The Official Description: A beholden man finds himself falling for the war hero he’s destined to double-cross.
Three hundred pounds for one night of protection. It’s a job offer, but it’s also a ruse. Captain Benjamin Frakes, war hero and de facto head of the Society of Beasts—a club for gentlemen who prefer gentlemen—is tempted to turn it down. But August Weatherby, the sexy, brazen stranger making the offer, has captivated him completely.
August is hardly the flush flirt he claims to be, however. An indebted man, desperate to save his infirm sister, August makes an ideal pawn for a lord eager to bring down the Society of Beasts once and for all. But August’s charge to find evidence against Frakes is at odds with his own virgin desire to entice the captain into showing him the true meaning of pleasure.
As August’s infiltration pushes him deeper into the beguiling world of delights behind the Society’s closed doors, he and Frakes discover new ways to push the boundaries of their own cravings. But with mounting pressure to complete his devious mission, August finds himself torn between the man his heart yearns for and the sister whose life depends on his betrayal
Just the facts: M/M historical romance, part of a series (can be read as stand alone),
Captain Benjamin Frakes takes on more than he bargained for when he agrees to protect August Wetherby. – Kinzie Things
My thoughts bit: Back to the Beasts for this book! This is the second in the series “Society of Beasts” by Annabelle Greene. I’m never sure how I’m going to feel about a second book, when I loved the first. I definitely loved the first book in this series. You can read my review here if you like. I’m pleased to say that “The Soldier and the Spy” was just as good, if not better than the first book! Consider me a fan of this series.
This novel focusses on another of the founding members of the Society of Beasts: Captain Benjamin Frakes. He lives a pretty solitary life as a retired soldier. He runs the Society because he’s the one who is left to do it. The other founders have… moved on – I’ll not tell you how or why because you really should read the first book in the series. You don’t have to red it for this story to resonate, but you’ll have a more well-rounded appreciation for the detail that Greene has put into this world.
Frakes is approached but a young, attractive man named August Wetherby who says he’s in need of protection. He’s been invited to a ball and is certain he will be attacked. Puzzled but certainly intrigued, Frakes agrees. This is the beginning of a real roller coaster ride for these two. Let’s just say that August has ulterior motives for becoming involved with Frakes. Those motives though… may change as his feelings for the soldier become overwhelming.
What I really enjoyed about this was the way in which August set about wearing down Frakes’ defenses. Sure, he may be a bit of a “bad guy” (he has his reasons) but he’s insightful and sweet and seems to be able to say just the right things to Frakes. I could have read these two characters getting to know one another forever. It was lovely. The dialogue was fresh and amusing, the sex scenes were steamy, and I really enjoyed their separate background stories.
If you have read the first installment of the series, you’ll be delighted to see some of the characters appearing in this second book. I loved the updates and the way that the plot carries over from one novel to another. Oh! And Buttons the cat is back, and I do love when authors bring back pets.
This is a very enjoyable series. There’s great attention to the detail of the time, the language and the situational danger. I found the story quite intriguing and emotional, and I was never quite sure where it would end up.
Things You May Want To Know: Please be aware, I’m by no means an expert on what may or may not have the potential to disturb people. I simply list things that I think a reader might want to be aware of. In this book: (SPOILERS) violence against children, descriptions of poverty, description of someone with severe illness, character is shot, physical altercations, crime, blackmail.
Links: Goodreads // The Author // The Publisher
I received an ARC of The Soldier and the Spy by Annabelle Greene from Carina Press via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 