Traitor in Her Arms by Shana Galen

Two morally compromised souls wage a battle of wits—and seduction—against the backdrop of the French Revolution in this thrilling romance from bestselling author Shana Galen.

After her late husband leaves her in debt to some dangerous people, Lady Gabrielle McCullough is forced to become a thief. In the intervening years, her skills have not gone unnoticed. After being recruited by the Scarlet Pimpernel, the mysterious do-gooder spiriting aristocrats out of revolutionary France, Gabrielle crosses the Channel for the most daring mission of her life. Accompanying her is the Earl of Sedgwick, a thief in his own right and an enticingly masculine presence. The man is not to be trusted—nor is Gabrielle’s body when he’s near.

Ramsey Barnes would not say he is an honorable man. His whole life has been based on a lie; why change now? Although it pains him to deceive the tantalizing Gabrielle, he’s working toward an altogether different objective: unmasking the Scarlet Pimpernel. If Ramsey fails, his blackmailer will ruin him. But when Ramsey’s confronted with the carnage of the Reign of Terror, he seeks refuge in Gabrielle’s heated embrace. Now he faces a terrible choice: betray the woman who’s stolen his heart—or risk losing everything.

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
I'm a sucker for Historical Romance, but what I enjoy the most is when an author writes outside of what is the norm for the genre. When a heroine has an unconventional career/backstory, versus being on the marriage mart, awaiting the perfect match, I always end up reading feverishly.

As the widow of a gambler husband, Gabrielle struggles to survive as creditors want her to pay the debt with her flesh. She ends up becoming a thief to survive. I enjoyed reading a strong heroine with life-experience, versus a simpering, vapid damsel-in-distress awaiting her prince charming to save her.

Gabrielle is commissioned by the Scarlet Pimpernel to go on a rescue mission in Paris, which leads the reader to our hero.

Lord Sedgewick – Ramsey is being blackmailed, and the blackmailer wishes to know the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. In his quest to meet his blackmailer's demands, this leads him to Gabrielle.

With plenty of tension and chemistry, Traitor in Her Arms is a twisty, turny, intriguing tale, where the romance is not front and center. In truth, for me, the fact that the romance takes a backseat to the conflict, rather than using it to drive the story forward, made it more realistic.

Galen writes strong, intelligent characters, with a dynamic story that doesn't rely on over-the-top romance to overshadow it. Page-turner. That's not to say there isn't oodles of romance, just not with flowery overtures that are generally a standard for the genre. Ramsey and Gabrielle allow their actions to speak loudest, versus saying endearing things but never following through. This made for a more realistic coupling, where I could buy into their connection, versus feeling as if the author was forcing it.

Highly recommended to Historical Romance and fans of the author.

Shana Galen is a bestselling author of many passionate historical romps. A three-time RITA nominee, she taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full-time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Traitor in Her Arms (The Scarlet Chronicles #1) by Shana Galen to read and review.