To read an interview with K.C. Bateman and an excerpt from A Counterfeit Heart, please see the June issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.
A Counterfeit Heart
K.C. Bateman
Historical Romance
As Sabine de la Tour tosses piles of forged banknotes onto a bonfire in a Paris park, she bids a reluctant farewell to her double life as a notorious criminal. Over the course of Napoleon’s reign, her counterfeits destabilized the continent and turned scoundrels into rich men, but now she and her business partner must escape France—or face the guillotine. Her only hope of surviving in England is to strike a deal with the very spy she’s spent her career outrunning. Now after meeting the arrogant operative in the flesh, Sabine longs to throw herself upon his mercy—and into his arms.
Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, is prepared to take any risk to safeguard England from the horrors of the French Revolution. To lure the insurgents out from the shadows, he’s even willing to make a pact with his archenemy: Philippe Lacorte, the greatest counterfeiter in Europe. But when a cheeky, gamine-faced beauty proves herself to be Lacorte, Richard is shocked—and more than a little aroused. Unlike the debutantes who so often hurl themselves at him, this cunning minx offers a unique and irresistible challenge. Richard will help her. But in return, he wants something that even Sabine cannot fake.
Uncaged Review: Intrigue. Suspense. Danger. Spies. Romance. All of this and so much more expertly written into this gem of a historical. And K.C. Bateman will keep surprising you all the way into the epilogue. Characters you will easily fall for, and an intricately woven story that will keep you turning the pages. Richard Hampden, a viscount and one of the most eligible bachelors in England – is also a spy for his country. Enter Sabine de la Tour. One of the best forgers, and also known as Philippe Lacorte, a counterfeiter that has eluded Richard – and imagine his surprise that it’s really a woman and walks willingly into his office.
I had a hard time putting this one down, the author had me hooked within the first pages, and I submersed into this world very happily. Although I did not read the other books in this series, this book holds up well – even though I know a couple of the characters from previous books made an appearance in this one. This book will leap off the pages, and you will find yourself enchanted. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but definitely not my last. Reviewed by Cyrene
