Touch of a Thief

Starred review from March 21, 2011
Marlowe (Distracting the Duchess) weaves a gentle paranormal element into this delightful 19th-century romance. When a cursed red diamond is stolen from a temple in Amjerat, India, Capt. Greydon Quinn travels to London to recover it, accompanied by incognito crown prince Sanjay. They set a tempting trap of gems to catch the Mayfair Jewel Thief and force him to help themâbut the thief turns out to be penniless Lady Viola Preston. Traveling to Paris uneasily posed as newlyweds, Viola and Greydon indulge their powerful lusts until they discover that Viola's supernatural gift for hearing jewels speak their histories lets her in on Greydon's secrets. The likable and quick-thinking protagonists sail through the challenges of both court and crime, swapping witty, sharp dialogue. Marlowe perfectly integrates Viola's paranormal sensitivity, with real problems balancing its obvious benefits. Both historical and paranormal readers will love this crossover tale.

May 1, 2011
To retrieve the fabled Blood of the Tiger red diamond, Greydon Quinn needs the best thief in the business, the Mayfair Jewel Thief. What Greydon doesnt need is Lady Viola Preston. Unfortunately for Greydon, the thief and the lady are one and the same, which Greydon discovers when he finds Viola trying to clean out his safe. Forced into a reluctant partnership with Greydon, Viola worries that Greydon will find out about her uncanny gift for distinguishing real gemstones from fakes and that the more time she spends with him, the more difficult it will be to dissolve their partnership. Marlowes debut will dazzle readers with its seductive mix of captivating characters, a plot infused with danger and a touch of the paranormal, and a scorchingly sensual romance between two perfectly matched protagonists.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)