Touch of a Thief [Paperback]

Mia Marlowe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2011

Lady Viola Preston can relieve a gentleman of the studs at his wrists without his being any the wiser and pick any lock devised by man in less than a minute. But she's careful to wear gloves when she steals jewels. When Viola touches a gemstone with her bare skin, it 'speaks' to her, sending disturbing visions. Still more disturbing is the handsome rogue who catches her red-handed and forces her to join him on the most dangerous and thrilling adventure of her life...

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Brava; 1 edition (April 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075826352X
• ISBN-13: 978-0758263520
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #952,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award winning author Mia Marlowe writes historical romance for Kensington Publishing and Sourcebooks. Her debut title received acclaim from romance luminaries. #1 New York Times bestseller Victoria Alexander says Mia's Touch of a Thief has "adventure and heat and everything I want in a great story!" UK's BooksMonthly has crowned Mia Marlowe "the queen of saucy historical romance."

Mia learned much of what she knows about storytelling from singing. A classically trained soprano, she won the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions and shared a stage with Placido Domingo. As she prepared for operatic roles, she devised back stories for her characters. Since she's worn a real corset, and had to sing high C's in one, she empathizes with the trials of her fictional heroines. But in Mia's stories, they don't die in a Parisian garret. They get to live and keep the hero!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another step up for this author, May 20, 2011

By 

M. Weinbeck "Marcy" (West Plains, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Touch of a Thief (Paperback)

As I've said about other books by Mia Marlowe in her previous incarnations as Emily Bryan and Diana Groe, this author gets better with each book. Although I sometimes wonder how long I can go on saying that, on the strength of past experience I'm betting (and hoping) for a very long time!

In "Touch of a Thief", Ms Marlowe adds a touch of the paranormal, just enough to add to the fun, not so much that one must suspend all reason to enjoy the read. When our heroine, Viola, touches a gem with her bare hand, she receives visions of what the jewel has 'seen'. This 'gift' is almost more of a burden -- but for our purposes, it works well to bring Viola and Greydon together.

As always, Ms Marlowe's historical and settings research is thorough and well-integrated; and expanding the scenery beyond the English Channel is always interesting for me. It is her characters that really make the story, and that includes the secondary ones as well as the hero and heroine. The relationships are so well drawn that these people leap off the pages; dialogue is one of this author's leading talents. Another is her ability to write very sensuous scenes without resorting to cliched clinches; keep a fan handy as you read!

I'm looking forward very much to the next "Touch of ..." book, relying on Ms Marlowe's wonderful imagination for a fun and unusual story, and her excellent writing to lure me in and keep me reading till the very end. I highly recommend that you join me!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books you'll read all year!, May 20, 2011

By 

C. K. Gregory (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Touch of a Thief (Paperback)

If you love romance, this is one of the best books you'll read all year. Captain Quinn and Viola's relationship is exciting and sexually charged from the first meeting. I love how Mia builds sexual tension between her unique and very realistic characters with witty banter and circumstances that throw them together in challengingly close proximity.

In this case, Viola is the thief! Yes, a noblewoman left destitute with young siblings to support, becomes the famous Mayfair thief. Naturally everyone is looking for a man, so she's able to slip in and out of society balls with no one looking her way. She has another gift besides being an adept thief, except it's more of a curse. With one touch, she is able to see into the past of a gemstone's wearer.

Quinn was stationed in India during British India's heyday. He befriends a prince who has lost his kingdom...and a very precious, very dangerous jewel. When Quinn hears about the famous Mayfair thief, he sets a trap. Not to turn him in, at least not at first, but rather to enlist his services.

This is my favorite Marlowe historical romance since Mia's Distracting the Duchess, which she wrote under the name Emily Bryan. I've been a fan for a long time.

I can't wait for the next book in the Touch of Seduction series!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touch of a Thief, May 20, 2011

By 

jill akers (columbia, mo, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Touch of a Thief (Paperback)

Mia Marlowe has a way of pulling you into the story! The characters are interesting and detailed enough that you feel as if you know them personally. Touch of a Thief is suspenseful with lots of drama and romance. I have also read "Distracting the Dutchess" Both books are very well written, and I couldn't put them down! I can't wait until "Improper Gentlemen" comes out in July! Mia is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Jill Akers