A lady art thief, an earl, and a scorchingly sexy heist gone wrong in all the best ways.
As a duke’s twin sister, Lady Summer is used to being both noticed and ignored—and she finally means to use it to her advantage.
First, she steals art from The Mayfair Art Collectors Society with none the wiser. Well, except for Eliot Howard, the Earl of Blackpool, a rakehell and the bane of her existence. But as the art she steals with her madcap friends rightfully belongs to Eliot’s aunt, Summer is certain he will not get in the way.
The trouble is, she has also accidentally stolen a list of women spies working for the Crown. Someone is using the art exhibit to pass messages about an auction to sell off the code that will reveal the names and put them all in danger. Summer is determined to protect them.
Eliot is determined to protect Summer above all, even as they work together to take down the auction. He has loved Summer for over a decade and he sees the brilliant and passionate woman beneath the perfect exterior.
He means to have them both: thief and duke’s daughter.
The Dainty Devils The Duchess Games The Countess Caper The Husband Heist
Alyxandra Harvey is the author of The Cinderella Society, The Dainty Devils, The Drake Chronicles, The Witches of London, Haunting Violet and more! She likes chai lattes, tattoos, and books. Sometimes fueled by literary rage.
This was a lot of fun. Summer is attempting a stakeout—dressed as a man—so she can eventually steal back artwork for Aunt Georgie. Then enters her longtime competitor, Eliot. Together they have the best time egging each other on, their banter was funny. The heist was so much fun. Aunt Georgie was such a great character—an absolute joy. I will be reading the previous two books in this series, because this brought a smile to my face.
As a duke’s twin sister, Lady Summer is used to being both noticed and ignored and she finally means to use it to her advantage. First, she steals art from The Mayfair Art Collectors Society with none the wiser. Well, except for Eliot Howard, the Earl of Blackpool, the bane of her existence. But as the art she steals with her madcap friends rightfully belongs to Eliot’s aunt, Summer is certain he will not get in the way. The trouble is, she has also accidentally stolen a list of women spies working for the Crown. Someone is using the art exhibit to pass messages about an auction to sell off the code that will reveal the names and put them all in danger. Summer is determined to protect them & Eliot is determined to protect Summer above all, even as they work together to take down the auction. The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. A very well written entertaining romance. I really liked both Eliot & Summer, they’ve known each other for years & secretly cared about each other, I loved their journey to a HEA. The chemistry between them sizzled & the banter was witty. They also knew how to wind each other up. A delightful mix of intrigue & romance My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
4 1/2*STARS* It's five years before Waterloo and someone is planning to expose all the British women spies to France. A collection of artwork was donated to the Mayfair Art Collectors Society and they refuse to return them the widow of the owner. Someone in the Society is hiding coded messages in the artwork to sell to the French. The Earl of Blackpool is working for The Home Office to ferret out clues of the traitor's identity. Summer is stealing the artwork to return to the widow. At the same time she is working with Blackpool as a Lark. As Summer and Blackpool get closer to the identity of the traitor, their own relationship takes an unexpected turn. An unusual cast of characters. Steamy descriptive sex. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Alyxandra Harvey is pretty new author for me. This is my 7th book by her. I just finished reading her Spinster Society series and really enjoyed it. I don't have any of my regular authors new releases coming out for 8 days. I have no books on my TBR and since I pretty much read a book a day, I thought I'd check out this series. I have enjoyed book 1 and 2.
I really liked Summer and Eliot. I liked the storyline. I think each book the sex got hotter and hotter. :) I liked the suspense. Each book in this series has been a good read. I am really glad I came back and decided to read her again.
Strange footmen, a mad dash around London, a lot of art, an eclectic aunt you can’t help but adore, the best girlfriends in the world, acrobatics, disguises, pink pineapples, balls, auctions, brothels, gambling, spies, a secret code, subterfuge and a wallflower debutante… this is a fun and fast-paced ride!
