Desire Never Dies

This is second book in Jenna Petersen’s ‘Charlie’s Angels’ series, set in 1808 and following a team of spies in Regency England.

Widowed, Lady Anastasia Whittig is considered to be plain and ordinary, but she has hidden depths behind her prim and proper glasses. A code breaking mastermind, she has been recruited by the notorious Lady ‘M’ who runs a secret organisation training female spies.

Master spy Lucas Tyler is to join her on her first foray into the field, when Lady Emily Allington is wounded while exploring a case. Ana helps to nurse her friend back to health in-between breaking codes and investigating the man she thinks is responsible.

For the sake of national security, Lucas and Ana must maintain a professional relationship, while pretending to be a couple for duty’s sake. This delicate balance teeters when they are both tempted to explore each other after a kiss that sears them both. Can they resist each other and the passion that blooms at every touch, as they face up to the enemy that is within, while trying to trap a murderer?

This is a delightful Regency romp that explores the underbelly of society, while the characters try to expose a murderer hidden in their ranks. Plenty of action scenes, intrigue, peril and irresistible love scenes make this an exciting read. A refreshing tale from a new historical writer with plenty of promise, as the background was researched for accuracy making it a pleasure to read. The tone is dark in places, offset with some humorous scenes as the hero and heroine explore each other in some unlikely places. The conflict was interesting and added a surprising twist to the story, giving it freshness and depth. The flow was good and scenes were smooth and easy to follow. Their heated desire for each other was written in a realistic way, leaving the reader with a feeling of completeness without jerking you out of the story.

January 2007