Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Lord and Lady Spy by Shalen Galen

This is a fun and entertaining read.

Lord and Lady Spy

By Shana Galen

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402259077
• ISBN-13: 978-1402259074

Genre:  Historical Romance
My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

Product Description:
No man can outsmart him...
Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England's most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn't the only one with secrets...
She's been outsmarting him for years...
Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he's not who she thinks he is after all...

Review:  This has likeable characters with a good plot.

Lady Sophia is an unremarkable, rather mousey, lady of the ton. But that is just a disguise so no one will suspect that she is an intrepid, intelligent and intuitive spy for the Crown.  She hasn’t had a lot of time for home and husband since she has been busy on her missions. Besides she has had her own heartaches at home.

Lord Adrian appears to be the normal Englishman spending time at his gentleman’s club and other manly pursuits. The truth though is that he has been off on his own missions spying for England. He married Sophia thinking that she would be an easy woman to leave at home. He thinks she is busy with various community causes.   Although they have passion, Sophia closed him out of her room and personal life.

Imagine their surprise as they meet each other when called to a clandestine meeting with their superior.  Sophia has had fantasies of meeting the incredible Agent Wolf who is now revealed to be her own husband.  Adrian knows that Agent Saint is one of the top spies of the Barbican group and he never suspected it might be his own wife. 

Sophia and Adrian have been told separately that their services are no longer needed since the war with France is over. They each wonder what they will do with their lives. They are asked to investigate the recent murder of the prime minister’s brother.  Whoever discovers the murderer first can have the one open position back with the elite spy group.

Even though they are competing for the same position, Sophia and Adrian find that their skills compliment each other. Not to mention the extreme passion that is renewed, especially when Sophia sheds her meek disguise and begins to reveal the true beauty she is. But can they trust each other to really share the clues? More importantly, can they trust each other to share their hearts?

This book is full of fun dialogue and plenty of action.  I loved how the two spies discover each other’s skills and reveal their fears and needs. The sexual encounters are steamy but nicely full of warmth and love.  Although this story has some similarities to the movie of a similar plot, the presentation is decidedly different. This book is presented with a view to developing team work and there is much more warmth between Sophia and Adrian. The book ending leaves the story open for a sequel and I would love to read more.  

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Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing this book for reading and review and for providing two copies for Giveaway!

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:

1. Visit the Author's website and tell me something you found interesting.This is required for entry.

2. For two extra entries, comment on the Author Interview.

3. For another two entries, complete the Author's sentence at Interview Q11.

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5. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Eight total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

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* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on September 30 , 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on October 1- 3 and will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winner's form linked in the announcement.