French spies and a Women’s School for Espionage

A Dash of Disguise (Lady’s School of Spies #1) by Jacki Delecki  

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dashiell West, Earl of Beldon, (more Dash than Cash) found himself penniless after his despised father died. He’d left his love with the promise of marriage only to decide out of pride, that as he was without financial liquidity, he couldn’t marry her. Her being Lady Perdita Tinley.

Fortunately Dash is gifted mathematical, and managed to reverse his financial worries at cards.

Dita has had a rather wild childhood. She learned to fight, and think beyond the role of being a wife, who’s sole purpose was to have children and entertain.

When Dash and Dita reconnect the fire is still there. Shall we say that it’s more than a hearth fire, more a wildfire of maelstrom proportions. A distant fire that’s banked until Dita’s brother Roddy, and Dash’s best friend, disappears. Roddy had been a special envoy to negotiating the Treaty of Amiens. Then Dash can barely reign Dita in in her flurried and determined investigations.

Some amongst the emigre French are involved. Unknown to all, Dash has been in deep cover for three years, working on hunting down Fouche’s spy network. 

Dita’s goal is to be involved in information gathering, to train women in espionage. She deduced that women can go places men can’t. They see things through a different lens. Any observations would be passed on to the relevant intelligence services of His Majesty’s Government.

Dita does a good job of disguising herself and her feelings, as does Dash. Both are in disguise of one form or another. On many fronts the story’s all wrapped up in its title.

Exciting in parts, and yet I felt more joining of the sone of the dots was needed to be more than just a good read.

A Book Whisperer ARC via NetGalley. Many thanks to the author and publisher.