Name: Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy (The Arlingbys Book 3) by Alicia Quigley
Item: Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy
Author: Trenzle Review

Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy DEALS

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The widow of a soldier who lost her life in the Peninsular Wars is Mrs. Valerie Carlton. Valerie’s upwardly mobile father rejects her when she marries for love. She is struggling to survive as a governess now that her husband has passed away. Valerie finds herself jobless and without a reference after an employer’s son exhibits a bit too much aggression. When Valerie is on her way to a friend’s house, her wallet is stolen, and that’s when she meets Sir Tarquin Arlingby, a highly sought-after bachelor who is on his way to his family’s house to please his matchmaker mother.

Although Tarquin isn’t searching for love, he finds the young widow to be rather alluring and as they get to know one another, he begins to see that she has some skills that would be beneficial on a clandestine mission for the realm. Can Tarquin and Valerie work together for the good of England and then part ways, or have they built a bond that will last?

Regency romance follows a specific format. The woman is either a virgin or a widow who was wed to a terrible husband, in addition to the rake who has had a million affairs. When a boy meets a girl, he attempts to have sex with her but discovers that his private parts are no longer functional. He assumes that this is because they are being faithful to the angelic flower he met, who typically despises him (oddly, an std never enters the realm of possibility).

Alicia Quigley does not follow rules very closely. What Quigley presents to us is a man who understands how to interact with women but who is more desired than had. Valerie is a woman who, to her own detriment, married for love. Her husband is kind, and she has a real affection for him. Readers will genuinely want the main characters to find happiness, whether it be with each other or in other pursuits, because both characters are lovable and sweet.

Don’t misunderstand me. The cliches in Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy are somewhat recognisable. The gamers instantly click with one another. Both people have unbelievable physical appeal, and the series of events that lead to their current situation seem unlikely. By making those genre assumptions plausible, Quigley’s work ameliorates them. When Tarquin reached marriageable age, women tended to have a uniform appearance.

Women are impressionable, exuberant, and eager to find the most appealing partner. Marriage isn’t about love, it’s about alliances, and if they get along well enough to have a child, then their mission is completed and they can start having fun. Valerie’s only expectation is that she will go on to her next job as a maid after their brief experience is complete. There is no pressing need to communicate or connect. The main protagonists are free to simply enjoy their current situation.

Tarquin’s mother must be the book’s villain if there is one. She is a skilled user of the guilt card and works hard for her kids. Tarquin is fully aware of his mother’s tricks, but he also realistically recognises that there isn’t much he can do other than apologise so that she swiftly fades into the background. She is a red herring because of her blunt tongue and stubborn personality, yet she has little influence.

There is an intriguing subplot in the novel about spying in France, which is really just a cloudburst. The complicated lead up left readers with the expectation of an occurrence that was more detailed than what was really presented, therefore I wish the author had enlarged the role of the subplot in the novel. Readers can briefly interact with characters from prior books in the series in Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy, which is a fully standalone book. While the emphasis isn’t lost, we get the fangirl gratification of knowing that the characters are happy and successful in the lives they’ve chosen.

About The Book

Mrs. Valerie Carlton is the widow of a soldier who died in the Peninsular Wars. Disowned by her family for “marrying down,” she survives working as a governess. When the elder son of the family makes unwelcome advances, Valerie leaves, seeking refuge with a close friend until she can find another position.

Sir Tarquin Arlingby, a wealthy, handsome bachelor on his way home, is staying at the same inn as Valerie and witnesses her being robbed before she can board the coach. He goes to Valerie’s aid and is instantly attracted to her. As her friend’s home is near his estate, he offers to drive her there.

An unfortunate accident forces the pair to spend a night in a village inn. Over dinner, Valerie talks about her experiences during the Spanish campaign against Napoleon and the sense of mission that she felt following the drum, which she misses in her current life. Sir Tarquin, who is secretly spying for the Crown by masquerading as a smuggler to pass information in and out of France, is intrigued by her bravery and his attraction increases. Valerie is also drawn to the handsome baronet.

Tarquin needs a French-speaking woman to pose as a smuggler during a mission to the “City of Smugglers” in Gravelines. When he discovers that Valerie speaks French like a native, he successfully recruits her for the job. Will the pair survive their dangerous mission? Will they finally acknowledge the depth of their feelings for each other?

Find out in Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy, a Regency romance with intrigue, humor and just the right amount of moderately explicit sex for those readers who enjoy sensuality with their romances.

The Review