Her Every Pleasure
Gaelen Foley
ISBN-10: 0345496698
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-49669-0
Ballantine Books, March 2008, 416 pp
Series: Book #3 Spice Trilogy
Regency
$ 6.99 (US) $9.99 (CDN)

Reviewed by Mary
May 2008

Gaelen Foley has yet another winner with this timeless love story!

The pain and suffering that Princess Sophia of Kavros has seen before the age of 21 would ruin and destroy someone with less stamina and conviction. But Princess Sophia was born of sterner stuff than most women and she was raised understanding her rightful place is atop the throne as ruler and Queen in the small but well situated country of Kavros. She is reminded of all she has lost and could still lose the night she rides to Kavros to take her rightful place as queen. Another attempt to assassinate her is made and she is forced to go into hiding until her loyal guards can rescue her. She knows how to defend herself and proves again to any doubters when she is forced to kill one of her would-be assassinators.

While hiding in what she felt was an abandoned farmhouse Sophia encounters another person who has been witness to much sorrow and grief, Major Gabriel Knight. They are instantly drawn to one another after he finds her hiding the loft of his barn in disguise as a farm maiden. He is unaware of her true identity and hires her to work as his servant – cleaning his house. Since she knows that her stay there is short she decides to act on her attraction to Gabriel but he proves that he is a man of honor when resisting the temptation to make her – his.

During their time together this couple learns to trust one another and that is the greatest hurdle for both of them to overcome. They have seen so much hatred and evil that finding the ability to let down their guard and bare their heart and soul to another is almost more than they can bear. Gabriel protects her with his life and proves to her that his love is true and sustaining. Even when he is not sure that there is a place for him in her life he still stands beside her as the vigilant lover and companion that she needs.

While part of a series this book stands alone nicely due in large part to Ms. Foley’s ability to weave the prior stories neatly into this one. She does not dwell or over explain the other characters history but does blend them neatly into Sophia and Gabriel’s lives and how they fit into this present story. The characters are believable and you feel the deep passion and desire between Gabriel and Sophia without drowning out the story itself which is quite the spy novel in itself! Read and enjoy.