Archer

About the Book

Book: Lady Wynwood’s Spies 1: Archer

Author: Camille Elliot

Genre: Christian Historical Romantic Suspense

Release date: December 8, 2020

Archer cover

A Christian Regency Romantic Adventure serial novel with a supernatural twist

Lady Wynwood’s Spies volume 1

She met him again by shooting him.

Part one in a Christian Regency Romantic Adventure epic serial novel with a supernatural twist. After four seasons and unmarried because she is taller than most of her dance partners, Miss Phoebe Sauber receives the shocking news that she is being callously banished from her father’s estate because he is remarrying. Feeling betrayed by her father and by God, and wanting to escape her family’s presence, she attends an archery tournament with her friends.

But her perfect aim fails her, and her arrow hits a piece of paper held by Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones, whom she hasn’t seen much in society in several years. But strangely, her arrow tears a section of the paper with a partial symbol that looks eerily familiar to her.

He met her again while searching for a killer.

Michael had quit his work as a spy for the Foreign Office when his brother was poisoned. His search for the murderer leads him to Apothecary Jack, a criminal underworld leader with a penchant for poisons, who is gathering a powerful army through an alchemical potion that can give men supernatural strength.

But his path unexpectedly crosses again with Miss Sauber, who saves him from a trap laid by Jack. She and her Aunt Laura, Lady Wynwood, have found a vital connection to Apothecary Jack and the mysterious group he works for.

Now Michael, who had vowed to never again allow civilians to come to harm, must work with a nobleman keeping dangerous secrets, a human lie detector, a chemist, a fellow former spy, and the one woman he’s never allowed himself to get close to.

And it is only this ragtag group that stands against a traitorous organization that could enable Napoleon to conquer the world.

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Guest Review from Mindy Houng

“You may not know this, but men rarely feel the need to talk about anything.”

I have not read any historical from Camille Elliot so this was a pleasant introduction. There is a Christmas novella and a prequel novella in this series before this book and reading them first may help the reader make better sense of the atmosphere as this book begins. Unfortunately I did not read them before starting this book, so I had to pay extra careful attention to all the characters and plot to find my footing. As is typical in Regency era novels, the dialogue is delightfully fun, the plot involves an almost spinster daughter, and the London Season is in full swing. There is plenty of dialogue and conversation that carries the plot at the beginning of the story. Atypical of Regency era novels is the fast-moving suspense-filled plot that comes into play about halfway into the story, after all the necessary characters and their roles are introduced. Some of the moving pieces and backstories start clicking into place but the book does end in a cliff-hanger of sorts. The series has an overarching theme that will be carried throughout the series so make sure to start with the prequel novella and read the books in order.

There are indeed quite a number of characters in the story but they’re easy to keep track of. Phoebe and Michael, Keriah and Septimus, and Laura and Sol make a great team of spies, chemist, and botanist. Laura (Lady Wynwood) has a group of servants who are wonderful secondary characters. Even the villains in the story have a voice, which adds another layer to the suspense and intrigue of the plot. I’m not certain why the series is named Lady Wynwood’s Spies but I’ll be sure to keep reading the series to find out the answers to all the questions I have after finishing the first book.

Those who love Regency and suspense will enjoy this book. I received the book via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

About the Author

CamyTang_highres Camy writes Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Camy Tang and Regency romance as USA Today bestselling author Camille Elliot. She lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She was a staff worker for her church youth group for over 20 years and she currently plays on one of the Sunday worship teams. Visit her websites at http://www.camytang.com/ and http://www.camilleelliot.com/ to read free short stories and subscribe to her quarterly newsletter.

More from Camy

I love Regency romances! I started reading them when I was 13 years old and haven’t stopped since.

There’s something about the Regency time period and culture that’s glamorous and decadent and the epitome of elegance. The resplendent dresses! The brooding, romantic Lord Byron and the distinguished Beau Brummell! Dashing naval captains and army lieutenants, glittering ballrooms and winsome debutantes!

The flip side of my personality loves romantic suspense and action adventure. I love seeing strong women face danger with courage and smarts, and strong men willing to do anything to protect their loved ones and fight for justice.

So, basically, the Lady Wynwood’s Spies series grew out of my desire to see Mission: Impossible in the Regency era!

My Regency “IMF” team is brought together when my spinster heroine, a botanist and a skilled archer, discovers that her late uncle had ties to a mysterious group. She goes to her aunt’s best friend, a gentleman who has secretly been a spy for decades, and he forms his team of ex-agents and uniquely gifted civilians to battle this group of alchemists who want to ensure that Napoleon wins the war with England. (Cue the Mission: Impossible theme music!)

I’ve also structured the series a little differently. It’s a very long serial novel, similar to a Japanese manga or light novel series, with 12 volumes that each have a completed story arc, but the main plot isn’t resolved until the end.

I hope you’ll join me on this epic Regency romantic adventure!