Former spy William Saunders’ world is turned upside down the day he rescues missionary worker Hattie Wright from the deep blue waters off the coast of Gibraltar.When circumstances compel them to share a cramped cabin on the boat trip back to London, desire and passion ignite between them.Hattie sees the time with Will as a brief respite before she goes back to her mission among the poor and … the poor and vulnerable in the slums of London. Will, however, feels honor bound to offer her marriage and return her to the world of privilege she once knew.
Despite her heart’s desire to possess his love, Hattie is determined to continue her important work. She rejects his proposal.
But Hattie has made powerful enemies in the criminal gangs of the rookeries and there are those who would gladly see her dead.
When Hattie goes missing, Will is finally forced to face the truth of his past to save the woman he loves.
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From the very first page Sasha Cottman captured my attention and it never waivered until “the end”.
Hattie Wright is determined to take charge of her life and definitely makes a splash in doing so. In her struggle to survive she is rescued by a gentleman that she soon comes to have feelings for; however, in fear of being sent back to the life she is escaping she’s not willing to give details of her life. A voyage to the empty home she was forced to leave with her handsome savior as her companion awakens feelings she thought she would never be lucky enough to have. Alas, her secrets haunt her and she soon flees leaving him confused and angry. Feeling alone when reality starts to sink in, Hattie digs deep for the strength she needs to survive.
William Saunders is abiding his time until the voyage that will take him home; leaving his former occupation behind and towards the arms of his loving family. Things take an unexpected turn when he witnesses a woman jump into deep waters. Rescuing the damsel soon sets Will’s world spinning as he strives to discover her secrets while keeping his own. Sailing home soon proves to be more than he bargained for. Then his mysterious lady disappears and he’ll do anything to find her.
The search is on with near misses and surprising revelations. Will these two be willing to give up all their secrets for a chance at love?
My Gentleman Spy is the first book I have read of Ms. Cottman’s. It will not be my last.
Gibraltar 1817 – ‘Hattie Wright sucked in a deep breath before slowly letting the air back out. The long drop over the side of the ship to the water below was a heart-rending distance.’ Thus begins our adventure in this well written and well-plotted novel. This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While this book is part of a series, I felt it could easily be read as a stand-alone. I liked that almost the entire cast of characters were non-titled.
Up until a couple of years ago, Hattie led a happy, privileged life with loving parents and a caring, supportive brother. Then her parents had a religious conversion to a much more zealous sect of the church. They also seemed to be deeply under the influence of Reverend Peter Brown. Their zealotry caused a rift with Hattie’s brother and they became totally estranged. To make matters even worse, they betrothed Hattie to Reverend Brown. Her parents renounced everything and they were all headed – against Hattie’s will – to be missionaries in Africa. Hattie knew she had to escape and the only way she could see to do it was to jump overboard while the ship was near enough to Gibraltar for her to swim to shore. It seems that the normally compliant Hattie had grown a spine.
William Saunders, a former spy for the crown, is a lonely widower on his way home to England. He longed to return to England and his large, loving, supportive family, but he knew he was going to miss the warm weather of the continent. He was treating himself to a farewell tour of the now peaceful cities of lower France and Spain before he returned home. Thus, he was sitting on the beach when he noticed a ship far out in the water and – what was that – there was someone, a female, who just went overboard! He had to save her!
Will and Hattie are attracted to each other, but each has secrets – he shares his – she doesn’t. I love that she outmaneuvers him at every turn. The vaunted spy outdone by the amateur – that is good. Once they reach England, she manages to outsmart him and escape. He has to find her and make her his wife – can he? Will she have him? What made her so desperate to run away from him? What is she hiding? What danger does she face? All questions that can be answered when you read the book. So happy reading!
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