A Dangerous Game by Laura Beers is a clandestine story that also features a marriage of convenience. The story is set in England 1814 and the MCs are childhood friends Emmeline Lockhart & Lord Oliver Radcliff. In this story we see that a spy never play by the rules, especially when it comes to falling in love.

Emmeline Lockhart is in an extraordinary position for a woman of her station. However, she has no desire to marry a duke who is old enough to be her grandfather. But what other options does she have? The only way out is to find someone who is willing to marry her... and quickly.

Lord Oliver Radcliff is discontent with his assignment as an agent of the Crown. His job is to root out radicals amongst the members of society, but he grows tired of gambling halls and listening to school boys ramble on. When Emmeline explains her plight, he feels uncharacteristically sympathetic and offers a marriage of convenience, convinced that it might be beneficial to both of them.

As Emmeline adjusts to being Oliver’s wife, she struggles with the closely guarded secrets that he keeps and is desperate for him to confide in her. Despite her frequent inquiries, he remains tight-lipped about where he is going and who he is meeting with. Suddenly, an unexpected inheritance is discovered.

Will it tear Emmeline and Oliver apart or bring them closer? Ultimately, will Oliver choose duty over his wife and lose her forever?

While I did enjoy the story at the same time I felt it was a little too predictable, unemotional, and lacked chemistry between the H/h — I didn’t feel or experience any emotion while reading the story. When I read a book with a spy as a MC I expect to be kept on tenterhooks at least some of the time. This didn’t happen. A lack of action really caused the story to deflate. I also found the conversation between the MCs were at times awkward, stilted, and just a little pretentious.

Overall 2.5 Stars ⭐️ | 1.5 Flames 🔥

Emmeline and Oliver enter into a marriage of convenience in order for Emmeline to avoid marrying an octogenarian Duke. Although the plot was a bit slow at times, overall I did enjoy the story.
Thank you Laura Beers, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Book 2 in the Regency Spies & Secrets focuses on Lord Oliver Radcliff, who's also a spy for the Crown. Oliver's cover is that of a rake--hanging out in gambling halls, playing cards and drinking so he can listen in and spy on members of society who may be radicals or French sympathizers. Six years pretending to be something he's not so that he can spy on his friends is a long time and he wants a different assignment.

Emmeline Lockhart is to marry the Duke of Billingham. A man old enough to be her grandfather, who's buried four wives, but still needs a son for an heir. Her guardians, her late father's brother and his wife, are thrilled with the match--"You shall be the envy of the ton.", but Emmeline's stomach turns at the thought of having to live with such a man, let alone bear him children. When she pours out her story to her good friend Jane's brother, Oliver, he offers to elope with her to Gretna Green to avoid marrying the old Duke.

Who doesn't love a marriage of convenience story? And this one is not only a marriage of convenience story, it's also a childhood friends to love story. It's fun watching the couples fall in love, but Emmeline and Oliver have a big obstacle to them finding happiness--Oliver's work as an agent for the Crown. He's not to tell anyone, which includes his sister and his new wife. Emmeline has feelings for Oliver but knows he's hiding something.

Oliver wasn't the only one with a secret. There's a secret dowry, a before unknown estate, smugglers, and the real reason Emmeline was to marry the elderly Duke. The unexpected twists and revelations in this story had me reading all day to find the answers. I loved watching Oliver change and learn to trust Emmeline. I especially liked that Oliver and his sister Jane started to repair their relationship, which was damaged by his reputation as a rake.

You don't have to read A Dangerous Pursuit to be able to follow this story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, as I want to find out more about Lady Jane Radcliff. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley. I also purchased an ebook for my personal library.

When I read the synopsis, I thought 'Damn. It's gonna be interesting.' And I wasn't satisfied with what I got. I like my fictions with a touch of reality. Not a whole book of some unrealistic BS. I think this book had so much potential. Truly disappointing!

