What do you think?
Rate this book
Francesca Cahill Deadly #4
Deadly Desire
The time is turn-of-the-century New York City. Society's elite host glittering balls inside sprawling mansions while outside, the teeming street harbor secrets of their own.
New York City's Police Commissioner Rick Bragg has been called upon to investigate a shocking crime. Reluctant to pull Francesca into a case that could be very dangerous, Rick also knows the beautiful and brilliant heiress has a natural ability for sleuthing that could aid him--even it if means working side by side with a woman who tempts him like no other. And so Franscesca and Rick begin a harrowing journey through the squalid underworld of the city that plunges them deeper and deeper in a peril neither could have imagined--and a desire that only continues to grow...
New York City's Police Commissioner Rick Bragg has been called upon to investigate a shocking crime. Reluctant to pull Francesca into a case that could be very dangerous, Rick also knows the beautiful and brilliant heiress has a natural ability for sleuthing that could aid him--even it if means working side by side with a woman who tempts him like no other. And so Franscesca and Rick begin a harrowing journey through the squalid underworld of the city that plunges them deeper and deeper in a peril neither could have imagined--and a desire that only continues to grow...
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
22 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Joyce
169books1,287followersBrenda Joyce is the bestselling author of forty-one novels and five novellas. She has won many awards, and her debut novel, Innocent Fire, won a Best Western Romance award. She has also won the highly coveted Best Historical Romance award for Splendor and Two Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romantic Times BOOKreviews. There are over 14 million copies of her novels in print and she is published in over a dozen foreign countries.
A native New Yorker, she now lives in southern Arizona with her son, dogs, and her Arabian and half-Arabian reining horses. Brenda divides her time between her twin passions—writing powerful love stories and competing with her horses at regional and national levels. For more information about Brenda and her upcoming novels, please visit her Web sites: , and .
A native New Yorker, she now lives in southern Arizona with her son, dogs, and her Arabian and half-Arabian reining horses. Brenda divides her time between her twin passions—writing powerful love stories and competing with her horses at regional and national levels. For more information about Brenda and her upcoming novels, please visit her Web sites: , and .
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 17, 2015
***4.5/5***
Hiiiii ! Cette série est un vrai coup de cœur, et c'est avec ce tome qu'elle entérine ce statut!
Au delà du fait que l'action s'intensifie, et se poursuit sur le tome suivant, ce qui m'a fait chavirer dans ce tome est tout l'aspect sentimental. La pauvre Francesca ne sait plus où donner de la tête.
Qui de la raison ou des sentiments elle doit écouter? Qui choisir?
Rick, préfet de police qu'elle aime profondément, mais avec qui toute histoire d'amour paraît compromise?
Ou Hart, le demi-frère de Rick, qui se révèle comme un personnage divin dans ce tome et lui fait entrevoir une autre forme d'amour?
(J'ai eu un vrai coup de cœur pour ce dernier, son côté sombre et sauvage m'a assommée.)
On découvre également la famille de Rick, avec les bons et les mauvais côtés que cela implique. (Shoz, Lucy ou Nick sont aussi adorables que ce que Leigh Anne est détestable). Nul doute que nous les retrouverons avec grand plaisir par la suite, car ils apportent un vrai plus à l'atmosphère de la série.
Après ce(s) rebondissement(s) final(aux), je vais bien évidemment positionner le tome 5 dans ma PAL prioritaire.
Bref, Francesca Cahill est la série qui mêle habilement suspense, histoire et amours renversantes. Un cocktail magique et très efficace!
Hiiiii ! Cette série est un vrai coup de cœur, et c'est avec ce tome qu'elle entérine ce statut!
Au delà du fait que l'action s'intensifie, et se poursuit sur le tome suivant, ce qui m'a fait chavirer dans ce tome est tout l'aspect sentimental. La pauvre Francesca ne sait plus où donner de la tête.
Qui de la raison ou des sentiments elle doit écouter? Qui choisir?
Rick, préfet de police qu'elle aime profondément, mais avec qui toute histoire d'amour paraît compromise?
Ou Hart, le demi-frère de Rick, qui se révèle comme un personnage divin dans ce tome et lui fait entrevoir une autre forme d'amour?
(J'ai eu un vrai coup de cœur pour ce dernier, son côté sombre et sauvage m'a assommée.)
- Il la méprise, Francesca. Et aujourd'hui, c'est vous qu'il aime. (...) Je crois que sur ce point, je suis jaloux de mon frère. (...)
- Que voulez-vous dire?
- C'est à vous de le deviner.
- Je sais que vous broyez du noir à cause de Rick. (...) Je vous sens très déprimée, depuis que vous êtes tombée amoureuse de lui. (...)
- Pourquoi le glissez-vous dans chacunes de nos conversations? demanda-t-elle.
- Parce qu'il vous fait souffrir et que je n'aime pas cela.
On découvre également la famille de Rick, avec les bons et les mauvais côtés que cela implique. (Shoz, Lucy ou Nick sont aussi adorables que ce que Leigh Anne est détestable). Nul doute que nous les retrouverons avec grand plaisir par la suite, car ils apportent un vrai plus à l'atmosphère de la série.
Après ce(s) rebondissement(s) final(aux), je vais bien évidemment positionner le tome 5 dans ma PAL prioritaire.
Bref, Francesca Cahill est la série qui mêle habilement suspense, histoire et amours renversantes. Un cocktail magique et très efficace!
June 17, 2015
Okay I'm still on the re-read train, and this one had me feeling really conflicted. We are finally introduced to the rest of the Bragg family and some fair better than others. Rick and Calder's little sister Lucy is so TSTL that she bogged this whole book down with her choices that never make sense. At the same time Rick's past shows up into town and takes center stage. Character wise, this is a pivotal book in this series. Plot wise, not so much. It has the worst pacing that I've run across during this experiment. Sentimentality is keeping me from removing half a star.
October 14, 2015
Quel plaisir de lire cette quatrième enquête de Francesca.
J'aime de plus en plus cette série. Que se soit à propos des personnages, du contexte ou des Աêٱ, je n'ai rien redire ! Je souris, je peste contre Francesca quand elle se voile la face sur ses propres sentiments, et en même temps je suis complètement fan de son tempérament. J'aime, j'aime, j'aime.
La suite promet de belles choses, autant du côté sentimental que du côté "Աêٱ".
J'aime de plus en plus cette série. Que se soit à propos des personnages, du contexte ou des Աêٱ, je n'ai rien redire ! Je souris, je peste contre Francesca quand elle se voile la face sur ses propres sentiments, et en même temps je suis complètement fan de son tempérament. J'aime, j'aime, j'aime.
La suite promet de belles choses, autant du côté sentimental que du côté "Աêٱ".
September 16, 2011
This series is like a soap opera. There is so much drama going on! There are some characters I hate (Evan...a man ruled by his c*ck) and some I like. The chemistry between Francesca and Calder Hart is much better than the chemistry between her and Bragg.
November 8, 2017
I am sincerely over the Rick Bragg and Francesca Cahill relationship. It has taken a very strong willed, strong minded woman and made her into a mindless idiot who continues to throw herself at a married man. A married man, that is still hung up on his wife despite their separation and has no real intention of divorcing her. He irritates me and I didn't like the relationship at any point. I've always been a real fan of Calder Hart.
August 29, 2017
Une lecture légère, rafraîchissante et divertissante avec les aventures de Francesca Cahill, tome 4!
Petit rappel:
Francesca. Vingt ans, d’une très bonne famille new-yorkaise, abhorre les bals, préfère s’instruire et s’intéresse vivement aux réformes politiques de sa ville.
Bref, c’est un bas-bleu.
Et son occupation principale est de résoudre des Աêٱ.
La miss a craqué pour le préfet de police, Rick Bragg, mais n’est pas insensible aux charmes de son demi-frère, Calder Hart.
La compétition fait rage entre les deux hommes devant l’indécision de la jeune fille quand l’un est coincé dans un vieux mariage et l’autre essaye de s’acheter une conduite et donne lieu à quelques scènes cocasses.
Le duel entre l’homme conventionnel et respectueux au point d’en devenir un poil ennuyeux pour la lectrice du XXIème siècle et l’homme un brin sulfureux, exubérant et dandy n’est certes pas un sujet super original mais cela reste toujours une valeur sûre pour des jeux de séduction charmants.
Dans ce tome, deux Աêٱ se mêlent dont une ne connaîtra pas son dénouement immédiatement et l’autre nous permettra de davantage découvrir les membres de la famille des jeunes étalons fougueux!
Les petites histoires des uns et des autres suivent leur cours et rythment agréablement le roman et je suis curieuse de connaître la suite.
Ce n’est pas une lecture transcendante mais divertissante avec cette atmosphère du début XXème, ses manières policées, son étiquette et ses effronteries bien gentillettes. Les deux Աêٱ sont sympathiques, sans grand suspens, apportent un peu de piment dans les péripéties romantiques de la demoiselle, à moins que ce ne soit l’inverse.
Le seul bémol est que le côté « bas bleu » abordé dans le 1er tome et qui apportait une pointe de profondeur à l’histoire est largement passé aux oubliettes depuis pour donner la primeur aux épanchements et doutes sentimentaux de la demoiselle. Dommage!
Un récit cohérent, un mélange de romance et d’Աêٱ� policières avec des personnages sympathiques et attachants. Contrat rempli pour une lecture rapide et récréative!
Petit rappel:
Francesca. Vingt ans, d’une très bonne famille new-yorkaise, abhorre les bals, préfère s’instruire et s’intéresse vivement aux réformes politiques de sa ville.
Bref, c’est un bas-bleu.
Et son occupation principale est de résoudre des Աêٱ.
La miss a craqué pour le préfet de police, Rick Bragg, mais n’est pas insensible aux charmes de son demi-frère, Calder Hart.
La compétition fait rage entre les deux hommes devant l’indécision de la jeune fille quand l’un est coincé dans un vieux mariage et l’autre essaye de s’acheter une conduite et donne lieu à quelques scènes cocasses.
Le duel entre l’homme conventionnel et respectueux au point d’en devenir un poil ennuyeux pour la lectrice du XXIème siècle et l’homme un brin sulfureux, exubérant et dandy n’est certes pas un sujet super original mais cela reste toujours une valeur sûre pour des jeux de séduction charmants.
Dans ce tome, deux Աêٱ se mêlent dont une ne connaîtra pas son dénouement immédiatement et l’autre nous permettra de davantage découvrir les membres de la famille des jeunes étalons fougueux!
Les petites histoires des uns et des autres suivent leur cours et rythment agréablement le roman et je suis curieuse de connaître la suite.
Ce n’est pas une lecture transcendante mais divertissante avec cette atmosphère du début XXème, ses manières policées, son étiquette et ses effronteries bien gentillettes. Les deux Աêٱ sont sympathiques, sans grand suspens, apportent un peu de piment dans les péripéties romantiques de la demoiselle, à moins que ce ne soit l’inverse.
Le seul bémol est que le côté « bas bleu » abordé dans le 1er tome et qui apportait une pointe de profondeur à l’histoire est largement passé aux oubliettes depuis pour donner la primeur aux épanchements et doutes sentimentaux de la demoiselle. Dommage!
Un récit cohérent, un mélange de romance et d’Աêٱ� policières avec des personnages sympathiques et attachants. Contrat rempli pour une lecture rapide et récréative!
February 12, 2023
(Blurb)
New York City's Police Commissioner Rick Bragg has been called upon to investigate a shocking crime. Reluctant to pull Francesca into a case that could be very dangerous, Rick also knows the beautiful and brilliant heiress has a natural ability for sleuthing that could aid him--even it if means working side by side with a woman who tempts him like no other. And so Franscesca and Rick begin a harrowing journey through the squalid underworld of the city that plunges them deeper and deeper in a peril neither could have imagined--and a desire that only continues to grow...
New York City's Police Commissioner Rick Bragg has been called upon to investigate a shocking crime. Reluctant to pull Francesca into a case that could be very dangerous, Rick also knows the beautiful and brilliant heiress has a natural ability for sleuthing that could aid him--even it if means working side by side with a woman who tempts him like no other. And so Franscesca and Rick begin a harrowing journey through the squalid underworld of the city that plunges them deeper and deeper in a peril neither could have imagined--and a desire that only continues to grow...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2017
Predictable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2019
I finally found a plot I don't like. While I enjoy Joyce's writing skills, the three way triangle with one a married man is just not to my taste.
July 31, 2018
İlk 3 kitap için yaptığım yorumları bu kitap bana güzel yedirdi. Serinin açık ara en sıkıcı kitabı Deadly Desire olabilir.
Bu hikayede Bragg ailesinin diğer üyeleriyle tanışıyoruz. Ve görüyorum ki ailede en sevmediğim kişi Rick oldu ve öyle de kalacak. Seride Francesca'dan daha saçma davranan biri varsa o da Rick'tir. Eski eşi bunu bırakıp gitmekte sonuna kadar haklıymış. Keşke geri döneceğine bu salakla olan evliliğini tamamen bitirseymiş. Gerçi Leigh Anne'ye hak versem de 4 sene ortalıkta olmayıp eski kocası başkasına aşık oldu diye geri dönmesi de ayrı tuhaf.
Kitapta sevmediğim diğer şeyse karakterlerin -özellikle Rick ve Calder- Francesca için "O çok iyi biri, çok masum. Kimseyi incitmez, herkese yardımcı olur." ısrarlarını sürdürmeleri. Değil işte! Francesca da diğerleri gibi ne iyi ne kötü. Herkes gibi biri. Kitapta iyi biri diyebileceğimiz kişiler varsa Connie ve Maggie olur. Francesca değil.
Hikayenin polisiye kısmı olduğu söylense de hiç yoktu. Rick'in üvey kız kardeşinin başından geçenler kesinlikle hikayenin gizem unsuruna girmez.
Bu seferki kitap aslında ara geçiş gibi bir şey. Francesca'nın iki kardeş için hissettikleriyle beraber diğer karakterlerin de -örneğin Evan/Sarah olayı- hikayelerine daha önem verilmiş. Gizem kısmı boşverilmiş.
Ve hikayede hala Francesca'dan çok diğer karakterler beni cezbediyorsa ufak bir sorun var demektir. Allah'tan Calder var da Francesca'ya az da olsa katlanabiliyorum.
4. kitap geçiş kitabı olsa da keşke yazılmasaymış diyorum. Yazar anlatacaklarını pekala 1 kitap az da olsa anlatabilen biri çünkü.
Bu hikayede Bragg ailesinin diğer üyeleriyle tanışıyoruz. Ve görüyorum ki ailede en sevmediğim kişi Rick oldu ve öyle de kalacak. Seride Francesca'dan daha saçma davranan biri varsa o da Rick'tir. Eski eşi bunu bırakıp gitmekte sonuna kadar haklıymış. Keşke geri döneceğine bu salakla olan evliliğini tamamen bitirseymiş. Gerçi Leigh Anne'ye hak versem de 4 sene ortalıkta olmayıp eski kocası başkasına aşık oldu diye geri dönmesi de ayrı tuhaf.
Kitapta sevmediğim diğer şeyse karakterlerin -özellikle Rick ve Calder- Francesca için "O çok iyi biri, çok masum. Kimseyi incitmez, herkese yardımcı olur." ısrarlarını sürdürmeleri. Değil işte! Francesca da diğerleri gibi ne iyi ne kötü. Herkes gibi biri. Kitapta iyi biri diyebileceğimiz kişiler varsa Connie ve Maggie olur. Francesca değil.
Hikayenin polisiye kısmı olduğu söylense de hiç yoktu. Rick'in üvey kız kardeşinin başından geçenler kesinlikle hikayenin gizem unsuruna girmez.
Bu seferki kitap aslında ara geçiş gibi bir şey. Francesca'nın iki kardeş için hissettikleriyle beraber diğer karakterlerin de -örneğin Evan/Sarah olayı- hikayelerine daha önem verilmiş. Gizem kısmı boşverilmiş.
Ve hikayede hala Francesca'dan çok diğer karakterler beni cezbediyorsa ufak bir sorun var demektir. Allah'tan Calder var da Francesca'ya az da olsa katlanabiliyorum.
4. kitap geçiş kitabı olsa da keşke yazılmasaymış diyorum. Yazar anlatacaklarını pekala 1 kitap az da olsa anlatabilen biri çünkü.
December 18, 2008
This fourth instalment of the "Deadly Series" is way better than the previous ones (at least better than the first and third books, for I have not read the second). While the mystery story is typically simplistic and insipid (and in this case, incomplete too... perhaps the second mystery will be resolved in the next book), Deadly Desire has romantic intrigue in spades, with heroine Francesca Cahill feeling frustrated because of her mixed feelings towards Rick Bragg's half-brother, notorious ladies' man Calder Hart.
Joyce finally shows her gift for romance; finally we see romantic tension between the characters. More, from this tiny 'sample' of the love triangle that will be developing in future books, I think the author has a knack for writing difficult relationships. I always thought that, in a good love triangle, the reader must be 100% satisfied with the end result; meaning that the reader shouldn't feel sorry for the third person, even if said third person isn't a rotten villain. From the way BJ is setting things up, I think I, for one, will be quite happy with the end (*cough* Francesca and Hart *cough*). That, for me, is a mark of good romance writing.
So, in terms of mystery? Still not very good. But as for the 'historical romance' part, I definitely see some improvement. Deadly Desires is the best book of the series yet, in terms of romantic plot and writing style as well (if you ignore the fact that the author uses the expression "oh-so-addwordhere" a lot. This expression is very much a modern term and I doubt rich heiresses in the 1900s used it. But oh well.).
Joyce finally shows her gift for romance; finally we see romantic tension between the characters. More, from this tiny 'sample' of the love triangle that will be developing in future books, I think the author has a knack for writing difficult relationships. I always thought that, in a good love triangle, the reader must be 100% satisfied with the end result; meaning that the reader shouldn't feel sorry for the third person, even if said third person isn't a rotten villain. From the way BJ is setting things up, I think I, for one, will be quite happy with the end (*cough* Francesca and Hart *cough*). That, for me, is a mark of good romance writing.
So, in terms of mystery? Still not very good. But as for the 'historical romance' part, I definitely see some improvement. Deadly Desires is the best book of the series yet, in terms of romantic plot and writing style as well (if you ignore the fact that the author uses the expression "oh-so-addwordhere" a lot. This expression is very much a modern term and I doubt rich heiresses in the 1900s used it. But oh well.).
September 14, 2012
Francesca’s relationship with Rick reaches a tipping point when she receives a note from his wife and her friendship with Calder heats up. Rick is the good guy out to reform the New York police department and his half-brother Calder is the cad only out for himself…and Francesca.
There is no way to read this one without having read the others and get any enjoyment. I think it would be too confusing. That being said, I love this series, so if you like romances I recommend finding book one.
There is no way to read this one without having read the others and get any enjoyment. I think it would be too confusing. That being said, I love this series, so if you like romances I recommend finding book one.
January 24, 2016
The time is turn of the century NYC
Francesca is a young socialite reformer who adds sleuth to her repetoirie.
She attaches herself to a reluctant police comissioner (Rick Bragg) and enters the seedier side of life to solve crime.
A very naive Francesca will add love and heartbreak to her life history.
This is book #4....it's been a while in getting here and apparently the story goes on slowly in several additional volumes.
They're light and would probably disappoint the hard core romance or mystery series reader.
They move rather slowly through the given moment.
Francesca is a young socialite reformer who adds sleuth to her repetoirie.
She attaches herself to a reluctant police comissioner (Rick Bragg) and enters the seedier side of life to solve crime.
A very naive Francesca will add love and heartbreak to her life history.
This is book #4....it's been a while in getting here and apparently the story goes on slowly in several additional volumes.
They're light and would probably disappoint the hard core romance or mystery series reader.
They move rather slowly through the given moment.
November 3, 2012
This novel in the series featuring Francesca Cahill as female sleuth was not one of my favorites. In fact it featured so many devastatingly handsome men all completing for her attention that it read like a soap opera script. The mystery was minimal, the detecting almost non-existent, and the sexual overtones strong enough to light fires on cold winter nights. I was not appreciative. I gave it the three stars simply because it is part of a series which until now I have found quite entertaining.
November 29, 2008
Rick is not sure he wants Francesca helping with the cases beacause they are turning more and more dangerous. We also see Francesca's feelings told Calder changing as she begins to understand him better. Rick is interacts with man.
August 2, 2012
Book number#4 in series so far this one is my favorite. There is a lot of mystery and I love that at the end it left a cliffhanger. So now I HAVE to read the next book.
The writer does a good job of getting me to dislike the characters I should and pulling for the underdog.
Fun read.
The writer does a good job of getting me to dislike the characters I should and pulling for the underdog.
Fun read.
May 26, 2023
Rebought 5/2023.
July 15, 2010
Francesca makes a fascinating character. This is clearly romantic suspense at the dawn of the 20th century.
Read
August 13, 2010I did not like this book; it was hard to get into. I love her books, but not this one. In fact, I did not finish it.
August 5, 2013
The intrigue only gets deeper, not only with Francesca but with lots of secondary characters. I'm loving this soap opera series!
January 4, 2012
Read my review on my blog: Too Many Books, Not Enough Time. Here is the URL.
December 30, 2015
Fran and Bragg are so getting on my nerves.
May 25, 2011
4.5 stars!
March 28, 2017
La tension et le désir montent dans ce tome, et de nouvelles perturbations sentimentales pointent leur nez. Cela dit, j'ai peur que le côté triangle amoureux prennent un peu trop le pas (même si les deux messieurs sont tous les deux miam). Pas beaucoup de développement dur le couple Connie/Neil, mais j'ai aimé que Evan soit mis en avant.
L'intrigue policière, elle, n'était pas spécialement fascinante. Je pense que je l'aurais plus apprécié si j'avais lu la série sur la famille Bragg et que je connaissais déjà les personnages. Là c'est tout un pan qui est rajouté de façon un peu indigeste.
L'intrigue policière, elle, n'était pas spécialement fascinante. Je pense que je l'aurais plus apprécié si j'avais lu la série sur la famille Bragg et que je connaissais déjà les personnages. Là c'est tout un pan qui est rajouté de façon un peu indigeste.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.