Review: Terrific story of intrigue, history, and romance!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 30, 2013
Verity's Lie is the final book in The Huntley Trilogy and it is a fitting wrap-up to this great series.  Verity Verrinder (how I love that name!) lives a sheltered life under her father's autocratic thumb so she thinks she is much less interesting, charming, and pretty than she actually is.  Charles Huntley, Lord Ryevale, lives the burned out life of an aristocratic spy, tired of being the charming ne'er do well rake that must sift through the secrets of the Ton.  When Verity's diplomatic father must travel to Europe to help form the coalition to take on Napoleon, Ryevale is commandeered for the job of her protector.  Who better than the man who knows both the need for keeping Verity safe from French political plots and has the ability to intimidate those in Society who might try to take advantage of the lady while her father is gone?  He knows women want him so he decides to keep her occupied with his attentions; how very generous of him.One thing I love most of all about this author is that she writes strong heroines.  Verity is very innocent and unaware but she is not hopelessly naive.  She suspects Ryevale's motives for paying her attention from the outset.  She wonders at his regard and questions his motives to his face.  He's handsome and she is attracted but she is not about to swoon.  Another thing I love is that the author lets us hear what the heroes think.  We get to know when they are unsure of themselves or feel terrible for what they have done, but we are also privy to their struggle with their emotions.  We get to see how they work through their feelings.  Lord Ryevale admires Verity from the outset, for her outspokenness and failure to be impressed by superficiality.  She intrigues him and he wants to know her better...which makes him regret the subterfuge he employs to keep her safe.  When all comes to a head and secrets are revealed we understand why Verity and Ryevale each feel the way they do.My interest was captured from beginning to end in this book.  I have looked forward to Ryevale's story since his introduction in the first book, Eulogy's Secret, and the author did not disappoint.  Verity was the perfect match for him; she challenged his preconceptions, called him on his self-centeredness, and looked past his facade of affected boredom.  Likewise, Ryevale challenged Verity to live a little, to come outside her ivory tower and see that enjoyment did not mean ruination.  She takes him to a reformation meeting; he takes her to Vauxhall.  The descriptions of both are spot-on.The chemistry between the H and h was steamy.  The combination of her innocent desire and lack of experience pushed all the right buttons in Ryevale to make him question his shallow affairs and the empty women he had previously pursued.  She questioned his interest but decided his kisses (and more!) were worth it.  They both have the bonus of father issues so it's a match made in Freudian heaven.I simply loved this story and read it in one rainy afternoon, shooing the kids to their rooms for their own books and ignoring the dirty dishes.  I feel the need to praise the trilogy, too, since this is the final book.  The Huntley Trilogy is one for the virtual bookshelf, to be picked up and read again over the years.  They do not have to be read in order, but other characters are referenced and plot lines are discussed, so I recommend starting with Eulogy.  And if you don't have the first two books, you really should.  Some may notice a few grammatical and typing errors, but they do nothing to take away from the integrity of the story (and I have yet to find a book that doesn't have an error or two), so it's a non-issue for me.  I really enjoyed these books!