A Sinful Alliance (Harlequin Historical) [Kindle Edition]

Amanda McCabe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The baseborn daughter of a courtesan and a lord, Marguerite was forced to fend for herself in the dangerous world of the French nobility--as the king's most feared spy.

Sent to the court of King Henry of England, Marguerite found polite words and flattery concealed dark passions. Her only friend was her old enemy, the sensually tempting Nicolai Ostrovsky. And their sinful alliance seemed set to turn her from old loyalties to new desires!

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 325 KB
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Historical (March 1, 2008)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0015Z7WTQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,476 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #97 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance > Series > Harlequin Historical

More About the Author

Amanda/Laurel wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)

She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.

Please visit her at http://ammandamccabe.com and http://laurelmckee.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Historical Elements - 4-1/2*, April 7, 2008

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Sinful Alliance (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)

Lady Marguerite Dumas, was orphaned at an early age. The illegitimate daughter of a courtesan and a noble, Marguerite learned to make her own way in the world of the French nobility. As the King of France's most feared spy and assassin only a select few knew her as the "Emerald Lily", one of them being Nicolai Ostrovsky, a man she was once sent to assassinate.

After her failure with Nicolai, Marguerite was given a second chance by the King of France to redeem herself by infiltrating and gathering information at the court of King Henry VIII. While there she would find a false world where polite words and manners hid many dark and evil secrets; where Nicolai Ostrovsky, once her worst enemy became her most fervent desire, friend and lover.

*** It's always such a pleasure to discover a new author who captures all the elements needed to define a memorable read. In this, Marguerite and Nicolai had the chemistry that came across the page combined with a well paced adventure. Along with that, the suspense and intrigue were woven seamlessly along with the sensual romance and the dialogs were crisp and entertaining. Now when you take all that and set it amidst an actual historical event involving really fabulous historical personages, then you have it all.

At first it was a bit difficult to understand how Marguerite ended up as an assassin, but the author showed that at the tender age of 15 circumstances occurred where she really had no choice but to follow that path. Over the years her heart became encased with ice in order to survive, however the run-in with Nicolai was a turning point in her life. Nicolai could have ended her life, but instead spared her so that fate could reunite them years later, even though she was still steaming over him besting her years before. Their new game of cat and mouse while in King Henry's court was very entertaining, especially when it appeared that one of them was marked for death! Who saves who, is just one of the many things you'll have to discover for yourself by reading the book.

Played out against the actual historical summit meeting between the French and English - "Treaty of Eternal Peace" - you'll see Henry VIII when he was besotted with Anne Boleyn, along with other famous historical figures. McCabe's fictional leads Marguerite and Nicolai will seem as real as the events that swirled around them and I expect the readers will come away as fully entertained and pleased as this reviewer was. Suspenseful and sensual - very well done!!

Marilyn Rondeau