The Lady Lies

Years earlier, his father had died a war hero, gallantly saving his men in battle. Lord Aidan Duhearst, the Earl of Wessex had instead been captured by the French, the only man in his unit left alive. He would never forget the face of the woman who had sent him to hang; she was English and therefore a traitor. Aidan could not deny that she was a beauty. Images of her stunning face and lush body had haunted him ever since his timely escape.

Aidan did not expect to see her some months later in an English ballroom. He followed the woman to a darkened bedroom where she rifled through a desk. It was obvious to Aiden that she was continuing to betray her country from within. Unfortunately, she gained the upper hand and slipped through his grasp again. Aiden may not have been the hero that his father was, but he could still serve his country by catching this woman; the whore of Napoleon.

Celeste, Lady Rivenhall, has both English and French blood, but her loyalties lie with England. Whilst working as an English agent in France, she had been enthralled by the legends of Earl of Wessex and his men. When he was captured by the French, she had been struck by his masculine presence. Indeed, she had surreptitiously assisted his escape. Celeste was devastated to see him again in England because she still has so much work to do. Aiden tells her that he will end her career; he hates traitors and will kill her if he gets the opportunity.

The English spymaster, Falcon, has given Celeste one month to discover the identity of the true traitor who is suspected to be a peer of the realm. Time is short and she must also stay one step ahead of the Earl of Wessex… if she wants to stay alive!

The Lady Lies is an absolutely-not-to-be-missed historical debut. A woman strong enough to sacrifice her love and her life for her country meets her match in a heroic Earl who is determined to be the cause of her demise. Celeste and the Earl of Wessex try to deny and fight their growing attraction throughout the complicated plot of espionage which is woven neatly within the social dalliances and seedy side of the ton.

Readers will be swept along in a story of murder, erotic escapades, passions and patriotism. There are many secondary characters and subplots within the main story. I have to admire the manner in which Samantha Saxon was able to keep these threads interesting and believable, providing added emotional pull and depth to an already excellent romance. The story is never predictable. Emotional reactions and loyalties of the characters pull the story in many directions, yet Samantha Saxon is able to skilfully tie these together in a more than satisfying conclusion. I have thoroughly enjoyed The Lady Lies and look forward to the second in this series, The Lady Killer, available December 2005. The Lady Lies is, for this reader, a definite keeper; if you love historical romances, I strongly urge you to add The Lady Lies to your reading list.

Reviewed by: Naomi