Gwen’s review of The Spymaster’s Lady (The Spymasters, Book 1) by Joanna Bourne
Historical romance released 2 Jan 08 by Berkley
To say that the dialog in this book was “clever” is to say that Paris is “pretty”. Paris is Beautiful and this book’s dialog is more than Clever – it’s downright Brilliant. It was so easy to get completely lost in this book. I totally believed the characters, their world, and what was going on. I never once doubted the author and, by the end, was oh-so-thankful Bourne deserved the trust I put in her. This book was a treat to read.
Annique Villiers is the best kind of heroine – savvy, smart, capable, deadly, and beautiful. The hero, Grey, is the yummiest of yummy heroes – large and in charge. They’re both spies who play on the canvas of early 1800’s European politics – a time very fraught with intrigue and peril. These elements of the story are fascinating and, obviously, very well researched. I loved both characters and loved that they were able to come together. I had a few moments of doubt – wondering if they’d be able to overcome the hurdles in front of them, but they make it in the end.
I loved all the secondary characters and felt they were integral parts of the story. In fact, they’re essential in several cases; there are a few plot twists that throw everything for a complete loop and use the secondary characters to full potential. I loved the villains – I wanted to skewer them soooo many times I can’t count, but I’m more bloodthirsty than our heroine, though less capable.
I can’t say much about this book other than if you like good dialog and a terrific plot, this is the book for you. Forget it’s a historical (unless that’s your thing) and just read it for the dialog. Here’s my favorite snippet from the book – remember the heroine is French and speaks in a very French manner:
He would ask. Not demand. Just ask. She did not know how to fight such cunning. “Can I say no?”
“Of course you can. There are five or six empty bedrooms, one right across the hall. I can put you in there.” He took back the space between them till they were almost touching. “I’ll leave my door unlocked. Will you come to me?”
“I am very stupid.”
“I think that means yes.” He was smiling.
She gave him his victory. “I would come to you sometime in the night, tiptoeing down the hall, and open the door and crawl in beside you. Already, I am listening to the argument your body makes to mine. If you carried me to the bed, even without taking a moment to be persuasive, I would want you like flames.”
“The hall gets chilly. Sleep with me tonight, in that bed.”
He cradled her cheek into the warm hardness of his palm. He was so aware of her… even the infinitesimal nod of her head, he felt.
“You have to say it.”
“Yes.” She was without shame.
Isn’t that amazing? The book is full of passages like that. Happy sigh… I love romances like this, and I’ll be reading the next book in the Spymaster series, My Lord and Spymaster, as soon as I can get my mitts on it. It came out 1 Jul 08.
Happy sigh…
Grade: A
Click on the Spymaster series tag below for more reviews and information.
Summary:
She’s never met a man she couldn’t deceive…until now.
She’s braved battlefields. She’s stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She’s played the worldly courtesan, the naive virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the one man she can’t outwit.
Read an excerpt.
Here and here are very interesting outtakes that I think are important to read AFTER you read this book – they explain a couple of things.
Other books in the series:
Stop it, Gwen! Do you know how many books I have lined up that you’ve reviewed!?!? And I can’t get to them! I’ve had this book forever it seems and everyone loves it. Now you. Will you just stop it!
Oh Sandy! This is SUCH a good book! There are so many twists and turns in it and each one more surprising than the next. I just loved reading it.
I loved it. Great book. Hmmm you don’t have the second one yet? Must be in one of these boxes to go to gwen… oops
poor gwen
Well, it’s going with the Coles and the latest Smith I want to read! Plus I still have Lover Enshrined and Hostage to Pleasure to read. Think I need a weekend of nothing but reading. Where I’ll find one I have no idea. But I’m going to look!
Coming out of stealth lurk to say – I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Certainly on the top 10 list of best historicals I’ve ever read.
Sandy M – bump it a few notches higher on the TBR mountain. You won’t regret it
😉