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A Heartless Design: Secrets of the Zodiac, #1
Unavailable
A Heartless Design: Secrets of the Zodiac, #1
Unavailable
A Heartless Design: Secrets of the Zodiac, #1
Ebook370 pages5 hours

A Heartless Design: Secrets of the Zodiac, #1

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this ebook

The debut novel in the Secrets of the Zodiac, a series of full-length historical romance novels, features darker, sexier storylines, complex characters, and international intrigue, set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

An enigmatic woman, a determined spy, and a design that could shake the foundations of Europe...

"Heartless" Cordelia Bering refuses every marriage offer she receives. Yet men still try to win her, drawn by her sharp wit and intoxicating green eyes. But Cordelia knows a marriage could reveal her deepest secret and truly endanger her life. Besides, she hasn't met a man worth considering, until...

Sebastien Thorne, a spy in the service of Crown. One of the elite agents in the group known as the Zodiac, he comes to London determined to solve a mystery with roots on the Continent. He won't let anything distract him. But is Cordelia a distraction, or the key to the mystery? As he learns more about the "heartless" woman, he becomes embroiled in secrets, plots, and a design that could change the future...and Cordelia is at the center of it all.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 10, 2013
ISBN9780985331160
Unavailable
A Heartless Design: Secrets of the Zodiac, #1

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Reviews for A Heartless Design

Rating: 3.440000096 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

25 ratings7 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a very good book--strong characters, strong plot, and a working dialogue. The flow is steady--not too slow or too fast. It's reasonably paced. While this book is about two different spies who meet and eventually fall in love, I will say that this is NOT a "heavy" thriller. You might also notice that it doesn't dwell too much on the regency part of the story. It's not all about balls, parties, and courting. It's focused more on the spy mission and trying to get to the bottom of things without blowing your cover.

    Special Note: There are a couple sex scenes in the book, but I'm happy to report that it's not a dominant theme or an underlying theme of the plot. The focus is more on the mission. If there was no sex, I would have added the final star.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In 1806, Georgian England, why does Cordelia Bering continue to refuse all marriage proposals, what secrets does she hide. Sebastien Thorne, a spy for the Crown, a member of a group called Zodiac, is determined to find out as he seeks to find out what Andraste means.
    An enjoyable mystery romance, an easy to read story, with well-rounded characters. A good start to the series which I look forward to reading.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 Stars.Taking place during the Napoleonic wars, A Heartless Design by Elizabeth Cole is the story of the romance between an intelligent, headstrong woman determined to control her own life and a recently titled nobleman secretly working for his Majesty’s secret service. Well developed characters, good world building, engaging dialogue and just the right amount of physical action, kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next. Adding just the right amount of romantic and sexual heat, Ms. Cole crafts an intriguing historical romantic suspense and a strong beginning for her new series.A young woman, often referred to as “heartless”, Cordelia Bering is intelligent, independent and beautiful. Realizing marriage would limit her freedom, Cordelia has turned down every marriage proposal she’s received, regardless of who makes the offer. A woman with secrets, Cordelia manages her own money, her own house and more than a handful of servants. Inheriting her father’s gift towards design and engineering, Cordelia dreams of the day when her most treasured invention, The Andraste, can take to the seas. Keeping her father’s legacy alive, and making her own contributions in engineering, even though she has to make them under an assumed identity, keeps her busy during the day and enables her to live in the style to which she’s become accustomed.An Earl by default, Sebastien Thorne works as a secret agent for his Majesty’s kingdom. Secretly a member of the “Zodiac”, Sebastien is tasked with discovering all he can about The Andraste, an invention no one seems to know anything about, but which enemies of the crown have developed an interest in. Determined to complete his mission, Sebastien encounters Cordelia at every turn and begins to wonder if she’s a spy working for the French or if fate has put her in his way as a stumbling block.The scenes between Cordelia and Sebastien are well written and lots of fun. They have great verbal and sexual chemistry and Sebastien has a hard time keeping his hands off Cordelia, who he nicknames “Cor”. Both intelligent, and with secrets they are carefully guarding, they never the less continue to run into each other. When Sebastien begins to unravel the secrets Cordelia is hides behind, he discovers a strong woman willing to go to any length to care for and protect those she loves. He also discovers his perfect match. As Cordelia begins to understand Sebastien and what drives him, she discovers a man who’s determined to keep his country and family safe from any enemy. She discovers his loyalty, his wit and his charm and falls head over heels even though she thinks marriage is something she can never have for herself.Ms. Cole does a good job developing the secondary characters and I liked meeting and getting to know quite a few of them. I especially liked Cordelia’s widowed aunt and chaperone, Leonora, a woman who has a good sense of humor and is devoted to her niece and their happiness. I also enjoyed getting to meet Cordelia’s “staff” of servants, who all have secrets of their own and especially “Bond” her lady’s maid. I also enjoyed getting to meet Sebastien’s mom and sister, who both try to make sure he’s not falling back into his “wicked” pre-army ways, and the members of the “Zodiac” we get to meet. While this book has more than one villain, only one is really well developed and it’s easy to dislike him from the start – he’s smarmy from the get go.Will Cordelia and Sebastian be able to keep the plans for The Andraste safe? Will their fledgling relationship turn into something more permanent? You’ll have to read A Heartless Design to find out, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A HEARTLESS DESIGN by Elizabeth Cole is an exciting Regency Historical Romance/Suspense/Romantic Spy Thriller. A Secrets of the Zodiac #1 and what a beginning. Join “Heartless” Cordelia Bering and Sebastien Thorne, an elite spy to the crown on a journey of danger,mystery,spies,intrigue,secrets and romance. Oh did I forget to mention passion! Both Cordelia and Sebastien are more than they appear to the public. For Cordelia has a secret that has been keep for years and one that has saved her family and household from financial ruin. Sebastien has keep his activities for the Crown secret for years,appearing to be a penniless,rake. Oh but, what they both find is priceless!! Fast paced and action packed with suspense,intrigue,sensual tension and love. Cordelia's father was a engineer who designed a ship unlike any other,and someone wants the design at all cost including murder. But did he design this impressive ship or did someone else? This is the matter of great mystery, for Mr. Leah is the actual designer. To find who and what you MUST read "A Heartless Design". A powerful story and one you should not miss reading. I loved this story for it was not just an ordinary Historical Romance but it was romance along with secrets,mystery and intrigue. Oh yes, and it has a few twists and turns to go along with the romance. A Romantic Spy Thriller for sure. I can hardly wait for the next installment of "A Secrets of the Zodiac" series! Ms. Cole is a masterful storyteller who brings her characters to live on the pages of her story as well as intrigue and mystery! Well done indeed, Ms. Cole!! A MUST READ! Received for an honest review from the author.RATING: 4.5HEAT RATING: MILDREVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    By: Elizabeth ColePublished By: SkySpark BookAge Recommended: AdultReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 4Book Blog For: GMTAReview:"Love On The Run" by Elizabeth Cole was a well written contemporary mystery, suspenseful romantic read. We find Callie Reed is on the run to Montana because she has just witnessed a murder. Who would have thought Callie would meet country sheriff Jake Brand who 'saves her life.' However, when Jake asked her one thing: 'the truth' will Callie be honest with him and tell him all. This is where I say you must pick up "Love On The Run" to find out will the truth come out and if so what will happen to these two: Callie and Jake? Will Jake be able to keep her 'safe and bring down the bad guy? If you are in for a quick read, good story and even believe in love at first sight...then "Love On The Run" would be recommended as a good read for you.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Nice enjoyable read. "Callie decided that he couldnt wait for her to leave" Really don't you just want to get into the paage and give them a kick. Was page turner to get to the happy part. carmenmaranda
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Love On The Run by Elizabeth ColeCallie, Calista Reed is on the road when Jake Brand the cop, or is he a cowboy gets her attention and she hands over the license. Problem is he saw her cut and knows it needs to be tended to, just before she fainted.She gets driven to the medical center where the doc gets the bullet out of her leg and Jake states he will take her back to his house to watch her for the next several days and swears he will get the man who did this to her.Montana is wild country but her plates had CA on them. With the heavy drugs she was on she woke up once and kissed him deeply and he tries hard to resist her. She dreams of her other life, with Malcolm and how she got shot by a gun...Love the descriptions of not only the house and it's furnishings but the outside landscape, breathtaking!Finding clues and working them out to solve the mystery of what she was hiding, he was good at. Love how he dealt with the kids he found at school.As they spent more time together she trusts him now and she tells him what happened to bring her to Montana. He is honest with her and tells of his past life. He can't deny he wants her and she knows she wants him but it can't be...Parts I liked the best were when they were outside enjoying the natural beauty of the land and just the simple things, a walk or sitting on the porch.Besides being a romance book that heats up nicely it is also a mystery book. If she is to tell her side of the story she'd be put under FBI security til trial and taken away and she's not sure that is what she wants in her life..He just wants to keep her happy and safe... Love all the action and the escape...Wish there was another, Ty's story where others from this book would be included