Review: I Spy a Duke (Covert Heiresses #1) by Erica Monroe

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Publication Date: October 1rst 2015

Blurb:

In the first in an adventurous new series, USA Today Bestselling Author Erica Monroe introduces the Covert Heiresses: four women who by day are the talk of the ton, and by night England's top spies.

She wants revenge…

When bluestocking Vivian Loren becomes the governess for the wealthy Spencer family, she’s searching for clues about the murder of her brother, not a husband. But Vivian didn’t count on James Spencer, the infuriatingly handsome Duke of Abermont.

He needs a wife…

As head of Britain’s elite intelligence agency, James has no time to woo a wife. When he discovers Vivian’s quest for answers has made her a pawn in a treacherous plot, James realizes they can help each other. She’ll become his duchess, and he’ll keep her safe from one of Napoleon’s deadliest spies.

What begins as a marriage of convenience quickly becomes anything but, as they find out love is the most dangerous mission of all. 

Review:

I have decided to give to this book 4 stars because it was the best book I read this weekend (5 books in total) and the story had a lot of elements that make a story perfect even if the book didn't manage to reach the level of perfectness I wanted it to have. I didn't get my full historical romance fill and the title kept reminding me of the game I spy... and I ended up expecting to see something similar in the novel.

The first half of the book doesn't have any action/ spying stuff, but it establishes the relationship between the main couple aka Vivian and James while we see their background stories about Vivian's brother and something from James past that due to me spoiling the story won't be revealed. While writing this review I got a crazy idea that's about Vivian's brother. I thought that he is alive, but somehow he is forced into hiding or something like that. Also the story is starting to be set up for the second part of the story where the good stuff happens.

The other half of the story has more things going on and secrets are revealed that will challenge Vivian and James's relationship.

I liked James's sisters and I hope they will get their own books. Or maybe James's friend will get a book. I don't want the series to be about random people who work for the agency, but I want to see the characters that have captured my interest. The book was almost drama free and it had a good pace, but I cannot give it five stars because it wasn't as intense as one would have expected this kind of book to be and I felt that there was room for this book to be improved.

I am recommending this book as something to spend your lint free time with. I have high hopes for the next books and I plan to follow the series. I hope I won't be disappointed.