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Lady Spies #1
The Lady Lies
In 1811 Portugal French troops capture English legendary soldier Lord Aiden Duhearst. The prisoner is brought to English traitor Lady Celeste Rivenhall for interrogation. Knowing how important Aiden is to the war effort, she informs the French officers that she will escort the prisoner to the Emperor. Though attracted to her Aiden despises the turncoat. He escapes although unbeknownst to him it is because of Celeste, who hid from the English hero that she is a double agent working for Lord Falcon.
Falcon calls Celeste back to England to use her wiles to uncover who in the inner circle is betraying the crown. When Lady Davis is killed, Aiden assumes Celeste arranged the murder and is the traitor. To his chagrin Aiden falls in love with Celeste; although she reciprocates he vows never to act on his feelings as he plans to prove she is the traitor.
This action packed story line grips the audience the moment Celeste threatens Aiden so that everyone witnessing her performance including the prisoner believe she is a vicious femme fatale working for the French against the English. The who-done-it is cleverly devised so that while Celeste hides her espionage mission yet searches for the truth, Aiden seeks proof she is the guilty party. Samantha Saxon serves up a stupendous Regency romance.
Falcon calls Celeste back to England to use her wiles to uncover who in the inner circle is betraying the crown. When Lady Davis is killed, Aiden assumes Celeste arranged the murder and is the traitor. To his chagrin Aiden falls in love with Celeste; although she reciprocates he vows never to act on his feelings as he plans to prove she is the traitor.
This action packed story line grips the audience the moment Celeste threatens Aiden so that everyone witnessing her performance including the prisoner believe she is a vicious femme fatale working for the French against the English. The who-done-it is cleverly devised so that while Celeste hides her espionage mission yet searches for the truth, Aiden seeks proof she is the guilty party. Samantha Saxon serves up a stupendous Regency romance.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Samantha Saxon
11 books12 followersBorn and raised in Texas, Samantha Saxon moved to Europe after her parents divorced where she lived in many places including London, Paris, and Spain where things like IRA bombings, the art of the Louvre, and perfectly charming English mobsters became her new normal.
Later, Samantha attended the University of Texas as a Middle Eastern Studies major with the goal of working in a US embassy. But with increasing problems in the middle east, and having just met her future husband...the prospect of moving abroad became far less appealing.
So she decided to try her hand at another passion, writing. Her debut novel, originally titled The Lady Lies won Romantic Times followed by the equally regarded books, The Lady Killer and The Lady's Code. These books are being offered for the first time as e-books under their new titles; Napoleon's Woman, England's Assassin, and King's Code.
Today, Samantha lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two beautiful children and one crazy English Bulldog where she spends her days writing, drinking coffee, and desperately trying to stay warm.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 9, 2011
WOW! Right when I finished it I ran to the internet and bought the one that was suggested in the back of this book. I never knew who the killer was until Saxon told you. I was impressed, Can't wait for the other book! :D
December 26, 2011
This book was great! I just love how the author make the reader want to read more.
April 13, 2020
Protagonistas: Aiden & Celeste
Profesiones: Espia & Conde/Soldado
Pais: Francia & Inglaterra
Profesiones: Espia & Conde/Soldado
Pais: Francia & Inglaterra
March 13, 2015
4/5, y redondo.
Quitando el hecho de que casi me muero con el final, he pasado una semana bastante amena con la historia de Celeste y Aidan. Desde el principio me sorprendió lo buena actriz que puede ser Lady Rivenhall, y lo complicado que se lo ponía al duque de Wessex para que la tuviera en la buena estima que ella merecía. Sin embargo, pese a los fuertes sentimientos de ambos, el deber se interpone entre sus posiciones. Una la de una espía encubierta y el otro el de un leal patriota y conde inglés. Aun siendo el estilo bastante sencillo y la lectura ágil y concisa, los vaivenes que se traen todos los personajes requieren su tiempo y su atención, tanto que las predicciones que se me vienen a la mente normalmente al leer un libro han estado la mayoría de las veces lejos de la realidad de la historia... Lo que ha hecho que no quisiera soltar el libro, y pasar páginas sin parar. He vuelto al codiciado solo un capítulo más, y he revivido ese encanto que me producen las novelas de romance, sin olvidar su parte histórica. Por dios, ¡guerras napoleónicas! Ya era hora.
A mí me lo recomendaron, y ahora yo haré lo propio con vosotros.
Quitando el hecho de que casi me muero con el final, he pasado una semana bastante amena con la historia de Celeste y Aidan. Desde el principio me sorprendió lo buena actriz que puede ser Lady Rivenhall, y lo complicado que se lo ponía al duque de Wessex para que la tuviera en la buena estima que ella merecía. Sin embargo, pese a los fuertes sentimientos de ambos, el deber se interpone entre sus posiciones. Una la de una espía encubierta y el otro el de un leal patriota y conde inglés. Aun siendo el estilo bastante sencillo y la lectura ágil y concisa, los vaivenes que se traen todos los personajes requieren su tiempo y su atención, tanto que las predicciones que se me vienen a la mente normalmente al leer un libro han estado la mayoría de las veces lejos de la realidad de la historia... Lo que ha hecho que no quisiera soltar el libro, y pasar páginas sin parar. He vuelto al codiciado solo un capítulo más, y he revivido ese encanto que me producen las novelas de romance, sin olvidar su parte histórica. Por dios, ¡guerras napoleónicas! Ya era hora.
A mí me lo recomendaron, y ahora yo haré lo propio con vosotros.
June 19, 2011
I read this book several years ago and absolutely loved it as well as The Lady Killer. SS wrote a third book called The Lady's Code which I have but won't read because I've heard it ends with a cliff hanger and the author has not written a book after that. Such a shame as I enjoyed those two books so much.
June 22, 2021
I have had this in my TBR pile for a while, going thru them and decided to read it finally!
Glad I did! Pleasently surprised!
I like spy stories, especially fun to have the woman be the spy. I was kinda annoyed it was Celeste's beauty that made men fall over her so she could get her job done. I liked her sneaky spy tricks.
I like Aidan, thought he was a good hero male lead, somewhat war haunted, guilty for having survived.
There are lots of secondary charaters, Lord and lady of this and that, got kinda confusing who was who and who was involved, who was good and who was the bad guy!
There was more than the average sex scene in this one. Lots of sex scenes, but they were mostly related to the story line and captured what things were like back then, especially lustful,evil spys, getting what they want from their victims. Sex was used as a tool to extract info or to incapicitate the victim. The bad guy used sex to extract info, wasn't sensual or erotic at all.
Quite a few murders also, which helped with the excitement and mystery of the story. I had no idea who the villin was till he/she was exposed. Very exciting climax ending. There were a couple of situational bloopers, him standing, her standing and then he puts her down, wait, when did he pick her up? There was some converations in offices and drawing rooms about who is who and why. I skipped a few of these long winded dialogues.
Celeste and Aidan had chemistry and lust that probably morphed to love late in the story, like in the end. There was a lot of not liking and being mad at each other but needing sex from each other! I liked that Celeste is a strong confident woman committed to he purpose in helping the French and the war. LIked that she was physically attracted to Aidan, he was swoon worthy to her.
Overall, a good read, kept me excited and wanting to find out what happens in the end, had a few stay up late nights, that kind of good.
Glad I did! Pleasently surprised!
I like spy stories, especially fun to have the woman be the spy. I was kinda annoyed it was Celeste's beauty that made men fall over her so she could get her job done. I liked her sneaky spy tricks.
I like Aidan, thought he was a good hero male lead, somewhat war haunted, guilty for having survived.
There are lots of secondary charaters, Lord and lady of this and that, got kinda confusing who was who and who was involved, who was good and who was the bad guy!
There was more than the average sex scene in this one. Lots of sex scenes, but they were mostly related to the story line and captured what things were like back then, especially lustful,evil spys, getting what they want from their victims. Sex was used as a tool to extract info or to incapicitate the victim. The bad guy used sex to extract info, wasn't sensual or erotic at all.
Quite a few murders also, which helped with the excitement and mystery of the story. I had no idea who the villin was till he/she was exposed. Very exciting climax ending. There were a couple of situational bloopers, him standing, her standing and then he puts her down, wait, when did he pick her up? There was some converations in offices and drawing rooms about who is who and why. I skipped a few of these long winded dialogues.
