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Secrets of the Zodiac #1
A Heartless Design
An enigmatic woman, a determined spy, and a love that could shake the foundations of Europe...
"Heartless" Cordelia Bering refuses every marriage offer she receives. Yet men still try to win her, drawn by her sharp wit and intoxicating green eyes. But Cordelia knows a marriage could reveal her deepest secret and truly endanger her life. Besides, she hasn't met a man worth considering, until...
Sebastien Thorne, a spy in the service of Crown. One of the elite agents in the group known as the Zodiac, he comes to London determined to solve a mystery with roots on the Continent. He won't let anything distract him. But is Cordelia a distraction, or the key to the mystery? As he learns more about the "heartless" woman, he becomes embroiled in secrets, plots, and a design that could change the future...and Cordelia is at the center of it all.
"Heartless" Cordelia Bering refuses every marriage offer she receives. Yet men still try to win her, drawn by her sharp wit and intoxicating green eyes. But Cordelia knows a marriage could reveal her deepest secret and truly endanger her life. Besides, she hasn't met a man worth considering, until...
Sebastien Thorne, a spy in the service of Crown. One of the elite agents in the group known as the Zodiac, he comes to London determined to solve a mystery with roots on the Continent. He won't let anything distract him. But is Cordelia a distraction, or the key to the mystery? As he learns more about the "heartless" woman, he becomes embroiled in secrets, plots, and a design that could change the future...and Cordelia is at the center of it all.
394 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2013
992 people are currently reading
2527 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Cole
41 books162 followersElizabeth Cole is a romance author with a penchant for history, which is why she lives in an old house in an old city. She can be found hanging around libraries and archives, or curled in a corner reading, cat on lap. She believes in love at first sight. Then again, she also believes that mac 'n' cheese is a healthy breakfast, so don't trust her judgment on everything.
Get in touch with her at http://twitter.com/coleheartedgirl
Get in touch with her at http://twitter.com/coleheartedgirl
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
June 4, 2016
Review written June 4, 2016
3 Stars - A sweet suspense HR
A Heartless Design was a freebie kindle in January and I added the 10 hours WSfV audiobook (narrated by Marian Hussey) for just $2. Some promising reviews and I went for it.
London 1806..
What was really good here is that Cordelia isn't just a beautiful young women she is also a talanted, very clever and inventive engineer. In all secrecy of course. Ladies or any women weren't supposed to "know" manly things back then. Our hero Sebastien on the other side, is a very pleasurable rake like noble man, and (I soon guessed) a spy (of good old family with a nice lord title), living a much more important and dangerous life than anyone could guess.
I liked these two main characters, I liked the overall plot / storyline and much stuff in this mystery romance. But —yes there is a very big BUT— I'm sorry to say, I lost some of my interest after a few hours. Then I had to struggle to feel the sincere want to pick it up again (when there are so many other books waiting and calling for my attention). It took me more than two months to finish.
...Maybe was it this narrators way to sound whining girly when doing the heroine's talking-voice too often. That nagged at me. So did the simplistic idea of a person, all alone after a little help and training in secret by his/her father, able to design quite complicated engineering tasks (). I'm no engineer (but has several close in my life) and don't know much about the subject, but really as simple as for our heroine Cordelia is it probably not after all. Or? I know, fictional novels most often add "fairytales" or simplified realities, truths and abilities, but at some believability do I limit what keeps and fits.
The romance part was sweet and fun though.
In total: Sweet, a bit thrilling and steamy romantic. Good enough (barely) but probably soon forgotten.
I LIKE - strong and clever female MC's
3 Stars - A sweet suspense HR
A Heartless Design was a freebie kindle in January and I added the 10 hours WSfV audiobook (narrated by Marian Hussey) for just $2. Some promising reviews and I went for it.
"James Bond meets Jane Austen!"
« An enigmatic woman (Cordelia Bering), a determined spy (Sebastien Thorne), and a love that could shake the foundations of Europe... »
London 1806..
What was really good here is that Cordelia isn't just a beautiful young women she is also a talanted, very clever and inventive engineer. In all secrecy of course. Ladies or any women weren't supposed to "know" manly things back then. Our hero Sebastien on the other side, is a very pleasurable rake like noble man, and (I soon guessed) a spy (of good old family with a nice lord title), living a much more important and dangerous life than anyone could guess.
I liked these two main characters, I liked the overall plot / storyline and much stuff in this mystery romance. But —yes there is a very big BUT— I'm sorry to say, I lost some of my interest after a few hours. Then I had to struggle to feel the sincere want to pick it up again (when there are so many other books waiting and calling for my attention). It took me more than two months to finish.
...Maybe was it this narrators way to sound whining girly when doing the heroine's talking-voice too often. That nagged at me. So did the simplistic idea of a person, all alone after a little help and training in secret by his/her father, able to design quite complicated engineering tasks (). I'm no engineer (but has several close in my life) and don't know much about the subject, but really as simple as for our heroine Cordelia is it probably not after all. Or? I know, fictional novels most often add "fairytales" or simplified realities, truths and abilities, but at some believability do I limit what keeps and fits.
The romance part was sweet and fun though.
“I do not kiss,” she said primly. Or she tried to be prim about it.
She leaned away from him, preparing to return to the party. “By your own admission, you are not familiar with London society, sir, so let me tell you what they call me. Heartless. It’s a true description. And you’ll forgive me if I leave you now.”
In total: Sweet, a bit thrilling and steamy romantic. Good enough (barely) but probably soon forgotten.
I LIKE - strong and clever female MC's
October 30, 2017
Sebastien Thorne, Earl of Thornebury (spelling), is a newly inherited Earl and a spy. Cordelia Bering is a secret engineer known as Mr. Lear. She has designed special ship plans wanted by unscrupulous men. It is Sebastien's task to locate the plans and the engineer. Can Cordelia keep the ship plans out of the wrong hands? Will Sebastien discover who Mr. Lear is and get the plans for the crown?
This is a promising story. The main characters are delightful, including the secondary characters. The plot is simple but the subplots keep the reader asking, "What happens next?" I debated between three or four stars. In the end, I took a star off because I didn't like how the plot was resolved. I feel it weakened the heroine's position in the story. Overall, this is a light, easy read with delightful characters.
This is a promising story. The main characters are delightful, including the secondary characters. The plot is simple but the subplots keep the reader asking, "What happens next?" I debated between three or four stars. In the end, I took a star off because I didn't like how the plot was resolved. I feel it weakened the heroine's position in the story. Overall, this is a light, easy read with delightful characters.
December 9, 2014
I have fallen in love with this series and this author, Elizabeth Cole. This is an outstanding spy series that is so well written with characters that are deeply explored. I recently read book number 3 in the series as an ARC from Netgalley and LOVED it, so of course I researched the author to read more in the series. If you can believe it –this book is FREE right now on Amazon.com. Hurry and get it and add it to your to-be-read list. But don’t wait that long as you will kick yourself once you realize how great this book is!
I adore when a book has characters that you get emotionally involved with. I cared about Cordelia and Sebastien. I was desperate to find out what happens to them – I read so fast because I couldn’t wait to find out how the story unfolds.
Cordelia is an engineer as well as a woman of the ton. She has the reputation of being ‘heartless’ because she has turned down so many marriage proposals. She lives on Quince Street (I love this name) with her Aunt Leona and has a household full of criminals turned servants. After her beloved father’s death, she realizes that she isn’t ready to give up the world and work of engineering, as well as the income. She creates a false character Lear to continue on her work. She never thinks that the world of engineering could endanger her life.
For years Cordelia worked on a special ship called the Andraste. The ship is a virtual fortress, clad with iron and impregnable from cannon fodder. Her father worried that people would use this for nefarious deeds and implored Cordelia to keep the plans hidden and safe. Cordelia continued to work on the plans after her father mysteriously died. This dream ship has caught the attention of the white and black hats. Both want the plans and therefore both want Cordelia.
Enter Sebastien. He is a member of the Zodiac, a spy organization for the Crown. He has been charged with finding the plans for the Andraste and securing them for England. Sebastien receives his orders while attending a London ball, where he spots the most luscious woman walking by. He finds her hiding in the gardens, very close to where his dossier of details is waiting for him. He finds that suspicious, but can’t let the opportunity to kiss her pass. They share an intimate moment and she is gone.
It was hilarious when Sebastien and Cordelia meet the next day. The reasons for their meeting however, were not. After that ball, Cordelia returns home to find that the plans for the Andraste were stolen. She then has Sebastien appearing on her doorstep, a raging inconvenience. I loved how Cordelia stands up to him and puts him on the defensive. As a reader, this is when you subconsciously recognize that you are reading a well-conceived and developed novel.
Cordelia has secrets she needs to keep. Sebastien is so charming and virile that she may just lose her head along with her virtue and her heart. The two are thrown together with a frequent urgency as the stakes get higher and higher for Cordelia, Sebastien, the Zodiac and England.
Sebastien wants to trust Cordelia, but he faces evasion and subterfuge at every turn with her. She is determined to keep her secrets. They are more valuable to her than her virtue. Cordelia is almost on the shelf at the age of twenty-seven. She knows she won’t marry after being her own mistress for so long. She can never give a man the power over her that could stop her work or her freedom. However, she wishes she had passion. Enter Sebastien again. The two have been panting after each other and warily eyeing each other with passion and mistrust.
Things get very steamy. But also very complicated. Cordelia is sure that she wants to be in Sebastien’s arms and bed, but not his life. I think what I loved so much about this story is how both lead characters were afraid of the other. They were afraid to open their hearts and share their true nature with each other. Being intimate provided shelter from the truth for a while, but it ate away at them to share only a part of who they were.
The author has created a wonderful, tangled web of deception and truth. The mystery of the plans for the Andraste make the story leap off the page and dictated a force that both Cordelia and Sebastien couldn’t control. The plot had no holes in it and I really admired that Elizabeth Cole created such a strong female character. This is a real strength of the author, as her other books in the series contain female characters who have backbone and intelligence. Woe is the man who underestimates a woman in this series of books.
I strongly recommend picking up this series and there is a fourth book in the works according to the author. I sincerely hope that we will get to read about all twelve signs as this series is unique, extremely well-conceived and well written.
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com
I adore when a book has characters that you get emotionally involved with. I cared about Cordelia and Sebastien. I was desperate to find out what happens to them – I read so fast because I couldn’t wait to find out how the story unfolds.
Cordelia is an engineer as well as a woman of the ton. She has the reputation of being ‘heartless’ because she has turned down so many marriage proposals. She lives on Quince Street (I love this name) with her Aunt Leona and has a household full of criminals turned servants. After her beloved father’s death, she realizes that she isn’t ready to give up the world and work of engineering, as well as the income. She creates a false character Lear to continue on her work. She never thinks that the world of engineering could endanger her life.
For years Cordelia worked on a special ship called the Andraste. The ship is a virtual fortress, clad with iron and impregnable from cannon fodder. Her father worried that people would use this for nefarious deeds and implored Cordelia to keep the plans hidden and safe. Cordelia continued to work on the plans after her father mysteriously died. This dream ship has caught the attention of the white and black hats. Both want the plans and therefore both want Cordelia.
Enter Sebastien. He is a member of the Zodiac, a spy organization for the Crown. He has been charged with finding the plans for the Andraste and securing them for England. Sebastien receives his orders while attending a London ball, where he spots the most luscious woman walking by. He finds her hiding in the gardens, very close to where his dossier of details is waiting for him. He finds that suspicious, but can’t let the opportunity to kiss her pass. They share an intimate moment and she is gone.
It was hilarious when Sebastien and Cordelia meet the next day. The reasons for their meeting however, were not. After that ball, Cordelia returns home to find that the plans for the Andraste were stolen. She then has Sebastien appearing on her doorstep, a raging inconvenience. I loved how Cordelia stands up to him and puts him on the defensive. As a reader, this is when you subconsciously recognize that you are reading a well-conceived and developed novel.
Cordelia has secrets she needs to keep. Sebastien is so charming and virile that she may just lose her head along with her virtue and her heart. The two are thrown together with a frequent urgency as the stakes get higher and higher for Cordelia, Sebastien, the Zodiac and England.
Sebastien wants to trust Cordelia, but he faces evasion and subterfuge at every turn with her. She is determined to keep her secrets. They are more valuable to her than her virtue. Cordelia is almost on the shelf at the age of twenty-seven. She knows she won’t marry after being her own mistress for so long. She can never give a man the power over her that could stop her work or her freedom. However, she wishes she had passion. Enter Sebastien again. The two have been panting after each other and warily eyeing each other with passion and mistrust.
Things get very steamy. But also very complicated. Cordelia is sure that she wants to be in Sebastien’s arms and bed, but not his life. I think what I loved so much about this story is how both lead characters were afraid of the other. They were afraid to open their hearts and share their true nature with each other. Being intimate provided shelter from the truth for a while, but it ate away at them to share only a part of who they were.
The author has created a wonderful, tangled web of deception and truth. The mystery of the plans for the Andraste make the story leap off the page and dictated a force that both Cordelia and Sebastien couldn’t control. The plot had no holes in it and I really admired that Elizabeth Cole created such a strong female character. This is a real strength of the author, as her other books in the series contain female characters who have backbone and intelligence. Woe is the man who underestimates a woman in this series of books.
I strongly recommend picking up this series and there is a fourth book in the works according to the author. I sincerely hope that we will get to read about all twelve signs as this series is unique, extremely well-conceived and well written.
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com
September 28, 2014
I didn't like this one as much as the first. I don't care for the protagonists being setup in an adversarial relationship where they mistrust each other for half of the book. The French Civil War is not something I enjoy reading about, and there were a lot of references to it. I also don't care for the idea that spies are willing to sleep with people to get information. It may be true but it's unpleasant to read about in a romance. because of these things I would give this one fewer stars than the previous book.
The story did keep me turning pages, and the characters are still interesting and layered.
The story did keep me turning pages, and the characters are still interesting and layered.
September 12, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. Great hero and heroine, story line and plot. Great chemistry and some good sex scenes. The story line itself was a bit different in a very good way!. There was plenty of dialogue too.
I listened to this book as I read along via audible and the narrator did a really good job as well.
I listened to this book as I read along via audible and the narrator did a really good job as well.
March 7, 2017
3.25 stars.
The heroine is an engineer, yes true, she designed, build and sell ships.
Her latest designs is very advanced, in the wrong hand can be a very powerful weapon, and when The English and The French in wars, that won't good. Not many know about this because she created an imaginary guy to continue her work.
The hero? He is a spy who tried to get his hand on this latest design.
See? So much potential for this story but unfortunately the execution not quite there yet.
Especially the first 30%, gosh it was boring:(
For this kind of work, I wanted to see more about her work, show us how she did it, one page she sitting in her office home won't do! Then we know the villain from early on and the suspense bits was too tame.
Gosh! This could be a good read but it make me wanted to chuck my IPad!!:(
But still an ok read and currently free on Amazon.
I check the author's other books in this series, they all got a better rating than this one:)
I probably try to read her books again one day.
The heroine is an engineer, yes true, she designed, build and sell ships.
Her latest designs is very advanced, in the wrong hand can be a very powerful weapon, and when The English and The French in wars, that won't good. Not many know about this because she created an imaginary guy to continue her work.
The hero? He is a spy who tried to get his hand on this latest design.
See? So much potential for this story but unfortunately the execution not quite there yet.
Especially the first 30%, gosh it was boring:(
For this kind of work, I wanted to see more about her work, show us how she did it, one page she sitting in her office home won't do! Then we know the villain from early on and the suspense bits was too tame.
Gosh! This could be a good read but it make me wanted to chuck my IPad!!:(
But still an ok read and currently free on Amazon.
I check the author's other books in this series, they all got a better rating than this one:)
I probably try to read her books again one day.
Read
March 25, 2017Meh. Picked this up because it was free on ibooks, read it on my work breaks because I had nothing better to do. Romance isn't my genre, but every now and then there are standout gems that I enjoy; this just wasn't one of them. That being said, I don't think it would be fair of me to rate it given that I knew going in that it wouldn't be my thing. It passed the time, and it wasn't grossly chauvinistic, and that's good enough.
June 17, 2017
Better than typical Regency romantic suspense. Heroine was pretty damn smart, but not off-putting. Definitely unconventional, but not quirky. Typical villain though. Hero was great. Plot was unique but the author left a plot line unfinished (perhaps for the next book in the series?). The HEA was so very typical and a little too sweet considering the story.
April 12, 2018
Overall a good read. Perhaps not for me as I never felt particularly invested in the characters. But the book itself was well thought out, very detailed and you can see a lot of hard work went into its construction. Though it often felt like dry reading and was too wordy at times.
The male lead was irritatingly dismissive and judgmental of the female spy at the start. Without due cause. They both acted rather immature in their first reactions to each other. Yet neither had done anything to warrant the other putting his back up.
You would think no one could take offense within mere minutes of a first time meeting, especially when introduced through a trusted friend, but it was set up in that "Let's hate each other passionately for no discernible reason!" way, perhaps to have conflict.
The lead female, Sophie was also trying a little too hard to seem"cool" I guess we would say in modern parlance. She didn't really seem very comfortable in her own skin. And the emphasis the author placed on her not being a lady by birth meant we spent a lot of time with her hang-ups about this fact.
A lot of effort was put into describing surroundings unnecessarily. It's kind of hard for me to pinpoint exactly what I mean when I talk about too much focus on triviality but I suppose this passage below shows it a little with all the rigamarole around some hot water.
Did water really have to feature that prominently that it's mentioned three or so times in a passage? It's water. Move on, a one sentence mention would do.
Excerpt-
“In her most ladylike way, she ordered the best room, and insisted the hot water be brought up as soon as possible. Bruce had stayed with Jem to see that the coach was indeed fit to travel the next day.
Sophie was shown to a large, bright room. The water was heated and brought up with remarkable efficiency by the innkeeper’s children. Sophie hoped it wouldn’t cool too quickly.
Fortunately, Bruce came in then, worn down by the effort of final repairs to the carriage. “Good news,” he said. “There’s only minor damage. Jem will handle the rest of it, and we can continue on in the morning as scheduled.”
“I ordered you some hot water,” Sophie said, pointing to the pitcher and basin.”
This is a really minor quibble and it was probably only noticeable in conjunction with other things but I kind of almost wanted to throw the water in someone's face. Lol
I guess it also has to do with how used to the genre you are. For someone reading a historical romance for the first time these details are perhaps interesting and helpful in constructing an accurate impression of the norms and culture of the time period.
But if you are familiar with it already it becomes a case of too many factoids thrown in randomly and it merely distracts you as a reader. It draws you out of the story.
It's as if the author did a lot of research and wants to include every interesting thing learnt along the way. For example, the fact that society marriages were often cold by virtue of being arranged for dynastic purposes is so generally known that the titbit about wives included below merely causes the scene to lose momentum...
Excerpt-
“Bruce stripped to the waist without so much as a warning. Sophie, a little stunned, watched him as a wife might…though in a society marriage, it was entirely possible that a woman might never see her husband half-naked save for in the darkness of a bedroom. And many proper ladies would never dare look more than they absolutely had to.”
Or even just the fact that upper servants go by their last names which can be shown not told to the reader-
Excerpt-
“My name’s Maggie.”
“And your family name?” Sophie asked. Ladies’ maids were customarily referred to by their surname only.
“Sawyer, ma’am. But I’m not a proper lady’s maid, so Maggie it is.”
------
And sometimes we would leave one character, move over to the POV of the other and have him/her rehash everything that had just happened between them, which can get dull.
Bruce and Sophie took too long to finally like each other, I thought. Quarter of the way through the book they still disliked and distrusted each other and since they had no improved opinions of each other I really didn't like them any more that I had at the start when all I felt was indifference.
It was still an interesting read, with some very insightful dialogue at times. I particularly liked the line about how women move through the world versus the security inherent in being a male. Things men do unthinkingly, such as walking around late at night, going to an unknown party location with a casual male acquaintance, getting into a cab, are things women can't always feel safe doing for practical reasons. Life as a woman might not be as extreme as in the author's example but it's a poignant point Sophie makes.
Excerpt-
“I said I would tell you the very first thing a woman thinks on seeing a man.”
“I give up. Tell me what a woman thinks on seeing a man.”
Sophie said, with deliberate calm, “She thinks, How can he hurt me?”
Bruce stopped what he was doing, the washcloth falling into the basin with a splash. “That’s not true,” he said instantly.
“I promise you it is,” Sophie said. “It is the first thought to cross a woman’s mind, no matter how young or old, rich or poor, powerful or desperate. Maybe not all women even realize they think it—but they do.”
“Honestly?”
Sophie nodded. “She thinks: Can this man hurt me? How much could he hurt me? In what ways could he hurt me? How can I escape? How do I fend him off? How do I survive this?”
Bruce stared at her, his previous task completely forgotten. “Is that what you thought when you first met me in the club?”
She nodded again.
“But Julian vouched for me, did he not?”
“What does that matter?” Sophie asked. “Believe me, all women share the same fear. Only after she asks that question and makes those dozen small decisions can she move on to what you think of as normal thoughts.”
“That’s mad.”
“That’s life for a woman. Understand this, and how can you go about treating half the world in the same way?”
He frowned. “You make me sound like a monster.”
“Not at all. I merely acknowledge you’re a man, and as such have never had to ask yourself the same questions."
*Received a review copy
The male lead was irritatingly dismissive and judgmental of the female spy at the start. Without due cause. They both acted rather immature in their first reactions to each other. Yet neither had done anything to warrant the other putting his back up.
You would think no one could take offense within mere minutes of a first time meeting, especially when introduced through a trusted friend, but it was set up in that "Let's hate each other passionately for no discernible reason!" way, perhaps to have conflict.
The lead female, Sophie was also trying a little too hard to seem"cool" I guess we would say in modern parlance. She didn't really seem very comfortable in her own skin. And the emphasis the author placed on her not being a lady by birth meant we spent a lot of time with her hang-ups about this fact.
A lot of effort was put into describing surroundings unnecessarily. It's kind of hard for me to pinpoint exactly what I mean when I talk about too much focus on triviality but I suppose this passage below shows it a little with all the rigamarole around some hot water.
Did water really have to feature that prominently that it's mentioned three or so times in a passage? It's water. Move on, a one sentence mention would do.
Excerpt-
“In her most ladylike way, she ordered the best room, and insisted the hot water be brought up as soon as possible. Bruce had stayed with Jem to see that the coach was indeed fit to travel the next day.
Sophie was shown to a large, bright room. The water was heated and brought up with remarkable efficiency by the innkeeper’s children. Sophie hoped it wouldn’t cool too quickly.
Fortunately, Bruce came in then, worn down by the effort of final repairs to the carriage. “Good news,” he said. “There’s only minor damage. Jem will handle the rest of it, and we can continue on in the morning as scheduled.”
“I ordered you some hot water,” Sophie said, pointing to the pitcher and basin.”
This is a really minor quibble and it was probably only noticeable in conjunction with other things but I kind of almost wanted to throw the water in someone's face. Lol
I guess it also has to do with how used to the genre you are. For someone reading a historical romance for the first time these details are perhaps interesting and helpful in constructing an accurate impression of the norms and culture of the time period.
But if you are familiar with it already it becomes a case of too many factoids thrown in randomly and it merely distracts you as a reader. It draws you out of the story.
It's as if the author did a lot of research and wants to include every interesting thing learnt along the way. For example, the fact that society marriages were often cold by virtue of being arranged for dynastic purposes is so generally known that the titbit about wives included below merely causes the scene to lose momentum...
Excerpt-
“Bruce stripped to the waist without so much as a warning. Sophie, a little stunned, watched him as a wife might…though in a society marriage, it was entirely possible that a woman might never see her husband half-naked save for in the darkness of a bedroom. And many proper ladies would never dare look more than they absolutely had to.”
Or even just the fact that upper servants go by their last names which can be shown not told to the reader-
Excerpt-
“My name’s Maggie.”
“And your family name?” Sophie asked. Ladies’ maids were customarily referred to by their surname only.
“Sawyer, ma’am. But I’m not a proper lady’s maid, so Maggie it is.”
------
And sometimes we would leave one character, move over to the POV of the other and have him/her rehash everything that had just happened between them, which can get dull.
Bruce and Sophie took too long to finally like each other, I thought. Quarter of the way through the book they still disliked and distrusted each other and since they had no improved opinions of each other I really didn't like them any more that I had at the start when all I felt was indifference.
It was still an interesting read, with some very insightful dialogue at times. I particularly liked the line about how women move through the world versus the security inherent in being a male. Things men do unthinkingly, such as walking around late at night, going to an unknown party location with a casual male acquaintance, getting into a cab, are things women can't always feel safe doing for practical reasons. Life as a woman might not be as extreme as in the author's example but it's a poignant point Sophie makes.
Excerpt-
“I said I would tell you the very first thing a woman thinks on seeing a man.”
“I give up. Tell me what a woman thinks on seeing a man.”
Sophie said, with deliberate calm, “She thinks, How can he hurt me?”
Bruce stopped what he was doing, the washcloth falling into the basin with a splash. “That’s not true,” he said instantly.
“I promise you it is,” Sophie said. “It is the first thought to cross a woman’s mind, no matter how young or old, rich or poor, powerful or desperate. Maybe not all women even realize they think it—but they do.”
“Honestly?”
Sophie nodded. “She thinks: Can this man hurt me? How much could he hurt me? In what ways could he hurt me? How can I escape? How do I fend him off? How do I survive this?”
Bruce stared at her, his previous task completely forgotten. “Is that what you thought when you first met me in the club?”
She nodded again.
“But Julian vouched for me, did he not?”
“What does that matter?” Sophie asked. “Believe me, all women share the same fear. Only after she asks that question and makes those dozen small decisions can she move on to what you think of as normal thoughts.”
“That’s mad.”
“That’s life for a woman. Understand this, and how can you go about treating half the world in the same way?”
He frowned. “You make me sound like a monster.”
“Not at all. I merely acknowledge you’re a man, and as such have never had to ask yourself the same questions."
*Received a review copy
December 9, 2014
We met Lord Forester in the first book of the series as he helps Sebastien and Cordelia escape France. I loved that both are back in the telling of Forester’s story!
Forester meets with Neville aka Aries for his next mission. Although he is a Lord, he has no use for the fripperies of society and would rather be working his estate and managing the land. His work for the Zodiac is of vital importance to him and he can’t imagine his life without being in service to the Crown. However this mission is different. Usually members of the Zodiac work independently of each other, but this mission requires two agents. Bruce meets his partner, Sophie, also known as Libra. He is absolutely astounded that a woman could be an agent – and a French woman as well! From the moment they meet its game on. They take a hearty dislike to each other and have no interest in working together on this mission. So not only are they fighting the enemy, they are warring with each other too. Reading this I almost felt gleeful as I just KNEW it was going to be a spicy, scintillating tale that would have abundant passion, reckless adventures and a lot of danger.
Sophie and Bruce must impersonate a French Comtess and her husband at an elite house party for those sympathetic to the French aristocracy. Sophie is the master of disguises, a trick she picked up from being an actress as her cover story. Bruce is adept as well at subterfuge, but he still wants Sophie out of the way. As soon as they are alone, it becomes a contest of wills and seduction. Sophie uses her feminine wiles on Bruce and he cannot deny that he wants her. This is a big mistake with someone like Sophie as she now knows his weakness.
The house party was equal parts solving the mystery of who in the British government is supporting the scheme to reinstate the French aristocrats and the relationship between Bruce and Sophie. The two are complete opposites of each other. Sophie likes to improvise and is quick thinking on her feet. Bruce’s strength is his strategy and planning skills. They disagree about almost everything to do with their mission and not only battle each other, but the guests at the party as well. Sophie must use her charm to attract the men they are seeking to investigate, but it burns Bruce to watch her have to do it. It isn’t just because she’s a woman, it’s because he is starting to see her as his woman.
Sophie has had a very difficult life. She narrates her life story to Bruce over the course of the house party and it’s clear that she has fended for herself from a very young age. Without the security of family or marriage, the Zodiac has become her life, which is something Bruce can definitely relate to. With that common bond, they find a truce with each other, which turns to passion. My heart was clearly engaged with this couple as when Sophie and Bruce first have sex she tells him he is the first man she has wanted to do it with. I think I fell a little more in love with this series as this book explored the complexities of Sophie’s life and the danger she exposed herself to for the Zodiac. Bruce has his troubled past as well, but nothing compared to the life Sophie has endured.
This is an example of how this series doesn’t shy away from difficult or harsh topics. The brutality of their jobs and the challenging decisions they have to make only make the words on the page have more depth and feeling. Sophie could be very stubborn when she felt wronged and because she was such a well-developed character, you completely understood her motives and feelings. It never hurts to have a man grovelling in a historical romance novel.
When their mission gets blown to bits, Bruce and Sophie finally work together to salvage what they can. The mission became as important to me as their relationship. I was on the edge of my seat to learn how it finished. As mentioned before, Cordelia and Sebastien play a role in this book and it was fabulous to get a glimpse of them.
I know I’ve stated this before, but you know you are reading something special when you are emotionally invested in the book you are reading. Everything about this book and series has just sucked me right in. I adore Elizabeth Cole’s wonderful world she has created. The characters, the mystery, the details all stand out for me as excellence. This is a series I will be reading to the bitter end. And you should too!
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com
Forester meets with Neville aka Aries for his next mission. Although he is a Lord, he has no use for the fripperies of society and would rather be working his estate and managing the land. His work for the Zodiac is of vital importance to him and he can’t imagine his life without being in service to the Crown. However this mission is different. Usually members of the Zodiac work independently of each other, but this mission requires two agents. Bruce meets his partner, Sophie, also known as Libra. He is absolutely astounded that a woman could be an agent – and a French woman as well! From the moment they meet its game on. They take a hearty dislike to each other and have no interest in working together on this mission. So not only are they fighting the enemy, they are warring with each other too. Reading this I almost felt gleeful as I just KNEW it was going to be a spicy, scintillating tale that would have abundant passion, reckless adventures and a lot of danger.
Sophie and Bruce must impersonate a French Comtess and her husband at an elite house party for those sympathetic to the French aristocracy. Sophie is the master of disguises, a trick she picked up from being an actress as her cover story. Bruce is adept as well at subterfuge, but he still wants Sophie out of the way. As soon as they are alone, it becomes a contest of wills and seduction. Sophie uses her feminine wiles on Bruce and he cannot deny that he wants her. This is a big mistake with someone like Sophie as she now knows his weakness.
The house party was equal parts solving the mystery of who in the British government is supporting the scheme to reinstate the French aristocrats and the relationship between Bruce and Sophie. The two are complete opposites of each other. Sophie likes to improvise and is quick thinking on her feet. Bruce’s strength is his strategy and planning skills. They disagree about almost everything to do with their mission and not only battle each other, but the guests at the party as well. Sophie must use her charm to attract the men they are seeking to investigate, but it burns Bruce to watch her have to do it. It isn’t just because she’s a woman, it’s because he is starting to see her as his woman.
Sophie has had a very difficult life. She narrates her life story to Bruce over the course of the house party and it’s clear that she has fended for herself from a very young age. Without the security of family or marriage, the Zodiac has become her life, which is something Bruce can definitely relate to. With that common bond, they find a truce with each other, which turns to passion. My heart was clearly engaged with this couple as when Sophie and Bruce first have sex she tells him he is the first man she has wanted to do it with. I think I fell a little more in love with this series as this book explored the complexities of Sophie’s life and the danger she exposed herself to for the Zodiac. Bruce has his troubled past as well, but nothing compared to the life Sophie has endured.
This is an example of how this series doesn’t shy away from difficult or harsh topics. The brutality of their jobs and the challenging decisions they have to make only make the words on the page have more depth and feeling. Sophie could be very stubborn when she felt wronged and because she was such a well-developed character, you completely understood her motives and feelings. It never hurts to have a man grovelling in a historical romance novel.
When their mission gets blown to bits, Bruce and Sophie finally work together to salvage what they can. The mission became as important to me as their relationship. I was on the edge of my seat to learn how it finished. As mentioned before, Cordelia and Sebastien play a role in this book and it was fabulous to get a glimpse of them.
I know I’ve stated this before, but you know you are reading something special when you are emotionally invested in the book you are reading. Everything about this book and series has just sucked me right in. I adore Elizabeth Cole’s wonderful world she has created. The characters, the mystery, the details all stand out for me as excellence. This is a series I will be reading to the bitter end. And you should too!
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com
September 26, 2013
PERIOD MYSTERY/ROMANCE
I'm a big fan of this authors work and have read a few of her previous books. Once again she doesn't disappoint.
Set in 1806 Cordelia Bering is an unusual woman of the times, she's 27 and by the standards of the time she's considered an old maid, on the shelf if you like. But Cordelia likes things just the way they are, she's refused all offers of marriage. A husband even one with half a brain might discover her secret.
Then she meets Sebatien Thorne a former wastrel, but now reformed in the service of the crown, he is an elite agent belong to a group known as the zodiacs.
Loved this story the author manages to make Cordelia's secret believable to the reader, both lead characters were likeable. I loved the mystery and the journey the author takes us on to the satisfying end she certainly knows how to weave a wonderful story with compelling characters.
ARC provided by the publisher
I'm a big fan of this authors work and have read a few of her previous books. Once again she doesn't disappoint.
Set in 1806 Cordelia Bering is an unusual woman of the times, she's 27 and by the standards of the time she's considered an old maid, on the shelf if you like. But Cordelia likes things just the way they are, she's refused all offers of marriage. A husband even one with half a brain might discover her secret.
Then she meets Sebatien Thorne a former wastrel, but now reformed in the service of the crown, he is an elite agent belong to a group known as the zodiacs.
Loved this story the author manages to make Cordelia's secret believable to the reader, both lead characters were likeable. I loved the mystery and the journey the author takes us on to the satisfying end she certainly knows how to weave a wonderful story with compelling characters.
ARC provided by the publisher
July 30, 2017
In 1806, Georgian England, why does Cordelia Bering continue to refuse all marriage proposals, what secrets does she hide. Sebastien Thorne, a spy for the Crown, a member of a group called Zodiac, is determined to find out as he seeks to find out what Andraste means.
An enjoyable mystery romance, an easy to read story, with well-rounded characters. A good start to the series which I look forward to reading.
An enjoyable mystery romance, an easy to read story, with well-rounded characters. A good start to the series which I look forward to reading.
January 11, 2015
This is awesome for a book that is free on kindle!
In fact, better than 90% of Historical Romance books I've read.
It does not just pull together a plot for the sake of bringing the main characters together, it has substance! And that is a rarity, in this genre.
In fact, better than 90% of Historical Romance books I've read.
It does not just pull together a plot for the sake of bringing the main characters together, it has substance! And that is a rarity, in this genre.
tbr-later
February 19, 20209 December 2015: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
February 7, 2017
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Meh. This one just fell flat for me.
Meh. This one just fell flat for me.
March 19, 2015
3.5. I love me some spy romances.
March 8, 2020
An unconventional female protagonist and a less conventional male protagonist make this historial (regency) romance.
At twenty-seven, Cordelia Bering is considered a spinster, but it is her life as an engineer that is worthwhile for her (and her big secret in a household that contains nothing but secrets). While she has had several proposals of marriage, she always turns them down because she has no desire to give up her life of the mind.
Lord Thornberry, AKA Sebastien, has both a title, but is also (secretly) a spy for the Crown. He is known as Sagittarius in the Zodiac club.
When the pair meet, each is taken off guard as each believes the other is untrustworthy over the same issue. Yet neither reveals anything of their concerns. From their first meeting, the kiss they share both entices and wars with their secretive natures. As they are running in the same societal circles, they cross paths all too often and their chemistry ratchets up.
Each wants to protect their secrets, but can they find common ground? Can they learn to trust and let love flourish? Is it possible for Cordelia to love and still have her career? Will Sebastien discover her secret and the mystery behind the Andraste, or will other nefarious people discover it first? Will the pair end up together?
This is the first in a series of romances, but can be read as a stand-alone. There are a few WTT trends, but not many. It's relatively free of typos, too. How refreshing! Especially enjoyed the unconventional couple and the supporting cast.
At twenty-seven, Cordelia Bering is considered a spinster, but it is her life as an engineer that is worthwhile for her (and her big secret in a household that contains nothing but secrets). While she has had several proposals of marriage, she always turns them down because she has no desire to give up her life of the mind.
Lord Thornberry, AKA Sebastien, has both a title, but is also (secretly) a spy for the Crown. He is known as Sagittarius in the Zodiac club.
When the pair meet, each is taken off guard as each believes the other is untrustworthy over the same issue. Yet neither reveals anything of their concerns. From their first meeting, the kiss they share both entices and wars with their secretive natures. As they are running in the same societal circles, they cross paths all too often and their chemistry ratchets up.
Each wants to protect their secrets, but can they find common ground? Can they learn to trust and let love flourish? Is it possible for Cordelia to love and still have her career? Will Sebastien discover her secret and the mystery behind the Andraste, or will other nefarious people discover it first? Will the pair end up together?
This is the first in a series of romances, but can be read as a stand-alone. There are a few WTT trends, but not many. It's relatively free of typos, too. How refreshing! Especially enjoyed the unconventional couple and the supporting cast.
June 16, 2017
This was okay. It took me way too long to finish for what it is. The premise was good, the characters were fine, and I have to give the author props for creating strong, intelligent female characters. That's awesome. Also props for the criminal justice rehabilitation narrative thrown in there as well, I appreciate that especially in an historical novel.
However, for whatever reason this just didn't pull me in. The pace was extremely slow and I was often bored. I had no real desire to continue reading this except to take it off my "currently reading" shelf once in for all and I'm not a quitter.
However, for whatever reason this just didn't pull me in. The pace was extremely slow and I was often bored. I had no real desire to continue reading this except to take it off my "currently reading" shelf once in for all and I'm not a quitter.
July 22, 2017
This started as a cute historical romance but by the end it dragged a bit. Cordelia Bering a female engineer. Working under a false name as women were not taken seriously in this era, becomes caught up in an international plan to steal her plans, on a ship made from iron which could win the war for the French should they manage to get their hands on them. Sebastien Thorne, a spy in the service of Crown has been given the job of intercepting the plans to stop them getting into the hands of the french.
December 28, 2017
I loved this book! What an exciting and romantic adventure and a fabulous start to a the wonderful “Secrets of the Zodiac” series!
This is probably my 2nd favorite of the 6 that have been published so far. Cordelia is such a well-developed heroine with a nice combination of practicality and romanticism. I loved her intelligence and her determination
The hero Sebastian was interesting as well. He is the first spy we meet, of 12, in the super-secret and elite Zodiac network in service of the crown.
This book kept me engaged and "on the edge of my seat" throughout. WARNING: There is sex in this book, not overly explicit, but enough to be a steamy adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something “clean.”
https://bigcomfychair.wordpress.com/
This is probably my 2nd favorite of the 6 that have been published so far. Cordelia is such a well-developed heroine with a nice combination of practicality and romanticism. I loved her intelligence and her determination
The hero Sebastian was interesting as well. He is the first spy we meet, of 12, in the super-secret and elite Zodiac network in service of the crown.
This book kept me engaged and "on the edge of my seat" throughout. WARNING: There is sex in this book, not overly explicit, but enough to be a steamy adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something “clean.”
https://bigcomfychair.wordpress.com/
September 11, 2023
I only made it to chapter 11. I didn't like the fact that the hero and everyone else was trying to take something from the heroine that belonged to her.
February 19, 2022
This was a good story and kept me wanting to read to the end, but I just couldn’t get on with the tone of the language and the style of writing.
October 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this book by Elizabeth Cole. I am a fan of the James Bond 007 movies and this book made me think about how gorgeous secret agents like James Bond types came from a long line of earlier predecessors who worked for the Crowne to keep England safe from dangers abroad, in this case, during Napoleon Bonaparte’s frantic reign.
THE HERO:
Lord Sebastien Thorne, Earl of Thronbury is like an early James Bond type…at least to me he is. As the second son of an aristocrat, he came to inherit the title after the death of his more responsible brother. In the days of his youth, Sebastien plunged into the life of debauchery, gambling and other wild things to expend his energy. It was as though he had all of his untamed energy and gifts that he needed to plug into a cause. The first part of his reformation came when he entered the service (his father was definitely in favor of this). Many years later, Sebastien emerged as a man who got his act together. He’s handsome, titled, and decorated with military honors, but most of all he’s a secret agent and on a mission to find the plans to the “Andraste,” a ship destined to turn the tides in the war favoring the country that gets the plans first. With all of this intrigue that surrounds Sebastien, he’s definitely a magnet for all available debutants…with all of the dowagers seeking to pair him with their daughters. Yet, even though Sebastien is certainly not seeking love….it finds him in the most unlikely of circumstances.
THE HEROINE:
Cordelia Bering reminded me of a modern-day woman. As the intelligent and beautiful daughter of an engineer, she felt the weight of her household fall upon her shoulders when her father was murdered. Cordelia embodies strength, independence, intelligence, and is completely self-less. She is kind and also shrewd when it comes to discerning honest people to work for her in her household. It was endearing how she hired ex-convicts to serve within her household as servants. She treated them much like family. Her butler Stiles, her maid, Bond and other servants are more than they seem as they have a street smarts with a sharp eye. Cordelia’s aunt also lives within her household, Leona who accompanies her to events and balls. Although Cordelia does not lack for suitors, she is resistant to marriage because she has so much to lose. She is referred to as “heartless” because she has not given her heart to anyone. Cordelia has a greater secret to protect and that ties directly with the origination of the plans of the “Andraste.”
THE LOVE STORY
Well, Sebastien is the man on a mission seeking the plans to the “Andraste” and Cordelia is the woman who has the secret to the plans closely protected. So, immediately in the story you know their meeting is inevitable. But on another note, before they know how crucial they are to one another in terms of national security, they have this great chemistry that seals their fates from the beginning.
I thought it was funny that although Sebastien is so drawn by Cordelia and he definitely pursues her for more reasons that encompass the plans, it was Cordelia that initiated their first uh-hem… “Intimate encounter.” She even initiated the break-up, but I think that’s because she was so used to being this independent woman who is constantly thinking ahead. Sebastien, on the other hand, is unaware of her thought-process and worry (just like a male…lol) and is caught somewhat by surprise by her abrupt termination of what he considers to be a “forever” romance. In his mind, he’s going to marry her and it’s going to work out, but Cordelia was unaware of his plans as they are in the thick of danger and constant surveillance as surrounds the world of espionage and are not apt to talk about marriage plans. So even though Cordelia kind of jumped the gun in letting Sebastien go, they would not stay separated for long. The best part occurs when Sebastien rescues her (which he does a few times in the book). He is definitely her knight in shining armor….he fights for country and for her love, and Cordelia knows it.
WISH LIST:
I really enjoyed the book, but if I had a wish list, I would have really liked for the love scenes, after the first one, to be more emotional and steamy. The first love scene was great, but then the rest of Sebastien and Cordelia’s intimate encounters are recapped…it’s like you know they were together, but then they’re done & it’s over….LOL… I know they both had a lot on their mind with danger from all sides coming at them, but a few more sweet moments in the book would have been nice.
Overall, a great read!
THE HERO:
Lord Sebastien Thorne, Earl of Thronbury is like an early James Bond type…at least to me he is. As the second son of an aristocrat, he came to inherit the title after the death of his more responsible brother. In the days of his youth, Sebastien plunged into the life of debauchery, gambling and other wild things to expend his energy. It was as though he had all of his untamed energy and gifts that he needed to plug into a cause. The first part of his reformation came when he entered the service (his father was definitely in favor of this). Many years later, Sebastien emerged as a man who got his act together. He’s handsome, titled, and decorated with military honors, but most of all he’s a secret agent and on a mission to find the plans to the “Andraste,” a ship destined to turn the tides in the war favoring the country that gets the plans first. With all of this intrigue that surrounds Sebastien, he’s definitely a magnet for all available debutants…with all of the dowagers seeking to pair him with their daughters. Yet, even though Sebastien is certainly not seeking love….it finds him in the most unlikely of circumstances.
THE HEROINE:
Cordelia Bering reminded me of a modern-day woman. As the intelligent and beautiful daughter of an engineer, she felt the weight of her household fall upon her shoulders when her father was murdered. Cordelia embodies strength, independence, intelligence, and is completely self-less. She is kind and also shrewd when it comes to discerning honest people to work for her in her household. It was endearing how she hired ex-convicts to serve within her household as servants. She treated them much like family. Her butler Stiles, her maid, Bond and other servants are more than they seem as they have a street smarts with a sharp eye. Cordelia’s aunt also lives within her household, Leona who accompanies her to events and balls. Although Cordelia does not lack for suitors, she is resistant to marriage because she has so much to lose. She is referred to as “heartless” because she has not given her heart to anyone. Cordelia has a greater secret to protect and that ties directly with the origination of the plans of the “Andraste.”
THE LOVE STORY
Well, Sebastien is the man on a mission seeking the plans to the “Andraste” and Cordelia is the woman who has the secret to the plans closely protected. So, immediately in the story you know their meeting is inevitable. But on another note, before they know how crucial they are to one another in terms of national security, they have this great chemistry that seals their fates from the beginning.
I thought it was funny that although Sebastien is so drawn by Cordelia and he definitely pursues her for more reasons that encompass the plans, it was Cordelia that initiated their first uh-hem… “Intimate encounter.” She even initiated the break-up, but I think that’s because she was so used to being this independent woman who is constantly thinking ahead. Sebastien, on the other hand, is unaware of her thought-process and worry (just like a male…lol) and is caught somewhat by surprise by her abrupt termination of what he considers to be a “forever” romance. In his mind, he’s going to marry her and it’s going to work out, but Cordelia was unaware of his plans as they are in the thick of danger and constant surveillance as surrounds the world of espionage and are not apt to talk about marriage plans. So even though Cordelia kind of jumped the gun in letting Sebastien go, they would not stay separated for long. The best part occurs when Sebastien rescues her (which he does a few times in the book). He is definitely her knight in shining armor….he fights for country and for her love, and Cordelia knows it.
WISH LIST:
I really enjoyed the book, but if I had a wish list, I would have really liked for the love scenes, after the first one, to be more emotional and steamy. The first love scene was great, but then the rest of Sebastien and Cordelia’s intimate encounters are recapped…it’s like you know they were together, but then they’re done & it’s over….LOL… I know they both had a lot on their mind with danger from all sides coming at them, but a few more sweet moments in the book would have been nice.
Overall, a great read!
October 8, 2013
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 Stars.
Taking place during the Napoleonic wars, A Heartless Design by Elizabeth Cole is the story of the romance between an intelligent, headstrong woman determined to control her own life and a recently titled nobleman secretly working for his Majesty's secret service. Well developed characters, good world building, engaging dialogue and just the right amount of physical action, kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next. Adding just the right amount of romantic and sexual heat, Ms. Cole crafts an intriguing historical romantic suspense and a strong beginning for her new series.
A young woman, often referred to as "heartless", Cordelia Bering is intelligent, independent and beautiful. Realizing marriage would limit her freedom, Cordelia has turned down every marriage proposal she's received, regardless of who makes the offer. A woman with secrets, Cordelia manages her own money, her own house and more than a handful of servants. Inheriting her father's gift towards design and engineering, Cordelia dreams of the day when her most treasured invention, The Andraste, can take to the seas. Keeping her father's legacy alive, and making her own contributions in engineering, even though she has to make them under an assumed identity, keeps her busy during the day and enables her to live in the style to which she's become accustomed.
An Earl by default, Sebastien Thorne works as a secret agent for his Majesty's kingdom. Secretly a member of the "Zodiac", Sebastien is tasked with discovering all he can about The Andraste, an invention no one seems to know anything about, but which enemies of the crown have developed an interest in. Determined to complete his mission, Sebastien encounters Cordelia at every turn and begins to wonder if she's a spy working for the French or if fate has put her in his way as a stumbling block.
The scenes between Cordelia and Sebastien are well written and lots of fun. They have great verbal and sexual chemistry and Sebastien has a hard time keeping his hands off Cordelia, who he nicknames "Cor". Both intelligent, and with secrets they are carefully guarding, they never the less continue to run into each other. When Sebastien begins to unravel the secrets Cordelia is hides behind, he discovers a strong woman willing to go to any length to care for and protect those she loves. He also discovers his perfect match.
As Cordelia begins to understand Sebastien and what drives him, she discovers a man who's determined to keep his country and family safe from any enemy. She discovers his loyalty, his wit and his charm and falls head over heels even though she thinks marriage is something she can never have for herself.
Ms. Cole does a good job developing the secondary characters and I liked meeting and getting to know quite a few of them. I especially liked Cordelia's widowed aunt and chaperone, Leonora, a woman who has a good sense of humor and is devoted to her niece and their happiness. I also enjoyed getting to meet Cordelia's "staff" of servants, who all have secrets of their own and especially "Bond" her lady's maid.
I also enjoyed getting to meet Sebastien's mom and sister, who both try to make sure he's not falling back into his "wicked" pre-army ways, and the members of the "Zodiac" we get to meet. While this book has more than one villain, only one is really well developed and it's easy to dislike him from the start - he's smarmy from the get go.
Will Cordelia and Sebastian be able to keep the plans for The Andraste safe? Will their fledgling relationship turn into something more permanent? You'll have to read A Heartless Design to find out, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Taking place during the Napoleonic wars, A Heartless Design by Elizabeth Cole is the story of the romance between an intelligent, headstrong woman determined to control her own life and a recently titled nobleman secretly working for his Majesty's secret service. Well developed characters, good world building, engaging dialogue and just the right amount of physical action, kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next. Adding just the right amount of romantic and sexual heat, Ms. Cole crafts an intriguing historical romantic suspense and a strong beginning for her new series.
A young woman, often referred to as "heartless", Cordelia Bering is intelligent, independent and beautiful. Realizing marriage would limit her freedom, Cordelia has turned down every marriage proposal she's received, regardless of who makes the offer. A woman with secrets, Cordelia manages her own money, her own house and more than a handful of servants. Inheriting her father's gift towards design and engineering, Cordelia dreams of the day when her most treasured invention, The Andraste, can take to the seas. Keeping her father's legacy alive, and making her own contributions in engineering, even though she has to make them under an assumed identity, keeps her busy during the day and enables her to live in the style to which she's become accustomed.
An Earl by default, Sebastien Thorne works as a secret agent for his Majesty's kingdom. Secretly a member of the "Zodiac", Sebastien is tasked with discovering all he can about The Andraste, an invention no one seems to know anything about, but which enemies of the crown have developed an interest in. Determined to complete his mission, Sebastien encounters Cordelia at every turn and begins to wonder if she's a spy working for the French or if fate has put her in his way as a stumbling block.
The scenes between Cordelia and Sebastien are well written and lots of fun. They have great verbal and sexual chemistry and Sebastien has a hard time keeping his hands off Cordelia, who he nicknames "Cor". Both intelligent, and with secrets they are carefully guarding, they never the less continue to run into each other. When Sebastien begins to unravel the secrets Cordelia is hides behind, he discovers a strong woman willing to go to any length to care for and protect those she loves. He also discovers his perfect match.
As Cordelia begins to understand Sebastien and what drives him, she discovers a man who's determined to keep his country and family safe from any enemy. She discovers his loyalty, his wit and his charm and falls head over heels even though she thinks marriage is something she can never have for herself.
Ms. Cole does a good job developing the secondary characters and I liked meeting and getting to know quite a few of them. I especially liked Cordelia's widowed aunt and chaperone, Leonora, a woman who has a good sense of humor and is devoted to her niece and their happiness. I also enjoyed getting to meet Cordelia's "staff" of servants, who all have secrets of their own and especially "Bond" her lady's maid.
I also enjoyed getting to meet Sebastien's mom and sister, who both try to make sure he's not falling back into his "wicked" pre-army ways, and the members of the "Zodiac" we get to meet. While this book has more than one villain, only one is really well developed and it's easy to dislike him from the start - he's smarmy from the get go.
Will Cordelia and Sebastian be able to keep the plans for The Andraste safe? Will their fledgling relationship turn into something more permanent? You'll have to read A Heartless Design to find out, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
March 10, 2017
Great historical romance with a lot of suspense! I couldn't put it down!!
October 1, 2014
Sophie Bertrand is a product of the Parisian theatre, tossed to the streets when her mother was killed during the purge of the Revolution. With the frame and ability to present herself as either male or female - and an attitude to match - Sophie was offered reprieve by a British gentleman who whisked her away from the terrors of France and transformed her into a spy for her adopted country. As the only female of the Zodiac, Sophie works alone to maintain her carefully guarded secret, until she is teamed with another agent to stop a traitor among their ranks.
Lord Forester, aka Bruce Allander to his friends, is an intimidating specimen within the British ton - not for his looks but for his dizzying physique. But he doesn't have time to humor mothers who toss their available daughters his way. He'd much rather be working the lands of his family estates or traipsing behind enemy lines for the sake of his country. But when his newest mission involves rooting out a turncoat in Parliament, Bruce would rather be anywhere than playing husband to a female agent among expatriates in the north country - especially when the agent's allegiances are called into question.
After reading the first in this series, I was a bit disappointed with this second outing. Though I enjoyed seeing how Sophie had made an unnamed appearance in book one, I felt that the characterizations here were not fully developed - though they had opportunity to be. It was almost like there was so much background to Sophie to hint at without any of these given enough attention, the depth of her character never completely came through. For my tastes, Bruce often came across as almost girlie and sappy instead of a strong and capable agent in his own right. The characters swung back and forth like a pendulum so much that they never felt like flesh and blood people with solid internal motivations.
The story continued to move forward, but at times it bogged down with too little to do when the couple traveled to the north country to join the expatriate community. Their purposes were lost in the odd assortment of drug parties, trading partners for sexual favors, and a sense of an almost orgy atmosphere that the players engaged in instead of continuing to explore the grounds and seek out the traitor in their midst. Perhaps this was common in that era, but too much of the side games caused the story to lose focus for me.
This round also had waaay too much pronoun usage that detracted from the sense of immediacy to the story, getting a little too much into telling at times instead of showing. The beginning was especially noticeable and made it difficult to get into the story.
However, once again the point-of-view delineations were spot on with proper scene and chapters breaks to switch characters. Editing was better here, with only a couple of missing small words as before and a use of mind instead of mine. Again, language and a lot of innuendo, drug usage, and skin make this one for mature audiences. Decent structure but a rambling storyline and characters that didn't stay true give this one three stars.
I was provided with a free copy in exchange for a review and was not financially compensated for my opinion.
Lord Forester, aka Bruce Allander to his friends, is an intimidating specimen within the British ton - not for his looks but for his dizzying physique. But he doesn't have time to humor mothers who toss their available daughters his way. He'd much rather be working the lands of his family estates or traipsing behind enemy lines for the sake of his country. But when his newest mission involves rooting out a turncoat in Parliament, Bruce would rather be anywhere than playing husband to a female agent among expatriates in the north country - especially when the agent's allegiances are called into question.
After reading the first in this series, I was a bit disappointed with this second outing. Though I enjoyed seeing how Sophie had made an unnamed appearance in book one, I felt that the characterizations here were not fully developed - though they had opportunity to be. It was almost like there was so much background to Sophie to hint at without any of these given enough attention, the depth of her character never completely came through. For my tastes, Bruce often came across as almost girlie and sappy instead of a strong and capable agent in his own right. The characters swung back and forth like a pendulum so much that they never felt like flesh and blood people with solid internal motivations.
The story continued to move forward, but at times it bogged down with too little to do when the couple traveled to the north country to join the expatriate community. Their purposes were lost in the odd assortment of drug parties, trading partners for sexual favors, and a sense of an almost orgy atmosphere that the players engaged in instead of continuing to explore the grounds and seek out the traitor in their midst. Perhaps this was common in that era, but too much of the side games caused the story to lose focus for me.
This round also had waaay too much pronoun usage that detracted from the sense of immediacy to the story, getting a little too much into telling at times instead of showing. The beginning was especially noticeable and made it difficult to get into the story.
However, once again the point-of-view delineations were spot on with proper scene and chapters breaks to switch characters. Editing was better here, with only a couple of missing small words as before and a use of mind instead of mine. Again, language and a lot of innuendo, drug usage, and skin make this one for mature audiences. Decent structure but a rambling storyline and characters that didn't stay true give this one three stars.
I was provided with a free copy in exchange for a review and was not financially compensated for my opinion.
October 8, 2013
A Heartless Design has all the things I love in a book. It is set in Regency England, there's mystery involved and even some spying.
It really can't get much better than this.
Cordelia is one of London's most beautiful women, but she has secrets, lots of them, and they keep her from walking down the aisle. That is until she meets Sebastian who is a member of the Zodiac.
What can I say about this book...Cordelia is a strong heroine, but she's not the typical Regency heroine. She's not shying away from marriage because she's independent or because men have hurt her in the past. She is independent and beyond that, terribly smart. She's turned down marriage offers from many titled gentlemen. She knows, she can't marry, because if she did, her secret would be found out and that would endanger her life.
That doesn't stop Sebastian from being the perfect man for her.
What you have now are two people with a lot of secrets and they are falling in love.
Its funny, I read a book not too long ago with a heroine that had a career she had to hide, in that case she was an architect and in Cordelia's case, she's a designer of ships...and engineer.
I really loved the mystery involving who wanted the plans and for what reason. It really was an engaging read.
Elizabeth Cole also created some great secondary characters, particularly Cordelia's servants and Sebastian's sister Adele. No story is just about the hero and heroine, and these characters really helped make this book worth reads.
This was a fantastic story that is perfect for fans of regency romance and mysteries
It really can't get much better than this.
Cordelia is one of London's most beautiful women, but she has secrets, lots of them, and they keep her from walking down the aisle. That is until she meets Sebastian who is a member of the Zodiac.
What can I say about this book...Cordelia is a strong heroine, but she's not the typical Regency heroine. She's not shying away from marriage because she's independent or because men have hurt her in the past. She is independent and beyond that, terribly smart. She's turned down marriage offers from many titled gentlemen. She knows, she can't marry, because if she did, her secret would be found out and that would endanger her life.
That doesn't stop Sebastian from being the perfect man for her.
What you have now are two people with a lot of secrets and they are falling in love.
Its funny, I read a book not too long ago with a heroine that had a career she had to hide, in that case she was an architect and in Cordelia's case, she's a designer of ships...and engineer.
I really loved the mystery involving who wanted the plans and for what reason. It really was an engaging read.
Elizabeth Cole also created some great secondary characters, particularly Cordelia's servants and Sebastian's sister Adele. No story is just about the hero and heroine, and these characters really helped make this book worth reads.
This was a fantastic story that is perfect for fans of regency romance and mysteries
January 8, 2015
This book was a freebie on Amazon, and as I write this review (1/6/) it's still listed as free, so go grab it and then continue reading.
Got it? Okay. This book caught my eye because 1. free (duh) 2. first of a series and 3. historical fiction (a favorite of mine). Right out of the gate I was a little disappointed, I was hoping for something with the same ring of authenticity as my beloved Victoria Holt novels. That said, about a quarter of the way into the book I was really beginning to enjoy the two main characters, Claudia Bering and Sebastian Thorne. Claudia is 28 and considers herself a spinster already because she has a secret passion: engineering. Specifically, building ships. She's brilliant and Cole writes her well. We learn that because she was an only child, her engineer father taught Claudia all the tricks of his trade, and she often helped him with designs as an adult until his death. After his death Claudia created a fictional man to continue to create designs under so that she could still participate in the exclusively male dominated engineering field. None were the wiser until dangerous plans she has created with her father go missing. This brings her path to Sebastian, who is a spy for a secret organization called the Zodiac. At first Sebastian is both completely taken and completely suspicious of Claudia, but as they work together to figure out who wants the dangerous plans they realize the future they envisioned for themselves might be significantly different.
Got it? Okay. This book caught my eye because 1. free (duh) 2. first of a series and 3. historical fiction (a favorite of mine). Right out of the gate I was a little disappointed, I was hoping for something with the same ring of authenticity as my beloved Victoria Holt novels. That said, about a quarter of the way into the book I was really beginning to enjoy the two main characters, Claudia Bering and Sebastian Thorne. Claudia is 28 and considers herself a spinster already because she has a secret passion: engineering. Specifically, building ships. She's brilliant and Cole writes her well. We learn that because she was an only child, her engineer father taught Claudia all the tricks of his trade, and she often helped him with designs as an adult until his death. After his death Claudia created a fictional man to continue to create designs under so that she could still participate in the exclusively male dominated engineering field. None were the wiser until dangerous plans she has created with her father go missing. This brings her path to Sebastian, who is a spy for a secret organization called the Zodiac. At first Sebastian is both completely taken and completely suspicious of Claudia, but as they work together to figure out who wants the dangerous plans they realize the future they envisioned for themselves might be significantly different.
July 7, 2014
A Reckless Soul is the second book in the Secrets of the Zodiac series. Elizabeth Cole's writing style is similar to Elizabeth Hoyt, Julia Quinn and Amanda Quick.
Sophie is a spy for the Zodiac and she's a good one. Bruce is as well. But when they are put on assignment together personalities clash, partially because Sophie is a woman.
This is the kind of Regency that I can't put down. There's more intrigue than romance here, but things are definitely heating up with Sophie and Bruce, even though they have issues with each other and the job that they are doing. Neither wants help on the assignment they have, and would rather be working alone.
However as they start the task, they grow closer and more intimate. Love is definitely in the air, until things start to go terribly wrong. Both come close to losing their lives and there's a double agent in the Zodiac.
It is impossible not to love Sophie. She's a heroine that is strong but not without emotion. The flashbacks Ms Cole gives us of Sophie's mother will break your heart and make you want to hug Sophie. She definitely is a woman that needs some love, even though she is strong and independent.
Bruce is a tough nut and one you'll want to hit with a stick because he refuses to trust her even when she saves his life. He lets some pretty low people cast doubt on her character.
This was a fabulous read! I look forward to more books from this series.
Sophie is a spy for the Zodiac and she's a good one. Bruce is as well. But when they are put on assignment together personalities clash, partially because Sophie is a woman.
This is the kind of Regency that I can't put down. There's more intrigue than romance here, but things are definitely heating up with Sophie and Bruce, even though they have issues with each other and the job that they are doing. Neither wants help on the assignment they have, and would rather be working alone.
However as they start the task, they grow closer and more intimate. Love is definitely in the air, until things start to go terribly wrong. Both come close to losing their lives and there's a double agent in the Zodiac.
It is impossible not to love Sophie. She's a heroine that is strong but not without emotion. The flashbacks Ms Cole gives us of Sophie's mother will break your heart and make you want to hug Sophie. She definitely is a woman that needs some love, even though she is strong and independent.
Bruce is a tough nut and one you'll want to hit with a stick because he refuses to trust her even when she saves his life. He lets some pretty low people cast doubt on her character.
This was a fabulous read! I look forward to more books from this series.
February 21, 2016
in fact, I like this book. But the romantic element too thick so for mystery lovers like me feel element of mystery is covered by the romantic element of this novel.
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