Touch of a Thief [Kindle Edition]

Mia Marlowe (Author)

Book Description

London's most talented criminal is about to be fingered. . .

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. Because when Viola touches a gemstone with her bare skin, it "speaks" to her, sending disturbing visions--visions almost as unsettling as the sight of the cool-eyed stranger who catches her red handed.

Now Viola will only be stealing at Greydon Quinn's behest. And even more daunting than the violent history of the red diamond he's after is the prospect of a night in the devastatingly handsome lieutenant's arms. Touch has always been Viola's weakness, and the full body-to-body contact Quinn has in mind is about to shatter her defenses and set her senses reeling.

More Praise for Mia Marlow and Touch of a Thief

"Mia Marlow is a rising star! Hot and steamy. . .a sensually satisfying read. . .a page turner." --New York Times bestselling author Connie Mason

"Mia Marlowe proves she has the "touch" for strong heroines, wickedly sexy heroes, and love scenes so hot they singe the pages." --Jennifer Ashley, USA Today bestselling author of Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

"Adventure lovers rejoice as the race is on to find a rare, powerful jewel with an alluring thief and intriguing hero." --Barbara Vey

"Absolutely terrific!" --Victoria Alexander

Product Details

• File Size: 521 KB
• Print Length: 305 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 075826352X
• Publisher: Kensington Books; 1 edition (May 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004NEW4SU
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,884 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The lady thief touches his heart and steals his soul. July 27, 2011

By Joanna Terrero TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

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. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

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

By Marcy W.

Format: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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Idea but Rang a Bit Hollow December 26, 2011

By ABookADay

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great concept regarding a cursed diamond and a respectful officer trying to return it home, but not in any way believable and the ending was a disappointment.

This is a full length novel involving Viola and Greydon. Viola and her mother and sister are in dire straits in London so she turns to stealing to put food on the table. Apparently she becomes a 'famous' theif due to her practicing lifting stuff and having an unsavory contact/fencer who can provide her with maps of London homes. She has a special skill where she can 'hear' real stones from fake ones. This is an interesting concept used through out the novel.

Greydon is back from years serving in the military in India where he befriends an Indian Prince who acts as his servant upon his return to Britain. He is searching for the cursed diamond that was stolen from a temple in India. He wants to return it to its rightful place in India and is upset at the treatment of the country by the British.

So he blackmails Viola into helping him find the diamond after discovering she is this 'infamous thief'. Their adventures take them around the world and finally back to Britain for a grand finale of sorts I suppose. They fall for each other and the sizzle level is a solid Medium.

The kicker here is that the ending just sort of drops off with loose ends left. It was quite unsatisfying with the potential to be great. Overall, just on o.k. here but I may try this author again.

3 of 3 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

Format: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!

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!