Celeste and Aidan had chemistry and lust that probably morphed to love late in the story, like in the end. There was a lot of not liking and being mad at each other but needing sex from each other! I liked that Celeste is a strong confident woman committed to he purpose in helping the French and the war. LIked that she was physically attracted to Aidan, he was swoon worthy to her.
Overall, a good read, kept me excited and wanting to find out what happens in the end, had a few stay up late nights, that kind of good.
August 13, 2021
Ecco una nuova autrice di cui non avevo mai letto nulla. Anche in questo caso parliamo di una saga ma che per fortuna hanno un collegamento solo superficiale. Le protagoniste femminili sono tutte agenti segreti inglesi con una peculiarità particolare. Ciò vuol dire che non siete obbligati a leggerli tutti.
La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è ammirevole infatti Celeste è un'abile bugiarda che usa il proprio fascino e la propria bellezza per motivi patriottici. Ha un coraggio da vera leonessa, disposta anche a rinunciare all'amore se necessario. Ma come tutti, ha le proprie fragilità e debolezze. Aidan nonostante provi una forte attrazione per lei non esita a cercare le prove della sua colpevolezza non sapendo che in realtà è una doppiogiochista (per un attimo ho pensato al telefilm Alias). Anche quando lo scoprirà continuerà a non fidarsi completamente di lei.
Anche i personaggi secondari, che non si limitavano a brevi apparizioni, mi hanno molto colpito soprattutto John Elkin e il suo amore non corrisposto per Felicity.
Una storia piena di avventure: missioni segrete, tradimenti, intrighi, spionaggio e una passione travolgente.
La vicenda ha luogo principalmente a Londra (non manca una capatina in Francia) nel 1811 anche se tutto comincia durante l'infanzia del protagonista.
Il livello di sensualità è molto alto e forse alcune scene potevano essere tranquillamente eliminate dato che non erano determinante ai fini della trama.
La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è ammirevole infatti Celeste è un'abile bugiarda che usa il proprio fascino e la propria bellezza per motivi patriottici. Ha un coraggio da vera leonessa, disposta anche a rinunciare all'amore se necessario. Ma come tutti, ha le proprie fragilità e debolezze. Aidan nonostante provi una forte attrazione per lei non esita a cercare le prove della sua colpevolezza non sapendo che in realtà è una doppiogiochista (per un attimo ho pensato al telefilm Alias). Anche quando lo scoprirà continuerà a non fidarsi completamente di lei.
Anche i personaggi secondari, che non si limitavano a brevi apparizioni, mi hanno molto colpito soprattutto John Elkin e il suo amore non corrisposto per Felicity.
Una storia piena di avventure: missioni segrete, tradimenti, intrighi, spionaggio e una passione travolgente.
La vicenda ha luogo principalmente a Londra (non manca una capatina in Francia) nel 1811 anche se tutto comincia durante l'infanzia del protagonista.
Il livello di sensualità è molto alto e forse alcune scene potevano essere tranquillamente eliminate dato che non erano determinante ai fini della trama.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2023
3
El libro me gusto, pero hubo un pequeño problema que creo que influyo bastante en mi nota que fue que el protagonista tenia actitudes violentas, que realmente no me gustaron, las odie, ya que comprendo que el la odiaba por varios motivos que vemos en la historia, pero no están justificadas, ella no le hacia ni el 10% del daño que el le causaba.
° El contexto de la guerra fue hermoso, porque nunca antes había leído sobre una espía, aunque hubiera preferido que fuera mas de espía francesa y soldado ingles.
° Es Enemis to lovers
°Marie, te amo, es la mejor mujer que hay.
°
°
°
°
El libro me gusto, pero hubo un pequeño problema que creo que influyo bastante en mi nota que fue que el protagonista tenia actitudes violentas, que realmente no me gustaron, las odie, ya que comprendo que el la odiaba por varios motivos que vemos en la historia, pero no están justificadas, ella no le hacia ni el 10% del daño que el le causaba.
° El contexto de la guerra fue hermoso, porque nunca antes había leído sobre una espía, aunque hubiera preferido que fuera mas de espía francesa y soldado ingles.
° Es Enemis to lovers
°Marie, te amo, es la mejor mujer que hay.
°
°
°
°
February 14, 2021
3.5 stars! I love spy novels and this time period. I really enjoyed this book as well as the characters and the plot.
January 10, 2017
4.5 Stars
This was a pretty good book actually. Great plot, I like that the heroine wasn't incapable or an airhead (always a plus). I didn't care for Aidan that much... I am not sure why.... I can't really pinpoint as to why... Don't get me wrong, there were some saucy sex scences, but his overall character just, well, I just didn't connect with it. I think I was more anxious about when Aidan would find out about Celeste, after that, more or less, I just wanting to wrap it up.
So why is this not a full 5 star book? Well friends, I think partially it is because I do not dabble in dealing with Lords and Ladies too much. I think that added to me not being completely enthralled in the book, even though I did not hate it all together. The biggest part, for me, would be the only character I cared about was Celeste, all the others?? Not as much! I just did not connect with them.
Overall- Not a bad book/story- 4.5 Stars
This was a pretty good book actually. Great plot, I like that the heroine wasn't incapable or an airhead (always a plus). I didn't care for Aidan that much... I am not sure why.... I can't really pinpoint as to why... Don't get me wrong, there were some saucy sex scences, but his overall character just, well, I just didn't connect with it. I think I was more anxious about when Aidan would find out about Celeste, after that, more or less, I just wanting to wrap it up.
So why is this not a full 5 star book? Well friends, I think partially it is because I do not dabble in dealing with Lords and Ladies too much. I think that added to me not being completely enthralled in the book, even though I did not hate it all together. The biggest part, for me, would be the only character I cared about was Celeste, all the others?? Not as much! I just did not connect with them.
Overall- Not a bad book/story- 4.5 Stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2016
Excellent!
This is a truly good read! Saxon writes with energy and creativity that has produced this page-turner, the first book of The Lady Spies Series.
This book kept my interest from start to finish...no dead spots. The numerous characters are well described and developed throughout a very tangled, exciting plot.
I highly recommend this thrilling book with all the sensual romance and robust adventure. Couldn't put it doiwn. Five stars in spite of numerous typos. On to Book. #2 of this series!
This is a truly good read! Saxon writes with energy and creativity that has produced this page-turner, the first book of The Lady Spies Series.
This book kept my interest from start to finish...no dead spots. The numerous characters are well described and developed throughout a very tangled, exciting plot.
I highly recommend this thrilling book with all the sensual romance and robust adventure. Couldn't put it doiwn. Five stars in spite of numerous typos. On to Book. #2 of this series!
June 13, 2016
Finally a spy heroine in action...thank you
Unlike other HR spies books where we hardly see the spy work in details this book described her work as espionage, her talent of deceiving, and use her assets and bravery to achieve her goal. I read this in one sitting. I'm ready for the book #2 of this series. Wish there was a book prior to this about Sarah and her husband, Gilbert, the Duke of Glenbroke. I checked on kindle and this is the only series from Me. Saxon.
Unlike other HR spies books where we hardly see the spy work in details this book described her work as espionage, her talent of deceiving, and use her assets and bravery to achieve her goal. I read this in one sitting. I'm ready for the book #2 of this series. Wish there was a book prior to this about Sarah and her husband, Gilbert, the Duke of Glenbroke. I checked on kindle and this is the only series from Me. Saxon.
Read
January 21, 2017This is the first I've read by this author, and for some reason it was hard to sink my teeth into it. Although the intrigue was fine, and certainly no sillier or less credible than many highly enjoyable books, this felt a bit belabored. When I mooched it, I mooched the others in this series, which I suppose is a good thing, as otherwise I don't think I would bother to pursue it. This way I may still be won over when I get around to picking up the next.
January 21, 2017
Clever plot twists!
I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Saxon's novel. Very well thought out, great, endearing characters, mystery and intrigue all tied together very well. Only problem I had, spelling errors. Her proofreader needs to pay more attention.
Now, I'm off to book 2!
I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Saxon's novel. Very well thought out, great, endearing characters, mystery and intrigue all tied together very well. Only problem I had, spelling errors. Her proofreader needs to pay more attention.
Now, I'm off to book 2!
August 9, 2012
Excellent
December 2, 2015
Sigo amando este libro como la primera vez que lo leí... Supongo que la historia de la espía francesa y el héroe de guerra inglés será siempre una de mis favoritas.
November 8, 2013
It was difficult to get to plot buried under all of the sex scenes, but it is there.
March 30, 2016
very good
June 24, 2025
I enjoyed the chemistry, banters, and plot.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews