I would switch around that first sentence to "Nineteen year old Julienne Dalton watches her home burn and her father bleed to death [or whatever] as the trotting of hooves recede into the cold Kentucky night. She will settle for nothing less than revenge but Julienne is surrounded by the renegade Union soldiers who destroyed her life [or something less dramatic.]"As a pack of renegade Union soldiers disappear into the cold Kentucky night, nineteen year old Julienne Dalton watches her home burn, while her father lies dead at her feet. She will settle for nothing less than revenge, but Julienne is surrounded by the Union enemy she despises. Their presence is a constant reminder of what she has lost, making her stubborn attempts to restore the family’s ruined horse farm seem futile.
Okay, I'm a bit confused by this - why is risking her life less appealing when she meets him but then she continues to resist him? Why would she resist someone she finds appealing?With a battle brewing just miles from the city, Julienne stumbles upon crucial information regarding Union troop movements. Proving herself useful as a spy, she doesn’t think twice before accepting an offer to join a ring of Rebel agents. But risking her life becomes less appealing when Julienne meets British businessman Alexander Caulfield. Handsome, worldly, and rebellious, he tenaciously pursues her. She stubbornly resists his charm, unwilling to lay her heart bare. But a brush with death sends her flying into his arms—and to the altar.
I would delete the "When a fellow contact is apprehended" because it really isn't important how she discovers his business. I'm confused about the settling in a secluded English village, as well. Why does the English village make it impossible for her to forget him? Is she living next door to his family?When a fellow contact is apprehended, Julienne discovers Alex's business is tracking down Confederate spies. Fearing she'll be betrayed, and that her husband's love will falter in the face of her treasonous activities, she flees Kentucky. To survive, Julienne must forget Alex, but this task proves near impossible when she is forced to settle in a secluded English village.
Overall, I really like the idea of a female Southern spy - very cool idea. But, I'm having a hard time understanding the romance element. Why does she resist someone she finds appealing? Do they actually fall in love? Why does she decide to flee Kentucky and wind up in England? It seems that you might be forcing the romance and drama ---- which I'm sure you're not --- but I think it's because there's too many details about it so you don't get to the real heart of the issue/novel.