The Falcon and the Sparrow

Dominique Dawson seems like a timid sparrow when she turns up on Admiral Chase Randal's doorstep as his son's new governess. Still mourning the death of his beloved wife, Chase has no use for timid women. He wants only to retreat to his life at sea where he's most at home and where memories of his wife don't haunt him quite so much. Appearances are deceptive, for her courage displays itself in ways that surprise both him and his worldly friends. And she brings joy and light to himself, his servants, and most of all, his young son, who quickly comes to adore her. Dominique indeed feels like a timid sparrow, frightened of her own shadow, when she contemplates what she has come to London to do---to spy on the unsuspecting Admiral and steal any war secrets he might have on the premises. Reluctantly she has agreed to commit treason against England in order to save her beloved brother, Marcel, who is imprisoned by the French. But the more she comes to love her young charge, William, and more alarmingly, his father the Admiral, the more anguished she is at the pain her betrayal will cause them both. This is an exciting, page-turning romance. The author, Marylu Tyndall, is incredibly skilled at making you feel caught up in the same tangle of deceit that Dominique is facing. I enjoyed the internal struggles and morality questions, as well as the romance. A worthy story. Two thumbs up!

Dominique didn't want to do what she knew she must. She stepped her feet on England's soil knowing that she would have to betray her. Her brother (Marcel) was being held by the French and if she didn't cooperate her French cousin would see to it that he didn't live to see another day. She arrives at Admiral Chase Randal's home and is surprised to find such a young and handsome man. She some how pictured him to be more around her father's age. There is an attraction between the two and the Admiral's son likes his new governess very much. She tries to keep an emotional distance but as each day passes she finds that more and more difficult. The Admiral knows that there is a spy is his house but doesn't suspect that it might be his timid little governess. His sister and friend don't like Dominique and try everything to turn the Admiral against her to no avail. What will happen when he finds that Dominique has betrayed him? And what will happen to Marcel? The Falcon and the Sparrow kept me turning pages right up to the close of the book. I felt Dominique's anguish of knowing she had to do something that went against her character. I loved all the secondary characters in the story as well. They were all so different and yet well defined. There were some twists and turns that were unexpected and that is always a treat to this reader. I highly recommend this book and any other book by MaryLu Tyndall. She has a great way of presenting people as they really are with things we all struggle with. So take flight with The Falcon and the Sparrow, you won't be sorry.

Set in 1803 London, we follow Dominique Dawson back to her homeland. But it is far from a joyful homecoming. With her brother imprisoned in France, she has been sent -against her will - as a spy to the house of Admiral Chase Randal to procure information regarding the Royal Fleet. Betrayal does not come easy for her and she questions if it is something she is capable of. But with her brother's life hanging in the balance, she wills herself to do the unthinkable. As the governess to William, the son of the admiral, she is immediately betwixt by what she must do. She is quickly losing her heart to her young charge, and that of his stalwart, but dashing father. Knowing selfishness will mean death to her brother, she puts her feelings for William and Chase aside to carry out what she was sent to do. The perplexities of her task and the tugging of her heart become Dominique's biggest foes. THE FALCON AND THE SPARROW by M.L. Tyndall is filled with fear, faith, intrigue, and of course, a smoldering romance that nearly ignites the very pages you turn. I am not usually a fan of period pieces, but MaryLu's style and wonderfully crafted characters transcend time and draw the reader in regardless of setting. Congratulations, MaryLu, you have done it again!

I really enjoyed The Falcon and the Sparrow . The story contained all of the distinct Tyndall elements of depth and mood that I've grown to love and expect from her books. Intrigue, romance, suspense, and passion are always part of Tyndall's plot, which makes them page turners for me. The author successfully tortures her characters by getting them into the worst predicaments, and that always makes for incredible tension. Plus the spiritual element was tightly woven into the story's theme and into characters' lives. I love how people actually changed in the story because they were around Dominique. She was like a light in the house full of nothing but heartache and pain, which is what Christians are called to be--light. This aspect of the story was done amazingly well. The romantic tension rocked as did the kissing scenes! That's often my favorite part of Tyndall's novels. She does a great job of pairing up two very unlikely people with intense conflict between them, which makes for some serious electricity. I dare say the pages of this novel smoked with constrained passion and deep affection. I loved how the Admiral's heart began to thaw and how his son played a key role in the entire story. As usual, this was well done! I've never read a Tyndall novel I haven't thoroughly enjoyed!

MaryLu Tyndall creates another romantic historical fiction masterpiece in "The Falcon and the Sparrow". This tale of espionage, intrigue and romance will take the reader captive from the first page! In the time of Napoleon's rise to power as Emperor or France, Dominique Dawson is caught between two worlds: her homeland of England and the homeland of her Mother, France. When her brother is captured by Napoleon's men, she is forced to return to England to spy for France. She secures employment in the home of an Admiral in the British Royal Navy, caring for the young and handsome widower's son. Will Dominique betray the country she loves, sacrificing the only family she has left on the earth? Or will she learn to love a new family and start over again? MaryLu writes so masterfully, you can smell the Thames River and the staleness of the London underbelly. The characters she creates have such depth, they can almost be heard breathing. The locations are tantalizing, a vicarious vacation for the reader. Her well-woven situations will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page! She even manages to weave Biblical truths throughout the story about doing God's will, being persistent, and offering/accepting forgiveness. Tyndall's use of historical figures such as John Newton, adds a dash of credibility to the tale. I highly recommend this wonderful novel!