How to Save a Spy by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Duke of Lies #5 / The Devils of Dalson #2

Release Date: March 9, 2026

Rhys McNaught was recruited by the Home Office directly from school and was tasked with spying on the ton to find French spies. But after years of spying for King and country, Rhys wanted out and longed to return to his home on Antigua. Unfortunately, the spy game didn’t pay well and he was in debt, therefore delaying his return home, but fate had other plans for Rhys in the form of Leander Ashby, the Duke of Lionston. The duke offers Rhys a way out of his debt and a chance to get home, eventually, if he will work for The Lion Watch, a private group that collects information. Rhys has no choice but to agree and goes to the Caribbean island of Martinique to gather information about the French activity. He hopes the assignment will be quick and he will be able to complete his mission and finally get home! But things take turn when he returns to his hut to find it overrun with young ladies and learns the sea captain he uses to pass information is dead and the ship is lost. He immediately butts heads with the eldest, Miss Tempest Driscoll, who kicks him out of his house and even worse, she hides his rum! So why does he find her so attractive and irresistible?

Tempest Driscoll is the eldest daughter of a British diplomat based in Dominica. After the death of her stepmother, Tempest had to take over everything. She has been acting as secretary, hostess, governess and steward for her father, so when the opportunity for a quick getaway arose – she jumped at the chance. She and her sisters traveled to her uncle’s home for Christmas and were on their way home when their ship was attacked by the French. They barely escaped and sadly the ship and the crew were lost. They made it to the island and found Rhys’ hut. Tempest insists that she and her sisters need to stay in the hut and banishes Rhys to the jungle, after assuming he was nothing more than a drunk. But soon she realizes her mistake, and they form a friendship with the promise of more. But when the French capture Rhys can she save the man she has come to love?

This was a fast paced, well-written long novella with wonderful characters and lots of adventure that I am delighted to recommend. I absolutely adored Rhys; he is the quintessential heart-of-gold hero, but Tempest took a bit longer for me to warm up to, however, she won me over in the end. This is a quick, low/no steam read with lots of adventure, great secondary characters, witty banter with a happy ending that includes an epilogue. This novella has ties to more than one series but can easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *