The Lady's Code

Lady Spies #3

by Samantha Saxon

After her reputation is ruined by a vengeful enemy of her disreputable father, Lady Juliet Pervill’s future is bleak. But rather than buckle under society’s scorn, she decides to offer her services to the Foreign Office, putting her brilliant mind to work decrypting French codes.

Struggling with a mysterious new code, Seamus McCurren is shocked when the Foreign Office calls in another cryptographer--and a woman at that. His intellectual pride takes a beating, but that’s nothing compared to what awaits his heart. For Seamus finds himself incredibly--and dangerously--distracted by Lady Juliet and her provocative mathematical theories, putting both of them at risk from a seductive spy master operating right in their midst...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction, Espionage, Regency

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Born 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.

Reviews

[Susan (susayq ~)]

After 200 pages I just couldn't do it anymore. I didn't really care for the hero or the heroine and the villain was getting all the sex.

I'm sure this might be a great book for someone other than me.

[LadyAileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

E così sono giunta all'ultimo libro dedicato alla saga Ladies' Thrillers chiamata così perché vede per protagoniste donne agenti segreti inglesi ingaggiate per la lotta contro il potere di Napoleone. Altri fattori che collegano i vari libri sono le parentele e la presenza di personaggi.
In questo caso Seamus McCurren è il fratello di Daniel McCurren protagonista del libro precedente mentre Juliet è la cugina di Felicity. Nonostante ciò è possibile leggerli singolarmente anche se sarebbe preferibile leggerli in ordine.
Il romanzo è ambientato nel 1815 in Inghilterra, la trama non è per niente banale anzi l'ho trovata intricata a tratti divertente (soprattutto quel che riguarda i dialoghi) ma anche un po' sadica e perversa per i miei gusti (parlo del comportamento dei "cattivi"). Il livello di sensualità è esplicito e sadico ma al contrario degli altri della stessa serie sembra che si sia dato più risalto alle arti amatorie dei cattivi che a quelle dei protagonisti.
La caratterizzazione dei personaggi l'ho trovata poco coinvolgente: Juliet si descrive come una donna che le piacciono gli uomini ma poco attraente (si confronta spesso con la cugina Felicity bionda e bellissima). All'inizio sembra essere innamorata dell'uomo che avrebbe dovuto sposare ma quando questi si rivela un debole si lancia su Seamus (anche se ne era già attratta per poi innamorarsene). Il protagonista maschile ancora più strano: bacia la donna impulsivamente e non sa perché va raccontando al fratello e agli amici i suoi strani impulsi. Non capisce nulla delle teorie ideate da Juliet e la crede più intelligente di lui per questo cerca di tenere celato il suo amore. Io non ho visto alcun amore sbocciare ma solo passione.
Non ho capito cosa abbia voluto dimostrare l'autrice quando Enigma (la traditrice) si scopre simile alla protagonista e che dopo aver ammazzato gente a più non posso alla fine si rende conto che è solo una donna alla ricerca di un compagno (in questo caso sperava in Seamus).
L'autrice ha inserito anche qualche teoria matematica per risolvere il codice segreto francese e per un attimo ho pensato al telefilm Numbers.
Non ci sono grandi colpi di scena per il lettore questo perché i "cattivi" sono immediatamente palesi, al contrario per i due protagonisti che invece cercano di risolvere il mistero. Pessima idea perché avrei preferito che i colpevoli non fossero palesi.
Lo stile è scorrevole infatti ho letto il romanzo in un giorno ma c'è anche da dire che non ha molte pagine. Non è da buttar via ma non è nemmeno un capolavoro.

[penelopewanders]

I apparently mooched the three in this series (I think there are only three) and I remember being quite disappointed by the first. Eventually I read the second which it seems I liked more, although I didn't really remember that, so was slow to pick up the third.
Now I have, and quite enjoyed it, with a few caveats.
The misogyny of the hero is probably fairly realistic and appropriate for the time the book is set in, but it did make it hard to appreciate him, especially as other characters had far fewer qualms at appreciating the heroine's brilliance.
Despite her brilliance, the heroine's lack of caution (read downright stupidity) at waltzing into dangerous situations was also very difficult to swallow. So some annoying bits, but far better than I expected.
Weirdly, this author doesn't seem to be listed at fantasticfiction. Not sure why that would be.

[ANGELIA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the other two books (just skipped through them), but this one I liked and read the whole thing. I won't give any story away; I'll just recommend you read it.

Just one thing I'll add: I like the way the author ended the book, with the old adage of leave them wanting more, while making a final exit.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

After being ruined by a vengeful guy, the heroine decides to offer her services to the crown by helping to crack the French's code. I was kind of bored during parts of the story, especially the sections where the villain is plotting her evil deeds. I'm starting to get really annoyed with stories where the villain is a "loose" woman who uses men like tissue paper. At least the heroine, Juliet, was interesting, she liked men and she wasn't afraid to admit it. But the characters weren't developed enough IMO and the heroine had several to stupid moments that contrasted with her intelligence a little too much.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read

This third book of the series is not quite as good as the first two, but very close. Saxon has writing style that keeps you interested. It's hard to put down the book for any period of time as you're pulled into the spy world's plots and the work of trying to uncover the same.
Women are the main characters and heroines for the most part, and given it is the Napoleonic Era it is harder to believe, but believable it is. The underlying romance Is sweet, naive and very funny at times with a number of strong secondary characters in support.
Again, I highly recommend this book and this series. Good job, Saxon!

[Danielles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, not so good as the other two,...it was the best at the last parts,...
The first one was the best of this writer!

I don't understand the last page,...there has to be an other book, book 4,...but it never came,...about Ian,....

Well I hope it will come some day!

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

what i learned from this book: i should submit one of my manuscripts if people like this can get published.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AWSOME!!!! It has some wierd parts, I know, but I love the plot and the drama.