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Royal Four #1
To Wed a Scandalous Spy
Lovely, high born Willa Trent was an orphan, raised by a local, somewhat odd family in the country, who want nothing but the best for their girl. So when she drags the unconscious man she accidentally hit with a slingshot home, they arrange a hasty marriage and pack the couple off with best wishes. Armed with a groggy husband and a new future, Willa's pie-eyed optimism has no limits...until she discovers the secret, dangerous world of Nathaniel Stonewell, Earl of Reardon, a.k.a. "Lord Treason."
Though Nathaniel is reviled by most of England for his devious plot against the Crown, he is, in reality, a member of an elite cadre of secret royal defenders on a daring undercover mission. He must keep his secrets at all cost, especially from Willa. And yet, he is enchanted...though he stubbornly refuses to surrender to his passion. Far better, he tells himself, to turn his back on love than risk everything for it. Luckily, his bride has other plans...
Though Nathaniel is reviled by most of England for his devious plot against the Crown, he is, in reality, a member of an elite cadre of secret royal defenders on a daring undercover mission. He must keep his secrets at all cost, especially from Willa. And yet, he is enchanted...though he stubbornly refuses to surrender to his passion. Far better, he tells himself, to turn his back on love than risk everything for it. Luckily, his bride has other plans...
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
59 people are currently reading
2011 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Bradley
42 books1,813 followersVisit me at www.CelesteBradley.com or facebook.com/CelesteBradleyAuthor :)
Go to CelesteBradley.com/newsletter for my Voice of Society newsletter.
Hi, my name is Celeste Bradley and I write "brain chocolate." That is, I write fun and sexy escapism is for hardworking women everywhere. We deserve a little man-candy, too!
Reviewers like to say I write about misfit heroines getting the man of their dreams. Maybe that's true, but don't we all feel like misfits sometimes? Even if the rest of the world thinks we have all our balls in the air, aren't we juggling like mad on the inside, desperately trying not to drop one?
I love this manic, scattered life I lead. I love to write, craft, garden, bake and mother, even if I don't always do it all perfectly. I love living in the Southwest, with its big sky and vast desert views. I love venturing out of my quiet life to meet readers and other writers, and then I love to come back to my haven, full of ideas and renewed passion and creativity.
Maybe one of those times I'll meet you!
Hugs,
and thanks for reading!
Go to CelesteBradley.com/newsletter for my Voice of Society newsletter.
Hi, my name is Celeste Bradley and I write "brain chocolate." That is, I write fun and sexy escapism is for hardworking women everywhere. We deserve a little man-candy, too!
Reviewers like to say I write about misfit heroines getting the man of their dreams. Maybe that's true, but don't we all feel like misfits sometimes? Even if the rest of the world thinks we have all our balls in the air, aren't we juggling like mad on the inside, desperately trying not to drop one?
I love this manic, scattered life I lead. I love to write, craft, garden, bake and mother, even if I don't always do it all perfectly. I love living in the Southwest, with its big sky and vast desert views. I love venturing out of my quiet life to meet readers and other writers, and then I love to come back to my haven, full of ideas and renewed passion and creativity.
Maybe one of those times I'll meet you!
Hugs,
and thanks for reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
January 23, 2019
This one is riot!
A serious hoot!
As is the h!
I adored her silliness and her die-hard Pollyanna act.
She might try some readers' patience but I enjoyed every cheesy, corny moment she's on the page.
The H is serious-minded but never mean or cruel. The poor guy has a lot on his plate and mind- what with being branded a traitor and all.
And a moderately complex ow who gets a comeuppance only the reader gets to know.
But so satisfying!
A serious hoot!
As is the h!
I adored her silliness and her die-hard Pollyanna act.
She might try some readers' patience but I enjoyed every cheesy, corny moment she's on the page.
The H is serious-minded but never mean or cruel. The poor guy has a lot on his plate and mind- what with being branded a traitor and all.
And a moderately complex ow who gets a comeuppance only the reader gets to know.
But so satisfying!
February 29, 2016
At first I was puzzled: is Willa perheps a retarded child? Her way of thinking things was so very strange, like she was not in her right mind.
Slowly, as the story progressed, we get to see that she's actually very smart in her own way!
After a few chapters I started to really like her! The way he turn things on Nate with just words was hilarious and great! I was chuckling every time she compared somebody to an animal! And she was always right: I just could envision each person as he or she was blended with his or her animal! :)
The Royal Four instead was a real flop for me! Was it because of their action that Britain has become such a great empire? I don't think so: all the contrary!
They were really like children playing spy games! Their secrecy was also a children game: they were sulking in a musty room, but at the same time they were exchanging confidences where anybody could overheard them! It was like the existence of eavesdropping never crossed their mind!
But I gladly give 4 strats: they're all for Willa! :)
Slowly, as the story progressed, we get to see that she's actually very smart in her own way!
After a few chapters I started to really like her! The way he turn things on Nate with just words was hilarious and great! I was chuckling every time she compared somebody to an animal! And she was always right: I just could envision each person as he or she was blended with his or her animal! :)
The Royal Four instead was a real flop for me! Was it because of their action that Britain has become such a great empire? I don't think so: all the contrary!
They were really like children playing spy games! Their secrecy was also a children game: they were sulking in a musty room, but at the same time they were exchanging confidences where anybody could overheard them! It was like the existence of eavesdropping never crossed their mind!
But I gladly give 4 strats: they're all for Willa! :)
August 19, 2010
It’s ok if you’re looking for a light, fluffy, regency romance, but I wanted more depth and uniqueness of characters.
STORY BRIEF:
Willa is an orphan raised by locals in a small rural community. She is a jinx. Accidents happen to boys who get too close to her. She uses a slingshot to shoot a rock and misses her target. Instead she hits a hornets’ nest causing Nathaniel to fall off his horse and be knocked unconscious. She rolls Nathaniel away from the hornets and stays with him while waiting for the hornets to calm down. She accidentally falls asleep. The two of them sleep all night. Nathaniel does the honorable thing and offers to marry her because she is ruined by spending the night with him. The locals love her but are happy to have someone else take responsibility for the jinx. They prepare a hasty wedding. Then the couple leave for Nathaniel’s home in London.
Nathaniel is an earl and is part of a secret spy group (the Royal Four Club) working for the monarchy and prime minister. Nathaniel infiltrated an enemy group and has been labeled a traitor by society. People throw mud at him and shun him. He needs to keep up the traitor cover until certain bad guys have been caught. Although most people believe he is a traitor, Willa doesn’t believe it.
This is the first book in the “Royal Four Club” series.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
After Willa marries Nathaniel, there were only about two jinx episodes. I wanted to see more jinxing happen. The characters were almost too nice. There were none of my pet peeves which is good, but I would have liked more meat to the story. The plot needed to be fleshed out. I wanted to know more about Ren, Willa’s parents, a certain book, and the bad guys.
DATA:
Story length: 368 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 6. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 23. Setting: 1813 England. Copyright: 2005. Genre: regency romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Willa is an orphan raised by locals in a small rural community. She is a jinx. Accidents happen to boys who get too close to her. She uses a slingshot to shoot a rock and misses her target. Instead she hits a hornets’ nest causing Nathaniel to fall off his horse and be knocked unconscious. She rolls Nathaniel away from the hornets and stays with him while waiting for the hornets to calm down. She accidentally falls asleep. The two of them sleep all night. Nathaniel does the honorable thing and offers to marry her because she is ruined by spending the night with him. The locals love her but are happy to have someone else take responsibility for the jinx. They prepare a hasty wedding. Then the couple leave for Nathaniel’s home in London.
Nathaniel is an earl and is part of a secret spy group (the Royal Four Club) working for the monarchy and prime minister. Nathaniel infiltrated an enemy group and has been labeled a traitor by society. People throw mud at him and shun him. He needs to keep up the traitor cover until certain bad guys have been caught. Although most people believe he is a traitor, Willa doesn’t believe it.
This is the first book in the “Royal Four Club” series.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
After Willa marries Nathaniel, there were only about two jinx episodes. I wanted to see more jinxing happen. The characters were almost too nice. There were none of my pet peeves which is good, but I would have liked more meat to the story. The plot needed to be fleshed out. I wanted to know more about Ren, Willa’s parents, a certain book, and the bad guys.
DATA:
Story length: 368 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 6. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 23. Setting: 1813 England. Copyright: 2005. Genre: regency romance.
August 22, 2008
Country bred Willa Trent is an orphan and jinxed. It wasn’t enough every suitor she’s ever had has ended up with an injury of some sort as soon as he stepped closer to her. Now she’s maiming innocent bystanders as well. The only excuse she has for dropping the man off his horseback is the fact she had no idea slingshots were so very inaccurate. How was she to know that the stone she was planning of springing a poacher’s trap with will end up smashing the hornets nest?
Nathaniel Stonewell, Lord Reardon, a.k.a. Lord Treason, dubbed for one infamous act, is living in isolation, rebuffed by society, exiled and rejected by his own family. The truth is he’s as much traitor as Prinny George. Nathaniel is in fact a member of the Royal Four, an elite, extremely secret, groups of royal defenders. It was his undercover mission, that he’s still on, that landed him in the Lord Treason mess.
He also appears to be the only man who cannot be maimed or mutilated by Willa’s predilection to accidents (falling off his horse doesn’t really count). After the two spend the night together, albeit he’s unconscious, the villagers, Willa’s big, extremely extended family, seize the opportunity with both hands, and after he gentlemanly offers for her, the two are wed.
Since Nathaniel is still in pursuit of a traitor, not that he has any hopes of catching him, the two quickly leave for London. Along the way, Nathaniel does his best to ignore Willa (she’s a chatterbox), fend off her increasingly demanding pursuit (she’s more than eager to lose her virginity), has to reveal the “truth” about himself and his nickname (she doesn’t believe him, of course), and make her realize why she cannot stay with him even after they are legally wed (and again, she doesn’t want to listen to reason).
Stuck with a stubborn bride, Nathaniel now must fend off the sometimes violent revulsion of the ton, juggle his triple identity (he sees himself as Nathaniel Stonewell, the spy and Lord Treason), find the traitor, and stay the hell away from Willa, since they can never have a future together. Pity his bride thinks differently on the matter.
This is the first full-length novel by Celeste Bradley I’ve read and it certainly will not be the last. I’m only sorry to have picked this one up before the Liar’s Club series, since Nathaniel’s “downfall” is described in The Impostor.
The two strongest points this book has are humor (there’s plenty of it, especially in Willa’s internal banter) and the heroine. Willa is by far most my favorite HR heroine so far.
Though you’ll be hard pressed to find a HR with a plain, shy, idiotic heroine, Willa heightens the bar. She’s funny, smart, witty, loving, fiercely protective, and she never lets others think for herself. She doesn’t have that inbred sheep instinct all the young girls of that time had, maybe because she’s grown up in the country, but mostly because she thinks with her own head, she observes, she rationalizes and she draws her own conclusions She’s known her husband for less than a week and yet she is absolutely certain every single member of the ton is wrong about him, and despite his efforts, she will not be swayed in her conviction.
She’s a charming young lady, full of life, full of love… and a mean right hook.
There is not much to say about Nate. He’s the typical male, though his vulnerabilities do shine through, especially in relation to his step-father, and, toward the end of the book, Willa. Some of his decisions are appalling, when he decides to listen to orders instead of his heart, and has no qualms in playing dirty to get Willa to leave him. He quickly repents, of course, but that aspect of his personality didn’t sit well with me. On the other hand it is understandable. He’s known nothing but rejection and insults lately, and when Willa, with her sunny optimism and her stubborn faith in him, comes along, he’s out of his element and has no idea what to do.
The first part of the book was a delightful country romp. While in the first couple of chapters the humor reigned supreme with Willa mentally calling her spouse “Idiot Male”, “Unholy Beast”, and “Hell-husband”, the focus soon turned to bitter-sweetness as soon as he confessed his darkest sin of treachery. With her eyes, head, and heart open, she adamantly refused to believe him and proceeded in making everybody see the truth of her “big marshmallow sweet” of a husband.
Quickly after their arrival in London, though, the plot shifted gears so fast I could feel the burn. There were so many villains all of a sudden, searching for an important document, there was a possible murder plot to get the inheritance, the bitterness of a woman for her life spent married to a spy (causing more doubts in Nathaniel), and last but not least a shocking revelation of Willa’s parentage and her connections to an extremely high-ranking official in Court.
And of course, the main plot’s resolution (you have to read the book to know what I’m talking about) proved just how sheep-like people really are.
Despite the patched-up-ness of the last few chapters when all the loose ends were quickly tied up in a nice little bow, To Wed a Scandalous Spy was a very entertaining read, with a rich and layered, albeit a little hole-y, plot, great humor and dialogue, and good character development.
Nathaniel Stonewell, Lord Reardon, a.k.a. Lord Treason, dubbed for one infamous act, is living in isolation, rebuffed by society, exiled and rejected by his own family. The truth is he’s as much traitor as Prinny George. Nathaniel is in fact a member of the Royal Four, an elite, extremely secret, groups of royal defenders. It was his undercover mission, that he’s still on, that landed him in the Lord Treason mess.
He also appears to be the only man who cannot be maimed or mutilated by Willa’s predilection to accidents (falling off his horse doesn’t really count). After the two spend the night together, albeit he’s unconscious, the villagers, Willa’s big, extremely extended family, seize the opportunity with both hands, and after he gentlemanly offers for her, the two are wed.
Since Nathaniel is still in pursuit of a traitor, not that he has any hopes of catching him, the two quickly leave for London. Along the way, Nathaniel does his best to ignore Willa (she’s a chatterbox), fend off her increasingly demanding pursuit (she’s more than eager to lose her virginity), has to reveal the “truth” about himself and his nickname (she doesn’t believe him, of course), and make her realize why she cannot stay with him even after they are legally wed (and again, she doesn’t want to listen to reason).
Stuck with a stubborn bride, Nathaniel now must fend off the sometimes violent revulsion of the ton, juggle his triple identity (he sees himself as Nathaniel Stonewell, the spy and Lord Treason), find the traitor, and stay the hell away from Willa, since they can never have a future together. Pity his bride thinks differently on the matter.
This is the first full-length novel by Celeste Bradley I’ve read and it certainly will not be the last. I’m only sorry to have picked this one up before the Liar’s Club series, since Nathaniel’s “downfall” is described in The Impostor.
The two strongest points this book has are humor (there’s plenty of it, especially in Willa’s internal banter) and the heroine. Willa is by far most my favorite HR heroine so far.
Though you’ll be hard pressed to find a HR with a plain, shy, idiotic heroine, Willa heightens the bar. She’s funny, smart, witty, loving, fiercely protective, and she never lets others think for herself. She doesn’t have that inbred sheep instinct all the young girls of that time had, maybe because she’s grown up in the country, but mostly because she thinks with her own head, she observes, she rationalizes and she draws her own conclusions She’s known her husband for less than a week and yet she is absolutely certain every single member of the ton is wrong about him, and despite his efforts, she will not be swayed in her conviction.
She’s a charming young lady, full of life, full of love… and a mean right hook.
There is not much to say about Nate. He’s the typical male, though his vulnerabilities do shine through, especially in relation to his step-father, and, toward the end of the book, Willa. Some of his decisions are appalling, when he decides to listen to orders instead of his heart, and has no qualms in playing dirty to get Willa to leave him. He quickly repents, of course, but that aspect of his personality didn’t sit well with me. On the other hand it is understandable. He’s known nothing but rejection and insults lately, and when Willa, with her sunny optimism and her stubborn faith in him, comes along, he’s out of his element and has no idea what to do.
The first part of the book was a delightful country romp. While in the first couple of chapters the humor reigned supreme with Willa mentally calling her spouse “Idiot Male”, “Unholy Beast”, and “Hell-husband”, the focus soon turned to bitter-sweetness as soon as he confessed his darkest sin of treachery. With her eyes, head, and heart open, she adamantly refused to believe him and proceeded in making everybody see the truth of her “big marshmallow sweet” of a husband.
Quickly after their arrival in London, though, the plot shifted gears so fast I could feel the burn. There were so many villains all of a sudden, searching for an important document, there was a possible murder plot to get the inheritance, the bitterness of a woman for her life spent married to a spy (causing more doubts in Nathaniel), and last but not least a shocking revelation of Willa’s parentage and her connections to an extremely high-ranking official in Court.
And of course, the main plot’s resolution (you have to read the book to know what I’m talking about) proved just how sheep-like people really are.
Despite the patched-up-ness of the last few chapters when all the loose ends were quickly tied up in a nice little bow, To Wed a Scandalous Spy was a very entertaining read, with a rich and layered, albeit a little hole-y, plot, great humor and dialogue, and good character development.
March 29, 2018
Nuff said
Full Review to Come
November 18, 2015
I was really hoping I could rate this at least a three, but overall the mystery plot, the characters and the romance was a "just Okay" two star rating for me.
Nathaniel, Lord "Treason" an alleged traitor/spy (who is actually working deep deep undercover as part of the Royal Four) gets knocked out while chasing after a real traitor in the middle of nowhere, wakes up to a find himself in the company of a very pretty but a little nutty country miss names Willa Trent. After compromising her reputation, Nathaniel finds himself married/engaged to someone who is his very polar opposite.
In the beginning I was totally liking Willa, she's young, fun, and so optimistic about Nathaniel and her future that it was contagious. I couldn't wait to read how she was going to win over Nathaniel and break down his walls. I was sure that I was in for a humorous reading of Willa crushing and overcoming Nathaniels doubts and secrets and finally getting a HEA.
Somewhere in the middle of a pretty tame murder plot, silent treatments and the occasional lusty thought/look volleyed between the MCs the whole pitch fizzled out. I didn't see any emotional growth for either character. Willa still stayed naively happy and optimistic no matter what the obstacle (or treatment from hero) and Nathaniel was still secretive, closed mouthed, and irratatingly unapologetic throughtout.
Something that really turns me off a potential book hero is the kind that treats the heroine badly in thought or deed and than never voices an apology. I don't care how much the author tells you that he feels sorry or how many times his thoughts reflect his regret of his actions. I want to read the words in quotations "I. AM. SORRY." Said aloud.
Unfortunately Willa takes everything in stride and when others point out Nathaniel's shortcomings towards her, she acknowledges her hurt feelings and disappointment but never expects an apology. I hated that. I like a good grovel scene and Nathaniel never even hinted of a delivery. A good author can make you forgive almost anything for that coveted HEA but that was definitely missing here. Ms. Bradley sprinkled little angsty snippets of Willa feeling dejected, abandoned, sometimes even outright rejected by the hero but we never get a satisfying close to it because in the next sentence Willa just shakes it off and apologizes for him - to her self! Somehow she just knows why he does what he does, she's got some kind of sixth sense with this guy after only 24 hours of knowing him???? It was too irratating to read that after only 5 days Willa was in love with someone who refused to talk to her during their two day journey to London than once there they were only alone a hand for of times. The only thing I was sure of at this point was that they were both horny - not in love. Where was the emotional bonding and getting to know each other part of their romance? It just felt rushed and superficial, not genuine love that would last forever and ever.
I found myself liking the light humor and silliness thoughtout and that made this read just okay. I also liked the whole Willa jinx and both Aunt Mrytle and Ren Porter (although he also fell in "love" with Willa in a scary little amount of time!) but this type of Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Ma'am romance is not my favorite. I already have the rest of the Royal Four series so I'll trudge on for what it's worth.
Nathaniel, Lord "Treason" an alleged traitor/spy (who is actually working deep deep undercover as part of the Royal Four) gets knocked out while chasing after a real traitor in the middle of nowhere, wakes up to a find himself in the company of a very pretty but a little nutty country miss names Willa Trent. After compromising her reputation, Nathaniel finds himself married/engaged to someone who is his very polar opposite.
In the beginning I was totally liking Willa, she's young, fun, and so optimistic about Nathaniel and her future that it was contagious. I couldn't wait to read how she was going to win over Nathaniel and break down his walls. I was sure that I was in for a humorous reading of Willa crushing and overcoming Nathaniels doubts and secrets and finally getting a HEA.
Somewhere in the middle of a pretty tame murder plot, silent treatments and the occasional lusty thought/look volleyed between the MCs the whole pitch fizzled out. I didn't see any emotional growth for either character. Willa still stayed naively happy and optimistic no matter what the obstacle (or treatment from hero) and Nathaniel was still secretive, closed mouthed, and irratatingly unapologetic throughtout.
Something that really turns me off a potential book hero is the kind that treats the heroine badly in thought or deed and than never voices an apology. I don't care how much the author tells you that he feels sorry or how many times his thoughts reflect his regret of his actions. I want to read the words in quotations "I. AM. SORRY." Said aloud.
Unfortunately Willa takes everything in stride and when others point out Nathaniel's shortcomings towards her, she acknowledges her hurt feelings and disappointment but never expects an apology. I hated that. I like a good grovel scene and Nathaniel never even hinted of a delivery. A good author can make you forgive almost anything for that coveted HEA but that was definitely missing here. Ms. Bradley sprinkled little angsty snippets of Willa feeling dejected, abandoned, sometimes even outright rejected by the hero but we never get a satisfying close to it because in the next sentence Willa just shakes it off and apologizes for him - to her self! Somehow she just knows why he does what he does, she's got some kind of sixth sense with this guy after only 24 hours of knowing him???? It was too irratating to read that after only 5 days Willa was in love with someone who refused to talk to her during their two day journey to London than once there they were only alone a hand for of times. The only thing I was sure of at this point was that they were both horny - not in love. Where was the emotional bonding and getting to know each other part of their romance? It just felt rushed and superficial, not genuine love that would last forever and ever.
I found myself liking the light humor and silliness thoughtout and that made this read just okay. I also liked the whole Willa jinx and both Aunt Mrytle and Ren Porter (although he also fell in "love" with Willa in a scary little amount of time!) but this type of Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Ma'am romance is not my favorite. I already have the rest of the Royal Four series so I'll trudge on for what it's worth.
June 21, 2010
Willa Trent is "The Mishap Miss" of Derryton village, and is the main reason this book is so delightful. She doesn't understand why things happen to boys who've tried to court her in the past 3 years (broken limbs, etc.), but things are looking up: Nathaniel Stonewell, Earl of Reardon, is prostrate at her feet. I mean, really prostrate! The stone from her slingshot accidentally knocked down a hornet's nest, and the stinging that ensued panicked Nathaniel's horse, causing him to be forcibly dismounted in the road, where a stone was waiting for his head to fall on it. Since Willa couldn't wake him up, she stayed beside him to protect him - all night long. Well, we all know that if a young maiden spends the night with a man, they're obliged to marry - and the villagers waste no time in making that happen. This all happens before page 50, when they begin to travel the rocky road, literally & figuratively, of their inconvenient marriage. Willa, however, is resourceful and indomitable - and full of almost as many secrets as her new husband.
July 16, 2010
OMG. I loved this. Both the hero and heroine are fabulous - the heroine in particular. She's sparky, smart, buxom, well-educated, but earthy and totally likeable. The hero, bless him, doesn't stand a chance. The premise of a heroine who seems to accidently maim any potential suitor is hilarious, but the plot actually speeds up when it gets past this portion, which is probably what made me LOVE this book rather than enjoy it. The plot MOVES but the characters don't suffer for it. They remain consistent and likeable. I was clueless that this was a continuation of the Liars Club, but this didn't prevent my enjoyment. I'll go back and read them now.
September 15, 2013
Willa is an orphan, raised in the town of Derryton by her mother’s former maid. She’s also jinxed—or at least everybody thinks so. Every man who has paid addresses to her has fallen to the jinx. Oh, they lived. Some might even walk again. But the well of suitors has dried up.
So when she uses a slingshot to spring a poacher’s trap (because that’s SO much more sensible than a long stick), and her rock goes astray, it hits a hornet’s nest. Which causes the hornets to attack a poor, innocent horse. Which reacts by dumping its poor, innocent rider. Who strikes his head on the one and only stone in the road and falls unconscious.
Willa endeavors to help the man—that is, he won’t wake up and he’s too heavy to drag, so she rolls him to the bushes at the side of the road so the angry hornets won’t bother him. And she stays with him until he comes to. Which is the next morning.
Nathaniel Reardon, also known around England as Lord Traitor, was following this other guy (who really IS a traitor—Nat is only pretending to be one) when he was struck down. Now he wakes in the bushes with a rather comely young woman asleep on his chest. Before he can find out what happened, a very big fellow approaches and asks her where she’s been all night, and she says she spent the night with Nat.
His goose. It's cooked. Nat offers marriage and she accepts, and within hours, she’s packed her stuff and they’re on the road again, though by now there’s little hope he’ll catch the traitor before the man reaches London. Indeed, the fellow had been ambling about apparently aimlessly, but now, from what Nat can learn asking questions along the way, the guy is making a beeline for London. Nat’s doing the same, planning to install his bride in his family home (where he, being a “traitor,” is unwelcome) marry her again in a legitimate service (these broomstick affairs might work for commoners but Lords have to do things a bit more formally), and then dump her back in her home town with a house and allowance and go back to spying.
Willa’s keen to “copulate,” as she puts it. The jinx is still on (apparently “everyone” somehow knows this) until she’s bedded, so if Nat knows what’s good for him he’d better drop trou and do his duty. Nat, however, is not so keen to do the deed. Oh, parts of him are VERY keen, but he is branded a traitor. All England hates him and shuns him. He doesn't want his kids to grow up with the stain. And hey, if he doesn’t bed her, Willa will have the option of backing out of this marriage thing (because the whole being a scandalous slut who didn’t marry the guy she slept with thing is better than being the bride of Lord Traitor—but then when he offered marriage, it seemed he thought it worked the other way around).
Meanwhile, the guy Nat was following is grumpy because he didn’t find the person he was after and he didn’t find the thing he wanted (and of course we aren't told for awhile who the person was or what the thing is, but it wasn't hard to guess). And a fellow they encounter along the way, scarred from the war, seems to have nefarious intentions, too. They’re attacked by mud-slinging patriots, refused service at shops, and generally given the cut direct by everyone including Nat’s mom.
The whole Nat’s a traitor thing apparently comes from a previous series which I hadn’t yet read, so I’m off this series until I read the other. But this was a fun book. Normally books set in the Regency start off with a point against them because the period has been, IMO, done past death and fossilized, but toss in a really good adventure/thriller/mystery and I’ll give the point right back and then some. A few revelations towards the end were downright silly but it was fun anyway. A solid 4 stars for this promising start to the Royal Four series.
So when she uses a slingshot to spring a poacher’s trap (because that’s SO much more sensible than a long stick), and her rock goes astray, it hits a hornet’s nest. Which causes the hornets to attack a poor, innocent horse. Which reacts by dumping its poor, innocent rider. Who strikes his head on the one and only stone in the road and falls unconscious.
Willa endeavors to help the man—that is, he won’t wake up and he’s too heavy to drag, so she rolls him to the bushes at the side of the road so the angry hornets won’t bother him. And she stays with him until he comes to. Which is the next morning.
Nathaniel Reardon, also known around England as Lord Traitor, was following this other guy (who really IS a traitor—Nat is only pretending to be one) when he was struck down. Now he wakes in the bushes with a rather comely young woman asleep on his chest. Before he can find out what happened, a very big fellow approaches and asks her where she’s been all night, and she says she spent the night with Nat.
His goose. It's cooked. Nat offers marriage and she accepts, and within hours, she’s packed her stuff and they’re on the road again, though by now there’s little hope he’ll catch the traitor before the man reaches London. Indeed, the fellow had been ambling about apparently aimlessly, but now, from what Nat can learn asking questions along the way, the guy is making a beeline for London. Nat’s doing the same, planning to install his bride in his family home (where he, being a “traitor,” is unwelcome) marry her again in a legitimate service (these broomstick affairs might work for commoners but Lords have to do things a bit more formally), and then dump her back in her home town with a house and allowance and go back to spying.
Willa’s keen to “copulate,” as she puts it. The jinx is still on (apparently “everyone” somehow knows this) until she’s bedded, so if Nat knows what’s good for him he’d better drop trou and do his duty. Nat, however, is not so keen to do the deed. Oh, parts of him are VERY keen, but he is branded a traitor. All England hates him and shuns him. He doesn't want his kids to grow up with the stain. And hey, if he doesn’t bed her, Willa will have the option of backing out of this marriage thing (because the whole being a scandalous slut who didn’t marry the guy she slept with thing is better than being the bride of Lord Traitor—but then when he offered marriage, it seemed he thought it worked the other way around).
Meanwhile, the guy Nat was following is grumpy because he didn’t find the person he was after and he didn’t find the thing he wanted (and of course we aren't told for awhile who the person was or what the thing is, but it wasn't hard to guess). And a fellow they encounter along the way, scarred from the war, seems to have nefarious intentions, too. They’re attacked by mud-slinging patriots, refused service at shops, and generally given the cut direct by everyone including Nat’s mom.
The whole Nat’s a traitor thing apparently comes from a previous series which I hadn’t yet read, so I’m off this series until I read the other. But this was a fun book. Normally books set in the Regency start off with a point against them because the period has been, IMO, done past death and fossilized, but toss in a really good adventure/thriller/mystery and I’ll give the point right back and then some. A few revelations towards the end were downright silly but it was fun anyway. A solid 4 stars for this promising start to the Royal Four series.
May 29, 2024
Good beginning, and I loved how Willa kept the taciturn Nathaniel on his toes on the road trip to London. Unfortunately, after they reached London, that was all I loved.
The plot made no sense. The Royal Four was ? I don’t know, some sort of clandestine group upon which rested the fate of England. The Liar’s Club was ? I don’t know, some sort of clandestine spy ring, but it wasn’t explained. Nathaniel’s family were caricatures. Nathaniel’s “treason” served no purpose that I could see—how useful would a spy be for the French when everyone in England is throwing mud at him for being a spy for the French? If that’s the brilliance of plotting by the Royal Four, protectors of the empire, it’s no wonder the colonies slipped through their fingers. In fact, all the subterfuge in this novel was subpar for a comic book. The Prince Regent should be embarrassed by his cameo appearances.
This, the latest in a string of books which began promisingly but tanked in progress, barely made it to 25% before circling the drain. I doubt my first foray into this author’s work will be followed by another.
The plot made no sense. The Royal Four was ? I don’t know, some sort of clandestine group upon which rested the fate of England. The Liar’s Club was ? I don’t know, some sort of clandestine spy ring, but it wasn’t explained. Nathaniel’s family were caricatures. Nathaniel’s “treason” served no purpose that I could see—how useful would a spy be for the French when everyone in England is throwing mud at him for being a spy for the French? If that’s the brilliance of plotting by the Royal Four, protectors of the empire, it’s no wonder the colonies slipped through their fingers. In fact, all the subterfuge in this novel was subpar for a comic book. The Prince Regent should be embarrassed by his cameo appearances.
This, the latest in a string of books which began promisingly but tanked in progress, barely made it to 25% before circling the drain. I doubt my first foray into this author’s work will be followed by another.
July 5, 2012
My first Celeste Bradley book. I hope all the others are as good as this.
Two memorable characters — especially jinx-minx Willa with her passion for Linnaeus and her irrepressible sexuality. The story is competently covered in the Goodreads summary, so I'll mention just a few weaknesses in an almost perfect Regency romp.
Alas, not even Ms Bradley can avoid slipping into anachronistic vocabulary and phrases. The saga of the Royal Four pushes the book close to the dividing line between historical romance and historical fantasy. Basil and Daphne's sudden ostracism at the end may have made for a cathartic come-uppance, but left Basil's involvement in earlier shenanigans unexplained. Or maybe I missed something.
Otherwise, once Willa unleashed her slingshot in the opening pages of the book, I willingly suspended almost all disbelief and went along for a throughly enjoyable ride.
Were I rating this book objectively, I'd give it four stars. Subjectively evaluated, it gets five stars for the unalloyed pleasure it gave this reader.
Two memorable characters — especially jinx-minx Willa with her passion for Linnaeus and her irrepressible sexuality. The story is competently covered in the Goodreads summary, so I'll mention just a few weaknesses in an almost perfect Regency romp.
Alas, not even Ms Bradley can avoid slipping into anachronistic vocabulary and phrases. The saga of the Royal Four pushes the book close to the dividing line between historical romance and historical fantasy. Basil and Daphne's sudden ostracism at the end may have made for a cathartic come-uppance, but left Basil's involvement in earlier shenanigans unexplained. Or maybe I missed something.
Otherwise, once Willa unleashed her slingshot in the opening pages of the book, I willingly suspended almost all disbelief and went along for a throughly enjoyable ride.
Were I rating this book objectively, I'd give it four stars. Subjectively evaluated, it gets five stars for the unalloyed pleasure it gave this reader.
July 15, 2010
I didn't really read very far into this book. I'm not entirely sure of what it was about it that made me give up. Probably something with the writing a little too cliche to me or something. Or it could be with so many romances I've been reading that I just wanted something different. Whatever. It just didn't grab me at the beginning, for whatever reason, and I wasn't in the mood to go further.
June 12, 2019
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this mainly because the heroine had the ability to surprise the hero at every turn. When everyone in his life had failed him, the heroine who didn't even know him or the truth had faith him and didn't believe the lie of him being a traitor. I loved how he tried to give her up but she wouldn't let him. Definitely going to go back and read the Liars series.
I really enjoyed this mainly because the heroine had the ability to surprise the hero at every turn. When everyone in his life had failed him, the heroine who didn't even know him or the truth had faith him and didn't believe the lie of him being a traitor. I loved how he tried to give her up but she wouldn't let him. Definitely going to go back and read the Liars series.
April 26, 2017
3.5 Stars
September 24, 2013
"His lips were hard and forceful at first, his beard stubble coarse against her face. He drove his tongue into her repeatedly, startling her and exciting her, and chewed roughly at her lips." loc.1056
Author: Celeste Bradley
First published: 2005
Length: 5839 locations
Setting: England, 1813.
Sex: explicit, sometimes not very gentle.
Heroine: "ample dairymaid" style (loc.1411)
Series: Book 1 of "The Royal Four". Linked to previous series "The Liar's Club".
"Courageous as the Lion
Deadly as the Cobra
Vigilant as the Falcon
Clever as the Fox" loc.72
So, basically, Bradley has another series - the Liar's Club - which came to something of a conclusion in .... This new series is tying up loose ends - BadGuys that were not brought in, characters that seemed interesting but didn't get their story told. Now, I haven't read the other series. Nor have I read other Bradley books. So I was going into this blind.
But it didn't really matter.
There are obvious references to other books - Simon is "The Magician", the dying stepfather was the Old Man - but they are vague enough to give the World history without requiring past knowledge to enjoy this one.
And onto this book.
It's enjoyable enough.
Willa is fun.
Nathaniel is fraught.
But it's somewhat predictable.
You could see the corners coming as the plot swung to an apparently clever twist.
In the end, I liked it. It was a good read. But it doesn't make me want to look for others.
The Royal Four:
Book 1 To Wed a Scandalous Spy - Nathaniel and Willa
Book 2 Surrender to a Wicked Spy - Dane and Olivia
Book 3 One Night with a Spy - Marcus and Julia
Book 4 Seducing the Spy - Stanton and Alicia
References:
Author's website: http://www.celestebradley.com/
(ISBN 0312931166)
-CR-
Author: Celeste Bradley
First published: 2005
Length: 5839 locations
Setting: England, 1813.
Sex: explicit, sometimes not very gentle.
Heroine: "ample dairymaid" style (loc.1411)
Series: Book 1 of "The Royal Four". Linked to previous series "The Liar's Club".
"Courageous as the Lion
Deadly as the Cobra
Vigilant as the Falcon
Clever as the Fox" loc.72
So, basically, Bradley has another series - the Liar's Club - which came to something of a conclusion in .... This new series is tying up loose ends - BadGuys that were not brought in, characters that seemed interesting but didn't get their story told. Now, I haven't read the other series. Nor have I read other Bradley books. So I was going into this blind.
But it didn't really matter.
There are obvious references to other books - Simon is "The Magician", the dying stepfather was the Old Man - but they are vague enough to give the World history without requiring past knowledge to enjoy this one.
And onto this book.
It's enjoyable enough.
Willa is fun.
Nathaniel is fraught.
But it's somewhat predictable.
You could see the corners coming as the plot swung to an apparently clever twist.
In the end, I liked it. It was a good read. But it doesn't make me want to look for others.
The Royal Four:
Book 1 To Wed a Scandalous Spy - Nathaniel and Willa
Book 2 Surrender to a Wicked Spy - Dane and Olivia
Book 3 One Night with a Spy - Marcus and Julia
Book 4 Seducing the Spy - Stanton and Alicia
References:
Author's website: http://www.celestebradley.com/
(ISBN 0312931166)
-CR-
June 8, 2008
I notice that, inexplicably, the average rating of this book is 3.87 stars. In fact, if there were a half-star option, I'd award it here, but only because the author spelled all the words in the title right.
After Jennifer reviewed "The Pleasure King's Bride," I felt honor-bound to pull out a review on this old favorite, since I know she's particulary fond of it. *snort*
I picked this up in an airport once, years ago, when I was facing a long flight and felt the need for some Mind Candy. If this had been marketed as merely a garden-variety trashy romance, it might have satisfied my "candy" craving. Unfortunately, it tried to assume the guise of "historical romance" and ended up falling flat on its face, as it was neither a good romance, nor good history. It wasn't even Mind Candy: it was...Mind NutraSweet. I couldn't bring myself to finish it: the book ended up in a trash can somewhere in O'Hare.
May it rest in peace.
After Jennifer reviewed "The Pleasure King's Bride," I felt honor-bound to pull out a review on this old favorite, since I know she's particulary fond of it. *snort*
I picked this up in an airport once, years ago, when I was facing a long flight and felt the need for some Mind Candy. If this had been marketed as merely a garden-variety trashy romance, it might have satisfied my "candy" craving. Unfortunately, it tried to assume the guise of "historical romance" and ended up falling flat on its face, as it was neither a good romance, nor good history. It wasn't even Mind Candy: it was...Mind NutraSweet. I couldn't bring myself to finish it: the book ended up in a trash can somewhere in O'Hare.
May it rest in peace.
March 4, 2015
4.5 stars
Celeste Bradley's books are my comfort food. I always know what to expect from them (= a little humor, some mystery and an emotional love story) and she doesn't fail to deliver. I really, really liked this one and I'd even go as far as to say I loved it. I didn't like a few things in the end though and couldn't understand why the heroine didn't talk of her past to the hero sooner. But then, there would be no drama if she did, I guess.
Still, a very enjoyable book with lots of amazing quotes, lovable characters and a new favorite hero for me. Left me with a smile on my face, when I was in less than stellar mood and that is exactly what I was looking for.
Celeste Bradley's books are my comfort food. I always know what to expect from them (= a little humor, some mystery and an emotional love story) and she doesn't fail to deliver. I really, really liked this one and I'd even go as far as to say I loved it. I didn't like a few things in the end though and couldn't understand why the heroine didn't talk of her past to the hero sooner. But then, there would be no drama if she did, I guess.
Still, a very enjoyable book with lots of amazing quotes, lovable characters and a new favorite hero for me. Left me with a smile on my face, when I was in less than stellar mood and that is exactly what I was looking for.
August 18, 2025
How I loved this book! Especially Willie. I lvoe her spirits and the fact that she views life as simple and a good gift even if hardships and trials are afront. Oh god! Well, i was also devasdated by the ending, when she said that she was really a lady, a duke's daughter she is! And it's no big matter to her. How I love her so! And I love Nate! What a handsome rouge. I love this book, it makes me mad, cry, happy, and long for a love like that heroes. One of the best historical romance ive read in my entire reading life :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2012
I picked up this book at the right time. It was the perfect amount of romance and humor that I needed to help remind myself why I love romance novels in the first place.
Now a days, with so much books about vampires and super tortured hero and heavy reading, I'm so glad I came across this book. I love the two main characters - Nathaniel and Willa.
I love Willa! She goes after what she wants, and that's to "copulate" with Nathaniel. ;) :)
Now a days, with so much books about vampires and super tortured hero and heavy reading, I'm so glad I came across this book. I love the two main characters - Nathaniel and Willa.
I love Willa! She goes after what she wants, and that's to "copulate" with Nathaniel. ;) :)
February 1, 2017
What a book. I stayed up half the night reading this book because I couldn't put it down.
Just loved Willa. Wish there were more heroines like her..
Just loved Willa. Wish there were more heroines like her..
July 2, 2016
I had trouble rating this a 2 or a 3. So I'll settle for a 2.5
I didn't hate this book. It was not as bad as The Bride or Four Nights with the Duke, but it just didn't hold my interest. It honestly got really really really boring. I didn't care for the espionage background and the fact that since it's a series, it wouldn't be figured out until you read the books. I don't want to read the other books, I don't care to. Don't really care for much in this book BUT it had it's moments.
It had some funny/cute parts. That, I'll give you. It's nicely tabbed up for me, even if it's a book I didn't necessarily like all too much. The hero and heroine were two likeable characters. But you don't form an attatchment to them. At the about 200 or so mark I was OVER it. HURRY TF UP! Then weird shit started to pop out of nowhere, all these random unknown povs, and there was no suspense for me. I DIDN'T CARE. When the pages about the clubs, and the spys, and the liars, etc came up. I skimmed them because nothing grabbed my attention to WANT to know about them. Now I know what I was getting myself into yall. It's called TO WED A SCANDOLOUS SPY, more like to wed a boring this story should be a novella-spy. Like I already knew about myself, I'll stay away from the British Espionage books. I'll dabble in mystery a little. But Spy? I'll gladly decline.
Onto our hero: Lord Reardon, 'scuse me, Lord Treason is what he's known as, for most of the book. Has no friends, no actual life, work is pretty much top priority, especially seeing that everyone thinks he's a traitor who betrayed the crown. He's handsome, riiich, and a spy. Supposedly a sexy deal right? Well the heroine accidentally knocked him off his horse, spent the night while watching over his unconscious body, he wakes up and realizes that the honorable thing to do is marry her. NOW EVERYONE, THE SUMMARY IS A LIE. SHE DOES NOT DRAG HIM HOME. SHE DRAGS HIM OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO HIGH GRASS AND STAYS WITH HIM THERE. People come look for her in the morning and they find her there with him. HE decided to "marry her" although their marriage isn't real. Its a "jump the broom" country wedding, so technically they're not really married. I'm unsure on how he got her back to London, into his house, and going out into public when she'd be called ruined--on top of his traitor image. It's a mess. Anyways our hero is... other than his fierce loyalty as being "the cobra", you don't get the feel of actually knowing him. He lusts for Willa, and sees her as a breath of fresh air. I can see why he fell for her, but other than his good looks and loyalty to his "duty" I don't know what she sees in him.
Our heroine, Willa. She's a lady, but orphaned and raised by a small town in the country. She doesn't know she's married to a spy, and even after ALL that HAPPENED SHE STILL DOESNT KNOW BY THE END OF THE BOOK. IT truly baffles me. She's sweet, a bit naive, fiercely loyal to our hero, and can punch. She was okay. I liked her, she didn't do anything too stupid. EXCEPT. I realized that I have another Celeste Bradley book on my tbr shelf and didn't know that there was a slight connection. The hero in that book When She Said I Do, is not part of this series but has the main hero Ren Porter who made a weird apperence in this book. He, long story short, ended up rehabilitating in the household with Willa and Lord Treason, his mom, his great aunt, his cousin Basil etc. And Although naively Willa only nursed him slightly for like 2 minutes he SOMEHOW fell in love with her, even kissing her--which Willa tells him that she's in love with Nathaniel so no problem there, but it's like..... what are you doing you don't even know her. I DIGRESS, Willa comes off a bit dumb there to me.
Sorry I ranted, but anyway, for the first 150 pages or so, this book was great. I was liking the characters and everyone's talk and it was cute. But then it dragged. A LOT.
Here's a couple of my updates to show ya:
20.0% "It's not bad. It's not good. Its nothing. I'm not feeling a damn thing. I want to like the characters. But nothing all that good or bad is happening. He's KINDA lusting and thats it. She had a brash naive about her too. He's trying to resist "finishing" the marriage and she's thinking that he's just giving her time when he doesn't want to start a family b/c of his scandal. She makes him wish his job wasnt so serious."
2.0% "Met some weirdo at the river before London.... Swaggy P Face."
36.0% "uhm. its coming along. I like the couple. I don't care for the spy stuff at all. I rush through it whenever its talked about. His mom's a bitch, his old fiance is a bitch, his great aunt is a sweetie!"
53.0% "Okay this page right here....CUTE AS FUCK! LIKE I SQUEALED AND GIGGLED AND JUST EEEEP."
58.0% "Nothings wrong with a little harmless flirting. and I GUESS it wasnt flirting. It was her just being nice and naive. But it was weird to hear from a pov of a guy who isnt the hero. Lusting after the heroine talkin bout his hard on while she kinda nursed him. Its... ew."
72.0% "Reading this is a bit like eating a solid hard brick(i mean a literal brick yall) of chocolate. Its sweet at first, but then when your teeth start hurting and you had you fill its gets gross and hard to get through. This book is boring me to tears now. oh and they had sex. it was an experience. The convo was funny tho."
Okay, now.... here's the quotes if you even read that long ass review. lol
Quotes:
By stretching his neck and angling his head, Nathaniel could see a mop of untidy brown hair and one delicate hand that lay on his waistcoat, half slipped inside. Well, he'd woken up to worse things in his life.
He cleared his throat. "I beg your pardon," he said softly,"but we seem to be sleeping together."
The last thing his convoluted life needed was the further complication of a wife and family. He still wasn't quite sure how the wife had happened, but if he kept on the way he was headed, there would be a family indeed.
He opened the door and strode in, in no mood for Willa's fey humor now. "We'll leave before dawn--" He stopped short with his words unfinished. There, in the candlelight, sitting primly on the bed with her hair falling down around her, was one very naked Willa.
"Are you ready to copulate with me now?"
"Gladly" he whispered huskily. She sagged toward him with a hungry, breathy sound.
He shut the door on her. Now he was truly going to pay.
He couldn't wait.
Turning back to his guests, Nathaniel grinned without apology. "Isn't she something?"
Head tilted, Simon was watching him with assessing eyes. He glanced at Ren. "Besotted," he declared.
"Completely," Ren agreed sourly.
"None of your business,"Nathaniel said brightly.
Discussing the legnth of his horns, no doubt.
"Damn, I forgot to polish my forked tail," he muttered to himself.
"Do be careful not to knock over any vases with that thing," said a laconic voice behind him. "We just redecorated."
Gently he raised her abraded knuckles to his lips and kissed each one. "My hero," he said softly, smiling.
One more thing. Daphne was totally unneeded as character seeing as the whole use to be fiance wasn't adressed completely. On top of that I thought that it was completely CUTE that the hero called the heroine "Wildflower." SOOOO cute.
I didn't hate this book. It was not as bad as The Bride or Four Nights with the Duke, but it just didn't hold my interest. It honestly got really really really boring. I didn't care for the espionage background and the fact that since it's a series, it wouldn't be figured out until you read the books. I don't want to read the other books, I don't care to. Don't really care for much in this book BUT it had it's moments.
It had some funny/cute parts. That, I'll give you. It's nicely tabbed up for me, even if it's a book I didn't necessarily like all too much. The hero and heroine were two likeable characters. But you don't form an attatchment to them. At the about 200 or so mark I was OVER it. HURRY TF UP! Then weird shit started to pop out of nowhere, all these random unknown povs, and there was no suspense for me. I DIDN'T CARE. When the pages about the clubs, and the spys, and the liars, etc came up. I skimmed them because nothing grabbed my attention to WANT to know about them. Now I know what I was getting myself into yall. It's called TO WED A SCANDOLOUS SPY, more like to wed a boring this story should be a novella-spy. Like I already knew about myself, I'll stay away from the British Espionage books. I'll dabble in mystery a little. But Spy? I'll gladly decline.
Onto our hero: Lord Reardon, 'scuse me, Lord Treason is what he's known as, for most of the book. Has no friends, no actual life, work is pretty much top priority, especially seeing that everyone thinks he's a traitor who betrayed the crown. He's handsome, riiich, and a spy. Supposedly a sexy deal right? Well the heroine accidentally knocked him off his horse, spent the night while watching over his unconscious body, he wakes up and realizes that the honorable thing to do is marry her. NOW EVERYONE, THE SUMMARY IS A LIE. SHE DOES NOT DRAG HIM HOME. SHE DRAGS HIM OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO HIGH GRASS AND STAYS WITH HIM THERE. People come look for her in the morning and they find her there with him. HE decided to "marry her" although their marriage isn't real. Its a "jump the broom" country wedding, so technically they're not really married. I'm unsure on how he got her back to London, into his house, and going out into public when she'd be called ruined--on top of his traitor image. It's a mess. Anyways our hero is... other than his fierce loyalty as being "the cobra", you don't get the feel of actually knowing him. He lusts for Willa, and sees her as a breath of fresh air. I can see why he fell for her, but other than his good looks and loyalty to his "duty" I don't know what she sees in him.
Our heroine, Willa. She's a lady, but orphaned and raised by a small town in the country. She doesn't know she's married to a spy, and even after ALL that HAPPENED SHE STILL DOESNT KNOW BY THE END OF THE BOOK. IT truly baffles me. She's sweet, a bit naive, fiercely loyal to our hero, and can punch. She was okay. I liked her, she didn't do anything too stupid. EXCEPT. I realized that I have another Celeste Bradley book on my tbr shelf and didn't know that there was a slight connection. The hero in that book When She Said I Do, is not part of this series but has the main hero Ren Porter who made a weird apperence in this book. He, long story short, ended up rehabilitating in the household with Willa and Lord Treason, his mom, his great aunt, his cousin Basil etc. And Although naively Willa only nursed him slightly for like 2 minutes he SOMEHOW fell in love with her, even kissing her--which Willa tells him that she's in love with Nathaniel so no problem there, but it's like..... what are you doing you don't even know her. I DIGRESS, Willa comes off a bit dumb there to me.
Sorry I ranted, but anyway, for the first 150 pages or so, this book was great. I was liking the characters and everyone's talk and it was cute. But then it dragged. A LOT.
Here's a couple of my updates to show ya:
20.0% "It's not bad. It's not good. Its nothing. I'm not feeling a damn thing. I want to like the characters. But nothing all that good or bad is happening. He's KINDA lusting and thats it. She had a brash naive about her too. He's trying to resist "finishing" the marriage and she's thinking that he's just giving her time when he doesn't want to start a family b/c of his scandal. She makes him wish his job wasnt so serious."
2.0% "Met some weirdo at the river before London.... Swaggy P Face."
36.0% "uhm. its coming along. I like the couple. I don't care for the spy stuff at all. I rush through it whenever its talked about. His mom's a bitch, his old fiance is a bitch, his great aunt is a sweetie!"
53.0% "Okay this page right here....CUTE AS FUCK! LIKE I SQUEALED AND GIGGLED AND JUST EEEEP."
58.0% "Nothings wrong with a little harmless flirting. and I GUESS it wasnt flirting. It was her just being nice and naive. But it was weird to hear from a pov of a guy who isnt the hero. Lusting after the heroine talkin bout his hard on while she kinda nursed him. Its... ew."
72.0% "Reading this is a bit like eating a solid hard brick(i mean a literal brick yall) of chocolate. Its sweet at first, but then when your teeth start hurting and you had you fill its gets gross and hard to get through. This book is boring me to tears now. oh and they had sex. it was an experience. The convo was funny tho."
Okay, now.... here's the quotes if you even read that long ass review. lol
Quotes:
By stretching his neck and angling his head, Nathaniel could see a mop of untidy brown hair and one delicate hand that lay on his waistcoat, half slipped inside. Well, he'd woken up to worse things in his life.
He cleared his throat. "I beg your pardon," he said softly,"but we seem to be sleeping together."
The last thing his convoluted life needed was the further complication of a wife and family. He still wasn't quite sure how the wife had happened, but if he kept on the way he was headed, there would be a family indeed.
He opened the door and strode in, in no mood for Willa's fey humor now. "We'll leave before dawn--" He stopped short with his words unfinished. There, in the candlelight, sitting primly on the bed with her hair falling down around her, was one very naked Willa.
"Are you ready to copulate with me now?"
"Gladly" he whispered huskily. She sagged toward him with a hungry, breathy sound.
He shut the door on her. Now he was truly going to pay.
He couldn't wait.
Turning back to his guests, Nathaniel grinned without apology. "Isn't she something?"
Head tilted, Simon was watching him with assessing eyes. He glanced at Ren. "Besotted," he declared.
"Completely," Ren agreed sourly.
"None of your business,"Nathaniel said brightly.
Discussing the legnth of his horns, no doubt.
"Damn, I forgot to polish my forked tail," he muttered to himself.
"Do be careful not to knock over any vases with that thing," said a laconic voice behind him. "We just redecorated."
Gently he raised her abraded knuckles to his lips and kissed each one. "My hero," he said softly, smiling.
One more thing. Daphne was totally unneeded as character seeing as the whole use to be fiance wasn't adressed completely. On top of that I thought that it was completely CUTE that the hero called the heroine "Wildflower." SOOOO cute.
Read
May 2, 2017"time does take the edge off the blade"
November 13, 2025
Took me a little while to get into it but what s banger of a book. I absolutely adored Willa and downright loved how Nathaniel was written as a real human being and not as a trope. Absolutely loooved it.
January 23, 2017
An ok read, but for the most part not that interesting. Disappointing because I was looking forward to reading Nathaniel's story after his introduction in the Liar's Club series.
June 8, 2010
Didn't have as much time to read this weekend as I thought I would...
I really quite enjoyed this book. Willa was a really interesting heroine. Strong-willed, stubborn, and a bit too bold to be proper. I love how she stood up to Nathaniel and supported him even when he was being a tard-face. Nathaniel was a nice character as well. He had some issues, but I loved seeing him lean on Willa for support. Fun times. Cute start to a series!
I really quite enjoyed this book. Willa was a really interesting heroine. Strong-willed, stubborn, and a bit too bold to be proper. I love how she stood up to Nathaniel and supported him even when he was being a tard-face. Nathaniel was a nice character as well. He had some issues, but I loved seeing him lean on Willa for support. Fun times. Cute start to a series!
May 2, 2010
This is the first Celeste Bradley story I have read. I am duly impressed. I absolutely loved Willie (the heroine) and Nathaniel (the hero). Their characters were real, witty, and engaging, creating a story that was a joy to read. Ms. Bradley's writing is such that when a "steamy scene" was introduced it actually seemed to detract from the story, it was so good that they just weren't needed!
March 12, 2015
Parts of the plot were confusing. I never did figure it out. The heroine is made out to be this cheerful country bumpkin that swings from airhead to the most intelligent woman in the world.
Two huge stretches in this book were too much.
She just happens to decipher a book that relates to the hero and as an orphan she is related to the prince? Come on.
Two huge stretches in this book were too much.
She just happens to decipher a book that relates to the hero and as an orphan she is related to the prince? Come on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2009
เรื่องหวานๆ น่ารักดีค่ะ
May 24, 2013
This really wasn't that good of a romance novel. The word choices were questionable, and the plot was too complex for a book of this type. It was a good laugh, but otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it.
August 9, 2016
I love this so much. I adore Willa and Nathaniel. They're so funny and aodrable together :)
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