Whisper His Name (Mass Market Paperback)

by Elizabeth Thornton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Thornton's 11th historical romance, which begins when a doomed spy hides a coded book in the basket of an English visitor to Paris, offers both delights and frustrations. Spinster Abbie Vayle suspects nothing until an evil operative loyal to the exiled Napoleon tracks her back to Bath, England, and demands the book. Soon, Abbie's brother is taken hostage and her own life is in danger. Eager to comply with the demands of her brother's captors, she agrees to return the book?except that it is being held in customs. Does she dare confide in Hugh Templar, the seemingly mild scholar she loves? As Abbie struggles to retrieve the book amid a tightening net of intrigue, Hugh tries to hide the fact that he himself is a former British undercover agent. Thornton (You Only Love Twice) creates appealing characters and cleverly weaves in familiar Regency settings and customs. However, much of the action and romantic developments depend on the hero and heroine's repeatedly withholding information from each other?a device that quickly becomes tiresome to the reader.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Whisper His Name begins in Paris in 1814. Nemo, who is Napoleon's most feared agent, is following a woman named Collette. Collette is a spy also, but not for Nemo's side, and she is carrying a book with codes in it. When she fears capture she places the book in the basket of an English woman and then convinces Nemo that the book is lost. Nemo is not pleased and kills Collette. The woman who now has the book, (although she is unaware of this fact) is Abbie Vale from Bath. She is twenty-seven and a confirmed spinster since her sister married the man that she hoped to have a future with. Thanks to her Auntie Abigail who left Abbie a small house and a modest fortune, Abbie has been able to be the type of woman that she wants to be and has freedom from her family. She has made friends with Hugh Templer who, like herself, is a member of the Antiquarians Society. Hugh is a scholar, a quiet intelligent man who comes from a good family. When Abbie's brother George is abducted and the ransom is this book Abbie knows nothing about, things start to change. Suddenly Hugh is no longer the mild mannered scholar. He reverts back to his soldiering days and Abbie finds out that he is (was) an agent with the military - and they are trying to recruit him again. Abbie finds herself both attracted to Hugh, and also repelled, as they work to solve the mysteries surrounding them. This book reminded me of a nineteenth century True Lies. The plot is full of action and the suspense is riveting. I found the romance side a little weak, maybe because Abbie never seemed too sure of what she wanted in Hugh. Neither his Alpha or Beta reincarnations were what she wanted. The story is full of twists and turns and Elizabeth Thornton has written a great suspense novel. A unique point that comes up in the author's notes is that the reader can email the author and she will send the epilogue of the story! This is great for anyone like myself who always wants to know what happened next! Whisper His Name is full of suspense - riveting action! Elizabeth Thornton has created a plot full of twists and turns. Michelle Sawyer -- Copyright © 030199 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (March 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553574272
• ISBN-13: 978-0553574272
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #222,295 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic romance, June 8, 2000

By	L4d "l4d" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews

It's not very often that a romance writer dares to have a woman and man be FRIENDS first--best of friends at that, then lovers. That alone made this book a worthwhile read. I tire of all those bickering couples. Lovers' spats now and then are expected, but, really, the constant arguing to mask quivering sensitivities does get old. A good plot needs conflict, but quarreling over the usual well-worn devices ("S/he is only using me," "S/he doesn't/can't really love ME," etc, ad nauseum) doesn't necessarily qualify for that.

This book doesn't do that. The main plot revolves around finding out who has kidnapped the heroine's brother, and why. The answer really isn't a surprise to anyone who has read the spy books of John Le Carre.

The romantic plot conflict is very real, and very understandable: We're all thrown for a loop, to realize that someone we THOUGHT we knew so well might have some traits, or secrets, that we hadn't expected. It takes some time to adjust, to get past the feeling of betrayal, the feeling that we weren't trusted with certain information, to trust again. As is often the case, doubt leads to doubt. It is how the lovers overcome all the havoc wreaked by so much doubting that makes a story.

Hugh and Abbie are able to overcome these problems not for a reason as idiotic as being good in the sack together (although they of course are), but because they have a stronger foundation than most romance-book couples: They are friends, first. Thank you, Ms. Thornton, for writing a romance book that makes sense, romantically speaking.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully told suspenseful historical romance, June 7, 1999

By	Janice Sims "Romance Novelist" (Central Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was my first Elizabeth Thornton novel. It took me a while to navigate through the language as I'm not an historical romance fan. I usually read contemporary novels. But Ms. Thornton is a skilled storyteller, and, soon, I was engrossed in Abbie Vayle's life, her growing love for Hugh and their adventure. I didn't know those Victorians were so recklessly passionate! Bravo, Elizabeth Thornton.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Super Suspense and Sensuality, November 18, 2002

By	M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Abbie Vayle is a smart independent woman who at the age of seven and twenty is quite content with her unmarried state and plans to stay that way. On a trip to Paris in 1814, fate, in the form of a very desperate spy, running for her life would upset the comfortable existence that was Abbie's life. Unknown to Abbie, the spy had slipped a book containing some dangerous coded information into a basket of rare books Abbie was bringing back to England for her book shop - a book that Nemo, who is Napoleon's most feared agent, would kill for! It would be some weeks later, that Nemo would track down, the book and Abbie to threaten her with her youngest brothers life should she not comply with his wishes and turn over the book.

Abbie's friendship with Hugh Templar, both of them members of the Antiquarians Society has always been comfortable. Hugh, was once a government agent but had retired from that life and wanted nothing more than to rusticate in Bath as a scholar and archaeologist searching out Roman ruins. When Hugh senses that Abbie is hiding something and seems disturbed, Hugh's former skills as a soldier and spy would come in handy - if only Abbie would confide and trust him. Abbie, unfortunately, cannot decide if he is friend or foe and initially still thinks of him as the quiet, well-mannered scholar. A kiss from him actually startles her enough to start looking at him from a different perspective, but whether she can trust him enough with her brothers life on the line is the bigger problem. As he had always assumed this scholarly role, Abbie, who would have liked to involve him, felt he would have been more or less useless - what could he do! Then when he reverts into this macho type of man - she is more or less repelled. So what's a girl to do - especially as she has prided herself on her independence - nothing but fend for herself!

This was another superbly written mystery and romance by an author that this reviewer has just discovered. The complexity of her plots with romance, and historical background has all the elements that keep me enthralled. I loved the character's portrayal of both Abbie and Hugh - although at one point I would have liked to shake Abbie for not telling Hugh the whole truth, especially after they had shared a most sensually delightful evening together. Hey, if you trust a man enough to share your body, you might want to share a few other things - like the truth! The rest of the secondary characters also add to the enjoyment of this book and I loved the way the siblings in the Vayle family drew so close together in support of one another when the chips were down. This was truly a wonderful read, fast paced and hard to put down. Loved it and highly recommend this book.