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Spy in the Ton #3
A Dance With Seduction
Vivienne Le Fleur is one of London’s most sought after opera dancer and one of England’s best weapons: the spy known as the Flower. When a French agent pressures her to change allegiance by abducting her sister, Vivienne is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who doesn’t want her.
Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...
Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...
408 pages, ebook
First published July 14, 2017
About the author
Alyssa Alexander
10 books253 followersHistorical romantic suspense writer with an addiction to good food, good books, sleep and yoga.
Not necessarily in that order.
Not necessarily in that order.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 2, 2017
I've given this a B at AAR.
It’s been a few years since I’ve seen a new novel from Alyssa Alexander, so I eagerly pounced on A Dance with Seduction, which, while released by a different publisher, is a continuation of her A Spy in the Ton series. I enjoyed her last book, a tightly written, sexy historical thriller and looked forward to more of the same. The plot – which pairs a female British spy with a bookish former code-breaker (I do love a nerdy hero!) – is intriguing and well put-together, and sees our intrepid heroine trying to thwart the attempts of a dangerous French spy to turn her into a double agent and involve her in a treasonous assassination plot. It’s a good read, but didn’t quite meet my expectations which, I admit, were high based on how much I’d enjoyed her previous book, In Bed with a Spy.
Vivienne La Fleur – the Flower – was recruited to a life of espionage when she was little more than a girl, and even though the Napoleonic Wars have ended, she continues to work for the British government at the direction of her ‘commander’ or handler, Lord Wycomb. Her public persona is that of one of London’s finest opera dancers, and as Wycomb’s mistress, but while she does live as a kept woman, he does not share her bed – although she suspects he would like to.
During the war, Vivienne was frequently in contact with Maximillian Westwood, the country’s top code-breaker. When the war ended, he retired from government service and now puts his facility with something like eleven different languages to use by working as a translator. He might be the scion of an aristocratic family, but as a younger son, he has to make his own way and his own living, which he does by translating documents, books and whatever else comes his way. He’s done with secret codes and espionage but it seems that secret codes and espionage aren’t done with him when the Flower pays him a late night visit and asks him to decode a short message for her.
Maximillian – who thinks Max is a ridiculous appellation – has no desire to become entangled with secrets and intrigue once again, and points out that he no longer works for government spymasters. But Vivienne explains that this is something personal, and clearly, the message is of some importance to her, so he agrees and tells her to come back in the morning.
The code is complicated, but presents no real problem for Maximillian apart from the final symbol, which is something like an Egyptian hieroglyph but isn’t – and which is oddly familiar. Disgruntled because he can’t place it, he tells Vivienne that he hasn’t been able to completely finish the work, but she isn’t concerned. The message is clear, and while she doesn’t care to enlighten Maximillian as to the signatory, she knows all too well who it’s from – an elusive, ruthless French agent known as the Vulture – and the instructions contained in the note are telling her to steal a document from an Englishman… and deliver it to a Frenchman.
Vivienne is chilled to the bone, because she knows what this means. The Vulture wants her to work against the British, probably to become a double agent, but she is determined to resist – until her younger sister, Anne, is abducted, which changes everything. Vivienne had kept the existence of her sibling a secret, making it seem as though she was nothing more than a maid in her household to try to prevent Anne being used as leverage against her. Somehow, the Vulture has discovered the truth and Vivienne is distraught. Frantic to discover her sister’s whereabouts, Vivienne risks everything, walking a tightrope between espionage and treason; between trying to make it seem as though she is co-operating with the enemy while at the same time scheming to bring him down. She has become so used to relying on herself and herself alone, that Vivienne doesn’t even tell Maximillian the whole truth. She lets him believe she is concerned for a girl in her employ who has gone missing, his insistence on helping her, standing by her and trusting her to know what she’s doing just adding to the burden of guilt she already carries for failing to keep her sister safe.
I enjoyed the pairing of the resourceful spy with the rather grumpy scholar. Maximillian is an endearing beta hero who really steps up to the plate when he realises Vivienne is in trouble, despite the fact that he’s unfamiliar with her world of shady characters, late night break-ins and shadowy double-dealing. He never talks down to her or treats her as anything less than the highly competent operative that she is; in fact, he’s the only man who really sees Vivienne as anything other than the exquisitely beautiful dancer, the delicate ‘flower’ she pretends to be. It’s obvious from the start that he is attracted to Vivienne, but also that he has firmly quashed those feelings because he believes her to be under the protection of another man, while Vivienne has to maintain the appearance of being another man’s mistress and also feels that she can’t allow herself to be distracted by her growing attachment to Maximillian, no matter that he’s handsome, kind and honourable – and that he refuses to let her to push him away.
Vivienne has long believed that her line of work is incompatible with relationships, and continues to think that, but she’s never wanted a man as much as she wants Maximillian and decides at last that while there’s no ‘forever’ in their future, they can at least enjoy each other for a while. There’s a nice frisson of sexual tension between the pair which eventually translates into some sensual kisses and love scenes, but reality intrudes when the Vulture attempts to force Vivienne’s hand and Maximillian realises how little she has trusted him.
Ms. Alexander has penned an entertaining story and created a couple of attractive protagonists and a strongly drawn secondary cast, but Vivienne’s failure to confide in Maximillian – who repeatedly shows himself to be trustworthy and to have her best interests at heart – goes on for too long. This becomes frustrating and sometimes makes her difficult to like, although her inner conflicts – her need to protect her sister, and her doubts as to who the real person is beneath the spy – are well expressed. The writing is strong, although I can’t help feeling that the editor should have picked up and eliminated the majority of the constant references to Vivienne’s ‘lithe dancer’s body’ or ‘strong dancer’s legs’ or ‘dancer’s grace’ – honestly, it got to the stage when it seemed there was mention of her profession on every page and it became very distracting. I also hope that ‘Carleton House’ will have been corrected to ‘Carlton House’ in the finished product (I read an advance copy), an error which jumped out at me every time I read it.
Overall however, I’m happy to recommend A Dance with Seduction to others. It’s well-written and well-conceived and I’m pleased that Ms. Alexander has re-surfaced and am looking forward to reading more of her work.
It’s been a few years since I’ve seen a new novel from Alyssa Alexander, so I eagerly pounced on A Dance with Seduction, which, while released by a different publisher, is a continuation of her A Spy in the Ton series. I enjoyed her last book, a tightly written, sexy historical thriller and looked forward to more of the same. The plot – which pairs a female British spy with a bookish former code-breaker (I do love a nerdy hero!) – is intriguing and well put-together, and sees our intrepid heroine trying to thwart the attempts of a dangerous French spy to turn her into a double agent and involve her in a treasonous assassination plot. It’s a good read, but didn’t quite meet my expectations which, I admit, were high based on how much I’d enjoyed her previous book, In Bed with a Spy.
Vivienne La Fleur – the Flower – was recruited to a life of espionage when she was little more than a girl, and even though the Napoleonic Wars have ended, she continues to work for the British government at the direction of her ‘commander’ or handler, Lord Wycomb. Her public persona is that of one of London’s finest opera dancers, and as Wycomb’s mistress, but while she does live as a kept woman, he does not share her bed – although she suspects he would like to.
During the war, Vivienne was frequently in contact with Maximillian Westwood, the country’s top code-breaker. When the war ended, he retired from government service and now puts his facility with something like eleven different languages to use by working as a translator. He might be the scion of an aristocratic family, but as a younger son, he has to make his own way and his own living, which he does by translating documents, books and whatever else comes his way. He’s done with secret codes and espionage but it seems that secret codes and espionage aren’t done with him when the Flower pays him a late night visit and asks him to decode a short message for her.
Maximillian – who thinks Max is a ridiculous appellation – has no desire to become entangled with secrets and intrigue once again, and points out that he no longer works for government spymasters. But Vivienne explains that this is something personal, and clearly, the message is of some importance to her, so he agrees and tells her to come back in the morning.
The code is complicated, but presents no real problem for Maximillian apart from the final symbol, which is something like an Egyptian hieroglyph but isn’t – and which is oddly familiar. Disgruntled because he can’t place it, he tells Vivienne that he hasn’t been able to completely finish the work, but she isn’t concerned. The message is clear, and while she doesn’t care to enlighten Maximillian as to the signatory, she knows all too well who it’s from – an elusive, ruthless French agent known as the Vulture – and the instructions contained in the note are telling her to steal a document from an Englishman… and deliver it to a Frenchman.
Vivienne is chilled to the bone, because she knows what this means. The Vulture wants her to work against the British, probably to become a double agent, but she is determined to resist – until her younger sister, Anne, is abducted, which changes everything. Vivienne had kept the existence of her sibling a secret, making it seem as though she was nothing more than a maid in her household to try to prevent Anne being used as leverage against her. Somehow, the Vulture has discovered the truth and Vivienne is distraught. Frantic to discover her sister’s whereabouts, Vivienne risks everything, walking a tightrope between espionage and treason; between trying to make it seem as though she is co-operating with the enemy while at the same time scheming to bring him down. She has become so used to relying on herself and herself alone, that Vivienne doesn’t even tell Maximillian the whole truth. She lets him believe she is concerned for a girl in her employ who has gone missing, his insistence on helping her, standing by her and trusting her to know what she’s doing just adding to the burden of guilt she already carries for failing to keep her sister safe.
I enjoyed the pairing of the resourceful spy with the rather grumpy scholar. Maximillian is an endearing beta hero who really steps up to the plate when he realises Vivienne is in trouble, despite the fact that he’s unfamiliar with her world of shady characters, late night break-ins and shadowy double-dealing. He never talks down to her or treats her as anything less than the highly competent operative that she is; in fact, he’s the only man who really sees Vivienne as anything other than the exquisitely beautiful dancer, the delicate ‘flower’ she pretends to be. It’s obvious from the start that he is attracted to Vivienne, but also that he has firmly quashed those feelings because he believes her to be under the protection of another man, while Vivienne has to maintain the appearance of being another man’s mistress and also feels that she can’t allow herself to be distracted by her growing attachment to Maximillian, no matter that he’s handsome, kind and honourable – and that he refuses to let her to push him away.
Vivienne has long believed that her line of work is incompatible with relationships, and continues to think that, but she’s never wanted a man as much as she wants Maximillian and decides at last that while there’s no ‘forever’ in their future, they can at least enjoy each other for a while. There’s a nice frisson of sexual tension between the pair which eventually translates into some sensual kisses and love scenes, but reality intrudes when the Vulture attempts to force Vivienne’s hand and Maximillian realises how little she has trusted him.
Ms. Alexander has penned an entertaining story and created a couple of attractive protagonists and a strongly drawn secondary cast, but Vivienne’s failure to confide in Maximillian – who repeatedly shows himself to be trustworthy and to have her best interests at heart – goes on for too long. This becomes frustrating and sometimes makes her difficult to like, although her inner conflicts – her need to protect her sister, and her doubts as to who the real person is beneath the spy – are well expressed. The writing is strong, although I can’t help feeling that the editor should have picked up and eliminated the majority of the constant references to Vivienne’s ‘lithe dancer’s body’ or ‘strong dancer’s legs’ or ‘dancer’s grace’ – honestly, it got to the stage when it seemed there was mention of her profession on every page and it became very distracting. I also hope that ‘Carleton House’ will have been corrected to ‘Carlton House’ in the finished product (I read an advance copy), an error which jumped out at me every time I read it.
Overall however, I’m happy to recommend A Dance with Seduction to others. It’s well-written and well-conceived and I’m pleased that Ms. Alexander has re-surfaced and am looking forward to reading more of her work.
July 11, 2017
Series: A Spy In The Ton #3
Publication Date: 07/24/17
Rating is actually 3.5 Stars
This is my first book by Alyssa Alexander. After looking at reviews of the other books in this series, I may go back and read them.
I seem to be all over the place with this book. I love spy stories and I think code-breakers are some of the unsung heroes of war. This book has both and the premise of the story was a good one. I just felt that it frequently moved too slowly.
Maximilian Westwood is a second son who makes his living doing translations in the several languages he speaks. He is also a retired code-breaker for the crown. He is taciturn, growly, frowning and totally engrossed in his translations. Max is the most honorable man you could ever want to meet. That is his nature and it is also to contrast his disreputable older brother.
Vivienne Le Fleur is a British spy. She has been trained since she was a child in all of the skills to become the consummate spy. She is superb with all weapons – pistols, knives, swords, etc. The Flower is an opera dancer and the mistress of Henri. She is also totally immersed in the persona she had to adopt in order to facilitate her spying. She is so immersed that she no longer knows where that persona ends and where the real ‘her’ begins.
Henri is the handler for Vivienne, The Flower, and I won’t say much about him other than to say that he’s a real jerk.
A French spymaster known as The Vulture wants to recruit the Flower and turn her into a double agent by any means – fair or foul – mostly foul. When she won’t turn, he kidnaps her sister to force her to do her bidding.
Flower worked with Max when he was a government code-breaker and she trusted him – at least as much as she trusted anyone. So, when she needed to have the Vulture’s coded messages deciphered, she went to him. They end up working together to solve the mystery.
What I really didn’t like really didn’t have much to do with the story – Max’s brother was really detestable and I would have loved it if something irreversible had happened to him. He could die or he could go insane or . . . Well, I just didn’t care, but it would have been nice for Max to take over the title or at least the management of the estate.
I also didn’t like that there was no real, lasting punishment for Henri. Somebody other than the Flower should have taken him on!
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 07/24/17
Rating is actually 3.5 Stars
This is my first book by Alyssa Alexander. After looking at reviews of the other books in this series, I may go back and read them.
I seem to be all over the place with this book. I love spy stories and I think code-breakers are some of the unsung heroes of war. This book has both and the premise of the story was a good one. I just felt that it frequently moved too slowly.
Maximilian Westwood is a second son who makes his living doing translations in the several languages he speaks. He is also a retired code-breaker for the crown. He is taciturn, growly, frowning and totally engrossed in his translations. Max is the most honorable man you could ever want to meet. That is his nature and it is also to contrast his disreputable older brother.
Vivienne Le Fleur is a British spy. She has been trained since she was a child in all of the skills to become the consummate spy. She is superb with all weapons – pistols, knives, swords, etc. The Flower is an opera dancer and the mistress of Henri. She is also totally immersed in the persona she had to adopt in order to facilitate her spying. She is so immersed that she no longer knows where that persona ends and where the real ‘her’ begins.
Henri is the handler for Vivienne, The Flower, and I won’t say much about him other than to say that he’s a real jerk.
A French spymaster known as The Vulture wants to recruit the Flower and turn her into a double agent by any means – fair or foul – mostly foul. When she won’t turn, he kidnaps her sister to force her to do her bidding.
Flower worked with Max when he was a government code-breaker and she trusted him – at least as much as she trusted anyone. So, when she needed to have the Vulture’s coded messages deciphered, she went to him. They end up working together to solve the mystery.
What I really didn’t like really didn’t have much to do with the story – Max’s brother was really detestable and I would have loved it if something irreversible had happened to him. He could die or he could go insane or . . . Well, I just didn’t care, but it would have been nice for Max to take over the title or at least the management of the estate.
I also didn’t like that there was no real, lasting punishment for Henri. Somebody other than the Flower should have taken him on!
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
July 23, 2017
'A Dance with Seduction' by Alyssa Alexander is Book Three in the " A Spy in the Ton". This is the story of Max and Vivienne. I have not yet read the other books, so for me this was a standalone book.
Vivienne is a spy they call Flower...and someone wants her to turn her spying to their purpose. When she refuses they kidnap her younger sister. Vivienne needs help breaking the code they have left her and she turns to Max who at one time they did a job together and she trust him as much as she can trust anyone. Vivienne had to at an early age choose between spying or prison. So she doesn't really know who she is with so many identities she has to play. But she does know she needs her sister back safely at any cost. Max at first isn't wiling to help her it seems but he gets drawn into her world and does try to help. But can these two have a future....it was interesting to see it play out for sure.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Vivienne is a spy they call Flower...and someone wants her to turn her spying to their purpose. When she refuses they kidnap her younger sister. Vivienne needs help breaking the code they have left her and she turns to Max who at one time they did a job together and she trust him as much as she can trust anyone. Vivienne had to at an early age choose between spying or prison. So she doesn't really know who she is with so many identities she has to play. But she does know she needs her sister back safely at any cost. Max at first isn't wiling to help her it seems but he gets drawn into her world and does try to help. But can these two have a future....it was interesting to see it play out for sure.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
http://booklikes.com/blog
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
https://plus.google.com/+SissyHicks
September 18, 2017
Alyssa Alexander returns to her world of spies and intrigues in A Dance With Seduction, matching a code breaker hero with a seductive agent of the crown. It’s a mix of danger, drama and just the right touch of deception to draw readers in.
Vivienne Le Fleur was literally plucked from obscurity to become one of England’s best spies. Hidden in plain sight posing as a courtesan, Vivienne uses her beauty and charms to learn men’s deepest secrets. Throughout the war with Napoleon she was the Home Office’s best weapon, as she could get into places a man couldn’t enter without suspicion. After the war ended, her efforts domestically have been to seek out those who supported the French from England’s shores and uncover their treason. It’s not the life Vivienne would have chosen for herself years before; however continuing to serve gives her the chance to protect her young sister from having to struggle in life as Vivienne did. Unfortunately, however, the illusion of safety is broken when she is contacted by a French agent known as The Vulture who knows about her hidden sister as well as Vivienne’s investigations into certain English nobles. Hoping to turn Vivienne into a double-agent he threatens her sister unless she follows the instructions left in a coded message. Code breaking was never one of the skills than Vivienne mastered but she knows of someone who can easily unlock The Vulture’s secrets.
Maximilian Westwood did his service for King and Country by using his cryptology skills to break French codes during the war and help the Home Office in an administrative role. He was never a field agent and actually disliked dealing with spies and their duplicitous ways. Now the war is over, Max has happily removed himself from the world of spies and returned to an academic life translating texts for paying clients. His world away from political intrigues is interrupted late one evening by the arrival of the beautiful agent he’s known as “The Flower”. Her request that he help her translate a coded message is a seemingly easy task but not one he’s eager to accept as getting involved with her can only spell danger. She assures him it’s a one-time request and he agrees – but when he sees who has sent her the message his senses go on high alerts. The Vulture was one of the greatest threats to England’s spy network in the war and seeing him active again in peacetime could be a precursor to something terrible. Needing to know how Vivienne is involved with a dangerous French spy, Max puts himself directly in her path to get answers.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
Vivienne Le Fleur was literally plucked from obscurity to become one of England’s best spies. Hidden in plain sight posing as a courtesan, Vivienne uses her beauty and charms to learn men’s deepest secrets. Throughout the war with Napoleon she was the Home Office’s best weapon, as she could get into places a man couldn’t enter without suspicion. After the war ended, her efforts domestically have been to seek out those who supported the French from England’s shores and uncover their treason. It’s not the life Vivienne would have chosen for herself years before; however continuing to serve gives her the chance to protect her young sister from having to struggle in life as Vivienne did. Unfortunately, however, the illusion of safety is broken when she is contacted by a French agent known as The Vulture who knows about her hidden sister as well as Vivienne’s investigations into certain English nobles. Hoping to turn Vivienne into a double-agent he threatens her sister unless she follows the instructions left in a coded message. Code breaking was never one of the skills than Vivienne mastered but she knows of someone who can easily unlock The Vulture’s secrets.
Maximilian Westwood did his service for King and Country by using his cryptology skills to break French codes during the war and help the Home Office in an administrative role. He was never a field agent and actually disliked dealing with spies and their duplicitous ways. Now the war is over, Max has happily removed himself from the world of spies and returned to an academic life translating texts for paying clients. His world away from political intrigues is interrupted late one evening by the arrival of the beautiful agent he’s known as “The Flower”. Her request that he help her translate a coded message is a seemingly easy task but not one he’s eager to accept as getting involved with her can only spell danger. She assures him it’s a one-time request and he agrees – but when he sees who has sent her the message his senses go on high alerts. The Vulture was one of the greatest threats to England’s spy network in the war and seeing him active again in peacetime could be a precursor to something terrible. Needing to know how Vivienne is involved with a dangerous French spy, Max puts himself directly in her path to get answers.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
July 18, 2017
Maximilian has retired from code breaking for His Majesty’s Secret Service, he is now a translator. One evening, Vivienne La Fleur, whom Maximilian knows a little, creeps into his study and asks for his help. Vivienne, is officially an opera dancer, but is in fact a spy for the Crown: the Flower. Vivienne’s sister has been abducted as leverage, and Vivienne cannot tell her handler and protector, Henri. What Vivienne knew would be a perilous endeavour soon becomes a matter of life and death.
A DANCE WITH SEDUCTION really is a spy caper, and I found refreshing that Vivienne is a competent spy, and not fumbling her way through her missions. I had no issues pertaining to the plot, but with Vivienne’s story. I could not fathom how a spy, even a couple of centuries ago, could barely read; how come no one noticed, not even her handler. That didn’t work for me, and we know this right from the beginning. But I felt it became even more implausible when we learned Vivienne’s full backstory, and whether I wanted it or not, it deeply affected my appreciation of the book. While it was a fact for artists, I wasn’t too crazy either to have a heroine who is described as a kept woman, although this was satisfactorily explained later on.
Ms. Alexander paints a realistically bleak atmosphere – spying is, after all, done in the shadows – which suits the story, as well as the author’s unadorned writing, there are also lovely period details strewn throughout. I did find Vivienne’s lines of dialogue a bit stilted at times, possibly to convey her French accent, and the same applies to some parts of her story told from her perspective – not her point of view, this book is written in the third person – it felt stiff. Maximilian was a welcome change for a hero: he is not wealthy, he is not an aristocrat; he is more of a Regency geek, and a real gentleman to boot. Vivienne is a fun heroine, capable and kind-hearted, driven, and a believable one, apart from the abovementioned issues, which do not affect the character per se, but the story. Although I found the first sex scene a trifle incongruous, the other ones were very well done. The romance was really nice, especially from Maximilian’s side; the action sequences are terrific: lightning fast and convincing; and I was totally wrong as to the identity of the villain. Now, I have to wonder if there is a book in store for the most intriguing Jones…
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
A DANCE WITH SEDUCTION really is a spy caper, and I found refreshing that Vivienne is a competent spy, and not fumbling her way through her missions. I had no issues pertaining to the plot, but with Vivienne’s story. I could not fathom how a spy, even a couple of centuries ago, could barely read; how come no one noticed, not even her handler. That didn’t work for me, and we know this right from the beginning. But I felt it became even more implausible when we learned Vivienne’s full backstory, and whether I wanted it or not, it deeply affected my appreciation of the book. While it was a fact for artists, I wasn’t too crazy either to have a heroine who is described as a kept woman, although this was satisfactorily explained later on.
Ms. Alexander paints a realistically bleak atmosphere – spying is, after all, done in the shadows – which suits the story, as well as the author’s unadorned writing, there are also lovely period details strewn throughout. I did find Vivienne’s lines of dialogue a bit stilted at times, possibly to convey her French accent, and the same applies to some parts of her story told from her perspective – not her point of view, this book is written in the third person – it felt stiff. Maximilian was a welcome change for a hero: he is not wealthy, he is not an aristocrat; he is more of a Regency geek, and a real gentleman to boot. Vivienne is a fun heroine, capable and kind-hearted, driven, and a believable one, apart from the abovementioned issues, which do not affect the character per se, but the story. Although I found the first sex scene a trifle incongruous, the other ones were very well done. The romance was really nice, especially from Maximilian’s side; the action sequences are terrific: lightning fast and convincing; and I was totally wrong as to the identity of the villain. Now, I have to wonder if there is a book in store for the most intriguing Jones…
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
July 4, 2017
I received this book from net galley for an honest review. Thank you!!
This novel was a good read. It brings together code breakers and spies during an era where trouble is constantly being diverted and manipulated. There is also romance in this story, but there is also much deception.
Vivienne Le Fleur is an opera dance who is also a spy known as the Flower. She had to make a choice as a young girl to commit to this life of espionage. She does her job well. Her handler is also her "protector", but she uses her talents to gather information and steal things as well. When her sister is kidnapped by a man known as the Vulture, she seeks the help of a former code breaker, Maximilian Westwood.
Max knows the Flower, for they have met before when she needed coded deciphered. At first, he refuses to break a code for her, but eventually, he agrees. Max gets pulled into helping Vivienne, but does not know the entire truth of the matter. The both begin working together, both having ties to London society and Prinny. Max and Vivienne are both attracted to each other, but Vivienne does not know who she truly is. After all, she has multiple identities depending what she is needed to do.
As they travel through the opera house, balls, brothels, they get deeper into the underground and the plans of the French spies, who want to use Vivienne skills. Vivienne will do whatever is necessary to save her sister, even if it means lying to all those around her. Max helps her, but wants to know the truth and is deeply hurt when he discovers her lies. When Vivienne is believed to be a double agent, will Max help her or turn her in? Will they find her sister in time or will the Vulture get his way?
This novel was a good read. It brings together code breakers and spies during an era where trouble is constantly being diverted and manipulated. There is also romance in this story, but there is also much deception.
Vivienne Le Fleur is an opera dance who is also a spy known as the Flower. She had to make a choice as a young girl to commit to this life of espionage. She does her job well. Her handler is also her "protector", but she uses her talents to gather information and steal things as well. When her sister is kidnapped by a man known as the Vulture, she seeks the help of a former code breaker, Maximilian Westwood.
Max knows the Flower, for they have met before when she needed coded deciphered. At first, he refuses to break a code for her, but eventually, he agrees. Max gets pulled into helping Vivienne, but does not know the entire truth of the matter. The both begin working together, both having ties to London society and Prinny. Max and Vivienne are both attracted to each other, but Vivienne does not know who she truly is. After all, she has multiple identities depending what she is needed to do.
As they travel through the opera house, balls, brothels, they get deeper into the underground and the plans of the French spies, who want to use Vivienne skills. Vivienne will do whatever is necessary to save her sister, even if it means lying to all those around her. Max helps her, but wants to know the truth and is deeply hurt when he discovers her lies. When Vivienne is believed to be a double agent, will Max help her or turn her in? Will they find her sister in time or will the Vulture get his way?
July 24, 2017
It's another amazing historical fiction novel. It's a historical mystery, Maximilian is a retired code-breaker and now he works privately, translating for his clients. Vivienne is a spy, she working with her handle Henri. She has a younger sister to look after and to protect her sister she is willing to do anything. She doesn't trust anyone, but when she finds herself in trouble she must trust Maximilian. Together they must work together, soon realizing that they are attracted to each other, there is so much more to their working arrangement. Secrecy of utmost importance though and they have to be careful of the 'French Vulture.'
The story is full of mystery, intrigue, and spying. About two unlikely allies who are brought together because of the circumstances and now find it difficult to be apart, it's quite an exciting read.
The story is full of mystery, intrigue, and spying. About two unlikely allies who are brought together because of the circumstances and now find it difficult to be apart, it's quite an exciting read.
January 19, 2022
Caz's review says all the important things about this, though she is more forgiving than I about the heroine's inability to pull her head out of her hindquarters. Instead, Vivienne either sprawls around in flimsy silks or minces through shadowy streets in black, but never thinks of mentioning her problems to any of the people who could Actually, y'know, Help Her. Wuss.
Nominally set in the Regency period--I know this only because the Prince Regent has a walk-on part (actually he sprawls around too). I didn't mind the hero, but any book that takes me a month to finish because I get bored after a chapter is not going to make even the three stars level. YMMV, of course.
Nominally set in the Regency period--I know this only because the Prince Regent has a walk-on part (actually he sprawls around too). I didn't mind the hero, but any book that takes me a month to finish because I get bored after a chapter is not going to make even the three stars level. YMMV, of course.
January 1, 2023
The war with Napoleon may be over, but there is still danger to the British government. Maximilian Westwood is retired from code breaking for the government, but when the young lady known as Mademoiselle La Fleur asks for his help decoding messages, how can he say no. Vivienne dances for the theatre, but lives a secret life as a spy for Britain. A kidnapping leads to more lies, spies and a traitor, as Maximilian becomes more embroiled in the game of spies with the woman he loves. Heat level 3.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
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July 10, 2017
This story wasn't for me. It went too slowly for my taste. I felt that even at 50% in we were getting nowhere- not much has happened. There are spies and kidnapping and other misadventures. I'm sure other people who have more patience than I do would enjoy the story. It is well written and I can picture everything clearly in my head.
July 17, 2017
Great book!!
Vivienne Le Fleur is a woman with many facets like a diamond she's beautiful, strong and fearless. She's also a French opera dancer/spy who will do anything for her family. When her younger sister is abducted by an unsavoury French spy to force her hand in switching sides, she has no choice but to turn to Maximilian Westword. Maximilian is a second son and nothing like his rapscallion brother, she knows she can trust him they have worked together in the past - he's a code breaker and translator - what ensues is a journey for Vivienne to unravel the woman who has been hiding underneath all her personas, the woman who was lost in the game of survival. I loved the way the story evolved enjoyed the banter even though Max was a grumpy sort it was endearing, and their attraction was always simmering while their work brought them closer to unraveling the hidden code. Characters who I didn't care for was Henri I would have liked to see him get his due. Overall this was an excellent/entertaining story very well written with likeable characters.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest unbiased opinion.
Vivienne Le Fleur is a woman with many facets like a diamond she's beautiful, strong and fearless. She's also a French opera dancer/spy who will do anything for her family. When her younger sister is abducted by an unsavoury French spy to force her hand in switching sides, she has no choice but to turn to Maximilian Westword. Maximilian is a second son and nothing like his rapscallion brother, she knows she can trust him they have worked together in the past - he's a code breaker and translator - what ensues is a journey for Vivienne to unravel the woman who has been hiding underneath all her personas, the woman who was lost in the game of survival. I loved the way the story evolved enjoyed the banter even though Max was a grumpy sort it was endearing, and their attraction was always simmering while their work brought them closer to unraveling the hidden code. Characters who I didn't care for was Henri I would have liked to see him get his due. Overall this was an excellent/entertaining story very well written with likeable characters.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest unbiased opinion.
July 14, 2017
I absolutely loved this book! Ms. Alexander has a flair with words that convey such deep emotions without going on and on. I appreciate that as I'm not a fan of authors who keep repeating the same internal dialogue over and over again. This story revolves around Vivienne Le Fleur, a French opera dancer and spy and Maximilian Westword, a second son, who works as a code breaker and translator. These two have a complicated relationship; Maximilian hates mysteries and Vivienne is the biggest mystery he's ever encountered. When Vivienne's sister is kidnapped by an unsavory French spy, she turns to Maximilian for help and that starts a complicated dance of need and want between them. Can they work together long enough to find her sister or will their differences become too much to overcome?
I will definitely be checking out more books in this series. I very much enjoy Ms. Alexander's writing style.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I will definitely be checking out more books in this series. I very much enjoy Ms. Alexander's writing style.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 10, 2017
I find it hard reviewing this book. On the one hand, I absolutely love spy novels. On the other, I was on the fence about Vivienne. I understand her need to try and save her sister and that is the thing that brought me around to caring about her. Maximilian is great in this book. He is a beta hero which I am not normally attracted to but in this he makes it work. The spy story is also very good.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 26, 2017
Maximilian Westwood is a much sort after code-breaker, even now that he's retired. But when the lovely Vivienne La Fleur comes to him because she needs his help in breaking a coded message, he decides to help her, because there's no way he'd turned away a woman in desperate need of his services. However, when Vivienne's sister is kidnapped, the stakes are upped. Will they be able to rescue the young girl without getting themselves in trouble they may not be able to get out of, or will their chance at happy ever after be ripped away due to someone determined to play a dangerous game of cat and mouse that puts their lives at risk?
A story encompassing espionage and romance is definitely going to make me want to read it, as long as the blurb is tempting enough, and this story has a fantastic blurb that matches an equally captivating story that had me hooked from start to finish. The way this story started drew me into this story immediately, as the heroine is good at what she does as a spy and I enjoyed the very first interaction between her and the hero. She'll do anything to convince Maximilian to help. What will it take? Money? A favor?
As for the dialogue, it was intense and so enthralling due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the heroine because of how she became a spy. She didn't have much of a choice, and yet, she's really good at what she does. Seduction. Thieving. Really, any means necessary to get the job done she can manage with flying colors, as long as she has help with the messages she receives because of her condition. Moreover, the heroine is strong and brave and I liked how determined she was when it came to protecting someone she loves. Will she betray all she believes in? I also liked how she let the hero into her life when she's normally used to doing things solo.
While the hero, he's absolutely brilliant, good at breaking codes and I liked how determined he was to help the heroine in any way he could, even knowing that things could get dangerous. I also liked how open and honest he was, and that the heroine who doesn't trust a lot of people, opened up to him when it was palpable that she couldn't continue to keep the secrets she was keeping without things becoming more complicated and dangerous for the heroine, because of the acts she was committing could be seen as a betrayal of her country.
Overall, Ms. Alexander has penned an intriguing and thrilling read in this book where this couple's chemistry was powerful; the romance full of exquisite heat and passion; and the ending had me on the edge-of-my-seat because of the danger closing in on the main characters. Certainly, I was taken by surprise by the identity of the person trying to switch Vivienne's loyalty. Will they come out on top of the bad guys? Will Vivienne be able to save her loved ones? However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, because of the answer Vivienne gives to the hero when it comes to a question he asks her. I would recommend A Dance with Seduction by Alyssa Alexander, if you enjoy Historical Romances encompassing spies, or books by authors Tina Gabrielle, Christi Caldwell, Anna Campbell and Vanessa Kelly.
August 6, 2017
Posted on What I'm Reading
When I saw the cover, it was love at first sight. I love the coloring of the dress, and title sounded intriguing. So, it was a must read. However, when I started to read the start to read, I was a little disappointed. It didn't grab my attention as the cover did. Then I was frustrated with the heroine, because Vivienne was a spy who couldn't read. It never made any sense to me. Plus, her character pissed me off a lot through the book. Even after I arrived at the end I wasn't truly a fan of hers. I actually didn't like how she treated Maximilian. I felt that she used him, and didn't appreciate him. Yet I adore Max. I thought he was fabulous. He truly was a great guy who truly cared for her. Yes, I did like the ending. Yes, it does get a happy ever after.
Had I written my review for A Dance With Seduction when I finished reading it would have focused on what I didn't like a lot more than what I have written so far. After thinking about Vivienne character, I came to realize I felt sorry for her. You probably wondering how I came to this realization. Trust me it wasn't an easy one. Vivienne was trapped, and never really understood until towards the end when her handler's boss says something along the lines, that being a spy is a choice. She basically told him it wasn't a choice, it was either die at the gallows or become a spy, and basically a whore. I didn't think about this until about week later. Vivienne was trapped. She was truly stuck in a life she didn't want to be, but she had to keep her family safe, yet she couldn't. She couldn't trust anyone, even though Max was trying to show that she could trust him. She never felt safe, because of how her handler handle her (yeah, a mouthful there). Honestly, her handler's abuse show up until the end, and that's when it should have clicked that he made her into someone couldn't trust anyone. Kind of heart breaking, yet Max was willing to love her for who she was. Max couldn't truly accept Vivienne until he realized he loved her.
Did I like A Dance With Seduction? I'm still on the fence. Do I appreciate Vivienne's character? Yeah, again it wasn't easy to appreciate her character. Yes, I absolutely adore Max and I couldn't quite understand why he would be with Vivienne. Was A Dance With Seduction a good story? It was written well, and I didn't understand all the things that was happening when I read through, I was focusing on myself. A Dance with Seduction is not going to be for everyone, but it's an interesting read once you get pass all the things that are in this particular story.
Copy provided by Entangled via NetGalley
Rating:
3 1/2 Stars
When I saw the cover, it was love at first sight. I love the coloring of the dress, and title sounded intriguing. So, it was a must read. However, when I started to read the start to read, I was a little disappointed. It didn't grab my attention as the cover did. Then I was frustrated with the heroine, because Vivienne was a spy who couldn't read. It never made any sense to me. Plus, her character pissed me off a lot through the book. Even after I arrived at the end I wasn't truly a fan of hers. I actually didn't like how she treated Maximilian. I felt that she used him, and didn't appreciate him. Yet I adore Max. I thought he was fabulous. He truly was a great guy who truly cared for her. Yes, I did like the ending. Yes, it does get a happy ever after.
Had I written my review for A Dance With Seduction when I finished reading it would have focused on what I didn't like a lot more than what I have written so far. After thinking about Vivienne character, I came to realize I felt sorry for her. You probably wondering how I came to this realization. Trust me it wasn't an easy one. Vivienne was trapped, and never really understood until towards the end when her handler's boss says something along the lines, that being a spy is a choice. She basically told him it wasn't a choice, it was either die at the gallows or become a spy, and basically a whore. I didn't think about this until about week later. Vivienne was trapped. She was truly stuck in a life she didn't want to be, but she had to keep her family safe, yet she couldn't. She couldn't trust anyone, even though Max was trying to show that she could trust him. She never felt safe, because of how her handler handle her (yeah, a mouthful there). Honestly, her handler's abuse show up until the end, and that's when it should have clicked that he made her into someone couldn't trust anyone. Kind of heart breaking, yet Max was willing to love her for who she was. Max couldn't truly accept Vivienne until he realized he loved her.
Did I like A Dance With Seduction? I'm still on the fence. Do I appreciate Vivienne's character? Yeah, again it wasn't easy to appreciate her character. Yes, I absolutely adore Max and I couldn't quite understand why he would be with Vivienne. Was A Dance With Seduction a good story? It was written well, and I didn't understand all the things that was happening when I read through, I was focusing on myself. A Dance with Seduction is not going to be for everyone, but it's an interesting read once you get pass all the things that are in this particular story.
Copy provided by Entangled via NetGalley
Rating:
3 1/2 Stars
December 3, 2017
Publisher's Description:
She was the only code he couldn't break...
Vivienne Le Fleur is one of London’s most sought after opera dancer and one of England’s best weapons: the spy known as the Flower. When a French agent pressures her to change allegiance by abducting her sister, Vivienne is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who doesn’t want her.
Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...
My Thoughts:
This book contains a very descriptive writing style. It is a convoluted tale of espionage, danger and spies galore.
Vivienne Le Fleur a notorious opera dancer is actually an undercover agent known as The Flower
Maximilian Westwood is a retired code breaker who cares nothing for spies or mysteries. When he discovers Vivienne, The Flower, Le Fleur sneaking into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he is ready to toss her out of whatever window she entered through until he finds she needs his help.
When she refused the demands of a French Agent to change allegiance, he kidnapped her sister. Maximilian simply can't refuse a woman who is in trouble.
Will this ex-code breaker and this notorious opera dancer/spy find the missing sister and will their attraction lead to an incomparable love?
Although there are well written and very descriptive parts to this story, I did not care for the storyline. It was maybe too full of the darker side and not infused with enough of the romantic for my taste.
I gave this book 3.25 of 5 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
She was the only code he couldn't break...
Vivienne Le Fleur is one of London’s most sought after opera dancer and one of England’s best weapons: the spy known as the Flower. When a French agent pressures her to change allegiance by abducting her sister, Vivienne is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who doesn’t want her.
Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...
My Thoughts:
This book contains a very descriptive writing style. It is a convoluted tale of espionage, danger and spies galore.
Vivienne Le Fleur a notorious opera dancer is actually an undercover agent known as The Flower
Maximilian Westwood is a retired code breaker who cares nothing for spies or mysteries. When he discovers Vivienne, The Flower, Le Fleur sneaking into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he is ready to toss her out of whatever window she entered through until he finds she needs his help.
When she refused the demands of a French Agent to change allegiance, he kidnapped her sister. Maximilian simply can't refuse a woman who is in trouble.
Will this ex-code breaker and this notorious opera dancer/spy find the missing sister and will their attraction lead to an incomparable love?
Although there are well written and very descriptive parts to this story, I did not care for the storyline. It was maybe too full of the darker side and not infused with enough of the romantic for my taste.
I gave this book 3.25 of 5 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
July 30, 2017
A Dance of Seduction is a book that I enjoyed reading as a result of a phenomenal premise, with suspense, mystery and a good deal of romance. From the start, the book was realistic in regards to both characters and plot. These characteristics along with a refreshing new take on spies made A Dance of Seduction an excellent novel in comparison to other historical mysteries.
Both Vivienne and Maximillian, were fascinating characters to read about. Maximillian, not Max, was a government code-breaker, now a translator in eleven languages and a grumpy book-nerd. Definitely not a characteristic that comes about frequently in book characters. On top of that, he’s a beta hero, meaning that Maximillian never dominants his will over Vivienne. He does not treat her as a delicate flower; he recognizes that she is a survivor. On the other hand, he respects her enough to see through her façade and pushes Vivienne to free herself. Likewise, Maximillian does not make a move on her while she is supposed to be under the protection of another male, however there is still a significant amount of sexual tension.
Vivienne is another character that I came to respect throughout her journey in this book. While she does have trust issues concerning Maximillian, I was happy to see that she worked through it, allowing herself a change at love. Additionally, she was a strong heroine who puts the needs of her sister over her desire for a relationship, strengthening her character. This struggle between the two along with the obstacles Vivienne has to overcome led to a very powerful romance.
Overall, A Dance of Seduction is a 3.5 star read! The beginning of the story was a little slow, but when the plot picked up, it turned into a fantastic romance. The writing drew me, and the plot kept me captivated as they attempt to save Anne and defeat the Vulture. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a historical spy novel and will definitely be reading the previous books in the series!
Thank you to Alyssa Alexander and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Full Review at Wintereadingk
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Both Vivienne and Maximillian, were fascinating characters to read about. Maximillian, not Max, was a government code-breaker, now a translator in eleven languages and a grumpy book-nerd. Definitely not a characteristic that comes about frequently in book characters. On top of that, he’s a beta hero, meaning that Maximillian never dominants his will over Vivienne. He does not treat her as a delicate flower; he recognizes that she is a survivor. On the other hand, he respects her enough to see through her façade and pushes Vivienne to free herself. Likewise, Maximillian does not make a move on her while she is supposed to be under the protection of another male, however there is still a significant amount of sexual tension.
Vivienne is another character that I came to respect throughout her journey in this book. While she does have trust issues concerning Maximillian, I was happy to see that she worked through it, allowing herself a change at love. Additionally, she was a strong heroine who puts the needs of her sister over her desire for a relationship, strengthening her character. This struggle between the two along with the obstacles Vivienne has to overcome led to a very powerful romance.
Overall, A Dance of Seduction is a 3.5 star read! The beginning of the story was a little slow, but when the plot picked up, it turned into a fantastic romance. The writing drew me, and the plot kept me captivated as they attempt to save Anne and defeat the Vulture. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a historical spy novel and will definitely be reading the previous books in the series!
Thank you to Alyssa Alexander and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Full Review at Wintereadingk
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July 14, 2017
3.75 stars
Vivienne Le Fleur’s life is multi-layered an opera dancer, a mistress & the spy known as the Flower. When her sister Anne is abducted by a French spy, the Vulture, Vivienne knows she is being pressured into becoming a double agent is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who sets her pulses racing.
Maximilian Westwood is a second son, retired code breaker who now earns a living deciphering messages & doing translations, he doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities.
A well written story that held my attention all the way through although it took some time for the pace to really get going. The characters are very well portrayed, Vivienne & Maximilian are very likeable, their attraction grows throughout the story & the way he protects her is lovely even though she’s more than capable of looking after herself. There are twists & turns & I was surprised to find out who The Vulture was, I didn’t see that coming & made my enjoyment of the book more intense. Being able to work out the villain early on does cloud my enjoyment. I had 2 disappointments I wish Henri & Max’s brother had had their comeuppances, they truly deserved far more punishment. This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I’ll now certainly read the other books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Vivienne Le Fleur’s life is multi-layered an opera dancer, a mistress & the spy known as the Flower. When her sister Anne is abducted by a French spy, the Vulture, Vivienne knows she is being pressured into becoming a double agent is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who sets her pulses racing.
Maximilian Westwood is a second son, retired code breaker who now earns a living deciphering messages & doing translations, he doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities.
A well written story that held my attention all the way through although it took some time for the pace to really get going. The characters are very well portrayed, Vivienne & Maximilian are very likeable, their attraction grows throughout the story & the way he protects her is lovely even though she’s more than capable of looking after herself. There are twists & turns & I was surprised to find out who The Vulture was, I didn’t see that coming & made my enjoyment of the book more intense. Being able to work out the villain early on does cloud my enjoyment. I had 2 disappointments I wish Henri & Max’s brother had had their comeuppances, they truly deserved far more punishment. This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I’ll now certainly read the other books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 4, 2017
Key Points:
historical fiction
spies and code breakers
kidnappings and misadventures
romance and mystery
Vivienne, a spy who masquerades as an opera dancer, her commander as her "protector". Maximilian, an ex-code breaker and second son, who now works as a translator. Knew each other a bit in the during the war where they both worked for the British government. ..When Vivienne, also known as the Flower, gets a coded message there is only one place she can go. Maximilian at first wants no part of it, but in the end reluctantly agrees to decode the message, a message that basically asks The Flower to become a double agent, when she refuses they kidnap her little sister, to force her hand. She must again and again, ask Maximilian for his help. Before long they are entangled in a web of deceit, treachery and of course romance.
Such an interesting concept for a historical romance novel. It was an intriguing read, even throwing in a bit of mystery. I wanted to give it 4 stars, but the thing is, it just seemed to be so slow in places, but just at the point I was ready to give up it would pick back up, so just be aware that the characters are well written, the history well researched and the plot good, but there are just a lot of lags. Guys I loved that the hero of this book was kind of a beta ya know, he wasn't the Lord, he was a second son making his own way, with an interesting career. And I just loved that the heroine is a thief and opera dancer and not a Lady of the Ton. It just made for a more unusual, detailed and unique story line.
This is the 3rd book in the series, but can be read as a standalone. This was the first book I read by Alyssa Alexander, but I don't think it will be my last.
historical fiction
spies and code breakers
kidnappings and misadventures
romance and mystery
Vivienne, a spy who masquerades as an opera dancer, her commander as her "protector". Maximilian, an ex-code breaker and second son, who now works as a translator. Knew each other a bit in the during the war where they both worked for the British government. ..When Vivienne, also known as the Flower, gets a coded message there is only one place she can go. Maximilian at first wants no part of it, but in the end reluctantly agrees to decode the message, a message that basically asks The Flower to become a double agent, when she refuses they kidnap her little sister, to force her hand. She must again and again, ask Maximilian for his help. Before long they are entangled in a web of deceit, treachery and of course romance.
Such an interesting concept for a historical romance novel. It was an intriguing read, even throwing in a bit of mystery. I wanted to give it 4 stars, but the thing is, it just seemed to be so slow in places, but just at the point I was ready to give up it would pick back up, so just be aware that the characters are well written, the history well researched and the plot good, but there are just a lot of lags. Guys I loved that the hero of this book was kind of a beta ya know, he wasn't the Lord, he was a second son making his own way, with an interesting career. And I just loved that the heroine is a thief and opera dancer and not a Lady of the Ton. It just made for a more unusual, detailed and unique story line.
This is the 3rd book in the series, but can be read as a standalone. This was the first book I read by Alyssa Alexander, but I don't think it will be my last.
August 29, 2017
Maximillan Westwood is a former code breaker who now works with translations. He is loyal to the English government and when he is surprised by a request by Vivienne La Fleur he is hesitant until she agrees to pay his price.
Vivienne La Fleur is a dancer for the opera but also a spy known as The Flower. When she is asked by the spy, the Vulture, to double cross the English government she doesn't want to but when her sister, Anne, is kidnapped she knows she is in trouble.
Seeking help from Maximillan, Vivienne does her best to stay one step ahead of The Vulture and figure out where he is hiding Anne. Will Vivienne be able to rescue Anne before she is accused of treason?
This was an interesting book that kept you involved from the beginning until the end.
The more I learned about Vivienne the more intrigued I was about her. There are certain things that are not revealed until towards the end of the book that blew my mind and I was so impressed at what she was able to accomplish up until that point. Her sister was so important to her yet no one really knew that she was her sister but that link was still taken advantage of by The Vulture. Vivienne is definitely tough and I loved that she kept so many knives on her body.
Maximillian was loyal to the crown but something drew him to Vivienne and he felt a need to protect her. I loved how he got involved to a certain degree but knew he was in over his head with her. He knew that Vivienne was being set up and to a certain degree innocent of what she was being accused of.
The two worked so well together and I am definitely glad that they got together as they were definitely hot together!!
I was definitely surprised at the reveal of The Vulture! Never saw that coming!!
Vivienne La Fleur is a dancer for the opera but also a spy known as The Flower. When she is asked by the spy, the Vulture, to double cross the English government she doesn't want to but when her sister, Anne, is kidnapped she knows she is in trouble.
Seeking help from Maximillan, Vivienne does her best to stay one step ahead of The Vulture and figure out where he is hiding Anne. Will Vivienne be able to rescue Anne before she is accused of treason?
This was an interesting book that kept you involved from the beginning until the end.
The more I learned about Vivienne the more intrigued I was about her. There are certain things that are not revealed until towards the end of the book that blew my mind and I was so impressed at what she was able to accomplish up until that point. Her sister was so important to her yet no one really knew that she was her sister but that link was still taken advantage of by The Vulture. Vivienne is definitely tough and I loved that she kept so many knives on her body.
Maximillian was loyal to the crown but something drew him to Vivienne and he felt a need to protect her. I loved how he got involved to a certain degree but knew he was in over his head with her. He knew that Vivienne was being set up and to a certain degree innocent of what she was being accused of.
The two worked so well together and I am definitely glad that they got together as they were definitely hot together!!
I was definitely surprised at the reveal of The Vulture! Never saw that coming!!
August 16, 2017
IT IS WEIRD THAT I FIND THIS WILL BE A MUCH BETTER MOVIE THAN A STORYBOOK. WHILE I LIKE THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS, THERE WAS JUST A NOVELTY ABOUT IT THAT DIDNT INTRIGUE ME.
OUR HERO is a man who skirts around the fringes of espionage, government secrecy and political war - a Code Breaker. I can imagine he's a rather fine, sturdy looking man who looks at life a little too seriously and never haves fun, but that doesn't mean he isn't a MAN. The only woman who vexes him is the Flower, a beautiful spy who is not quite French, not quite British. He is extremely attuned to her, denying his attraction yet when she comes looking for his help, eventually he gets swept away in her dangerous web of possible treason.
OUR HEROINE was an orphan along with her sister, until she was picked up by some people and trained to become a spy for the British government known as the Flower. Dancing, acting, slipping secrets and stealing important documents, she knows all the tricks of her traits, everything except falling in love - we all know that is the downfall of every spy. When she receives a coded message from the enemy 'Vulture' she pays our hero to decode it for her, revealing that she may have to turn traitor against the crown just to save her sister. Made a pawn in a political game, she is torn between two loyalties but she doesn't hesitate to choose her family, eventually falling for the impossible hero who helps her while dogging her every footstep.
OVERALL the characters were pleasant....but as I said there was a note of predictability about it that I didn't find myself enjoying it like most readers. Tis a pity really.
OUR HERO is a man who skirts around the fringes of espionage, government secrecy and political war - a Code Breaker. I can imagine he's a rather fine, sturdy looking man who looks at life a little too seriously and never haves fun, but that doesn't mean he isn't a MAN. The only woman who vexes him is the Flower, a beautiful spy who is not quite French, not quite British. He is extremely attuned to her, denying his attraction yet when she comes looking for his help, eventually he gets swept away in her dangerous web of possible treason.
OUR HEROINE was an orphan along with her sister, until she was picked up by some people and trained to become a spy for the British government known as the Flower. Dancing, acting, slipping secrets and stealing important documents, she knows all the tricks of her traits, everything except falling in love - we all know that is the downfall of every spy. When she receives a coded message from the enemy 'Vulture' she pays our hero to decode it for her, revealing that she may have to turn traitor against the crown just to save her sister. Made a pawn in a political game, she is torn between two loyalties but she doesn't hesitate to choose her family, eventually falling for the impossible hero who helps her while dogging her every footstep.
OVERALL the characters were pleasant....but as I said there was a note of predictability about it that I didn't find myself enjoying it like most readers. Tis a pity really.
July 24, 2017
My favourite kind of hero. Max is intelligent – fluent in many languages (he admits to himself that Persian is a rather difficult language to master!) and to top if off the best code breaker in all of England. The kind of man who has no patience for the frivolity of the ton. The second son, while not impecunious, neither is he wealthy but makes his own way with his translation work. Hard working (there is an amusing part in the book when he tells himself to ‘relax” then finds himself totally at odds trying to figure out how to) and a perfect gentleman. He treats all women with respect & is the total opposite of his profligate of a brother. Even knowing how Vivienne is a competent spy, all his protective instincts rush to the fore when he thinks she is in danger.
Vivienne is a pretty kick ass heroine yet as the story progressed, one who is amazingly vulnerable & who wonders what has happened to the real person she once was after submersing herself in the persona of a spy & her opera dancer alter ego. Trained as a master spy, she amazingly competent and smart.
The depth of the 2 characters was amazing & I felt so much for both of them as the story progressed. Little inter sprinklings of humour, wonderful deft touches of poignancy in the romance & the most beautiful connection between Maximilian & Vivienne.
While the romance is wonderfully written, the plot and storyline is equally good. Fast paced and believable. A story that kept me glued to the pages till the end. Highly recommended.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Vivienne is a pretty kick ass heroine yet as the story progressed, one who is amazingly vulnerable & who wonders what has happened to the real person she once was after submersing herself in the persona of a spy & her opera dancer alter ego. Trained as a master spy, she amazingly competent and smart.
The depth of the 2 characters was amazing & I felt so much for both of them as the story progressed. Little inter sprinklings of humour, wonderful deft touches of poignancy in the romance & the most beautiful connection between Maximilian & Vivienne.
While the romance is wonderfully written, the plot and storyline is equally good. Fast paced and believable. A story that kept me glued to the pages till the end. Highly recommended.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
July 24, 2017
3.5-4 stars.
Well, this was fun.
I don’t read that much HR, but this one was right up my alley.
I LOVED Vivienne, such a kick ass girl in such a male-dominant world. I loved her fierce side, yet I also liked seeing her vulnerable and softer. I mean, underneath her tough exterior there WAS a woman who longed for someone to help her carry the weight of the world. ‘Cause boy, did this girl have responsibilities or what, constantly being pulled in every direction. I felt so bad for her, constantly on guard, never a second of rest.
And then enters Maximilian, a man with a tough exterior as well, but that in the end became Vivienne’s haven. I liked these two working together, they complemented each other perfectly, and you could tell they were a kick ass duo when they needed to.
I like the suspense of the story, the mysteries and the action in between. There’s also romance, of course, and I enjoyed watching them fall, even while denying themselves. I liked the pace, and I also felt there wasn’t an overload of details showing us this time period.
It was a fun story mixing historical, spies, intrigue and romance.
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
Well, this was fun.
I don’t read that much HR, but this one was right up my alley.
I LOVED Vivienne, such a kick ass girl in such a male-dominant world. I loved her fierce side, yet I also liked seeing her vulnerable and softer. I mean, underneath her tough exterior there WAS a woman who longed for someone to help her carry the weight of the world. ‘Cause boy, did this girl have responsibilities or what, constantly being pulled in every direction. I felt so bad for her, constantly on guard, never a second of rest.
And then enters Maximilian, a man with a tough exterior as well, but that in the end became Vivienne’s haven. I liked these two working together, they complemented each other perfectly, and you could tell they were a kick ass duo when they needed to.
I like the suspense of the story, the mysteries and the action in between. There’s also romance, of course, and I enjoyed watching them fall, even while denying themselves. I liked the pace, and I also felt there wasn’t an overload of details showing us this time period.
It was a fun story mixing historical, spies, intrigue and romance.
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
July 22, 2017
A Dance with Seduction by Alyssa Alexander
A Spy in the Ton #1
Given the choice between prison, hanging and becoming a spy – which would you choose?
If your younger sister was kidnapped and her life threatened to force you to become a double spy – what would you do?
If you had a coded document needing to be deciphered - who would you go to?
Faced with such questions and not knowing which way to turn was not easy for “The Flower” but her first stop was with code breaker Maximilian Westwood. After that all bets were off as thief, spy and dancer, Vivenne Le Fleur, set out to find her sister and do the best that she could to do right by England. Max does step in to help out from time to time and in the process the two learn more about one another, begin to care for each other and eventually come to an understanding they – and their country – can live with.
Fun story and interesting read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out and would like to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
A Spy in the Ton #1
Given the choice between prison, hanging and becoming a spy – which would you choose?
If your younger sister was kidnapped and her life threatened to force you to become a double spy – what would you do?
If you had a coded document needing to be deciphered - who would you go to?
Faced with such questions and not knowing which way to turn was not easy for “The Flower” but her first stop was with code breaker Maximilian Westwood. After that all bets were off as thief, spy and dancer, Vivenne Le Fleur, set out to find her sister and do the best that she could to do right by England. Max does step in to help out from time to time and in the process the two learn more about one another, begin to care for each other and eventually come to an understanding they – and their country – can live with.
Fun story and interesting read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out and would like to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
December 23, 2021
In the third book of the series, ‘Spy in the Ton’ Vivienne Le Fleur known as ‘The Flower’, with her beauty and mystique, is able to uncover secrets in her role as a spy for the English. Yet when the Napoleonic war ends, Vivienne must do all that she can to protect her young sister. However, when she is contacted by The Vulture, a French agent, who threatens her sister’s life unless she spies for the French, she turns to Maximilian Westwood, a code breaker to help her reveal the coded messages she receives. Max soon finds himself in danger, as he endeavours to uncover her secrets.
The relationship between Max and Vivienne seems unlikely. Yet as they spend more time together, the fragility behind the tough exterior of Vivienne becomes apparent, whilst the quiet strength of Max seems perfectly balanced to her, making for a beautiful romance. This is a story full of action and intrigue which blends in perfectly with this intense love story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The relationship between Max and Vivienne seems unlikely. Yet as they spend more time together, the fragility behind the tough exterior of Vivienne becomes apparent, whilst the quiet strength of Max seems perfectly balanced to her, making for a beautiful romance. This is a story full of action and intrigue which blends in perfectly with this intense love story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 8, 2018
Vivienne Le Fleur is one of London’s most sought after opera dancer and one of England’s best weapons: the spy known as the Flower. When a French agent pressures her to change allegiance by abducting her sister, Vivienne is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who doesn’t want her.
Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...
I loved Vivienne's spirit and her interactions with Westwood.
Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...
I loved Vivienne's spirit and her interactions with Westwood.
August 8, 2017
Not your typical spy meets love happily ever after romance. A Dance with Seduction has detailed complex characters. Flower, a spy, dancer, sister, forced into a world of intrigue to discover she thrives in this world. Maxmiliian (love this name) ex-soldier/codebreaker now translation expert. When a spy needs a code breaker to decipher a code after her (secret) sister is abducted could something more develop. Flower's whole existence is based on lies so is she a spy? a dancer? English? French? Max was out of this life but finds himself back in beside an alluring woman-but who is she? I really loved Max and his strong principles. Vivienne is an interesting and extremely complex character who at many times I felt for and felt annoyed at. The secondary characters are entertaining and interestingly woven in. It is a well done romantic intrigue that left me shocked at the culprit. A good read.
July 21, 2017
Mademoiselle Vivienne LaFleur is a spy, but for England not France. Her cover is as an opera dancer and her protector is her commander. Unfortunately for her someone else has discovered who she is and this puts her and her family in grave danger.
Maximilian Westwood is a translator now, but was a code breaker during the war. He has decoded messages for the Flower many times. She fascinates and confuses him.
This is a wonderful , intrigue filled story. Our heroine is a strong and brave young woman with a huge heart and sticky fingers. Our hero is a man who likes all to be in order and everyone to act honorably.
There is humour, romance and lots of action.
It is part of a series but easily read as a stand alone. I will definitely be looking for the others in the series. I loved it.
Maximilian Westwood is a translator now, but was a code breaker during the war. He has decoded messages for the Flower many times. She fascinates and confuses him.
This is a wonderful , intrigue filled story. Our heroine is a strong and brave young woman with a huge heart and sticky fingers. Our hero is a man who likes all to be in order and everyone to act honorably.
There is humour, romance and lots of action.
It is part of a series but easily read as a stand alone. I will definitely be looking for the others in the series. I loved it.
July 23, 2017
A definite buy buy buy book. Arguably a five star however, due to some little quirks I went four.
This was a spy story romance. one that actually caught my attention and held it through out the story. I loved all the characters and the way the plot unfolded. I would of wished for a faster pace at times it seemed like it dragged. On the other hand, it is undoubtedly a good plot line and well written to keep your attention. Just as I got irritated at the pace it picked up again. All in all it is a book worth reading just keep in mind at times it will lag a little. I will keep my eyes on this author for I expect even greater from her in the future. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom
This was a spy story romance. one that actually caught my attention and held it through out the story. I loved all the characters and the way the plot unfolded. I would of wished for a faster pace at times it seemed like it dragged. On the other hand, it is undoubtedly a good plot line and well written to keep your attention. Just as I got irritated at the pace it picked up again. All in all it is a book worth reading just keep in mind at times it will lag a little. I will keep my eyes on this author for I expect even greater from her in the future. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom
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