London, 1818. A beautiful, brilliant woman and a cynical, aristocratic spy are forced into a desperate mission to decipher a secret code that could change the face of Europe forever…
Explosive
Gray Dalton, the Marquess of Blackburn, wakes in a dark London cell staring down a gun barrel. Devon Caravelle, alleged mistress of a deadly French aristocrat, has been sent to ensure Blackburn’s cooperation in a secret plot to unlock the mysteries buried within Beethoven’s Third Symphony, the Eroica. It’s terribly convenient and just as Blackburn planned. And taking the lady hostage is – if not terribly gentlemanly – not very difficult. Resisting her dangerous allure, on the other hand, is. Suddenly, the man famed for his cold-blooded control, wants a woman fiercely, wildly, forever…
Devon Caravelle has loved two things in her life: music and her father. She would do anything to discover his murderer and clear his name, even if it means forcing the contemptuous, debauched Marquess to her aid. But when he turns the tables and takes her prisoner, she is not prepared for his skillful seduction or her white-hot response…
It was supposed to be a seduction each side intended to win easily. Instead, the first spark unleashes an untamed passion in a game where all rules are forfeit and every move brings them closer to an unspeakable danger…
hmmm I am so thinking that Charlotte Mede is suppose to be another name for someone…. a Canadian author? I already tried EC Sheedy she won’t claim ownership. EXPLOSIVE explodes in 2008 then two more books to follow in 2009 and 2010.
And if you don’t stop and read the back copy would you have ANY idea this was a historical? Yeah, I wouldn’t either. Sooooo don’t get that contemp cover on historical thing… still… hey if nothing else I am consistent 🙂
Please tell me this is not another on of those “spy” duke/lord novels??
But me likey the scruff on the cover model 🙂
Historical or contemporary, the guy on the cover is a hottie. And, for the record, no idea who Charlotte Mede is…but I’ve been wondering.
How do you know about Mede’s 2009 and 2010 releases? I don’t know about my Brava 2009 and 2010 release schedule so if you have an inside source on that, fess up 🙂
I’m having more or less the same reaction as Katie, I just can’t get excited about another dark/dangerous, super seductive historical-romance hero-spy. Major MEGO time.
Of course I reserve the right to change my mind once the reviews/feedback start getting posted. ;-P
That cover is fricken awesome. ::drool::
Because I am The Sibyl and I know all.
tis so sad my mom mispelled my name when I was born
le sigh… 🙂
I was wondering that myself cuz I have December in the title. I think the publisher lunch thingy said this about the dates and such.
I with you ladies, no matter the time period, the guy on the cover is HOT!! 😉
Sybil – You do know all. Remember to be nice and tell me when you find out stuff about me.
I don’t read enough historical romance to be tired of the hero spy set-up. Plan to beg the good folks at Kensington (or Sybil) for an early copy of this one. Sounds good to me.
I’m with you. Saw the cover, then went to read the blurb and when I hit “London 1818” I went “huh?” Scrolled up, looked at cover again. Scratched head. Looked at cover again. Shrugged.
So back I go to reading the blurb when I hit “spy” and couldn’t be bothered to finish reading the rest. I wish I weren’t so burnt out on England. It’s getting kind of depressing actually.
I thought this was a contemp romantic suspense. Say what you will about the clinch cover, it screams historical like the banshee.
Hey, a heroine named Devon instead of the hero :)!
Hey Sherry- The Explosive Banshee? (hmmm that could be a title… hee hee)
I bet you $10 that heroine is a fake-courtesan. And haven’t we seen this plot before? I think Samantha Saxon’s first book featured a heroine who was rumored to be mistress to Napoleon and had captured the hero when the book opened. And geez louise…could it kill an author to ever have the heroine be competent? Why does she start off bad-ass only to succumb to the hero because he’s so “sexxy”? Pass unless I hear some serious buzz.
Angela,
It’s hard being a ho out there. 🙂
I think romance writers go for the fake-courtesan cuz it ratches up the sexual tension right away and cuz it comes without the problems of a real courtesan. Let’s face it, courtesan to prostitution is Ferragamo to shoes. She might cost more, but she still sleeps with men for money and that’s a Costco-sized can of worms.
Even Judith Ivory, I feel, had some trouble with Coco, her retired-courtesan heroine.
Angela I tend to think you will really really like Sherry Thomas book. Too bad it doesn’t come out until March 2008. Tis worth the wait though…
I am meh on the cover though. Someone should send me excerpts to post.
Lol Sherry, is it wrong that I want a real ho? I think Lydia Joyce did one well in Music of the Night, but I can’t think of any other ex-prostitute heroines who didn’t have the hero as her first customer. And darn it Sybil, I know I’ll like Private Arrangements, don’t rub it in. *g*
Sorry hon. March isn’t THAT far away. 🙂
Angela,
Yes, you are so wrong for wanting a real ho. Where did your mama go wrong?! 🙂 I’ll have to check out Music of the Night.
Sybil,
Were you talking to me? You want chapters of PA to post? Or were you talking to Explosive’s author?