A Deceptive Bargain is author Laura Beers’ finest book yet! This Regency Spy Romance is a continuation of the Shadow series. Beers has done extensive research to convey 1814 England and readers will find themselves carried away to the time period. Besides being an entertaining story rife with danger and mystery, this is a powerful and emotional tale. Several chapters in A Deceptive Bargain are told from the point-of-view of a nineteenth century sexual abuse survivor. Martha is strong, brave, and caring, and her character development in the novel is breathtaking. As in all Shadow books, characters from the series make appearances and continue their stories. A love triangle between the Martha, Emmett and new character Simeon will keep readers guessing and wry bits of humor help lighten the mood. Beers’ book is one with substance, an action-packed romance told with empathy and heart. A must-read!
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Phase Publishing LLC
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 1 derogatory name.
Violence/Gore: Several implied incidents of violence including physical scars and verbal threats; frequent secondhand reports of violence including murder, robbery, kidnapping, beatings, warfare, torture; frequent brief incidents of violence including fistfights, shootings, a character slaps her father, pistol-whippings, stabbings; a brief non-detailed scene of violent death when dead bodies are displayed as a warning; a few brief scenes of blood and gore including gunshot injuries and a character’s vivid recollection of a murder; a brief scene of intense violence involving a character being shot.
Sex/Nudity: Frequent incidents of kissing; several sexual references, including “scantily clad” women and men trying to force “their intentions” on women; several implied or reported incidents of sexual activity including newlyweds, a character recalling past sexual abuse and years living at a brothel, a character calling herself a “ruined woman”; a mature discussion regarding a character’s past sexual abuse.
Mature Subject Matter:
Sexual trafficking of women, including mentions of slave auctions and brothels; smuggling rings; mention of abusive childhood; murder; death of family members; gambling, poverty; miscarriage; mention of houses of “ill-dispute”; debt and workhouses; mention of war; robbery and kidnapping.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
A few scenes take place in a bar and/or inn where alcohol is served; characters drink in a few brief scenes.
