Heloise is a charming heroine. She's smart and feisty. The strictures of society have been chafing her, and I love the feminism that she displays that hits all the right notes for the modern reader, but does not seem too over-the-top to be believable for historical fiction. Heloise is a brilliant code breaker, and has used her talents for England during the war to decrypt French communiques. I adore the fact the Heloise not only has great intelligence, but also figures out ways to use her brain given the societal limitations of her gender top to be believable for historical fiction. Heloise is a brilliant code breaker, and has used her talents for England during the war to decrypt French communiques. I adore the fact the Heloise not only has great intelligence, but also figures out ways to use her brain given the societal limitations of her gender- huzzah! Heloise has been in love with Raven for years, even before her face was disfigured by a scar incurred while rescuing her brother from an icy river (yet another way that Heloise displays her gumption). But Raven has been doing that annoying guy thing, thinking she is off limits as the little sister of his good friend.

Ducal heir William Ravenwood is known as The Raven, a smuggler and agent for the Crown who specializes in rescuing hostages and prisoners of war from captivity during the Napoleonic war. Raven is mad with worry about his friend and colleague Christopher 'Kit' Carlisle, who has been missing for the last two years and is presumed dead. When Heloise decodes a message saying Kit is alive and being held in Spain, Raven is tasked with assisting in Kit's rescue. A cryptologist colleague of Heloise's is murdered, though, and the French have now turned their sights toward Heloise's death as well. Raven makes the odd decision to take Heloise along with him into enemy territory on his rescue mission for Kit, in order to protect Heloise by himself. Of course, as they are thrown together through much danger and arguing and injury, true love ensues.

Despite the typical dude behaviors that leave me shaking my head, I do like Raven very much. The chemistry between Raven and Heloise is slowly simmers up to a raging boil, and the banter between the two is spirited and intelligent. The action and adventure underpin the whole lively narrative, and the book reminds me of some of my other favorite Napoleonic spy romances such as Joanna Bourne and Nita Abrams. Three cheers for Bateman's A RAVEN'S HEART, and please may I have another!

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