Author: Teri Brown
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 336
Series/Standalone: stand alone
Synopsis:
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Donnelly and Libba Bray comes this page-turning historical spy thriller from
Teri Brown, author of the Born of Illusion series.
Samantha Donaldson's family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, mathematics, and complex puzzles, hoping to make him proud.
When Sam is asked to join the famed women's spy group La Dame Blanche, she's torn—while this could be an unbelievable adventure, how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes she can't refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.
Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known only as Velvet. Deep undercover in the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Sam must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she must fight a forbidden attraction to the enemy—a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Sam find Velvet before it's too late . . . for them both?
Author: Teri BrownPublisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 336
Series/Standalone: stand alone
Synopsis:
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Donnelly and Libba Bray comes this page-turning historical spy thriller from
Teri Brown, author of the Born of Illusion series.
Samantha Donaldson's family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, mathematics, and complex puzzles, hoping to make him proud.
When Sam is asked to join the famed women's spy group La Dame Blanche, she's torn—while this could be an unbelievable adventure, how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes she can't refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.
Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known only as Velvet. Deep undercover in the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Sam must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she must fight a forbidden attraction to the enemy—a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Sam find Velvet before it's too late . . . for them both?
I'm obsessed with spy books lately it seems. I also just finished Trust me, I'm Trouble by Mary Elizabeth Summers. This one although still a spy-ish novel was a bit different. The time period was during the first world war, and with me not being a big history buff I can't comment to much on that. What I can say is that every other aspect of this book I loved so much. Yes, it was a bit silly in what was going on sometimes, but if you have characters you love then to me nothing else matters. I mean I can see a young woman moving to a new place to become a nanny for rich kids. I can see said girl falling for a solider as well. We can have our fairy-tales right? Just make sure those fairy-tales don't turn it to nightmares. :) I adored Sam I think it took courage and a lot of heart to let go of her mom, and go in enemy territories to find Velvet who she didn't know, or who no one actually knew. All so she could find out about her dad.
I will say that the ending was definitely an ending. Although, I had a few people in mind who could be Velvet. (One of whom it was) I did keep flip flopping on who it was.
I'm a little sad to see the characters go, and
I wouldn't mind another story told with maybe a different POV like Velvets. :) MUAHAHA
Playlist
Carman Fantasy, Sarasate. Played by Itzhak Perlman because the violin gymnastics are awesome.
Fugue for Solo Guitar JS Back (Because Bach!)
El Condor Pasa by Simon and Garfunkel.
Work Song by Hozier (because I'm not a complete egghead!)
All Eyes on You by St. Lucia
Turn Away by Beck
Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner because I once saw Miss. Piggy do a music video to it and even though I haven't ever been able to find it again, the image and the musicstayed with me!
She Lit a Fire by Lord Huron
Nocturne Op.9 No. 2 by Chopin because no one can write piano music as lush and evocative as Chopin.
All I want in a Perfect World by Kodaline
Buy the book
PRAISE FOR VELVET UNDERCOVER
“A slow-burning tale of espionage and deceit that explores the complexities and moral uncertainties of war.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“A taut and swiftly paced historical spy mystery, filled with suspense and surprising plot twists...A great fit for fans of Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity.” (School Library Journal)
"Clever, impetuous Samantha Donaldson is a delight to follow through the murky world of the German court in this twisty tale of espionage and forbidden romance.” Katherine Longshore, author of Gilt, Tarnish
"Brown's latest is a pulse-racing, whip-smart thriller that kept me guessing until the end."
—Cat Winters, Morris Award Finalist for In the Shadow of Blackbirds
Well behaved women rarely make history. Teri Brown lived that quote way before she ever even heard it. The two things she is most proud of, (besides her children), is that she jumped out of an airplane once and beat the original Legend of Zelda video game. She's a novel writer, head banger, pet keeper, math hater, cocktail drinker, booty shaker, book reader, city slicker, food fixer, rule breaker, wine sipper and word scribbler. She loves her husband, children, puppies and chocolate.
Find her on
One Grand Prize Winner will get:
- One signed hardback copy of Born of Illusion
- One signed hardback copy of Born of Deception
- One drawstring spygirls bag from the International Spy Museum
- One tablet of spy paper that dissolves when wet
- One password required lock and key journal
- Two black light spy pens
- One pair of brass spyglasses with brass rope chain (Perfect for spying!)
Must be 13 + To Enter | Ships in US Only
This giveaway will be cross-posted on the release day celebration
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
October 12th Such A Novel Idea REVIEW
October 13th Curling Up With A Good Book TEN RANDOM THINGS
October 14th Downright Dystopian REVIEW
October 15th The Book Cellar REVIEW
October 16th Bookaholics Anonymous REVIEW + MUSIC PLAYLIST
October 17th One Night Book Stand BOOK REVIEW
October 18th The Cover Contessa TENS LIST
October 19th A Dream Within A Dream REVIEW
Do You Need a Love Spell to Get Your Ex Husband Back?
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have been married for 7 years and together for 11. We have 3 children, ages 16 months, 4 and 6. He recently left me and moved in with the woman he has been seeing for only 2 months. We have been living with my parents for a few years because I have been going through school and he has been just working security. He went through the police academy and has been having a hard time getting a police job. He is also in the Army National Guard. He was deployed in Afgahnistan Jan. 2014 – May 2015. I really think he has ptsd and depression. For the last few months he has been very distant from me and the kids. He hasn’t been hanging out with friends or doing activities he would normally do on a regular basis. He would kept saying we need to fix things. He would say I do this wrong and that. It was like he was trying not to love me. One day he’d kiss me and showed affection, we were still having sex, then the next day nothing. I’ve been trying to get him to see a counciler but he won’t. He has admitted he has PTSD and other issues but then other days he says he doesn’t. He thinks this women he is with now is his soul mate. He met her online and lied saying he has been divorced for two years. She has found out he’s married and still wants to be with him. I don’t see it working out. I love my husband so much, I hate what he has done. I just wish he would get some help if it is because of PTSD and depression. Do you think it might be? I still want him back. I was totally devastated and confused until a old friend of mine told me about a spell caster on the internet Chief Nwaluta Mallam Zack who help people with the relationship and marriage problem by the powers of love spells, at first I doubted if such thing ever exists but decided to give it a try, when I contact him, he helped me cast a spell and within 48hours my husband came back to me and started apologizing, now he has stopped going out with that lady and he his with me for good and for real. i want You my friends who are passing through All this kind of love problem of getting Back their husband, wife , or ex boyfriend and girlfriend to contact him on this Email: { Nwalutaspelltemple@gmail.com } you can also contact him on his website http://nwalutaspelltemple.yolasite.com . Thanks you Chief , i will always be testifying about your good work.