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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This book comes highly recommended by others who share my taste in favorites. It’s been a while since I’ve read a historical/ non-contemporary romance. My biggest grudge recently is that the authors that I like, too quickly wrap up the happy ending. This one felt pretty perfectly paced to me. I also appreciated that love declaratives didn’t become magical game changers yet that the hero wasn’t stingy with them.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
When I first read this book 9 years ago I gave it a 3 stars rating. I heard about it again in 2024 and I decided to re-read it because it sounded really good, but I didn't remember much about it. And, I enjoyed it way more this second time! It's a historical romance espionage set during the Napoleonic Wars between France and England in the 1700's. The main character, Annique Villiers, is a bad-ass French spy; she has seen Napoleon’s plans to invade England and spies from all over are after her to get that information. She meets British spies, and the characters travel from France to England. The book is full of delightful plot twists with the enemies-to-lovers trope, I can't mention too much about the story because of spoilers. It was cool to notice how the author used slightly different writing styles for each character depending on the language they were speaking and their native languages. The book is written in English, but the characters speak English of varying dialects and accents, and also they use French words here and there. It's super interesting! The prose is beautiful, the plot twists were well done, the heroine is clever. I'm curious to read the other books of this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape
The main girl was portrayed as a silly girl rather than an accomplished spy.
A Visit to my Historical Romance youth I into a mood and picked out a couple of old "bodice rippers" that people have recommended to me in the past. I went through a phase in middle school where that was all I read, but soon discovered Anne Rice and never went back. My main adult life I had been reading fantasy...and it is still my default...but I have discovered my love for a good heaving bosom romance. I got recommendations from trusted sources and will post my adventures here.
First of all, they need to make these covers less embarrassing to read in public. Second, despite the cover that can drive "serious readers" from the book...this book was excellent.I always complain of typical romances, and get bored easily by them. The same goes for Fantasy. This is not the typical romance. The heroine is funny, witty, weird, and just plain fun. Yeah, he is being saved a couple times by the strapping hero...but most of the time she is very capable by herself. The first chapter in this book gives you a perfect view of what the rest of the book would be like..and an good snapshot pf the characters...and boy is it a snapshot. You are thrown right in the middle of the action and it is nonstop adventure, romance, laughs and danger till the very end of the book.I can't say too much without giving up so many spoilers that will ruin all the surprises..in case this is read...but this book is a gem. It does not have the usual frustrating misunderstandings that keep them apart..and that anyone with common sense would understand, and it does not shy from being a bit gritty and dark based on what these two people do. A fun and excellent read...despite the half naked man on the cover. lol. Don't let the cover fool you.I hope the other romances I choose are as good.
First of all, they need to make these covers less embarrassing to read in public. Second, despite the cover that can drive "serious readers" from the book...this book was excellent.I always complain of typical romances, and get bored easily by them. The same goes for Fantasy. This is not the typical romance. The heroine is funny, witty, weird, and just plain fun. Yeah, he is being saved a couple times by the strapping hero...but most of the time she is very capable by herself. The first chapter in this book gives you a perfect view of what the rest of the book would be like..and an good snapshot pf the characters...and boy is it a snapshot. You are thrown right in the middle of the action and it is nonstop adventure, romance, laughs and danger till the very end of the book.I can't say too much without giving up so many spoilers that will ruin all the surprises..in case this is read...but this book is a gem. It does not have the usual frustrating misunderstandings that keep them apart..and that anyone with common sense would understand, and it does not shy from being a bit gritty and dark based on what these two people do. A fun and excellent read...despite the half naked man on the cover. lol. Don't let the cover fool you.I hope the other romances I choose are as good.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
I have so many mixed feelings about this book. It started off pretty well but then... the Stockholm syndrome is so strong with this book and not only that, a few chapters in and we find out that Annique is blind?? but she can kick everyone's butt?? and ride a horse?? Then all of a sudden she can see again because she hit her head on a tree branch?? The story just kinds of drags along to the point where I just had to skim it
Pairs well with the Black Widow movie. Spies are fun!!! It’s just a fact.
Maybe a smidge too much gaslighting for comfort in this one (oh ya and drugging, oof). And the annoying “worldly virgin” trope. Just let her have a sexual history, come ON.
But again, spies are fun, I had fun.
Maybe a smidge too much gaslighting for comfort in this one (oh ya and drugging, oof). And the annoying “worldly virgin” trope. Just let her have a sexual history, come ON.
But again, spies are fun, I had fun.
I give this book two thumbs up. Highly entertaining plot line that keeps you guessing and surprised around every corner and fraught with incredible sexual tension. Bourne has a wonderful ability to draw you into her characters and creates compelling secondary characters that enrich the story.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated