Review: The Miss Mirren Mission by Jenny Holiday

Loving her would be his downfall…

To society, the Earl of Blackstone cuts a mysterious figure. He is eligible, withdrawn, and endlessly fascinating. Yet as an integral part of London’s underground spy ring intent on defeating Napoleon, Blackstone has no mistress but the cause.

Miss Emily Mirren is considered “unbiddable” by the ton. She wields a fierce intellect, which she channels into her own secret cause—writing an abolitionist newspaper column under a male pseudonym.

When Emily’s aims clash with Blackstone’s, they stray into a dangerous game of attraction and subterfuge, and secrets are the going currency. And in order to complete the most important mission of his career, Blackstone must thwart Emily, even if it breaks both their hearts.

Review
Eric is a man haunted by the ghosts of his past, He has thrown himself into his spy work to distract himself. His only focus is the mission which he must complete at any cost.

Emily Mirren has a mission of her own, and when her path crosses with Eric's they are immediately drawn to each other. They've both had a troubled past, and with Emily adamant that she will never marry and Eric determined to be the last of his bloodline a marriage between them seems impossible. As both their missions near their end Emily and Eric must work together despite their misgivings. Can they find a way to live happily ever after?

I loved Eric. Aside from the war injury he is very much the stereotypical aloof regency hero, but as his softer side emerged, particularly with Emily, I couldn't help but fall for him. Eric and Emily's illicit late night library encounters and moonlight swims may be cliché but they made me smile, as did the banter between them as their relationship grew.

Emily is clever, quick-witted and very kind-hearted. A 'bluestocking' reformer, she has no shame in voicing her opinions and campaigning for a better world - a world with freedom for the slaves. Emily and Eric have chemistry in spades, and it's clear from the start how their story is going to end. The getting there, though, is packed full of romance, intrigue, and twists that I didn't see coming. The secondary characters are all great too, and I would love to see some of them get stories of their own. The story of how Catharine met her husband, for example is one that I would be really interested to read.

4/5 stars: Part romance novel, part spy thriller, The Miss Mirren Mission is historical romance with a difference.

*Thanks to Entangled Publishing for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!*