The Bed and the Bachelor by Tracy Anne Warren (The Byrons of Braebourne #5)
Historical Romance
July 26, 2011
Paperback
Avon

Reviewed by May

As I turned the last page of this book I found myself pondering three things. First, that I have no idea why the couple featured in this book fancy themselves in love. Secondly, how am I going to settle on a grade for this book? Finally, why in the world was this titled “The Bed and the Bachelor”?  

Lord Drake Byron loves math and science. He is known for spending long hours at home in his workshop when inspired, and his mind is usually occupied by whatever he is currently working on. His most secret and well-guarded work is a cipher for the war department. It has helped the British war effort and the French have not figured out his system.  Sebastianne Dumont is blackmailed into traveling to England and posing as a housekeeper and applying for the now vacant position of housekeeper for Drake so that she can find and steal the cipher.  

I really liked the characters in this book and the author’s style of writing. The story moved right along and I could really relate to and understand our heroine’s motives.  

He [Drake] could no more help her out of her dilemma than he could wave his hand and end the war. He couldn’t save her or her family. She was alone, trapped with no way out. As much as she hated the realization, she knew she would have to go through with her original plan.

She never wanted to be a spy or steal, but she simply has no other choice. In her case – I truly did believe it and the author did a great job of showing us why she was doing the things that she did.

Lord Drake was also an extremely likeable character.  Drake comes from a large family, and their interactions reminded me of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton siblings in the best ways.  He is brilliant and very into his work, but he is also warm and caring to both his family and those who serve in his household. His work is very precise and he notices details – something which I felt was shown throughout the book.

Given the interesting premise and likeable characters I really want to love this book. However, there were a few problems for me. The first was that I found the conditions of the characters getting together unromantic. I liked the complication that she is pretending to be a housekeeper, but the way the romantic relationship gets started (she drugs him, then he thinks he’s dreaming and makes bold advances) and handled didn’t sit well with me. Of course she’s in his house to steal his work and betray him and his country – so the relationship has a lot to overcome anyhow!

Another issue I had was that the plot was too straight forward. Everything is taken in stride, and I found myself wishing for more tension and turmoil. I really wanted for something to not work out exactly perfectly right down to the big show down with the creepy French villain.

My final gripe is that I really didn’t see proof that the characters are in love outside of sexual situations. When the heroine decides she is in love with him 1/3 of the way into the book I was in shock – why? I couldn’t comprehend it! I felt like the author chose to tell us they love each other (not just lust) rather than show us.

All said and done, it was a fun read and a bit different from the usual regency romances. I appreciated the unique characters and that this author artfully told a story while giving cameos to characters that I believe were featured in previous books about this family. This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last. I will definitely give her another try. In reviewing this book I’ve talked myself up from a C+ in grade.

Grade: B-

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