Eileen Dreyer on Regency Spies, TWICE TEMPTED review, & print giveaway (open internationally!)

Why Does It Have To Be Spies?

I've heard more than once from book reviewers that they're weary of gentleman spies in Regency attire. There weren't really any gentleman spies. It was considered dishonorable work, unsuitable for a gentleman. So what is this fascination for spies that never happened?
Well, let's be honest. We love the Regency period. We love  aristocratic heroes(they had the cache, the nice houses and the money). We(okay, I) love men of action. There was a war going on that changed the face of the world and called for sacrifice from the highest echelons of British society. If you want a hero who is next in line or already inherited that dukedom, though, the chances that he was also fighting the Peninsular Wars is just about nil.  The one thing the British wanted to preserve more than the right not to speak French as a national language, was the aristocracy. Heirs did not put themselves in the way of danger. Still holds true today. Look at the grief Prince Harry got for trying to actually do his job.
  So how does our hero see action that defines him as a clever, heroic, deadly, forceful, alpha male? (because if he doesn't, to me, he's rather a waste of protoplasm). I know a majority of the ton didn't fight, but in my romantic world, the most epic war of the century is going on and the duke's doing what, matching waistcoats?Hanging about the green room at the Royal Opera House? Only if he's doing it as part of a plan to vanquish the enemy.
And where does one find the enemy in Britain? Why, in ballrooms and opera houses and tailors. I learned this first from Patricia Veryan, who first introduced me to what I call the romantic historical adventures. I was immediately hooked. So when I had the chance to actually dip into the Regency era, there was only one thing I could do. Create the clandestine group of gentlemen spies called Drake's Rakes and set them loose among the evildoers of England. And I didn't even have to rely on Napoleon to give them foes. I created a worse threat, a cabal(I love cabals almost as much as gentlemen spies) of aristocrats who think the world would be better with Princess Charlotte on the throne and them in charge. As you can imagine, my heroes can't let that happen.
There are nine stories in all. I'm dividing them up into trilogies by heroine. I've already done The Three Graces(BARELY A LADY, NEVER A GENTLEMAN, & ALWAYS A TEMPTRESS). Now I'm in the middle of Last Chance Academy where the heroines were classmates. TWICE TEMPTED, about twins Fiona and Mairead Ferguson, also stars Rakes Alex Knight and Chuffy Wilde. They mix espionage, astronomy, mathematics and codebreaking in an effort to stop the bad guys and find love. As you can imagine, none of it is easy. But I really love these four. I hope you do, too.
For more information, stop by my website www.eileendreyer.com or my Drake's Rakes Facebook page. Contests and giveaways abound, including limited edition trading cards.

TWICE TEMPTED

Fiona Ferguson's troubles began with a kiss . . . 

It feels like a lifetime ago that Alex Knight saved Fiona from certain doom . . . and stole a soul-shattering kiss for good measure. Wanting nothing more than to keep her safe, he left her in the care of her grandfather, the Marquess of Dourne.

But Fiona was hardly safe. As soon as he could, the marquess cast her and her sister out on the streets with only her wits to keep them alive.

Alex has never forgotten that long-ago kiss. Now the dashing spy is desperate to make up for failing his duty once before. This time he will protect Fiona once and for all, from a deadly foe bent on taking revenge on the Ferguson line-and anyone who stands in the way . . .

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My thoughts on TWICE TEMPTED....4.5 Stars 

TWICE TEMPTED (Drake’s Rakes) is the fifth in the series and my introduction to Ms. Dreyer. Though evident that a lot of water has already passed under the bridge I never felt lost or that vital information was missing.

TWICE TEMPTED is well researched with great attention paid to detail. It’s also fast paced, intelligent with an intricate continuing storyline, and engaging, highly appealing characters. Fortunately for readers this could describe many historical romances available today. We truly have an embarrassment of riches.

Fiona and Alex are secondary characters from previous books. They’re blessed with wit, intelligence, and above average attractiveness. Both are strong and used to protecting and putting others first.

Fiona’s been responsible for herself and her twin Mairead from an incredibly young age.

Her resourcefulness, honor, loyalty, and responsibility are incredible.

Alex Knight aka the White Knight. Alex feels responsible for others. The trait is both a blessing and a curse. It’s also led to his current rock and a hard place position.

Truly, a picture perfect hero and heroine but…..

What really distinguishes TWICE TEMPTED, for me, is the brilliance and singularity of Mairead, Chuffy, and Lady Bea. I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered their like portrayed as they are. Not only do they shine brightly but they cast a warm glow, enriching both the plot and characters around them. They’re treasured, respected, and the way their unique abilities and intelligence are utilized is marvelous.

Ms. Deyer would be added to my list for intelligent, richly peopled, complexly plotted writing; however the addition of those three characters has placed her at the top. Mairead, Chuffy, and, Lady Bea, as difficult and different as they are, have completely beguiled me.
Eileen is giving away a print copy of TWICE TEMPTED, open to all including international!  So...Straight up aristocrat, mix of society and clandestine activities for king and country, or disreputable rake with a heart of gold?  What kind of hero do you prefer?  Share your druthers and be entered for Eileen's giveaway!
Giveaway ends @12am est 11-30-14. Be sure & check back so you don't miss out learning if you're the winner or not!


Bio
A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.

Dreyer won her first publishing award in 1987, being named the best new Contemporary Romance Author by RT Bookclub. Since that time she has also garnered not only six other writing awards from RT, but five RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, which secures her only the fourth place in the Romance Writers of America prestigious Hall of Fame. Since extending her reach to suspense, she has also garnered a coveted Anthony Award nomination.

A frequent speaker at conferences, she maintains membership in Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and, just in case things go wrong, Emergency Nurses Association and International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She's also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn't see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn't pan out.

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