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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Not your average romance novel (despite the half naked guy on the cover). Sure, the romance was nice, but the story of spies in the Napoleonic war digging bullets out of each other, escaping from hostile territory, even a seige on a safe house really make this an excellent book (Jo Bourne's First published work).
My one issue with this is the use of the Romani slur that comes up more than once. Otherwise, is good
JiI read the 2nd book first and really liked it, so I got a lot of enjoyment out of reading about Doyle and Maggie and Hawker. That's all.
Ok I'm joking (kind of) but this romance was...ugh. It started strong! I love an enemies to lovers as much as the next person and Annique was badass (and blind!) until she wasn't... And Grey (who was so easily willing to give up his job in the end!) made no sacrifices for Annique. Their power differential was interesting in the beginning but quickly became uncomfortable.
ALSO: Am I the only one who hated how the author wrote Annique's dialogue with (somewhat) French sentence structure?? Like Grey and Julian etc speak "normally" but her sentences are written in a way to demonstrate that she's French. It would make sense in the second half of the book when she's speaking English but how does it make any sense in the first half when they are in France speaking French? Is it just me????
Gonna give an extra star for suprising me about Annique's mother and father and for the clever (if quick) resolution.
Ok I'm joking (kind of) but this romance was...ugh. It started strong! I love an enemies to lovers as much as the next person and Annique was badass (and blind!) until she wasn't... And Grey (who was so easily willing to give up his job in the end!) made no sacrifices for Annique. Their power differential was interesting in the beginning but quickly became uncomfortable.
ALSO: Am I the only one who hated how the author wrote Annique's dialogue with (somewhat) French sentence structure?? Like Grey and Julian etc speak "normally" but her sentences are written in a way to demonstrate that she's French. It would make sense in the second half of the book when she's speaking English but how does it make any sense in the first half when they are in France speaking French? Is it just me????
Gonna give an extra star for suprising me about Annique's mother and father and for the clever (if quick) resolution.
5 stars for Annique, 2 stars for Grey. She is great, he is boring and a jerk.
Also see this review for an awesome conversation about the cover: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/98682813?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
Also see this review for an awesome conversation about the cover: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/98682813?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
I agree with the other reviewers regarding the cover...it's terrible! Don't get me started regarding romance novel covers - they kept me from reading romances for decades.
Anyway, I planned to read Beauty Like The Night for the SBTB Quarterly Challenge, but because I like to read series' in order, I began with The Spymaster's Lady. I'm definitely glad I did. It's smart and well-paced with intelligent, compelling characters.
Annique Villiers was raised to be a spy and is smart, witty, and extremely clever. She meets her match in Robert Grey, the Head of Section for British Intelligence. The two are an amazing match, and very fun to watch.
Themes: spies, Napoleonic Wars, France, Britain
Anyway, I planned to read Beauty Like The Night for the SBTB Quarterly Challenge, but because I like to read series' in order, I began with The Spymaster's Lady. I'm definitely glad I did. It's smart and well-paced with intelligent, compelling characters.
Annique Villiers was raised to be a spy and is smart, witty, and extremely clever. She meets her match in Robert Grey, the Head of Section for British Intelligence. The two are an amazing match, and very fun to watch.
Themes: spies, Napoleonic Wars, France, Britain
The wit and sarcasm in this book is top tier :
“Being blind, Monsieur Doyle, is not merely a lack of appreciation for the delightful blue sky and the field we are passing. It means I cannot do some practical small tasks. Like drive horses. This is a fact most self-evident that Itell you."
“Being blind, Monsieur Doyle, is not merely a lack of appreciation for the delightful blue sky and the field we are passing. It means I cannot do some practical small tasks. Like drive horses. This is a fact most self-evident that Itell you."
I pushed myself to finish this one.
It started out awesome because the main lead is a spy and she is a really good one! But then... after awhile all of her awesome skills are just told to us, because she can't get away from her captors. Whenever she can be awesome, I was interested.
The romance... I didn't really get. How can a spy like her captor? No, actually I could see that happening. But, he drugs her and all this other stuff! and honestly, I feel like he takes advantage of her even if he gave her the option to progress their relationship. The whole "we are having sex, but eventually I'll get you to spill your state's secrets while I keep you locked in this house" aspect just made me uncomfortable. Just... no, but I had made it so far into the book I needed to finish.
Other than the romance though, the book was okay. I did want to know how Annique would get out of her situation and stay awesome at the same time. So, like I said before, seeing her in action was fun.
The ending and how things were wrapped up... *shrugs* it was okay.
I probably won't recommend this one, but I won't actively push people away from it either.
It started out awesome because the main lead is a spy and she is a really good one! But then... after awhile all of her awesome skills are just told to us, because she can't get away from her captors. Whenever she can be awesome, I was interested.
The romance... I didn't really get. How can a spy like her captor? No, actually I could see that happening. But, he drugs her and all this other stuff! and honestly, I feel like he takes advantage of her even if he gave her the option to progress their relationship. The whole "we are having sex, but eventually I'll get you to spill your state's secrets while I keep you locked in this house" aspect just made me uncomfortable. Just... no, but I had made it so far into the book I needed to finish.
Other than the romance though, the book was okay. I did want to know how Annique would get out of her situation and stay awesome at the same time. So, like I said before, seeing her in action was fun.
The ending and how things were wrapped up... *shrugs* it was okay.
I probably won't recommend this one, but I won't actively push people away from it either.
This is a top class book! A most delicious slice of fiction that was served to me and I just ate it up!! Wow! I have to add this masterpiece to my extremely short list of favourites.
I had never heard of this book or author before I saw the recommendation, but if a book is selected as a sensible reader's "favourite of any genre", I pay attention. Boy, am I glad I did! I was rewarded with this treasure of a book.
If you enjoy high quality romance, adventure, excellent writing, brilliant plots, superb characters and delicious dialogue, do yourself a favour and read this gem, ASAP.
Joanna Bourne, I thank you.
I had never heard of this book or author before I saw the recommendation, but if a book is selected as a sensible reader's "favourite of any genre", I pay attention. Boy, am I glad I did! I was rewarded with this treasure of a book.
If you enjoy high quality romance, adventure, excellent writing, brilliant plots, superb characters and delicious dialogue, do yourself a favour and read this gem, ASAP.
Joanna Bourne, I thank you.
I recognize that some romance readers don't mind a lot of historical errors in favor of a romance that a modern person can enjoy. If I get in the mindset, especially if there's humor (like in Courtney Milan's books) I can enjoy the story and blink past Hollywoodish backdrop and language.
But in this one the hero was such an abusive dickweasel, and not very competent. Finally I couldn't believe in the story line when the h/h are supposedly in danger but all they can think about is lusting after one another's chitlins.
So I'm the wrong audience, and will pass it to someone who is.
But in this one the hero was such an abusive dickweasel, and not very competent. Finally I couldn't believe in the story line when the h/h are supposedly in danger but all they can think about is lusting after one another's chitlins.
So I'm the wrong audience, and will pass it to someone who is.