Assassins, Spies and Love!

A Touch Wicked (Private Arrangements #0.5) by Katrina Kendrick    

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Emma and Isobel Dumont are the illegitimate daughters of the Duke of Southampton and a French mother had grown up in poverty in Paris when the Duke had thrown his mistress out.

They had done everything they could to find money for medicine for their mother. To no avail.

Concerned for her sister Isabel, Emma had gone to her flat and found the place in disarray and Isabel missing. What she does find is a card with a place in London called The Masquerade. She’s then attacked by a man who’s also looking for Isobel. Emma’s able to fight free.

Emma flees to London where she becomes a maid to Alexandra, the sister of James Grey, the Earl of Kent. With employment settled she’s able to pursue her search. That means entering The Masquerade.

But who does she meet there but James. Emma becomes Tempest. James is completely enthralled by Tempest, but how can he be attracted to both her and his sister’s maid. He’s troubled, puzzled and enchanted. 

A novel of passions playing out as Emma searches for her sister. (Way to much weight is given to the “passionate” part I felt.) In the end I wanted more attention given to the search for Isobel and less handwringing by Emma over her passionate interaction with James.

Isabel is involved somehow in a mysterious organization called the Syndicate. Assassins are after her. In the end the resolution will involve the Home Office and a mysterious spy, Callahan. 

I’m loving Alexandra BTW. Her story I suspect will be be a cracker.

A lively, steamy read!

An Aria & Aries ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.