Shannon Drake, Beguiled

Beguiled

Shannon Drake

HQN, December 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0373771312

The English monarchy is in jeopardy from a growing opposition to a kingdom. Even more horrific is that someone is targeting supporters of the crown, killing anyone who even tenuously seems to support the royals. One person this serial killer would like to assassinate is editorial writer A. Anonymous, who apparently thinks the monarchy brings something special to England.

Most people assume A. Anonymous is a male royal, but instead, the author is truly an anonymous proper female author with dreams of becoming a great writer. Ally Grayson is engaged to prim and proper Mark, with no hopes for adventures except in her writings. That is until a mysterious highwayman abducts her. Whether it is the Stockholm syndrome or not, Ally falls in love with her kidnapper. Unbeknownst to her, her captor is also her fiance, who works secretly to keep their homeland safe from internal terrorists and his beloved from harm's way, as the royal assassin has targeted A. Anonymous.

This is a terrific historical romance starring a brave heroine and a courageous hero inside an action-packed fast-paced plot. Mark is delightful, as he loves his fiance, but hides his identity from her; to his chagrin and jealousy Ally falls in love with his dashing alter ego. Fans will enjoy this delightful tale, wondering how the lead couple will resolve their romantic entanglement, as much as who is plotting to destroy the monarchy.