Explosive [Paperback]

Charlotte Mede (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

Gray Dalton, the Marquess of Blackburn, wakes in a dark London cell staring down a gun barrel. Devon Caravelle, alleged mistress of a deadly French aristocrat, has been sent to ensure Blackburn's cooperation in a secret plot to unlock the mysteries buried within Beethoven's Third Symphony, the Eroica. It's terribly convenient and just as Blackburn planned. And taking the lady hostage is - if not terribly gentlemanly - not very difficult. Resisting her dangerous allure, on the other hand, is. Suddenly, the man famed for his cold-blooded control, wants a woman fiercely, wildly, forever...Devon Caravelle has loved two things in her life: music and her father. She would do anything to discover his murderer and clear his name, even if it means forcing the contemptuous, debauched Marquess to her aid. But when he turns the tables and takes her prisoner, she is not prepared for his skilful seduction or her white-hot response...It was supposed to be a seduction each side intended to win easily. Instead, the first spark unleashes an untamed passion in a game where all rules are forfeit and every move brings them closer to an unspeakable danger...

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Brava (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075822365X
• ISBN-13: 978-0758223654
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,091,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Prose way too purple, August 26, 2008

By 

Ophelia Mourns (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Explosive (Paperback)

If it weren't for the overdone, overblown writing, I might have enjoyed this one. The premise is interesting -- a lethal secret is buried within Beethoven's Eroica symphony. Enter three characters forced to work together to crack the code (and thus uncover the secret), all with their own agendas. In the hands of a more disciplined writer, perhaps it would have worked. As it is, the language in the book is just so purple, it became somewhat absurd, as if invisible exclamation points ended every other sentence. Just taking out even half of the adjectives in this book would have made the writing better. It's difficult for me to enjoy a book in which the heroine is so hormonally overcome by the hero that each individual eyelash torments her with wanting. No, that's not a sentence in the book, but it could have been. Here's one that is from the book: "Her eyes heavy with sensuality, she replied with a slow kiss to his wide mouth." I doubt it was the writer's intention, but when I read "her eyes heavy with sensuality," I just burst out laughing, it just struck me as so corny (and somewhat poorly written). Or, "Her eyes were drawn ineluctably to the elegant length of his strong legs." Then we're suddenly in the middle of a dry, music appreciation lesson with this gem, "I particularly love the first movement which, instead of a usual sonata form, is an adagio sostenuto built from a romance melody over triplets in the bass." And then back to the heroine exhorting, "I am entirely and supremely tired of you, Blackburn." I wanted to enjoy the book, but by the end, I was wondering if my hands were going to be stained purple. If you like the bodice ripper, breathy kind of story, this is probably an enjoyable read. If you don't, this particular book might not be to your liking. It wasn't to mine.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one Explosive book!, February 10, 2008

By 

Lettetia "As Long As I Am Able To Read, I Sha... (The beautiful Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Explosive (Paperback)

This debut novel by Charlotte Mede is as EXPLOSIVE as the title indicates. A master spy and a brilliant musician team up to break a deadly code and stop a madman.

Devon Caravelle is the daughter of a brilliant mathematician who is also said to be a traitor to France. Within the manuscript of Beethoven's Third Symphony, the Er'oica composition, lies a formula so deadly in the hands of the wrong man it may well destroy the world. Devon is trapped in a cat-and-mouse game; blackmailed by a madman into trapping a master spy. The trouble really begins when the spy in question wakes up in a dank cell with a gun trained on him by Devon.

Gray Dalton, the Marquess of Blackburn is a deadly adversary. A master spy for the Crown, he is a brilliant mathematician and code breaker. Gray has an allure that is hard to resist though he thinks Devon is the madman's mistress. Devon only wants to prove her father's innocence and find out who killed him. The man known for his cold-bloodedness is now obsessed with a woman who could destroy not only him, but also the innocent people of the world.


A tense and edgy adventure from the first page, EXPLOSIVE is just that. Action-packed with plenty of vile undertones to keep chills running up the spine, it will keep readers on the edge of their seats for the entire novel. With a gothic atmosphere, author Charlotte Mede grabs readers and draws them deep into the intrigue of Gray and Devon's deadly mission to stop a diabolical plot. The chemistry and passion between Gray and Devon is also EXPLOSIVE, culminating in an intense, dark, and sensual delight. The story is packed with wonderfully complex characters whose personalities are gradually revealed. Devon is a woman I was well able to empathize with. The pawn in a deadly intrigue between two powerful men, she is trapped by the need to prove her father innocent and afraid of the consequences if she fails; hanging. Gray is a cold-blooded and jaded individual since the murder of his brother, until he comes face-to-face with Devon. All bets are off when he is trapped by his own desires, as is Devon. Charlotte Mede's thorough descriptive prowess places readers right in the thick of the plot, drawing them in for the duration until the climactic ending. The intricate blending of fact and fiction made for a thrilling read. This is truly a book you don't want to miss.

Scarlet, Reviewer for Romance Junkies

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars historical suspense, August 4, 2008

By 

popcult - See all my reviews

This review is from: Explosive (Paperback)

I really enjoyed Explosive which is a terrific example of what I'd personally love to see more of -- historical romantic suspense. Here we have a hero and heroine (and their hot relationship I might add) confronting a crazy madman who who wants power for his own destructive ends.

Devon Caravelle and the Marquess of Blackburn are an unusual couple, reluctantly teaming up to decipher a secret code in Beethoven's Eroica that could change the face of Europe forever. She is a brilliant pianist whose father was a cryptographer mysteriously murdered for his knowledge. Blackburn is a conscienceless spymaster who has a very personal agenda for revenge and will use anyone, including Devon, to get what he wants.

Explosive is a thrilling read because it breaks the formula. You won't find a blushing virgin or useless rake or any of the other tired cliches typical of historical romances between these covers!