Ask For It by Sylvia Day

I just finished this, it was much better than I expected. I had a couple of issues with it but not really with the 'spy' part. Shall post more on it later, now to figure out where I put From London with Love. Sylvia Day is an author I found on the net, I bookmarked her site and thought I will read someday. It was Alyssa's book reviews that decided someday was now. As I scoped out her ebooks and coming soon I saw a blurb for Ask For It. It said historical, I was so there. She lost me in the first few sentences. Summary from site: England, 1770. Beneath the silk and lace of London society lies a secret, elite organization of spies. Protecting the Crown from its enemies is hazardous, but for Marcus Ashford, protecting his heart from an unyielding passion is the far greater peril... A MATTER OF DANGEROUS INTRIGUE... As an agent to the Crown, Marcus Ashford, the Earl of Westfield, has fought numerous sword fights, been shot twice, and dodged more than any man's fair share of cannon fire. And yet nothing excites him more than the primitive hunger his former fiance, Elizabeth, arouses. Years ago, she'd jilted him for the boyishly charming Lord Hawthorne. But now, the elegant widow is his to defend, and he will do so while tending to her other, more carnal needs, showing her the depth of a real man's desire... ...AND UNDENIABLE PLEASURE Dangerous secrets led to the murder of Lady Hawthorne's husband. Secrets she now holds in a diary many would kill to obtain. But to entrust herself to the protection of the most seductive man she's ever known? Outrageous. Unthinkable. Irresistible. For it was Marcus's strong passions and burning desire that frightened her into abandoning him years ago-and her answering craving has never waned. Now, he means to be at her service, in every sense. And perhaps the only sensible course isn't to resist temptation, but to surrender to it completely... more more more She said spies. I backed out and went and read something else. Which worked well since it wasn't out yet, in fact this is also an August release. But her ebooks led me to really want Bad Boys Ahoy! After I read BBA!, I found myself back at the coming soon site. Around this point I emailed her and just flat out said - WHY SPIES! I think I was nicer than that but uh maybe not. She emailed back and said something like - really it isn't about spies or spy clubs but it is more focused on the characters. So back to the site I went and there was an excerpt. So I gave in to my try not to read excerpt because it isn't good for my OCD rule and cause I am getting an ARC. The excerpt is great and if the book is focused more on the H/H then score. I love character driven stories. So that led me to start thinking more on why my reaction to spies is ICK. I love Bradley's series and do like the Royal Four (wasn't as happy with the last but that is another post). And Ask For It is even... say it isn't so... a stand alone. So adding that to Jenna's post why spies? Are they done... if so... why do authors keep doing them?