Customer Reviews

One Night with a Spy (The Royal Four)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This third entry in the Royal Four series, about four powerful secret lifetime advisors to the king, focuses on the one code-named the "Fox." The previous Fox, the elderly Lord Barrowby, has just died, seemingly without having trained a successor. The other three rush to his country estate, where they are surprised to learn that Lord Barrowby trained his beautiful young widow, Julia, to succeed him as the Fox. She informs them that she has, in fact, been performing that role for the past three years while Lord Barrowby was incapacitated. The three men are taken aback by the idea of a woman in their group, and besides they do not trust Julia, so they ask for a few weeks to consider the matter, promising to return. They head straight to Marcus Ramsay, Lord Dryden, who is apprenticing to a youthful member of the Four, so he has a long wait. They tell the ambitious Marcus that he can instead take over the Fox's spot, if he can find some way to discredit Julia or prove her ineligible for the post.

Marcus arrives at Barrowby under an assumed name, pretending to be a suitor looking for a wealthy bride. There is already a healthy competition underway for Julia's hand. Julia believes that, as the all-powerful Fox, she would do best to find a weak and compliant husband, so she does not at first view the virile and opinionated Marcus as marriage material. However, as time passes and she sees and experiences more of him - he even invades her dreams - the sexually starved Julia, who had an almost platonic relationship with her late husband, begins to reconsider her criteria in a mate. Also, someone has begun to ruthlessly sabotage her estate, putting lives at risk. This brings into stark relief Julia's need for a strong man like Marcus whom she can confide in. Marcus, who set out to gain her confidence in order to destroy her, is now within sight of achieving his goal, but he has grown quite attached to Julia. Will he obliterate his competition, or will he surrender to her?

This story is a little slow to get going, with humorous elements such as the privy calamity tending to overwhelm the first half of the story. The action picks up in the second half when Marcus becomes conflicted about his objectives. It is nice to see the fiercely competitive, cocksure, and somewhat chauvinistic Marcus humbled by kind-hearted and capable Julia. The love scenes could use more warmth, though, and seem mostly physical, without a strong emotional connection. Also, the inclusion of so many passages from Julia's diary is a little distracting. However, Julia is an appealing and sympathetic heroine who shows admirable strength in adversity, and I enjoyed her and Marcus' funny asides. The conclusion was exciting and gratifying.

Great series good book. I am happy to see a female heroine truly take center stage in one of these books.

Of all the Royal Four books so far - this one has been my favorite (but I have a feeling I will love the next one due out in August). In my opinion - the Royal 4 books still aren't as addictive as the Liar's club books - and I love the tension between the two clubs that runs throughout both series. :)

Characters: Great tension between Marcus and Elliot (who is also a great supporting character and could be a future hero if CB wants to write more). Throughout the novel we see writings of Julia's own romance story that she develops as a means of "escape" from her past. Julia is very smart, but of all Celeste Bradley heroines - she stands out as the most emotional and dramatic one I can remember - (and she has a pet lion!!!)

Once again - as far as revisiting characters is concerned - Celeste Bradley does a fantastic job! (Dalton from book 2 in Liar's club! *drooool*) And I'm more excited than ever for Wyndham's book (the Falcon) to be released in the late summer. In fact of all the Royal 4, his character has seemed the most mysterious and observant, and I can't wait to see him fall in love and go mad w/ desire!

Plot: The flirting scene at the lake is my favorite! I was also surprised that Celeste Bradley even had another important running character throughout her series attacked in this one - great drama enhancer!

As far as the romance itself was concerned - yeah, it felt prosey sometimes but compared to the other royal 4 books - this one is steamier.

Final Grade: A- (if you're trying to follow along the running story line for the Liar's club books - this one's important.)

This book was wonderful. I always try to get books from Green Earth because they are top of the line used books. I love series books. Celeste Bradley writes a great story.

This series has it all...adventure, intrigue, humor, sexy, and everything else you could possibly be looking for. The SPY and the Liars Club novels are fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I completely ate up this book in about two days! Anyway, The plotline stayed true to the rest of the books in the series. The leading female role went to a hard-headed, strong young woman and the male role was for a "man among boys" kind of guy. Marcus previously had a role as Dane's apprentice for the Lion in the second book of the series and this novel is all about his quest for power and accidentally encountering love. The Chimera rears his ugly head--with a completely unforseen twist! A few of the plot elements boardered on the edge of unbelieveable (you'll see exactly what I mean when you read it), but overall it was very well-written. It was a real page-turner and stayed true to Celeste Bradley's style of writing. This book only solidified my love for her works!

Loved her sense of humor and fast action. Didn't like references to Liar's members and their adventures as I have not read the books. Did enjoy the strong characters and sensual tension.

I love this series! Can't wait to read more. You'd think it'd get boring after awhile, but Miss Bradley has tremendous talent. Her characters are so likeable.

Celeste Bradley does a wonderful job with this book. I could not put it down until I finished it.

With each story in the Royal Four series, the stories get more intense and incredibly interesting, not to mention the men are the hottest spies you could ever imagine. This is the third in the series after Surrender to a Wicked Spy and To Wed a Scandalous Spy.

When the Fox dies, his young widow Julia stuns the remaining Royal Three when she announces she is his sucsessor. Not only that, she advises she has been acting in the Fox's capacity for the past three years of her husband's confinement. Not only is she young but female! Shocked, the three advise her that they will return in three weeks with their decision to accept or reject her position into the Royal Four. Marcus, the Lion's understudy, had always thought the position of the Fox would go to him and when he finds out that Julia wants the position he agrees to go investigate her to see if she is actually worthy of the position.

When Marcus arrives he finds that several young fortune hunters have already been circling trying to win the heart of the new widow, but she cleverly announces she has chosen a fiance, the dandy Elliot. Marcus cannot believe the woman he was so ready to believe a swindler, is so warm and loving and before long he is losing his heart to her for real. When her estate is viciously attacked, he works at her side to set things in order. He starts seeing the strength and character in Julia and wonders if she wouldn't make a great Fox. When he finds a box full of diaries with her wildest sexual fantasies inside, he uses them to get close to Julia and move Elliot out of the way. Julia can't fight the feelings she has for Marcus, she knows her life has to be for the Fox, but can't she this once have a little passion in her life. Soon secrets are revealed that can destroy their relationship and finally decide the fate of the FOX.

This book was awesome. My review may tell a lot about the story but I didn't give away the details and surprises in the story that make it an exceptional book. As always in her stories, the hero and heroine have phenominal chemistry and you can feel the sensuality long before either one acts on their feelings. Make sure you have time when you start reading this one because you won't be able to put it down. I cannot wait to read the fourth book, Seducing the Spy!