Sandy M’s review of Most Eagerly Yours (Her Majesty’s Secret Servants, Book 1) by Allison Chase
Historical Romance published by Signet 2 Mar 10

I like the premise of this series, a young Victoria before she’s crowned queen is given carte blanche to use her best childhood friends should she ever need them in the future during her reign. The children learn young that things are changing when their royal playmate realizes herself she cannot keep the friendly relationship she’s shared with them for so long, thus their vow to her and the start of a fun series for historical fans.

While this first part of the story is fresh and new, the bulk of it is something we’ve read before – lady spy is sent to do something no one else can, all the while trying to stay away from but falling in love with the hero, who also happens to be a spy but has hidden that fact behind a totally different personality than his own. What does save the book from falling by the wayside is the characters, the ever-present mystery, and, of course, the romance.

Laurel is the eldest sister and the first to be called for duty. She’s sent to gather information on Victoria’s cousin George, to find out if he’s truly part of a traitorous group the Queen has been told about. When she runs into Aiden, a friend who keeps George on the straight and narrow as much as possible, they both realize they’ve met before when Aiden rescued Laurel in a dangerous situation months earlier, but they keep that realization to themselves, not wanting to give the other the advantage in their game.

In actuality, Aiden is keeping an eye on George for the Home Office, has his own suspicions concerning treason and is trying to figure out what the man is up to. Since they’re pretty much trying to unravel the same thread, just from different points of view, Aiden and Laurel play a game of cat and mouse due to not trusting each other. That changes over the course of the story, however, and they begin to work together as their attraction deepens along the way.

They are a delightful couple and I enjoyed solving their mystery along with them, a mystery which keeps you guessing right up until the very end. I wish we could have had more of Laurel’s sisters involved in the intrigue, but will just have to wait for their books. They have a terrific relationship that would be nice to explore.

I think if you’re an historical romance fan, you’ll like this book too. No mystery about that at all.

Grade: B

Summary:

Raised on their uncle’s country estate, the four orphaned Sutherland sisters formed a close friendship with the young Princess Victoria. Shortly before her coronation as queen, Victoria asks the sisters to serve her in matters requiring the utmost discretion.

They are to become her secret servants…

Laurel, the eldest, is the first to be called. The Queen is threatened by her jealous cousin, George Fitzclarence, who is known for speaking treason. She asks Laurel to pose as a wealthy widow and use her charms to win George’s trust, then find out what he is really plotting. Laurel is prepared for the risks of acting a part, but she encounters an unexpected and formidable obstacle in the Earl of Barenforth–George’s friend and a notorious rake, whom Victoria has warned her to avoid…

Read an excerpt.