Good Morning Charlie!!
“Seduction Is Forever” by Jenna Petersen
Greetings from jolly old London where I have been rendered destitute and on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to my recent jaunts up and around Oxford Circus. (Lola, if you’re reading this, you need to come get me at the airport love (I’ll be the one seated on my newly acquired Louis Vuitton monogrammed trunks and sporting my gorgeous new Manolos). I don’t think I have enough money to take cab it back to the RMB offices.)
In addition to contributing to the economy of England, terrorizing the pigeons at Trafalgar Square (rats with wings! rats with wings!), strolling around Covent Garden (and cursing at how the cobbled streets aren’t treating my stiletto boots any favors) and having dinner at the Ivy, I have been reading up a storm while soaking my cares away in my tub at night. While at Waterstone’s one wet and bitterly cold day, I chanced upon “Seduction Is Foreverâ€, a story about three female spies, their contact named Charlie, and their mystery benefactoress named Lady M, set in 19th century London. If you are thinking that the premise kinda sorta reminds you of that TV show called “Charlie’s Angelsâ€, you’re not alone but hey, “Charlie’s Angels†was all kinds of kick-ass awesome and if Jenna Petersen wants to make a Romance novel tribute to it with hot sexy passion, who am I to stand in her way?
To start, let me say that “Seduction Is Forever†is the last book of the series (but I’ll definitely be picking up the first two) and it features Emily Redgrave, widowed, beautiful, and who had just made a recent recovery from a near fatal gun shot wound. Unsurprisingly, her injury has made her a little self hesitant about her abilities as a spy for England, but like any professional, she’s more than eager to prove herself again to her superiors, her peers, and more importantly, to herself. Unfortunately for her, she’s being benched (as it were) by her best friends Anastasia and Meredith, and resenting it greatly. After much pleading and attempts at escape from her “prisonâ€, Charlie finally gives her a mission – protect Grant Ashbury (aka Lord Westfield), the hulking six-foot gorgeous specimen of a man who is himself (unbeknownst to Emily until much later), also a spy, who has been tasked by the Crown to protect her. Yes, Emily and Grant’s respective agencies have sent them to guard each other in an attempt to keep both of them safe and yet occupied, for their own good. You see, dear RMB reader, Grant too has a past from which he cannot shake but yet he is determined to try nonetheless by any (dangerous) means necessary – his lady love, was accidentally caught in the crossfire of an operation gone bad when, after she had found out about his profession, had snuck out to see her man in action. Grant is therefore understandably haunted by his ex lover’s lifeless eyes and thus sets the plot: (1) Beautiful, courageous, spitfire of a heroine who isn’t like the other ladies of society; (2) Handsome, titled Hero with a haunted past; (3) lots of sizzling scenes involving a door, a couch, the floor, the bed, a disguise!, and a secret safe house; and (4) somebody trying to kill somebody.
Why Sheridan! This sounds like every other historical Romance novel ever churned out and reviewed on this fabulous website you co-run with Lola and Mimi called ripmybodice.com! Indeed gentle reader, but unlike other bland paint-by-numbers historical Romance novel ever churned out and reviewed, this one has passion, depth, excitement and most of all, The Longing. When Emily isn’t within sight, Grant moons for her and when she is, he can’t help but reach out to touch her, even though their affair is an illicit one. And when Grant and Emily eventually team up to uncover a plot against the Prince Regent and Emily gets knocked out the window, Grant is beside himself with concern and anxiety for Emily. He refuses medical help, charging up the stairs just so he can see her, touch her, and assure himself that she is alright. We here at ripmybodice.com LOVE it when the Heroine of any Romance novel is hurt or better yet, on the brink of death…not that we’re sadistic beings by nature, okay well maybe just a little bit (yeah alright maybe for Mimi it’s more than just a little bit), but because it inevitably brings such juicy heart-twingy moments of action/fervent whispers/declarations of love/rages of passion and anger/tears of anguish or grief etc etc etc by the Hero. *swoon*
Dearest Santa,
To add on to Lola’s Christmas wishlist, I would be most grateful if you could arrange for more books that bring on all sorts of heart-twingy moments that one reads over and over again (so as not to miss a single word) while clutching a soggy piece of Kleenex.
Much love,
Sheridan- ps: you can look up my chimney anytime if that means you’ll give me an Alpha Male of my very own wrapped in a red bow-Sakura Carlotta.
And so my dear readers, I must leave you now for am determined to hunt down the other two books “From London With Love†and “Desire Never Dies†from every bookstore in within a five-mile radius of my hotel (alas I cannot do more as my feet have yet to fully recover from having attempted to chase away all the pigeons in my heels).
cutepolishgirl68 said,
December 12, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
These books are absolutely worth your time looking for them. Order them on-line if you must! Each one of these guys fall hard- loved them!
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
December 13, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
Alas I am unable to find any of the books at either Borders or Waterstones! Lola is, as I type, now frantically searching our usual bookstore haunts around the RMB office. Hopefully she’ll have more luck finding them elusive books than I do!
PS - I hear the second book (”Desire Never Dies”) is really good. Is this true?
cutepolishgirl68 said,
December 17, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
Sheridan-I am not leaving you hanging despite appearances. I found out yesterday, after a week of hell, that I have Shingles. Apparently caused by stress-I knew I should have started the valium on December 1. I will go to the romance book vault and double check on the first 2 books. I do remember that they were good enough to keep a look out for the author- Give me a couple days to let you know which one I liked the most. Toodle-oo.
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
December 18, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Aww man cpg! I’m so sorry to hear about your Shingles - it’s no laughing matter. I hope you get well soon.
Take your time with checking on the other books. I’m in no rush as I am busy rehearsing for the talent portion of our RMB annual christmas pageant (i.e. Lola, Mimi and I have an annual competition to see who will be crowned Miss Christmas). Have a very merry (and painless) christmas!
Steph said,
December 25, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
“Desire Never Dies” is really good!!!!
I haven’t read “Seduction is Forever” yet. I liked the first one in the series, and thought it was a pretty solid romance, but “Desire” really touched me. The story is really sweet, really intense, and yeah, the guy falls pretty hard 
Happy Holidays, and cutepolishgirl–I hope you get well very soon.
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
December 25, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
Hi Steph, you’re right - “Desire Never Dies” IS really good. Once I manage to pry the book outta Lola’s drunken and yet surprisingly firm grasp, I’ll post a review on it. *waves* Merry Christmas!
Jenna Petersen said,
December 27, 2007 @ 11:50 pm
Wow! I stumbled upon both this review and the one for DND! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!! That just makes my day! I hope you enjoy FROM LONDON WITH LOVE as much. My next historical romance, LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN, comes out in July 2008!
Thanks again!!
JennaP
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
December 28, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Hi JennaP! Well first of, I’d like to say that I’m a little awed and scared that you read my review. Second, I cannot wait to read “From London With Love” and “Lessons From A Courtesan”! I’ve purchased the former on amazon but due to the Christmas backlog, I’m not sure when I’ll get my hands on the book. I am sure however, that I will love it as much as I loved the other two books in your Lady Spies series.
Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy New Year!