What do you think?
Rate this book
Lady Spies #2
Desire Never Dies
Lady Anastasia Whittig is a true lady in every sense—and an absolute master at code-breaking. She has never operated in the field, yet I feel confident this beautiful, talented agent can triumph in the face of even the most dire peril.
Her mission: Working with master spy Lucas Tyler, she must expose the mastermind who is attempting to bring down our secret organization. She must maintain a strictly professional relationship with the admittedly attractive Tyler throughout, for even a hint of scandal could compromise their operation.
Potential weaknesses: Ana can be most passionate when provoked. And Tyler is a seductive scoundrel who's never failed to win a lady's confidence.
The temptations of this man might prove irresistible . . .
Her mission: Working with master spy Lucas Tyler, she must expose the mastermind who is attempting to bring down our secret organization. She must maintain a strictly professional relationship with the admittedly attractive Tyler throughout, for even a hint of scandal could compromise their operation.
Potential weaknesses: Ana can be most passionate when provoked. And Tyler is a seductive scoundrel who's never failed to win a lady's confidence.
The temptations of this man might prove irresistible . . .
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
10 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Petersen
19 books228 followersJenna Petersen now writes historical romance exclusively as Jess Michaels. Please check out her self-published and Samhain publishing books here:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Jenna no longer supports her HarperCollins/Avon books due to price gouging and refusal to return author rights.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Jenna no longer supports her HarperCollins/Avon books due to price gouging and refusal to return author rights.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 7, 2022
Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : Missie voor twee - Candlelight Historische roman 807
Dit verhaal speelt zich af in het Londen van 1813 . Weduwe Anastasia Whittig is een spionne voor de Engelse kroon en ze is erg goed in het ontcijferen van gecodeerde berichten èn in het verzinnen van handige spionage gadgets . Wanneer haar collega en vriendin Emily zwaargewond terug komt van een missie moet zij haar plaats innemen en samenwerken met Lucas Tyler . Samen moeten zij zien uit te vinden wie achter al de aanslagen op Lucas' collega's zit .
Ik vond dit verhaal iets minder dan zijn voorganger en zou het 3 en een half sterren gegeven hebben als het had gekund .
Dit verhaal speelt zich af in het Londen van 1813 . Weduwe Anastasia Whittig is een spionne voor de Engelse kroon en ze is erg goed in het ontcijferen van gecodeerde berichten èn in het verzinnen van handige spionage gadgets . Wanneer haar collega en vriendin Emily zwaargewond terug komt van een missie moet zij haar plaats innemen en samenwerken met Lucas Tyler . Samen moeten zij zien uit te vinden wie achter al de aanslagen op Lucas' collega's zit .
Ik vond dit verhaal iets minder dan zijn voorganger en zou het 3 en een half sterren gegeven hebben als het had gekund .
June 8, 2018
2.5 Stars! This would go under my list of light historical readings that I'll forget about. It was pretty good, the writing and plot, etc. Petersen has a writing style that is kind of just for bus rides and waiting periods where you're not super invested in the characters or anything. It was just aight
December 28, 2017
leído en abril 2012
November 20, 2020
Continuing with reading Jenna Petersen’s body of work I picked up the whole of Ladies Spy series. The general premise of Charlie’s Angels set during Regency era sounded really fun and interesting, and I was quite excited to see how it’ll play out.
Although, Desire Never Dies is fun a light Regency romance, it’s also quite forgettable. It’s the type of romance book that is entertaining while it lasts, but after finishing the last chapter it very quickly fades from one’s memory.
I think the biggest issue I had with the story was that Ana and Lucas’s romance didn’t really had much of a buildup. Maybe I’m gravitating more and more towards slow burn romances, but for me their relationship wasn’t as fun and romantic as it could’ve been if there was more foundation of, perhaps friendship, or just them being together. The attraction was immediate, and even if both of them expressed some doubt about their feelings, everything happened rather quickly.
However, I still enjoyed reading about them as both main characters were likable and well written. I might hope for Lucas to be more of a rake, as was hinted in the book’s blurb (I missed the teasing and banter), he was nice romantic lead. Between them both, Ana’s road to finding her own worth and blossoming from shy and insecure to strong and sure of her abilities as a spy, was definitely more engaging. Not that Lucas’s guilt ridden story arc was not entertaining, but with very obviously plot twist coming at the end it was kind of weak.
Furthermore, some reviews mentioned that Ana clinging to her past life and her dead husband became tedious, and I partially agree. Yes, her constantly feeling guilty about forgetting about her dead husband was a little annoying, but I think it was more about her being frightened of moving on with her life, becoming truly adult in a way. I actually enjoyed that aspect of her character development.
