Series: Adventurers Quartet (Book 2)
After a decade of captaining diplomatic voyages for
Frobisher Shipping, alongside covert missions for the Crown, Captain Robert
Frobisher decides that establishing a home -- with hearth and wife -- should be
his next challenge. But an unexpected mission intervenes. Although Robert sees
himself as a conservative businessman-cum-diplomat and this mission is far from
his usual sphere, it nevertheless falls within the scope of his abilities. As
matters are urgent, he agrees to depart for West Africa forthwith.
To Robert, his way forward is clear: Get to Freetown,
determine the location of a slavers' camp, return to London with the
information, and then proceed to find himself a wife.
Already in Freetown, Miss Aileen Hopkins is set on
finding her younger brother Will, a naval lieutenant who has mysteriously
disappeared. Find Will and rescue him; determined and resolute, Aileen is not
about to allow anyone to turn her from her path.
But all too quickly, that path grows dark and dangerous.
And then Robert Frobisher appears and attempts to divert her in more ways than
one.
Accustomed to managing diplomats and bureaucrats, Robert
discovers that manipulating a twenty-seven-year-old spinster lies outside his
area of expertise. Prodded by an insistent need to protect Aileen, he realizes
that joining forces with her is the surest path to meeting all the challenges
before him -- completing his mission, keeping her safe, and securing the woman
he wants as his wife.
But the villains strike and disrupt their careful plans
-- leaving Robert and Aileen no choice but to attempt a last throw of the dice
to complete his mission and further her brother's rescue.
Compelled to protect those weaker than themselves and
bring retribution to a heartless enemy, they plunge into the jungle with only
their talents and inner strengths to aid them -- and with the courage of their
hearts as their guide.
Exciting continuation of the series. This one picks up
where The Lady's Command left off. Declan and Edwina have returned to England with
the information they were sent to get. Robert has just arrived home from his
latest voyage ferrying diplomats when he is met by the Duke of Wolverstone
(Dalziel) who wants Robert to take the next leg of the investigation, finding
the location of the slavers' camp, and bringing that information back to
England. Robert is understandably disgruntled about not being able to see the investigation
through to its conclusion, but accepts the reasoning. He also has a secondary
motive for wanting to finish as quickly as possible: After years of sailing and
missions for the Crown, he wants what Declan has found - a home and wife of his
own. The sooner he returns home, the sooner he can start looking.
Aileen Hopkins grew up in a Navy family, with all the men
in her family for generations having served. When word comes that her youngest
brother, Will, has disappeared from his ship in Freetown, Aileen is determined
to find and rescue him. She is smart, stubborn and a dead shot with a pistol.
It doesn't take long for her to realize that there is more going on than meets
the eye.
With both Robert and Aileen tackling the same mystery
from different points, it isn't long before their paths collide. That first
meeting is quite incendiary, as Robert steps in just as one of the slavers
notices that Aileen appeared to be watching him. Using a kiss that rapidly gets
out of hand, their cover is maintained, but both are left reeling. Robert is
determined to convince Aileen that she should back off and let him handle
things, and she is equally determined not to be shunted off to the side. It was
quite enjoyable to see Aileen take each one of Robert's objections and counter
it with excellent logic. Robert quickly came to realize that he would be
certain of her safety only if he kept her at his side.
The development of their relationship is fast and
furious. They are evenly matched in intelligence and determination, and
discover that they work together quite well. There is also a simmering
attraction that builds quickly. I really enjoyed seeing Robert's frustration
with Aileen at the beginning, as she didn't behave in any way like he expected
her to. However, that same behavior soon impressed him with her ability to
adapt to any circumstances. It didn't take long for him to realize that fate
had combined his mission and his search for a wife, if only he can keep her
safe. I also enjoyed seeing the effect that Robert had on Aileen, shaking up
her usual ability to focus on her goals. There were several fun parts where
Aileen notices the similarities between Robert and her brothers, and handles
him the same way she would them. There are also times when Robert needs all the
diplomacy he's learned over the years to make Aileen see things his way. But
through it all, there is no doubting the respect they have for each other. There
are no games played, no big secrets to drive them apart, and no doubting that
they are meant for each other.
The carrying out of Robert's mission was exciting from
the beginning. The first part of the book shows both Aileen and Robert
following their plans independently. Robert and his men have their work cut out
as they follow their suspects and wait for their chance to track the slavers.
Aileen's frustration with the lack of help she receives from the officials
leads her to take matters into her own hands. She's unaware of the bigger
picture and the danger until she joins forces with Robert. Her switch in focus
to the missing children brings her to the attention of the wrong people, and
her capture creates havoc with Robert's plans. There is a great deal of danger,
fear, excitement and even some humor in her rescue, but that's not the end of
it. Still missing some key information, their search leads into the jungle and
yet another close call with the slavers. A heartbreaking scene involving some
of the missing children gives further impetus to their need to escape with the information
they now have. That confrontation was a real nail-biter as I wondered how close
it was going to be.
I loved the final chapters, as Robert and Aileen take the
time during the voyage home to truly get to know each other. Their arrival
involved a bit of fun, as we meet the youngest brother, Caleb, and experience
the ever present competitiveness between the brothers. It concludes with a most
satisfying meeting with Wolverstone and other familiar faces, including Edwina
and Minerva, Lady Wolverstone. There's an unexpected twist involving the next
leg of the investigation that sets the stage for the next book.
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