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Nexus #1
İntikamın Güzel Yüzü
Bir Kadın ile İntikamı Arasına Girebilecek Engel Yoktur…
Alımlı ve hoş bir kadın olan Cora, İngiliz devleti adına çalışan bir ajandır. En büyük amacı ise, çocuk yaşta kaybettiği anne babasının katilini bulmaktır. Güzel kadının bu uğurda göze alamayacağı hiçbir tehlike yoktur.
Zorlu mücadelede Cora'yı yalnız bırakmayan çocukluk arkadaşı Guy, güzel kadının intikam ateşini söndürmek için elinden geleni ardına koymaz. Fakat karşılarında en az Cora kadar hırslı ve bu güzel kadını ağına düşürmek adına her tür yola başvuracak kadar gözü dönmüş bir katil vardır…
"Tehlikeyi tutkuyla birleştiren Tracey Devlyn, hafızalarınızdan silinmeyecek güçlü bir aşk hikâyesi yaratmış."
-Victoria Gray-
"Tracey Devlyn sürükleyici bir ajan hikâyesine unutulması güç bir aşk katarak harika bir roman yaratmış. İntikamın Güzel Yüzü, okunması gereken bir ilk roman."
-Publishers Weekly-
"İntikamın Güzel Yüzü, hayal gücünüzü tetikleyecek kadar etkileyici, yüreklerinizi ele geçirecek kadar büyüleyici bir roman."
-RT Book Reviews-
"İlk sayfasından itibaren okuru içine çeken konusuyla harika bir ilk roman. Devlyn, intikama teslim olmuş bir kadının başından geçenleri güçlü kalemini kullanarak unutulmaz bir anlatımla sunuyor."
-Adrienne Giordano-
Alımlı ve hoş bir kadın olan Cora, İngiliz devleti adına çalışan bir ajandır. En büyük amacı ise, çocuk yaşta kaybettiği anne babasının katilini bulmaktır. Güzel kadının bu uğurda göze alamayacağı hiçbir tehlike yoktur.
Zorlu mücadelede Cora'yı yalnız bırakmayan çocukluk arkadaşı Guy, güzel kadının intikam ateşini söndürmek için elinden geleni ardına koymaz. Fakat karşılarında en az Cora kadar hırslı ve bu güzel kadını ağına düşürmek adına her tür yola başvuracak kadar gözü dönmüş bir katil vardır…
"Tehlikeyi tutkuyla birleştiren Tracey Devlyn, hafızalarınızdan silinmeyecek güçlü bir aşk hikâyesi yaratmış."
-Victoria Gray-
"Tracey Devlyn sürükleyici bir ajan hikâyesine unutulması güç bir aşk katarak harika bir roman yaratmış. İntikamın Güzel Yüzü, okunması gereken bir ilk roman."
-Publishers Weekly-
"İntikamın Güzel Yüzü, hayal gücünüzü tetikleyecek kadar etkileyici, yüreklerinizi ele geçirecek kadar büyüleyici bir roman."
-RT Book Reviews-
"İlk sayfasından itibaren okuru içine çeken konusuyla harika bir ilk roman. Devlyn, intikama teslim olmuş bir kadının başından geçenleri güçlü kalemini kullanarak unutulmaz bir anlatımla sunuyor."
-Adrienne Giordano-
512 pages, Unknown Binding
First published April 3, 2012
51 people are currently reading
1236 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Devlyn
37 books398 followersTracey Devlyn is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and historical suspense, which often contains elements of mystery, romance, and environmental crime.
Despite the thrilling, emotional ride she crafts for her readers, Tracey enjoys an annoyingly normal lifestyle with her husband and rescue dog at her home in the mountains of North Carolina.
For more information on Tracey, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website at https://TraceyDevlyn.com.
Readers can buy books direct at Tracey's online bookshop and get early access to new releases at discounted prices - https://payhip.com/TraceyDevlynBookshop.
Despite the thrilling, emotional ride she crafts for her readers, Tracey enjoys an annoyingly normal lifestyle with her husband and rescue dog at her home in the mountains of North Carolina.
For more information on Tracey, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website at https://TraceyDevlyn.com.
Readers can buy books direct at Tracey's online bookshop and get early access to new releases at discounted prices - https://payhip.com/TraceyDevlynBookshop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
June 14, 2012
Try to remember that despite all of this, I didn't hate the book.
Mild spoilers ahead.
He's an idiot. She's an idiot. Everyone is an idiot. Despite the author's best intentions (I've read worse so I'm giving her some leeway), pretty much everyone in this book comes across an idiot at one point or another. Everything is explained to such a fine detail that the reader can't help but feel the hammering continue after the nail has been buried into the two-by-four. Not only does this foreshadowing hit you like a steamroller, it makes every epiphany the characters have look like a dunce figuring out the obvious.
Devlyn's attention to detail extends to physical descriptions and prolonged internal monologues. Here is another author who simply doesn't trust her characters--or readers--to infer from context but feels obligated to paint the mural with a one haired brush. I could feel my IQ dropping reading either Cora or Guy piece together "complex" clues.
Speaking of internal monologues. If all the repetition would have been edited out this book would be a third of its current length. I was going to say half but my generosity only goes so far. I actually reached the point where I hoped the author would offer extraneous details on how Cora and Guy travel from and into Town. Actually, I would have gladly read the 460 kindle pages had there been more action.
If you take the plot apart, there's real promise there. There's a Nexus of spies, one of them has been compromised and two others have been sent to rescue this invaluable asset. Excuse me while I cough. There's the Villain Valére who is as inept in villainy as only romantic foils have right to be (no, not even them). He sneaks over the Channel after them and tries to kidnap Cora several times, only succeeding when Cora foolishly becomes the bait without telling anyone to set the trap. There's a coded message (the author obviously doesn't know anything about decrypting), and then there's the mystery of Cora's parents' murderer. There are so many plot elements and threads that could have made this book a brilliant read, had not the author chosen to focus on the romance.
And what kind of romance is that? Guy and Cora have known each other since childhood when they were friends and fellow spy trainees with her brother Ethan. Only he didn't fall in love with Cora until three years earlier at a masquerade where she was on her first mission. That's also when Cora fell in love with Guy and buried her hopes to become his wife, since being a spy would tarnish her reputation beyond repair for a respectable match. Except we never get to see them fall in love. We never really find out why they love each other.
Sure the reasons might have been mentioned in the long, long, long internal monologues, but as a reader I didn't feel like I was ever shown the reasons why. Telling me something is so, isn't enough anymore. It stopped being enough years ago. I need proof and I need to be shown. They keep saving each other's lives, you say. To that I would argue it's what they were brought up to do. They have a higher purpose as agents for the Crown.
I haven't even mentioned the abundance of bad smut writing clichés, nor that the BDSM tendencies equal to a villain's characterisation, or the incident where the hero threatened to out a gay man--and thus have him lawfully hanged--not because of his prejudice against buggery but because the gay marquis dared to question Cora's ladyhood.
I'm sorry Alicia. Unless we make this one of the taste test books, this really isn't a book I would recommend to you or to anyone.
P.S. Just think of all the bad books I must have read not to hate this one. Two stars doesn't mean I think book is okay, it means it's a bad bad book I didn't hate.
Mild spoilers ahead.
He's an idiot. She's an idiot. Everyone is an idiot. Despite the author's best intentions (I've read worse so I'm giving her some leeway), pretty much everyone in this book comes across an idiot at one point or another. Everything is explained to such a fine detail that the reader can't help but feel the hammering continue after the nail has been buried into the two-by-four. Not only does this foreshadowing hit you like a steamroller, it makes every epiphany the characters have look like a dunce figuring out the obvious.
Devlyn's attention to detail extends to physical descriptions and prolonged internal monologues. Here is another author who simply doesn't trust her characters--or readers--to infer from context but feels obligated to paint the mural with a one haired brush. I could feel my IQ dropping reading either Cora or Guy piece together "complex" clues.
Speaking of internal monologues. If all the repetition would have been edited out this book would be a third of its current length. I was going to say half but my generosity only goes so far. I actually reached the point where I hoped the author would offer extraneous details on how Cora and Guy travel from and into Town. Actually, I would have gladly read the 460 kindle pages had there been more action.
If you take the plot apart, there's real promise there. There's a Nexus of spies, one of them has been compromised and two others have been sent to rescue this invaluable asset. Excuse me while I cough. There's the Villain Valére who is as inept in villainy as only romantic foils have right to be (no, not even them). He sneaks over the Channel after them and tries to kidnap Cora several times, only succeeding when Cora foolishly becomes the bait without telling anyone to set the trap. There's a coded message (the author obviously doesn't know anything about decrypting), and then there's the mystery of Cora's parents' murderer. There are so many plot elements and threads that could have made this book a brilliant read, had not the author chosen to focus on the romance.
And what kind of romance is that? Guy and Cora have known each other since childhood when they were friends and fellow spy trainees with her brother Ethan. Only he didn't fall in love with Cora until three years earlier at a masquerade where she was on her first mission. That's also when Cora fell in love with Guy and buried her hopes to become his wife, since being a spy would tarnish her reputation beyond repair for a respectable match. Except we never get to see them fall in love. We never really find out why they love each other.
Sure the reasons might have been mentioned in the long, long, long internal monologues, but as a reader I didn't feel like I was ever shown the reasons why. Telling me something is so, isn't enough anymore. It stopped being enough years ago. I need proof and I need to be shown. They keep saving each other's lives, you say. To that I would argue it's what they were brought up to do. They have a higher purpose as agents for the Crown.
I haven't even mentioned the abundance of bad smut writing clichés, nor that the BDSM tendencies equal to a villain's characterisation, or the incident where the hero threatened to out a gay man--and thus have him lawfully hanged--not because of his prejudice against buggery but because the gay marquis dared to question Cora's ladyhood.
I'm sorry Alicia. Unless we make this one of the taste test books, this really isn't a book I would recommend to you or to anyone.
P.S. Just think of all the bad books I must have read not to hate this one. Two stars doesn't mean I think book is okay, it means it's a bad bad book I didn't hate.
November 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It was like no other historical romance I've ever read. The beginning hooked me and the last third had me reading until 2:00 a.m. to get to The End. Highly recommended!
September 23, 2012
Holy smokes! Suspense, intrigue, romance, drama...this novel has it all and then some! Clear your schedule before you start Tracy Devlyn's debut A LADY'S REVENGE because once you start reading it, you won't be able to stop until you've finished!
Guy Trevelyan, Earl of Helsford, has been sent to rescue the British spy known as Raven from the grips of an evil Frenchman. What he finds is his childhood friend Cora deBeau being brutally tortured and badly beaten. Though he easily rescues Cora and brings her home safe and sound, the danger is far from over. The Frenchman known as Valere is not going to let Cora go and now the fight begins to keep her safe. Guy has pined after Cora for years now and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her by his side. Cora feels the same, but she knows there are circumstances that will keep them apart forever. As Cora does her best to resist his charms, Guy uses every weapon available to make sure she knows their love will win the day.
Honestly, what a fabulous book. I loved every page of it! A LADY'S REVENGE has amazingly intense characters that you will adore from the very beginning. It was such an emotional and heart wrenching novel with a plot that was very intriguing and delightfully suspenseful. There are a few unbelievable moments, but Ms Devlyn's writing is so captivating and her characters so spectacular, it really doesn't matter in the end. A LADY'S REVENGE is so fabulously dark and wildly intoxicating, you will be amazed at how completely it captures your attention.
What grabbed my attention instantly is Ms Devlyn's ability to create such powerful characters that you bond with instantly. After the first chapter, I was completely engaged in this intense emotional bond Cora and Guy shared. It was absolutely stunning and I knew this book was going to haunt me until I finished it...and of course, long after I actually did finish it. Their romance will completely overwhelm you and their adventure will completely enthrall you. Cora and Guy share an amazing passion that left me breathless. Rarely have I had the opportunity to read a novel where the two characters are so charmingly perfect for each other. Whether they were arguing or sharing intimate moments, they never projected anything other than love.
With Cora's history as a spy, you would think she would have a tough, unbreakable exterior. Yet she's also been through a terrible trauma in this novel that would break any man, so you see a very unique side of her. To the world she shows the tough spy, but Guy gets to see the injured woman that doesn't know how much more she can endure. She knows she must do whatever is necessary in order to protect those she loves, and she lives up to that expectation, but seeing her depend on Guy is a true treat for any romantic. Her weakness is what makes her a character you can relate to and seeing her try to hide that side is so tragically sweet.
And then there was Guy. Sigh. Loyal, heroic and fiercely passionate, a woman would have to have a heart of stone to resist his charms. I absolutely adored this hero and for good reason. His love for Cora was evident from the very beginning, and his protective nature made it all the more romantic. You knew he would travel to the ends of the earth to save her, no matter what. He was a hero to admire because of his intelligence and strength, but also for his undying love for one amazing woman. Guy had this sense of confidence that I found absolutely irresistible. He was always certain concerning various aspects of his life and always hopeful that his determination would see him through. Cora had very few weaknesses, but when she was showing signs of defeat, Guy was always there to make her strong again.
My only complaint...my minor complaint, is that sometimes A LADY'S REVENGE became immersed in too much drama. Some of the scenarios Cora found herself in were a little unlikely and the drama resolved too easily. Yet as I said earlier, it's terribly easy to overlook such a problem. With these characters, you simply go along for the ride, anxiously hoping for their happily ever after. Now that I have reached the ending, I'm terribly sad it's over. A part of me wants to read it all over again, which is a rare thing for me. I know of no easier way to say it except that this novel is simply fabulous. Not only that, but one of the best debut novels I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. Deciding to read A LADY'S REVENGE by Tracey Devlyn is one decision you will never regret.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
April 15, 2012
Brilliant, just wonderful!
The stakes couldn't be higher in A Lady's Revenge and a mix of romance, suspense, and action create a magnificent story.
Cora is definitely a tormented character. She works as a spy for the British during the Napoleonic War and she is found out by the Valere, man she's spying on. He tortures her for information until Guy, her childhood friend and future lover, saves her from the prison. Cora is incredibly strong. Not only can she take down a man twice her size but she has also suffered a lot in her life and managed to grow past it. She is determined to bring her parents' killer to justice and won't rest until she has found the murderer.
Guy is amazing. He's very sweet to Cora and very protective of her. Though this causes him to go against allowing her to put herself in danger, he does accept that she can hold her own. When society threatens to turn their noses at Cora for her questionable work, he stands by her, refusing to let her face their scorn alone.
The story is constantly fast-paced and tense. Valere refuses to to let Cora go, both because of the information she could divulge and because he's in love with her in a disturbing, perverse way. The stakes are literally the lives of the characters and the freedom of their country and you can never forget it with the constant threat of Cora being recaptured.
The ending is flawless. The perfect ending to such a brilliant book. All the loose ends were tied in a realistic way, no too-tidy ending. It definitely doesn't disappoint.
So, A Lady's Revenge is a perfect book that combines romance with high-stakes.
A definite 5/5
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy
The stakes couldn't be higher in A Lady's Revenge and a mix of romance, suspense, and action create a magnificent story.
Cora is definitely a tormented character. She works as a spy for the British during the Napoleonic War and she is found out by the Valere, man she's spying on. He tortures her for information until Guy, her childhood friend and future lover, saves her from the prison. Cora is incredibly strong. Not only can she take down a man twice her size but she has also suffered a lot in her life and managed to grow past it. She is determined to bring her parents' killer to justice and won't rest until she has found the murderer.
Guy is amazing. He's very sweet to Cora and very protective of her. Though this causes him to go against allowing her to put herself in danger, he does accept that she can hold her own. When society threatens to turn their noses at Cora for her questionable work, he stands by her, refusing to let her face their scorn alone.
The story is constantly fast-paced and tense. Valere refuses to to let Cora go, both because of the information she could divulge and because he's in love with her in a disturbing, perverse way. The stakes are literally the lives of the characters and the freedom of their country and you can never forget it with the constant threat of Cora being recaptured.
The ending is flawless. The perfect ending to such a brilliant book. All the loose ends were tied in a realistic way, no too-tidy ending. It definitely doesn't disappoint.
So, A Lady's Revenge is a perfect book that combines romance with high-stakes.
A definite 5/5
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy
September 19, 2012
When I reached the acknowledgements and began to read that this is a debut novel, I was stunned. The novel read like the work of a seasoned author. I had completely forgotten that this was her first book. It was that well-written.
I loved everything about it. It had a great story line. One of the things I enjoyed the most was that the book not only encompassed a daring heroine, it included an intriguing cast of characters. There were Dinks and Bingham the Raven’s loyal servants, whose constant humorous bickering back and forth, hid the underlying affection and love they felt for each other. Then, there was Jack, the manservant and his mite of a sister, Grace.
One of the intriguing aspects of this novel was it wasn’t so much a romance, as it was adventure. And, the adventure wasn’t just played out in one culminating moment; it had many twists and turns with surprise events throughout the book. I had no idea what dark, historical suspense was until I read A Lady’s Revenge. There were secret spies, and kidnappings, fights and torture, and even humor. A Lady’s Revenge quickly reminded me of why I love these books so much.
The complete review can be read at http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com
I loved everything about it. It had a great story line. One of the things I enjoyed the most was that the book not only encompassed a daring heroine, it included an intriguing cast of characters. There were Dinks and Bingham the Raven’s loyal servants, whose constant humorous bickering back and forth, hid the underlying affection and love they felt for each other. Then, there was Jack, the manservant and his mite of a sister, Grace.
One of the intriguing aspects of this novel was it wasn’t so much a romance, as it was adventure. And, the adventure wasn’t just played out in one culminating moment; it had many twists and turns with surprise events throughout the book. I had no idea what dark, historical suspense was until I read A Lady’s Revenge. There were secret spies, and kidnappings, fights and torture, and even humor. A Lady’s Revenge quickly reminded me of why I love these books so much.
The complete review can be read at http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com
April 4, 2012
An impressive debut. If I hadn't known that this was the author's first novel, I would never have guessed. It was very polished. The writing style was flowing and easy to read. The author obviously did her research, but there were no annoying info-dumps in this book. The historical backdrop was just that, a backdrop for the plot, not a textbook.
If you're looking for a "fluff" romance, then this is not the book for you. This is not a brain-candy novel. There are several scenes that might be disturbing to more sensitive readers. But if you want a gritty, sensual spy story, then you will enjoy this.
The characters were well-drawn and had great chemistry. They weren't too perfect as to be believeable, but they weren't too flawed as to be unlikeable. I was able to cheer for them. The intrigue plot was well-written and fast-paced, but the author was able to strike a good balance between the mystery and the romance. A tacked-on love story is a pet peeve of mine, but that didn't happen here.
I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author in the future.
If you're looking for a "fluff" romance, then this is not the book for you. This is not a brain-candy novel. There are several scenes that might be disturbing to more sensitive readers. But if you want a gritty, sensual spy story, then you will enjoy this.
The characters were well-drawn and had great chemistry. They weren't too perfect as to be believeable, but they weren't too flawed as to be unlikeable. I was able to cheer for them. The intrigue plot was well-written and fast-paced, but the author was able to strike a good balance between the mystery and the romance. A tacked-on love story is a pet peeve of mine, but that didn't happen here.
I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author in the future.
May 18, 2012
I'm a sucker for both childhood-friends-turn-lovers romances AND Regencies, so this book was a real treat for me. Cora is the most unconventional Regency heroine I've ever read. Not only is she a spy, she's one angry spy. But despite her almost obsessive anger, despite all the ass she kicks and gets kicked out of her, she's wonderfully warm and vulnerable and funny. Guy on the other hand is your typical Regency hero done to perfection. He's titled and handsome and principled, and entirely irrisistable. (If Cora weren't so handy with the daggers, I'd be tempted to time travel and jump him myself). The chemistry sparkles from the very first page and their connection is layered and deep. Tracey Devlyn's voice is authentic and incredibly well researched and vivid. The action and torture scenes will make your skin crawl, the supporting cast will make you smile and the villian will make you mad for justice. Definitely a keeper this one.
March 6, 2016
OH there is only one person in this dungeon, damn! Oh well, I will rescue that person anyway, even though the only person in this dungeon was supposed to be the woman called raven. The awesome spy. But this woman can't be her. I almost changed my mind and left her there.
Great logic there Guy.
I will not tell Guy that I know this is a trap, I will rush headstrong into it, even though we could make a trap ourselves and save us a LOT of time. But I am just a headstrong young woman that do not listen to men.
And almost gets kidnapped more times than I can count.
But it was still fun. The villain was an idiot too. I mean you had her SO many times. LOL.
The heroine was an idiot cos she kept putting herself in the villain's path.
The hero, well he was actually not an idiot later on, but how he put up with her. Oh man.
The fall in love. She is all I am ruined..yeah, you were a spy. Duh. Women! They conquer the bad guy and live happily ever after.
Great logic there Guy.
I will not tell Guy that I know this is a trap, I will rush headstrong into it, even though we could make a trap ourselves and save us a LOT of time. But I am just a headstrong young woman that do not listen to men.
And almost gets kidnapped more times than I can count.
But it was still fun. The villain was an idiot too. I mean you had her SO many times. LOL.
The heroine was an idiot cos she kept putting herself in the villain's path.
The hero, well he was actually not an idiot later on, but how he put up with her. Oh man.
The fall in love. She is all I am ruined..yeah, you were a spy. Duh. Women! They conquer the bad guy and live happily ever after.
September 5, 2013
Review from Backchatting Books
I decided to check this out after I read Devlyn’s "A Lady’s Secret Weapon" as an ARC. I enjoyed some aspects of the novel but the villain and portions of the plot were too over-the-top. Cora is a spy for Nexus, a British organisation charged with preventing Napoleon from breaching England’s shores. Her mission was to seduce information out of French spy Valere. One false move revealed her true identity. Cora was tortured until two Nexus agents rescued her. Valere isn’t willing to let her go so easily.
Cora de Beau’s strength of character was admirable even though it got her in all sorts of trouble. She was able to withstand eleven days of brutal torture without revealing British agents. Cora hadn’t recovered physically or mentally from her torture before she repeatedly put herself into situations where she could get kidnapped or assaulted by Valere. Even James Bond has a backup plan and relies on other agents for assistance so her actions smacked of hubris. Her insistence on martyring herself paid off as her injuries continued to mount. Unfortunately she didn’t learn from her past experiences so we were stuck on rinse and repeat mode.
Cora’s beau Guy is presented as an idealised hero. He’s an accomplished cryptographer, handsome, he’s desperate to protect Cora from any harm (even though she rejects his support) and he’s a great friend to Cora’s sister Ethan. He and Cora knew each other from when they were children but he only fell in love with her when she was in courtesan mode at a masquerade ball. He then waited for several years without doing anything about it. Guy pushes Cora into a physical relationship, ostensibly for her own benefit, while she is still recovering. I felt like he was taking advantage of the situation rather than empowering her.
Our villain is painted in such a heavy-handed manner it borders on the ridiculous. Not only is he turned on by torture and BDSM, he actually kills a kitten that was trying to protect Cora. I spent the rest of the novel wondering if he was going to twirl his moustache while laughing maniacally, steal candy from small children or run over elderly women with his carriage. In all seriousness, I wanted to know more about his background to understand where these tendencies came from. Nexus suspected that he had an insider feeding him information about their organisation. If this was true, why bother kidnapping and torturing Cora for agents’ names? Surely his insider could provide this information.
The detailed descriptions of torture and depravity weren’t really necessary and I don’t think they value-added. I also would have loved Cora and Guy to build a relationship now they are adults that amounted to more than lust. The erotic tai chi was odd rather than sexy and pulled me out of story. The pacing seemed a bit off in parts with lots of repetition and I’m afraid my attention started to wander. There is a side plot with Cora trying to find out who murdered her parents.
Even though I didn’t love this novel, I was interested to see the beginning of Devlyn’s journey with this series. If you are repelled by references to torture, please look elsewhere as this is quite a dark romance.
I decided to check this out after I read Devlyn’s "A Lady’s Secret Weapon" as an ARC. I enjoyed some aspects of the novel but the villain and portions of the plot were too over-the-top. Cora is a spy for Nexus, a British organisation charged with preventing Napoleon from breaching England’s shores. Her mission was to seduce information out of French spy Valere. One false move revealed her true identity. Cora was tortured until two Nexus agents rescued her. Valere isn’t willing to let her go so easily.
Cora de Beau’s strength of character was admirable even though it got her in all sorts of trouble. She was able to withstand eleven days of brutal torture without revealing British agents. Cora hadn’t recovered physically or mentally from her torture before she repeatedly put herself into situations where she could get kidnapped or assaulted by Valere. Even James Bond has a backup plan and relies on other agents for assistance so her actions smacked of hubris. Her insistence on martyring herself paid off as her injuries continued to mount. Unfortunately she didn’t learn from her past experiences so we were stuck on rinse and repeat mode.
Cora’s beau Guy is presented as an idealised hero. He’s an accomplished cryptographer, handsome, he’s desperate to protect Cora from any harm (even though she rejects his support) and he’s a great friend to Cora’s sister Ethan. He and Cora knew each other from when they were children but he only fell in love with her when she was in courtesan mode at a masquerade ball. He then waited for several years without doing anything about it. Guy pushes Cora into a physical relationship, ostensibly for her own benefit, while she is still recovering. I felt like he was taking advantage of the situation rather than empowering her.
Our villain is painted in such a heavy-handed manner it borders on the ridiculous. Not only is he turned on by torture and BDSM, he actually kills a kitten that was trying to protect Cora. I spent the rest of the novel wondering if he was going to twirl his moustache while laughing maniacally, steal candy from small children or run over elderly women with his carriage. In all seriousness, I wanted to know more about his background to understand where these tendencies came from. Nexus suspected that he had an insider feeding him information about their organisation. If this was true, why bother kidnapping and torturing Cora for agents’ names? Surely his insider could provide this information.
The detailed descriptions of torture and depravity weren’t really necessary and I don’t think they value-added. I also would have loved Cora and Guy to build a relationship now they are adults that amounted to more than lust. The erotic tai chi was odd rather than sexy and pulled me out of story. The pacing seemed a bit off in parts with lots of repetition and I’m afraid my attention started to wander. There is a side plot with Cora trying to find out who murdered her parents.
Even though I didn’t love this novel, I was interested to see the beginning of Devlyn’s journey with this series. If you are repelled by references to torture, please look elsewhere as this is quite a dark romance.
April 11, 2012
I think the general public has become so aware of the entire espionage issue in our present time that we forget that the "spy game" has gone way back, not only in our own country but in European military engagements as well. The Napoleonic Era was a hot-bed of spy activity and terrorism. Barbaric torture didn't cease when the Middle Ages was over. It was a significant part of the 19th century and in the hands of the bad guy in this novel it was developed to an art.
The rescue of Cora LeBeau was almost accidental. The two agents were in that particular castle because they had been informed that "The Raven" was to be brought out of France as soon as possible. Cora had been so tortured and mistreated by the time that her brother and the Earl arrived they hardly recognized her. Her head has nearly been freed from all her hair; her face had been cut and scarred as had her thighs--all the parts of her that the French aristocrat took delight in and sought to prevent anyone else of enjoying. She had been left as food for the rats and her body bore evidence of their enthusiastic knawing on her. With little food and water, she had shrunk. Little wonder that she was nearly unrecognizable.
Yet there is also the presence of a double agent in the English government and while the Earl and Cora's brother are seeking to avenge her abuse, Cora is still determined to set herself up as bait. There is kidnapping and missing people, a constant sense that no one--both characters and readers--know who to trust; it seems that the harder the Earl works to find the leak the worse things get. Underneath it all is that senses that all this pain and suffering has been caused by the Earl as he was just doing his job. It is a messy novel and lots of readers won't like that. It isn't a matter of the novel's literary construction. The author has, it seems, brought the reader into a world that is uncomfortable and dangerous on many levels. But there is also incredible bravery here and women will recognize Cora's indomitable spirit, her determination to be the best undercover agent she can be, to stay strong in the face of horrific torture, and to refuse to give up until the objective has been met. A reader can't help but be proud to have made the acquaintance of such a woman.
This is a really fine historical read. It won't be easy for everyone--some readedrs just don't like such a complicated plot and story line. But it does give us insight into the deeper workings of England's Foreign Office and its management of information in war time. And while it was a slow starter for me, that is probably more an indication of my fatigue lever or what other things I had going than the quality of the book. I think this story is worth the time and effort to read. In the end, I felt it was a satisfying experience.
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Judith.
The rescue of Cora LeBeau was almost accidental. The two agents were in that particular castle because they had been informed that "The Raven" was to be brought out of France as soon as possible. Cora had been so tortured and mistreated by the time that her brother and the Earl arrived they hardly recognized her. Her head has nearly been freed from all her hair; her face had been cut and scarred as had her thighs--all the parts of her that the French aristocrat took delight in and sought to prevent anyone else of enjoying. She had been left as food for the rats and her body bore evidence of their enthusiastic knawing on her. With little food and water, she had shrunk. Little wonder that she was nearly unrecognizable.
Yet there is also the presence of a double agent in the English government and while the Earl and Cora's brother are seeking to avenge her abuse, Cora is still determined to set herself up as bait. There is kidnapping and missing people, a constant sense that no one--both characters and readers--know who to trust; it seems that the harder the Earl works to find the leak the worse things get. Underneath it all is that senses that all this pain and suffering has been caused by the Earl as he was just doing his job. It is a messy novel and lots of readers won't like that. It isn't a matter of the novel's literary construction. The author has, it seems, brought the reader into a world that is uncomfortable and dangerous on many levels. But there is also incredible bravery here and women will recognize Cora's indomitable spirit, her determination to be the best undercover agent she can be, to stay strong in the face of horrific torture, and to refuse to give up until the objective has been met. A reader can't help but be proud to have made the acquaintance of such a woman.
This is a really fine historical read. It won't be easy for everyone--some readedrs just don't like such a complicated plot and story line. But it does give us insight into the deeper workings of England's Foreign Office and its management of information in war time. And while it was a slow starter for me, that is probably more an indication of my fatigue lever or what other things I had going than the quality of the book. I think this story is worth the time and effort to read. In the end, I felt it was a satisfying experience.
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Judith.
March 22, 2012
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I will be honest, I'm having the hardest time trying to formulate what I want to say about this book. It was very good and definitely not what I was expecting. This story is not for the faint of heart. It definitely isn't a light read, but a dark and intense tale. Watching Cora try to overcome everything that has happened to her was at times difficult, but I was so transfixed with the story I just kept turning the pages wanting more. More Cora, more Guy. Just what was going to happen with them and would Cora ever recover from everything and would she let Guy in.
When Cora was just ten years old, both of her parents were murdered. She has spent the last thirteen years thinking of a way to get revenge on the French man that murdered them. During the last three years she has been in France working as a spy seducing secrets from them. When her latest mission goes awry, she is captured and tortured by the man she believes to be behind the death of her parents. After weeks of torture she is saved by her old childhood friend Guy.
Guy has been sent to France to retrieve the spy Raven. Imagine his surprise when the woman he is sent to retrieve turns out to be the sister of his best friend. Guy can't believe his eyes and knows he has to do everything he can to save Cora. Once he frees Cora they escape back to England only to find out that her captor is on the loose and most likely after Cora.
Throughout the story Guy is constantly looking out for Cora and doing everything he can to keep her safe. Guy is everything I love in a hero. He's strong, intelligent and willing to do anything to save the woman he loves, and that woman is Cora deBeau. He puts himself on the line more than once and he is willing to do anything to help Cora. He knows she's scarred and wounded from her ordeal and he is willing to wait for her.
If I were ever put in Cora's situation I would definitely falter and hide myself in a corner and cry, but not Cora. Cora is constantly fighting for herself and her loved ones. She will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and I truly find her commendable. Watching Cora overcome everything and eventually find her way into Guy's arms was great to see. They both had such strong chemistry and the sparks between them literally jumped off the page.
After finishing this story I can't wait to see what's next from Tracey Devlyn. If all her books are as good as this one I know she will quickly become one of my favorites. This book is a must read.
**ARC copy provided by NetGalley**
I will be honest, I'm having the hardest time trying to formulate what I want to say about this book. It was very good and definitely not what I was expecting. This story is not for the faint of heart. It definitely isn't a light read, but a dark and intense tale. Watching Cora try to overcome everything that has happened to her was at times difficult, but I was so transfixed with the story I just kept turning the pages wanting more. More Cora, more Guy. Just what was going to happen with them and would Cora ever recover from everything and would she let Guy in.
When Cora was just ten years old, both of her parents were murdered. She has spent the last thirteen years thinking of a way to get revenge on the French man that murdered them. During the last three years she has been in France working as a spy seducing secrets from them. When her latest mission goes awry, she is captured and tortured by the man she believes to be behind the death of her parents. After weeks of torture she is saved by her old childhood friend Guy.
Guy has been sent to France to retrieve the spy Raven. Imagine his surprise when the woman he is sent to retrieve turns out to be the sister of his best friend. Guy can't believe his eyes and knows he has to do everything he can to save Cora. Once he frees Cora they escape back to England only to find out that her captor is on the loose and most likely after Cora.
Throughout the story Guy is constantly looking out for Cora and doing everything he can to keep her safe. Guy is everything I love in a hero. He's strong, intelligent and willing to do anything to save the woman he loves, and that woman is Cora deBeau. He puts himself on the line more than once and he is willing to do anything to help Cora. He knows she's scarred and wounded from her ordeal and he is willing to wait for her.
