The Spy Wore Blue

Lord and Lady Spy #1.5

by Shana Galen

An exciting new novella in the popular Lord and Lady Spy series. Blue, an elite spy, tracks an assassin to Naples and the theater where his estranged wife performs. As he falls in love with his Helena again, Blue races to apprehend the assassin before he destroys them both.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Novella, Historical Fiction, Regency, Fiction

100 pages, ebook

First published August 6, 2013

About the author

Shana Galen is three-time Rita award nominee and the bestselling author of fast-paced, witty, and adventurous Regency romances. Kirkus says of her books, "The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun," and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.

Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the novella about the agent, Blue, that appears in Galen's Lord and Lady Spy.
Why is he called Blue?
Well. Those eyes, for one.



As one of the most mysterious and well-informed members of the Barbican group, Blue is sent to Italy to investigate the latest murders of a killer for hire known as the Reaper. This particular mercenary is known to work for the man who has been targeting Barbican agents, so he's got to capture him alive in order to (hopefully) get information out of him about his boss. But the bodies are starting to pile up, and he's going to need to employ all of his skills to find this guy before anyone else gets hurt.



Unfortunately, it turns out the Reaper is targeting the owner of an opera house that happens to employ Blue's estranged wife, Helena. To say they did not part ways on good terms would be an understatement, but the spark that drew them together initially is still very much alive and well.
Pent-up sexual tension is always fun!



Now the mission is to stop the killer, save his fellow Barbican agents, and get out of there without falling in love with his wife all over again...
Pfft. Not likely.

[kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

TO CLEANSE MY PALETTE AFTER READING ABOUT SPIES, I'M READING ABOUT MORE SPIES.

Ernest Bloomington, a spy codenamed "Blue", has been assigned a mission that puts him in the path of his estranged wife, Helena Giles. She's a sober drunk attempting to live a better life after being caught nearly nude with a costar years ago, and he's kind of a pompous ass! THEY BONE! FORGIVE! DECIDE TO GIVE IT ANOTHER GO!

1. This kind of romance, where one half fucked it up BAD, needs a deft hand in handling the guilt, the reason for changing, and the partner's approach as well. While I did believe in Helena's changes and guilt and shame and drive to be better and do better, I cannot say I felt the same for Blue. He was just such a dick, and while he did shallowly acknowledge he was kind of an absentee husband, there wasn't the depth of acknowledgement needed to make me believe he was going to be a better husband.

2. The writing was just not the best? I AM SO RUDE.

3. """Blue's"""" need to be called Blue rather than his actual name was OBNOXIOUS.

4. IDK, for a novella, it was fine? But it doesn't inspire too many feelings of excitement in me to read additional of Galen's work.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG I LOVED HELENA SO MUCH. Imperfect heroines will always be my catnip and Helena definitely fell into that category. She was an opera singer, a ginger, she persevered through hardship, singlehandedly turning her life around when poor choices and addiction left her with nothing and no one and she even saved herself AND Blue at the end. Basically, Helena was amazing and she made this novella worth reading.

I also really liked the way Helena and Blue’s relationship played out over the course of the story. They didn’t reconcile immediately, nor were they at each other’s throats the entire time which is most often the case with the second chance trope. Sure, there was plenty of hurt and blame to go around, but at some point they both realized that holding onto the pains of the past was preventing them from having a happy future together. AND THE WAY THESE TWO GOT TO EACH OTHER!!! The sexual and emotional tension was unreal. Even after all those years apart, that deep, heartfelt connection between them proved unbreakable to the point where even I found it impossible to resist their pull. The epic piano sex ON THE THEATER'S STAGE didn’t hurt either.

This was probably a 3 or 3.5 star read in reality, but I’m rounding it up for sheer awesomeness.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
I loved this so much! (also there was piano sex lol)

[Rachel T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written as a combined review, posted at The Reading Cafe 21 Sep 13

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

WOW .. now this is a fun series. The Lord and Lady Spy series by Shana Galen has it all. Mystery, suspense, romance, humour and lots of action. An absolute refreshing read that offers a different spin on historical romance. If you can, try to think along the lines of Mr and Mrs Smith set in the 1800's ... LOL Well .. that is what I was picturing anyways! Brangelina anyone?? LOL

BOOK 1 - Lord and Lady Spy

REVIEW

We are introduced right away to our leading gal, Lady Sophia Smythe who is hiding in a closet in the midst of a mission. Just when she thinks she about to capture her target, in swoops a mystery man and takes her target away. She is FURIOUS seeing all her hard work literally walking out the door. Oh .. BTW ... Sophia is spy working for an elite spy agency in England.

Of course, our mystery man just so happens to be a fellow spy (and her husband, although she isn't privy to this yet), Lord Adrain Smythe. Both are ignorant to the others true occupation, each living a lie for the others benefit. Sophie plays the frumpy, charity driven proper wife and Adrian plays the boring proper gentleman who frequents his club and lives a normal life. I tell you when these two find out who the other really is ... well ... GAME ON! LOL

Our Lady and Lord have been offered a chance to solve a murder of a very important man. But there is a catch! They are told that whoever solves this murder will be given the position of permanent spy which is enticing to both of them seeing as they refuse to life a boring existence. After some head butting, these two decide to pair up, understanding that they each bring something different in regards to strategy to the table.
Throughout this investigation they are quite the pair. They engage in dangerous activities, often being hunted themselves as they grow closer to the truth. They are completely smitten with the other, especially when they realize that they are both eager to live this lifestyle, but realize that there can be only one winner. Will love or ambition win??


BOOK 1.5 - The Spy Wore Blue

REVIEW

The Spy Wore Blue is a novella based on a spy we met in the first book. Agent Blue.

Blue and Helena are married, although they have been estranged for quite some time. Blue was overly dedicated to his work as a spy and had little time for a wife, and Helena performed in the opera house when she wasn't drowning her sorrows in a bottle of gin.

Blue has a new assignment that takes him back to his wife. Much to the others desire (or lack there of), they need to endure each others company for the time being as an assassin is out there waiting to strike. Soon enough, these two are falling in love once again, sharing some steamy moments between the sheets, bantering back and forth and ultimately providing an emotional roller coaster for the reader.

I have to say, this was a amazing novella. It is very hard for an author to develop characters, provide a love story packed with action and make it all believable in such a short amount of pages. Let me tell you, Shana Galen mastered this! ;)


BOOK 3 - True Spies

REVIEW

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. Once again we are swept away in another action packed book by Shana Galen. This amazing author can sure write a great book .. great SERIES!

Lady Elinor is fed up living in a frozen marriage and has vowed to do something about it. While she loves her daughters and all they bring to her life, she craves more. Elinor craves adventure. Slowly, she begins to break the rules of polite society by attending balls on her own and conspiring to have an affair with a rakish man and just generally stirring the pot.

Baron Winslow Keating (Winn) is a spy who has to do one more mission. He realizes that his family has suffered with his current occupation and if he doesn't make amends soon he risks losing then. When he overhears his wife's desire to have an affair he sees red. Determined not to lose his family, Winn turns on the charm and begins to seduce his wife. In the midst of seduction, Elinor is receiving the adventure she so desperately craves (apparently spy life is exciting) and opens her heart once more. In turn, Winn is coming to fall in love with his wife, gain trust and love with his daughters and ultimately living the life he now wants.

We see a return of the antagonist Fonce (he was the bad guy in the first book), and an appearance by Lord and Lady Smythe (loved that) in this book. As with the first one, there is never a dull moment and these two really make an interesting couple. Will Winn put spy life on the mantle and finally make his family his priority, or will he lose all??? Get reading!


This is my first experience with Shana Galen and I want MORE! Her writing is absolutely right up my alley and she always keeps it fresh, making me want to flip through quickly so I can enjoy the next hurdle our couples face. She writes hot scenes, ensures that her leading lady and man have serious chemistry, jams in all kind of action, provides witty dialogue, draws you in with mystery and suspense and creates believable characters that you can't help but fall in love with! I will ABSOLUTELY be reading more of her work!

HAPPY READING! :)

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Again, this is a story of two people who are already married. Granted, Blue and Helena have been separated for years, but not because they didn't love each other. Abandonment issues abound in their marriage. Blue is dedicated to his career as a spy and while they were together, Helena had serious alcohol issues. As Blue puts it, they "both had their first loves." But now, Blue has tracked a bad guy to Naples, to Helena's theater where she is an opera singer. Helena's cleaned up her act, but Blue still puts his job first. Will he be able to forgive Helena for past transgressions and make her his first priority?

They could have probably had their own full sized book, but this was a sweet 85 pages that I throughly enjoyed.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful addition to the series. Short and sweet, but full of action and steamy scenes. Blue and Helena are an interesting couple. They have had their good times and their bad but seemed destined to be together. You are rooting for them right from the beginning.

It's a fast paced book that you won't want to put down. I think you could read it even if you have not read the earlier books in the series, but it's better if you have. And if you haven't ..you will want to after reading this.

Epilogue Whore Alert: It's a novella.. so no. ;)

[Michele Lacroix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shana Galen has done it again with The Spy Wore Blue. I loved the chemistry between Helena and Blue. The sex scenes were hot. The only problem, and I couldn't fault it really, was that it was a novella and it was to short. I was hoping for Epilogue, but maybe we can get that in the next novel in the Lord and Lady spy series.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series and I so loved Blue and Helena's story very sensual and a great adventure as Blue and Helena get the man he is after

[marilyn james · Rating 4 out of 5]

More

I agree Blue needed a longer book! this was a fun read tho...always luv Blue dry sense of humor and wit!

[Sieravonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, however, I find it stupid, inconsistent and other things.

1. Idiocities

- Blue preferred to be called his code name, "Blue." Uhhh... You use code names in a mission, not as a nickname.

- Was the kiss after Helena shot Blue necessary? What was the relevance of it? I thought Helena wanted Blue to leave.

- Blue was a soldier before becoming a spy and had been injured many times albeit minor ones. The shot Helena gave him only grazed him and he fainted?? Seriously??

2. Incongruity

- What happened to the Italian landlady? I thought she doesn't like noise. Then how come she didn't appear and yell when Helena was helping the injured Blue get inside? That makes a lot of noise, you know. The landlady didn't get angry with their loud hot sex either. I'm sure it's the most clamorous thing Helena had ever done during her stay.

3 . Else

- Blue just left Helena alone to exit the fly loft when someone was pushed down from the exact same spot and the killer might still be hanging around?? What kind of a husband was he? Not ensuring his wife's safety.

- No attention-seeker is a generous person—loving, caring, and loyal. An attention-seeker loves the attention, they won't be generous about it. They won't care if somebody gets hurt so long as they get you to worship them. They won't be loyal either because once their fans stopped feeding their prides, they'll look for someone else to feed their egos.

[Denise Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

UUUUGGGHHHH, EU AMO O BLUE.
E a Helena é perfeita pra ele. S2

[Lisa C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting story of spies, opera and love. Ernest (Blue) and his estranged wife are forced back together during a case he is working on. Once again Ms Galen shows us how love can overcome in what seems insurmountable times.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spy Wore Blue is a very entertaining read, and I have to say that I loved this book. Both the hero and heroine in this story got to me, on an emotional level, which doesn't always happen.

The hero in this story Agent Blue is first introduced in Shana Galen's regency spy novel,Lord and Lady Spy. When I first read Lord and Lady Spy, I immediately started wondering if a supporting character, Agent Blue, would get his own book. Lucky for me, and for other fans of the mysterious Agent Blue, he does get a chance to tell his story, in The Spy Wore Blue. That being said, you don't have to have read Lord and Lady Spy to enjoy this novella, it stands well on its own.

I was thrilled that Agent Blue's adventure took him out of England, and to an Italian Opera house. I loved the theater background, the characters and the relationship that unfolded between two people, who had both been unwilling or unable to change in the past. Helena the heroine is likable, feisty and a survivor. Agent Blue the hero is mysterious,sexy and very unique. The Spy Wore Blue is full of passion, some heartache, intrigue and humor.

The Spy Wore Blue is a great introduction to the fast paced, adventurous, regency world of Shana Galen.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

After encountering Agent Blue in Lord and Lady Spy, I was excited to hear he was going to have his story told. I would have loved a full length book, but I’ll take what I can get, and I got quite a lot in this novella. We learn how Agent Blue got his nickname, find out his real name, and get more information about his background, including an estranged wife who is an opera singer. As Blue tracks an assassin in Naples, he arranges to work as an accompanist in the theater where Helena works, determined to stop this ruthless killer once and for all. Once these two get together again, they rediscover all the passion they once had is still there, and the time they’ve been apart has resulted in changes that might make all the difference. Even though I loved the ending, I hope we hear from Agent Blue again, I’d enjoy seeing him in future books in the series.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to 4 stars.

I can't tell you how much I love this series by Shana Galen. Seriously, LOVE IT! This was a great novella but I do wish it was just a bit longer. I really like Blue and I was interested in finally learning more about him. In the other books he's so elusive, so it was great to finally learn more about it him. My only issue, is that I just wanted more of him. I wanted more backstory and a few more scenes between him and Helena. I just felt at times the story felt a bit rushed in spots but it's understandable because it's a novella. I honestly found his story fascinating and I honestly just want more. I do hope we see more of him in the series because I definitely haven't had enough.

[Lisa Hutson · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to Amazon, this story is an unbelievable 89 pages. I knew it was a novella. But I had no idea the size of it. And now, having read it, I am enormously impressed with the story that came from 89 pages!! Great job, Shana!
A whole story, well done. And I still cant believe it was so short. It did not read as a quickie. I loved it. And now, I am excited to start True Spies.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this novella. I am a sucker for second chance at love stories, so this book was right up my alley.

Blue and Helena were not perfect, but they were perfect for each other.

I think the very end was a little rushed - but it is a novella, so I expected it. I still would have liked to see where they go from here, but maybe we will get more info about them in the next book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun story about married spies. Blue and Helena had not seen each other in years, and Helena has changed, no longer drinking but singing serious opera in Naples. Blue is on a case, but needs to make sure she doesn't blow his cover. Quick read to tantalize for the next book!

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good novella in the Spies series. Loved learning more about the spy Blue and really liked his wife Helena. Only thing is it ended more with a "happy for now" instead of a "happily ever after" but it is a novella so that didn't bother me too much.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Shana Galen's stories. They are historical romance ADVENTURES with danger, sexiness, and fun. It was so nice to read Blue's story, Saint's fellow operative from Lord and Lady Spy. For my full review of this fun book: http://bit.ly/1aA1C8e

[Beebs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5!

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shana Galen does it again! ANother great story filled with passion and mystery. I loved getting to know Blue and Helena. I highly recommend this novella!!!

[Donna Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Blue's story. We met him in Lord & Lady Spy. A very enjoyable novella.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good for what there was, just wish it had been longer.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

89 pages of spectacular perfection! Ms. Galen has created a perfect gem. A must !

[Gennielc · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable. Good story and great characters

[Romanticize · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fun learning more about Blue's background and that he's married! Blue (Ernest) and Helena met while he was training to be spy, fell in love, and got married. They had a falling out which both contributed to and have lived separately since. Blue's current mission brings him to Naples which is also where Helena is currently performing.

It was a fun read, had a gothic feel to it with all the mysterious deaths happening at the theater. I love reading about estrange spouses getting back together. It would have been nice if this was a full book as I felt the baggage they both carried needed more time to be properly dealt with, but it was still enjoyable none the less.

I really did like Ernest, he seems more middle, leaning toward beta hero which I thought was interesting. I see Galen wrote a follow up novella about him so hopefully we'll learn more about his family since he's the son of a duke (not the heir).

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ernest Bloomington is the spy for the Barbican group who is known as Blue. He and his wife Helena have lived apart ever since he had enough of her drinking. He lets himself into her apartment in Naples where he has come in search of an assassin known as Reaper. As accidents occur in the theatre, Blue and Helena search the building when Reaper comes behind them. He starts choking Blue when Helena hits him in the head with a stage prop sword and knocks him out. Barbican agents come and take him away. Blue tells her goodby and returns to his spy job. Weeks later, he returns to Helena and tells her she is more important to him than the job.