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Book Review of A Necessary Deception (Daughters of Bainbridge House, Bk 1)

A Necessary Deception (Daughters of Bainbridge House, Bk 1)
steelergirl83 avatar reviewed on + 54 more book reviews


Like a lot of people I'm a fan of all things Jane Austen after having read Pride and Prejudice in high school I became infatuated with all things Regency--Regency romance, fashion and manners. There's just something about that time period that is so intriguing. There was so much turmoil yet wealthy families tried so hard to maintain appearances and find stability for their families in the form of wealthy (or at least titled) husbands or wives for their children.

In her newest series, The Daughters of Bainbridge House, Laurie Alice Eakes explores not only those husband hunting families and their daughters but the mysterious world of French spies and double agents. Even though it's told mainly through Lydia's viewpoint the hero of this book and his occupation (for lack of a better word) and the action I think make it something a guy would like to read too. A Necessary Deception is not simply a romance but a novel of war and spies! That said if you're looking for a sweet romance of parlors, ices and beautiful gowns this book doesn't really fit into that category.

Some of the characters are from France and the use of French in the book is a bit distracting if you're as clueless about the language as I am. Christien wasn't very likable, at least to me, until the latter half of the story. Granted he was a spy and he did save Lydia's life but he seemed more of a secondary character rather than a hero. Lydia was an excellent lead and perfectly represented the picture in my head of a regency widow--not quite a debutante but someone who found purpose in watching out for her younger sisters and their loves.

A Necessary Deception is a solid start to the series and I'm really looking forward to reading more about the Bainbridge girls. Both Honore and Cassandra's, Lydia's sisters definitely had some loose ends that need tied up so hopefully we'll see more of them as this series continues.