Author: Jamaila Brinkley
Genre/Age: Paranormal Historical Romance/Adult
Series: None
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Format: ebook via The Romance Reviews
Rating: ✺✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Thomas Dalton, Earl of Westfield, is the heir to a duke and a talented wizard. But he’s always hidden in his library, too shy to emerge into society from the shadow of his larger-than-life friends and family. When he’s asked to investigate a crime, he seizes the chance to prove that he’s as cunning and brave as anybody. But he’s quickly out of his depth in London’s underground; especially when he’s confronted with the prettiest thief he’s ever seen.
Em Stackpole lives an in-between life; she grew up on the streets, but preys on the Ton by using her skills at illusion to fit in among them at elegant Mayfair events. When Lord Westfield asks for her help finding a missing jewel, she strikes a bargain: she’ll help him learn to think like a criminal if he’ll teach her the magic she needs to get off the streets for good.
Falling in love was never part of the deal. But as Em and Thomas navigate magic, Mayfair, and Thomas’ charmingly interfering family, she’ll discover secrets she never knew she had, and the wizard and the thief will have to decide if they can ever be more than just partners-in-crime.
Historical romance...with magic?
A new assignment has landed on Thomas' desk and he's not sure he is cut out for this mission. To retrieve the stolen magical artifacts from a recently deceased man, Thomas has to question a notorious crime family. He just doesn't expect to find a lovely woman in the middle of it. When it's discovered that items are still missing, Thomas knows he will have to get inside the man's home to search it. With no knowledge of breaking and entering, he asks the professional criminals for help.
Em's skill with picking locks isn't her only ability. She's an illusionist who can change her appearance to make people forget they ever saw her. It has made stealing from rich society a much easier task over the years. But when a handsome gentleman comes asking for assistance, she finds herself quickly volunteering. And falling for him just as fast.
I loved this! I actually wish it had been longer so we would have gotten more of Thomas and his terrible attempts at learning thievery. I also wanted to see more of our couple getting to know one another because once Em learns the truth about herself, everything goes quickly and our pair don't really get any alone time together. But that is a complaint born out of love for the story. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted more of it.
Thomas was so adorable. He is usually more of a reclusive bookworm, but he was excited to try something new and take a page out of Jack's handbook. The poor guy was sorely in over his head, though. His interactions with Em were cute. I smiled a lot while reading this book. The family scenes were heartwarming as well.
The romance is tame, even more so than I expected. Our couple develop more of a friendship here than a romantic one. I'm okay with that. I think relationships based on friendship are more stable anyway. I do wish we'd have gotten to see a little more intimacy between the pair, but the scenes we did get were enough to convince me of this couple's chemistry.
In closing...
I'm about to start reading Duncan's story. I wonder what's in store for him. Five suns!
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