Spoiler-free review of Love & Let Spy Series (Book Three: Better Off Wed)

 

Better Off Wed (Love and Let Spy, Book Three)

Susanna Craig

Stars:  Definitely ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (mystery, intrigue, great characters, fun story, witty dialogue, General Scott is always the GOAT, dashing hero)

Heat rating:   🔥🔥🔥

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley; this did not influence my review in any way. You know me, Constant Reader. I’m gonna say what I’m gonna say.

I always enjoy Susanna Craig’s stories. Quite often, the romance genre has but two extremes—not enough detail, so the background is lifeless and pale, or far too much detail, where the story becomes stilted and mired in just EVERYTHING. Susanna Craig, however, knows how to massage that sweet spot and gives just the right amount. I’m never tempted to skim or skip ahead with her books. She draws you into the story and keeps you. There’s just enough foreshadowing to whet your appetite for what is to come.

In addition, she gifts you with characters who have depth and hold your interest. This book is no exception. From the first moment you are introduced to Laura Hopkins/Lady Sterling, you feel invested in her crusade to get some small justice for innocent women who have been taken advantage of by their employers. And you know from the beginning that Jeremy is an honorable man who is beaten down by circumstances beyond his control and needs excitement and attraction to brighten the dark, dull life that he leads while buried (of his own choosing) in the Underground.

This is my first NetGalley review, and I’m not 100% sure how much I should share. As you know, this is the third in a series called Love and Let Spy. And if you’ve read the two previous books, you’ve been introduced to General Zebadiah Scott, who is possibly the most important spymaster in the world, as well as an insufferable matchmaker. I am going to warn you right here. I. LOVE. GENERAL. SCOTT. He is the GOAT. This blog features reviews of the previous books and a lot about why General Scott makes this series even better. General Scott has finagled two loving marriages for agents in his employ. In the book two epilogue, we are introduced to Captain Jeremy Addison, Lord Sterling, a Viscount, though he prefers to live his life as an army codebreaker. Alas, Jeremy is now General Scott’s newest victim (of love). What a coincidence that the thief who has set the ton on its ear is named LADY STERLING. This situation is just perfect, though neither Laura nor Jeremy sees it that way!

Without spoiling this book, here’s the gist: Jeremy has been ordered to find Lady Sterling and possibly convince her to work for Scott. Laura wants justice for women abused in their duties for yet another odious titled gentleman. And General Scott is still trying to figure out who is selling secrets to the French (which was the major theme of the second book).

By the way, another thing that makes this book, and the whole series, amazing is Susanna Craig’s addition of characters of color. We have Theo in the first book and we meet Millrose in the second and, to our delight, he’s back here in this one! You’d think Millrose was just a lowly storekeeper, but oh no. Millrose is actually a spy, but not just any spy. He’s a high ranking, intelligence officer—Colonel William Millrose—General Scott’s aide. THANK YOU, Susanna Craig, for adding a character of color who has depth, importance, and smarts. Susanna Craig was inspired by 80s TV shows for this series, and the character Billy Melrose was played by a black actor, Mel Stewart, on Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I remembered him from back when I watched the show in real time (haha, DVR/record what?)  on my huge, clunky, tube TV with no kind of remote control option (it was the middle ages back when I grew up, lol).

This book connects to the first two books in the series, of course, but there are also ties to the Rogues & Rebels series. I love when an author creates their own fictional universe—it makes the characters feel even more real to me when I can say, “OMG, I remember XYZ from the Blah Blah series!” They’re more three-dimensional that way.  

I like the fact that Laura doesn’t need a man to feel complete, and though she always thought that loving a man made you weaker, she soon learns that loving the right person actually makes you strong. Susanna Craig infuses this through the entire tale, beginning with how Jeremy and Laura quickly become partners (though, for different reasons) early on in the tale. Neither of them is used to working with another person, so they learn to collaborate for the first time in their lives, professionally and personally.

This book wraps up a lot of the mystery of the second book, and you’d think it was the end of the line, but there’s a fourth book in the series (Every Rogue Has His Charm) planned for next August!

Susanna Craig features content warnings on her website, which is awesome and I wish more authors would consider it, so I won’t add any here.

❌ I did catch two minor mistakes—at location 497, it has Freddy instead of Walter. At 3107, it says Miss Addison where it should say Miss Hopkins.

This is my spoiler-free review for NetGalley, so it isn't what you usually see from me in terms of tone. I don't want to scare the publisher away with my ellipses and 80s music videos. I’ll be back here on December 31 with a more typical MAR in depth review of the book (SQUIRREL)!