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The Countess Conspiracy

(Brothers Sinister #3)

Courtney Milan (Goodreads Author)

3.93 · Rating details · 10,295 ratings · 1,277 reviews

Sebastian Malheur is the most dangerous sort of rake: an educated one. When he’s not scandalizing ladies in the bedchamber, he’s outraging proper society with his scientific theories. He’s desired, reviled, acclaimed, and despised—and he laughs through it all.

Violet Waterfield, the widowed Countess of Cambury, on the other hand, is entirely respectable, and she’d like to s ...more

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ebook, 309 pages

Published December 16th 2013 by Courtney Milan

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Jan 09, 2014 Navessa rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, non-ragebeast-male-lead, arc, divisive-characters

I have never met a woman more in need of a mind-blowing orgasm than Violet Waterfield.

This MC was wound so tight that I just wanted to hand her a vibrator and tell her not to come out of her room until she’d rattled that stick out of her ass. Too bad there weren’t any to be had in Victorian England or the beginning of this book might have been less frustrating.

So Violet is a female scientist in a time where even women didn’t think that they should be educated. Instead of publishing her work he ...more

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Feb 19, 2016 Al George rated it liked it

What is wrong with me that I did not like you more?

frustrated

Like everyone else seems to think this is the ultimate in tortured love. Dammit, I love me some tortured love - I'm looking at you Laura Kinsale. But this, was apparently above my pay grade.

Setting / Time / Genre: London. Sorta regency. Did they have an underground in regency times? Am I missing something here? Is this set in a different time?

Series: Third

Sexy times: They knock boots once and have a little OP. Nothing racy.

Plan on reading mo ...more

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Mar 22, 2017 Jilly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction

I was waiting for this book. After all, there was a rake as the hero - Sebastian. Plus, he was all yearning for his bff, Violet. We met these two in previous books and they were great together - totally hilarious. So, I loved them, but then there was something slightly missing.

Burrito!

I don't know what it was exactly. Can't put my finger on it, but the chemistry wasn't as volatile as I would have liked. Maybe because our rake was super gentlemanly and took things very very slowly. Which was good ...more

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Apr 19, 2012 ♡Karlyn P♡ rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, genre-historical, heroine-bluestocking, steam-warm, hero-beta

4 'Brilliant!' Stars

The Countess Conspiracy tells a fascinating story about a woman who has to hide her superior intelligence in order to maintain respectability, and a man who loves her so much he struggles with having to keep her secret.

Violet and Sebastian are such different character types than what I normally read in a historical. She is the female equivalent of a mad scientist. He is a beta-hero, and man enough to love her for her brains as well as her heart. The romance was slower than so ...more

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Jul 07, 2018 Sam (AMNReader) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2018, book-hangover, historical, hrbc-mad-about-series, best-heroine, high-rating-reread-project, to-be-reread, read-in-2019, read-in-2021, heroes-to-lick

A not insignificant portion of me that believes you can’t choose between your children meanwhile says “you don’t have to like them all the same, you just have to love them,” (Sam’s grandma, probably from 1955-1989) says this may not be my favorite I believe it is Milan’s best.

as long as she stayed still, nobody would discover the truth

I guess it’s fair to mention I have not read all of her novels either. Honestly, that’s partially because I’m in constant discovery mode over Brothers Sinister. ...more

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Jan 03, 2014 Jill rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-4-5-5-stars, historical-romance-european

4.5 stars

Romanorum Perfectus!

description

Viola odorata or Sweet violet

For every woman whose name has disappeared without recognition.

Violet Waterfield, Countess of Cambury, widow, married previously for eleven years. Sebastian Malheur, her oldest and closest friend, and confidante. Secrets. Violet's got them. Sebastian's got a big one he can't share with Violet. And together Violet and Sebastian share a secret. Should it ever be disclosed, they'll both be ruined.

No one does layered like Ms Milan. Th ...more

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Sep 15, 2015 Heather K (dentist in my spare time) rated it liked it

Shelves: narrator-amazing, audiobook, romance, m-f, full-of-angst, historical

*3.5 stars*

At times very, very good, but it also dragged on for me like none in the series before it. It seemed endless at certain moments, and I wasn't sure that I loved Violet.

Still, these characters were amazingly complex (even the side characters, very much so), but it felt a little like it tried to do too much for one book.

Another great audio reading, though, and I will most certainly be continuing on in the series! ...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Caz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance-other-time-period, arc, romance-1850-1900s

This has been a very difficult review to write. Some of them seem to trip off the fingers and some… don’t, and this was one of the latter. It’s a complex and clearly a heart-felt book on the part of the author with so much going on that it was hard to decide what to put in and what to leave out. In the end, I’ve gone with the “write less” option (unusual for me, I know!) because the review has already taken me about three times longer to write than it did to read the book!

The shortest version ...more

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Aug 19, 2014 Ingie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-read-2014, romance-m-f-audio, romance-m-f-historical, series-standalone-stories

Written November 3, 2014

4 1/2 Sprakling Stars - Enchanting and so beautifully told. Yet another amazing Milan historical for us romantic (mature) readers.

Book #3

A buddyread, she read and I listened to the audiobook, with my sweet and wise friend Sofia.

Hurray, this is all so clever and well done.
I'm sure you already guessed that I love these historicals in the Brother Sinister series by Courtney Milan. This was my fifth. ~ And I'm once again an applause and whistling admirer.

My reviews: (vi ...more

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Jul 18, 2013 Susanne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: double-decker, perfect-for-me, borrow-library, genre-historical-romance, quality

Courtney Milan has a true gift! This is a strong and emotional book. The first part broke my heart. And it ends with the most beautiful happy ending!

It is a story about Violet and Sebastian. Sebastian is one of the world's greatest minds, only it is really Violet. She is conducting brilliant research in a time where women is not allowed to study at university, and society shuns intelligent women. I absolutely adored this part. Sebastian has presenter ~~her~~ their work for several years because he a ...more

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Oct 18, 2020 Bethany rated it it was amazing

I guess I'm basically just a Courtney Milan fangirl now? This is the third installment in the Brothers Sinister series and I loved it. If you want smart, strong heroines, heroes who are well developed and strong without being alpha males, and really high quality writing then you should absolutely check her out.

The Countess Conspiracy follows Sebastien Mallheur, infamous rake and scientist with scandalous theories about inheritance. Except he has a secret...most of the scientific work is not his ...more

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Dec 18, 2013 Chrysoula Tzavelas rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical, romance, victorian

This is exactly the kind of romance novel I want from an ex-law professor with a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry. It is smart, historical, poignant and lovely. The romance in it reminded me of my own wonderful husband and both made me understand him a bit better and made me a bit braver.

It is about a scientist, inventing the study of inheritance a few decades early, in the 1860s. Because she is a woman, nobody will even read her ideas, and so she works with a man to get her id ...more

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May 12, 2012 KatLynne rated it really liked it

Shelves: keeper, heroine-with-backbone-smart-strong, 2013-reads, g-historical-romance, mild-steam, friends-to-lovers, one-of-my-favorite-series, one-of-my-fav-authors

… For Rosalind Franklin, whose name we know. For Anna Clausen, who I discovered while working on this book. For every woman whose name has disappeared without recognition. This book is for you. ~~~Courtney Milan~~~

The Countess Conspiracy is the third book in the Brothers Sinister series. Here we get Sebastian Malheur and Violet Waterfield’s story. Milan’s incredible talent is stamped throughout and after reading the above dedication, I was excited to begin.

Sebastian is a charming, intelligent ...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Mary - Buried Under Romance rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-romances

HOLY. I fear my mind may never be the same again. What an incredibly piece of work...my sleep deprived brain cannot write a worthy review right now. But be forewarned, it will be long.

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Jun 03, 2013 Heidi Hart rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical, dangerous-secret, good-supporting-characters, hero-in-pursuit, hero-heroine-in-disguise, feminist-issues, friends-to-lovers

A brief personal anecdote before I get to my review. I promise, this is relevant to my point. Being lesbians, my wife and I did not have our sons in the usual fashion. (Well, maybe we did, in the usual fashion for lesbians, but you know what I mean.) It took my wife nine cycles of IUI (colloquially known as "the turkey baster method," though it's much more clinical than that), followed by two cycles of IVF, followed by a rough pregnancy plagued with health scares until our son arrived a month ea A brief personal anecdote before I get to my review. I promise, this is relevant to my point. Being lesbians, my wife and I did not have our sons in the usual fashion. (Well, maybe we did, in the usual fashion for lesbians, but you know what I mean.) It took my wife nine cycles of IUI (colloquially known as "the turkey baster method," though it's much more clinical than that), followed by two cycles of IVF, followed by a rough pregnancy plagued with health scares until our son arrived a month early after an emergency c-section. It took me only 5 cycles of IUI, which seems easy by comparison, but then my pregnancy was just as rough, I got put on bed rest six weeks before my due date, and our youngest son also arrived early by emergency caesarian. Neither of us suffered a miscarriage, but we know many, many people who do, and we both lived in abject terror of such a loss throughout every. single. day. of our pregnancies.

All of this by way of background for this point: I could not have read this book if I had still been in the middle of the emotional roller coaster of disappointment and grief and loss and fear that was the process of trying to conceive, or if I, like so many women, had experienced a pregnancy loss, and so my number one gripe with The Countess Conspiracy is that it doesn't warn readers that it deals with these issues. The heroine, Violet, suffered nineteen miscarriages before her husband died, and the first half (HALF!) of the book hints that she's had some tragedy but doesn't reveal it until you're already invested in the story, and in my opinion that's unfair. For me, pregnancy loss is like rape: a lot of people have been through it, a lot of people are deeply impacted by the reminder of it, and those people deserve a warning before they buy the book. (That's why I didn't put a spoiler warning there. It's not like the big secret is all that critical to the plot. The dramatic conflict stems not from the fact of Violet's past miscarriages but on how she deals with them in the present.)

