THEFT OF SHADOWS

Author: Naomi Bellis ISBN: 9780451223289 2/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: SIGNET ECLIPSE
Time Period: Georgian, 1799 England

Englad: 1799: A lady thief robs a spy—and from that moment on, the price of love is highway robbery... Former spy Gabriel d'Aubrigny, the Chevalier de Lesgardes, returns to England with a purse of gold and plans to start a new life. His luck vanishes like mist on the heath when a thief robs him, taking even even his horse. Penniless, Gabriel must turn to the enigmatic spymaster, Sir Alaric Fitzwilliam, for work. His mission: to pose as a courtier and unmask a man suspected of using dark magic against the Throne... After stealing from a handsome traveler, Anne Tremaine uses her new fortune to pose as a wealthy widow. While hunting in London society for an old enemy, she again crosses paths with Gabriel. Every encounter with the Frenchman is a dangerous game, for his touch ignites desire—but one slip might send her from his embrace to the gallows...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

While I am late on boarding the Bellis train, I am happy to say that I have finally arrived. As the third offering in this magical spy series, THEFT OF SHADOWS is fast-paced, strange, and, well, except for some of the flowery speech that I never understand, right up my alley.

Bellis paints a lovely fantasy. Her imagery, at least in my mind, is spot on. She has a gift for creating scenes that surpass the characters and dialogue, making them privileged to be in her visions. Truly, I do not remember conversations, but I can re-create the colors and textures she weaves into the characters without any hesitation.

I admit that at times I am confused as to what exactly happens when, and some of the romantic speech is above my small brain. All of that pales in comparison to the vivid backdrop the setting is. Whether she is writing about gruesome evil or brilliant love, I can see it all.

Shannon Johnson