Bound to a Spy is the second instalment in Sharon Cullen’s All the Queen’s Spies series. It’s a steamy, action-packed story that works perfectly well as a standalone, so potential readers can start here, if they so choose.

Rose Turner is not of noble birth. In fact, she comes from one of Scotland’s border clans, and her family is barely tolerated by the nobles at court thanks to the countless raids they’ve participated in over the years. But Rose’s mother wants a better life for her daughter, so she uses some family connections to wrangle a place at the court of Mary Queen of Scots where she hopes Rose will make a good marriage and improve the family’s standing. Rose herself doesn’t care much for the idea of marriage. She’d rather spend her days roaming the countryside, communing with the animals she loves so much. Still, she does her best to be a dutiful daughter, and she knows one day she’ll have to give into society’s rules and become a proper wife and mother.

Will Sheffield has been sent to Mary’s court by Queen Elizabeth of England. He’s a top British agent, and his queen has tasked him with keeping a close eye on Queen Mary and her husband. Will has a bad feeling about some of Queen Mary’s courtiers, and his misgivings are heightened when he discovers a group of four men who have met in secret to discuss the possible assassination of Scotland’s King consort. As the meeting is ending, Will catches sight of Rose, who has inadvertently stumbled upon the meeting. She’s obviously in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Will worries that her presence will put her in danger. After all, if he saw her, who is to say one of the conspirators didn’t catch sight of her as well?

Rose is shocked by the conversation she overheard, and she has absolutely no idea what to do with the information being discussed. If someone is really plotting Lord Darnley’s death, she’s sure she owes it to Queen Mary to report it. But, before she can do so, Will engineers an introduction, and pleads with her to keep the conversation a secret for a little longer, while he tries to uncover the identities of the conspirators. She reluctantly agrees, but only if Will allows her to help him. Since he is quite drawn to Rose’s spunk and beauty, Will concedes to her demands, and the two of them set about discovering who is actually behind the assassination plot.

The sexual tension between Will and Rose is almost palpable, and I fully enjoyed watching the two of them get to know each other. Will isn’t looking for a romantic entanglement, as he thinks it would serve as a distraction from his duty to the English crown, but something about Rose draws him in. He tells himself he’s only focused on protecting her, but the reader knows full well there’s more to his feelings than his need to keep Rose safe from danger. For her part, Rose has never met anyone like Will. He’s handsome and dangerous, and she can’t help but feel attracted to him, but Will is a man with many secrets, and Rose isn’t sure if she can fully trust him.

I love books that are full of court intrigue, and Bound to a Spy definitely fits the bill there. The Scottish court of Ms. Cullen’s creation has a very authentic feel to it, and I loved all the political machinations the story contained. It was obvious that Rose and Will had stumbled upon a dangerous plot, and my heart was in my throat on more than one occasion as they worked to get to the bottom of things.

If you’re a fan of sexy historical romances full of danger and intrigue, I wholeheartedly recommend you pick this book up. I’m glad I read it, and I plan to go back and read Wed to a Spy, the first book in the series before too long. Hopefully, it will be as satisfying a read as this one turned out to be.

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