Going to a beautiful Irish castle for her assignment, the hot-tempered Shannon has her work cut out for her. Not knowing what the French spy even looks like, and doubly stymied by not knowing that her counterpart from Russia is also after the Frenchman, Shannon has to fend for herself. The danger of her situation is intensified by her unwilling attraction to the handsome and devilish Orlov. Is she working at cross-purposes with the seductive Alexandr, or are their goals the same? Can she protect the family in danger of assassination, AND protect herself from seduction?

The wordplay in the book is as quick and cutting as the swordplay, and as Shannon hones her skills and works her wiles, there are undercurrents in the war against the dashing Napoleon. Shannon knows that her life and her mission are endangered, and she worries about the other 'Merlin's Maidens' who will use her assignment as a pattern for their own future.

Written with the same elegant flair as The Spy Wore Silk, this book follows the precepts that author Pickens established in that book. The girls all have a name selected by them from a place on the globe in the office of the school administrator, Mrs. Merlin. Shannon's story is a sequel to that of the happy-go-lucky Siena, although this book is a great stand-alone title. Recommended for those who enjoy the passion of the swordfight and the exploits of sinfully sexy spies, this romance is more dashing and certainly more suspenseful than run-of-the-mill romances tend to be. A great weekend read. Enjoy!