A review by meezcarrie
Saving Shadow by Laura Beers

4.0

3.5 stars

I’m always up for new Regency fiction. Throw in some spies, a swoony hero, and a strong heroine? Sign me up please!

Lady Eliza Beckett is certainly not a typical Regency heroine. For starters, she has a eidetic memory which comes in handy for snooping around high-stakes documents and correspondence. Because rather than bide her time embroidering on a settee or playing Whist in the drawing room, she is instead Shadow – the code name for England’s most notorious spy and assassin. I loved that she knows her own mind, that she doesn’t take condescension from ‘the boys club’, and that she kicks butt and takes names.

There are a few things that could be a bit tighter. For example, a lot of the dialogue feels like narrative/info dumping and overall the narrative itself leans more toward telling than showing. Also, the romance felt a tad rushed and could have used some more development between the initial sizzle of chemistry and declarations of love. Besides the kisses. Lots of kisses. Good kisses. And the swoony Lord Benedict. But it needed more emotional dimension, in my opinion.

Bottom Line: Saving Shadow is full of intrigue and romance! From the strong, independent heroine to the dashing hero and most of the people in between, the characters are vibrant and engaging. While it’s true that this debut novel could use a little tightening, overall it is an enjoyable adventure!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower