The Danger of Desire
If a reader is looking for a sexy romance that has more than a thin wash of 1799 realism in it, one needn’t look further than Elizabeth Essex’s latest. Yes, there’s plenty of lusting and bedding, but there’s an appealing story here too.
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden is a military spy – a creature looked down upon in an era that viewed espionage as “ungentlemanly.” Hugh is ahead of his time; he knows how important information is, and he’s willing to take risks to get it. When faced with a dangerous mission, he’s the first to admit he needs someone clever to work with. Someone nearly invisible. So he recruits a common street thief with an uncommon ability to snatch a purse without the owner even realizing it’s gone. Meggs Tanner is caught in the act by the young officer, and though she knows he’s using her, she sees him as a means to escape the grim streets and her life of crime.
Granted, the novel is a classic romance at its roots, with graphic sex scenes. However, Essex provides a sufficiently realistic backdrop in which her hero and heroine frolic. Meggs is endearing in her desire to protect her young brother and rise above her gritty fate, while McAlden is a lover for all times. An entertaining read!
