A Counterfeit Heart

Secrets and Spies #3

by K.C. Bateman

As Sabine de la Tour tosses piles of forged banknotes onto a bonfire in a Paris park, she bids a reluctant farewell to her double life as a notorious criminal. Over the course of Napoleon’s reign, her counterfeits destabilized the continent and turned scoundrels into rich men, but now she and her business partner must escape France—or face the guillotine. Her only hope of surviving in England is to strike a deal with the very spy she’s spent her career outrunning. Now after meeting the arrogant operative in the flesh, Sabine longs to throw herself upon his mercy—and into his arms.

Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, is prepared to take any risk to safeguard England from the horrors of the French Revolution. To lure the insurgents out from the shadows, he’s even willing to make a pact with his archenemy: Philippe Lacorte, the greatest counterfeiter in Europe. But when a cheeky, gamine-faced beauty proves herself to be Lacorte, Richard is shocked—and more than a little aroused. Unlike the debutantes who so often hurl themselves at him, this cunning minx offers a unique and irresistible challenge. Richard will help her. But in return, he wants something that even Sabine cannot fake.

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

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2017

About the author

Kate Bateman / K.C. Bateman, is a bestselling author of Regency and Renaissance historical romances, including the Secrets & Spies series, Bow Street Bachelors series, Ruthless Rivals series and Her Majesty's Rebels series. Her books have received multiple Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, and her Renaissance romp The Devil To Pay was a 2019 RITA award nominee.

Kate's books have been translated into multiple languages, including French, Italian, Brazilian, Japanese, German, Romanian, Czech, and Croatian.
When not writing, Kate leads a double life as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several TV shows in the UK. She currently lives in the UK with her husband, three inexhaustible children, and a naughty toy Poodle named Monty.

Kate loves to hear from readers. Contact her on Twitter @katebateman, Facebook, or via her website at www.kcbateman.com

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Reviews

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGally and Publisher for honest review.

4.5 Rating

Philippe Lacorte is know as one of the best counterfeiters and forgers in France and Europe. But in reality Philippe is really Sabine de la Tour. Sabine and her friend Anton, who many believe is really Philippe, have a plan to leave France and head for America via England. There is someone (a depraved offical) who is after a large amount of counterfeit currency that both Anton and Sabine have in their possession. This large amount of fake currency is Sabines key to leaving her past life behind and starting over with a clean slate. Her and Anton plan to blackmail Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovel who is a English spy. He has been pursuing Philippe/Sabine for years with no success in catching him/her. Sabine visits Richard at his home late one evening (he thinks she's applying for a mistress position). She reveals who she really is and her plan to flood the English market with counterfeit currency unless he gives her money. Richard becomes very intrigued and pleasantly surprised that Philippi is really this beautiful woman. Richard and Sabine come to an agreement that will benefit them both. Richard needs her help to flush out some antimonarchists with Napoleon forgeries and in exchange he will pay her with a month worth of wages (She and Anton can then leave for America). Also she can't flood England with her counterfeit currency's. The two also come to a realization (secretly of course) that they will need to fight this very strong attraction they have for each other.

Richard and Sabine are both very intelligent and competitive individuals. They feed off each others stimulating conversation, ideas and sharp intellect. But what is most prevalent and obvious to both is the attraction that is becoming to hard too deny for either of them. The two surrender to their attraction and realize that their feelings for each other might just be love. But each is harboring some secrets and wrestle with their relationship and where it might all lead.

There is intrigue, blackmail, conspiracies and fast paced action. I thought the writing was really good and character development excellent. I so adored the handsome hero. Richard was such a strong and multi layered character that was such a compliment to the heroine. Sabine was a beautiful, smart and confident woman that also came across as a soft/tender woman. Their relationship development was built in a believable and realistic manner. Richard and Sabine's chemistry and sexual tension was very prevalent throughout the book. You add their banter and dialogue and it was icing on the cake. I didn't give it a five star rating as I found "something" seemed to be missing and I still can't put my finger on what it is/was. I might go back and reread this at some point to see if I can figure out what exactly it is. But I would highly recommend this read. This author is definitely becoming one of my favorite.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Sabine de la Tour wants a fresh start away from her past. Sabine has worked as a talented counterfeit agent for Napolean, but wants to change, to improve herself. She never wanted to be who she has become, but certain circumstances left her no choice. So along with her closest friend, they leave France and leave for England for a time. Sabine has a plan, a plan which if it works will leave her with more than enough funds to make a fresh start, but there is one problem, she must work with Richard Hampden and he is not making it easy. Richard doesn't trust Sabine, especially with her record of being a criminal, but the more they work together, the more Richard starts to weaken his resolve against her and he realizes how much he admires her and her strength and desire to keep her by his side.

I was swept away by this book, and I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Even the writing isn't five star reading for me, it was still engaging and I really enjoyed the set up of this story. Our hero having worked as a spy, and our heroine having worked creating counterfeit money for Bonaparte....it definitely adds a unique mix of chemistry and tension for sure. And even though these two are enemies of sorts, it also wasn't as angsty as I thought it would be and I was relieved by that. Their relationship seemed to progress so smootly, and we also see them grow quite a bit. Our hero learns compassion and understanding and our heroine learns about making the right choice and standing up for what she believes in. Sabine especially learns quite a bit about herself as well. I believe that this story really focused quite a bit on her journey. Sabine isn't hardened or cynical, and even though she does like her rebellious side, and seeing who she can trick at times, she is also wanting to better herself. She didn't have it easy, and was left an orphan as a teenager, and had to find her own way to survive. With the history surrounding France around this time, and we also see that she hasn't liked what she has had to do and wants to find a new way of life.

The romance that builds between Sabine and Richard was quite fun to read, I will admit. These two had me laughing so very hard. Richard is so serious all the time, and Sabine has a playful side to her character. And she tends to play tricks on Richard especially when he gets all alpha he male on her. Yeah makes for a lively and entertaining read for sure. Her counterfeit talents definitely gives her an edge in certain ways that I reveled in. It is quite entertaining to see them go at it, and the way they just work and fit so well together. Their chemistry is pretty explosive, and man can Richard make a girl swoon. Some of these scenes between them were sexy as sin and I just wanted more of this author when I finished this one.

The story is pretty exciting though, on top of the actual love story, we also have a solid suspense and dangerous plot line, dealing with criminals wanting to destroy England which definitely adds a certain edge to this book that creates a finalizing touch that is just right!! My first read by this author, and it won't be the last, I can't wait to read the previous books.

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[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The romance felt like it was slow-burn even though there was an instant attraction. They took a lot longer to kiss than I anticipated, so that's why I felt the romance is slow-burn. The main plot has to do with a spy mission and I felt like there was no urgency to accomplish this mission. Here they are at the modiste, getting the heroine measured for new gowns. Get your priorities straightened.

There's forced proximity since she is staying with him (so he can keep an eye on her) and a fake courtship that didn't really go anywhere. I would have liked to see more of that, but it made sense that the author didn't focus too much on it since the spy mission should have been the main focus.

[Blackjack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I raced through this book, part romance and part adventure/spy story, in a record-breaking two days for me. I find Bateman's books so fun to read, and though I tend to have criticisms after the fact, the actual reading of them is always a highlight to my day.

In this third book in Bateman's Napoleonic spy series, the brother of the first book's hero is the focus. Richard Hampden is not as domineering and alpha as the first brother, but he does take some warming up to, as he is distrustful of and standoffish with nearly everyone except a small cohort of close family and friends. It's fair to say here though that he does have reason to be distrustful of the heroine. Sabine de la Tour is a major player in the world of counterfeiting, and Richard has been tracking her for years, though always in the belief that she is a he.

It's also safe to say that Sabine is an obsession for Richard and when he finally meets her, it is at her convenience and timing rather than his. One of my favorite aspects of this novel is that Sabine calls the shots most of the time, for which I am so grateful. One of my least favorite tropes in romance writing is the capture and control of women by the story's hero. Here though, despite Richard's attempts to blackmail her into residing in his home for the short period of a month, he never succeeds in containing her. She escapes when she feels like it; she plays outrageous and genuinely funny pranks on him to distract others from her comings and goings; and she ultimately decides when they will become lovers. And yet, despite all of her autonomy and independence and internal strength, I still felt a few qualms at how much power Richard could have over her as a wealthy, powerful, and titled man. There is a significant power imbalance in this novel that really only worked for me because of Sabine's ability to maneuver around him successfully. In the end too, Richard's power is reduced because of his love for Sabine, and I think the author does a very nice job of showing how he eschews his morals and professional responsibilities in the name of love.

There are a few threads in this story that get lost in the story though, and the lack of tighter editing was a little frustrating. For instance, a big point is made of Sabine's nearsightedness as an Achilles heel, but the idea is virtually dropped by the second half of the novel. A French nemesis follows Sabine to London and appears to be a genuine threat to her but his role in the story practically vanishes. Also, much is made of the fact that Sabine is a virgin and Richard has a firm policy never to have a sexual relationship with one. So, Sabine lies to him and he never finds out, oddly. She never tells him and that thread vanishes too. Additionally, there are some pacing issues in the final half that bothered me a bit. Once Sabine and Richard become lovers, the novel shifts to the adventure story and the romance is on the back burner until nearly the end. As a romance reader, I always want the romance to remain central and so I did feel that the novel missed opportunities to show what Sabine and Richard mean to each other once the relationship is a sexual one.

I am stilling giving this four stars though because I was fully engaged from start to finish. I also always appreciate a well-crafted heroine who more than holds her own in a man's world. This is very much a novel where the heroine is on top and I loved that.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I counted K.C. Bateman as one of my “discoveries” of 2016 after I read her terrific début novel, To Steal a Heart, an action-packed, sexy, adventure story set in Napoleonic France. The book boasted many of the ingredients l love in historical romance – a central couple forced into proximity by circumstance, lots of sexually-charged and very funny banter, an intriguing plot, chemistry off the charts and a charming, deliciously dangerous hero. Ms. Bateman followed that with A Raven's Heart and delivered another fabulous adventure story, this time featuring a couple who have loved each other for years, but have never owned up to it for fear of rejection. In A Counterfeit Heart, the third book in the author’s Secrets and Spies series, the action takes place almost entirely in England and the story draws on some of the real life plots made by Napoléon to destabilise the English economy by flooding the country with millions of pounds worth of forged banknotes.

Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, has appeared as a secondary character in the previous books, and we have learned that, like his brother Nicolas (To Steal a Heart) and his closest friend, William Ravenswood (A Raven’s Heart) he works for the British government. Even though Napoléon has been defeated, he still has many sympathisers who would like spark a revolution in England, and for the past few months, Richard has been tracking a group of anti-monarchists in London who are part of the old network of spies placed in England by the French. Richard has been trying to locate the elusive forger, Philippe Lacorte, with a view to engaging him to forge letters from Napoléon to his English sympathisers in order to lure them out, but Lacorte remains stubbornly hard to pin down and all Richard’s efforts to find him have so far been unsuccessful. Imagine his shock, therefore, when a young woman, a lovely, elfin creature, arrives at his London home late one night, introduces herself as Sabine de la Tour – and promptly announces that she is Philippe Lacorte.

For years, Sabine’s friend and partner, Anton Carnaud, acted as go-between for her and the man who had overseen Napoléon’s counterfeiting operation, General Jean Malet. With Napoléon now imprisoned on St. Helena, Malet is the only man at large who knows about the fake fortune Bonaparte had amassed – and he wants it for himself. Sabine’s home has been ransacked and Anton, as Malet’s only link to Lacorte, is in danger. Sabine decides to flee to England; the English have been trying to engage Lacorte’s services for months, and with the money she can earn working for them, she will be able to afford to buy passage to America for Anton and to make a new life for herself wherever she wants to go.

Stunned by Sabine’s announcement though he is, Richard is no fool and is naturally suspicious of her claim. Being young, handsome, wealthy and in possession of a title, he is used to women throwing themselves at him and at first suspects that some sort of entrapment scheme is afoot, but when Sabine writes a note in a perfect copy of his own hand in front of his very nose, he can’t deny that she’s who she says she is and demands to know what she wants in exchange for her services as a forger.

Even though desperation has led her to Richard Hampden’s door, Sabine is not naïve enough to believe that he will meekly agree to her ten-thousand pound price. She is well aware that she is facing a wily, clever man, and calmly explains that she is still in possession of the half a million pounds in forged notes with which Napoléon had planned to flood Britain, and that if Richard does not agree to her terms, then she will put the counterfeit notes into circulation.

What ensues is a sexy game of cat-and-mouse between two equally sharp-witted, devious opponents whose intense attraction to each other burns up the pages. Sabine is brave and smart, matching wits with Richard every step of the way and holding her own against him in their battle of wills, while he, having believed her at first to be a blackmailing baggage, is surprised to find himself utterly captivated by her sneaky, conniving brain every bit as much as he lusts after her body. The chemistry between the couple is scorching, and Ms. Bateman once again proves herself a master of the art of sexually-charged banter and saucy double-entendre. Both protagonists are strongly drawn and well-rounded, and I enjoyed the way Sabine is gradually disabused of her belief that Richard is little more than an arrogant, self-entitled aristocrat, discovering that he is also incredibly resourceful, useful in a fight and not above getting his hands dirty – literally and metaphorically – when the need arises. As the story progresses, the real Richard emerges as a deeply loyal and honourable man who is dedicated to rooting out evil and protecting his countrymen and who will stop at nothing to protect his country and those close to him.

The other main relationship in the book is the one between Richard and his brother-in-law, Raven, which is characterised by sharp insight and brotherly mockery as Raven watches his friend finally succumb to the thrall of the one woman stubborn and infuriating enough to capture his heart. It’s nicely written with just the right amount of teasing on Raven’s part and sardonic denials on Richard’s, and there’s no question that these two will always have each other’s backs.

If I have a criticism, it’s that in the early stages of the story, the relationship between Sabine and Richard relies rather too heavily on insta-lust; the pair of them are pretty much panting for each other from the off, which felt rather overdone. But that’s really the only thing that didn’t work for me; the romance is otherwise well developed, with Richard and Sabine gradually coming to recognise and value the person behind the prickly forger and the haughty aristocrat as they get under each other’s skin and allow themselves to be emotionally vulnerable in a way they have done with no-one else.

A Counterfeit Heart is a treat of a read for anyone who enjoys a well-plotted romantic adventure featuring a plucky heroine and a dangerously sexy hero who match wits and fall in love while foiling dastardly plots and rooting out the bad guys. I have enjoyed each book in the Secrets and Spies series and am looking forward to reading more by this talented author in the near future.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? This book just happened to be my audiobook at the same time I was reading another book that was just fantastic. I tend to have a one-track mind at times and I'm afraid A Counterfeit Heart suffered from that. It is a very good Historical Romance, and I can usually lose myself in a Kate Bateman book. She skillfully blends romance with light suspense/mystery. 3 1/2-Stars

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is the third in a series it can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Sabine de la Tour is a french counterfeiter. She and her best friend Anton have fled to England en route to America to escape a corrupt official who wanted to keep the counterfeit currency she had created. Her cunning plan is to blackmail the English spy who had relentlessly pursued her to prevent her destabilising European currencies by flooding the market with counterfeit money.

Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell will do anything for his country but the greatest regret of his life is that he couldn't catch the notorious counterfeiter Philippe Lacorte. When a beautiful Frenchwoman arrives at his door late one night claiming she is Lacorte at first he is incredulous but she quickly proves her credentials. They strike a deal, Sabine will help Richard uncover a group of English Bonaparte sympathisers and in return he will pay her £10,000. Oh, and she won't flood England with millions of pounds of counterfeit currency.

As plot and counterplot intertwine with blackmail and coercion Richard and Sabine become ever more involved with each other. But when both are harbouring secrets what chance does love have?

This definitely passed the Georgette Heyer sniff test for me (for the bemused, this means that it seems to have the same sort of historical accuracy/inaccuracy eg use of conge lack of modern colloquialisms etc).

I liked this very much. The plot was fast paced and furious, there were numerous strands interwoven and each of the characters was engaging and interesting. I haven't come across K.C. Bateman but I would say this was just as good as the books I read recently by Elizabeth Hoyt.

Highly recommended if you liked the scheming of The Scarlet Pimpernel, the dastardly French and the plucky Englishmen who outwit them (and fall in love with complex Frenchwomen).

I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, it's probably me sorry

This was a struggle for me because I found the set-up of the story interesting with the h being a well known and sought after counterfeiter who leaves France after Napoleon was captured and comes to England. The H was the sort of typical arrogant, good-looking lord, but he also worked for the government and appreciated the challenge the h presented (even if he didn't show her that all the time). The h blackmails the H into a situation where she agrees to work with him for a month using her background and paying her 10,000 pounds. Neither is thrilled with the situation. They had chemistry and instant attraction, however, the friction between the H and h came off more frustrating imo than tension-building. There is on page steam, which surprised me because I thought this was a clean romance for some reason and I'd resigned myself to a lack of sex, then they kept thinking graphically about the other so I was confused until the hanky panky started lol.

Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (though both think the other might have another lover at some point, neither is with anyone else), h is a virgin (H didn't know but also didn't seem to notice, which felt odd given how the h thought about it) and H is not (had recently ended things with a mistress and he had rules about any women he was with and they never lasted longer than 3 months).

There were some interesting supporting characters including the h's lifelong best friend who was also in England for a fresh start, the H's fun sister and her husband, the H's best friend and also a government worker. Some servants also provided background moments. The villains needed something more though esp since they involved the main characters' pasts but didn't feel completely three dimensional, something was lacking for me.

Some of the writing style bothered me unfortunately. The POV would change without a break so it would sometimes jar me out of the flow and I'd have to reread the passage. Some plot choices that didn't make sense to me involving the bad guys and a need for more positive and romantic moments between the main characters kept me from rating this higher. I did love the details that made up the h's background and even though the H had a more traditional background so wasn't as unique, he was also fleshed out well. The ending is HEA of them married and in love (though an on page wedding and some lovey dovey moments would have been nice) and the epilogue is 10 months later with an additional moment between them showing that he's not holding her back from what she needs to do, which was honestly a great touch. This simply wasn't the right book for me, but I do think other friends will enjoy it more.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in K. C. Bateman’s entertaining, witty and sexy Secrets and Spies series and I loved it just as much as the other two books.

It is usually the hero who first captures my interest but, in A Counterfeit Heart, Sabine is truly a force to be reckoned with and I admire her intelligence, courage, resourcefulness and resilience. Her life has been far from easy, but Sabine has used her skills to survive and thrive in a difficult and dangerous situation, to become France’s greatest forger and scourge of the British Secret Service. I like how, despite everything, she retained her own moral compass and I admire her loyalty to and concern for her best friend, Anton Carnaud.

Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, Nicholas and Eloise’s older brother, was a secondary character in the previous two books but, to be honest, he didn’t leave a great impression on me. Apart from his work as an agent for the British Crown, he seemed typically handsome, wealthy and self-possessed, with a bevy of ladies ready and willing to indulge in a no strings attached affair. In fact, ‘he had never met a woman he couldn’t walk away from’, until he meets Sabine of course. Well, I quickly changed my opinion of Richard in this book because he is incredibly sexy!

At first, Sabine sees Richard as everything that she dislikes about the aristocratic class, overbearing, lazy and dissolute, but gradually discovers that he is resourceful, loyal and protective of those he cares for, including herself. She also admires his steadfast determination to right wrongs and the way he champions those caught up in the political machinations.

"I don’t give a stuff about the politics, but I do care about all the innocent people who will be caught up in the subsequent violence.”

I love how he is more than willing to get his hands dirty literally, and his disguise as Sabine’s dumb brute cousin Jacob is a performance not to be missed.

Richard doesn’t trust Sabine and thinks she’s nothing more than a ‘blackmailing little crook’ but he can’t help being impressed and enthralled by her. She is unlike any of the other women he has known; she’s not afraid to challenge him and, where he is used to people treating him with envy and respect, Sabine is neither in awe of his title nor impressed by his wealth which he finds refreshing.

I love their verbal to-and-fro and Richard’s deliciously wicked innuendos.

“It’s amazing how attractive a man appears when viewed through the lens of an unencumbered estate and twenty thousand pounds a year.” ​
Hampden chuckled. “It’s closer to thirty thousand, actually. And I’m pretty sure it isn’t the size of my inheritance they’re interested in.”

♥♥♥

“Where do you want me? On the bed? The chair? The floor?” His eyes gleamed with teasing merriment at his deliberate double entendres. “Feel free to arrange me however you like. I’m completely at your mercy. Any position you choose will be perfectly acceptable.”
(Richard proposes Sabine paints him)

Ms. Bateman develops the relationship between them perfectly. I could feel their deepening attraction and the sexual tension positively sizzles as they struggle with their feelings for each other.

Awareness thickened the air between them, a bright, expectant tension, like the hush before a thunderstorm.

It was fun to see the interactions between Richard and his brother-in-law Raven, who is amused by Richard’s predicament and teases him mercilessly about Sabine.

Raven let out a long whistle and leaned back in his chair. “Oh, this is priceless. The great Lord Lovell bested by a French pixie.” He shook his head with a gleeful chuckle. “Do you know how long I’ve prayed for you to meet your match? Years, my friend. Years.”

I like the warmth with which Richard’s family treat Sabine and I enjoyed seeing the budding friendship between Sabine and Richard’s sister Heloise.

One of my favourite scenes is where Sabine orders all sorts of items in Richard’s name so that, in all the ensuing mayhem, she can sneak out of the house unnoticed. It is just hilarious, particularly the foul-mouthed parrot! I also became very fond of Argos, Richard’s ‘tongue-lolling, tail-thumping cross between a greyhound, a Bedlington terrier and a lurcher’.

The danger and intrigue are woven into the fabric of the story in a way that never overshadows the romance. In fact, the nail-biting climax and subsequent events are what propel Richard and Sabine to finally admit their love for each other and pave the way for this heartfelt proposal from Richard.

“Useless, disobedient organ that it is. My heart wants you. Needs you. And since I need it to keep on beating, you’re just going to have to marry me. That’s all there is to it.”

I love the way the author uses her knowledge of the antique and art world to incorporate fascinating details into her stories; such as cartographers’ ‘paper dolls’ and painting techniques. I always discover something new whenever I read one of Ms. Bateman’s books.

The Epilogue provided a most heart-warming ending to Sabine’s family’s story.

MY VERDICT: A worthy end to a wonderful series which I can wholeheartedly recommend. I’m now looking forward to Ms. Bateman’s new Desperate Desires series.


Secrets and Spies series (click on the book covers for more details):



**I received a complimentary copy from the author for the purposes of an honest review**


This review was first posted on Rakes and Rascals Blog:

https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...

[Ermione Pickwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, K.C. Bateman is a genius. A Counterfeit Heart is the third certainty she's given me as an author in a year. And so far she has written three novels.

So you should really read this HR, and the two before this if you haven't yet. I'm always all up in a frenzy when one of her novels is about to be released, and she always hits the spot.

So good.


This very little "professional" comment will be updated with more pertinent (to the book itself) details in the next future. But I had this urgent need to share the love.


I received an ARC of this novel. Thank you very much indeed.

[Wendy'sThoughts]

Enjoy A Counterfeit Heart (Secrets & Spies #3) for FREE!!!

To Steal Heart (Secrets & Spies #1)
A Raven's Heart (Secrets & Spies #2)
A Counterfeit Heart (Secrets & Spies #3)
Secrets & Spies Box Set: Includes To Steal A Heart, A Raven's Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Vellum Voyages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 helms


Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages (www.vellumvoyages.com)

Congratulations to K.C Bateman on another sensational novel!! A fast paced read with a great heroine with an unusual occupation. The final novel in her Secrets and Spies Trilogy is full of adventure, a heroine who can stand on her own two feet and a poor unsuspecting hero who has no chance against such vitality! Parfait!! :D

Sabine de la Tour is the infamous Phillipe Lacorte, a highly sought after and elusive French forger. Sabine and her friend Anton Carnaud (who is often mistaken for Phillipe) work as a team for Napoleon, counterfeiting a small fortune for him. After Napolean is imprisoned, General Jean Malet who oversaw their counterfeiting is the one other person who knew about the fake currency and wants the whole fortune for himself. After their home is ransacked in France, they realise Anton's life is in danger and they must leave France. Burning most of the fortune and keeping some for emergency purposes, they hatch a plan to enable Anton to buy passage to America and Sabine free to build a new life for herself, leaving behind their criminal ways.

"Three months, no longer. No wives. No virgins. No exceptions" is the rule Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell lives by. He is wealthy, titled, handsome and oh yes, also an English spy. He is passionate about his country and has been trying to track down the elusive Phillipe Lacorte to procure his services for the English government for quite some time but has never had him within reach. He is also due to choose his next mistress, as his most recent contract has come to an end and the ladies are practically throwing themselves at him.

Sabine has spent her entire life staying a step ahead of Richard, but for the sake of Anton and her future, she must sacrifice her identity and forge one last time, this time for England. Sabine's clever plan is to give herself up and her services as Phillipe Lacorte to Richard, for the princely sum of ten thousand pounds which enables great freedom for herself and Anton after this final job. Close to midnight, Sabine turns up alone on Vicount Lovell's doorstep handing his butler a note, confident that Richard will want to meet with her hear what she has to stay. Unravelling a perfectly forged invitation with his signature to meet with him at his home, Richard is intrigued with what he sees and what the butler tells him. Assuming this is a ploy chosen by an eager young woman to gain his affections as his next mistress, he invites her in to hear what she has to say. Sabine breezing in and announcing herself as Phillipe Lacorte is not what he had expected and neither was her outrageous blackmailing demands of ten thousand pounds for her forging services.

Richard realises his predicament and gives in to her demands, as she threatens to otherwise release her fake currency into England's economy. But, this doesn't mean he is defeated, as he wants to use her services to wheedle out a group of French sympathisers in England. Yes, she comes at an exorbitant price but he doesn't plan to make her life easy despite his attraction for her. He will give back as good as he gets and damn the attraction between them! With Jean Malet hot on Sabine's heels and other complications that arise within the criminal underbelly, Sabine and Richard try to fight the attraction between them while learning to trust each other and working together to achieve their mission.

What an adventurous book this was to read! Sabine and Richard have great chemistry between them and the storyline moved at a rapid pace. These two were such great characters who butted heads and verbally duelled so well that it leaves you laughing out loud and rooting for them both! Raven and Heloise (A Raven's Heart #2) also make a reappearance which was lovely and Raven's brotherly ribbing of Richard was highly amusing.

K.C Bateman's witty dialogue is always entertaining and her writing style is a pleasure to read. Her experience and knowledge with antiques and art really shine through in this book which I absolutely loved reading about! Not only are you getting a great romance but mini lessons in arts and antiques too! I LOVED LOVED the story but I did give only four stars overall as I noticed a few hiccups along the way. The dialogue was really anachronistic at times and I felt like I noticed it more so in this book than the previous two. Also, Sabine never reveals that she is a virgin to Richard and there was no mention of him realising either! I thought it would be fun when she finally reveals that she is a virgin, duping him at his own rigid rules! Sabine is also meant to have difficulty with her eyesight which was mentioned quite haphazardly throughout the book without consistency. I haven't read many books where the heroine has difficulty with her vision and this was a nice touch and I was a little disappointed it wasn't expanded on. These are obviously very minor issues as the story transcends above all flaws and intrigues the reader immensely!

*Thank-you K.C Bateman, Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept for the ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

Review to follow.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

'A Counterfeit Heart' by K. C. Bateman is book Three in the "Secrets and Spies" series. This is the story of Sabine de la Tour and Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell.
Sabine has been pretending to be "Philippe Lacorte" a famous forger. No one but a friend knows who she really is. With things chancing with Napoleon and her country she has decided to go to the enemy...Hampden.
Hampden has been trying to catch Philippe Lacorte forever but now he has been looking for him so that they could work together now. Hampden is surprised when Sabine comes to his door at night to talk to him. At first Hampden thought she was coming to ask to be his new mistress. But Sabine ask question about what he plans to do if Philippe Lacorte comes to him. Hampden makes it clear that he would like to work with him and use his services as a forger for England. Sabine has been wanting to no longer be a criminal and go legit with her work...and this is that chance.
Sabine proves to him that she is "Lacorte" and that she will work with him if he agrees to her demands. Which he does..but comes back with some demands of his own.
This is one of those books you cannot put down!
I have been in Love with Ms. Bateman's writing from the first book I read of hers. So I was so happy to see this book and it is a great book for this series. I just hope to see more of her work soon.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this an A- at All About Romance, and you can read my full length review here: A Counterfeit Heart.

When I saw that Ms. Bateman had a new book out in her Secrets and Spies series, I was anxious to get my hands on it – but wary as well. I loved the first book in the series, To Steal a Heart, but I was much less fond of the second, A Raven's Heart. Fortunately, when I picked up A Counterfeit Heart late one evening, I couldn’t put it down. A handsome, wealthy, titled spy falls hard for the audacious French counterfeiter who has eluded him for years. The premise and the principals grab your attention early and never let go.

For the past eight years, Phillipe Lacorte has been the premier forger working in France. Though the Napoleonic Wars are over and Napoléon is imprisoned, Lacorte – actually, Sabine de la Tour – fears for her life if she remains in France. A local official wants the stash of counterfeit money he knows she’s hidden away, and when A Counterfeit Heart opens, she and her business partner are burning the forged banknotes before departing for England. They have a plan to escape, but for it to succeed, she needs help from the British spy who’s been tracking her for years. He’s come close, and only her nom de guerre – and his belief that she is a he, has enabled her to avoid him. On his last visit to France, Sabine caught a glimpse of her nemesis before quickly hiding herself away, but it was enough to permanently etch his handsome face in her memory. She knows it will be a challenge to suppress her attraction to him, but she needs his help for her plan to succeed.

Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, has hunted the mysterious Phillipe Lacorte for years. Determined to keep England safe from revolution, he’s willing to do almost anything to safeguard his country from insurgents seeking to destabilize it. Titled, wealthy, single – and content to remain that way – Richard is about to head out for the evening when a beautiful young woman arrives at his home and coolly informs him she is the forger he’s been seeking for so long. Doubtful, Richard challenges her to prove her identity, and after she does, explains that he wants her to forge some letters in Napoléon’s hand that he can use to root out the group of English anti-monarchists that he has been tracking for the past few months. Sabine names her price – ten thousand pounds – and then explains that if he doesn’t acquiesce, she will flood Britain with half a million pounds of counterfeit currency.

When Richard agrees – with conditions – Sabine is relieved. Lord Hampden is just as distractingly good looking as she remembered, and now that he’s agreed to her plan, she just wants to wrap up their meeting. Only after Richard orders his servants to prepare a room does Sabine grasp just where she will spend the next four weeks as Richard makes it clear he will be watching and keeping her close the entire time. Frustrated and angry about being tricked, Sabine is also worried. If she’s this frazzled by their first meeting, what will it be like to live with him? When Richard casually reveals one last condition – that Sabine pose as his intended in public (to fend off those pesky husband hunters), she knows she’s in trouble.

If ‘secretly having the hots for someone and being forced to live in close proximity to them’ was an actual trope, it would be my favorite. Everyone in romancelandia knows what living together means: the tension ratchets up, the lust reaches a boiling point and eventually someone or something has to give. God, when it’s well done, it’s the best. Good news friends, it’s well done in A Counterfeit Heart. Ms. Bateman alternates the point of view between Sabine and Richard, and though hers is filled with doubts and uncertainties about her future – in addition to her increasingly naughty thoughts about Richard and his beautiful, hot body – his is just deliciously dirty. Everything about Sabine appeals to him – her bravery, intelligence, beauty and strength, but she’s also a mystery he longs to solve. Who is her mysterious partner? Is he a lover? Where are the counterfeit bills? Is she only using him? These worries plague Richard as he tries (and fails) to quell his emotional and physical attraction to her. Oh Richard, just kiss her already.

For fans of historical romantic spy novels, Sabine is a familiar character. Intelligent, feisty (of course!), fiercely independent, loyal, outwardly brave despite a tender, vulnerable heart… she’s a fairly stereotypical heroine. I’m okay with that, and I tend to like these women quite a bit. I’m less enthusiastic about the requirement that they also are unaware of their amazing bodies and stunning good looks… but, okay. Maybe? Richard is also familiar, but each time I read about a handsome, charismatic, arrogant and intelligent peer/spy – well, I fall hard. He’s all of these things and more. Alternately smug, amused and fiercely protective of Sabine, he’s delicious and delightful. I do love watching a hero come undone by the woman he loves, and Richard falls hard for his pint-sized blackmailer. His relationship with his sister, Heloise, is also awkwardly adorable and appealing. I loved this exchange, wherein Richard interrupts Heloise and Sabine gossiping and giggling at the modiste’s:

“I think it was a very bad decision to introduce the two of you." Hampden gave Sabine a hard stare. “Isn’t there somewhere else you need to be, Heloise? I’m sure Raven’s anxiously awaiting your return."

Heloise looked from him to Sabine and sighed. “If you want to get rid of me, just say it, Richard.”

“I want to get rid of you.”

She threw her arms up in the air. “Fine. I’m going. But don’t you dare be mean to Sabine, or you’ll have me to deal with.”

“I’m quaking in my boots,” drawled Richard.

As Sabine and Richard dance around their feelings, the circumstances....

Read the rest of my review at All About Romance, A Counterfeit Heart

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by netgalley and the publisher*

This is definitely my favorite in this series - I loved this book!! It has it all witty banter, incredible sexual tension, amazing chemistry between the H/h, secrets, danger, hot love scenes and a great cast of secondary characters.

Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell is a spy who always gets his man (or woman). But for years the counterfeiter Philippe Lacorte has eluded him. So imagine his surprise when the infamous Lacorte shows up at his house and is a beautiful woman!

Sabine de la Tour has survived the last eight years in Paris as a counterfeiter - but not just any counterfeiter, the incomparable Philippe Lacorte.

When Sabine offers to provide Richard with the means to thwart a plot to destabilize England's financial market in exchange for immunity and a small fortune - she didn't expect to be so attracted to him or have to negotiate her terms!

Sabine reluctantly agrees to Richard's terms but refuses to divulge all her secrets. Richard is not used to having his orders disobeyed nor is he used to a woman not falling over herself to do his bidding.

As things heat up between these two and secrets are revealed, they will have to learn to trust each other if they have any hope of a happily ever after.

This was a fantastic book and I hated to see it end! It could easily be read as a stand alone title but I would highly recommend the entire series. I sincerely hope this is not the end of the series, because I would love to see Kit get a HEA!

[Rainelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was entertaining in most parts of the book.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade: C+
Well written but could not connect to the characters or their romance, which left me feeling more than a little bored

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read!!! It was so good that I couldn't put it down and when it ended I was really, really sad. One of the hallmarks of books by this author seems to be that she handles a mystery and tense situation with humor and great characters. This is the third - and I hope not the last - book in the Secrets and Spies series. I would really like to see Kit get his own book although he's not been featured much so far.

What did I love:
-----All of the main characters, but particularly the H/h. Both of them are strong, smart, brave and so very drawn to each other. There are reasons they should and do mistrust each other so the author handles their inner turmoil brilliantly. Neither is manipulative and they tell each other the truth - it is just that past history and the situation makes each doubt the other.
-----The book is filled with wonderfully witty banter (I even laughed out loud a couple of times), sexual tension beyond belief, exceptionally good secondary characters, danger - you name it -- it has everything that makes a book great!
-----I LOVE that we get to visit with Raven and Heloise from book two. They are as wicked as they were in their own book. Raven takes great delight in the fact that Richard has met his match and I love the way he needles him all through the book.

What didn't I love:
-----Hard to say -- I loved it all. However, I can say that I would have appreciated seeing more of Kit. That one little scene just absolutely wasn't enough. I'm sure it is all build up to when he gets his own book, but -- well -- it would have been nice to have had a little dialogue to kind of see where he is now in his recovery. Maybe an epilogue-epilogue to catch up with what happened with Anton once he got to America. I liked him and wanted to see good things happen for him or maybe even get his own book too!

"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight! This was an excellent sequel, but also a lovely story in its own right. Sabine felt fresh and new, even though it's a trope we've seen before (and that Bateman has done since, in To Catch an Earl). I didn't know that what I was really craving was a regency romp, but here we are.

[Janice Hougland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to read another story in this series by Ms. Bateman and I was not disappointed. Richard, an agent for the Crown, and Sabine, a French counterfeiter for Napoleon in the last war, meet when Sabine boldly offers her forging services to him and England so that she can make a new life for herself. Neither one counted on falling for the other…madly and intensely…while trying to catch a couple of spies and thieves against the crown. Theirs was an exciting and unusual courtship that could not be denied, which had me at times wanting to slap them for their denseness and at others clap for their astuteness. A sigh-worthy romance! I sincerely hope this is not the end of the series. A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley.

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sabine de la Tour is a French counterfeiter who has spent several years under Napoleon’s reign working to destabilize England’s economy with her forged currency and other documents. She has also been outrunning an English spy bent on finding and capturing her. Now, as she tries to escape the guillotine, Sabine must throw herself at the mercy of the spy intent on her capture.
Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, is trying to apprehend insurgents bent on destroying England. He decides to make a deal with Philip Lacorte, the best counterfeiter in Europe. But, he is surprised when Sabine proves that she’s Lacorte. Now, the deal may be riskier than Richard intended. He may lose his heart.
This was a great historical romance read. Ms. Bateman has a knack of creating complex characters with damaged hearts and strong wills. The plot sends you on a roller coaster ride of suspense and intrigue. With dastardly characters, and steamy banter, no one should look any further for a great historical romance novel. An Advanced Reading Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars, rounding up

This series definitely isn’t as strong as Bow Street Bachelors, but I did enjoy it! This one probably needed a little bit more relationship development, but it had a lot of things I really liked that balanced it out.

[Shannon The Co-Captain · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This was the best one of the three! Fake relationship is one of my favorite tropes and this one is done well for historical fiction. This was my favorite characters out of the three books as well. I just wish she had continued the series and done Kit’s book. The audiobook narration was great for all three books as well.

[Jeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! Sabine is the master forger everyone wants, but no one knows her true identity. Lord Richard Hampden has been chasing this forger for years. He gets quite a surprise when he "catches" the forger. This was such an exciting story from the intrigue to the overall relationship. The writing was magnificent and beautiful with some really wonderful added quotes that tied the story together perfectly! Ms. Bateman plot crafting keeps you so entangled you cannot put the book down. The characters were complex that you immediately connected with them and understood their struggles. I don't have enough adjectives to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I don't want this series to end and I can't wait for another book. I voluntarily reviewed this ARC and was so grateful. It's so good!

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sabine de la Tour and her cohort Anton Carnaud hurry to burn piles of counterfeit money before fleeing Paris and going to England, where Anton will hide while Sabine will seek out Richard Hamden, Viscount Lovell, before going legal. Richard, a spy for the crown has been after Philippe Lecorte for a long time – and as Sabine is, in fact, Philippe – she has a proposition for Richard. Although, they had never met, Sabine had glimpsed Richard from afar once upon a time, but she finds him even more appealing up close. Richard, who recently broke up with his most recent mistress, is immediately tempted by the luscious Frenchwoman, but it must all remain business-like, must it not?

A COUNTERFEIT HEART is the most recent instalment in the Secrets and Spies series, with an interesting premise as Sabine is a very talented artist who struggled in the years following the French Revolution and the death of her parents, Richard is a spy, and there is a debate as to what is honesty, as Richard thinks himself superior in that matter. There were a lot of interesting period details on counterfeiting and art, some superfluous but fascinating nonetheless, but many of them didn’t do much to contribute to the main story line, that is: the spying. It gave me the impression that there were many things solely to justify Richard’s attempts at seducing Sabine, and I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. Sabine and Richard do spend an inordinate amount of time internally lusting after each other, and I felt it got somewhat tiresome, while a good story was begging to be told. While I don’t particularly like cons as heroes/heroines, I rather liked Sabine, but in the end, to be honest, I felt Richard was simply an arrogant prick. I wasn’t enthralled by Richard, but after a while I began to feel sorry for Sabine, I thought she deserved a better man than him.

The writing is splendid, the dialogues are great, the period details are spot-on, the too-few action sequences are terrific, and the characters are well defined, but I expected a spy story with the romance woven in, and I got the opposite. Maybe I was looking at things the wrong way, but I felt the wonderful premise and intriguing beginning were lost in Richard’s relentless and constant sexual pursuit of Sabine, especially as he didn’t seem to me especially up to the task (pun intended), Richard is not a romantic lead I would wish for myself.


I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Spy and a Forger Find Love in Regency England

Set in 1816, beginning in Paris, this is the story of master forger Sabine de la Tour who worked for Napoleon under the name Philippe Lacorte. Her counterfeits destabilized the continent and made many men rich. Now that the war with Napoleon is over she want’s to go straight but she needs funds to do so. She decides to strike a bargain with the English spy she’s tangled, Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell.

When a young woman shows up on his doorstep late at night claiming to be the notorious forger, Richard is skeptical. But she quickly proves her claim to be true. Then he is intrigued. He’s between mistresses and Sabine is unlike the women who typically throw themselves at him. So, they make a deal: she will work for him for a month, helping to trap some dissidents and he will pay her 10,000 pounds. Unfortunately, he insists that she remain in his home for that month.

Sizzling chemistry, hot sex, a strong heroine and a self-important noble combine for a fast-paced, well written romance. While it’s obviously a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. Bateman has done much research and she’s an expert in antiques so her tidbits about art ring true. Lots of historical detail makes it a rich tapestry. You won’t be bored!

Secrets and Spies series:

To Steal a Heart
A Raven’s Heart
A Counterfeit Heart

[SynergyQuest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been in a historical romance sort of mood and this book is a perfect example of why. When done well, historicals have a unique ability to make you yearn to live in a different time, before smart phones, Snap Chat and instant messenger. A time when you looked someone in the eye to judge their character, break their heart or say I love you. The Counterfeit Heart is this kind of historical romance.

The heroine is strong, witty, skilled, and brave. A product of circumstance, she has decided that she will do one last job and then she will only use her extensive artist powers for good.

The hero is an heir — wealthy, aristocratic, spy, chameleon, brave, compassionate, rake, who is smart. He has a 3 month rule, limiting the time he will spend with a woman. He never intended to break that rule. The mere presence of the rule is proof positive that he never saw the heroine coming, because she has him wanting to break every vow he ever made.

If you’re looking for a great romance, that is intriguing, smart and darn good, you just found it.

I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sabine de la Tour aka Philippe Lacorte burns piles of forged banknotes in a Paris park as she bids a reluctant farewell to her double life as a notorious counterfeiter. She and her business partner & front man Anton Carnaud must escape France; General Jean Malet is closing in on them. Her only hope of surviving is to go to England & strike a deal with the very spy she’s spent her career outrunning. Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, is prepared to take any risk to safeguard England from the horrors of the French Revolution. He’s even willing to make a pact with his archenemy: Philippe Lacorte. But when a cheeky, gamine-faced beauty proves herself to be Lacorte, Richard is shocked but they enter a deal to work together for the next four weeks to flush out a gang of insurants.
I’d been eagerly awaiting this book after loving the previous two books. Whilst this is the third in the series it could well be a stand-alone book but I’d definitely recommend reading the other two books. The book is very well written, the plot is so well paced that I had difficulty putting the book down. The characters both main & subsidiary are very well portrayed. The chemistry & sexual tension between Richard & Sabine is electric, that alone had me on bated breath to find out when it would combust. The dialogue is witty & often had me smiling & in places laughing especially Raven’s teasing of Richard, which is so entertaining. I also loved the insights into how to recognise a painting by a certain painter, the hallmarks on silver & breathing on gems, all of which added to the credibility of Sabine. I only hope there are more in the series as I’d love to read Kit’s story, he needs his HEA!

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Lea Bookjoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

French & English reviews

Un gros coup de coeur <3

Ca faisait un moment que j'attendais de pouvoir lire l'histoire du dernier membre de la fratrie Hampden et j'ai été enchanté !
J'ai adoré ce jeu de chat et la souris entre la belle faussaire française et l'espion anglais, la romance chaude bouillante et bien sûr toute l'intrigue derrière avec les assassins et les complots contre la royauté !

Bref, le dernier tome d'une série coup de coeur ! Si vous aimez les romances historiques passionnées avec une certaine French touch et des intrigues pleines d'espionnage, à lire absolument !
PS : meilleur moyen de froisser des billets pour les rendre plus réalistes EVER !!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A big crush <3

I had been waiting for a while to read the story of the latest member of the Hampden siblings and I was delighted !
I loved this cat and mouse game between the beautiful French forger and the English spy, the boiling hot romance and of course all the intrigue behind with the assassins and conspiracies against royalty !

In short, the last book of a GREAT series ! If you like passionate historical romances with a certain French touch and spy-filled plots, this is a must read !

PS : best way to crumple bank notes to make them more realistic EVER !!