Customer Reviews

Surrender to a Wicked Spy (The Royal Four, Book 2)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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

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. : )

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.

I've been reading all of Bradley's Liar's Club and Royal Four books in order...since they are tied together by the search for the Chimera, the head French operative working in England. If I didn't need to know what happened with that plot I would have put this one down after the second chapter.
The first chapter is a really promising start. The "heroine," Olivia, is pushed into the Thames by her mother in the hopes that a suitor will appear to save her. Dane, the Royal Four Lion, jumps in to save her...but she ends up saving him. Great start!
However, in the next chapter they are married. Olivia is very attracted to her "big blonde Viking husband" (and this seems to be the only redeeming quality he has) while Dane is determined never to consumate the marriage even though he needs a heir (what?) because of his "problem."
There are a few hints of his problem but as I was reading I thought, "No surely not...that would be so STUPID!" But I was right, his problem is that he is too big, EVERYWHERE. So I found the sex scenes (they were hardly love scenes) completely ridiculous.
The French operatives plot is also completely stupid, especially for a French spy that the Liar's Club and Royal Four have been chasing for several books. Olivia was unbarably stupid and Dane was a complete boor. I skimmed the last two thirds.
I've started the next book in the Royal Four, One Night with a Spy and its back up at Bradley's usual calibar. It's too bad that this stinker worked its way into what is otherwise a great series.

In the previous Royal Four novel, we were made aware of the upcoming nuptials of The Lion, Lord Dane Calwell. At first, I felt a little bereft for we wouldn't see how Dane and Olivia came to their betrothal, but thankfully Bradley filled that void by writing a prologue that focused primarily on their "courtship." Other than that, I can't say I really enjoyed the rest of the story. At times the very few romantic pieces seemed too forced and I didn't feel an emotional connection between the two characters. Olivia, though she tried so hard to become the ideal wife, didn't have qualities you'd root for in a heroine. She was different, to say the least, but she didn't stand out as a particularly strong woman despite Bradley's constant reminder throughout the story that she is one. Dane also lacked characteristics that would warm your heart. Although Bradley attempted to write a problem that plagues most romantic heroes, it either wasn't debilitating enough or Bradley didn't try to push it. In comparison to To Wed A Scandalous Spy, this one just didn't cut it.

I like Celeste Bradley. I like her a lot. I liked Surrender to a Wicked Spy. But it's also the weakest Bradley that I've read so far.

This book didn't feel as careful or as intricately set up as her others; there were moments where she was obviously jumping right over a hole in the plot, or rushing through what could have been an interesting sub-plot, in order to dive right into another sub-plot that she doesn't develop quite enough.

There are a few examples. One is from the beginning of the book. Olivia, the heroine, all unknowingly seeks out a renowned courtesan in order to ask for help preparing a ball. There are already problems here, but the point is that Bradley gives this courtesan a lot of character, she's really very well drawn, she agrees to help Olivia, they get along swimmingly...then Olivia leaves and that's it. She never talks to this woman again, never communicates with her again. This leads to trouble, of course, but I was really upset that this character appeared once, captured my attention, and then disappeared permanently.

That kind of thing, repeated enough, makes the whole novel feel uneven and poorly thought through.

Another is Dane's "problem" - from the sounds of things, he's never met a woman before who was *excited* to help him out. Yet, also, from the sounds of things, he actually made the attempt numerous times, with fairly experienced prostitutes...and, frankly, I just don't buy that. Yeah, a lot of people would get really, really freaked out by his size - and a lot of others would just faint from joy. How many prostitutes can you talk to before you find one who's excited? Cuz I'd guess, you know, not many.

I don't want to give away any more of the plot, which is really all it should be: a fun page turner, sometimes dreamy, sometimes embarassing, sometimes scary. Fundamentally, I think this is a *good* romance that could have been a *great* romance, and from an author like Celeste Bradley, I'm used to getting a *great* romance.

I have sort of a love/hate relationship with Celeste Bradley books. While I'm reading them, I love them and am engrossed and will stay up late to finish one. But then when I ponder the book for a few days, I start seeing all of the holes in it and a lot of questions pop up. This story was no exception.

In the past, I feel that Ms. Bradley had some plotting/timeline issues -- either things fell together too quickly at the end in a big, too-convenient jumble, or else the romance came together too quickly at the beginning and therefore the book didn't hold my interest till the end. In this story, I think she has improvements on her pacing, but I still felt bereft at the end, here's why: The whole first half of the book was the sexual build-up between the hero and heroine. It was cute and sexy and had a good vibe. But then after they finally manage to have sex, that's the end of that story line -- it's dropped all together. I would have loved to have read one final scene after the mystery is solved where they are happy together and in love and mutually satisfied. But alas, no...

I still think Celeste Bradley is a good writer and she has the potential to be a great writer. I wish I could put my finger on exactly what needs to change in order for her to attain the "great" label.

The other two reviews listed on Amazon on this book-are NOT about Surrender to a Wicked Spy. Please don't let them color your buying or reading choices. I've emailed Amazon about this but I have no idea what they will do.

I've been impressed with Ms. Bradley's writing style since the release of The Imposter. Surrender to a Wicked Spy is a worthy addition to the circle of the Liar's Club and now the Royal Four. In depth characterization, snappy dialogue, fast pace, and very sexy.

Only one caveat-I wish she'd write faster!

This is the second book in the Royal Four Series and is the story of the Lion. Lord Dane Calwell is very serious about his duty to the crown...his father was a traitor who fell in love with a French spy and betrayed secrets out of that love. Dane knows he has to marry he has a duty to produce an heir and chooses Olivia because she seems to be of sturdy stock, he will never be able to love because it will interfere with his duties. It seems Dane has an unusual problem (he is unnaturally large Victoria refers to him as a blond Viking) and needs a wife who will be able to withstand his attentions and produce an heir.

Olivia knows her family is desperate to make a good match for her because of their financial problems...it was thought that her brother Walter would save the family by marrying an heiress but he drowned a month before. Olivia's mother never worried about a match for her because she spent all her attention on Walter. Out of desperation Olivia's mother pushes her into the Thames so that Lord Dane will jump in and rescue her. Olivia, a strong swimmer, ends up having to rescue Lord Dane who is stuck in the mud after jumping in to save her. A few days later, she is shocked to learn she has been bethrothed to him by her father. Dane makes no attempt to woo her and barely even sees her until the night of her wedding. Dane comes in on their wedding night and does delicious things to Olivia without actually consummating their marriage. Olivia is confused and turns to a local courtesan to help her with her marital woes, what happens later is hilarious but some scenes border on erotica. Not only is Olivia confused about their personal relationship, she is curious about the secret "business" dealings her husband is always having. It seems that he is always meeting with the same few men but Dane keeps putting her off when she asks questions. Before long, it seems that devious things are underfoot and someone is out to undermine Olivia. Dane struggles against his growing feelings for Olivia, when things go bad, he forces himself to put duty first and almost destroys the one woman who ever meant anything to him.

I love Celeste Bradley's characters. They are always intense, with depth, humor and not at all your typical regency characters. Can't wait for the third book.

The highly likeable Liar's Club books introduced me to Celeste Bradley, and I've kept on reading her work. But another book like this is going to convince me to stop. I think Ms. Bradley should not have taken up a "Royal Four" series--she doesn't have the seriousness or depth to write a plot about four highly powerful peers as the ultimate defenders of England. What's Dane Caldwell's vital national role? Muffling a scheme to acquire a mistress for the Regent? That's the most important thing Bradley could come up with? I like Bradley's comic voice and think she ought to stick with lighter plots that suit it.

Skipping past the implausibility of the Royal Four device, I still think this book is not one of her best. The sensible and irrepressible Olivia is fun to read about, but frankly, I thought Dane was clueless, arrogant, secretive, insensitive, and occasionally hostile--not my idea of a great hero.

If you're looking for a book with a lot of intimate scenes, however, this might be a good pick for you. Olivia and Dane's growing marital relations were really the core of the book.