Desire Never Dies is light and fun, but ultimately rather forgettable romance.
3,5/5 stars
Although, Desire Never Dies is fun a light Regency romance, it’s also quite forgettable. It’s the type of romance book that is entertaining while it lasts, but after finishing the last chapter it very quickly fades from one’s memory.
I think the biggest issue I had with the story was that Ana and Lucas’s romance didn’t really had much of a buildup. Maybe I’m gravitating more and more towards slow burn romances, but for me their relationship wasn’t as fun and romantic as it could’ve been if there was more foundation of, perhaps friendship, or just them being together. The attraction was immediate, and even if both of them expressed some doubt about their feelings, everything happened rather quickly.
However, I still enjoyed reading about them as both main characters were likable and well written. I might hope for Lucas to be more of a rake, as was hinted in the book’s blurb (I missed the teasing and banter), he was nice romantic lead. Between them both, Ana’s road to finding her own worth and blossoming from shy and insecure to strong and sure of her abilities as a spy, was definitely more engaging. Not that Lucas’s guilt ridden story arc was not entertaining, but with very obviously plot twist coming at the end it was kind of weak.
Furthermore, some reviews mentioned that Ana clinging to her past life and her dead husband became tedious, and I partially agree. Yes, her constantly feeling guilty about forgetting about her dead husband was a little annoying, but I think it was more about her being frightened of moving on with her life, becoming truly adult in a way. I actually enjoyed that aspect of her character development.
Desire Never Dies is light and fun, but ultimately rather forgettable romance.
3,5/5 stars
May 15, 2009
The first chapter had me hooked, but as I continued to read, I slowly lost interest. This is yet another one of those historical romances with spies! But the gist this time is that women are the spies. I give Peterson kudos for that aspect and that of our heroine Ana who after 5 years still pines over her husband who is dead. YIPPY... no nasty first husband cliché here.
But when Ana's good friend Emily, another spy (who had a horrible first marriage) is shot, Ana recommends herself to take over the case and she comes in contact with the first man after her "paragon" husband who makes her all tingly inside. Lucas is that scrumptious hero who is at odds with our heroine, but their distain for each other turns into more enjoyable things, like rolling around in the garden, yes during a ton party and they get caught. They were pretending to be engaged after all so that can catch the horrible criminal responsible for shooting off all the spies. And after all, they must do the right thing after all. But Lucas doesn't mind because he really does want Ana as his wife.
I did feel for Lucas who falls for Ana first but since Ana can't get over dead husband, Lucas doesn't know what to do. He wants to own her body and soul! Ana just likes his kisses.
This should seem like a good book overall, but there was something missing. The chemistry between the two lovers isn't as hot and all consuming as it should be and the villain of the piece can be figured out very soon.
If you want a nice popcorn type romance, this is the best bet. But please, this whole on-going routine about lady and lords becoming spies is getting ridiculous.
Look for Lady Emily's spy story to come after this one.
But when Ana's good friend Emily, another spy (who had a horrible first marriage) is shot, Ana recommends herself to take over the case and she comes in contact with the first man after her "paragon" husband who makes her all tingly inside. Lucas is that scrumptious hero who is at odds with our heroine, but their distain for each other turns into more enjoyable things, like rolling around in the garden, yes during a ton party and they get caught. They were pretending to be engaged after all so that can catch the horrible criminal responsible for shooting off all the spies. And after all, they must do the right thing after all. But Lucas doesn't mind because he really does want Ana as his wife.
I did feel for Lucas who falls for Ana first but since Ana can't get over dead husband, Lucas doesn't know what to do. He wants to own her body and soul! Ana just likes his kisses.
This should seem like a good book overall, but there was something missing. The chemistry between the two lovers isn't as hot and all consuming as it should be and the villain of the piece can be figured out very soon.
If you want a nice popcorn type romance, this is the best bet. But please, this whole on-going routine about lady and lords becoming spies is getting ridiculous.
Look for Lady Emily's spy story to come after this one.
August 16, 2007
Cheesy romance novel about a trio of lady spies. The "quiet one" who figures out all of the inventions is forced to take on fieldwork with a sceptical male partner; the two of them end up having to pretend that they're married, which allows them to explore their crazy chemistry. It took way too long getting to the denouement, and then wrapped things up too quickly, if that makes any sense.
A real marriage? Why in the world would he want that? His relationships with women had always been about pleasure. Brief and satisfying, yet easily forgotten.
And then there's the fact that the cover's almost too ridiculous...
A real marriage? Why in the world would he want that? His relationships with women had always been about pleasure. Brief and satisfying, yet easily forgotten.
And then there's the fact that the cover's almost too ridiculous...
September 2, 2012
The plot of this historical romance was pretty good but after the first scene it was slow going. I got real tired of the heroine with her attitude towards her deceased husband and I skimmed a lot. Spy Lady Anastasia usually deciphers code but goes out in the field working with fellow spy Lucas to find a murderer.
September 13, 2018
There were a number of things I couldn’t get into about this book.
1. It’s about spies, which just isn’t my thing but definitely check it out if you like that.
2. I didn’t feel the flow of attraction. The first scene they meet each other, a friend is seriously injured and the hero goes from interrogating her to wanting her badly. Yet his words and actions come off as totally chauvinistic and conceited. The kisses were hot but I didn’t feel what led them there. It just seemed random.
3. I could NOT STAND how the heroine moped about her dead husband most of the book. I think there’s a way to have a widow that loved her husband but this wasn’t it. He’s been dead for 5 years and I had to read paragraph upon paragraph about how she can’t dance, go to balls, wear color, look at men, leave the house because it was an offense to her dead husband. 🙄 I appreciate appropriate grief and I think sometimes romances can skip that and just further the relationship superficially but it was just a hinderance to the whole story and relationship.
1. It’s about spies, which just isn’t my thing but definitely check it out if you like that.
2. I didn’t feel the flow of attraction. The first scene they meet each other, a friend is seriously injured and the hero goes from interrogating her to wanting her badly. Yet his words and actions come off as totally chauvinistic and conceited. The kisses were hot but I didn’t feel what led them there. It just seemed random.
3. I could NOT STAND how the heroine moped about her dead husband most of the book. I think there’s a way to have a widow that loved her husband but this wasn’t it. He’s been dead for 5 years and I had to read paragraph upon paragraph about how she can’t dance, go to balls, wear color, look at men, leave the house because it was an offense to her dead husband. 🙄 I appreciate appropriate grief and I think sometimes romances can skip that and just further the relationship superficially but it was just a hinderance to the whole story and relationship.
December 6, 2014
The second in the lady spies series.
The story was quite good and not entirely predictable. I always enjoy stories with clever heroines more than silly ones, and Ana is clever. The villain was ever-so-slightly heavy handed.
My biggest gripe however, would be that to the best of my knowledge, the past tense of the verb "to lead" is "led" and not "lead". Unfortunately neither Petersen nor her editors seem to agree. I'm sorry if this sounds pedantic, but it's the kind of detail, like a supposedly native foreign language speaker making basic mistakes in that language, that detracts from my reading enjoyment. This is something the editor or at least a proof-reader should catch.
Aside from that, Petersen writes well and her stories are fun.
The story was quite good and not entirely predictable. I always enjoy stories with clever heroines more than silly ones, and Ana is clever. The villain was ever-so-slightly heavy handed.
My biggest gripe however, would be that to the best of my knowledge, the past tense of the verb "to lead" is "led" and not "lead". Unfortunately neither Petersen nor her editors seem to agree. I'm sorry if this sounds pedantic, but it's the kind of detail, like a supposedly native foreign language speaker making basic mistakes in that language, that detracts from my reading enjoyment. This is something the editor or at least a proof-reader should catch.
Aside from that, Petersen writes well and her stories are fun.
November 1, 2008
Apparently she's writing a series of romance novels with a group of Victorian women serving as spies as protagonists. Definitely more emphasis on the romancing than the spying and quite entertaining (for those who enjoy the genre).
September 23, 2012
For the full review -- and a crapload of poorly-framed metaphors -- follow the link to That's What She Read.
July 29, 2011
I like a good spy story, but this one missed in several ways. I was tempted to give it 3* because I liked the concept of a female code-breaker, but I just couldn't do it.
January 7, 2012
Rated 3.5
January 10, 2013
3.5 stars
April 9, 2013
LOVE JENNA PETERSEN NOVELS!!!!!! AMAZING LADY SPIES SERIES-----WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE CHARACTERS & STORYLINE!!!!!!! :)
January 8, 2016
Fue mi favorito de la trilogía.
October 26, 2016
I don't think the word "unman" means what the author thinks it means.
February 17, 2022
07/11/21
08/11/21
08/11/21
January 26, 2012
I Loved it !! its a Great book and Everyone should read Her books !!! :)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews