Title: The Viscount and The Thief
Author: Emma Orchard
Genre: Regency Romance
Rating: ★★★★★
Source: Netgalley
Blurb: Sophie Delavallois is the new companion to the ageing Dowager Marchioness, but she also has another reason for coming to the infamous Wyverne mansion, one that will shake the family to their core.
Lord Drake left his childhood home many years ago, and only returns now to see his beloved grandmother. He takes little interest in the goings on of the house, until the arrival of Mademoiselle Delavallois. There’s something about her that he can’t put his finger on; it’s as if he’s seen her before, but surely, that is not possible…
Sophie is also drawn to Drake, but he is a Wyverne, and she cannot allow herself to fall for him, because her intentions towards the family are resolute – revenge. But inside the walls of Wyverne Hall, she discovers the rumours about the family barely scratch the surface, and she can’t escape the dangerous allure of the Viscount.
Once her plans are set in motion, will he be her saviour or her ruin?
Review: The Viscount and the Thief is a delightful Regency romance that’s perfect for fans of Jane Austin and Bridgerton. It’s romantic, steamy and wonderfully entertaining, but there are darker moments. This isn’t a negative but rather a warning to anyone who thinks this is light and fluffy. It’s a properly adult story and I loved it.
Clemance is a fabulous character, a strong woman in terms of her strengths and weaknesses, and driven by revenge. Obviously, falling for the patriarch’s son makes her question just how far she can go, because she does have a conscience and a heart. She’s very Lizzie Bennett coded, and I loved her deeply.
Rafael – or Rafe – is a deeply damaged love interest. He’s avoided the toxic family home, leaving his family to the machinations of his awful father. I understood this, though it was a disappointment. He does, however, redeem himself.
I can’t go into why I adored this book without spoilers, though I can say that the prose flows so well, the descriptions are lush, and the story pulls you in completely.
Love, love, love.
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