Series: The Duke's Estates #5
Author: Jane Ashford
Published September 5th 2023 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Goodreads Synopsis
Henry Deeping and Kate Meacham seem to clash every time they meet. Kate is frustrated by the change in her status following the death of her grandfather, a legendary figure in diplomatic circles. As a lone single woman, she is now effectively nobody, even though she knows everyone and has made important contributions to diplomacy in the past. Henry, just joining the Foreign Office, is wondering how to make his mark. They agree to an exchange—Henry will serve as Kate's escort to important events to which she is no longer invited, and Kate will introduce him to the important people she knows so well. But when they spot a foreign agent they thought had been apprehended, they decide to investigate on their own, enlisting a motley group of friends and relying on each other to uncover the truth…
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After her access to Foreign Office events is curtailed following her grandfather's death, Miss Kate Meacham is more than a little frustrated. She was instrumental in bringing down a villain while in the country, but no one seems to recognise her value. So when Kate spots the villain walking out of the Foreign Office, as if nothing is wrong, she knows she needs to investigate, and she can't do it alone. Unfortunately the only person she can rely on is Henry Deeping. She and Henry clashed during their first meeting, and whenever they are together they can't help but fight. Will they be able to work together enough to save the day, or will their animosity and chemistry be too much to handle?

When we met Henry and Kate (in disguise) in the previous book, I knew they were going to be a fantastic couple, though not one whose romance would go along smoothly. Kate has always been around the Foreign Office, due to her grandfather, and she spent most of her early adulthood at FO functions. But since her grandfather died, her admittance to events has been curtailed, and people she thought were friends, or at the very least allies, are shutting her out. Being a female alone in the world is tough, and Kate is realising how privileged she had been with her grandfather. Henry has just taken a position with the Foreign Office, and though Kate wished to work with anyone else, Henry was the only person she could rely on. I loved seeing the pair of them grow, and respect one another. Yes, they had a little bit of a love hate relationship, but lack of respect was definitely not an issue. They supported each other at every turn, and knew that they wouldn't let each other down on purpose. The plot line took a turn I wasn't expecting, but I adored seeing them work together in close quarters, when everything was on the line. I'm not sure if there are any more books in the series, because this tied everything up very nicely. My favourite thing about the series is seeing James and Cecelia again and again, and as a very happily married couple. A wonderful book, part of a great series!

Dates Read:
August 11, 2023

Rating
4 Stars