She’s about to go undercover with her arch-nemesis…
From the outside, the gorgeous Freya Evandale seems like a quirky bookworm with a taco addiction. Most people would never guess she’s a proud drop-out of the FBI’s training academy and a highly-skilled computer nerd. These days, she’s happy as a private detective at Codex, specializing in stolen rare books.
That is until an old nemesis with … old nemesis with an arrogant smirk and superhero shoulders ends up in her office.
Special Agent Sam Byrne is a tightly-wound workaholic with a secret…or ten. When a betrayal leaves him questioning his career with the Bureau, consulting for Codex seems like the perfect place to hide. But he certainly never expected to see Freya again. At the academy, their rivalry was legendary. And their sparring sessions resembled an actual battle, or worse… foreplay.
Now these enemies are forced to play nice as they go undercover to infiltrate a secret society. It’s a dangerous world of power, wealth, and shifting alliances. The higher the stakes, the harder it is to resist the true reason behind their rivalry. But surrendering to years of pent-up lust is a direct threat to their mission…and their safety.
Author’s Note: If smoldering enemies-to-lovers, volcanic repressed lust, secret tunnels, gun-toting bad guys, and delicious slow burns are your jam, Under the Rose is for you!
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“The element of surprise is a crucial part of my leadership style.” -Abe Royal
Under the Rose takes us back to the intricate underworld where high society trades in stolen, priceless literary artifacts. Codex agents are once again needed to infiltrate an Antiquarian Convention as undercover operators to recover recently stolen letters of famous literary couple.
On this case, Codex gets help from temporarily available FBI agent Sam Byrne, who happens to have a complicated history with Freya, and as they work together to expose the secret society involved in the latest theft, they’ll have to navigate their feelings towards each other and overcome the demons of their past.
This book is a phenomenal combination of suspense and romance, the glamorous wealth and the intrigue of the prohibition-era historic location. It captivates you from page one and keeps you on the edge until the very end!
HOTTEST FIRST KISS EVAR! I loved everything about this book by Kathryn Nolan. And not just because enemies-to-lovers is my lady jam. This was a spicy, steamy, sweet, sexy, suspenseful story! I loved it so much!!
Kathryn Nolan is the Queen of slow, SLOOOW burn romance, and Under The Rose might be her best yet!
When Freya finds her old arch nemesis, Sam Byrne, sitting in her favourite chair in Abe’s office at Codex she is immediately incensed. When Abe announces that she and Sam need to go undercover at a Antique Books Expo in Philadelphia, Freya is nervous and even angrier that she is being required to work with the man who tossed his last insult at her the day she left Quantico.
Sam Byrne is a FBI agent currently under investigation by the Office of Professional Respnsibility because his partner was found to be tipping off suspects being investigated for potential theft of art antiquities. When he sees Freya come into Abe’s office at Codex, Sam is angry at the possibility of being forced to work with the woman who’d been referred to by his father, Dep. Director of the FBI, as the finest agent in training he’d ever taught. One more way for Sam to fail in the eyes of his father he thought, not realizing the reason why Freya had quit the Bureau.
The fire, and sexual tension that both Sam and Freya are fighting to ignore is off the charts, and Kathryn’s ability to make the reader feel like she is trapped in that tiny little corridor with Freya is next level genius!! The suspense, action and HOT sexy times throughout Under The Rose made it impossible to put the book down, and I can’t WAIT to see what happens next with the Codex team!
https://bexbookrevieux.blogspot.com/2020/03/kathryn-nolan-is-queen-of-slow-slooow.html?m=1
LOVED Sam and Freya’s story SO MUCH! Everything I love all in one book, books, mysterious clubs, intrigue, suspense, nerdy awkwardness, and the BICKERING! Its amazing how a good bickering banter is to foreplay as kindling and pine needles are to a bonfire, EXPLOSIVE! Their shared background, strong connection, and mutual anxiety challenges were what made this couple feel so much like people I knew in my own life. I love how this author brings her characters to life for us, makes them real and well rounded and makes us feel a part of the adventure. Just such a fun escape into the antique book world!
Get ready to get sucked into the dark underworld belly and espionage of antiquities, rare books, art and exceptional finds that are being illegally bought and sold from some of the most colorful and unlikely characters you will ever meet.
Enter Codex and it’s dedicated staff of highly skilled, professional agents groomed to meet the demands of recovering these treasured and valued items at almost any cost.
From the moment you open this book you will be taken in from the dedication alone. This author writes from the heart, and continues to beautifully evolve in her writing techniques. This is the second book in this series and just like like the first book she captures your attention from the first page. You will be held captive. Not only is this a book filled with drama, intrigue, a unique romance, heat, but it’s also a look inside the psyche of the human element and what agents in these professions have to go through in the world of private detectives and the FBI. The relationship and rivalry of Freya and Sam is tested beyond normal limits and forces them to deal with the past and present to be able to come to a viable solution to be able to work together. The heat that is generated between these two will keep you on the edge of your seat and on your toes in a variety of ways.
As if there isn’t enough in this book we are treated to the vivid descriptions of caverns and speakeasies and beautiful hotels. There is a lot of cultural learning to be had in reading this book. You may even find yourself looking up facts about authors and historical references. Make sure you read the author’s notes at the end of the book. She explains so much about her journey of writing this book.
I never thought reading about librarians, rare books and private detectives could be sexy but turns out it can be with the right author! Do yourself a favor and check out Under the Rose. It’s a different kind of rare sexy romance, that will steal your heart!
This is book 2 of the Codex series. Though it can definitely be read as a stand alone there is added value if you read “Behind the Veil” first as the reader gains a deeper understanding of the Codex team and of the criminal world involving rare manuscripts and documents. This story is dual POV, with insight from both Sam and Freya. The writing is beautiful, and I found myself completely immersed in the world of rare books. This is not the first time this author has driven my curiosity toward real world poets that were previously unknown to me, but through mentions within the book, I now have new poetry to find and read.
The story follows old adversaries, Sam and Freya, as they are partnered undercover on a case. Their competitive banter is invigorating and smart. Trust is a big part of their story as they work together to solve the case. The suspense and the fantastic imagery of the criminal book world is captivating. The criminals are well developed, and I felt like I knew them. I was on the edge of my seat to see how the mysteries would unfold and the drama would play out. The relationships between the team members at Codex are also focal to the book, as they form the central core of trust and friendship. I really came to love Sam. I appreciated that his childhood history drove his decisions including how he expressed feelings. I loved the light and understanding that Freya brought him, though she was working through her own self-doubts. The heat between these two is scorching in this slow burn romance, and I loved them together. This was an excellent addition to the Codex series and I highly recommend it.
Thrilling in every way!
I loved this book! It was suspenseful, gripping, and thrilling! The slow burn leading up to explosive pent up passion is classic Kathryn Nolan.
Both Sam Byrne and Freya Evandale have insecurities. Deep seated fears that have plagued them for years after a shared experience as young adults that shaped who they are at their core. When they’re thrown together to recover rare love letters, they both must face their shortcomings and learn to work together again. To trust. To realize they are better together. Sam and Freya have one of those rare loves that make you swoon and sigh, poetically written as only Kathryn Nolan can.
If I thought I loved book 1 of the Codex books, Behind the Veil, then I don’t know what comes after love, but that’s what I felt for Under the Rose. Freya was a great character, I felt very connected to her, maybe because her uniqueness called to me. Sam was a strong male but had his insecurities too. He was vulnerable and I think that’s what had me turning the pages. There’s more mystery, more intrigue, more secrets and more heat! Again the writing had me pulled in immediately and I totally felt like I was in these hidden rooms, and this hidden underworld! Love every page!
I received an ARC in return for my honest review.
I love the premise of an underground rare
book black market. This story takes us deep into that world with Sam an FBI agent on loan to Codex and Freya a talented computer geek with a shared history. They went to college together and joined the FBI together. They are not friends but you can feel the heat. This story is amazing. The sexual tension combined with the suspense of the story take us on a wild ride. I loved it.
Absolutely Genius Writing
Under the Rose is the second book in the Codex series by Kathryn Nolan. The first book in the series, Behind the Veil, introduced us to the Codex team. This book is about FBI Special Agent, Sam Byrne, who is on administrative leave and has been “banished” to Codex for a short period of time, and Codex private investigator and resident computer expert, Freya Evandale. Freya and Sam have been rivals since Freshman year of college and then again through the FBI training center at Quantico. These two are both taken out of their comfort zone and are paired up to find the stolen love letters of George Sand to poet, Alfred de Musset. The new partnership between Sam and Freya is very turbulent and it brings up all the old feelings they once secretly had for each other in the many years they spent being rivals. This book primarily takes place in about four days so the pace is pretty fast but very detailed and interesting.
Not only is the story between Sam and Freya interesting and exciting, but there are so many other smaller stories that are so fascinating in this book. Kathryn Nolan has very descriptive stories about the historic buildings they visit (buildings she has made up), stories about the criminals involved in this case, and stories about works of literature. All of those stories are detailed and excellent and combine into one well-crafted piece of literature. As always with Kathryn’s books, I learned a few things. Her research is incredible and she is able to combine it into the story in such a way that you don’t think about actually learning something until you are done. Maybe Kathryn should try writing text books! I have no doubt that this will be one of my favorite books of 2020.
I hope Kathryn will continue writing romantic suspense as she is very talented in that area. I am looking forward to the next and final book in this series, In the Clear.
Be still my nerd girl heart! Freya is the absolute best! I knew I would love her after her introduction in Behind the Veil, but WOW! Freya is brilliant, nerdy, driven, and gorgeous. She is super relatable, too. Her anxiety makes her human. Her unequivocal love for tacos makes her my hero.
A strong woman like Freya can only accept an equally strong man as her partner. Sam is definitely that man. He’s a bit of a tough shell to crack, but there is no challenge Freya cannot overcome. Once Sam’s true self shines, he is sexy, brave, capable, kind, and even funny. The two of them together are unstoppable!
This book isn’t just a romance, it’s a suspenseful novel that dives into the dangerous world of rare book theft. There is action, intrigue, and, of course, some of the hottest love scenes imaginable.
“I’ve lived the last seven years in darkness. You turned on every light in my life. You are the light.”
Special agent Samual Bryne, who worked for the FBI in the Art Theft Unit, and was on administrative leave under internal investigation, who was denied FBI privileges at entry level and was stripped of his badge and gun and placed with a private detective agency who worked under Abraham (Abe) Royal, who had been his instructor at Quantico.
Freya Evandale, a computer whiz, who was always whip-smart, funny with full lips and emerald eyes, had always wanted to be an FBI agent. She dropped out even though she was one of the most promising up and coming agents. She was the only one who could challenge Sam and they argued and sparred none stop, fighting each other into submission.
She has been working on a website called Under the Rose. “On the surface it’s a legal marketplace for private sellers and private buyers…Beneath the legal exterior was a murky world of thieves. ”
When Sam’s father, FBI deputy director, sends him to “consult” for Codex, while he’s under review, he never dreamed that his arch-nemesis would be there, or that they would be partnered undercover together, as Julian King and Birdie Barns rare booksellers.
As they maneuver through the Empty House secret society, they must figure out secret codes to keep their identities safe and catch the thieves.
This story is full of intrigue, sexual tension and laughs.
It’s a great addition to the Codex series. I look forward to the next book by this extraordinary author.
I have been eagerly awaiting this book since we met quirky Freya in book 1. It was so good being back “in” the Codex offices amongst familiar faces that felt like old friends.
Just like the 1st book in the series you will get hooked from the very beginning and will not be able to stop turning the pages.
“Dr Ward will see you now”
If that line isn’t a dark omen of what’s to come, I’m not sure what is.
As I turned the pages of this fast paced book, I couldn’t get that line out of my head, even when I was unsure of what’s to come.
Watch as two archnemeses go undercover to find the latest artifacts Codex has been asked to rescue. Can they let years of point scoring go, or will the op be cursed? Read to find out if they can bury their differences to unearth treasures.
This was definitely a brillant follow on story that I loved just as much if not more.
Under the Rose is book two in the Codex Series. I was immediately drawn into the story and become invested in Sam and Freya’s past and present.
Sam was a FBI agent who was forced to take a leave of absence because of an “incident” in his previous case. He begins working at Codex as a consultant in the meantime and is reunited with his nemesis from Princeton and the FBI academy. Freya is as shocked to see Sam as he is to see her. When they are forced to work together undercover to solve a case, their past and present collides and their chemistry literally leaps off the page.
Freya was a breath of fresh air. She hid her insecurities well and fooled herself into believing that she was happy living behind the scenes. When she’s forced to put her trust in Sam and in herself, she discovers she’s capable of anything.
Sam started out as an uptight, FBI suit, but he longed to be as carefree and happy as Freya. Once he lets down his guard and loosens up, we see him learn how to stand up for himself and what he wants.
These two together were FIRE! While they considered themselves enemies, we learn that they were really each other’s confidante and that there were definitely feelings underneath the surface that they both tried to ignore. Once they gave into the feelings, you knew they were destined to be partners both professionally and personally.
If you love romantic suspense novels with a dash of intrigue, mysterious characters, mystery, adventure and romance, this book is for you. It has all that and more!! Escape into this book and lose yourself in the adventure and romance
Under the Rose gives you mystery, suspense, danger, a secret society, hidden tunnels, code words and some of the hottest almost kisses to ever grace the pages of a book! As always Kathryn Nolan delivers a delicious slow burn full of gorgeously written words. This book combined all of my favorite things. I was completely immersed in Sam and Freya’s story and never wanted to find my way out!!
An intensely satisfying romantic suspense that ratchets up the tension with every turn of the page. Under the Rose is steamy, sexy, and sinfully good—an absolute must read.
I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but Kathryn Nolan is truly a magician with words. It doesn’t matter what trope she is writing, her writing has this unidentified quality that makes me both want to savor every word and rush through the whole thing in one sitting. I’m equally addicted and never want it to end. Her writing creates such imagery, and has a beautiful, poetic quality. And don’t get me started on the chemistry she is able to create between characters. She is truly magic, and this book is no exception.
If you read Behind the Veil, you already love Freya (and if not, you’ll fall quickly). This book, however, will take that to a whole new level. Freya and Sam are explosive. They aren’t expecting to be thrown together, but when these enemies are forced to work together and face their insecurities, things get intense! This book is full of suspense and romance. I was on the edge of my seat, and I think my Kindle melted a bit.
I loved returning to this intense world full of mysteries and undercover agents. It is full of adventure while still telling a fantastic love story. I couldn’t possibly love this book more!
“Every action in my life had a Freya-inspired reaction.” – Sam Byrne, FBI agent and arch-nemesis
Enemies to lovers is my jam. The side-stepping dance between characters, the scorching passion, the bickering and bantering foreplay, it’s all here in Under the Rose delivered in a beautifully wrapped literary package by Kathryn Nolan.
Freya is a taco loving, computer-nerd detective at Codex. Unbeknownst to her, Sam has just landed in a time out from the FBI and is now her partner. He is a company man through and through, thus “his way” is the best course of action. These two adversaries from college and quantico training, pick right up with the squabbling the minute they are in the room together. I loved the character growth of Freya and Sam, how each address their own vulnerabilities and learn to trust in their actions. Their chemistry is off the charts and the results are a steamy emotional mess you will not forget.
The secondary characters are so vibrant, even the city of Philadelphia itself. The landmark descriptors make you feel as though you are right there following along the hallways of the hotel and museums. And lets not forget Abe, the stoic leader of these detectives. I’m looking forward to getting under his suit, and his story of course. The thrill of the chase and underlying mystery make this book such an adventure. Intellectual and poetic writing at it’s best!
Under the Rose is the second book in the Codex world, and while it’s a stand alone, reading Behind the Veil will enrich the reader’s experience.
WOW!! The chemistry in this book is literally on fire! Sam and Freya are everything!
I loved going back into the Codex world with Sam and Freya and seeing the characters I grew to love in Behind the Veil. Sam and Freya have a history of being competitive, and it picks right back up when they meet again in Abe’s office. Except so much has happened between when they last saw each other, and I love how complex the characters are, especially Freya. I love how she develops through the story — she is such a strong, empowering character and I love Freya all the more for it! One of my favorite characters written!
We get an interesting case and how it is spun through the story is perfect! Philly is as much a character in this book as anyone else, and I loved how Kathryn set the scene throughout the city — it was perfect! It makes me want to visit Philly!
This book was incredible, and I would 100% recommend it to anyone! The Codex Series is sexy, intriguing, and has mystery — what more could you want in a book!?
I love this book. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope, and Under the Rose scratched that itch marvelously. I love the characters, I love the world of Codex, and hoo boy, I love the steam. Freya and Sam quite possibly have the hottest first kiss I’ve read. I can’t recommend Under the Rose enough.