Customer Reviews

Touch of a Thief

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
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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!

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!

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

Touch of a Thief is an erotic romance with layers of suspense and paranormal in an international setting during 1857. It has three main characters without being about a love triangle. The romantic couple, Viola and Quinn. And Sanjay, whose story leads up the premise. Every one of them experienced a loss that marked their destinies. All of them know injustice, abuse and deceit. Being wronged by the successions laws of the time.

Lady Viola Preston loses everything when her father dies without a male heir, hence his title and possessions go to an uncaring relative. And she is forced to steal in order to support her mother, her sister and her niece. Viola becomes the Mayfair Jewel Thief.

Lieutenant Greydon Quinn is a British noble returning home after serving in India. He also carries a painful secret akin to being the heir of an aristocrat.

A worse fate has befallen Prince Sanjay of Amjerat, who has lost his princedom under the British rule in India, because he is an adopted son to the late prince. The loss of his principality coincides with the stealing of a rare and malefic red diamond from the temple of Shiva. The diamond must be returned to the temple where its evil powers are bridled, or the outraged people of Amjerat will be in uprising against the British authorities costing the lives of innocents. When Quinn and Sanjay learn that the red diamond is going to be added to the English Queen's royal collection, they follow its trail of sorrow and death, intending to bring it back where it belongs.

When Lieutenant Quinn returns to England, Sanjay accompanies him posing as his Indian servant. They set a trap to catch the Mayfair Jewel Thief with the purpose of blackmailing the burglar into stealing the red diamond for them. Surprised when he discovers that Viola is the infamous thief, Quinn coerces her into helping to retrieve the evil gem in exchange for her freedom and half of his personal jewels. Quinn needs Viola's abilities to open a safe, and other related skills of her profession, but he ignores her biggest gift of all, Viola channels gems's chronicles into voices and sometimes disturbing visions. Which is a blessing and a dangerous gift that threatens her sanity and health. This paranormal element in the plot is one of Touch of a Thief's strongest original appeals.

At one point in the story, Viola demands to know more of Quinn other than his body. He refuses to reveal anything personal. In her quest for the truth, she touches one of his rings, the gem reveals a grievous secret from his past. I nearly cried reading those pages. Although, the heartbreaking event will be the catalyst that unites their souls.

The sexual attraction between Viola and Quinn leaps out of the pages, their sensuality and their camaraderie gifted us with a wonderful romance. The only part I didn't enjoy was the use of Sanskrit words for genitalia during some of the love scenes. This is a personal peeve of mine, but it doesn't take from the story as a whole. I love historical romance books, and I've read many this year. Sadly, due to lack of time, I can only write reviews for those which I like the most. Touch of a Thief is one of the best historical romances I've read in years. It has everything I enjoy in a book - a great history setting, romance, suspense, drama, wittiness, eroticism, friendship and adventure. I highly recommend it.

Guess I'm in the minority, but I didn't think this book was that great. It became tedious halfway through, and I didn't relish having to finish the thing but I did.

One problem for me, which I admit is trivial-I don't like it when the hero isn't at the top of his game - in this case, Greydon is demoted from Captain to Lieutenant.

Viola was a fine person, although her mother was a bit of a pain.

The story just wasn't very interesting, it didn't captivate me at all.

A wonderfully written historical romance, Marlowe will definitely please with Touch of A Thief! Marlowe did an excellent job in research and integration as it shows in the story. This story follows our heroine, Lady Viola Preston who can rob a gentleman of his studs without him even knowing. She wears gloves to not get caught, but also because if she touches something with her bare hands, she gets more than she bargained for - visions. Viola thinks she has it all until she meets, lieutenant Gredyon Quinn. One touch and she knows that she will be his, not only in spirit, but his own personal thief. Quinn is after something dangerous, can Viola help him? I loved Viola's character for her tenacity and her strength. The connection between the characters, the dialogue, and the time period will have us wanting to join in on the adventure. So if you love historical romance... be sure to pick up Touch of A Thief!

Once Again Mia Marlowe delivers the expected and unexpected surprises to her loyal readers. With a touch of paranormal added to her well researched historical era, she again carries readers into the world of romance and intrigue. Ms. Marlowe creates characters that readers can't get enough of. Dangerous and dark heros, combined with strong and daring heroines, making her books page turners from start to finish.

The chemistry in a Touch of a Thief, between Lady Viola and Greydon Quinn smolders on every page, making this one of Ms. Marlowes hottest, most sensual reads yet. Follow their adventure across the continent as they uncover their passion for each other. Readers of both historicals and paranormals will not be disappointed.

I won an ARC of this book in a blog contest. It's a very exciting romantic adventure. The hero is a perfect, very sexy gentleman; the heroine is an alluring, accomplished, aristocratic jewelry thief. The story is set in India, England & France, on land and at sea. Naturally, there are many twists and turns... lots of erotic sex... I's well worth reading... You won't want to put it down until you are finished. Pick it up!

I've read the romances Mia Marlowe wrote as Emily Bryan, so I was expecting wit and steaminess in this one--and it completely delivers. This is a very sexy book, and a very clever one. The hero and heroine are well-matched; they both have noble motives and family struggles that force them into making difficult choices. When they make each other stronger and better, their romance shines.

I appreciated the chance to travel the world in this book. Many romances are set in England (which I love), but this one also has scenes in India and across Europe. Ms. Marlowe's descriptions are beautiful and she really gives a sense of place. The paranormal element in this book (the heroine can get information from gemstones) is very light and very well integrated into the story, since it's an important part of what brings Viola and Greydon together. I am glad we will have more books this year from Mia Marlowe!

A man on a mission to recover a priceless red diamond and pacify a restless nation. A woman with a talent for liberating the Ton's jewels and a gift that often feels like a curse. She is Lady Viola Preston aka the Mayfair Jewel Thief. He is Lieutenant Greydon Quinn and is on a quest to fulfill a promise to friend, but will Quinn ultimately lose his heart to one "Lady Light Fingers"?

From the talented imagination of author Mia Marlowe comes a page turning adventure that crosses the continent and back in search of the Blood of the Tiger, a rare red diamond stolen from the principality of Amjerat. The gem has a history of causing death and destruction when it's not in the temple of Shiva. As Quinn's friend Sanjay puts it, "Only in the care of Shiva can its evil bent be tempered".

I honestly couldn't put this book down. Ms. Marlowe captured my attention on page one with a sensual opening and held it captive through fight scenes, a spoiled break-in, a provocative steamer crossing the Seine to Paris and further into Europe before arriving back in England for an exciting conclusion.

Lady Viola was a beautifully crafted heroine for this novel. Ms. Marlowe paints a true depiction of the life of a female during the 19th Century. They have few rights and can not inherit when the male head of the house passes away. This has left Viola, her mother and sister to rely on the kindness of others to sustain a very mediocre living. When Viola realizes a talent for breaking and entering, she assures herself and her family a way to survive when her only other choices for work would surely bring disgrace to the Preston name. Obviously, it's not a known fact that the Mayfair Jewel Thief is a woman; who would believe it anyway, right?

Likewise, Quinn was the perfect hero. He has a heart for the people of Amjerat when the throne is supplanted by the East India Trading company using an outdated doctrine. Quinn also has a lust for learning all things concerning pleasuring a woman. Luckily for Viola, Quinn has no objection to practicing his skills on the lovely thief. Regency romance has always been one of my favorite genre but the books I read in my youth were never quite like this. The chemistry between Quinn and Viola is palpable and breathtakingly sensual. Viola puts effort into denying what she wants and feels for Quinn but in who could really resist a persistent gentleman.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Touch of A Thief. The dialogue and vivid language will keep you turning the pages. I can't wait to see what Ms. Marlowe has in store for us next.

Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews