Sandy M’s review of The Scarlet Spy (Merlin’s Maidens, Book 3) by Andrea Pickens
Historical Romance published by Forever 1 Oct 08

This is my first book by Ms. Pickens, and I’m not sure the third book in her series was the place for me to start reading her.  The writing is good, the concept interesting, the characters likable, and the previous books in the series are explained well enough to follow what’s gone before, but there’s just that little something missing to make this a great book.

I really like the idea of Merlin’s Maidens, a school that takes in young girls plucked from the slums of London to trains them in every conceivable discipline to be spies for the Crown.  This book started out well, getting to know Sofia, the latest Merlin to be given a mission, and also her superiors and what her mission will be.  But once Sofia gets to Town and begins her spying, things get a little bogged down with meeting all the players while she gives the hero a cold shoulder, which is logical since she doesn’t want anything or anyone to get in her way while figuring out her next move.

All of this just took a little too long, however, and I found myself wishing things would just get a move-on to the action.  I did enjoy Sofia’s character, though.  She’s been trained well, has a cool head, and can see herself through most any situation thrown at her, even trying to keep her wits when her attraction to Lord Deverill Osborne comes at her out of the blue.  Even at this point with Osborne involved, things didn’t really begin to move until much later during their first love scene.

The top dog at the academy chose Lord Osborne for Sofia’s entree into Society because of his connections and likability throughout the ton.  What he doesn’t bargain for is Osborne’s curiosity about the Contessa Sofia Constanza Bingham della Silveri, Sofia’s alias while on this mission,  and his attraction to her, especially when she doesn’t fall for his winsome personality and charming good looks like every other woman does.  At first he decides to let her go her way, but that old curiosity just won’t let him go his.  Once he, basically, pushes himself into her business, that’s when the book begins to take off, but at this point it’s more than halfway though.  I did enjoy Dev and Sofia’s love scene in which she decides if she has to give her virginity up during this mission, she wants it to be Dev.

From here on out the action is pretty steady with both characters involved and a twist thrown in for good measure.  I just wish it had all started a little sooner.  It didn’t have to be anything on par with the ending action, but just something more.  The only thing I do remember from the first part of the book is when Osborne spies Sofia galloping like the wind on an early morning ride because she needed to be away from the confines of the balls and musicales and other boring stuff.  Terrific scene.  Too bad there weren’t more like it.

I do have the first two books in the series and I plan to read them.  I want to see how the series started out, of course, but also how those characters and their missions were handled compared to this one.  I will read Ms. Pickens again.  I do enjoy her writing.  She has a new series in the works that involves, once again, smart women in a man’s world and doing most everything better than the men.  I’m always willing to give those types of stories a try.

Grade: C

Read Lawson’s review here or by following the Merlin’s Maidens series tag.

Summary:

The most ladylike of “Merlin’s Maidens,” Sofia possesses a natural grace and grandeur to go along with her deadly arsenal of martial skills—which makes her the perfect choice for undertaking a dangerous dance of deception through the highest circles of London Society. Assigned to investigate rumors of government corruption, she must spin through the glittering ballrooms of the Mayfair and the sinister slums of the city in search of the truth. One misstep on her part could prove fatal. Sofia knows she can’t afford any distractions as she works to unravel the tangled web of deceit and lies . . . but keeping the sinfully sext Deverill Osborne at arm’s length is a real test of her mettle.

Handsome, witty, charming, Osborne—dubbed Lord Sunshine by his peers—is the darling of the ton. So when he is asked by the Marquess of Lynsley to introduce a lovely young Italian contessa into Society, he is only too happy to oblige. A little harmless flirtation is all part of the game. However, he soon suspects that “Lady” Sofia is playing with fire. She seems drawn to the dark, dissipated side of city life, and when he catches her stealing valuables from a gentleman’s study, he torn between what to think. Should he believe the worst? Or should he trust the tantalizing murmur of her words . . . and the sultry, sensuous whispers of her body?

Light and dark, truth and lies. To unmask the clever conspirators, Sofia and Osborne must overcome a number of hidden dangers, including their own growing passion . . . which may prove the most dangerous force of all.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: