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The Survivors #3
An Affair with a Spare
"An endearing love story that kept me up all hours reading... Wonderful!" -SABRINA JEFFRIES, New York Times bestselling author, for Third Son's a Charm
He's turned seduction into an art form...
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...
"Bright, funny, poignant, and entertaining-everything historical romance fans could ask for." -Kirkus Reviews Starred Review for No Earls Allowed
The Survivors Series:
Third Son's a Charm (Book 1)
No Earls Allowed (Book 2)
An Affair With a Spare (Book 3)
What People Are Saying About Shana Galen:
"Shana Galen charms readers with poignant and unforgettable characters, humor, and a passionate page-turning tale that's impossible to put down... Galen is an amazing talent and never disappoints." -Lorraine Heath, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, for Third Son's a Charm
"Shana Galen delivers again!...A sharp, poignant battle of wills between a wonderful wounded hero and the only heroine brave enough to get past his defenses. Don't miss it!" -Eileen Dreyer, New York Times bestselling author, for Third Son's a Charm
He's turned seduction into an art form...
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...
"Bright, funny, poignant, and entertaining-everything historical romance fans could ask for." -Kirkus Reviews Starred Review for No Earls Allowed
The Survivors Series:
Third Son's a Charm (Book 1)
No Earls Allowed (Book 2)
An Affair With a Spare (Book 3)
What People Are Saying About Shana Galen:
"Shana Galen charms readers with poignant and unforgettable characters, humor, and a passionate page-turning tale that's impossible to put down... Galen is an amazing talent and never disappoints." -Lorraine Heath, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, for Third Son's a Charm
"Shana Galen delivers again!...A sharp, poignant battle of wills between a wonderful wounded hero and the only heroine brave enough to get past his defenses. Don't miss it!" -Eileen Dreyer, New York Times bestselling author, for Third Son's a Charm
416 pages, ebook
First published July 3, 2018
365 people are currently reading
834 people want to read
About the author
Shana Galen
98 books1,547 followersShana Galen is three-time Rita award nominee and the bestselling author of fast-paced, witty, and adventurous Regency romances. Kirkus says of her books, "The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun," and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
April 10, 2019
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This is marketed as a Regency, historical romance, with a dash of comedy. I welcome comedy and was not disappointed with that aspect. It is always a delight to be introduced to such strong and capable characters. With your chance meeting, these individuals and those who surround them, willingly welcome you into their realm. Prepare to be entertained and enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.
The most charming of the dozen men from the Draven Club is featured in this installment, Rafe Beaumont. The Draven Club was made up of twelve survivors from serving under Lt. Col. Draven during the Napoleonic Wars. These men volunteered to serve their country accomplishing impossible missions. Each volunteer had their own specialty they used to assist the unit and Rafe was good at gaining information from women through pillow talk. However, Collette Fortier is not susceptible to his charismatic charm. What's a man to do when his sweet-talking ways fail him?
This is NOT a clean series. Those who actually prefer steamy to clean and sweet might not view it as flawed. Due to this aspect, I recommend it with reservations. If you prefer clean and sweet reads, avoid this book. It is not fair to an author when readers provide bad reviews about steamy scenes if they know they are included in advance. I have been guilty of this offense myself. It takes a lot of time and effort for an author to research and write each book. And there are readers who prefer the material included in this one to a clean and wholesome read. However, I actually prefer the latter. This does have steamy sex scenes, so if you like a sex-free book this is not it. If you enjoy steamy reads, jump into this book looking forward to plenty.
This book is able to stand on its own, but if you read them in order, you will be more familiar with some of the characters that carry over. Each story does include its own H.E.A., which is always a good way to conclude the adventure you have chosen to become a part of.
This is marketed as a Regency, historical romance, with a dash of comedy. I welcome comedy and was not disappointed with that aspect. It is always a delight to be introduced to such strong and capable characters. With your chance meeting, these individuals and those who surround them, willingly welcome you into their realm. Prepare to be entertained and enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.
The most charming of the dozen men from the Draven Club is featured in this installment, Rafe Beaumont. The Draven Club was made up of twelve survivors from serving under Lt. Col. Draven during the Napoleonic Wars. These men volunteered to serve their country accomplishing impossible missions. Each volunteer had their own specialty they used to assist the unit and Rafe was good at gaining information from women through pillow talk. However, Collette Fortier is not susceptible to his charismatic charm. What's a man to do when his sweet-talking ways fail him?
This is NOT a clean series. Those who actually prefer steamy to clean and sweet might not view it as flawed. Due to this aspect, I recommend it with reservations. If you prefer clean and sweet reads, avoid this book. It is not fair to an author when readers provide bad reviews about steamy scenes if they know they are included in advance. I have been guilty of this offense myself. It takes a lot of time and effort for an author to research and write each book. And there are readers who prefer the material included in this one to a clean and wholesome read. However, I actually prefer the latter. This does have steamy sex scenes, so if you like a sex-free book this is not it. If you enjoy steamy reads, jump into this book looking forward to plenty.
This book is able to stand on its own, but if you read them in order, you will be more familiar with some of the characters that carry over. Each story does include its own H.E.A., which is always a good way to conclude the adventure you have chosen to become a part of.
July 10, 2018
Another charming story by Galen with this third installment in the series. I really enjoyed it as I have the other two in the series, but I don’t think it will appeal to as many readers as the previous two. The beginning and ending were fantastic, and the middle was solid though it had some slow parts.
Rafe is a rake. A true rake. And a sort of former spy, embarking on a new mission because his country needs him and his seductive ways. He is swoon-worthy, irresistibly gorgeous and has women scheming to get in his bed. The first scenes with Rafe were very funny, IMO. If you sample this book and don’t find some amusing bits in the first chapter, you probably won’t like this story very much. There is plenty of befuddlement on the part of the hero when Collette doesn’t succumb to his seductive ways. Something along the lines of “no woman has ever rebuffed me before” is said or thought multiple times. Collette, an assasin’s daughter, is Rafe’s mission and he is having a tough go at it. She is in a precarious position trying to save her father and not being able to trust anyone.
On its surface and especially if Rafe’s character is unappealing to you, the characters and story may seem ridiculous, but there’s a subtlety and hidden depth that had me caring for both MCs early on. It had me tearing and chuckling early on. As noted before, I did get a bit bogged down in the middle. It lost some of its charm, but the ending made up for it in a grand “will he make it” sort of gesture. The anticipation and tension was great!
As an aside, I really think these two MCs’ characters are difficult to convey in a convincing way that gets the reader to care. Rafe is a charismatic war hero, who stayed away from most of the danger due to his talents at seduction. He has some defining characteristics but they seem minor when compared to all the PTSD hero types that is common these days. Collette has no home or safe place so she can’t be as carefree as other ladies. I thought Galen handled their characterization well.
I enjoyed the epilogue, and am looking forward to Jasper’s story.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rafe is a rake. A true rake. And a sort of former spy, embarking on a new mission because his country needs him and his seductive ways. He is swoon-worthy, irresistibly gorgeous and has women scheming to get in his bed. The first scenes with Rafe were very funny, IMO. If you sample this book and don’t find some amusing bits in the first chapter, you probably won’t like this story very much. There is plenty of befuddlement on the part of the hero when Collette doesn’t succumb to his seductive ways. Something along the lines of “no woman has ever rebuffed me before” is said or thought multiple times. Collette, an assasin’s daughter, is Rafe’s mission and he is having a tough go at it. She is in a precarious position trying to save her father and not being able to trust anyone.
On its surface and especially if Rafe’s character is unappealing to you, the characters and story may seem ridiculous, but there’s a subtlety and hidden depth that had me caring for both MCs early on. It had me tearing and chuckling early on. As noted before, I did get a bit bogged down in the middle. It lost some of its charm, but the ending made up for it in a grand “will he make it” sort of gesture. The anticipation and tension was great!
As an aside, I really think these two MCs’ characters are difficult to convey in a convincing way that gets the reader to care. Rafe is a charismatic war hero, who stayed away from most of the danger due to his talents at seduction. He has some defining characteristics but they seem minor when compared to all the PTSD hero types that is common these days. Collette has no home or safe place so she can’t be as carefree as other ladies. I thought Galen handled their characterization well.
I enjoyed the epilogue, and am looking forward to Jasper’s story.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2018
3.5 Stars
The Survivors series is definitely one of my favorite historical fiction romance series. I loved the first two books in the series, and while this one was entertaining, I’d agree with others that it wasn’t quite on par with the other two.
I loved Rafe and his backstory. His role as a seducer was well written and sometimes humorous. I struggled a little with Collette’s character though. My favorite scenes were always the ones with The Survivors together.
The epilogue is told from Jasper’s POV which makes me eager for the next book as I hope it means it’s his.
The Survivors series is definitely one of my favorite historical fiction romance series. I loved the first two books in the series, and while this one was entertaining, I’d agree with others that it wasn’t quite on par with the other two.
I loved Rafe and his backstory. His role as a seducer was well written and sometimes humorous. I struggled a little with Collette’s character though. My favorite scenes were always the ones with The Survivors together.
The epilogue is told from Jasper’s POV which makes me eager for the next book as I hope it means it’s his.
January 21, 2019
Finally!! Rafe Beaumont finds love!!
I'm usually not a fan of spies and spy stories, but this was very enjoyable!
I'm usually not a fan of spies and spy stories, but this was very enjoyable!
September 18, 2022
after the first two books, I expected more
especially for Rafe's storyline
good but not as I hoped
especially for Rafe's storyline
good but not as I hoped
June 29, 2018
If this book was a rollercoaster, the climb would be really, really, really slow, like you can easily look around the at scenery, chat with the person next to you, take out your phone and take selfies for a while, tuck your phone safely back in, maybe chat some more before it finally climbs and drops. But when it drops, it's insane.
You can split this book into two parts. The first part I'd describe as incredibly boring and infuriating at the same time. Collette insists on being called a spy, and even argues that she's an excellent spy, where in fact, she's as much of a spy as the hedgehogs she mentions every time she's feeling nervous (btw what's up with that?! I think it was meant to be endearing, but it just came off as strange). While acquiring information she's making some pretty obvious and dumb mistakes, that any rational thinking person, spy or no spy, wouldn't make. And of course, she immediately draws negative attention to herself and has a spy following her in return. Which happens to be our lovely hero.
Rafe, on the other hand, is a spy and knows what he's doing. The contrast between them is so stark, Collette's incompetence just shines through even stronger. Things started to get weird too, because at first he barely notices her physical appearance, and then all of a sudden all he can think about is her body and her skin and her face. The change from disinterested to can't keep my eyes off of you was too sudden for my liking, and seemed kinda forced onto to the reader. Just didn't feel genuine.
Whereas Collette's infatuation was so over the top, that from this aspect the first part of the book might as well be called An Ode to Rafe's Beauty or maybe A 100 Page Dissertation on His Magnificent Violet Eyes and Tousled Hair.
The second half is pretty much pure action and it was so much more fun to read than the endless tea parties and balls in the beginning. Things pick up and I actually ended up enjoying myself. Collette kinda grew on me, because she stopped behaving as a nitwit. Rafe's behavior though, left a lot to be desired. For some reason he turned pretty aggressive (because he was jealous, I think?!) towards people who are his friends, allies and even his butler. Attacking his butler was the last straw, that's not jealousy, that's just douchebaggery. He does pull through in the end, with a grand gesture of course, and I ended up feeling glad for both of them.
We were introduced to the character of Thomas Gaines, whom I really liked and we got to know Jasper a bit more, that leads me to believe he actually might be getting his own book, in which case I will be a really happy reader.
The cover is really pretty too. At first glance it seems like a generic HR cover, but the girl and the dress are gorgeous, and the colors are really pleasing. It's definitely something I wouldn't be embarrassed to read in public. (I'm looking at you covers with a half naked dude spooning a partially undressed woman!)
Thinking back on this whole reading experience, I don't find myself wanting to reread this book soon. While the second part was fun and entertaining, it took a pretty while to get there and that's just something I don't want to through again. So far, Ewan's book remains my favorite in the series, but I'm really excited about Jasper's story, I'd love to see what the author has in store for him.
A big thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley.
You can split this book into two parts. The first part I'd describe as incredibly boring and infuriating at the same time. Collette insists on being called a spy, and even argues that she's an excellent spy, where in fact, she's as much of a spy as the hedgehogs she mentions every time she's feeling nervous (btw what's up with that?! I think it was meant to be endearing, but it just came off as strange). While acquiring information she's making some pretty obvious and dumb mistakes, that any rational thinking person, spy or no spy, wouldn't make. And of course, she immediately draws negative attention to herself and has a spy following her in return. Which happens to be our lovely hero.
Rafe, on the other hand, is a spy and knows what he's doing. The contrast between them is so stark, Collette's incompetence just shines through even stronger. Things started to get weird too, because at first he barely notices her physical appearance, and then all of a sudden all he can think about is her body and her skin and her face. The change from disinterested to can't keep my eyes off of you was too sudden for my liking, and seemed kinda forced onto to the reader. Just didn't feel genuine.
Whereas Collette's infatuation was so over the top, that from this aspect the first part of the book might as well be called An Ode to Rafe's Beauty or maybe A 100 Page Dissertation on His Magnificent Violet Eyes and Tousled Hair.
The second half is pretty much pure action and it was so much more fun to read than the endless tea parties and balls in the beginning. Things pick up and I actually ended up enjoying myself. Collette kinda grew on me, because she stopped behaving as a nitwit. Rafe's behavior though, left a lot to be desired. For some reason he turned pretty aggressive (because he was jealous, I think?!) towards people who are his friends, allies and even his butler. Attacking his butler was the last straw, that's not jealousy, that's just douchebaggery. He does pull through in the end, with a grand gesture of course, and I ended up feeling glad for both of them.
We were introduced to the character of Thomas Gaines, whom I really liked and we got to know Jasper a bit more, that leads me to believe he actually might be getting his own book, in which case I will be a really happy reader.
The cover is really pretty too. At first glance it seems like a generic HR cover, but the girl and the dress are gorgeous, and the colors are really pleasing. It's definitely something I wouldn't be embarrassed to read in public. (I'm looking at you covers with a half naked dude spooning a partially undressed woman!)
Thinking back on this whole reading experience, I don't find myself wanting to reread this book soon. While the second part was fun and entertaining, it took a pretty while to get there and that's just something I don't want to through again. So far, Ewan's book remains my favorite in the series, but I'm really excited about Jasper's story, I'd love to see what the author has in store for him.
A big thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley.
May 22, 2018
This was a delightful Regency intrigue with characters involved in a relationship all the while spying on each other.
Rafe Beaumont has been a spy for the English government for some time, using his charms to persuade women to give up their secrets. But he isn't sure of his ethics when he is told to spy on the daughter of one of the most notorious French assassins that plagued England during the war with France. For her part, Collette Fortier is being forced to spy for the French regime that holds her father hostage. She is seeking the code needed to translate a letter that may exonerate her father and realizes that Rafe may be just the person she needs to find the code.
Rafe is unexpectedly charmed by the unprepossessing Collette, who tends to quote from a book on the love life of hedgehogs when she gets nervous. This adds the lift of humor to the drama about two spies who find themselves attracted to each other at a time when such attraction can be incredibly dangerous. Can they find a way to avoid the gallows and still have a relationship?
The plot twists and turns keep the story captivating and the characters are both likable and believable. The setting feels authentic for the time period and it was refreshing to find a heroine who is not a ravishing beauty, but who's attraction grows on her hero.
August 11, 2021
This one was kind of disappointing because book one and two was just so so so good but it's okay! I still enjoyed this one and I like the friendship. But it was just ok.
August 6, 2018
Finally DNF'd
I couldn't get far in this book. Not far at all. I found the premise absolutely ridiculous and was grew quickly tired of the heroine's waxing on and on about the hero's beauty. From the beginning, it was just a whole bunch of WTF-ery.
Collette is (practically) randomly going up to men and trying to ferret out if they have the secret British codes she needs to free her father ... wow, would I not hire her, that's for sure! The plan has got to be the dumbest one I've ever heard of—prancing around a ballroom, inquiring into your male partners' war experiences, hoping you might chance onto the codes you need? Because, yeah. That's going to happen.
The relationship between Collette and Rafe seemed to be purely lust-based, especially given the fact that they're both deceiving each other so much. I was annoyed by Collette's endless marveling over Rafe's good looks; we get it, he's a hot stud, calm yourself down girlie.
I've read the two previous books in this series and unfortunately they seem to be getting worse ... not very promising for Book 4 ... Book 1, Third Son's a Charm , was a nice read and I would recommend reading that and stopping there, frankly.
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
I couldn't get far in this book. Not far at all. I found the premise absolutely ridiculous and was grew quickly tired of the heroine's waxing on and on about the hero's beauty. From the beginning, it was just a whole bunch of WTF-ery.
Collette is (practically) randomly going up to men and trying to ferret out if they have the secret British codes she needs to free her father ... wow, would I not hire her, that's for sure! The plan has got to be the dumbest one I've ever heard of—prancing around a ballroom, inquiring into your male partners' war experiences, hoping you might chance onto the codes you need? Because, yeah. That's going to happen.
The relationship between Collette and Rafe seemed to be purely lust-based, especially given the fact that they're both deceiving each other so much. I was annoyed by Collette's endless marveling over Rafe's good looks; we get it, he's a hot stud, calm yourself down girlie.
I've read the two previous books in this series and unfortunately they seem to be getting worse ... not very promising for Book 4 ... Book 1, Third Son's a Charm , was a nice read and I would recommend reading that and stopping there, frankly.
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
August 20, 2020
3.5 Stars
An Affair with a Spare was a delightful read featuring a romance between two spies.
Known as the Seducer, Rafe Beaumont is an irresistible charmer who uses his skills with ladies to uncover war secrets. His next mission? Seduce a young woman, the daughter of a notorious assassin, and find out what secrets she's hiding. But unfortunately for Rafe, Collette Fortier is immune to his charms. When Rafe tries a different tactic and offers friendship instead, Collette finds herself falling under his spell.
Rafe and Collette's relationship gets off to a slow start as they're both aware the other is likely trying to uncover whatever they're hiding. And while initially Collette doesn't respond to Rafe's advances, she is definitely affected by them and is only holding back because of the situation with her father. The physical chemistry between the pair is fantastic and when they advance their relationship, the scenes are quite steamy. My issue with their romance comes with how much deception there was, particularly from Rafe. I guess I should have expected a lot of lying due to the fact they're both spies, but I didn't and I don't love tons of lying in my romances. The friendship they developed could have been great had it not been for the deceptive ways Rafe gained Collette's trust. Over time the relationship got better, but they still hide things from each other which kept me from completely loving them together.
Throughout the book several of the other men from Rafe's unit make appearances. Jasper in particular shows up quite a bit in this book and I'm curious to learn more about him, so I'm happy to see that he's the hero in the next book. We get a few scenes with Neil and Ewan, the heroes from the first two books in the series which was nice. The men in the Survivors have such a unique bond that even when they disagree, it's clear they care about each other. I'm definitely looking forward to getting to meet more of the men in the group as some have only been mentioned up to this point.
Overall while I didn't like An Affair with a Spare as much as the first two books in the series, it was still an enjoyable read and I'm excited to get to the next book, Unmask Me If You Can, soon.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
An Affair with a Spare was a delightful read featuring a romance between two spies.
Known as the Seducer, Rafe Beaumont is an irresistible charmer who uses his skills with ladies to uncover war secrets. His next mission? Seduce a young woman, the daughter of a notorious assassin, and find out what secrets she's hiding. But unfortunately for Rafe, Collette Fortier is immune to his charms. When Rafe tries a different tactic and offers friendship instead, Collette finds herself falling under his spell.
Rafe and Collette's relationship gets off to a slow start as they're both aware the other is likely trying to uncover whatever they're hiding. And while initially Collette doesn't respond to Rafe's advances, she is definitely affected by them and is only holding back because of the situation with her father. The physical chemistry between the pair is fantastic and when they advance their relationship, the scenes are quite steamy. My issue with their romance comes with how much deception there was, particularly from Rafe. I guess I should have expected a lot of lying due to the fact they're both spies, but I didn't and I don't love tons of lying in my romances. The friendship they developed could have been great had it not been for the deceptive ways Rafe gained Collette's trust. Over time the relationship got better, but they still hide things from each other which kept me from completely loving them together.
Throughout the book several of the other men from Rafe's unit make appearances. Jasper in particular shows up quite a bit in this book and I'm curious to learn more about him, so I'm happy to see that he's the hero in the next book. We get a few scenes with Neil and Ewan, the heroes from the first two books in the series which was nice. The men in the Survivors have such a unique bond that even when they disagree, it's clear they care about each other. I'm definitely looking forward to getting to meet more of the men in the group as some have only been mentioned up to this point.
Overall while I didn't like An Affair with a Spare as much as the first two books in the series, it was still an enjoyable read and I'm excited to get to the next book, Unmask Me If You Can, soon.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
July 9, 2018
The gorgeous cover art and Collette’s ramblings about hedgehog mating rituals were about all I liked about An Affair with a Spare. Sad, isn’t it?
Now I had my fair share of problems with the first book, but at least Lorraine and Ewan had SOME special moments. Rafe and Collette had none of the sort. Half of their relationship was based in lust/attraction (lord knows Collette swooned over Rafe’s handsome appearance enough), while the other half was drowned out in lies and secrets. Given that they were both spies (of a sort), that wasn’t surprising I suppose. But Rafe in my opinion took it way too far. Like the time he purposely put Collette in physical danger just so he could swoop in, be the hero and gain her trust. WHAT THE FUCK DUDE? This was especially alarming because Lorraine, the heroine from the Third Son’s a Charm, was put in the exact same situation (not by the hero, THANK GOD). So either Shana Galen gets her kicks from putting her heroines in danger, or Rafe was just a douchebag of the highest order. Both? Speaking of Rafe…
He was known as ‘The Charmer’ but let me just say that there was NOTHING charming about him. His ‘charm’ was pure artifice. He had no personality to speak of and the only hint of depth we got was his Mommy issues which translated into all women suck because they inevitably leave him *rolls eyes* Oh and don’t even get me started on all the times he whined about how women wouldn’t leave him alone (contradiction much?) and that it was such a damned inconvenience to be so attractive. I’d play my little violin for him if I had one or any fucks to give, but I don’t. Obviously I didn’t like Rafe all that much.
Sadly Collette wasn’t much better. I think she had all the potential of being a good heroine. I really liked when she threatened to knee Rafe in the balls at an actual ball (HA!) and told a hoard of Rafe fangirls to piss off. But her character was bogged down by her obsession with Rafe’s beauty and her own ineptitude. By the second half of the book, Collette was relegated to being Rafe’s sidekick in what should’ve been HER story, rendering her entirely useless in the process. Not that Rafe functioned much better. To be far, the author didn’t do either of them any favors by putting the dumbest of obstacles in their path, such as them being accosted by random, unnamed thugs not once, but twice, serving no purpose except to bring the leads closer. Maybe? I really don’t know. And then the showdown with the French royalists was as laughable as it was stupid, not to mention anticlimactic. Seriously, WORST. SPIES. EVER. At least Collette got to throw a knife at somebody I guess. Honestly though, there wasn’t a single hint of competency to be found anywhere, except maybe from Mr. Thomas Gaines. Oooh, can he get a book? Because I adored him!
As you might have guessed from the ranty paragraphs above, the romance was a huge flop. Between all the deceit on both sides, I’m not sure Collette and Rafe shared a single genuine moment together. They got naked enough that’s for sure, but sexy times does not always equal true intimacy, nor does constant bodily harm, and it definitely was no the case here. I saw absolutely no transition from lust to love from them. It was just like, one minute they were infatuated with each other for some reason(?) and then I turned the page and all of a sudden it was ~love. Sorry, but that’s not how it works.
I swear if Jasper’s book is anywhere near the disappointment this was, I’ll officially be done with the Survivors series.
Now I had my fair share of problems with the first book, but at least Lorraine and Ewan had SOME special moments. Rafe and Collette had none of the sort. Half of their relationship was based in lust/attraction (lord knows Collette swooned over Rafe’s handsome appearance enough), while the other half was drowned out in lies and secrets. Given that they were both spies (of a sort), that wasn’t surprising I suppose. But Rafe in my opinion took it way too far. Like the time he purposely put Collette in physical danger just so he could swoop in, be the hero and gain her trust. WHAT THE FUCK DUDE? This was especially alarming because Lorraine, the heroine from the Third Son’s a Charm, was put in the exact same situation (not by the hero, THANK GOD). So either Shana Galen gets her kicks from putting her heroines in danger, or Rafe was just a douchebag of the highest order. Both? Speaking of Rafe…
He was known as ‘The Charmer’ but let me just say that there was NOTHING charming about him. His ‘charm’ was pure artifice. He had no personality to speak of and the only hint of depth we got was his Mommy issues which translated into all women suck because they inevitably leave him *rolls eyes* Oh and don’t even get me started on all the times he whined about how women wouldn’t leave him alone (contradiction much?) and that it was such a damned inconvenience to be so attractive. I’d play my little violin for him if I had one or any fucks to give, but I don’t. Obviously I didn’t like Rafe all that much.
Sadly Collette wasn’t much better. I think she had all the potential of being a good heroine. I really liked when she threatened to knee Rafe in the balls at an actual ball (HA!) and told a hoard of Rafe fangirls to piss off. But her character was bogged down by her obsession with Rafe’s beauty and her own ineptitude. By the second half of the book, Collette was relegated to being Rafe’s sidekick in what should’ve been HER story, rendering her entirely useless in the process. Not that Rafe functioned much better. To be far, the author didn’t do either of them any favors by putting the dumbest of obstacles in their path, such as them being accosted by random, unnamed thugs not once, but twice, serving no purpose except to bring the leads closer. Maybe? I really don’t know. And then the showdown with the French royalists was as laughable as it was stupid, not to mention anticlimactic. Seriously, WORST. SPIES. EVER. At least Collette got to throw a knife at somebody I guess. Honestly though, there wasn’t a single hint of competency to be found anywhere, except maybe from Mr. Thomas Gaines. Oooh, can he get a book? Because I adored him!
As you might have guessed from the ranty paragraphs above, the romance was a huge flop. Between all the deceit on both sides, I’m not sure Collette and Rafe shared a single genuine moment together. They got naked enough that’s for sure, but sexy times does not always equal true intimacy, nor does constant bodily harm, and it definitely was no the case here. I saw absolutely no transition from lust to love from them. It was just like, one minute they were infatuated with each other for some reason(?) and then I turned the page and all of a sudden it was ~love. Sorry, but that’s not how it works.
I swear if Jasper’s book is anywhere near the disappointment this was, I’ll officially be done with the Survivors series.
October 12, 2018
3 Mixed Feelings stars for this one
FIRST OFF! SHANA GALEN IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS EVER SHE WRITES EXACTLY THE TYPES OF BOOKS I NEED, LIGHTHEARTED AND FILLED WITH HUMOR AND PERFECT ROMANCES!! I love her spy ones, especially.
This book was a bit of a puzzle, however, because the heroine Collette had somewhat of a split personality. At the beginning she was very shy and sweet and her interior monologue was very funny. I absolutely loved her reaction when she met Rafe face to face for the first time, I was laughing so hard. The whole hedgehog thing, like damn that was creative and super funny! I would have given this book five stars if it had been consistently written though. Between the first half and the second half of the book, something was revealed and it was like she became a completely new person, with no semblance of who she was at the first half. I couldn't believe the shyness was faked because several times she said that she had always been shy but let me tell you, the new Collette was ANYTHING BUT. Damn that change was DRASTIC lol. I won't go into that much detail because it would spoil it but I have to say if was a bit baffling. Basically, I felt like I was reading a whole new book halfway through and I didn't like the abrupt change because everything was kind of at odds with what I read in the first half.
Rafe was fiiinnnneee I loved how funny he could be, and love his relationship with the other survivors! It was so funny when he was rejected and was like
That meme is perfectly put to use there lmao. I loved him a lot and he was the typical, I'm never gonna fall in love rake.
The plot was good but ended up being very predictable which I disliked a lot. I definitely loved the first two books better. Oh well, I'm not too disappointed. I just won't be re-reading this book as I have the first two.
I wasn't a fan of how the book ended up progressing, but of course I respect Shana Galen's decisions because she is a QUEEN. Also, even my favorite authors will have books I dislike
FIRST OFF! SHANA GALEN IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS EVER SHE WRITES EXACTLY THE TYPES OF BOOKS I NEED, LIGHTHEARTED AND FILLED WITH HUMOR AND PERFECT ROMANCES!! I love her spy ones, especially.
This book was a bit of a puzzle, however, because the heroine Collette had somewhat of a split personality. At the beginning she was very shy and sweet and her interior monologue was very funny. I absolutely loved her reaction when she met Rafe face to face for the first time, I was laughing so hard. The whole hedgehog thing, like damn that was creative and super funny! I would have given this book five stars if it had been consistently written though. Between the first half and the second half of the book, something was revealed and it was like she became a completely new person, with no semblance of who she was at the first half. I couldn't believe the shyness was faked because several times she said that she had always been shy but let me tell you, the new Collette was ANYTHING BUT. Damn that change was DRASTIC lol. I won't go into that much detail because it would spoil it but I have to say if was a bit baffling. Basically, I felt like I was reading a whole new book halfway through and I didn't like the abrupt change because everything was kind of at odds with what I read in the first half.
Rafe was fiiinnnneee I loved how funny he could be, and love his relationship with the other survivors! It was so funny when he was rejected and was like
That meme is perfectly put to use there lmao. I loved him a lot and he was the typical, I'm never gonna fall in love rake.
The plot was good but ended up being very predictable which I disliked a lot. I definitely loved the first two books better. Oh well, I'm not too disappointed. I just won't be re-reading this book as I have the first two.
I wasn't a fan of how the book ended up progressing, but of course I respect Shana Galen's decisions because she is a QUEEN. Also, even my favorite authors will have books I dislike
July 10, 2018
I don't know.
Forced. Everything is forced.
Don't get me started on the heroine, because I still want to strangle her.
Rafe could have done better.
I don't know. Can I have Jasper's book now?
I am sorely disappointed in this book, I ended skimming the rest just so it can end.
Forced. Everything is forced.
Don't get me started on the heroine, because I still want to strangle her.
Rafe could have done better.
I don't know. Can I have Jasper's book now?
I am sorely disappointed in this book, I ended skimming the rest just so it can end.
March 2, 2019
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
An Affair With A Spare is the third book in the Survivor's Series and I was shocked with how much I actually enjoyed this book here. More than the first two books I believe, it definitely had more of a "Shana Galen" stamp on it than the previous two books and this book has lots of SPIES AND LOVERS themes and I adored it. The dialogue has some contemporary phrasing, which is what keeps this book at a 4 rating but the story was solid and adored the romance that develops here.
Our tale begins with our heroine who is from France, and this story takes place shortly following the fall of Napolean Bonaparte and our heroine is out to save her father. He has been taken prisoner since he did work as an assassin for Napolean. But Collette, knows her father and knows that he is a good man that did bad things to save his family. And Collette adores her father and will do anything to save his life. So when they ask her to find England's secret codes, she does it even if she wishes that there was another way to save her father. Then enters our hero of the story.
Rafe Beaumont is the fifth son and so he is at the bottom of the food chain in his family and has always been the "forgotten" child. His mother left them when he was just a boy and he has blamed himself for his mother leaving their family. He has always been on his own though, his siblings have always dismissed him so he found his own way into the Survivor's group where he serves his country through the foreign office and found his brothers in their gentleman club. But then he is put on a new mission, to seduce Collete, suspected to be a French Spy and to gain her secrets and kill her if necessary. What begins as a hunt for secrets turns into a secret love affair where they will have to choose between loyalty and love....
What a fantastic book this story turned out to be and very reminiscent of some of the older novels by Shana Galen where she excelled at writing espionage and boy this book worked for me in so many ways. This was an audiobook, and this narrator was excellent especially in portraying the French accent by Collette, so well done in being able to switch from English and French accents between the characters and the narrator really opens up the story so well and the emotional display we hear is superb, so I can't wait to look up this lovely lady so I can listen to more of her work.
The story itself is fantastic and I really loved seeing this enemy to lovers trope and this is more they are enemies in secret, although who they come out much earlier in the book than I expected it to....so BRAVO to Shana Galen for bringing some twists that I didn't expect. I like that they begin to work together to save Collette's father, although the hero is still struggling because he has a difficult choice to make. Collette's father is an enemy to England but he is falling in love with Collette, so if he chooses to save her father he is betraying his country and everything he holds dear or he could take her father prisoner and lose his Collette forever so there are many dynamics to this story that show true emotion and what difficult choices these two are faced with. But they find their way to their happy ever after and love seeing them on their journey and seeing their love story develop.
What I was really impressed with is seeing how both Collette and Rafe battle with themselves internally throughout the story. You can see how much they hate what they are being forced to do but feel like they have no choice otherwise. And seeing them find their way out together is so precious and poignant. I was impressed with seeing the chemistry between these two, much more steamier than I have come to expect from Shana Galen so very well written here.
Overall I found An Affair With A spare to be a thrilling addition to the stories, a book that brings together two enemies and where they find a love to fight for and find their HEA!! THRILLING FROM BEGINNING TO END!
An Affair With A Spare is the third book in the Survivor's Series and I was shocked with how much I actually enjoyed this book here. More than the first two books I believe, it definitely had more of a "Shana Galen" stamp on it than the previous two books and this book has lots of SPIES AND LOVERS themes and I adored it. The dialogue has some contemporary phrasing, which is what keeps this book at a 4 rating but the story was solid and adored the romance that develops here.
Our tale begins with our heroine who is from France, and this story takes place shortly following the fall of Napolean Bonaparte and our heroine is out to save her father. He has been taken prisoner since he did work as an assassin for Napolean. But Collette, knows her father and knows that he is a good man that did bad things to save his family. And Collette adores her father and will do anything to save his life. So when they ask her to find England's secret codes, she does it even if she wishes that there was another way to save her father. Then enters our hero of the story.
Rafe Beaumont is the fifth son and so he is at the bottom of the food chain in his family and has always been the "forgotten" child. His mother left them when he was just a boy and he has blamed himself for his mother leaving their family. He has always been on his own though, his siblings have always dismissed him so he found his own way into the Survivor's group where he serves his country through the foreign office and found his brothers in their gentleman club. But then he is put on a new mission, to seduce Collete, suspected to be a French Spy and to gain her secrets and kill her if necessary. What begins as a hunt for secrets turns into a secret love affair where they will have to choose between loyalty and love....
What a fantastic book this story turned out to be and very reminiscent of some of the older novels by Shana Galen where she excelled at writing espionage and boy this book worked for me in so many ways. This was an audiobook, and this narrator was excellent especially in portraying the French accent by Collette, so well done in being able to switch from English and French accents between the characters and the narrator really opens up the story so well and the emotional display we hear is superb, so I can't wait to look up this lovely lady so I can listen to more of her work.
The story itself is fantastic and I really loved seeing this enemy to lovers trope and this is more they are enemies in secret, although who they come out much earlier in the book than I expected it to....so BRAVO to Shana Galen for bringing some twists that I didn't expect. I like that they begin to work together to save Collette's father, although the hero is still struggling because he has a difficult choice to make. Collette's father is an enemy to England but he is falling in love with Collette, so if he chooses to save her father he is betraying his country and everything he holds dear or he could take her father prisoner and lose his Collette forever so there are many dynamics to this story that show true emotion and what difficult choices these two are faced with. But they find their way to their happy ever after and love seeing them on their journey and seeing their love story develop.
What I was really impressed with is seeing how both Collette and Rafe battle with themselves internally throughout the story. You can see how much they hate what they are being forced to do but feel like they have no choice otherwise. And seeing them find their way out together is so precious and poignant. I was impressed with seeing the chemistry between these two, much more steamier than I have come to expect from Shana Galen so very well written here.
Overall I found An Affair With A spare to be a thrilling addition to the stories, a book that brings together two enemies and where they find a love to fight for and find their HEA!! THRILLING FROM BEGINNING TO END!
June 27, 2018
Series: The Survivors #3
Publication Date: 7/3/18
This book is filled with spies, assassins, danger, trickery, betrayal, and yes, love and lust. The writing is excellent, the plots well thought-out and executed and the characters are very relatable and likable. The series focuses on the few survivors of a suicide team from the Napoleonic wars – they were spare heirs whose lives were expendable and they took on the most dangerous secret missions of the war. Most didn’t make it back, but these are the stories of the few who did survive. Rafe Beaumont is one of those survivors and you just always knew there had to be more to him than was apparent and that there was a story buried deep within him. I certainly loved learning what that story was.
Rafe Beaumont, the fifth son of an earl, is seen by everyone as a fribble, a seducer, someone with no real substance. The truth is, he isn’t a seducer – those women chase him with one purpose – being seduced. He’s drop-dead gorgeous, a skilled lover and the most charming man anyone would want to meet. Everybody loves him. Rafe is one of the survivors and he’s always been a little resentful that he was never given the dangerous, exciting missions. His missions were always about seducing information from the wife or lover of someone who held knowledge of French war strategies, etc. Those were easy tasks for Rafe because he never got attached to anyone – he never had a problem walking away. As a matter of fact, he always did the walking away. He’d never give anybody the chance to make him care and then walk away from him.
Imagine Rafe’s total shock when, after being given an assignment, the lady in question seems totally immune to his charms. She’s just not interested. That is just not possible. Is he losing his touch? He’s never actually had to pursue anyone, so he’s not sure how to proceed. Can he figure it out and complete his mission?
Collette Fortier is the daughter of Napoleon’s most successful assassin. The wars are over, but the English would love to get their hands on him. Actually, the English aren’t the only ones. The French royalists have already taken him prisoner and are forcing Collette to spy for them. Her mission – to obtain the codes England uses in its communications. If she doesn’t succeed, her father doesn’t survive. It is just that simple. So, Collette absolutely cannot allow her attraction to Rafe Beaumont to show or to act upon it in any way.
Collette’s ‘cousin’ in England, Lady Ravensgate, is actually no relation at all. Collette had never met the woman before. However, this 'cousin' now holds the future of both Collette and her father in her hands. She sees that Collette gets to all of the important social functions that would allow Collette to collect information and meet the people who can lead her to the codes she needs. Collette is focused on Lieutenant Colonel Draven, but she cannot get her to engage with her – and then, suddenly, Rafe Beaumont is paying her attention. When he can’t seduce her, he offers to be her friend. Can she be friends with him and not let her attraction show? Is he really offering friendship or does he have ulterior motives? Can she use him to get the information she needs?
There is always an element of humor involved in these books – and this one is no exception. Collette used a natural history volume on hedgehogs in order to learn English. So, when she is nervous – quotes from the manual escape her mouth. It is totally entertaining and smile-worthy to see where and when these quotes pop out of her mouth.
"During courting rituals the hedgehog sow continually rejects the boar, turning to give him her
blank."
"The majority of snorting during hedgehog courtship originates from the sow."
Epilogues are one of my favorite things in a book, and this one had a lovely one. However, I would have liked the epilogue to either be longer – or for the epilogue to have an epilogue – something. I wanted to know more about the trip, what happened at the end, how they survived with no money, etc. I just wanted more. Since the end seemed rushed, I really did want more substantive answers to my questions.
Now, to begin my impatient wait for the next book which will feature Jasper.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 7/3/18
This book is filled with spies, assassins, danger, trickery, betrayal, and yes, love and lust. The writing is excellent, the plots well thought-out and executed and the characters are very relatable and likable. The series focuses on the few survivors of a suicide team from the Napoleonic wars – they were spare heirs whose lives were expendable and they took on the most dangerous secret missions of the war. Most didn’t make it back, but these are the stories of the few who did survive. Rafe Beaumont is one of those survivors and you just always knew there had to be more to him than was apparent and that there was a story buried deep within him. I certainly loved learning what that story was.
Rafe Beaumont, the fifth son of an earl, is seen by everyone as a fribble, a seducer, someone with no real substance. The truth is, he isn’t a seducer – those women chase him with one purpose – being seduced. He’s drop-dead gorgeous, a skilled lover and the most charming man anyone would want to meet. Everybody loves him. Rafe is one of the survivors and he’s always been a little resentful that he was never given the dangerous, exciting missions. His missions were always about seducing information from the wife or lover of someone who held knowledge of French war strategies, etc. Those were easy tasks for Rafe because he never got attached to anyone – he never had a problem walking away. As a matter of fact, he always did the walking away. He’d never give anybody the chance to make him care and then walk away from him.
Imagine Rafe’s total shock when, after being given an assignment, the lady in question seems totally immune to his charms. She’s just not interested. That is just not possible. Is he losing his touch? He’s never actually had to pursue anyone, so he’s not sure how to proceed. Can he figure it out and complete his mission?
Collette Fortier is the daughter of Napoleon’s most successful assassin. The wars are over, but the English would love to get their hands on him. Actually, the English aren’t the only ones. The French royalists have already taken him prisoner and are forcing Collette to spy for them. Her mission – to obtain the codes England uses in its communications. If she doesn’t succeed, her father doesn’t survive. It is just that simple. So, Collette absolutely cannot allow her attraction to Rafe Beaumont to show or to act upon it in any way.
Collette’s ‘cousin’ in England, Lady Ravensgate, is actually no relation at all. Collette had never met the woman before. However, this 'cousin' now holds the future of both Collette and her father in her hands. She sees that Collette gets to all of the important social functions that would allow Collette to collect information and meet the people who can lead her to the codes she needs. Collette is focused on Lieutenant Colonel Draven, but she cannot get her to engage with her – and then, suddenly, Rafe Beaumont is paying her attention. When he can’t seduce her, he offers to be her friend. Can she be friends with him and not let her attraction show? Is he really offering friendship or does he have ulterior motives? Can she use him to get the information she needs?
There is always an element of humor involved in these books – and this one is no exception. Collette used a natural history volume on hedgehogs in order to learn English. So, when she is nervous – quotes from the manual escape her mouth. It is totally entertaining and smile-worthy to see where and when these quotes pop out of her mouth.
"During courting rituals the hedgehog sow continually rejects the boar, turning to give him her
blank."
"The majority of snorting during hedgehog courtship originates from the sow."
Epilogues are one of my favorite things in a book, and this one had a lovely one. However, I would have liked the epilogue to either be longer – or for the epilogue to have an epilogue – something. I wanted to know more about the trip, what happened at the end, how they survived with no money, etc. I just wanted more. Since the end seemed rushed, I really did want more substantive answers to my questions.
Now, to begin my impatient wait for the next book which will feature Jasper.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
July 3, 2018
~ 3.5 stars~
This third installment in the Survivors series showcases the Seducer. Rafe Beaumont’s role in Lt. Colonel Draven’s regiment in the war was nothing like the other soldiers'. Just as dangerous, but not quite as heroic, at least not in his eyes. Now that the war is over and everyone is trying to live a more or less tranquil life, Rafe feels the chance to prove himself as a true hero is still yet to come. However when Draven pretty much orders him to reprise the role of the Seducer, he assumes he’s never going to have that chance. Not quite so my dear Rafe.
Rafe was such an endearing, amusing character. His easygoing attitude and somewhat sad past was easy to understand. It was pretty obvious why all the women wanted a piece of the beefcake that was Rafe. Collette on the other hand was not as well-defined. She was too innocent to be doing what she was set out to do and I honestly didn’t understand why anyone would consider her for that kind of work. Although when it came to Rafe she was pretty set on what she wanted from him and that sort of redeemed her in my eyes.
The Survivors that we’ve met in past books make a reappearance here but don't quite play the important role I would have liked. I didn’t get why Rafe didn’t enlist the help of his friends in a more proactive way in order to achieve his goals. It just seems it would have made his life much easier. Another thing I didn’t enjoy much was the fact that it felt the book was two stories in one. The way it started and the way it changed course in the middle didn’t mesh well. In the end Rafe gets to prove his worth not only to his Lieutenant but also to the woman he loved (in a most romantic way) so I was happy by the time I finished.
Overall a good read but I think Ewan’s story (first book, Third Son’s a Charm) is still my favorite.
**I received this book at no cost to me and I volunteered to read it; this is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher**
This third installment in the Survivors series showcases the Seducer. Rafe Beaumont’s role in Lt. Colonel Draven’s regiment in the war was nothing like the other soldiers'. Just as dangerous, but not quite as heroic, at least not in his eyes. Now that the war is over and everyone is trying to live a more or less tranquil life, Rafe feels the chance to prove himself as a true hero is still yet to come. However when Draven pretty much orders him to reprise the role of the Seducer, he assumes he’s never going to have that chance. Not quite so my dear Rafe.
Rafe was such an endearing, amusing character. His easygoing attitude and somewhat sad past was easy to understand. It was pretty obvious why all the women wanted a piece of the beefcake that was Rafe. Collette on the other hand was not as well-defined. She was too innocent to be doing what she was set out to do and I honestly didn’t understand why anyone would consider her for that kind of work. Although when it came to Rafe she was pretty set on what she wanted from him and that sort of redeemed her in my eyes.
The Survivors that we’ve met in past books make a reappearance here but don't quite play the important role I would have liked. I didn’t get why Rafe didn’t enlist the help of his friends in a more proactive way in order to achieve his goals. It just seems it would have made his life much easier. Another thing I didn’t enjoy much was the fact that it felt the book was two stories in one. The way it started and the way it changed course in the middle didn’t mesh well. In the end Rafe gets to prove his worth not only to his Lieutenant but also to the woman he loved (in a most romantic way) so I was happy by the time I finished.
Overall a good read but I think Ewan’s story (first book, Third Son’s a Charm) is still my favorite.
**I received this book at no cost to me and I volunteered to read it; this is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher**
Read
May 21, 2018❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Nobody does it like Shana Galen.
If i want a Witty, amusing and intriguing plot Shana is my go to every time , and this is no exception .
Absolutely loved this book , from the Hedgehogs to the Ton Ballrooms, this is one for all fans.
With Spies , traitors, tension, assassins, runaway vehicles , and men who can’t commit it’s one to keep you hooked from the first to the last .
Get ready for some serious love and laughter , relax and enjoy.
I received an advanced copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋
Nobody does it like Shana Galen.
If i want a Witty, amusing and intriguing plot Shana is my go to every time , and this is no exception .
Absolutely loved this book , from the Hedgehogs to the Ton Ballrooms, this is one for all fans.
With Spies , traitors, tension, assassins, runaway vehicles , and men who can’t commit it’s one to keep you hooked from the first to the last .
Get ready for some serious love and laughter , relax and enjoy.
I received an advanced copy of this book and chose to submit a review
August 13, 2018
Rafe is and both is not a total playboy. I men yes he loves women, but women really love him. And he can not say no! So it has come to that point where he is all, omg can't they just find someone else to hunt! Seriously man, learn to say no! ;) But he is also the kind of hero you just have to love, he really is the most charming man in London.
While Colette took some getting used to, because she is a spy for the French. It is a bit hard to like her then. But she is a really good person. She loves her dad and would do anything for him. She is also a really crappy spy. Not to mention she is shy. It was all very amusing.
And it was interesting to see how the well known bachelor would fall and fight against it. Not to mention how they would deal with this whole mess! She is still a spy. Her dad is still an assassin. But, without saying too much, I enjoyed how it was dealt with.
It was also great seeing the men from book 1 and 2. I really like this group of survivors. And I can not wait to get their books (omg the blurb for the next one is not up and I am all eeeeek!).
A fun book with some suspense, passion and friendship.
Narration
I enjoy Victoria Aston's voice and she fits historical romance so well! All her voices work,
While Colette took some getting used to, because she is a spy for the French. It is a bit hard to like her then. But she is a really good person. She loves her dad and would do anything for him. She is also a really crappy spy. Not to mention she is shy. It was all very amusing.
And it was interesting to see how the well known bachelor would fall and fight against it. Not to mention how they would deal with this whole mess! She is still a spy. Her dad is still an assassin. But, without saying too much, I enjoyed how it was dealt with.
It was also great seeing the men from book 1 and 2. I really like this group of survivors. And I can not wait to get their books (omg the blurb for the next one is not up and I am all eeeeek!).
A fun book with some suspense, passion and friendship.
Narration
I enjoy Victoria Aston's voice and she fits historical romance so well! All her voices work,
May 22, 2019
I often find that I either love or hate Galen's books. This was a hate. First it is very boring. It just drug on and on and on. The plot was stupid. There was a lot of internal moping. And it was extremely repetitive. Things happen in a way that make no logical sense. Everything was just so convenient. The conflicts were solved by an ex slave doing all the dirty work, that we don't get to see. Him I liked and want to know more about.
I don't like the main characters. Collete and Rafe are both dumb. Collette is a terrible spy. She isn't smart, she doesn't have good instincts, and she can't actually snoop or be sneaky. Rafe is gorgeous. And gorgeous. And gorgeous. Yes bitch, I get it he is attractive. Any other attributes he has? Not really lol. He whines about being so attractive. And he loves screwing women but hates them bc they always leave him. But he literally says he is the one to always leave, so where does he get this idea? His mother left when he was 4 and since he can't act like an adult, he puts this on every woman he meets. He is a douche and pathetic and I just kept hoping she would run away and never see him again.
Oh and I don't for one second they are in love. They just want to screw each other.
So nothing in this book was exciting. There is no romance. The historical background is barely touched on. The spying was badly done. The characters are completely forgettable. The writing is repetitive and super obnoxious.
I don't like the main characters. Collete and Rafe are both dumb. Collette is a terrible spy. She isn't smart, she doesn't have good instincts, and she can't actually snoop or be sneaky. Rafe is gorgeous. And gorgeous. And gorgeous. Yes bitch, I get it he is attractive. Any other attributes he has? Not really lol. He whines about being so attractive. And he loves screwing women but hates them bc they always leave him. But he literally says he is the one to always leave, so where does he get this idea? His mother left when he was 4 and since he can't act like an adult, he puts this on every woman he meets. He is a douche and pathetic and I just kept hoping she would run away and never see him again.
Oh and I don't for one second they are in love. They just want to screw each other.
So nothing in this book was exciting. There is no romance. The historical background is barely touched on. The spying was badly done. The characters are completely forgettable. The writing is repetitive and super obnoxious.
April 27, 2018
I received a copy from NetGalley; this is my honest review.
-This is a story with lots of adventure and suspense up until the very end.
-There are also many LOL moments and sadder parts too.
-The chemistry between Rafe and Collette is palpable and reflects in the love/sex scenes.
-It also shows, painfully, that what happens in our youth often marks how we behave later in life.
-It was good to see The Survivors working together yet again.
-Don't miss out, buy the book! This one was really hard to put down.
-This is a story with lots of adventure and suspense up until the very end.
-There are also many LOL moments and sadder parts too.
-The chemistry between Rafe and Collette is palpable and reflects in the love/sex scenes.
-It also shows, painfully, that what happens in our youth often marks how we behave later in life.
-It was good to see The Survivors working together yet again.
-Don't miss out, buy the book! This one was really hard to put down.
April 15, 2018
I loved reading Rafe's story! He is too funny when he wonders what the heck is happening to him! I admire Collette for doing what has to be done to survive. I always enjoy reading about a strong heroine. I can always count on a good read from Shana Galen and I look forward to the next in this series. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2018
Collette Fortier is in England under an assumed name staying with Lady Ravensgate trying to get information that will free her father from prison in France. Collette's father was Napoleon's assassin during the war and was arrested when the Bourbon's reclaimed the throne. Collette's only chance to free him is to get close to someone in the foreign office and steal codes that the Royalists want. Finally she makes the acquaintance of Col Draven, but in her nervousness, begins babbling about hedgehogs. Collette learned English by reading nature texts and tends to ramble about the mating practices of hedgehogs when she is nervous.
Rafe Beaumont works for Draven, he is one of the survivors, known as the Seducer. Women fall over themselves to get to Rafe - he is handsome, charming and an exceptional lover. He is only ever given missions involving women, because he never fails where women are concerned. That is until he meets Collette. Collette seems immune to his charms and he has no idea what to do. Advice from his fellow survivors is amusing and actually helpful. Instead of seducing her, he sets out to be her friend.
Here is the rub, he really likes Collette and the more he gets to know her, the less he wants to have to turn her over to Draven. He wheedles the truth out of her and promises to help her. They become lovers and he knows that he has never felt this way about a woman before, but an event that happened to him as a child has marked him and he never lets a woman get close enough to hurt him. That is until Collette.
Collette is devastated when she learns that Rafe used her for information, but he promises to help her find and free her father, but she must trust him.
Is it possible for a French spy and an English war hero to have a happy ever after? Can Rafe overcome his past and find a future with the only woman he has ever really loved without being a traitor to his country? Will Collette be able to save her father?
This is a well written, fast paced story with secrets, lies, steamy love scenes, amusing dialogue, some action, some intrigue and lots of advice from the other survivors. It is the third book in the series, but can easily be read as a stand alone title. I enjoyed this story and would be happy to recommend the entire series and am anxiously awaiting Japer's story!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
Rafe Beaumont works for Draven, he is one of the survivors, known as the Seducer. Women fall over themselves to get to Rafe - he is handsome, charming and an exceptional lover. He is only ever given missions involving women, because he never fails where women are concerned. That is until he meets Collette. Collette seems immune to his charms and he has no idea what to do. Advice from his fellow survivors is amusing and actually helpful. Instead of seducing her, he sets out to be her friend.
Here is the rub, he really likes Collette and the more he gets to know her, the less he wants to have to turn her over to Draven. He wheedles the truth out of her and promises to help her. They become lovers and he knows that he has never felt this way about a woman before, but an event that happened to him as a child has marked him and he never lets a woman get close enough to hurt him. That is until Collette.
Collette is devastated when she learns that Rafe used her for information, but he promises to help her find and free her father, but she must trust him.
Is it possible for a French spy and an English war hero to have a happy ever after? Can Rafe overcome his past and find a future with the only woman he has ever really loved without being a traitor to his country? Will Collette be able to save her father?
This is a well written, fast paced story with secrets, lies, steamy love scenes, amusing dialogue, some action, some intrigue and lots of advice from the other survivors. It is the third book in the series, but can easily be read as a stand alone title. I enjoyed this story and would be happy to recommend the entire series and am anxiously awaiting Japer's story!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
June 27, 2018
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.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 24, 2018
The third story in the Survivors series, An Affair with a Spare was a little different than the first two because it involved a somewhat devious french spy, Collette Fortier, and the son of an earl and war hero, Rafe Beaumont. Collette seemed like an unlikely match for Rafe and it took me a while to warm up to her. The more I learned about her situation - that she was being forced to spy by people who were holding her father hostage, the more I could sympathize with her. Not only was her father everything to her, but she was also pretty incompetent as a spy. Rafe was a bit annoying with his womanizing ways and his somewhat callousness in regards to women, but since his past had affected his ability to trust them, his actions were a bit more understandable. I liked when the story really got going, as they put their plan into action and events started to unfold as they should. Rafe was a bit thickheaded though and I was happy he finally came to his senses, although I kept wanting to yell at him to stop at the bank for goodness sake - he was a very poor planner as far as the future goes. I’m very curious to hear how things go for this couple, I hope we hear more about them in the next book to come.
July 15, 2019
Dede, não entendo como você não comprou esse, já que o Rafe super tem uma vibe Sebastian St Vincent, mas ok!!! Ele é super divertido no começo, mas ele ficou muito intenso de repente, eu não esperava. Amei, apesar de querer um final mais feliz do que aconteceu. Mas mesmo assim, muito bom!!!!
January 10, 2021
Review posted on Got Fiction? book blog
I love the cover for this book. Actually every single cover in this series is absolutely gorgeous. I wanted something Historical and this cover caught my eye. I’m glad it did since now I want to read the whole series. Shana Galen has a way of drawing you into her stories from the first page and I’d forgotten about that.
Collette is in London to search for a way to help her father. However since she is French and her father was one of Napoleon’s assassins, it may not be the best place for her to be. She is trying to gather information on certain codes, that even though the war is over, are still heavily guarded secrets. There are just two problems: she is a terrible spy, and she literally has no clue where to start.
Rafe is the son of an earl, the youngest son of an earl. His only talent in life is his face. Seriously. He’s gorgeous. Violet eyes, thick dark hair, fantastic body, and he’s charming. He’s never had to chase a woman. Ever. In fact he often has to hide from them since they chase him. Literally. When he went into the Army he wound up in a secret troop and his code name was The Seducer. He seduced information out of the wives of high ranking officials. His latest mission is to flirt with Colette to find out if she is indeed the daughter of an assassin and what she’s doing in London. The main problem he has? She doesn’t fall for his charms.
For her part, Collette isn’t immune, but her end-goal keeps her strong in the face of his charm and sex appeal. I enjoyed watching him flounder not knowing what to do since women never said no to him. Collette learned English through reading and her favorite book had been about hedgehogs so whenever she was nervous, she would spout random facts about hedgehogs and I found it adorable and endearing.
The only thing that didn’t really work for me was that Rafe comes off incredibly immature and young. Being that he had been at war, I really was surprised at how he behaved. He seemed 18. That aside, I liked Rafe and Collette together, and I liked how they worked together. The romance felt true and organic and watching that turn Rafe inside out was fantastic. He was so befuddled!
This story made me wish I hadn’t read out of order. Oh, it can stand alone, no problem there, but it made me wish I knew more about the other men in the series. Luckily I have the time to catch up! If you’re waiting for the Bridgertons to hit Netflix and need a good Historical Romance, this will satisfy your cravings.
***Review copy courtesy of Sourcebooks via Netgalley
I love the cover for this book. Actually every single cover in this series is absolutely gorgeous. I wanted something Historical and this cover caught my eye. I’m glad it did since now I want to read the whole series. Shana Galen has a way of drawing you into her stories from the first page and I’d forgotten about that.
Collette is in London to search for a way to help her father. However since she is French and her father was one of Napoleon’s assassins, it may not be the best place for her to be. She is trying to gather information on certain codes, that even though the war is over, are still heavily guarded secrets. There are just two problems: she is a terrible spy, and she literally has no clue where to start.
Rafe is the son of an earl, the youngest son of an earl. His only talent in life is his face. Seriously. He’s gorgeous. Violet eyes, thick dark hair, fantastic body, and he’s charming. He’s never had to chase a woman. Ever. In fact he often has to hide from them since they chase him. Literally. When he went into the Army he wound up in a secret troop and his code name was The Seducer. He seduced information out of the wives of high ranking officials. His latest mission is to flirt with Colette to find out if she is indeed the daughter of an assassin and what she’s doing in London. The main problem he has? She doesn’t fall for his charms.
For her part, Collette isn’t immune, but her end-goal keeps her strong in the face of his charm and sex appeal. I enjoyed watching him flounder not knowing what to do since women never said no to him. Collette learned English through reading and her favorite book had been about hedgehogs so whenever she was nervous, she would spout random facts about hedgehogs and I found it adorable and endearing.
The only thing that didn’t really work for me was that Rafe comes off incredibly immature and young. Being that he had been at war, I really was surprised at how he behaved. He seemed 18. That aside, I liked Rafe and Collette together, and I liked how they worked together. The romance felt true and organic and watching that turn Rafe inside out was fantastic. He was so befuddled!
This story made me wish I hadn’t read out of order. Oh, it can stand alone, no problem there, but it made me wish I knew more about the other men in the series. Luckily I have the time to catch up! If you’re waiting for the Bridgertons to hit Netflix and need a good Historical Romance, this will satisfy your cravings.
***Review copy courtesy of Sourcebooks via Netgalley
July 6, 2018
As the eighth child of an earl, Rafe Beaumont is most definitely a spare. Blessed with extraordinary good looks, even when he joined the army he ended up using his unique abilities to seduce information from Frenchwomen to serve his country.
Now the war is over, and Rafe is at a loose end. Weary of being literally chased around London society by eager women, when instructed by his commanding officer to find out if a young Frenchwoman is a spy, he jumps at the opportunity. The only problem? Collette appears to be the only woman he’s ever met who is immune to his charms…
Collette’s not really a French spy. Her father’s in prison and she’s being blackmailed, ordered to obtain by any means necessary ciphers used by the British government to encode important correspondence. Which exposed, if not quite a gaping plot hole, at least the utter illogicality of those who devised that plot, because who would send a Frenchwoman to do that job in the years right after the Napoleonic Wars? Any Englishman with access to that sort of sensitive information would peg her for a spy the moment she even began to hint at the subject, and it seemed peculiar to me that Rafe didn’t point that out to Collette.
That point aside, this was so well written and enjoyable. Collette was lovely, a shy girl with hidden reserves of courage, and Rafe was a perfect hero for her. This is the third in this series of Shana Galen’s I’ve read (after No Earls Allowed and Third Son’s A Charm) and they’re all absolutely delightful. I’m very eager to read Jasper’s story, and also Draven’s - the snippets we get of them are a great incentive to keep reading the series!
Five stars for a well written and enjoyable historical romance. Just let your disbelief be suspended regarding Collette’s mission and you’ll enjoy this thoroughly.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
Now the war is over, and Rafe is at a loose end. Weary of being literally chased around London society by eager women, when instructed by his commanding officer to find out if a young Frenchwoman is a spy, he jumps at the opportunity. The only problem? Collette appears to be the only woman he’s ever met who is immune to his charms…
Collette’s not really a French spy. Her father’s in prison and she’s being blackmailed, ordered to obtain by any means necessary ciphers used by the British government to encode important correspondence. Which exposed, if not quite a gaping plot hole, at least the utter illogicality of those who devised that plot, because who would send a Frenchwoman to do that job in the years right after the Napoleonic Wars? Any Englishman with access to that sort of sensitive information would peg her for a spy the moment she even began to hint at the subject, and it seemed peculiar to me that Rafe didn’t point that out to Collette.
That point aside, this was so well written and enjoyable. Collette was lovely, a shy girl with hidden reserves of courage, and Rafe was a perfect hero for her. This is the third in this series of Shana Galen’s I’ve read (after No Earls Allowed and Third Son’s A Charm) and they’re all absolutely delightful. I’m very eager to read Jasper’s story, and also Draven’s - the snippets we get of them are a great incentive to keep reading the series!
Five stars for a well written and enjoyable historical romance. Just let your disbelief be suspended regarding Collette’s mission and you’ll enjoy this thoroughly.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
July 5, 2018
The Survivors series introduces readers to the varied members of an elite squad of men who took on the toughest missions during the Napoleonic War. Rafe Beaumont, a distant spare to his father’s earldom, was recruited into the team not for his prowess on the battlefields but his skills in the boudoir. Known by the code name The Seducer, Rafe charmed secrets from even the most reluctant French noblewoman and passed on vital information to save lives. In peacetimes Rafe has found himself still using his bedroom skills to protect England. His squad leader Colonel Draven keeps Rafe active in his circle of spies, watching for traitors and French sympathizers within the ton. His latest mission should be the fairly straightforward seduction of Miss Collette Fournay, the protégé of Lady Ravensgate who was known for her French ties during the war. Draven hopes to uncover Miss Fournay’s possible connection to an infamous French assassin and her motives for suddenly appearing in England.
Miss Collette Fortier has a mission of her own: to secure English military codes to trade for the life of her father. It’s an almost impossible task as Colonel Draven, the only man who may have the information she needs, is avoiding her. Adding to her stress is the constant observation by her “cousin” Lady Ravensgate who has her own priorities when it comes to Collette’s mission. Attending another social function and getting the same cold shoulder from Draven quickly turns the evening into a disappointment for Collette until she sets eyes on the most handsome man she’s ever encountered. Introduced as Mr. Rafe Beaumont, he’s witty, charming and seems interested in knowing Collette when she’d been virtually ignored by other men in the ballroom. Unfortunately, his male beauty makes her nervous enough that she begins to recite the lines from an English nature textbook she used to learn the language. At first, Mr. Beaumont seems amused by the conversation but when Collette’s awkwardness becomes unbearable she takes her leave without a backwards glance.
Rafe is unsettled when his attempts to charm Collette are ignored. In all the years he was The Seducer there was never a woman who could resist his handsomeness or his flattery. With Draven pushing him for quick results Rafe must find a different way past the woman’s defenses. Meeting her a second time and seeing how uncomfortable Collette is in mixed company Rafe tries another tactic, offering her friendship with no strings attached. It’s an easy transition for Rafe who truly was amused by her strange conversations about hedgehog mating practices and it helps that for the first time in his memory Collette seems like a woman worth knowing.
An Affair with a Spare has all the makings of an interesting romantic spy story; however it takes much too long for the intrigues and counter-missions to engage the plot forward. There are several false starts to their relationship as Collette is rightfully suspect of Rafe’s intentions while he’s floundering when a wink and a smile don’t get her to spill her secrets. Things only pick up around the 40% mark when Rafe starts thinking like a real spy, using Collette’s naivete against her to reveal the truth about herself. Perhaps the earlier starts and stops were crucial so readers don’t hate Rafe for manipulating the woman he’s supposed to fall in love with. That, or we had to see just how uncomfortable Collette is trying to be a spy when all she really needs is someone to help her against impossible odds. Either way, it makes the first portion of the book drag considerably.
Once the truth is on the table interactions between Rafe and Collette are more in line with friends coming to love and respect each other and the action picks up to a rapid pace. The weight of Rafe’s mission to deceive Collette cracks the wall he’d placed around his heart and Collette fills in those cracks with her trust and her willingness to see him as an agent who will succeed in his plans.
There’s much to enjoy in An Affair with a Spare but it takes a while for the good parts to shine past the more mundane and slower portions of the story. Collette and Rafe are interesting characters and how their story ends was unique for a happily ever after.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing a copy of the book for review.
Miss Collette Fortier has a mission of her own: to secure English military codes to trade for the life of her father. It’s an almost impossible task as Colonel Draven, the only man who may have the information she needs, is avoiding her. Adding to her stress is the constant observation by her “cousin” Lady Ravensgate who has her own priorities when it comes to Collette’s mission. Attending another social function and getting the same cold shoulder from Draven quickly turns the evening into a disappointment for Collette until she sets eyes on the most handsome man she’s ever encountered. Introduced as Mr. Rafe Beaumont, he’s witty, charming and seems interested in knowing Collette when she’d been virtually ignored by other men in the ballroom. Unfortunately, his male beauty makes her nervous enough that she begins to recite the lines from an English nature textbook she used to learn the language. At first, Mr. Beaumont seems amused by the conversation but when Collette’s awkwardness becomes unbearable she takes her leave without a backwards glance.
Rafe is unsettled when his attempts to charm Collette are ignored. In all the years he was The Seducer there was never a woman who could resist his handsomeness or his flattery. With Draven pushing him for quick results Rafe must find a different way past the woman’s defenses. Meeting her a second time and seeing how uncomfortable Collette is in mixed company Rafe tries another tactic, offering her friendship with no strings attached. It’s an easy transition for Rafe who truly was amused by her strange conversations about hedgehog mating practices and it helps that for the first time in his memory Collette seems like a woman worth knowing.
An Affair with a Spare has all the makings of an interesting romantic spy story; however it takes much too long for the intrigues and counter-missions to engage the plot forward. There are several false starts to their relationship as Collette is rightfully suspect of Rafe’s intentions while he’s floundering when a wink and a smile don’t get her to spill her secrets. Things only pick up around the 40% mark when Rafe starts thinking like a real spy, using Collette’s naivete against her to reveal the truth about herself. Perhaps the earlier starts and stops were crucial so readers don’t hate Rafe for manipulating the woman he’s supposed to fall in love with. That, or we had to see just how uncomfortable Collette is trying to be a spy when all she really needs is someone to help her against impossible odds. Either way, it makes the first portion of the book drag considerably.
Once the truth is on the table interactions between Rafe and Collette are more in line with friends coming to love and respect each other and the action picks up to a rapid pace. The weight of Rafe’s mission to deceive Collette cracks the wall he’d placed around his heart and Collette fills in those cracks with her trust and her willingness to see him as an agent who will succeed in his plans.
There’s much to enjoy in An Affair with a Spare but it takes a while for the good parts to shine past the more mundane and slower portions of the story. Collette and Rafe are interesting characters and how their story ends was unique for a happily ever after.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing a copy of the book for review.
May 27, 2018
***ARC received for an honest review***
I’ve heard such good things about this author, and I was excited to break away from the Sarina Bowen and dive into an historical with an exciting plot.
Rafe is a slutty boy spy who sleeps with women to get info. Collette is trying to rescue her father through a convoluted plan of getting some kind of cipher from Rafe’s boss. I didn’t necessarily understand that. Rafe is super gorgeous. Collette is so shy around him she seems disinterested. They’re both secretly trying to get info from one another and lying to each other.
I didn’t love Rafe. Just not my kind of hero. Also - collette made bad decisions. Repeatedly. And I couldn’t work out the nuances of what they were trying to do. Plus I dislike lying as a plot device.
It wasn’t poorly written. I could see how this book could be fun - if you’re not me.
”Here he was saying everything he vowed he would never say to a woman, and she didn’t even believe him. The irony was poetic.”
I’ve heard such good things about this author, and I was excited to break away from the Sarina Bowen and dive into an historical with an exciting plot.
Rafe is a slutty boy spy who sleeps with women to get info. Collette is trying to rescue her father through a convoluted plan of getting some kind of cipher from Rafe’s boss. I didn’t necessarily understand that. Rafe is super gorgeous. Collette is so shy around him she seems disinterested. They’re both secretly trying to get info from one another and lying to each other.
I didn’t love Rafe. Just not my kind of hero. Also - collette made bad decisions. Repeatedly. And I couldn’t work out the nuances of what they were trying to do. Plus I dislike lying as a plot device.
It wasn’t poorly written. I could see how this book could be fun - if you’re not me.
”Here he was saying everything he vowed he would never say to a woman, and she didn’t even believe him. The irony was poetic.”
August 29, 2020
Trigger warnings: war (in the past), assassination (in the past), incarceration of a parent.
I wanted to love this because the "Collette talks about hedgehog mating practices when she's nervous" thing at the beginning of the story was so funny. But the middle of the story was quite slow (mostly because I didn't really give a shit whether Collette managed to get her dad out of prison or not) and the ending was rushed.
So while I liked the dynamic between Collette and Rafe, the spy stuff just sort of fell flat for me.
I wanted to love this because the "Collette talks about hedgehog mating practices when she's nervous" thing at the beginning of the story was so funny. But the middle of the story was quite slow (mostly because I didn't really give a shit whether Collette managed to get her dad out of prison or not) and the ending was rushed.
So while I liked the dynamic between Collette and Rafe, the spy stuff just sort of fell flat for me.
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