Historical fiction involving treason, spies and romance. I love the title and the cover more than the plot, but I would have to say this - don't delay, the book was good!

Lady Spy is a great read. Miss Maria Dalbrooke was a fun and entertaining character to get to know. I give this book four stars.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

A satisfying regency romance with great characters and a decent plot.

Maria Dalbrooke is an intelligent woman, who has been well educated by her widowed father, now impoverished, they live together in a less fashionable part of town, and Mr Dalbrooke depends on his income from working asa clerk in the Admiralty offices. Charged with investigating serious and treasonable leaks of troop movements to the French, from the admiralty, Captain Geoffrey Armitage, has reason to suspect Mr Dalbrooke. Still reeling from the defection of his beloved to the charms of the coldly rakish and mysterious Duke of Vale, he isn’t predisposed to trust María. However, as he is determined to find the traitor and Maria is prepared to defend her father, they find themselves forced into working together, by means of a fake betrothal. As they spend time together Geoff is surprised by Maria’s intelligence and perception, and her talents of memory and languages. As they work together to uncover the traitor, with many twists and turns in the way, not least the interference of Vale, they become more and more drawn to each other.

This was a exciting story, with two interesting and likeable leads, who had good chemistry on the page. I really enjoyed it, and hope that we get a story about Vale soon.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads

Lady Spy is a interesting historical mystery with well developed characters. The storyline is entertaining and the book is well written.

An entertaining book about the adventurous ride that Geoffrey and Maria had proving Maria’s father was innocent of being a traitor. The characters were great. The book was fast paced and full of intrigue.

Adult Historical Fiction books are not something that I read too often because it's hard for me to find ones that I think I'll really enjoy.

Lady Spy is an entertaining, adventurous ride filled with intrigue and romance and it is a great read for anyone looking for a romantic historical fiction.

An accident at a ball causes to be in the wrong place at the right time. Maria overhears a conversation about her father. She tries to escape to warn her father when she is caught.
Geoff encourages Maria to prove her father is guilty. If she doesn't help it could be worse for her.
All the close work together helps them to get to know each other better.
Great read

Adventuress joyride with a spirited heroine that I truly enjoyed, Well written and entertaining, Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Maria and Geoff take you on an adventure!
Maria is a Bluestocking whose father goes into debt to launch her into society with the expectation that she will find a suitable match, but she doesn't take.
While at a ball, she overhears a conversation, between Geoff and his brother-in-law, that her father, whom she loves beyond anything, is suspected of being a french spy and is about to be arrested.
She makes a deal with Geoff to pretend to be courting so that they can find the true spy who is setting up her father. Although Geoff doesn't fully believe in her fathers' innocence, he agrees to the ruse.
We follow them through the investigation, while Maria is trying to clear her father and Geoff, at the same time, is trying to prove his guilt. Through all of this they begin to care for each which causes guilt on both sides as they are working at dual purposes.
Overall, this was an engaging story that I would definitely recommend to my fellow Regency Romance readers.
Finally, I would like to thank Ann Lethbridge, Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

An enjoyable and entertaining read, with Geoffrey and Maria taking us along on an adventurous ride, filled with intrigue and spicy romance all combined together, to make this exciting and enthralling package. A sexy captivating and exciting read, where Maria’s bold and daring moves sets her and Geoffrey heating up the sheets, a must-read if I do say so.

Maria Dalbrooke isn’t having much luck on the marriage mart, after her father had spent a considerable amount to put her there. She is worried that he might lose his position in the Horse Guards, since the two of them have been hiding a secret for some time now. To compound her fears, Captain Geoffrey Armitage has been assigned the task of finding the traitor that has been sharing highly confidential British information with the French. Maria is desperate to prove her father’s innocence, and Geoff only wants to finish this assignment as soon as possible. The two of them agree to a pretend betrothal so that Geoff can have access to her father.

Sparks fly between Maria and Geoff as their investigation continues with more and more evidence pointing in her father’s direction.

I really enjoyed this story. It was fast-paced and kept me guessing the entire time. I didn’t want to put it down. I liked both Maria and Geoff, and the two of them together. The book ends with some unfinished business, but it was a satisfying ending nonetheless.

I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Maria Dalbrooke is a bluestocking, who is being raised by a single dad. She goes to work with her dad. and helps him with the translations and coding he does for the house guard. When he is suspected of leaking secrets to the French, Maria asks for time to prove he's innocent.
Captain Geoffry Armitage has been given the assignment to find out who's leaking the military locations and strategy to the French. All the evidence, though circumstantial, points to Mr. Dalbrooke. His daughter wants to prove him innocent . But how could he explain them being together without a chaperone? How else, a fake engagement! The chemistry between them is instantaneous. With Maria determined to help Geoffrey doesn't have any choice. The two set out to find the leak. This leads to many adventures together. You see their relationship build and develop from there.
All in all a very enjoyable book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Miss Maria Dalbrooke knows women of her ilk ie bluestockings have never fared well in the marriage mart of the ton. But all thoughts of men flee when she learns that her father, who decodes secret messages for the military, is suspected of being a traitor and leaking sensitive information to the enemy. In her haste to prove him innocent, she’s forced into a most unlikely alliance with the very man sent to ensnare him, the perceptive and strikingly handsome Captain Geoffrey Armitage.
Geoffrey is determined never to trust another woman after he was jilted but nonetheless agrees to the cockeyed scheme to pretend a betrothal to Maria in order to gain unfettered access to her father.
Despite their mutual wariness as Maria strives to convince Geoff of her father’s virtue while Geoff tries to entrap the man, an undeniable attraction and searing passion flare up between the two.
A well written fast paced book that I read in a couple of sittings. I loved both Geoffrey & Maria & how the chemistry sizzled between them. The characters had depth & on the whole were likeable. I love a spy story along with a romance & thoroughly enjoyed this one.There were red herrings along the way but I was a little disappointed that not all the ends were tied up so I seriously hope there’s another book to follow
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

An unmariageable bluestocking who helps her eyesight-challenged father complete his office assignments at home must protect her father from treason charges. The investigator is a handsome blond god/officer who wants only to git 'er done and get back to his regiment. Daughter and officer at odds so pretend to an engagement so daughter can make sure officer plays fair in his pursuit of the traitor. Some clumsy writing and situations in this historical romance, with far-fetched supposition that barely supports the many sexual encounters. Not particularly compelling.

“Lady Spy” earns 5/5 Decoding Dilemmas...Totally Engaging with a Spark of Romance!

Ann Lethbridge has penned an engaging Regency novel with a marvelous twist to the traditional historical romance! It’s London 1813, and Miss Maria Dalbrooke is not confident that she’ll ever find a suitable husband. She’s independent and intelligent, not the most sought after characteristics for a dutiful wife. She’s also a key “silent” partner in her father’s work decoding secret messages for the Horse Guard. Unfortunately, Captain Geoff Armitage suspects a traitor in his midst, and Maria’s father is prime as the obvious accused. Subterfuge. Secrets. I am a new fan of Regency romance novels although my passion is mystery. But this well-written, engaging story incorporates both intrigue and a bit of “I didn’t see that coming” romance! Using a third-person narrative is not my favorite perspective, but Lethbridge did it very well keeping me totally engaged with vivid description, compelling predicaments, and dialogue that illustrates well the tone and various personalities. Romance novels usually have the traditional happy ending, but it was the journey and mishaps and final reveal that make this a favorite!

**Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

3.5-4 stars

I've just started getting into the Regency/historical romances, and fffffhh.. give me more!! This story includes one of my favorite tropes (fake relationship/engagement/marriage) that blossoms into ~something more~. The "spy" plot wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. I failed to see the main character, Maria, doing any productive spying or espionage that would've considered her a "lady spy."

PROS:
+ Fake relationship trope
+ Regency romance
+ Captain Geoffrey Armitage (swoon)

CONS:
- The mystery plot was meh
- Insta-love - slow-burn is better.
- The first half of the book was great, but it took me a bit longer to get through the last half.
- For what the book is, it could have been shorter.

A Regency romance against against a background of treason - think Georgette Heyer but with, capital letters, SEX. Our heroine, Maria, works with her father decoding military missives of the utmost secrets. But there's a traitor giving this information to the French. Hero Geoffrey, a Captain to the core, is given the task of seeking out the traitor and, unfortunately the evidence points towards Maria's father. Reluctantly they come together to seek the informant and that side of the story runs well, red herrings abound and the context is well-written. Their chemistry starts well too - she, who is failing to find the husband Society demands of her, is determined to prove Papa innocent, he wanting to do his job and get back to the front, having recently also being jilted and generally off women. What is less convincing to me is their romance. Granted Maria is well-read, independent minded for her time and well away from the coming out ball, find husband, marry and settle down heroine. She clearly knows what's what and what goes where, so to speak, but these seem very at odds for an early 19th century gentleman's daughter where what goes on under skirts or in breeches, and certainly behind the bedroom door, usually is very much only alluded to. Their rather graphic sexual encounters just feel too 21st century not 19th and rather spoil the story. It's the context that fails for me, not necessarily the encounters! Whilst they eventually find the traitor and their future happiness there is a loose end and I wonder if this will lead to the next episode. I'd be happy to find out although would prefer they kept their hands to themselves a bit more but then she'll be pregnant by then if current activity continues! Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond Page Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Set in England, this is the story of a Marie whose father is suspected of sending information to Napoleon's army. Goeff has been given the assignment to uncover who is spying and bring him to justice. When she overhears the plot, she is determined to clear her father's name. To do this, she and Goeff fake an engagement and work together to learn the truth. But who can they trust? Follow them as they uncover the spies and fall in love.

Disclaimer: There are several explicit sex scenes in the book which added nothing to the storyline. I wish the author had left them out. Those scenes is why I gave the book only two stars. That is also why I will not post the review on my two book club pages.

I like romances which are more than just that.A very spirited beauty with brains Maria and a grouchy Captain Geoffrey are the main characters in this story.They need to find a traitor who is trying to incriminate Maria and her father by leaking sensitive documents.
With lots of twists and turns and suspects this book leads us on a merry adventure.
Well written page turner.
Thankyou Netgalley and beyond the page publishing for this ARC