The Bed and the Bachelor – Tracy Anne Warren

Author: Tracy Anne Warren

Publisher: Avon

Reviewed by: Shannschoice | Jul 19, 2011 | 9780062033055

A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW

I’ve wondered, since first starting the Byrons of Braebourne series, how Tracey Anne Warren was going to write a story about Drake. He spent so much of his previous “book time” stuck inside his own head, I couldn’t fathom how she would do it. Well, she’s done it and let me just say, it’s always the quiet ones that you have to watch out for!

Drake Byron writes secret ciphers for the English government, studies and experiments with astrology, helps friends launch hot air balloon and enjoys his time with his family. When the “need” arises, he has his mistress with whom he can spend a few hours before returning to his town house. As far as he’s concerned, his life is complete. That theory gets thoroughly tested when he hires his new housekeeper, Mrs. Anne Greenway.

Sebastianne Dumont has one goal, to complete this assignment to save her family. Forced to play spy for the French government, she’s been tasked to masquerade as a housekeeper and steal the cipher developed by one Lord Drake Byron. She doesn’t expect to like the rest of the staff at the house and she doesn’t expect to like Lord Drake. She most definitely doesn’t expect to have a midnight encounter with him that changes everything.

Drake and Sebastianne are great together. She’s the one thing that keeps Drake’s head “out of the clouds” and she, much as she tries not to, lets her guard down with Drake. She understands him, having grown up with her father as involved in his research as Drake is in his. But she’s dogged by guilt at lying to everyone in the house, especially Drake.

We do have our nasty French villain, who follows Sebastianne around and makes her extremely nervous as he threatens her brothers and father should she not do what she’s supposed to. There’s also the emotional turmoil that both Sebastianne and Drake suffer when Sebastianne does what she needs to protect her family but breaks her own heart at the same time.

This book was an absolute delight. Great addition to the Byrons series!

Book Blurb for The Bed and the Bachelor

Everyone knows the Byron brothers are “mad, bad, and dangerous.” But the devilishly desirable fourth son, Drake, is too scholarly to misbehave . . . or is he?
Lord Drake Byron has no time in his busy life to worry about taking a wife. He is more interested in the unbreakable code he has developed to defeat Napoleon’s forces. Little does he know that the irresistibly lovely new housekeeper he’s hired is really a French secret agent.
Sebastianne Dumont is not at all who she seems to be. Forced to spy to save her family, she embarks on a mission that takes an even more dangerous turn when she falls in love with the surprisingly tempting man she must ultimately betray. And if she succeeds in her mission, will she also break Lord Drake’s heart, while leaving her own behind?

Review originally posted on Night Owl Review.  To see original review, click the link at the top of the page that says “A Night Owl Reviews Book Review”