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My Lady Thief
“Characters with passion, depth, intelligence, and a great sense of humor.”
~ Buried Under Romance
An elusive thief is haunting Regency London, stealing from the wealthy to give to the poor.
Arabella Knightley is an earl’s granddaughter, but she’s known among the ton as Miss Smell o’ Gutters. All she can do is endure London’s barbs … and dispense a little justice on the side.
Adam St. Just is one of England’s most eligible bachelors—and the man responsible for Arabella’s nickname. When London’s altruistic thief comes to his sister’s aid, Adam sets out to uncover the rogue’s identity … but what he discovers will turn his life upside down.
*Finalist in the Booksellers Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Australian Romantic Book of the Year awards.*
Length: A full-length Regency romance of 83 000 words
Sensuality level: This book contains mildly sensual love scenes
(Please note, this book was originally published as The Unmasking of a Lady, by Emily May.)
~ Buried Under Romance
An elusive thief is haunting Regency London, stealing from the wealthy to give to the poor.
Arabella Knightley is an earl’s granddaughter, but she’s known among the ton as Miss Smell o’ Gutters. All she can do is endure London’s barbs … and dispense a little justice on the side.
Adam St. Just is one of England’s most eligible bachelors—and the man responsible for Arabella’s nickname. When London’s altruistic thief comes to his sister’s aid, Adam sets out to uncover the rogue’s identity … but what he discovers will turn his life upside down.
*Finalist in the Booksellers Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Australian Romantic Book of the Year awards.*
Length: A full-length Regency romance of 83 000 words
Sensuality level: This book contains mildly sensual love scenes
(Please note, this book was originally published as The Unmasking of a Lady, by Emily May.)
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
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September 21, 2017
A-/4.5 stars rounded up.
The Historicals prompt in the TBR Challenge is my Busman’s Holiday, but it can nonetheless be quite difficult to choose a book from the many still sitting unread on my Kindle. In the end, I decided to go for something I was pretty certain would be a winner and picked up Emily Larkin’s My Lady Thief, a standalone title that was first published as The Unmasking of a Lady in 2010, under her Emily May pen-name. Every book I’ve read by this author has proved to be extremely enjoyable and well-written; she creates attractive, well-rounded characters and puts them in interesting situations and her romances are always well-developed and laced with sexual tension. My Lady Thief most ably continues that impressive track record.
Miss Arabella Knightley is beautiful, poised, intelligent, self-assured and the granddaughter of an earl – a most eligible parti were it not for the fact that her early years were spent in the London slums owing to the fact that her father, the second son of an earl, was cast off by his father for marrying her mother without permission. When, after her husband’s death, Arabella’s mother, Thérèse, approached the earl for help, he agreed to take in the daughter but not the mother. Unwilling to be parted from her child, Thérèse took Arabella to live with a friend of her late husband’s and became the man’s mistress. After this, she was rumoured to have had a number of protectors, but eventually she and her daughter ended up in the slums. After her death when Arabella was twelve, the old earl took his granddaughter in and made her the heir to his fortune after his sons all died without issue. So not only is Arabella beautiful, on her twenty-fifth birthday, she will inherit a considerable fortune – but she is not interested in marriage and intends instead to retire to the country and run the girl’s school she has secretly set up. Good society tolerates her because of her lineage and wealth, but she knows she is not really accepted, and, for the most part, doesn’t care. She presents a calm, unruffled exterior to the ton, the veiled and not-so-veiled insults she elicits merely glancing off her façade of tough insouciance and affecting her not at all. Apart from that one time six years earlier when she’d learned that Adam St. Just - handsome, wealthy, charming and one of the ton’s most eligible bachelors - had described her to his set as smelling of the gutters, and the nickname had stuck. She is still referred to behind hands and fans as “Miss Smell O’Gutters”.
Adam St. Just heartily regrets his actions that day, which had been borne of anger and frustration after his callous father had taken him to task about the fact that he had singled out “the daughter of a French whore” for his attentions. Adam had neither known nor cared about Miss Arabella Knightley’s origins, having been struck by her beauty and intelligence – but his father’s disdainful interference had sent Adam to the bottle and he’d been well into his cups when he’d made that damaging, crass remark. In the intervening years, he and Miss Knightley have done their best to avoid contact with each other, although moving in the same circles means that they are often present at the same events. Adam is therefore surprised –and not especially pleased - to see Arabella sitting with his sister one evening and to note that whatever Miss Knightley is saying to Grace is being well received and seems to have bolstered her spirits, which have been somewhat dampened of late.
Adam is very protective of his sister, and it worries him that she does not appear to be enjoying the season as so many other young ladies are. When he discovers the cause – that she has been blackmailed over some letters she wrote to a young man with whom she’d believed herself in love – Adam is furious with the man and the blackmailer, guilty that he had not seen how miserable Grace was and curious as to the identity of the person – identified merely as “Tom” - who has returned the letters and the jewellery with which Grace had bought the blackmailer’s silence.
Given that readers are privy to Tom’s true identity from the start, it’s not a spoiler to say that Arabella quickly emerges as a kind of Robin Hood figure, who goes one step further from stealing from the rich to feed the poor. She uses the proceeds from her thefts to finance the school she has set up outside London for girls who might otherwise be forced into prostitution AND chooses as her victims those members of the ton who have been cruel, duplicitous or just downright mean to those weaker than themselves.
Adam becomes determined to discover the identity of the mysterious Tom, and finds himself developing a sneaking respect for the man, who seems only to steal from people who can a) afford it and b) deserve it. It’s only when he starts to look deeper that he begins to suspect Tom’s true identity – and once all is revealed to him, his respect for Tom – Arabella – only increases.
Both central characters are extremely likeable and engaging, and their romance is beautifully written. The way these two circle around each other warily, alternately flirting and mocking and then retreating when threatened with exposing their vulnerabilities had me glued to the pages and their progression from suspicious enmity to admiration to love is perfectly paced and wonderfully romantic. I particularly liked the way Adam is gradually shown to be altering his perceptions of Arabella; to start with he admits he is strongly attracted to her, but that there can be no question of his marrying her, but as the story progresses and he comes to know and understand her better, he is entirely captivated by her; her intelligence, her spirit and her compassion - and sees her for the woman she really is. As Arabella starts to let Adam know her, she shows him something of what her life was like as a child, and exposes him to a side of London he has never seen or really considered. What he sees appals him, and he is genuinely motivated to do something positive and practical to help, while also being more impressed than ever by Arabella’s determination and strength of character.
The chemistry between Adam and Arabella is sizzling, although I have to say that the first sex scene (which comes quite late on) is a little off-key and that, together with a very poor decision Arabella makes near the end, accounts for this book not getting a straight A grade. Otherwise, My Lady Thief is a terrific read that features two fully-rounded and sympathetic central characters, a strong secondary cast and an intriguing storyline. If you’ve never read this author before, this would be a great place to start; and if you’re familiar with her work, it most certainly won’t disappoint.
The Historicals prompt in the TBR Challenge is my Busman’s Holiday, but it can nonetheless be quite difficult to choose a book from the many still sitting unread on my Kindle. In the end, I decided to go for something I was pretty certain would be a winner and picked up Emily Larkin’s My Lady Thief, a standalone title that was first published as The Unmasking of a Lady in 2010, under her Emily May pen-name. Every book I’ve read by this author has proved to be extremely enjoyable and well-written; she creates attractive, well-rounded characters and puts them in interesting situations and her romances are always well-developed and laced with sexual tension. My Lady Thief most ably continues that impressive track record.
Miss Arabella Knightley is beautiful, poised, intelligent, self-assured and the granddaughter of an earl – a most eligible parti were it not for the fact that her early years were spent in the London slums owing to the fact that her father, the second son of an earl, was cast off by his father for marrying her mother without permission. When, after her husband’s death, Arabella’s mother, Thérèse, approached the earl for help, he agreed to take in the daughter but not the mother. Unwilling to be parted from her child, Thérèse took Arabella to live with a friend of her late husband’s and became the man’s mistress. After this, she was rumoured to have had a number of protectors, but eventually she and her daughter ended up in the slums. After her death when Arabella was twelve, the old earl took his granddaughter in and made her the heir to his fortune after his sons all died without issue. So not only is Arabella beautiful, on her twenty-fifth birthday, she will inherit a considerable fortune – but she is not interested in marriage and intends instead to retire to the country and run the girl’s school she has secretly set up. Good society tolerates her because of her lineage and wealth, but she knows she is not really accepted, and, for the most part, doesn’t care. She presents a calm, unruffled exterior to the ton, the veiled and not-so-veiled insults she elicits merely glancing off her façade of tough insouciance and affecting her not at all. Apart from that one time six years earlier when she’d learned that Adam St. Just - handsome, wealthy, charming and one of the ton’s most eligible bachelors - had described her to his set as smelling of the gutters, and the nickname had stuck. She is still referred to behind hands and fans as “Miss Smell O’Gutters”.
Adam St. Just heartily regrets his actions that day, which had been borne of anger and frustration after his callous father had taken him to task about the fact that he had singled out “the daughter of a French whore” for his attentions. Adam had neither known nor cared about Miss Arabella Knightley’s origins, having been struck by her beauty and intelligence – but his father’s disdainful interference had sent Adam to the bottle and he’d been well into his cups when he’d made that damaging, crass remark. In the intervening years, he and Miss Knightley have done their best to avoid contact with each other, although moving in the same circles means that they are often present at the same events. Adam is therefore surprised –and not especially pleased - to see Arabella sitting with his sister one evening and to note that whatever Miss Knightley is saying to Grace is being well received and seems to have bolstered her spirits, which have been somewhat dampened of late.
Adam is very protective of his sister, and it worries him that she does not appear to be enjoying the season as so many other young ladies are. When he discovers the cause – that she has been blackmailed over some letters she wrote to a young man with whom she’d believed herself in love – Adam is furious with the man and the blackmailer, guilty that he had not seen how miserable Grace was and curious as to the identity of the person – identified merely as “Tom” - who has returned the letters and the jewellery with which Grace had bought the blackmailer’s silence.
Given that readers are privy to Tom’s true identity from the start, it’s not a spoiler to say that Arabella quickly emerges as a kind of Robin Hood figure, who goes one step further from stealing from the rich to feed the poor. She uses the proceeds from her thefts to finance the school she has set up outside London for girls who might otherwise be forced into prostitution AND chooses as her victims those members of the ton who have been cruel, duplicitous or just downright mean to those weaker than themselves.
Adam becomes determined to discover the identity of the mysterious Tom, and finds himself developing a sneaking respect for the man, who seems only to steal from people who can a) afford it and b) deserve it. It’s only when he starts to look deeper that he begins to suspect Tom’s true identity – and once all is revealed to him, his respect for Tom – Arabella – only increases.
Both central characters are extremely likeable and engaging, and their romance is beautifully written. The way these two circle around each other warily, alternately flirting and mocking and then retreating when threatened with exposing their vulnerabilities had me glued to the pages and their progression from suspicious enmity to admiration to love is perfectly paced and wonderfully romantic. I particularly liked the way Adam is gradually shown to be altering his perceptions of Arabella; to start with he admits he is strongly attracted to her, but that there can be no question of his marrying her, but as the story progresses and he comes to know and understand her better, he is entirely captivated by her; her intelligence, her spirit and her compassion - and sees her for the woman she really is. As Arabella starts to let Adam know her, she shows him something of what her life was like as a child, and exposes him to a side of London he has never seen or really considered. What he sees appals him, and he is genuinely motivated to do something positive and practical to help, while also being more impressed than ever by Arabella’s determination and strength of character.
The chemistry between Adam and Arabella is sizzling, although I have to say that the first sex scene (which comes quite late on) is a little off-key and that, together with a very poor decision Arabella makes near the end, accounts for this book not getting a straight A grade. Otherwise, My Lady Thief is a terrific read that features two fully-rounded and sympathetic central characters, a strong secondary cast and an intriguing storyline. If you’ve never read this author before, this would be a great place to start; and if you’re familiar with her work, it most certainly won’t disappoint.
October 11, 2020
Beautifully written, with fleshed our protagonists and an equal blend of humour and angst. Bella, daughter of destitute lady-turned-prostitute, joined the household of her paternal grandfather, an earl, when she was 12 upon the death of her mother. Somewhat looked down upon by the rest of the Ton, she was further ostracised and made a laughing stock during her first season following the insensitive and ill-thought derogative comments of Adam St Just who loudly rejected any idea of marriage to her due to her ' smell of the gutter'. Six years later, she continued to hide her loneliness and hurt behind her beautiful fixed half smile, which she flashed contemptuously at those around her with St. Just the recipient of many such smiles in addition to her verbal darts. Soon their initial preconceptions of one another were replaced by surprising respect as they discovered they themselves have been guilty of prejudices. All this while St. Just attempts to unveil the identity of Tom, their contemporary Robin Hood-like thief who steals from the not so nice members of the peerage. Yet another wonderful story from this talented author.
June 11, 2018
Lady Arabella is beautiful, gentle born and rich, but she's snobbed by everybody in the ton because of her past in the slums.
Adrian is a stick-in-the-a**, norbleman who thinks that eveyrthing is his due. He's the catch of the ton and he despises Arabella. He was the one who gave her the odious nickname "Miss Smell O’Gutters"!
Bella has suffered many disparaging remarks during her first season because of Adrian. Still when she finds out that there're some unsavory characters spreading rumors about Adrian's sister, she helps the girl.
Adrian is beware of her help, but his sister becomes very fond of Bella and Bella's advices hepl her enormously, so his view of Bella start changing slowly.
But Bella is not only an idle lady, she's a Robin Hood type of thief! She steals from rich and odious people in order to help their victims.
A bouble here, a blackmailing letter there and everybody in the Ton knows what Tom, the clever thief, are doing!
Adrian is intrigued with Tom when he discovers that his sister has been blackmailed and Tom returns her jewels and the blackmailing letter. He doesn't want to unmask Tom, but he just has to find out who he is and why is he doing it!
And that's how the sory begins. Adrian trying to unmaks Tom; Bella avenging the wronged.
But Bella becomes more and more involved with Adrian's family and slowly the feeling, unwelcomed by either of them, start growing.
Bella is great, ostly in the first part. She's intelligent and smart. She always has a ready answer to every situation and every taunt Adrian trow her way!
Obviously Bella situation is much worst than we're expecting. She's mortally afraid of intimacy after she lived through what her mother has endured. She's also very angry with her grandmother, the only living relative has has.
So when Adrian, now deeply in love with her, proposes she refuses him.
The story is interesting and well written and I liked very much both Adrian and Bella. A well written romance with just the right amount of hotnees!
Adrian is a stick-in-the-a**, norbleman who thinks that eveyrthing is his due. He's the catch of the ton and he despises Arabella. He was the one who gave her the odious nickname "Miss Smell O’Gutters"!
Bella has suffered many disparaging remarks during her first season because of Adrian. Still when she finds out that there're some unsavory characters spreading rumors about Adrian's sister, she helps the girl.
Adrian is beware of her help, but his sister becomes very fond of Bella and Bella's advices hepl her enormously, so his view of Bella start changing slowly.
But Bella is not only an idle lady, she's a Robin Hood type of thief! She steals from rich and odious people in order to help their victims.
A bouble here, a blackmailing letter there and everybody in the Ton knows what Tom, the clever thief, are doing!
Adrian is intrigued with Tom when he discovers that his sister has been blackmailed and Tom returns her jewels and the blackmailing letter. He doesn't want to unmask Tom, but he just has to find out who he is and why is he doing it!
And that's how the sory begins. Adrian trying to unmaks Tom; Bella avenging the wronged.
But Bella becomes more and more involved with Adrian's family and slowly the feeling, unwelcomed by either of them, start growing.
Bella is great, ostly in the first part. She's intelligent and smart. She always has a ready answer to every situation and every taunt Adrian trow her way!
Obviously Bella situation is much worst than we're expecting. She's mortally afraid of intimacy after she lived through what her mother has endured. She's also very angry with her grandmother, the only living relative has has.
So when Adrian, now deeply in love with her, proposes she refuses him.
The story is interesting and well written and I liked very much both Adrian and Bella. A well written romance with just the right amount of hotnees!
January 23, 2019
Loved it! Marvelled at it till about 3/4th of the way, when I realised that it's found it's way back to the beaten track!
*With spoilers*
Six years ago, the mightily supercilious H helps make her life more miserable by uttering these lovely words that catch fire in the ton...
“Marry Arabella Knightley? Certainly, if one wishes to live with the smell of the gutter.”
And she becomes Miss Smell'O Gutters from then on.
He feels guilt, remorse and ....attraction (the real reason of it all!) but...
“If I married Arabella Knightley I would be ashamed of her—and ashamed of myself for being ashamed of her."
So the gutless db carries on with turning his nose at her. Even when she helps his sister when no one else is able to.
Her 'Robinhood' act is nothing new. I've read many other hs do it but her motives and actions seem more believable and relatable.
And I loved the way the author puts it through the h on whether the ones with wealth and privilege are really “Better, or merely luckier? ”
It's a lesson that the H thankfully learns soon. “Not better, merely luckier.”
*With spoilers*
Six years ago, the mightily supercilious H helps make her life more miserable by uttering these lovely words that catch fire in the ton...
“Marry Arabella Knightley? Certainly, if one wishes to live with the smell of the gutter.”
And she becomes Miss Smell'O Gutters from then on.
He feels guilt, remorse and ....attraction (the real reason of it all!) but...
“If I married Arabella Knightley I would be ashamed of her—and ashamed of myself for being ashamed of her."
So the gutless db carries on with turning his nose at her. Even when she helps his sister when no one else is able to.
Her 'Robinhood' act is nothing new. I've read many other hs do it but her motives and actions seem more believable and relatable.
And I loved the way the author puts it through the h on whether the ones with wealth and privilege are really “Better, or merely luckier? ”
It's a lesson that the H thankfully learns soon. “Not better, merely luckier.”
November 16, 2020
This was a hidden GEM. The character development and relationship build was done to perfection. Arabella is some what on the fringe of good society despite having inherited a massive fortune her parentage/history coupled with the unkind words spat out by Adam St. Just have made her an outcast. Bella has a back bone of steel. Instead of shrinking away she puts on her armor and sees people for who they truly are. She endeavors to help those in bad positions while putting those who need it in their place.
Adam while stuffy and arrogant does have a conscience and heart. He regrets the cruel words he said to Bella but still has his nose in the air. He comes to see Bella as more and to view himself as luckier but not better. My Lady Thief has everything that's makes a historical romance great.
Trigger Warning:
Adam while stuffy and arrogant does have a conscience and heart. He regrets the cruel words he said to Bella but still has his nose in the air. He comes to see Bella as more and to view himself as luckier but not better. My Lady Thief has everything that's makes a historical romance great.
Trigger Warning:
October 23, 2013
4.5 stars. Another story well told with the same sort of premise as another of her novels, A Spinster's Secret. (A resourceful woman on the outskirts of Society with a secret identity she's assumed to fund her pet project; meanwhile the hero's falling in love with her even as he decides to unmask this mystery person...) Despite the similarities of premise which usually bug me, I'm a fan of this author. Both stories were great fun to read. Perhaps if I'd read this first, it'd be my favorite. Then again, The Spinster's Secret was just so good. And this is more an adventure/Regency than the other which succeeded in feeling very of the time in which it was set to me.
Here, Arabella is a young woman barely tolerated in society (wealthy now but raised in Whitechapel poverty due to her mother's loss of respectability). She secretly rights wrongs committed by ton types as the infamous catburgler 'Tom.' In the commission of a righteous act against a blackmailer, 'Tom' snatches up evidence of another blackmail attempt and thus saves a young woman from ruin. She does this despite the fact that this innocent girl's brother had labelled Arabella 'Miss Smell o'the Gutters' in her first disastrous Season seven years ago. He's not quite the arrogant turd he once was, however, and he has regretted his thoughtlessness and has wished to make amends...At the same time, he grows very curious about the identity of this "Tom,' too, and sets out to unmask him.
How these two adversaries circle one another, flirt, mock and fend each other off when vulnerable was wonderful to witness. How they come to understand each other and fall in love was unforced and truly, deeply romantic.
Addendum: I must add that there's a book much loved (when it's free) on amazon, Ridiculous, about another female masquerading as a man to pursue her secret agenda, and I cannot comprehend why THIS book doesn't have at least as many fans as that.
Here, the heroine acts and dresses as a man surreptitiously to do her thing - which is not only more plausible but ups the ante for the consequences to her if she's ever unmasked, which we all know is inevitable. Loved that tension, it really makes the HEA uncertain. This lady is wealthy enough to ignore social disapprobation though it stings her, yet she demonstrates laudable sympathy for girls of the ton trying to find their footing. Unlike Ridiculous' Mr. North, who pays court to wall flowers because she was a tall, semi-ugly gawp when she was dressing as a she, this girl suffered total humiliation and had to learn how to brazen it out in the face of all the knives drawn, and she passes on her hard-won wisdom to vulnerable young misses, including the highest placed among them, even her enemy's sister. I found Arabella's sympathy for the unexpected underdog more touching as a result. Arabella's personality is sharply honed, unbending toward society and carefully controlled. She reminds me a bit of Cecilia Grant's take-no-prisoners heroines (a high compliment) though she's more likable. And I don't mean to say there is any whiff of 'homage' going on, just a very writerly piece of business that an aspiring author like me must admire. Even if I feel put off by Arabella a little, I nevertheless understand her motives, her decisions and most of all, her distrust and reluctant attraction to her nemesis/love interest. This story felt more plausible even with a cat burgling heroine(!), more compelling and delicious to the end. Whereas Ridiculous only lived up to its title for me.
Here, Arabella is a young woman barely tolerated in society (wealthy now but raised in Whitechapel poverty due to her mother's loss of respectability). She secretly rights wrongs committed by ton types as the infamous catburgler 'Tom.' In the commission of a righteous act against a blackmailer, 'Tom' snatches up evidence of another blackmail attempt and thus saves a young woman from ruin. She does this despite the fact that this innocent girl's brother had labelled Arabella 'Miss Smell o'the Gutters' in her first disastrous Season seven years ago. He's not quite the arrogant turd he once was, however, and he has regretted his thoughtlessness and has wished to make amends...At the same time, he grows very curious about the identity of this "Tom,' too, and sets out to unmask him.
How these two adversaries circle one another, flirt, mock and fend each other off when vulnerable was wonderful to witness. How they come to understand each other and fall in love was unforced and truly, deeply romantic.
Addendum: I must add that there's a book much loved (when it's free) on amazon, Ridiculous, about another female masquerading as a man to pursue her secret agenda, and I cannot comprehend why THIS book doesn't have at least as many fans as that.
Here, the heroine acts and dresses as a man surreptitiously to do her thing - which is not only more plausible but ups the ante for the consequences to her if she's ever unmasked, which we all know is inevitable. Loved that tension, it really makes the HEA uncertain. This lady is wealthy enough to ignore social disapprobation though it stings her, yet she demonstrates laudable sympathy for girls of the ton trying to find their footing. Unlike Ridiculous' Mr. North, who pays court to wall flowers because she was a tall, semi-ugly gawp when she was dressing as a she, this girl suffered total humiliation and had to learn how to brazen it out in the face of all the knives drawn, and she passes on her hard-won wisdom to vulnerable young misses, including the highest placed among them, even her enemy's sister. I found Arabella's sympathy for the unexpected underdog more touching as a result. Arabella's personality is sharply honed, unbending toward society and carefully controlled. She reminds me a bit of Cecilia Grant's take-no-prisoners heroines (a high compliment) though she's more likable. And I don't mean to say there is any whiff of 'homage' going on, just a very writerly piece of business that an aspiring author like me must admire. Even if I feel put off by Arabella a little, I nevertheless understand her motives, her decisions and most of all, her distrust and reluctant attraction to her nemesis/love interest. This story felt more plausible even with a cat burgling heroine(!), more compelling and delicious to the end. Whereas Ridiculous only lived up to its title for me.
May 16, 2014
It's not everyday that I discover a new author full of talent, creating characters with passion, depth, intelligence, and a great sense of humor.
However, the back blurb made the hero, Adam St.Just, to sound more rakish than he actually is, which is another reason why I adore him so much.
Lady Arabella Knightley is unlike any heroine I've ever read. She's a born and bred lady, granddaughter to an earl, yet she has lived in the London slums with her mother, and as such made the subject of much dislike by polite society. It only got worse when Adam St.Just insulted her six years ago, resulting in her having a long-lasting moniker of "Miss Smell O'Gutters." Since then, she has held her head up and refused to reveal her vulnerability. Behind her lady facade, Arabella is a Robin Hood figure who punishes ton members who have hurt others by stealing their jewelry under the pseudonym Tom, and donating that money to a school for destitute girls.
As she helps the victims of ruthless gossipmongers, befriending Grace St.Just, she crosses path with Adam, and he, initially wary of her intentions, comes to admire her honesty, bravery, intelligence, and beauty, while holding an obsession with finding Tom.
What drew me to this story was the characters. They are both so wonderful. Adam initially came out as overbearing and rude, but he redeems himself quite nicely in the story trying to win Arabella's love. Arabella was my favorite, as she embodies the courage of historical heroines.
I wish Mrs. May would come out with more books because after this one, I'm dying to read more.
Update: This is a great historical romance...and LOL, so my grammar was quite bad back in 2012, it seems!
However, the back blurb made the hero, Adam St.Just, to sound more rakish than he actually is, which is another reason why I adore him so much.
Lady Arabella Knightley is unlike any heroine I've ever read. She's a born and bred lady, granddaughter to an earl, yet she has lived in the London slums with her mother, and as such made the subject of much dislike by polite society. It only got worse when Adam St.Just insulted her six years ago, resulting in her having a long-lasting moniker of "Miss Smell O'Gutters." Since then, she has held her head up and refused to reveal her vulnerability. Behind her lady facade, Arabella is a Robin Hood figure who punishes ton members who have hurt others by stealing their jewelry under the pseudonym Tom, and donating that money to a school for destitute girls.
As she helps the victims of ruthless gossipmongers, befriending Grace St.Just, she crosses path with Adam, and he, initially wary of her intentions, comes to admire her honesty, bravery, intelligence, and beauty, while holding an obsession with finding Tom.
What drew me to this story was the characters. They are both so wonderful. Adam initially came out as overbearing and rude, but he redeems himself quite nicely in the story trying to win Arabella's love. Arabella was my favorite, as she embodies the courage of historical heroines.
I wish Mrs. May would come out with more books because after this one, I'm dying to read more.
Update: This is a great historical romance...and LOL, so my grammar was quite bad back in 2012, it seems!
June 10, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. A new author for me and I enjoyed this book. Well-written, nice, light read although I took a while to warm to the hero- poker stuck up his arse and all that-but he sensitively and sweetly tries to help the heroine get over her fear of sex, when she admits that this is the reason for holding back from marriage. This showed him in a much better light. Such a nice change from those gung-ho-look-at-my-stud-skillz heroes we find so often in HRs. Sex scenes were not the most passionate I have ever read but were very sweet.
The author does a great job of describing the Season in Regency London as a cut-throat marriage mart, filled with scheming mothers, desperate debs and fortune-hunting wastrels.
Our heroine (her name is Bella and I am not sure I like the shortening of her name to this-makes me think of Twilight and seems more American than British, but what do I know?) refuses to allow the vicious slander and ridicule she received after the hero's thoughtlessly cruel remarks some years before to intimidate her, and her strength of character and strong sense of social justice make her a very likeable character.
I will definitely read more of Emily Larkin's books. (Confusing, but this book was also published under another name: The Unmasking of a Lady)
The author does a great job of describing the Season in Regency London as a cut-throat marriage mart, filled with scheming mothers, desperate debs and fortune-hunting wastrels.
Our heroine (her name is Bella and I am not sure I like the shortening of her name to this-makes me think of Twilight and seems more American than British, but what do I know?) refuses to allow the vicious slander and ridicule she received after the hero's thoughtlessly cruel remarks some years before to intimidate her, and her strength of character and strong sense of social justice make her a very likeable character.
I will definitely read more of Emily Larkin's books. (Confusing, but this book was also published under another name: The Unmasking of a Lady)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2019
Le résumé est un peu mensonger puisque le héros découvre le secret de l'héroïne après la moitié du livre, et il ne s'en sert pas du tout contre elle ! Bref !
J'ai justement préféré la 1ère partie où les personnages se cherchent et se chamaillent un peu. Ensuite, l'héroïne se transforme en une femme plutôt craintive et émotive sans grande raison, et surtout plutôt en contradiction avec ce qu'elle montrait dans la 1ère partie.
Mais sinon, j'ai beaucoup apprécié le héros et le couple qui ont finalement une relation très tendre.
J'ai justement préféré la 1ère partie où les personnages se cherchent et se chamaillent un peu. Ensuite, l'héroïne se transforme en une femme plutôt craintive et émotive sans grande raison, et surtout plutôt en contradiction avec ce qu'elle montrait dans la 1ère partie.
Mais sinon, j'ai beaucoup apprécié le héros et le couple qui ont finalement une relation très tendre.
August 15, 2016
4.5 stars.
Review to come...
Review to come...
June 17, 2020
So Good
I must really love this book. I think last night was the fifth time I read it. Perfect characters, perfect plot. Just a terrific romantic revenge story.
I must really love this book. I think last night was the fifth time I read it. Perfect characters, perfect plot. Just a terrific romantic revenge story.
April 2, 2017
3.5/5; 4 stars; B+
The first book I read by this author, Unmasking Miss Appleby, was a happy surprise, so when I had the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book, I took the chance. I'm glad I did.
My Lady Thief is a new take on an old theme, someone robbing the rich to help the poor and for the most part, punish the mean and unscrupulous for hurting those weaker than themselves.
I liked the characters and the the character growth throughout the story. I thought the development of intimate contact between the two main characters was a bit unbelievable but overall they had a good love story.
The first book I read by this author, Unmasking Miss Appleby, was a happy surprise, so when I had the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book, I took the chance. I'm glad I did.
My Lady Thief is a new take on an old theme, someone robbing the rich to help the poor and for the most part, punish the mean and unscrupulous for hurting those weaker than themselves.
I liked the characters and the the character growth throughout the story. I thought the development of intimate contact between the two main characters was a bit unbelievable but overall they had a good love story.
July 7, 2020
I loved the heroine. She rises above the ton's pettiness and helps the mistreated. She steals ( small amounts )from the cruel and helps the poor.
The hero is a huge snob who gave the heroine her horrible nickname. He meets her years later. His sister is being blackmailed and orchestrated by the ton. The heroine not only stops the blackmailer but teaches the sister to move in society. It was fun to watch the hero lose his snobbery.
This was a fun, funny read with a strong, kick ass heroine. I strongly recommend.
The hero is a huge snob who gave the heroine her horrible nickname. He meets her years later. His sister is being blackmailed and orchestrated by the ton. The heroine not only stops the blackmailer but teaches the sister to move in society. It was fun to watch the hero lose his snobbery.
This was a fun, funny read with a strong, kick ass heroine. I strongly recommend.
August 20, 2020
**3.5**
December 5, 2021
I really wanted to like it. I want to give this book a 2 but at the same time it was a DNF which should make it a 1- ugh I'm just conflicted okay?!
So i wanted to like it. It started off great but then it just got repetitive.
All Adam could think about was how he thought Arabella was hot when they danced, how we regretted what he called her 7 yrs ago, how he wanted to find Tom the thief and how a few times he thought he should give to the poor. That was it- that was his entire personality.
And you'd think- oohhh mystery, we need to find a thief- how exciting- but it wasn't. It was pretty basic. No twists or turns or anything to even make your heart skip a beat. Just plain old basic-ness.
And then there's Arabella. Her character wasn't bad... but it didn't give me anything. Her mentoring Grace was wholesome but at the same time that was her whole personality trait for majority of the book. Yes, like 2 times you hear about her as Tom but that was it. There was literally no character development. Her whole back story had so much potential but it was so withheld through out the book that when it was FINALLY talked about I couldn't really be bothered to read about it.
And on top of that, the relationship between Josh and Arabella wasn't it. I literally could not care less of they ended together or not. They never talked to each other about normal stuff, never really laughed together or all the normal stuff people do before they decide that this is going to be my life partner. There relationship was so boring and half the time felt like they were strangers.
And then came the part where I just stopped reading. When he proposed she 'try him out' or something along those lines- basically try and have sex with him to see if she would ever want to have sex given the trauma she faced when she was a child living in the slums. You wouldn't believe that someone who watched their mother be abused as a prostitute would end up wanting to sleep with a man - before marriage- to try out whether she could handle it. Like dude- if you liked the girl just marry her and not be intimate. Then afterwards ask her if she wanted to consider it and work from there. It's like intimacy of that kind was a dealbreaker. Like neither of the considered the possibility of marrying and just not doing it until she was ready? Idk how to explain it but it all FELT wrong.
Safe to say I just stopped reading. The book had potential, it just was executed so poorly.
2 stars but if im being realistic it was a DNF soooo... it should be 1 but it wasnt on the level of bad as some of the other books I've read
So i wanted to like it. It started off great but then it just got repetitive.
All Adam could think about was how he thought Arabella was hot when they danced, how we regretted what he called her 7 yrs ago, how he wanted to find Tom the thief and how a few times he thought he should give to the poor. That was it- that was his entire personality.
And you'd think- oohhh mystery, we need to find a thief- how exciting- but it wasn't. It was pretty basic. No twists or turns or anything to even make your heart skip a beat. Just plain old basic-ness.
And then there's Arabella. Her character wasn't bad... but it didn't give me anything. Her mentoring Grace was wholesome but at the same time that was her whole personality trait for majority of the book. Yes, like 2 times you hear about her as Tom but that was it. There was literally no character development. Her whole back story had so much potential but it was so withheld through out the book that when it was FINALLY talked about I couldn't really be bothered to read about it.
And on top of that, the relationship between Josh and Arabella wasn't it. I literally could not care less of they ended together or not. They never talked to each other about normal stuff, never really laughed together or all the normal stuff people do before they decide that this is going to be my life partner. There relationship was so boring and half the time felt like they were strangers.
And then came the part where I just stopped reading. When he proposed she 'try him out' or something along those lines- basically try and have sex with him to see if she would ever want to have sex given the trauma she faced when she was a child living in the slums. You wouldn't believe that someone who watched their mother be abused as a prostitute would end up wanting to sleep with a man - before marriage- to try out whether she could handle it. Like dude- if you liked the girl just marry her and not be intimate. Then afterwards ask her if she wanted to consider it and work from there. It's like intimacy of that kind was a dealbreaker. Like neither of the considered the possibility of marrying and just not doing it until she was ready? Idk how to explain it but it all FELT wrong.
Safe to say I just stopped reading. The book had potential, it just was executed so poorly.
2 stars but if im being realistic it was a DNF soooo... it should be 1 but it wasnt on the level of bad as some of the other books I've read
September 30, 2019
I should have loved this book, but it fell flat with a big ol' splat! I really thought about why it was a fail and it comes down to the fact that I felt zero love between the main characters. There was zero tension and zero sexiness. We were just suppose to assume they had tension and a underlying love for one another- it was never really spelled out for us- and that's the best part to me! I wish I could have loved this book :(
August 13, 2021
When Arabella's father died, her mother had to bring her up on her own. They lived in poverty, so her mother had to prostitute herself for money. Storyline was interesting as were the characters.
This was such a good story. Absolutely adored Lady Arabella. 5☆
This was such a good story. Absolutely adored Lady Arabella. 5☆
August 3, 2021
https://lespassionsdeviedefun.blogspo...
C'est le premier livre que je lis de l'auteure néo-zélandaise Emily Larkin et je dois dire que j'ai bien apprécié sa plume. L'histoire est originale, nous tient en haleine, entre cette jeune femme au comportement entre "Cat's eyes" et "Robin des Bois" et un aristocrate orgueilleux et misogyne.
Notre héroïne, Arabella, est en effet une voleuse qui se fait surnommer "Le chat" car elle laisse toujours une carte de visite à l'endroit de ses méfaits (notamment pour éviter que les domestiques des maisons soient accusés de vol...). Mais attention, elle ne vole jamais de manière à faire le mal mais toujours pour réparer une injustice (généralement, ses "victimes" sont des personnes mauvaises et méprisantes qui méritent finalement ce qui leur arrive !).
Un jeu du chat et de la souris va commencer entre Adam et Arabella, qui a la réputation d'être une fille légère....Alors que c'est totalement le contraire (vous allez comprendre en lisant ce qui lui est arrivé dans son enfance) !
De plus, elle a un passif assez compliqué avec notre héros car celui-ci, quelques années plus tôt, au moment où la jeune femme faisait son entrée officielle dans le "beau monde", chaperonnée par sa grand-mère aristocrate, a lancé une phrase très offensante qui restera collé à Arabella jusqu'à maintenant (il faut savoir que sa mère était française et que l'enfance de notre héroïne a été très chaotique, voire traumatisante, à cause, d'abord, du décès de son père, aristocrate anglais, et ensuite, sa mère, qui a malheureusement fini comme prostituée à Whitechapel, un quartier de Londres que l'on ne présente plus...Néanmoins, c'est aussi là-bas qu'Arabella s'est fait de véritables amis et a vite compris que ce n'est pas parce qu'on est pauvre que l'on est dépourvu d'honneur....Et à contrario, ce n'est pas parce qu'on est aristocrate que l'on n'est pas une sale merde ignoble....).
Et pour son anonymat en tant que voleuse, son avantage c'est qu'à cette époque, les hommes ne pouvaient pas soupçonner les femmes, qu'ils croyaient "inférieures", et donc, impossible pour eux de penser qu'elles peuvent escalader des balcons et courir sur les toits.
Le fait qu'Arabella va se lier d'amitié avec Grace, la petite soeur d'Adam, va d'abord être mal vu par le Duc, mais finalement, il va vite comprendre que la jeune femme, au lieu de mal l'influencer (comme il pensait qu'elle allait le faire, à cause de sa réputation) va plutôt donner de la confiance en sa jeune soeur, qui a été, elle aussi, victime d'un maitre-chanteur...Car oui, dans cette histoire, il y a un maitre-chanteur, qui est le méchant du récit, et il y a un voleur (enfin une voleuse), qui est notre héroïne.
J'ai vraiment adoré les interactions entre nos deux héros. Arabella ne se laisse pas impressionner par la prestance du Duc, et celui-ci, finalement, semble apprécier ses joutes verbales avec cette jeune femme au caractère bien trempé et qui n'est pas à ses pieds, comme toutes les jeunes filles, bien au contraire....
Evidemment, Adam finira par découvrir le secret d'Arabella, car il est aussi intelligent qu'elle, et surtout, elle va être de plus en plus troublée par sa présence et donc va commencer à commettre des erreurs lors de ses vols.....Néanmoins, ce n'est pas pour cela que notre héros va être choqué, en découvrant la vérité, bien au contraire, il va avoir de l'admiration pour elle (et déjà qu'il était attiré physiquement par elle, forcément, vous vous doutez de la suite....).
Pour conclure, j'ai vraiment passé un très agréable moment de lecture en compagnie du très séduisant Adam et de notre pétillante Arabella, qui forment un "ennemies to lovers" remarquable et la cerise sur le gâteau, le maître-chanteur vicieux qui prenait plaisir à faire souffrir les autres (notamment les jeunes femmes, comme la petite soeur d'Adam) sera démasqué par notre duo de choc et de charme. La boucle est bouclée, justice est faite. Tout est bien qui finit bien. Que demander de plus dans une romance historique de ce genre ?
C'est avec plaisir que je lirai d'autres oeuvres d'Emily Larkin et bien entendu, je vous recommande totalement "La voleuse de Whitechapel" !
Ma note : 17/20
C'est le premier livre que je lis de l'auteure néo-zélandaise Emily Larkin et je dois dire que j'ai bien apprécié sa plume. L'histoire est originale, nous tient en haleine, entre cette jeune femme au comportement entre "Cat's eyes" et "Robin des Bois" et un aristocrate orgueilleux et misogyne.
Notre héroïne, Arabella, est en effet une voleuse qui se fait surnommer "Le chat" car elle laisse toujours une carte de visite à l'endroit de ses méfaits (notamment pour éviter que les domestiques des maisons soient accusés de vol...). Mais attention, elle ne vole jamais de manière à faire le mal mais toujours pour réparer une injustice (généralement, ses "victimes" sont des personnes mauvaises et méprisantes qui méritent finalement ce qui leur arrive !).
Un jeu du chat et de la souris va commencer entre Adam et Arabella, qui a la réputation d'être une fille légère....Alors que c'est totalement le contraire (vous allez comprendre en lisant ce qui lui est arrivé dans son enfance) !
De plus, elle a un passif assez compliqué avec notre héros car celui-ci, quelques années plus tôt, au moment où la jeune femme faisait son entrée officielle dans le "beau monde", chaperonnée par sa grand-mère aristocrate, a lancé une phrase très offensante qui restera collé à Arabella jusqu'à maintenant (il faut savoir que sa mère était française et que l'enfance de notre héroïne a été très chaotique, voire traumatisante, à cause, d'abord, du décès de son père, aristocrate anglais, et ensuite, sa mère, qui a malheureusement fini comme prostituée à Whitechapel, un quartier de Londres que l'on ne présente plus...Néanmoins, c'est aussi là-bas qu'Arabella s'est fait de véritables amis et a vite compris que ce n'est pas parce qu'on est pauvre que l'on est dépourvu d'honneur....Et à contrario, ce n'est pas parce qu'on est aristocrate que l'on n'est pas une sale merde ignoble....).
Et pour son anonymat en tant que voleuse, son avantage c'est qu'à cette époque, les hommes ne pouvaient pas soupçonner les femmes, qu'ils croyaient "inférieures", et donc, impossible pour eux de penser qu'elles peuvent escalader des balcons et courir sur les toits.
Le fait qu'Arabella va se lier d'amitié avec Grace, la petite soeur d'Adam, va d'abord être mal vu par le Duc, mais finalement, il va vite comprendre que la jeune femme, au lieu de mal l'influencer (comme il pensait qu'elle allait le faire, à cause de sa réputation) va plutôt donner de la confiance en sa jeune soeur, qui a été, elle aussi, victime d'un maitre-chanteur...Car oui, dans cette histoire, il y a un maitre-chanteur, qui est le méchant du récit, et il y a un voleur (enfin une voleuse), qui est notre héroïne.
J'ai vraiment adoré les interactions entre nos deux héros. Arabella ne se laisse pas impressionner par la prestance du Duc, et celui-ci, finalement, semble apprécier ses joutes verbales avec cette jeune femme au caractère bien trempé et qui n'est pas à ses pieds, comme toutes les jeunes filles, bien au contraire....
Evidemment, Adam finira par découvrir le secret d'Arabella, car il est aussi intelligent qu'elle, et surtout, elle va être de plus en plus troublée par sa présence et donc va commencer à commettre des erreurs lors de ses vols.....Néanmoins, ce n'est pas pour cela que notre héros va être choqué, en découvrant la vérité, bien au contraire, il va avoir de l'admiration pour elle (et déjà qu'il était attiré physiquement par elle, forcément, vous vous doutez de la suite....).
Pour conclure, j'ai vraiment passé un très agréable moment de lecture en compagnie du très séduisant Adam et de notre pétillante Arabella, qui forment un "ennemies to lovers" remarquable et la cerise sur le gâteau, le maître-chanteur vicieux qui prenait plaisir à faire souffrir les autres (notamment les jeunes femmes, comme la petite soeur d'Adam) sera démasqué par notre duo de choc et de charme. La boucle est bouclée, justice est faite. Tout est bien qui finit bien. Que demander de plus dans une romance historique de ce genre ?
C'est avec plaisir que je lirai d'autres oeuvres d'Emily Larkin et bien entendu, je vous recommande totalement "La voleuse de Whitechapel" !
Ma note : 17/20
May 21, 2021
Liked it. Adam was such a nice guy. And he really did realize how his actions and words have consequences and was ready to admit his fault without a brooding fortnight spent drinking himself under the table, as many male heroes often do.
tbr-considering
November 8, 2021Note to self: Orginially wasThe Unmasking of a LadyEmily May
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August 13, 2015
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
I wasn’t surprised to find that Emily May’s The Unmasking of a Lady a wonderfully sweet read. I’m a big fan of her historical romances under Emily Larkin and have been meaning to read the Emily May books for a while now. So glad that I finally did as it didn’t disappoint!
Arabella Knightley is the granddaughter of an Earl. By all means, her life should’ve been a fairytale. If not, at least she shouldn’t want for anything while growing up. Sadly, that can’t be said about our Bella. Her years as a child, growing up in a slum alongside her fallen woman of a mother (I hate to call her a prostitute, you’ll know why in a bit), may have shaped her perspective of people, and life in general, but it didn’t steal away her inherent goodness of character. Arabella is kind and generous. Life has taught her lessons from experience no kid should have to face but it has also given her some directions on how she should structure her own. That is, by doing good for those children of the slum; of whom no one ever thinks. No one cares about whatever happens to them. They’re forgotten just as easily since the moment they’re born.
You ask, how can a girl grown up in a slum is going to help these kids? For that we have to delve a little further into her ill fated parents’ life. Arabella’s father was the second son of the Earl of Westcote. A painter and artist, he went to Paris at a young age and fell in love with a Parisian beauty; a love young woman from a good family. Unfortunately, Arabella’s mother’s whole family was executed in one fell swoop, so she had to leave with her husband to an unknown land. In London, the pompous, fool of an Earl, disowns his son because he didn’t approve of the match. He had the heir and a spare, so what does it matter if this one discarded, right? Both Edward and Therese were forced to live in baseline poverty, with meager income from the selling of his paintings. Then Arabella was born. She even had good life with her parents until Edward succumbs to a fever. Without any other way to support herself and her child, Therese seeks help from her in-laws, only to be turned out by the pathetically prideful Earl once again.
You can only imagine what to could happen to a beautiful, young French widow without anyone to her support her in this unforgiving world. She had to become mistresses of some of her husband’s friends, then find other protectors so that Arabella never goes hungry or without shelter. There was a blank in between, when for some reasons, Therese finds herself forced to work on the streets, until the day she also succumbs to consumption and God knows what else, and finally leaves this cruel earth. Now you know why I can’t bring myself to call Mrs. Westcote a prostitute. She was a kind, loving mother who had done everything possible to take care of her Arabella. In the story, you’d find more of her time with her mother in Arabella’s musings, and learn that Therese didn’t want to become a prostitute. I mean who does? She’d done other dead end, small jobs too but in the end, nothing was enough.
After her passing, at the age of 12, somehow Arabella finally finds herself at the doorstep of her grandparents, summoned by them. She was taken in, fed, given lessons, taken care of every other way but there was no deep, abiding affection between her and her grandparents. In the meantime, providence or whatever you call it, both of Arabella’s uncles die tragic deaths, living the Earl without an heir. His only grand issue was now the daughter of the ‘French whore’, whom he’d kicked out without a second thought. Surprisingly enough, the Earl, being aware of his granddaughter’s brilliance, be it her paintings or at pianoforte, makes her his sole heir. The title of course reverts to a distant cousin after the Earl’s death, alongside their country seat. Arabella would become an heiress on her 25th birthday; something she’s been waiting eagerly for, and not because of the reason you’re thinking. Arabella hates London, she hates seasons and she needs that money for a personal cause.
Why does Arabella hate London and the Season? That’s another story where she got her heart broken by this snotty guy, the nephew of a Duke, Mr. St. Just. The St. Justs, though untitled, have as much wealth and influence as, if not more, of a Duke. Adam St. Just is no different than his predecessors; handsome, distant and super arrogant; as if he’s born and bred into arrogance, which is quite true, as you’ll find from Adam’s musings. Six years ago, on Arabella’s first season something happened. Adam was young and rather impulsive. He saw a young Arabella and wanted her on the first sight. Her beauty and mysterious dark eyes blew him away. But the news of him dancing with her reached his tyrannical father, who not only forbade Adam to mingle with the ‘French whore’s daughter’ but also sends him packing to the continent. Enraged at his father, Adam strikes out at Arabella. Very immature and selfish thing to do, but he was also in his cups when he did it. He used Arabella and the smell of gutter in one sentence. *tsk tsk tsk*
A sobriquet was born out of Adam’s comment; Miss Smell O’Gutter. The name stuck; a sentence that forever changed Arabella’s life making it hell. On top of being called as the French whore’s daughter, now the whispers, the ‘new’ name calling, the laughter behind her back became almost too much for her. But Arabella didn’t shy away or hide behind the walls of her home. She became more vivacious, excelling in everything; from poise to her skills at art to music and dancing. No one could beat her in any of it. In the passing years, the gossip has died down quite a bit but not entirely. People still call her that behind her back but Arabella dresses impeccably and deports herself equally gracefully to beat the gossip. She equals her dressing up as her ‘armor’; tiny arrows of vicious gossip strike and fall down without hurting her. A coping mechanism no doubt, but it has worked so far.
What hadn’t changed in the intervening years though, was Arabella’s deep dislike of the snobbish Adam St. Just. St. Just, who is utterly handsome with his golden brown hair streaked with gold, with his baritone voice and grey eyes. From everything I could feel that Arabella was smitten with him when they first met, no wonder the barb of his comment struck her most viciously. She kept saying she felt this sense of betrayal, though there shouldn’t be having any such feeling as she’d just met him at that time. But it told me plenty.
Yet, that doesn’t mean Arabella won’t help Grace St. Just, the 17yrs. old half-sister of Adam, when she’s in dire need of some help. After all, Grace has nothing to do with Adam’s lousy mouth. You see, Arabella knew that Grace was being blackmailed by someone. Besides, the poor girl had been at the brunt of horrendous gossip regarding a mistake she almost made which made her debut Season a hell. No one more than Arabella knew better just how that felt like. Even though she knew St. Just won’t like her mingling with his sister... well, that idea gave Arabella more pleasure than she’s willing to admit. I loved how she becomes fast friends with Grace as she was in dire need of a friend. She also begins to adore Arabella on spot. Her advice on wearing one’s ‘armor’ and thumbing at the Ton was sure to win anyone’s adoration. I absolutely loved it when Adam finds them together, becomes instantly agitated, only to find that Arabella’s friendship makes Grace happy.
I won’t say Adam was a bad brother. He was caring, even if had no idea how to deal with Grace’s emotional problems. He was trying hard to lift her spirit ever since the ‘disaster’. In the beginning, Adam tried a few times to dissuade Grace from that friendship, but Arabella’s kind words and advises returned her self-confidence, even if a bit, so she remains resolute about not breaking it off. But then, even Adam begins to notice the changes in Grace Arabella brings and how useful her advises were. So, for the love of him, Adam couldn’t tell Grace to stay away from Arabella.
What happens next is through Grace’s friendship, he and Arabella also begin to see each-other more often than both would’ve liked to. Which also leads to this reluctant, yet not entirely unwanted, something blossoming between them. There was no denying that in their subconscious minds, they wanted each-other. You can say a case of opposites attract. And because of that ‘something’, as it gradually begins to grow into a friendship, Adam finds himself embarrassed and in utter shame every time someone would mention the words ‘Miss Smell O’Gutter’; be it around Arabella or not. And every time Adam think, ‘I did this to her. It was because of me she’s still suffering through this nastiness...’, even if Arabella won’t show any visible distress. TBH, initially I found Adam to be a little too stuck up and insufferable. However, with this thought and his reactions to Bella’s charms, he begins to win me over.
Now, I didn’t mention how Arabella came to know about Grace’s blackmailer. When the story opens up, we find a thief securing those blackmail letters and the valuables that Grace send to the blackmailer, from that woman’s bedroom. This thief goes by as ‘Tom’ according to the cards he leaves behind. Each card contains a message that denotes to some wrongdoing, and payment being made for that deed. Of course, the person who is responsible is usually been robbed by Tom off some valuables. This has been going on for quite a few years now and yet, so far, no one has been able to either catch or identify Tom. But every single person robbed was from the Ton. Every single one of them has done some nasty thing or the other, for which they ‘paid’ to Tom. People are actually agog, even applauds the thief for being brave, for serving justice in a manner. Like everyone else, Adam has also been quite obsessed with this ‘Tom’, more so when Tom returns Grace’s valuables alongside the identity of the blackmailer; a widow named Lady Bicknell. Be it curiosity or gratitude or plain boredom, Adam becomes determined to discover Tom’s identity; not because he wanted to reveal his identity to everyone and crow about it but basically to have a chance to thank him for helping Grace. But so far, his quest has been unsuccessful...
What Adam didn’t know was that he has been mingling with said thief almost every day, not to mention the fact that they have a ‘history’ of sort together.
So yes, it was Arabella. I should’ve found it really hard to believe but knowing her, I didn’t. She was smart and intelligent and I felt that she was quite able to pull something like that off nicely. Besides, Arabella didn’t rob these people for pin money. She didn’t need any and even if she did, she’d never use it all for herself. Not only she loved serving justice in a form to people who would’ve otherwise escaped it entirely, she also had a pet project; a school for slum children, mainly for young girls who have no one and nowhere to turn to. Arabella didn’t want them to find themselves without an option for a better life. In her school, they could have meals, clean clothing and bedding, also an education that would, hopefully, provide them with that option. Arabella can’t manage it on her own as she doesn’t want this secret to become public knowledge just yet. Especially, she’s sure that her grandmother, or he r grandfather for that matter, would’ve never approved of this venture. So I could see why she had to keep it a secret. Arabella’s friend from back in her days of the slum, Harry, has been running the school on her behalf with his wife. Harry’s sister Molly has been with Arabella in the guise of her maid but they’re more friends than employer-employee. Molly and she would go and visit Harry in Whitechapel, also in secret, to get updates on the school. She’s been supporting it with her stolen goods so far but her 25th birthday is coming and Arabella can’t wait to have her own fortune and become involved in this project openly and for good. She has already decided to leave her grandmother’s home and live on her own.
Back to the story and Adam and Arabella’s relationship. The moment Adam openly apologized to Arabella for his colossal ‘slip-of-tongue’, leaving her stunned (she didn’t even imagine that the snotty Adam St. Just can actually *gasp* apologize!), both knew they’ve just overcame a barrier. And no matter what, their meetings only helped their budding relationship blossom even more. It was obvious Adam held her in great esteem, seeing her for the person she truly was, totally awed by her various talents, while Arabella found herself falling for him a little bit every day, even though she knew it would probably lead to nowhere. He may enjoy their time together, but would someone like Adam St. Just approve of her secret identity and her pet project? Her mingling with ‘the sort’ no lady ever does?
I’ve had my doubts about Adam but had a change of heart the moment he realized his mistake. And I absolutely loved the way the author showed this gradual transformation of Adams’ mindset from a supercilious man to someone down-to-earth and absolutely in adoration of Arabella was superb. It didn’t happen in one day. No love at first sight and instantly all forgotten; these two didn’t even like each-other for the better part of the story. But when they started falling for each-other, it was wonderful. Their banters began to transform from out and out barbs and jibes, sarcastic comments to mild flirtation into straight-out wanting, with a desire to be in each-other’s arms. Adam was born in an absolutely arrogant family but we find him increasingly contemptuous of his father’s autocratic dictates that ruled his life so far. Even from the dead, the man seem to be toying with his brain again— that he shouldn’t be mingling with the French whore’s daughter. Little by little, Adam begins to discard the notions drummed up in him since childhood. And why wouldn’t he? His eyes were being opened to the real world by Arabella in a way that Adam couldn’t deny any longer. That acceptance, and the urge to prove himself to Arabella as a ‘better man’, is what made him a worthy hero in my eyes.
When finally Adam puts two and two together and finds out Tom’s identity, his had only praise for ‘him’. Arabella was rather worried so far. When she knew that her secret was out, at least to Adam, Arabella decides to confide in him about her school and her future plans for it. She was stunned, once again, when Adam not only applauds her courage but also expresses an avid interest in becoming an active part of her school. He wanted to see for himself what she was doing and how she had managed it all alone for so many years. If that wasn’t a colossal change of character, then I don’t know what is. Then again, by that time Adam knew he was in love. He also knew that he’s going to marry Arabella, come what may and spend his life making up for the misery his comment have wrought her. Arabella, on the other hand, had the same feelings but it wasn’t until Adam’s proposal that she knew. That proposal stunned her yet once again. She hoped that he felt something for her but a marriage proposal she wasn’t expecting at all!
One other exceptionally beautiful, yet heart-wrenching, scene was at the end with Arabella and her grandmother; the revelation of truth, the knowledge that her grandmother has loved her all along. The fact that she too had suffered in silence. Her grandmother was so guilt ridden, and knowing Arabella despised them all, couldn’t let her feelings be known. She took the loss of all her sons as penance for her deed; for not stepping up further to save Arabella and her parents, even though it was revealed by then what kind of a bully the wretched Earl was. Her grandmother tried but it just wasn’t enough. So many mistakes, so many regrets. Two lives could’ve easily been saved, perhaps, if the Earl didn’t turn her parents away. Her mother could’ve been saved from so much humiliation, pain and misery in her short life. My heart just breaks at the thought of it. Poor, poor Therese! :( Born and bred a lady, yet what she had to suffer the worse until her passing because she had no other options. I simply couldn’t help my tears while reading that scene, and couldn’t thank Adam enough to bring it about. It was so very necessary IMO that they, at the least try, to mend their broken fences for the sake of family, their sanity and Arabella-Adams’ future.
Honestly, I can go on and on but the fact remains. I loved this story, with its heartwarming, yet oftimes heart-rending moments; with its adorable characters and those hilarious moments, not to mention the flowing writing style. Arabella was a unique heroine. Then again, I’ve come to learn that Emily May writes unique heroines for whom you’d only have adoration and respect. You’d want them to be your friend. My only big complain would be that there’s no book for Adam’s friend Jeremy, the Marquis of Revelstoke. He was such a character! It's a downer TBH because he SO deserved one! I adored him without a doubt. You must read and find out exactly why. ;)
Lovely, simply lovely. I only wish it was longer. 4 stars and recommended!
I wasn’t surprised to find that Emily May’s The Unmasking of a Lady a wonderfully sweet read. I’m a big fan of her historical romances under Emily Larkin and have been meaning to read the Emily May books for a while now. So glad that I finally did as it didn’t disappoint!
Arabella Knightley is the granddaughter of an Earl. By all means, her life should’ve been a fairytale. If not, at least she shouldn’t want for anything while growing up. Sadly, that can’t be said about our Bella. Her years as a child, growing up in a slum alongside her fallen woman of a mother (I hate to call her a prostitute, you’ll know why in a bit), may have shaped her perspective of people, and life in general, but it didn’t steal away her inherent goodness of character. Arabella is kind and generous. Life has taught her lessons from experience no kid should have to face but it has also given her some directions on how she should structure her own. That is, by doing good for those children of the slum; of whom no one ever thinks. No one cares about whatever happens to them. They’re forgotten just as easily since the moment they’re born.
You ask, how can a girl grown up in a slum is going to help these kids? For that we have to delve a little further into her ill fated parents’ life. Arabella’s father was the second son of the Earl of Westcote. A painter and artist, he went to Paris at a young age and fell in love with a Parisian beauty; a love young woman from a good family. Unfortunately, Arabella’s mother’s whole family was executed in one fell swoop, so she had to leave with her husband to an unknown land. In London, the pompous, fool of an Earl, disowns his son because he didn’t approve of the match. He had the heir and a spare, so what does it matter if this one discarded, right? Both Edward and Therese were forced to live in baseline poverty, with meager income from the selling of his paintings. Then Arabella was born. She even had good life with her parents until Edward succumbs to a fever. Without any other way to support herself and her child, Therese seeks help from her in-laws, only to be turned out by the pathetically prideful Earl once again.
You can only imagine what to could happen to a beautiful, young French widow without anyone to her support her in this unforgiving world. She had to become mistresses of some of her husband’s friends, then find other protectors so that Arabella never goes hungry or without shelter. There was a blank in between, when for some reasons, Therese finds herself forced to work on the streets, until the day she also succumbs to consumption and God knows what else, and finally leaves this cruel earth. Now you know why I can’t bring myself to call Mrs. Westcote a prostitute. She was a kind, loving mother who had done everything possible to take care of her Arabella. In the story, you’d find more of her time with her mother in Arabella’s musings, and learn that Therese didn’t want to become a prostitute. I mean who does? She’d done other dead end, small jobs too but in the end, nothing was enough.
After her passing, at the age of 12, somehow Arabella finally finds herself at the doorstep of her grandparents, summoned by them. She was taken in, fed, given lessons, taken care of every other way but there was no deep, abiding affection between her and her grandparents. In the meantime, providence or whatever you call it, both of Arabella’s uncles die tragic deaths, living the Earl without an heir. His only grand issue was now the daughter of the ‘French whore’, whom he’d kicked out without a second thought. Surprisingly enough, the Earl, being aware of his granddaughter’s brilliance, be it her paintings or at pianoforte, makes her his sole heir. The title of course reverts to a distant cousin after the Earl’s death, alongside their country seat. Arabella would become an heiress on her 25th birthday; something she’s been waiting eagerly for, and not because of the reason you’re thinking. Arabella hates London, she hates seasons and she needs that money for a personal cause.
Why does Arabella hate London and the Season? That’s another story where she got her heart broken by this snotty guy, the nephew of a Duke, Mr. St. Just. The St. Justs, though untitled, have as much wealth and influence as, if not more, of a Duke. Adam St. Just is no different than his predecessors; handsome, distant and super arrogant; as if he’s born and bred into arrogance, which is quite true, as you’ll find from Adam’s musings. Six years ago, on Arabella’s first season something happened. Adam was young and rather impulsive. He saw a young Arabella and wanted her on the first sight. Her beauty and mysterious dark eyes blew him away. But the news of him dancing with her reached his tyrannical father, who not only forbade Adam to mingle with the ‘French whore’s daughter’ but also sends him packing to the continent. Enraged at his father, Adam strikes out at Arabella. Very immature and selfish thing to do, but he was also in his cups when he did it. He used Arabella and the smell of gutter in one sentence. *tsk tsk tsk*
A sobriquet was born out of Adam’s comment; Miss Smell O’Gutter. The name stuck; a sentence that forever changed Arabella’s life making it hell. On top of being called as the French whore’s daughter, now the whispers, the ‘new’ name calling, the laughter behind her back became almost too much for her. But Arabella didn’t shy away or hide behind the walls of her home. She became more vivacious, excelling in everything; from poise to her skills at art to music and dancing. No one could beat her in any of it. In the passing years, the gossip has died down quite a bit but not entirely. People still call her that behind her back but Arabella dresses impeccably and deports herself equally gracefully to beat the gossip. She equals her dressing up as her ‘armor’; tiny arrows of vicious gossip strike and fall down without hurting her. A coping mechanism no doubt, but it has worked so far.
What hadn’t changed in the intervening years though, was Arabella’s deep dislike of the snobbish Adam St. Just. St. Just, who is utterly handsome with his golden brown hair streaked with gold, with his baritone voice and grey eyes. From everything I could feel that Arabella was smitten with him when they first met, no wonder the barb of his comment struck her most viciously. She kept saying she felt this sense of betrayal, though there shouldn’t be having any such feeling as she’d just met him at that time. But it told me plenty.
Yet, that doesn’t mean Arabella won’t help Grace St. Just, the 17yrs. old half-sister of Adam, when she’s in dire need of some help. After all, Grace has nothing to do with Adam’s lousy mouth. You see, Arabella knew that Grace was being blackmailed by someone. Besides, the poor girl had been at the brunt of horrendous gossip regarding a mistake she almost made which made her debut Season a hell. No one more than Arabella knew better just how that felt like. Even though she knew St. Just won’t like her mingling with his sister... well, that idea gave Arabella more pleasure than she’s willing to admit. I loved how she becomes fast friends with Grace as she was in dire need of a friend. She also begins to adore Arabella on spot. Her advice on wearing one’s ‘armor’ and thumbing at the Ton was sure to win anyone’s adoration. I absolutely loved it when Adam finds them together, becomes instantly agitated, only to find that Arabella’s friendship makes Grace happy.
I won’t say Adam was a bad brother. He was caring, even if had no idea how to deal with Grace’s emotional problems. He was trying hard to lift her spirit ever since the ‘disaster’. In the beginning, Adam tried a few times to dissuade Grace from that friendship, but Arabella’s kind words and advises returned her self-confidence, even if a bit, so she remains resolute about not breaking it off. But then, even Adam begins to notice the changes in Grace Arabella brings and how useful her advises were. So, for the love of him, Adam couldn’t tell Grace to stay away from Arabella.
What happens next is through Grace’s friendship, he and Arabella also begin to see each-other more often than both would’ve liked to. Which also leads to this reluctant, yet not entirely unwanted, something blossoming between them. There was no denying that in their subconscious minds, they wanted each-other. You can say a case of opposites attract. And because of that ‘something’, as it gradually begins to grow into a friendship, Adam finds himself embarrassed and in utter shame every time someone would mention the words ‘Miss Smell O’Gutter’; be it around Arabella or not. And every time Adam think, ‘I did this to her. It was because of me she’s still suffering through this nastiness...’, even if Arabella won’t show any visible distress. TBH, initially I found Adam to be a little too stuck up and insufferable. However, with this thought and his reactions to Bella’s charms, he begins to win me over.
Now, I didn’t mention how Arabella came to know about Grace’s blackmailer. When the story opens up, we find a thief securing those blackmail letters and the valuables that Grace send to the blackmailer, from that woman’s bedroom. This thief goes by as ‘Tom’ according to the cards he leaves behind. Each card contains a message that denotes to some wrongdoing, and payment being made for that deed. Of course, the person who is responsible is usually been robbed by Tom off some valuables. This has been going on for quite a few years now and yet, so far, no one has been able to either catch or identify Tom. But every single person robbed was from the Ton. Every single one of them has done some nasty thing or the other, for which they ‘paid’ to Tom. People are actually agog, even applauds the thief for being brave, for serving justice in a manner. Like everyone else, Adam has also been quite obsessed with this ‘Tom’, more so when Tom returns Grace’s valuables alongside the identity of the blackmailer; a widow named Lady Bicknell. Be it curiosity or gratitude or plain boredom, Adam becomes determined to discover Tom’s identity; not because he wanted to reveal his identity to everyone and crow about it but basically to have a chance to thank him for helping Grace. But so far, his quest has been unsuccessful...
What Adam didn’t know was that he has been mingling with said thief almost every day, not to mention the fact that they have a ‘history’ of sort together.
So yes, it was Arabella. I should’ve found it really hard to believe but knowing her, I didn’t. She was smart and intelligent and I felt that she was quite able to pull something like that off nicely. Besides, Arabella didn’t rob these people for pin money. She didn’t need any and even if she did, she’d never use it all for herself. Not only she loved serving justice in a form to people who would’ve otherwise escaped it entirely, she also had a pet project; a school for slum children, mainly for young girls who have no one and nowhere to turn to. Arabella didn’t want them to find themselves without an option for a better life. In her school, they could have meals, clean clothing and bedding, also an education that would, hopefully, provide them with that option. Arabella can’t manage it on her own as she doesn’t want this secret to become public knowledge just yet. Especially, she’s sure that her grandmother, or he r grandfather for that matter, would’ve never approved of this venture. So I could see why she had to keep it a secret. Arabella’s friend from back in her days of the slum, Harry, has been running the school on her behalf with his wife. Harry’s sister Molly has been with Arabella in the guise of her maid but they’re more friends than employer-employee. Molly and she would go and visit Harry in Whitechapel, also in secret, to get updates on the school. She’s been supporting it with her stolen goods so far but her 25th birthday is coming and Arabella can’t wait to have her own fortune and become involved in this project openly and for good. She has already decided to leave her grandmother’s home and live on her own.
Back to the story and Adam and Arabella’s relationship. The moment Adam openly apologized to Arabella for his colossal ‘slip-of-tongue’, leaving her stunned (she didn’t even imagine that the snotty Adam St. Just can actually *gasp* apologize!), both knew they’ve just overcame a barrier. And no matter what, their meetings only helped their budding relationship blossom even more. It was obvious Adam held her in great esteem, seeing her for the person she truly was, totally awed by her various talents, while Arabella found herself falling for him a little bit every day, even though she knew it would probably lead to nowhere. He may enjoy their time together, but would someone like Adam St. Just approve of her secret identity and her pet project? Her mingling with ‘the sort’ no lady ever does?
I’ve had my doubts about Adam but had a change of heart the moment he realized his mistake. And I absolutely loved the way the author showed this gradual transformation of Adams’ mindset from a supercilious man to someone down-to-earth and absolutely in adoration of Arabella was superb. It didn’t happen in one day. No love at first sight and instantly all forgotten; these two didn’t even like each-other for the better part of the story. But when they started falling for each-other, it was wonderful. Their banters began to transform from out and out barbs and jibes, sarcastic comments to mild flirtation into straight-out wanting, with a desire to be in each-other’s arms. Adam was born in an absolutely arrogant family but we find him increasingly contemptuous of his father’s autocratic dictates that ruled his life so far. Even from the dead, the man seem to be toying with his brain again— that he shouldn’t be mingling with the French whore’s daughter. Little by little, Adam begins to discard the notions drummed up in him since childhood. And why wouldn’t he? His eyes were being opened to the real world by Arabella in a way that Adam couldn’t deny any longer. That acceptance, and the urge to prove himself to Arabella as a ‘better man’, is what made him a worthy hero in my eyes.
When finally Adam puts two and two together and finds out Tom’s identity, his had only praise for ‘him’. Arabella was rather worried so far. When she knew that her secret was out, at least to Adam, Arabella decides to confide in him about her school and her future plans for it. She was stunned, once again, when Adam not only applauds her courage but also expresses an avid interest in becoming an active part of her school. He wanted to see for himself what she was doing and how she had managed it all alone for so many years. If that wasn’t a colossal change of character, then I don’t know what is. Then again, by that time Adam knew he was in love. He also knew that he’s going to marry Arabella, come what may and spend his life making up for the misery his comment have wrought her. Arabella, on the other hand, had the same feelings but it wasn’t until Adam’s proposal that she knew. That proposal stunned her yet once again. She hoped that he felt something for her but a marriage proposal she wasn’t expecting at all!
One other exceptionally beautiful, yet heart-wrenching, scene was at the end with Arabella and her grandmother; the revelation of truth, the knowledge that her grandmother has loved her all along. The fact that she too had suffered in silence. Her grandmother was so guilt ridden, and knowing Arabella despised them all, couldn’t let her feelings be known. She took the loss of all her sons as penance for her deed; for not stepping up further to save Arabella and her parents, even though it was revealed by then what kind of a bully the wretched Earl was. Her grandmother tried but it just wasn’t enough. So many mistakes, so many regrets. Two lives could’ve easily been saved, perhaps, if the Earl didn’t turn her parents away. Her mother could’ve been saved from so much humiliation, pain and misery in her short life. My heart just breaks at the thought of it. Poor, poor Therese! :( Born and bred a lady, yet what she had to suffer the worse until her passing because she had no other options. I simply couldn’t help my tears while reading that scene, and couldn’t thank Adam enough to bring it about. It was so very necessary IMO that they, at the least try, to mend their broken fences for the sake of family, their sanity and Arabella-Adams’ future.
Honestly, I can go on and on but the fact remains. I loved this story, with its heartwarming, yet oftimes heart-rending moments; with its adorable characters and those hilarious moments, not to mention the flowing writing style. Arabella was a unique heroine. Then again, I’ve come to learn that Emily May writes unique heroines for whom you’d only have adoration and respect. You’d want them to be your friend. My only big complain would be that there’s no book for Adam’s friend Jeremy, the Marquis of Revelstoke. He was such a character! It's a downer TBH because he SO deserved one! I adored him without a doubt. You must read and find out exactly why. ;)
Lovely, simply lovely. I only wish it was longer. 4 stars and recommended!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2018
Favorite of this author, I think this is the best example of her writing skills. She has a talent for captivating the reader and I find myself eager to turn the page even in her books where I don't really like the characters. This book has Humorous with real and relatable characters. Loved the hero. His character didn't match from the first half to the second. I understand him being gentle with Bella, but he should have flirted more. Loved the heroine and how strong, beautiful and accomplished she was. Didn't like how in the 2nd half she turns into a scared little mouse. I understand her being vulnerable and maybe afraid of being touched but the author took it too far and I didn't feel like it matched her character and instead of developing I thought she took steps backwards. Very compelling and I gave it 5 stars for the brilliance of the 1st half. Others may enjoy the 2nd half and it is well written just not to my taste and didn't fit cohesively with the 1st half in my opinion. WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something PG.
Romance-3/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-3/5
Romance-3/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-3/5
July 6, 2017
Wow, I was unexpectedly surprised by this book. The hero's transformation was sweet and he turned in to the steadfast in a step by step way that made me fall in love with him along the way. I liked all the main characters and look forward to more from this series.
July 26, 2016
This was an odd one to rate.
General outline:
Adam St. Just accidentally gave Arabella Knightley a bad nickname 6 years before that the ton grabbed onto with malicious glee. He has always felt guilty about it, and has always been physically attracted to her. They come back into contact when he brings his younger sister, Grace, to London for the season.
Arabella, who spent a number of her childhood years in the slums, will come into her huge inheritance in a few months but until then she has been playing Robin Hood; stealing from the assholes of the ton and using that money to fund a girl's school she runs to educate girls from the slums and keep them out of prostitution.
Adam is bent on figuring out who the thief is because the thief did a kindness for Grace, he is also a little obsessed with Arabella, who just wants to make it through the season and get her inheritance.
Comments
Adam REALLY gets in his own way with his pride and ego telling him how much better than Arabella he is, and how lowly she is. Yet he obsesses about her, dreams about her, lusts for her, etc. After a bit it was kind of annoying and grating because he just lusted for her yet constantly put her down.
Arabella was generally a well rounded great character, strong and caring. She stood up to Adam when she could, held her own in a society that sneered at her, and had a huge amount of dignity. This plays out as a bit of a enemies-to-lovers type story.
So the first 2/3rds of this reads as your average traditional regency romance...and then it does a bit of a 180. Suddenly we have Adam offering to show Arabella how good sex can be. We have Arabella describing an actually very depressing and sad childhood; how her loving, beautiful, well bred mother ended up as a cheap whore in the rookeries. It almost makes you want to cry for Arabella's mother and everything she suffered through. Seeing what her mother became is what set Arabella on her quest to rescue and help girls in the slums, to educate them, and to give them a better future than selling their bodies.
It felt like two different people wrote this book. The first chunk would have been a solid 3 stars, but that last chunk was an emotional doosey that added a star.
General outline:
Adam St. Just accidentally gave Arabella Knightley a bad nickname 6 years before that the ton grabbed onto with malicious glee. He has always felt guilty about it, and has always been physically attracted to her. They come back into contact when he brings his younger sister, Grace, to London for the season.
Arabella, who spent a number of her childhood years in the slums, will come into her huge inheritance in a few months but until then she has been playing Robin Hood; stealing from the assholes of the ton and using that money to fund a girl's school she runs to educate girls from the slums and keep them out of prostitution.
Adam is bent on figuring out who the thief is because the thief did a kindness for Grace, he is also a little obsessed with Arabella, who just wants to make it through the season and get her inheritance.
Comments
Adam REALLY gets in his own way with his pride and ego telling him how much better than Arabella he is, and how lowly she is. Yet he obsesses about her, dreams about her, lusts for her, etc. After a bit it was kind of annoying and grating because he just lusted for her yet constantly put her down.
Arabella was generally a well rounded great character, strong and caring. She stood up to Adam when she could, held her own in a society that sneered at her, and had a huge amount of dignity. This plays out as a bit of a enemies-to-lovers type story.
So the first 2/3rds of this reads as your average traditional regency romance...and then it does a bit of a 180. Suddenly we have Adam offering to show Arabella how good sex can be. We have Arabella describing an actually very depressing and sad childhood; how her loving, beautiful, well bred mother ended up as a cheap whore in the rookeries. It almost makes you want to cry for Arabella's mother and everything she suffered through. Seeing what her mother became is what set Arabella on her quest to rescue and help girls in the slums, to educate them, and to give them a better future than selling their bodies.
It felt like two different people wrote this book. The first chunk would have been a solid 3 stars, but that last chunk was an emotional doosey that added a star.
March 26, 2016
This is my second Emily May book.
Surprisingly, I like it better than The Earl's Dilemma. Usually I tend to avoid books with too many spies/undercover/intrigues, including masked thieves. However, I enjoy reading the book. At least I feel that the story progress naturally.
There are many scenes from hero's POV, including the hero's feeling for the heroine (which is not ALL lust at first sight) and his struggle to finally accept that feeling. I particularly like how Ms May describes the changing in hero's opinion about the heroine. The funny thing is, we don't get to see as much POV from heroine regarding her feeling.
Ah, the sex scene. Considering the heroine's background and her fear of intimacy, I find I don't mind the scenes being somewhat dispassionate. One thing bugs me, though. See, I understand the hero's purpose in asking the heroine for "intimacy test". Still, I don't get how the heroine can have sex with the hero just like that without the - you know - prior intimate contact. They had never kissed, nor hugged each other, and suddenly we get this:
hero: "You're afraid of having sex? Hmm.. how about try it with me? You can back off later if you find you don't like it."
heroine: "Errrrr.... ok?"
True, at that point the hero has already fallen in love, but stilllll....
Surprisingly, I like it better than The Earl's Dilemma. Usually I tend to avoid books with too many spies/undercover/intrigues, including masked thieves. However, I enjoy reading the book. At least I feel that the story progress naturally.
There are many scenes from hero's POV, including the hero's feeling for the heroine (which is not ALL lust at first sight) and his struggle to finally accept that feeling. I particularly like how Ms May describes the changing in hero's opinion about the heroine. The funny thing is, we don't get to see as much POV from heroine regarding her feeling.
Ah, the sex scene. Considering the heroine's background and her fear of intimacy, I find I don't mind the scenes being somewhat dispassionate. One thing bugs me, though. See, I understand the hero's purpose in asking the heroine for "intimacy test". Still, I don't get how the heroine can have sex with the hero just like that without the - you know - prior intimate contact. They had never kissed, nor hugged each other, and suddenly we get this:
hero: "You're afraid of having sex? Hmm.. how about try it with me? You can back off later if you find you don't like it."
heroine: "Errrrr.... ok?"
True, at that point the hero has already fallen in love, but stilllll....
November 17, 2019
I really liked this book. It was entertaining. We had a romance, but not just that. We also had an adventure with a robin hood like thief. The supporting cast was also endearing.
The story started with our two MCs hating each other. Six years ago, they met and quite liked each other. But Adam made a disgusting comment about her (Marrying Arabella Knightley? Sure, if one wants to live with the smell of the gutters) and the ton starts calling her Miss Smell O Gutters...
So she loathed him and he couldn't stand her, mainly because he was strongly attracted to her lool!
She befriends his sister and they start being friends, in a weird way.
I loved how gradual everything was in this book. The way Adam felt in love. Yes, he was attracted to her from the beginning but he got to know her, respect her, admire her before falling in love with her. And when it happened, it was amazing. Same for Arabella.
I'm giving it a 4 and not a 5 because Arabella annoyed me at the end, and I found myself like Adam more after hating him so much in the beginning. Also, the sex was almost inexistant and that's not fair lool, given how much we waited for those two to be together. But still, it was a wonderful book!
The story started with our two MCs hating each other. Six years ago, they met and quite liked each other. But Adam made a disgusting comment about her (Marrying Arabella Knightley? Sure, if one wants to live with the smell of the gutters) and the ton starts calling her Miss Smell O Gutters...
So she loathed him and he couldn't stand her, mainly because he was strongly attracted to her lool!
She befriends his sister and they start being friends, in a weird way.
I loved how gradual everything was in this book. The way Adam felt in love. Yes, he was attracted to her from the beginning but he got to know her, respect her, admire her before falling in love with her. And when it happened, it was amazing. Same for Arabella.
I'm giving it a 4 and not a 5 because Arabella annoyed me at the end, and I found myself like Adam more after hating him so much in the beginning. Also, the sex was almost inexistant and that's not fair lool, given how much we waited for those two to be together. But still, it was a wonderful book!
April 21, 2017
Yes, yes and yes! I loved how the H/h based their impressions on one another based on hearsay to then get completely demolished once they got to know one another.
The running theme of this one I thought was about rumors, judging someone you don't know and it's effects on others.
I wasn't expecting the heroine's awful childhood. I got the sense it was rough, but definitely not to the exact that it was.
I loved the heroine's extracurricular activities and the fact that the hero admired "Tom". I loved how she stripped him bare of all of his snootiness and made him think about how the other halves live. I loved how he gave her confidence and supported her. I loved how he just propositioned her during their week together and how he didn't want to give her up, but show her how much he could love her physically and emotionally.
This is the second Emily May/Larkin book I've read and I've been pleasantly surprised. Yes, I do judge books based on its covers and this cover is awful and I thought it would be the same for the content, but I really enjoyed this one.
The running theme of this one I thought was about rumors, judging someone you don't know and it's effects on others.
I wasn't expecting the heroine's awful childhood. I got the sense it was rough, but definitely not to the exact that it was.
I loved the heroine's extracurricular activities and the fact that the hero admired "Tom". I loved how she stripped him bare of all of his snootiness and made him think about how the other halves live. I loved how he gave her confidence and supported her. I loved how he just propositioned her during their week together and how he didn't want to give her up, but show her how much he could love her physically and emotionally.
This is the second Emily May/Larkin book I've read and I've been pleasantly surprised. Yes, I do judge books based on its covers and this cover is awful and I thought it would be the same for the content, but I really enjoyed this one.
February 10, 2024
So Much More than a Lady Thief!
I read (and listen to!) a lot of Regency romance, so I've actually read a surprising number of stories where the heroine is a thief. I'll admit I held off reading this book for a bit because I just don’t, in general, like those kinds of stories. While I adore Regency romance, I am just not a fan of some tropes, like female thieves or pugilists. But I should have known this author—my new favorite—would have handled this correctly because she did a fantastic job with not only that theme but also with these complex characters and their deep backstory. I often lament in my fiction reviews that contemporary writers are prone to the reader-dreaded and much-reviled info dump. It's particularly problematic in short-form fiction, but some authors rely on this horrid “technique” to get the reader quickly filled in and on to the main story. This book didn't have that, and in fact, she very slowly reveals the backstories of this couple's relationship and their own histories. So slowly that we don't really have the full picture of the heroine's life until near the end of the story. That takes skill to do well! And it truly was perfect timing, as we learn along with the hero what happened to the heroine in her early life, and it only makes us appreciate the strong, resilient woman she clearly showed herself to be throughout the rest of the book.
I won't try to give too much away, but let's just say these two have a bad history, one that has shaped the heroine's adult life for the last seven years. She was born the daughter of a peer’s non-heir son and a woman descended from French nobility. Because his parents didn't sanction the marriage, they turned their son’s widow away after their son died. Yes, they would take in their granddaughter, but they had no interest in keeping the small family unit together. The heroine's mother’s circumstances went from bad to worse until she and her mother were living in the worst London slums, and her mother was doing anything to make money to keep them going. Yes, I mean anything.
After her mother's death, her grandfather did take her in when she was 12. But the hero ruined her first season. In a drunken state, he put her down in such a colorful manner that the name "Miss Smell o’ Gutters" followed her ever after. But this young woman would not be cowed, and she determined she would hold her head high in society, even though she knew she would never be fully welcomed or part of the best circles, even if she was a peer’s granddaughter.
She truly is kind, decent to the marrow of her bones, and even protective, especially of other young women whom she believes the ton is treating poorly—including the hero's half-sister. The heroine passes along her hard-won wisdom to the hero's sister, who'd been on the verge of cutting her first season short because of rumors and the potential for scandal. Despite her and the hero's history, she doesn't think twice about helping this young woman who is clearly struggling. How can you not admire that?
But, as the title suggests, the lady is a thief! But she's more of a thief in the sense of Robin Hood, but with a delicious twist. Not only does she give her ill-gotten gains to a charity she's funded to help young women in the slums climb out of the pit of poverty and become properly trained for decent jobs, but her targets are people behaving badly outside of the light of society. We meet our heroine as she is burgling a woman who is blackmailing the hero's sister. Not only does she take some jewelry to contribute to her charitable cause, but she's also able to find drafts of the blackmail letters, as well as the jewelry she has connived to acquire.
As you may imagine, given their history, the hero is not wild about any sort of relationship developing between the heroine and his sister. But his sister, and even her companion aunt, quickly warm to the young lady. As he watches her interaction with his sister, he comes to have a grudging respect for the heroine and her effect on his sister, and in fact, starts to feel quite guilty about what transpired between them all those years ago.
I love that this is a true enemies-to-lovers story. It’s an exceedingly popular trope these days in both historical and contemporary romance. But some writers barely make them enemies, like maybe he pulled her hair as a child and she never got over it. Seriously, I've seen that in a book! The basis for their friction was harsh and truly changed the heroine's life. Their push-me-pull-you dance as they got to know each other better, sometimes a bit begrudgingly, was fun to watch, and you could see their growing admiration and respect, even if both fought it at times.
The end of the story revealed so much more, not just about the heroine's history but also about her still sometimes fractious relationship with her grandmother. I was reading this book as I sat eating lunch at a favorite restaurant when I came to the scene where we discover more about the grandmother’s past and how things transpired back when the heroine was a little girl. It was all I could do to keep from bursting into tears right at the table. I love a book that legit brings the feels, even if it could get embarrassing!
I could seriously go on and on about how delightful this book is, how complex the characterization is, and how well it shows how trauma of different types can leave deep wounds that require work and understanding to unravel and allow you to live the life you deserve to live. But if you choose to read this book, and I hope you do, I'll let you discover that for yourself.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I read (and listen to!) a lot of Regency romance, so I've actually read a surprising number of stories where the heroine is a thief. I'll admit I held off reading this book for a bit because I just don’t, in general, like those kinds of stories. While I adore Regency romance, I am just not a fan of some tropes, like female thieves or pugilists. But I should have known this author—my new favorite—would have handled this correctly because she did a fantastic job with not only that theme but also with these complex characters and their deep backstory. I often lament in my fiction reviews that contemporary writers are prone to the reader-dreaded and much-reviled info dump. It's particularly problematic in short-form fiction, but some authors rely on this horrid “technique” to get the reader quickly filled in and on to the main story. This book didn't have that, and in fact, she very slowly reveals the backstories of this couple's relationship and their own histories. So slowly that we don't really have the full picture of the heroine's life until near the end of the story. That takes skill to do well! And it truly was perfect timing, as we learn along with the hero what happened to the heroine in her early life, and it only makes us appreciate the strong, resilient woman she clearly showed herself to be throughout the rest of the book.
I won't try to give too much away, but let's just say these two have a bad history, one that has shaped the heroine's adult life for the last seven years. She was born the daughter of a peer’s non-heir son and a woman descended from French nobility. Because his parents didn't sanction the marriage, they turned their son’s widow away after their son died. Yes, they would take in their granddaughter, but they had no interest in keeping the small family unit together. The heroine's mother’s circumstances went from bad to worse until she and her mother were living in the worst London slums, and her mother was doing anything to make money to keep them going. Yes, I mean anything.
After her mother's death, her grandfather did take her in when she was 12. But the hero ruined her first season. In a drunken state, he put her down in such a colorful manner that the name "Miss Smell o’ Gutters" followed her ever after. But this young woman would not be cowed, and she determined she would hold her head high in society, even though she knew she would never be fully welcomed or part of the best circles, even if she was a peer’s granddaughter.
She truly is kind, decent to the marrow of her bones, and even protective, especially of other young women whom she believes the ton is treating poorly—including the hero's half-sister. The heroine passes along her hard-won wisdom to the hero's sister, who'd been on the verge of cutting her first season short because of rumors and the potential for scandal. Despite her and the hero's history, she doesn't think twice about helping this young woman who is clearly struggling. How can you not admire that?
But, as the title suggests, the lady is a thief! But she's more of a thief in the sense of Robin Hood, but with a delicious twist. Not only does she give her ill-gotten gains to a charity she's funded to help young women in the slums climb out of the pit of poverty and become properly trained for decent jobs, but her targets are people behaving badly outside of the light of society. We meet our heroine as she is burgling a woman who is blackmailing the hero's sister. Not only does she take some jewelry to contribute to her charitable cause, but she's also able to find drafts of the blackmail letters, as well as the jewelry she has connived to acquire.
As you may imagine, given their history, the hero is not wild about any sort of relationship developing between the heroine and his sister. But his sister, and even her companion aunt, quickly warm to the young lady. As he watches her interaction with his sister, he comes to have a grudging respect for the heroine and her effect on his sister, and in fact, starts to feel quite guilty about what transpired between them all those years ago.
I love that this is a true enemies-to-lovers story. It’s an exceedingly popular trope these days in both historical and contemporary romance. But some writers barely make them enemies, like maybe he pulled her hair as a child and she never got over it. Seriously, I've seen that in a book! The basis for their friction was harsh and truly changed the heroine's life. Their push-me-pull-you dance as they got to know each other better, sometimes a bit begrudgingly, was fun to watch, and you could see their growing admiration and respect, even if both fought it at times.
The end of the story revealed so much more, not just about the heroine's history but also about her still sometimes fractious relationship with her grandmother. I was reading this book as I sat eating lunch at a favorite restaurant when I came to the scene where we discover more about the grandmother’s past and how things transpired back when the heroine was a little girl. It was all I could do to keep from bursting into tears right at the table. I love a book that legit brings the feels, even if it could get embarrassing!
I could seriously go on and on about how delightful this book is, how complex the characterization is, and how well it shows how trauma of different types can leave deep wounds that require work and understanding to unravel and allow you to live the life you deserve to live. But if you choose to read this book, and I hope you do, I'll let you discover that for yourself.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
April 21, 2019
The H is arrogant and he regrets what he said about the h years before. She thinks she smart but we see that she's really naive, acting as a sort of Robin Hood character trying to fix people without addressing the cause. She's a little too perfect, he's a little too stupid but I liked them because of their flaws and how they eventually worked on them together. I also liked the secondary characters a lot.
October 19, 2013
I think this was the first book I ever read by Emily May and I really enjoyed it! The cover art isn't my favorite, but the story was fantastic! I really enjoyed all the characters and Bella's backstory was unique and interesting. The interplay with her struggle over marrying Adam was nicely done and believable. Highly recommended over all!
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