In England’s Regency era, manners and elegance reign in public life—but behind closed doors treason and tawdriness thrive. Nicholas Langdon is no stranger to reserved civility or bloody barbarity. After suffering a battlefield injury, the wealthy, well-connected British officer returns home to heal—and to fulfill a dying soldier’s last wish by delivering his coded diary.

At the home of the Wilherns, one of England’s most powerful families, Langdon attends a lavish ball where he meets their beautiful and intelligent ward, Julia Grey. Determined to maintain propriety, he keeps his distance—until the diary is stolen and all clues lead to Julia’s guardian. As Langdon traces an evil plot that could be the nation’s undoing, he grows ever more intrigued by the lovely young woman.

And when Julia realizes that England—and the man she is falling in love with—need her help, she finds herself caught in the fray. Will the two succumb to their attraction while fighting to save their country?

Goodreads | Amazon

My Thoughts

Unfortunately, women had few rights in regency England and as an orphan, Julia Grey is at the mercy of her guardian uncle. Her only hope for a future is as a wife or governess. Nathaniel Langdon is a second son and dutiful soldier. His circumstances have placed him in a position to investigate a possible threat to his superior, General Wellington.

Flirtations and secrets abound as Nathaniel and Julia’s paths cross. I enjoy the way the characters dance around the social rules of the time. It’s no easy task to conduct an undercover investigation when your heart and social propriety get in the way! Both Julia and Nathaniel are admirably compassionate and determined to do what is right. My heart was pounding as the investigation came to a close. Melanie Dickerson does not disappoint in her first regency!

I requested a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley with the intention of reading and providing my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Melanie Dickerson is a two-time Christy Award finalist, two-time Maggie Award winner, Carol Award winner, two-time winner of the Christian Retailing’s Best award, and her book, The Healer’s Apprentice, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best First Book. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA).

Melanie earned a bachelors degree in special education of the hearing impaired from The University of Alabama and has worked as a teacher in Georgia, Tennessee, and Ukraine.

She lives with her husband and two children in Huntsville, Alabama.