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Agents of the Crown #1

To Catch an Heiress

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When Caroline Trent is kidnapped by Blake Ravenscroft, she doesn’t even try to elude this dangerously handsome agent of the crown. After all, she’s been running from unwanted marriage proposals. Yes, Blake believes she’s a notorious spy named Carlotta De Leon, but for six weeks until her twenty-first birthday, when she’ll gain control of her own fortune, hiding out in the titillating company of a mysterious captor is awfully convenient — and maybe just a little romantic, too.

Blake Ravenscroft’s mission is to bring “Carlotta” to justice, not to fall in love. His heart has been hardened by years of intrigue, but this little temptress proves oddly disarming and thoroughly kissable. And suddenly the unthinkable becomes possible — that this mismatched couple might be destined for love.

377 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1998

About the author

Julia Quinn

144 books43.3k followers
#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code.

A graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, Ms. Quinn is one of only sixteen members of Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. Her books have been translated into 32 languages, and she lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

The Bridgertons, her popular series of historical romance, is currently in production by Shondaland as a Netflix original series starring Julie Andrews, Phoebe Dynevor, and Rége-Jean Page.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,227 reviews
Profile Image for Anne.
4,429 reviews70.3k followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 27, 2018
DNF 39%

description

I'd heard this one was a hilarious little romance novel, but I've yet to giggle. Perhaps my sense of humor just doesn't line up with whatever is in this that's cracking everyone else up?
Sometimes what makes me laugh is a bit weird, so there's a really good chance it's just me.

description

It's not badly written or gross and skeevy, just not my cuppa.
Profile Image for Linds.
1,067 reviews33 followers
September 4, 2010
Okay, this book is hilarious.

The draw to this book is the humor and not the romance. I realize this could be considered a major drawback for a romance novel but I had a great time reading it and was thoroughly entertained.

Caroline is an orphan set to inherit a large shipping fortune on her 21st birthday. She has been shipped to various guardians that have also died. Her latest one takes the cake in terms of cruelty and they hate each other. After an unsuccessful attempt to force his son on her in order to ruin her and marry into her fortune, Caroline runs away.

Trent is a thirty year old spy for the British war office. He captures Caroline with the misunderstanding that she is a notorious Spanish spy. He doesn't believe that is innocent and takes her with him.

The draw of this book is the dialogue. Julia Quinn is always humorous but she really shines here, actually to the detriment of the romance! Caroline comes off as a bit air headed and Trent spends a little too much time mooning over a dead love. The romance seems tacked on but that's okay. If you want to escape into something light then read this.
Profile Image for Erika.
113 reviews222 followers
January 17, 2018
pule (verb). 1. To cry in a thin or weak voice, as a child. 2. To pipe plaintively, as a chicken.

This book have a lot of moments that made me want to pule.
-From the personal dictionary of Caroline Trent myself-



Where should I start? The first issue I noticed was the writing. Something went wrong with JQ's writing in this book. I never felt this way before with another books by her. It failed to enhance the characters, the dialogues was somehow dull, I didn't feel the tension and emotions, even the romantic words didn't feel romantic at all to me. I still found -although just a few- hilarious scenes and dialogues which reminded me that it is a JQ's. But the rest of it was just plain. And Caroline, the heroine, annoyed me so much with her special skill in conversations:

"I've been after you for nearly a year," he said sharply. That got her attention.
"You have?"
"Not that I knew who you were until last month. But now that I've got you, I'm not letting you go."
"You're not?"


"What are you grinning about?" he asked.
"Me?" she gulped.
Blake looked at her oddly. "You look somewhat disturbed."
"I do?"



If it had happened only once or twice, I would have found it amusing. But it happened over and over and over again. It was a torture.

The story started off pretty well. My first impression of Caroline was good. She was strong and cheerful woman with no lady-like attitude and razor-tongued mouth. She has a unique hobby which I liked about her. She likes to write every new words in her vocabulary. We can find one word at the beginning of each chapter. Blake, on the other hand, was a tortured hero who failed miserably to me. He was afraid to love because he's been blaming himself for the death of his fiancee five years ago. My problem was, he wasn't just afraid to fall in love but he's also vowed not to get married. Blake thinks he had failed to protect his fiancee when she was alive, so now he wouldn't fail her in her death with marrying another woman who happens to be alive!



As the story went along, I was starting to find a bunch of issues with the characters as in the romance. I didn't buy the romance. Caroline falls in love with Blake very fast, merely a week after their first encounter. A week full of charades. First, Blake misunderstood her as a spy. The only person to blame was himself because when he caught her, he didn't give her a chance to introduce herself. She tried to explain, he didn't want to listen, and -of course- she didn't try harder. Second, Caroline has this stupid idea of non-stop coughing all night long to make her throat sore and lost her voice. That way she won't be able to answer any questions when Blake wants to interrogate her. In the middle of this charades, Caroline falls in love. I didn't believe it.

So, the 'playful' romance between I-don't-want-to-but-I'm-already-falling-for-you-but-I-just-can't-marry-you HERO and I-love-you-though-you-keep-hurting-me-I-can't-resist-you-anyway HEROINE was getting to my nerves and evoking HARMFUL emotions. They were happily driving me mad, and finally brought themselves AND ME to the DISASTROUS UNBELIEVABLE PLOT.



I have good reasons why I said that. It was terribly forced. I found more than one reason -or may I say- facts of why I thought the plot didn't need to happen. As if it wasn't hard enough for me to believe, Blake and Caroline made it even worse. All I can say is (1) I will never, ever, like a hero who treats his woman with no respect and he doesn't even realize it. (2) Neither will I ever like a heroine who is blind enough with love to see it. The subplots near the ending also involved incompetent villains. This was why I needed a long... long time, struggling to finish the last 20% of the book.



I started reading this book with high expectations because I've read How to Marry a Marquis -the second book of this series- and I loved it so much. It had such a simple story with heartwarming romance, lovable characters, and laugh out loud moments. Blake and Caroline made their appearance there, they had been lovely. Sadly, I have to say that the only character whom I truly loved and seemed normal in this book was James Sidwell, Blake's bestfriend, the hero in How to Marry A Marquis. I actually liked Perriwick, one of Blake's servant. He was hilarious. But I found there was a weird thing going on among the servants in Blake's house. It was hard to believe that because they have a fondness toward Caroline, they cook delicious and proper foods for Caroline and Caroline alone. In other words, the servants abandon their master and his family to starve. I didn't think it was funny or amusing. It was just ridiculous.

Overall, I couldn't rate it higher than two stars when the only enjoyable feeling I had from reading the whole book was from the hero's bestfriend and the epilogue. This book was very disappointing to me... But things like this happens. I'm a fan of JQ. One disappointment couldn't change that.

be-a-ti-fic (adjective). Making blessed, imparting supreme happiness.

Although I was disappointed, I still have a beatific expression on my face when I remember Julia Quinn's books often give me great times.
-From the personal dictionary of Caroline Trent myself
-


Profile Image for Alba Turunen.
767 reviews242 followers
August 27, 2018
3'5 En realidad, pero le subo a 4 porque es un libro 100% Julia Quinn que me ha hecho desternillarme con la protagonista, de las mejores que he leído de la autora.

Como libro no es gran cosa, pero ha estado muy entretenido, es muy del estilo del Julia Quinn, pero lo mejor son los enredos que se monta a la más pura comedia americana.

"Cómo atrapar a una heredera" es el primer libro de la serie Agentes de la Corona, y nos narra la historia de Caroline y Blake. Caroline es una rica heredera que ha crecido sin el amor de unos padres, y sí con una gran cantidad de tutores para quienes ella no ha significado nunca nada, hasta el último: Oliver Prewitt. Cosa que es extraña, dada la cantidad de amor que Caroline tiene para ofrecer.

La novela empieza cuando Caroline dispara no tan accidentalmente contra Percy, el hijo de su tutor. Éste ha sido obligado por su padre a forzarla para así no tener más remedio que casarse con ella por su herencia, pero Caroline es una persona especial, y sabe luchar por lo que quiere, y no quiere a Percy. De modo que tras dispararlo se escapa de la casa y de la influencia de su tutor. Una vez libre, solo le quedan seis semanas para cumplir la mayoría de edad y tomar la posesión de su dinero, así que sólo debe permanecer oculta de su tutor durante este tiempo.

La solución le viene que ni caída del cielo cuando en su huida aparece Blake Ravenscroft, un agente de la corona que está espiando a Oliver debido a las sospechas de contrabando y traición que pesan sobre él. Blake esperaba que la dama que ha salido furtivamente de casa de Prewitt es la espía española Carlotta de León, y así es como en su confusión raptará a Caroline para sonsacarle todo lo que sabe.

Blake es el segundo hijo de un vizconde, un hombre sencillo y solitario que está deseando salir del Ministerio de Defensa, tiene bien asumido que ésta es su última misión y no quiere saber más de la vida de peligro en la que ha pasado su juventud. Poco tiempo después de raptar a Caroline, se dará cuenta de que ésta extraña y encantadora mujer, poco tiene que ver con la espía que estaba esperando. Más raro es todavía que la desee, pero todo habría sido más fácil si hubiese resultado ser la espía, porque Blake se prometió no volver a amar, ni mucho menos casarse. Años atrás, Blake perdió a su prometida, cosa que le ha remordido la conciencia durante años al echarse la culpa de lo sucedido.

Para Blake, tener a Caroline en su casa tirará por la borda todo por lo que ha luchado; puede poner en peligro su misión, a la vez que su cordura, pues no quiere ni desea volver a enamorarse. Aquí entrará en acción otro personaje entrañable y protagonista de la siguiente novela: James, Marqués de Riverdale. Entre los dos, mantendrán oculta a Caroline para que su tutor no la descubra, a la vez que ella pueda ayudarles sobre las rutinas y vida de éste para poder sacar sus trapos sucios. Más adelante se sucederán una serie de escenas la mar de divertidas, todo pergeñado por el engaño de ocultar a Caroline, y también por los personajes tan bien caracterizados que crea la autora.

He dicho todo lo que me ha gustado Caroline, es torpe, divertida, inocentona, infantiloide y muy dulce, como protagonista femenina me ha encantado. Por otro lado, Blake no me ha gustado tanto, comparado con Caroline ha sido bastante soso y austero, y la verdad que no me llaman mucho los protagonistas que aún están enamorados de otra mujer. El plus se lo ha llevado Riverdale, que estoy deseando leer su novela, pero también la hermana de Blake, que ha protagonizado las escenas más divertidas de la novela junto con Caroline, y tampoco me olvido de la cocinera y mayordomo tan particulares de Blake.

En general una delicia de novela, que sin ser gran cosa, cumple el cometido de entretener y ser divertida. Probablemente no sea muy memorable y en una semanas la habré olvidado, pero mientras la he leído me ha gustado. No tardaré demasiado en leer el siguiente libro.
Profile Image for Joanna Loves Reading.
613 reviews252 followers
January 2, 2021
Boring! I know it doesn’t stand to reason, but I accidentally read this. I forgot I owned this one, and I thought it might have a connection to the Bridgerton series. My copy says it’s part of the Lady Danbury Influence series. There is no Lady Danbury cameo’s here or mention of her.

The first chapter/beginning is intriguing but the rest of the story moved slowly and drug on. The spies/agents of the crown were dults and the chemistry was sadly lacking between the h&h.

Chalking this up for a final parting gift from 2020, rather than pessimism for 2021.
Profile Image for Marta Luján.
Author 23 books195 followers
February 7, 2020
#RetoRita4 #RetoJulia

3,5 de puntuación a esta historia divertida y un pelín histriónica. No es de los mejores libros de la autora, pero entretiene.

La ambientación, o quizás más bien el lenguaje, fluctúa en esta novela, ya que nos encontramos a veces con expresiones quizás demasiado modernas para la época histórica en la que nos encontramos. Sucede lo mismo con algunos de los comportamientos de los personajes, de tal manera que por momentos me daba la sensación de estar leyendo una parodia de romance histórico, como la recreada en la película 'Austenland', en la que los personajes son modernos, pero visten de época.

La trama se centra, sobre todo, en la pareja protagonista y en sus diálogos divertidos y, a veces, con poco sentido. Blake Ravenscroft, hijo de un vizconde, confunde a Caroline Prewitt con una espía y la secuestra, cuando, en realidad, Caroline está huyendo de su tutor. El secuestro le viene bien, puesto que encuentra así un lugar donde refugiarse; sin embargo, no esperaba verse envuelta en una trama de conspiración de espionaje y, mucho menos, enamorarse de su captor.

Desde el principio hay una atracción entre los protagonistas, aunque destaca más el inmediato antagonismo al que se enfrentan cada vez que se ven. Blake es un hombre atormentado por la culpa, con un carácter endemoniado y poco refinado. Su trato hacia Caroline deja mucho que desear en algunos momentos y cuesta un poco empatizar con él y con su pena.
Caroline es una mezcla de inocencia y desfachatez que va dirigida a divertir al lector. Sus sentimientos son sinceros desde el primer momento, pero notamos en ella una gran inmadurez que nos lleva a preguntarnos continuamente qué edad tiene la joven.

El romance entre ellos se desarrolla entre altibajos y en situaciones tan cómicas como extravagantes. Creo, sinceramente, que es un libro más encaminado a hacer reír que a despertar emociones profundas de corte romántico. Como siempre, destaca el estilo irónico, característico de Julia Quinn, y sus habituales encabezados, en este caso en forma de entradas de un diccionario sacadas del diario de Caroline. El epílogo lo ha construido la autora con extractos de este mismo diario, y aunque nos informa bastante sobre el futuro de la pareja (algo que a todo lector le gusta saber) queda un poco deslucido.

En fin, lo dicho, una novela entretenida que te arranca alguna que otra risa.

Profile Image for Sharon.
506 reviews303 followers
July 17, 2017
So this is debatably bottom 4 out of the 13 books I have read by Julia Quinn. It was sweet at times and amusing as well. However, I did not like the protagonist. I can’t quite describe it, but something about her flippancy and brashness. She often lacked common sense. I had a hard time relating to her, even though I usually like upbeat, quirky characters with humor. I could not connect with the humor in this book 75% of the times, so consequently, the book did not click with me. I’m sure some people would find it funny though.

EX of flippancy: The talk about the attempt rape (the heroine didn’t really get raped so don’t worry about that) at the beginning of the book was spoken about in a rather flippant manner. The characters objectively see it as terrible but there is no real solemnity or gravity.

And then, there were the spying and missions that the protagonist tagged along on, and instead of finding these scenes fun or funny, I found her manner more irksome. Perhaps a bit too flippant.

Anyway, it had a good conclusion though, and I liked how the romance eventually developed. I’m giving this 2 stars.

Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Is there a happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scene?
What age level would be appropriate?
-----------
My 13th Julia Quinn book❤️ So far, I think I have loved half and disliked the other. This one seems promising though.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
527 reviews262 followers
September 18, 2018

3.75/5 ⭐️



“Caroline, do you value your neck?"
"Yes, I'm rather fond of it. Why?"
"Because if you don't shut up, I'm going to wring it.”



Caroline Trent is a woman of 20 years old that escapes the house she lives with her tutor and his son - that she is meant to marry - so that her fortune can go to his family, is kidnapped by mistake by Blake Ravenscroft, who thought she was a famous spy called Charlotta De Leon.
She doesn’t try to scape because she sees the perfect opportunity to remain hidden until she’s 21 years old and able to have control of her heritage.

Following that the story has a steady pace, with a lot of great discoveries and I really liked how in the end, Caroline tutor got what he deserved.

And speaking of Caroline, she’s a really cool main character, she makes her own decisions, and I like how she’s determined to get what she wants.


I think I made a smart choice, choosing this book to be my first Julian Quinn’s novel ever. Mostly because is one of her oldest, so I feel like when I read her other series I’ll be able to see how much she evolved and if I started with one of her recent books I would probably not like this one.

I’m not a FAN of historical romance but this was a great light read that I was really needing it. It didn’t evolve so much angst our drama, which was surprising, and it had a slow-burn romance - that I really liked - with great aspects.

This book was extremely funny, I loved the banter between the main characters and how much they argue like little kids because you can definitely see that they have feelings for each other but they don’t see it. Sometimes it was a bit frustrating because there was the “dead ex-trope” that I’m not a fan of, but has the story goes it was possible to see the hints that he cares for Caroline more, and that made me not completely hate that this book involves that trope, but I still don’t like it.

One thing that surprised me is that when I was at the middle of the book I realized that I wasn’t reading it for the romance, but for the banter and the humorous moments.

And what really captivated me in this book was the writing, I just loved it and now I get why so many people love Julia Quinn’s novels.
And I’ll definitely be reading more books of her’s in the future.

I really liked James and will be reading his book soon. He seems like a great character too had a POV from. And perhaps this couple will appear in his book too. Who knows!? And I hope is just has funny has this one.
Profile Image for Pat Marín.
Author 5 books383 followers
May 14, 2022
Divertida y chispeante. Una historia al más puro estilo Julia Quinn pero con la particularidad de que el protagonista es una especie de espía de la época, un agente de la corona, con lo que las aventuras y malentendidos están asegurados 😍.
Profile Image for Belle Aurora.
Author 42 books12.2k followers
July 11, 2015
My least favorite JQ book.
I love her writing style, she always wins me with words but I felt a huge disconnect between the H and h. He acts like he doesn't even like her. I'm not sure why this one didn't work for me.

Give it a go... just because it didn't work for me it doesn't mean it won't for you!
Profile Image for Bibliotecaria recomienda.
371 reviews88 followers
July 16, 2022
¡Hola a todos!

De nuevo tenemos la reedición de una de las series de Julia Quinn, la bilogía Agentes de la Corona, formada por Cómo atrapar a una heredera y Cómo casarse con un marqués, que llega a mis manos gracias a la editorial Titania.

Debo decir que me encantan el concepto que está usando Titania en todas estas reediciones, las portadas y la maquetación están están quedando chulísimas.

Esta primera entrega nos cuenta la historia de Caroline Trent, una muchacha que se quedó huérfana a la tierna edad de diez años, desde entonces ha ido pasando de tutor en tutor, aunque en ninguno de ellos ha encontrado el calor de familia que necesitaba, ni se han preocupado demasiado por ella, algunos de ellos incluso se han aprovechado de ella obligándola a trabajar como su criada.

El peor de ellos es su actual tutor, Oliver Prewitt, un hombre ambicioso que, para poder hacerse con la herencia de Caroline, ordena a su hijo Percy que viole a Caroline para así obligarla a casarse con él. Pero Caroline es una muchacha inteligente y valiente, así que dispara a Percy antes de que él consiga llevar a cabo sus malvadas intenciones. Caroline huirá de la casa con la intención de esconderse durante las seis semanas que faltan hasta cumplir su mayoría de edad para después poder tomar posesión de su herencia sin necesitar la tutela de nadie.

Pero mientras escapa de la casa aparecerá un hombre que la confundirá con la espía española que está buscando y que la secuestrará para interrogarla. Al comienzo Caroline se resiste al secuestro, pero cuando se da cuenta de que es una oportunidad perfecta para esconderse cambiará su actitud combativa por una más colaboradora. Caroline intentará alargar lo más que pueda su estancia en la casa de su captor, incluso forzando la afonía de su voz para demorar en lo posible su interrogatorio.

Las artimañas de Caroline sacarán de quicio a Blake, lo mismo que las intensas ganas de besarla que siente al tenerla cerca. Una vez se dé cuenta del equivoco, Blake no querrá a la joven cerca de él, pero su sentido del honor y el hecho de que necesita la información que pueda tener Caroline para completar su misión, hará que le ofrezca refugio mientras sea necesario.

«Ella lo necesitaba, y necesitaba el refugio de su casa, pero percibía que tal vez él también la necesitaba a ella un poco. La de él era un alma herida, muchísimo más que la suya.»


La confusión sobre la identidad de Caroline será revelada con la llegada de James Sidwell, marqués de Riverdale, que conoce a la verdadera espía española. James es el mejor amigo y compañero de fatigas de Blake que también trabaja en la investigación y ayudará a ocultar a Caroline, a la vez que pincha un poco a Blake al darse cuenta del interés de este por Caroline. James será el protagonista de la siguiente entrega de la bilogía.

El personaje de Caroline está lleno de vitalidad, optimismo y fortaleza, aunque es una muchacha algo ingenua también es valiente y no teme arriesgarse para ayudar a los que aprecia. Solo desea amar y ser amada y lograr tener la familia que nunca tuvo.

El personaje de Blake es todo lo contrario, está marcado por la muerte de su prometida, se culpa por ella y se niega volver a enamorarse para evitar sufrir de nuevo y mucho menos casarse, porque lo considera una traición a su memoria.

«Era una tentación constante, y un doloroso recordatorio de lo que le habían arrebatado. Alegre, inocente, y optimista, era todo lo que había echado en falta su corazón durante mucho tiempo.»


Lo único que Blake desea es terminar esa última misión, abandonar su trabajo para la Corona y dedicarse a tener una vida sencilla y agradable en el campo, alejada de la violencia y el peligro. Tenemos un personaje taciturno y algo gruñón, sobre todo por la mujer que ha puesto su vida patas arriba y por la incomodidad que le provocan los sentimientos que experimenta hacía ella.

La acción se sitúa en el año 1814 en la misma época que el segundo libro de los Bridgerton, aunque todo ocurre en el campo, muy lejos de Londres. No tiene muchos personajes secundarios ya que mayoritariamente transcurre en la casa de Blake. Los tiras y aflojas son habituales en los encuentros de nuestros protagonistas lo que dará pie a situaciones divertidas. No todo va a ser divertido así que también tenemos algo drama al final de esta historia.

Cada capítulo comienza con la definición de una de las palabras que Caroline escribe en su libreta con el objetivo de ampliar su vocabulario, es muy gracioso ver el contexto en el que usa las frases en su día a día. También tenemos un epílogo en el que a modo de entradas del diario de Caroline iremos conociendo un poco del futuro de nuestros protagonistas.

Pues en Cómo atrapar a una heredera tenemos una historia entretenida de lectura ligera, amena y divertida, con momentos que te sacarán más de una sonrisa, muy al estilo de Julia Quinn.


Reseña en: https://bibliotecariarecomienda.blogs...

445 reviews7 followers
May 10, 2012
Yikes. I finished this one because it's a Quinn, but yikes. I know it's one of her very early novels - and boy does it show - so I forgive her, but yikes.

It's just very clear that she doesn't have her groove yet, and she hasn't quite figured out what makes romance tropes believable (and worthy of fantasy) as opposed to charicature.

I mean, come on. Hero who works for the War Office and has dark past preventing him from believing he is capable of love? Check. Heroine who has no real flaws, is irrepressibly cheerful, and is escaping from dreadful straits? Check. Banter? Check, and over the top at that. Mistaken identity causing hero to hate heroine despite his strangely sudden and profound attraction to her? Check. Kissing against better judgment? Check, and way too early given that he thinks she is a traitor to her country. People who commit treason undermining everything and also being nasty worst people ever? Check. Hero who literally shakes with rage and shouts and screams and threatens to lose his temper (although I'm not sure where you're threatening to go if you're already shouting and screaming and being generally boorish, unless I really don't want to be reading about you at all) every time the heroine a) aggravates him or b) puts herself in "danger" (aka going outside in the rain - and can we please, btw, stop with the "heroine gets sick from riding too fast on her horse/being outside in the rain" thing? THAT IS NOT HOW PEOPLE GET SICK IN REAL LIFE)? Check. (And can I just say, the whole shouting and shaking with rage thing is not at attractive quality in a hero. In fact, in real life I would take it as a warning sign for abuse and run the other way ASAP.) Sex scene that makes hero and heroine realize that they care deeply for/are in love with each other? Check. Final scene where heroine is in danger from villain, allowing hero to save her and realize that he completely loves her EVEN THOUGH HE WAS DEAD INSIDE? Check. Epilogue just to remind us that they are happily married, in case we didn't get that from the rest of the book, and now popping out lots of babies and naming them according to bizarre traditions? Check.

It's all there, and it's all kind of charicaturish. I skimmed a lot of it - although she had hooked me enough (or maybe it was just loyalty) that I never quite put it down for good. I mean, it didn't offend me, and goodness knows plenty of romances do.
Profile Image for vale pao.
644 reviews357 followers
August 5, 2010
I have read almost all the books written by Julia Quinn and let me say that it's not easy to rate her as an author. I have read some terrific books like the ones from the Bridgertons series, others almost as good as books 1 and 3 in the Bevelstoke series, and some which I almost didn't enjoy at all like the ones in the Two Dukes of Wyndham series.
I liked this one as much as I did her splendid trilogy, which would situate both of them right after the Bevelstoke series which was a bit better.

To catch a Heiress was a great story. For sure the one which made me laugh harder. Sometimes I even couldn't stop laughing, I had to stop reading for a bit,lol. The thing was that the heroine was great. She was the most witty and charming I have seen in all JQ's books. She is definitely my fav heroine, even taking into consideration the ones in the Bridgerton series.

This series is about spies, illegal smuggling and traitors to the country. I have to admit that at the beginning I thought the story would be totally lame because, as the summary mentions, the heroine gets kidnapped by accident as she is confused by another dangerous woman. So the beginning was a bit surreal and boring. But not much, maybe the first 20% of the book if not less. Then the story got so much better! I would have given this book 5 maybe if it wasn't for that beginning.
Profile Image for Anto M..
1,082 reviews91 followers
December 18, 2023
4,5 stelle

La Quinn è diventata famosa per la serie Bridgerton anche grazie alla pubblicità ottenuta da Netflix, ma credetemi, "La spia della Corona" merita una lettura.
Forse il punto di forza della storia non è tanto il romanticismo stavolta, ma l'umorismo e anche se era presente nella serie Bridgerton, qui esplode. Ci sono toni comici per tutto il romanzo, dialoghi frizzanti che colpiscono nel segno, situazioni incredibili degne di un'opera teatrale. L'equivoco che apre il romanzo, la cattura della protagonista Caroline, scambiata per una spia, dà vita a momenti davvero esilaranti, e avrei voluto che questi durassero più a lungo, perché avrei voluto vedere la creatività di Caroline svilupparsi ulteriormente!
Mi è piaciuto il fatto che abbia portato un bel tocco di leggerezza e un granello di follia nella vita e in casa di Blake, il nostro protagonista, agente segreto della Corona.
Blake è molto più serio, più austero, è determinato a portare a termine la sua missione per la Corona, e quando questa comincia a fallire, o almeno non va come aveva previsto, ha difficoltà a lasciarsi andare, soprattutto perché il suo amico James non farà nulla per semplificargli la vita!
Ecco, altro punto di forza sono i personaggi secondari, a partire dall'amico James, che a quanto capito sarà il protagonista del secondo libro, passando per i domestici di Blake che mi hanno fatto ridere di gusto e finendo con una contessa pettegola.
Profile Image for Estíbaliz Montero Iniesta.
Author 59 books1,311 followers
July 7, 2022
¿3'5 quizás?
Esta primera parte de la bilogía empezó enganchándome mucho, pero se fue desinflando un poco para mi gusto, sobre todo por los personajes.

La trama con el tema del espionaje de por medio, es entretenida y tiene un toque diferente de otros libros de la autora, así que me ha gustado ese detalle distintivo. Sin embargo es bastante sencilla, estilo Julia Quinn, nada de tramas complejísimas de espionaje y traición, pero eso contribuye a que se pueda seguir la historia sin problemas.

Ahora bien, como decía, los personajes no han acabado de convencerme. Caroline me parece demasiado infantil en ocasiones y con poca capacidad para reconocer una situación peligrosa, lo cual me pone de los nervios. Hay una diferencia entre ser valiente y lanzarse de cabeza a cualquier situación sin sopesar nunca los riesgos de nada.

En cuanto a Blake, no exhibe un comportamiento ejemplar, aunque tampoco es el peor que he visto en una novela del género. Básicamente, hay cosas que me parecen incongruentes porque te presentan un personaje que intenta con todas sus fuerzas ser íntegro pero que luego hace cosas que no encajan con eso. Y no me vale la excusa de que ella lo altera tanto que hace que se olvide de todo🙄. Por otro lodo, es excesivamente sobreprotector. Sí, ella es una cabra loca y ya he mencionado que eso me ponía nerviosa, pero que Blake intente tomar las decisiones por ella tampoco está bien.

Aunque al final, son bastante tal para cual, y aunque su romance no me ha vuelto loca, ha sido una lectura bastante agradable y ligera.

Creo que lo que más me ha gustado del libro ha sido el amigo de Blake, James. Qué ganas de leer su historia en la segunda parte de esta bilogía.
Profile Image for Atrapada.
499 reviews26 followers
June 14, 2022
Un inicio de bilogía que nos muestra una relación de lo más curiosa con una protagonista con carácter que está un paso de conseguir la vida que desea, pero el destino es caprichoso y las llevará a casa de Blake dónde iniciarán una relación de lo más turbulenta.
RESEÑA COMPLETA: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
Profile Image for Suna.
191 reviews665 followers
March 15, 2024
Es una historia súper cliché y predecible, pero me pareció muy entretenida :)
Profile Image for Gemma G. Gegargas.
608 reviews31 followers
April 10, 2022
A duras penas avancé y más de una vez lo hice en diagonal por no abandonar. Un libro de Julia Quinn, con esa portada y una sinopsis muy atrayente no podía fallar ¿no? Pues he aquí la excepción.

En este libro encontré muchas contradicciones que quizás si la historia me hubiese enganchado habrían pasado más desapercibidas, pero eran como neones imposibles de obviar. Comienzo con que historia está fechada en 1814, pero si me dicen que es actual me lo creo más. Otra contradicción fue el comportamiento de Caroline, una chica que ha pasado por demasiadas situaciones difíciles y crueldades como podía ser taan inocente e infantil. Me exasperó en muchos momentos. Etc…

La relación entre los personajes tampoco me atrapó pues ya de por si ellos por separados tampoco me gustaron. Blake es un hombre malhumorado, que ni fui capaz de visualizar.

Si le pongo dos estrellas es por la característica forma de escribir de la autora. Todas sus lecturas son fáciles y cómodas de leer.

En resumen, me hubiese gustado encontrar una historia más madura, sin tantas peleas exasperantes, hasta para el personaje secundario James Riverdale desaparecía de las escenas por ese motivo. 😆

❗️¿Recomendaría este libro? A mi no me gustó, pero he visto que a mi familia de Goodreads si lo hizo, por tanto puede ser que este libro no es para mi.
‼️ Dificultad en la lectura. Ninguna, si por algo se caracteriza Julia Quinn es por su agradable forma de escribir.
Profile Image for Geo Just Reading My Books.
1,382 reviews328 followers
September 19, 2018
O poveste absolut delicioasa, cu personaje interesante și încăpățânate, replici spumoase ce stârnesc hohote de ras. O acțiune captivanta, o comedie a erorilor și emoțiile care-și fac loc între personaje, efectiv nu îți permit sa lași cartea din mâna.
Profile Image for Sombra.
342 reviews43 followers
October 4, 2016
3,5 estrellas en realidad.

Me ha gustado como Julia Quinn ha sabido mantenerme enganchada con una trama tan simple, en comparación con otros libros suyos que he leído.

La historia nos habla de Caroline, una chica que por azares del destino, acaba en manos de su ya 4º tutor, Oliver Prewitt, quien, codicioso de su fortuna, quiere que se case con su hijo Percy. Al no conseguirlo, lleva a cabo un plan que fracasa y desesperada, huye del que es su hogar hasta que cumpla la mayoría de edad y pueda volver a reclamar lo que es suyo. Es en esa huida cuando conoce a Blake, un espia del Ministerio de Guerra, quien la confunde con una espía muy peligrosa y traicionera a la corona de Inglaterra y la lleva a su propiedad con el fin de hacerla hablar y poder atrapar a Oliver de una vez por todas, ya que él participa en contra del gobierno. Cuando se da cuenta del engaño gracias a su amigo Riverdale, deciden tenerla bajo custodia; por un lado para compensar su equivocación y por otro porque al ser la pupila de Oliver, Caroline les puede ayudar a atraparle de una vez por todas y ella librarse por fin de un tutor que nunca se ha hecho cargo de ella verdaderamente.

