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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Amazing book!! Sam & Freya are wonderful characters that have the best back story/relationship! “I’ve lived the last seven years in darkness. You are my light, Freya.” Best line & totally sums up how I feel about this book!
My fave person writing an enemies to lovers slow burn??? Of course I AM OBSESSED!
Sam and Freya have hated each other since their college days and their competitive streak just grew in Quantico. They parted ways when Freya left the academy but now they are forced to work together at Codex. Will their hate explode? Or will they finally realize that buried under all of that resentment is their mad love for each other?
No one does slow burn like Kathryn Nolan. No joke, I actually applauded when Sam and Freya finally kissed because it was THAT DAMN GOOD. Like I could absolutely feel their need, their emotions and IT. WAS. GLORIOUS!!!
The story was amazingly written with a good solid mystery and thrill. On top of this, she made Sam and Freya so impossibly endearing that i wanted to dive inside and hug them both. Their spirit and respect for each other was totally visible even if they were spewing witch curses at each other.
I am irrevocably in love with these characters and I cannot contain my excitement for Abe’s book. It’s going to be a glorious angst fest and I AM NOT READY.
I have said this before and I’ll say it again, Kahryn Nolan is an angel and her words are magic.
All the stars! I can’t convey the love I have for this book. Two longtime rivals with lust and longing right below the surface of their pseudo hate that boils over in the very best of ways. Kathryn Nolan has built an amazing world with the Codex team and I wish it could go on forever. I can’t wait for Abe’s book and wish Sam and Freya could have their own movie or TV series where they battle the bad guys of the book theft world and payoff their insane chemistry after each catch (this book has best first kiss and backseat sex scene ever)
I thought this book had a great premise. It is told in a dual point of view and that style works if both H & h have strong voices. I didn’t get that impression here. Perhaps it was just me, but I often had to look at the chapter heading to see who was narrating. Putting that all aside, the enemies to lovers/slow burn romance is well done. It was a quick read that I came to because another author I follow said this book had one of the hottest first kisses she’s ever read. It WAS pretty hot.
This book captured me from the start and didn’t let me go until I finished it! There was soo much packed into this book, intrigue, suspense, slow-burn, thrills and lots and lots of STEAM!
This is the second book to her Codex series, but you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one. Sam and Freya are thrown together and have to learn to get past their hate for each other to find the missing rare love letters.
Kathryn Nolan has a gift of creating great characters that you just feel like you know and love. The chemistry between these characters, I’m surprised my kindle didn’t melt. I am definitely going to reread this book, a lot! Great job Kathryn Nolan!!!!
The Perfect Enemies to Lovers Recipe
Take one nerdy researcher, add an uptight FBI agent, a heaping helping of unrequited lust, a scoop of competitive rivalry, and whip into a froth. Season mixture liberally with stolen love letters, undercover assignments, insanely hot sex, and a splash of breaking and entering. Mix well and you have UNDER THE ROSE—Kathryn Nolan’s latest romantic masterpiece.
UNDER THE ROSE is full of everything a romantic suspense novel should be: intrigue, high stakes, danger, swoon-worthy romance, and scorching chemistry. But in Nolan’s deft hands, the aforementioned characteristics become so much more.
Nolen’s true gift lies in character creation. Her characters are living, breathing actual people who are so true to life that you’d like to sit down and have dinner with them. Sam and Freya are no exception. In fact, they may be my favorite couple yet. They’re so genuine, so multi-faceted, so *real*, that I didn’t want to let go of them at the end of the story. I wanted more time with them, in their world.
Reality is often a terrifying place. I am beyond grateful to Kathryn for giving readers a place to escape when needed and providing amazing people to hang out with while we’re there. So, grab your favorite beverage, curl up in front of a roaring fire, and enjoy this heartfelt, funny, snarky, sexy, delicious slice of enemies-to-lovers goodness that is UNDER THE ROSE.
This is the second book in the Codex series and holy Hannah – it was AMAZING. Freya and Sam absolutely lit up the pages with their chemistry, it is absolutely off the charts. Freya sees herself as a computer nerd with no real undercover skills and Sam is her arch nemesis who joins the Codex team to recover from an “incident” in his job at the FBI. They work through their issues together in a way that jumps off the page and makes the reader feel like they are part of the story.
Through the twists and turns of recovering valuable love letters from a poet to her lover, Freya and Sam come into their own and realize working together is much better than fighting each other. I can honestly say Kathryn Nolan is the queen of the…ahem…bedroom (or car)…scenes. No one writes such hot and steamy interludes like she does!
Though you don’t have to read Behind the Veil before you read Under the Rose, take it from me – you’ll want to. Both books have the mystery, drama and romance that all the greats posses and I for one cannot WAIT for Abe’s story!
Kathryn Nolan does not disappoint once again. This book was everything I expected it to be. It was hot and thrilling. There was adventure and suspense. A great enemies to lover story!!
I literally finished this book five minutes ago, and all I can think is “Oh my god, this book is SO good!” Kathryn Nolan has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read her book “Bohemian” (which is amazing by the way, check it out if you haven’t read it yet!) and her newest novel, “Under the Rose” does not disappoint!
The chemistry between Freya and Sam is off the charts. I am a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers stories, and this couple is a perfect example of this trope. Both characters are brilliant, strong, badass private investigators (Sam is also an FBI agent). Their wild and (very) sexy adventures caught my attention from the beginning and kept me riveted until the final page.
Nolan continues to astound me with each book she writes, and the power and intensity of Freya and Sam’s connection (and battles) is captivating.
I cannot adequately express how much I enjoyed this book. I’m off to grab a cup of tea (Freya would approve) and to start reading it again immediately.
Loved this romantic suspense to much. Kathryn Nolan can write anything – romantic comedy, suspense, contemporary, you name it, she slays it.
This is an enemies-to-lovers novel involving a nerdy detective that usually operates from the office, and her FBI-agent nemesis. There is bickering, banter, flirtation and chemistry so scorching that the book almost burns the page.
Sam and Freya have a long history of being at each other’s throats all the way back to college. But throughout the book, they are able to be vulnerable and honest with each other and they grow together. The trust develops organically and it is clear how it is progressing in the book.
This is the second Codex book, but it’s a stand-alone. You will enjoy both this and Behind the Veil. I do recommend reading them in order because it will enhance your appreciation of Under the Rose, but it’s not necessary if you want to dive right in.
Kathryn Nolan does it again with action packed , fast paced full of intrigue set in the world antique books and thieves.
Sam and Freya have been fremenies through university and Quantico until Frey walks away from it all. Now they have been thrown together again at Codex . Can they put their differences to the side and work together. This is a slow burn , full of chemistry that builds and builds until it explodes.
The second book in the Codex series, Under the Rose had me on the edge of my seat! Sam and Freya were bitter rivals through college and FBI training…7 years later the are forced to be partners on a case to retrieve stolen love letters. There were so many twists and turns in the story – add to that the scorching chemistry between Sam & Freya as they come to acknowledge their love for each other and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend! I can’t wait till Abe’s story!
ENEMIES TO LOVERS and HOT HOT HOT!
Freya is a witty tech genius who always brings the best snacks…. donuts, and tacos!
Sam is an FBI agent helping working with Codex for some reason unknown to Freya.
When the two met for the first time after many years I knew it was going to be an amazing read. The tension is palpable!
Abe has Sam and Freya work together in an attempt to recover antique stolen love letters. The suspense is crazy intense with car chases, hidden rooms beneath the city, and creepy characters. This book is overflowing with temptation, desire, action, suspense, and a crazy gun-wielding antique lover.
Another delightful slow burn from Nolan!
It was so great to be back with the Codex team for another romp!
Freya and Sam’s story is full of intrigue, witty banter, and the most delicious sexual tension.
Nolan’s writing is smooth and complex, like my favorite whiskey. This story has so many layers, peeling each one back revealed another pleasant surprise until I felt spoiled with all the romantic and suspenseful goodness.
I’m eagerly anticipating Abe’s story. I can’t wait to see what Nolan gives us.
I am a huge fan of Kathryn Nolan’s writing and her Codex series has established her as one of the best writers I have read. Her words painted a clear picture in my mind of the intrigue and it was if I was watching it all unfold in real life. I could feel myself walking the tunnels and feel the claustrophobia set in. Sam and Freya’s chemistry flowed out of the pages and that car scene may be the hottest scene I have ever read. If you are looking for something to read to take your mind off of all the craziness of the world today you have to read this book.
Boom! There Goes Your Heart.
