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So dedicated is he in his service to Crown and country as part of the ultra-secretive organization 'Royal Four' that Nathaniel Stonewell, Earl of Reardon, sacrifices his very reputation and assumes the mantle of 'Lord Treason' to infiltrate and break up a covert spy ring. While pursuing a traitor, at a small village he has a memorable encounter with a the local jinx Willa Trent and ends up marrying her. The high-spirited young woman with her candidness and a penchant for shrewdly likening humans to the animals they most resemble, is totally unalike the high-born cultured young lady Reardon had expected to marry but despite her oddities, he comes to like her.
Resolutely resisting her tempting pleas to 'copulate', he bears her off to London where he's sure his infamous reputation and cold family will scare her off. Perplexed at her groom's resistance of the passion irresistibly flaming between them, Willa's faith in their mutual love keeps her going even as she cheerfully runs the guantlet of London society. Unknown to Nathaniel, Willa too has secrets of her own that someone is desperate she never reveal. With danger and deceit dogging their every step, this newly-wed pair seems to have little chance of making it to a happy ending.
After the resounding success of her 'Liar's Club' series, Celeste Bradley returns to enchant her readers with a sort of semi-continuation in the 'Royal Four' series in 'To Wed a Scandalous Spy'. Danger, deceit and desire battle with witty banter and soaring passion for prominence in this highly engrossing tale. In this vivid historical story we have a suitably interesting tortured hero Nathaniel and in counterbalance, a bubbly and bright heroine in artless Willa. Together this seemingly opposite duo has enough adventures, provide ample laughter and share so much sexual heat as to keep readers immersed in the narrative non-stop. Bradley also provides surprises galore, both funny and suspenseful, and skillfully ties them all in neatly with the romance so as to make this story more than averagely memorable.
Reviewed by Rashmi Srinivas
for The Road to Romance
February 7, 2005
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