My Book Boyfriend: James Easton

Today I will gush over another another boyfriend of mine.

In the past few weeks I found a new series (and another book boyfriend) that I fell in love with instantly. James Easton from The Agency series by Y.S. Lee.

Name: James Easton Occupation: Engineer sometimes doing some spy work with Mary Quinn which he doesn't get paid for. Age: 21 Height: Almost 6 feet First Appearance: In a wardrobe hiding with Mary.

James is protective about his family which leads him to spying on the first place. Meeting Mary Quinn was not expected and it's quite impossible to resist his charms for Mary too as she snoops around trying to fit all the pieces of her case. Together they make quite the team!

“He laughed, then became serious once more. "Mary............" The expression in his eyes set her heart pounding. "Yes?" Twice he began to frame a sentence, and twice his voice seemed to fail him. And she thought she understood. What could he possibly say to her now, when he was on the verge of leaving forever? Even something as simple as asking her to write to him carried a distinct sort of promis, the type of promise he was ten years and a half a world removed from being able to make. She forced a polite smile and held out her hand. "Good luck, James." Regret-and relief-flooded his eyes. he took her hand, cradling it for a long moment. "And to you." It was foolish to linger. She slid her fingers from his grasp, turned, and began to walk away in the direction of the Academy. She'd gone about thirty paces when she heard his voice. "Mary!" She spun about. "What is it?" "Stay out of wardrobes!" She laughed, shook her head, and began to walk again. She was smiling this time. ~A Spy In The House

“I’m so sorry. I don’t think the etiquette manuals cover this sort of situation.” He leaned in close, his lips all but grazing her neck, and inhaled. “Mmm. You smell good, too.” She nearly choked. Took a step backwards, until her back met cold stone. “Th-thank you.” “That’s better. May I kiss you?” His finger dipped into her shirt collar, stroking the tender nape of her neck. “I d-don’t th-think that’s a good idea.” “Why not? We’re alone.” His hands were at her waist. Her lungs felt tight and much too small. “Wh-what if somebody comes in?” He considered for a moment. “Well, I suppose they’ll think I fancy grubby little boys.” ~The Body at the Tower

He smiled. "I suppose I thought we'd have a madly impractical, terrifyingly modern sort of marriage. One based on love. Not to mention dangerous undertakings and hair's-breadth escapes from burning buildings, high ledges and exploding sewers." "And bickering." "Always that, yes." "Assuming I want to marry at all." "True. I know of no good way of forcing you to do anything." "And you're mad enough to think it could work - one day?" He cupped her face in his hands. His smile was so brilliant it seemed to illuminate the room. "I think it would be heaven." She trembled, then. "You have a very strange idea of heaven." "Kiss me and see.”  ~The Traitor and the Tunnel

Le sigh. James finds the most unusual situations to be in. I for one  looking forward to reading the next series of The Agency series.

James Easton was played by Ben Barnes.

MBB My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader 

Review: The Traitor and the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee

The Traitor and the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee

Series: The Agency #1

A Spy In The House

The Agency #2

The Body at the tower

The Agency #3

The Traitor and the Tunnel

Genre: Mystery, Young -Adult, Historical

Publisher: Walker

Released: 28 February, 2012

My Copy: Paperback

Buy Link

Amazon

Synopsis from goodreads:

Get steeped in suspense, romance, and high Victorian intrigue as Mary goes undercover at Buckingham Palace - and learns a startling secret at the Tower of London.  Queen Victoria has a little problem: there's a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Charged with discretion, the Agency puts quickwitted Mary Quinn on the case, where she must pose as a domestic while fending off the attentions of a feckless Prince of Wales. But when the prince witnesses the murder of one of his friends in an opium den, the potential for scandal looms large. And Mary faces an even more unsettling possibility: the accused killer, a Chinese sailor imprisoned in the Tower of London, shares a name with her long-lost father. Meanwhile, engineer James Easton, Mary's onetime paramour, is at work shoring up the sewers beneath the palace, where an unexpected tunnel seems to be very much in use. Can Mary and James trust each other (and put their simmering feelings aside) long enough to solve the mystery and protect the Royal Family? Hoist on your waders for Mary's most personal case yet, where the stakes couldn't be higher - and she has everything to lose.

My Thoughts:

After reading all three books of The Agency series, I have to say this has been my favorite. 

Mary is yet again set to solve a mystery set in Buckingham Palace, and who else is there to cross her path? Why it was James Easton. The duo manages to keep out of the others toe for a time being but that was only momentary of course.

While trying to discover the main culprit to the case of missing pieces from the palace Mary stumbles on to something much more darker. A murder, and she is hell bound to find out the truth. Her venture to truth leads her to a secret of her own past and for the first time since I have been reading this books, I see Mary thinking with her heart rather than her head. As a trained spy Mary evaluates what she says, do sometimes not that much. But in the end, even when it was James Easton she has always been guarded of herself. So I think I liked this Mary as well as I did her in the previous books. James and Mary's relationship which they finally acknowledge as 'friendship' might finally see the light of day.

At the end, I say this will be one of my favorite series from now on. If you love young adult mysteries this is a book you need to read.

I give thiiis:

  AND 

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Review: The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee

 The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee

Series: The Agency #1
A Spy In The House
The Agency #2
The Body at the Tower
The Agency #3
The Traitor and the Tunnel

Genre: Mystery, Young-Adult, Historical, Fiction.

Publisher: Candlewick

Released: August 10, 2010

My copy: ebook

Buy Link

Amazon

Book synopsis from goodreads

This is another colourful, action-packed Victorian detective novel about the exploits of agent Mary Quinn. At a young age, Mary Quinn is rescued from the gallows and taken to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. The school turns out to be a front for a private detective agency. At age 17, Mary takes on her first case (A Spy in the House). In this, the second book of the series, Mary Quinn sets out to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death at St. Stephen's Tower, better known as the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. The accident occurred after hours in a highly public part of town and despite the presence of night watchmen. Mary, disguised as Mark Quinn, becomes a builder's assistant to find out the truth about the body at the tower.

My thoughts

After finishing A Spy In The House, the first book of The Agency series I just couldn't wait to read The Body at the Tower as well. I loved the book. The time during building the clock tower and all the rumors that grew with it helped placing this story in that period.

Mary is back to her Agency solving another mystery disguised as a boy. She comes close to blowing her cover when errand boys are beaten into pulp by the superior. But somehow she manages to slip away from that situation. In every verge it seems like people will find out she is not Mark Quinn but she comes to manage to uphold herself as a boy to most till the end of the book.

I was very happy to see another name returning to this book as well, James Easton. James is not in good health after returning from India but he tries to act tough. And Mary fails to disguise herself in front of the man. No matter what she does he seems to know it's her.

One of the scene that I loved is when James confronts Mary about being Mark and what happens afterword

“I’m so sorry. I don’t think the etiquette manuals cover this sort of situation.” He leaned in close, his lips all but grazing her neck, and inhaled. “Mmm. You smell good, too.”  She nearly choked. Took a step backwards, until her back met cold stone. “Th-thank you.” “That’s better. May I kiss you?” His finger dipped into her shirt collar, stroking the tender nape of her neck.  “I d-don’t th-think that’s a good idea.”  “Why not? We’re alone.” His hands were at her waist.  Her lungs felt tight and much too small. “Wh-what if somebody comes in?”  He considered for a moment. “Well, I suppose they’ll think I fancy grubby little boys.”

In this book Mary's feelings for James grows a little but he is still unaware of her reputation as a spy. Even though he have come to know some secret about Mary's past there are allot that's still uncovered.

Overall a good book. If you love reading young-adult, Victorian era this is a book worth checking out. 

I give this

 

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Review: A Spy In The House by Y.S. Lee

A Spy In The House by Y.S. Lee

Series: The Agency #1

Genre: Historical, Thriller, Young-Adult

Publisher: Candlewick

Released: March 9, 2010

My copy: ebook bought by me

Buy Link

Amazon

Book Synopsis From Goodreads

Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this diverting mystery trails a feisty heroine as she takes on a precarious secret assignment. Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners — and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust — or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.

My Thought

First, LOVE, EPIC LOVE FOR THIS BOOK FROM NOW ON!

I guess that explains just how much I enjoyed it. I have had A Spy In The House for a while now, but I never got around reading it till now. I mainly started this for Bout Of Books read-a-thon which failed due to my midterms. So after finishing my mids on Wednesday when I picked up the book again it was impossible to let go. I don't know if it was the era writer projected in her story or the characters she created, but I felt so connected! 

In 1850's a woman being a detective or let alone have a detective agency full of women was completely absurd but Mary Quinn is one of the detectives of these agency and a very kick-ass one at that. Mary finds some help when she starts her investigation, sometimes in a wardrobe and sometimes in a warehouse. James Easton is an engineer who is determine to save his brother, from a marriage he believes will bring nothing but misery to them. While investigating further on the family of his brother's future in-laws he meets Mary Quinn. Together they agree to find out what is actually going on. 

James grows some feelings for Mary on their mission, but there is always the question of social difference between them. At the end of the story many secrets are revealed, some are very unexpected, some are rather sweet.

Overall a good book. Recommended to readers who loves reading young-adult.

I give this

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