This is a nice romance with of course the nasty femme fatale who throws a monkey wrench into the works. Liked both lead characters, story is good and well written, though I think the disguise trope was unnecessary and glad it was dropped early on. ( )

Enjoyed this book immensely as it was refreshing to have the two main characters not be attracted or have fallen in love right from the start. It was also much more interesting to have the setting be right at the climax of the war with Napoleon - the battle of Quatre Bras and Waterloo where the characters are located in Brussels, only a few miles away from the action. The synopsis on the back of the book is very misleading. It makes it sound like the female character lead, Adrienne Castle, gambles in order to earn a living for her young siblings now that both their parents have died. In actuality, that is such a minor detail - I counted four attempts to earn money that way. The rest of the story involves the family and their companion enjoying their introduction to their cousin, Dominic, Colonel Lord Creighton and his hospitality. They move into his home in Brussels due to the youngest boy's falling deathly ill and then eventually, Dominic is to aide them in getting back to England and to his mother, who wants to look after them. Dominic is engaged to the beautiful Lady Tremayne, a conniving widow out to get Dominic's money. Adrienne gets wrapped up in the social whirl of Brussels, something that is all new to her. Yet always in the background is the threat of approaching danger as Napoleon and his troops march closer and closer. Will Dominic see the light about Lady Tremayne before it's too late? Will he make it unscathed in the battle at Quatre Bras? Will Adrienne and her family ever make it to England? Good stuff. ( )