After his father’s death Lord Magnus Dawson has more important things to think about than falling in love—like how to earn a living when all he knows is the idleness he was raised with, and the military training he received before selling his commission.
For Toby Marsh, the impetus is as great, though he doesn’t have Magnus’s family connections to fall back on. A scholarship student at Cambridge, he was forced to spend his last year in college as valet and sometime tutor to a brainless fellow student after his father’s sudden death. Now he scrabbles out a living as a freelance tutor.
Then a call from the Foreign Office brings them together. Toby disdains the idle lordling, and Magnus can’t seem to treat Toby as more than a servant. As they delve deeper into their assignment, the attraction between them grows. But can they envision a future together when so class and culture conspire to drive them apart?
The Gentleman and the Spy is an 83,000 word Victorian-era lord and valet romance with a country house party and a touch of espionage and international intrigue.
For Toby Marsh, the impetus is as great, though he doesn’t have Magnus’s family connections to fall back on. A scholarship student at Cambridge, he was forced to spend his last year in college as valet and sometime tutor to a brainless fellow student after his father’s sudden death. Now he scrabbles out a living as a freelance tutor.
Then a call from the Foreign Office brings them together. Toby disdains the idle lordling, and Magnus can’t seem to treat Toby as more than a servant. As they delve deeper into their assignment, the attraction between them grows. But can they envision a future together when so class and culture conspire to drive them apart?
The Gentleman and the Spy is an 83,000 word Victorian-era lord and valet romance with a country house party and a touch of espionage and international intrigue.
My Rating - 4 Stars!
Lord Magnus and Toby are complete opposites in every way, except for the fact that they both share a certain lifestyle preference.
Working together, as spies for the crown, they embark on a journey full of suspense and mystery. Their forced proximity also leads them on a journey full of fear, heat, and love.
The family issues surrounding Lord Magnus add a lot of layers to the tale. Being threatened to marry soon, and having no education to fall back on, his choices are limited despite his wealth. His role in his family is an interesting one and leads this story along well.
Once they come together about their feelings, their big problem is that society doesn't allow them to be together. Not just because they're both men. But also because they come from different social statuses. I appreciate the way the author handles this, fully developing the feel of their time and circumstances.
Overall, the writing is great. The characters are complex and their situations even more complex. The author excels in creating the atmosphere around these men and all the societal layers of the time.
Tigger - This tale does include discussion of past non-con scene that is devastating to hear. Avoid if that's a trigger for you. But, damn, I love the resulting scene that makes this information important. It's extremely emotional and beautiful.
Overall, The Gentleman and the Spy is a good read. It's definitely worth a try the next time you're in the mood for a good historical romance.
