Michelle Diener

You know those improv games where you give someone three elements and they create a story? This would be if you gave [a:Mercedes Lackey|8685|Mercedes Lackey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1215643156p2/8685.jpg] a kidnapped human, an AI, and an interstellar alliance of five races with instructions to write for Harlequin imprint. Extremely readable, it kept me entertained through the last four hours of my mom’s emergency room visit. In fact, it was so readable that I really didn’t show more want to leave the world and decided to start on the second book shortly after finishing (curses, kindle and amazon!) (clearly, I have an addiction problem).

“No one can guarantee any sentient being will only work for good. A sentient being is by definition autonomous, and therefore free to behave as it wishes.”

I do have some concerns, but really, I didn’t want to think a great deal about them; I wanted to be thoroughly distracted by an unfortunate ER stay. I will note that it reminds me of what I thought an ideal relationship might be when I was fifteen or so. Likewise, the world is glossy without deep complexity. It is a Star Trek version of the world, highly simplified with fairly clear motivations. Understand, I’m not disparaging, merely describing what I felt could be a weakness. Could be a strength as well, if you are like me and you want something absorbing but undemanding. show less

*slight spoilers ahead*
What a fabulous book! I haven't enjoyed historical fiction that much since... You know, I can't even remember.

Straight from the beginning this is non-stop action full of mystery and fantastic characterization. I think, the main heroine, Charlotte Raven is the one who made this book. Who owned this book.

She is pure kickass awesomeness. This is no wishy-washy simpering miss, who cries and thinks about her feelings way too much because she hasn't had anything else to show more worry about.

Charlotte grew up a chimney boy in the rookeries of London until at the age of twelve she stuck in the chimney of a noble but lonely lady and became her ward. Her arms are scarred, her mind is sharp and coldly rational, her best friend Luke grew up a psychotic crime lord of London area close to Mayfair. She can't let go of the friendship and she can't break his obsessive hold over her. Her admirers or people troubling her keep ending up dead and Charlotte learned to stay away from any sort of relationship until she saves Emma, another aristocratic lady from her husband's machinations and meets her handsome brother.

Edward is an agent of the Crown in the middle of an investigation of a huge conspiracy involving members of the ton. Emma's new friend with her detached ways and sharp mind surprises him and he decides to find out more about her which puts him on Luke's radar.

Now both Charlotte and Edward has to work on not getting him killed by her overprotective ex-lover and end up unravelling the mysterious conspiracy together.

Charlotte's mind was a fascinating and dark place. She is a ruthless and very practical woman, she stands her ground in the rookeries against Luke's heavy handedness and in the middle of a Society ball. She is quick and knows how manipulate situation towards her advantage, she doesn't hesitate to strike, to act, and frankly I read about her with growing sense of admiration.

Luke is just as amazing, and I love a bit of genuine psychotic character in fiction. All the more interesting to see what makes them tick, right? You end up feeling the same way as Charlotte about him - afraid, exhilarated and deeply sympathetic.

Overall, this book flows really well and reads in one go, you live and breathe it until it ends. There is no happy ending, instead the author makes you wonder what would happen next with the characters. However, I didn't find it irritating and only hope that there will be a next book ahead.

Highly recommended. show less

One of the first things that struck me with this book was how it never really lets up with the story-telling and action. From one discovery to the next, the story moves at a brisk pace, leading the reader from one scene to the next with hardly a stop in between. I did like this for the most part as I was always eager to find out the next big surprise. Yet, there were times where I felt a bit overwhelmed. At times, so many people were introduced and just chucked into the story that I had to show more pause and try to remember where they came from. There were some really nice historical details, though, that bumped this story up in my opinion. Using real events for the impetuous to the story gave it some lovely added depth.

I did really like the dynamic between Edward and Charlotte. It was intense and very charged, yet sweet at the same time. I felt that Edward appreciated Charlotte for what she really was, a woman of two worlds who felt tied to both. I liked there weren't any of the cliched misunderstandings that a novel like this could have fallen prey to. Charlotte was very up front with her past from the very beginning, warning Edward's sister to the danger her sons were in. She wasn't afraid to expose her secret to accomplish a good deed, neither was she afraid to expose herself to Edward when it needed to be done. I felt that this added a very honest depth to their relationship and set a tone for mutual cooperation and trust.

While at times a bit overwhelmed from the sheer forward moment of the story, I felt this was a novel I could get lost in and love. The characters were wonderfully vivid, the historical details set the scene beautifully, and Edward's and Charlotte's relationship made me smile. Overall, a very well written novel set in Regency England. Very recommended. show less

Riveting and passionate with intrigue and malice at every turn!

The morass of intrigue and treason that surrounds John Parker and Susanna Horenbout in King Henry's court continues. This couple is just one step away from being annihilated by either powerful enemies, jealous courtiers, French spies or their own King.
Rumour is thatThe Frenchman is back to settle a score. Parker knew that Jean had no score to settle with him. 'The only reason a professional assassin came back kill, without show more payment, was because it was personal. And that meant that he'd come back for Susanna.'
But that was just the beginning. Accused by Wolsley of being a traitor, caught between a King and his Queen, locked up in the Tower, Susanna is soon fighting for her life. With the indominatable Parker at her side and friends and enemies changing sides the tension ratchets up as the story plays out.
The shadow of Wolsley as ever dominates, a malicious spider at the centre of this web of power and shifting alliances, of kings and crowns and inheritances. Another fantastic historical thriller in this series.

A NetGalley ARC show less