Sebastian's Lady Spy

A fast paced exciting read that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. Sebastian and Gabrielle have tons of chemistry and I enjoyed the interaction between them. The story is suspenseful and really draws you in. A well balance story of spies and intrigue, suspense and sex. A great read.

This author is new to me. I have to say that I will be looking for the books that came before this one. It can stand alone, but I am curious about the stories of the other people in this story. Sebastian and Gabrielle do not think that they will ever be able to love someone because they are both spies and their life doesn't really belong to them. Also, Gabrielle comes from a very "low" background and doesn't consider herself worthy of Sebastian. The characters are lovable and I was rooting for them

Reading period romance is incredibly exciting especially when using the period language and true historical events. I often wondered how it would be as a woman spy in a period of time where woman had little rights. So for a woman to have authority over a man being a spy, having her word over a man was unheard of. Sebastian was very gallant and and protective over Gabriella. A woman that wants to be seen as an equal in a world where woman equality is not. The passion and love pour out of the page of this book. Not just romance but a building of something more. The mystery of finding traitors for the crown and the dangers behind it all made this book something that I could't put down.  Love, passion , and devotion in combination to heat, sexiness and want. What more could you ask for in a romance novel!

I’ve read all but the first in this series, and I really do enjoy Sharon Cullen’s ability to tell a story that is connected by some common  threads, but each book stands alone nicely.   In this book, Sebastian, Earl of Claybrook is one of the King’s top agents. He’s carefully maintained his façade for society: they know  him as the young man who did his duty, and provided for his siblings after his father’s death.   Contessa Gabrielle Marciano is also an agent for the King, with a façade created for her when she was removed from a rough life on the streets surviving by her wits, thievery and prostitution.  When they put aside their responsibilities and grab a few moments to be themselves, wholly immersed in their passion, their connection  is electric, if wholly based in lust and fantasy. At the end of the affair, they part to concentrate on their own respective assignments. But when a threat arises, Sebastian and Gabrielle must work together to capture the miscreant while ignoring their past.  I loved Gabrielle! She was bold, intelligent, completely determined and utterly honest about what she wanted. Surprising as a spy has  to be both duplicitous and a bit restrained, her ability to make Sebastian aware of the connection between them while not losing the plot was clever. On the other hand, while I understood Sebastian’s unwillingness to enter into a relationship with someone he really hadn’t bothered to develop a true connection with,  he was often a stereotype of the titled man: heedless of other’s feelings because his  were all that mattered. Still, there was an admiration of Gabrielle’s brains when he thought of her as a co-worker, and when he did make a few efforts to know her better and expand on their relationship, even though I didn’t believe it as much as I have in other  installments of this series.  With plenty of action, twists, turns and secrets, the plot moves along quickly with plenty of surprise moments for readers to enjoy.  I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. 

Yes! Yes! And more Yes! This series never fails to live up to expectations. I honestly didn't think I could love this series any more than I already did but once again I'm elated! The historical aspects, thoughts, dress of the period are depicted with exceptional quality. I find that I pay a lot of attention to those details, that can make or break an historical for me. Sharon Cullen does her research and does it well, I have loved every single installment and cannot wait to see what is coming next.

3.5 Stars  Sebastian Addison, the the Earl of Claybrook lives a life dedicated to duty - duty to the Crown, his family and those under his care and has never wanted anything more than short affairs. Until he meets Contessa Gabrielle Marciano. After an intense three days together, both Sebastian and Gabrielle walk away because of their obligations and unaware that they are both agents of the Crown. Seven months later, Sebastian is tasked with finding a traitor believed to be a member of the ton and partnered with none other than Contessa Gabrielle Marciano to go undercover in the ton as a courting couple. For a man who has dedicated his life to his work as an operative for the Crown, he had done the unthinkable and fallen for Gabrielle and walking away from Gabrielle seven months earlier had been very difficult. Seeing her again awakens the attraction he had fought so hard to forget.  Contessa Gabrielle Marciano is no Contessa. Born into a very terrible background and faced with a life of prostitution at a very young age, she was recruited and trained by the Crown and her cover created to allow her move freely between worlds and among countries. Walking away from Sebastian seven months earlier had been heartbreaking and being forced to work with him is hard for her, but she has a duty as an operative. Forced to assume the title at a young age, Sebastian never had time to be a young man sowing his wild oats and only lives to carry out his obligations until he meets the one woman who tempts him to want more. He is not used to the emotions that she provokes in him and struggles to contain them, to no avail. Gabrielle's cover as the Contessa includes a tarnished reputation as an easy woman and even though she has fallen for Sebastian, she knows the futility of wanting more from him. As they search for the traitor, they struggle to keep focus on their mission and not on their feelings.  SEBASTIAN'S LADY SPY is an easy and enjoyable story of two people who have dedicated their lives to duty, who discover that love is a more powerful and compelling force than duty. Gabrielle rose above her beginnings to become a formidable operative - one who is smart, tough and not to be underestimated. Sebastian is also a legendary spy - tough and lethal. Sebastian craves order in his world and what he feels for Gabrielle is far from orderly. The relationship between Sebastian and Gabrielle is a very passionate one, but also very distracting from the job at hand. This distraction actually affects the mission in a big way. The suspense was okay for me but left me with an unanswered question that I hope will be answered in the next book- how did the traitor know their identities? Also, they are some plot lines that were left hanging, with no actual resolution, that I would have loved to see closed off. However, it was still an enjoyable read.   *I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

If you love romance and intrigue rhis is a story not to miss! Already starting on her next book.

 I like a good mash-up of genres.  Sebastian's Lady Spy did a great job of putting together a historical with a really nice suspenseful element mixed right in.  We have two spies being "forced" to work together.  The problem is that they have very strong feelings towards each other, and that seems to be getting in Sebastian's way.  It was nice to see a guy getting all emotional and the girl keep their head and get the job done for a change. I really liked Gabrielle.  The more I found out about her, the more I liked her.  The only exception to this was that she thought she wasn't "good enough" for Sebastian as more than a passing fancy.  I wish she had been as confident her herself as she was in her syping skills.  Sebastian is a bit of a jerk for a little too long.  He refuses to let Gabrielle do her job and he refuses to really have anything to do with her - all because he cares.  *eye roll* OK - once Sebasian gets his head out of his butt, the story really takes off with quite a good mystery spy chase theme.  Our characters find out that they each have a piece of the puzzle and really learn to trust each other to get the job done right.  There was an incredible ending where I thought everyone was going get snuffed, but whew - thank goodness I was reading a romance.  A great HEA to wrap it all up. *This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

Sebastian’s Lady Spy has adventure, steamy romance, great characters, and an intriguing plot. I loved reading it. It may seem an odd word to use, but it fits, this book was delightful.  On the outside, Sebastian has quite the life. Money, a title, good looks, etc. However, his life has never really been his own. Orphaned at sixteen, he raised his two siblings, only to become a servant of the crown as one of their top spies. The biggest sacrifice in this job is any kind of permanent relationship. So when he meets Gabrielle, and he loses his heart, he is forced to let her go. Gabrielle was plucked from the streets at a young age and molded into a weapon for the good of England. Though she was saved from an unimaginable life, there is a part of her that yearns for those things she can never have, a husband, children, a family. But, she knows those things are beyond her reach and has accepted her position. Sebastian sneaks up and steals her heart, but she lets him go, knowing she has nothing to offer him.  Sebastian and Gabrielle are then thrown into an assignment together. Sebastian is unhappy to work with anyone, but working with Gabrielle is completely unacceptable. His passion for her consumes him and he knows she will be the ultimate distraction. However, he is given no choice and his incorrect assumptions about Gabrielle’s knowledge of who he was at their last encounter, cement his decision to cut her out of the investigation and do his best to stay away from her. Gabrielle is not about to be left behind. Sebastian underestimates her and she is forced to prove her worth to him. Unfortunately, in the process, she falls for him all over again. The sparks between them are almost impossible to ignore and thought they are both good at their jobs, it is clear that the mission may become compromised because they are so consumed with each other. The author has done a wonderful job of weaving this tale. There were a few surprises that kept it interesting and the cast of supporting characters rounded out the story nicely. Sebastian is quite hardheaded and very quick to assume the worst of people, but he is still captivating and it was easy to want to be in Gabrielle’s shoes. Gabrielle is the ultimate string and independent woman. As a spy and assassin for the crown she would have to be. However, the author also took an unusual twist on this story that was actually pretty brave. Even today, when sex outside of marriage is so accepted, you will rarely find a story where the female heroine is forced to sleep with the target. It may get close, but in the end, she is often saved from having to commit this act, and if she does, she is treated as though she were prostituting herself. However, today, as it was then, men who sleep with the target are treated as somewhat of a hero, the playboy who can get all the women. So, for the author to put Gabrielle in the circumstances of the men, and keep her from seeming like a prostitute to the reader, seems like it would be a slippery slope. But, the author manages to do it. I liked Gabrielle very much and I felt empathy for the position she has been forced into.  This a creative love story and I shut the last page with a smile, satisfied that Gabrielle and Sebastian found their happily ever after. I was also caught by the other characters in the book who have a story of their own. I’ll definitely be putting those on my TBR. 

After three blissful days – and nights – together, Sebastian and Gabrielle part ways; they both have business to attend to. They barely know each other apart from the fact that they are very attracted to each other. If only Sebastian weren’t a spy, things could be otherwise. But unbeknownst to him, so is Gabrielle, and Sebastian is shocked when he learns that he will have to work with Gabrielle on a mission for the British Crown’s Office of Intelligence; Sebastian always works alone, but not this time.  I loved SEBASTIAN’S LADY SPY from beginning to end, and it was so interesting, I read it in one sitting! Sebastian and Gabrielle are splendid characters, and Ms. Cullen provides much detailed background on both as well. Gabrielle is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read: she’s brave, as tough as Sebastian, and so wonderfully seductive. Sebastian is a wonderful hero: he is not an arrogant, egotistical rake, even though he is an earl. The secondary characters, such as Lord Wilcott and Phin Lockwood, are just as captivating. SEBASTIAN’S LADY SPY is very well-written, fast-paced, the story is very strong with quite a bit of suspense, it’s dramatic and intense; there is not a dull moment. In SEBASTIAN’S LADY SPY, there is love, romance, passion, adventure; Ms. Cullen strikes a perfect balance between romance, passion and action: splendid! A must read! 

This is book 4 in the Secret's & Seduction series. Sebastian Addison, the Earl of Claybrook, has spent months trying to forget the woman that he spent three passion filled day and nights with knowing that they can never have more. But suddenly she is back in his life and Sebastian wants nothing to do with her. How can he find the traitor, when all he can think of is his partner? Gabrielle has never forgotten the time spent with Sebastian, but unlike him she wants to finish the task given to them. She knows that together they can do a better job than working alone. But their biggest challenge might not be the enemy they are after, but the feelings they have for each other. I was so happy that Cullen continued with her Secrets and Seduction series as it is one of my all time favorites! There is nothing better than a dashing hero and an unconventional heroine with some bad guys thrown in. The perfect combination! It's not often that you get to read a story in which both the H/H are spies. Normally it's just the hero and the heroine at some point needs to be saved. I loved that Cullen put a very strong woman into this story, one that could take care of herself in any situation. As much as Sebastian wanted to take care of Gabrielle, she wanted to prove that she could handle herself and any situation that she was put into. My fingers are crossed that Cullen continues with this series as I'd hate for it to end!! Thanks go out to Random House via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

This was a good book to read between other books that are truly dark reads. This is a quicker read that pulls you into the story and has enough mystery to carry you through. I liked the people here. They are  strong and some are not the brightest bulb in the lamp. Sebastian is an agent for England who meets an Italian countess he can't forget. Gabrielle is an agent for England and she can't forget him. They are given a new case. He is mad she works with him and she is ticked off when he won't include her. It was fun to see them argue. There are several spoilers near the end of the book. P, if you like this story line then read to see how everyone makes out. There will be another book in this series. Try this one and enjoy your reading. I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.

I found this story quite delightful! It was a nice treat to have a female spy alongside the male (as most historicals I've read tend to have the male spy only) and I really appreciated that they had equal tasks and responsibility towards their mission. Both Gabrielle and Sebastian were engaging characters, competent in their craft and confident in themselves. There was a definite sexual attraction between them and this chemistry leads them back into each other's arms after a several months absence during which they never expected to meet up again, and certainly not to have to work together. Besides the romance, I really enjoyed the spy/suspense plot. I thought it was well put together and it kept my interest from beginning to end. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm definitely looking forward to more in the series. 4 stars.

Sebastian's Lady Spy by: Sharon Cullen This was an okay read. It was not bad, but boring and overlong in parts. That is not a good problem to have in a book with intrigue. The concept was there for a good story, but the book needs work.