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Group of Eight #2
Lady of Intrigue
London, 1814
Lady Jane Langley values logic and reason over passion and emotion. Her intellect has given her value in the eyes of both her father and society. Logic gives way to terrible, icy fear when Jane finds herself in a devastating carriage accident... an accident in which she is helpless to do anything but watch as her aristocratic companion is murdered.
But this was no mere accident. This was an assassination. Spy and grandson of Lord Landsdowne, Gerard Badeau is methodic in his dark, shadowy work, knowing that any display of emotion could get him killed. Something about the mysterious woman and her cool blue eyes stays Gerard's lethal hand. Now he has both a witness and a hostage.
And if he doesn't kill Lady Jane Langley, he risks a fate that is far, far worse...falling in love with her.
Lady Jane Langley values logic and reason over passion and emotion. Her intellect has given her value in the eyes of both her father and society. Logic gives way to terrible, icy fear when Jane finds herself in a devastating carriage accident... an accident in which she is helpless to do anything but watch as her aristocratic companion is murdered.
But this was no mere accident. This was an assassination. Spy and grandson of Lord Landsdowne, Gerard Badeau is methodic in his dark, shadowy work, knowing that any display of emotion could get him killed. Something about the mysterious woman and her cool blue eyes stays Gerard's lethal hand. Now he has both a witness and a hostage.
And if he doesn't kill Lady Jane Langley, he risks a fate that is far, far worse...falling in love with her.
Paperback
First published November 9, 2015
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About the author
Sabrina Darby
20 books192 followersSabrina Darby has been reading romance since the age of seven and learned her best vocabulary (dulcet, diaphanous, and turgid) from them. She started writing romance the day after her wedding when she woke up with an idea for a Regency; she’s been back in the early 19th century ever since.
She currently resides in California with her husband.
And for more historical romance fabulousness, join Sabrina at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ILove... for fun discussions led live every Thursday by a different guest co-host.
She currently resides in California with her husband.
And for more historical romance fabulousness, join Sabrina at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ILove... for fun discussions led live every Thursday by a different guest co-host.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 4, 2015
****Full Review****
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Gerard was born on the wrong side of the blanket and as a consequence has lived his life as a tool for his Machiavellian grandfather, Lord Landsdowne. Wearing the current mantle of assassin, he meets Lady Jane and with one look into her cool and assessing eyes, he finds himself wanting to shed all his previous skins. Jane has let life pass her by working as her father's secretary and reveling in being around powerful men who rule the time. However, staring into her angel of death's face has finally sparked her desire for her own life. Jane doesn’t want her life to change and Gerard desperately wants it to, what neither has realized is that they've already changed each other and the rest is inescapable.
Lady of Intrigue is book two in the Group of Eight series and while I'm sure some characters made appearances in the first book, this could be read as a standalone. The tone and feel of this was quite different from the usual historical regency romance fare. The writing and emotions felt heady, heavy, and in the beginning, I felt somewhat seduced by the languid feel. As I read on though, the story and characters never fully formed from the mist they seemed shrouded in. It felt as if the author had skipped or left out the building blocks of our characters' relationship and with such a foundationless format, I didn't connect to this story as much as I would have liked.
"We are impossible, but inevitable."
Gerard started off as a great dark and murky man of mystery with his world weariness and devout commitment to Jane; he will be the favorite of the story. Jane was a cool character who was a realistic product of her time but this also made her a very unromantic heroine. Jane enjoys her lofty spot in society and realizes that marrying an illegitimate man with a shady background will put an end to those invitations she enjoys (she's not so much into the vapid social scene as the political power one). See what I mean? Realistic? Yes. Passionately romantic? Umm, no. In a bit of a reversal of her time period attitude, she sleeps with Gerard but still refuses to marry him. This all made her character seem a bit uneven; especially in the last few chapters where she has a very sudden change of heart that was probably put in to redeem her in the reader's eye. Gerard shows a bit of frustration towards her attitude but ultimately works at getting his stature to rise in society to make himself worthy.
"You have to let me go," she whispered.
"Don't be a coward."
Gerard's murky dealings for his grandfather and his other outsourced work, led to our couple meeting and kept them in danger but there were too many, way to the side players and it wasn't always worth the effort to keep track of how everything and everyone connected and interacted; classism and Jane were the biggest villains of this piece. The main focus seemed to want to be the impossible and inevitable relationship between Gerard and Jane but while I was intrigued the how and why parts seemed to be missing. As soon as our leads make eye contact they are in love. The tone saves the story from feeling insta sappy but not from feeling real and having me question why Gerard and Jane felt the way they did about each other; substance was needed.
Lady of Intrigue started off intriguing with its misty tone and shadowy hero but with a cool hearted heroine and lack of substantive evidence for a romance, it left me wanting. However, if you don't mind some cold realism and are looking for a different tone from your regencies, this was a well written if not crafted story.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Gerard was born on the wrong side of the blanket and as a consequence has lived his life as a tool for his Machiavellian grandfather, Lord Landsdowne. Wearing the current mantle of assassin, he meets Lady Jane and with one look into her cool and assessing eyes, he finds himself wanting to shed all his previous skins. Jane has let life pass her by working as her father's secretary and reveling in being around powerful men who rule the time. However, staring into her angel of death's face has finally sparked her desire for her own life. Jane doesn’t want her life to change and Gerard desperately wants it to, what neither has realized is that they've already changed each other and the rest is inescapable.
Lady of Intrigue is book two in the Group of Eight series and while I'm sure some characters made appearances in the first book, this could be read as a standalone. The tone and feel of this was quite different from the usual historical regency romance fare. The writing and emotions felt heady, heavy, and in the beginning, I felt somewhat seduced by the languid feel. As I read on though, the story and characters never fully formed from the mist they seemed shrouded in. It felt as if the author had skipped or left out the building blocks of our characters' relationship and with such a foundationless format, I didn't connect to this story as much as I would have liked.
"We are impossible, but inevitable."
Gerard started off as a great dark and murky man of mystery with his world weariness and devout commitment to Jane; he will be the favorite of the story. Jane was a cool character who was a realistic product of her time but this also made her a very unromantic heroine. Jane enjoys her lofty spot in society and realizes that marrying an illegitimate man with a shady background will put an end to those invitations she enjoys (she's not so much into the vapid social scene as the political power one). See what I mean? Realistic? Yes. Passionately romantic? Umm, no. In a bit of a reversal of her time period attitude, she sleeps with Gerard but still refuses to marry him. This all made her character seem a bit uneven; especially in the last few chapters where she has a very sudden change of heart that was probably put in to redeem her in the reader's eye. Gerard shows a bit of frustration towards her attitude but ultimately works at getting his stature to rise in society to make himself worthy.
"You have to let me go," she whispered.
"Don't be a coward."
Gerard's murky dealings for his grandfather and his other outsourced work, led to our couple meeting and kept them in danger but there were too many, way to the side players and it wasn't always worth the effort to keep track of how everything and everyone connected and interacted; classism and Jane were the biggest villains of this piece. The main focus seemed to want to be the impossible and inevitable relationship between Gerard and Jane but while I was intrigued the how and why parts seemed to be missing. As soon as our leads make eye contact they are in love. The tone saves the story from feeling insta sappy but not from feeling real and having me question why Gerard and Jane felt the way they did about each other; substance was needed.
Lady of Intrigue started off intriguing with its misty tone and shadowy hero but with a cool hearted heroine and lack of substantive evidence for a romance, it left me wanting. However, if you don't mind some cold realism and are looking for a different tone from your regencies, this was a well written if not crafted story.
November 10, 2015
*** I received this book for free from Tasty Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review, which was originally published on book blog Will Read for Feels.
When it comes to Georgian and Regency romance, nothing beats a ducal hottie in my book—it’s terrible, I know, but “duke” tends to grab my attention far earlier than “marquess” or “earl” or “viscount,” not to mention “baron.” Eek! I guess that makes me a historical romance snob! Nevertheless, when given the chance to check out Addie Jo Ryleigh’s The Duke’s Temptation, I immediately signed up for a review copy.
Although in my defense, this wasn’t just for the chance of ducal yumminess; I also liked that this book featured the whole big-brother’s-best-friend trope that’s a particular favorite of mine. And while this is my first Addie Jo Ryleigh book, it worked out okay for me, mostly thanks to the strengths of its characters—and its heroine, in particular.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me introduce you to the characters: Gabe St. James is the sixth Duke of Wesbrook, and he isnt’ exactly a paragon of virtue and nobility when this book starts out. He’s something of an indolent womanizer, and he would rather leave the managing and oversight of his estate to his steward than see to matters himself. But he gets a rude awakening in the very first scene when he is confronted with the existence (and presence) of his illegitimate daughter, brought to his home after the death of her mother, the woman he had once thought to marry.
What follows is a struggle to prove himself better than his philandering father raised him to be, the same father who left several by blows himself and cared for none of them. Gabe, in his quest to care for his daughter, gains an unexpected ally in Lady Elizabeth Blakely, sister to his best friend, Marcus, Earl of Foxmoore. She’s also the one woman he desires above all but refuses to burden with the mess of his life and his emotional baggage.
Little does he know that Elizabeth has adored him since childhood and that he’s the reason why she’s turned down the offers of marriage she’s received thus far. Initially, she volunteers to act as the temporary companion and kinda-sorta-governess to his daughter while assisting him in finding a permanent solution in order to get closer to Gabe and show him she is no longer the child who trailed after him and her brother on their adventures. But she soon finds herself enchanted by Phoebe, Gabe’s daughter, and with her heart engaged on two fronts, she is all the more determined to make Gabe accept and return her love. Problem: it’s not quite as simple as batting her eyelashes and parading about in her night clothes.
As I’ve already mentioned, I quite enjoyed the characters in this novel. I particularly liked how Elizabeth took her destiny into her own hands, went after what she wanted, and, when it looked like Gabe didn’t return her affections, decided that she (and her love for him) was worth nothing less than love freely given and a full life partnership. She decided that she wouldn’t settle for what scraps of affection she could get from Gabe, no matter how deeply she cared about him.
I guess the reason why I couldn’t five-star this story was the way the mystery was handled. Early on in the story, Gabe received a note from a blackmailer threatening to reveal a painful secret from his past. Then, later, it appeared that someone was determined to harm Elizabeth, little Phoebe, or both the females who’d won Gabe’s heart.
While the idea of a blackmailer forcing the duke to confront his past was a good one, the excuse for it seemed weaker than it could be. Add to that the very anticlimactic resolutions to these two sources of conflict, where one villain turned out not to be a villain at all, but someone rather pathetic, and the true villain ended up being a character who seemed to come out of nowhere, well, it kind of made me wish the author had dispensed with the mystery altogether and focused instead on the layered interpersonal relationships between the characters.
Still, I’m curious to learn about the fate of some of the supporting characters we met in this series, so here’s to hoping I can get my hands on book 2.
When it comes to Georgian and Regency romance, nothing beats a ducal hottie in my book—it’s terrible, I know, but “duke” tends to grab my attention far earlier than “marquess” or “earl” or “viscount,” not to mention “baron.” Eek! I guess that makes me a historical romance snob! Nevertheless, when given the chance to check out Addie Jo Ryleigh’s The Duke’s Temptation, I immediately signed up for a review copy.
Although in my defense, this wasn’t just for the chance of ducal yumminess; I also liked that this book featured the whole big-brother’s-best-friend trope that’s a particular favorite of mine. And while this is my first Addie Jo Ryleigh book, it worked out okay for me, mostly thanks to the strengths of its characters—and its heroine, in particular.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me introduce you to the characters: Gabe St. James is the sixth Duke of Wesbrook, and he isnt’ exactly a paragon of virtue and nobility when this book starts out. He’s something of an indolent womanizer, and he would rather leave the managing and oversight of his estate to his steward than see to matters himself. But he gets a rude awakening in the very first scene when he is confronted with the existence (and presence) of his illegitimate daughter, brought to his home after the death of her mother, the woman he had once thought to marry.
What follows is a struggle to prove himself better than his philandering father raised him to be, the same father who left several by blows himself and cared for none of them. Gabe, in his quest to care for his daughter, gains an unexpected ally in Lady Elizabeth Blakely, sister to his best friend, Marcus, Earl of Foxmoore. She’s also the one woman he desires above all but refuses to burden with the mess of his life and his emotional baggage.
Little does he know that Elizabeth has adored him since childhood and that he’s the reason why she’s turned down the offers of marriage she’s received thus far. Initially, she volunteers to act as the temporary companion and kinda-sorta-governess to his daughter while assisting him in finding a permanent solution in order to get closer to Gabe and show him she is no longer the child who trailed after him and her brother on their adventures. But she soon finds herself enchanted by Phoebe, Gabe’s daughter, and with her heart engaged on two fronts, she is all the more determined to make Gabe accept and return her love. Problem: it’s not quite as simple as batting her eyelashes and parading about in her night clothes.
As I’ve already mentioned, I quite enjoyed the characters in this novel. I particularly liked how Elizabeth took her destiny into her own hands, went after what she wanted, and, when it looked like Gabe didn’t return her affections, decided that she (and her love for him) was worth nothing less than love freely given and a full life partnership. She decided that she wouldn’t settle for what scraps of affection she could get from Gabe, no matter how deeply she cared about him.
I guess the reason why I couldn’t five-star this story was the way the mystery was handled. Early on in the story, Gabe received a note from a blackmailer threatening to reveal a painful secret from his past. Then, later, it appeared that someone was determined to harm Elizabeth, little Phoebe, or both the females who’d won Gabe’s heart.
While the idea of a blackmailer forcing the duke to confront his past was a good one, the excuse for it seemed weaker than it could be. Add to that the very anticlimactic resolutions to these two sources of conflict, where one villain turned out not to be a villain at all, but someone rather pathetic, and the true villain ended up being a character who seemed to come out of nowhere, well, it kind of made me wish the author had dispensed with the mystery altogether and focused instead on the layered interpersonal relationships between the characters.
Still, I’m curious to learn about the fate of some of the supporting characters we met in this series, so here’s to hoping I can get my hands on book 2.
November 13, 2015
Originally posted on Book-o-Craze, on a tour hosted by Tasty Book Tours.
This book really lived up to its title, with a significant amount of intrigues and hidden conspiracies being involved! But it was so much more, at the same time! It was a tribute to love between lovers, as well as family members!
But first things first...
It all started when Lady Jane Langley was involved in a -not really- accident, where she witnessed a stranger killing one of her co-passengers. The course of prior events, that are thoroughly explained later in the book, forced that stranger, named Gerard Badeau to hesitate before killing the witness. Instead, he decided to take her with him, unwilling to let her live and betray his secret and identity, but also unable to find the courage to finish her off, too.
From there on, an adventure begins for the Jane and Gerard, where the time they spend together force them to make an alliance, based at first on the severe injuries the lady has suffered and his tending to them, and later to a much deeper connection that starts to form between them slowly but on a steady pace.
I loved the way the author described this delicate blossoming of love between the heroes, while they both struggled to find themselves and realize their feelings for each other.
The whole procedure seemed very similar to what happens in real life, too, even if the people involved are not as complicated and complex as a lady and an assassin loving one other!
The book proceeded in a steady pace with no rushed feelings coming forward. Everything seemed so natural, when at first it was the close proximity and the fact that they were alone seemingly outside of the real world that brought them together, the long conversations they had with each other, the physical attraction and the need to consummate their strong feelings, and, least but not last, the actual love settling. A love that meant the abandonment of any egotistical feelings about their previous lifestyles.
There was also a strong reference to the meaning of family, referring not only to the marriage, but also to the relationship with the heroes' parents, as well as their siblings and their closed ones, something I also extremely enjoyed.
I could go on and on about the love between Jane and Gerard, and they way I perceived the whole procedure taking place, but instead, I will decide to not spoil the fun of the discovery for the rest of the readers. I will just emphasize the fact that I loved the way everything was flowing, the way the author described them, and the fact that the excitement started right from the first chapter!
All in all, 5 stars to an amazing experience of love of all kinds!
This book really lived up to its title, with a significant amount of intrigues and hidden conspiracies being involved! But it was so much more, at the same time! It was a tribute to love between lovers, as well as family members!
But first things first...
It all started when Lady Jane Langley was involved in a -not really- accident, where she witnessed a stranger killing one of her co-passengers. The course of prior events, that are thoroughly explained later in the book, forced that stranger, named Gerard Badeau to hesitate before killing the witness. Instead, he decided to take her with him, unwilling to let her live and betray his secret and identity, but also unable to find the courage to finish her off, too.
From there on, an adventure begins for the Jane and Gerard, where the time they spend together force them to make an alliance, based at first on the severe injuries the lady has suffered and his tending to them, and later to a much deeper connection that starts to form between them slowly but on a steady pace.
I loved the way the author described this delicate blossoming of love between the heroes, while they both struggled to find themselves and realize their feelings for each other.
The whole procedure seemed very similar to what happens in real life, too, even if the people involved are not as complicated and complex as a lady and an assassin loving one other!
The book proceeded in a steady pace with no rushed feelings coming forward. Everything seemed so natural, when at first it was the close proximity and the fact that they were alone seemingly outside of the real world that brought them together, the long conversations they had with each other, the physical attraction and the need to consummate their strong feelings, and, least but not last, the actual love settling. A love that meant the abandonment of any egotistical feelings about their previous lifestyles.
There was also a strong reference to the meaning of family, referring not only to the marriage, but also to the relationship with the heroes' parents, as well as their siblings and their closed ones, something I also extremely enjoyed.
I could go on and on about the love between Jane and Gerard, and they way I perceived the whole procedure taking place, but instead, I will decide to not spoil the fun of the discovery for the rest of the readers. I will just emphasize the fact that I loved the way everything was flowing, the way the author described them, and the fact that the excitement started right from the first chapter!
All in all, 5 stars to an amazing experience of love of all kinds!
December 12, 2015
I so loved this book!! I loved how quickly our hero(Gerard Badeau) realized that there were something different about our heroine (Lady Jane Langley)very quickly..then he was just a quick to realize he was in love. I truly wish I could give it 10 stars at least! The story is that Lady Jane is pretty much her fathers assistant and is traveling to meet up with him. Lady Jane decides to switch carriages and travel with a husband and wife headed to the same detestation. While travel with them their carriage comes under attack by our Gerard who is doing one of his 'jobs". Gerard did not except Lady Jane to be in the carriage and has to decided to keep her or kill her. He quickly takes her with him and starts their love story. I liked how the interacted, how he changed and knew that he had to be a better person for Lady Jane. Lady Jane to changed...she decided she wanted more out of life and that she had been just 'sleeping' before. I hope that you find this book as good as I did...love theses books that gives you a break from the everyday life and takes you to a different time!
January 26, 2016
Lady Jane Langley is on her way to Vienna to be with her father, where she acts as his factotem, his assistant and organizer, though he doesn’t truly appreciate her talents because she is a woman. But an unexpected carriage accident results in the death of an influential peer and she is injured.
But instead of killing her, the assassin, Gerard Badeau, sweeps Jane away, takes care of her, and helps her to heal. For some reason, he feels a kindred spirit in Jane–read: attraction–and feels compelled to spare her life.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1SDpRKT
But instead of killing her, the assassin, Gerard Badeau, sweeps Jane away, takes care of her, and helps her to heal. For some reason, he feels a kindred spirit in Jane–read: attraction–and feels compelled to spare her life.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1SDpRKT
January 19, 2021
I read 410 books last year so can say I read a lot. I also read a lot of authors. Sabrina Darby is a new author for me.
But I have to say, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Just like the first one, I couldn't put it down but still not sure how I feel. I think I have come to the conclusion that Sabrina Darby is a great writer just not the "type" of writing I really enjoy. I like my stories a bit more carefree and light. Not so heavy or suspenseful but like I said I think she is a very good writer.
If you like intrigue and suspense you will love this book.
But I have to say, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Just like the first one, I couldn't put it down but still not sure how I feel. I think I have come to the conclusion that Sabrina Darby is a great writer just not the "type" of writing I really enjoy. I like my stories a bit more carefree and light. Not so heavy or suspenseful but like I said I think she is a very good writer.
If you like intrigue and suspense you will love this book.
June 20, 2023
I'm a sucker for romances where one of the main characters should kill the other one but ends up wrapped around their finger fast and smooth, so of course this book caught my attention. This was my first Sabrina Darby and it won't be the last. It was surprisingly sensual and heartfelt. I have only two complaints: it was too short and it suffered from a bit of insta-love/lust.
July 9, 2020
It was a good storyline. 3.5☆
October 5, 2025
First time reading from this series and it did not disappoint. Great read!
November 16, 2015
I'll start with the good, because, notwithstanding my two-star rating, the book does contain positive aspects. Sabrina Darby does action scenes and suspense very well, including the opening carriage accident that precipitates the meeting between Lady Jane Langley and the spy and occasional assassin, Gerard Badeau, as well as a later scene where Jane is almost abducted. The characters' travels in France, Germany and Austria in the first portion of the book were also interesting, though occasionally key dramatic parts were glossed over in a few sentences. Also interesting, in theory, was the central conflict of how the main couple can overcome the sizeable obstacles to being together and accepted by polite society, particularly the circumstances of Gerard's birth and the profession for which he was groomed.
As for the rest, although the story starts off with a bang, it quickly fizzles out. Much of the book is bogged down with endless stretches of head-hopping narratives (many with unclear transitions between Jane's and Gerard's thoughts) and angsty introspection that never really led to the characters' development. I'm normally a fan of angstiness, but here it just became tedious. The book could have benefited greatly from cutting out large sections of these internal monologues or adding in more dialog to move the plot along rather than focusing on the characters' repetitive thoughts about how difficult their situation is. Another pervasive issue, as some other commenters have noted, is that key pieces of information seem to have been left out or introduced in the wrong order. For example, Jane apparently figures out Gerard's true identity off-page early on, but the reader is left in the dark about her revelation and who his relatives are until later. The result is that Jane is seemingly randomly pondering things about his various relatives, but the names and importance are lost on the reader until later. Also, more than once I had to run searches on characters' names in the text to figure out who the multitude of secondary characters were. One final complaint is that Jane's creation of additional obstacles late in the story felt unnecessary and out of character. I appreciate the dilemma she was facing about choosing Gerard or her place in society, but it just seemed petty and childish to encourage Gerard to take one course of action just to satisfy her demands then, after he has (seemingly) irretrievably committed himself to that course, tell him that she wouldn't marry him even if he succeeds.
If you have a lot of free time on your hands and endless patience, you might still enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC for review!
As for the rest, although the story starts off with a bang, it quickly fizzles out. Much of the book is bogged down with endless stretches of head-hopping narratives (many with unclear transitions between Jane's and Gerard's thoughts) and angsty introspection that never really led to the characters' development. I'm normally a fan of angstiness, but here it just became tedious. The book could have benefited greatly from cutting out large sections of these internal monologues or adding in more dialog to move the plot along rather than focusing on the characters' repetitive thoughts about how difficult their situation is. Another pervasive issue, as some other commenters have noted, is that key pieces of information seem to have been left out or introduced in the wrong order. For example, Jane apparently figures out Gerard's true identity off-page early on, but the reader is left in the dark about her revelation and who his relatives are until later. The result is that Jane is seemingly randomly pondering things about his various relatives, but the names and importance are lost on the reader until later. Also, more than once I had to run searches on characters' names in the text to figure out who the multitude of secondary characters were. One final complaint is that Jane's creation of additional obstacles late in the story felt unnecessary and out of character. I appreciate the dilemma she was facing about choosing Gerard or her place in society, but it just seemed petty and childish to encourage Gerard to take one course of action just to satisfy her demands then, after he has (seemingly) irretrievably committed himself to that course, tell him that she wouldn't marry him even if he succeeds.
If you have a lot of free time on your hands and endless patience, you might still enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC for review!
November 9, 2015
Lady Jane Langley is headed to Vienna to meet with her father to assist him with hi political involvements. While traveling in a carriage with Lady and Lord Powell, the carriage is attacked and completely breaks apart. When Lady Jane comes to she witnesses a man snapping Lord Powell’s neck. Unable to do anything for Lord and Lady Powell Jane attempts to play dead but that doesn’t fool the assassin. He knows at once she is alive and awake, but when asks her who she is Jane refuses to tell him. Instead of killing her the mystery man takes her with him to a hideout in the mountains.
Gerard Badeau is the illegitimate grandson of Lord Landsdowne as well as a spy and assassin. His job is to do away with Lord Powell by making it look like an accident. He plotted and planned making sure every detail of the ambush was perfect. What he wasn’t counting one was a third person, an innocent, in the carriage with the Powell’s. Unsure of what to do with this unknown Miss, his inquiries about her identity. Her eyes bore through him as she refuses to tell him and he is unable to kill her too. Not wanting to leave any loose ends, he takes this mystery woman with him.
Gerard, having learned to control and lock away his emotions, he is caught off guard when he starts to care for Jane, even thinking he is in love with. He doesn’t want to let her go back to her life, instead he wants to take her and leave their “lives” behind but Jane won’t have any of that.
Will Jane be able to or even want to escape when she is healed enough to do so? Gerard has a desire to be with Jane but will he be able to leave the only life he knows behind? To be a respectable member of society? When the person behind Gerard’s hiring hears Jane is asking questions about Powell, will Gerard be able to keep her safe and alive?
This story has multiple elements to it, murder, kidnapping, secrets, spies, illegitimate children and siblings, betrayal on several different levels. The beginning of the story is exciting and has the makings of a great story then it drops off. There are multiple points in the story that are open ended and never get settled. The dialogue between the characters is very well written but limited. There was more narrative rather than dialogue which made the story feel very drawn out and never ending. There wasnt any real depth to the characters emotions especially Gerard’s. For a cold hearted assassin his emotions get the best of him rather quickly. I was expecting more reluctance on his part rather than the heroines.
Gerard Badeau is the illegitimate grandson of Lord Landsdowne as well as a spy and assassin. His job is to do away with Lord Powell by making it look like an accident. He plotted and planned making sure every detail of the ambush was perfect. What he wasn’t counting one was a third person, an innocent, in the carriage with the Powell’s. Unsure of what to do with this unknown Miss, his inquiries about her identity. Her eyes bore through him as she refuses to tell him and he is unable to kill her too. Not wanting to leave any loose ends, he takes this mystery woman with him.
Gerard, having learned to control and lock away his emotions, he is caught off guard when he starts to care for Jane, even thinking he is in love with. He doesn’t want to let her go back to her life, instead he wants to take her and leave their “lives” behind but Jane won’t have any of that.
Will Jane be able to or even want to escape when she is healed enough to do so? Gerard has a desire to be with Jane but will he be able to leave the only life he knows behind? To be a respectable member of society? When the person behind Gerard’s hiring hears Jane is asking questions about Powell, will Gerard be able to keep her safe and alive?
This story has multiple elements to it, murder, kidnapping, secrets, spies, illegitimate children and siblings, betrayal on several different levels. The beginning of the story is exciting and has the makings of a great story then it drops off. There are multiple points in the story that are open ended and never get settled. The dialogue between the characters is very well written but limited. There was more narrative rather than dialogue which made the story feel very drawn out and never ending. There wasnt any real depth to the characters emotions especially Gerard’s. For a cold hearted assassin his emotions get the best of him rather quickly. I was expecting more reluctance on his part rather than the heroines.
November 11, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
Note: Actual rating is 3.5 ***
Typically I stay away from any type of mystery//suspense, but, please pardon my pun, I was intrigued by not only the title, but of the cover as well.
Gerard is a wounded soul, a romance trope that I have always favored. He's the bastard child of a baron who deserted his mother when she found out that she was with child. A man showed up one day and took him to Venice, teaching him how to sneak around, to listen, but not be heard...basically he was taught how to be a spy and assassin.
When he makes it look like a carriage carrying Lord and Lady Powell had had a tragic accident, he kills Mr. Powell, leaves the unconscious form of Lady Powell to be found, and isn't quite sure what to do with our Lady Jane. He hadn't counted on another passenger as Jane was supposed to be in another carriage. Instead of killing her, he takes her captive.
Lady Jane is a pretentious snob. She has spent her life living in her father's shadow, being his assistant and whatever else he wanted her to be. She doesn't have much of a personality and would make a great interrogator as she loves to ask questions and is heavily involved in politics and well versed on societal niceties. She has no room in her life for emotions, or love, or even the wish to spend with someone who she considered an equal. Love...well, that's just not something that fits into Jane's carefully structured life.
There were times that I wanted to throw my kindle, but I trudged through the book, hoping to find that Jane redeems herself. She does, but it's towards the end of the book. I'm honestly in awe that Gerard - not our hero's real name, by the way - didn't snap her neck.
Lady of Intrigue is the second book in the Group of Eight series. I believe that each book will be a standalone, with maybe some character crossover in each one, possibly? I didn't feel that I was missing out on anything other than more information about Gerard's background.
This is the first book that I've read by Ms. Darby and it won't be my last. Though I felt that the book dragged in some places, her writing style is fluid and keeps you reading most of the time. There were a few errors that her editors missed, but I didn't find that they detract from the book whatsoever. I look forward to reading the Group of Eight series as well as other books that she's written. Historical romance is my absolute favorite genre and I'm always looking for new authors to satisfy my need for reading material.
Note: Actual rating is 3.5 ***
Typically I stay away from any type of mystery//suspense, but, please pardon my pun, I was intrigued by not only the title, but of the cover as well.
Gerard is a wounded soul, a romance trope that I have always favored. He's the bastard child of a baron who deserted his mother when she found out that she was with child. A man showed up one day and took him to Venice, teaching him how to sneak around, to listen, but not be heard...basically he was taught how to be a spy and assassin.
When he makes it look like a carriage carrying Lord and Lady Powell had had a tragic accident, he kills Mr. Powell, leaves the unconscious form of Lady Powell to be found, and isn't quite sure what to do with our Lady Jane. He hadn't counted on another passenger as Jane was supposed to be in another carriage. Instead of killing her, he takes her captive.
Lady Jane is a pretentious snob. She has spent her life living in her father's shadow, being his assistant and whatever else he wanted her to be. She doesn't have much of a personality and would make a great interrogator as she loves to ask questions and is heavily involved in politics and well versed on societal niceties. She has no room in her life for emotions, or love, or even the wish to spend with someone who she considered an equal. Love...well, that's just not something that fits into Jane's carefully structured life.
There were times that I wanted to throw my kindle, but I trudged through the book, hoping to find that Jane redeems herself. She does, but it's towards the end of the book. I'm honestly in awe that Gerard - not our hero's real name, by the way - didn't snap her neck.
Lady of Intrigue is the second book in the Group of Eight series. I believe that each book will be a standalone, with maybe some character crossover in each one, possibly? I didn't feel that I was missing out on anything other than more information about Gerard's background.
This is the first book that I've read by Ms. Darby and it won't be my last. Though I felt that the book dragged in some places, her writing style is fluid and keeps you reading most of the time. There were a few errors that her editors missed, but I didn't find that they detract from the book whatsoever. I look forward to reading the Group of Eight series as well as other books that she's written. Historical romance is my absolute favorite genre and I'm always looking for new authors to satisfy my need for reading material.
November 10, 2015
Hopeful
Lady Jane Langley is a brave, honest and vibrant heroine. While en route to joining her father in Vienna, Jane makes a last minute, impetuous decision to change places for another carriage among her traveling companions. Unwary, she is plunged onto the path of an assassin while witnessing a murder, and she looks upon her assailant before she blacks out from her injuries.
Gerard Badeau, is the illegitimate grandson of an English earl. Raised by his tutor, his education includes that of a gentleman, but he is also tutored in the ways of intrigue and clandestine games. When the unexpected woman is found in the same carriage as his marked victim, he feels there is something about her that calls to him. The unfortunate event turns to opportunity for Gerard, as he struggles with his emotions about letting Jane live, and turmoil over wanting more than a life in constant shadows. He takes Jane to a cabin hideout in the mountains to care for her. Thus, begins a friendship, of sort, for both Jane and Gerard as they spend days together while she heals. Each day finds them revealing bits of their past, their hearts desires, and feelings. Both Gerard and Jane can’t deny the growing attraction between them.
But Jane knows she must return to society, because in her heart their relationship is seen as an impossible match and will not be accepted amongst English high society. But can Jane accept Gerard’s life in the shadows? For Gerard, Jane is his salvation from loneliness, towards a better life away from intrigue. For Jane, Gerard is gentle, caring and protective, and he is everything she wants in a man. They are matched perfectly in intellect, both crave tenderness and comfort, a life of love, hope and joy. I absolutely admired Gerard in his determination to be with Jane, regardless of class boundaries. He is relentless in his pursuit and trying to find a suitable way to be with her. Jane is a bit more stubborn, and holds out longer as she is not willing to have Gerard risk his life and place their lives in constant danger.
Lady Of Intrigue is a beautifully written, sensual romance, rich in characterization and woven with a bit of suspense. This story has all the elements that make a romance swoon worthy with two unlikely individuals separated by class differences, but bound together in every way that matters.
A copy was provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 4
Lady Jane Langley is a brave, honest and vibrant heroine. While en route to joining her father in Vienna, Jane makes a last minute, impetuous decision to change places for another carriage among her traveling companions. Unwary, she is plunged onto the path of an assassin while witnessing a murder, and she looks upon her assailant before she blacks out from her injuries.
Gerard Badeau, is the illegitimate grandson of an English earl. Raised by his tutor, his education includes that of a gentleman, but he is also tutored in the ways of intrigue and clandestine games. When the unexpected woman is found in the same carriage as his marked victim, he feels there is something about her that calls to him. The unfortunate event turns to opportunity for Gerard, as he struggles with his emotions about letting Jane live, and turmoil over wanting more than a life in constant shadows. He takes Jane to a cabin hideout in the mountains to care for her. Thus, begins a friendship, of sort, for both Jane and Gerard as they spend days together while she heals. Each day finds them revealing bits of their past, their hearts desires, and feelings. Both Gerard and Jane can’t deny the growing attraction between them.
But Jane knows she must return to society, because in her heart their relationship is seen as an impossible match and will not be accepted amongst English high society. But can Jane accept Gerard’s life in the shadows? For Gerard, Jane is his salvation from loneliness, towards a better life away from intrigue. For Jane, Gerard is gentle, caring and protective, and he is everything she wants in a man. They are matched perfectly in intellect, both crave tenderness and comfort, a life of love, hope and joy. I absolutely admired Gerard in his determination to be with Jane, regardless of class boundaries. He is relentless in his pursuit and trying to find a suitable way to be with her. Jane is a bit more stubborn, and holds out longer as she is not willing to have Gerard risk his life and place their lives in constant danger.
Lady Of Intrigue is a beautifully written, sensual romance, rich in characterization and woven with a bit of suspense. This story has all the elements that make a romance swoon worthy with two unlikely individuals separated by class differences, but bound together in every way that matters.
A copy was provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 4
November 9, 2015
The story is one of a man with a shadowed past who falls in love with a proper lady. Who wants to leave his old life behind & start a respectable life with her but she is unwilling to give up her position in society to marry a man beneath her.
Lady Jane Langley has acted for years as her father’s factotum & his latest assignment has her journeying to join him in Vienna with the rest of the British delegation. A decision to swap carriages during her journey results in her witnessing the assassination of one of her travelling companions & herself being badly injured. Losing consciousness, Jane awakens to find herself in the care of her captor. Initially thinking that she has been kidnapped for ransom, she discovers that her captor has no idea of her identity. A cat & mouse game ensues with each trying to learn more of the other but an attraction soon grows between them as Gerard finds himself coming to care too much for the intelligent and forthright Jane who awaken emotions that he thought long dead while Jane finds it only too easy to fall for the handsome, strong Gerard who cares for her so protectively even tho she is a witness of his assassination.
Jane & Gerard declare their love early in the book but while Gerard wants to leave everything behind & start a new life with Jane, she is not willing to leave her life to be with a man whose identity is unknown to her (initially) & whom she has seen kill in front of her eyes BUT she easily has sex with him “This will ruin me” – that was her only protest if it could even be called that- & flips up her skirts (ok not quite but that’s how it felt). She continues to have sex with him & welcome him to her bed while still declaring that she would never leave her current life & place in society for him "You want to leave your life, Gerard. I do not wish to leave mine. But I do not see how you fit into this world.”
The story failed to capture my interest & I really didn’t care for Jane much. I found the writing very dry & it was a struggle for me to get thru the book.
Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Lady Jane Langley has acted for years as her father’s factotum & his latest assignment has her journeying to join him in Vienna with the rest of the British delegation. A decision to swap carriages during her journey results in her witnessing the assassination of one of her travelling companions & herself being badly injured. Losing consciousness, Jane awakens to find herself in the care of her captor. Initially thinking that she has been kidnapped for ransom, she discovers that her captor has no idea of her identity. A cat & mouse game ensues with each trying to learn more of the other but an attraction soon grows between them as Gerard finds himself coming to care too much for the intelligent and forthright Jane who awaken emotions that he thought long dead while Jane finds it only too easy to fall for the handsome, strong Gerard who cares for her so protectively even tho she is a witness of his assassination.
Jane & Gerard declare their love early in the book but while Gerard wants to leave everything behind & start a new life with Jane, she is not willing to leave her life to be with a man whose identity is unknown to her (initially) & whom she has seen kill in front of her eyes BUT she easily has sex with him “This will ruin me” – that was her only protest if it could even be called that- & flips up her skirts (ok not quite but that’s how it felt). She continues to have sex with him & welcome him to her bed while still declaring that she would never leave her current life & place in society for him "You want to leave your life, Gerard. I do not wish to leave mine. But I do not see how you fit into this world.”
The story failed to capture my interest & I really didn’t care for Jane much. I found the writing very dry & it was a struggle for me to get thru the book.
Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2015
This Historical Romance drew me in with an ethereal tone and a dreamlike quality told in the third person Point of View. The story was intriguing and suspenseful, romantic and curious with a hint of danger. The hero, Gerard, is a mysterious and treacherous character but radiating a vulnerability and protective nature at the same time. The heroine, Lady Jane, is a typical lady of society. At the books onset, in Jane's scenes with Gerard I like her strength and courage, she is inquisitive and intelligent. Unfortunately as the book progresses further and further along I really begin to intensely dislike her. Gerard is such a likeable character who grows so much in both maturity and emotionally from unfeeling and cold-blooded to wanting to surround himself with his family and be in love and make a family and have a home. While Jane, although she claims to love Gerard, puts conditions on her ever being with him forever - conditions he will never achieve. It's as though she gets his hopes up and he is so happy - like a puppy and internally she is thinking yes but I'll never marry you because you don't have a title or because of your past no matter what I tell you. Unfortunately, this back and forth - totally on Jane's end of the relationship is why I did not rate this novel higher. I loved the storyline and I loved the hero. The many secondary characters where wonderful comic relief or on hand for sharing their life lessons. The first quarter of the book is riveting, tender, and romantically breathtaking. My favorite is when he wrote on her skin with his finger "Mine", "Love", in several languages after the first time he told her he loved her.
But once Jane gets her wish and back into Society everything becomes muddled - necessarily so for the storyline but Jane's duality of emotions is difficult to tolerate for so long - frankly it was too much for me to tolerate for so long.
Again, loved the Hero, loved the storyline I loved the tone and feel of the Point of View - but the Heroine was "a pill".
To read the entire review please visit: http://bit.ly/1MA0EKs
This novel was provided by the Publisher for a honest review.
But once Jane gets her wish and back into Society everything becomes muddled - necessarily so for the storyline but Jane's duality of emotions is difficult to tolerate for so long - frankly it was too much for me to tolerate for so long.
Again, loved the Hero, loved the storyline I loved the tone and feel of the Point of View - but the Heroine was "a pill".
To read the entire review please visit: http://bit.ly/1MA0EKs
This novel was provided by the Publisher for a honest review.
November 19, 2015
Lady of Intrigue is a completely different approach to the traditional regency romance. Gerard, the hero, is untitled, illegitimate and an assassin. From the very beginning we see the depth of his sangfroid when he causes a carriage accident and murders his targeted victim. He is not the typical hero I'd be rooting for but the writer develops his story and character in such a way that gives us hope for his redemption. The source of this redemption comes in the guise of Lady Jane Langley, who is a surviving witness to the carriage 'accident' and subsequently Gerard's hostage.
As they get to know each other, we learn of Gerard's upbringing and the hardships he has endured over the years. He is actually quite a likeable character who feels guilty about Jane getting hurt in the accident and he takes good care of her. Gerard begins to question his lifestyle and hopes that he can start a new life, preferably a life with Jane. But, the fact that Jane is a surviving witness who won't be silenced about the death puts her in the line of fire from the very people who ordered the murder. There is no end of intrigue and suspense as the pair try to sort their out of trouble.
One aspect of Jane's character that I wasn't too enamoured with was her refusal to marry Gerard until he could procure a title to allow her to maintain her position in society. This puts him in a very awkward and dangerous position. Her realisation that she loved Gerard enough without a title came too late in the story for me. Apart from this flaw in her character, I enjoyed Jane and Gerard's story. I also loved the supporting characters. Each one of them had their own very interesting life story behind them. I'm hoping this is the beginning of a series as I'd like to continue the excitement and adventure with Gerard's diverse family as they flock to live with him in his new home.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
As they get to know each other, we learn of Gerard's upbringing and the hardships he has endured over the years. He is actually quite a likeable character who feels guilty about Jane getting hurt in the accident and he takes good care of her. Gerard begins to question his lifestyle and hopes that he can start a new life, preferably a life with Jane. But, the fact that Jane is a surviving witness who won't be silenced about the death puts her in the line of fire from the very people who ordered the murder. There is no end of intrigue and suspense as the pair try to sort their out of trouble.
One aspect of Jane's character that I wasn't too enamoured with was her refusal to marry Gerard until he could procure a title to allow her to maintain her position in society. This puts him in a very awkward and dangerous position. Her realisation that she loved Gerard enough without a title came too late in the story for me. Apart from this flaw in her character, I enjoyed Jane and Gerard's story. I also loved the supporting characters. Each one of them had their own very interesting life story behind them. I'm hoping this is the beginning of a series as I'd like to continue the excitement and adventure with Gerard's diverse family as they flock to live with him in his new home.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2015
Her captor. Her Savior. And her temptation...
London, 1814
Lady Jane Langley values logic and reason over passion and emotion. Her intellect has given her value in the eyes of both her father and society. Logic gives way to terrible, icy fear when Jane finds herself in a devastating carriage accident... an accident in which she is helpless to do anything but watch as her aristocratic companion is murdered.
But this was no mere accident. This was an assassination. Spy and grandson of Lord Landsdowne, Gerard Badeau is methodic in his dark, shadowy work, knowing that any display of emotion could get him killed. Something about the mysterious woman and her cool blue eyes stays Gerard's lethal hand. Now he has both a witness and a hostage.
And if he doesn't kill Lady Jane Langley, he risks a fate that is far, far worse...falling in love with her.
Review:
I have to say up front that I had a hard time staying focused when reading this book. I did not connect with the characters, especially Jane. I did not find her likable and was put-off by her attitude. I understand there was a big stigmatism about marrying below your status in the time frame that they were in, but she comes across as a very progressive thinker, why would that not include class status. I like Gerard, I think he got the shaft almost all of his life, once he meets Jane though he tries to change for her, but again she puts up road blocks. I wanted to tell him forget her...lol I did get a little lost with all the extra characters and machinations going on. I don't think this Author is a bad writer, she seems very competent, just seems too much going on. Again this is just me and you should read it for yourself and be your own judge. I will definitely try this Author again!
3Stars
*Received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
London, 1814
Lady Jane Langley values logic and reason over passion and emotion. Her intellect has given her value in the eyes of both her father and society. Logic gives way to terrible, icy fear when Jane finds herself in a devastating carriage accident... an accident in which she is helpless to do anything but watch as her aristocratic companion is murdered.
But this was no mere accident. This was an assassination. Spy and grandson of Lord Landsdowne, Gerard Badeau is methodic in his dark, shadowy work, knowing that any display of emotion could get him killed. Something about the mysterious woman and her cool blue eyes stays Gerard's lethal hand. Now he has both a witness and a hostage.
And if he doesn't kill Lady Jane Langley, he risks a fate that is far, far worse...falling in love with her.
Review:
I have to say up front that I had a hard time staying focused when reading this book. I did not connect with the characters, especially Jane. I did not find her likable and was put-off by her attitude. I understand there was a big stigmatism about marrying below your status in the time frame that they were in, but she comes across as a very progressive thinker, why would that not include class status. I like Gerard, I think he got the shaft almost all of his life, once he meets Jane though he tries to change for her, but again she puts up road blocks. I wanted to tell him forget her...lol I did get a little lost with all the extra characters and machinations going on. I don't think this Author is a bad writer, she seems very competent, just seems too much going on. Again this is just me and you should read it for yourself and be your own judge. I will definitely try this Author again!
3Stars
*Received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
November 9, 2015
A startling and rich read!
There are moments when the simplest of actions can be life changing crossroads. For Lady Jane Langley, on her way to the Vienna of 1814, to join her father, it was just an exchange of places into a another carriage. Who knew that this action would see her involved in an accident, be badly injured, witness a murder, and then...most startling who finds herself alone in a mountain cabin being cared for by the assassin. The visceral attraction between Lady Jane and her captor is astounding, best displayed in the holding back, the teetering on the edge of an undeniable passion, not the giving in, clearly described by each in their own reflective moments.
Gerard Badeau, illegitimate grandson to Lord Lansdowne, spy and assassin is struck by the singular intelligence and determination of Jane. He captures the wonder he sees in Jane in this one restrained comment, 'Jane--such a name for this woman'.
As time progresses we delve further into the mind of the Gerard, we are privy to his secrets, his methods, his beginnings, and some of his secrets.
Finally returning to society (as Jane eventually must) Jane becomes a target for those endangered by her appearance. There are deep games afoot in Vienna and Jane finds herself in the midst of them. Jane's father is a member of the British Delegation to the Congress at Vienna. Jane acts as his factual. Her standing in society certainly doesn't guarantee her safety--only Gerard can do that. But how can he protect them from each other?
I was overwhelmed by the emotional side of these two. Darby's writing explores the psychology of both the lead characters, their situations and the tensions strewn along their path to redemption. An unusual plot, evolving with a finesse and fascination that draws you in to the last word.
A NetGalley ARC
There are moments when the simplest of actions can be life changing crossroads. For Lady Jane Langley, on her way to the Vienna of 1814, to join her father, it was just an exchange of places into a another carriage. Who knew that this action would see her involved in an accident, be badly injured, witness a murder, and then...most startling who finds herself alone in a mountain cabin being cared for by the assassin. The visceral attraction between Lady Jane and her captor is astounding, best displayed in the holding back, the teetering on the edge of an undeniable passion, not the giving in, clearly described by each in their own reflective moments.
Gerard Badeau, illegitimate grandson to Lord Lansdowne, spy and assassin is struck by the singular intelligence and determination of Jane. He captures the wonder he sees in Jane in this one restrained comment, 'Jane--such a name for this woman'.
As time progresses we delve further into the mind of the Gerard, we are privy to his secrets, his methods, his beginnings, and some of his secrets.
Finally returning to society (as Jane eventually must) Jane becomes a target for those endangered by her appearance. There are deep games afoot in Vienna and Jane finds herself in the midst of them. Jane's father is a member of the British Delegation to the Congress at Vienna. Jane acts as his factual. Her standing in society certainly doesn't guarantee her safety--only Gerard can do that. But how can he protect them from each other?
I was overwhelmed by the emotional side of these two. Darby's writing explores the psychology of both the lead characters, their situations and the tensions strewn along their path to redemption. An unusual plot, evolving with a finesse and fascination that draws you in to the last word.
A NetGalley ARC
November 8, 2015
This book 2 in the Group of Eight series.
Lady Jane Langley's carriage is wrecked on her way to meet her father. Coming to, in the middle of the wreckage, she sees one of her traveling companion's murdered. She soon learns that the murderer knows she saw him and he takes her hostage. Injured from the crash, she has no choice but to accept the menstrations of her captor.
Gerard Badeau should have killed Jane when he discovered that she could tell everyone that the crash was not an accident, but there was something about her that drew him to her. As the bastard son of a nobleman, Gerard was raised to be a spy and did not fit into Jane's world.
As Jane and Gerard grow closer during her convalescence, where will it lead? Gerard won't be accepted in Jane's world and she is not willing to give it up.
As I've mentioned before, I always like a good spy element when reading a romance novel. This story is a little different as Gerard was raised to be a spy and not simply trained as an adult. This life is all he knows. It is not until he meets Jane that he even knows that he wants something different.
I will say that Jane annoyed me a little. She claims to be in love with Gerard, but won't give up her place with the ton. That kind of turned me off from her. I'm thinking that if it were true love, she would do anything to be with her man. Because of this, Gerard was prepared to do what had to be done to secure a place for himself in society.
In the end, all worked out of course.... I'm looking forward to reading more about the Group of Eight in Darby's upcoming books!
Thanks go out to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
Lady Jane Langley's carriage is wrecked on her way to meet her father. Coming to, in the middle of the wreckage, she sees one of her traveling companion's murdered. She soon learns that the murderer knows she saw him and he takes her hostage. Injured from the crash, she has no choice but to accept the menstrations of her captor.
Gerard Badeau should have killed Jane when he discovered that she could tell everyone that the crash was not an accident, but there was something about her that drew him to her. As the bastard son of a nobleman, Gerard was raised to be a spy and did not fit into Jane's world.
As Jane and Gerard grow closer during her convalescence, where will it lead? Gerard won't be accepted in Jane's world and she is not willing to give it up.
As I've mentioned before, I always like a good spy element when reading a romance novel. This story is a little different as Gerard was raised to be a spy and not simply trained as an adult. This life is all he knows. It is not until he meets Jane that he even knows that he wants something different.
I will say that Jane annoyed me a little. She claims to be in love with Gerard, but won't give up her place with the ton. That kind of turned me off from her. I'm thinking that if it were true love, she would do anything to be with her man. Because of this, Gerard was prepared to do what had to be done to secure a place for himself in society.
In the end, all worked out of course.... I'm looking forward to reading more about the Group of Eight in Darby's upcoming books!
Thanks go out to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
November 15, 2015
I received an eARC of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Another historical romance? That must be what you all must be thinking, aren’t you? If you aren’t – that is perfectly okay! I like being a bit of a narcissistic :D
I really liked the premise of the story – how could you not? A Lady and an Assassin – just those two characters had the makings of an explosive story and god, I was so looking forward to an explosive story!
Don’t get me wrong – I loved the characters in this book and the plot. Both were brilliant – Lady Jane is a female that I had grown to admire. Yes, she scared me a bit, with almost little to no emotional reaction to what can be classified as a trauma, but slowly and surely I could get around to her way of her thinking, and boy did my admiration for her skyrocket!
Gerard is an assassin – it is his way of life, it is what he has known and it is how he has lived. But he wants to change that – not because what he does is wrong according to him, but because he is tired, tired of this way of life. Gerard is a character who is damn good at keeping his emotions under lockdown – and while we get to know all the details of his life, he still felt a bit disconnected to me and I need to feel connected with the characters that I am reading.
And it feels really bad to say this, but it was the writing that disappointed me – it felt a bit clinical and not interactive – giving details is absolutely fine, in fact actually encouraged, but giving details as sprouting facts is not and that’s exactly where this book lost me!
For more books and review don't forget to visit - For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Another historical romance? That must be what you all must be thinking, aren’t you? If you aren’t – that is perfectly okay! I like being a bit of a narcissistic :D
I really liked the premise of the story – how could you not? A Lady and an Assassin – just those two characters had the makings of an explosive story and god, I was so looking forward to an explosive story!
Don’t get me wrong – I loved the characters in this book and the plot. Both were brilliant – Lady Jane is a female that I had grown to admire. Yes, she scared me a bit, with almost little to no emotional reaction to what can be classified as a trauma, but slowly and surely I could get around to her way of her thinking, and boy did my admiration for her skyrocket!
Gerard is an assassin – it is his way of life, it is what he has known and it is how he has lived. But he wants to change that – not because what he does is wrong according to him, but because he is tired, tired of this way of life. Gerard is a character who is damn good at keeping his emotions under lockdown – and while we get to know all the details of his life, he still felt a bit disconnected to me and I need to feel connected with the characters that I am reading.
And it feels really bad to say this, but it was the writing that disappointed me – it felt a bit clinical and not interactive – giving details is absolutely fine, in fact actually encouraged, but giving details as sprouting facts is not and that’s exactly where this book lost me!
For more books and review don't forget to visit - For The Love of Fictional Worlds
October 27, 2015
A carriage accident leads to some rather strange circumstances for our heroine, Lady Jane Langley.
It seems this is not an accidental occurrence and Jane sees more than she wanted to see. She is trapped and can do nothing until someone frees her.
She loses consciousnesses and comes to some time later, fully naked under a blanket with a strange man in the room. The man she witnessed kill her friend and traveling companion. In an impossible situation, Jane must be very careful.
I feel as though there was more to the story that may have been edited out?
I really wanted to like this book! I liked the idea of the plot, and the beginning was very promising. I felt that it did not deliver. I don't like to write bad reviews,
But the entire time I was reading, I was thinking there must be more. I wanted more information about why Jane was acting the way she was and why Gerard seemed so obsessed. Why a trained spy and assassin would suddenly melt at the site of a pair of blue eyes, no matter how fine.
A few glaring mistakes threw me right out of the story. "It is what it is, or rather was what it was" is something we say in our times, I don't think that was appropriate and in another instance, Jane had just handed her outerwear to the maid after having come into the house, and in the next instant, her coach was stopping outside her home. Someone missed that one entirely!
I really liked the characters, but things didn't come together for me.
Why, after all the years Jane helped her father, would he suddenly change the way he treated her? And why was she so stubborn towards Gerard?
I will give this author another try, though, everyone has a bad day now and then!
It seems this is not an accidental occurrence and Jane sees more than she wanted to see. She is trapped and can do nothing until someone frees her.
She loses consciousnesses and comes to some time later, fully naked under a blanket with a strange man in the room. The man she witnessed kill her friend and traveling companion. In an impossible situation, Jane must be very careful.
I feel as though there was more to the story that may have been edited out?
I really wanted to like this book! I liked the idea of the plot, and the beginning was very promising. I felt that it did not deliver. I don't like to write bad reviews,
But the entire time I was reading, I was thinking there must be more. I wanted more information about why Jane was acting the way she was and why Gerard seemed so obsessed. Why a trained spy and assassin would suddenly melt at the site of a pair of blue eyes, no matter how fine.
A few glaring mistakes threw me right out of the story. "It is what it is, or rather was what it was" is something we say in our times, I don't think that was appropriate and in another instance, Jane had just handed her outerwear to the maid after having come into the house, and in the next instant, her coach was stopping outside her home. Someone missed that one entirely!
I really liked the characters, but things didn't come together for me.
Why, after all the years Jane helped her father, would he suddenly change the way he treated her? And why was she so stubborn towards Gerard?
I will give this author another try, though, everyone has a bad day now and then!
November 9, 2015
I love when we get a good historical and this is one of those! Sabrina Darby did a very good job with this one making it interesting and incorporating just the right amount of romance. This story made me feel like I was lost in another time and I loved that about it!
Lady Jane is on her way to meet her father when their carriage is in an accident. When Jane comes to from the accident, she finds out that one of her companions on the trip is dead. Questions of if the accident was actually an accident or intended begin to cross Jane's mind. She remembers seeing something. Gerard is a man that has been raised to do these types of "jobs" and had never thought twice about it. It is just a way of life for him and his family. When Gerard is surprised by Lady Jane being in the carriage, he knows that he has to take her as his hostage because Jane might tell that it was no accident that her companion ended up dead. What Gerard was not prepared for was the way that he is attracted to Lady Jane and the feelings that he begins to develop for her.
Lady Jane and Gerard are from two very different backgrounds. Lady Jane is not willing to give up her status and all that she has in order to be with Gerard, but will Gerard conform to her ways in order for them to be together? These two go back and forth, but one thing that is for sure is that they love each other. Will they be able to find a way to make it all work out? You need to get lost in this historical and find out how it all ends for Lady Jane and Gerard. Very well written and flows flawlessly.
Thanks Sabrina for a great read and I look forward to more from you in the near future in this series!!
Lady Jane is on her way to meet her father when their carriage is in an accident. When Jane comes to from the accident, she finds out that one of her companions on the trip is dead. Questions of if the accident was actually an accident or intended begin to cross Jane's mind. She remembers seeing something. Gerard is a man that has been raised to do these types of "jobs" and had never thought twice about it. It is just a way of life for him and his family. When Gerard is surprised by Lady Jane being in the carriage, he knows that he has to take her as his hostage because Jane might tell that it was no accident that her companion ended up dead. What Gerard was not prepared for was the way that he is attracted to Lady Jane and the feelings that he begins to develop for her.
Lady Jane and Gerard are from two very different backgrounds. Lady Jane is not willing to give up her status and all that she has in order to be with Gerard, but will Gerard conform to her ways in order for them to be together? These two go back and forth, but one thing that is for sure is that they love each other. Will they be able to find a way to make it all work out? You need to get lost in this historical and find out how it all ends for Lady Jane and Gerard. Very well written and flows flawlessly.
Thanks Sabrina for a great read and I look forward to more from you in the near future in this series!!
November 26, 2015
I received this book from NetGallery for an honest review.
Romance and intrigue set in the early 1800's are among my favorite settings. A Lady of Intrigue does not disappoint. However, the characters and storyline are different than the usual romance with intrigue novel. Yes, Lady Jane is a respected member of society but Gerald is not. They "meet" when Gerald is completing his assignment as an assassin/spy for hire. She has unfortunately chosen to ride in the coach of his target. An accident is staged and though seriously injured, Jane is witness to Gerald carrying out his assassination. He should get rid of the witness but he is drawn to her, not really knowing why. He takes her from the scene and cares for her as she heals from her injuries. They find though their lives have been very different, they are quite alike. Although they try they can not deny the attraction they have to each other.
Lady Jane does find her way back to her father. Gerald finds his way to Jane. Gerald wants to be worthy of her, but there is danger to both of them related to his work. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that threaten their HEA? You will need to read the book to find out if and how it is resolved. This is the first of Sabrina Darby' s books I have read but I did enjoy her writing style. I liked the way she told the usual romance story in an usual way, from a different perspective. Recommended reading.
Romance and intrigue set in the early 1800's are among my favorite settings. A Lady of Intrigue does not disappoint. However, the characters and storyline are different than the usual romance with intrigue novel. Yes, Lady Jane is a respected member of society but Gerald is not. They "meet" when Gerald is completing his assignment as an assassin/spy for hire. She has unfortunately chosen to ride in the coach of his target. An accident is staged and though seriously injured, Jane is witness to Gerald carrying out his assassination. He should get rid of the witness but he is drawn to her, not really knowing why. He takes her from the scene and cares for her as she heals from her injuries. They find though their lives have been very different, they are quite alike. Although they try they can not deny the attraction they have to each other.
Lady Jane does find her way back to her father. Gerald finds his way to Jane. Gerald wants to be worthy of her, but there is danger to both of them related to his work. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that threaten their HEA? You will need to read the book to find out if and how it is resolved. This is the first of Sabrina Darby' s books I have read but I did enjoy her writing style. I liked the way she told the usual romance story in an usual way, from a different perspective. Recommended reading.
October 23, 2015
Lady Jane Langley world is turned upside down when the carriage she is riding to Vienna in careens off the road and crashes. Her life is in danger not only from injuries but also from the mysterious man that has assassinated one of her traveling companions. Thus begins the story of Jane and Marcus. There is instant attraction between Marcus and Jane but due to their lineage, upbringing, life experiences, class expectations and desires for the future their road to a happily ever will encounter quite a few obstacles.
The novel is more a narration than an interactive action packed story filled with dialogue and daring-do. I believe that Jane’s personality is believable and her growth and growing awareness was also remarkable. I felt I got to know Marcus better and felt more for him than I did for or with Jane. The story was different than the usual sometimes fluffy regency romances I have read. I have a feeling that some of the supporting characters and villains mentioned in this book will reappear in future books in the series and I hope to hear in one of the future books that Szabo gets his comeuppance and that Bohm will have a happily ever after story of his own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for the copy of this book to read and review.
The novel is more a narration than an interactive action packed story filled with dialogue and daring-do. I believe that Jane’s personality is believable and her growth and growing awareness was also remarkable. I felt I got to know Marcus better and felt more for him than I did for or with Jane. The story was different than the usual sometimes fluffy regency romances I have read. I have a feeling that some of the supporting characters and villains mentioned in this book will reappear in future books in the series and I hope to hear in one of the future books that Szabo gets his comeuppance and that Bohm will have a happily ever after story of his own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for the copy of this book to read and review.
July 8, 2016
Lady Jane often traveled with her father. As Jane grew older she helped her father whenever she could. Jane was practical and that was what was most useful to her dad. A lady’s value in Jane’s society nearly entirely depended on her usefulness and attractiveness to a man. Lady Jane had switched carriages at the inn and now rode with Lady and Lord Powell. Then there was something wrong with the carriage and they crashed.Then Jane realized they had been attacked as she had seen a man kill Lord Powell.Gerald realized there was an extra person in the carriage and all Gerald’s research and planning was for nothing because of Jane’s existence. Gerald had been careful so that when Lord Powell was found dead it would not become an international incident, Even though Gerald was used to death he could not just kill Lady Jane. Gerald knew he was being a fool but could not help himself and toke Jane with him. Gerald tended to Jane injuries the best he could. He helped Jane sit up to drink and then to eat. But Gerald would not answer any of Jane’s questions.
I tried I just Could Not get into this story. I don't really know why. It seemed to drag to me and it just didn’t hold my interest.
I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.
I tried I just Could Not get into this story. I don't really know why. It seemed to drag to me and it just didn’t hold my interest.
I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.
October 2, 2019
Stars 4/5 (Jennifer Ashley, Sarah MacLean, Jess Michaels, Margaret Mallory, Julie Johnstone, Monica McCarty)
Hey fellow readers I don’t summarize the books (as there are always great full summaries written that I read myself).
I only give it my personal, general, summary of 5 stars to 1 star.
4 stars: This book was good, worth reading in a few days. It hit pretty much most of my personal markers for a good read and well roundness of the book; it just lacked ‘something’ for 5 stars (usually a little slower moving for my liking and/or humour and/or romantic).
The development and interest in main characters and secondary characters was enjoyable. Laugh out loud and/or smirk with humorous moments. Movement of the book flowed for the most part. Book writing/conversation engaging. romantic/sexual content (3 or more scenes) was throughout the book.
Will definitely re-read this book to enjoy it again.
Totally recommend author.
Hey fellow readers I don’t summarize the books (as there are always great full summaries written that I read myself).
I only give it my personal, general, summary of 5 stars to 1 star.
4 stars: This book was good, worth reading in a few days. It hit pretty much most of my personal markers for a good read and well roundness of the book; it just lacked ‘something’ for 5 stars (usually a little slower moving for my liking and/or humour and/or romantic).
The development and interest in main characters and secondary characters was enjoyable. Laugh out loud and/or smirk with humorous moments. Movement of the book flowed for the most part. Book writing/conversation engaging. romantic/sexual content (3 or more scenes) was throughout the book.
Will definitely re-read this book to enjoy it again.
Totally recommend author.
November 29, 2015
**I won a free copy from a Goodreads contest. Woohoo!**
WOW! This was wonderful. I would highly recommend this to fans of Joanna Bourne and Grace Burrowes. I consider the dialogue to be more ~*~serious~*~ than most stuff out there. Reading Lord of Regrets beforehand isn't super necessary, but I'm the type of person that likes to know every character in the scene. To reiterate, this isn't a fluffy read. It's heavy with drama and emotion. If you are in the mood for ~*~tortured heroes~*~ and smart heroines, this is for you. I can't wait to follow this series. Truly.
WOW! This was wonderful. I would highly recommend this to fans of Joanna Bourne and Grace Burrowes. I consider the dialogue to be more ~*~serious~*~ than most stuff out there. Reading Lord of Regrets beforehand isn't super necessary, but I'm the type of person that likes to know every character in the scene. To reiterate, this isn't a fluffy read. It's heavy with drama and emotion. If you are in the mood for ~*~tortured heroes~*~ and smart heroines, this is for you. I can't wait to follow this series. Truly.
November 11, 2015
After reading the description and knowing this is a romance novel it is for-sure he falls for her. But in the beginning we wonder if her attraction to him isn’t Stockholm Syndrome because she is kidnapped, injured and totally dependent on him. Gerard does become obsessed with marrying Jane and Jane’s reluctance and turnaround is a bit too slick. The ending made me a bit angry with our heroine. But the fact that I had so many emotions is a credit to the superb writing found here. It is all a lovely, well written romance with lots of intrigue and delicious sex. I’m so glad I took a chance on this new-to-me author.
I received this book free for review from the publisher.
http://ladeetdareads.wordpress.com/
I received this book free for review from the publisher.
http://ladeetdareads.wordpress.com/
November 8, 2015
Gah. I remember reading the plot for this book and thinking, "This is not a book I'd like to read" (even though I've quite enjoyed two of Darby's other books) but I must have accidentally hit the "Request" button because it turned up in my NetGalley queue. And I think it was her writing that made me not... hate this book. It took me awhile to get into the book and I never quite connected to Jane and never really got the connection between these two. There's insta-love and then there's insta-love and this just didn't quite make me buy them as a long-lasting couple. There is also the issue a lot of early series book face with trying to introduce at least one of the people who will feature in later books -OR- and overabundance of secondary characters.
November 9, 2015
Lady Jady opts to switch carriages on her way to meet her father and her whole world is changed in an instant. She watches an assassination and wakes up to find herself kidnapped by the very man who she watch commit murder. Gerard is just doing another job and is surprised to find another passenger in the carriage, the question is what will he do with her? There is plenty of drama in this historical romance and the characters have depth and emotion. I enjoyed the story and the chemistry between the hero and heroine, I feel there could have been a bit better flow to the story and a bit more intensity and depth. It is a very enjoyable historical romance.
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