Wicked Lies

Rating:
Summary: RIVETING
Review: Captain Julian Lambert returned to Yorktown determined to apprehend his half-brother Patrick's killer. Even though the magistrate returned a verdict that the fatal wound was self-inflicted, Julian held firm to his belief that Patrick was murdered.

Julian found himself in a town where the inhabitants were closed-mouth and his only clue was connected with a mysterious dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty whom he didn't fully trust but was attracted to.

Although Julian was a high ranking British Naval officer and a titled lord, he was also Merlin, a man wanted by the authorities for smuggling and aiding the rebel cause. On the night Merlin was to get his hands on the information pertaining to Patrick's killer, he was captured. Along with his capture was the woman who was protecting a secret that might shed light on the mystery but she's giving nothing away, not even her name.

Catherine Bellamy was unwittingly drawn into a conspiracy of murder, lies and treachery when her efforts at uncovering the truth of the murders including that of her husband, Patrick, exposed her to danger and someone wanted her dead. Her only hope of extricating herself unscathed lies with her brother-in-law, Julian Lambert, but even as she fell in love with him, she realised he was not who he seemed.

It isn't difficult to guess who the traitor is from the beginning and part of the fun is snagging on to the clues along the way but of course, the characters have yet to catch on as the plot thickens.

All the characters are well defined including the pet pig, Sally, whose antics enlivened the story.

Rating:
Summary: A multi-faceted plot.
Review: Catherine Bellamy finds her deception unmasked when she takes her brother's place at an exchange of information during the pre - Revolution days of the colonies. Worse than Merlin, the agent with whom she meets, the British find them and arrest them for treason, with hanging the penalty.

They escape, and think never to see one another again, but when Catherine entreats her brother in law, an English nobleman for help in her impoverished circumstances, he recognizes her as the woman he met while disguised as the mysterious Merlin. What's worse is that he finds himself attracted to his brother's widow.

*** A complex web of deception and secret identities make this novel at times confusing. Julian, the hero, is often brusque and though sexy, hard to find endearing. Though Catherine has fire and spunk, even in put upon conditions, the multi faceted plot does not allow for enough character development to truly warm up to her. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rating:
Summary: No slow romance here
Review: Catherine Bellamy has just made the mistake of her life. As a courier for the Sons of Liberty she is taking the place of her brother for this one night. Big mistake. Little does she know that this is a setup, and she is captured with one of the most wanted men in the colonies. Merlin aka Lord Blackmoor, a captain in His Majesty's Navy, is trying to find the person or persons who are responsible for his brother's death. He smells something rotton in Yorktown and it isn't the bilge from his ship. There are some really bad guys that he and Catherine must find. Julian Lambert, Lord Blackmoor, is one of the most compelling heroes I have seen in a long time. Catherine is strong, no wimp here as she gives as good as she gets. They make for a wonderful pair as they battle forces that will see them captured or dead. This book also had a great humor element that I found a lot of fun, which made this book a nonstop thrilling read.

Rating:
Summary: spy adventure
Review: I love plots and stories that have meat you can sink your teeth into. I stayed up most of the night reading this book because the twists took me someplace that I wasn't expecting to go. Lord Blackmoor, is a member of the Sons of Liberty. He helps political prisoners disappear and escape by taking them someplace safe and giving them new identites. He arrives in Williamsburg only to discover that his brother has died while he's been at sea. He wants to know why and how and realizes something terrible has happened. People are afraid to talk, and when the evildoers get wind of his questions they set him up as a traitor. Catherine Bellamy has been working to keep her family together since her husband's death. One night she takes her brother's place as a courier for the Sons of Liberty and is captured with Merlin, the notorious hot, sexy, rebel spy.

I found this story intriguing and the characters well-drawn all the way down to the family pig, Sally. The only thing wrong with htis book is that it ended too soon. I wanted more, more, more!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Action, romance, mystery and refreshing setting
Review: I was so thrilled that the setting for this book was Colonial Virginia - what a refreshing change! Being from the Mid-Atlantic, early American history is all around us and having just recently visited Williamsburg I could picture much of the action - particularly the ball at the Governor's Palace. Another keeper from Laura Renken!

One fateful night widowed Catherine Bellamy replaces her brother as a courier for the Sons of Liberty. She is to meet the infamous Merlin, a smuggler and more in support of the Sons' cause. Unfortunately for both, it is a set-up and they are captured by the British. But plucky Catherine and determined Merlin escape and spend a week on the run together sharing a wary partnership and an unforgettable moment of passion.

Two months later Catherine approaches the illusive brother-in-law she has never met to ask for his financial assistance to re-open her print shop. He is Captain Julian Lambert, decorated officer in the Royal Navy. He has returned to Virginia to discover the truth about how his half-brother died and is suspicious of Catherine (and her family - particularly her brother) since he never even knew that his brother had married. Catherine believes that Julian hired Merlin to find out who killed his brother and thinks to find Merlin again through Julian. But the investigation into Patrick's death evolves into something much bigger when it becomes clear that someone is committing serious crimes in the name of the Sons of Liberty. Who is behind it all and why? Who set them up? Can Catherine and Julian come to trust one another? Are they even on the same side? They must hope so, because their attraction is undeniable and they're both falling fast.

I found Catherine and Julian an engaging couple torn between their attraction and their family loyalties. My only complaint is in a few loose ends that weren't resolved enough for me but these are minor and ultimately don't detract from a great love story.

Rating:
Summary: Similar to James Fenimore Cooper?s classic The Spy
Review: In 1772 Virginia British Sea Captain Julian Lambert learns that someone murdered his half brother Patrick. As he admires the gravestone carved from expensive marble, Julian knows that an unknown person paid a lot of money for this "tribute". He orders his solicitor to find him a name even if it means spending the money earned selling his cargo of muskets. Julian tells the solicitor to toss around the name Merlin.

Julian works a double life as an English sea caption who actually spies for the Sons of Liberty. Someone betrays Julian and his contact Catherine Bellmay leading to their capture by the British, but Julian liberates both of them. As they fall in love, Julian seeks to uncover the identity of the individual who betrayed him to the English, but hopes to have a bit more success than he has had with obtaining the name of Patrick's killer beyond a deadly game of chess.

WICKED LIES is an exhilarating pre-Revolutionary War espionage romance that is loaded with so many twists and turns, the audience will read the novel in one sitting to see where Laura Renken guides them next. Julian, resembling Harry Birch of James Fenimore Cooper's classic The Spy, risks everything for love, honor, and duty while Catherine is an intrepid heroine. 1770s tidbits provide the extra spice to a strong tale that proves Ms. Renken, though obviously comfortable with the sea, is a fine landlubber of an author as well.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Similar to James Fenimore Cooper¿s classic The Spy
Review: In 1772 Virginia British Sea Captain Julian Lambert learns that someone murdered his half brother Patrick. As he admires the gravestone carved from expensive marble, Julian knows that an unknown person paid a lot of money for this "tribute". He orders his solicitor to find him a name even if it means spending the money earned selling his cargo of muskets. Julian tells the solicitor to toss around the name Merlin.

Julian works a double life as an English sea caption who actually spies for the Sons of Liberty. Someone betrays Julian and his contact Catherine Bellmay leading to their capture by the British, but Julian liberates both of them. As they fall in love, Julian seeks to uncover the identity of the individual who betrayed him to the English, but hopes to have a bit more success than he has had with obtaining the name of Patrick's killer beyond a deadly game of chess.

WICKED LIES is an exhilarating pre-Revolutionary War espionage romance that is loaded with so many twists and turns, the audience will read the novel in one sitting to see where Laura Renken guides them next. Julian, resembling Harry Birch of James Fenimore Cooper's classic The Spy, risks everything for love, honor, and duty while Catherine is an intrepid heroine. 1770s tidbits provide the extra spice to a strong tale that proves Ms. Renken, though obviously comfortable with the sea, is a fine landlubber of an author as well.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling, sensual, humerous romance!
Review: This book is a thrilling page turner. ... This book is humerous, thrilling and dramatic. Laura Renken is one of the best new action romance writers on the market today. She writes sensual and endearing characters and manages to capture all the emotions needed to make a read fulfilling. Even the family pig came to mean something to this reader. This book was wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: absolutely wonderful...
Review: This is one of those books that you keep reading at a red light or while you vaccuum....It is a page turner and will keep you enthralled the entire time. You have to love our spunky heroine.....and perhaps dislike her because she snagged 2 sexy husbands..........and our hero is tres'chic (stud).....there's nothing not to like about the book. A great story with action, history, love and betrayal. And some giggles starting out with our heroine traipsing the pet pig into town to sell to the butcher because the family is so desparate!!!When a writer can get a stiff british war hero talking to a pet pig, u know she's good...........enjoy........