Update 5/8/13: After three reads, I still maintain that the first half of this book is pretty much the best HR ever written. But then in the second half I get sad and wish for a return of the first half, which is why I just can't bump this up to more than 4 stars. Still overall awesome though, and high on the list of my favorite romances of all time.Original review 8/10: Don't be fooled by the hilariously awful cover and marginally sexist title (since the lady is herself a spy in her own right)--this is one of the best romance novels I've ever read. The heroine is a kickass spy who didn't give up her independence to the hero when they got together (as so many romance heroines do, especially in historicals), and the hero didn't expect her to. The plot was absolutely amazing--I'm not sure if I've ever read such a good romance plot. As far as traditional historical romance goes, definitely one of the best.