Al comienzo el libro empieza con mucha acción, ya que sucede muy poco en apenas unos capítulos y una vez que Blake se da cuenta del error y empieza a convivir con Caroline, el ritmo se ralentiza bastante, pero no decae en ningún momento, sino todo lo contrario.

Caroline es una chica que, desde que muri�� su madre siendo pequeña, ha tenido infinidad de tutores que, por diferentes motivos han ido muriendo, lo que la ha llevado a cambiar durante toda su vida de casa y de ciudad, conviertiéndola en una persona fuerte por fuera, pero necesitada de amor por dentro. Su carácter a veces me pareció desesperante, pero como tiene un humor tan ácido, me encontraba más tiempo sonriendo. Sus momentos con Blake son muy buenos y llenos de diálogos chispeantes, al igual que cuando se juntan con el amigo de éste Riverdale.

Blake, es un hombre que perdió a su amada en una operación secreta y desde entonces es un hombre que no tiene apego a la vida, siempre está de mal humor y no tiene sentimientos de ninguna clase..hasta que llega Caroline y le hace ver que sí puede seguir amando y sonriendo.

Me ha gustado mucho esa evolución de ambos personajes. La autora lo ha sabido manejar con mucho tacto y ves como va progresando la relación de ambos poco a poco. (aunque se desean desde el primer momento claroXD)

El "pero" que le pongo, es que hacia el final, todo se resuelve demasiado rápido. Los sentimientos de Blake pasan muy rápido de culpa a amor, o al menos para mi gusto y el desenlace de la trama apenas y ocupa unas páginas. Por lo demás, es un libro muy entretenido y que sin lugar a dudas deja un buen sabor de boca.
Profile Image for Rose.
61 reviews
October 26, 2017
Rating: 3.5 stars

I can't remember the last time I stayed up the whole night to finish a book; but even knowing I had to get up at seven the next day and only opening the first page close to midnight, I just couldn't get myself to put this book down.
To Catch an Heiress follows Caroline, an heiress to a fortune, that she can claim only in 6 week's time, when she turns twenty-one. Caroline runs away when her guardian's son tries to assault her to force her hand in marriage and lay claim to her inheritance. While escaping, she is captured by Blake Ravenscroft, an agent of the crown investigating her guardian for trading state secrets and mistakenly believes Caroline is a Spanish spy.
Caroline seeing an opportunity for protection until she comes into her inheritance, plays along with the facade and from thereon follows romance, adventure and hilarity.

"Aren't you Spanish?"
She raised one arm in a salute. "Viva la Queen Isabella!"
"I see. Then why are you speaking with a French accent?”


I loved the dialogue and banter between the characters, it was essentially what kept me flipping the pages with absolutely no care for the time. The humour between Caroline, Blake and Blake's best friend and fellow agent, James had me smiling from beginning to end.
I think to some extent, the humour causes the romance to be pushed more to the background - but even as a lover of romance I didn't mind, because the interactions between the characters were so genuine and adorable.

The love interest, Blake is a recluse, who is regarded as the crown's most capable agent, since the death of his former fiancé made him relentless in his need to bring criminals to justice. While providing temporary sanctuary to Caroline, her liveliness and spirited personality begins to draw him out of his spiral of guilt and remorse. Caroline, our heroine, was wonderful! Even with her tragic past she was never bitter or resentful, but rather so infectiously effervescent and cheerful.
I loved reading the covert adventures that they were thrown into and, Blake and James' attempts to hide that Caroline was living with Blake. I even loved the meddlesome house-staff, who kept serving Blake hot water for dinner, unless Caroline dined with him.

It was a hilarious read with a cast of characters that will undoubtedly make you laugh as they grapple with spies and traitors, and somehow in the process, fall in love and find friendship in each other.
Profile Image for ᴥ Irena ᴥ.
1,652 reviews222 followers
November 19, 2014
After a great number of horrible guardians, each worse than the last one, and after a rape attempt, Caroline decides she has had enough and runs away. An agent of the crown has been watching her guardian's house and catches her thinking she is a notorious spy.
The beginning is promising, but it goes downhill fast. I didn't connect with the characters at all. I usually love Julia Quinn's books. This didn't do much for me. The tone of the book isn't very well balanced considering that on the one hand you have a dead fiancée, a rape attempt and various abusive situations and on the other there is this supposedly witty and smart girl and funny servants. It isn't exactly horrible, but I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who hasn't read anything written by Julia Quinn.
It seems that the second book in the series is better, so we'll see.
Profile Image for Missy.
954 reviews
May 21, 2018
The H/h did nothing but argue like children 90% of the time: interrupting each other, trying to be funny when the moment was supposed to be a serious one, and the heroine digressing and forgetting what she was going to say. Then the book dragged on for several chapters when the hero's sister came to visit. I started skimming the rest of the book at this point. It definitely did not feel like I was reading an HR, but I expect that sometimes when I read a book written by JQ. I think the second book was more enjoyable than this book.
Profile Image for Zaza.
1,810 reviews38 followers
April 23, 2023
Une bonne romance historique comme Julia Quinn sait souvent si bien les faire !
Elle signe ici une histoire aux accents de comédie, avec des dialogues pétillants qui font mouche, des situations rocambolesques à souhait, dignes d'une pièce de théâtre, et une jolie romance.

Le quiproquo qui ouvre le roman donne lieu à de savoureux moments, et des scènes assez rocambolesques, et j'aurais souhaité que celui-ci dure plus longtemps, car j'aurais aimé voir la créativité de Caroline se développer davantage ! Elle a de la suite dans les idées et n'a vraiment pas froid aux yeux ! J'ai aimé qu'elle apporte dans la vie (et la maison) de Blake une belle touche de spontanéité et un gros grain de folie.
Blake est nettement plus sérieux, plus austère, il est déterminé à mener à bien sa mission pour la Couronne, et quand celle-ci commence à capoter, ou du moins ne se passe pas comme il l'avait prévu, il a du mal à lâcher prise, d'autant que son ami James ne fera rien pour lui faciliter la vie !

J'ai aimé les chamailleries entre les protagonistes, les dialogues pétillants qui fusent du tac au tac et qui font rire ainsi que la folie douce des employés de maison (qui sont quand même sacrément culottés quand on y pense !). La romance est tout à fait charmante, mais pour moi le rythme de celle-ci est un peu bancal, du moins sur la dernière partie du livre. J'ai nettement préféré la partie du livre où Blake et Caroline se cherchent et se tournent autour. Enfin, les petites intrigues liées au tuteur de Caroline et à l'enquête menée par James et Blake apportent quelques rebondissements et nous divertissent bien, sans voler la vedette à la romance, là, j'ai trouvé que c'était bien équilibré.

Un joli moment de lecture donc, le genre de livre qui se dévore d'une traite et donne le sourire.
Profile Image for Lucía Cafeína.
1,821 reviews208 followers
August 1, 2022
Muy en la línea de Julia Quinn y, al mismo tiempo, algo distinto de los anteriores, un tanto más violento, pero igualmente gracioso y entretenido
Profile Image for *CJ*.
4,663 reviews558 followers
February 24, 2017
Caroline Trent is an orphan. Having had a string of lecherous guardians, when the current one orders his son to rape her to gain her inheritance, she runs from their house only to bump straight into Blake.
Blake is an agent of the crown and a royalty, and believes the female running from house is the spy Carlotta.
He kidnaps her and what ensues is a series of hilarious events and a chase for the spy and some illegal activities.
There are things I loved about this book
- the chapter names
- Caroline's sense of wit and positivity
- the humorous scenes- the book had so many of them and Caro cracked me up
- Drake and the maid/ butler as secondary characters
The things which annoyed me
- Blake and Marabelle. I understand he loved her BUT god was he attached to her ghost or what. I had difficulty believing his love for Caro and he kept comparing the two which was super duper annoying
- the ending was abrupt
- HFN
I really enjoyed the book for it's humor but though I know Blake was falling for Caro, she felt like a replacement for Marabelle throughout most of the book and that doesn't make a good love story.
Safe-ish
3.5/5
Profile Image for Cheryl.
302 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2012
It's been a while since I've read a Julia Quinn book, and since she is one of my favorite authors I thought it was high time I pulled one off my shelf to read. And it helps that this book fit one of the challenges I'm participating in!

This book was written in classic Julia Quinn style; It was witty and romantically sweet and a pure joy to read! It also has one of my favorite themes- kidnapping! The hero was brooding and serious (Richard Armitage aka Mr. Thornton anyone?) and the heroine was provoking and talked too much which equals one hilariously entertaining book!

Fans of Historical Romance and/or Julia Quinn will not want to miss this gem! Up next- How to Marry a Marquis, featuring James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale, who happens to be a very charming fellow from this book, and I am very much looking forward to his story!
Profile Image for Lena’s Version.
1,103 reviews519 followers
August 2, 2022
Muy en la línea de esta autora, introduciendo como novedad el espionaje que lo ha hecho más único. Aunque luego se ha ido diluyendo en el libro esa parte, y esperaba un poco más.
El sarcasmo y las pullas constantes entre los protas ha sido muy divertido de leer, Caroline es un torbellino y no se achanta ante nadie ni nada. El marqués además promete para el 2º libro :D
Profile Image for Océano de libros.
814 reviews91 followers
March 4, 2023
Caroline Trent tiene que esperar a llegar a la mayoría de edad para dejar de vivir con su odioso tutor Oliver Prewitt y conseguir su herencia. Un intento de seducirla por parte de Percy, el único hijo de su tutor, precipita las cosas y decide huir hasta que llegue su aniversario. Es ahí cuando se cruzan los caminos de Caroline con Blake Ravenscroft, un agente de la corona en plena misión que la confunde con una espía.

De nuevo comienzo una serie de la autora Julia Quinn, se trata de “Agentes de la corona” que cuenta con dos novelas y un relato corto. La primera de ellas tiene de protagonistas a Caroline Trent y a Blake Ravenscroft.

Caroline es una joven heredera, inteligente y despierta, que perdió a sus padres y desde muy pequeña ha estado dando tumbos entre familiares que la acogen, el último de ellos es Oliver Prewitt un hombre odioso que parece esconder secretos y su igualmente odioso hijo Percy. La convivencia junto a ellos es bastante complicada y Caroline desea más que nunca cumplir la mayoría de edad para vivir su vida. La avaricia de Oliver induce a su hijo a forzar a Caroline para concluir en un matrimonio y obtener esa jugosa herencia.

Blake Ravenscroft es un agente de la corona que está llevando a cabo el que espera sea su último caso, atrapar a una conocida espía española. Durante la misión confunde a Caroline con su objetivo y a partir de ahí se sucederán hechos bastante disparatados, pero también el inicio de una atracción por esa pizpireta joven...
...https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
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