You Only Love Twice

London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #3

by Bec McMaster

With the clock ticking down, the Company of Rogues must find a deadly killer and stop them from assassinating the Queen... before London burns. First rule of don't ever fall in love with your target. Five years ago, Gemma Townsend learned the hard way what happens when you break this rule. She lost everything. Her mentor's trust. The man she loved. And almost her life. Love is a weakness she can never afford again. When offered a chance at redemption, the seductive spy is determined to complete her assigned to track down a dangerous assassin known as the Chameleon, a mysterious killer sent after the queen, whose identity seems to constantly change. But as her investigation leads Gemma into a trap, she's rescued by a shadowy figure she thought was dead—the double agent who once stole her heart. A man with few memories, all Obsidian knows is Gemma betrayed him, and he wants revenge. But one kiss ignites the unextinguished passion between them, and he can't bring himself to kill her. Can Obsidian ever trust her again? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? Because it soon becomes clear the Chameleon might be closer than either of them realized... and this time Gemma is in the line of fire. James Bond meets Dracula... Join USA Today bestselling author, Bec McMaster, on a thrilling ride through a steam-fuelled London where two spies working for opposing forces must risk it all for love. Download this sexy paranormal romance filled with explosive secrets, diabolical devices and breathtaking romance today! Don’t miss any of the London The Blue Blood Conspiracy books! Book 1: Improper. Book 2: The Mech Who Loved Me. Book 3: You Only Love Twice. Book 4: To Catch A Rogue. (Coming soon) Book 5: Dukes Are Forever (Coming soon)What everyone is saying about Bec "richly imagined, gritty and dark, and full of hot heroes and hot sex...utterly delicious. " - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books"McMaster has the uncanny knack for outdoing herself in each instalment of her London Steampunk series... readers can only hope for more to come soon from McMaster's limitless imagination." - RT Book Reviews, Top Pick for Of Silk And Steam The Blue Blood Conspiracy - Paranormal Romance- Steampunk Romance- Gaslamp Fantasy- Historical Romance- Victorian Era Romance- Action Adventure Romance- Spies- Enemies to Lovers- Second Chance romance

Genres: Steampunk, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Historical

469 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2018

About the author

Kidnapped by a dread pirate when she was a child, USA Today Bestselling Author Bec McMaster was raised on myth and legend, and offered her younger siblings to the goblin king many a time. Unfortunately, he did not accept.

Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.

Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.

Escape the ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com

Join Bec's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/F_LkD for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts, cover reveals, and epilogues.

Newest Release: CROWN OF DARKNESS (Available now)

Next release: MASTER OF STORMS (Legends of the Storm #5--coming January, 2021)

Where to start?

If you want deliciously dark fae princes, then try Dark Court Rising or Court of Dreams.

For sexy dragon shifters, see Legends of the Storm.

Sorcery and magic?
Try the Dark Arts series.

Kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance?
Then check out London Steampunk and the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.

For rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then read the Burned Lands.

Reviews

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world!!!

I love the way McMaster makes the situation more and more complicated with each book!
When you finish the book you think that it was the most complicated one, but the next one is even more and the next even more.... and it just continue to escalate! WOW!

Here the Russian court is brought into as big players in the never ending game for power!

New weapon is dicovered and it is terrifying! With that how can you be sure of anyone?! Who to trust?!

I loved Gemma and Dmitri/Obsidian! Their love story is love-overcomes-everything type! Even the monstruous machinations and mind manipulations cannot stand up to it!

But the best part is that their love story was tightly woven into a bigger story about treachery, power grubbing struggle and vengeance!

The secondary characters are very important too and each one is fleshed out very well! We get to see how they feel, what they think.

I also liked the interaction of the couples who got together in the previous books! It was endearing and very sweet!

Seeing how this book eneded, the tiny, teeny thing (that doesn't have anything to do with this book, by the way) that surprised me is that I was expecting the next book to be about Malloryn and Adele, but it is instead about Charlie and Lark! But I'm looking forward to it! :)

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.

The third book in Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series, You Only Love Twice boasts an engrossing, intricately-woven and high-stakes suspense plot woven through a steamy second-chance romance and I was glued to it from pretty much start to finish. We’ve reached the middle of a five-book series, and the author provides some compelling plot developments, drawing together threads from the first two books to reveal the terrifying nature of the threat faced by this version of Victorian London, and who is behind it. This instalment also ends on rather a massive cliffhanger – but fortunately, Ms. McMaster isn’t going to make readers wait too long to find out what happens next as book four, To Catch A Rogue, is coming out in October .

Be warned –there are spoilers in this review, so if you’re planning to read the series and haven’t yet, proceed with caution.

In case I haven’t made it clear, the novels in the Blue Blood Conspiracy series need to be read in order. Each book focuses on a particular romantic pairing and has a self-contained plotline, but there are also overarching storylines that run throughout, so I would advise going back to book one, Mission: Improper, in order to fully appreciate the intricacies of the stories and of the richly detailed world that the author has created.

I don’t have space in this review to delve too far back into the on-going storyline, so I’m going to assume anyone reading this is familiar with the London Steampunk world of these books, and knows what the Echelon is, what blue bloods, vampires, dhampir and mechs are, and is aware of the basic conflict that has featured thoughout; namely, the overthrow of the corrupt and degenerate ruling class (the Echelon) by an alliance of more progressive blue-bloods, mechs and humans in the original series, and in this one, the unrest that continues to plague London as everyone struggles to settle into the new order… a new order that someone is intent on destroying.

A highly trained spy and deadly assassin, Gemma Townsend is one of the Company of Rogues’ most valuable operatives. Five years earlier, she’d been on a mission in Russia, working with the Duke of Malloryn (leader of the CoR) to undermine the creation of an alliance between the Russian Blood Court and the Echelon, when she’d met and fallen for Dmitri Zhukov, who was working for their opponents and in favour of the treaty. The pair fell in love against the odds and their better judgements, but in a heartbreaking betrayal, Gemma was shot by her lover and left for dead. She survived thanks to some quick thinking on Malloryn’s part, and believes Dmitri died in St. Petersburg… until a recent attempt on her life was thwarted through the actions of someone she could almost swear was him.

Following Gemma’s shattering betrayal in Russia, Dmitri – now a powerful dhampir known as Obsidian – wanted nothing more than to forget her, and thanks to a combination of technology and conditioning, has been able to do exactly that. He no longer has any memory of those events and doesn’t want to remember them; he’s learned to hate Gemma, but when the leader of the dhampir orders her death, he finds there’s something in him that won’t allow him – or anyone else – to kill her. He doesn’t understand why – she used him and betrayed him and he wants revenge – but instead of carrying out his orders, he kidnaps her in order to keep her safe. He knows that he’s likely signing his death-warrant, but whatever is driving him to protect Gemma is stronger than his fear of retribution.

The scenes between the couple are electric and filled with intense emotion and chemistry that five years have done nothing to quell. At first they’re both furious, each believing themselves betrayed by the other, and it becomes clear to the reader – and to Gemma – that Obsidian’s recollections have been altered somehow. The more time he spends around her, the more he begins to question everything he’s been told and everything he thought he believed in, which gives Gemma hope that he may be amenable to helping the CoR … and that perhaps they can have another chance at a future together.

The author splits the narrative very skilfully between the romance and the overarching plot, which certainly thickens in this instalment. The murder of a former serial killer sets off a train of events that lead Malloryn to the realisation that the threat London faces is far greater than previously imagined; an old adversary is out to cause chaos, foster anarchy and overthrow the queen, and he won’t rest until he’s destroyed Malloryn in spirit, mind and body.

Bec McMaster is a fantastic storyteller, and I was on the edge of my seat several times, particularly in the last section of the book which is full of brilliant, shocking twists and turns. I love second-chance romances, so Gemma and Obsidian’s storyline was one I was really looking forward to, and the author definitely doesn’t disappoint on that score. Gemma is a terrific heroine – lethal in a fight, but possessed of a big, loving heart, she’s quick-witted and fiercely loyal; and while Obsidian is slightly less well-defined, it makes sense that he would be so given that he’s suppressed his memories for years and is only just coming to know himself once more. The strength of their connection just leaps off the page, and the depth of their feelings – the hurt, the desire and the love – is evident in every moment they spend together. The sex scenes are earthy and passionate, the action is fast-paced, and the cliffhanger ending has me looking anxiously at the calendar and thinking October can’t come too soon!

I loved the affectionate banter and close-knit relationships the author has drawn between the rest of the Rogues, and watching the way they accept Obsidian for Gemma’s sake and then for his own. I was also really pleased to get to know a bit more about Malloryn, who has been a strong, somewhat enigmatic presence in the series so far – I’m now even more excited than ever to read his story in the final book.

If you’re already hooked on this series, then you probably need no urging from me to go out and grab You Only Love Twice; if you have yet to try a book by Bec McMaster and you’re a fan of steampunk/paranormal historical romance then I have no hesitation in recommending the London Steampunk and Blue Blood Conspiracy series most strongly.

[Roobie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5 stars⭐️

You cannot forget your pain without forgetting all the goodness that comes with it.
Pain is what makes the pleasures of life seem so vibrant.
If you didn't know pain or loss, then you would take for granted what had been gifted to you.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

Oof that ending is going to keep me on edge until the next book. Also, I’m just so excited for Charlie and Lark’s book. I have been waiting for it for 2 years, and it’s finally coming next –I can’t even fathom right now.

Here are some of my thoughts:
• I love Gemma. She is so strong and competent. Also, I appreciate that we get to see how strong the bonds within the Company of Rogues have become. It is wonderful to see this team of misfits actually become a family. It’s become especially clear in this book. The nonstop bantering with everyone is hilarious and adorable.
• Obsidian/Dmitri is great too. I seriously feel bad for his past. He deserves so much happiness and I am relieved that he has found a place with Gemma and the COR.
• I’m not a fan of second chance romance, but it somehow has worked here. They’re not afraid to challenge one another. Lots of sweetness and protecting one another.
• Malloryn and Adele’s scenes are intriguing. I honestly can’t wait for his book now too.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this. 4 stars and I am ecstatic to read the next 2 books. This series and the characters in it can go on forever and I’ll be happy.

Things that you might want to know WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending? Cliffhanger for the overall plot, but happy for the main couple.
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note? No, no, medium.

This is 2nd chance romance.

The couple were together and then were apart for a few years and then reunited and got back together again. During the gap, Gemma was with other people. Nothing explicitly said about Obsidian during that gap.
Tears-worthy? Emotional moments, but not depressing
Humor? Yes humorous moments
Favorite scenes? When Obsidian joined the COR, and he sees how warm and loyal the COR are to each other as they banter. When Gemma calls Charlie a sugarplum who needs to be protected at all costs (and Obsidian later on agrees that Charlie is a treasure).
What age level would be appropriate? Mature audience

[Celestine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book where the Company of Rogues turns into family.
Yesterday I watched the movie Deadpool 2, and at the beginning Wade Wilson tells the audience that this is a "family film." Well, he was right because the directors and writers hammered it over our heads that the ragtag band of misfits becomes more than a squad out to save a teenage boy, they become family. Now, maybe Bec McMaster was inspired by Deadpool's clutch of superheroes, but I actually think she pulled it off better than the Hollywood writers and producers. At the end of You Only Love Twice I was getting all the feels and was totally in love with the way the Company of Rogues not only became a team but became a family. And Gemma and Obsidian were the catalyst for it all.

For a second-chance romance, the circumstances and emotions and plotting were complex. The history of Gemma and Obsidian is murky, and his mental conditioning has wiped away sentiment, yet Obsidian has a feeling in his gut that he needs to protect Gemma. Their journey is scorching hot and Siberian winter cold, but it is so full of emotion for two spies who should never have crossed that line - twice. I loved every minute of this novel. The history of Gemma and Obsidian and the suspenseful plot are doled out in pieces that just kept me turning page after page long into the night. This was also one of the more complex of McMaster's storylines. Usually I have a good feel for where the story is headed, and this book really kept me on my toes. There is surprise after surprise in the plot, and one should expect no less of these masterful spies - and the villains that challenge them every step of the way. Part of what keeps this book so engrossing is the vile manipulation that leaks out of Ghost and Master, the two main villains.

McMaster is one of my favorite authors, and this just might be my favorite of her books. I highly recommend this novel, but do yourself a favor and read the London Steampunk books, and then the earlier books in this series, first.

Book source: Purchased.

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the title and instantly my mind brought up images of espionage and Russian spies ! Yes I admit I’ve probably watched too many movies but it just sounded like such a tantalising prospect and I can happily say it delivered. With its beautiful, eye catching cover to up the ante even without knowing what would happen I was desperate to know what the author had conjured up for this couple . It’s a relationship that has been gradually teased at in previous books so it was high time to discover exactly why the dhampir Obsidian had Gemma in his sights. Plus how does Gemma explain that the deadly assassin the Chameleon who she helped capture has been murdered by the Chameleon ! It shouldn’t be possible but there’s a lot more in play her than any of the Rogues ever expected.
If it’s something with sizzle that excites you then prepare to need some iced water on hand as this couple happily torment and torture each other. If like myself you’re following the journey of the Company of Rogues then you will be jumping up and down as they all feature here with glorious effect. Finally answers are coming but they might not be what anyone expected but boy does this story end in such a place that the next book cannot come quickly enough for this reader. You will relish the wit and banter , adore learning how much this couple have suffered but most of all love this story as it’s exciting, romantic and unforgettable.
This voluntary take is of an advance copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a C+ for narration and an A- for content, so I'll leave it at 4 stars. (But basically, stick to print because the narrator doesn't do the book justice.)

