love this series
Another excellant romantic/historical romance. 2nd in the series.
Action packed with side plots.
Owen D'Arch offered Lady Pen Bryantson a bargain she had no choice but to accept. To go undercover in a world of deception and double cross, where anyone could be the deadliest of enemies-and their own uncontrolled passion the most dangerous threat of all.
First in a series. Feather writes about Pen, who is on a quest to find out about her past. She's offered a bargain she has no choice but to accept. Great writing, deep characters and engaging story.
I loved this series of books. Takes place at a time not usually written about in romance novels. I liked the combination of history, romance and mystery.
Although I didn't really warm up to the hero - who was neither particularly sexy (despite our being repeated told by author that he is) nor particularly vulnerable (despite requisite sad story past) - I *did* respect him. He's one of the most competent character I've ever run across in. Maybe it's difficult to be vulnerable and cuddly while at the same time a sword wielding master of intrigue. I really wanted to like the him - he's my favorite kind of hero, dangerous and sexy (or supposed to be sexy) but didn't feel any heat at all. Compared to, say, Rawden of Long's The Secret to Seduction or Kleypas' The Devil in Winter (or just about any Kleypas hero - now *that's* a woman who knows how to make a man dangerous and sex-hay!) Owen's just kind of there. Pen is a likeable character, and you can understand the need to find her child that motivates her. Despite needing the occasional rescue she's never TSTL, she's just what you would expect of a noblewoman of her era. And the villains interesting and really fun - Northumberland was a powerful and truly frightening - you really wondered if our hero(ine)s were going to escape from his clutches, and the mother-in-law was so over the top crazy evil she was like some character out of a fairy tale.
To Kiss A Spy may be a little flat on the romance but it works very well as an action filled spy thriller. As usual Feather crafted an engrossing, fast paced story. It's an exciting, thought provoking take on the ascension of Queen Mary. Like the previous book (The Widow's Kiss), the danger and precariousness of people's lives during this time of upheaval, where anything you do can lead to death (usually after being tortured) is brought to vivid life. And the history is incorporated into the plot in such a way that makes it gripping instead of a boring infodump - you understand why it's so vital for French interests to know what's going on with Northumberland, because there's so much going on and so much at stake - you understand the alliances and enmities and why they exist and that all of this politicking has real life or death consequences. All in all, recommended, even if there's not a lot of romance in this romance.
To Kiss A Spy may be a little flat on the romance but it works very well as an action filled spy thriller. As usual Feather crafted an engrossing, fast paced story. It's an exciting, thought provoking take on the ascension of Queen Mary. Like the previous book (The Widow's Kiss), the danger and precariousness of people's lives during this time of upheaval, where anything you do can lead to death (usually after being tortured) is brought to vivid life. And the history is incorporated into the plot in such a way that makes it gripping instead of a boring infodump - you understand why it's so vital for French interests to know what's going on with Northumberland, because there's so much going on and so much at stake - you understand the alliances and enmities and why they exist and that all of this politicking has real life or death consequences. All in all, recommended, even if there's not a lot of romance in this romance.
Feather writes sweeping romances portraying a unique blend of sizzling seduction and dangerous intrigue. In this first of two romances featuring two unconventional sisters whose quest to solve the mystery surrounding their lives puts each of them in the path of a dangerously irrestible hero, Jane Feather tells the story of a daring young widow and a master spy engaged in a duel of wits--and seduction--to uncover a dark secret... Lady Pen Bryantson had been caught red-handed looking for clues among her mother-in-law's papers. But the mystery she sought to uncover only deepened with teh sudden appearance of a man whose mere presence sent shivers of excitement coursing through her. What could this dangerously seductive man who moved with a courtier's charm and brandished an assassin's skill want with someone as ordinary as she was?
I read it and it is ok, just not my type of book, but was interesting.
Heavy court intrigue, 1550 era. I couldn't get into it.
Loved this whole series. This is the second book, Pen's story.
Lady Pen Bryantson had been caught red-handed looking for clues among her mother-in-law's papers. But the mystery she sought to uncover only deepened with the sudden appearance of a man whose mere presence sent shivers of excitement coursing through her. What could this dangerously seductive man who moved with a courtier's charm and brandished an assassin's skill want with someone as ordinary as she was?
Lady Pen Bryantson had been caught red-handed looking for clues among her mother-in-law's paper. But the mystery she sought to uncover only deepened with the sudden appearance of a man whose mere presence sent shivers of excitement coursing through her. What could this dangerously seductive man who moved with a courtier's charm and brandished an assassin's skill want with someone as ordinary as she was? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman he'd been assigned to ensnare was anything but ordinary. With a single kiss, the sophisticated spy found that he'd been unexpectedly disarmed. Determined to seduce her on his own terms, Owen offered Pen a devil's bargain she had no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, where anyone could be the deadliest of enemies-and their own uncontrolled passion the most dangerous threat of all.
Lady Pen Bryantson had been caught red handed looking for clues among her mother in laws papers. But the mystery she sought to uncover only deepened with the sudden appearance of a man whose mere presence sent shivers of excitement coursing through her. What could this dangerously seductive man who moved with a courtiers charm and brandished an assassins skill want with someone as ordinary as she? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman he'd been assigned to ensnare was anything but ordinary. With a single kiss, the sophisticated spy found that he'd been unexpectedly disarmed. Determined to seduce her on his own terms, Owen offered Pen a devil's bargain she had no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, and their own uncontrolled passion the most dangerous threat of all.......
This is the first of two romances featuring two unconventional sisters whose quest to solve the mystery surrounding their lives puts each of them in the path of a dangerous irresistible hero. In this story it's the story of a daring young widow and a master spy engaged in a duel of wits-and seduction-to uncover a dark secret.
Trying to find her two-year old son who she believes was taken at birth from her by her mother-in-law's family, Lady Penn Bryanston is caught red-handed looking for clues among her mother-in-law's papers by master spy Owen D'Arcy. Her mother-in law's family has told her that the baby was still-born. What could this polished spy want with someone as ordinary as she was? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman was anything but ordinary. Determined to seduce her on his own terms, he offers Pen a devil's bargain she has no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, where anyone coudl be the deadliest of enemies-and their passion for each other the most dangerous threat of all.
Trying to find her two-year old son who she believes was taken at birth from her by her mother-in-law's family, Lady Penn Bryanston is caught red-handed looking for clues among her mother-in-law's papers by master spy Owen D'Arcy. Her mother-in law's family has told her that the baby was still-born. What could this polished spy want with someone as ordinary as she was? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman was anything but ordinary. Determined to seduce her on his own terms, he offers Pen a devil's bargain she has no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, where anyone coudl be the deadliest of enemies-and their passion for each other the most dangerous threat of all.
[blurb]
Lady Pen Bryantson had been caught red-handed looking for clues among her mother-in-law's papers. But the mystery she sought to uncover only deepened with sudden appearance of a man whose mere presence sent shivers of excitement coursing through her. What could this dangerously seductive man who moved with a courtier's charm and brandished an assassin's skill want with someone as ordinary as she was? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman he'd been assigned to ensnare was anything but ordinary. With a single kiss, the sophisticated spy found that he'd been unexpectedly disarmed. Determined to seduce her on his own terms, Owen offered Pen a devil's bargain she had no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, where anyone could be the deadliest of enemies -- and their own uncontrolled passion the most dangerous threat of all.
Lady Pen Bryantson had been caught red-handed looking for clues among her mother-in-law's papers. But the mystery she sought to uncover only deepened with sudden appearance of a man whose mere presence sent shivers of excitement coursing through her. What could this dangerously seductive man who moved with a courtier's charm and brandished an assassin's skill want with someone as ordinary as she was? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman he'd been assigned to ensnare was anything but ordinary. With a single kiss, the sophisticated spy found that he'd been unexpectedly disarmed. Determined to seduce her on his own terms, Owen offered Pen a devil's bargain she had no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, where anyone could be the deadliest of enemies -- and their own uncontrolled passion the most dangerous threat of all.
Lady Pen Bryantson had been caught red-handed looking for clues among her Mother-in-law's papers. But the mystery she sought to uncover only deepened with the sudden appearance of a man whose mere presence sent shivers of excitement coursing through her. What could this dangerously seductive man who moved with a courtier's charm and brandished an assasin's skill want with someone as ordinary as she
was? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman he'd been assigned to ensnare was anything but ordinary. With a single kiss, the sophisticated spy found that he'd been unexpectedly disarmed.
Determined to seduce her on his own terms, Owen offered Pen a devil's bargain she had no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, where anyone could be the deadliest of enemies--and their own uncontrolled passion the most dangerous of all. (back cover)
was? But to Owen D'Arcy, the bewitching young woman he'd been assigned to ensnare was anything but ordinary. With a single kiss, the sophisticated spy found that he'd been unexpectedly disarmed.
Determined to seduce her on his own terms, Owen offered Pen a devil's bargain she had no choice but to accept. Now they would both go undercover, only to find themselves drawn into a world of deception and double cross, where anyone could be the deadliest of enemies--and their own uncontrolled passion the most dangerous of all. (back cover)
