Never Lie to a Lady wasn’t boring, but something was still missing for me. Not sure what though. It’s a well written, enjoyable book, but I just wasn’t super amazed by it. Anyway, I liked the characters. Xanthia is very believable as an intelligent, independent businesswoman. Her relationship with her "hard-bitten, colonial" brother is particularly well drawn. Lord Nash, with his mixed Russian and English heritage, is a different kind of hero, not your usual rake. A strong, solid character who doesn't shy away from lighter moments - like his amusing bickering with his valet. Xanthia and Nash are both outsiders in society, and refreshingly free of baggage and angst, even with some of the troubles in their past. They talk a lot and get to know each other, so that it seems that, in addition to great chemistry, there is a steady basis for their growing love. It all progresses nicely and quietly, but never am I bored. Rather their romance struck me as beautiful. For some reason they won me over and really seemed like two soul mates coming together, kind of quietly, but still perfectly.

There's a spy plot attached to the romance, and provides Xanthia with her excuse for pursuing Lord Nash. It wasn't my favorite part of the book, in that it seemed contrived. Xanthia is not a very good spy. It also set up some clichéd plot developments, like the obligatory moment of betrayal when Nash realizes she was spying on him and thinks their love is a lie. The book was just barely saved at this point by Nash's reaction to the betrayal. There isn't a huge blow up, even though he is very angry and thinks the worst of her. Instead, he goes away to clean up the mess of the spy plot, and by the time he comes back, he's thought about things, finds the truth, and returns to her so that they can go back to being nice and beautiful again. Never Lie to a Lady doesn't really offer anything new or knock me off my feet, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and felt good reading it. Though I have to say the epilogue was cheese in the extreme. ( )

and flor let me know if you want it ( )

A great start to a new trilogy! Xanthia (Zee) and Lord Nash have strong personalities and terrific chemistry. Loved 'em both and am anticipating the stories of Gareth (Gabriel) and Kieran, Lord Rothewell. Liz Carlyle never lets me down! ( )