I really disliked this heroine. She was too manipulative and hateful to the hero for my liking. I understood that she wanted to keep her job (a job that I do not believe any man of her village would have been willing to leave in her hands, at that time in history.) I just did not agree that being hostile and highhanded was the proper way to go about keeping the job. I tried of her behavior. No way I could believe in their HEA who could be happy married to such a manipulative mean spirited person? I loved the next book in the series (it was my first read by this author. I hated this one as much as I loved that one. Ms. Heather Snow continues her Veiled Seduction Series [Sweet Enemy was the first one, followed by this one, Sweet Deception, and ending with Sweet Madness] with Sweet Deception, in which she brings together Lord Frederick Aveline and Emma Wallingford, two people that long ago grew up together.Derick left home under strained circumstances ten years ago never wanting to return to his Derbyshire again. Spending those ten years in service to his country as a spy, he finds that one last job will bring him back to where he least wants to be, his home in England.Emma Wallingford has been infatuated with young Derick ever since she can remember and all it brought her was pain. The years Derick spent abroad, find Emma helping her invalid brother with his duties of a magistrate, and leading an independent life. Dericks return threatens that life and she’ll do anything to protect it. I loved Emma’s keen mind as she tackles everything in her path with a mathematical equation, even love and passion!It was such a treat watching Derick play aristocratic fop while trying to use Emma in order to gain the trust of his people in order to ferret out who the traitor is. Emma and Derick were such a great team. As this mystery unfolds, so does their partnership, friendship and love. No one is more taken aback then Derick as he learns of Emma’s activities of a ‘surrogate’ magistrate. He never suspected that a little girl he once knew as Pygmy, who followed him all the time, every chance she had, would grow up to be as smart, astute and infinitely nosy. Like it or not, he is forced to work with her, and in the end he will come to appreciate many of her qualities. His attraction to her is also something he never could have imagined, but there it was.There’s so much to recommend this read I don’t know where to begin! Her plot, characters, even villains, is fully developed and interesting. Her research is evident as she introduces her readers to people and places that will have them wishing to be there.I thoroughly enjoyed the unpredictable mystery aspect, which had me in suspense until the end and the romance between Emma and Derick was strong, entertaining, fun and sensual. This was a delightful read that kept me up all night as I just couldn’t put it down!Ms. Heather Snow has a knack for creating heroines with brains, brawn and sensuality, all rolled up in one. Her heroes are Alpha all the way, but somehow always have a need for these smart women to show them the path to their happiness.In the end, I highly recommend this clever, fast paced mystery romance to all that appreciate a heroine with brains! I am happy to give this wonderful story all of my five Quills and hope you will find it as entertaining as I did. Melanie Friedman for RCJR eZine.*Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
What do You think about Douce Illusion (2014)?
3-1/2 to 4 starsI liked this more than her 1st book, and I'm glad I gave her another try
—meg
It's an espionage CSI historical romance. How can I not love it.
—laurynn
