Draw Down the Darkness
Naomi Bellis
Signet, Apr 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 0451220951

In 1798, spy Master Sir Alaric Fitzwilliam learns from trusted agent Lord Bedford that the Hellfire League has returned with a plot to help the French invade Ireland while using darkness sorcery to cause havoc. Alaric needs help from the Circle to prevent the sorcery from causing harm and calls for his best agent Viscount Nicholas Saville to return from overseas to go undercover to learn who the traitor is.

Back in England, Helen Barrett sees her fianc Nicholas for the first time in three years as he has been overseas on business; he never told her he was home. She informs him she will no longer wait for him; he says he loves her. She walks away only to have the Earl of Waring gives her a necklace that she reluctantly puts on. Helen tells Waring she made a mistake but Nicholas tells her to go to Waring as he is better for her.

Nicholas goes to meet Bedford, but watches instead a carriage stop to dump the dead Bedford who holds the card of Helen's brother James. After gaining nothing from James, Nicholas visits Waring, considered a traitor by the Master. There he removes from Helen the necklace that contains dark magic to enslave her to Waring. Nicholas knows his beloved is a key target, but not why. He plans to confront Waring.

The hero's dilemma and guilt feels real as he either gives up his beloved or his family making this Regency romantic fantasy feel genuine especially since the paranormal elements augment the suspense-laden storyline. Romance readers will feel the strength of the love between the lead couple even when she breaks off with him. Though the Master shows up at the right time and place making it seem as if the hero's efforts were not needed, fans will relish this action-packed thriller that never slows down for even a paragraph.

Harriet Klausner