An Affair with a Spare

Hard to believe but each book in this series just keeps getting better. In a story of hidden identities and deeply hidden emotions, this book will take you on an engaging journey to an ending that will leave you wanting more. This is the story of Rafe Beaumont, termed the Seducer as he spied for the crown. Of course that is not known by many but if you just looked into his violet eyes, one could believe it! Collette Fortier is on a mission of her own, to obtain information to send back to France to free her father from prison. But when the spy begins seducing the spy, what will happen? Upon meeting, Rafe is his charming self, but Collette seems to be immune to his charms. But as he offers her friendship (of course in hopes of getting info from her), he is hard to resist. In typical Shana Galen prose, you are taken through a wonderful tale, full of spies, suspense, traitors and even amusing quips about hedgehogs (yes wait until you read what that is about!). I really did not want to turn the last page, but I know there will be another book in this series and just cannot wait!!!

Collette Fortier will do anything to spring her father out of jail, at the cost of her own life if it comes to that. Pierre Fortier, who was one of Napoleon’s assassins, is the only thing on Collette’s mind, and not even Rafe Beaumont will distract her from her mission: getting her hands on codes from the Foreign Office. Rafe, the celebrated London rogue, who has women begging for his favours, and Collette can understand why, but she cannot help but be smitten, but he would not look twice in her direction. But he does, and she stuns him by refusing to succumb to his charms, which leaves Rafe flabbergasted. The unimaginable has happened: a woman is not interested in him! Still, it’s his mission to find out what Collette is doing in England and if she is a French spy, so he’ll have to change his tactic. What sacrifices one has to make for one’s country! Rafe will have to be a platonic friend to a woman for the first time in his life, and it will be Rafe’s most difficult mission. Collette is a wonderful heroine, determined and loyal, and not one to make rash decisions. I respected her doggedness in wanting to rescue her father, but I couldn’t forget that he was an assassin, and this was a bit of a sore point for me; I couldn’t honestly see things from her point of view, but it’s a personal matter and it’s how she felt. Rafe is a rather unusual hero, every so gorgeous, he knows it, and it really defines who he is. I thought he had a bit of a George Clooney vibe about him, not in his looks, but in his attitude. The writing is so splendid that I was almost tempted to wax poetic about it, the descriptions of Regency England are stunning, but I will spare you the torture. The romance is far from an easy one, as Rafe doesn’t know how to love, but all the more satisfying for it. The secondary characters are absolutely marvellous, there are several unexpected plot twists, the last one probably the most startling, and Now, I will be impatiently waiting for my personal favourite Survivor’s story: the forever enigmatic Jasper.

Rafe Beaumont, fifth son of an earl, uses his irresistible charm with the ladies to glean dangerous war secrets. Now he's putting those skills to the ultimate test: capturing an elusive assassin by seducing his daughter. The problem? She's entirely immune to Rafe's flattery. Never before has Collette Fortier met a man as attractive as Rafe. But her father's life is at stake, and succumbing to Rafe would be disastrous. But when Rafe turns the tables on her, offering support and friendship instead of a fleeting affair, Collette finds herself tempted in ways she never could have imagined. Collette is staying with Lady Ravensgate posing as a cousin whilst trying to find secret codes to send to France in order to win her father’s release. A lovely read as always from the author the characters have plenty of depth, Rafe is swoon worthy but as well as looking gorgeous he’s also caring. Collette is driven to free her father & even pretends to be uninterested in Rafe. The pace of the story is very good & flows extremely well. There is intrigue & mystery but also lots of humour, especially Collette learning English from a book about hedgehogs & how when nervous she spouts facts about the prickly creatures. Of course the pair are attracted to each other but decide to become friends & all the while that attraction simmers. This is the third book in the series & could very well be read on its own but I’d recommend reading the previous books & I can’t wait for the next, hopefully Jasper’s story. My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read