Great historical read! I was hooked from beginning to end. Gabrielle and Ramsey are great characters with a wonderful chemistry. The story is fast paced with lots of drama, intrigue and emotion. I loved it!

This was a fantastic and adventurous start to a new series! I can't wait to read more!

Traitor in Her Arms starts out as a ‘gentleman/gentlewoman’ thief story. I must admit I was really enjoying the opening chapter when the first theft ‘competition’ takes place between Gabrielle and Ramsey. But remembering the book synopsis, I quickly realized, this lighthearted start to the book would not last.

Both Gabrielle and Ramsey became thieves out of necessity. Gabrielle, to pay off her late husbands debts. Telling Ramsey’s reason for becoming a thief would be a bit of a spoiler here. But suffice to say that, at heart, both Gabrielle and Ramsey are honorable people.

The idea that heirs are responsible for the debts of the dead has always been disturbing to me. Especially in the time of this story, when women had little or no rights as to how the family funds where spent. In this case, it only serves to make the reader empathize more with Gabrielle, cheer for her and boo at the villainous debt collector who also makes an early appearance.

Very soon after chapter one, the story turns serious when Gabrielle agrees to take on a mission for the Scarlet Pimpernel. This first part seem hurried and without enough details. It did serve to make the Scarlet Pimpernel the most inscrutable character in the book. After Gabrielle embarks on her journey and meets Ramsey, on his own secret mission, the story takes a darker turn landing the pair in the middle of the Reign of Terror in Paris. I was quickly caught up in the adventure, danger and the emotions of the situation.

There was one contrived situation, where the heroine and hero must get naked to avoid arrest. It was an odd combination of humor and seriousness. But hey, it is a romance – with lots of romancing! The romancing takes the form of both the hero and the heroine overthinking and mostly deciding that it is best they do not go too far, for various, well-thought out reasons. As the reader, I could not wait for the moment their hearts would block out their thoughts.

This book seesaws from the from the intense emotions between Gabrielle and Ramsey to the danger and horror of Paris during the Reign of Terror. The scene where romance and history are combined and Ramsey proves his love for Gabrielle is so epic to be movie-worthy. No spoilers though. Just know it is coming.

This first book in The Scarlet Chronicles has so much going for it: a sizzling romance, danger, adventure, history, intrigue and mysterious hero with a secret identity. Shana Galen’s talent as a storyteller shines in Traitor in Her Arms.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in so that I could bring you this honest review.

Traitor in Her Arms
by Shana Galen

Wow! Wow! What an amazing start to what looks to be an awesome series!

Gabrielle left destitute by her late husbands, she needs to find a way to pay the debts or else one evil creditor has threatened to have her pay the debt in a brothel! What's a woman to do? Turn to a lesser evil-thievery- out of the two thieving looks more enticing. As it happens she has a natural talent as a thief. Her talent isn't without peril or notice. Catching the eye of the Scarlet Pimpernel she's recruited for a dangerous mission that she can't refuse for if she does innocents will suffer in her heart of hearts she can't refuse.

Lord Ramsey Sedgwick has lived his life based on a lie, he's honest and honourable at heart but the fact that he's being blackmailed he'll do whatever he can to extricate himself from the clutches of his blackmailer.
He needs to unmask the Scarlet Pimpernel to be free but at what cost to him?Gabrielle! The one woman he never thought he'd be deceiving and betraying.

What ensues as they endeavour each with their own dangerous agenda is horrific and the brutality they witness during their time in Paris brings them closer and Ramsey realizes that even though he has plenty of opportunity to abandon her he can not become that man and lose the woman that has stolen his heart.
This is one epic story with spine tingling danger and suspense, palpable chemistry. This goes beyond your typical romance it's gritty, edge of your seat horror keep you holding your breath. It is one hell of story with vivid and descriptive scenes that play out as a well produced film!

Shana Galen has THE TOUCH in storytelling!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest unbiased opinion.

Paris in the revolution!

The opening scenes are gritty and vivid, laced with a certain amount of gallows humour. Lady Gabrielle McCullough is in a tumbrel in Paris rumbling over cobblestones, having had her hair slashed off in readiness to meet Madame la Guillotine, and surrounded by crowds screaming for yet more beheadings. Yes! This new series has us smack in the middle of Paris at the time of the French Revolution. The scenes of gore and crowds howling for blood, the sansculotte, Robespierre, even Fouché, is here. Above all, the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel is in the background moving people around, directing the rescue of aristocrats and others, always within a whisker of being discovered.
The action then retreats to how Gabrielle has arrived at this state. It seems that upon being widowed Gabrielle found herself responsible for her husband's considerable gambling debts. Debts owed to a very nasty man. To keep herself afloat, Gabrielle has taken to stealing antiquities. In the middle of appropriating an Egyptian necklace aGabrielle is surprised by her husband's best friend, Ramsay, the Earl of Sedgwick. Ramsay is being blackmailed by a mysterious woman (who seemingly has informants everywhere), into doing various tasks for her in order to regain important papers she has about him. The scene of Gabrielle and Ramsay's meeting in the darkened room is both amusing and tense. The results, interesting.
When Gabrielle is approached by the Pimpernel in London to rescue a French countess from a Paris prison, Gabrielle agrees.
Imagine her surprise when she finds Ramsay making another appearance in her life, bound for Paris on the same ship as herself. Trust goes out the window, even as sensuality rushes in. And the dark dangers of Paris await. Little does Gabrielle know that Ramsay needs to discover the Pimpernel's identity, and that Gabrielle is to be that conduit.
What is so fascinating about this story by Galen is the tension generated between what Gabrielle and Ramsay are forced into doing, the dangers they find themselves in, their conscience or lack thereof, and the undeniable chemistry between them, all set against a particularly bloody and horrendous time in French history.
In the meantime we are treated to an interesting array of secondary characters, some of whom I'm sure we will meet in the future.

A NetGalley ARC
(August 2017)

I should have loved Traitor in Her Arms. I was sure the combination of spies, an enemies-to-lovers romance and the Scarlet Pimpernel was destined to be wonderful, and I’m so disappointed to tell you it wasn't. The principals are unappealing, the plot contrived and ridiculous, the secondary characters are silly, and the whole thing is - frankly - a mess. Thieves - with backstories that apparently justify their criminal activity - find love and redemption when they simultaneously wind up in Paris. The set-up is ludicrous, the involvement of the Scarlet Pimpernel insulting to the character and his author, and the outcome is predictable. Though I enjoyed the chemistry between the principals, I disliked their histories and motivations so intensely, it was difficult - nigh, impossible - to root for them.

Lady Gabrielle McCullough is a widow and thief. Shortly after the death of her husband, she discovered he’d racked up massive gambling debts and his creditors - a ruthless, violent and pitiless lot - want payment. When the story opens, Gabrielle is attending a ball with close friend Lady Diana and plans to escape the ballroom later on and steal a valuable necklace from her hostess. She’s only managed to stay a step ahead of her creditors by becoming a master thief; her position in society provides her with ample access to valuable art and jewelry. She later fences her stolen goods and uses the proceeds to pay off her husbands debts. (Note: we’re supposed to be sympathetic to this justification for her thievery). Gabrielle is aided and abetted in her thievery by her friend/bosom buddy/housekeeper - who coincidentally (and conveniently) trained her to become a master picker of locks and pockets – and Lady Diana, who eagerly encourages and supports Gabrielle’s escapades (cue eyeroll).

On this night, her plan is foiled when she discovers another thief, Ramsey Barnes, the Earl of Sedgewick, has beat her to the prize. After diligently and patiently picking the lock of the jewelry box and realizing the necklace is missing, she turns to find Ramsey smirking at her from the closed door. She’s vexed but not immune to his handsome good looks and arrogant air, and they engage in a flirtatious exchange wherein she attempts to lift the necklace whilst seducing him and he pretends to let her. When the evening ends, Ramsey still has the necklace, and Gabrielle is left empty-handed, nearly broke and flustered by her intense attraction to her husband's former best friend.

Ramsey Barnes is living a lie he’s desperate to protect and is hopeful the necklace will provide the means to free him from a blackmailer. He hadn’t expect to run into Gabrielle, the woman he’s long desired, but the exchange - and their passionate kisses - are yet another reminder of all he stands to lose if his past is revealed. He’s curious about both Gabrielle’s motivations for stealing the necklace and wonders where she learned to pick locks. Though he’d like to uncover her secrets, he reminds himself that he doesn’t deserve the attentions of Lady McCullough and if she ever discovers the truth about him... well, it’s reason enough to keep away from her. Unfortunately, when he returns to his blackmailer, necklace in hand, she refuses to give him the incriminating evidence but offers him an alternative - identify the Scarlet Pimpernel and she’ll turn over all the evidence against him. Though we aren’t privy to all details of Ramsey’s secret, it’s clear that the truth has the power to affect more lives than his own and he agrees.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle is desperate. Violently accosted by one of her late husband's creditors, she barely escapes an attempted kidnapping, but without the necklace, she’s unable to pay the debt. Desperate for funds, she plots with her housekeeper and Lady Diana, to steal the necklace from Ramsey, but that same evening she’s approached - in secret - by the Scarlet Pimpernel. Having learned of Gabrielle’s exceptional skills as a thief (come on!), he needs her help to free a mother and daughter imprisoned in La Force prison. The Scarlet Pimpernel asks Gabrielle to travel to revolutionary Paris, steal a valuable bracelet and use it to barter with the head guard for their freedom and Gabrielle knows she can’t refuse. The mission conveniently provides her a way out of London and a hiding place from her creditors so, despite the fears and objections of her friends, she agrees to help and departs... only to discover her nemesis, Lord Sedgwick, is also en route to Paris.

I want to tell you that from this flimsy, ridiculous premise, things improve. But they don't. Amidst the backdrop of the ghastly revolution in Paris, smack dab in the middle of the Reign of Terror, Gabrielle and Ramsey somehow partner up and find themselves in increasingly improbable and impossible situations. Neither wants to trust the other, and Ramsey suffers increasing guilt about his role, but every moment they spend together is alternately full of their mutual naughty, lascivious thoughts and fearful paranoia about their dangerous mission. Reader: Paris is dangerous and their position is precarious. But somehow their mutual lust is always at the forefront of their every interaction. I lost count of the number of times I rolled my eyes in incredulity - wondering just how or why Ms. Galen thought this dark, tense setting was an appropriate backdrop for these two silly, fumbling, horny spies. The addition of secondary characters willing to help them - even after they repeatedly demonstrate a lack of skill as either spies or thieves - is similarly off-note. I don’t want to spoil the conclusion of the novel except to tell you it’s neat, tidy and I might have said - “oh, come on! Really? I’m supposed to believe that?” Okay, I said that.

I liked the people Ms. Galen wanted her principals to be - sexy, flirtatious, clever and deeply affected by their feelings for someone they decided was off limits long ago. Plagued with doubts - about each other, the relationship between them that might have been, what they’re doing together now - it’s easy to see how they struggle to accept the inevitable outcome of their partnership in France - that they’re meant to be together. Unfortunately, saddling the two of them with backstories that demonstrate a history of poor decision making and a willingness to do or say whatever it takes to save their own skins, made it difficult for me to accept their miraculous transformations into law abiding, inherently honest and good people. Positioning the Scarlet Pimpernel as some sort of omniscient father figure - capable of: running a secret spy ring, benevolently paying off gambling debts, and interceding with the King to help individuals who play footloose and fancy free with the truth of his origins... well, I liked the idea more than the execution.

Traitor in Her Arms dashed my hopes for the exciting premise of this novel and the series to come. The characters are flawed men and women I struggled to like or root for, and none of the secondary characters introduced in this novel left me eager for more. The revolution in France is a dark and ugly period in history; it’s no place for fools stumbling about trying to save the poor souls imprisoned on its shores. I was disappointed in this story and this couple.

the french revolution is not usually an era used as a backdrop for romantic novels, it's a bit macabre, what with all the losing of heads and blood flowing in the streets. shana galen's traitor in her arms doesn't shy away from any of that. the horrors of revolutionary paris are described in meticulous detail, but not in a way that feels gratuitous or false.

the horrors of paris up the ante for our hero and heroine. lady gabrielle mccullough is a thief who finds herself recruited by the mysterious scarlet pimpernel. she's left drowing in debt after her husband's death and her attempt to steal cleopatra's lapis lazuli necklace to finance paying her bills goes awry when ramsey barnes, earl of sedgwick gets there first.

she's not sure why he'd be stealing the necklace. he has money. it's likely just a game to him. years ago they shared a kiss in a summer house, but nothing came of it. she's sure he's toying with her the same way he did back then. the truth is more complicated however, ramsey is being blackmailed. his life, his ability to care for his family, is under threat if the truth about his past is revealed to society. he's always been attracted to gabrielle, but he's also known that getting close to her was too great a risk. if everything were ever revealed her position in society would be under threat, and ramsey wasn't about to risk it.

when his blackmailer asks him to unmask the scarlet pimpernel he has no choice but to head to paris. when he encounters gabrielle on the ship and realizes she is working with the mysterious do-gooder, he realizes he must stay close to her. his intent is to betray her. but the idea of this kills him. he finds himself helping gabrielle with her task even as his blackmailer grows more determined to have him bow to her will.

the story really shines when it gets to the streets of paris. the action picks up, the danger and the horror do too. ramsey and gabrielle find themselves drawn together for reasons that go beyond their mutual safety or their individual missions. there's the connection they've been denying for years, and with death threatening just around the corner, there's no reason to keep apart.

This new series by Shana Galen will catch you by surprise.
It is not any historical novel, but rather based on a famous story/legend: the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Two thieves look for the same jewel, Cleopatra's famous necklace.
Their reasons are different, but their paths meet and one wants to find out why the other needs the jewel so much.
Meanwhile, all of London places Scarlet Pimpernel at the hero's post.
But was he really?

Gabrielle McCullough was the widow of Viscount George McCullough. He was very friend to Lord Ramsey Sedwick.
Ramsey was charmed by Gabrielle from the first moment he saw her at the country party, but he realized that his friend George was quicker to make her the court.
George ended up dying in a duel and left his widow full of gambling debts.
Already Ramsey needed the necklace to make a bargain. Something that could save his neck or extinguish him from the face of the Earth.

Between treasure hunting and misunderstandings, the couple realizes the attraction that unites them and that can explode in a rapturous and dangerous feeling...
4 stars

This book was enjoyable, Gabrielle and Ramsey were good together and the story line flowed well. There was good detail in the story and the danger kept you on the edge of your seat.

Lady Gabrielle McCullough is a childless widow who is now hounded by her deceased husband’s very nasty debt collectors. Lady Gabrielle is forced to become a thief and her skills have not gone unnoticed. She’s recruited by a man she believes is the Scarlet Pimpernel, the mysterious do-gooder spiriting aristocrats out of revolutionary France. Earl of Sedgwick, a thief in his own right and an enticingly masculine presence is on his way to France too. The two become the most unlikely pair of thieves working together. When Gabrielle get near Ramsey her heart pounds even though she knows he’s not to be trusted. What an adventure these two have I loved this book it’s a fast read and totally captivating adventure!!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC copy from Net Galley.

Wow! This was unputdownable! I enjoyed every minute of it. I was hooked from the very first page and had it not been for work, I would have finished it in one sitting.

Ironically, I abhor French history. I hated memorizing all the events and dates in university and it has traumatized me to this day. But Shana Galen did a wonderful job with the historical background. Her descriptions were compelling and I felt transported back to that frightful period in France. Galen's depiction of Paris and its people was very authentic and reminded me of French classics. For instance, the description of La Seine called to mind the poem "Nocturne Parisien" by Paul Verlaine. It is clear that the author did her research thoroughly. She even included some very interesting facts in there that surprised me. If only my professors had taught us about cemetery balls and death masks!

The hero and heroine are both very flawed characters, but one cannot help but root for them. Both Gabrielle and Ramsey are thieves and they each have their reason for stealing. Gabrielle and Ramsey find themselves in France during the Reign of Terror because they each have a different mission to accomplish. They start relying on each other, but the heroine does not fully trust the hero. I won't to go into much detail because I don't want to spoil the fun. My only complaint was that the book ended too quickly!

I was sucked into the story and could not put it down. Traitor in Her Arms had everything you could ask for: romance, suspense and adventure. I was there with Gabrielle and Ramsey every step of the way. The plot was compelling and the characters were interesting. The relationship and character development was done exceptionally well. I felt a lot for both Gabrielle and Ramsey.

Some readers complained that the romance was secondary, but it did not feel that way to me. I think there was a good balance of plot and romance. Ramsey, against all his will, was a romantic hero, supporting Gabrielle and saving her from the dangers of Revolutionary Paris. If that is not romantic, I don't know what is.

Hang on for a wild ride. Set in the tumultuous Reign of Terror, Lady Gabrelle is pressed into service by the Scarlet Pimpernel to help save a titled woman and her child from the Guillotine. The Earl, Ramsey, needs to find out the identity of the Pimpernel to save himself from his nefarious blackmailer, and Lady G. seems like a good entry to the Pimpernel. But what starts out as two individuals working for themselves turns into romance.

I enjoyed this action packed adventure romance. There are sexy times and very violent times. I admit to being a bit squeamish about all the “heads rolling”. Shana Galen can put us in the middle of the action and give us heart pounding scenes that keep the pages turning.

I had trouble reviewing this book because in general I love all her books. Both the characters in traitor did not inspire me and I therefore had a problem being invested in their love story . The parallels and references to the scarlet pimpernel I also found annoying rather then engaging - perhaps because I read it many times as a teenager . It was an okay read I but I'm used to more then okay from Shana .

When Lady Gabrielle McCullough’s husband dies and leaves her with nothing but debt, she resorts to thievery to pay the thugs hounding her to collect on those debts. When she’s recruited by the Scarlet Pimpernel to steal an item that will enable a noblewoman and her young child to escape the French Reign of Terror, she accepts since it will get her out of town and away from the debt collectors. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into until she arrives in Paris and sees the absolute horror that is occurring at every turn. Luckily, she had run into the Earl of Sedgwick on the ship and he helps her navigate through the danger. Sedgwick is a cunning thief as well and he's a man Gabrielle has always been attracted to, but she doesn't trust him at all. Ramsey's in Paris because he’s being blackmailed to find the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel and if he doesn’t, a secret that will ruin his life will be revealed. They join forces and that works out well for a while, but then Ramsey’s blackmailer begins to interfere in the worst way. There are a good many instances of the terrible actions that humans can perpetrate on each other, but also the courage and kindness that come out during such dangerous and terrifying times, as Gabrielle and Ramsey have to figure out a way to escape France and get back to the safety of England. With the French Revolution as a backdrop, the story had plenty of suspense and danger, but there was also an intense and heated attraction between two people caught in a nightmare and clinging to the only good thing in sight. I loved how the conclusion wrapped up nicely. Since I couldn’t see how it could ever work out, I thought the author’s clever solution was delightful. I’m looking forward to seeing where this new series goes next, I’m sure there are lots of missions that will need to be carried out during that dangerous and terrible time.
My early copy of the book was received from NetGalley.

I love Shana Galen's books but I truly could not get into this story. I really don't know what it was because I could see the love behind Gabrielle and Ramsey.

This story is dark and bloody, but so interesting. I really liked the story and the characters. They aren't perfect and both are struggling to get through life. Gabrielle is struggling to keep her head above water. Her late husband was a gambler and when he died, he left her with a very large amount of debt. So, she learns to steal objects to sell on the black market to pay them off. Ramsey is stealing for a very different reason and is trying to protect others. When they both end up in Paris during a very bloody time, they have to trust each other if they want to make it out alive. Ramsey learns that he is more noble than he thought. Gabrielle is very selfless and realizes that even though she is hounded by creditors, her life wasn't all that bad in England.

The first book in the new Scarlet Chronicles Series is an action packed adventure with heart stopping peril, steamy sex, and a truly wonderful love story. What would you have done if the Scarlet Pimpernel contacted you and asked you to go France during the revolution and steal a valuable piece of jewelry to bribe the warden to free a mother and her child? Gabrielle has had to learn how to survive to keep a roof over her head since her husband died and left her buried in debt. She is strong, stubborn and fearless.

Ramsey, Lord Sedgwick is living a lie. If he is found out he will hang. Only one person knows his secret, a Madam who expects him to do what she wants whenever she wants. Now she wants to know the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Sedgwick, even though he has secrets is still a good and honorable hero who only wants to help his tenants and his family.

Gabrielle and Ramsey wind up reluctant partners on the journey to France. Both keeping their secrets close. They find themselves in lust with each other and give into their passions. But is it just lust or something stronger. They will have to trust each other with their deepest darkest secrets.

I am a big fan of Shana's writing. The first book of hers that I read was "When You Give A Duke A Diamond", and I was hooked. Her characters are strong and intelligent. Her stories are not the same old romance plots. This book is a perfect example of using historical events and weaving in a story that will enjoy till the very end. This one is a keeper!

This is the first book in a new series by Shana Galen. It is about the Scarlett Pimpernel(SP) and his league and the people they recruit to help out in their work.
This story is about Gabrielle and Ramsay. She is a widowed Viscountess and he an Earl. Both have their secrets and a are trying to work free of them and their pasts. Both have resorted to stealing from the Ton to cover up their pasts.
Gabrielle is recruited by SP to help steal an item in France and then deliver it to a jailer who will help free a French Contessa and her 1 year old daughter before they go to the guillotine.
Ramsay has been told if he can deliver the identity of the SP, the papers concerning his past will be turned over to him.
So they both head for France at the same time, on the same boat. The setting for the rest of this story takes place there.
This is is not my favorite time period to read about. The threat of death, the seeing of it and the results of it prevail in most stories of this time period. It can become overwhelming, depressing. But despite it being present in this story, Sana Galen keeps your focus is on the two main characters, Gabrielle and Ramsay. You see their relationship grow, their love grow, their trust grow and then their secrets revealed. You see their strengths and weaknesses.
Shana Galen's characters and storylines are so well developed , so different. It leaves you guessing and it keeps the book flowing. You don't want to put it down bexcuse you can not wait to see what happens next.

Wow! This was an edge of my seat read unlike any other historical romantic suspense I've read! Just when I thought everyone was safe, a new twist. But even with all the suspense the romance was not lost and in fact was absolutely wonderful and compelling. I cannot wait until the next in the series releases!