Title: Acceptable Lies
Series: N/A
Author: CM Corett
Genre: Historical/Mystery
Length: 102 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (3 Feb 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Blurb: William’s task is clear: catch the blackmailer. William Richmond is an earl, a father, a country gentleman… and a former spy. Catching the blackmailer should be simple, but when William finds a beautiful, injured young man on the beach, unfamiliar desires surge. He is determined to focus on the task and resist temptation—resist Daniel, or his carefully constructed illusions will crumble, exposing his lies to the world… and himself.

Daniel’s question is simple: Should he trust William? Daniel has secrets: his identity, his past, how and why he washed up on the shore… and more. With revelations of espionage, blackmail, and the arrival of William’s colleagues, the danger of exposure grows. Daniel’s instincts tell him that William is a decent man, a man of honor, but his instincts have been wrong before.

As the attraction grows, so does Daniel’s desire to confess, but if he’s wrong, he risks everything—his secrets, his freedom, and his heart.

ISBN: 978-1-63476-818-4

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7379

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Acceptable Lies is an enjoyable historical MM romance with a dash of mystery and espionage. What I like about this book is that the plot is simple – it’s just a sweet and to the point forbidden romance.

Lord William Richmond, Earl of Claren, is a former British spy and a widower who retired to the life of a country gentleman on his estate with his son – his pride and joy. He does have one last secret to uncover though, a blackmailer. William and his son, Thomas, come across a man washed up on the beach near the estate and things quickly fall into place for the plot. The man is Daniel, who pretends to have amnesia since he is on a mysterious mission to get close to William.

To be perfectly honest, in terms of a mysterious stranger with amnesia type of historical romance, other than sounding a bit Jane Eyre-like, this is pretty predictable. The stranger gets close to the master of the estate – dreads “recovery” – stranger also gets close to child – dramatic event that helps cement emotion – tearful confession and a HEA.

It is definitely the characters and their development that saves the plot – and I must say that I really did like William’s friends, Edward Carstairs and Christopher Langely. Of course, Thomas, William’s son, is also charming each time we get to meet the little boy.

Regardless of predictability, this is a relaxing read for anyone into historical romance because you can sit back and rest easy that you can mostly figure out what is going to happen. The joy is getting to know William and Daniel.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *