The Spymaster's Lady (The Spymaster Series)

I was unfamiliar with the author, but this book had been listed by several people as one of the most romantic books of all time, so I decided to give it a shot, along with several others. I was mildly disappointed with a couple of the books, but this one hit it out of the ballpark. I could not put it down and fell asleep reading it every night until I was done. The book introduces a whole cast of outstanding characters, whose interwoven lives in the years following the French Revolution through the rise of Napoleon lead you on a fascinating journey across war-torn France, as agents from two countries at war clash and collaborate as they follow the code of spies while trying to do their job, no matter the cost. There are many tangled strands to unravel in this thrilling adventure, in which many learn things were not as they spent a lifetime believing. The twist at the end was excellent. I highly recommend it! I am now looking for more of this author's books!

Annique Villiers is a French spy and Robert Gray is a English spy - both have been thrown into cell - they decide to work together to escape. When they find out each other identity things get interesting. Lots of intrigue, romance and some real surprises. Enjoy ! Can't wait for her next novel 'My Lord and Spymaster' by Joanna Bourne (due out - Jul 1, 2008)

Consequence brings together two enemies who are forced to become tenuous allies in the most perilous circumstance. Annique Villers , the elusive Fox Cub, is the most brilliant, beautiful and dangerous French Spy. Robert Grey, the Head of the British Section, is a ruthless spymaster. One holds the key to the fate of two countries. The other, the will and determination to unlock those secrets. Both are serving two conflicting masters; one of the world and one of the heart. Let the Game begin. An utterly romantic and riveting novel set against the backdrop of France and England during the Napoleonic Wars. Its simply astonishing that this is a debut. I have found when reading some supposedly 'spy' romance books, much of what is the actual daily *life* of a spy is not included. This ENTIRE book is just that -what they do, how they survive and accomplish their mission. This is not ballroom and parlor espionage. Rather its treacherous field operations with weapons, disguise and cunning. The book is full of rich historical detail which completely absorbs the reader. I actually felt like a voyeur, right there in every scene. There wasn't too much nor too little, just enough to keep me hooked. Bourne (author) has an uncanny ability to make even the mundane fascinating. Her characters are full bodied and well defined. And most importantly they DON'T compromise their own beliefs, which makes this novel even more astonishing. How exactly are two enemies going to end up together? Well you'll just have to read it to find that out! I really think that this book defines what a 'spy' romance should be. If your going to write about spies then please WRITE about spies! Show me what they do and how they do it and I think this book more than does that. Excellent. Highly Recommended. Edit- apparently this is technically not a debut. Bourne wrote 'Her Ladyship's Companion' (1983) as well. Unfortunately it is not currently available. The hero is Giles, the young nephew of one of the secondary characters in TSL.

I maintain a certain skepticism about the adjective "resourceful" when applied to any romance heroine. Too often the word has less to do with the character's actual ingenuity, than with her ability to sit in the maw of a deus ex machina and say all the right words about how this turn of events confirms the slender few choices she's made in the course of the novel --chief among these being her surrender to the hero, some chapters earlier. Fortunately, Annique Villiers, heroine of The Spymaster's Lady, is not that sort of lady: tossed into a cell and left to wait for fates worse than death, she calmly constructs a cosh out of a silk stocking and a few fistfuls of scavenged gravel, plays one of her captors for a fool, and then efficiently bashes the man unconscious. It's a hell of an introduction, and the rest of the book only improves upon those first few pages: Annique is simultaneously devilishly ingenious, consistent, and pragmatic --and, for a bonus, beautifully written by author Joanna Bourne, who gifts her heroine with a distinctive, delightful voice. Even the syntax of her thoughts echo Annique's French origins persuasively. Similarly excellent are Bourne's supporting cast, all blessed (again) with distinctive patterns of speech and thought; for my tastes, Adrian is the standout, but Doyle is thoroughly enjoyable and even the master spies Galba and Soulier are engagingly written. The great secret of the story, although subtly foreshadowed, is by no means obvious, and the plot moves along at a clip, helped along by Bourne's superb prose. Many romance authors these days seem to write in Reader's Digest prose --serviceable but undistinguished. Bourne, to her credit, sounds distinctly and only like herself: her descriptions are evocative without venturing into the self-conscious and her dialogue is crisp, both realistic and entertaining. My only major quibble is with the character of Grey/Robert Fordham, and that may simply be personal preference: I find it hard to be enthusiastic about the serious and dutiful sort of hero, especially when he keeps such colorful company. (It is noteworthy that Fordham is the only character without a distinctive "voice," which may contribute to my sense of his having been underwritten.) Still, Grey suffers mostly by contrast, and there are many aspects of his character (his frankly middle-class origins, his solicitousness of his men) which reward re-reading. IN SHORT: One of the best books I have ever read in this genre. I find myself hoping, rather frantically, that Bourne will continue to write in this vein for some time.

The heroine of this beautifully written novel is a clever French spy named Annique Villiers and her story begins in a dark French prison where she is being tortured by her own countrymen. It is here that she meets hero and British spymaster, Robert Grey, and then, wow--thus begins one wild and wonderful journey from France to London, England. This is the best historical romance I've read in years, no kidding. The plot is incredible with no less than four surprises I did not expect, the first one really shocking and so well written, I had to go back and reread the beginning to see it all laid out on the page. Incredible writing skills. And a very romantic read. I would compare the psychology of the characters to the first Judith Ivory novels, even the earlier Judy Cuevas. These are fantastic characters. It's also a story edged with a real sense of impending danger and yet, there's wit. One last praise. I know this time period and the writer has really respected her story and setting. Very detailed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Whatever you have heard about this debut author's writing is true. This historical romance goes beyond all conventions of the genre and will expand your understanding of what 'romance" has to offer. This was a top notch thriller, with brilliant evocative wordplay. Bourne's use of language is unsurpassed. The way she structures the character's dialog lets you hear the nuances of French language in your head. Really. The heroine is so very finely drawn that you will feel that she is sitting next to you. I do not exaggerate. Go buy this book. You'll love it.