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Castle Blackstone #3
The Thief (A Castle Blackstone Novel)
A Rogue By Any Other Name
Scoundrel. Seducer. Sir Ian MacKay deserves to be called the Thief of Hearts. Yet he is a man with a mission: to return Scotland’s rightful king to his ancestral throne. But first he must find out the true identify of the mysterious woman whose beauty and wit have dazzled the court...and why she is avoiding him. Can it be possible that Kate Templeton is an English spy?
Though Ian insists that no woman has ever refused him, Kate vows to resist his scandalous charm. Leading him on a merry chase all over Scotland is the best way to safeguard her heart. Yet a passionate confrontation brings them together at last and the only word on her lips is yes...
Scoundrel. Seducer. Sir Ian MacKay deserves to be called the Thief of Hearts. Yet he is a man with a mission: to return Scotland’s rightful king to his ancestral throne. But first he must find out the true identify of the mysterious woman whose beauty and wit have dazzled the court...and why she is avoiding him. Can it be possible that Kate Templeton is an English spy?
Though Ian insists that no woman has ever refused him, Kate vows to resist his scandalous charm. Leading him on a merry chase all over Scotland is the best way to safeguard her heart. Yet a passionate confrontation brings them together at last and the only word on her lips is yes...
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
36 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Sandy Blair
13 books83 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Award winning author Sandy Blair has slept in castles, knelt in cathedrals where kings and queens have been crowned, dined with peerage, floated along Venetian canals, explored the great pyramids, misplaced her husband in an Egyptian ruin (she continues to deny being the one lost,) and fallen (gracefully) off a cruise ship.
Winner of Romance Writers of America© Golden Heart for Best Paranormal Romance, Sandy’s debut release A MAN IN A KILT also won the 2004 National Readers Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance and was a 2005 RITA finalist.
Sandy loves writing about the past. "I find it easier to suspend my own disbelief when thoroughly immersed in a time when nobody worried about political correctness; when men were wonderfully alpha and had no idea they even had a feminine side, much less worried about getting in touch with it." She often adds a touch of the paranormal to her tales believing the very possibility expands the imagination, which in turn gives her latitude with humor.
Her second release, A ROGUE IN A KILT, received Romantic Times Magazine’s 4 ½ star Top Pick rating and was a National Readers Choice Awards finalist. Her third, The Accidental Duchess in the anthology HOW TO MARRY A DUKE, won the 2006 Golden Quill Award for Best Novella. Her books are now available in four languages and can be found in a dozen countries.
When not writing, Sandy dabbles with watercolors, is a charity fundraiser, and loves to entertain family and friends at home. She claims the secret to hosting a successful dinner party is setting a pretty table and serving lots of wine before the meal.
She currently resides in Texas with her husband.
Award winning author Sandy Blair has slept in castles, knelt in cathedrals where kings and queens have been crowned, dined with peerage, floated along Venetian canals, explored the great pyramids, misplaced her husband in an Egyptian ruin (she continues to deny being the one lost,) and fallen (gracefully) off a cruise ship.
Winner of Romance Writers of America© Golden Heart for Best Paranormal Romance, Sandy’s debut release A MAN IN A KILT also won the 2004 National Readers Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance and was a 2005 RITA finalist.
Sandy loves writing about the past. "I find it easier to suspend my own disbelief when thoroughly immersed in a time when nobody worried about political correctness; when men were wonderfully alpha and had no idea they even had a feminine side, much less worried about getting in touch with it." She often adds a touch of the paranormal to her tales believing the very possibility expands the imagination, which in turn gives her latitude with humor.
Her second release, A ROGUE IN A KILT, received Romantic Times Magazine’s 4 ½ star Top Pick rating and was a National Readers Choice Awards finalist. Her third, The Accidental Duchess in the anthology HOW TO MARRY A DUKE, won the 2006 Golden Quill Award for Best Novella. Her books are now available in four languages and can be found in a dozen countries.
When not writing, Sandy dabbles with watercolors, is a charity fundraiser, and loves to entertain family and friends at home. She claims the secret to hosting a successful dinner party is setting a pretty table and serving lots of wine before the meal.
She currently resides in Texas with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 7, 2018
While I did enjoy some parts of this story, I thought it lacked a lot of the spark that the first two novels had. It didn’t capture my attention as much and I kept finding that my mind was wandering away from the story. Some parts were still entertaining though and I did enjoy the characters so at least not all was lost!
March 4, 2019
Loved it!!!
I hated to see it end I did! I have really enjoyed this whole series... I love the humor, the passion, and the characters so much that it was like I too were watching each scene unfold. The familiar characters from the last two books on occasion gracing this story where Ian Mackay had graced the other two books. Gradually being reintroduced into his own story. The women each unique, but important in their own way, than lastly the passion which drew me in hook line and sinker!
I hated to see it end I did! I have really enjoyed this whole series... I love the humor, the passion, and the characters so much that it was like I too were watching each scene unfold. The familiar characters from the last two books on occasion gracing this story where Ian Mackay had graced the other two books. Gradually being reintroduced into his own story. The women each unique, but important in their own way, than lastly the passion which drew me in hook line and sinker!
June 23, 2022
To begin with, I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. They were about time travel and fey, so imagination and fun. This third book in the series just wasn't that enjoyable but more historical and NOT fun. Some characters of the first two books were barely mentioned and others, not at all. The battle scene did it for me. As a result, I won't read this series again. She's got two series to her name and the second is a reprint and renaming of the first.
February 8, 2019
Fabulous!
Adore her character development,, to hear inside the minds of the characters as well as see the outward story in beautiful detail! Love it!
Adore her character development,, to hear inside the minds of the characters as well as see the outward story in beautiful detail! Love it!
September 23, 2019
Buen libro. El que menos me ha gustado de la serie.
February 18, 2024
Not an easy reading because of the old English, but still I enjoyed it a lot. Historical romance with a lot of humor and happy end.
February 9, 2023
When the heroine sees the despair and, worse, the potential for bitterness and cruelty that grows from it within the character of the imprisoned Scottish king, she makes the choice to aid in the prevent of a war. Given the cover of being the widow of a fellow inmate’s son, she makes the trek deep into Scottish Highlands to retrieve valuable information that will show the young king that he does still have support from his people despite the fact that no ransom has been paid on his behalf. The heroine is no spy and so she is scared of being discovered as being English but she finds herself deep in 'enemy' territory none the less.
Upon arrival, she meets the hero- a charmer for sure and used to having women fall all over him. He is beautiful and tall and he makes her frightened with the emotions swirling within her whenever he is near but she sees him for what he is- shallow. She desires him yes, but he is looking for nothing but a conquest and that will be something she never is. So, she shuts him down and much to her surprise and dismay this only seems to attract him more. The hero is a lady’s man there is no doubt but deep inside he wants more. He wants the wife he can never have because he is not the title laird and his service to the Governor of Scotland takes up most of his time.
When he meets the heroine, he is attracted to her and so obviously he makes his intentions known. Only, she is not having it. This game of cat and mouse is something missing from all his previous interactions with women and he has to admit he quite likes it. The heroine's time at the castle is short lived however as the brother of her supposed dead husband is threating to kill her as he sees her as a threat to his fortune. The heroine realizes her time is up and she must retrieve the hidden information she seeks even if it means theft.... So, she breaks into the safe, only to be discovered by the hero.
He is stunned and furious by her obvious betrayal and means to see her brought to judgment, only she knocks him out with a chamber pot before he can do so.... And steals his horse in her escape. Furious with her and himself he gives chase.... only to have her escape again by fooling him into thinking she jumped off a cliff. But the 3rd time he catches her he has her firmly in his grasp. It's then that she tells her story and much to his frustration it rings through as truth. Plus, he admits to himself that he's fallen in love with her and no matter what, he must see her safely returned to London. In the duration of their journey, they give into their desires and more than that they surrender to the love that's developed between them. If only things were simpler. If only he wasn't Scottish and she wasn't English during a dangerous time when they should be enemies. But when the hero is imprisoned in the same tower that holds his king, the heroine risks certain death to see him freed because he's the love of her life and life without him is truly empty.
I grew to love with book with every passing chapter. The story for me started out okay, then is built up momentum and by the end I was super happy with how it turned out. First off, I will say that the heroine grew as a character quite marvelously and I appreciated her intentions and overcoming fear of being caught to do something they could prevent a war-though she couldn't know it was pointless. She was horribly frustrating to the hero and could be both a hindrance and a help in equal measure. I liked how she stood up for herself when it came to hero and gave him a fight because he needed it. By the end of this book, I greatly admired the heroine's determination and willingness to do whatever it took to save the hero and keep him alive, even at risk to herself. The hero was funny, especially when he had to deal with the crafty and stubborn heroine. On the surface one could dumb down their relationship to that typical a guy wants what he can't have theme but I think it was more than that in this case. The hero wasn't a 'play boy' he wanted something deeper but he just didn't think he could have it. Plus, he was respectful towards the hero even when he was pressing his advancements so that was sweet. They had great chemistry and I can't say how much I adored the whole ending in the prison and after the escape, the romance in those scenes was heartwarming to say the least. Much an improvement from the first book I read of this author.
Upon arrival, she meets the hero- a charmer for sure and used to having women fall all over him. He is beautiful and tall and he makes her frightened with the emotions swirling within her whenever he is near but she sees him for what he is- shallow. She desires him yes, but he is looking for nothing but a conquest and that will be something she never is. So, she shuts him down and much to her surprise and dismay this only seems to attract him more. The hero is a lady’s man there is no doubt but deep inside he wants more. He wants the wife he can never have because he is not the title laird and his service to the Governor of Scotland takes up most of his time.
When he meets the heroine, he is attracted to her and so obviously he makes his intentions known. Only, she is not having it. This game of cat and mouse is something missing from all his previous interactions with women and he has to admit he quite likes it. The heroine's time at the castle is short lived however as the brother of her supposed dead husband is threating to kill her as he sees her as a threat to his fortune. The heroine realizes her time is up and she must retrieve the hidden information she seeks even if it means theft.... So, she breaks into the safe, only to be discovered by the hero.
He is stunned and furious by her obvious betrayal and means to see her brought to judgment, only she knocks him out with a chamber pot before he can do so.... And steals his horse in her escape. Furious with her and himself he gives chase.... only to have her escape again by fooling him into thinking she jumped off a cliff. But the 3rd time he catches her he has her firmly in his grasp. It's then that she tells her story and much to his frustration it rings through as truth. Plus, he admits to himself that he's fallen in love with her and no matter what, he must see her safely returned to London. In the duration of their journey, they give into their desires and more than that they surrender to the love that's developed between them. If only things were simpler. If only he wasn't Scottish and she wasn't English during a dangerous time when they should be enemies. But when the hero is imprisoned in the same tower that holds his king, the heroine risks certain death to see him freed because he's the love of her life and life without him is truly empty.
I grew to love with book with every passing chapter. The story for me started out okay, then is built up momentum and by the end I was super happy with how it turned out. First off, I will say that the heroine grew as a character quite marvelously and I appreciated her intentions and overcoming fear of being caught to do something they could prevent a war-though she couldn't know it was pointless. She was horribly frustrating to the hero and could be both a hindrance and a help in equal measure. I liked how she stood up for herself when it came to hero and gave him a fight because he needed it. By the end of this book, I greatly admired the heroine's determination and willingness to do whatever it took to save the hero and keep him alive, even at risk to herself. The hero was funny, especially when he had to deal with the crafty and stubborn heroine. On the surface one could dumb down their relationship to that typical a guy wants what he can't have theme but I think it was more than that in this case. The hero wasn't a 'play boy' he wanted something deeper but he just didn't think he could have it. Plus, he was respectful towards the hero even when he was pressing his advancements so that was sweet. They had great chemistry and I can't say how much I adored the whole ending in the prison and after the escape, the romance in those scenes was heartwarming to say the least. Much an improvement from the first book I read of this author.
August 27, 2014
This was slow to start but very enjoyable. Ian Mackay is a spy for James I, the rightful king of Scotland, imprisoned by the English in the Tower of London. Kate Templeton is an advocate and friend of said king but undercover to find out why the ransom was never paid and why the Lairds have forsaken their king. Secrets, secrets and more secrets keep Ian and Kate apart but truly it's because Kate is a big hulk of a woman whom no man has ever looked askance at and she doesn't trust Ian's flattery. Once the story gets going, it's a quick read with some very good scenes that really pull those old heartstrings.
My favorite passage happened during a particularly romantic interlude. At the crucial moment, Ian remembers that Kate is a virgin and pulling back says "I am so sorry Lass, I canna." To which a very disappointed Kate murmurs "so it's true then?" Where Ian responds "What is true?" And Kate says "That Scotsman prefer sheep." Honestly I laughed out loud.
My favorite passage happened during a particularly romantic interlude. At the crucial moment, Ian remembers that Kate is a virgin and pulling back says "I am so sorry Lass, I canna." To which a very disappointed Kate murmurs "so it's true then?" Where Ian responds "What is true?" And Kate says "That Scotsman prefer sheep." Honestly I laughed out loud.
February 25, 2008
Ian MacKay known as the Thief of Hearts has a mission: to return Scotland's rightful king to his ancestral throne. But first he must find out the identity of the beautiful woman and why she is avoiding him. Could Kate Templeton be an English spy?
Ian insists that no woman has ever refused him, Kate vows to resist his scandalous charm. She steals his horse twice. And leads him a merry chase all over Scotland.
This book is a fast and very fun read. Ian I found to be delightful. I liked the fact that Kate was so strong and willful.
Ian insists that no woman has ever refused him, Kate vows to resist his scandalous charm. She steals his horse twice. And leads him a merry chase all over Scotland.
This book is a fast and very fun read. Ian I found to be delightful. I liked the fact that Kate was so strong and willful.
March 17, 2009
The plot and love story were a little weak and far-fetched. The storyline picked up towards the end. The author has a great sense of humor, which kept me reading. She didn't involve the heroine's second sight as much as I had hoped. That part of the storyline started out strong in the beginning, disappeared in the middle and then briefly reappeared in the end. In some aspects I enjoyed her other books more but other aspects made this book better than the others.
June 6, 2012
I like the characters and the setting, Scotland. I really ended up liking this story a lot. It moved along at a good pace and the more I got to more the characters, the more it clicked for me. A very enjoyable read mostly. There is a bit about one of Scotland's very bloody wars in it, but as I like history I was aware of this time period and that particular war when I bought the book. Overall, I enjoyed it enough that I will read it again.
April 20, 2013
Liked this third book in the series, but not quite as much as the first two. Maybe the historical political background took too much time and attention away from the romance, or maybe it was that the stor'y felt a bit more "regency-like" in some parts. Or it just could be that its the middle of April and we are still having huge snowstorms in Minnesota and it's making me a sourpus! (it should be in the 60's and greening up at this time of year) At any rate, I still enjoyed the story.
June 24, 2016
There's Scottish Sir Ian MacKay and the English spy Kate, each with their secrets. This was a fast read but a little disjointed at times. Ack! We never find out what happened to Kate's father, something that should have been mentioned in the Epilogue, especially since Kate had a bad premonition about him. Humph! Nonetheless, I liked the sassy dialogue between Ian and Kate, how they kept pulling together and then pushing apart. All-in-all, a lighthearted romp!
January 14, 2012
I'm giving book 3 in the "In a Kilt" series 2.5 stars. It was still cute, I just wasn't sold on this couple like I was in the first 2 books. When they stopped trying to stay away from each other it went from lust to (undying) love a bit too fast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2012
I liked the tall heroine and her adventures with the Highlander. Sassy repartee and all that sizzles!
It was definitely a very unstable political time in history, violent and sad. Amazing how the writer is able to envision a romance and a happy family ending in such difficult times.
It was definitely a very unstable political time in history, violent and sad. Amazing how the writer is able to envision a romance and a happy family ending in such difficult times.
December 18, 2014
The thiefs heart Is stolen
Excellent story, finally the thief of hearts is nabbed. He totally found his match with Kate. Sandy Blair tells a wonderful story, full of history, love and danger. I look forward to her next book.
Excellent story, finally the thief of hearts is nabbed. He totally found his match with Kate. Sandy Blair tells a wonderful story, full of history, love and danger. I look forward to her next book.
July 30, 2008
This is one of a series. I plan to get the other books in it. Sandy has a great imagination. Her stories are well written. And she's a girl from Texas too. LOL. Love Ya Sandy
July 24, 2009
Good romance set in the early 1400's (which isn't my favorite time). Scottish Sir Ian MacKay and the English spy Kate...
January 2, 2010
I really liked the dialogue in this book, however I found the ending to be too abrupt and it left me unsatisfied.
March 25, 2011
This one is quite satisfying. I didn't give it five stars only because a few scenes could have been hotter.
April 7, 2012
I've truly enjoyed this series. Still can't find the first book, but the second two were great fun. The plot is good, the sex is hot, and the characters are delightful. Good reading.
March 5, 2014
I just finished this book and I didn't like it as much as a man in a kilt. This one was hard to get into for me.
December 26, 2014
Was a good next step in the series. Really have been enjoying this series.
February 28, 2016
another fun read, with some humor, by sandy Blair.
I learned some of Scotland's history too!
I learned some of Scotland's history too!
August 21, 2016
Less hideous than previous books. Still very cliché and silly. But....at least this one showed a female character that wasn't completely subservient, banal, & utterly dependent upon her "hero".
July 19, 2007
fun but stupid, go figure
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews