After reading an interview The Book Smugglers did with author Kate Noble, I put Revealed on my wish list. I decided to read it this past week and I can not say enough how wonderful this book is.
Phillipa is the leader of the ton and she knows it. If she comes to your party, it will be deemed a success, if she wears a new style, everyone will place their order the next day. She is 21 and recently widowed, which gives her a bit more freedom in the eyes of the strict ton. She is set for life, however how fun is that to not have another season to catch the eye of an eligible suitor. The eye she really wants to catch is the dashing Marquis of Broughton. Yes, he is very handsome and intriguing, but the real reason she wants him is because her arch rival in the ton is Jane Cummings. They have been feuding and competing over men and attention since they were young and Phillipa refuses to let her win this one.
Things become complicated when one evening Phillipa plans to meet Broughton in a dark secluded library at midnight. After a brief tryst in which she finds herself a little over her head with Broughton’s advances, someone starts to come in the door. Phillipa gets unceremoniously thrown into an ancient sarcophagus to be hidden and when the lid closes she finds she is not the only one in there! After Broughton leaves, she tumbles out of the sarcophagus along with Lord Marcus Worth, a third son, not bad ton she thinks, but not good ton either. Just as she is trying to figure out why he was hiding, someone else comes to the door and this time it is Marcus’ turn to dump her back into hiding. While she is hidden she over hears a conversation between Marcus and another gentleman, a quite interesting conversation. One that holds a very a big secret about a very famous English spy.
Phillipa is convinced Marcus is the Blue Raven, a legendary English spy supposedly in retirement. She finds herself at a dinner party hosted by Marcus’ brother so Phillipa decides to do a little investigating of her own…she thinks –
“…there must be something from his youth that would indicate a future interest in subterfuge. Perhaps a book on spying techniques, or a diary with an entry entitled, “Dear Diary, I have recently taken a surprising interest in subterfuge…” Although that might be too much to hope for.”
Marcus Worth comes into possession of a scrap of paper he believes to be from a great enemy from the past, a paper that lists several of the season’s top balls and parties. He fears his enemy plans great harm to come at each of these events, yet he is not high enough in social status to get invited to these events.
Phillipa wants to reveal Marcus’ big secret at her ball to make it the talk of the town. Now she has leverage. Marcus needs her help to get invites to all the necessary parties to track down his enemy and Phillipa wants his secret revealed.
This book presents a truly great mystery, one that will have you guessing til the end. There is also a twist that had me slamming down the book and professing my love of the book to my husband – which earned me a funny look and then the moment passed.
The mystery is great, however this book has one of the sweetest romances I have ever read. Phillipa at the beginning is a snob and honestly I was initially put off by her. She is portrayed as using her friends for her own advances and ignoring those beneath her. I remember rolling my eyes the first couple of pages thinking this was one heroine I was not going to like. So glad I read past the first few chapters. I must say though, she always has an edge to her. She is not simple and sweet and quite honestly I do not think she is fully redeemed for her bad doings by the end of the book. In a way, it is refreshing to read a heroine like this but her behavior at times irked me. Kate Noble writes her in a way that you root for her, but you still raise an eyebrow at some of her actions.
She meets Marcus Worth and is immediately intrigued by him. He is a beta hero – he is extremely intelligent, protective, and deadly if necessary, but there is no arrogance. He is a gentleman, and a gentle man. He is never the focus of the party, but there is an allure about him that Phillipa can not resist. At first it is his mysterious background that has her interested, but once she starts to know him, she finds he is on her mind much more than Broughton.
There is not a lot of sex in this book but a strong undercurrent of desire that floats on throughout the story. The moments they do embrace are such sweet, tender moments you don’t want them to go to bed together right away. (Wait! What am I saying! ;) Although Philippa is considered the best of the best in the ton, she never uses that against Marcus, she reveals herself to him as who she is, never taking on airs. He is not necessarily inexperienced but his romantic background is not really revealed, which is a great part of the enticement of his character.
He comes to realize she has brains and wits and not only can ally him with his spying, but his heart has fallen for her. She comes to realize this spy business is not a game, there are severe consequences for failing. She soon finds herself more worried about him, then what the ton thinks and she forgets all about her competition with Lady Jane Cummings.
One of my favorite parts of the book is Kate Noble’s use of the phrase, “It’s just me.” Those three simple words are used so cleverly throughout this book, by the end you will never hear the words the same again.
“It’s just me” he says when he startles her in a dark room in one of the first times they meet.
“It’s just me” she says as she reaches up to fix his hair.
And my favorite when Philippa is nervous about advancing their relationship:
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, his hand stilling hers, holding it against his heart. She could feel the rapid, steady beats, the life flowing though him. “Look at me.”She met his eyes and saw there only tenderness. “It’s just me.”
Oh Marcus. I just adore him. There are a dozen instances the phrase is used and each one brought a smile to my face. Every time those three words are mentioned, they let the other in just a bit more, and by the end they find their way into each others hearts.
This is a book not to be missed.
Rating: 5 Stars
Kate Noble’s works include:
Compromised March 4, 2008
Revealed March 3, 2009
The Summer of you – Release date TBA – Lady Jane Cummings will be the heroine:)
I agree with every single thing you say: and I loved the "It's just me" as well. so tender! so awesome. Now I want to read it again!
I'm sold! THis one sounds really good.
Thanx to the brilliant Booksmugglers' review, I have this one and cannot wait to read it. Awesome review :)
Great review Mandi:
This does sound like a lovely story. :)
Have you read Scandal by Carolyn Jewel? While I'm not a huge historical romance fan, it too was a treat.
Happy Reading
L
Ana – thanks for stopping by! Your review made me read this book:)
Amy – Can't say enough good things about it:)
Stacy – yes they did an awesome review!!
Lea – yes, I LOVED Scandal. Can't wait for Indiscreet!!!
Interesting that both Scandal and Revealed are the only romance novels I read this year making my top 10 so far!
I am rather sold too, I wanna read more about spies and teh ton :D
Wonderful Review Mandi. I can really tell that you loved this book. I especially enjoyed the "It's just me" moments. :)
'Revealed' sounds like a really good romance. Thanks for the recommendation!
:) VFG
Wonderful review! definitely makes me want to read it (although I have to say that P does sound like a brat!)
Ana – They will make my top ten too! As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason is also way up on my list. I adored that series:)
Blodeuedd – I love a good spy story. You should read The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne.
VFC – My husband now says "its just me" all the time to get a reaction out of me ;)
Nicola – oh yeah she was a brat:) But a likable one.
Hi Mandi!
That last line did for me…so sweet, romantic… I loved it. I don't read a lot of historicals, but this one I'll look for.
Great review and thanks for the recommendation!
Dottie :)
I wandered over from Monkey Bear Reviews and … I'm adding this one to my list of books to buy. *sigh* You make it sound so good!
Let me know what you think if you read it!!
*wandering over to your blog…*