Lady Rachel has recently escaped an attempted kidnapping with the help of Agent of the Crown, Shadow. She was taken hostage by those who would like to see the French influence the English Parliament. Now, it has been determined that Rachel should be kept safe at her uncle's estate in Scotland until the French threat passes. Rachel is left with an Agent and bodyguard David as well as a threat to neighbor and older brother of Shadow, Luke Beckett, the Marquess of Downshire to protect Rachel. However, when the lonely and brooding Marquess first meets Lady Rachel, he believes that she is just like every other English Lady and she only wants him for his money. Upon meeting Lady Rachel, he believes she is a horse thief responsible for the slew of missing animals around town. Rachel believes that Luke is a horse trainer. Luke keeps up the charade by calling himself John. As Rachel and John spend time together, Luke realizes that Lady Rachel is kindhearted and adventurous. Before Luke can let Rachel know of the ruse, a French threat is exposed on the shores of Scotland and Rachel is endangered once again.

The fourth book in The Beckett Files, A Tangled Ruse continues to excite and entertain. I highly recommend reading the rest of the books in the series- and in order to catch up on the Beckett family. I was eager to continue the story with Lady Rachel who, despite her upbringing, desires more. I enjoyed her attitude of being willing to continue on with life and waking up her sense of adventure even after being kidnapped. Along with getting to know more about Lady Rachel, the story dives into Larson's past and we get to meet Jonathan and Eliza's reclusive older brother, Luke. Unlike the other Beckett's, Luke is not an Agent of the Crown but the Marquess of Downshire and his father's heir. At the start, Luke's attitude is distrusting of women and he is a loner and rough around the edges, hiding himself away at his stud farm. When Rachel comes on the scene, the writing creates the feel of a life-like Beauty and the Beast, complete with large library. The writing also offers plenty of masterfully crafted witty back-and-forth banter between Luke and Rachel as well as mounting tension as the French threaten to invade Scotland's shores creating a way for the rest of the Beckett family to come into the scene. Woven in with historical elements of the Napoleonic Wars and the madness of King George III, A Tangled Ruse is more than a regency love story. With an exciting conclusion, a sweet romance and plenty of spy action, A Tangled Ruse is a great addition to The Beckett Files.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )