This is the second book I’ve read from this author and I’m a lot more impressed with this one than I was with the last one. I felt that this heroine was much stronger. She was intelligent and not afraid to show it by speaking her mind. She didn’t necessarily need the men in the story to rescue her which I felt was something specific that Anstey’s last heroine lacked. Lydia was an enjoyable heroine and I found myself on her side, rooting for her immediately. Robert was also an enjoyable character and I didn’t mind that the points of view switched between him and Lydia. Some of the secondary characters were pretty one note and silly, but there were others that had surprisingly hidden depth. I especially liked how Lydia’s relationship with her mother grew throughout the story. It was subtle, but I thought it added another layer to the story and helped with Lydia’s personal development.

If you enjoy Jane Austen era novels, I think you’ll like this one as well. It’s set in the same time period with the same customs and similar narration and dialogue. There were times when I felt the narration was a little…much. It almost tried too hard to be witty and clever at times, but overall I still enjoyed it.

The plot was a lot more involved than I was expecting. It was interesting to see it all come together and I can honestly say that I didn’t see the ending coming–I was completely blindsided. This book has the kind of plot that begins almost right away and small clues are dropped throughout the book that an astute reader might be able to pick up on and predict the ending. I was not one of those astute readers, but perhaps you will be.

Overall, I thought this book was a fun read and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author to get my Austen fix. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Austen or regency era romantic thrillers.

Overall Rating: 4
Language: None
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Mild

Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was delighted to find the same kind of witty and fun characters in Duels and Deception as I did in Love, Lies and Spies. Cindy Anstey crafts a humorous historical romance.

I absolutely loved Lydia and Robert. Both characters are clever and witty and completely adorable when they are together. Lydia has some control issues that Robert can see and often tease about. There biggest hurdle is always of course, class. Which is common in a historical setting. They have so much great witty banter it makes it fun to read.

I also always love the inclusion of family. I was thinking about how different the world is today on the subject. Before you were mostly with your family and everything happened to you as a group. I liked the inclusion of her interesting Uncle and most of all her mother. Who I think Lydia often under estimates herself. I like when her mom has her own times to shine.

The main plot is a fun mystery involved reputations and marriage. I liked the way the pieces come together as Lydia has to figure out who is at odds with her.

One thing that I have really enjoyed about Cindy’s novels is that there are often side stories. Like that of Cassidy and Cora. They are woven into the main plot but give a little something extra to the story as a whole. You are not just getting to the main characters but the characters around them as well.

I really loved this book. It was fun and well written. It makes me feel like I’m going to go around and start talking like I’m from the era. Ha! The romance is so sweet and cute you can’t help but smile. Just like all the people around Lydia and Robert. I highly recommend it, especially if you are looking for that not so heavy read.

Delightful is the first word that came to mind while reading Duels & Deception, and it was the first word that came to mind while reading Cindy Anstey's debut (Love, Lies & Spies), and both books gave me the same feel of enjoyment and wittiness and effortless charm!

This is the story of Miss Lydia, a slightly unusual lady of gentle breeding, and how her carefully plotted plans get thrown a curve ball in more than one way, starting with a visit that she herself requested, from the law clerk that manages the family affairs.

Lydia is a lady with proper manners but also a very clear mind and strong character and she doesn't like being not in control of her affairs. I loved how she was not shown as too controlling without any warmth or feelings, just more focused on what she can control.

Robert Newton is a young man of good family, but given that he is the third son, he needs to find a way to make his future, and ends up as a law clerk, hopefully apprentice, in a law firm and one that manages Lydia's family affairs. He's focused on his career but also on doing his job well and once he meets Lydia, he finds himself with extra motivation to help the lady, even if he finds himself involved in very unexpected ways!

The story has quite a few secondary characters and storylines, Lydia's family and friends, Robert's friend (with his duel issues), Robert's boss and let's not forget Lydia's sort of future husband and none of them felt flat or lackluster. They added character and depth to the main story and a little extra oomph with more humour and/or risk, and they end up intertwining with the main story too!

I simply loved the interactions between Robert and Lydia and how they made the most out of even the oddest and less favorable situations, and they really had such a lovely & witty repertoire! Easy conversation and lovely banter!

I loved how the ending was resolved and how it went with both society standards (to a point) but also with the character's status and personalities, and it was an absolutely lovely HEA!

Charming, witty and above all, delightful! Highly recommended, best enjoyed on a lovely afternoon with a nice cup of tea! Very much deserved 4 stars!

Enticing teens to try historical fiction is like pulling teeth. Luckily Cindy Anstey books are now in my arsenal. Time to pull some teeth.

Like Jane Austen and thrillers? Wondering what a mashup of the two might look like? You need to read Cindy Anstey’s Duels & Deception, a rollicking adventure with a headstrong heroine trying to protect her inheritance of the family estate from a controlling drunk uncle, a man-crazy cousin, the spendthrift noble next door she’s expected to marry, and her own surprising feelings for Robert, the visiting new law clerk.

Lydia and Robert sparkle as their relationship develops — and then a kidnapping throws some spice into the mix. Not only do they need to escape the ruffians, they need to make sure Lydia’s name isn’t sullied by her being left alone with a man. The shame! And while she’s trying to plan a small gathering for 200 people for her 18th birthday as well.

Lydia isn’t exactly period-appropriate, since she has too many opinions about business and is determined to run things to protect her family, but her adventures are a lot of fun, with plenty of humor and suspense, and her abilities make for a better read for today’s audience. The characters are well-sketched, with their various personalities evoking pity (the former schoolmate who’s been unlucky in love and now works as a governess) or scorn (the greedy, plotting new neighbor) or admiration (Robert, the clerk, a well-bred, charming gentleman).

I loved how smart and entertaining Lydia and Robert were, together and separately, particularly when it comes to defeating a scheming sister who’s broken up the governess and her crush. It’s a bit different to think about a society where one lying letter could change someone’s life, but if one wasn’t allowed to contact someone any other way… I guess it’s not that different from only knowing someone over the internet. (The publisher provided a digital review copy.)

Well, this book was absolutely delightful! You know those books that reinvigorate your love for a specific genre? Duels and Deception totally did that for me. Historical fiction has always been my favorite genre, but I don’t read enough of it nowadays. Duels and Deception is a fun, witty Regency romance that I think almost anyone could enjoy.

First off, I really enjoyed both of the main characters, Lydia and Robert. The book is told through a 3rd-person omniscient POV, but there are chapters that follow both Lydia and Robert. Lydia reminded me lots of Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice— she’s smart, capable young woman who has lots of agency and bucks conventional expectations of Victorian women. She’s quite witty, which I always love! Robert, on the other hand, was a really endearing character. He’s a law clerk who gets involved with Lydia’s family when a legal issue comes up with their manor. He’s also an extremely intelligent character, and he cares deeply for his friends and family. As for other characters, I really loved all of Lydia’s friends! Her friends always helped her out of sticky situations, and I enjoyed their friendship dynamic.

As far as the actual plot, I found it mostly enjoyable! The “mystery” element was a bit strange, and I found it quite predictable, but I enjoyed seeing it unfold and learning all the details nonetheless. The writing was so compulsively readable. I liked the incorporation of duels into the story! Previously, the only real knowledge I had of duels was from Hamilton, lol, so it was nice to see how duels evolved in later centuries.

Above all, I enjoyed seeing the romance unfold. I, like many people, am a sucker for a friends-to-more romance, and Duels and Deception definitely fits the bill. I’ve heard some people say that Robert and Lydia’s dynamic felt like instalove, but I didn’t get that vibe. I thought their feelings developed and grew over time. They make an awesome pair, and I feel like their combined intellectual strength is definitely a force to be reckoned with. All the other relationships in the book were pretty cute, too.

Overall, I definitely recommend Duels and Deception to any lover of historical fiction, especially people looking for a cute Regency-era romance. I think anyone who enjoys cute, uncomplicated romances will enjoy this one!

Have you read Duels and Deception? If so, share your thoughts! If not, do you plan to pick it up?

Lydia Whitfield is a young heiress to a rather large fortune that is just trying to keep her family happy, her business running all while trying to find a husband that will let her be herself. When she is kidnapped with her new, young lawyer, Robert, she is determined to make sure that scandal doesn't taint her family name.
A lovely read that had me cheering for both Lydia and Robert!

It's 1817, and Lydia Whitfield is an English society heiress with her future planned out for her - even her marriage partner is planned for her, thanks to her departed father. She will run the family estate until her marriage, when Lord Aldershot, her intended, will take over the day to day work. Until then, her drunkard uncle and his unbearable wife and daughters are living at Roseberry Hall with Lydia and her mother. She wants to be free of her meddling uncle, so she contacts Mr. Robert Newton, a law clerk, to begin drawing up marriage contracts, and everything seems to be progressing nicely. Until Lydia is kidnapped!


Lydia is taken as she's about to meet with Mr. Newton regarding the contracts, and he ends up a victim of circumstance; first kidnapped with her, then rudely thrown out of the coach. But the kidnappers aren't very thorough, and make it way too easy for Lydia to escape (with Robert's help). Lydia starts wondering if the kidnapping had far deeper motives than a ransom, and Mr. Newton is too happy to help her investigate. After all, it keeps him close to Lydia, who he finds himself falling for... and she feels the same about him. Can the two get to the bottom of the plot and work through their feelings for one another while maintaining a sense of propriety?


Duels & Deception is a fun mix of proper Regency romance and a complex whodunit. The kidnapping comes with an interesting twist that stands out, and the main characters engage in witty, flirty banter that is sweet and funny. I did struggle with the pace of the novel at times, but overall, romance and historical fiction fans will enjoy this one.


Duels & Deception was named one of Entertainment Weekly's 35 Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2017. Add Cindy Anstey's previous historical romance, Love, Lies & Spies to your booktalking list, and spice it up a little with some superpowers, courtesy of Tarun Shanker's These Vicious Masks series.

Lighthearded Edwarian romances such as this one are hard to resist, especially when the intrepid heroine and charming gentleman are so well suited for each other. The action is set off when Lydia is mysteriously abducted. The who and the why behind this brazen deed propels the rest of the story. However, it takes a bit to get to the action so the first part feels a bit slow. Fortunately, there’s plenty of budding romantic tension to fill the gaps. It’s fun, though at a certain point all the woolheadedness starts to strain. All is forgiven since the ending resolves satisfactorily.

I adored Anstey's first book, Loves, Lives & Spies, and was super excited to see she had a new one coming out this year. I jumped at the chance to review it.

Like the first book, Duels & Deception was super fun. It was also an engaging and quick read - I sat down anticipating only reading a few pages and when I looked up, I had finished over half the book. I loved the characters, and did not want to leave them. And I love that mystery and intrigue also played a large role in the plot.

Anstey writes intelligent and headstrong heroines (yes!!!), and heroes who like educated women who stand up for themselves (double yes!!!). Lydia is super smart, inquisitive, and refuses to let the men in her life sideline her. She is determined to take control of her property, her business, and her future. Robert is also also super smart, loyal, and tenacious -- just like Lydia. I loved them and rooted for them the entire book.

Given how much I loved this book and her previous one, Anstey just became an insta-buy author for me.

REVIEW SCHED: 04-12-17 | REVIEW POSTED AT: the Blacksheep Reader

cute romance in regency era

I joined the blog tour of Duels & Deception simply because: (1) I LOVE historical fiction and the Regency era is something don't think I've about; (2) I've never read historical romance and Cindy Anstey sounds like a great author to start because I've read great things about Love, Lies and Spies, and (3) OMG, lOOK AT THAT COVER!! It's too pretty!! 😍😍😍

Duels & Deception started slow for me. Lydia Whitfield is about to turn eighteen. She will inherit her father's estate, Roseberry Hall, until she marries. Until then, her Uncle, who currently manages the estate, will make the decisions whether she approves of them or not. Lydia prepares her marriage certificate through the young clerk, Robert Newton. Everything was planned out for Lydia until a kidnapping happened. It is at this part of the story that I find it most engaging and when I really just can't put this book down!

One of the things I really like is the chemistry between Lydia and Robert. Lydia is a headstrong and independent woman. Robert, on the other hand, is an intelligent man with great problem solving skills. I was greatly delighted with the their interactions especially Robert's constant quest to be around Lydia (Robert is definitely a man to swoon for)!

Another thing I love about Duels & Deception is the description of the era. I love how the writing makes you feel like you're in a historical setting -- one that involves a lot a flowery faking and formalities were women gossip over who's with who and which man is available and suitable to marry. Cindy Anstey's descriptions are also very great -- engaging and vivid. She will really put you in her characters' shoes!

OVERALL, Duels & Deception is an engaging and vividly written young adult historical romance full of witty dialogues and cute romance! It's definitely a must read if: (1) you like light and humorous reads, and (2) historical romance and fiction!

2.5/5

A Regency novel centered around a teenage romance, Duels and Deceptions is a cute if somewhat shallow historical young adult read. Much like the author's previous novel from Swoon Reads, Love, Lies and Spies, the plot follows two moderately well-developed characters as their stories intersect and then entwine in escapades both wild and mundane. Though there's nothing egregiously off about Duels and Deceptions, it just fails to make an original impression. It's not a bad story, or that Lydia and Robert are boring characters -- the fault lies in the alternatively predictable or outlandish progression of the book's plot and in the flat nature of the world around the two central players.

Lydia and Robert each have their strengths and weaknesses -- as love interests for one another and as characters in their own right, but the best thing Duels and Deceptions has going for it is their genuine chemistry and the banter that springs up between them. Even when the plot veered its most outlandish or predictable, the two of them remained engaging and interesting. The same cannot be said for the secondary characters involved in their lives, but much of the novel is about the romance between the two main characters anyway. If the plot had felt more substantial or had been less generic in its fruition or the secondary characters more lifelike, I think Duels and Deceptions could have been a 3-3.5 star book. But, as it is, this was a 2.5-star read and probably my last attempt from this author.

I like the whole story, except the ending, I felt I was Lydia hanging by the rope, but I didn’t want to let go not until I have someone who is going to catch me like Robert! Yet, these two made my heart happy and thought about woolgathering. Splendid novel you have here Cindy Antsey! Congratulations!

DNF 34%

I very much wanted to like this book.
I LOVED Cindy Anstey's Love, Lies and Spies and was expecting another whimsical, Pride and Prejudice-esque type novel. Instead, I was sorely disappointed.

The novel follows Miss Lydia Whitfield, heiress to a large family fortune who has her entire future planned out accordingly: she will run the family estate, marry a sensible young man, and become the perfect wife. She even tasks her new law clerk, Robert Newton, with arranging the marriage contract. Everything will be perfect. That is until Lydia - and Robert - is kidnapped. Lydia discovers that someone is after her fortune and is determined to destroy her to get their hands on it. With Robert's help, Lydia tries to expose the villain determined to ruin her. But the more time they spend together, the more Lydia starts to wonder whether her carefully planned future is something she truly wants after all.

For all intents and purposes, I really expected to like this book. A Regency-set novel, a headstrong heroine and a handsome and sweet love interest - it has my name written all over it! So what was the problem?
This book was boring.
I'm not talking a British classic-type boring (which sometimes can be fun) - I mean like a Lord of the Rings boring (no offence) : I'm reading the words, but then my eyes blur and my brain starts thinking of something else and before I know it, I'm reading the same sentence over and over again, but nothing is penetrating.

The characters were very two-dimensional and there was a little insta-love going on. Just a little, but it still irritated me. The plot was also very cliche and, without knowing the ending, I am like 98% sure I know who is trying to steal her fortune. Sorry, Anstey, but it's pretty obvious.

This book also put me in a massive reading slump - so much so that it is mid-April and I haven't read 1 book this month. Not one!!

Look, I very well might read this book one day, and may even enjoy it, but at the moment, I am not feeling this novel and I have decided that this year I am not going to push myself to continue reading books that I am not enjoying. I'm going to try to come back to this book once I read and review the stack of other novels I have, courtesy of Netgalley, but no promises.

Lydia Whitfield has always had a plan to fulfill her obligations as her father's heir. She would run the family estate and than marry the man he chose for her before his death. She would marry for the sake of the estate, and there was no need for a love match. This all seemed well and fine, until Robert Newton entered her life. All of sudden, there were these feelings, and a kidnapping, blackmail, and a duel.

I don't know what it is, but I find books set in the Regency time period so delightful. Everyone is so prim and proper even when they aren't being prim and proper. Duels and Deception pulled me right back to those genteel times, and kept a smile on face for essentially all 368 pages.

Things I liked:
*Lydia was fabulous! In a time when women was supposed to be seen and not heard, she was bold, daring, and apparently overeducated, if you asked her uncle. She challenged the men in her life, and asserted herself often, but commonly did so for the good of others.
"Barley, you do realize that I'm not ever going to be a mouse sitting int he background, nodding in agreement whenever you bother to glance in my direction?"
*Robert was just so charming. I fell instantly for him. He was so sweet and protective, and immediately began advocating and assisting Lydia, but it was even better in his head! He had so many swoony thoughts about Lydia, and well, I live for that stuff.
"He knew she was saying something, but he couldn't hear her above the noise of his hammering heart and the buzz in his ears."
*The duels were quite amusing. The interactions were rather fun, and the final duel was a real hoot. Way to pick your weapon there, Robert.
*The deception was seamlessly woven into the story, and gave it that extra tension and intrigue. I did guess it, but for me, that's half the fun. There were a few twists that surprised me and some that made me laugh out loud too.
*The romance was perfect. I was discussing this with another blogger, and she pretty much nailed it, when she tagged it as "cute and low-drama". They had the pressure of society to deal with, as he had no title and she had an estate, but there was not all that OTT stuff, that can sometimes get on your nerves. Rather, Anstey did a fabulous job maintaining the overall tone of the book and aligning their romance to that.

Things I didn't like:
Honestly, I have nothing.

This book was fun and fancy-free, and you know I love my books that way. The story was engaging with a little mystery and suspense in there for good measure, and the result was a lot of smiling, laughing, and swooning from me.

I am a sucker for historical YA and could not pass up the opportunity on NetGalley to review this one. The beginning is somewhat slow and uninteresting, but the later half is entertaining. The overall plot is nothing complex and focuses on a young woman's place in society. Both Lydia and Robert are adorable, and I found myself constantly grinning at their unusual courtship.

This is a light and easy read, and I found it enjoyable. If you are fan of the genre and want an uncomplicated story, this is one to try.

DNF @ 30%. I'm sorry, but I struggled to get into this one, which is such a shame because I so enjoyed Love, Lies, and Spies. Unfortunately, Duels & Deceptions did not immediately grab my attention. I felt like I was only getting a glimpse at the characters and their surroundings. I couldn't truly immerse myself in the story nor could I connect to the characters, and I believe that might be due to a case of telling vs. showing. I wanted to like it. I really, really wanted to like it. :( Lovely cover, though!! I'm still going to spotlight the book on my blog.

Miss Lydia Whitfield has known what her future holds since her father's death some years before. She's done everything in her power to make sure that it all comes to fruition, including the running of the family estate and planning to marry the man her father picked out for her before his untimely death. She's even gone so far as to have her solicitor's apprentice, Mr. Robert Newton, begin drawing up the marriage contracts. Everything has been going pretty much according to plan. That is, until Lydia and Robert are kidnapped.

Robert and Lydia do manage to escape, but, through the dictates of society, if any of it becomes public knowledge Lydia's reputation will be ruined. Now, Robert and Lydia need to find out who would want to ruin Lydia and who wants her out of the way of her estate. While trying to unravel this mystery, Lydia discovers that maybe all her well-laid plans are not what she wants out of her life after all. Especially as she and Robert form and undeniable attachment to one another.

I really enjoyed Cindy Anstey's first book Love, Lies and Spies. So when I started reading Duels and Deceptions, I was really happy that the overall feel of the story was kept in the same vein as it's predecessor. I love the regency period and I think that Anstey gives such a delightful perspective on society especially in the character of Lydia Whitfield. She is such a by-the-book character. She's up on and follows the rules of society, yet she's still a willful soon to be of-age woman. I loved her intelligence, and I loved the fact that the main conflict of the story didn't require Lydia to lose any of that intelligence, or sharp observations. Meaning the solving of the mystery wasn't contingent upon things Lydia just didn't understand or chose to ignore.

For his part Robert Newton was a wonderful hero to Lydia's heroine. Robert is apprenticing to be a lawyer. I loved his think-things-through mentality. He is not a man governed by rash decisions. Instead he sees a conflict and tries to solve it in the least messy way possible. I loved that, despite their undeniable attraction, Robert and Lydia form a friendship first and foremost. Even though the deeper feelings are there, in keeping with society's predilections, Robert and Lydia would never be considered a match. This allows them to begin a friendship first, and the romance kind of blooms afterwards in a very sweet and natural way.

Overall, I really enjoyed Duels and Deceptions. I think I actually liked it more than Loves, Lies, and Spies to be honest. The mystery kept me guessing, as there are multiple shady character running about within the story. But in the end it was the regency setting that really kept me reading.

*I read this in April 2017. I reviewed it then. I read this as an arc. As always, this is my honest opinion.

My review of Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey is here. Although, these two are stand alones and don’t need to be read together.

Needless to say, I loved Love, Lies and Spies so I was excited when I was granted an arc of Duels & Deception even though I was kind of sad to not see my favorites from LL&S, I adored Duels & Deceptions.

Summary:

Miss Lydia Whitfield, heiress to the family fortune, has her future entirely planned out. She will run the family estate until she marries the man of her late father’s choosing, and then she will spend the rest of her days as a devoted wife. Confident in those arrangements, Lydia has tasked her young law clerk, Mr. Robert Newton, to begin drawing up the marriage contracts. Everything is going according to plan.
Until Lydia—and Robert along with her—is kidnapped. Someone is after her fortune and won’t hesitate to destroy her reputation to get it. With Robert’s help, Lydia strives to keep her family’s good name intact and expose whoever is behind the devious plot. But as their investigation delves deeper and their affections for each other grow, Lydia starts to wonder whether her carefully planned future is in fact what she truly wants…

Okay, so I loved Lydia, a lot. She’s feisty and bossy (in a good way) and generally gets what she wants. Her narrative was fun and made me laugh so much. Robert’s narrative was also a lot of fun. Basically, this book had me laughing so much that at 2am I couldn’t put it down.

It’s hard to sum up my thoughts on this book. I enjoyed the ride a lot. The kidnapping plot, the drunk uncle, the flirty cousin. It had all the elements that keep the book going. It didn’t feel slow or forced, just light and fun.

Lydia reminded me a little of Emma (Aka. Jane Austen’s Emma), with her control of her own house and headstrong nature. Also, her matchmaking comments.

And, Robert. *swoons*

Overall, I loved this book. It was short and fun and had enough to keep me going. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads (Although, I love LL&S more). It was just right for my mood.

I wish there was more kissing.

A lot more.

Cindy Anstey has done it again! Love, Lies and Spies was one of my favorite books of 2016. And now Duels and Deception is one of my favorite reads of 2017! I just love Cindy’s books. Duels and Deception is a companion novel, set in the same time period as Love Lies and Spies. So while you do not need to read Love Lies and Spies to understand Duels and Deception, both of these books are seriously so good that you need to read both. Trust me on that one!

Duels and Deception is a young adult historical romance by Cindy Anstey. Young Adult historical is a genre that I don’t read too much of…not because I don’t enjoy it. When it is is well done, I love it. But I am super picky when it comes to the writing and world building in my historical books. And Cindy Anstey has the historical writing IT FACTOR in spades. I felt like I was reading a young adult Oscar Wilde. Cindy is my favorite YA historical author. If you haven’t read it already, you need to read this book. It is hands, down, one of the best young adult historical romances I have ever read.

I loved the Regency wit and charm. Flirting in their flowery way just seems so much more fun to me. Duels and Deception is the story of Lydia and Robert. Lydia is delightfully headstrong and independent. I loved how she carried herself and how she was not afraid to speak her mind. And Robert is a stand up guy. Fans of good guys will swoon all over Robert. I know I did. Plus, Duels and Deception centers around an estate. And you all know how nerdy I am about estate planning. I can’t say enough positive things about this book. Stick with it for the first 6 chapters and I promise you will be sucked in. From that point on, nothing could tear me away from this story. I am having the hardest time picking my favorite of these two books. (I think it might have been Love , Lies and Spies…but only by a hair. )

Just like the first book, Duels and Deception was wonderfully witty, and awesomely romantic in the way only a fantastic historical romance can be. Everything makes it feel more romantic; the flowery over the top language, the setting, the wit and charm of the period- all of it works for me. Cindy Anstey has a fan in me.

Bottom line: If you are a lover of historical fiction, read Duels and Deception. If you are new to the genre or a reluctant reader, read Duels and Deception. It is that simple. Just read this book. I think it is one of the best books of 2017. (read Love Lies and Spies too!) Cindy Antsey is quickly climbing the ranks as a favorite author for me. I have absolutely loved both of her novels!