Good story about two people reunited by war, deeply changed by their experiences. Celeste and Shay had known each other as teenagers in England, where they had one night together before she left for France with her father. Years later, Shay is one of Wellington's best spies, currently working in Paris. The book opens with Shay receiving a warning from a young Frenchwoman, letting him know that he is in immediate danger of being captured. There is something familiar about her, but she disappears before he figures it out. Celeste is a French informant, working for the same organization that wants Shay. Warning him that he is in danger puts a target on her own back, but she would never forgive herself if something happened to him.

The action is intense from beginning to end. With Napoleon's departure in his attempt to take Moscow, the rest of France is in turmoil as various factions fight for control. Shay and Celeste are in constant danger of discovery as they try to make their way to safety. Rather than fancy houses, balls, and parties, this book shows the darker side of Paris and the war. Both Shay and Celeste have been affected by the things they have seen and done. In the past six years, Celeste has lived through unimaginable things, making her quite cynical. She is blunt in words and actions, but there are also hints that there is more to her than meets the eye. Shay is also rather cynical, having seen what people are capable of. He is wary of trusting Celeste at first. But trusted or not, he can't leave her behind. Neither one expected the passion that flared between them in the midst of all the danger, and the feelings between them grew just as fast. The intensity of their escape bid kept me turning the pages as they made their way out of Paris and across the French countryside. Constantly changing disguises barely kept them ahead of their pursuers. I ached for them both as Shay tried to convince Celeste to return to England with him, and she was just as insistent that it wasn't possible. My heart broke for Celeste as I saw what she did to ensure Shay's safety.

I wasn't sure how Celeste and Shay were going to manage their happy ending with the way things were looking at that point. I feared for Celeste's life as she fulfilled the promise that she had made. The story fast forwarded for more than a year, and neither Shay nor Celeste knew if the other had made it to safety. Celeste's next appearance comes as she follows through on something that Shay had told her in France. I felt her worry as she took her chances that he had been right. She receives a much more unpleasant surprise when she hears that part of her past has followed her and she knows that she must warn Shay. I loved that reunion and the depth of emotion it brought out. The final confrontation with the bad guy went as expected, followed by some unexpectedly light moments that were an excellent antidote to the darkness. I loved the revelation of the rest of Celeste's secrets and seeing her and Shay finally get their chance at a future together. The epilogue was excellent and left me wanting a story for Lian. ( )