Under the Rose is a rivals to lovers, sizzling slow burn with action, suspense, and combustible energy! Freya and Sam are both intelligent, determined, and competitive. They push each other with ease and vigor. Their bickering is passionate. It catapults the current between them into high voltage sexual tension. Sparks for days! The inevitable sex is dirty, raw, and intense.
This book is chock-full with suspense and mystery. The Codex Crew is tasked with securing stolen literary love letters for a client; the clock is ticking and the stakes are high. The world of art theft is treacherous and seductive. Sam and Freya take the reader along for quite an adventure filled with action, shady characters, and subterfuge. The elements of suspense add to the magnitude of the story.
Under the Rose is a fast paced, emotional, exhilarating read. The yearning and vulnerability will give you all the feels. The banter and rivalry turn up the heat. Be prepared to laugh, spasm with pleasure, and swoon.
The best fictional suspense is based at least in part from truth or an actual event. We get to go back to Codex private investigator firm where two highly competitive enemies have to work together to find some letters. Not just any letters. Letters written by George Sand (aka Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin) to poet Alfred de Musset. I had to go to Google and review the history on Sand. She is a feminist icon, before the word “feminism” was born. She has a fascinating life and I got lost for hours reading about her.
I was intrigued from the beginning. Codex specializes in rare, stolen books…So who would think as a reader you would be on the edge of your seat? Nolan is an expert at ratcheting of the tension of a scene, and you just keep saying to yourself “Are they gonna get caught? They are gonna get caught!” But these are thieves that Sam and Freya are working with, and therefore in love with reasoning why they deserve to have these historical documents above a. ..gasp! A Museum! The horror!
The banter scenes between Sam and Freya are funny and charming, and the chemistry is popping off the pages. I loved the twists and turns, and the historical information on Philadelphia. It’s clear that while this story is fiction, Nolan roots it in historical fact. Until I looked up Sand and read Nolan’s notes at the end of the book, I did not realize what was truly fictional!
I also really liked how Nolan addresses anxiety in this story. It’s very relatable! Sam and Freya end up finding out they aren’t so different after all. Anxiety must be rampant in CIA, FBI and military, and I liked seeing how both Sam and Freya handle it. Because of this, I actually felt like Nolan just GETS it.
Enemies to loves is a top favorite of mine, and Freya and Sam, well, what we have is a smoldering, bickering story with history. Freya and Sam know each other from college and Quantico. Freya is Codex’s computer genius, Sam is plopped down into Codex for a time out from the FBI. These to have some great dialogue all that bickering, arguing and Sam’s by the book mentality; it’s all fan to the flames.
Besides the hot, hot flames between Sam and Freya, we are treated to one of the best cities in US; Philadelphia! Being from the Philadelphia area myself, this novel makes me giddy with joy at all the familiar places featured and it makes my heart joyful.
I cannot forget the suspense storyline in Under the Rose, it’ll keep you turning the pages.
PS, Abe is all that and a bag of chips, so I’m anxiously waiting for his story!
This is book 2 in Kathryn Nolan’s Codex series, however, it’s a stand alone!
Wowsa talk about a delicious slowburn. I loved this!
Sam and Freya are what this author does best. Well thought out characters, with flaws, who draw you in & make you fall for them! I was hooked. Moving through the pages to see what would happen next. Loving every minute of it!
Plenty of action, witty dialogue, chemistry out the wazoo – this one had it all.
Every story I read from her reminds me why she’s a one click author. Get on it!
I love this Codex Series SOOOO much! Kathryn Nolan’s writing is so intelligently sexy and really puts a reader in the thick of it. She knows how to transport you, to make you feel like your in that city. And Freya and Sam’s story is no exception.
My favorite trope – enemies(ish) to lovers….Kathryn Nolan brought it when she laid pen to paper with these two. Their constant competitive nature, and need to be better than the other offered up great moments of exquisite banter, and luscious tension that you know will be put to great use.
Nolan’s character and story development is spot on in this Codex Series. As each story unfolds a new chapter in this series, the uniqueness of each story is so welcomed. It allowed for me to see a different facet of the Codex world. All her characters are so strong and intriguing. Under the Rose is truly a perfect continuation of this series.
I loved Freya’s strength and her competitive streak. And Sam…well, he gave me butterflies like no other. Although the books in this series are able to be read as standalones, I’d 100% recommend everyone to pick up the first book (Behind the Veil). You will love these books to pieces.
A big BRAVO to Kathryn Nolan. She does it like no other!