It’s not a crime to steal a heart…
Sophie Roseingrave hates nothing more than a swindler. After her family lost their piano shop to a con man in London, they’re trying to start fresh in a new town. Her father is convinced Carrisford is an upright and honest place, but Sophie is not so sure. She has grave suspicions about silk-weaver Madeline Crewe, whose stunning beauty doesn’t hide the fact that she’s up to something.
All Maddie Crewe needs is one big score, one grand heist to properly fund the weavers’ union forever. She has found her mark in Mr. Giles, a greedy draper, and the entire association of weavers and tailors and clothing merchants has agreed to help her. The very last thing she needs is a small but determined piano-teacher and composer sticking her nose in other people’s business. If Sophie won’t be put off, the only thing to do is to seduce her to the cause.
Will Sophie’s scruples force her to confess the plot before Maddie gets her money? Or will Maddie lose her nerve along with her heart?
Release Date: Jun 15, 2021
Series: Feminine Pursuits
Book: 3
Heat Level: Sensual
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Books
Price: $3.99
Waite’s latest is a treat to dive into!
Music is life. A little secret about me… once upon a time I was a musician. Though I guess once a musician, always a musician. Regardless, when I found out that one of the main characters, Sophie, was a pianist and composer I was instantly grabbed by the story. I wanted to know everything about Sophie and how her family came to reside in Carrisford, a town known for weavers, tailors, and the manufacturing of clothing.
My interest in Sophie quickly spread to her love interest, Maddie. Maddie is a weaver and, on a mission, to fleece a certain greedy draper of his funds, all for a good cause of course if you’ve read the blurb. Maddie has plenty of help too, though Sophie at first is determined to stop Maddie because she can’t stand con artists. Cons are hard at the best times but worse as Sophie and Maddie find themselves attracted to each other.
These two are fabulous together. Maddie with her street-smart ways and thieving, along with her bold as brass attitude towards Sophie. I loved watching straight and narrow Sophie fall for a woman who is skirting the edges of the law like a sewing Robin Hood. What is equally enjoyable is how quickly the romance evolves in this book. Waite’s previous stories have always had a super slow burn element that I tended to get impatient with. The Hellion’s Waltz is none of that, but rachets up pretty fast as both Maddie and Sophie battle for their own futures as well as their growing need toward each other.
The overall story and setting are perfect, with Waite’s voice shining through with all the lovely artist details to get in lost, from music to weaving, there is a personal touch that makes me believe Waite has done both things for years.
Overall, this is my favorite in the entire series thus far. I loved the story, the characters, and the resolution. I only hope there is more to come from Waite as she’s a fresh voice in the F/F Historical Romance genre and I’m quickly discovering I want more of it.
~ Landra
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