Noble Deceptions

The Saint of Seven Dials #2

by Brenda Hiatt

Thanks to a small series of mishaps and a hint of scandal, Quinn Peverill suddenly finds herself betrothed to Lord Marcus Northrop, a matrimonial prize whom she barely knows and who is one of Regency London's most determined bachelors. Original.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction

378 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published April 1, 2002

About the author

Brenda Hiatt is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sparkling romantic adventure. She's written twenty-five novels (so far), including sweet and spicy historical romance, time travel romance, humorous mystery, and her young adult science fiction STARSTRUCK series. Brenda began in traditional publishing with Harlequin, HarperCollins and Avon Books and later made a transition to indie publishing as she began getting rights back to her older books. So far, she hasn't been sorry! She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists, Inc, where she has served as president. In addition to writing, Brenda is passionate about embracing life to the fullest, to include scuba diving (she has over 60 dives to her credit), Taekwondo (where she is working toward her 4th degree black belt), hiking, traveling…and reading, of course!
Learn more at http://brendahiatt.com

Reviews

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lord Marcus Northrup youngest son of a Duke has been passed the mantel of The Saint of Seven Dials by his predecessor Luke St. Clair and his best friend. The Saint Steals from the Rich and gives to the Poor. Like Robin Hood.

American Heiress Quinn Peverill has come to London with her father Capt. Peverill to be introduced to her mother Aristocratic Family. But Quinn has other things in mind like returning to American. When she sets upon Polly a young girl stealing her jewels she decides then and there to help the poor street urchins of Seven Dials.

Quinn posing as a boy is rounded up by Marcus and taken to his home. Marcus wants help find decent employment for the young boys who are working for flash gangs/thieves. What a surprise when he finds out Quinn is a female and they are both compromised when ladies of the ton sees Quinn leaving Marcus's home. Next step Marriage of course!!

Each is hiding from the other that they are working to help the young girls forced into prostitute and young boys forced to stealing to survive. This leads the reader to a good story but not as good as Scandalous Virtue and Rogues Honor. I gave a 5 star rating to these two stories. I could never quite come to like Quinn. She acted at time younger then 20 maybe she should have been 17 or 18. Her characters description is she looks much younger then 20. Maybe she should have been as young as she acts. Marcus was bland I liked him. He was just Okay!! So overall Noble Deception was Okay!!

[Wealhtheow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quinn likes working in her father's shipping company in Boston, but he insists she try to find a husband in England, in honor of her late mother's memory. Given her lack of polish, this could've been a problem--except that a misunderstanding leads her to become almost immediately engaged to a rich English lord named Marcus. They are swiftly married, and then each tries to hide their illegal yet charitable endeavors from the other.

This was a terrible version of the Scarlet Pimpernel and everyone behaves so stupidly that I was furious throughout.

[Desi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leído en Junio 2009

Una historia agradable y entretenida, normal!

NOVIA REBELDE

RESUMEN:

DOS CHISMOSAS DE LA ALTA SOCIEDAD INGLESA SON RESPONSABLES DE ESTE DESASTROSO MATRIMONIO

ELLA ... ESTABA CASADA CON UN CABALLERO INGLES POMPOSO Y ABURRIDO

EL ... HABIA SIDO FORZADO A CASARSE CON UNA HEREDERA NORTEAMERICANA QUE NUNCA SE ADAPTARIA A LA SOCIEDAD INGLESA. Y ESTABA BUSCANDO ALGO QUE TRAJERA UNA NUEVA EXCITACIÓN A SU VIDA.

Quinn Peverill debe buscar un proyecto en la vida que la aparte de su matrimonio con un inglés pomposo y aburrido que continuamente le marca cuan inadaptada está para vivir en la alta sociedad. En su búsqueda Quinn se disfrazará de muchacho, formará parte de un pandilla de ladronzuelos de la calle, visitará un prostíbulo y terminará extorsionando a caballeros de la alta sociedad para poder ayudar a los niños pobres de Londres.

Lord Marcus Northrop ha asumido una tarea que le dejó encargada su mejor amigo Luke. Debe asumir el papel de El Santo , un ladrón de casas que azota a la alta sociedad inglesa. El Santo, al estilo de Robin Hood, roba para darle las ganancias a los pobres. Pero Marcus no cuenta con varios imprevistos que se cruzarán en su misión : un matrimonio inesperado, un investigador especial que trajo la policia, una pandilla de niños de la calle que serán sus ayudantes , perros guardianes y una dama que le solicitará ayuda para fundar una escuela para niños pobres.
Tanto Quinn como Marcus llevará a cabo sus cruzadas por los niños pobres de noche , durante el día, ellos son un lord y una lady que prácticamente no se conocen a pesar de estar casados ...
Imposible adelantarles más de esta novela sin revelar la trama.
Sumerganse en esta novela de aventuras, suspenso y pasión porque Quinn y Marcus llegarán a conocerse muy bien.
En un tono de comedia pero ahondando en toda la gama de emociones Brenda Hiatt nos ofrece este maravilloso libro que está destinado a entretenerlos.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in Ms. Hiatt’s The Saint of Seven Dials series. This one is by far better than the first- in my opinion. This felt like a regency to me- with a few love scenes filled in- all the better! This was a story about a heroine-Quinn Peverill (an American), who came to England with her father Captain Peverill to re-establish family connections with Quinn’s mother’s side of the family (her mother died several years before). But, Quinn being an independent and adventurous American who accidently broke a few of English Societies’ rules and thus finds herself engaged, and a few days later, married to Lord Marcus Northrup. Not knowing each other hardly at all before marriage, the two must now come to know each other. They both think they have figured the other one out, but what they don’t know is that they are both living double lives. Quinn decides to help the poor female population who either are or destined to be prostitutes because they have no other choice as: “A Sympathetic Lady.” Marcus temporarily takes up the mantel from Luke (from Rogue’s Honor and the first of the Saint of Seven Dials books) while he is on his honeymoon to be The Saint of Seven Dials in order to draw suspicion away from his friend. Wonderful adventure and misunderstands ensue making this a fast, fun, and often funny read!

[Arlenis Ralfsdóttir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido. Te llegas a encariñar con uno que otro personaje pero ninguno te toca en el fondo. Es una historia bien para pasar una tarde agradable.

[Cait M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2: The Saint of Seven Dials
When Lord Marcus' friend Luke marries and travels away from London on his honeymoon, Marcus temporarily takes up the mantle of the Robin Hood-like figure 'the Saint of Seven Dials', to keep the authorities from suspecting Luke.

Marcus is the youngest son of a Duke and has a reputation as quite a rogue. He is looking for some excitement and meaning in an otherwise frivolous life.

Miss Quinn Peverill has recently arrived in London from Baltimore with her Father, a wealthy sea Captain and shipping magnate. They are in England to further the family business, but also in an attempt to mend fences with Quinn's late mother's aristocratic estranged family.

Quinn is confident, loyal and determined. When her ill-conceived but pure-hearted actions result in a fake-betrothal to Lord Marcus, she is sure the whole thing can be hushed up if she cries off and returns to America.

Unfortunately for Quinn, her father is determined to see her safely married and Marcus is an honourable man so a hasty wedding follows. Suddenly Quinn finds herself married to a man she's known for less than a week, who to her seems stodgy and judgemental, despite his good looks and fleeting grins. Marcus is a bit shell-shocked by his predicament, but is careful to act serious and staid around Quinn, lest she start to question his motives or actions and put his nocturnal jaunts to the Seven Dials at risk.

The story was fairly simple with both MC's holding secrets from the other with mistaken identities on both sides. Quinn was a bit too 'social crusader' for me, with Marcus' motivation actually more believable. It was all wrapped up neatly and quickly at the end, without me ever feeling like either of them were in any real danger of being caught.

This book contains descriptive love scenes.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

American heiress Quinn Peverill disguised as a boy convinced Polly (after she caught Polly stealing her jewelry case) to take her to her younger brother, Gobby and check out the veracity of the girl's story of a Fagin. Marcus Northrop in his guise as the next Saint of Seven Dials encountered Gobby, who stole Marcus' handkerchief so he went in pursuit him, he finally caught him with a group of young thieves including Quinn and brought them all home. Leaving the rest of the gang in the kitchen to be fed, he took Quinn out front after borrowing a skirt from a housemaid to cater to the proprieties and avoid scandal. Unfortunately, the one thing they were trying to avoid struck like lightning when they were seen by the scandalous eyes of no less than Lady Mountheth (with her 2 cronies), the ton's arbiter of correct behavior and propriety and the prime rumor monger. Such a scandal was taken advantage of by Quinn's father and forced Marcus to offer for Quinn. Follow Quinn's perilous and exciting adventures as she tries to get out of an unwanted betrothal...

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with liking Quinn at first. She came off as willful, stubborn and spoiled. I liked Marcus from the start, but wished he would have been a little more up-front about his true self sooner. The resolution to their secrets was done well and I enjoyed it very much even though it was left until basically the end of the story. As a result I didn't get enough of them as a resolved couple. Still, in the end I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next in the series.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young American lady, visiting England with her widowed father to reconcile with her late mother’s family ends up marrying a duke’s son to avoid scandal. What happened to cause the scandal and how they both overcome misunderstandings and end up hea

[Bigbear Woolliscroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very modern heroine in a regency setting and like the first one in the series, thoroughly enjoyable.

[Marilyn Kavanaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Scarlet Pimpernel variation

Spoiler Alert: although some may consider that the two miscreants escaped justice surprisingly easily, even considering the crimes of their targets.

[EJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was really intrigued when Marcus inherited the Saint. This is not as good or exciting as the previous book. Still, I enjoy this series.

[Judy Miller]

I enjoyed this book.

[suzan houghtaling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book series

I have enjoyed books 1 and 2. I started books 3. The series is quite interesting and enjoyable. Will continue to read the rest of this series.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Saint of Seven Dials series. I read this book after enjoying the first book (Rogue's Honor) as a free kindle download. It continues with the same "Robin Hood" theme. However, it is not necessary to have read the first book. A familiar character of the first book is featured here - Lord Marcus Northrup. Miss Quinn Peverill finds herself engaged to him after being caught in an innocent compromising position. Quinn, who is from Virginia and unfamiliar with the rules of the ton, is in London with her Captain father to be presented to society. Her now deceased mother left London for America after a "scandal" 25 years ago and is no longer living. The American captain hopes to find a suitable husband for his daughter. The couple find they have a common compassion for those less fortunate (although not known to each other), after several daring escapades. It is an easy, entertaining read.

[Tracy T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! A fun read. I enjoyed this story. Marcus and Quinn had so me good chemistry together there are a couple of nicely written sex scenes, one including food LOL. There is lots of dialogue throughout the entire book which is great. I like lots of dialogue. The story line was good and the writing flowed very nicely. I did like the secondary characters, Polly and Gobby, they were fun street kids from Seven Dials.

[Marianne Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this author’s work and picked up this second book in her series. This book, like her first one, was an enjoyable read with action and sexy scenes that keep you turning the pages.
I like that characters from the first book are now getting a chance to tell their story.
While I enjoyed the first book, a little better than this one, since the premise was so new, this book on its own stands up well.

[Claire Milbrandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun second book of the series. The characters are fun to follow, and seem to be fairly well rounded. Exciting adventure for readers who care for the street kids :)

The only thing that I found weird was the way it was wrapped up, didn't seem in line with their characters, but the rest was fabulous!

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book was far different from the first one.
After, I might confess I had a hard time to warm up for Quinn, her way of acting during the first chapters was so out of place and so thoughtless, I would have shakes her like a rag doll to try to wake up her dumb brain!
I was so upset, I even wondered if I would continue my read.
But there was Marcus, he was far from perfect, but such a good fellow, agreeing to take on his friend’s steps, only for good purposes.
But once Marcus and Quinn’s union is settled, the real story begins, and with it, their own romance and their new goals in life.
It is was rather nice to see them struggling to adjust to their new life, warming for the other but also fearing its judgement about their secret missions. Behind the closed doors of their bedrooms, they were their true self, hiding nothing of their chemistry for the other, but once they were out, they felt like playing a role, even if they were well aware it was a mistake.
It was funny, it took them so many time to realize who was who while living under the same roof.
While Marcus evolved in a more wised man, living his rake’s day behind him, Quinn did quite a lot of grew up, blossoming in a nice woman, more aware of her inner strength and her own abilities.
So do not let some griefs about Quinn’s immaturity let you put this book down, it is all to the talent of the author to show how she was able to develop and transform her characters.