Thief of Hearts [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Teresa Medeiros (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1995

Prim and pampered, Lucina Snow knew little of men and nothing of danger, until the fog-shrouded night she found herself abducted—and at the mercy of the legendary Captain Doom. Ruthless and mocking, tender and virile, the notorious pirate awakened all Lucy's passionate longings, then abandoned her with nothing but a kiss...

Now safely at home, the alluring waif is tormented by treacherous memories—and by the presence of Gerard Claremont, her mysterious new bodyguard. Everything about him, from his forbidding size to his impertinent manner, sparks her defiance. And even when Gerard's smile turns seductive, no one can make her forget Doom. Yet only when Lucy's path crosses the captain's once more, will she learn who is on a voyage of retribution, and who is out to steal her heart...

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Historical romance readers searching for the dangerous, dark, brooding hero of the 1970s only have to look to Medeiros's (A Whisper of Roses) Captain Doom. Here's a rebel with a cause-to clear his name, which had been maligned by the ambitious Admiral Snow, leaving Doom to spend five years in a windowless dungeon. Doom's black phantom ship intercepts one carrying the admiral's daughter, Lucy. Although hardly able to believe his luck, Doom's conscience won't allow him to ravish her, which would, if not clear his name, at least blacken Snow's. Doom lets her go and then reappears later as Gerard Claremont, applying for the position of Lucy's bodyguard. While his purpose is to find documents in the admiral's house that will clear his name and incriminate the admiral, his constant contact with Lucy leaves Gerard torn between revenge and love. Lucy, an endearing heroine long deprived of her father's love, is also torn-between the mysterious Doom and Gerard. At length Doom reveals himself, Lucy learns a startling truth about her father, and there's some great high-seas adventure. Long-time historical romance readers will recognize this type of hero and many will breath a sigh of relief on discovering he is still alive and kicking around in a few authors' imaginations.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Bestselling author Teresa Medieros was chosen as one of the Top Ten Favorite Romance Authors by Affair de Coeur magazine and has won the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Love and Laughter. A former Army brat and a registered nurse, she wrote her first novel at the age of twenty-one and has since gone on to win the hearts of critics and readers alike. The author of thirteen novels, Teresa makes her home in Kentucky with her husband and two cats. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 571 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Pr (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786203722
• ISBN-13: 978-0786203727
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,341,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros wrote her first novel at the age of twenty-one, introducing readers to one of the most beloved and versatile voices in romance fiction. All of her books have been national bestsellers, appearing on the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She currently has over 10 million books in print and is published in over 17 languages. She was chosen one of the "Top Ten Favorite Romance Authors" by Affaire de Coeur magazine and won the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for 'Best Historical Love and Laughter'. She is a seven-time RITA finalist, two-time PRISM winner, and two-time recipient of the Waldenbook Award for bestselling fiction. Teresa lives in Kentucky with her husband and two lovably neurotic cats. Her latest Scottish historical THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID was released in 2010 and her first contemporary women's fiction novel GOODNIGHT TWEETHEART was released in January 2011. You can join her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/teresamedeirosfanpage or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/teresamedeiros . You can visit her website at http://www.teresamedeiros.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second only to "Once an Angel" by Medeiros, Wonderful!, November 11, 2000

By 

Dana K. Wolcott (Monrovia, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thief of Hearts (Mass Market Paperback)

If I could sum up this book with just one word, I would really have a hard time coming up with it - this book is everything: pirates, humor, a sinfully wonderful hero, a heroine that is spunky and fun, and villains popping out of nowhere towards the end.

Lucy Snow is in love - with a faceless, notoriously rakish pirate. See, he kissed her - big mistake. She's left with the memory of a kiss (and she left him a wallop of a memory, too!), and it's all she can do to compare Gerard's actions to the pirate's.

Gerard as a character is written beautifully. He is quite the well-rounded hero: he's studious, he knows his ships, he loves the ocean, and he won't admit it, but he's falling for Lucy. What more could a romance novel ask for? He has a younger brother who he has pledged to care for as their mother is no longer alive, and it's because of the fate of his life that makes him endearing. He has a soul hidden underneath - he cares about his brother, and he cares about those whose well-being he's in charge of. Even though he gets close to Lucy for reasons other than getting to know her better, he can't help but fall for her. Their kiss sealed that fate.

What's more, Teresa Medeiros' writings about the ocean in this story are truly worth the price of the cover. I can't help but quote a piece of it: "The sea at dawn is a cathedral. It's where darkness is conquered by light in a battle that's been waging for all eternity." I won't write any more of the quote, as I would suggest reading the book to get to that part, but truly, Teresa is a master at her craft. She is the writer I would like to become. Writers all have their unique styles, and Teresa Medeiros definitely has her own. I just hope that one day, my writing might be as well-done as hers.

Lastly, the humor Teresa is so good at writing abounds in this story. I nearly fell out of my chair when, in one scene, Lucy's father's valet knocks on Gerard's door at a god-awful hour of the morning, and there's Gerard, with nothing more than a sheet around his waist, shoving the door open, growling at the valet that he'd be out shortly, then slamming the door in the face of the miffed valet. There is a magical quality to Teresa's writing that draws the reader in - the humor in her stories is a part of that quality.

I'm a sucker for a pirate romance as well, so reading "Thief of Hearts" was a treat for me. It's a keeper, and it's a book that I've read more than once, and I don't hesitate to reccommend it to my friends.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully hard to put down book!, August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Thief of Hearts (Mass Market Paperback)

When the notorious pirate Captain Doom tried to kidnap his enemy Admiral Snow he ended up taking Miss Lucy Snow, the Admiral's daughter, as his captive instead, stiring passions she never knew she had. When safely at home again her father hires Gerard Claremont as a bodyguard, who both quickens her pulse and her anger. With twists and turns in the plot the reader is left guessing as to who will steal Lucy's heart. This is my favorite book of Medeiros' that I've read yet! It is very well written and I had a very hard time putting it down. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a captivating love story.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pirate romance that captures your heart!, February 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Thief of Hearts (Mass Market Paperback)

THIEF OF HEARTS is a thrilling romance. Captain Doom captured my heart from the moment he appeared on the page. He's the perfect wounded hero for Lucinda and she's the perfect match for him. They were meant to be together.

I've been a fan of Teresa Medeiros's books since LADY OF CONQUEST and this is Teresa Medeiros at her best. Her writing is simply magical. No one does humor and pathos better. She breaks your heart and then she heals it. This romance on the high seas belongs on everyone's keeper shelf. It's a classic and it ranks right up there with Laura London's THE WINDFLOWER. I loved it and I recommend it to everyone!