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Darley #3
At Her Service
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Johnson comes a tantalizing new novel of hidden secrets and passionate desires...
At Her Service
Hugh D'Abernon, Marquis of Darley, was in Sevastopol for one reason only: to reconnoiter the town for the British Secret Service. So if he encounters a woman of unparalleled beauty in need of his help, he will do his duty and smartly escort her back to town--then continue on his way. He will not consider being diverted from the task at hand. No matter how tempting the lady...
Aurore Clement was unaccustomed to being so susceptible to a man's good looks. From afar, it was simple enough to be prudent, but in close proximity to this handsome Tatar, it was quite a different matter. She would have to keep her distance and focus on more important concerns--like her work with the French command and caring for her wounded brother, a soldier with French forces.
But Hugh and Aurore both have reasons for wanting to escape the reality of this fearsome war. And when the two meet again, there is no stopping the fierce passion that ignites between them...
"Susan Johnson knows how to make the pages sizzle." --Romantic Times
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
4 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Susan Johnson
251 books573 followersAnd it all began rather serendipitously. Long ago, as they say, in another time, when fast food hadn't reached our area and the only shopping was what the feed mill offered, I was reading a book that annoyed me .
My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"
"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"
So I did. And very badly.
I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.
Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.
My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"
"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"
So I did. And very badly.
I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.
Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 23, 2015
★★★★★! Darley series, book 3 of 3. Lord Hugh, The Marquis of Darley & Aurore meet while on clandestine missions during war times!
UK EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
The Darley series
Book 3
Formats: Kindle & paperback in UK
Paperback in US (Kindle soon!)
The Darley series introduces us to three generations of the Marquis of Darley, heir to the Duke of Westerland, starting with Julius D’Abernon – the rich and jaded playboy of 1788.
Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs has different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers.
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1788)
When You Love Someone
Book 2: (Year 1816)
When Someone Loves You (US) / When Someone Loves You (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1855)
At Her Service (US) / At Her Command (UK)
HUGH D’ABERNON, MARQUIS OF DARLEY:
38 years/British Secret Service/Lord/heir to the Duke of Westerland/playboy/$$$$/dark hair/dark eyes.
AURORE CLEMENT:
undercover agent for the French allies/gold hair/blue eyes.
The year is 1855 and the Crimean War is wrecking Europe. Lord Hugh, The Marquis of Darley (son of book 2) and Aurore Clement are both on clandestine missions in disguise.
Their meeting is electric, but times are dangerous and enemies are lurking. After a brief affair and a shared mission it’s just easier for Hugh to go back to his playboy ways. And so a roller-coaster begins….
A suspenseful read! Fascinating plot! A memorable hero! I am highly recommending this series!
Noteworthy: The Epilogue left the door open for a stand-alone book 4 in series, taking place in 1914. I’d welcome that!
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
August 15, 2017
★★★★★! Darley series, book 3 of 3. Lord Hugh, The Marquis of Darley & Aurore meet while on clandestine missions during war times!
US EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
The Darley series
Book 3
Formats: Paperback in US (Kindle soon!)
Kindle & paperback in UK
The Darley series introduces us to three generations of the Marquis of Darley, heir to the Duke of Westerland, starting with Julius D’Abernon – the rich and jaded playboy of 1788.
Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs has different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers.
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1788)
When You Love Someone
Book 2: (Year 1816)
When Someone Loves You (US) / When Someone Loves You (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1855)
At Her Service (US) / At Her Command (UK)
HUGH D’ABERNON, MARQUIS OF DARLEY:
38 years/British Secret Service/Lord/heir to the Duke of Westerland/playboy/$$$$/dark hair/dark eyes.
AURORE CLEMENT:
undercover agent for the French allies/gold hair/blue eyes.
The year is 1855 and the Crimean War is wrecking Europe. Lord Hugh, The Marquis of Darley (son of book 2) and Aurore Clement are both on clandestine missions in disguise.
Their meeting is electric, but times are dangerous and enemies are lurking. After a brief affair and a shared mission it’s just easier for Hugh to go back to his playboy ways. And so a roller-coaster begins….
A suspenseful read! Fascinating plot! A memorable hero! I am highly recommending this series!
Noteworthy: The Epilogue left the door open for a stand-alone book 4 in series, taking place in 1914. I’d welcome that!
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
August 5, 2013
Boring. I had no connection with the characters. Hugh and Aurora didn't have a connection with each other, with the exception of connecting their naughty bits. And even that wasn't as enticing as Johnson's sex scenes usually are. The two star rating comes from the historical info and descriptions of the Crimean War.
January 29, 2024
The main characters meet during a war in Crimea and that serves as the backdrop for how they started their affair but the fact that they're both spies is really not that big of a deal. There's not a ton of espionage going on. Most of the book is about a very passionate affair between two people who really don't want to catch feelings. It was not bad but Johnson lost me when the H leaves the h without a by your leave and proceeds to be community dick in London. I suppose I should just accept that all Susan Johnson books feature promiscuous and unfaithful men. (Technically, he wasn't unfaithful because they weren't committed to each other but he really started swinging his D around right away. Yuck.)
July 22, 2008
I liked this book. Aurore (an undercover agent for the French allies) is on her way to see her brother who is wounded in a horible hospital and her coach breaks down. Appears Hugh disguised as a tartar but in fact is an agent for the crown and a man of English nobility. They have an affair but then he leaves to do his work while she takes care of her brother and helps him recover. When he comes back, they attend a party together and both (unbeknownst to the other)sneek away to rifle the owners office and get caught...The chase is then on. They travel together making love a lot along the way (they both have veracious appetites of the flesh for each other) until he helps her to get safely back to brother in france. Then he leaves and goes home to England where he resumes his old life, but is very unhappy. He can't quit thinking about her. In the meantime, she is prego and hasn't told him nor does she want him to know. But her brother intercedes and sents him a message and he comes back to see her. He loves her and her him and they marry. But the ending of this book helps us to see what the next one may be about; with their child and one of their previous enemies child being involved in a secret affair..>>> So the story will hopefully continue with this next generation during the next war.
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February 23, 2009A historical romance about the Marquis of Darley who works for the British Secret Service. He meets Aurore and she is trying to save her brother who was injured during the war that is going on. They have a passionate affair.
April 25, 2010
This book is a historical romance in 1855, the story is very good and you will love the Marquis of Darley and Aurore Clement. They are both spies during the war and have much in common, romance takes a whole new meaning in this book. You will love each and every page.
May 20, 2011
I usually like Ms. Johnson's books, but I have to say I think that this one was a little long. I enjoyed the banter between the two characters, but felt it took longer than necessary to reach a conclusion. Overall, I liked the book.
January 27, 2010
ehh...
October 13, 2011
Whoa. Super hot without being kinky. And not one mention of anyone's "manhood." The story was alright, the characters were ok, but the sexy parts were excellent.
didnt-like-enough-to-finish
January 30, 2016Unfortunately I couldn't connect with the characters of this book. Each time I picked it up I found myself falling asleep. Super disappointed!
July 13, 2016
5 stars.
July 13, 2016
5 stars.
March 12, 2013
Possibly the worst "romance" book I have ever read. HUGE thumbs down!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews