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Julia Reed has been framed - but by who? Languishing in a jail cell in Leeds had given her plenty of opportunity to try to solve the puzzle, but she hadn't been able to think of a single person who would hate her enough to frame her. Of course, she had lived an unconventional life for the past few years, seeking adventure in Afghanistan with her brother, a General in the British army. But was that simple deviation from society's rules enough to cause some unknown person to wish her dead? Who could possibly want to see her convicted of treason and beheaded?
When Sam Sherryngton, the man she had secretly loved since childhood, had helped to have her arrested and imprisoned, Julia was sure that all was lost. After all, if Sam didn't believe that she was innocent, after all that they had shared in the past, who would?
Sam Sherryngton is a spy for England, and a damn good one at that. Disguise and intrigue were his specialty. He'd lived by his wits for years, surviving in foreign lands and ferreting out traitors for his mother country. Much to his chagrin, the latest traitor had turned out to be Julia Reed, the woman who had secretly fascinated him since childhood. Though he had helped to put Julia in jail, something just didn't feel right about the whole affair.
When Edwin Hume, the key witness in the case, is murdered, Sam realizes that he has, indeed, made a mistake. In order to save Julia from death, he must break her out of jail and discover the real traitor. Someone must pay for the slaughter of the British troops at Khyber Pass, and Sam is determined to make sure that it is not an innocent woman - especially since he's quite in love with the woman in question.
Thrown together by circumstance, Julia and Sam fight to hide their affection for each other as they search for evidence to prove Julia's innocence before it is too late.
A WOMAN'S INNOCENCE is the third and final novel in the Spies and Lovers trilogy, written by talented author Gayle Callen. This historical romance is an exciting romp through history, peppered with adventure and steeped in forbidden love. The characters shine thought with pure Callen style and the plot is fast-paced and stimulating. Readers who love a bit of suspense and intrigue with their romance will adore Gayle Callen's latest novel.
Though the book can be read as a stand-alone romance, I'd highly recommend reading all three in the trilogy just to get a feel for the richness of the Spies and Lovers history. Callen truly has a gift - weaving an intricate and fascinating tale and filling it with characters that come to life upon the page. I actually find myself sorry to see the last of the sexy, sensitive spies and their witty, outrageous lovers! If only there were one more book in the series…
Reviewed by Janean Nusz
for The Road to Romance
June 3, 2005
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