A Heartless Design

Secrets of the Zodiac, Book 1

By: Elizabeth Cole

Narrated by: Marian Hussey

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

"James Bond meets Jane Austen!"

An enigmatic woman, a determined spy, and a love 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 the 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 a design that could change the future...and Cordelia is at the center of it all.

A Heartless Design is the first book in the Secrets of the Zodiac, a series that blends romantic suspense with the rich background of the Regency period.

©2013 Elizabeth Cole (P)2014 Elizabeth Cole

Not your typical romance

The lead characters in this book are a little different from the average romance novel. I enjoyed their interactions and it was nice to have insight from both of the characters throughout the novel.

The reader was exceptional and made the story more enjoyable.

Excellent

Any additional comments?

This was a joy to read and listen to as I have both the book and the Audible version. Very well written and things constantly happening to hold the listener or reader's interest. Marian Hussey's narration was flawless. The way she spoke the French character's English lines was perfect. Reminded me so much of Montreal....Thoroughly enjoyed this novel and narration.

Very good book!

I really enjoyed this book. Great hero and heroine, story line and plot. Great chemistry and some good sex scenes. The story line itself was a bit different in a very good way!. There was plenty of dialogue too.

The narrator did a really good job as well.

mission of discovery

wonderful cast of characters support this romantic tale which includes espionage, secret identities, and other intrigues. both H and h are very likable and it is easy to see them grow together.

Okay for a mystery/suspense...not quite a Romance

Throughout the book, it really felt like the author intended to write a mystery/suspense novel, and threw in the "romance" part after the fact. You don't really feel any chemistry between the novel's hero and heroine and the "love scenes" fall flat.

An excellent historical romance/spy novel!

Any additional comments?

Well written, good plot, very good pace. The narration was also very good. Reminiscent of Julie Garwood's Crown Spies Series. I will definitely recommend this audiobook and await the next in the series!

BEST READ EVER!!

A story that starts in a garden at a ball ends in an ou ther garden at a home. The story in between covers spies, smuggling, kidnapping, reformed criminals as adopted family filling the roll of servants. Your mind will be as busy as your heart guessing what happens as your heart fills with thel love growing throughout the story. Do your self a favor and read a story as intriguing as it is romantic.

Cute regency mystery romance

My first Cole book. I liked it. Very light weight. A little bit of evil but not super dark. A little predictable but charming and fun anyway. Narrator was quite good. Will go on to the next one. Worth a listen in my opinion. I like the strong smart heroines who are not unbelievably (actually impossible to believe) strong and smart.

If James Bond were an Earl during the Season

I couldn’t stop listening. I was looking for a book to listen to while doing house work. The narrators of every I tried in the romance package were awful. I had remembered enjoying Ms. Hussey’s narration of another book, so I looked up some others that she had narrated. I happened across A Heartless Design. I fell in love with the characters, the intrigue, the plot. I could wait to find out what Cordelia and Sebastian would learn next. So good. Worth the listen. Definitely will be looking for other books from this author.

Excellent Narration in Regency Spy Mystery

A Heartless Design by Elizabeth Cole is an entertaining espionage thriller set during the Regency period. It is the 1st book in the Secrets of the Zodiac series wherein the "Zodiac" is a secret spy network formed to protect the crown and mother England. There are multiple scenes with action, adventure, and near death experiences for our heroes. I listened to the second book in the series first and don't feel like I missed out on anything by reading them out of order.

The story focuses on the relationship between Cordelia Bering and Sebastian Thorne who unwittingly team up to uncover who is trying to steal plans for a new type of war ship to sell to Napoleon. The first half of the story pits Cordelia and Sebastian against each other as neither one trusts the other and believes the other is working undercover for Napoleon. In the second half of the story, they slowly learn to appreciate the other and realize how similar and compatible they are.

Marian Hussey did a fantastic job narrating. She really brought the characters to life, giving each character their own distinct voice. Marian's narration definitely contributed to my enjoyment of this book.