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The Spy's Bride
She ran from a suitor...
Victoria Woodley is a lady happier on her horse than at her stitchery. But she is also a "catch" because of the fortune coming to her on her twenty-first birthday. Now her greedy guardian intends to force her into wedlock before that day—to his son! So a desperate Victoria courts ruin instead: she dresses as a boy and runs off to join a favorite older cousin at his regiment in Portugal until she reaches her majority.
Into the arms of a spy!
British spy, Lord Kit Harden, is sailing for Lisbon on a mission when he hires "Victor" as his valet. He doesn't suspect that Victoria has never before seen a chest so broad (or so very bare!) before. And when Kit discovers her gender, never has she been in such trouble. The lord feels he has compromised a lady and that the only remedy is a marriage in name only. But Victoria is already smitten. Can she make Kit love her by beating a spy at intrigue...and stealing his heart?
Victoria Woodley is a lady happier on her horse than at her stitchery. But she is also a "catch" because of the fortune coming to her on her twenty-first birthday. Now her greedy guardian intends to force her into wedlock before that day—to his son! So a desperate Victoria courts ruin instead: she dresses as a boy and runs off to join a favorite older cousin at his regiment in Portugal until she reaches her majority.
Into the arms of a spy!
British spy, Lord Kit Harden, is sailing for Lisbon on a mission when he hires "Victor" as his valet. He doesn't suspect that Victoria has never before seen a chest so broad (or so very bare!) before. And when Kit discovers her gender, never has she been in such trouble. The lord feels he has compromised a lady and that the only remedy is a marriage in name only. But Victoria is already smitten. Can she make Kit love her by beating a spy at intrigue...and stealing his heart?
- GenresHistorical Romance
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 22, 2009
Victoria is under the care of relatives after her father dies. Her guardian wants to force her into a marriage to his son to gain her fortune. So Victoria makes her escape to Portugal to meet up with her cousin who is in the army. She decides to pose as a boy and ends up running into Christopher, known by everyone as Kit. He hires her as his valet after much pleading on her part and takes her with him to Portugal. He then discovers that she is actually a female and a lady, so he marries her. Victoria finds out he is a spy and the rest of the story continues from there.
I had several problems with this story. First, Victoria's reason for running off to Portugal really didn't seem horrible enough. Being forced to marry someone compared to running off to a war torn country... I don't know, I just think that a normal person would have second thoughts about running off. We never really know what makes her guardian so terrible. She is not being starved or beaten, the only thing she really is annoyed about is not being allowed to run the estate. Give me a break. Yes, it would be terrible to be forced into a marriage to someone you don't love, but that was really not something out of the ordinary for the time period.
The second problem I had with the story was that Kit refuses to confide in Victoria about his pretending to seduce another woman. Yes, it is official spy business, but he goes on and on about how he cares for her, but he doesn't want to tell her it is just a ruse and would rather her be hurt by hearing the gossip? *rolls eyes*
The third problem I had was that they barely know each other. Throughout the majority of the book, the two main characters are separated. They barely spend any time together. It is highly unlikely that they would love each other at the end of the story with the amount of time they spent together. Victoria masquerades as a boy for the first week or so of their acquaintance. I could see Victoria falling for Kit more because she saw him as the man he was during that time. When they end up in Portugal, within the first few minutes, Kit finds out that Victoria is a woman and tells her she will have to marry him. They are married within a few hours during which he barely looks at her. Then he goes off to do his spy duty. Victoria goes back to England. Kit is gone for two months and Victoria is busy with things back in England. Once Kit comes back, Victoria and Kit are rarely in the same room with each other and when they are, he barely talks to Victoria. By the end of the book, they have probably spent a grand total of two weeks in each others company and they are in love??? Again, I don't believe it.
I originally was going to give this book three stars as I did read it fairly fast, but the flaws are just too much for me.
I had several problems with this story. First, Victoria's reason for running off to Portugal really didn't seem horrible enough. Being forced to marry someone compared to running off to a war torn country... I don't know, I just think that a normal person would have second thoughts about running off. We never really know what makes her guardian so terrible. She is not being starved or beaten, the only thing she really is annoyed about is not being allowed to run the estate. Give me a break. Yes, it would be terrible to be forced into a marriage to someone you don't love, but that was really not something out of the ordinary for the time period.
The second problem I had with the story was that Kit refuses to confide in Victoria about his pretending to seduce another woman. Yes, it is official spy business, but he goes on and on about how he cares for her, but he doesn't want to tell her it is just a ruse and would rather her be hurt by hearing the gossip? *rolls eyes*
The third problem I had was that they barely know each other. Throughout the majority of the book, the two main characters are separated. They barely spend any time together. It is highly unlikely that they would love each other at the end of the story with the amount of time they spent together. Victoria masquerades as a boy for the first week or so of their acquaintance. I could see Victoria falling for Kit more because she saw him as the man he was during that time. When they end up in Portugal, within the first few minutes, Kit finds out that Victoria is a woman and tells her she will have to marry him. They are married within a few hours during which he barely looks at her. Then he goes off to do his spy duty. Victoria goes back to England. Kit is gone for two months and Victoria is busy with things back in England. Once Kit comes back, Victoria and Kit are rarely in the same room with each other and when they are, he barely talks to Victoria. By the end of the book, they have probably spent a grand total of two weeks in each others company and they are in love??? Again, I don't believe it.
I originally was going to give this book three stars as I did read it fairly fast, but the flaws are just too much for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2020
I really liked this book. The hero and heroine was interesting. If you really love historicals, borrow from the library, or pick it up at your local Thrift store (when you can) if you happen to see it. Loved how Victoria found herself in a dangerous situation and had the courage to do what she had to to save herself. Fun book to read.
January 26, 2013
I really wanted to like this novel but couldn't. It wasn't that the story was bad but the character development was inconsistent. Our heroine runs away to escape the machinations of her Uncle only to accept marriage to a man who she doesn't even know without much of a fuss. Then goes off to meet his family without him. Victoria's development barely happens and only when its convenient to the writer's story. There is also a lack of bonding between Kit and Victoria which makes their story so unbelievable and hard to feel for the characters or for it to be believable that Victoria would have faith in Kit.
While the plot had potential, too many obstacles are resolved almost as quickly as they arise, never to be seen again. You have some sense of jeopardy but it is never fully developed to a believable level. The plot and character development suffers from ADD. The very inconsistent development prevents you from sitting back and enjoying the story as it unfolds.
While the plot had potential, too many obstacles are resolved almost as quickly as they arise, never to be seen again. You have some sense of jeopardy but it is never fully developed to a believable level. The plot and character development suffers from ADD. The very inconsistent development prevents you from sitting back and enjoying the story as it unfolds.
September 25, 2009
Regency
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews