Heart of Deception [Mass Market Paperback]

Taylor Chase (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 1999

Amid the treachery and turmoil of Elizbethan England, Rafe Fletcher returns from war to rescue his kinsmen accused of plotting to kill Queen Elizabeth and place Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne. Racing to save his relatives' lives and restore the family's honor, Rafe has only one hope to find the truth: to infiltrate a cutthroat gang of thieves ruled by the notorious brother-sister team of Nick and Vivian Swift.

Rafe thinks Vivian will be easy to hate. But unlike any woman he's ever met, Viv draws him with a tantalizing power he finds irresistible. Proud and daring, Viv awakens a fire deeper and more consuming than any Rafe has ever known. To taste the passion of the fiery beauty's embrace, however, could expose his secret and finish his family. And for Viv, succumbing to her own exquisite desire could mean downfall too, for she harbors her own dark mystery. Rafe and Viv know that to give in to love may cost them their very lives. Yet how can they resist?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Heart of Deception is Shakespeare in Love seen through a glass darkly via the Elizabeth underworld. The heroine is riveting, the hero and supporting characters wonderfully different. Taylor Chase's writing is fresh, exciting and utterly engrossing. Highly recommended for those who are looking for something new and absorbing." -- Anne Stuart author of Shadow Lover

"Clear the decks and unplug the phone, because you won't want to be interrupted as you enjoy this irresistible romance. An intelligent plot,a beautiful prose style, and compelling characters combine to make this a superlative read." -- Susan Wiggs, author of The Charm School

"Irresistible romance. . . . Intelligent . . . beautiful . . . compelling." -- -- Susan Wiggs, author of The Charm School

"Riveting. . . . exciting. . . . utterly engrossing. Highly recommended for those who are looking for something new and absorbing." -- -- Anne Stuart, author of Shadow Lover

"Romance at its absolute best. . . ." -- -- Penelope Williamson, author of The Passions of Emma

"This bold, passionate book is a must read!" -- -- Connie Brockway, author of McClairen's Isle

"Swords ring and hearts pound in this marvelous Shakespearean tale of intrigue and dueling lovers. This fast-paced, absorbing novel sizzles-a perfect brew of passion, danger, and the gritty details of life in Elizabethan England. Heart of Deception is romance at its absolute best." -- Penelope Williamson, author of The Passions of Emma

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch (October 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061012890
• ISBN-13: 978-0061012891
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,420,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DYNAMIC....WHAT A FIND !, November 20, 1999

By 

G.C. Larkin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart of Deception (Mass Market Paperback)

Heart of Deception has forever found a place on my bookself, to call this a keeper is a vast understatement. It is rare indeed to find such imagination expressed in both the tale and the players. This is an intricate and fascinating story enlivened by not only remarkable but unusual characters. Vivian and Rafe are a blazing duo, vivid, alive and unconventional nor are we cheated in regard to the background characters. Never have I been introduced to so many varied personalities and felt so intimately acquainted. Chase produced an amazing work and I anxiously await her new creations.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SCORCHINGLY SEXY..INTELLIGENT, DYNAMITE ACTION, LOVED IT!, February 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Heart of Deception (Mass Market Paperback)

I am an avid romance reader and typically stay with authors such as Stephanie Laurens,Linda Howard, Robin Schone, Susan Johnson and others, but am I glad I gave this book a try. I loved the Elizabethean time period and the author did a terrific job with bringing it to life. This story is fast paced, dark and very sensual. This is not your typical romance in that the heroine is not a simpering virgin. She and the hero are equally matched in all ways, each can fight their own battles and each have no fear or shame regarding their sexuality. I highly recommend this book if you aren't faint of heart, and don't offend easily.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book came highly recommend -- BUT, April 20, 2005

By 

SusieQ (New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heart of Deception (Mass Market Paperback)

But, I was frankly very disappointed in it. Several friends & fellow romance readers told me it simply was a MUST READ!, and certainly the reviews on this page bear this book out as being a favorite among romance readers. I really hate to be the one dissenting voice, but I did not find this book to be that compelling.

I was firstly disappointed in the fact that there's an instant physical attraction between Rafe & Vivian. For such a strong & independent woman, she's practically drooling over him from the instant she meets him. He's getting that special feeling in his pants from the instant he meets her, too. Sheesh! I thought he was keen to solve his friend's murder & his family's disgrace? From the minute he meets Vivian, Rafe TELLS himself he "shouldn't feel this" for her, but telling himself that doesn't stop him from HAVING those feelings...and vice-versa for Vivian. How lame. Couldn't she have shown more independence? Couldn't he? Instead of being struck with lust by her, couldn't he have felt stronger disgust for her line of work, or her lack of feminine hoity-toity graces, or something?? Shouldn't an experienced criminal like Vivian been even more suspicious of the newcomer, less welcoming?

And I have to admit I didn't find anything too compelling about the mystery of the identities of Topaz, Silver, et al., or who was behind the plot to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne in place of Elizabeth I. This kind of ties into my feeling that there was no tension to this story; I was able to put it down & pick up it later (much later) with no problem. It certainly wasn't a "must read!" plot for me.

Yeah, the sexy scenes were sexy, but again, a feeling of "haven't I read this before?" kept cropping up...Frankly, if Emma Holly had written this book, it would have been much better. At least she would have given the (...) Nick and Rosy's story a much needed boost. (Emma Holly is the only female writer I know of, who's capable of writing about two men in love, and making it sexy.)

As it is, it was hard to believe Nick Swift was capable of anything decisive, much less being in charge of a band of thieves in a deadly territory of Elizabethan London. And I could just tell that Rosy, his lover, was going to turn on him at some point in the story -- and golly gee! I was right.
There was just something so -- I don't want to say it, it's really too strong a word, but I guess I have to -- homophobic, about making the (...) character die, and having his lover be the killer. It just seemed so weak of the author, to fall into this easy-way-out-end of their story, in favor of jumping forward with the saga of Vivian & Rafe.

I'm not happy about how much I didn't enjoy this book -- when a book comes highly recommended, I really expect it to be something special. Sorry, my friends, this book wasn't.