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The Adventurers Quartet #1
The Lady's Command
The instant Captain Declan Frobisher laid eyes on Lady Edwina Delbraith, he knew she was the lady he wanted as his wife. The scion of a seafaring dynasty accustomed to success, he discovered that wooing Edwina was surprisingly straightforward—not least because she made it plain that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Declan’s vision of marriage was of a gently-reared wife to grace his arm, to manage his household, and to bear his children. He assumed that household, children, and wife would remain safely in England while he continued his life as an explorer sailing the high seas.
Declan got his wish—up to a point. He and Edwina were wed. As for the rest—his vision of marriage…
Aunt of the young Duke of Ridgware and sister of the mysterious man known as Neville Roscoe, London’s gambling king, even before the knot was tied Edwina shattered the illusion that her character is as delicate, ethereal, and fragile as her appearance suggests. Far from adhering to orthodox mores, she and her ducal family are even more unconventional than the Frobishers.
Beneath her fairy-princess exterior, Edwina possesses a spine of steel—one that might bend, but will never break. Born to the purple—born to rule—she’s determined to rule her life. With Declan’s ring on her finger, that means forging a marriage that meets her needs as well as his.
But bare weeks into their honeymoon, Declan is required to sail to West Africa. Edwina decides she must accompany him.
A secret mission with unknown villains flings unexpected dangers into their path as Declan and Edwina discover that meeting the challenge of making an unconventional marriage work requires something they both possess—bold and adventurous hearts.
Declan’s vision of marriage was of a gently-reared wife to grace his arm, to manage his household, and to bear his children. He assumed that household, children, and wife would remain safely in England while he continued his life as an explorer sailing the high seas.
Declan got his wish—up to a point. He and Edwina were wed. As for the rest—his vision of marriage…
Aunt of the young Duke of Ridgware and sister of the mysterious man known as Neville Roscoe, London’s gambling king, even before the knot was tied Edwina shattered the illusion that her character is as delicate, ethereal, and fragile as her appearance suggests. Far from adhering to orthodox mores, she and her ducal family are even more unconventional than the Frobishers.
Beneath her fairy-princess exterior, Edwina possesses a spine of steel—one that might bend, but will never break. Born to the purple—born to rule—she’s determined to rule her life. With Declan’s ring on her finger, that means forging a marriage that meets her needs as well as his.
But bare weeks into their honeymoon, Declan is required to sail to West Africa. Edwina decides she must accompany him.
A secret mission with unknown villains flings unexpected dangers into their path as Declan and Edwina discover that meeting the challenge of making an unconventional marriage work requires something they both possess—bold and adventurous hearts.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 29, 2015
356 people are currently reading
2092 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Laurens
211 books5,580 followersStephanie Laurens was born in Sri Lanka, which was at the time the British colony of Ceylon. When she was 5, her family moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she was raised. After continuing through school and earning a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in Australia, Stephanie and her husband moved to Great Britain, taking one of the last true overland journeys from Katmandu to London.
Once in London, Stephanie and her husband both began work as research scientists in Kent. They lived in an area surrounded by history. Their own cottage was built in the 16th century, while next door were the protected ruins of an early Roman villa, and nearby was a 14th century castle.
After four years in England, Stephanie and her husband returned to Australia, where she continued to work in cancer research, eventually heading her own research laboratory. One evening Stephanie realized that she did not have any more of her favorite romance novels to read. After years of thinking about writing her own novel, during nights and weekends for the next several months, she began crafting her own story. That manuscript, Tangled Reins, was the first of her books to be published. After achieving a level of success with her novels, Stephanie "retired" from scientific research and became a full-time novelist. Her novels are primarily historical romances set in the Regency time period.
Stephanie and her husband live on peaceful acreage on the outskirts of Melbourne. If she isn't writing, she's reading, and if she's not reading, she's tending her garden.
Once in London, Stephanie and her husband both began work as research scientists in Kent. They lived in an area surrounded by history. Their own cottage was built in the 16th century, while next door were the protected ruins of an early Roman villa, and nearby was a 14th century castle.
After four years in England, Stephanie and her husband returned to Australia, where she continued to work in cancer research, eventually heading her own research laboratory. One evening Stephanie realized that she did not have any more of her favorite romance novels to read. After years of thinking about writing her own novel, during nights and weekends for the next several months, she began crafting her own story. That manuscript, Tangled Reins, was the first of her books to be published. After achieving a level of success with her novels, Stephanie "retired" from scientific research and became a full-time novelist. Her novels are primarily historical romances set in the Regency time period.
Stephanie and her husband live on peaceful acreage on the outskirts of Melbourne. If she isn't writing, she's reading, and if she's not reading, she's tending her garden.
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February 8, 2016
Declan and Edwina Frobisher are newlyweds and their planned honeymoon gets interrupted when Declan has to travel to Africa and the town Freetown where four men have disappeared. His mission is to discreetly find out what has happened to the men. Edwina, on the other hand, wants to travel with him to Freetown, but Declan thinks that that is not a good idea. Instead, he promises her to take her to Amsterdam or something safer. But Edwina has decided that she will know more about what Declan does now that they are married. And, that means to travel with him, no matter what!
First and foremost the cover is ghastly. The posing of the characters and the colors (pastel colors?), Declan looks really unhappy. I usually don't comment that much about the cover when it comes to reviews unless it's so gorgeous I just have to mention it. But this cover is just so bad.
The story is a bit unusual to the ones I usually read when it comes to historical romance. For one thing, the couple is already marriage. And, happily so. I more used to stories when people falling in love, not starting off in love and married. That was an interesting change. It's also a very equally marriage. Well, as equal it can be at the time. Declan still tried to tell Edwina what to do and try to keep her from danger, but she isn't the kind of woman that stays home and is told what to do. As Declan learns when he tried to travel to Africa alone.
I found myself with difficulties to really getting into the story and connect with the characters. Declan and Edwina were just not a couple I found that interesting to read about. He is head over heels in love with her and in him. The mystery of the missing men gets a bit lost in this big declaration of their love that is this book. He misses her when she isn't by his side and constantly thinks about how much he is in love with her and vice versa. It's just a fluffy love story, but not even a really good one since neither characters is especially interesting, it's just too dull.
But if the thought of reading a book about a couple that is already married and is facing some "difficulties" for the first time after the wedding seems appealing than this book is perhaps more suiting for you than it was for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a blog tour at TLC Book Tours.
First and foremost the cover is ghastly. The posing of the characters and the colors (pastel colors?), Declan looks really unhappy. I usually don't comment that much about the cover when it comes to reviews unless it's so gorgeous I just have to mention it. But this cover is just so bad.
The story is a bit unusual to the ones I usually read when it comes to historical romance. For one thing, the couple is already marriage. And, happily so. I more used to stories when people falling in love, not starting off in love and married. That was an interesting change. It's also a very equally marriage. Well, as equal it can be at the time. Declan still tried to tell Edwina what to do and try to keep her from danger, but she isn't the kind of woman that stays home and is told what to do. As Declan learns when he tried to travel to Africa alone.
I found myself with difficulties to really getting into the story and connect with the characters. Declan and Edwina were just not a couple I found that interesting to read about. He is head over heels in love with her and in him. The mystery of the missing men gets a bit lost in this big declaration of their love that is this book. He misses her when she isn't by his side and constantly thinks about how much he is in love with her and vice versa. It's just a fluffy love story, but not even a really good one since neither characters is especially interesting, it's just too dull.
But if the thought of reading a book about a couple that is already married and is facing some "difficulties" for the first time after the wedding seems appealing than this book is perhaps more suiting for you than it was for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a blog tour at TLC Book Tours.
October 8, 2022
It was definitely the mystery part of the story that made me keep reading till the end and I will admit I even skimmed most of it (which is why I finished it so fast). But unfortunately we didn’t even get the answer for the mystery. This is definitely a change from the usual of historical romances we read, mainly cuz it starts after our protagonists marriage. The whole courtship is missing and they’re pretty much happily together. Which is in a way quite nice but then again, I would have given it another star if they had given us a clear ending for the mystery.
January 3, 2016
I hate to not like a book I've been anxiously awaiting. SL is a fabulous writer and I've truly loved most of her books (I mean Devil Cynster! How awesome is he!) but, I'm sorry, this was just boring. It never caught my full attention at all. Very possibly it was because of the narrator. It always bothers me when there's a bad narrator - he or she can ruin the author's work. This is the case here to some extent. Also, the ending was horrible! Yes, I can appreciate that this is the first book in a series and I like series but this ended poorly.
February 11, 2016
Oh dear where to start. I'm afraid that Stephanie Lauren's has lost the plot. This is a terrible book, it is not even worth the effort to read, let alone buy it. There are no characters with any substance except for the brief appearance of beloved characters from previous books, the plot line is minimal, more like an out line than a finished product, and yes I understand that there will be an underlying plot through the next 3 or 4 books, but surely the main characters need some substance, need some story of their own to entice you to read further. What a disappointment!
January 4, 2016
I'm sure many people will enjoy this book, but it didn't connect with me. There was no actual romance, just two people who had courted and fallen for each other before the book ever started and had no fights whatsoever. They just talked and slept together. Which would be fine except I bought this book as a romance with mystery tossed in. The mystery itself wasn't remotely engaging until about 75% of the way through, and I had to force myself to finish.
However, I suppose it's relatively well written and for fans of mystery, it's not bad. But I don't enjoy my books where the romance happens off screen.
However, I suppose it's relatively well written and for fans of mystery, it's not bad. But I don't enjoy my books where the romance happens off screen.
January 22, 2016
Originally published at Reading Reality
This is a fascinating Regency romance, because it breaks all the conventions. Most romances, historical and otherwise, are all about the chase. The couple meet in the beginning, work their way through one or more roadblocks to their relationship, and the story ends with the clinch or even better, the wedding. And then they live happily ever after.
The Lady’s Command turns that convention on its head by starting with the wedding. At the wedding between Declan Frobisher and Lady Edwina Delbraith, both parties are thinking about how they will turn their whirlwind courtship into a real marriage. The problem is that they have very different visions of exactly what constitutes a “real marriage”.
If the marriage had been arranged, this unconventional plot would not be as surprising, but it is clear from the outset of the story that Declan and Edwina met, courted and married because they fell in both love and lust with each other. They both wanted this marriage.
They just never talked about what would happen after the honeymoon was over.
Declan assumed that Edwina would be just like any high-born wife. That she would wait patiently at home for him while he conducted his business. As his business is as a ship’s captain for his family firm who sometimes undertake secret missions for the Crown, Declan was expecting his wife to wait patiently at home six months out of the year, and to keep his sometimes dangerous and sometimes secret business very, very separate from his private life.
He should have asked Edwina first. Her vision of their marriage is that she will be his partner in all things, even though he has successfully kept the picture of what those “all things” are carefully obscured until now. Both Edwina and Declan are in for rude awakenings.
Both Declan and Edwina come from very unconventional families, so it is not surprising that they finally do figure out that they are better off, not just together, but as partners in a very unconventional marriage.
They just have to survive their first steps together on that journey.
Escape Rating B+: This is a historical romance that I was pleasantly able to sink my teeth into, without those teeth either rotting away from sweetness overload or gritting from the constant institutionalized sexism that sometimes permeates the genre.
In other words, The Lady’s Command is fun. Because this is Edwina’s story, and Edwina seizes the initiative at every opportunity. Declan’s role in this affair is to recognize that his life, his happiness and his business are better off if he accepts Edwina as his partner.
And while he certainly has his fits of protective possessiveness, he does manage to make the journey with her. And not against her.
One of the ways in which this worked for me is that Declan finally recognizes that while Edwina’s skills at manipulating the ton and its impression of her family are incredibly useful, her role as part of the social “powers that be” is a mask she wears and not her true self. He understands that she has many hidden depths and talents that are equal to, if different, from his own.
There’s also an adventure/suspense plot in the middle of the romance. And it’s fascinating because we only get a piece of that story. English men, women and children are disappearing from the British colony of Freeport in West Africa. Agents who investigate those disappearances also disappear. And instead of investigating the disappearances, the British Governor is quashing any rumors, claiming that all those people (almost 20 that are known) just walked into the jungle of their own accord in search of fame and fortune.
Declan’s job is to find out the first clue about what is going on and rush back to London, before he too disappears. In that search for truth, it is Edwina who gets too close and nearly joins the disappeared. And even so, they have only discovered the tip of a very nasty iceberg, an iceberg that it will be the next agent’s job to plumb further.
So we see Declan and Edwina establish the future path for their relationship, and the future path for the investigation into what’s going wrong in Freeport. Further steps in the investigation will be someone else’s to discover in the succeeding volumes of The Adventurers Quartet. Declan’s brother Robert will be posted to Freeport in the next book in the series, A Buccaneer at Heart.
I’m looking forward to further clues to the mystery, and another marvelous and unconventional romance. It should be oodles of fun!
This is a fascinating Regency romance, because it breaks all the conventions. Most romances, historical and otherwise, are all about the chase. The couple meet in the beginning, work their way through one or more roadblocks to their relationship, and the story ends with the clinch or even better, the wedding. And then they live happily ever after.
The Lady’s Command turns that convention on its head by starting with the wedding. At the wedding between Declan Frobisher and Lady Edwina Delbraith, both parties are thinking about how they will turn their whirlwind courtship into a real marriage. The problem is that they have very different visions of exactly what constitutes a “real marriage”.
If the marriage had been arranged, this unconventional plot would not be as surprising, but it is clear from the outset of the story that Declan and Edwina met, courted and married because they fell in both love and lust with each other. They both wanted this marriage.
They just never talked about what would happen after the honeymoon was over.
Declan assumed that Edwina would be just like any high-born wife. That she would wait patiently at home for him while he conducted his business. As his business is as a ship’s captain for his family firm who sometimes undertake secret missions for the Crown, Declan was expecting his wife to wait patiently at home six months out of the year, and to keep his sometimes dangerous and sometimes secret business very, very separate from his private life.
He should have asked Edwina first. Her vision of their marriage is that she will be his partner in all things, even though he has successfully kept the picture of what those “all things” are carefully obscured until now. Both Edwina and Declan are in for rude awakenings.
Both Declan and Edwina come from very unconventional families, so it is not surprising that they finally do figure out that they are better off, not just together, but as partners in a very unconventional marriage.
They just have to survive their first steps together on that journey.
Escape Rating B+: This is a historical romance that I was pleasantly able to sink my teeth into, without those teeth either rotting away from sweetness overload or gritting from the constant institutionalized sexism that sometimes permeates the genre.
In other words, The Lady’s Command is fun. Because this is Edwina’s story, and Edwina seizes the initiative at every opportunity. Declan’s role in this affair is to recognize that his life, his happiness and his business are better off if he accepts Edwina as his partner.
And while he certainly has his fits of protective possessiveness, he does manage to make the journey with her. And not against her.
One of the ways in which this worked for me is that Declan finally recognizes that while Edwina’s skills at manipulating the ton and its impression of her family are incredibly useful, her role as part of the social “powers that be” is a mask she wears and not her true self. He understands that she has many hidden depths and talents that are equal to, if different, from his own.
There’s also an adventure/suspense plot in the middle of the romance. And it’s fascinating because we only get a piece of that story. English men, women and children are disappearing from the British colony of Freeport in West Africa. Agents who investigate those disappearances also disappear. And instead of investigating the disappearances, the British Governor is quashing any rumors, claiming that all those people (almost 20 that are known) just walked into the jungle of their own accord in search of fame and fortune.
Declan’s job is to find out the first clue about what is going on and rush back to London, before he too disappears. In that search for truth, it is Edwina who gets too close and nearly joins the disappeared. And even so, they have only discovered the tip of a very nasty iceberg, an iceberg that it will be the next agent’s job to plumb further.
So we see Declan and Edwina establish the future path for their relationship, and the future path for the investigation into what’s going wrong in Freeport. Further steps in the investigation will be someone else’s to discover in the succeeding volumes of The Adventurers Quartet. Declan’s brother Robert will be posted to Freeport in the next book in the series, A Buccaneer at Heart.
I’m looking forward to further clues to the mystery, and another marvelous and unconventional romance. It should be oodles of fun!
December 29, 2015
Dazzling combination! the maiden voyage and an adventurous heart!
Reading Lauren's works over the years, the notion of marriage and what factors contribute to bring two people together in a strong relationship that grows over time has surely been a central theme.
With The Lady's Command that theme is given voice. It is overt. We are taken from a different beginning into uncharted territory. I must admit that it took me a moment to be drawn into this more explicit direction. We are not starting from the across a crowded room beginning. We are starting from the happily ever after, riding off into the sunset with your prince/princess beside you, place. Unusual, invigorating even!
When Captain Declan Frobisher is called upon to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a crown spy in the West African port of Freetown shortly after his marriage to Lady Edwina Delbraith, he envisages that his wife would stay at home guarding home and hearth. Annoying as it was to have to step into action so soon after his marriage, Declan must however meet this request. His family's seafaring empire continues to assist the crown, having been privateers with a Letter of Marque that had never been rescinded.
If Declan thought that Edwina would go quietly into the night--he was wrong, as he discovers once his ship has set sail. Edwina joins him in his quest for information into the spy's disappearance. What they uncover is alarming and puzzling. There are more disappearances, including young women and children, than openly acknowledged. It is up to Edwina and Declan to pursue the threads that they can in the differing circles of Freetown inhabitants open to them. When danger threatens from an unknown source they press on.
The voyage is one of discovery on both the personal and the investigative level. Edwina finds herself married to a man who matches her adventurous heart and between them Declan and Edwina chart their way into a closer and more satisfying relationship. Drawn into this delightful opening chapter of The Adventurers Quartet I look forward to the next episode of high sea adventure that is surely the mark of the Frobisher family.
A NetGalley ARC
Reading Lauren's works over the years, the notion of marriage and what factors contribute to bring two people together in a strong relationship that grows over time has surely been a central theme.
With The Lady's Command that theme is given voice. It is overt. We are taken from a different beginning into uncharted territory. I must admit that it took me a moment to be drawn into this more explicit direction. We are not starting from the across a crowded room beginning. We are starting from the happily ever after, riding off into the sunset with your prince/princess beside you, place. Unusual, invigorating even!
When Captain Declan Frobisher is called upon to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a crown spy in the West African port of Freetown shortly after his marriage to Lady Edwina Delbraith, he envisages that his wife would stay at home guarding home and hearth. Annoying as it was to have to step into action so soon after his marriage, Declan must however meet this request. His family's seafaring empire continues to assist the crown, having been privateers with a Letter of Marque that had never been rescinded.
If Declan thought that Edwina would go quietly into the night--he was wrong, as he discovers once his ship has set sail. Edwina joins him in his quest for information into the spy's disappearance. What they uncover is alarming and puzzling. There are more disappearances, including young women and children, than openly acknowledged. It is up to Edwina and Declan to pursue the threads that they can in the differing circles of Freetown inhabitants open to them. When danger threatens from an unknown source they press on.
The voyage is one of discovery on both the personal and the investigative level. Edwina finds herself married to a man who matches her adventurous heart and between them Declan and Edwina chart their way into a closer and more satisfying relationship. Drawn into this delightful opening chapter of The Adventurers Quartet I look forward to the next episode of high sea adventure that is surely the mark of the Frobisher family.
A NetGalley ARC
February 8, 2016
I really liked the story. Unfortunately, Laurens has fallen into the habit of telling instead of showing. And she tells, and tells, and tells, and tells the same thing over and over (there are four men missing, and maybe some women; Declan is protective). It's almost as if this quartet would fit into one or maybe two books and she has to pad it.
February 26, 2016
Declan and Edwina. Not a lot going on here. And what little bit that is seems to be either repetitive and/or dragged on and on. Yawn. It could just be me. Or them. Or all of us. Either way, it’s a miss.
Copy provided by TLC BOOK TOURS
Copy provided by TLC BOOK TOURS
February 12, 2016
Boring. I used to like Stephanie. I don't know what has happened. The cover was awful. I was going to start counting how many times she used the word regardless, but I even got bored with that.
December 29, 2015
Mystery and Adventure to Begin a New Series
“Marrying the lady of his dreams had proved suprisingly easy. Forging the marriage of his dreams…That, apparently was an entirely different challenge.”
FINAL DECISION: Focused on developing a mystery that will play out between four separate novels, this book features a newly married couple working to develop a marriage that satisfies both of them. Deftly focusing on the mystery allows for more harmony between the couple than might be expected, but this allows their relationship to grow rather than be mired in pointless conflict.
THE STORY: Captain Declan Frobisher quickly wooed and wed the woman of his dreams. He knew immediately that she was the one. When a secret mission disrupts his honeymoon, Declan hopes to accomplish his mission and return to his wife in short order. Lady Edwina nee Delbraith (a duke’s daughter and sister of gambling king Neville Roscoe from THE LADY RISKS ALL) is pleased with her husband but as a strong, definite and strategic woman she intends of building a marriage based on a working personal relationship. She has no intention of staying home while her husband sails the seas. She will take risks to show her husband that the two belong side by side.
OPINION: This book is more mystery than romance. The usual romance depicted in similar books happens before this book begins. This book is about the formation of a marriage relationship. That being said, I really like books that are about marriage. There is much drama to be found in two people learning to navigate together and creating a life together instead of merely two lives running parallel. That is what is at the heart of the romance in this book. Declan and Edwina have to discover what one another want and need in their marriage. That requires talking and understanding and compromise from both of them.
Initially, Declan expects a marriage that will feature a lady wife to manage his home and children while he sails the world. This conflicts with Edwina’s vision because she knows that she is not delicate and she is determined to fully share her husband’s life and she intends that the two of them wllll manage their life together. Her adventurous soul attracted Declan to her and his desire to put her in a box to protect her cannot satisfy Edwina.
That being said, the normal drama and conflict is largely missing from this book. These two respect and love one another from the beginning and therefore there is some — but not a lot — of conflict between Declan and Edwina. Instead, there is the beginning of a mystery that will last throughout the four books of the quartet. Therefore, anyone expecting a solution to the mystery will be disappointed. This book is the first part of the mystery. Some secrets are revealed, but there is much left for other couples to discover. Indeed, it is clear that Declan and Edwina still have a part to play in future books. The mystery itself was well developed. Regular readers of Laurens will know that she almost always has a serious mystery element in her books. Here, the mystery takes more prominance than in, for example, the Cynsters series.
This book clearly takes place in the same world that Laurens other novels. Making a prominant appearance is Wolverstone (from the Bastion Club series) and there are mentions of the Black Cobra Quartet. While never overwhelming the current storyline, there are many Easter eggs for fans to find.
The remainder of the series will feature Declan’s brothers and the women they find. This book has to do the heavy work of introducing characters and developing the ongoing storyline. This book accomplishes that while giving readers a different type of romance.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book reminds me of the relationship between Penelope and Barnaby Adair in the Barnaby Adair Mystery series that Laurens also writes. The emphasis on the mystery is also similar to that series.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE LADY’S COMMAND is the first book in The Adventurers Quartet. This is a truly connected four book series. Each of the books will build upon the story before and therefore the books are meant to be read together.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own. I also purchased my own copy of this book.
“Marrying the lady of his dreams had proved suprisingly easy. Forging the marriage of his dreams…That, apparently was an entirely different challenge.”
FINAL DECISION: Focused on developing a mystery that will play out between four separate novels, this book features a newly married couple working to develop a marriage that satisfies both of them. Deftly focusing on the mystery allows for more harmony between the couple than might be expected, but this allows their relationship to grow rather than be mired in pointless conflict.
THE STORY: Captain Declan Frobisher quickly wooed and wed the woman of his dreams. He knew immediately that she was the one. When a secret mission disrupts his honeymoon, Declan hopes to accomplish his mission and return to his wife in short order. Lady Edwina nee Delbraith (a duke’s daughter and sister of gambling king Neville Roscoe from THE LADY RISKS ALL) is pleased with her husband but as a strong, definite and strategic woman she intends of building a marriage based on a working personal relationship. She has no intention of staying home while her husband sails the seas. She will take risks to show her husband that the two belong side by side.
OPINION: This book is more mystery than romance. The usual romance depicted in similar books happens before this book begins. This book is about the formation of a marriage relationship. That being said, I really like books that are about marriage. There is much drama to be found in two people learning to navigate together and creating a life together instead of merely two lives running parallel. That is what is at the heart of the romance in this book. Declan and Edwina have to discover what one another want and need in their marriage. That requires talking and understanding and compromise from both of them.
Initially, Declan expects a marriage that will feature a lady wife to manage his home and children while he sails the world. This conflicts with Edwina’s vision because she knows that she is not delicate and she is determined to fully share her husband’s life and she intends that the two of them wllll manage their life together. Her adventurous soul attracted Declan to her and his desire to put her in a box to protect her cannot satisfy Edwina.
That being said, the normal drama and conflict is largely missing from this book. These two respect and love one another from the beginning and therefore there is some — but not a lot — of conflict between Declan and Edwina. Instead, there is the beginning of a mystery that will last throughout the four books of the quartet. Therefore, anyone expecting a solution to the mystery will be disappointed. This book is the first part of the mystery. Some secrets are revealed, but there is much left for other couples to discover. Indeed, it is clear that Declan and Edwina still have a part to play in future books. The mystery itself was well developed. Regular readers of Laurens will know that she almost always has a serious mystery element in her books. Here, the mystery takes more prominance than in, for example, the Cynsters series.
This book clearly takes place in the same world that Laurens other novels. Making a prominant appearance is Wolverstone (from the Bastion Club series) and there are mentions of the Black Cobra Quartet. While never overwhelming the current storyline, there are many Easter eggs for fans to find.
The remainder of the series will feature Declan’s brothers and the women they find. This book has to do the heavy work of introducing characters and developing the ongoing storyline. This book accomplishes that while giving readers a different type of romance.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book reminds me of the relationship between Penelope and Barnaby Adair in the Barnaby Adair Mystery series that Laurens also writes. The emphasis on the mystery is also similar to that series.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE LADY’S COMMAND is the first book in The Adventurers Quartet. This is a truly connected four book series. Each of the books will build upon the story before and therefore the books are meant to be read together.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own. I also purchased my own copy of this book.
August 1, 2016
I am torn between 3 or 4 stars. I landed upon 3.5 rounded down.
Here is what I like:
1) The marriage relationship as described in the book
2) The mystery--unlike many adult murder mysteries that have left me bored, this reminded me of a YA mystery and was intriguing
3) The heroine had a lot of spunk
Here is what I did not:
1) Portions were slow
2) They never tell each other, "I love you."
3) The book ends unfinished. I have a feeling I will have to read all four books to get the answer to the mystery, and the library only has this and the 3rd one!
Here is what I like:
1) The marriage relationship as described in the book
2) The mystery--unlike many adult murder mysteries that have left me bored, this reminded me of a YA mystery and was intriguing
3) The heroine had a lot of spunk
Here is what I did not:
1) Portions were slow
2) They never tell each other, "I love you."
3) The book ends unfinished. I have a feeling I will have to read all four books to get the answer to the mystery, and the library only has this and the 3rd one!
November 22, 2016
I appreciate that the story takes place after the couple's wedding. I felt it was unique in that regard, and a plot I'd like to see more often. Laurens also has a beautiful way of describing situations and feelings.
But, sadly, it was also very slow, and for me, dragged.
But, sadly, it was also very slow, and for me, dragged.
November 6, 2017
Didn't love it, but didn't hate it either. Dunno stuck somewhere in the middle :)
May 11, 2017
I loved the idea of this book. Most of the romance we read starts at the point of the hero and heroine’s (or hero and hero or heroine and heroine and all combinations between) first meeting. In this, we are beyond the excitement of the first glance, the first touch and in the case of historical romance the first waltz and we start when the couple are married. This book focuses on how two strong minded people can build a marriage together so it works for both of them, all with an added dash of danger and intrigue.
Although I loved the idea of this book, I found when I was reading I wasn’t quite as invested into the romance as I would have hoped. In fact, I found myself reading more to find the conclusion of the suspense part of the plot then I did for the couple. Normally when you read a romance, there are the inevitable barriers between the couple, tension within the story that prevents them from being together. With this, that wasn’t the case any barriers had already been broken through and although it did harp on a bit about building the type of marriage they wanted, I found their relationship boring. They were in love, they were happy, job done.
But, what I did really like about this book was the thriller/spy plotline in the background. I found the mystery really interesting and it kept my hooked to the page. A small mystery turned into a bigger intrigue as the couple investigated more. However, although some aspects of this were resolved in this, the bigger mystery is still unsolved. This will be continued in the next book, through the eyes of another couple.
I did enjoy this book and I am definitely still interested enough to read the next one; however, I thought the romance aspect was weak.
May 28, 2016
Good book, though rather different than the majority of Stephanie Laurens's books. As the book opens, Declan and Edwina are already married and quite happy with their marriage, though it is apparent that there is some difference of opinion of what makes a strong marriage. Declan looks at marriage in the more traditional sense, with Edwina remaining at home when he has to go to sea. Edwina has grown up in a family where the women are fully integrated partners in their marriages and is determined to have the same.
I really enjoyed seeing how happy they are together right from the beginning. It was also interesting to see how, once they were married, Declan began to see a different side of Edwina. Because they were on their honeymoon, Declan's business ventures are on hold, so their time together has little stress. Edwina is able to ease her way into Declan's personal life, showing him the benefits of her experience in society and how it can affect his own life. While she is aware of his business as a ship's captain, and intends to be a part of that life too, she doesn't know about the occasional secret missions he undertakes for the Crown.
When their honeymoon is interrupted by an urgent need for Declan to go to Africa, his intent is to leave Edwina at home where it is safe. He can't tell her the truth behind the trip, which leaves them at odds over his refusal to take her along. I loved Edwina's realization that nagging isn't going to get her what she wants, so she has to be less direct. I loved her method of ensuring that she is included. It was clever and effective. Declan's reaction was not surprising, and it was fun to see Edwina let him rant on until he ran out of steam, and then point out the benefits of having her along. Once he confessed the real reason behind the trip, it was great to see them work out the best way to take advantage of her presence. I liked the fact that Declan didn't hold a grudge over being fooled and quickly saw her usefulness.
I really liked the growth of their relationship. Now that they are married and thrown together in unusual circumstances, they are given the opportunity to get to know each other in deeper ways. I really loved seeing Declan experience all the different facets of Edwina's personality. His appreciation for her abilities continued to grow and began to open his eyes to the benefits of a true partnership. I also liked seeing how Edwina learned more about what made Declan the man he is. It was fun to see Declan's idea of marriage change as he experiences Edwina's version of what makes the best kind of partnership. I especially enjoyed the ending, as Edwina is shown as a full partner when they meet again with Wolverstone.
The mystery picked up once they arrived in Sierra Leone. With instructions to find out what they can about the missing men, but to NOT pursue what they learn, Declan and Edwina have to be careful not to give away their interest. I really enjoyed the way that it was Edwina that was able to discover that it was more than just the four men missing, that there are also women and children that have disappeared. Each bit of information they pick up adds to an increasingly disturbing bigger picture, but they need some more concrete information before they can return to London. An attack on them shows they are on the right track, but still missing vital proof. That proof comes from an unexpected source, putting Edwina in far more danger than they had expected. Fortunately Declan is able to manage her rescue and they have the proof they need.
I loved encountering Wolverstone/Dalziel again, and seeing that he still has his hands in the business of the security of England. His determination that this problem not turn into another Black Cobra disaster was a nice tie in to the previous series. I liked his focus on the bigger picture, as he orchestrates the next step in the search for the truth. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
I really enjoyed seeing how happy they are together right from the beginning. It was also interesting to see how, once they were married, Declan began to see a different side of Edwina. Because they were on their honeymoon, Declan's business ventures are on hold, so their time together has little stress. Edwina is able to ease her way into Declan's personal life, showing him the benefits of her experience in society and how it can affect his own life. While she is aware of his business as a ship's captain, and intends to be a part of that life too, she doesn't know about the occasional secret missions he undertakes for the Crown.
When their honeymoon is interrupted by an urgent need for Declan to go to Africa, his intent is to leave Edwina at home where it is safe. He can't tell her the truth behind the trip, which leaves them at odds over his refusal to take her along. I loved Edwina's realization that nagging isn't going to get her what she wants, so she has to be less direct. I loved her method of ensuring that she is included. It was clever and effective. Declan's reaction was not surprising, and it was fun to see Edwina let him rant on until he ran out of steam, and then point out the benefits of having her along. Once he confessed the real reason behind the trip, it was great to see them work out the best way to take advantage of her presence. I liked the fact that Declan didn't hold a grudge over being fooled and quickly saw her usefulness.
I really liked the growth of their relationship. Now that they are married and thrown together in unusual circumstances, they are given the opportunity to get to know each other in deeper ways. I really loved seeing Declan experience all the different facets of Edwina's personality. His appreciation for her abilities continued to grow and began to open his eyes to the benefits of a true partnership. I also liked seeing how Edwina learned more about what made Declan the man he is. It was fun to see Declan's idea of marriage change as he experiences Edwina's version of what makes the best kind of partnership. I especially enjoyed the ending, as Edwina is shown as a full partner when they meet again with Wolverstone.
The mystery picked up once they arrived in Sierra Leone. With instructions to find out what they can about the missing men, but to NOT pursue what they learn, Declan and Edwina have to be careful not to give away their interest. I really enjoyed the way that it was Edwina that was able to discover that it was more than just the four men missing, that there are also women and children that have disappeared. Each bit of information they pick up adds to an increasingly disturbing bigger picture, but they need some more concrete information before they can return to London. An attack on them shows they are on the right track, but still missing vital proof. That proof comes from an unexpected source, putting Edwina in far more danger than they had expected. Fortunately Declan is able to manage her rescue and they have the proof they need.
I loved encountering Wolverstone/Dalziel again, and seeing that he still has his hands in the business of the security of England. His determination that this problem not turn into another Black Cobra disaster was a nice tie in to the previous series. I liked his focus on the bigger picture, as he orchestrates the next step in the search for the truth. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
May 3, 2018
Con questo libro Stephanie Laurens comincia una nuova serie di quattro capitoli dal titolo “I quattro avventurieri”, che racconta come i fratelli Frobisher, all’apparenza armatori, ma anche corsari alle dipendenze della Corona, devono portare a termine una pericolosa missione in Sierra Leone. Il primo a scendere in campo è Declan, appena sposato con la figlia di un duca, Lady Edwina, che proviene sì da una famiglia ducale, ma anche molto originale. Così originale che le donne della casata si sono dovute creare una specie di corazza, per impedire al ton di venire a conoscenza di alcuni scandali che le metterebbero al bando; scandali che includono il suicidio del fratello maggiore per debiti e la scomparsa del secondogenito, che vive sotto il nome di Roscoe Neville ed è il re del gioco d’azzardo di Londra. Edwina e Declan si sono desiderati dal primo sguardo e il loro è stato un matrimonio d’amore, la loro vita insieme è appena cominciata e la giovane donna ha ben in mente ciò che vuole ottenere da suo marito, confidenza, una vera intimità e la conoscenza di tutti i suoi segreti. Inoltre, pur non avendone mai parlato, lei non è affatto disposta a lasciare che lui per sei mesi vada in mare senza di lei. Ha già da tempo deciso di voler navigare con lui, ha sempre desiderato poter vivere un’avventura e, nonostante sia all’oscuro del vero lavoro del marito, è disposta a fare qualsiasi cosa per poterlo seguire. Così, quando il giovane, seppure in luna di miele, viene chiamato a rapporto dal duca di Wolverstone ed è costretto a partire immediatamente, per scoprire ciò che sta accadendo a Freetown, dove è distaccata la flottiglia della marina, Edwina, a insaputa del marito, si imbarca come clandestina. E per i due comincia davvero un’avventura che li porterà a un’intimità mai raggiunta prima.
Io adoro Stephanie Laurens, eppure, con dolore, devo dire che questo primo libro, pur piacevolissimo non mi ha entusiasmato. I personaggi sono belli, le scene passionali sono, da sempre, il fiore all’occhiello di quest’autrice bravissima, eppure la storia tarda a decollare, e ho trovato davvero eccessiva questa continua ossessione di raggiungere la simbiosi totale con il proprio partner. Intendiamoci, tutti i libri della Laurens raccontano di donne che arrivano ad avere una vera parità con i loro uomini, carpendone tutti i segreti e diventando di fatto il loro braccio destro, ma, forse, questo era mitigato dal corteggiamento che precedeva il matrimonio, che di solito avveniva verso la fine del libro. Qui, al contrario, la storia comincia con i due già sposati, innamoratissimi e con un grande e intenso affiatamento fisico, siamo, perciò, stati privati del corteggiamento. Anche ciò che riguarda la missione, almeno nella prima parte, rimane sottotono e sono verso il finale le cose cominciano ad avere un buon ritmo. La cosa che invece ho amato è stata ritrovare Wolverstone, personaggio di cui abbiamo seguito la storia nella serie “Bastion Club” (e vorrei rimarcare che a questa serie mancano ancora tre libri mai pubblicati), ma che appare anche nella serie “Quartetto del cobra nero”, mantenendo la caratteristica dell’autrice, che spesso fa apparire i suoi protagonisti in serie diverse, riunendole con tenui fili conduttori. E non posso a questo punto non ricordare alla casa editrice che esiste il libro “The Lady Risks All”, che racconta la storia di Neville Roscoe, fratello di Edwina, che mi piacerebbe tanto poter leggere.
Niente è stato ancora portato a termine, ora toccherà al secondo fratello proseguire e tentare di scoprire dove siano state portate le persone scomparse. A noi non rimane che aspettare e vedere come evolverà la storia, sperando in storie d’amore più intriganti.
Io adoro Stephanie Laurens, eppure, con dolore, devo dire che questo primo libro, pur piacevolissimo non mi ha entusiasmato. I personaggi sono belli, le scene passionali sono, da sempre, il fiore all’occhiello di quest’autrice bravissima, eppure la storia tarda a decollare, e ho trovato davvero eccessiva questa continua ossessione di raggiungere la simbiosi totale con il proprio partner. Intendiamoci, tutti i libri della Laurens raccontano di donne che arrivano ad avere una vera parità con i loro uomini, carpendone tutti i segreti e diventando di fatto il loro braccio destro, ma, forse, questo era mitigato dal corteggiamento che precedeva il matrimonio, che di solito avveniva verso la fine del libro. Qui, al contrario, la storia comincia con i due già sposati, innamoratissimi e con un grande e intenso affiatamento fisico, siamo, perciò, stati privati del corteggiamento. Anche ciò che riguarda la missione, almeno nella prima parte, rimane sottotono e sono verso il finale le cose cominciano ad avere un buon ritmo. La cosa che invece ho amato è stata ritrovare Wolverstone, personaggio di cui abbiamo seguito la storia nella serie “Bastion Club” (e vorrei rimarcare che a questa serie mancano ancora tre libri mai pubblicati), ma che appare anche nella serie “Quartetto del cobra nero”, mantenendo la caratteristica dell’autrice, che spesso fa apparire i suoi protagonisti in serie diverse, riunendole con tenui fili conduttori. E non posso a questo punto non ricordare alla casa editrice che esiste il libro “The Lady Risks All”, che racconta la storia di Neville Roscoe, fratello di Edwina, che mi piacerebbe tanto poter leggere.
Niente è stato ancora portato a termine, ora toccherà al secondo fratello proseguire e tentare di scoprire dove siano state portate le persone scomparse. A noi non rimane che aspettare e vedere come evolverà la storia, sperando in storie d’amore più intriganti.
January 1, 2016
I ended up skimming much of this book. Typical Laurens book in that the heroine wants to run her life her own way and wants to manipulate/prove to the hero that it's better for them to run in tandem rather than him calling the shots. Every books feels the same- I'm so tired of it. The overly flowery sex was a little less frequent in this short book than usual, which was nice.
August 22, 2021
The author spent more time writing about the scenery than the “love story”. There was no chance to connect with the two main characters and I felt like I was just being told the summary of events rather than being part of the story. Very poorly written. The only reason I finished the story was to listen to my favorite narrator Steve West.
Read
March 2, 2019DNF at 18%. I reject the premise of this book. No married couple needs to be together all the time.
July 31, 2018
Es handelt sich hier um den Auftakt einer Buchreihe, in der die Paargeschichten in sich abgeschlossen sind, in dem sich aber eine wesentliche Sache, wie ein roter Faden durch alle Teile ziehen wird. Daher ist es nicht empfehlenswert, die Bücher einzeln zu lesen, sondern es ist eher sinnig mit diesem ersten Teil anzufangen.
Ich hatte das Vergnügen, dieses Buch im Rahmen unserer Leserundeaktion #3Frauen1Buch, zusammen mit Tii von Tii und Anas kleiner Bücherwelt und meiner Blogpartnerin Melinda, genießen zu dürfen. Im Gegensatz zu meinen Lesepartnern, brauchte ich allerdings etwas länger um die Geschichte lesen und verstehen zu können, da ich im Genre der Historik noch nicht all zu erfahren und geübt bin. Trotzdem kam ich relativ gut mit der Wortwahl und auch den Formulierungen in den Texten zurecht. Mit den Handlungen, Entwicklungen und dem Werdegang hatte ich aber zum Glück keine Schwierigkeiten und konnte so dem Verlauf gut folgen.
Die beiden Hauptcharaktere waren beide an sich sehr sympathisch, auch wenn ich mir gerade Declan Frobisher an manchen Stellen ein wenig forscher und dominanter gewünscht hätte. Für einen Kapitän, der auf sehr geheime und gefährliche Missionen unterwegs ist, kam er mir doch an einigen Passagen etwas zu sanft und zu gnädig vor.
Seine Frau hingegen, machte dem Titel des Buches alle Ehre. Sie war willenstark, eigensinnig und zielstrebig. Ich mochte ihre wohlüberlegte Vorgehensweise ebenso sehr, wie ihre stetige Beherrschtheit in jeder Situation.
Der Roman bot eine sehr schöne Grundlage aus Gefühl und Spannung, auch wenn die Geschichte für meinen Geschmack, gerade am Anfang, viel zu lange brauchte, um wirklich in Fahrt zu kommen. Sobald diese Durststrecke allerdings überstanden war, konnte ich wunderbar auf dem Wellengang der Ereignisse und Ermittlungen mitgehen.
Auch wenn die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Edwina und Declan hier abgeschlossen und rund ist, so blieben doch noch genug Einzelheiten ungeklärt, so dass noch genug Potential und Neugierde für den zweiten Teil gegeben sind.
Ich freu mich auf jeden Fall schon auf den zweiten Teil der Reihe und hoffe einige Antworten auf die Fragen zu bekommen, die mir hier noch mit auf den Weg gegeben wurden.
Ich hatte das Vergnügen, dieses Buch im Rahmen unserer Leserundeaktion #3Frauen1Buch, zusammen mit Tii von Tii und Anas kleiner Bücherwelt und meiner Blogpartnerin Melinda, genießen zu dürfen. Im Gegensatz zu meinen Lesepartnern, brauchte ich allerdings etwas länger um die Geschichte lesen und verstehen zu können, da ich im Genre der Historik noch nicht all zu erfahren und geübt bin. Trotzdem kam ich relativ gut mit der Wortwahl und auch den Formulierungen in den Texten zurecht. Mit den Handlungen, Entwicklungen und dem Werdegang hatte ich aber zum Glück keine Schwierigkeiten und konnte so dem Verlauf gut folgen.
Die beiden Hauptcharaktere waren beide an sich sehr sympathisch, auch wenn ich mir gerade Declan Frobisher an manchen Stellen ein wenig forscher und dominanter gewünscht hätte. Für einen Kapitän, der auf sehr geheime und gefährliche Missionen unterwegs ist, kam er mir doch an einigen Passagen etwas zu sanft und zu gnädig vor.
Seine Frau hingegen, machte dem Titel des Buches alle Ehre. Sie war willenstark, eigensinnig und zielstrebig. Ich mochte ihre wohlüberlegte Vorgehensweise ebenso sehr, wie ihre stetige Beherrschtheit in jeder Situation.
Der Roman bot eine sehr schöne Grundlage aus Gefühl und Spannung, auch wenn die Geschichte für meinen Geschmack, gerade am Anfang, viel zu lange brauchte, um wirklich in Fahrt zu kommen. Sobald diese Durststrecke allerdings überstanden war, konnte ich wunderbar auf dem Wellengang der Ereignisse und Ermittlungen mitgehen.
Auch wenn die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Edwina und Declan hier abgeschlossen und rund ist, so blieben doch noch genug Einzelheiten ungeklärt, so dass noch genug Potential und Neugierde für den zweiten Teil gegeben sind.
Ich freu mich auf jeden Fall schon auf den zweiten Teil der Reihe und hoffe einige Antworten auf die Fragen zu bekommen, die mir hier noch mit auf den Weg gegeben wurden.
May 11, 2019
I thought The Adventurers Quartet was brilliantly written. It was typical Stephanie Laurens and I love her books. You can read each of the 4 books as a stand alone, but it's much better to read them in order. The 4 brothers each embark on a separate part of a covert government mission to discover why a number of people have gone missing. I'm not going to give anything away but these are action packed and well thought out novels which carry you along to the very end. I have given each one in the series a 5* because this is what I feel each book deserves.
August 11, 2021
First time I’ve been truly disappointed with a Stephanie Laurents book. The reader was lackluster and the story, only somewhat compelling. I also missed the romance and passion that is typical of her books.
December 30, 2019
2.5? This was just ok.
April 22, 2018
Library copy
January 28, 2016
Let me be clear: two stars means “It was OK,” not “it was terrible.” In other words, I didn’t think it was awful; I didn’t particularly dislike the book, and I may even read the next one… but on the other hand, there was very little romantic tension, the mystery isn’t all that gripping so far, and there’s a lot more “telling” than I expect from Laurens. Add to that the rather fulsome prose Laurens is prone to in her sensual scenes, and what could have been an exciting story is simply… OK. That would be fine from a beginning author, but is very disappointing from one of the big names in historical romance.
As in the earlier Black Cobra Quartet, the mystery in the Adventurers Quartet will be spread over four books. Judging by the first book, however, it is not nearly as compelling as the Black Cobra story. Where in the previous series, the principal characters faced significant danger throughout each book, in The Lady’s Command, the danger is more nebulous and only comes to a head twice; both times, it is resolved relatively easily. Even the mystery itself is less well-defined than in the Black Cobra series. Instead of a cult of assassins and cuthroats terrorizing Indian villages, in The Lady’s Command the mystery revolves around a handful of missing officers, presumably disappeared into the jungle around Freetown (in West Africa.) Moreover, Wolverstone (a.k.a. Dalziel), who appears as the unofficial head of the sub-rosa investigation, behaves with uncharacteristic caution, issuing Declan more restrictive orders than Dalziel normally gave his agents in the past. This serves to prolong the investigation over four books, but diminishes any sense of urgency in The Lady’s Command, and leaves little room for either initiative or the unexpected.
As for the romantic tension, it is practically nonexistent. The book opens with the hero and heroine already married. I don’t see that as a drawback as long as the relationship arc has somewhere to go and the main characters grow and develop throughout the book. Sadly, in The Lady’s Command, there is little conflict between Edwina and Declan. They love each other (without telling each other so in words), they’re committed to and happy about their marriage, and they’re both enjoying the physical aspects of their relationship. The only “conflict” is that they have different ideas regarding how their marriage should be conducted: along traditional lines (Declan) or as a true partnership (Edwina.) Laurens could have developed this unspoken disagreement into a true conflict, one which would require compromise, change, and growth on both their parts. Instead, she resolves it fairly easily and without much discussion, let alone argument, between the pair. I’m sure her intent was to focus on the mystery, but as I’ve already pointed out, the mystery is also less compelling than it could be.
Laurens also resorts to far more exposition than she used to, “telling” the story or the characters’ thoughts and motivations rather than letting us see, hear, and infer them through dialogue and action. I don’t mean to imply that there is no action, no dialog; both are there, but the expository sections sometimes had the effect of distancing me from the action and reducing the intensity of my involvement.
The overall result is a book that feels rather bland, which is not what I usually expect from Stephanie Laurens — although after her recent books, perhaps I should have expected it. She’s become much more formulaic in terms of her characters as well as her plots. It makes me feel rather disheartened, to be honest. At her best, with the first six or eight Cynster novels, she quickly became one of my favorite romance authors. It saddens me to realize I’m now reading her merely for old times’ sake.
As in the earlier Black Cobra Quartet, the mystery in the Adventurers Quartet will be spread over four books. Judging by the first book, however, it is not nearly as compelling as the Black Cobra story. Where in the previous series, the principal characters faced significant danger throughout each book, in The Lady’s Command, the danger is more nebulous and only comes to a head twice; both times, it is resolved relatively easily. Even the mystery itself is less well-defined than in the Black Cobra series. Instead of a cult of assassins and cuthroats terrorizing Indian villages, in The Lady’s Command the mystery revolves around a handful of missing officers, presumably disappeared into the jungle around Freetown (in West Africa.) Moreover, Wolverstone (a.k.a. Dalziel), who appears as the unofficial head of the sub-rosa investigation, behaves with uncharacteristic caution, issuing Declan more restrictive orders than Dalziel normally gave his agents in the past. This serves to prolong the investigation over four books, but diminishes any sense of urgency in The Lady’s Command, and leaves little room for either initiative or the unexpected.
As for the romantic tension, it is practically nonexistent. The book opens with the hero and heroine already married. I don’t see that as a drawback as long as the relationship arc has somewhere to go and the main characters grow and develop throughout the book. Sadly, in The Lady’s Command, there is little conflict between Edwina and Declan. They love each other (without telling each other so in words), they’re committed to and happy about their marriage, and they’re both enjoying the physical aspects of their relationship. The only “conflict” is that they have different ideas regarding how their marriage should be conducted: along traditional lines (Declan) or as a true partnership (Edwina.) Laurens could have developed this unspoken disagreement into a true conflict, one which would require compromise, change, and growth on both their parts. Instead, she resolves it fairly easily and without much discussion, let alone argument, between the pair. I’m sure her intent was to focus on the mystery, but as I’ve already pointed out, the mystery is also less compelling than it could be.
Laurens also resorts to far more exposition than she used to, “telling” the story or the characters’ thoughts and motivations rather than letting us see, hear, and infer them through dialogue and action. I don’t mean to imply that there is no action, no dialog; both are there, but the expository sections sometimes had the effect of distancing me from the action and reducing the intensity of my involvement.
The overall result is a book that feels rather bland, which is not what I usually expect from Stephanie Laurens — although after her recent books, perhaps I should have expected it. She’s become much more formulaic in terms of her characters as well as her plots. It makes me feel rather disheartened, to be honest. At her best, with the first six or eight Cynster novels, she quickly became one of my favorite romance authors. It saddens me to realize I’m now reading her merely for old times’ sake.
April 28, 2016
The Adventurers Quartet is a set of 4 novels each focusing on a different Frobisher brother – starting with Declan in The Lady’s Command. Immediately from the start I had a slightly nagging feeling that I was supposed to know something about these people already, despite this being the first book in a series – and I wasn’t wrong! Some of the characters in this series were secondary characters in Laurens' prior novel The Lady Risks All, as well as two of her prior series The Bastion Club and The Black Cobra Quartet. I don’t feel that having not read these in any way impacted my experience with this book – there were just little references from time to time that I registered as probably have some significance; for example, there were frequent references to the mess of the Black Cobra cult and campaigns.
I don’t typically read a ton of historical romances, but what drew me to accept this for review was the bent toward the adventure – and I have to say, that was the enjoyable part of this novel for me, romance and history aside. I am going to do this review a little different and take each of those elements at hand here.
- Romance -
It was so refreshing to have a romance novel start with two characters that are already married at the start of the novel – and not even the kind of married that happened because they were forced together by circumstances. They actually are in love with each other from the beginning! What was interesting was seeing how this grew and changed over the course of the novel and made their relationship stronger. I would say that the romance was a secondary element to the novel. While there was certainly an acceptable helping of romantic scenes, they actually served to develop the characters rather than just be thrown in for the sake of sex. They were rather tasteful and alluding, but gave you just enough without being too graphic.
- History -
The historical part was mostly just the backdrop setting. This is a regency set novel taking place in England, on the high seas, and in colonial Africa. You get a sense of the drawing room and the dangers of the port. You hear mention of slave traders. That’s about the extent of it.
- Adventure -
People have gone missing – Declan is sent on a mission to figure out why. It’s part mystery, part adventure on the high seas and the borderline wilderness of Africa. I typically don’t enjoy historical mysteries because they tend to be so transparent and flimsy. But I did not see the twists coming in this one. And while we do not know how this mystery wraps up (that will happen in future installments of this series) I found it to be an adequate place to pause the story.
The segments that take place in England were honestly the most absolutely boring parts of the novel. I almost put the book down at the 25% mark because it was frustratingly slow. She loves him, he loves her – they stare at each other with longing – and that is it. Until they set foot on the boat, it is not interesting at all. As soon as they return to England the story ground to a halt – I was hopeful that style had lost its way in Africa, but no go.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I might feel compelled to read the next book when it comes out. It was one of the more enjoyable historical romance novels I have read.
This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog and was received in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t typically read a ton of historical romances, but what drew me to accept this for review was the bent toward the adventure – and I have to say, that was the enjoyable part of this novel for me, romance and history aside. I am going to do this review a little different and take each of those elements at hand here.
- Romance -
It was so refreshing to have a romance novel start with two characters that are already married at the start of the novel – and not even the kind of married that happened because they were forced together by circumstances. They actually are in love with each other from the beginning! What was interesting was seeing how this grew and changed over the course of the novel and made their relationship stronger. I would say that the romance was a secondary element to the novel. While there was certainly an acceptable helping of romantic scenes, they actually served to develop the characters rather than just be thrown in for the sake of sex. They were rather tasteful and alluding, but gave you just enough without being too graphic.
- History -
The historical part was mostly just the backdrop setting. This is a regency set novel taking place in England, on the high seas, and in colonial Africa. You get a sense of the drawing room and the dangers of the port. You hear mention of slave traders. That’s about the extent of it.
- Adventure -
People have gone missing – Declan is sent on a mission to figure out why. It’s part mystery, part adventure on the high seas and the borderline wilderness of Africa. I typically don’t enjoy historical mysteries because they tend to be so transparent and flimsy. But I did not see the twists coming in this one. And while we do not know how this mystery wraps up (that will happen in future installments of this series) I found it to be an adequate place to pause the story.
The segments that take place in England were honestly the most absolutely boring parts of the novel. I almost put the book down at the 25% mark because it was frustratingly slow. She loves him, he loves her – they stare at each other with longing – and that is it. Until they set foot on the boat, it is not interesting at all. As soon as they return to England the story ground to a halt – I was hopeful that style had lost its way in Africa, but no go.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I might feel compelled to read the next book when it comes out. It was one of the more enjoyable historical romance novels I have read.
This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog and was received in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2016
The Lady's Command is the first book of a new series by Stephanie Laurens. This book takes place during the Regency Era of history and I love this time because of the way that things were then; fancy balls given by members of the ton, and that was more like a marriage market, than anything else. All the woman are dressed beautifully and the men wear their finest as well. The main reason for these Balls-to gossip about each other and find out or spread rumors a well! And of course to match up all kinds of men and women to get married.
In the opening of this book we are introduced to the heroine, Lady Edwina Frobisher. Edwina and her family are in attendance as well Declan Frobisher her new husband and the hero of this book. He is a scion of a bold seafaring dynasty. His family has always been in the Shipping business, and well respected by the ton, his family is rich not in property but in ships and they are worldwide now. Although no one really knows that much about Declan and his family, his family goes back very far in history and society. Lady Edwina is his new bride and they are a very beautiful couple. However one thing we find out from the beginning-Edwina is not the type of young woman that will stay home and wait for her sea captain to return, like he thought she would! On the contrary she has informed her husband that whatever awaits him on the high seas-he will not be alone!
There is a lot of mystery and intrigue in this book and without giving anything away, all kinds of things happen. Declan is asked to go on a secret mission and it is one that will put his life and the lives of his shipmates at risk, and he really does not want his beautiful wife on this trip, however underneath all of her beauty her husband soon discovers that his wife is very strong willed and not afraid to be at his side. He also realizes that even if he told her she could not go, that would not have mattered! Edwina is not the type of woman to stay at home and wait for her husband to return to her. On the contrary she wants a real marriage, one in which they share everything!
Read this book and you will see how they forge through all kinds of adventure and danger together and how Declan is faced with the truth about his wife-she is beautiful, fearless and an asset to him, and she was born to rule! The book ends in a bit of a cliffhanger but we will not have to wait too long to see what happens. This book has a great plot with a lot of twists and turns along the way, and there is a lot of mystery and angst between a lot of the people in this book. There are a lot of characters in this book as well, and the author has kindly provided a cast of characters of who is who! We also get to meet a few of the characters in the next books.
The next book that comes out on April 26th, A Buccaneer at Heart, I am sure will be just as good as this first one! I know when it comes out and I will also read it to see what happens next!
I gave this book 5***** swashbuckling stars and am so glad I read it!
In the opening of this book we are introduced to the heroine, Lady Edwina Frobisher. Edwina and her family are in attendance as well Declan Frobisher her new husband and the hero of this book. He is a scion of a bold seafaring dynasty. His family has always been in the Shipping business, and well respected by the ton, his family is rich not in property but in ships and they are worldwide now. Although no one really knows that much about Declan and his family, his family goes back very far in history and society. Lady Edwina is his new bride and they are a very beautiful couple. However one thing we find out from the beginning-Edwina is not the type of young woman that will stay home and wait for her sea captain to return, like he thought she would! On the contrary she has informed her husband that whatever awaits him on the high seas-he will not be alone!
There is a lot of mystery and intrigue in this book and without giving anything away, all kinds of things happen. Declan is asked to go on a secret mission and it is one that will put his life and the lives of his shipmates at risk, and he really does not want his beautiful wife on this trip, however underneath all of her beauty her husband soon discovers that his wife is very strong willed and not afraid to be at his side. He also realizes that even if he told her she could not go, that would not have mattered! Edwina is not the type of woman to stay at home and wait for her husband to return to her. On the contrary she wants a real marriage, one in which they share everything!
Read this book and you will see how they forge through all kinds of adventure and danger together and how Declan is faced with the truth about his wife-she is beautiful, fearless and an asset to him, and she was born to rule! The book ends in a bit of a cliffhanger but we will not have to wait too long to see what happens. This book has a great plot with a lot of twists and turns along the way, and there is a lot of mystery and angst between a lot of the people in this book. There are a lot of characters in this book as well, and the author has kindly provided a cast of characters of who is who! We also get to meet a few of the characters in the next books.
The next book that comes out on April 26th, A Buccaneer at Heart, I am sure will be just as good as this first one! I know when it comes out and I will also read it to see what happens next!
I gave this book 5***** swashbuckling stars and am so glad I read it!
December 29, 2015
London - 1824
Declan Frobisher and his new wife, Lady Edwina Frobisher, daughter of a Duke, are enjoying their new marriage attending events with friends. Edwina is a beautiful blonde lady with impeccable manners. Declan is the second of four Frobisher brothers. Their father owns a large shipping company and numerous ships. All of the brothers are involved with the shipping business and have their own ship.
When Declan is summoned by the First Lord of the Admiralty, he knows that something is brewing. His family has helped the Crown with covert operations in the past and gears himself for what may be coming. It appears that some men sent by the government to Freeport in west Africa, have gone missing and no one has any idea what could have happened to them. Declan is requested to take his ship, "The Cormorant” and sail to Freeport. He is to appear there as just a visitor and not on any particular business so as to not spark the interest of anyone that might be behind these missing people. He is to quietly see what information he can find. Of course, he agrees to the request.
Declan tells Edwina that he will be gone for about two weeks just to take some cargo someplace for the company. When she insists on going with him, he is adamant that she will not. After some argument, she finally relents - or so he thinks. When the ship sails and he retires to his room, he is surprised to find a large trunk in his room. Yes, you guessed it. Edwina is inside! But all is not lost because she truly enjoys the trip and learns about sailing. He tells her the real reason for his trip and they both make plans on how to tackle the problem.
When they arrive, they are welcomed by the English people and using her perfect skills as a lady, Edwina is able to glean information that not just men, but some women and children have gone missing too. Coupling that with what Declan learns and more surprising things surface.
We meet some of the local natives of the town and find that their unusual rituals may be hiding something sinister.
I really liked this book. Declan and Edwina are perfect for each other. A great story. This is the first book in the author’s new series called “The Adventurers Quartet.” I look forward to reading future books in this series and highly recommend it.
Copy provided by the publisher.
Declan Frobisher and his new wife, Lady Edwina Frobisher, daughter of a Duke, are enjoying their new marriage attending events with friends. Edwina is a beautiful blonde lady with impeccable manners. Declan is the second of four Frobisher brothers. Their father owns a large shipping company and numerous ships. All of the brothers are involved with the shipping business and have their own ship.
When Declan is summoned by the First Lord of the Admiralty, he knows that something is brewing. His family has helped the Crown with covert operations in the past and gears himself for what may be coming. It appears that some men sent by the government to Freeport in west Africa, have gone missing and no one has any idea what could have happened to them. Declan is requested to take his ship, "The Cormorant” and sail to Freeport. He is to appear there as just a visitor and not on any particular business so as to not spark the interest of anyone that might be behind these missing people. He is to quietly see what information he can find. Of course, he agrees to the request.
Declan tells Edwina that he will be gone for about two weeks just to take some cargo someplace for the company. When she insists on going with him, he is adamant that she will not. After some argument, she finally relents - or so he thinks. When the ship sails and he retires to his room, he is surprised to find a large trunk in his room. Yes, you guessed it. Edwina is inside! But all is not lost because she truly enjoys the trip and learns about sailing. He tells her the real reason for his trip and they both make plans on how to tackle the problem.
When they arrive, they are welcomed by the English people and using her perfect skills as a lady, Edwina is able to glean information that not just men, but some women and children have gone missing too. Coupling that with what Declan learns and more surprising things surface.
We meet some of the local natives of the town and find that their unusual rituals may be hiding something sinister.
I really liked this book. Declan and Edwina are perfect for each other. A great story. This is the first book in the author’s new series called “The Adventurers Quartet.” I look forward to reading future books in this series and highly recommend it.
Copy provided by the publisher.
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