Title: Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi
Author: Cerise DeLand
Genre: Regency Romance, Historical Romance
Book Blurb:
He pretended he was her lover. She became his alibi…and his only love.
Augustine Bolton lives amid the social whirl and treachery of the stylish court of Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte. When Gus’s dearest friend, Amber, disappears, Gus must find her before the deputy chief of police finds Amber and carts her off to his bed—or to la Force.
But Gus’s means are few and her own duties as an agent in Amber’s network mean she is also suspect. Gus needs help.
Kane Whittington is just the man for the job.
He has worked for London merchant-cum-spymaster Scarlett Hawthorne for years and welcomes Scarlett’s call to build a large espionage network in Europe. His first task is to find the missing head of Scarlett's espionage network.
The best person to help him is the lady’s best friend whom he’s never met. But when he sets eyes on ravishing Augustine Bolton in Josephine’s salon, Kane recognizes the black-haired beauty as the one he kissed years ago on the road to Malmaison during a botched abduction of Bonaparte.Kane must persuade the beautiful Gus to allow him to help her. He suggests the cover for their escapade is simple: They show the gossipy Parisian court they enjoy a mad love affair. Thus, Gus gains an ally—and Kane acquires an alibi.
But Gus’s ally is a darling man whose kindness thrills her. His alibi is a brave, beautiful woman he cannot give up. Can they find a way to fulfill their missions—and join together to claim their love for a lifetime?
My Review:
Kane is on a dangerous mission but this time his heart is on the line. Can these two spies complete their missions while claiming true love or will it all come crashing down? Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi is book one in a thrilling new series by Cerise DeLand. Blending a complex spy network, dangerous missions, a love affair, plus a hero and heroine worthy of each other, Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Let’s start with the characters. Kane is a decorated spy who’s suddenly Lord Ashley after the untimely death of his father and older brother. He’s tasked with a mission in France to find a missing British spy. It’s a treacherous game, only made more daring when he falls in love with a fellow spy named Augustine. Together, they form a powerful team, but neither is prepared for what happens next.
The characters are visually stunning with depth, character, and motives. Who is playing which side drives the story. I connected with many of the characters. They flew off the page and into my heart.
The historical accuracy is flawless, but I’ve come to expect that from this author. Every detail resonates with the reader and draws them in. I immersed myself in this high-action Regency romance and couldn’t stop reading.
If you like suspense with your Regency romance, this is your next must-read. I can’t wait for book two.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
https://www.bookbub.com/books/lord-ashley-s-beautiful-alibi-scarlett-affairs-book-1-by-cerise-deland
Author Biography:
Cerise DeLand is the USA TODAY bestselling author who loves to write about dashing heroes and the sassy women they adore.
Known for her poetic elegance and accuracy of detail, she's won awards for many of the more than 60 novels she's written.
Her work has been nearly life-long! First published in 1991 by Kensington, then Pocket Books, later by St. Martin’s Press and independent presses, she is now published by DRAGONBLADE PUBLISHING. Plus her books have been monthly selections of the Doubleday Book Club and the Mystery Guild.
To research, she’s dived into the oldest texts and dustiest library shelves. She travels abroad taking good walking shoes, trusty notebooks and pens, plus a camera! She visits chateaux and country homes she loves to people with her own imaginary characters.
And at home every day? She cooks. Never dusts. (That can be a problem.) She goes swimming or pumps iron once a week and tries (desperately) to grow vegetables in her arid backyard in south Texas!
Social Media Links:
Newsletter: http://www.cerisedeland.com
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Bluestocking Belles: https://bluestockingbelles.net/the-belles-bookshelf/cerise-delands-books/
Delicious Doings Blog: http://cerisedeland.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cerise-DeLand/author/B0089DS2N2
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Reviewed by: Nancy