If I were ever put in Cora's situation I would definitely falter and hide myself in a corner and cry, but not Cora. Cora is constantly fighting for herself and her loved ones. She will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and I truly find her commendable. Watching Cora overcome everything and eventually find her way into Guy's arms was great to see. They both had such strong chemistry and the sparks between them literally jumped off the page.
After finishing this story I can't wait to see what's next from Tracey Devlyn. If all her books are as good as this one I know she will quickly become one of my favorites. This book is a must read.
**ARC copy provided by NetGalley**
April 26, 2013
Why A Lady’s Revenge is a Red Hot Read: Tracey Devlyn has written a Regency romance unlike any I’ve read in the past. This book goes far beyond a standard drawing room Regency.
The heroine Cora is damaged, battling back from physical torture at her enemy’s hands. And now she’s more determined than ever to make her parents’ murderer pay. The hero Guy is a member of the same spy agency, the Nexus, as Cora. Together, they heal Cora’s physical and emotional wounds, take revenge on the French and find love. This is a dark historical suspense that will capture your imagination, fuel your fears and captivate your heart.
The heroine Cora is damaged, battling back from physical torture at her enemy’s hands. And now she’s more determined than ever to make her parents’ murderer pay. The hero Guy is a member of the same spy agency, the Nexus, as Cora. Together, they heal Cora’s physical and emotional wounds, take revenge on the French and find love. This is a dark historical suspense that will capture your imagination, fuel your fears and captivate your heart.
April 5, 2012
The first book by this author and I truly enjoyed it. This book is definitely not a light read! I was captivated with the plot but in the middle, it's become slow and I have a hard time to continue. Then I came back, becoming more captivated each time I read it. For me, what makes me continue reading was due to the character development.
I'm looking forward her next book.
*** ARC provided by Netgally. Thank you Sourcebooks for giving me opportunity to read it.***
I'm looking forward her next book.
*** ARC provided by Netgally. Thank you Sourcebooks for giving me opportunity to read it.***
October 1, 2015
Review to follow. Solid 5***** stars. Loved this book!
February 7, 2017
2.5 stars
October 17, 2021
This is the first book by this author that I have read. I have been enjoying reading historical spy and mystery stories so I was looking forward to this one. I enjoyed the storyline and found the violence not written to the extreme that could have been done. I liked the characters but thought that for professional spies they got caught out a few too many times. The romance was well written and I enjoyed it although as I usually do I skipped the many sex scenes. I did find that the story was a little long-winded but I still found it hard to put down and found myself eagerly turning the page to see what was going to happen next. I was gifted this book from the author through a competition and am happy to give my review.
September 7, 2012
Historical spy books aren’t usually a go-to for me when I’m browsing the shelves, but this one by Tracey Devlyn really intrigued me. Guy goes to France to rescue the “Raven,” a renowned French spy. Only when he arrives, he discovers Cora, his childhood friend and romantic interest, instead. After getting her out of her French “prison” he must protect her from Valere (a man obsessed) and from herself and her misguided notions of protecting those she loves.
I found this story a bit unusual, in that Cora is the stronger spy. Guy doesn’t have the stomach for the difficult decisions that have to be made, and the reason is revealed late in the book. I had a great respect for his intelligence, and the skills he has as a cryptographer, and I clearly felt his depth of frustration and love for Cora as she has to work through the emotional effects of being captured and tortured. She is equal parts innocence and cynicism and I found that really engaging. She wasn’t too hardened by her years as a spy, and that training clearly comes in handy as she forces herself to confront the emotional and physical trauma of her time with Valere.
Cora was a really engaging heroine. She is tough, willing to do what she must to get revenge for her parents’ murders. And despite herself, she wants to trust that Guy will protect her. Now that they are both adults, they both want something sexual, but she can’t handle being touched.
Dealing with this, with the feelings of fear and degradation, really sets the tone for the early portion of the novel. The second portion of the novel is really where the spy and intrigue come in, when she’s playing a high stakes game to get to the truth and get revenge, now for herself as well as her parents.
I really enjoyed Cora and Guy’s romance, and thought that the secondary characters added a lot to the storyline. Devlyn left the plot open, so I’d imagine one of the secondary characters will be book #2 in the story arc. I look forward to reading that too. I would recommend this for someone with an interest in historical romances/Napoleon/spy themes.
I found this story a bit unusual, in that Cora is the stronger spy. Guy doesn’t have the stomach for the difficult decisions that have to be made, and the reason is revealed late in the book. I had a great respect for his intelligence, and the skills he has as a cryptographer, and I clearly felt his depth of frustration and love for Cora as she has to work through the emotional effects of being captured and tortured. She is equal parts innocence and cynicism and I found that really engaging. She wasn’t too hardened by her years as a spy, and that training clearly comes in handy as she forces herself to confront the emotional and physical trauma of her time with Valere.
Cora was a really engaging heroine. She is tough, willing to do what she must to get revenge for her parents’ murders. And despite herself, she wants to trust that Guy will protect her. Now that they are both adults, they both want something sexual, but she can’t handle being touched.
Dealing with this, with the feelings of fear and degradation, really sets the tone for the early portion of the novel. The second portion of the novel is really where the spy and intrigue come in, when she’s playing a high stakes game to get to the truth and get revenge, now for herself as well as her parents.
I really enjoyed Cora and Guy’s romance, and thought that the secondary characters added a lot to the storyline. Devlyn left the plot open, so I’d imagine one of the secondary characters will be book #2 in the story arc. I look forward to reading that too. I would recommend this for someone with an interest in historical romances/Napoleon/spy themes.
March 18, 2012
Do you have anything in your life you would sacrifice yourself for? Loved ones might be what comes to mind first. Cora certainly puts herself on the line multiple times in her attempts to keep her loved ones safe. But more than that she also puts herself directly in harms way for revenge.
Revenge is such a strong emotion, one that is strong enough to make this young Englishwoman give up her innocence and in return, her chance at having a normal life and family. The cunning and strength Cora shows is moving. She faces enemies and torture, and yes it does break her a little. But her inner strength combined with Guy's love help piece her back together. The utter joy and relief she experiences when she registers that it is Guy creeping into her cell to save her bleeds from the page and makes you feel it too.
Guy seeks his own revenge on the man that turned his strong proud Cora into a broken beaten woman. Guy is an honorable gentleman, if he wasn't he might have taken advantage of the sparks that were flying the night of the masked ball where he ran into Cora before she left for France. If he had given in and seduced his best friends sister both his life and Cora's would have been different. Not to mention their impact on England politically and in the form of lives saved. Grander schemes are being played out though, and the love of Cora and Guy gets a second chance in the midst of it all.
What a debut novel from Tracey Devlin! A Lady's Revenge is flawlessly written with incredible characters, strong plot line, and a powerful love story. It is hard to believe this is Devlin's first. Plenty of action and intrigue to keep the pages flying by, and plenty of secondary characters just waiting for their stories to be told.
If you enjoy historical romance with spies and villains with hidden identities you will not want to miss this. Put Devlin on your authors to watch list.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
Revenge is such a strong emotion, one that is strong enough to make this young Englishwoman give up her innocence and in return, her chance at having a normal life and family. The cunning and strength Cora shows is moving. She faces enemies and torture, and yes it does break her a little. But her inner strength combined with Guy's love help piece her back together. The utter joy and relief she experiences when she registers that it is Guy creeping into her cell to save her bleeds from the page and makes you feel it too.
Guy seeks his own revenge on the man that turned his strong proud Cora into a broken beaten woman. Guy is an honorable gentleman, if he wasn't he might have taken advantage of the sparks that were flying the night of the masked ball where he ran into Cora before she left for France. If he had given in and seduced his best friends sister both his life and Cora's would have been different. Not to mention their impact on England politically and in the form of lives saved. Grander schemes are being played out though, and the love of Cora and Guy gets a second chance in the midst of it all.
What a debut novel from Tracey Devlin! A Lady's Revenge is flawlessly written with incredible characters, strong plot line, and a powerful love story. It is hard to believe this is Devlin's first. Plenty of action and intrigue to keep the pages flying by, and plenty of secondary characters just waiting for their stories to be told.
If you enjoy historical romance with spies and villains with hidden identities you will not want to miss this. Put Devlin on your authors to watch list.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
June 17, 2012
This was such a great story. I am a sucker for anything with secret agents in it and this one was different than I am used to because it was set back in the 1800’s before there was all the fancy spy gear that they use now. The story flows so well there aren’t really any spots where you feel you can put it down and come back later. The characters had a lot of depth to them and you really felt that you knew them and were experiencing the same things they were (even in the stuff Valere made Cora suffer from). The storyline was different than I am used to since I do not read a lot of historical romantic/suspense. It was a welcomed change for me and I look forward to reading more in the future.
Guy and Cora are so well matched for each other. Having grown up together as friends they had this comfortable way about them even when they were not in agreement about something. Cora loved Guy but was afraid that his reputation would suffer based on things she had done in her past. She respected him enough to try and let him go so he could find a more suitable wife. She is a strong, stubborn woman who did what she could to protect the ones she loves. Guy wasn’t having any of that. He wanted only her from the beginning and could care a less what society thought of his decisions. This battle of the wills was great to watch unfold throughout the story. Guy and Cora had this comfortable banter throughout their battle which was great fun to watch.
As for other characters in the story, you could really tell that Cora loved her friends and family. She and her brother Ethan had a lot of respect and love for each other yet you could still tell they were brother and sister the way he picked on her. Dinks and Bingham were fun to watch. I would love to have a friend like Dinks. She is one of Cora’s servants and would go to any lengths to protect Cora – even from herself. This book has romance, mystery, suspense, humor and love all wrapped up in a wild ride of a story. I highly recommend it to anyone and look forward to more of Tracey’s books in the future!
Guy and Cora are so well matched for each other. Having grown up together as friends they had this comfortable way about them even when they were not in agreement about something. Cora loved Guy but was afraid that his reputation would suffer based on things she had done in her past. She respected him enough to try and let him go so he could find a more suitable wife. She is a strong, stubborn woman who did what she could to protect the ones she loves. Guy wasn’t having any of that. He wanted only her from the beginning and could care a less what society thought of his decisions. This battle of the wills was great to watch unfold throughout the story. Guy and Cora had this comfortable banter throughout their battle which was great fun to watch.
As for other characters in the story, you could really tell that Cora loved her friends and family. She and her brother Ethan had a lot of respect and love for each other yet you could still tell they were brother and sister the way he picked on her. Dinks and Bingham were fun to watch. I would love to have a friend like Dinks. She is one of Cora’s servants and would go to any lengths to protect Cora – even from herself. This book has romance, mystery, suspense, humor and love all wrapped up in a wild ride of a story. I highly recommend it to anyone and look forward to more of Tracey’s books in the future!
March 26, 2012
A great story of intrigue, love, torture and hate awaits the reader of this story. Cleverly written with descriptive details that will make your heart cringe and your toes curl.
Cora deBeau is a ravenous beauty whose skill would make the average woman of the ton get the vapors of fear just from the first few words. Cora has been trained as a spy and is damned good at what she does until one little slip of confidence gives her away and nearly costs her her life. Can she keep her beauty inside and out with the horendous acts that will be cast upon her body?
Guy Trevelyn is extremely talented, handsome and has come into his place as an heir, but having a title doesn't get in the way of his life's purpose of cracking codes during the French Revolution. He's best of the best until he happens upon a nearly broken human that will stun him into the most protective of modes.
This story is rich in action, love, lust, betrayal, hurt, passion and so much more. The author playes your emotions like a string on a violin, plucking each with the most tender of touches but bringing about the most vibrant of reactions. A story that you think must be going to come to some sort of conclusion soon only to have you chasing after the next chapter to see what could possibly happen next.
I absolutely loved this book for it's intensity and richness. A well written plot that keeps you going and going wondering how one woman can go through so much and still come out with any kind of sanity at all. A stronger heroine has not been written in quite some time and our author has pushed this heroine to her most inner limits. Well done!
Cora deBeau is a ravenous beauty whose skill would make the average woman of the ton get the vapors of fear just from the first few words. Cora has been trained as a spy and is damned good at what she does until one little slip of confidence gives her away and nearly costs her her life. Can she keep her beauty inside and out with the horendous acts that will be cast upon her body?
Guy Trevelyn is extremely talented, handsome and has come into his place as an heir, but having a title doesn't get in the way of his life's purpose of cracking codes during the French Revolution. He's best of the best until he happens upon a nearly broken human that will stun him into the most protective of modes.
This story is rich in action, love, lust, betrayal, hurt, passion and so much more. The author playes your emotions like a string on a violin, plucking each with the most tender of touches but bringing about the most vibrant of reactions. A story that you think must be going to come to some sort of conclusion soon only to have you chasing after the next chapter to see what could possibly happen next.
I absolutely loved this book for it's intensity and richness. A well written plot that keeps you going and going wondering how one woman can go through so much and still come out with any kind of sanity at all. A stronger heroine has not been written in quite some time and our author has pushed this heroine to her most inner limits. Well done!
April 3, 2012
Reviewed By~Sarah L.
Review Copy provided By~Netgalley
A Lady's Revenge starts off with a bang when Guy Trevelyan and Viscount Danforth, two British secret agents, are sent to France to rescue fellow secret agent Raven from the enemy's stronghold.
In the beginning, I was captivated with the plot and turned each page eagerly. Unfortunately, that eagerness waned a bit in the middle as the story slowed down and my attention started to drift. The pace of the last third of the story did pick up again which allowed me to easily finish the book.
One detail that confused me a bit was how inept Cora seemed to be. She is touted as being a highly revered spy but she couldn't keep herself from being kidnapped. Not just once but multiple times.
Guy seemed to be a really all-around great guy. No pun intended I swear! He was strong and fierce with the enemy and loving and patient with Cora. He didn’t back down from a challenge when he worked hard to decipher the coded message, rescued Cora from being kidnapped each time and didn't give up on Cora when she was determined to put distance between them.
With regard to the traitor sharing secrets and housing Valere, I feel if we had gotten to actually meet and know the traitor personally I would have had more of a "no way it can't be" reaction when the identity was revealed.
There were also several questions left unanswered. Was Cora's father a traitor? What's the truth behind Specter's identity and what's his relationship with Somerton? Hopefully this book is the start of a multi-book series and we get to learn the answers to these burning questions.
Review Copy provided By~Netgalley
A Lady's Revenge starts off with a bang when Guy Trevelyan and Viscount Danforth, two British secret agents, are sent to France to rescue fellow secret agent Raven from the enemy's stronghold.
In the beginning, I was captivated with the plot and turned each page eagerly. Unfortunately, that eagerness waned a bit in the middle as the story slowed down and my attention started to drift. The pace of the last third of the story did pick up again which allowed me to easily finish the book.
One detail that confused me a bit was how inept Cora seemed to be. She is touted as being a highly revered spy but she couldn't keep herself from being kidnapped. Not just once but multiple times.
Guy seemed to be a really all-around great guy. No pun intended I swear! He was strong and fierce with the enemy and loving and patient with Cora. He didn’t back down from a challenge when he worked hard to decipher the coded message, rescued Cora from being kidnapped each time and didn't give up on Cora when she was determined to put distance between them.
With regard to the traitor sharing secrets and housing Valere, I feel if we had gotten to actually meet and know the traitor personally I would have had more of a "no way it can't be" reaction when the identity was revealed.
There were also several questions left unanswered. Was Cora's father a traitor? What's the truth behind Specter's identity and what's his relationship with Somerton? Hopefully this book is the start of a multi-book series and we get to learn the answers to these burning questions.
January 18, 2012
3.75 out of 5. A complicated novel about several individuals who are active as cryptographers, undercover espionage, and information couriers during the Napoleonic War, it has lots going on and it is not a simple book to read. The heroine has been undercover in the French aristocracy for three years, knowing that she is sacrificing her innocence and her reputation for England's cause. She is discovered and only through the timely intervention of two of her colleagues is she saved from death. But the perverted French aristocrat who is obsessed with Napoleon and his glamour and power has taken his revenge on her for her betrayal by slowing disfiguring the different parts of her body, everything that he believes beautiful. She comes home nearly broken and believing that no one will ever love her. There is most certainly a love story here, but it is woven through the suspense of the spy tale so skillfully that at times I was not that aware of it. But it is most definitely there. And this plucky lady? She manages to make herself the bait once again in order to finally apprehend the aristocrat that has nearly killed her, putting her life and her reputation on the line once again. I did find this book to be very mentally stimulating, and the loving was deeply caring and grew out of respect and friendship. It is also the story of how Cora regained her sense of herself and regained her belief that in spite of what anyone might say in the future, she knew that she did something for her country that no one else could do. A really good read!
May 18, 2012
** Spoiler**
Author kills the heroine's kitten by the heroine's actions at page 235, which to make it even worse, does nothing to move the plot forward. Add on a stark description of the dead kitten and I'm done with this book & author. Many authors manage to produce good to excellent Regency spy romances with complex, damaged protagonists without killing kittens, horses or even dogs. Kill companion animals for no cause in horror fiction, not romance.
Off to reread a good romance book in hopes I'll get to sleep tonight and not be haunted by a fictional feisty, green-eyed boy kitten's death.
Author kills the heroine's kitten by the heroine's actions at page 235, which to make it even worse, does nothing to move the plot forward. Add on a stark description of the dead kitten and I'm done with this book & author. Many authors manage to produce good to excellent Regency spy romances with complex, damaged protagonists without killing kittens, horses or even dogs. Kill companion animals for no cause in horror fiction, not romance.
Off to reread a good romance book in hopes I'll get to sleep tonight and not be haunted by a fictional feisty, green-eyed boy kitten's death.
May 18, 2012
WOW!! No let me first say that I am not a die-hard fan of spy stories but this blurb just called out to me :) Way to sell it :) An amazingly fast paced, edge of your seat ride that held nothing back. Dangerouse and passionate, this tale had it all. Completed with characters that were very real and likeable, it had the whole package :)
Well worth the time it takes to read it even if spies aren't always your thing. I would recomend giving it a go simply because the romance will knock you off your feet :)
Well worth the time it takes to read it even if spies aren't always your thing. I would recomend giving it a go simply because the romance will knock you off your feet :)
December 19, 2012
At first I was really drawn into this book - it was different and very orignal - but soon my fancy started to dim. I had a hard time following Cora's reasoning in denying herself Guy, and I had an even harder time figuring out just what their relationship was rooted in. And I was a bit disappointed at how predictable the book turned out to be, because when I started reading it, it promised to be anything but predictable. But I give Tracey Devlyn props for originality, which is something I regard very highly.
May 1, 2012
Espionage. Revenge. Romance. There's a good deal of meaty goodness here for certain (but not so meaty that it's bogged down and hard to follow) and it's all wrapped in strong writing, vivid characters, and beautiful sensuality. A must-read for historical romance fans and definitely for those who want something different than the lighter Regency romances which focus more on courtliness and wooing. A Lady's Revenge is bittersweet, dark and raw.
didnt-finish
February 1, 2013Couldn't get into this one. Part of it was that I wanted the romance and tension to be dragged out longer. I had a hard time believing that a woman who has been sexually abused would fall into a man's arms so easily (even if he is a lifelong friend). I think the author could have done a much better job of showing Cora's emotional scars and fear of being intimate.
September 8, 2012
A first in the Nexus series, filled with action, suspense, revenge, justice, a little torture and a kidnapping. A book about revenge which killed the romance a bit, probably the biggest drawback for me. I believe that character development may have suffered a little due to the intensity of this book, nonetheless still a great read.
January 1, 2019
Good premise-- I like historicals featuring lady spies, but this was really poorly executed. Both h and H were spies, but they couldn't prevent her from being kidnapped by the villain not once or twice but like three or four times. She was also a very weak character whose supposed seductive, intelligent side never really made an appearance. This just wasn't for me.
November 19, 2016
Tracey Devlyn Shows just what a woman will do for revenge perfectly in this book. She uses superb writing skills with an amazing plot That made it IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN!! It's a great delve into the Past and a romance to kill...
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