Love or Duty

He married her to save her from a marriage to a duke, old enough to be her grandfather. However, he had no intention of falling in love with his wife. He was an agent of the Crown, and that was his life’s mission. Could Emmeline break down the walls that Oliver erected around himself? Oliver thought that falling in love was a choice. Could he, perhaps, be wrong? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like Regency romance with secrets, mystery, and suspense. Beware of dangerous villains you might not see coming.

England 1814, spies and a marriage of convenience is the recipe for an amazing book!

Emmeline Lockhart’s aunt and uncle are nudging her into marrying a duke who is extremely old and quite unpleasant. Her childhood friend, Lord Oliver Radcliff offers to marry her so she doesn’t have to marry the duke. Oliver is also an agent of the crown, a secret he must keep from Emmeline which of course, causes a lot of troubles.

I was completely hooked with the story the whole time, and I ended up reading it in two sittings. I loved the shocking plot twists and all the action that happened in the end. I do wish there had been a little more action towards the middle, but overall I enjoyed this book immensely.

I was provided an arc of this book and I realized it was book 2 in the series, so I decided to get A Dangerous Pursuit and read it first. Laura Beers creates strong and interesting female main characters and the most charming love interests.

What young girls wants to marry an older man, a man who’s old enough to be her grandfather, well Emmeline Lockhart is no different except she’s going to do something about who she marries and it’s not the Duke of Billingham. Now to find someone willing to marry her instead. She has an unexpected offer of marriage from her best friend’s brother Lord Oliver Radcliff. He offers a marriage of convenience. Oliver has been discontented with his life and his role as an agent for the crown, he wants riskier assignments to feel like he actually doing something other than tattling on his society friends. An enchanting story Emmeline and Oliver has known each other for years and it’s interesting to see their love grow from a marriage of convenience as it blooms into something love that lasts a lifetime. Emmeline knows Oliver is holding something back, he doesn’t trust her enough with his secrets. I love the interaction between them its make an excellent story I’m voluntarily reviewing.

England 1814
The question is, marry an eighty year old duke, enter a life of servitude, or marry Oliver, a man you had known since childhood, who is quite handsome? Unfortunately, Emmeline knows Oliver is a rake and he might never change.

Upon further thought, Emme does decide to marry Oliver and they elope. Oh? Is it that simple? What about the mad Duke, because of course he will be very upset? And did I mention they are marrying in name only?

A delightful story with a few twist and turns on their journey to .... hopefully happy ever after. You will have to read and see. By the way, did I mention Oliver is a spy for the crown?

Escaping a horrible arranged marriage to an 80 year old Duke, Emmeline accepts a marriage of convenience from an old friend. Lord Oliver is an agent for the Crown and part of his cover is being a rake. As soon as they are married he stays out overnight and misses appointments with her - with no explanation. Emmeline is patient but once she discovers she has a dowry and estate she heads to the estate to think and relax. Meanwhile Oliver has been offered a mission that will take him away for months or years. What will they do? I never write a spoiler, so I suggest to pick up this story and see where it goes. The villain is truly evil. I do think they wrapped up all the loose ends a little quickly, but otherwise I truly enjoyed this tale. I received a complimentary copy of this novel through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

A Dangerous Game by Laura Beers is a Regency Spies & Secrets book although I didn't feel it was the quality of the first two. I also felt the dialogue was somewhat stilted. Maybe it was rushed?

Miss Emmeline Lockhart was betrothed to the Duke of Billingham. She was just short of 21, he 80. She didn't want to marry him but given she had no dowry and her uncle had signed the contract, she didn't have much choice. She was desperate. His previous four wives had all died. It was not a comforting prospect. Lord Oliver Radcliff was a rake and ne'er-do-well. He wasn't really but it was a great cover for his real work as an agent of the crown. He was Emme's childhood friend, and in the middle of a conversation about how much she didn't want to marry the duke, he offered for her. He was shocked. She was shocked. She immediately turned him down. When the interminable evening was finally over, she went home to find her maid, Mary, more like a mother to her, really, who was irate that she had turned Lord Oliver down and convinced her to see him on the morrow and convince him it would be a good idea. Which she did, and they eloped to Gretna Green that very night to begin a marriage of convenience. Lord Oliver could have nothing more with his job and what not.

The story ends as you might expect it to but it took some amazing twists and turns along the way to their final happiness. The story was sound. There was little spying in it, though. The characters could have been portrayed with a little more depth. It was an acceptable novel, but could have been much better.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Dangerous Game by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #adangerousgame

This book was not my favorite. The hero was such an ignorant arrogant butt hole, that I would never had forgiven him or fallen in live with him. I think that is what makes this story so unlikable. The heroine is within a couple of weeks of her 21st birthday, when her aunt and uncle betrothed her to a duke who is 75, maybe 80 years old.the duke has already had 4 wives die before her and he has 3 daughters and wants a son. Her uncle told her that he does have sons, bastard sons born of his mistresses, so she is capable of having a son for him. The duke also offers her a monetary reward for having a son. The heroine is repulsed beyond words. The duke wants an obedient wife and she is not obedient. She is upset and crying at a ball, when her best friends brother, the hero, walks out. He is a secret spy and doesn't want a wife, but asks her anyway. He tells her it will be a marriage of convenience with no children. She says no because she doesn't want him to regret it? No one is that kind. She should have jumped on it immediately. She then goes the next morning to tell him she changed her mind and he tries to talk her out of it. After he just asked her the night before? What a jerk!! So they agree to elope to Gretna Green and she has to climb down the aide of the house!?!? He should have brought a ladder or met her at the back door since it was at midnight that they were leaving. This hero is just a piece of crap. There is no development of how they fell in love with each other, either. They knew each other as children, but they weren't that close. He acts like a jackass because he doesn't want her to be in danger because he is a spy. For real? So you are going to lie to your family and friends. Then he us described as a rake, and yet, he turns down all the women who are coming on to him. This was not a well written story. It drags in the beginning and picks up a little bit in the latter half. Then has an unbelievable ending. And she and her aunt (who wanted to sell her to a duke)hug it out at the end. Oh yeah, don't forget that he was in love with her deceased cousin, who turned him down, married someone else and died in child birth. That is brought up a couple of times during the story.
It is not a continuous story at all. The plots and descriptions do not add to the story. The additional characters seem to be put in so it doesn't seem like the main characters are talking to themselves. There was so little story and plot development. I am more disappointed Ted that I wasted my time reading it. I give it 2 stars for correct spelling and grammar. I do not recommend reading it.

If you like regency novels with more than just romance - then this is definitely worth a read.

I found myself drawn into the story of Emme and Oliver. The way that Emme was being forced into marriage with the Duke immediately made me suspicious that there were ulterior motives at play - but have to admit I was looking for the baddy elsewhere until the last third of the book.

It’s an easy read but grabs you and I found myself reading just another chapter.... I was easily able to visualise the 80year old Duke leering after all females with food stuck in his teeth! So sympathy drawn to Emme within the first few pages!

A marriage of convenience finds Emmeline Lockhart married to an old friend, one whose reputation leaves a lot to be desired. However, the alternative is marriage to a decrepit Duke who gives her chills and not the nice sort! I found this well-written and slightly suspenseful novel entertaining and enjoyable, as Emmeline and Lord Oliver have to traverse the changing face of their relationship, and Oliver, in particular, has to deal with the fall out from his role as an agent for a Crown. I found myself sympathizing with Emmeline as she tried to deal with Oliver's secretiveness, and felt for Oliver as he tried to walk a tight rope between the important work he did and the hurt in his wife's eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was glad that it came to a happy and successful conclusion. I received a copy of this novel through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I found this book to be very simplistically written. The dialogue was awkward. I got no emotional feeling for the two main characters. He said this, she said that, blah, blah, blah. Even the "villain" just blurted out everything about his villainy and no one seemed to have any reaction to it, just bang! The issue is resolved. The plot isn't bad, but the execution is execrable. It could pass for a submission to a high school creative writing project. #ADangerousGame #NetGalley

3.5 Stars
Emmeline Lockhart is being encouraged by her uncle & aunt to marry a duke who is old enough to be her grandfather. The only way out is to find someone who is willing to marry her. Lord Oliver Radcliff is discontent with his assignment as an agent of the Crown. His job is to root out radicals amongst the members of society, but he grows tired of gambling halls and listening to school boys ramble on. When Emmeline explains her plight, he feels uncharacteristically sympathetic and offers a marriage of convenience, convinced that it might be beneficial to both of them. So they elope to Gretna Green.
As Emmel adjusts to being Oliver’s wife, she struggles with the closely guarded secrets that he keeps and is desperate for him to confide in her. Suddenly, an unexpected inheritance is discovered.
This is the second book in the series & is easily read on its own. I found it to be an easy to read light read. I liked both Oliver & Emme but didn’t feel much chemistry between them & I found some of their conversations stilted. I did enjoy the mystery surrounding Emme’s inheritance, I also enjoyed their journey to a HEA. I would have liked to have known what happened to his friends
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I could not put it down
An arranged marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather that she does not want. A spy who is looking for more fulfillment in his life or at least excitement. Radicals wanting to overthrow the King, smugglers, and unknown inheritances make this book one you won’t want to put down. Great characters. Interesting twists and turns throughout. Emmeline’s parents died leaving her in the care of her aunt and uncle, who have informed her that her dowry had been used to pay her father’s debts and she had no choice but to marry a duke in his eighties while she won’t be twenty-one for a week. Desperate to escape the marriage, she shares her feelings with Oliver a known rake and friend she has grown up nearby. Oliver immediately offers to marry her in Gretna Green to save her but he warns her he has secrets he cannot and will not ever share with her. Can a marriage even one of convenience survive when there are deep secrets? What will happen if suddenly one of them has a change of circumstances? Can they work together for both of their benefit? This is the second in the series but can easily be read independently. There are a few character crossovers but they are explained well enough that there is no problem reading this book as a standalone. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

A Lord who is secret agent to the Crown and a young Lady who has to marry a Duke who is 80 years old . They marry in convenience but they fall in love . A story with mystery .
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emmeline Lockhart is being pressured by her uncle to marry a Duke who is sixty years older than her. There must be some way she can get out of it in the next few days.

Lord Oliver Radcliffe is an agent for the crown. He takes satisfaction from working as an agent but dislikes playing the part of a Rake and gambler. Maybe helping a good friend will improve his sense of worth.

Our characters have been friends for years but secrets have a way of standing in the way.

This is an intriguing historical romance with fabulous characters, danger and fun.

This is part of a series but easily read on it's own.

Good fun.

"Emmeline knew she should be vocal about her discontent, but she couldn't seem to formulate the words." - From A Dangerous Game

2 stars

This book is entirely held together by dialog. Long conversation after conversation is the only way any character or plot develops. Both are lacking, and what little is done for the characters makes them unlikable. Emmeline comes off as vapid and materialistic. Oliver is rude to everyone, and completely self centered an unreliable. So maybe they are perfect for each other. Emmeline basically falls for Oliver the first night (while he was out- not spending time with her), and after that point she becomes a blob that just accepts everything horrible he does. I was waiting patiently for the "spark", for anything really, only to be disappointed. It is a romance without any romance, just flat talking. So much talking. The line, "Are you in earnest?", also must appear over ten times. No steam, just a few awkward kisses.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First time reading this author and it was a good plot. I liked the characters, but I think there could have been more development. However, I enjoyed the book and it was full of intrigue and mystery.

Emmeline Lockhart lost her parents and for the last year was living with her Aunt & Uncle. They were pushing her to marry a Duke who was in his 8o’s and she was not yet 21. Even though she was left penniless it was almost unbearable the thought of marrying this old man.
Lord Oliver Radcliff is an undercover spy for the Crown and is longtime friends with Emmeline. He proposes a marriage of convenience which she jumps at, but of course this is not what her family is happy about when they find out who she goes off to marry.

Things heat up for this couple and Emmeline and Oliver are soon to find themselves up against more than just the average marital strife.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.





Lighthearted Read, Intrigue, Romance