By: Susan Johnson Publisher: Brava Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Brava Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 356 Publication Date: March 01, 2008
Product Description: From New York Times bestselling author Susan Johnson comes a tantalizing new novel of hidden secrets and passionate desires...
At Her Service
Hugh D'Abernon, Marquis of Darley, was in Sevastopol for one reason only: to reconnoiter the town for the British Secret Service. So if he encounters a woman of unparalleled beauty in need of his help, he will do his duty and smartly escort her back to town--then continue on his way. He will not consider being diverted from the task at hand. No matter how tempting the lady...
Aurore Clement was unaccustomed to being so susceptible to a man's good looks. From afar, it was simple enough to be prudent, but in close proximity to this handsome Tatar, it was quite a different matter. She would have to keep her distance and focus on more important concerns--like her work with the French command and caring for her wounded brother, a soldier with French forces.
But Hugh and Aurore both have reasons for wanting to escape the reality of this fearsome war. And when the two meet again, there is no stopping the fierce passion that ignites between them...
"Susan Johnson knows how to make the pages sizzle." --Romantic Times
Crimean non-romance It's rather difficult to categorise this book. The publishing company Brava have billed it as a 'Historical Romance' and it's certainly not set in contemporary times - the action is taking place during the Crimean war in 1855 although a couple of chapters at the end of the book are more recent in history. However I found this a very unromantic book, in fact quite disappointing as a romance. There was a great deal of interaction (generally of the horizontal kind) between the hero and heroine but their relationship felt throughout the book more lustful than romantic. In fact at the end of the book I had no idea whether it would actually last, what the hero and heroine saw in each other and found both characters very unconvincing.
There were some good parts to this book. The setting during the Crimean war is unusual for a historical romance and the author added some good local colour, mentioning some well-known characters such as Florence Nightingale. Hero and heroine are both spies and this added a little extra interest although the heroine, Aurora Clement, seemed a remarkably unskilled spy to me. The hero, the Marquis of Darley, is a full-time libertine who also has side interests in spying, helping wounded soldiers and rescuing female spies from potential hangings. Aurora is a rather more complex character whose love for her property in the Crimea and care for her brother cause her to spend a lot of time with Darley. They certainly don't hang about before they jump into bed, however, and I found that this began the unrealistic and unsatifying element of the story, the relationship between the main characters.
The author really needed to do some more thorough research about modes of speech in this period in history. Both main characters speak American (which is rather odd for an Englishman and a Frenchwoman) and the continual Americanisms jarred badly. Their behaviour was also rather questionable in that it appeared everyone knew what was going on and it wasn't any kind of scandal. The resolution of the book was extremely facile whereby a supposed 'happy ever after' ending is pulled out of the hat with no real convincing evidence it would be lasting or that Darley's libertine nature has been set aside.
All in all this was a disappointing book. It had some good aspects, mainly the interesting setting and the travelling from the Crimea to France by private train, but too much of the story focused on the non-romance between the main characters and there were too many errors in speech and the behaviour seemed too 21st century to make the book feel authentic.
Hot Hero! Spies! Hot Loves scenes!...and Animals? Hugh and Aurore met in The Crimea at A turbulent time. A senseless Crimean war being fought has lead Aurore to feel obligated to spy for the French secret service because her brother has enlisted to fight for France. When her brother is seriously wounded she vows to do whatever it takes to save his life, and so She excepts the offer of A safe haven from A sinfully handsome stanger named Gazi.
The deplorable conditions of the British soldiers and the incompetence of the British command, forces Hugh D'Abernon, Marquis of Darley, the world traveler, to help the troops in whatever way he can, including risking his life to spy for the British Secret Service. The last thing Hugh ,a.k.a. Gazi needs is to become seriously involved with A women. He's had A lifetime of practice avoiding entanglements and will definitely try to put that skill to good use, but faith still leads them together.
I have to start off by saying that no other author has ever come close to writing A sexier hero than Susan Johnson. She always delivers with the most handsome, wickedest bad boys. The hero in this book was no exception! Hugh was soooo hot! He never changes his bad boy persona. It was so refreshing to see A rake actually being A rake. In most of the books that are out there now, the heroes are already in love with the heroine at the blink of an eye, even though they are supposed to be rakes. Hugh was really serious that he wanted to be unattached,and his actions made it more believable, which made it so much more exciting when he finally realized that he couldn't be happy without Aurore. I also loved Aurore because she was not your average virginal miss. I am not adverse to reading about virginal misses but it was refreshing to read about A heroine who wasn't afraid to have sex with A man she desired. Susan Johnson definitely brought back her sensual love scenes. She had just the right amount to build up the sexual tension without going overboard.
If you read any of my reviews you would know that Susan Johnson reigns supreme in my eyes, so it's with great reluctance that I must say this. This book was sailing to A 5 star review until I got to page 236. Hugh's reference that he bought animals into his love play before, was such A turn off for me that I thought I would not be able to keep reading the book. I was finally able to convince myself that he must have only brought them in to watch, which was still kind of disturbing. I still recommend reading this book though because barring that one mistake it was very entertaining.
Edit- After writing this review on March 8 2008, I thought it only fair that I should come back and say, at the time, I could not have imagined involving animals into A love play without it being disgusting, but I have since read Nan Ryan's book "Burning Love", I now know, on march 13 2008, that you can make love on A horses back! Maybe that's what Hugh was referring to.
4.5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies! The Marquis of Darley, Hugh D'Abernon is on his way to the Russian town of Sevastopol for reconnaissance. An agent with the British Secret Service during the Crimean War, his cover is that of a Tatar and he has perfected an authentic accent to prove it. His mission is to find out troop and battery strength as well as the morale of the Russian army. Encountering a lovely damsel in distress, he knows he must continue on with his important venture though his heart tells him different. Stopping and offering his aid to the beautiful woman who has caught his eye, he kindly offers her a ride into the nearest town. He reasons he can drop her off in town and then go about his merry way. Fate says otherwise.
Aurore Clement has chosen to be sensible as well as cautious when it comes to men. In this dangerous time of war, knowing that neighbor is often pitted against neighbor, she keeps her life as simple and as private as she can - especially since she is working for the French command. When a glorious looking man of seemingly Tatar descent offers her a ride into the nearest town after her wagon becomes disabled, Aurore does something she is unaccustomed to doing; she trusts him enough to get her where she needs to be never realizing that this chance encounter just might change her life.
Nobody writes about this time period better than Susan Johnson. Each time I read a book penned by this talented author, AT HER SERVICE included, I am swept away to distant shores where not only am I treated to a tremendously suspenseful historical story, but I get a truly magnificent fairy tale as well. Hugh and Aurore each have their demons and secrets. Hugh is undercover and has a role to fulfill. Aurore just wants to take care of her injured brother. While they have so many challenges to overcome, the strength of emotion and depth of passion makes their struggles worthwhile. I have yet to read such a timeless story.
AT HER SERVICE releases from Brava Kensington in March. I found it highly captivating and deliciously sensuous. A lover of historical romance since I was in high school, I count Susan Johnson as one of my favorite historical authors for reasons that are readily apparent when reading AT HER SERVICE. No one captures the heart of European suspense like Susan Johnson. Simply put, she writes delectable love stories! ***Natasha Smith for Romance Junkies***
engaging historical romance In 1855 Aurore Clement travels to Sevastopol in the Crimea to bring her injured veteran brother back home. She is using a wounded sibling Etienne who allegedly lies in one of the filthy hospitals as a cover for her undercover spying for the French government. Meanwhile in the beleaguered city she meets British Marquis, Hugh D'Abernon, who offers a ride to her to the nearby city after he introduces himself as trader Gazi Maksound to hide his secret service work as an undercover British espionage agent.
Aurore and Hugh desire one another from the first moment they met. That wanting leads to an incredible all night tryst. However, when both are exposed as spies, they flee eventually making it to Paris where he must rely on her to keep him safe, but he also has doubts about trusting her or his feelings for her.
AT HER SERVICE is an engaging historical romance starring two courageous likable star-crossed heroes working as spies for their respective governments. The fast-paced storyline hooks fans from the first fateful February meeting in Sevastopol and never slows down until Paris. The 1914 coda is a perfect ending to a great tale as Susan Johnson provides a powerful mid nineteenth century espionage romantic suspense as only she can.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
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