!! First I want to start by saying Worsley and Talbot are my absolute favorite duo. I was cracking up every single time those two made an appearance. Dinah and Nathaniel’s story was one full of twists and turns and I loved every second of it. Evie, Dinah’s sister is such a spitfire, she reminds me a lot of the main character in Laura Beers first spy series, I hope Evie will get her own story. I’m looking forward to the next installments in this series and am curious whose story we will see unfold next.
*I was given an arc, all the opinions are my own*
I absolutely adored this story!!! First I want to start by saying Worsley and Talbot are my absolute favorite duo. I was cracking up every single time those two made an appearance. Dinah and Nathaniel’s story was one full of twists and turns and I loved every second of it. Evie, Dinah’s sister is such a spitfire, she reminds me a lot of the main character in Laura Beers first spy series, I hope Evie will get her own story. I’m looking forward to the next installments in this series and am curious whose story we will see unfold next.
*I was given an arc, all the opinions are my own*
April 10, 2022
He is not what he seems.
Nathaniel is a spy for the crown working in an important case when Dinah mistakes him for a Bow Street Runner and wants to hire him to find her missing sister. He quickly sees a connection between his case and the missing sister and goes along pretending he is a runner. The path to solve his case and find the missing sister is complicated and twisted. Nathaniel has to keep his true identity hidden from Dinah until the end and hope she will still care for h8 when she finds out she has been deceived.
Nathaniel is a spy for the crown working in an important case when Dinah mistakes him for a Bow Street Runner and wants to hire him to find her missing sister. He quickly sees a connection between his case and the missing sister and goes along pretending he is a runner. The path to solve his case and find the missing sister is complicated and twisted. Nathaniel has to keep his true identity hidden from Dinah until the end and hope she will still care for h8 when she finds out she has been deceived.
May 31, 2023
The “spies for England” trope is so overdone—and probably all of them done better than this unbelievable mishmash of improbable circumstances, bumbling, disorganized operatives—including a woman who never would have been allowed to “help” merely on the basis of her stubbornness and predilection for wearing men’s clothing—and apparent myopia and unimportance of the actual war with France. It was almost a Keystone Cops farce, the way everything was focused on London and the annoying “agents” who were apparently serving as comedic (not so much) relief.
The language is stilted and prissy, yet ignores grammatical rules—good example being, “That is something I disagree with“ should surely have been recast as “That is something with which I disagree,” if these people had such sticks up their arses about everything “proper.”
As for “romance,” that was equally bland and hardly qualified as such.
Seriously, the only thing they did right was to kill the main bad guy because they certainly didn’t manage to find evidence to arrest and convict him.
The language is stilted and prissy, yet ignores grammatical rules—good example being, “That is something I disagree with“ should surely have been recast as “That is something with which I disagree,” if these people had such sticks up their arses about everything “proper.”
As for “romance,” that was equally bland and hardly qualified as such.
Seriously, the only thing they did right was to kill the main bad guy because they certainly didn’t manage to find evidence to arrest and convict him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2025
The rich and the poor
The story covered various groups of people that included The House of Lords to the people who lived on the streets.
There was much danger and intrigue and secrets between the main character and a woman raised in a wealthy family.
I was really interested in how the events of the story unfolded. I was in for a big surprise towards the end of the book.
This was my first book written by Laura Beer's, and it won't be my last.
The story covered various groups of people that included The House of Lords to the people who lived on the streets.
There was much danger and intrigue and secrets between the main character and a woman raised in a wealthy family.
I was really interested in how the events of the story unfolded. I was in for a big surprise towards the end of the book.
This was my first book written by Laura Beer's, and it won't be my last.
March 21, 2022
It's always fun starting a new series by an author I love. Gentlemen of London Book 1 sets the pace for this new series. I loved meeting the characters and already hope that a few of them will get their own stories soon.
In this story Miss Dinah Ashmore is desperately trying to find her sister Evie who has gone missing while in the middle of her shopping trip. The constable has been no help and feels certain that she has eloped to Greta Green and should be home in a week. But Dinah knows that is not a possible reason for her sister to be missing so she decides to hire a Bow Street Runner. Dinah is not an adventurous person and has always been the obedient one in the family. She has lived a very sheltered life so she has no concept of the danger she has put herself into going to find a Runner.
Nathaniel Calvert, Earl of Hawthorne, is an agent of the Crown and is mistaken by Dinah as a Bow Street Runner because of the red vest he is wearing. He knows of her family and feels that there is a connection between the missing Miss Evie Ashmore and the case he is working on rooting out a radical group. He pretends to be a Runner and doesn't reveal to Dinah that he is an agent of the crown or a peer in the Ton.
As the case unfolds it brings the threat of danger to Dinah and Nathaniel has to come up with a plan to protect her while continuing to solve his case. Will Nathaniel come to realize that the protective feelings he has towards Dinah are actually growing into something deeper?
Will Dinah be able to trust Nathaniel if she finds out all of the secrets he has been keeping from her?
Some of the characters I cannot wait to see again are Miss Evie Ashmore who loves the danger of being a spy and is their newest recruit. Lord Haddington who is another agent of the crown and he wears the brightest clothes. He seems to have some feeling for Miss Evie. I also want to see what happens to Nathaniel's brother Hugh- he loves to gamble and hates feeling like his father is disappointed in him.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
In this story Miss Dinah Ashmore is desperately trying to find her sister Evie who has gone missing while in the middle of her shopping trip. The constable has been no help and feels certain that she has eloped to Greta Green and should be home in a week. But Dinah knows that is not a possible reason for her sister to be missing so she decides to hire a Bow Street Runner. Dinah is not an adventurous person and has always been the obedient one in the family. She has lived a very sheltered life so she has no concept of the danger she has put herself into going to find a Runner.
Nathaniel Calvert, Earl of Hawthorne, is an agent of the Crown and is mistaken by Dinah as a Bow Street Runner because of the red vest he is wearing. He knows of her family and feels that there is a connection between the missing Miss Evie Ashmore and the case he is working on rooting out a radical group. He pretends to be a Runner and doesn't reveal to Dinah that he is an agent of the crown or a peer in the Ton.
As the case unfolds it brings the threat of danger to Dinah and Nathaniel has to come up with a plan to protect her while continuing to solve his case. Will Nathaniel come to realize that the protective feelings he has towards Dinah are actually growing into something deeper?
Will Dinah be able to trust Nathaniel if she finds out all of the secrets he has been keeping from her?
Some of the characters I cannot wait to see again are Miss Evie Ashmore who loves the danger of being a spy and is their newest recruit. Lord Haddington who is another agent of the crown and he wears the brightest clothes. He seems to have some feeling for Miss Evie. I also want to see what happens to Nathaniel's brother Hugh- he loves to gamble and hates feeling like his father is disappointed in him.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
December 5, 2023
that was so sweet, I got diabetes via osmosis
December 24, 2025
Solid. I was able to put it down, but found myself thinking about it when not reading it. I'm satisfied.
January 10, 2026
This is no where near a perfect book but it is a fun one!
April 9, 2022
I enjoyed the banter with the spies!
The author kept the book moving without to many main characters. It didn't seem there was a lot of answers until towards the end of the book which I enjoyed.
The author kept the book moving without to many main characters. It didn't seem there was a lot of answers until towards the end of the book which I enjoyed.
August 5, 2023
This seemed promising. It was not
April 5, 2022
Nathaniel is a spy for the Crown and has no time for marriage. When Dinah mistakes him for a Bow Street runner and hires him to help find her sister, Evie she does not realize the danger she puts herself in. This is a great spy story with lots of surprises and a romance between Dinah and Nathaniel that catches them both off guard.
April 5, 2022
Good story. It keeps you interested with the mystery. I enjoyed several of the characters. The story was more intense than I was expecting, but it was still good. No sex, language or gore. Not creepy either. I really appreciate authors who write clean stories! Laura Beers is a go-to author for me.
March 20, 2022
This is about lord Nathaniel and lady Dinah who meet when she hires him, as a bow street runner, to help her find her sister Evie. He is not who she believes him to be and her sister is not what she thought her to be. As all gets unraveled and revealed and Dinah overcomes her feel of betrayal they find their happy end
September 5, 2023
Look, I hate to give a one star review. It is hard to write a book. That being said, this might be the most insipid book I’ve ever actually read the whole way through. It was “free” with kindle unlimited, and I guess I got what I paid for. So much to dislike. These sisters were just awful. Inappropriately bold and then stupid about their own safety after deliberately putting themselves in harms way. Apparently most English gentlemen are spies. Also, pretty sure this author’s only research about the time period is reading other insipid novels. To really be any good, Regency era novels must include SOME wit. But there was none. Only a very overblown and, again, insipid, romance. When descriptions of anything were attempted, it was like a 10th grader beings asked to give “more detail” after a fellow tenth grader peer reviewed. It might have been a 2 star book (I did make it through it after all) if not for the DIRECT plagiarism of Hamilton in the epilogue at the pre-wedding toast. Lastly, the way these characters spoke to each other! Such a weird formality of time that was stilted and overblown instead of seeming period appropriate. Again, I know it is hard to write a novel, and I’m not a published author. But, this?? Wow. I see the author has a lot of titles and her Good Reads ratings seem to indicate a loyal following. I will not be joining that group.
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