I loved this! What a great premise. A spy being forced to marry another spy (albeit, not a very good one). I was rooting for Simon and Aimee the entire time (down with Felipe!)
I would live more of this series! 5 stars!!

I really struggled getting into this book and I was finally able to read it, and I do have great respect for this author. I will probably try to read it again in the future, maybe see if it has an audiobook because I might enjoy a little bit more. I did like the tropes that come into play and the setting was great, I just wasn't invested in the relationship.

Guest Review by Christine W
This is going to be a good series. Aimee is inept as a spy but has the strength of character as a warrior. Simon is a great spy but wants out of the business. Sparks fly as danger and death surround them. This was a page turner for me. What would happen next? Would they get caught? I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the story telling. I recommend this book as well as this author.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

I love a good historical romance and this seemed intriguing as it set itself among real historical figures. I enjoyed the realistic touches and history in the story. The romance was pretty typical in terms of what is to be expected in this genre. But overall, this was an entertaining read.

Another great Sharon Cullen book. She has a way to bring crime and romance together like nobody else. Usually, you cannot put her books aside to do something useful - besides reading - in your home and it was like this with this one too.
Thumps up!

Although I love reading historical romance, I rarely read or enjoy books written in the Elizabethan era. However, Wed to a Spy was a pleasant surprise, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I didn't want to end. Sharon Cullen did her research of the period especially the Royal courts and the hierarchy played out there. Prior to reading this book I did not know much about Queen Mary (sorry don't watch Reign"). Besides being a very entertaining read, it was also informative. Simon and Aimee meet in Mary's court. Both are spies though for different sides, one with years of experience, the other inexperienced and not very adept at gathering information. At the whim of a queen, they are forced to marry in spite of their protests. Somewhere between escape and running for their lives, they discover each other. A tale full of intrigue, danger, and wonderful characters. I do hope there are follow-up books. There are some interesting characters who deserve their own read. Although I have not read all of Ms. Cullen's offerings, I have read enough to know I would read whatever she writes...even Elizabethan!

I didn't like this book. I didn't like how the whole spy element panned out and I didn't really like the characters.

A nice beginning to a series by a favorite of mine, Sharon Cullen. I love her historical romances and with the espionage angle thrown in, the plot is even more exciting. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

Simon Marchford has been a loyal servant of Queen Elizabeth. He’s finally done with it all and wants to retire to the countryside. However, the queen has one last mission for him. She wants him to go to Scotland to spy on Mary, Queen of the Scots. While in Scotland, Mary asks him to marry and spy on her young cousin, Aimee de Verris, who was sent over from France.
I wasn’t really sure how I would feel about this story. The beginning started off kind of typical of this genre and in the beginning Aimee’s moping around for someone else got on my nerves. Luckily I kept on reading. I really liked Simon right from the beginning. He kept getting pulled more and more for duty when he just wants to be done. I really enjoyed Simon’s and Aimee’s adventure together. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

A spy who wanted to retire and live a quiet life.
A woman who was not a spy but was forced to act as such.

The two are forced to be together and in the midst of so much mystery and danger, they end up having to trust each other, and, perhaps, of this need for trust, love could arise and prevail.

Aimee had been forced by Catherine de Medici to spy Queen Mary.
Simon was sent to Scotland, by Queen Elizabeth, on his last mission, and force by Queen Mary to marry Aimee and watch every step of her.

I loved the plot and see the entire cold war and protocol between two great monarchs (Elizabeth and Mary), using two people (Simon and Aimee) as pawns of their chess game of power.
About the romance, I didn't feel that the couple had any connection, and some parts seemed repeated over and over.

3,5 stars

I really enjoyed Simon and Aimee's story. It is not often that you come across a historical romance set in the court of the Scottish monarchy.

I really enjoyed Aimee. She was put into the awkward position of spying on her cousin, the Queen, but she made the most of it. Too bad her cousin didn't trust her and married her to a stranger.

I really liked Simon too. He is to complete one last mission for Queen Elizabeth, one in which would then allow him to retire and settle down. He didn't count on being forced to marry by Queen Mary.

Can this couple that was forced to marry, find their HEA with each other?

Great quick read for lovers of historical fiction,, spy books, romance books, and more.

Ms. Cullen is absolutely one of my favorite historical romance authors. I kept the pages turning as I did not want to put it down. I found the characters intriguing and entertaining since they are both spies for different Queens and of forces to marry. The author uses a lot of historical intrigue that will keep any Scottish romance can happy. As always I enjoyed another of Ms. Cullen stories very much.

Simon Marcheford wants to settle down on the land bestowed upon him by the English crown, but Queen Elizabeth is not letting her best spy retire. Queen Elizabeth decrees that Simon will have his reward after he completes one last mission in Scotland. Then before he can begin, Queen Mary weds him to her cousin and orders Simon to watch her every move. Aimee de Verris, his new wife, is no spy. Yet her life may depend on her becoming one. Banished from the French court by Catherine de Medici, Aimee finds herself tasked with reporting on Queen Mary’s activities in Scotland,. Worst of all, Aimee’s been married off to a tout, but when murder strikes, she learns to appreciate Simon’s talent of shielding her. Aimee desires her husband, but can she trust him or even love him?

Courtly intrigue. Serving at the Queen's pleasure!

When I started this book I thought Ho Hum! another Elizabethan spy novel, albeit by Sharon Cullen. But no! This had it all! Treachery on all sides with intrigue and treason emerging from the French, Spanish, English and Scottish courts.
Aimee de Verris was sent to Scotland by her aunt Catherine de Medici to spy on Queen Mary. The carrot was that Aimee would be allowed to return to France and take up with her true love. Aimee is effectively banished to a place where she's never warm and for a task she has absolutely no trading for.
Simon Marcheford was sent by Queen Elizabeth to spy on Mary and her court. He wanted to retire to his lands with his sister and live peacefully. But when a monarch such as Elizabeth makes a request there is only one answer. Yes!
Out of nowhere Simon and Aimee are ordered by Queen Mary to marry. This story of how the two connect, if nothing else, shows how in these times, all are at the mercy of ruling monarchs.
When Mary's advisor is murdered right before their eyes, Aimee and Simon find themselves running from the powerful perpetrators, and later running from Mary's wrath against all present at that fateful hour. Their only hope is Elizabeth, but how welcoming will she be?
A fast paced, absorbing and very enjoyable read.

A NetGalley ARC
(August 2017)

This book had me doing quite some research since it had a great references to the turmoil going on during that time. Yet it still had a great romance in it. Love how Simon and Amiee work together to be safe and protected. Sharon Cullen brought me another great story and I can't wait to read more in this series.

REVIEW ONLINE NOW!

A very nice and easy to read book!

I admit that I enjoy Ms. Cullen’s writing style. It’s easy to read and to follow.

I liked the period in which the story was placed: the “fight” between Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary.

Here we have a double spy story, even if it is not the focal point of the book: Simon is Queen Elizabeth’s spy in the courts of Queen Mary, while Aimee is Catherine De Medici’s spy in the same court. But the problem with this couple is that she’s also French, while he’s English! :)

You see how many things they have to overcome?

But the nice part is that, while Simon is a real spy, Aimee has been coerced by Catherine to become one! Obviously, she’s not good at all! In fact, she’s so bad that Queen Mary is aware of her being a spy since the beginning!

I liked very much how Aimee was! She’s very naïve at the beginning, blindly trusting her aunt Catherine, who promised her a safe return to French court and the permission to marry Philip, the man she thinks she loves and who she got caught with in compromising position. Obviously Catherine is lying through her teeth!

Simon, o the other hand, is well aware of the explosive situation between the forces behind the politics and actively works to make things difficult for Mary. And, contrary of Aimee, he’s good at his job!

When Mary, unaware that Simon is a spy, forces Simon and Aimee to marry, both are very unhappy for very different reasons!

Aimee because she wants to may Philip, Simon because he doesn’t want to marry at all! But they cannot ignore Mary’s order and they ended married! A very awkward way to start a marriage, obviously!

But what I liked is the way they both worked to make the best of the situation. Aimee didn’t just rejected Simon: she forced herself to see what’s good in him. Simon also didn’t reject Aimee, but being a man he’s first attracting to her is her appearance.

But, before anything can happen between them, they’re forced to flee Scotland under the unjust accusation of treason.

During their flight to England, they discover each other and slowly fall in love.

Their story rung true: it was not falling-in-lust and then in-love. It was all the contrary.

So why only 4 stars? Well, the whole story felt slightly rushed. I would have preferred it to be a little bit longer, with occurrences more developed.

Anyhow a solid and enjoyable romance!

I loved the intrigue and the historical references in this book. The characters were exciting, fun and sexy. I especially loved how the author showed the "royal attitude" that the people under them were almost like puppets and there to play with and entertain them. I felt that I was being transported back and shown more of the reality of the times than the romanticized version of the times. Simon and Aimee were just fantastic characters that were able to maintain their true identities during a time of upheaval and were able to find love.
This books was non-stop excitement, so many great characters, I can't wait to see what comes next!

Fun read! I really enjoy the Tudor period and author did a great job describing the main characters of the time.
I loved Simon. Aimee was very naive and at sometimes annoyingly so and her obsession with Pierre - ugh. But definitely an enjoyable read!! will check out the rest of the series as it comes out!

Reviewed on gr, amazon, bn (as lady c)