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Scandal and Disgrace #3
Courting Danger With Mr Dyer
A stolen kiss from a spy!
Working undercover for the government, Bartholomew Dyer must expose a nefarious plot to make Napoleon the ruler of England! He needs access to the highest echelons of Society to find those involved, so he’s forced to enlist the help of the woman who jilted him five years ago—Moira, Lady Rexford.
Moira’s widowed yet still as captivating as ever, and Bart’s determined not to succumb to her charms a second time. But, as they race against time, Bart suspects it’s not their lives at greatest risk—it’s their hearts...
Working undercover for the government, Bartholomew Dyer must expose a nefarious plot to make Napoleon the ruler of England! He needs access to the highest echelons of Society to find those involved, so he’s forced to enlist the help of the woman who jilted him five years ago—Moira, Lady Rexford.
Moira’s widowed yet still as captivating as ever, and Bart’s determined not to succumb to her charms a second time. But, as they race against time, Bart suspects it’s not their lives at greatest risk—it’s their hearts...
- GenresHistoricalRomanceRegency
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2017
8 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Georgie Lee
82 books119 followersA lifelong history buff, award winning author Georgie Lee hasn’t given up hope that she will one day inherit a title and a manor house. Until then, she fulfills her dreams of lords, ladies and a season in London through her stories. When not writing, she can be found reading non-fiction history or watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit www.georgie-lee.com to learn more about Georgie and her books.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews
December 15, 2017
I've given this a C+ at AAR, so 3.5 stars.
I’ve read a number of books by Georgie Lee over the last few years, and while I’ve enjoyed some more than others, she has yet to write the book that wows me and turns her into an auto-read author. Unfortunately, I’m still waiting, because although Courting Danger with Mr. Dyer, is a more than decent read, it doesn’t have the wow factor, either.
The eponymous Mr. Dyer – Bartholomew – is the fifth son of Lord Denning, who doesn’t care all that much about his children beyond his heir and his spare. Bart’s choice of career has alienated him from his father even further; as a successful and high-profile barrister, his name frequently appears in the newspapers, something his father dislikes intensely. What Denning doesn’t know, however, is that Bart also works for the Alien Office as part of a department dedicated to rooting out traitors working to undermine England’s safety and stability. The irony that the one part of his life that would probably make his father proud is the one part of it he can’t tell him about isn’t lost on Bart.
The book opens when Bart’s close friend and colleague, Frederick, Earl of Fallworth tells him that he will no longer assist him in his quest to foil the plot by a group known as the Rouge Noir to overthrow the government and hand England over to Bonaparte. Bart is frustrated and angry; someone like Freddie has the entrée to circles that are not easily accessible to Bart but Freddie is adamant. Since the loss of his young wife he has been a broken man, drinking heavily and taking little interest in the running of his home and estates. But now, he is determined to do better, and is unwilling to risk his safety – or that of his young son – any longer. Bart is surprised when their heated discussion is interrupted by Freddie’s sister, Moira, the widowed Countess of Rexford, and the woman whom, five years earlier, Bart had hoped to marry but whose family disdained him and encouraged her to marry elsewhere.
Knowing that the Rouge Noir has something big planned, but not yet having discovered its nature, Bart is willing to grasp at straws in order to get closer to the ringleaders and suggests that if Freddie can’t or won’t help, perhaps Moira could do so instead. A lady of her rank moves in the same social circles as his prime suspects and could be of great help – but Moira turns him down, unwilling to risk her life by becoming embroiled in his dangerous schemes. It’s only later, when she starts to consider her position in her brother’s household; how, when he remarries, she will be relegated to the status of hanger-on, and how stifled she had been in her own marriage that the idea of agreeing to help Bart takes hold of her mind.
Ms. Lee has crafted a strong, intriguing plotline and thrown in some nicely judged red-herrings along the way as Bart and Moira gradually uncover the truth about the Rouge Noir’s plans, but there’s a distinct lack of romantic chemistry between the principals that has affected my final grade for the book. Added to that, the hero is barely two-dimensional. Bart’s estrangement from his father is believable and their meeting late in the story is very well done, and his dismissal by Moira’s family five years earlier obviously still rankles, but other than that and the fact that he can never get married because his way of life wouldn’t be fair on a wife, I never felt as though I knew much about him.
Moira is the more strongly dawn of the two leads. She is a young woman at a crossroads in her life, realising she has outlived her usefulness to her family and, after five years of marriage to a much older man, wanting to experience a bit of adventure – but there’s no denying she has a couple of close-to-TSTL moments that made me wince. For someone with no experience of espionage, she manages to say all the right things to the right people on her first attempt and gets closer to the suspects quite easily – maybe I’ve been spoiled by the likes of Joanna Bourne, but I expect more complexity when it comes to spy stories.
Courting Danger with Mr. Dyer has a well-constructed plot that leads to an exciting (if rather too quick) dénouement, but the romance is sorely lacking. There’s only one reason given for the fact that Bart and Moira are unable to be together, and If we were told once that “she wanted a family and he wasn’t the man to give it to her”, we were told a dozen times, and I really dislike being hit over the head with the same plot point over and over again. Especially when it’s one that simply evaporates at the end. If you’re looking for an historical spy-fix that focuses on that aspect of the story more than the romance, then you might enjoy this book, but if you want one in which the romance takes equal-billing, then it’s probably not the book for you.
I’ve read a number of books by Georgie Lee over the last few years, and while I’ve enjoyed some more than others, she has yet to write the book that wows me and turns her into an auto-read author. Unfortunately, I’m still waiting, because although Courting Danger with Mr. Dyer, is a more than decent read, it doesn’t have the wow factor, either.
The eponymous Mr. Dyer – Bartholomew – is the fifth son of Lord Denning, who doesn’t care all that much about his children beyond his heir and his spare. Bart’s choice of career has alienated him from his father even further; as a successful and high-profile barrister, his name frequently appears in the newspapers, something his father dislikes intensely. What Denning doesn’t know, however, is that Bart also works for the Alien Office as part of a department dedicated to rooting out traitors working to undermine England’s safety and stability. The irony that the one part of his life that would probably make his father proud is the one part of it he can’t tell him about isn’t lost on Bart.
The book opens when Bart’s close friend and colleague, Frederick, Earl of Fallworth tells him that he will no longer assist him in his quest to foil the plot by a group known as the Rouge Noir to overthrow the government and hand England over to Bonaparte. Bart is frustrated and angry; someone like Freddie has the entrée to circles that are not easily accessible to Bart but Freddie is adamant. Since the loss of his young wife he has been a broken man, drinking heavily and taking little interest in the running of his home and estates. But now, he is determined to do better, and is unwilling to risk his safety – or that of his young son – any longer. Bart is surprised when their heated discussion is interrupted by Freddie’s sister, Moira, the widowed Countess of Rexford, and the woman whom, five years earlier, Bart had hoped to marry but whose family disdained him and encouraged her to marry elsewhere.
Knowing that the Rouge Noir has something big planned, but not yet having discovered its nature, Bart is willing to grasp at straws in order to get closer to the ringleaders and suggests that if Freddie can’t or won’t help, perhaps Moira could do so instead. A lady of her rank moves in the same social circles as his prime suspects and could be of great help – but Moira turns him down, unwilling to risk her life by becoming embroiled in his dangerous schemes. It’s only later, when she starts to consider her position in her brother’s household; how, when he remarries, she will be relegated to the status of hanger-on, and how stifled she had been in her own marriage that the idea of agreeing to help Bart takes hold of her mind.
Ms. Lee has crafted a strong, intriguing plotline and thrown in some nicely judged red-herrings along the way as Bart and Moira gradually uncover the truth about the Rouge Noir’s plans, but there’s a distinct lack of romantic chemistry between the principals that has affected my final grade for the book. Added to that, the hero is barely two-dimensional. Bart’s estrangement from his father is believable and their meeting late in the story is very well done, and his dismissal by Moira’s family five years earlier obviously still rankles, but other than that and the fact that he can never get married because his way of life wouldn’t be fair on a wife, I never felt as though I knew much about him.
Moira is the more strongly dawn of the two leads. She is a young woman at a crossroads in her life, realising she has outlived her usefulness to her family and, after five years of marriage to a much older man, wanting to experience a bit of adventure – but there’s no denying she has a couple of close-to-TSTL moments that made me wince. For someone with no experience of espionage, she manages to say all the right things to the right people on her first attempt and gets closer to the suspects quite easily – maybe I’ve been spoiled by the likes of Joanna Bourne, but I expect more complexity when it comes to spy stories.
Courting Danger with Mr. Dyer has a well-constructed plot that leads to an exciting (if rather too quick) dénouement, but the romance is sorely lacking. There’s only one reason given for the fact that Bart and Moira are unable to be together, and If we were told once that “she wanted a family and he wasn’t the man to give it to her”, we were told a dozen times, and I really dislike being hit over the head with the same plot point over and over again. Especially when it’s one that simply evaporates at the end. If you’re looking for an historical spy-fix that focuses on that aspect of the story more than the romance, then you might enjoy this book, but if you want one in which the romance takes equal-billing, then it’s probably not the book for you.
April 21, 2018
Content: A couple mild swear words, one short sex scene
September 25, 2017
Mr. Dyer is working as a spy for the government. He needs to get into the home of a certain high ranking woman. And the only person is the woman who jilted him years ago. Moira is now a widow and can respectably get him the information he needs. But it will put her life at risk. He's already gambled and lost her once.
This was a unique plot. I was expecting more balls and romance. And while it did have some of that, it also had intrigue, suspense, and drama. I'd read another book by Ms. Lee and really enjoyed it. And while this one was set in the same time period, it was completely different. So it was nice to see another side of the writer's style. This book would interest anyone who enjoys a good historical suspense with a little romance thrown in. There are a few more risque scenes, but it wasn't a bodice ripper at all. Overall, fun story that I enjoyed and I look forward to reading more by this author.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.
This was a unique plot. I was expecting more balls and romance. And while it did have some of that, it also had intrigue, suspense, and drama. I'd read another book by Ms. Lee and really enjoyed it. And while this one was set in the same time period, it was completely different. So it was nice to see another side of the writer's style. This book would interest anyone who enjoys a good historical suspense with a little romance thrown in. There are a few more risque scenes, but it wasn't a bodice ripper at all. Overall, fun story that I enjoyed and I look forward to reading more by this author.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.
October 10, 2018
This was a good read but, for me, not a page turner. I enjoy a good spy story but I think the perceptions of the protagonists wishing to aid Napoleon to invade England were a little far fetched as any hopes in this regard were finally scuppered at the battle of Trafalgar. Accepting this as artistic licence, however, the plot was interesting and the characters were likeable. It was well written but a little slow in the telling.
September 29, 2017
I feel this book suffered from a slow pace and much repetition of Moira and Bart's misgivings about their incompatibility. Three stars for a unique plot.
June 2, 2018
A fun and enjoyable romp through a romance fated for the main characters. Loved them both, and really loved reading this!
July 12, 2018
Loved it great characters slightly different story.
A nice story with a bit of intrigue.
Great combination.
A nice story with a bit of intrigue.
Great combination.
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October 26, 2017"An exciting spy novel with a Gothic twist that showcases character growth, intrigue, history and a second chance at love is what many readers enjoy and what Lee delivers. The fast pace enhances the suspense and the romance, and while the heroine’s introspection may be a distraction for some, they will still enjoy this fast-paced adventure" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Scandal and Disgrace
Miniseries: Scandal and Disgrace
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews