For Your Arms Only [Mass Market Paperback]

3 ½ - 4 stars. Captain Alec Hayes is presumed killed in the Battle of Waterloo. Soon after, incriminating correspondence to the French is found in his personal effects, and he has evermore been labeled a traitor to England. Alec in fact survived the battle, though barely, and for the past five years has lived under an alias while trying to find evidence that will clear his name. Even his family does not know he is alive. With the help of an influential friend, Alec has been working as a spy for the British Home Office, trying to prove his loyalty to the Crown in hopes of redeeming his good name. Now his older brother has died, so Alec has no choice but to return home and reveal himself - tainted reputation and all - in order to take care of his family and estate.

At the same time, Alec is assigned a missing persons investigation in his hometown. A former sergeant who is father to two local women has been missing for several months and Alec is asked to locate him. It becomes clear to Alec that the missing father is involved in some suspicious activities. As Alec searches for the truth, he finds himself more and more attracted to the oldest daughter, Cressida. But he refuses to get involved with any woman until his name is cleared. This may prove a difficult promise to keep, for circumstances soon find them living under the same roof!

I enjoyed this book. The mystery kept me turning the pages, there were many moving passages, the dialogue was well written and the build-up of sexual tension was excellent. Alec was a wronged hero who was easy to root for and Cressida a deserving heroine who was long overdue for love. Both were intelligent and resourceful. My only complaint is that the lead up to their romance was stronger than its realization, and that Cressida was too sexually forward - in a sort of off-putting way - when they consummated their relationship. It did not seem in keeping with her character or the times. Overall, though, this was a nicely written and involving story...with seemingly unconnected events smartly coming together as the story unfolds.

Regency spy novels are a tough sell, firstly the author must develop a lovely romance between the leads and secondly the espionage story must be tension filled and exciting. For your Arms Only doesn't really reach these benchmarks.

Hero Alexander Hayes was believed to be killed at Waterloo. Instead for the last five years the man has been a spy for His Majesty. He left his name behind after it was believed that he was a traitor. Alex feels his only hope at clearing his name is to spy and hopefully win the good opinion of his superiors who will vouch for his character. When Alex's brother dies, he must reclaim his name and return to the estate.

Heroine Cressida Turner lives very near Alex's estate with her older widowed sister, her grandmother and a servant. They are poor and desperate as their father has been gone for months and not sent back money for their support. Cressida writes to an acquaintance of her father hoping for some answers. Her answer arrives in the form of Alex who has been given this last mission, to assist Cressida in finding her father.

Cressida is taken with Alex and then she acts rather foolishly and illogically, she contemplates whether she will accept Alex's help, even though she and her family face some dire circumstances. This made little sense as Alex was specifically sent to help her find her father. She allows her emotions to rule her common sense.

The other part of this story which was a bit confusing was Alex's past which is told in flashbacks. I wondered why he was not immediately tried for treason as soon as he returned. It takes a while to understand why he is not hanging from the gallows.

What works well in the novel are the portions where Alex and Cressida work together to find her father. Cressida is a brave woman, more than a match for Alex. She is also loyal but not afraid to question evidence which tests her resolve. The search for Cressida's father was the most exciting part of this novel.

Cressida and Alex's romance was slow going initially mostly because Alex was polite and distant and Cressida was distrustful and prickly. The flashback battle sequences were well told and so were the scenes of Alex's recovery in Belgium but these are not written chronologically and it became a little confusing. This story ranks as 2.5 stars for me, the lead's romance was not thrilling, I actually found their romance to be unconvincing until the middle portion of this novel. The story line of the missing father was very well done but Alex's own story was disjointed and not as exciting as his present mission.

After the Battle of Waterloo, Captain Alec Hayes is presumed dead and soon correspondence with the French are found in his personal things, which makes him a traitor to the British. But Alec isn't dead, and for years he tries to find the evidence to clear his name. With the help of an influential friend, his works for the Home office, to prove his loyalty to the British crown. One of his assignments takes him back to his hometown, where he falls in love with Cressida, but he doesn't want to allow himself to get entangled with any woman till his name is cleared. What he doesn't count on is Cressida.

I really enjoyed this book and you can't really do anything wrong when you are looking for an entertaining Regency romance and pick up a book by Caroline Linden. FOR YOUR ARMS ONLY is no exception to the rule. You won't be able to put down the book because you want to solve the mystery of who is behind the incriminating correspondence that blackened Alec's name. Alec and Cressida are both lovable characters. He is the wronged hero and she the heroine who is desperately in need of some love. Sometimes Cressida's behavior seems to be a little untypical for the time and age of the time period the book takes place. But if you can oversee this small thing you are in for an overall good story that will entertain you well. I am looking forward to read more of Ms. Linden's book.

Courtesy of Love Romances aand More