Marguerite Dumas is used to depending only on her own wits to survive.  As a spy and an assassin for King Francois, she is known as the Emerald Lily and she never fails.  That is, not until Marguerite meets Nicolai Ostrovsky….

Two years have passed since Marguerite failed to kill Nicolai and now King Francois has finally asked for the services of the Emerald Lily once again.  King Francois seeks an alliance with England and fears the interference of Spain.  Marguerite is to stop Spain’s delegation from hindering the alliance, no matter what the cost.  There’s just one catch… Nicolai is there and her sworn enemy may now be her only friend in a world where every word, every gesture could mean death.

The backdrop of the Tudor court of King Henry VIII is perfect for A SINFUL ALLIANCE. Amanda McCabe takes on the unlikely heroine of a female assassin and brings light into her very dark world of intrigue and danger.  Marguerite’s life has not been an easy one and it’s interesting to see the change in her as she allows herself the “luxury” of trusting and loving.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how the developing relationship between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn could affect others outside their immediate circle. The courtly intrigues are fascinating to see through the eyes of Marguerite, particularly as the danger increases. Amanda McCabe does an excellent job at not only showing us glimpses of the Tudor era but also using the time period to enhance her storyline. A SINFUL ALLIANCE isn’t just a love story set in a historical time period as the very intrigues of the Tudor period are intrinsic to the tale itself.

Amanda McCabe vividly recreates the world of the Tudors and injects lush and vibrant characters into the storyline.  Even her secondary characters practically beg for their own stories.  A SINFUL ALLIANCE is a beautifully dark and romantic tale!
 
Publisher: Harlequin Historical (April 2008)