This is the second book in the Crown's Spies series by Julie Garwood that focuses on the men (and in a few cases, women) who served as British spies in the early 1800's. This book focuses on the man known in his files as "The Hunter:" The Marquess of Cainewood.
Caine is out for revenge, and he will stop at nothing to get it. His younger brother, also in the employ of the crown (unbeknownst to Caine until recently) was killed, and the pirate Pagan is responsible. To gain his retribution, Caine has doubled the price on Pagan's head, sought out any former associates that might be able to tell him where to find this notorious pirate, and has used the very persuasive techniques he learned as a spy to try to gain information as to where he can find this vigilante... but so far, he has come up empty. Thus, he has decided to employ a new tactic: pretend to be Pagan to draw him out of hiding. Caine believes his plan will succeed, and he is awaiting the arrival of the real Pagan when a young woman stumbles into the seedy tavern frequented by sailors and general riff raff and asks "Pagan" to help her. She is prepared to pay him, and she shows him the coins she has, but wants his assurance that he will carry out her requested service. She wants him to kill her.
Caine is floored when the beautiful woman who calls herself "Jade" asks him to kill her. When he inquires as to why, she tells him that she is being sought by villains as she witnessed the murder of a gentleman, and those who perpetrated the crime will not be kind in disposing of her. As taking her own life is a sin, she decided that the best way to deal with her problem is to hire a pirate to end it for her. Obviously, Caine does not agree to fulfill her request and instead insists that he can protect her from those who seek to do her harm... which is exactly what Jade knew he would do. In fact, she was counting on it as she read his file with the war department and learned that he is a protector by nature who always employs a methodical process to carry out his orders. While there really is someone after Jade, there is also someone after Caine, and Jade has promised to protect him. Fully aware that Caine would never accept protection from anyone, much less a woman, she pretends to be scatterbrained, helpless, and quick to tears to gain his sympathies and his "assistance" which gives her the opportunity to stay near him and keep him safe from traitors to the crown who want to keep him from finding out the truth about his brother's killer.
In order to keep Jade safe, Caine must use all of his skills as a hunter to find those responsible, and while he isn't buying her damsel in distress act, he can't control the feelings that drive him to want to keep her safe and with him... always. But there are secrets Caine doesn't know about and people who want to keep it that way bent on silencing him and Jade. Can Caine truly keep her safe from harm? Will Jade be able to trust him to keep his word not to leave her as every man in her life has from as far back as she can recall? And if so, when Caine learns the truth, will it all be for naught?
What I liked:
--- Caine was the kind of H you want to protect you - definitely swoon-worthy (and thankfully the "rake" angle wasn't overplayed)
--- The ancillary characters were fun and definitely created interest in the reader to hear their stories in the upcoming series installments
--- Opportunity to revisit the mcs from book 1
--- STEAMY goodness!
What I didn't like as much:
--- While I enjoy a strong female (meaning one who doesn't cower in the corner or faint at the earliest sign of trouble), Jade was a little over-the-top at times for me - she could have dialed that back a little and not been as stubborn, imo
--- A couple of plot points seemed extraneous (especially about the relationship with Caine and his stepmother) - didn't seem to really add to the story
Overall, a solid read with all of the elements I most enjoy: likeable characters, mystery/intrigue/action, a fast-moving story line, and a satisfying HEA.
Plot --- 4.25/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
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I ordered a hardcover book, but I received a smaller paperback book with a sticker that said "hardcover." The book that arrived had the wrong dimensions and was not the hard cover book I wanted. Take a look in the pictures I posted with this review.
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Brilliant. I loved the humour - very entertaining read
Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on November 5, 2014
