Always a Temptress (Drake's Rakes Series #3)

Which is more difficult keeping your secrets or revealing them?

Major Sir Harry Lidge despite his affirmations that it is not true has loved Katie Hilliard since they were children. He has tried to deny it, run away from it, and even accused her of treason, yet he still cannot stop for the wanting of her even after being apart for ten years. Harry is a squire's son that made something of himself through his Commission as a soldier, but having left Kate behind when she needed him the most has left bitter memories and scars Kate will not let go of and well she is tad upset about the whole accusing her of treason statement.

Harry has sworn to expose Kate's secrets and prove she has the key to unlocking the mystery of the covert society set to create anarchy but Kate doesn't know what anyone is looking for and can't imagine who would want to kill her. The more Harry finds out about Kate the more he is proving her innocent not guilt and now due to his poor decisions Harry has them both in a terrifying situation. It seems the real traitor is out there knocking down the door seeking death not answers. Harry must do more than just protect her he must discover what the secret she has that everyone wants.

Everyone is convinced Kate has the answer that Drake's Rakes is looking for but trying to figure out where it is will not be easy. If this is, something from her past, it will a difficult hurdle getting past the pain of those memories to find this illusive answer. Kate does not have anything but bitter memories from her negligent father, a loathing for her abusive late husband and a deep detest for her vindictive brother.

To keep Kate safe and her brother away Harry comes up with a resolution that does not sit well with anyone but will work. Harry has to convince Kate that he knows best, that he is not trying to rule her life, and will never stop taking care of her. They both are scared and shattered by the battles they have fought, but the war between them must end peacefully. Good Luck with that one Harry!

I love this series with its interesting characters, fresh story lines, and exceptional tie-in from one book to the next. As you finish one book you cannot wait for the next one to see what is going to happen, which is always a reader's delight. Eileen Dreyer moves the reader seamlessly through the chapters with careful detail and exacting descriptions of both the characters and the setting, which is something I truly thank her for with every book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Next book

Loved this one

Another engrossing romance by Eileen Dreyer - such a fun escape!

I've thoroughly enjoyed Eileen Dreyer's earlier novels with the Drake's Rakes (Barely a Lady and Never a Gentleman). In Always a Temptress, Dreyer tells us the story behind the beautiful, double Duchess Kate Seaton. Kate's the daughter of a duke and the widow of a duke. She's beautiful, high spirited, independent, outspoken, always on the edge of danger.

Harry'd met her when she was fifteen. She'd been his closest friend and he'd fallen for her deeply. His life had been turned upside down when he learned of her betrayal -- he escaped to the army and the ten years of fighting had taught him a great deal, made him careful. Seeing Kate now she stood out "her attire was just shy of being too bright, too bold, too revealing" and it was generally agreed that her behavior bordered on scandalous. More lovers than anyone could count and a painting of her naked body hung in one of London's private clubs. A woman who thinks only of herself and while Harry hadn't expected her to betray her country, he can believe it of her.

Harry's assigned the distasteful task of kidnapping and interrogating Kate and in the process discovers that she's not as tough as she seemed. He uncovers proof in Kate's favor and before he begins to wonder how much of what he's believed about her is true, he finds himself rescuing her. The rescue binds Kate and Harry together. Although much has happened in their ten years apart, they both discover the person that they'd left behind.


Always a Temptress is a fun escape. Double duchess Kate is a standout character -- brilliant, beautiful and brave. Sir Harry Lidge is admirable, loyal and tenacious. Dreyer gives us two likable characters who deserve to be together and enough of the intrigues, plot twists and bad luck that we savor the ups and downs of their romance. If you enjoy historical romance, I highly recommend Always a Temptress.

ISBN-10: 0446542059 - Paperback $7.99
Publisher: Forever (October 1, 2011), 432 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

4.5!ANOTHER A MUST IN DRAKE'S RAKES SERIES! ALWAYS A TEMPTRESS BY EILEEN DReYER...

ALWAYS A TEMPTRESS by Eileen Dreyer is an exciting historical romance set in 1815 Dorsetshire,England. It is Book #3 in "Drake's Rake's Series",but can be read as a stand alone. See " Barely a Lady",and "Never a Gentleman". This is the story of Major Sir Harry Lidge and Lady Kate Seaton.Sir Harry and Lady Kate have a history with each other. While,Lady Kate is a widow, has a scanalous and outrageous past,but few know the truth of her facade. Sir Harry, has had a nightmarish past with his miltary.Together,with some reoccuring Drake's Rake's they must found a verse,someone is willing to kill Lady Kate,save country,find a traitor,and keep Lady Kate from his brother's clutchs. A fast paced story full of sexual tension,romance, love,mystery, suspense,secrets,betrayal,passion,trusts,and sweet sensuality. "Always a Temptress" will appeal to any historical,romance,mystery readers.With a blossoming romance and a cart load of danger and sensual tension what's not to enjoy. A must read. Received for review from the publisher.Details can be found at Forever,an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

When is the next book coming?

Drake's Rakes are at it again. Another twist in the attempt of the Lions' plot to takeover the British government. The clue to this villainous lot is locked in a verse no one can find. With his dying breath, one of the traitors divulges 'the whore has the verse.' In the Rakes' world, two women have that dubious title - a French mistress and Lady Kate Seaton. Kate, the widow of a duke and daughter of another, swans through English Society, surrounded by many admirers and few close friends. Always lighthearted and dressed in the highest fashion, she remains a mystery to most. Rumor has it that she was painted in the nude. Kate's only reaction to the talk is to laugh, calling the notion absurd. Yet her independent personality makes many believe she would flaunt Society's rules and do such a thing.
A temptress in many regards, Kate's nonchalant attitude towards life that worries her cousin Diccan, one of the Rakes, and makes him concerned for her safety. Another member, Major Sir Harry Lidge, suspects she is actually one of the conspirators. He's known and loved Kate since their youth, only to be cast aside for another. Paid to go into the army to fight against Napoleon, Harry's anger for her burned constantly with each battle. Recovering from war wounds and on the brink of selling his commission to rove the world, his nightmares of the battle won't leave him alone. Neither will his intense hatred of the woman he once loved. He kidnaps her to force her confession and
promises he'll use torture to get it.
Kate is dumbfounded by the accusation that she is a traitor. Harry throws her latest dalliance in her face. That blasted painting, he says, shows she's the whore. A devastated Kate has no defense without betraying the past, so horrid she's told no one. Harry will not give up. His conviction about her strong until he opens the Pandora box of the woman he stole.
Kate's world spins out of control as the real traitors try to kill her. To add to her woes, her brother, the duke, stops her supposed recklessness by locking her away. Because of her brother's actions and the truth he discovered, Henry does the one thing neither he nor Kate wants - he marries her.
Eileen Dreyer's Always a Temptress is a tale of scandal and intrigue, captivating the reader in this non-stop journey of Kate and Harry. Despite their past relationship, they must rely on each other. Her brother claims the marriage is false and will return her to the sanitarium Harry rescued her from. How can they carry on the farce of loving husband and wife to prove him wrong when both desire their own independence?
We become ensnared in the lives of Henry and Kate at every turn where suspense looms larger than life. Kate and Harry must come to grips with their own future and, when all is finished, if they can leave the other to fulfill their dreams. The mystery of the verse is intertwined in a way to shock and amaze even those of us who thought its meaning lost in more ways than one. The surprising conclusion leads the reader to realize that Kate and Harry are but one story-line in the wondrously layered tale of Drake's Rakes. Always a Temptress is the third in the series and like the first two books, it can stand on its own. It will make the novice wonder what happened to the other two Rakes. And it definitely keeps us on the edge of our seats only to make us ask loudly: when is the next book coming?

a super Regency undercover romance starring a tough combat veteran and a courageous heroine

In 1815 Major Sir Harry Lidge is war weary having sent good men to their death on the continent. He looks forward to a life without responsibilities, which is coming soon as he completes his last undercover mission for Lord Drake. Harry believes Lady Kate Seaton is a spy who betrayed him a decade ago and belongs to the seditious Lions. His plan is to kidnap the lioness in order to make her reveal the secret she hides so that she does not harm the Crown.

As he knows first hand from the chaotic fog of the battlefield that things often fail to go in accordance with the plan. Though he distrusts her, Lidge cannot stop himself from protecting Kate as her brother and others prefer she disappear in the Rose Workhouse asylum.

The third Drake's Rakes (see Barely a Lady and Never a Gentleman) is a super Regency undercover romance starring a tough combat veteran and a courageous heroine. Their pairing make for a fun thriller, but it is the support cast at Rose Workhouse and an orphanage that brings a strong emotional element to an exciting complicated historical.

Harriet Klausner

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.