Persuasion (the Spymaster's Men #2)

Persuasion (The Spymaster's Men #2)

3.17 of 5 stars 3.17  ·  rating details  ·  115 ratings  ·  35 reviews
Amelia Greystone was deeply in love when the Earl of St. Just abruptly ended his courtship and left Cornwall ten years earlier. So she is stunned when Simon returns, recently widowed. Now she must forget the past they shared and his betrayal and console him as any neighbor would. Simon has changed—he is dark and haunted now—but he can still make her reel with a single look...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published July 31st 2012 by Harlequin HQN
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Community Reviews

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Elis Madison


Long-suffering dark-horse candidate for martyrdom seeks self-obsessed schmuck for long term relationship. Enjoys ridicule, humiliation and other assorted ill-treatment. Any excuse for self-abasement will be appreciated.

I just got through bragging on Brenda Joyce, how her writing never lets me down, but here she goes and does it. I can only think that her publisher gave her an impossible deadline, and her editors were completely derelict in their duties, because the book is replete with adverb a...more
Tracy
This is another one of those stories that you just keep rooting for the hero and heroine. Both Amelia and Simon capture your attention for different reasons. ten years previously they were a couple but for some reason Simon just left Amelia. Her siblings hate him for this and the pain that Amelia went through at that time. But Amelia has forgiven him, she enters his household to care for his children and the child of his recently deceased wife. How many women do you think could do that? I'm not...more
Belinda
I just read the Persuasion by Brenda Joyce and it was an excellent read.
This is the second book of the Spymaster Men which centers around the French
Revolution. The characters are Simon, Grenville, the Earl of St. Just and Amelia Greystone who were neighbors.
Ten years earlier, Amelia was deeply in love with Simon when she was sixteen years old
And suddenly Simon ended his courtship and left his family home in Cornwall and never said goodbye to Amelia. She found out later that Simon married someo...more
Ninoska
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Regina
Amelia and Simon. What an odd couple they were. Their young love wasn't meant to be no matter how much Amelia expected a proposal. And the cad-ish way Simon cast her aside was weak-minded regardless of the circumstances involved. Fast forward ten years and they find themselves in an unbelievable situation with Amelia serving as his housekeeper and self-appointed stand-in mother to his children while Simon tries to continue his clandestine spy activities. What I did find refreshingly unique was S...more
ZaBeth
Brenda Joyce’s second book in her Spymaster’s Men series, Persuasion, delivers everything you want in a historical romance: international intrigue, a brooding handsome hero, and a headstrong heroine.
Set in the midst of the French revolution, Joyce has all the heroes of this series playing a dangerous spy game for the British spymaster Sebastian Warlock. Warlock’s only concern is winning the war for his country and he isn’t above using his niece Amelia Greystone to achieve his goals. Especially...more
Judith
3.75 out of 5. Another entertaining book from a fine writer, but not as consistently "on target" as some of her other work. Second in a series, it has some highs and lows, and I wasn't really all that jazzed by the hero. Bit mess of a life, but he's not a man who has managed his life well, and now finds himself in a web of deceit and intrigue. The heroine was a plucky woman who appears to be something of a push-over, but I think she was a person who put aside her own dreams and plans for the sak...more
Ashlee Hollowell
I did enjoy parts of this book though I can't say it is my favorite. I have found myself dabbling in this genre more and more and this is definitely not one of my top reads. I didn't care for how helpless and carelessly in love the main character was. In many of the more historically based books I find woman to be adorned and found to be these amazingly beautiful creatures that are fragile and should be treated with every bit of manners as possible. However in this book I felt that the woman was...more
Kirsti
Another day, another regency/historical romance down. Although this one wasn't perfect or unique, it was still enjoyable. Amelia is a bit of a different heroine, having already been in love with the hero, Simon, ten years before. It didn't work out then, but maybe they will be given a second chance if only Simon could get himself out of the bind he is in.

This was a very fast read, and I think I'd like to track down more of the author's work. I'd like to know the story of some of the other charac...more
Jessica
This is the second book in her Spymaster series. I have not read the first book and honestly don’t feel it is necessary to read the first in order to read this. It is very much a standalone book. I like Brenda Joyce as an author especially her historical books (The Francesca Cahill series is one of my favorites), but she falls flat with Persuasion.

Joyce has always been a good one to turn to for having your senses teased. Her earlier books are filled with such heart pounding, sexual tension that...more
Chanpreet
Amelia Greystone is in Cornwall when she finds out the Countess of St.Just, her closest neighbor has died giving birth, leaving behind three little ones. Amelia realizes, Simon, the Earl of St.Just, the same man who broke her heart 10 years ago when he left without a word, will be returning to Cornwall for the first time since then. Amelia being softhearted sees the grieving children and the changed and disturbed Earl, takes a job as his housekeeper. Simon is suffering from nightmares and parano...more
Tien
I’m feeling sad, at the moment, because I’ve finished reading this book! Seriously, it’s 393 pages but it really didn’t feel like it. I thought I was in a rut as I found myself reading one paranormal romance after another and I started this book (courtesy of Netgalley) without much expectation. The first 100 pages flew by and I had to force myself to put it down to go to sleep early this morning. I kept sneak-reading this book for the rest of today and I couldn’t believe I’ve finished it.

I don’t...more
Caz
I wrote this review ages ago and somehow forgot to post it!

The story begins in 1794 with the “Reign of Terror” that followed the storming of the Bastille in full flow, and Simon Grenville languishing in prison, awaiting execution. He gains his freedom by making a terrible bargain, but he knows it’s the only thing he can do to buy himself some time and to protect the lives of his children.

The opening scenes are detailed and atmospheric – you can almost smell the reek of the prison, and the author...more
Daisy
Title/Author: Persuasion (The Spymaster's Men #2) by Brenda Joyce
Publisher/Date published: HQN Books, July 24 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads summary: "Betrayal Tore Them Apart
Amelia Greystone was deeply in love when the earl of St. Just abruptly ended his courtship and left Cornwall ten years earlier. So she is stunned when Simon returns, recently widowed. Now she must forget the past they shared and his betrayal and console him as any neighbo...more
Cristina Contilli
Apr 30, 2013 Cristina Contilli is currently reading it
Un eroe bastardo, ma non troppo... e un'eroina che lo perdona solo nel momento in cui lo merita...

Questa in sintesi la trama di questo romance che segue uno schema caro alla Joyce i cui eroi spesso ad inizio romanzo appaiono sicuri di sé, quasi supponenti e anche un po' bastari, però, poi, con il procedere della storia imparano ad ammettere i propri errori o comunque le proprie debolezze fino a meritare il lieto fine... e l'amore dell'eroina femminile del libro...
Carrie Olguin
Way too melodramatic for me. Suffered through chapter 16 before I finally gave up. I found the plot comeplling. But the main characters react way over the top of normal. The heroine, who is supposed to be the housekeeper is nosey and annoying. The pace is slow with and by chapter 16, the hero hasn't actually done anything but worry - instead of taking control of the situation and his life.

So, I moved on to another book.
Amanda
Amelia has got to be the most dull-as-dishwater, meddlesome, loyal-to-stupidity, love-sick, sickeningly devoted, gag-worthy heroine I've ever read. Seriously. There were over a dozen times I wished I could reach through the book to slap her silly. I could not identify with her at all and I only finished the book out of sheer stubbornness. I was frankly hoping she'd get killed at the end.
Sam
When you build a character around the premise that she's really, really good at keeping secrets, you might not want to have her spill her guts to friends, relatives and whomever happens to be strolling nearby on the very next page. Makes your characterization weak and the character unlikeable.

Laura
Not a bad storyline, but a little on the mild side.

Also, I feel like so many of these novels drag out until everything happens, at all once, at the end. Give me a little closure!
Gloria75
3 stelline e mezzo!!
La storia non è male ma a tratti un po' ripetitiva, pochi colpi di scena.
Altri libri di questa autrice mi avevano entusiasmato di più.
JoAnne
To read my review on Romancing-the-Book.com click on the link below:

http://romancing-the-book.com/2012/09...
Lori Howe
Spymaster's rule! Well, actually, Amelia and her high self-esteem and outspoken, straight forward talking rule. Talk about a tortured hero.
Erica
This one was a lot better then the first one in the series. It kept me on my toes with what was going to happen next! Really like this one!
Foggygirl
Yet another midly amusing and entertaining read with yet another broody lead male character but thankfully the female lead in this book wasn't a ninny!
Desiree
The story was good, but Amelia kind of grated on my nerves a bit. i couldnt fisnish it. I think the book wasnt for me.
GONZA
I still do not know why I asked this book from NG, the first one I found so boring and this is even worse.
THANK TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW
Danielle
I could not make it through this one. Very slow and slightly all over the place.
Harlequin Historical
Miniseries: The Spymaster's Men
Category: Historical Romance
Barbara
Great care free love story
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Persuasion (The Spymaster's Men #2)
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Brenda Joyce is the bestselling author of forty-one novels and five novellas. She has won many awards, and her debut novel, Innocent Fire, won a Best Western Romance award. She has also won the highly coveted Best Historical Romance award for Splendor and Two Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romantic Times BOOKreviews. There are over 14 million copies of her novels in print and she is published in...more
More about Brenda Joyce...
Dark Rival (Masters of Time, #2) Dark Seduction (Masters of Time, #1) Dark Embrace (Rose Trilogy, #1; Masters of Time Series, #3) The Conqueror Dark Victory (Rose Trilogy, #2; Masters of Time, #4)

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