Review: A Beautiful Thief
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2012
The Devil's Thief......by Samantha KaneThis novel is a delightful romp through London, June 1817.It begins in the bedroom of Alasdair Sharp, when he surprises a thief in the act of stealing a priceless pearl. He is doubly surprised that the thief is a woman, a very beautiful woman. While holding a gun on her, and asking her some revealing questions, he comes up with a very unusual solution to their problem. If she agrees to give him one night in his bed, she can have the pearl in the morning " if she still wants it" . Confronted by Mr. Sharp, knowing he thinks her a thief, and criminal, she feels strangely liberated. For once she can "get what she wants, and more importantly, what she needs". She tells him her name is Juliet.Juliet's real name is Julianna Harte, she is the daughter of a former con man, and thief. He has retired from crime, and lives quite happily with his second wife Lady Linville, his years as a criminal a well kept secret. Julianna grew up always trying to be anonymous, blending in so as not to call attention to herself, and subsequently her father.In the morning, Alasdair's bed is empty, and the pearl is gone! He feels strangely guilty and bereft! So he joins with his best friends Sir Hilary St. John , and Roger Templeton to find his mystery woman. At a society gathering at Sir Hilary's aunt's home, who should appear but his elusive Juliet in the persona of Miss Julianna Harte, accompanying her father and step-mother, the Baroness, Lady Linville. who just happen to be his next door neighbors!The romp begins....we meet foundling children, some quite nefarious characters, and a delightful cat and mouse game between Alasdair and Julianna, including Sir Hil and Alex in the game There are some very tense moments, some very HOT moments, and lots of laughter.I would recommend this novel to historical fiction lovers, who enjoy humor with some Shakespeare mixed in.This novel was given to me by the publisher, and NetGalley.