The books that comprise Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk and Blue Blood Conspiracy series are, to my mind, the best books to have appeared in the genre in recent years. The world-building is meticulous, the characters are all complex and well-rounded, the plotting is tight and the romances are wonderfully steamy, with lots of delicious sexual tension along the way. Her heroes are sex-on-a-stick and her heroines are kickass women who never need to remind readers how unconventional or badass they are; the author shows us everything we need to know. I’ve read all the books (bar one) in the series, and thoroughly enjoyed them all; I’d rate the series as a whole as a keeper, and haven’t awarded any of the books anything lower than a B+. In audio, however? Well, that’s a different story. The two series have different narrators; Alison Larkin narrates the London Steampunk series, and Sienna Frances – who is new-to-me – the Blue Blood Conspiracy books including You Only Love Twice, and while both are accomplished and talented performers, neither is particularly well-suited to the material or able to elevate the stories into  must-listens  or  listen-instead-of-read  books. Personally, I think a series like this – where there are more male characters than female ones – needs a male narrator. YMMV of course .

While each book in the series boasts a self-contained plot and an HEA for the central couple, there’s an overarching storyline running through the entire series which makes it advisable to have read the previous books – AND it means there will be spoilers in this review.

The overarching story of the Blue Blood Conspiracy series concerns the search by the Company of Rogues – headed by the Duke of Malloryn – for whoever is behind the scheme to destabilise the still-fragile new order that has followed the overthrow – three years before – of the cruel and despotic Echelon. And now, a new danger has come to light – a mysterious killer known as the Chameleon is rumoured to have been tasked with killing the Queen, and Malloryn is determined to stop them at all costs. His right-hand in the CoR, spy and assassin Gemma Townsend, accompanies Malloryn to view the body of the Chameleon’s latest victim. Except… the dead man is the very one they’d suspected of being the Chameleon. It’s this extremely puzzling development that leads to the disturbing discovery that London faces an even greater threat than Malloryn had originally imagined – and that an old adversary believed long dead is alive and kicking and out to cause chaos and anarchy… and won’t rest until Malloryn is destroyed in both body and spirit.

Five years earlier, while on a mission to the Blood Court of Russia, Gemma met and fell in love with Dmitri Zhukov – who was technically her enemy, as he was promoting the treaty between the Blood Court and the Echelon Gemma and Malloryn were there to undermine. Gemma and Dmitri fell in love against their better judgements – but on a fateful night, Gemma was shot by her lover and left for dead, saved only by Malloryn’s quick thinking and action. She thought Dmitri died in St. Petersburg – until a recent attempt on her life (in The Mech Who Loved Me) was thwarted by someone she is almost convinced was him.

Believing Gemma had drugged him and then set his room on fire, Dmitri wanted nothing more than to forget her and the pain of her betrayal. Through a combination of technology and conditioning, Dmitri – now a powerful dhampir known as Obsidian – has been able to do just that, and has, over time, learned to hate her. But when his leader orders Gemma’s death, Obsidian finds there is something within him stopping him from killing her – or from allowing anyone else to do so. Instead of carrying out his orders, Obsidian kidnaps Gemma in order to keep her safe – knowing he’s likely signed his own death warrant, and not understanding why he cares; she used him and all he’s wanted for the last five years is revenge.

The second-chance romance between Obsidian and Gemma is sexy and filled with an intensity of emotion and attraction that haven’t abated in the five years since they fell in love. They’re both furious, each believing the other betrayed them in the worst possible way, but it gradually becomes clear that Obsidian’s memories have been altered, and the longer he spends around Gemma, the more he starts to question everything he’s been told and struggles to obey his conditioning. This gives Gemma hope that perhaps he can be persuaded to join the CoR in their fight against anarchy – and that maybe there’s a future for them after all.

Bec McMaster achieves the perfect balance between plot and romance in these books; there’s high-stakes action, plenty of steam and a fantastic twist I didn’t see coming – and she’s created wonderful friendships and camaraderie between the Rogues, all of whom appear throughout the series in ways that are integral to the storyline and are never just throwaway cameos. Gemma is a terrific heroine; deadly, quick-witted and fiercely loyal she’s someone you’d want on your side in a fight, no question. Obsidian is perhaps a little less clearly defined, but that makes sense, seeing that for much of the book he has very few memories or knowledge of himself.

As to the narration… Sienna Frances does a lot of things really well, but I found her voice very… monochromatic; it lacks depth and tonal variety. Her vocal acting, pacing and enunciation are good, as is her character differentiation; her characterisation of the female cast members is fine, but her male voices aren’t great and that posed a real problem. As I said at the beginning, Bec McMaster writes the most deliciously sexy heroes, but none of the main male characters here sounds anything of the sort, and that was incredibly disappointing. I remember the sexual chemistry between Gemma and Obsidian (and Malloryn and Adele in their couple of scenes) just oozing off the page when I read the book, but here it’s pretty non-existent.

I didn’t understand why Obsidian – who hails from Russia – sounds like he comes from my neck-of-the-woods (London/Essex), even though there’s specific reference in the text to Gemma having liked his Russian accent. And I really didn’t like Ms. Frances’ portrayal of Malloryn, who is probably my favourite hero out of all of them in this series; he’s ruthless and deadly and sexy AF, but she gives him this horribly nasal tone that would be more suited to a villain (and is indeed used to portray one of the bad guys, who sounds identical to Malloryn, but who fortunately doesn’t share any scenes with him). The best of her male portrayals is Charlie Todd (whose book is up next) – and I’m glad I hadn’t opted to review the previous book (The Mech Who Loved Me) because the Scottish accent Ms. Frances gives Kinkaid made me wince, and I’d probably have ripped out my earbuds and stomped on them if I’d had to listen to it for an entire book.

By far the biggest problem I had was with the narrative portions of the story, where Ms. Frances displays a repetitive intonation I quickly found grating and a tendency to clip words at the ends of sentences that was equally irritating. As we all know, liking – or not – a narration is a very subjective thing and what works for one person may not work for others. This is one of those times my ears tell me that this narrator is talented and that there are good things about her work here, but when it comes down to it, I simply didn’t care for her voice, and her inability to voice the hero and other principal male roles effectively had a very detrimental effect on the performance as a whole.

When I read the book, I gave it an A-, but as I was writing this review, I struggled to recall details I’d recently listened to because the narration just didn’t engage me. You Only Love Twice is a terrific story, but the narration doesn’t do it justice; I’m going to give the same content grade as I gave the ebook, but my overall recommendation is – if you have yet to read any of this fantastic series, stick to print if you can.

Note: This book has a cliffhanger ending (although the romance does have an HEA)

This review originally appeared at AudioGals .

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for another phenomenal installment :) I absolutely loved it and will have a full review all ready tomorrow... *sighs happily* it was just soooo good... :)

edited to add my full review :)

I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book :) this is the third installment in a spin-off series from one of my all time favourite authors... there is no possible way for me to discuss any parts of this particular story without mentioning some definitely spoilerific details from the previous books, so here's what we're gonna do :) the next paragraph will be safe to read for everyone... you may be completely new to this author and I won't spoil you anything :) it will be a good start to get more informations about the world in general and all the main players :) then the other two paragraphs will concentrate about the spin-off series and this third story... so expect me to talk about spoilers from the previous installments... I might mention people and / or events without any additional explanations, because I am assuming that only people who are caught up with the series will read it... :) I can't stop you from reading it of course, even if you haven't read the previous books, it's just a fair warning :) you might be feeling lost and you will definitely be spoiled about certain very surprising turns of events, so tread carefully :) ok, now that we have this little explanation out of the way, let me jump into safe for all part of my review :)

The original series, as well as the spin-off, both take place in this alternate victorian-ish London, a paranormal / steampunk world... it's ruled by the blue bloods, a vampire-ish creatures who will keep the power in their hands by all means necessary... but they are not the only supernatural beings among humans... there are also verwulfen... the closest I can compare them to are shapeshifters, but they don't turn into animals... nope, they are much more complex... yes, they are definitely much closer to the more primal part of their nature, but... it's much better explained in the books, so I will stop before I make a fool of myself ;) the last group I want to talk about are mechs... they are humans who lost a part of their body and got a mechanical part instead... for that, they agree to serve a certain amount of time to repay for said parts... again, it's a much more complex issue... all those groups clash in the first series... the original five books (plus a few novellas) concentrate on one big story arch... each book revolve around a different main couple, but there is a bigger conflict happening over the course of all five of them... let's just say that humans, mechs and verwulfen have had enough of the way blue bloods are treating them... the original London steampunk series is a truly phenomenal masterpiece :) it's one of my all time favourite stories... with fantastic writing style, complex characters and a story full of surprising twists and turns, it will keep you glued to the pages... :) it also has an amazing ending... that I was very satisfied with... although there were certain characters that I was left curious about... I wanted to know more... so imagine my joy when I learned that Bec decided to go back to this world with yet another series :) the spin-off series, London steampunk the blue blood conspiracy, picks up three years after the big finale... and because I don't want to ruin anything in case you haven't read it yet, let me jump into another paragraph... I will be talking there about the spin-off series in general, so I will include some spoilers about the first series... read as you wish ;)

Ok, let's talk about the spin-off :) as I mentioned, it takes place three years after the big finale... three years of fragile peace between blue bloods, verwulfen, humans and mechs... three years where the last three groups could enjoy more freedom and rights than they ever had before... but it would be too good to last too long... some groups are growing restless... some of them definitely not happy with how things are now... wanting to go back to the "good old days"... and other ones are desperate to fight for the freedom that cost them so dearly... especially when some bigger threats are coming to light... someone has big plans... to counterattack all of that, Duke of Malloryn, with the agreement of the Queen, forms Company of Rogues... a group of individuals, each of them with specific skills, to act behind the shadows... and sometimes in the center of all the attention... a lot of things changes between them, but I won't spoil you any of the very surprising details that made me almost fall off my chair while reading ;) there will be five books as well with this spin-off series and like with the original one, we have a different couple at the center of each novel, but a bigger story arch will span all five of them :) each installment have one, or two members of the COR, as main characters... starting with the first book, with Ingrid, a verwulfen, and Byrnes, a blue blood... they have a very interesting past between them... including a bet that did not end in the best way ;) the second book has Ava as the heroine, a blue blood with a clockwork heart, a survivor of some horrible experiment... and Kincaid, a mech full of hate towards blue bloods... how can they possibly become an item? I was asking myself that very same question :) read the book to find out :) this third installment revolves around Gemma, a blue blood and highly trained assassin and a very mysterious person... fourth book, coming out at the end of october, will be all about Charlie and someone we also know and love :) and the fifth and final installment, coming out sometime next year, will be all about Malloryn... there are of course a few more members of the group, but the situation changes within the stories, so I don't want to spoil you who is a part of COR or if there is a secondary romance happening somewhere within the pages... ;) all you need to know for now is that the spin-off series is just as phenomenal as the original one :) full of characters who are both familiar, because we met them before... but here we finally get to know more about them... plus a few new ones, who are just as interesting... not to mention that we have appearances from a few familiar faces from the original books... :) it's a good balance to keep you constantly interested in the story :) with each new book we discover more and more about the bigger picture and not only that, we get to know more about our group of heroes and heroines... I adore their interactions when they are all together :) to see how closer they grew within the time they were working together... how they tease one another... how supportive they are... how much they care... *sighs happily* I can't wait to read the next two books to see how everything will end :) ok, now I will get to the totally spoilerific part of my review, so read the last paragraph only if you are caught up on the series or you truly don't mind being spoiled about some big and surprising things... ok, you've been warned...

How to start writing down all my thoughts and feelings that I have about this story... it's not gonna be easy... but I have to start somewhere :) so let's begin with a surprising word that you probably didn't expect to find in this review... Marvel :) as in Marvel from all the superhero movies... why Marvel? oh I'll tell ya :) because both Gemma and Obsidian, reminded me of Marvel characters... Obsidian, being on the other side of the conflict, a deadly assassin with very few memories... he reminded me so much of Winter Soldier, one of my favourite secondary characters in that universe... and Gemma? how can you think about a chameleon of a woman, who can be charming and flirtatious one second, and then putting a knife to your throat the next one without thinking about Black Widow? :) both of them deadly... both dangerous and complex... when I first stumbled on a scene within the previous books that suggested who Gemma's hero might be I was... a bit apprehensive... especially when going into this installment I knew that they have a history together... because second chance romances and this hate / love kind of situations are definitely not tropes I like in books... so I was hesitant... but my oh my... I ended up loving this installment ;) Bec truly did a wonderful job with these two... the intensity of their connection... how they can truly understand each other... there were scenes... little ones... that hit me straight into my heart... Obsidian definitely surprised me... I did not expect him to melt my heart like he did... :) obviously I am not gonna spoil you about the events in this book, because there were quite a few surprising ones I definitely did not see coming... let's just say I gasped in shock more than once... plus, even though our couple gets their happy ending, the book itself ends on a cliffhanger that will make the wait for the next installment very hard... fortunately the end of october is not that far... or so I keep telling myself ;) this book is a perfect example of balancing the romance between our main couple, and moving forward the bigger plot of the story... we have parts that concentrate on Gemma and Obsidian, and all the changes between them... including some flashbacks to their history in Russia... we also have parts that show us group dynamics... how those friendships and connections grew stronger from the beginning of the series... how certain characters became more confident... how some unlikely bonds have been made... the depth of all those connections... even if some of them are only blossoming right now, is truly beautiful to watch :) and of course let's not forget about all the truly shocking turns of events... I may have had my suspicions while I was reading some scenes but I would never guessed where the whole story will take us... now I am dying to read the next installment... as well as the fifth one... :) I'm very curious to see where Bec will take this whole story :) I highly recommend you guys to read this book and this series in general... I have no words to describe all the love I have for Bec and the characters and stories she creates... *sighs happily* I can only try and convince as many of you as I can to give her work a try :) it's gonna be soooo worth it :)

XOXO

A

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[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revised story grade: 4 stars
Narration grade: 4 stars

My original 4.5 starred review (for the book) is below.

After listening to You Only Love Twice, I found new things to like (and dislike).

I've grown quite fond of this narrator and enjoy her interpretation of characters I already like. While some listeners struggle with her portrayal of the male principals, I don't. I liked Kincaid, and I like Dmitri/Obsidian, too. Dmitri grew up in England (after he was born in Russia) and his accent is a reflection of his upbringing. He retains some of his Russian accent via his relationship to his Russian born mother. I didn't expect a full on Russian accent and we didn't get one. I loved his commitment to Gemma and willingness to put his own life in peril to save hers - their love story is powerful.

Frances delivers a tough as nails Gemma. Her performance aptly captures Gemma's ruthlessness when Taking Care of Business and Totally Being a Badass in Leather and her vulnerability with Dmitri - and with Malloryn. Two men who also enjoy being Total Badasses but have decidedly different feelings for her. Gemma learns a lot about herself and her feelings for both men as this story progresses and Ms. Frances' portrayal of the character is well suited to the material.

One of the less successful elements of this story, unfortunately, is the "Bad Guy/Villain" storyline. We know about these evil dudes, we sometimes get a brief PoV from Ghost, and...well, I think we need more PoVs from this side of the story and more of Obsidian in this world. It's all a bit too abstract for this reader. Our major Baddie (no, I won't tell you who he is although if you are following this series, you already know) is this ruthless, enigmatic, shadowy figure with agents and spies all over the place...but Obsidian is still able to keep hidden/ahead of Ghost pretty much most of the time. And good buddy Silas is clearly a weak link - but he's still lurking around double crossing (sort of) both parties? Hmmm....me thinks there are some inconsistencies in these 'RUTHLESS,' and 'DIABOLICAL,' characters.

And lastly, LET'S HAVE MORE UNDERWATER KRAKEN SHIT.

*************************************************************

4.5 stars

Quick note:

I read the first (Mission: Improper) and second (The Mech Who Loved Me) books in the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy spin-off series in advance of You Only Love Twice, but if you are new to Bec McMaster, I encourage/recommend (I'm begging) you to read the earlier London Steampunk series before you pick this one up. (They're uniformly great. I promise!)

I LOVE this author and her steampunk world, but even I struggled to remember lots of little details that help round out the characterization of the principal players. Most appear as secondary characters in London Steampunk, and I was often frustrated by my inability to recall/remember certain things about each of them as their stories unfold in The Blue Blood Conspiracy novels. They're absolutely worth your time and attention; I regret skipping those books in my rush to read this one. I hate not remembering those stories as well as I'd like - and I absolutely feel like they will enhance your enjoyment of You Only Love Twice if you take the extra time and treat yourself with the earlier books first.

You Only Love Twice features Gemma Townsend, an assassin and blue blood with close ties to Malloryn, and a member of his Company of Rogues. We know little about Gemma aside from her appearances in the previous The Blue Blood Conspiracy novels, and her slightly vague/close relationship to Malloryn. She's beautiful, funny, sexy and extremely adept at killing. Gemma has only 'failed' Malloryn once - when she fell in love with a Russian double-agent, Dmitri Zhukov, and barely survived his attempt to kill her.

In earlier books, readers learned about an enemy force arrayed against Malloryn and his queen. This largely unseen and powerful enemy is determined to undermine the power structure in London and destroy Malloryn. When You Only Love Twice begins, Gemma believes someone in the enemy camp, a dhampir, is watching over her. She suspects it’s her former lover Dmitri, but he's yet to fully reveal himself - and she's convinced he died shortly after he attempted to kill her. Gemma knows the idea of Dmitri returning to London and watching over her is crazy...but just might be true.

Obsidian (aka Dmitri Zhukov - before he became a dhampir) is determined to destroy Malloryn and his Company of Rogues. When his “brother” and nominal leader, Ghost, orders fellow dhampir assassins to kill Malloryn’s protege, Gemma Townsend, Obsidian interferes...saving Gemma's life and killing the assassins instead. Believing Gemma betrayed him in Russia - leaving him to die after setting fire to his rooms following a passionate night together - he's nurtured a bitter hatred of her. His dhampir brothers encouraged his anger and sense of betrayal via a systematic conditioning process, and now he's determined to be the one to kill her. Only...he can't. Every time he's near Gemma, he's thwarted by flashbacks of their time together and a longing he can't suppress. He kidnaps her with the intent of driving his errant feelings away...but the plan backfires, and he finds himself doubting his recollection of their past - and falling for her all over again.

You Only Love Twice showcases Ms. McMaster's marvelous and intricate world building. Each novel in the series has upped the danger and suspense, and this time out the pace is fast and furious. Obsidian has secrets - and a painful past - but his love for Gemma reminds him (and us) of his humanity. He's a deeply flawed man who's been abused by the men he calls brothers, and is struggling to overcome the darkness in his past. He more than meets his match in Gemma - who was dealt a similarly bad hand as a young girl and forced to rely on wits and physical strength to overcome a traumatic childhood and escape the world in which she was raised. I loved this match-up! Their second chance love story is powerful, tender, and profoundly moving. I loved how these two damaged individuals find healing and solace in a connection to one another, and the intensity of their physical attraction is super hot, sexy and affecting. I think they're my favorite McMaster couple - yet.

Although the relationship between Obsidian (Dmitri) and Gemma is the primary focus of the novel, Ms. McMaster doesn't skimp on developing and forwarding the overarching plot, or providing new and clever ways to challenge the COR. The Chameleon, a ruthless assassin, is once again on the loose, and a former enemy - long thought dead - might be masterminding the destruction of Malloryn, the COR, and the queen. He's bad and he'll do anything to win. Friends, he's a total dick and this book left me rooting hard for the good guys. Ms. McMaster also - FINALLY - provides a bit of insight into Malloryn and his motivations, and in doing so, we learn about the origins of his relationship to Gemma, and why they're so loyal to one another. Although Obsidian and Gemma are a terrific love match, the partnership/friendship/love between Malloryn and Gemma is also supremely well realized.

Bec McMaster masterfully juggles romance, suspense and storytelling in another terrific addition to her steampunk universe. She's saved one of my favorite characters until the (near?) end of the series, sweet as a sugarplum Charlie, leaving readers anxious to know more about the mysterious Dido, the evil Balfour, and just who and what awaits Malloryn in Russia. It's all tremendously entertaining and fantastic, and I can't wait for the next chapter in this brilliant series!

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Gemma Townsend is a spy who was sold to a school of assassins when she was a little girl. She learned how to fight, how to kill but no matter what they tried to make her, she never stopped feeling and never lost her heart. But it came near to that five years ago, when she gave her affection and her love to the enemy.

Now a member of the Company of Rogues, a group of clever, strong and sharp people from different social class who fight for the common good of the citizens of London and to protect their Queen, Gemma's latest mission is to investigate the mysterious death of a dangerous killer. For weeks now, she have had the sensation of being watched. She's about to come face to face with the past.

There's a fine line between love and hate. Nobody know it better than Obsidian. The woman he loved betrayed him, but there's a voice inside his heart that can't help but whisper "she's mine" every time he sees her. But she's also his target.

A complex love story between two people in the enemy camp. A story of betrayal and pain. Of danger and passion. But who is the real opponent ?


When it comes to Bec McMaster's novels, I don't only love twice. I love every single time a new book is released. I talked about danger and passion and for me, these two words describe perfectly this author's work and talent. Not only we get amazing romance that make me swoon, gasp, sigh, laugh, cry and dream, but there's the good storylines and surprising plot twists and the powerful connection between the COR's members and their funny interactions. I love when they're together; bickering, discussing theories and strategies or making bets. And I just love this name; the Company of Rogues. It sound classy and sexy ;p

And with an ending like the one in You Only Love Twice, thank God the next book is at the end of the month because I'm dying to know how everything will be solved. Plus, it's finally Charlie's turn and I've been waiting for his and Lark's HEA for years !

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romanceopoly 2019 - London Street

Gemma Townsend has learnt the hard way never to mix business and pleasure. It will leave you barely breathing in an icy cold river in Russia. But, it’s a lesson she may not have learned quite as well as she thought when she comes face to face with a ghost from her past. A ghost that seems to be doing his level best to destroy everyone she loves and everything she believes in.

I don’t read much steampunk, but every time I finish a novel in the genre I am left wondering why. I always enjoy them, but then again, that could be because most of the steampunk books I have read are by Bec McMaster and she knows exactly how to write a tale that’s exciting, sexy and delivers on a glorious HEA.

In You Only Love Twice we Gemma our heroine is the star of the show. She’s such a powerful character. So often we are used to men being the centre of the action, but Gemma is the most deadly member of the gang. I love the command she has over her body, both in combat where she is fast and strong, but also in the way she uses it to manipulate others to fulfill her own mission. She is unashamedly sexual and hot as hell.

Then we have Obisdian, who unlike Gemma has no sense of who he is and is constantly manipulated by the people around him. All he knows for sure is that Gemma is important and that no matter how much he is told to hate her…he just can’t. These two together were magnetic, even when they are enemies you can feel the sexual chemistry and the connection between them, when they are together they were electric.

As well as the romance though, we have the conspiracy plot driving the story forward. There are a few different threads that get fleshed out – like the Duke of Malloryn’s engagement – that have been mentioned previously but now are coming into play. It was an exciting story that had me eagerly turning the page.

If you haven’t read much steampunk before this series and her London Steampunk series (which preceded this series) is a great place to start. It’s a romance series in a paranormal steampunk setting, so it will have the style and some of the tropes you love, but done in an exciting new way. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Bring on the next book!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

You Only Love Twice
3 Stars

Good development for the ongoing story arc, but the romance is disappointing.

The world of Bec McMaster's London Steampunk is fascinating, and her original take on vampirism is displayed to full effect in this installment particularly with regard to the origins, motivations and conflicts of the various dhampir characters. The plot to destroy London and kill the Queen moves in a new direction with the introduction of the mysterious assassin known as the Chameleon. The twists and turns involving the identity of the killer make for engaging reading, and the ultimate explanation is both surprising and satisfying.

Unfortunately, the exciting world-building and compelling storylines are undermined by the lackluster romance. Obsidian and Gemma's second chance at love is flat and uninspired. Neither character is sufficiently fleshed out, and the flashback scenes to their first meeting do not actually provide any insight into how they feel for one another. Readers are presented with the facts of their love-affair, but not the emotion behind it.

Moreover, Obsidian and Gemma's relationship is completely overshadowed by the few interactions between Malloryn and his bride-to-be, Adele Hamilton. Their snarky wordplay and intense chemistry highlight the deficiencies in the primary couple's connection.

Finally, the cliffhanger ending is exceedingly annoying. The only redeeming factor here is that the series is now complete so there will be no waiting to find out what happens next.

[AlwaysV · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the series so much. The only series in the Steampunk genre I've read actually. Gemma and Obsidian's story was amazing! I loved the resolution of their sad and horrible past. Although there was one element I hated so much that I previously took off one star. That was the part where the villains were super smart, so smart they could FORCE good guys to commit murder at their command! Yet all the heart-pounding, action packed, as well as light-hearted parts outweighed it. A good discussion in our Chit-Chat thread made me realize how great the book was! So I edited my rating. Yes! Five Totally Deserving Stars!

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for the 3rd entry in the Blue Blood Conspiracy series, which we are really enjoying. As the title of this one suggests, we've got a second-chance romance spy book. On top of that there's an added dash of enemies to lovers. You'd think that we would be all over it, right? We were sadly a little disappointed by this one, possibly because we've been hyped for Gemma since book one (Mission: Improper).⁠
⁠
The story is a little confusing, the love story is lacking, and Meg has petty issues with the neural technology used to psychologically reprogram several different characters in the book. McMaster's action-heavy scenes remain a constant highlight, and if anyone can make blood sucking sexy, it's her. ⁠We still prefer actual smut, though, not blood-sucking smut. Also, Gemma is a BAMF and she deserved a guy who would actually go down on her instead of faking us out with a thigh bite.

36-Word Summaries:
⁠
Laine: Obsidian thinks Gemma tried to kill him and Gemma knows Obsidian killed her and thinks he's dead. Now they're on opposite sides of a spy war, so he obviously kidnaps her out of lust and confusion. ⁠
⁠
Meg: The only thing that can overcome Manchurian Candidate-style brainwashing? Fated mates-style love, of course! You could be forgiven for thinking that the traitor in the Company of Rogues is the A-plot, but, um, it’s definitely not.⁠

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another stellar outing in this series that I enjoyed. I love the whole mystery that has been running through this series; the continuity of it and the romance seemed to fit right into it. The H just couldn't harm the h no matter how much his "conditioning" tried to make him hurt her. I liked the hot & passionate romance and the unveiling of who has been pulling the strings. I can't wait for the next book.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma has a niche with the Company of Rogues as a well trained spy. She has gracefully deadly moves and a sharp wit. Her huge heart and capacity for loyalty are her greatest strengths, yet also her greatest weakness. When she gets up close and personal with her past, she has to decide if everything was real...or fake.

Obsidian has a mission to take down the enemy, but there’s something about Gemma that has him hesitating. He feels hatred and love when he thinks of her, torn by two sides of the same coin as the feelings burn into what’s left of his memories. The longer he’s around her, the more he questions everything he thought he believed in.

Obsidian and Gemma’s second chance romance kept me on my toes with the topsy, turvy emotions! I was cracking up at their biting banter while sighing at their sizzling attraction. They were totally suited for each other, fulfilling a need neither one was willing to admit to, and I caught myself hoping things would finally align in their favor.

Book 3 in the Blue Blood series, I would recommend reading the books in order to not miss out. The romances do stand alone, but the story arc moves across the books. I thought You Only Love Twice made a big jump in plot progression as details are starting to really come together and the bigger picture has me bouncing in excitement of what’s to come! Obsidian and Gemma’s story was full of mischievous banter, fantastic sizzle, loads of action-a necessary requirement for the action junkie in me-and a twisty plot that caught me by surprise! Oy, this was a fabulous read and well worth the wait!

[Firstpella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of 2nd chance romance because knowing the 1st time around didn’t work, and that I’m going to have to experience that crap when I read to escape real life crap...yuck. So when a 2nd time story captures the general essence of the bad shit without word for word, pain by pain, make me suffer and gets me through it quickly so I can enjoy the second fucking time around and all it’s agonizing smoldering sexy time love muffin’ing AwesomeNESS, I say Gurlllllll YES.
And the h was kickass
And the H was badass
And the OTHER main couple, that I have to wait until the book after the next, is deliciously intriguing and that H is practically set the panties on fire with his alphaness
And I totally knew who the turncoat was
And I was shocked off my donut (cause I have a bad back and need a pillow to sit on when I’m reading for 3 hours straight to finish a fantastic book) who the Shooter was

And why the heck are you not reading this series.

[Ren Puspita · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Another great addition to London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series, You Only Love Twice exceeded my expectation. After my little disappointment with The Mech Who Loved Me, McMaster back again with her trademark, kick ass heroine, tortured heroes, angst, but the more important thing, a non-stop action. The book have a slow start at the beginning, with the heroine, Gemma Townsend's captive by Obsidian. Both are spy, agents, with long back history 5 years ago in Russia, when Gemma met Obsidian as Dmitri for the first time. Their blossoming love torn apart for what supposed as betrayal, by Dmitri shot Gemma, therefore seal her fate as a blue blood for she almost died and her mentor, the Duke of Malloryn must save her. Fast forward again, Obsidian seems to forget that Gemma was his lover, and both of them catch in a deadly tangle of thread that threatened the Queen and London.

Despite its slow beginning, the action kicked after few chapters and it's never a dull moment. Like Ami said in her review, the first part when Gemma try to make Obsidian remember their love is like Steve and Bucky. Haha, I never thought about that XD. There some part that make me think "if this technology is possible in the 19th century?" like the neural implant that affect Obsidian's mind condition. BUT, if thing like vampire and werewolf exist, why not the advanced technology? Beside, the steampunk element is still apparent, so I willing to set aside some facts.

I can't said that Gemma and Obsidian is my favorite couple (Rosalind-Lynch still HELD the title), for I missed the battle of wits that overshadowed by the angst, but at least theirs still better than Ava-Kincaid. Also, in the half last part, their relationship kinda put into back burner for McMaster choose to focus to the action part. Anyway, I still like this pair. Obsidian, being Russian, remind me so much to Ilya Kuryakin from Man From U.N.C.L.E (anyone watch this movie?), so I can totally see Armie Hammer as Obsidian (OMG, YUM!). Gemma herself is totally badass. She indeed try not to flatter herself with state that Malloryn is #1 for the strongest person in the Company of Rogues. Haha, joke on you, Malloryn! For Gemma is the #1 of all of them.

This book have SO MANY SURPRISES like :
- Isabella's betrayal ( I always know in some point, she will betrayed Malloryn because hell hath no fury like woman scorned, and Malloryn kinda become asshole to her)
- Gemma's mind control that make her as Chameleon, therefore conclude the identity of the mysterious assassin.
- Malloryn's captive by the enemy. OMG, what kind of ending was that? Color me shocked!".
...however, what make You Only Love Twice much better compared to the two previous books, is this book have it all. So many subplots and character development. We will get to know more about Malloryn, about his past, about his relationship with Gemma, Isabella and Adele. I like how McMaster write that Malloryn and Gemma's relationship is purely platonic, theirs kinda remind me with Charles Xavier-Raven Darkholme, like brother and sister. His on-off affair with Isabella is very sad to read, and I'm intrigue with Adele. I remember once that in Heart of Iron, she's not act like an ice queen and in this book she seems different. Her aloofness toward Malloryn is hard to read, for I know that the indifference between Malloryn and Adele is a much stronger feeling rather than hatred. I really can't wait for what McMaster have for this couple to work into the HEA, for they are like fire and ice.

Another that I liked is the relationship between all member of Company of Rogues. We got female friendship between Gemma, Ingrid and Ava, also no wussy friend tell another hero to back off from the heroine like the previous books, lol. We also got male friendship in the form of Byrnes, Kincaid and Charlie. There were banters, wits, also tease (Gemma called Charlie as her sugarplum! Awww...), especially to Malloryn and his "dreaded" wedding to Adele. All of it give a color to the book, that the story is not just a romance between the hero and the heroine, but also their relationship with another characters as well. This is what I feel lacking from the first original series, because the characters in London Steampunk arc 1 didn't have this "companionship" factor, although all of them have the same goals to overthrown the prince consort.

Fair warning, this book end in cliffhangers, regarding the fate of one of the Rogues. So ofc I must read the next, and well, finally Charlie and Lark get their own story. About time! :D

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars... A second chance romance with deadly consequences... Gemma and Dmitri have known love and loss; they know what it is to be used and abused; they know life can throw unexpected blessings and curses into their paths; in the end will they be able to put the past to rights so they can have a future... On opposite sides of the pending war, these two characters must risk it all to learn the truth, trust one another, and defeat their enemies... In an all or nothing romance laced with epic battles and many twists and turns throughout, these characters wind their way through turmoil and upheaval to fight for the one thing neither of them can live without, Love:)

[GigiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook. Following up the magnificence of The Mech Who Loved Me with another amazing story was a tough ask but somehow Bec McMaster pulled it off. She's a sorceress of words, no doubt about it. The third book is plot-driven and action-packed. Here we meet Obsidian and get the background of why he hates Gemma so much.

There is a LOT of plot here and the romance could have easily gotten lost in the shuffle. But instead, it's brilliantly blended in. This is a second-chance trope though and while I adored Obsidian/Dimitri and his murdery vengeful little heart, I wish I could have seen them fall in love. I have this problem with almost all second-chance tropes though so it's not unique to this book. The reader does get glimpses of their initial relationship which I appreciated but it left me wanting more. Loads of things happen here and this book doesn't stand alone at all. Gemma is a bad ass, Obsidian is a tortured sweet heart and the action scenes are cinematic. This series continues to wow me. Also, the angry sex scenes were 🤌🏽 Narrator is tolerable but she has some quirks I don't care for.

Tropes
Second chance
Fake Identity
Kidnapping

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🔥🔥🔥/5

CW: torture, violence on page

[Anna (Bobs Her Hair)]

I didn’t feel like reading “You Only Love Twice.” I’m not a fan of the second-chance romance trope. Flashbacks. Not a fan. It didn’t help that Gemma and Obsidian are fairly new to the London Steampunk world. At least with Charlie Todd, the hero in the next installment, there have been little thread with his story throughout the London Steampunk and Blue Blood Conspiracy series.

There was too much angst (for me) in this book. It seemed most of the conflict was the h/h trying to resolve their issues. Since this is a romance at heart the HEA is a given. There went the tension, although I’m being a bit of a whiner because there are interesting developments. Plus I loved the juicy bits with Malloryn.

No Rating

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd read: December 2020
Buddy read with Karin
This is one of my favorite books by ms McMaster. I have no idea why since it has an amnesia plot and I am not fond of those, but it also has enemies to lovers and 2nd chances and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to get caught up in the story, but once I did, didn't want to put it down.

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

You Only Love Twice is the third instalment in the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series and is another deftly told, exciting and steamy story!

Gemma Townsend is trained in the art of seduction. Since a young child she has been sculpted into the ultimate spy but five years ago Gemma learned the hard way what happens when you break the biggest rule of espionage; don’t fall in love with your target. It cost her everything; her mentors trust, the man she loved and almost her life. When she was offered a chance at redemption, Gemma took it, becoming a member of the Company of Rogues in service to her Queen and country. Gemma is determined to right her wrongs until she comes across a face from her past that leaves her shaken. A dhamphir, Obsidian is a deadly assassin and a far cry from the man he once was. Though his history with Gemma remains largely a mystery thanks to missing memories, Obsidian knows that Gemma was the one to betray him and he’s determined to get his revenge. Obsession and passion rage as Obsidian struggles to kill his former enemy and the woman who destroyed him but when it becomes clear the truth about their past may not be as it seems, will Gemma and Obsidian have another chance at love? Or will their history be too much to overcome?

Bec McMaster continues to entrance with this series, proving she has no problem winning over even the most critical of readers. Heading into You Only Love Twice I was unsure just how much I would enjoy the story. I’m not the biggest fan of second-chance romances and Gemma has never really been someone I have connected with a whole lot. In fact, of all the characters we have encountered throughout both series she is the one I have probably been the least concerned about. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the person Gemma turned out to be.

A seductress and assassin, Gemma is trained and deadly. She knows how to use her looks and talents to bring a man to his knees and doesn’t hesitate to get the job done. In You Only Love Twice we discover a softer, even somewhat maternal side to Gemma where her feelings about those she loves is concerned. It’s subtle but Gemma absolutely adores her fellow Company members and I enjoyed seeing the love she has for each of them. Their bond is lovely and this side to Gemma helped me see past the seductress and into the heart of the woman.

It also didn’t hurt that Bec McMaster wrote Gemma’s weakness in the form of Obsidian, a former lover who she has never really let go of but who is now back in her life. I liked Obsidian—he and Gemma clearly adored one another and it became pretty clear from early on that someone had manipulated his memories for their own purpose and that his and Gemma’s past wasn’t necessarily what they both thought.

I enjoyed seeing them both come to discover the truth. You Only Love Twice is very exciting towards its final few chapters as Bec McMaster writes some edge of your seat events that will no doubt have a great impact on future stories. I’m super excited for Adele and Malloryn’s story and am dying to see them get together as a true husband and wife although Lark and Charlie’s tale is next and given they’ve been there since the beginning I have big expectations for their story!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma Townsend, Blue Blood, is perhaps the deadliest member of the Company of Rogues. She was trained as an assassin by a brutal organization, but the moment she tried to kill the Duke of Malloryn, she broke and found a friend instead. Now, utilizing the weapons of her training, her cunning, and her sexuality, she's responsible for putting the Chameleon, one of the deadliest killers in London, behind bars. When the Chameleon is found dead in his cell, and for the first time in years, the same kind of killing takes place, Gemma worries she locked up the wrong man. Her investigation brings her back into contact with Dmitri, now called Obsidian, the ex-lover who tried to kill her five years ago. Obsidian has wiped everything about Gemma from his mind; he's literally undergone shock treatment and been reprogrammed as a part of his unit. Whatever drew them together years ago is still there, though, and it doesn't matter that Gemma and Obsidian are on opposite sides of the political warfare between Blue Bloods, damphirs, and international factions vying for power.

Any time I read a second chance romance, I need to know that the reason for breaking up is legitimate (and not just "they were too young" or "they didn't know how to communicate") and from the start McMaster gives us a really good reason: probably trying to kill your lover means it's over. The romance arc of You Only Love Twice works to resolve the question of how Gemma and Dmitri can have an HEA after what they've been through, and that sort of worked for me. I spent much more of my time reading engrossed in the larger plot arc of the book and of the series, though. Once I embraced the fact that I was in it for the plot, I was able to embrace the story. In the end, I was convinced of Dmitri and Gemma's devotion, but I never quite got the swoon out of it. That said, I'm incredibly to pick up the next book to keep this plot moving! Bec McMaster writes such good action, drama, and romance that even a book that I'm a little less invested in is still an outstanding adventure.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

First rule of espionage: don't ever fall in love with your target.
Five years ago, Gemma Townsend learned the hard way what happens when you break this rule. She lost everything. Her mentor's trust. The man she loved. And almost her life. Love is a weakness she can never afford again.
When offered a chance at redemption, the seductive spy is determined to complete her assigned task: to track down a dangerous assassin known as the Chameleon, a mysterious killer sent after the queen, whose identity seems to constantly change.
But as her investigation leads Gemma into a trap, she's rescued by a shadowy figure she thought was dead—the double agent who once stole her heart.
A man with few memories, all Obsidian knows is Gemma betrayed him, and he wants revenge. But one kiss ignites the unextinguished passion between them, and he can't bring himself to kill her.
Can Obsidian ever trust her again? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? Because it soon becomes clear the Chameleon might be closer than either of them realized... and this time Gemma is in the line of fire.
Heather's Notes
This book felt like the energizer bunny. It kept going and going. I really liked Gemma and Obsidian grew on me. I liked most of what happened. Ghost is finally dead. He so deserved it. I wasn't really thrilled with the fact that Malloryn was kidnapped. It didn't really fit. Why would she take him? I look forward to continuing this series. However I still don't like it as much as the first series.

[Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angst! Drama! Action! Intrigue! Off the charts chemistry! Second-chance romance! Enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers! Excellent dialogue! A kidnapping, and so much more!

This book (and series) has so much to recommend for it. I loved this book so much, and could not put it down. Sooo good! Bec McMaster is an amazing writer and story teller. I just wish more people knew how much of a treasure she is.

[Catherine Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one ends with a cliffhanger for the overarching plot, but wraps up the romance. I really liked Gemma and Obsidian, but their actual romance feels like a novella wrapped in the larger plot, so be prepared if that's an issue for you. Personally, I'm super invested in Malloryn's arc at this point, so I didn't mind.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would like this one as much as I did. I sort of thought I'd plow through it to get on to the rest of the series, but it turns out Obsidian and Gemma's story was actually rather delightful, if a bit emotionally frought for my taste. Definitely a worth while read though.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idk what it is about these books. They just hit all the right marks for me. Fun characters, thrills,the chase, and of course romance.

Bec McMaster is an amazing author. I will continue to read whatever she puts out there for consumption.