Felt like the plot was trying too hard for most of the book. There was an awful lot of drama, suspense and intrigue for what was a fairly typical arranged marriage into love historical romance. It was enjoyable, but not the best book I've ever read.

This is going to be a good series. Aimee is inept as a spy but has the strength of character as a warrior. Simon is a great spy but wants out of the business. Sparks fly as danger and death surround them. This was a page turner for me. What would happen next? Would they get caught? I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the story telling. I recommend this book as well as this author.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

I love spy novels and I love romance, I have been looking for some historical espionage romance since I finished Alyssa Cole's latest book. Would absolutely recommend to fans of historical romance and suspense romance. This was the best of both worlds ( An Extraordinary Union is still my favorite though).

Wed to a Spy is the first book in Sharon Cullen's newest Historical Romance series, All the Queen's Men. I have avoided Elizabethan era romance I use to read it quite a bit and burned myself out on it. I also tend to avoid books where they have actual historical figures for me, I tend to overthink and overanalyze the small nuisance of the minor/secondary characters if they were real people; in other words my brain gets in the way and it pulls me out of my fictional world. That being said, I loved this book. Sharon Cullen does a fantastic job setting up the premise for this book and the others to follow. It established the three main characters for the series and what she wants them to do. The intro focuses on Simon Marcheford a spy who is ready to retire and take the time to get to know is adolescent sister. The Queen basically blackmails him into cooperating. Aimee de Verris comes from a large french family and her mother has basically given up on getting yet another daughter married off so she pushes Aimee off on a family relative, her Aunt Catherine. However when Aimee thinks she has fall in love with a young man her guardian sees fit to send her off to Scotland as her "spy". Aimee can't defy her aunt and is stuck in cold and dreary Scotland spying on Queen Mary.

Simon was initially sent to Spain to keep tabs on the Spanish King's ties to Mary, but after gaining the King's confidence he was sent to Scotland on a errand for the King. Mary is delighted to have Simon there and sees the perfect opportunity to handle one of her obligations since he showed up. Queen Mary knows that Catherine sent Aimee to her to act as a spy but is going to honor Catherine's request that she find Aimee a husband, and she does, Simon. Marriage is the last thing Simon wants but he can't get out of it and he figures it's a easy way to get on Mary's good side and therefore easier to spy on her. It doesn't hurt that Aimee is breathtakingly beautiful and Simon is halfway in love already. Aimee doesn't take the news well. She very much is a petulant child at this point, but raised in that era spoiled yes, but she also should have also expected to have her marriage arranged for her and shouldn't have been as whiny, but it leads to her actions. Simon tries not to show how hurt he is by the fact that Aimee wants nothing to do with him and reacts in a way she he's not exactly proud of.

Meanwhile the conspirators that are out to dethrone Mary have a plan firmly in place and when they take action Aimee and Simon are in the thick of it. At this point Simon must confide in Aimee of who he really is so he can safely sneak her away from Scotland and back to London so he can explain everything to Elizabeth. In this time Aimee realizes how wrong she was about Simon and accepts her fate as well as falls in love with him. But more trouble comes when they get to London and Elizabeth discovers the truth about Aimee. Their fate lies in the hands of Queen Elizabeth.

Overall, it really was entertaining and I liked the characters, really for the exception of Aimee, but I look forward to the other spies to get their HEA.

A beautiful historical romance between an unlikely match. Sometimes, the best love stories are the ones that progress slowly through the pages until both parties are caught unaware. Ms. Cullen holds readers enthrall to the end with wonderful storytelling and the vivid setting of Scotland. Aimee is a protagonist you really feel sorry for and can't wait for her to get her happily-ever-after. Simon Marcheford is the perfect guy to win her over and it won't be easy. I've been hooked on Ms. Cullen's books ever since I read one of her previous novels. Historical romances are still my go to books where I'm guaranteed a happy ending.

Highly enjoyable read! Simon and Aimee both had roles to play, and married to each other wasn't what they both wanted. But how to say no to a Queen.
Simon a seasoned spy had no trouble doing what was second nature to him. Aimee not so much, she obviously had to do her aunt Catherine's bidding her future was at stake with the man she loved. But her chance at a life with her beloved Pierre is not to happen.
What started out as a forced marriage had the potential of becoming a marriage of love.
This was exciting and had all the intrigue of court life. Loved the hero who would lay down his life for his wife truly a wonderful hero. Loved the detail of court their flight across the country was adventurous and an exhilarating journey of love for Aimee and Simon. Well written and fast paced throughout. Can't wait to read the next story in this series.
Received a complimentary copy from NetGalley from the publisher and author for my honest unbiased opinion.

As a huge fan of Scottish historical romance, I loved this author’s “Highland Pride” series verra, verra much. So needless to say, I was thrilled to see she has another new series. With an English hero, French heroine, in a Scotland backdrop, it certainly starts off with a multicultural approach.

I must confess English spy romance books are often hit and miss with me. Mainly because I prefer an alpha rogue hero with a Scottish swagger and dagger hanging from his kilt and last but definitely not least, a sexy Scottish brogue to match. But, hey, I’m all in for an Englishman, as long as he is very manly and not much of a prim and proper dandy.

Both the main couple have been forced down a path they did not wish to travel. Aimee was ripped from what was supposed to be her French lover’s loving arms and told to spy on Mary, Queen of Scots. Simon longed to now live a simple life with his much younger sibling on an estate gifted to him by Queen Elizabeth for his many years of devoted service. Unfortunately, manipulative monarchies often have other plans.

Well, you can’t hide those spying eyes forever, now can you? Chaos ensues shortly after the main couple are forced to wed then flee for their very lives.

Though I ultimately enjoyed the overall storyline, The first 60% at times seemed to move at a very slow pace. I found myself a little impatient for things to pick up, but in hindsight I do appreciate the time the main couple spent getting to know each other. Simon may not be spouting a sexy Scottish brogue, but he certainly knew how to use a dagger and had the mountain of muscles to make it clear you didn’t want to mess with him or his lady love.

Yes, it all ends in a HEA after some surprising manipulative maneuvers of their own. I’m looking forward to what is next for Will and Tristan, Simon’s fellow spy partners, as they will likely be featured in sequels of this series.

Title: Wed to a Spy, Series: All the Queen’s Spies, Author: Sharon Cullen, Pages: 259, stand-alone but part of a series, good guy English hero, French heroine told to spy, very graphic steamy scenes, some violence, reluctant to let go of a promise, no cheating, some OM drama though he doesn’t make an appearance, no OW drama.

Book 1 - Wed to a Spy (Simon & Aimee)
Book 2 - Bound to a Spy (Will & Rose)

(I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. No compensation was provided to me, nor do I have any affiliation with the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

This is a dramatic, romantic story of intrigue, betrayal and love. Aimee is sent to Scotland to spy on Queen Mary for her aunt, Catherine de Medici. Simon is sent to spy for England's Queen Elizabeth, and to try to prevent the murder of Mary's most trusted advisor. Unfortunately for Aimee, and Simon, Mary isn't dumb. She knows that Aimee is spying, and suspects that Simon is too. Her solution is for them to marry so she can keep them under her thumb. Aimee had her heart set on marrying the man she left in France, but soon finds herself attracted to her new husband. Simon is charming and engaging, and vulnerable. Aimee is naive and brave, and alone. It's a captivating story that you can't put down once you start reading it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my voluntary and honest opinion of it.

While Simon Marchford would love to retire and no longer spy for Queen Elizabeth, he's bound to her commands. Once in Scotland in Queen Mary's court, he soon is married to Aimee de Verris. She was sent to Mary's court by Catherine de Medici as a spy, which she is horrible at. Both are caught up in a conspiracy and are forced to escape Scotland. Simon will protect Aimee no matter what, and she might just be able to love him.

I really like period romances that go into some of the historical aspects of the time. Here, that includes court intrigue, how the castle appears, and the complex relationships that royalty and spies might have.

We get to know Aimee and Simon from each other's perspectives, and their discomfort at the arranged marriage is a real thing that neither shies away from. It's a fun trope because of course, they get to know each other as Simon keeps Aimee safe in Scotland and then on their way to England. Their affections develop gradually, and both are more concerned for the other's welfare than their own.

The characters are fun to read about, and the plot keeps things moving steadily until the end. There's a bit of a sudden turnaround at the end; even with Simon's skill and importance, it feels a little far fetched. Overall, this is an enjoyable book.

It has been a long time since I have read/reviewed historical romance. I was a huge historical romance junkie when I was in high school. I always had my nose in one and I was known around school as “the girl who read the bodice-rippers”…..lol. I had a huge library of Harlequin romance novels, along with Teresa Medieros, Jule Garwood, and Judith McNaught. I do not have that library anymore, I lost the library while moving a few years back, but I have very fond memories of sitting at home, reading these book and discussing them with my friends, who read them too.

So when I saw Wed to a Spy’s description pop up on NetGalley, I had to request it. The cover, which is beautiful, took me back to the mid 90’s and being a carefree high schooler with not a worry in the world.

I loved the backdrop of the story. Tudor England and Scotland in all of its glory. I was so happy that the author chose Tudor England instead of Regency or Victorian England. Personally, which I love reading about those eras, I feel that it is overdone. I really haven’t read romances set in Tudor England and like I said above, I was really happy about it. I just wish a tad more world building was involved in the book. I would have loved to have read more background on Mary since the story is mainly set in her court. I also would have loved to see more of how the court worked and to be honest, I would have really liked to have seen more of the uprising that killed Mary’s advisor, David Rizzo.

Aimee wasn’t my favorite character in the book. She just came across as very immature for a good part of the book and she was pining after a Frenchman, Pierre. She was sent to Scotland, by her aunt Catherine de’Medici, after getting caught in a scandalous embrace with Pierre. She was also told to spy on Mary and write back with any information that she, Catherine, could do. If she did that, than Catherine would let her back home. She did grow on me during her and Simon’s escape from the castle and then from Scotland but still, not my favorite character.

I did like Simon and felt bad for him when Elizabeth denied his retirement. All he wanted was to take his younger sister and go back to his house to raise her. But Elizabeth had one last mission for him to do before allowing him to retire. It was while he was undercover, doing this mission, where he met Aimee and then Mary decreed for them to marry because, in her words, “They suited each other.” Which made me laugh because they did not, at first, suit each other. Actually, Aimee made it very clear that she didn’t even want to be married to him, that she wanted Pierre. But, in those days, marriage was a sacred bond that was never broken and women were men’s property. So once they were married, they stayed married and Simon had absolute control over Aimee. I wouldn’t have been a good fit in those times.

The romance between Aimee and Simon was a very slow burn. I mean, they didn’t even kiss until almost halfway through the book (not counting their kiss when they got married) and sex happened only a few times during the book. The sex wasn’t explicit but you definitely knew what they were doing.

The intrigue and drama that start happened in the book were the best part of the book. I held my breath during Rizzo’s execution and the madness that happened during the aftermath. The escape from the castle, along with the escape from Scotland was a page turner and kept me glued to the book.

I wasn’t a fan of the ending, though. While it was an HEA, I didn’t like how it came about. Too much happened in a short amount of time and made my head spin.

How many stars will I give Wed to a Spy: 3

Why: While I liked the storylines and the backdrop of Tudor-era England, I just couldn’t get into the story. Which made me sad because I used to love these types of books when I was a teenager.

Will I reread: Maybe

Will I recommend to family and friends: Maybe

Age range: Adult

Why: Violence and sex

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This was a sexy and suspenseful historical romance and I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to reading more books in this series!

For the life of me, I just could not get into this book. The characters did really nothing for me. They had no chemistry between them at all. The premise of the story I liked but it lacked any suspense or OMG what is going to happen. I thought it would be action packed with cloak and dagger and peril. I mean he is a spy. There was no scary parts or real deception. No real drama or terrible situation. I wasn't scared or on the edge of my seat at any point in in the story. Insert Yawn. The summary sounded better then the actual story.

Not my cup of tea. I like her other stories though so I am bummed.

Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Very suspenseful drama story that had my interst from start to finish.Full of intrigue and love,I found it to be a good time period piece.Lots of interesting characters.

Well, this book was something of a slow build, and it took me until almost a third of the way through to become fully engaged in the story. However, past that point the atmosphere and intrigue of the environment are well established. The author does a good job of introducing the main female character Aimee de Verris and giving her history, but I felt I didn't get the same connection to the main male character, Simon Marcheford, as very little is provided about his past or his thoughts about anything other than Aimee. Overall, it was a pretty standard romance that had some interesting elements of Scottish court intrigue.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sir Simon planned to retire and raise his sister; instead,
Queen Elizabeth sends Sir Simon to spy and report on Mary, Queen of Scots; This should be his last assignment. Aimee has been sent (by her aunt, Queen Catherine de Medici of Spain), to spy on Queen Mary, as well. Lady Aimee's been raised in Queen Catherine's court and is untrained as a spy. She longs to marry Pierre. Mary, Queen of Scots, stuns both Sir Simon and Lady Aimee when she...
Interesting historical espionage romance. Enjoyed the characters (though sometimes became irritated with Aimee's immature way). She did improve to a stronger and more likeable character later. Fun read. 3 1/2 stars.
Voluntarily read an ARC, thru Netgalley and publisher, for an honest review.

This was a fast paced historical read. Aimee is sent unhappily from France to Scotland to spy for Catherine de Medici. Simon has been requested by Queen Elizabeth to finish one last assignment and spy on Queen Mary. Little did either suspect the Queen decided they should marry. Plenty of drama and intrigue in this read. Character wise I liked Simon more than Aimee. Overall it is an entertaining read and I really liked it.

Sir Simon Marcheford is one of Queen Elizabeth's most trusted spies, but he wants nothing more than to retire to his estate with his little sister. Elizabeth however has other ideas. Refusing his queen is too dangerous to consider.
Aimee de Verris has lived most of her life at the French court. When she is caught in an indiscretion and sent away she is devastated. What she is sent to do could easily cost her her life.
The Scottish court of Mary, Queen of Scots is rife with schemes and political intrigue. A very dangerous place, especially for those with an ulterior motive for being there.
An exciting adventure in a political minefield. Our hero is brave and honorable (for a spy). Our heroine is a confused innocent, in way out of her depth.
The story is fascinating and will keep you turning the pages until the end.
A thoroughly enjoyable book.

'Wed to a Spy' by Sharon Cullen is book One in the New series "An All the Queen's Spies". This is the story of Aimee de Verris and Simon Marcheford.
Aimee is from France and is in love with a man her Aunt Catherine de Medici does not like. So when she is caught in a compromising position with him, her Aunt sends her to Scotland to spy on Queen Mary. Catherine has promised Aimee if she does this she will agree to her marriage to this man. But Aimee isn't spy material and hates it.
Simon is a spy for Queen Elizabeth and had hoped to retire but the Queen asked that him and his friends help her with one more mission. Simon is sent to Scotland to spy on Queen Marry.
Queen Mary has ordered Simon to marry Aimee...of which neither has a choice.
Simon and Aimee soon find themselves having to depend on each other and possibly fallen in love.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Simon is an English spy in Queen Mary’s court in Scotland via his assignment in Spain. He’s asked by the Queen to keep an eye on Aimee de Verris as Mary believes her to be a spy. While Simon thinks that Aimee’s beautiful he has no true interest in her – nor her in him. That doesn’t stop Queen Mary from ordering them to get married. What? Yep, the next day they’re married and neither is happy about it.

Aimee was raised by her aunt, Catherine de Medici, in the French court. She fell in love with a man but when they were caught in an embrace Catherine sent Aimee to Scotland. Catherine told Aimee that she needed to spy and if she succeeds then Catherine would let Aimee and her man be together. Of course because Aimee believes herself to be in love with a man in France the last thing she wants to do is marry someone else. Though she fights it she ends up marrying Simon. She likes the man but the thought of being married to anyone but her love and an Englishman to boot is horrible.

Aimee and Simon try to deal with their marriage as best they can but when someone is killed in Queen Mary’s court they have to hide and then escape to save their own lives. While in this dire situation they get to know each other and realize that maybe they can learn to love each other.

While this book blurb was based on two spies coming together we soon learned that Aimee wasn’t anywhere near being a spy. She was just a young girl who had been played by her aunt. I felt horrible for her for being so used by both Catherine and in the end, Queen Mary. She had just wanted to be left alone to be with her man, Pierre. I was happy that she soon realized that what she thought was love with Pierre was just an infatuation and that Simon was a man she could love – and then fell in love with him.

Simon was a great guy who just wanted to be left alone to raise his young sister in the country. His Queen had tasked him with one last mission and he never imagined where it would lead him – into matrimony. The more time he spent with Aimee the more he liked her and soon found himself in love. He was a good man and I was thrilled that he found love with Aimee, even if it was unexpected.

The characters in this book were interesting and intriguing. The story was well written and sucked me in from the first page. My one issue with the story is that the falling in love happened really quickly. I loved that they fell in love I just wish it would have happened a bit slower – a minor issue, really.

Overall I enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
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I just knew that as soon as I pick up a book by Sharon Cullen I'm going to love it, and yes I sure did. I just love her style of writing.

This is about Simon Marchford Queen Elizabeth's top spy and Aimee de Ferris,

Simon wants to retire but Elizabeth gives him one more mission, in the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Aimee is there for the same reason only she has been planted by Catherine of Medici, her aunt.

Aimee finds herself married to Simon on the whim of the Queen, and Catherine, can they both learn to trust one and other or shall they do what they are meant to do.

Gripping read, I enjoyed it anyway.

I received an advanced readers copy from Netgalley and I voluntarily leave my honest opinion