Surrender to a Wicked Spy (The Royal Four, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Celeste Bradley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2005

They are known simply as The Royal Four—but there’s nothing simple about the elite band of spies who serve the King in secrecy. Their missions are dangerous, their love lives are scandalous…and each man in the Royal Four has his own secrets. This is the story of the spy known as The Lion…

SURRENDER TO A WICKED SPYOlivia Calwell’s new husband, Dane, is everything she could have ever hoped for in a man. The handsome Lord Greenleigh is charming, debonair, even a bit mysterious…and just thinking of their wedding night makes Olivia blush with pleasure. Yet she can’t help but wonder what exactly Dane does all day. His hushed meetings with strangers, his odd comings and goings—it is all enough to drive Olivia mad! Could her beloved husband be involved in something dangerous? Could he even be spying for France?

Spy Dane Calwell knows the new Lady Greenleigh is poised, well educated, and utterly captivating. But he’s just discovered that Olivia is also the most curious creature he has ever met! Most wives don’t give a whit what their husbands do all day. Why must Olivia ask so many questions—and meddle in matters that do not concern her? Truth be told, Dane finds Olivia’s amateur sleuthing enchanting…even a little sexy. But when Olivia gets too close to the mission at hand, Dane must try to stop her before it’s too late—or risk losing his beautiful wife forever…

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As his set's most eligible bachelor, Dane Calwell is used to women throwing themselves at him, but Olivia Cheltenham is the first to rescue him. Enchanted by the sensible, plain-speaking, bewitchingly different Olivia, Dane immediately proposes, hoping that their marriage might work in spite of his rather unusual "problem." Olivia could not be more in love with her big, gorgeous, blond Viking of a husband, so when Dane ultimately reveals the true nature of his "problem," Olivia is more than willing to find a solution to the challenge it presents. What does bother Olivia, however, are the number of secret meetings Dane attends and the snatches of conversation Olivia overhears that hint that Dane may be involved in something so dangerous it could destroy their blissful new marriage. Bradley continues to find creative and clever new ways to mix passion and intrigue in beguiling love stories, and the latest in her Royal Four series is another wickedly sensual, deliciously witty delight. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Praise for TO WED A SCANDALOUS SPY (Book #1 in The Royal Four):
"Warm, witty and wonderfully sexy!"---Teresa Medieros, New York Times bestselling author

Praise for THE CHARMER (Book #4 in The Liars Club):
"Bradley infuses this adventure with so much sexual tension and humor that you'll be enthralled. You'll laugh from the first page to the last and hold your breath as Collis [and] Rose. . .find themselves in one tight spot after another. The wonderful characters, witty dialogue and clever plt will have you wishing you were a Liar too."---Romantic Times (Top Pick)

Praise for THE SPY (Book #3 in The Liars Club):
"Only a clever wordsmith can make this complex, suspenseful tale work so perfectly. Bradley pulls us into the wonderful world of the Liar's Club and gives us a nonstop read brimming with puzzle after puzzle." -RT Bookclub

"With its wonderfully witty writing, superbly matched protagonists, and intrigue-steeped plot, the third of Bradley's Liars Club historicals is every bit as much fun as The Pretender and The Imposter." - Booklist

"A must for readers of the Liar's Club series and a good bet for those who haven't yet started...I unhesitatingly recommend." -All About Romance

"Ms. Bradley has an effortless style to her prose." -The Romance Reader

"A Top Pick...the best of [The Liar's Club] so far. Bless Celeste Bradley...She just seems to get better at it as she goes along." -Romance Reader at Heart

Praise for THE IMPOSTOR (Book #2 in The Liars Club):
"Bradley carefully layers deception upon deception, keeping the intrigue level high and the tone bright...Readers will race through this delightful comedy of errors and eagerly anticipate the next installment." -Publishers Weekly

"With delicious characters and a delectable plot, Bradley delivers another enticing read brimming with the mayhem and madness that come with falling in love when you least expect it. The devilishly funny double identities, witty dialogue and clever twists will captivate." -RT Bookclub (Top Pick)

"Don't miss this second book of the Liar's Club series. With humor, passion and mystery, it's absolutely delightful in every way! I can't wait for the next one." -Old Book Barn and Gazette

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (October 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312931271
• ISBN-13: 978-0312931278
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi, my name is Celeste Bradley and I write "brain chocolate." That is, I write fun and sexy escapism is for hardworking women everywhere. We deserve a little man-candy, too!

Reviewers like to say I write about misfit heroines getting the man of their dreams. Maybe that's true, but don't we all feel like misfits sometimes? Even if the rest of the world thinks we have all our balls in the air, aren't we juggling like mad on the inside, desperately trying not to drop one?

I'm the kind of woman who never truly has a clean house (not all at once!), who can't seem to have Christmas projects finished by Dec 25, who is stunned by how fast weeds can take over a perfectly well-behaved garden, who is mystified by high-altitude baking rules, who doesn't quite get the kids to the dentist appointment on time...well, you get the picture. Rather than having all my ducklings in a row, I just try to make sure none of the rotten little rebels are playing in the middle of the street!

I love this manic, scattered life I lead. I love to write, craft, garden, bake and mother, even if I don't always do it all perfectly. I love living in the Southwest, with its big sky and vast desert views. I love venturing out of my quiet life to meet readers and other writers, and then I love to come back to my haven, full of ideas and renewed passion and creativity.

Maybe one of those times I'll meet you!

Hugs,
and thanks for reading!

Celeste

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious!, October 11, 2005

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surrender to a Wicked Spy (The Royal Four, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Olivia Calwell is newly married to the devastatingly handsome, somewhat secretive, and incredibly dashing Dane Calwell, Lord Greenleigh. She finds great pleasure in his company, in the bedroom and out. Unfortunately he is a very busy man during the day. He is usually away at meetings or locked in his study with his business advisor.
Although she is falling helplessly in love with Dane, Olivia is very frustrated by her new husband's cryptic behavior.

Dane Calwell, Lord Greenleigh, is a member of the Royal Four, men charged with protecting England and the Prince Regent in complete secrecy. Known as the Lion, Dane knows that his service to England is his foremost duty. But the new Lady Greenleigh, Olivia, tempts him from his mission in ways he never expected. Olivia is poised, intelligent and has a marvelous sense of humor. While Dane appreciates Olivia's cleverness, he also laments this very trait for she is constantly questioning things. If he isn't careful, her curiosity and intellect will interfere with his latest mission, putting Olivia in terrible danger. Can the Lion protect his country and his heart?

I love these characters and I love their story. Olivia is sweetly awkward and delightfully funny. I especially love her fearless interaction with Dane, although, there were times I wanted to shake him senseless and wished Olivia would do it for me. But I forgave him, how could I not? For Dane is dutiful, noble, and oh, so sinfully gorgeous. Dane has me so enthralled that I am still drooling over him.

Surrender to a Wicked Spy is a keeper! I knew I'd love this book when I giggled out loud in the very first chapter. Ms. Bradley's sense of humor always shines in her writing, but especially so in Surrender to a Wicked Spy. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of romance, intrigue and hot, delicious sex. And I cannot stress enough how delicious it is! I think this is the most erotic book in both the Liar's Club and the Royal Four series. Surrender to a Wicked Spy is my favorite Celeste Bradley book thus far!

 
Annabelle
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating all the way to the last word, October 19, 2005

By 

D. Lane "Book lover" (austin, tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surrender to a Wicked Spy (The Royal Four, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

A beautifully told romance, with plenty of action to keep one intrigued. Celeste Bradley has told a wonderful tale here, with strong characters. Olivia and Dane are a perfect pair. I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end. There are interesting plot twists and we get to know several secondary characters well. The secondary characters are not boring. We see the issue of trust as the core of this story. It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with both the palatable passion and the keen sense of danger infused in the story. Olivia and Dane were both wounded, intriguing, complex, wonderful characters. The action/suspense was fast-paced and thrilling. The setting was beautiful and exotic. The sex was HOT and perfect for the story. The chemistry between Olivia and Dane was very sensual and immediate. The plot was interesting and it kept you interested in what was going to happen next.It has intrigue, passion, and "wow" sensual tension. This book had everything you need to create a good romance: a dashing hero, a beautiful feisty heroine, something that always seems to interfere with the hero and heroine, and, most of all...PASSION! The love scenes are ample & steamy, and the plot is a good one. A fast paced book with an intricate plot that I cannot help but enjoy. I must have laughed a hundred times and I absolutely couldn't put the book down until I was finished. If you enjoy romantic comedies. You will LOVE this book. The sex toys and Dane's problem were done in such a funny way that it's not gross. Celeste Bradley's really knows how to write a romantic comedy. Surrender to a Wicked Spy is a tongue in cheek romantic spy thriller. Highly enjoyable mind candy. I enjoy books with a mystery element and was pleased with the twist at the end of this book.

This is my first Celeste Bradley book and I plan to get all of her books now. : )

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steamy, good fun, stay-up-all-night book -- run to get a copy, October 28, 2005

By 

BookWorm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surrender to a Wicked Spy (The Royal Four, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Okay, so I just stayed up until 3 am last night reading this book and I am a total wreck at work right now. But, oh, it was so worth it.

For those of you that have not yet read a Liar's Club/Royal Four book - you need to run to the nearest bookstore and get them now. Or, buy them off of Ebay for discounted rates, but YOU MUST GET THEM.

Furthermore, you need to read them in order. The book "Surrender to a Wicked Spy" is the latest book in the series. With some series the books can work as stand-alones, but I think that the Liar's Club/Royal Four books are MUCH better when read as part of the series. Characters from previous books play roles in current books, and there is a story of treason and a villain that is a common thread in each book of the series. With each book, we learn more about the activities of the villain and the great grand plan.

Don't get me wrong - you can still read them individually, but I just think you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of it if you read them all. Plus, you should read them all, anyway, because she's a terrific writer and the books are great fun. The series (in order): The Pretender (#1); The Impostor (#2); The Spy (#3); The Charmer (#4) ; To Wed A Scandalous Spy (Royal Four Book #1); The Rogue (#5); Surrender to a Wicked Spy (Royal Four Book #2); One Night with a Spy (Royal Four Book #3 - due out mid-2006); Untitled Royal Four Book 4 (due out late 2006)

Now, on to the review: Olivia must marry for money - her brother passed away and she is her family's only hope. In an effort to get Olivia wed to a titled, wealthy man, her mother pushes Olivia in the Thames River and that prompts Dane Calwell to jump in after her to save her. Dane has realized that he needs to marry and, upon some reflection, decides that Olivia would be a perfect wife. He decides that she is well-bred, well-mannered, and has, in short, all of the qualities that would make a perfect Lady Greenleigh. They marry and that's where the fun begins. To start off, Olivia is nothing like Dane imagined her to be - her mother has completely over-sold her abilities to run a household, be a fine hostess, and be poised and elegant. Secondly, Dane is a member of the Royal Four - a group of influential lords that manages and protects the Crown in secret. He is the Lion (the other four are the Cobra, the Fox, and the Falcon) and has a secret fear that prevents him from getting close to anyone. His father was a traitor to the Crown - all for the love a French woman. This has tainted Dane's perception of love (and women) and feels that if he allows his feelings for Olivia to deepen, then he will choose to be loyal to her above the Crown and he cannot allow himself to make the same mistakes his father did. Olivia, for her part, does not allow Dane to remain detached and quickly captivates him and forces him to become her husband not just physically, but also emotionally. Another thing that is holding their relationship back is that Dane is afraid of hurting Olivia because he is quite "well-endowed" and he thinks that he cannot make love to her.

This book was downright hilarious in parts, suspenseful in others, and steamy/super hot throughout. All in all, it was an extremely entertaining, fast-paced read. Bradley makes you care about her characters and you find yourself rooting for them. One of things that make Bradley such a great writer is that she does not short-change you on the secondary characters. Characters from previous books make an appearance and remain true to who they were originally - and new ones are introduced that are so well-sketched, you find yourself waiting impatiently for them to get a book of their own.

I, for one, will be first in line when her next book comes out.