The Saint Who Stole My Heart: A Regency Rogues Novel (Regency Rogues Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Stefanie Sloane (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 24, 2012 | Series: Regency Rogues Novels

Desire, danger, intrigue, and steamy seduction unite a sexy spymaster and an intrepid bluestocking as Stefanie Sloane’s luscious new series continues.

Possessed of a brilliant mind and a love for puzzles, Dashiell Matthews, Viscount Carrington, is a crucial member of the elite Young Corinthians spy league. Assuming the façade of an addle-brained Adonis, he hunts for a notorious London murderer known as the Bishop. When fate causes him to cross paths with Miss Elena Barnes, Dash discovers an enigma that will prove delightfully intoxicating to unravel: a voluptuous beauty as intelligent as she is fearless.

Only the lure of a collection of rare books bequeathed to her family by Dash’s late father could tempt Elena from her cozy rural life to the crush and vanity of London. But if Elena finds his lordship to be the most impossibly beautiful man she’s ever seen, he also seems to be the stupidest. Which made her body’s shameless response to his masterful seduction all the more unfathomable. Yet when she discovers Dash’s mission to track the dangerous Bishop, she willingly risks everything—her trust, her heart, her very life—to join him.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A charming cast and a well-paced plot merge with a chilling mystery, much to readers' enjoyment."
-Romantic Times Reviews


"The fourth in the series, Ms. Sloane has done a good job with drawing the reader into the life of the Young Corinthians. With likable characters and a well-plotted story, it was hard to put this down. While the identity of the murderer is exposed, the reader will learn that the conspiracy goes deeper than anyone expected."
-Fresh Fiction


"Fans of witty, intelligent regencies with heart will flock to this author's books."
-In the Hammock Book Reviews


"Would I recommend this book? Hell yes! This is probably one of my favorites of this series so far. I just adore the characters. Will I read more by this author? Darn right, I already have her next book "The Scoundrel Takes A Bride" on my wishlist and can't wait to get my hands on it later this fall!"
-Stitch, Read, Cook Blog


"I adored this book from beginning to end."
-Ramblings From This Chick Blog

About the Author

A native Northwesterner with the pale skin to prove it, Stefanie Sloane credits her parents’ eclectic reading habits—not to mention their decision to live in the middle of nowhere—for her love of books. A childhood spent lost in the pages of countless novels led Stefanie to college, where she majored in English. No one was more surprised than Stefanie when she actually put her degree to use and landed a job in Amazon.com’s editorial department. She spent more than five years reading for a living before retiring to concentrate on her own stories. Stefanie Sloane lives with her family in Seattle.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Original edition (April 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345531140
• ISBN-13: 978-0345531148
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #906,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native Northwesterner with the pale skin to prove it, Stefanie credits her parents' eclectic reading habits--not to mention their decision to live in the middle of nowhere--for her love of books. A childhood spent lost in the pages of countless novels led Stefanie to college where she majored in English. No one was more surprised than Stefanie when she actually put her degree to use and landed a job in Amazon.com's Books editorial department. She spent over five years reading for a living before retiring to concentrate on her own stories. Stefanie currently resides with her family in Seattle.

Join Stefanie on the web at http://www.stefaniesloane.com.

And check out a piece she wrote exclusively for Amazon.com--you'll need to scroll down the page a bit to find it:

http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Disguise-Regency-Rogues-Novel/dp/0345517393/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303683995&sr=8-1

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A true must read for all Regency romance fans April 24, 2012

By S. Simas

Format:Mass Market Paperback

For Dashiell Matthews, Viscout Carrington, deception is a way of life.The role Dash plays in the clandestine spy agency known as The Young Corinthians easily fools society, but not Miss Elena Barnes. The intelligent beauty's uncanny ability to see through his ruse of diminished intelligence jeopardizes not only his cat and mouse game with an elusive killer called The Bishop, but threatens to steal his heart, as well.

A life outside the sparking realm of London's ton suits Elena Barnes just fine until her father inherits a highly coveted collection of books. She enters the noxious social whirl intent upon acquiring the tomes and returning to the country posthaste, but the extremely handsome and intriguing Dash compromises her plans. When she discovers the truth behind his vapid facade, Elena gambles her life to help the man who valiantly stole her heart.

THE SAINT WHO STOLE MY HEART is the latest addition to Stefanie Sloane's Regency Rogues Series. The chemistry between Dash and Elena make for one-passion packed tale of danger, intrigue, and romance. A true must-read for all Regency romance fans.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and savory for romance and mystery lovers May 1, 2012

By Kim Adams

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The problems of puzzles are very near the problems of life.- Erno Rubik

Stefanie Sloane hits a homerun as she delivers the next installment in the Regency Rogues Series. Considering my husband (and personal hero) is a mathematician who also loves puzzles, Sloane delighted me with Dashiell Matthews, Viscount Carrington. In order to effectively serve as a spy, the dashing lord diverts attention from his good looks by posing as an aristocratic airhead.

Miss Elena Barnes, Dash's intellectual equal, inherits rare books from Dash's father. Upon meeting Dash, Elena suspects that he is not quite as emptied headed as society sees him. Likewise, Elena finds herself drawn to Dash, taking her outside her comfort zone as a country bluestocking. Dash's interest in Elena places her in the crosshairs of a dangerous killer who has haunted Dash since childhood.

Therein lies what sets Sloane apart. She gives the reader a realistic emotional background of Dash, his friends, and even Elena so we better understand their actions, fears, and hopes as adults.

Sloane's dialogue is spot on in delivering sexual tension. The intriguing mystery created a page turning fury for me to solve the puzzle along with Dash and Elena.

The crème de la crème is Lady Mowbray - Dash's "auntie" who knows why he hides behind a simpleton's facade. She takes matters into her own match makinghands - Lady Mowbray steers Elena through society and smiles as Dash falls in love with the bluestocking.

This is my first book by Sloane, inspiring me to read the first three books in the series. Likewise, I look forward to the coming books for the remaining members of the Regency Rogues! I ask Sloane to consider giving Lady Mowbray her own story, perhaps a novella.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This has some flaws but it's still entertaining May 3, 2012

By Melissa TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Saint who Stole my Heart is a fast paced novel about a bluestocking and a rake who doesn't act all that rakish. The beginning of this novel is pretty good and there are some really nice scenes in the middle but toward the end the romance between the leads sputters although the mystery does pick up.

Dash is an aristocrat who is intelligent but has hidden his smarts behind a façade of being a bit on the dumb side. His father has passed away and his sire's books are to be cataloged and given to Elena Barnes's father.

Elena is a mathematician (I notice bluestockings must be into the sciences or math before they are considered smart. Musicians, writers and artists are rarely labeled blue stockings). Elena arrives at the home of Dash intent on simply cataloging the books and leaving but she does not count on her attraction to Dash and his Aunt's scheming ways.

Dash doesn't want to like Elena but he falls for her instantly, however he keeps up his vacant persona too. Dash is on the search for clues to a murder which happened years before. While organizing the books, Dash and Elena find a puzzle box which he believes will aid him in his quest.

Elena has also brought her dear ladies' maid with her and she is distraught when her maid goes missing. Dash is instrumental in this search too.

As mentioned earlier, there are some fine scenes in this book, particularly the opening chapter with the young Corinthians. Dash is admirable and he is open minded but his pretense of little brain power was not that convincing because if the reader is to believe that Elena is sooo smart, how is it she somehow falls for a man whose brain wattage is at a nightlight's brilliance while hers could light up a stadium. Is she so shallow, she falls only for looks? The author repeats that Elena searched into Dash's eyes and finds them vacant. Really, what does that look like?

Elena prides herself on her superior logical skills yet she acts completely illogical after her friend disappears blaming herself for the disappearance. Elena seems to believe that she has the power to control other's actions or babysit them constantly. This is in essence illogical thinking yet time and again, Elena comments that she is making the logical choice to avoid Dash because of her guilt.

Despite these flaws, this book is entertaining and the author allows the reader to see Elena's real fears of rejection and hurt. Elena is a little on the plump side and she struggles with liking her body image. Her self esteem is great when it comes to her intellect. Dash helps her see how beautiful she is. This is actually one of the best parts of this novel; Elena's awakening to her femininity and her acceptance of her full figure. There is passion between these two but not many passionate scenes. I know this sounds a bit contradictory but they are passionate people in their own right. Elena acts a bit out of the ordinary in many ways beyond her bluestocking tendencies. She is impulsive (surprising for an intellectual) and she can be bossy and her emotional self strains her relationship with Dash. I am rounding up and giving this novel four stars. Even though there are some flaws here, especially with Elena's inconsistencies, there are some lovely moments between these leads.