4 Stars! ~~~ Ms Scott had me enchanted with this story right from the opening scene!
Pickpocket Countess by Bronwyn Scott
Harlequin Historical # 899 – March 2008
Ah, I love this cover! ~~~ So much so I had to make it larger than I normally post! ~~~ What do you think? ~~~ Wouldn’t you just love to be that Pickpocket?
...
It’s 1831 and the Industrial Revolution is picking up speed in England, bringing with it unrest amongst the working class. Brandon Wycroft the fifth Earl of Stockport needs to build a textile mill in order to protect his earldom’s financial future. His plan is to set precedent with a safe mill, one that doesn’t employ children and the workers receive a decent day’s wage. But there is opposition to the mill, and the men who have signed up to invest have found their homes burglarized. “The Cat” of Manchester is quickly becoming notorious for his escapades leaving no house of distinction untouched, except for the Earls. But that’s not exactly true. The Earl hasn’t been untouched by “The Cat”, in fact, he’s been thoroughly touched! He’d caught the devil in the act, and to his amazement “The Cat” is not a HE, she’s a SHE! And with one startling and oh so arousing kiss, the Earl finds himself in a predicament; does he hunt and jail the thief or does he bed and wed the temptress!
Ms Scott had me enchanted with this story right from the opening scene! Awesome beginning that created a very sensual fun tone to the book. Brandon is a good man, trying hard to do good for those under his protection as Earl. He’s frustrated that his political efforts haven’t done more but he continues to fight for the people. When he learns that “The Cat” is indeed a living Robin Hood taking only what can be used to help the disadvantaged, he feels humbled. The Cat, Nora, is sassy and very smart, she’s Brandon equal all the way. She recognizes immediately the danger he’s in, esp. if the fact that he’s aided her should come out. With ruthless greedy men out to stop “The Cat”, both Nora and Brandon have to face challenging questions about just how far they will go to save the other. The heat between them just jumps off the pages, and I adored both Nora’s and Brandon’s most wicked thoughts! Very well done, and I do hope that Ms. Scott’s next book will be about Brandon’s best friend and ally Jack and Brandon’s wild child sister Dulci. If so, I’m looking forward to another “romp” of a good time!
Excellence: Very Good ~ Steaminess: Yummy
My Totals = 35 ~ Harlequin Imprint = 35 ~ Other Publisher = 0
March Mini-Challenge ~~ “New-to-Me” ~ #8
-
Bronwyn Scott – I must be completely honest, the cover for this book has been posted a number of times here in the eHarl Community with many ou’s and ah’s. And having read the blurb for the book it’s been close to being in my cart a number of times. I’m not great with Historicals, it’s a longer format for one and I tend to lose myself in too much descriptive that Historicals often have. On Monday I had to stop at the Pharmacy and there was the cover just taunting me “Pick me! Take me home! You know you want to!” So I read the little excerpt in the front of the book and I just couldn’t resist any longer! And I am so glad I gave in to temptation! This was a wonderful read and I’m very much looking forward to Ms. Scott’s next release this summer.
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Hi Katherine,
The cover on this book is intriguing! I rarely read historicals anymore but the cover on this would make me pick it up to see what the story is about! It seems you enjoyed it.
Have a great weekend.
Take care, happy reading,
Donna M, Dream Team member
I really enjoyed this one.
I really enjoyed this one. In addition to the cover (which, I'll admit, drew me in), I have a thing for "thief" books, tv shows (such as It Takes a Thief or BBC America's Robin Hood) and movies (The Italian Job, The Ocean's movies, etc.), though... ever since I read Honest Illusions (Nora Roberts) as a teen.
The great gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap [Hah! It most certainly is not!], it consoles, it distracts, it excites. It gives knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is moral illumination. ~ Elizabeth Hardwick
On the cover...well, I have
On the cover...well, I have to say I can't decide what I think. Part of me really does not like it and another part likes it just because it is bold to put it mildly. I am sure it wil lleap out on bookstore shelves though, grabbing people's attention. I am intrigued by the title.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
I read a review a little
I read a review a little while back on this book but I can't remember who wrote it now. It sounded like such a great book so now I have it on the way to me!! Enjoyed your review and I am glad to have ordered it.
As for the cover, I like it.
A soul suffocated by fear leaves too many joys unlived...Maria Housden.
the cover is a little risqué ....
but I love the fun of it! ..... it suits perfectly the tone of the book
Donna, I did enjoy it very much .... it's a bit longer than I'm used to reading ... well worth the read!
Jo, if you get a chance to read Anne Stuart's Cats Paw I and Cats Paw II do .... they are older Harlequin Intrigues, though I think they were rereleased ..... I think I'll ask Lorie to have it redone as eBook ...... the hero is a cat burglar trying to reform and go legitimate and the heroine is I think an insurance adjuster .... at the end of the first book, Blackheart and Ferris are together but not 100 % she has doubts he can stay honest ... in the second book there are thefts where Ferris suspects Blackheart may be at the bottom of .... as I said, really good reads ... I love the "It Takes a Thief" type stories too
Merri, you're right the cover is bold .... but it's fun ... and that's what the book is; tons of fun .... there are serious parts too, but over all Brandon and Nora are so in tune they find the joy of things and it shines throughout the book ..... they challenge each other ... witty dialogue and sexy scenes .... yum!
Oh, Shelley .... you are in for a treat! .... as I mentioned I'm not really a Historical fan, but I already can't wait for her summer release ... I'm positive it must be Jack and Dulci's story .... those two are just as sparky as Brandon and Nora .... I love books where the couple spar and challenge each other ... I'm looking forward to your review!
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Ooh, I hadn't heard of
Ooh, I hadn't heard of those. They sound good. I'll have to look into finding them. Thanks for the recommendation.
The great gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap [Hah! It most certainly is not!], it consoles, it distracts, it excites. It gives knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is moral illumination. ~ Elizabeth Hardwick
Jo .....
Jo ... the Catspaw books are really hard to find but they are so good .... and Anne Stuart wrote a novella about Blackheart's son, in which Blackheart and Ferris appear again ..... it was a two in one written for Harlequin Intrigue with Gayle Wilson called Night and Day .... Gayle Wilson's novella tied in one of her Phoenix Brotherhood hunks ...... great read ... the novellas are joined together
these are well worth the search!
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
I think I've picked this
I think I've picked this one up too. I'll have to dig through my recent boxes to double check that. There are so many books here, I really do need more space for a better system for them.
I also have a thing for thief books and I particularily love it when they reverse roles and make her the naughty one.
Add some SPICE to your life.