Review ‘The Secret of the India Orchid’ by Nancy Campbell Allen

Anthony
Blake is in love with his best friend’s sister, Sophia Elliot. But his plans to
court her are put on hold when he is forced to resume his role as an undercover
spy for the Crown. A secret document listing the names of the entire network of
British spies-including his own-has been stolen. To protect Sophia, Anthony
cuts off all ties to her and exchanges his life as an honorable earl for the
façade of a flirtatious playboy.

Heartbroken and confused, Sophia travels to India, hoping to find healing in one
of the most exotic regions of the British Empire. But the exotic land isn’t as
restful as she had hoped. Instead, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery of
a missing sea captain, a possible murder, and a plot that could involve the
prince of India. And when Anthony appears at the British Residency, asking
questions and keeping his distance from her, she is stunned.

She still loves him, and, in her heart, she knows he loves her too. But how can
she rebuild her relationship with him if he won’t confide in her? Does she dare
offer her heart to him a second time, or will their love be lost under the
India sun?

When I
first read the book description of ‘The Secret of the India Orchid’, I was
really intrigued by this story. I love Historical Romance novels and when I
read there was also a bit of mystery/ spy adventures going on. I requested this
book as fast as I could.

In ‘The
Secret of the India Orchid’ we meet Sophia Elliot and Anthony Blake. Anthony
has been in love with his best friends sister for a very long time. He planned
to ask his friend permission to officially court Sophia, but his
responsibilities stood in the way. In order to protect his ally’s and the
people he loves, Anthony has to find a stolen paper. To be able to do that he
has to act like a flirt and playboy again.

Sophia is
left heartbroken. Two years later they meet again in India. And soon Sophia
finds out Anthony has a secret. 

Although
this story seemed to have all the things I like in a book, somehow I couldn’t
really get into it. And I really tried. The writing is good, but somehow I just
didn’t fell in love with this story and its characters. Thinking about it think
I just needed to get to know these characters more than I did through reading
this book. I missed some of that character development in this read. Anthony is
a spy and has been in love with Sophia for a long time. But I just couldn’t ‘feel’
that love. And Sophia’s character also just didn’t really get to me.

The thing
I probably loved most about this read was the setting in India. I haven’t read
a lot of books that took place there, and I enjoyed finding out little things
about that country. Although I don’t really know how accurate it is of course. 

The
adventures part and the spy bits were definitely fun to read. But I missed the
thrill a little and I didn’t really think of this story as really that
mysterious. There were also a lot of different names to remember, and like I
told before.. I’m really bad with names and it got me confused a view times. 

But
overall I enjoyed reading ‘The Secret of India Orchid’. I just didn’t love it.

Nancy Campbell Allen is the author of twelve novels, which span genres
from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. She has been a speaker
at numerous writing conferences and events. She has a degree in Elementary
Education and is the mother of three children.

For more
information about Nancy please visit her on Facebook and Twitter.