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A Little Deception
Librarian's note: This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN: B009HKKCKM.
When loyal and determined Rose Chesterfield persuades London’s most eligible rake not to call in a debt that would ruin her family, she never expected marriage.
Guilty of an innocent deception to win the heart of the man who’d intended to make her his mistress, Rose is determined to prove her worth to her new husband.
But her beautiful, scheming sister-in-law Helena is intent on branding Rose an adulterous diamond thief. Will Rose succeed in persuading society – and her husband – that the truth is not what it appears?
* Regency Romance shortlisted for an Australian Romance Readers' Award. (New 2013 revised version.)
When loyal and determined Rose Chesterfield persuades London’s most eligible rake not to call in a debt that would ruin her family, she never expected marriage.
Guilty of an innocent deception to win the heart of the man who’d intended to make her his mistress, Rose is determined to prove her worth to her new husband.
But her beautiful, scheming sister-in-law Helena is intent on branding Rose an adulterous diamond thief. Will Rose succeed in persuading society – and her husband – that the truth is not what it appears?
* Regency Romance shortlisted for an Australian Romance Readers' Award. (New 2013 revised version.)
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
18 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Beverley Eikli
45 books98 followersAlso writes under Beverley Oakley.
Beverley writes Regency, Victorian and Georgian-set romance full of passion and laced with mystery and intrigue.
Born in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, she married the handsome bush pilot she met in Botswana while managing a safari lodge and has spent the rest of her life as a ‘trailing spouse’ doing what she loves most: writing books from sweet to steamy; and from humorous to historical romantic suspense.
Here’s more about her series.
Daughters of Sin
A very steamy, funny, witty and dangerous Regency-set ‘Dynasty’ featuring two nobly-born debutantes and their illegitimate sisters - laced with political intrigue, cheating spouses and, of course, dangerous gentlemen.
1. Her Gilded Prison
2. Dangerous Gentlemen
3. The Mysterious Governess
4. Beyond Rubies
5. Lady Unveiled: The Cuckold’s Conspiracy
The Scandalous Miss Brightwells
A humorous, sometimes steamy, matchmaking series – with some books sweeter and more sensual and poignant.
1. Rake’s Honour
2. Rogue’s Kiss
3. The Wedding Wager
4. The Accidental Elopement
5. The Honourable Fortune Hunter
6. Five Golden Rings (currently in 12 Rogues of Christmas)
7. The Courtship Caper
Fair Cyprians of London
A group of women who work in a high class House of Assignation. Ranging from very steamy to sweet, hopeful redemption stories.
1. Saving Grace
2. Forsaking Hope
3. Keeping Faith
4. Wedding Violet
5. Christmas Charity
Hearts in Hiding
Historical romantic suspense, very steamy often showing the darker aspects of Regency society, including the dependence and subjugation of women – and how, against the odds, they find their happy-ever-afters.
1. The Duchess and the Highwayman
2. The Bluestocking and the Rake
3. Duchess of Seduction
4. The Countess and the Cavalier
Scandalous: Three Daring Charades
Three sweet, yet intrigue-filled Regency historicals
Lady Sarah’s Redemption
Lady Olivia’s Butterfly
A Little Deception
You can connect with Beverley on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverl... through her website at: www.beverleyoakley.com
Beverley writes Regency, Victorian and Georgian-set romance full of passion and laced with mystery and intrigue.
Born in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, she married the handsome bush pilot she met in Botswana while managing a safari lodge and has spent the rest of her life as a ‘trailing spouse’ doing what she loves most: writing books from sweet to steamy; and from humorous to historical romantic suspense.
Here’s more about her series.
Daughters of Sin
A very steamy, funny, witty and dangerous Regency-set ‘Dynasty’ featuring two nobly-born debutantes and their illegitimate sisters - laced with political intrigue, cheating spouses and, of course, dangerous gentlemen.
1. Her Gilded Prison
2. Dangerous Gentlemen
3. The Mysterious Governess
4. Beyond Rubies
5. Lady Unveiled: The Cuckold’s Conspiracy
The Scandalous Miss Brightwells
A humorous, sometimes steamy, matchmaking series – with some books sweeter and more sensual and poignant.
1. Rake’s Honour
2. Rogue’s Kiss
3. The Wedding Wager
4. The Accidental Elopement
5. The Honourable Fortune Hunter
6. Five Golden Rings (currently in 12 Rogues of Christmas)
7. The Courtship Caper
Fair Cyprians of London
A group of women who work in a high class House of Assignation. Ranging from very steamy to sweet, hopeful redemption stories.
1. Saving Grace
2. Forsaking Hope
3. Keeping Faith
4. Wedding Violet
5. Christmas Charity
Hearts in Hiding
Historical romantic suspense, very steamy often showing the darker aspects of Regency society, including the dependence and subjugation of women – and how, against the odds, they find their happy-ever-afters.
1. The Duchess and the Highwayman
2. The Bluestocking and the Rake
3. Duchess of Seduction
4. The Countess and the Cavalier
Scandalous: Three Daring Charades
Three sweet, yet intrigue-filled Regency historicals
Lady Sarah’s Redemption
Lady Olivia’s Butterfly
A Little Deception
You can connect with Beverley on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverl... through her website at: www.beverleyoakley.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 17, 2012
3.5 stars (was going to be 4 - see below)
I found this to be an engrossing and enjoyable read. A Little Deception is a romantic melodrama in which the heroine is subjected to the evil machinations of no less than three different characters, and the different twists and turns of the plot, in the second half especially, kept me anxiously turning the pages, desperate to find out how all the strands would eventually be unravelled.
The story starts with Rose Chesterfield insisting on accompanying her brother Charles to a dinner party in the place of his spoilt, selfish wife, Helena, who is, not to put too fine a point on it, too stoned to attend herself. Helena is in debt to the host, Lord Rampton, and Rose wants see if she can somehow get Rampton to give them a little longer to pay it off.
This “little deception” sets in train a series of events which involve Rose in an ever deepening mire of distrust and unwitting duplicity which could cost her not only her reputation and place in society, but her chance at happiness with the only man she has ever loved.
While it’s fair to say that the existence of a Big Misunderstanding between the hero and heroine in the romance genre is far from original, the author managed to retain my interest by the sheer audacity of some of the deceptions practiced upon Rose and Rampton, and by her abiity to keep piling on the angst until it seemed as though there was no way forward for Rose and that she really did stand to lose everything she held dear.
Eikli takes her time in setting the scene and familiarising us with her characters at the outset. The attraction between Rose and Rampton is palpable and the atmosphere crackles with sexual tension whenever they are together. Rose has always played second-fiddle to Helena and has never thought of herself as attractive; she has almost always subjugated her own wishes in order to do what she thinks is best for her family.
Helena is probably the most well-drawn character in the book. She is selfish, ruthless and utterly vicious; single-mindedly, she works towards to bring about Rose’s ruin and without compunction, draws others into her scheme to destroy Rose. So great is her cunning that the men she ensnares do not even realise the depth of her desire for revenge. I will admit that there were times in the story when I wanted to slap some sense into Rose as she fell for yet another of Helena’s lies, but conversely, Helena was so convincing in the way she played to Rose’s genuine desire to help her for Charles’ sake that it was easy to understand why Rose acted as she did.
Rampton is probably more of a conventional hero in that he is handsome, rich and somewhat autocratic. He is powerfully drawn to Rose, and believing her to be a married woman, intends to make her his mistress. But along the way, he begins to realise that while he lusts after her body, he is intrigued by her spirit and by the time her deception is exposed, he is well on the way to being in love, an emotion he had never expected to feel for the woman he would eventually marry.
For a time, the pair are happy, but it is not long before Helena’s jealousy begins to erode their happiness and confidence in each other.
I will admit that I did get a little frustrated at times by the fact that Rose and Rampton did not directly address some of their difficulties early on – preferring instead to reaffirm their sexual desire for each other in bed. And of course, even though both of them admit to knowing that the other could not possibly be capable of X or Y, things quickly escalate to a point where their lack of communication, aided and abetted by Helena’s machinations mean that their relationship has almost broken down completely.
Of course, all is discovered in the nick of time and things end happily – but I did take a kind of perverse enjoyment in the way my stomach was twisted into knots at each further deception.
I feel I can’t complete this review without commenting on the fact that there are a number of mistakes and typos in the copy of the book I received for review. Had there been just one or two, I would have let it go, but there were more than that, in addition to instances of the wrong name or word being used. On a purely personal level, this is something that irritates me because it takes me out of the story while my brain makes the required corrections. I know it’s not a deal-breaker for some, but I feel that if someone is paying good money for a product, they should be able to expect it to be as good as the producer can make it. Hence, I felt I had to knock off a half star from the four I was going to award originally.
This review will appear at the Romantic Historical Fictioh Lovers blog on 14 January 2013.
Review copy courtesy of Goddess Fish Promotions
I found this to be an engrossing and enjoyable read. A Little Deception is a romantic melodrama in which the heroine is subjected to the evil machinations of no less than three different characters, and the different twists and turns of the plot, in the second half especially, kept me anxiously turning the pages, desperate to find out how all the strands would eventually be unravelled.
The story starts with Rose Chesterfield insisting on accompanying her brother Charles to a dinner party in the place of his spoilt, selfish wife, Helena, who is, not to put too fine a point on it, too stoned to attend herself. Helena is in debt to the host, Lord Rampton, and Rose wants see if she can somehow get Rampton to give them a little longer to pay it off.
This “little deception” sets in train a series of events which involve Rose in an ever deepening mire of distrust and unwitting duplicity which could cost her not only her reputation and place in society, but her chance at happiness with the only man she has ever loved.
While it’s fair to say that the existence of a Big Misunderstanding between the hero and heroine in the romance genre is far from original, the author managed to retain my interest by the sheer audacity of some of the deceptions practiced upon Rose and Rampton, and by her abiity to keep piling on the angst until it seemed as though there was no way forward for Rose and that she really did stand to lose everything she held dear.
Eikli takes her time in setting the scene and familiarising us with her characters at the outset. The attraction between Rose and Rampton is palpable and the atmosphere crackles with sexual tension whenever they are together. Rose has always played second-fiddle to Helena and has never thought of herself as attractive; she has almost always subjugated her own wishes in order to do what she thinks is best for her family.
Helena is probably the most well-drawn character in the book. She is selfish, ruthless and utterly vicious; single-mindedly, she works towards to bring about Rose’s ruin and without compunction, draws others into her scheme to destroy Rose. So great is her cunning that the men she ensnares do not even realise the depth of her desire for revenge. I will admit that there were times in the story when I wanted to slap some sense into Rose as she fell for yet another of Helena’s lies, but conversely, Helena was so convincing in the way she played to Rose’s genuine desire to help her for Charles’ sake that it was easy to understand why Rose acted as she did.
Rampton is probably more of a conventional hero in that he is handsome, rich and somewhat autocratic. He is powerfully drawn to Rose, and believing her to be a married woman, intends to make her his mistress. But along the way, he begins to realise that while he lusts after her body, he is intrigued by her spirit and by the time her deception is exposed, he is well on the way to being in love, an emotion he had never expected to feel for the woman he would eventually marry.
For a time, the pair are happy, but it is not long before Helena’s jealousy begins to erode their happiness and confidence in each other.
I will admit that I did get a little frustrated at times by the fact that Rose and Rampton did not directly address some of their difficulties early on – preferring instead to reaffirm their sexual desire for each other in bed. And of course, even though both of them admit to knowing that the other could not possibly be capable of X or Y, things quickly escalate to a point where their lack of communication, aided and abetted by Helena’s machinations mean that their relationship has almost broken down completely.
Of course, all is discovered in the nick of time and things end happily – but I did take a kind of perverse enjoyment in the way my stomach was twisted into knots at each further deception.
I feel I can’t complete this review without commenting on the fact that there are a number of mistakes and typos in the copy of the book I received for review. Had there been just one or two, I would have let it go, but there were more than that, in addition to instances of the wrong name or word being used. On a purely personal level, this is something that irritates me because it takes me out of the story while my brain makes the required corrections. I know it’s not a deal-breaker for some, but I feel that if someone is paying good money for a product, they should be able to expect it to be as good as the producer can make it. Hence, I felt I had to knock off a half star from the four I was going to award originally.
This review will appear at the Romantic Historical Fictioh Lovers blog on 14 January 2013.
Review copy courtesy of Goddess Fish Promotions
not-finished
September 16, 2013I could not finish this book and therefore will not rate it.
The premise and beginning was very good and I was wrapped up in the story. Unfortunately, once our couple got together things fell apart for me. I couldn't handle all of the misunderstandings between the two. It happened one too many times and I was only half way through the book.
The premise and beginning was very good and I was wrapped up in the story. Unfortunately, once our couple got together things fell apart for me. I couldn't handle all of the misunderstandings between the two. It happened one too many times and I was only half way through the book.
August 16, 2014
Although it is slow to start, the plot does begin to thicken with an incredible amount of twists and turns from the devious mind of Helena.
Read full review in the 2012 Holiday issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2012 Holiday issue of InD’tale Magazine.
April 9, 2024
Note: I absolutely cannot stand it when HRN authors give the H/h a “plantation/prosperous estate in the West Indies” in a story set BEFORE the abolition of slavery and don’t touch on the topic of slavery AT ALL to the point where you simply have to assume that H/h own enslaved people.
July 16, 2011
I have my favourite historical romance must-read authors but I'm also happy to try new and upcoming authors. So when I was given the opportunity of reviewing A LITTLE DECEPTION by Beverley Eikli, a new author to me, I was looking forward to reading this story of love, deception and revenge.
When the story opens in London, Rose Chesterfield and her brother, Charles, are desperate to find some way to save their family sugar plantation in the West Indies. Charles's wife, Helena, a compulsive gambler and laudanum addict, lost the plantation in a card game and now they must find a way of delaying Viscount Rampton from claiming the debt until they can raise the funds to pay him off. With Helena under the influence of laudanum, Rose intends to pose as Lady Chesterfield at the dinner being held by Lord Rampton, despite her brother's misgivings.
Ashley Delacroix, Viscount Rampton, does not normally combine business with pleasure but, having heard his friend, Adrian Babbage's account of the wild night he spent with Lady Chesterfield, he finds his interest piqued. However, there is something about her that does not quite fit in with the image Baggage painted.
Wearing one of Helena's outrageously daring gowns, Rose plays the part of seductress well. She is aware that she has captured the handsome Viscount's interest and she finds his ‘unconcealed admiration' heady.
Ashley has every intention of making the exquisite Lady Chesterfield his mistress in return for writing off the debt. When attending Lord and Lady Barbery's ball, Rose is wearing a diamond necklace belonging to Helena, a gift she says is from one of her many admirers. Rose is therefore shocked to be accused by Lady Barbery of stealing it from her. Rampton steps in and manages to placate Lady Barbery, who happens to be his former mistress.
When Rose and Rampton are found in a compromising situation by Charles, Rampton learns that Rose is not Lady Chesterfield at all but the unmarried Miss Chesterfield. He believes it has been a ruse to trick him into marriage until he discovers Rose is intent on returning to the West Indies. Honor compels Rampton to ask Rose to marry him but will she accept his proposal or choose to sail away from him forever?
I found A LITTLE DECEPTION a pleasant read but certain elements I require in a book were missing. I always look for a wonderful chemistry between the hero and heroine, but from the beginning, I just didn't feel any real passion between Rose and Rampton. Rampton should have been far more dynamic in my opinion and his initial encounters with ‘Lady Chesterfield' far more intense. After all, here's a seasoned rake eager to convince ‘Lady Chesterfield' to be his next mistress. I think sharp and witty dialogue between Rose and Rampton would have helped to create a more vivid picture.
When Rampton swept Rose into his arms and carried her upstairs on their wedding night, ‘she felt no apprehension, only delicious anticipation'. So did I! Unfortunately, I was to be disappointed because there was no love scene at all. I appreciate that the author may not want explicit love scenes but I think some kind of intimate scene, however short, would have helped establish a physical bond between them.
I thought the conflict between Rose and Rampton was rather drawn out and I did get irritated by Rampton's constant acceptance of his wife's guilt regarding the thefts and a possible affair. It was, therefore, hard to accept when he suddenly decided to accept his wife's innocence without question!
One character who really came to life for me was Helena, Rose's sister-in-law. Beautiful, bitchy and totally ruthless, she plots and schemes to get what she wants and I love how she constantly uses Oswald, Rose's cousin, in her schemes luring him with the promise of sexual favours, a promise she has no intension of keeping. There are a number of other secondary characters but none are as colourful as Helena.
I liked the dramatic and quite shocking ending but it was almost spoiled for me by a specific action on Rampton's part! I can't say any more because it would spoil the ending, but if you do read the book, I think you'll understand what I mean.
A LITTLE DECEPTION will appeal to anyone who enjoys a light entertaining story with a touch of drama but those readers who like their books with plenty of passion, angst and hot love scenes will have to look elsewhere.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews
When the story opens in London, Rose Chesterfield and her brother, Charles, are desperate to find some way to save their family sugar plantation in the West Indies. Charles's wife, Helena, a compulsive gambler and laudanum addict, lost the plantation in a card game and now they must find a way of delaying Viscount Rampton from claiming the debt until they can raise the funds to pay him off. With Helena under the influence of laudanum, Rose intends to pose as Lady Chesterfield at the dinner being held by Lord Rampton, despite her brother's misgivings.
Ashley Delacroix, Viscount Rampton, does not normally combine business with pleasure but, having heard his friend, Adrian Babbage's account of the wild night he spent with Lady Chesterfield, he finds his interest piqued. However, there is something about her that does not quite fit in with the image Baggage painted.
Wearing one of Helena's outrageously daring gowns, Rose plays the part of seductress well. She is aware that she has captured the handsome Viscount's interest and she finds his ‘unconcealed admiration' heady.
Ashley has every intention of making the exquisite Lady Chesterfield his mistress in return for writing off the debt. When attending Lord and Lady Barbery's ball, Rose is wearing a diamond necklace belonging to Helena, a gift she says is from one of her many admirers. Rose is therefore shocked to be accused by Lady Barbery of stealing it from her. Rampton steps in and manages to placate Lady Barbery, who happens to be his former mistress.
When Rose and Rampton are found in a compromising situation by Charles, Rampton learns that Rose is not Lady Chesterfield at all but the unmarried Miss Chesterfield. He believes it has been a ruse to trick him into marriage until he discovers Rose is intent on returning to the West Indies. Honor compels Rampton to ask Rose to marry him but will she accept his proposal or choose to sail away from him forever?
I found A LITTLE DECEPTION a pleasant read but certain elements I require in a book were missing. I always look for a wonderful chemistry between the hero and heroine, but from the beginning, I just didn't feel any real passion between Rose and Rampton. Rampton should have been far more dynamic in my opinion and his initial encounters with ‘Lady Chesterfield' far more intense. After all, here's a seasoned rake eager to convince ‘Lady Chesterfield' to be his next mistress. I think sharp and witty dialogue between Rose and Rampton would have helped to create a more vivid picture.
When Rampton swept Rose into his arms and carried her upstairs on their wedding night, ‘she felt no apprehension, only delicious anticipation'. So did I! Unfortunately, I was to be disappointed because there was no love scene at all. I appreciate that the author may not want explicit love scenes but I think some kind of intimate scene, however short, would have helped establish a physical bond between them.
I thought the conflict between Rose and Rampton was rather drawn out and I did get irritated by Rampton's constant acceptance of his wife's guilt regarding the thefts and a possible affair. It was, therefore, hard to accept when he suddenly decided to accept his wife's innocence without question!
One character who really came to life for me was Helena, Rose's sister-in-law. Beautiful, bitchy and totally ruthless, she plots and schemes to get what she wants and I love how she constantly uses Oswald, Rose's cousin, in her schemes luring him with the promise of sexual favours, a promise she has no intension of keeping. There are a number of other secondary characters but none are as colourful as Helena.
I liked the dramatic and quite shocking ending but it was almost spoiled for me by a specific action on Rampton's part! I can't say any more because it would spoil the ending, but if you do read the book, I think you'll understand what I mean.
A LITTLE DECEPTION will appeal to anyone who enjoys a light entertaining story with a touch of drama but those readers who like their books with plenty of passion, angst and hot love scenes will have to look elsewhere.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews
November 23, 2015
I enjoyed this book and it kept me reading to the end without much difficulty. There is nothing new in the forced marriage, misunderstandings ensue and all end happily ever after but there were a few twists to keep things moving. It got a bit over dramatic for my tastes though but it did provide entertainment!
rom-historical
January 30, 2016For a star rating and complete review, visit Ind'tale Magazine Dec/Jan 2012/13 issue online. http://www.indtale.com/reviews/little...
June 5, 2013
Review Rating: 3.5
Review by: Caz
Link to Review: http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp...
Review by: Caz
Link to Review: http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp...
September 28, 2013
slow read
June 12, 2015
I managed to finish the book but it was difficult. The plot dragged on for about twice as long as it should have, IMO. The main characters were interesting but I just didn't enjoy the story.
June 4, 2015
An ok read, some of the characters are stronger than others. Wasn't really convinced of Rampton's affections or really that interested in the panto villains.
July 23, 2015
Great read! I knew that was Helena's doing to Rose of deception & lying the whole time! Glad that finally over so Rose & Rampton can have a better lives in the future.
kindle-i-own-to-read
November 8, 2012Amazon Freebie 11/8/2012
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews