Sex and Espionage.
Celeste Fournier has been embroiled in the French spy world since her father was murdered and she was left to fend for herself. When she learns that Summerley Shaybourne, the man to whom she gave her virginity in England before her life in France, is in danger she risks everything to save him.
I found this a difficult read. Although the events of Celeste’s life were horrible and violent, I didn’t feel that she would so easily risk everything for a man she seemed to barely know and slept with once. Also she only rescues him once then lets him take control of the whole escape, even though he is injured. The details about their past together was brief and a lot concentrated on Celeste’s history in England and France. There were a lot of secondary characters who appeared but were not of any consequence to the story.

A Night of Secret Surrender is written by Sophie James and published by Mills and Boon (Historical). This is a historical romance, set in 1812 war torn Paris. Both Celeste Fournier and Major Summerley Shayborne are wanted by the opposing factions (Anne Jean Marie Rene Savary, Choef of police v Henri Jacques Clarke, Minister of War). aiming to fill th political vac which developed after Napoleon left Paris to take Russia. Celeste and Shay have met before war broke out in France. One hot sultry night, many years ago Shay had taken Celeste's virginity and thrown back Shay's declaration of marriage in his face. The next day she left for France with her father. Now, famed for her disguises, she warns Shay who is now an informant for Wellington that his life is in danger and he must escape from Paris, which is where he was hiding. Celeste is working as a rogue informant for the French. By telling him his life is in danger she is endangering herself. They attempt escape to Spain disguised as monks.

I hated this book, it is the only one I have been unable to finish. Hence why I stopped at monks as I gave up after the description of Shay shaving his palate so he could pass as a monk. There are just too many storylines and characters entertained with historical facts. The flashbacks to Langley are interesting but drawn out. I enjoyed that the novel is historically correct but it takes over and controls the direction of the novel rather than the characters themselves.

“There is much you do not know about me now, Major Shayborne, and the colour of my hair is the very least of it.”

Celeste Fournier had one night with Summerley Shayborne before leaving England for France. Years later, Shay is a wanted man. One of Wellington’s trusted intelligence officers, he is hiding from the French in Paris, while Celeste has become something of a rogue French spy working for the organisation seeking him out. Warning him that his life is in danger puts the two on a collision course with danger, a journey of finding love, letting go of the past, and daring to dream about a future they may never have if their enemies catch up with them. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Set largely in the unglamorous back streets of Paris, Celeste and Shay are brought to life against a vivid backdrop of dark alleys, anonymous apartments, and clandestine meetings with an assortment of secondary characters who are not all they seem. Sophia James has created two realistic, likeable, and believable characters who have no airs and graces as they battle to survive. Indeed, Celeste has lived through things that she probably wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy, and she is somewhat blunt in her tone, but, underneath the bravado, there is a fragile young woman in need of rescue, if only she would let Shay in. Likewise, Shay lives his life in the shadows, knowing one wrong move could be fatal. There can be no grand declarations of love, or promises of forever, and the novel works so well because of these things. For these characters, there is only the here and now, and the book is a real page turner as we keep our fingers crossed for a moment of happiness in contrast to the danger.
In contrast to the high society of Paris, there are no grand houses, no ballrooms and no fashionable outfits, and instead there is a prevailing sense of danger and violence as Shay tries to escape those who want him dead, all the while trying to protect Celeste as the two plot a getaway in a variety of disguises.
The plot is fast moving as we follow the escape bid across Paris and the French countryside, and the disguises change regularly as seemingly innocuous meetings with passing strangers put Shay and Celeste in serious danger. Indeed, the joy of watching the two fall in love is somewhat bittersweet as a happy ending seems almost impossible amid the threats lurking in the background. The inevitable parting of ways is tinged with regret and self sacrifice for both as the plot moves forward with neither Celeste or Shay knowing whether the other is still alive.
A real against all odds romance, the story picks up over a year later in London as we discover what became of Shay and Celeste, and how their lives were irrevocably altered by events in France. It would spoil the story to give any hints about this part of the book, but this is a story that has so many things going for it: a fantastically vivid setting, characters (and a relationship) you really believe in, suspense and tension, and an emotional impact that stays with you long after the last page has been turned.
Thanks to M&B for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.