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MMcA
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 624
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 Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| My copy arrived this morning. Half-way through, and so far it's just a lovely, lovely book. |
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MMcA
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 624
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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And having finished it... it stays fabulous the whole way through. It's the first book since Chase's Lord Perfect where I've finished reading, then started at the beginning again.
It's funny, because a hero who is a spy during the Napoleonic wars is one of those Romance cliches - and I really dislike those covers with the bare chested hero (-didn't Lord Perfect have that as well?) and I also dislike those generic titles The [Male Word]'s [Female Word]. So absolutely, I'd never have bought it if it hadn't had such great reviews.
I'm shelving it alongside Tracy Grant's books on my mental bookshelf - I think if you liked one there's a good chance you'd like the other.
As everyone else has said the heroine is fabulous - competent, intelligent and experienced, but also feminine, and funny - and caring in a good way, not a soppy one. And a great hero as well - one of those books where you think the couple really will be happy after the ending. Lots of mutual respect. And the external conflict is real, and it's not easy to see how it will be resolved.
As Jane said, this is the kind of book that I always hope to find. |
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HelenB
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:58 am Post subject: Spymasters lady |
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| This is one of those times that I bless sites like this and Dear Author, without you I would have not read this book- mainly due to the cover I have to say and I am so glad i did. It is an intelligent, well written and wonderful book. It will be difficult for other stories to better it. |
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nikki
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 1134
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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finished it first thing this morning. LOVED it. not a keeper (barely), but definitely memorable and it puts the author on my 'buy her next book without question' list.
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never allow someone else to define you!
my blog (do not click if you're easily offended) |
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MrsFairfax
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 1065
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| It's hard to believe this is Bourne's first book. She's so good at giving her characters distinct voices. With just a couple of lines, you could identify Annique or Doyle or Adrian. Does Adrian remind anyone else just slightly of Cat from The Windflower? |
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MMcA
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 624
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | It's hard to believe this is Bourne's first book. |
I don't think it is. She had a - Regency, I think - published in 1983. (Perhaps - that's the date that's stuck in my head, but my head's so unreliable it might well be 1993 - or 1398.)
I've ordered a second hand copy, but it hasn't arrived yet. |
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Trish B
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 1110
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Spymasters lady |
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| HelenB wrote: | | This is one of those times that I bless sites like this and Dear Author, without you I would have not read this book- mainly due to the cover I have to say and I am so glad i did. It is an intelligent, well written and wonderful book. It will be difficult for other stories to better it. |
My thoughts exactly! Neither would I have given this one a chance without the buzz. I just started it last night and was up till close to 5:00 am reading! Thank goodness it was Sunday and I could sleep in! |
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Cyl
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 130
Location: Mississippi
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:21 am Post subject: This is Ms Bourne's second book |
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| MMcA wrote: | | Quote: | | It's hard to believe this is Bourne's first book. |
I don't think it is. She had a - Regency, I think - published in 1983. (Perhaps - that's the date that's stuck in my head, but my head's so unreliable it might well be 1993 - or 1398.)
I've ordered a second hand copy, but it hasn't arrived yet. |
Her first book was titled Her Ladyship's Companion and was published by Avon in 1983. The hero is Giles Tarsin. SIR Adrian Hawkhurst makes an appearance. Ms Bourne commented on this in her guest appearance on Julia Quinn's blog. I can't remember where I got the link to the blog (probably Dear AUthor), and didn't save it in my favorites. |
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Tee
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 4052
Location: Detroit Metro
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:24 am Post subject: |
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| It's unbelievable that this book can be that good. However, I can't take the chance that it's really not. Checked the library catalog and only one branch is ordering it and it's not even in yet. Here's another instance where I'll go out and buy it. So many people here whose opinions usually work for me can't all be wrong. Thanks to all. I'm really looking forward to it. |
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MaryKate
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:50 am Post subject: Re: This is Ms Bourne's second book |
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| Cyl wrote: | | MMcA wrote: | | Quote: | | It's hard to believe this is Bourne's first book. |
I don't think it is. She had a - Regency, I think - published in 1983. (Perhaps - that's the date that's stuck in my head, but my head's so unreliable it might well be 1993 - or 1398.)
I've ordered a second hand copy, but it hasn't arrived yet. |
Her first book was titled Her Ladyship's Companion and was published by Avon in 1983. The hero is Giles Tarsin. SIR Adrian Hawkhurst makes an appearance. Ms Bourne commented on this in her guest appearance on Julia Quinn's blog. I can't remember where I got the link to the blog (probably Dear AUthor), and didn't save it in my favorites. |
Darn! I guess this means she's not a Debut Author, she's tops on my list for the 2008 Reader's Poll. Of course, it's 14 days into the new year. 
Since reading The Spymaster's Lady I've had a hard time settling on another book to read. I read Laura Lee Guhrke's newest, and it suffered deeply by comparison. |
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misty
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 230
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| I noticed that the review said she sometimes had to play the seductress. Does she actually have to sleep with anyone? I'm about to order the book, but I want to know the answer before ordering. |
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Cheryl AAR
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| misty wrote: | | I noticed that the review said she sometimes had to play the seductress. Does she actually have to sleep with anyone? I'm about to order the book, but I want to know the answer before ordering. |
SPOILER SPACE
No, she doesn't. |
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misty
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 230
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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*Spoiler
Thank you very much. I very much wanted to read this book, but that was holding me back. |
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MrsFairfax
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 1065
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| misty wrote: | | I noticed that the review said she sometimes had to play the seductress. Does she actually have to sleep with anyone? I'm about to order the book, but I want to know the answer before ordering. |
I wondered how she'd avoid that, but then realized she was usually more of a courier than a front-lines operative, and she didn't stay in one place for long.
Historical nitpick alert: was "pimp" a word with the currently understood meaning at that point in time? |
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dick
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 2254
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| What incredible good fortune! To have both The Spymaster's Lady and If His Kiss Is Wicked both available within a few short months. Annique (think it's deliberately so close to "unique"?) is a marvel of characterization, even if, considered rationally, her character's pretty fanciful. But then, who wants to be rational? |
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