Title:    The Memory of Her
Author:    Bianca M. Schwarz
Genre:    Historical fiction
Rating:  4 out of 5

Eliza Broad has overcome trauma and loss to become the confident woman and spy she is today, much in thanks to the care and attention of Sir Henry March, spy to the Crown. Fellow spy and good friend to Sir Henry, Allen Strathem has loved Eliza from the moment he first set eyes on her. But out of respect, he never told her and left England for a mission on the Crimea with his secret buried deeply. But the memory of Eliza kept him sane during the relentless horrors of his captivity.

 When he returns, Eliza is tasked with helping Allen recover, and she dedicates herself to restoring the sparkle in his eyes and banishing the specters of his Russian captivity.

 As Allen recuperates, and they realize danger has followed him back to England, Eliza is elated that Allen not only accepts her help, but respects her skill. Together they set a trap and defeat the man who tortured Allen, only to discover something far more dangerous afoot. With danger and intrigue around every corner, Eliza and Allen rely on and trust each other, and soon their once-buried love for each other becomes a driving force. The dangerous adventure they both share and thrive on binds them together, but will that be enough to protect them from those who wish to see them dead?

I enjoyed this read, like I’ve enjoyed the other two books in the series, but the when of it threw me off a bit, as it takes place between books one and two (unless I’m completely misremembering). I did enjoy seeing Eliza come into her own, though, and I liked Allen in the first book, so this was a fun read with characters I was already rooting for.

Bianca M. Schwarz was born in Germany but lives in Los Angeles. The Memory of Her is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)

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