Love, Lies, and British Spies By Selena Laurence
on Love, Lies, and British Spies
Lies, and British SpiesI was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book on Twitter. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I sat down to read Love, Lies, and British Spies but I was pleasantly surprised! I adored the tie-in to Orpheus and Eurydice as Greek mythology is one of my favorite subjects. Typically I'm not a fan of works that switch back and forth in the timeline, but the flow of the writing enraptured me and I couldn't imagine it being done any other way.
Owen is a sexy spy posing as a singer/songwriter. Eva is newly arrived in London and is quickly snapped up by the handsome spy...even though she's unaware of his profession. Expect all kinds of trouble to ensue when the new bride is captured on their honeymoon.
I definitely recommend this one to contemporary fans. It has a very "True Lies" feel to it. If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I mean. Two thumbs up to the author! I purchased this book expecting a good story. Instead, I received an eviscerated body, a skeleton surely, of what could have been a really good story in the hands of a good writer. The spies in this story are a bad rendition of Get Smart instead of a well researched MI6, which stands for Military Intelligence, NOT Morons Incorporated!! Regardless of what the author intended, readers deserve a better investigated, fact-based depiction of the agency. Instead, we get a bunch of sissies who would best serve as the next Three Stooges. Oh, and the "bad guys"? Yeah, Arabs would not be speaking in English amongst themselves. They are depicted as fumbling oafs, incapable of opening a door.
The writing is unimaginative, cliche, and unoriginal. There is lack of depth and dimension. The reader does not care what happens to the characters. They are insipid, uninspired, colorless, uninteresting, feeble, flat, dull, boring, tedious, tired, unexciting, uninspiring, unimaginative, lifeless, bland, trite, AND they lack description and depth. Where do I start with Eva, the main female character?? She is dumb, unimaginative, a representative of a bygone era for women. The character would make Emily Dickinson cringe. She gives no sign of intelligent life. The best part of the book is when Herb refers to her as "Barbie"! I actually laughed out loud, so kudos to the writer for including this!
I could no longer read this book. When Eva was thinking about re-decorating her kidnapper's lair, I had enough of her stupidity and could not subject myself to any more pain. As a reader, I want something intelligent, even in a love story... especially in a love story! I will be asking for a refund for this lackluster "rubbish" and get myself a latte instead! What a fun read! The action, the deception, the love – all intertwined into a story that will keep you ensconced until the very end. And oh, that Owen! I love, love, love him. Talk about sexy. Take an afternoon and read this book – you will still be dreaming of Owen well into the night. Great debut Ms. Laurence!
Note: I was provided an ARC for review as a professional courtesy. No monetary or other compensation was involved. I really wish I could say that I enjoyed this more but I just didn't. I really enjoyed the characters, especially in the beginning. But as the story progressed, I just couldn't get invested in the whole M16 secret agent aspect of it. Then the ending for me was just terrible. No way a certain (evil) someone would behave in that way. Just not at all believable. While I understand this is fiction, for me fiction has to be not quite such a stretch of the imagination, that is, it has to be based in plausibility and reality. For me, this book did not meet that requirement at all. Selena Laurence’s bio says she writes to “help you get away” – in fact, her tagline on www.SelenaLaurence.com is “Escape the Everyday” – and I will attest that she knows how to help you do exactly that. LOVE, LIES AND BRITISH SPIES is everything and more than its catchy title, and despite its label as a “contemporary romance”, it is really much more than that. This novel is a wild ride of intrigue, conflict and suspense - with a fascinating turn of events at the end that will leave its readers hoping for sequels! There is a lot of potential for future stories lines with hero and heroine, Owen and Eva, whose immediate attraction early on is bombarded by challenges, but the reader finds themselves rooting for them all the way. Meanwhile, the action moves at a solid pace, the twists are satisfying, and the story unfolds effortlessly. Overall, LOVE, LIES AND BRITISH SPIES is a wildly enjoyable read for all lovers of spy stories, and the women who love them. I have a strong suspicion we’ll be seeing a lot more from this lovely new author!
What's a spy to do when he takes a wife? That is the question Owen Martin is faced with when the handsome British spy falls in love with American designer Eva Anderson. Unfortunately for our spy, he makes the wrong choice and must overcome the lies he has told to regain the love he once had.
A fast, fun read full of glittering cities and friends with the best of intentions, but the worst of results.
Owen and Eva are wonderfully rich characters that truly deserve each other and their Happily Ever After.
This is a wonderful first novel by Ms Laurence.
There's one word that'll sum this up exactly - cute. This was so basic, I didn't get past chapter 1. In Love, Lies, and British Spies by Selena Laurence, American interior designer Eva Anderson’s engagement went terribly awry, now she has met the man she believes is the man of her dreams, London’s handsome, charming and talented musician Owen Martin. Luckily for her he has also fallen head-over-heals for her.
All seems sun and roses for Owen and Eva, who went on a whirlwind romance and eventually got married. Unfortunately, one day Eva gets kidnapped and is being used to get secret information from Owen. Read More... What happens when a stone-cold spy from MI6 falls for a slightly ditsy American interior designer? Well, adventures, misadventures, and, of course, love! The two protagonists romp and stomp their way across London, Paris and Cairo sounding a bit like Myrna Loy and William Powell in The Thin Man, but without the alcohol and the dog. (Maybe next book, they'll have a dog!) It's a fun, quick read. Fun romp through the lives of Duncan, a man who presents himself as a singer/songwriter but is actually a spy and Eva, a Yank who flees to London after a bad, bad breakup. Of course they fall in love and that's where the complications arise. He has two choices--tell her what he really does for a living and have her squirreled away to protect her from the bad guys or keep her in the dark so she can travel with him. He picks door #2. And of course, it doesn't work out--big time--and they split up.
I won't tell you how they figure out how to
be together--you'll have to read the book to find out. But if you're like me, you'll enjoy getting to know how they do it. I had the pleasure of reading this little gem before its release and it was such a treat!
From the beginning, I was drawn into Owen and Eva's world and their romance and I didn't want to put the book down. Owen is charming, sexy, and super capable. Eva is sweet but sassy, strong but lovable. I loved them as a couple and I really enjoyed the surprise twist.
I am always impressed when an author can make the heroine's problem with the hero seem insurmountable but then bring them back together in a believable way.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable story--love with a little kick.
Owen is a sexy spy posing as a singer/songwriter. Eva is newly arrived in London and is quickly snapped up by the handsome spy...even though she's unaware of his profession. Expect all kinds of trouble to ensue when the new bride is captured on their honeymoon.
I definitely recommend this one to contemporary fans. It has a very "True Lies" feel to it. If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I mean. Two thumbs up to the author! I purchased this book expecting a good story. Instead, I received an eviscerated body, a skeleton surely, of what could have been a really good story in the hands of a good writer. The spies in this story are a bad rendition of Get Smart instead of a well researched MI6, which stands for Military Intelligence, NOT Morons Incorporated!! Regardless of what the author intended, readers deserve a better investigated, fact-based depiction of the agency. Instead, we get a bunch of sissies who would best serve as the next Three Stooges. Oh, and the "bad guys"? Yeah, Arabs would not be speaking in English amongst themselves. They are depicted as fumbling oafs, incapable of opening a door.
The writing is unimaginative, cliche, and unoriginal. There is lack of depth and dimension. The reader does not care what happens to the characters. They are insipid, uninspired, colorless, uninteresting, feeble, flat, dull, boring, tedious, tired, unexciting, uninspiring, unimaginative, lifeless, bland, trite, AND they lack description and depth. Where do I start with Eva, the main female character?? She is dumb, unimaginative, a representative of a bygone era for women. The character would make Emily Dickinson cringe. She gives no sign of intelligent life. The best part of the book is when Herb refers to her as "Barbie"! I actually laughed out loud, so kudos to the writer for including this!
I could no longer read this book. When Eva was thinking about re-decorating her kidnapper's lair, I had enough of her stupidity and could not subject myself to any more pain. As a reader, I want something intelligent, even in a love story... especially in a love story! I will be asking for a refund for this lackluster "rubbish" and get myself a latte instead! What a fun read! The action, the deception, the love – all intertwined into a story that will keep you ensconced until the very end. And oh, that Owen! I love, love, love him. Talk about sexy. Take an afternoon and read this book – you will still be dreaming of Owen well into the night. Great debut Ms. Laurence!
Note: I was provided an ARC for review as a professional courtesy. No monetary or other compensation was involved. I really wish I could say that I enjoyed this more but I just didn't. I really enjoyed the characters, especially in the beginning. But as the story progressed, I just couldn't get invested in the whole M16 secret agent aspect of it. Then the ending for me was just terrible. No way a certain (evil) someone would behave in that way. Just not at all believable. While I understand this is fiction, for me fiction has to be not quite such a stretch of the imagination, that is, it has to be based in plausibility and reality. For me, this book did not meet that requirement at all. Selena Laurence’s bio says she writes to “help you get away” – in fact, her tagline on www.SelenaLaurence.com is “Escape the Everyday” – and I will attest that she knows how to help you do exactly that. LOVE, LIES AND BRITISH SPIES is everything and more than its catchy title, and despite its label as a “contemporary romance”, it is really much more than that. This novel is a wild ride of intrigue, conflict and suspense - with a fascinating turn of events at the end that will leave its readers hoping for sequels! There is a lot of potential for future stories lines with hero and heroine, Owen and Eva, whose immediate attraction early on is bombarded by challenges, but the reader finds themselves rooting for them all the way. Meanwhile, the action moves at a solid pace, the twists are satisfying, and the story unfolds effortlessly. Overall, LOVE, LIES AND BRITISH SPIES is a wildly enjoyable read for all lovers of spy stories, and the women who love them. I have a strong suspicion we’ll be seeing a lot more from this lovely new author!
What's a spy to do when he takes a wife? That is the question Owen Martin is faced with when the handsome British spy falls in love with American designer Eva Anderson. Unfortunately for our spy, he makes the wrong choice and must overcome the lies he has told to regain the love he once had.
A fast, fun read full of glittering cities and friends with the best of intentions, but the worst of results.
Owen and Eva are wonderfully rich characters that truly deserve each other and their Happily Ever After.
This is a wonderful first novel by Ms Laurence.
There's one word that'll sum this up exactly - cute. This was so basic, I didn't get past chapter 1. In Love, Lies, and British Spies by Selena Laurence, American interior designer Eva Anderson’s engagement went terribly awry, now she has met the man she believes is the man of her dreams, London’s handsome, charming and talented musician Owen Martin. Luckily for her he has also fallen head-over-heals for her.
All seems sun and roses for Owen and Eva, who went on a whirlwind romance and eventually got married. Unfortunately, one day Eva gets kidnapped and is being used to get secret information from Owen. Read More... What happens when a stone-cold spy from MI6 falls for a slightly ditsy American interior designer? Well, adventures, misadventures, and, of course, love! The two protagonists romp and stomp their way across London, Paris and Cairo sounding a bit like Myrna Loy and William Powell in The Thin Man, but without the alcohol and the dog. (Maybe next book, they'll have a dog!) It's a fun, quick read. Fun romp through the lives of Duncan, a man who presents himself as a singer/songwriter but is actually a spy and Eva, a Yank who flees to London after a bad, bad breakup. Of course they fall in love and that's where the complications arise. He has two choices--tell her what he really does for a living and have her squirreled away to protect her from the bad guys or keep her in the dark so she can travel with him. He picks door #2. And of course, it doesn't work out--big time--and they split up.
I won't tell you how they figure out how to
be together--you'll have to read the book to find out. But if you're like me, you'll enjoy getting to know how they do it. I had the pleasure of reading this little gem before its release and it was such a treat!
From the beginning, I was drawn into Owen and Eva's world and their romance and I didn't want to put the book down. Owen is charming, sexy, and super capable. Eva is sweet but sassy, strong but lovable. I loved them as a couple and I really enjoyed the surprise twist.
I am always impressed when an author can make the heroine's problem with the hero seem insurmountable but then bring them back together in a believable way.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable story--love with a little kick.
Selena Laurence