lassarina's review
4.0
A distinguished viscount in private investigation, formerly lauded for the daring rescue of a duchess, is chasing a murderer, right back to the daughter of London's most notorious thief—and said thief was directly involved in the adventures related to the rescue of the duchess.
I kept smiling all the way through this book because I was just having such a grand time with it. Owen is delightful—very aware of the implications of his power when it comes to Lottie and extremely careful not to abuse it, while also acknowledging that she has every right to be angry at him and not being a shithead about it. Lottie is likewise a delight—she has secrets to keep and the fact that she's keeping them makes sense in context. This isn't a miscommunication where everyone is required to hold the idiot ball for the sake of the plot. The backdrop to the book and the sense of a history that both draws them together and pulls them apart was really well-done, and I loved Owen's team members and Lottie's family. I loved the variety of secrets that everyone was keeping. I loved the layers of plotting and schemes that unraveled slowly and thoroughly throughout the book.
I also liked the reveal, and the fact that all of the threads wrapped up nicely without feeling contrived. I liked the way that Lottie and Owen made choices for themselves, and the way that they seriously considered how to handle a future together instead of blithely assuming that all would be well.
I'm looking forward to future books in the series.
I kept smiling all the way through this book because I was just having such a grand time with it. Owen is delightful—very aware of the implications of his power when it comes to Lottie and extremely careful not to abuse it, while also acknowledging that she has every right to be angry at him and not being a shithead about it. Lottie is likewise a delight—she has secrets to keep and the fact that she's keeping them makes sense in context. This isn't a miscommunication where everyone is required to hold the idiot ball for the sake of the plot. The backdrop to the book and the sense of a history that both draws them together and pulls them apart was really well-done, and I loved Owen's team members and Lottie's family. I loved the variety of secrets that everyone was keeping. I loved the layers of plotting and schemes that unraveled slowly and thoroughly throughout the book.
I also liked the reveal, and the fact that all of the threads wrapped up nicely without feeling contrived. I liked the way that Lottie and Owen made choices for themselves, and the way that they seriously considered how to handle a future together instead of blithely assuming that all would be well.
I'm looking forward to future books in the series.
brokenrecord's review
4.0
4-4.5 stars. This was really great! I loved the tension between Lottie and Owen because of their history and how they slipped back into working together. They were just really cute together. Also, fairly early on I decided I really wanted Esther and Samuel to be a thing and then I read the description for the next book and saw they’re the focus there, so I’m definitely excited for that.
sandlynn's review
4.0
Alissa Johnson’s A Talent for Trickery was published in 2015.
In this book, set in England of the 1870’s, we have a hero who was once a police inspector and is now a private investigator. Over the years, he inherited the title of Viscount and, because of a famous case “they solved,” his friends and colleagues, who appear in this story, were knighted.
When the story opens, Owen Renderwell (the Viscount) and two of his colleagues have made their way to the country home of Charlotte Walker-Bales and her family. They have reason to believe that Charlotte and her two siblings can help them solve the murder of a “shady lady” in London because their deceased father once was a master thief who interacted with these same people. In fact, the father left behind numerous encrypted journals outlining his crimes which might be relevant to their current case. What lies behind all this is that Renderwell was involved in the case that led to the death of Charlotte’s father and Charlotte and he have a history together — not all good but definitely involving a mutual attraction. Furthermore, Charlotte herself has an infamous background helping her father in his illegal pursuits.
This story reads very much like a sexy version of a British cozy. Almost all the action takes place at a country estate and felt very claustrophobic to this reader — which might be the point. In took me a while to get into the story, but once the action picked up, I was definitely engaged. It’s very different for an historical, but I had mixed feelings about it. I think there was too much time spent in peoples’ heads and not enough action. (I can’t believe I’m saying this.)
I would give it a B.
In this book, set in England of the 1870’s, we have a hero who was once a police inspector and is now a private investigator. Over the years, he inherited the title of Viscount and, because of a famous case “they solved,” his friends and colleagues, who appear in this story, were knighted.
When the story opens, Owen Renderwell (the Viscount) and two of his colleagues have made their way to the country home of Charlotte Walker-Bales and her family. They have reason to believe that Charlotte and her two siblings can help them solve the murder of a “shady lady” in London because their deceased father once was a master thief who interacted with these same people. In fact, the father left behind numerous encrypted journals outlining his crimes which might be relevant to their current case. What lies behind all this is that Renderwell was involved in the case that led to the death of Charlotte’s father and Charlotte and he have a history together — not all good but definitely involving a mutual attraction. Furthermore, Charlotte herself has an infamous background helping her father in his illegal pursuits.
This story reads very much like a sexy version of a British cozy. Almost all the action takes place at a country estate and felt very claustrophobic to this reader — which might be the point. In took me a while to get into the story, but once the action picked up, I was definitely engaged. It’s very different for an historical, but I had mixed feelings about it. I think there was too much time spent in peoples’ heads and not enough action. (I can’t believe I’m saying this.)
I would give it a B.
b303tilly's review
2.0
Not for me. The writing was nice, but I didn't find the plot or characters that engaging.
gonturans's review
4.0
Exactly my favorite type of romance- older hero and heroine, actually smart heroine, complicated emotions, really lovely family dynamic
witandsin's review
5.0
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2015/10/review-talent-for-trickery-by-alissa.html
Sparks fly when a titled London investigator is forced to ask the (former) criminal he once loved for help in A Talent for Trickery . Author Alissa Johnson charmed the heck out of me with this first Thief-takers novel. Lottie and Owen’s story is bright, engaging, and filled with memorable characters who will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Owen is an incredibly appealing hero, one who is everything that is honorable. He’s also smart enough to admit when he needs help, and he risks his own pride and heart by asking Lottie for her assistance on his current case. Though it’s been eight years, it’s clear that Owen’s feelings for Lottie are as strong as ever, and the way he sees the true her and loves Lottie for all that she is made me smile. As for Lottie, she is an endearing mix of strength and vulnerability. When she was younger, she was forced to act as her father’s accomplice; a fact which still causes her shame. In the wake of his death, she put everything she had into forging a new life for the sake of her sister and brother. Lottie is incredibly intelligent and fiercely protective of her siblings. She also still carries a torch for Owen, though she doesn’t want to admit it. Lottie wasn’t given the whole story about her father’s death and what happened immediately after, so she is wrong in hating Owen, but her logic is understandable. Their mutual attraction is palpable from the start, even though there’s distrust and wariness between them. Once the air is cleared between them, Owen and Lottie make a truly dynamic couple.
Though it’s clear Owen and Lottie fit one another like lock and key, that doesn’t mean their road to happily ever after is an easy one. Issues regarding social class and opinions on morality aren’t things that can be ignored, especially given Lottie and Owen’s respective positions. There’s also the not-so-small matter of someone who seems to be targeting the Walker family. Not all of Lottie’s father’s secrets died with him, and said secrets may or may not be tied to Owen’s current case. The mystery plotline fleshes out A Talent for Trickery, adding exciting twists and turns to the story and making it all the more compelling.
A Talent for Trickery is the first book in the Thief-takers series, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what Ms. Johnson has in store for readers with future books. If my suspicions are correct, Lottie’s intriguing sister, Esther, will get a book of her own one day and I’m truly excited – I’m not at all ready to leave the Walker family behind. If you enjoy historical romances with unusual heroines and a heartwarming love story, then you won’t want to miss A Talent for Trickery!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sparks fly when a titled London investigator is forced to ask the (former) criminal he once loved for help in A Talent for Trickery . Author Alissa Johnson charmed the heck out of me with this first Thief-takers novel. Lottie and Owen’s story is bright, engaging, and filled with memorable characters who will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Owen is an incredibly appealing hero, one who is everything that is honorable. He’s also smart enough to admit when he needs help, and he risks his own pride and heart by asking Lottie for her assistance on his current case. Though it’s been eight years, it’s clear that Owen’s feelings for Lottie are as strong as ever, and the way he sees the true her and loves Lottie for all that she is made me smile. As for Lottie, she is an endearing mix of strength and vulnerability. When she was younger, she was forced to act as her father’s accomplice; a fact which still causes her shame. In the wake of his death, she put everything she had into forging a new life for the sake of her sister and brother. Lottie is incredibly intelligent and fiercely protective of her siblings. She also still carries a torch for Owen, though she doesn’t want to admit it. Lottie wasn’t given the whole story about her father’s death and what happened immediately after, so she is wrong in hating Owen, but her logic is understandable. Their mutual attraction is palpable from the start, even though there’s distrust and wariness between them. Once the air is cleared between them, Owen and Lottie make a truly dynamic couple.
Though it’s clear Owen and Lottie fit one another like lock and key, that doesn’t mean their road to happily ever after is an easy one. Issues regarding social class and opinions on morality aren’t things that can be ignored, especially given Lottie and Owen’s respective positions. There’s also the not-so-small matter of someone who seems to be targeting the Walker family. Not all of Lottie’s father’s secrets died with him, and said secrets may or may not be tied to Owen’s current case. The mystery plotline fleshes out A Talent for Trickery, adding exciting twists and turns to the story and making it all the more compelling.
A Talent for Trickery is the first book in the Thief-takers series, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what Ms. Johnson has in store for readers with future books. If my suspicions are correct, Lottie’s intriguing sister, Esther, will get a book of her own one day and I’m truly excited – I’m not at all ready to leave the Walker family behind. If you enjoy historical romances with unusual heroines and a heartwarming love story, then you won’t want to miss A Talent for Trickery!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
nellesnightstand's review
3.0
This review was originally posted on Nelle's NightStandCharlotte "Lottie" Walker is a lady thief. Owen Renderwell is the Scotland Yard Detective who fell in love with her while forcibly enlisting her father's help to bring down a criminal.
Poor Lottie fell for him too but felt betrayed when he took all the accolades from the kidnapping rescue that her father died to accomplish.
Secrets to misunderstandings abound in this story. Owen needs Lottie's help in cracking a code a murderer leaves behind. Their chemistry is tangible but their distance is clear. I enjoyed trying to figure out who the murderer was and the second chance romance was sweet.
rachelini's review
5.0
Yes, I loved this! The romance, the backstory, the family, it all worked for me.
tawnyad2004's review
5.0
I seriously loved this book. The plot grew with the story and didnt feel stale. The main character Lottie and Owen had contention between them and in most books it feels like all that just disappears because of the chemistry between them (insert eye roll). This story was different and I enjoyed that alot. We actually got to see the relationship truly grow, the forgiveness, the trust all of that was in place before they fell in bed together. I liked all of the characters and look forward to reading more about Esther. Very well written
laura_mcloughlin's review
2.0
2.5
Ok but nothing special. Kinda boring for a book that features sisters who can break codes and hurl knives with precision.
Ok but nothing special. Kinda boring for a book that features sisters who can break codes and hurl knives with precision.