The Spymaster’s Secret
by Antonia Aquilante
The Blurb: Alexander is doing his best to settle into life in Tournai’s royal palace after years living outside the country due to his father’s diplomatic work. The sense of belonging and home he feels is overwhelming, but none of his plans are going as he imagined. Many see him as only a lovely, charming adornment of the royal court and underestimate both his intelligence and abilities. His attraction to Marcus, a mysterious older man who does work for the prince, Alexander’s cousin, is unexpected but not unwelcome…if Marcus could possibly see who Alexander really is.
Lord Marcus is the second son of a minor noble family, a widower raising two children…and the prince’s spymaster. He knows his work is necessary for the security of the kingdom and its royal family, but he also knows it can be distasteful and dangerous to him and those around him. Marcus has vowed never to fall in love again, never to put anyone else at risk—a promise threatened for the first time by the vibrant, flirtatious Alexander. The attraction is unwelcome and entirely undeniable. He can’t believe someone like Alexander would want someone like him, but he also can’t stay away.
As they become ever more entangled, Marcus is investigating rumors of spies at work in Tournai’s university. As he gets closer to uncovering their plot, Alexander is drawn deeper into danger. Can their love survive when Alexander is put in peril by the very spies Marcus is hunting for?
(Chronicles of Tournai Book 7)
MMy Thoughts Review:
Publisher: Nine Star Press
Release date: October 14, 2019
Page Count: 375
Genre: MM Romance; Sci-fi/ Fantasy
Rated: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟, Mature, Explicit
Marcus & Alexander
It took me a little while to become fully immersed in this book, and I think that had a lot to do with this being part of a series. Even though the main characters’ romance stood alone, the world they were from was so intricate and the cast of secondary characters so vast I knew I would have a better understanding had I begun the series from the beginning. Alas, this ARC was presented to me not requested. 💗
The Author paints an exquisite picture of the kingdom of Tournai. It has a distinct style and flare and I imagined it full of bright colors with concrete and marble buildings with columns to rival those in Rome. The transportation was horseback and horse and carriage. The women wore dresses and gowns and the gentlemen, jackets, slacks, and britches, which reminded me of the Regency Era in Great Britain.
There was a paranormal aspect and a secret “Talent” those in the Royal family kept hidden from the rest of the world. I did not learn what this “talent” was until about three quarters into the book.
Alexander, cousin to the crown Prince is part of the royal line, so he and his twin both carry the secret talent. Alexander has also been crushing on an older gentleman, a widower named Marcus. Marcus is the Secret Spymaster for the Prince in the same way he was for the King and Queen before him.
Alexander and Marcus begin a slow courtship dance. A sort of back and forth as Marcus works through his grief, tries to out a ring of spies at the university Alexander and other royals attend while figuring out if his feelings for Alex are real and lasting.
I enjoyed the story enough to go back and add the first book in the series to my TBR.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.⛄
Sharonica Logic 
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