What do you think?
Rate this book
Moonlit Obsession
A Beautiful Spy and an American Patriot -- Thrown Together in a Battle of Destiny and Love...
Electrifyingly beautiful, Anemone Carstairs had come to New Orleans as a British spy, placing her country before all else -- until she met Stephen Burke.
He was a powerful, devastatingly handsome agent of the new American nation, a man who captured Anemone's heart and swayed her resolve. Anemone knew she was being used in a game of international intrigue, but her passion was stronger than patriotism. She longed for Stephen's embrace -- craving his lips against her own, eager to feel his hands caressing her flesh.
Together they faced a tangled web of intrigue and danger, braving the rumblings of war and battling to preserve a love they could no longer deny...
Electrifyingly beautiful, Anemone Carstairs had come to New Orleans as a British spy, placing her country before all else -- until she met Stephen Burke.
He was a powerful, devastatingly handsome agent of the new American nation, a man who captured Anemone's heart and swayed her resolve. Anemone knew she was being used in a game of international intrigue, but her passion was stronger than patriotism. She longed for Stephen's embrace -- craving his lips against her own, eager to feel his hands caressing her flesh.
Together they faced a tangled web of intrigue and danger, braving the rumblings of war and battling to preserve a love they could no longer deny...
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
16 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Jill Gregory
62 books201 followersNew York Times and USA Today best-selling author Jill Gregory is the award-winning author of more than thirty novels. Jill has been awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence and her novels NEVER LOVE A COWBOY and COLD NIGHT, WARM STRANGER were honored with back-to-back Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice awards for Best Western Historical Romance.
Jill Gregory's novels have been translated and published in Japan, Russia, Norway, France, Taiwan, Sweden, Italy, and Germany. Jill grew up in Chicago and received her bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Illinois. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband.
Jill Gregory's novels have been translated and published in Japan, Russia, Norway, France, Taiwan, Sweden, Italy, and Germany. Jill grew up in Chicago and received her bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Illinois. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 7, 2011
This was a reread for me, so I think you can guess that I enjoyed this book. I bought it as a teen and remember loving it. I still have it packed away somewhere and ended up seeing it at a used bookstore and bought it.
The main characters in this book are very well written by Gregory. They never strayed from who they were and each of them always stayed true to themselves. The chemistry between Anemone and Stephen was electric and filled with unexpressed tension. The anxiety of it all made me love it all the more, and I loved watching them fall in love.
Besides the love story, there is a plot afoot that will plunge their two countries into war if not handled. And with a big misunderstanding between them, you wonder if they will be able to accomplish their mission. I love Anemone because she was a strong woman with a will of steel. She had one true weakness though and that made her more human. Stephen is a dark rogue whom I ended up falling for with Anemone because she eventually brought out the best in him.
Overall, great story. This is a good pick if you’re into historical romances with a strong heroine.
The main characters in this book are very well written by Gregory. They never strayed from who they were and each of them always stayed true to themselves. The chemistry between Anemone and Stephen was electric and filled with unexpressed tension. The anxiety of it all made me love it all the more, and I loved watching them fall in love.
Besides the love story, there is a plot afoot that will plunge their two countries into war if not handled. And with a big misunderstanding between them, you wonder if they will be able to accomplish their mission. I love Anemone because she was a strong woman with a will of steel. She had one true weakness though and that made her more human. Stephen is a dark rogue whom I ended up falling for with Anemone because she eventually brought out the best in him.
Overall, great story. This is a good pick if you’re into historical romances with a strong heroine.
June 11, 2011
Old world charm with new world spies. Beautiful girl and handsome guy alone on a ship bound from England to the New World, you can't get more romantic than that. Then toss in a misunderstanding and boom--tension and anxiety until the bitter end. I love Jill Gregory.
June 15, 2015
I really enjoyed Moonlit Obsession's sense of love and danger. Gregory weaves a story about main characters Anemone and Stephen that is suspenseful, intriguing, and kept me up later than I wanted to be up. Their relationship is tested by Stephen's childhood friend, Johnny, whom they work together to save from British impressment, as he had been taken from his own ship, and men who are taken like this are usually imprisoned for life. I loved the part where Johnny became upset over the relationship the two have struck up during his time away. With a mix of spy work, intrigue, and romance, every twist and turn in the novel is well worth the read. I thoroughly enjoy Gregory's other historical romances as well as her contemporary ones. Highly recommended!
January 12, 2025
Don't go by the cover of this book. It is not that sleazy. I can tell for sure , it has a great plot.
This is more of a spy thriller
Detailed summary with spoilers here
It's mentioned in the book that Nepoleon snatched the crown from pope and coronated himself.
It was more of a pun intended dialog in the book but I was curious and did a Google search and looks like pope and Nepoleon agreed to coronating himself and his empress before hand
AI's response
----------------------
No, Napoleon Bonaparte did not snatch the crown from Pope Pius VII during his coronation in 1804:
Agreement
Napoleon and the Pope agreed before the ceremony that Napoleon would crown himself and the Empress.
Committee
A committee of French and papal negotiators created the complicated liturgy for the coronation.
Presence
The Pope was present at the coronation, but he did not place the crown on Napoleon's head.
This is more of a spy thriller
Detailed summary with spoilers here
It's mentioned in the book that Nepoleon snatched the crown from pope and coronated himself.
It was more of a pun intended dialog in the book but I was curious and did a Google search and looks like pope and Nepoleon agreed to coronating himself and his empress before hand
AI's response
----------------------
No, Napoleon Bonaparte did not snatch the crown from Pope Pius VII during his coronation in 1804:
Agreement
Napoleon and the Pope agreed before the ceremony that Napoleon would crown himself and the Empress.
Committee
A committee of French and papal negotiators created the complicated liturgy for the coronation.
Presence
The Pope was present at the coronation, but he did not place the crown on Napoleon's head.
November 7, 2016
This was a fun mystery adventure romance. Anemone is an English spy who is captured by Stephen Burke an American patriot searching for his best friend who is being held captive on an English ship. Once she's convinced he's not spying for the French, they become allies. Anemone finally breaks her resolve and falls in love only to be told that it was all part of Stephen's plan to get the information from her and it breaks her heart, again.
Jill Gregory has written a good plot with interesting characters and dialogue. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it.
Jill Gregory has written a good plot with interesting characters and dialogue. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it.
December 18, 2019
Don't judge this book (or any infact!) by its cover. This is such a delightful love story set against a spy thriller backdrop. It is my all time favorite book and I am glad it is on Goodreads now :D My ultimate pick me up book on any day!
May 4, 2018
I loved it.
As much as I love Jill Gregory's western romance, I also love her Stolen Hearts Recency series too. So sorry it took me too long to post.
As much as I love Jill Gregory's western romance, I also love her Stolen Hearts Recency series too. So sorry it took me too long to post.
Want to read
December 3, 2024$.99 kindle store. Unverified if it is “modified.”
September 30, 2016
Anemone Carstairs has been brought up to thrive on a life of intrigue with a spy as her father and when she learns of a plot to help Napoleon to start a war between Britain and America by executing a dignitary she swings into action to thwart this diabolical plan.
But things go awry when she finds herself up against someone who has the same ideas as she does but against her will she slowly and surely falls in love with the dashing Stephen Burke.
Can their teamwork stop the murder thereby ensuring peace or will they be too late?
Exciting, fast paced and a real swashbuckler of a story this will appeal to fans of historical fiction especially those keen on the Mills and Boon historical romances.
A brilliant read.
But things go awry when she finds herself up against someone who has the same ideas as she does but against her will she slowly and surely falls in love with the dashing Stephen Burke.
Can their teamwork stop the murder thereby ensuring peace or will they be too late?
Exciting, fast paced and a real swashbuckler of a story this will appeal to fans of historical fiction especially those keen on the Mills and Boon historical romances.
A brilliant read.
June 18, 2022
Yeah……ha ha……..no thank you.
If I hadn’t known this was written by a woman, I would have automatically assumed this was written by a man.
Old romance novels suck.
If I hadn’t known this was written by a woman, I would have automatically assumed this was written by a man.
Old romance novels suck.
November 24, 2012
Too much of an '80s style of writing for me, and I actually got kind of bored. It's not that it was bad, it just didn't work for me. I got about halfway and just decided that I wasn't interested enough to finish. So for someone else it's probably great. Just not me.
And there was one trope I despise. The heroine hates the hero, and he was not particularly nice to her, but when they wager for a kiss, she falls right into it and is completely unable to resist, and ends up kissing him a number of times. I was really rooting for her to bite his tongue off. I mean, is it really so difficult to resist a physical attraction? Apparently romance heroines think so, but I've certainly never met a man I was so attracted to I'd make out with him even if I disliked him.
And there was one trope I despise. The heroine hates the hero, and he was not particularly nice to her, but when they wager for a kiss, she falls right into it and is completely unable to resist, and ends up kissing him a number of times. I was really rooting for her to bite his tongue off. I mean, is it really so difficult to resist a physical attraction? Apparently romance heroines think so, but I've certainly never met a man I was so attracted to I'd make out with him even if I disliked him.
April 13, 2015
not a damsel in distress cliché. anemone is relatable, strong and lovable. It is the sort of book that makes you feel warm all over, and look forward to an exciting read. I have reread it a million times without losing interest.
May 10, 2012
Sequesl to "To Distant Shores". EPIC style of romance but not a bodice ripper.
April 22, 2015
Boring
February 12, 2025
Anemone and Stephen Burke meet and fall in love when working as spy’s
September 1, 2012
ive enjoyed this read again and again would recommend it!:)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews