Hold Fast

It’s 1803. The Napoleonic Wars are raging, Britain is on her heels and His Majesty’s Secret Service has just lost its best agent, Thomas Grey. Deeply depressed by his wife’s untimely death, Grey resigns from the service and accepts an offer to join a lumber firm in Boston. But when a sea battle with a privateer forces the ship carrying him west to make port in neutral Portugal, Grey is approached with a counteroffer: become a wealthy man by selling out Britain’s spy network to France. The French take Grey for a disgruntled ex–naval officer, blithely unaware that Grey had lost his wife to an unlucky shot from a French cannon. Now, after many years serving King and Country, Grey seizes the opportunity to fight a covert war of his own. He travels to Paris, and—playing the part of the invaluable turncoat the French believe him to be—proceeds to infiltrate the highest levels of Napoleon’s government. If he can outwit his handlers, outmatch his French counterparts and outrun Napoleon’s secret police, Grey may just avenge his wife’s death and turn the tide of war in England’s favour. Bursting with action and intrigue, Hold Fast sends readers headlong into an unrelenting spy thriller.

It’s 1803. The Napoleonic Wars are raging, Britain is on her heels and His Majesty’s Secret Service has just lost its best agent, Thomas Grey. Deeply depressed by his wife’s untimely death, Grey resigns from the service and accepts an offer to join a lumber firm in Boston. But when a sea battle with a privateer forces the ship carrying him west to make port in neutral Portugal, Grey is approached with a counteroffer: become a wealthy man by selling out Britain’s spy network to France. The French take Grey for a disgruntled ex–naval officer, blithely unaware that Grey had lost his wife to an unlucky shot from a French cannon. Now, after many years serving King and Country, Grey seizes the opportunity to fight a covert war of his own. He travels to Paris, and—playing the part of the invaluable turncoat the French believe him to be—proceeds to infiltrate the highest levels of Napoleon’s government. If he can outwit his handlers, outmatch his French counterparts and outrun Napoleon’s secret police, Grey may just avenge his wife’s death and turn the tide of war in England’s favour. Bursting with action and intrigue, Hold Fast sends readers headlong into an unrelenting spy thriller.

As Evelyn becomes the perfect gentleman, Morgan becomes the perfect captain. It is down to Morgan to take command, down to Evelyn to hold fast, and down to both to navigate their own treacherous sea. Thirteen years ago, Evelyn Winthrop fled England to go a-whaling. But now that his father is dead, Evelyn must become a proper baronet to save the estate from his wastrel brother. He grudgingly accepts help from estate agent Morgan Turner, who is eager to carry out the late baronet's wishes. While repressed Morgan teaches rough-edged Evelyn to fit into high society, Evelyn seduces his closeted agent into embracing his true nature. Just when it all seems like smooth sailing, a mutual acquaintance returns make waves. Painful secrets from Morgan's past threaten his relationship-and the entire Winthrop estate along with it. In the midst of dysfunction, drama, and duels, Morgan must learn to trust again and disclose his harrowing past. Otherwise, Evelyn may abandon the estate and follow the siren song back to the sea.

As Evelyn becomes the perfect gentleman, Morgan becomes the perfect captain. It is down to Morgan to take command, down to Evelyn to hold fast, and down to both to navigate their own treacherous sea. Thirteen years ago, Evelyn Winthrop fled England to go a-whaling. But now that his father is dead, Evelyn must become a proper baronet to save the estate from his wastrel brother. He grudgingly accepts help from estate agent Morgan Turner, who is eager to carry out the late baronet's wishes. While repressed Morgan teaches rough-edged Evelyn to fit into high society, Evelyn seduces his closeted agent into embracing his true nature. Just when it all seems like smooth sailing, a mutual acquaintance returns make waves. Painful secrets from Morgan's past threaten his relationship-and the entire Winthrop estate along with it. In the midst of dysfunction, drama, and duels, Morgan must learn to trust again and disclose his harrowing past. Otherwise, Evelyn may abandon the estate and follow the siren song back to the sea.