Even setting aside that fairly major objection, though, this story really didn't work for me, which is so disappointing because I love Courtney Milan and I love everything else that she's written, and also because the lovers in this book, Violet and Sebastian, were introduced in the previous two Brothers Sinister books and I was really looking forward to their story. In those previous books, they were sharp-tongued and funny, so I was expecting a fun, sharp, friends-to-lovers (one of my favorite tropes) story. Alas, this was not fun, not sharp, and though I bought the friendship, I wasn't feeling the romance.

Sebastian is known throughout Victorian England as the preeminent expert on the science of inheritance (after Charles Darwin). He lectures extensively and is both admired and reviled (because of the risqué nature of his studies). Yet we learn in the opening chapter that he's actually a mouthpiece of Violet, who made all of the discoveries but can't lecture or teach because, as a woman, no one would pay any attention to her. Sebastian is tired of living this lie, and tells Violet he won't present her work anymore. He also tells her he's in love with her. Violet doesn't believe him, because he's a rake (she says, though we've never seen, in three books, any evidence of true rakishness), and because she copes with her secret traumatic past (nineteen miscarriages) by squelching messy emotions, and Sebastian's declaration of love is nothing if not messy.

I really didn't like the early conversations between Sebastian and Violet after his declaration, because she kept misunderstanding him and/or misinterpreting his words. It was very frustrating because I don't like big misunderstandings where an honest conversation could solve the problem, and here Sebastian was trying to have honest communication and Violet kept twisting his words and mistrusting his motives. That made her seem really irrational, which doesn't make sense where she was supposed to be a brilliant scientist. It also made her seem crazy and bitchy, which makes it hard for me to get in her corner and care about the outcome of her story.

Even after Violet's gotten on board and begins to return Sebastian's regard, her communication skills suck.
(view spoiler)
I have no patience with that, because it makes me dislike and mistrust the character, and also it's usually a lazy way to boost dramatic conflict.

The other thing I didn't like about this book is that it didn't deal with Violet's history of infertility and pregnancy loss in a way that felt real to me. First, nineteen miscarriages just seems way, way over the top -- two or three would have served the same narrative purpose. No one's tragic backstory needs to be that tragic. Second, both Violet and Sebastian talk about the miscarriages as times when Violet was sick, and they talk about the physical toll on her health but never of the psychological impact of such losses. I never had the sense that Violet grieved for those lost babies or what might have been, and maybe that was a defense mechanism, but it seemed unbelievably cold and kept me from relating to her as a character. (I grieved, in a small but very real way, during each and every failed IUI or IVF cycle; I grieved for the missed opportunity for those babies, and I can only imagine how much greater my grief would have been if I'd experienced an actual loss.)

I appreciate that Violet and Sebastian would be worried about finding safe ways to be intimate, but that's only half of the problem. They have to avoid more miscarriages, yes, but they also have to deal with the present reality that Violet is infertile. She can't have babies. If Sebastian marries her, he can't have an heir. Now, I know not everyone wants and needs babies, and that's fine, but as a reader, I needed them to have that conversation so that I could believe they'd really thought things through and were on the same page for the long haul into happily ever after, and they didn't.

I did like Sebastian's relationship with his brother, and I liked Violet's mom, but these were minor subplots that don't go near far enough to overcome my other problems with the book.

...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-books

I’m fast running out of superlatives to describe Courtney Milan’s books. Every time I pick up one of her books, I’m swept away by her innovative stories, her fascinating characters, her brilliant writing and her ability to layer her stories with historical detail and thought-provoking social commentary. THE COUNTESS CONSPIRACY has all this plus a poignant and deeply emotional love story.

This book is so intricately layered with complex relationships and flawed characters that I’ve found it diffic ...more

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Jan 01, 2014 Mandi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical

This book is SO good. So, so good.

Due to events in her past (which are revealed - and make it so devastating) Violet feels unworthy of basically anything - unlovable, untouchable - she is disgusted by herself.

Her best friend (who is also considered a rake) is Sebastian. He tells her early on in the book he is in love with her - but they both know she can't handle it. He can't even touch her hand without her having an extreme reaction.

So he waits. He ever so patiently starts to court her. AND IT ...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Lady Wesley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amz-rev, 2013-faves, arc, arc-rev, playing-chess-not-checkers, rita-2014, fave-favorites

Wow! Just wow! Ten stars. A hundred and ten stars, even.

Courtney Milan never disappoints, and she is really on a roll with the Brothers Sinister series. The publisher's blurb sets up the story nicely: Sebastian is famous for his scientific theories on natural selection, and Violet is his childhood friend and helpmeet. Except, really she's the genius, and Sebastian is tired and a bit ashamed of fronting for her.

We often read of tortured heroes, but Violet is a tortured heroine, and your heart hur ...more

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Jan 02, 2017 Mariana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance-the-book-club, widow, bluestocking, friends-to-lovers, victorian

Enjoyable Read

Courtney Milan does a great job of portraying strong smart women in her Historical Romances. Although rakes are not my favorite heroes, Sebastian Malheur's patient love made him more likable than his charm. ...more

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Dec 15, 2015 Obsidian rated it liked it

Shelves: buddy-read, romance-book-buddy-reading

Re-read as of 1-08-19
I did this as a Buddy Read with "Romance Book Buddy Reading" group on Goodreads.

Good lord, I got nothing. I just realized why this was my least favorite of the Brothers Sinister books. Sebastian and Violet are tedious, all of the science parts did my head in completely, and Violet's sister is written inconsistently. The way she is initially framed in the story is being protective of her daughter, then Sebastian calls her a viper, and we get a scene where Violet's sister is u Re-read as of 1-08-19
I did this as a Buddy Read with "Romance Book Buddy Reading" group on Goodreads.

Good lord, I got nothing. I just realized why this was my least favorite of the Brothers Sinister books. Sebastian and Violet are tedious, all of the science parts did my head in completely, and Violet's sister is written inconsistently. The way she is initially framed in the story is being protective of her daughter, then Sebastian calls her a viper, and we get a scene where Violet's sister is upset about her daughter getting an education, and her sister becoming known as an educated woman with "theories". Spare me.

The only thing I loved in this book and wish had been played up more is that we get to figure out what really happened to Violet's now dead husband.

Sadly I liked these two in the other two books in the series, I was shocked as anyone that their standalone left me cold.

Older review:
So I finished up the Brothers Sinister series a few months ago. I really didn't gel with this book as well as I did with books #1 and #2. Probably because the main characters in this book, Violet and Sebastian were not as funny and quick witted as they were in books #1 and #2. I absolutely adored these two in the first book and was chomping at the bit to get to their story. It was somewhat a let down though I ultimately did enjoy the book.

I actually loved the overarching plot of Sebastian refusing to play along with Violet's ruse that he is the person behind all of the recent scientific discoveries concerning flowers and cross pollination. To find out that Violet and other women of her time were actually the true geniuses and allowed their husbands or lovers to receive accolades for things that they really were not discoverers of was intriguing. It also made me want to read more stories about women like this.

But the romance between Violet and Sebastian really did not feel earned at all. Violet's self pity was such a turn off to me that I was exhausted by her. I really didn't get the whole thing with her not telling her mother or sister what was going on with her and what went on in her first marriage. The end reveal about the mother totally came out of left field, and seriously didn't seem like something the character would do based on the way that she was painted in the book.

Sebastian acted like a teenager the entire book. His anger at Violet because he was in love with her and her not wanting him was just ridiculous. I got his anger at the conspiracy that was going on since it was hard for him to be ridiculed and hated by so many people when all Sebastian wanted in life was for everyone to be happy and to be liked. I wish that we had spent more time on Sebastian's relationship with his older brother and nephew since I found Sebastian doing his best to show that he was grown up and done with dabbling in science in order to make himself a more appropriate guardian to his nephew a very interesting subplot.

Characters from the first two books show up and man oh man none of the guys come across very well at all. Robert (The Duchess War) and Oliver (The Heiress Effect) are clueless on how they come across and pretty crass towards the character of Violet. Frankly I was surprised since they both are married to two women who are definitely not typical of women in that time. I was glad Sebastian cursed them both out.

The writing was top notch per usual, but the flow was all over the place. I think it was because I was tired of Violet's never ending woe is me parade. I was tired of reading about Sebastian trying to convince her of his love and her worth. I needed some red hot romance and there really was none to be had her for the most part.

The ending was kind of meh in my mind. ...more

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Feb 04, 2017 Wollstonecrafthomegirl rated it really liked it

This was one of the first romances I read. I'm sure if I had reviewed it then I would've given it five stars, because Milan was such a revelation and it was so different to anything else I'd read at that point. That said, this was my first full reread and I'm not sure it holds up to a five star rating, hence me dropping it to 4.5 stars. Fantastic book though.

I love the plot here. It's very Victorian - a story occurring up and down the country at the time - men taking credit for women's work in t This was one of the first romances I read. I'm sure if I had reviewed it then I would've given it five stars, because Milan was such a revelation and it was so different to anything else I'd read at that point. That said, this was my first full reread and I'm not sure it holds up to a five star rating, hence me dropping it to 4.5 stars. Fantastic book though.

I love the plot here. It's very Victorian - a story occurring up and down the country at the time - men taking credit for women's work in the sciences. In this case it's not coercive but agreed between our H/h, Sebastian and Violet. Layered onto to that, Milan manages to capture the Victorian moral panic about progression in the sciences and the fear that it might be corrosive to traditional social structures. It makes for a great premise to the book. You can feel Sebastian's frustration with the arrangement and I'm still enamoured of the opening - the first exchange between them includes Sebastian telling Violet to fuck off, it's a helluva way to start.

I think there are a few too many things going on in the plot. The marbles, Violet's sister, Sebastian's brother, the trip to the seaside, the journey at the end. Elements could have been taken away and the book would lose nothing.

At its centre, my favourite type of heroine: prickly and brilliant. Violet has a tragic background and it's made her fold in on herself. Science is her life and as far as she's concerned she's done with love and romance after her tragic first marriage. Her characterisation is deeply complicated and multi-layered. And here I pause for a criticism - perhaps too much. There are the issues with her marriage, her mother, her father, her sister and those with her mother and the deportment book, really felt like too much. I think taking an element away here makes the characterisation clearer and stronger. Still: she's awesome. And anyone who disputes romance can be feminist need look no further than Violet (and, indeed, this whole book).

Then there's Sebastian. An affable rake, meandering his way through life, happy to play the part of gentleman scientist because he's in love with Violet. Until he's not. Responsibility comes knocking and he sees that he cannot live the lie anymore. Sebastian is kind of a beta hero. He's sort of perfect and now I consider it his real role is to midwife Violet through the changes in her character. His characterisation is actually a little inconsistent. The whole thing with his brother felt rather unresolved - I didn't buy that Violet could simply convince him out of his opinion. But I still adore Sebastian because of how he loves Violet and how he treats her.

On which note, I love that these two talk to one another. It would be easy for Sebastian to hang back and let his unrequited love go unrequited whilst we the reader waited for Violet to figure it out and fall into his arms. None of that. Sebastian just tells her and then puts absolutely no pressure on her.

The sex is hawt as hell and super duper consent centric.

Perhaps most importantly, the romance is wonderful. I cannot explain how much you are rooting for these two. There is serious chemistry between them, even with Violet's issues and the sexual tension winds up to an extreme level by the time they have their first sexual encounter. Again, one might imagine that would be removed by a mutual declaration of feelings, but it's not, it's amped up.

As I said, I have some criticisms here, but I'm grading on a Milan curve, and I still think anyone who enjoys romance should definitely read this book, it's great. ...more

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May 21, 2013 Nakeesha rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-romance, arcs

As a romance heroine, Violet fails miserably. But! As a pioneeress of science she is a TRIUMPH!

As a romance character Violet was all over the place. She was characterized as being sharp, prickly, cold and out of place, but I never saw that in any of the previous books where she made an appearance. In this book she denied herself any love or compassion but she depended on her sister needing her. She was used (in the worst way) by her deceased husband and felt selfish because of it. She tried to As a romance heroine, Violet fails miserably. But! As a pioneeress of science she is a TRIUMPH!

As a romance character Violet was all over the place. She was characterized as being sharp, prickly, cold and out of place, but I never saw that in any of the previous books where she made an appearance. In this book she denied herself any love or compassion but she depended on her sister needing her. She was used (in the worst way) by her deceased husband and felt selfish because of it. She tried to make herself disappear, most notably behind Sebastian as he accepted credit for her brilliance. I couldn't get a handle on her outside of her lab. She made complete and total sense in her greenhouse and inside her head as she thought and pieced together the workings of things. You saw how Violet and her work were perfct puzzle pieces that had to be ripped apart in order to come together for an HEA. In that respect she was a perfect heroine fighting for her work to come to light.

Sebastian was very typical. I didn't dislike him, but he didn't leap off the page as Hugo, Robert and Oliver did. Each of these heroes were very distinct and had their own flair. I could easily pick them out of a line up with just one word of dialogue. Sadly, I don't feel confident that I'd get the right man if Sebastian was on that line. I was confused as to his motivations as the story started. Was he in love? Was it only lust? He had been characterized as being mischievous and a jokester in the other books but then the first words out of his mouth were "Fuck you, Violet." I didn't know what to think.

This really wasn't a love story, IMO. Milan had a brilliant story to tell about science and women's hidden roles in science, and believe me its brilliant! You can see how she lovingly laid the foundation and ground work for this big reveal. I'd read it again just for that story. But it didn't work as a love story. Not because Violet and Sebastian didn't belong together. They did. It was obvious. The science and what I saw as Milan's obvious enthusiasm for the science and Violet's hand in it far outshine Sebastian's pursuit of her hand.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 17, 2013 Beanbag Love rated it really liked it

I finished this days ago and forgot to update. Such are the holidays. So be forewarned, the following review is a bit of a ramble.

There were parts I liked in the Countess Conspiracy and parts that annoyed me. I admit to too many interruptions during the beginning of my read so it was hard to warm up to the heroine. She was too much of a basketcase and I didn't have enough information to want to follow her.

Violet is an honorary member of the Brothers Sinister. Two of the "brothers" are half-bro I finished this days ago and forgot to update. Such are the holidays. So be forewarned, the following review is a bit of a ramble.

There were parts I liked in the Countess Conspiracy and parts that annoyed me. I admit to too many interruptions during the beginning of my read so it was hard to warm up to the heroine. She was too much of a basketcase and I didn't have enough information to want to follow her.

Violet is an honorary member of the Brothers Sinister. Two of the "brothers" are half-brothers and one, Sebastian, is a cousin. All are left-handed. Violet is right-handed but she's known Sebastian and Robert since childhood and has always been their friend and ally. Hence her honorary designation.

Sebastian is a well-known scientific philosopher, breaking the riddles of inherited traits and doing scandalous presentations that include mention of the sex organs of plants and even animals. He's got a huge following and packs every presentation he gives. But he's got a secret he's tired of keeping. One that includes Violet. And that's where we begin the story.

I already loved Sebastian, but he ultimately ended up a little bit of a doormat, unfortunately. A theme I'm seeing in several books I've read this year. Not my favorite. He's great, though. And I do believe that Violet loves him incredibly. They have chemistry. There just wasn't a lot of passion.

Which brings me to a problem that's kind of bizarre for me. Not enough sex. I'm always complaining the opposite, but sex is important in this one, so I felt like we needed to see that side of their relationship a little more. To believe everything really is okay for all involved.

By a certain point I was completely enthralled. When we finally got all the information we need about Violet, I was full of empathy. It works on that level. The best scene in the book, though, is a later one between Violet and her mother. It should really be one of the many scenes between her and Sebastian if I'm going to feel really romantic about this book.

Sebastian is not appreciated as much as he should be. Thankfully, Violet is the only one who gets how precious he is and she's not quiet about it. Their friendship is a great foundation for their romance ... if only the passion had been there. The love is easy to believe. The companionship a given. I just wanted more oomph in the romance.

And then it ends. Too quickly for me. I don't know if there's another one after this (Oliver's sister played a part in this one) but I felt the epilogue could have been more comprehensive if this is the last of the series.

Of the series so far I liked the second one -- The Heiress Effect -- the best. It's Milan, though, so all the books are going to have great scenes and pithy, amusing banter. And that's always good. ...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Keri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance-historical, 2010s-read, aar-top-100-for-2018

Courtney Milan has never been an author that is going to write about a typical hero/heroine or situation. This book was no exception. Sebastian has a secret that he has been carrying for many years and he can no longer bear the weight of the secret. So when he lets his best friend Violet know that he will no longer present her papers as his, Violet is devastated. She thinks Sebastian will come around and things can go back to normal. But of course they don’t because he drops an even bigger bomb ...more

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Jan 12, 2014 UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance, must-read-author, own-have-read, must-read-series, 5-stars, format-ebook, 2014-reads, author-courtney-milan, provided-by-author, series-brothers-sinister

As with all of Courtney Milan's stories, I finished The Countess Conspiracy with a smile on my face and a contented sigh in my heart! It's fun, romantic, poignant, inspiring... all the things that make reading such a delight!

Full review to come....

A copy of this lovely story was provided by Ms. Milan. ...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Rachna R rated it it was amazing

This was fucking magic. My favourite thing about Milan is that I'm always aware of the fact that she super-respects women and people in general, and that translates into things that show you she's keeping not just her characters but also her audience in mind. it's just a comfort, to me. and having that guarantee would've been enough on its own, except this book was basically everything I've ever, ever wanted from a romance about two people who've known each other forever? their shorthand, not ju This was fucking magic. My favourite thing about Milan is that I'm always aware of the fact that she super-respects women and people in general, and that translates into things that show you she's keeping not just her characters but also her audience in mind. it's just a comfort, to me. and having that guarantee would've been enough on its own, except this book was basically everything I've ever, ever wanted from a romance about two people who've known each other forever? their shorthand, not just in terms of actual secret codes but their emotional shortcuts and easiness with each other; their automatic defense of each other and steadiness and kindness. Their history together is lovely without being overtly commented on or talked about - it's just there for you to just look at a little. (Side-note - fucking loved the way Oliver and Robert fit into their friendship here - the back-to-back scenes of Sebastian and then Violet with them were everything I've always loved about best friends in love stories. I also love that O&R are both utterly dense about knowing how they feel about each other. boys, I swear to god.) I love how much they're on the same level, not just emotionally but in terms of the way they understand each other? And intelligence-wise, with her being the obviously brilliant one but him also picking up enough to be able to engage her and talk about things with her? (Their beach date!!!!) I adored the fact that any point there was for conflict didn't come of a lack of trust or respect between the two of them - it was just a matter of redefining, shifting the way they interact with each other. It's so calm and lovely and low-key. It's fucking wonderful. I'm now genuinely worried I have a friends-to-lovers book I'll judge all other regency romances against, because nothing may match up.

On top of that - Violet, VIOLET, I ADORED her, maybe my favourite Milan heroine so far. I loved her so much I don't know how to talk about her. And Sebastian is almost definitely my favourite Milan hero - him in particular I was delighted by, because it would be so easy to excuse him for things he could do under the guise of his likability and his being in love with her for years, but it never comes to that - he's such a GOOD DUDE, without being a Good Dude; he has little sad things for sure but he is so good about knowing where he is justified in feeling something and where he should draw the line.

I usually love the way Milan handles outside pressures and relationships, so it's no surprise that Violet's interactions with Lily and Sebastian's with Benedict both struck a chord with me, though I'm also really pleased it didn't make me choke up beyond reason - it didn't feel manipulative or forced. Milan is so good about showing how these pressures can make a person, too.

Plot-wise I just loved everything in this book. Romance-wise. Everything. I loved everything about this book. I can't talk about it anymore. ...more

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Jul 23, 2014 steph rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-book, lots-of-characters, books-read-in-2014, books-with-earls-dukes-viscounts, romance-historical, made-me-grin-like-a-lovesick-fool, books-read-in-2020, romance, books-with-ladies-duchesses-visco, favorites

October 2020:

I read this twice. In a six day span.

I mean that. There was something so captivating about this book that I re-read it last week in like a day and half, waited another day and then picked it up and started reading it again because I couldn't get this couple and their love story out of my mind. I NEVER DO THAT. Ever. I am staring at my large TBR pile as I type this. But there was something so captivating about these characters that I had to go back and re-read. And I am glad I did be October 2020:

I read this twice. In a six day span.

I mean that. There was something so captivating about this book that I re-read it last week in like a day and half, waited another day and then picked it up and started reading it again because I couldn't get this couple and their love story out of my mind. I NEVER DO THAT. Ever. I am staring at my large TBR pile as I type this. But there was something so captivating about these characters that I had to go back and re-read. And I am glad I did because you know what, I think this story is a lot more satisfying upon a second or third read.

I will be the first one to admit that initially Violet is a hard character to like, to root for. She doesn't come off very friendly or charming on at first glance. Sebastian however....the man full of mirth and easy smiles and jokes? I was into him from page five but Violet was a tougher nut to crack. She is, as she admits herself, full of hard edges and thorny sides. She doesn't let herself get close to others, she keeps herself walled off and the fact alone made it hard for me at first to root for her, to want her to be with Sebastian. But then she lets her guard down (finally) and we as readers finally understand why she is the way she is, why she HAS to be that way and friends, friiiiiiiiiends I fell for her so fast. Like a total 180 I was suddenly her best friend who would protect her with my life. And so when I finally closed the last page I had to start the book all over again because I had to re-meet Violet with her specific fears, worries and burdens in mind. And to watch her bloom into the woman she was always meant to become and see Sebastian be a good part of that but not the only part #ladyscientist #standingupforyourself

I am really trying to be vague here and not give away spoilers because I think this is a book best enjoyed by going into it blindly but believe me when I say that Violet and Sebastian are one of the few fictional romance couples who love, understand and respect each other completely and with no ulterior or selfish motives. Watching them fall into a relationship together after knowing each other their whole lives was amazing and something I have still not quite recovered from. I have always been a fan of the best friends to lovers trope but this book took that trope up another notch (a few notches actually) and (to quote myself from six years ago) utterly slayed me. But in the best way possible.

This is my favorite Milan book. Hands down.

July 2014:I ended up buying this because I couldn't wait for a copy to become available from the library and I'm so glad I did because ohmygod, VIOLET AND SEBASTIAN. I knew I was already going to love them from the previous novels but their story here just slayed me. Utterly destroyed me. Just sooooo, so, sooooo good. I don't know what else to say. It was fantastic. ...more

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May 16, 2018 Anuradha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: if you're looking with chick lit with substance.

Recommended to Anuradha by: The Duchess War

Shelves: all-the-stars-in-the-universe, drama-drama-drama, ro-ro-romance, ankles-are-sexy, all-da-feeeeels, favourites, pleasantly-surprised, favourite-authors, historical-novels, heaven-and-hell

This was going to be a three-star read...till about 50% in. The characters annoyed me to no end in the beginning, but much like the previous Courtney Milan I read, there was a depth to the story that I don't usually see in HR. Milan's characters are markedly different, but in a good way. They aren't adorkable or clumsy or manic pixie etc. etc. They have real issues and deal with real problems.

Have you seen the television show Masters of Sex? This book is something like that. Violet Waterfield i This was going to be a three-star read...till about 50% in. The characters annoyed me to no end in the beginning, but much like the previous Courtney Milan I read, there was a depth to the story that I don't usually see in HR. Milan's characters are markedly different, but in a good way. They aren't adorkable or clumsy or manic pixie etc. etc. They have real issues and deal with real problems.

Have you seen the television show Masters of Sex? This book is something like that. Violet Waterfield is the foremost researcher in plant and animal reproduction and sexuality. In 19th Century London. It is seen as blasphemous to conduct such research, and that too, by a woman. So Violet's childhood best friend, Sebastian Malheur instead presents Violet's research as his own, for science. This is their arrangement. However, after one too many altercations with the conservatives, Sebastian loses his cool and calls off the agreement. To say Violet doesn't take it well would be the biggest understatement of the 19th Century. She throws some tantrums, makes some impulsive decisions, and temporarily ruins her friendship with Sebastian. That apart, Violet is also the world's most self-deprecating character. Later in the story, reasons for her behaviour are introduced, which make perfect sense, but still, during those initial pages, I found her rather annoying. But, unlike other stories (and mind you, this only happens in stories), she grows tremendously as a character, and realises her self-worth - as a woman, as a scientist, as a lover, as a friend, as a daughter, as an aunt...in general.

On the other hand, the so-called rakish Sebastian is not so rakish at all. His whoring around is the result of Violet's marriage and subsequent life, or so he claims. He is, however, a good friend and a brother, though for a large part of the story, both of these roles remain kind of underappreciated. He was an easy character to like, and was smart in his own right. Though obviously, not as much as Violet.

While providing me with the brain candy it is supposed to provide, The Countess Conspiracy also offered excellent commentary on 19th Century England, and raised great points about how women in science were viewed (and continue to be so). Oh, did I mention that Violet is older than Sebastian? It is subtle details like this that make me appreciate some chick lit as being more than they claim to be. ...more

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Jun 17, 2014 Katrina Passick Lumsden rated it really liked it

You know, I think I absolutely adore Courtney Milan's writing. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the problem with perfection is that it's a subjective virtue. Courtney Milan's books are perfect to me. They won't be to everyone. But I enjoy stories with strange characters. Characters with actual quirks. Not girls who simply trip over their own feet at every turn and then shrug and say, "That's ME!" while the author is expecting me to giggle at how adorably quirky her charact ...more

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Jan 03, 2014 Sofia rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical

Milan is a superb writer, I might not always fall totally in love with her characters, or the situations they find themselves in, might stretch my credibility, but I am in love with her writing and how she explores themes.

In the third of this series Milan gives us Violet and her partner in crime Sebastian. A true couple this one, there for each other through thick or thin. Both Violet and Sebastian are very intelligent, maybe Violet more so, but in a totally normal real life way, they are not co
Milan is a superb writer, I might not always fall totally in love with her characters, or the situations they find themselves in, might stretch my credibility, but I am in love with her writing and how she explores themes.

In the third of this series Milan gives us Violet and her partner in crime Sebastian. A true couple this one, there for each other through thick or thin. Both Violet and Sebastian are very intelligent, maybe Violet more so, but in a totally normal real life way, they are not confident in all aspects of their lives. Like us, they have parts of their lives in which they are very confident and other parts in which they are less so or have no confidence at all. I like this exploration because I see it in me and in others and I do wonder why. Our upbringing does play a huge part in this. Together with the kind of parenting we get, we have to add in, the social culture, financial situation and other familiar circumstances. These all join in, in making us a see-saw of confidence. Milan also explores the effect of our family on us, our sibling rivalry, our parents ‘voices’ in our lives. She had me nodding at lot of stuff that was going on because it remains so true regardless of the time.

Looking forward to reading the next one in the series, in fact I’ve already set up another buddy read with Ingela, my lovely companion in this one.

BR with Ingela
...more

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Romance Book Budd...: Dec 26: Countess Conspiracy	62	12	Jan 05, 2019 03:09PM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Historical Romance. Part of a series. Heroine is a widow who suffered in her first marriage. Hero is aware that she suffered, but does not know the details. Heroine is always rude to the hero, and he does not know why. SPOILER ahead. [s]	7	35	Sep 05, 2017 04:07PM
Vaginal Fantasy B...: Alt pick: The Countess Conspiracy	9	144	Sep 27, 2016 08:08PM

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About Courtney Milan

Courtney Milan

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Courtney Milan’s books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist. She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller and a RITA® winner.

Courtney lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, an exceptionally perfect dog, and an attack cat.

Before she started writing historical romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After th ...more

Other books in the series

Brothers Sinister (4 books)

Books by Courtney Milan

The Governess Affair (Brothers Sinister, #0.5)

The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister, #2)

A Kiss for Midwinter (Brothers Sinister, #1.5)

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Quotes from The Countess Cons...

“Do you want to know why you don't meet my standards?" he asked.

She shook her head in mortification.

"Too late," he replied. "Here's my most important rule: Never have intercourse when one of the parties is in love with the other. It won't end well."

She gasped. "You arrogant cad! I'm not in love with you."

"I know." He didn't look away from her. "Isn't that what I said? Only one of us is in love, and it isn't you."

Violet stared at him. Her ears appeared to be working; her brain seemed to function. Tentatively, she added two and three and verified that they still made five.” — 27 likes

“I keep everything hidden because there's nothing about my true self that anyone likes. I'm not difficult, Sebastian. I'm the easiest person around. I don't belong, and I spend all my time pretending I do. Sometimes I get weary of it, and that makes me angry.

It's not fair to the people around me when I lose my temper. I say awful things when I'm angry. But it's not fair to me, either, that I was made this way.” — 16 likes

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