We have older MCs - Summer is 33, Eliot is 35 - who’ve known, wagered and teased each other for over 15 years. He’s her twin brother’s best friend, an earl more handsome than any man ought to be, suave and always a bit naughty, he’s the golden boy every woman swoons for, mothers and daughters alike. The perfect disguise to gather secret intelligence for the Crown. A duke’s sister, gracious and kind, she’s the ton’s eternal diamond showered with flowers she's allergic to, unoriginal poetry and superficial compliments. Society’s sweetheart, she knows how to play her part even when they rarely notice she’s also clever, cunning and brave. On a secret mission with her friends to recover his aunt’s art collection, she - on a whim - takes a vase that contains a list of English spies. As it happens, that list and the traitor who’s trying to sell it to the French are the leads in Eliot’s current mission. She won’t back down, and neither will he…
I get why Summer is still unattached at her age. What started as a rebellion against her mother’s wishes, turned her into a master of the social game simply refusing to be someone’s pretty footstool with a big dowry. She wants to be seen as a person – smart, capable and loved for who she truly is. What I don’t get, is why it takes Eliot over a decade to make his move. Yes, she’s formidable, but he’s admired her for so long, knows her through and through, and is more than capable of seducing her… Then why does it take a gun pointed at her to jolt him into action?
Anyway, this was an thrilling steamy read with a well-kept secret and a most unexpected villain in the end!
This is the third installment of the Dainty Devils series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Summer is on a secret mission with her friends to recover Aunt Georgie's art collection from the Mayfair Art Collector's Society. Someone from the society has been selling the artwork, secretly encoded with message, to the French. The messages contain a list of female spies working for the Crown, putting them all in danger. One of the pieces that Summer has retrieved contains the list of spies, and she is determined to protect them at all costs. Eliot, the Earl of Blackpool, is working for the Home Office to gather clues and find the traitor. Summer has known Eliot since childhood. He is her brother's best friend and the bane of her existence. Despite the fact that they relentlessly push each other's buttons, they also secretly care about one another. When the list is discovered, Summer and Eliot decide to work together to uncover the traitor. As they join forces and begin working together, they discover a deeply rooted attraction they have for each other which they cannot deny. When Summer's life is in danger, Eliot will stop at nothing to protect her and keep her safe. The story is filled with intrigue, drama, and delightfully witty banter that had me laughing out loud. I was pulled into the story from the very start and engaged till the end. The characters were well-crafted and entertaining and the chemistry between them absolutely sizzled. A fast-paced, fun, and thrilling story that I am glad to have had the opportunity to read. A delightful addition to the series! I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and this is my honest review.
I really liked the book. The banter is superb!! Summer and Eliot - Lord Blackpool - bicker, tease and challenge each other and it is fantastic. I like that they are equals in that regard. The sex scenes between them didn’t add to the book. It was a bit off putting to me, since the tension of their attraction added a great vibe and them getting physical actually took away some of that attraction. I felt it was unnecessary and the book would’ve been better without it. Without it I would have scored this book five solid stars. The spy plot was great, though. Well written, great pace, very entertaining. It kept me reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. The secondary characters were marvelous. I loved Summer’s aunt Georgie and her friends Beatrix and Maggie, and even Madeline. I hope next books will be about them. Eliot was wonderful, too. He’s handsome, attractive and clever and appreciates Summer for who she really is and not just for her looks. I liked Summer’s personal growth. She always felt constricted by other people’s assumptions and expectations as a duke’s sister. But she learned that her position in Society could be something she wielded to her advantage. And she always thought that Eliot didn’t take her seriously, when it turned out he was the only one (in Society) who did. And I love that the author decided to make aunt Georgie love bold colors, especially pink. I’ve found a new appreciation for pink pineapples!
Alexandra Harvey has quickly become one of my favorite romance writers. I adore her characters and her steam is always hot hot hot. “The Husband Heist” is no exception. FMC Summer is the 33-year-old I married sister of a duke (his unconventional story is told in “The Duchess Games” but this book definitely works as a standalone). The MMC is Eliot Howard, Duke of Blackmore, someone who Summer has known forever, and who has always known and enjoyed pushing Summer’s buttons. Improbably thrown together by Summer and friends’ “art heist”, Summer and Eliot find their relationship becoming something more.
And that something more is delicious. Eliot and Summer have long known and cared about each other, and on some level, wanted each other. Their chemistry is palpable and their banter amusing. But more than that is their acceptance of the other. They drive each other batty but at the same time, neither really entertains trying to get the other to change. Both have pasts and neither care. Summer’s age is a positive rather than a negative in Harvey’s world and I am here for it. And the secondary characters are wonderful. Everyone should have an Aunt Georgie, and I would love to see Beatrix and Maggie in future books.
5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. These opinions are all mine.
A new author for me and I have not read the other books in the series, but this was not an issue. I loved the story of Summer and Eliot Howard, the Earl of Blackpool, someone Summer has known from childhood. Summer, the twin sister of a Duke, and her group of friends are assisting Aunt Georgie to steal her artwork back from The Mayfair Art Collectors Society and on one of these runs, Summer manages to retrieve a vase that holds sentimental value to Aunt Georgie as it was a gift purchased for her by her late husband. Said vase also contains a list of women spies working for the British Crown whose identities will be compromised if it falls into the wrong hands. The traitor has been using the art exhibit to pass messages to the various interested parties about the auction to sell the code to the highest bidder.
Eliot himself is a skilled spy and is working to identify the traitor. Summer and her group, which consists of Maggie, Beatrix, and Aunt Georgie, propose that they work together with Eliot to help identify the traitor and find the cypher before it is too late.
The chemistry between Eliot and Summer was great, the dialogue and witty banter between the parties with another joy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publishers and submit my honest review.
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
I liked that the main characters here were both striving to be seen as more than just pretty faces of the ton. I'm not sure I totally bought that Summer could have made it to 33 and still be so popular. I also couldn't figure out why Eliot would wait that long to tell her how he felt. If this case and the circumstances that brought them together to solve the mystery had never come along would they have just continued as they were? I guess these two felt they had wasted too much time considering how quickly their relationship shifted. I liked the mystery part of the story because it kept the story moving forward and ultimately showed Summer and Eliot what a good team they make when they put aside their squabbling. The supporting characters of Maggie, Beatrix, and Aunt Georgie added some humor. The "villain" of the piece came as a surprise but I found I also wanted to know more about what happened to the other people present at the auction. Overall, this was an enjoyable novel with some really great/entertaining characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
An entertaining and witty romance, this novel takes an interesting turn when Lady Summer and her accomplices inadvertently remove a vase from an art collection that compromises the War Office's efforts in their fight against Napoleon. Eliot, The Earl of Blackpool is already involved in efforts to unmask England's traitors, even though he hides behind his persona of rake and devil-may-care wastrel. He has been Summer's nemesis ever since she was a young girl in her first season and despite the decade already behind her, he continues to plague her. The fact that Summer is part of the group of women liberating the art stolen from his aunt, makes his quest all the more difficult. However, when it is discovered that Summer is behind the heist at an exhibition, Eliot's task becomes even more difficult. It is only when they join forces that they discover the blinding attraction between them, but even more so that when they work together, they have a partnership to be reckoned with. There is suspense, wit, and sizzling romance in this novel, but when Summer's life is in danger, Eliot finally realizes that he is no longer willing to compromise her safety and makes demands on her, giving no quarter. The novel comes to a successful and rather witty conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Summer was stealing from The Mayfair Art Collectors Society, in part as revenge, and to give it back to Eliot’s aunt, to whom the artwork belonged. Her husband gave it to the Society as long as his wife could see it. The cads took it, but Aunt Georgie was not welcome. Soon there was much more to worry about than pieces of art. Summer stole an object that contained a list of spies. She is caught in a web of danger and intrigue. In the meantime, the romance would heat up between her and Eliot. They had known one another for years, and they always seemed to spar and bicker. Finally, they realized what was between them, but they must work together to navigate the web of danger and intrigue in which Summer was caught. Stealing that list of spies put her in the line of fire. Who was the traitor, and would Summer survive the peril in which she finds herself? Could Eliot find her in time?
This story is a delight. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who like steamy historical romance.
The third book in the series doesn't let you down, in fact could have gone on longer without losing interest. Lady Summer and Lord Blackpool have known each other since childhood continually challenging each other always seeking to be victorious. Summer now 33 needs excitement in her life so...offers to steal back artwork of Eliot's aunt . Eliot was given the same task but no results so far. Summer and two female friends, on the other hand, retrieve several pieces right away. Eliot has been in love with Summer for years and feels the need to protect her, this results in continual interactions as she risk danger. When she steals a vase it really gets dangerous but...their attraction to each other heats up. Its a grand story with the Diamond of the Ton becoming a spy and the irresistible rake Eliot working for the Crown and trying to keep her safe at the same time. I highly recommend this, its got it all...action, danger, intrigue, romance, and suspense as well as a great cast of characters.
I haven't read the first two in this series but I assume all the heroines are dainty. Summer is the sister of a Duke and though she isn't a big fan of her mother she's old enough 31 to be leading an independent life in London. The hero is an old friend of her brothers. Eliot has teased and been in competition with Summer for ages. Summer is a bit of an odd name especially when her surname is Winter. With some friends, Summer is slowly pinching back some of the art works that her aunt lent to an Art museum. Summer has found that one of the collectors has been selling bits off including some of her Aunt's precious but not classy Art. Eliot gets roped into helping her. Eliot is a spy and needs to search through the art to find a hidden list of female agents. He wants to warn the agents before their names are auctioned off. Good story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the third book in a series, and the first I have read. I was enjoying it so much by halfway through. I went straight and bought the first two. The female characters are fascinating, and I need to know how they came together.
In this book, our heroine is a Duke's sister and a thief. That alone would have made her interesting to me, but she is so much more. For a historical romance heroine, she is most unusual. Her hero might not approve of everything she does, but he's playing a very similar game.
There is danger and intrigue as well as giggles and sexy scenes. Every page is filled with adventure and fun. I can't wait to get into the other books .
Summer, the sister of a duke is securely on the shelf at 31. Her brother's friend Eliot a duke, has been in competition with her for years. She is helping her Aunt Georgie get back some of her art mementos that were taken by the art society when her husband passed away. I loved the competition, protectiveness, and relationship between Summer and Eliot. If you like a lot of steam in a book, this one is for you. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and these are my opinions.
The third story in the Dainty Devils, Lady Summer is stealing art work to get it back to its rightful owner but when she does she finds something disturbing and goes to Eliot Howard, the Earl of Blackpool the nephew of the woman who she is trying to get the art work back to. The story has mystery, drama, suspense, twists, turns and romance. It held my interest from cover to cover. This is the first story in this series that I have read, I now want to read the other two. The cover is beautiful.
This friends to lovers trope is very well done. Summer Winter and Eliot Blackpool have known each other since they were children. They are brought together trying to get her Aunt George's stolen art back to her. There's lots of witty banter and Summer and Eliot have smoking hot chemistry. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
Witty Hijinks. Suspend disbelief and enjoy a romp through the ballrooms and art galleries of London. Along with a smidgen of danger as Lady Summer and her friends join the Earl of Blackpool in the search for a traitor. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It was a great steamy story. There was a lot of suspense which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to seeing what else this author has in store for their readers. I received this as an ARC copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Rivals to lovers. I loved Summer since book 1! The unlikely team up of women was delightful, elderly aunt, circus performer, Lady and master of disguise.
Such a great book! FMC wants some social justice and forms a group of women to commit a heist. MMC is her brother's best friend, and when he discovers it... Things get interesting quickly. These two have been raised together, and they will discover their love throughout the book. I didn't see the final boss coming; that was a great twist. Hope to read more from the author soon.
Tropes: frenemies to lovers; MC's solving a case together; art heist Steam level: 3-4 Language: some "f" bombs, if that bothers you Part of a series, and works fine as a standalone (but I do recommend the previous books)
4.5 stars. Steamy, sharp, and clever, with fun secondary characters and MC's that could have been irritating in their perfection, but the author makes them so witty that you like them. The pacing is perfect, and even if you can guess the baddie, the setting and execution of the confrontation scene are unique and well done.
Very minor nitpicks: I was a bit skeptical that two beautiful people would have made it to their 30's unwed during that time period (especially Summer) and I would have liked a brief appearance from at least a couple of the previous MC's. Also, there are times the steamy scenes get a tad bit redundant in the description.
However, those are just quibbles. I'm really enjoying this writer and looking forward to the next book.