I love books about married couples!
These two have had a rough marriage, with hurt feelings, lies, and misunderstandings. If you can't stand books where the couple doesn't just talk, you will be constantly frustrated with the characters.
Their feelings and motivations were clear. I completely understood why they didn't trust each other with their vulnerabilities. They come together for individual reasons, then they get involved in an investigation. Once around other people, the vibrant side characters influence them in positive ways.
No cheating! Thank you!

A few stretches of the imagination with the heroine being a lady helper to Bow Street and the lady Regina being a confirmed spinster grand niece of a duke.

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. There was a mystery to solve , both working for the Home Office. Nicole left England after a terrible argument with Mark. Neither saw how being together again would bring back the desire and passion they had all those years ago

General Mark Grimaldi is the grandson of a Duke, but his mother was disowned for marrying an Italian Catholic and so he has always had a dislike of the aristocracy. He married Nicole Huntington 10 years ago, thinking she was an aristocrat who loved him as the poor soldier he was then. Unfortunately three months into the marriage he discovered that she already knew of his aristocratic family, added to which she was secretly spying for the Bow Street Runners behind his back. Words were spoken in anger and Nicole fled to France where she has been a spy ever since. Now Mark is hoping for promotion to Home Secretary but his boss wants to appoint a family man, so Mark has travelled to France to see if he can persuade Nicole to return to England until he gets his promotion.

I found this book a bit misleading, the blurb led me to believe this was an couple, estranged as a result of a misunderstanding, reconnecting to enable the husband to get a prestigious promotion and falling in love. Whilst it was, it was not the main plot, which revolved around solving a murder. So this was kind of a murder sandwich ie romance-murder-romance. And to be honest, both felt a little halfhearted, there wasn't enough romance AND there wasn't enough detective work. I also noted a few word choices that seemed out of place in an historical novel, talking about "giving a toss" about someone and "fancying" someone seem too modern.

I thought that Mark's excuse for getting upset with Nicole seemed flimsy and for a supposedly clever man he was remarkably stupid about his family and his wife. Nicole on the other hand seemed to default to running away at the slightest excuse.

Overall, it was a pleasant enough read but it didn't wow me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This novel was a great read!! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. There was a mystery to solve and I liked how Ms.Bowman made everything come together as well as flashbacks into the main characters' pasts. Lady Nicole Huntington Grimaldi and General Mark Grimaldi have been estranged for 10 years, both working for the Home Office. Nicole left England after a terrible argument with Mark. Mark returns to France to ask Nicole to return to England with him as his wife so he can get his political promotion. Nicole wants something from Mark, so they strike a bargain. Neither saw how being together again would bring back the desire and passion they had all those years ago. However, when Mark returns, he is asked to work on a case that hits a little too close to home, something he has been avoiding for years. Mark has much pride and has earned many things on his own, not using connections. Nicole wants to help Mark and they work together to solve the case. As they work on the case, both realize their feelings for the other are still there. Nicole is a smart, intuitive woman and does not let Mark push her around. Both kept secrets from the other and misjudged each other all those years ago. Will they let the past control their future?