The Viscount And The Thief by Emma Orchard

 

The Viscount and the Thief by Emma Orchard.

Published 11th November 2024 by Boldwood Books.

From the cover of the book:

Spring, 1811... A stranger arrives at Wyverne Hall

Sophie Delavallois is the new companion to the ageing Dowager Marchioness, but she also has another reason for coming to the infamous Wyverne mansion, one that will shake the family to their core.

Lord Drake left his childhood home many years ago, and only returns now to see his beloved grandmother. He takes little interest in the goings on of the house, until the arrival of Mademoiselle Delavallois. There’s something about her that he can’t put his finger on; it's as if he’s seen her before, but surely, that is not possible…

Sophie is also drawn to Drake, but he is a Wyverne, and she cannot allow herself to fall for him, because her intentions towards the family are resolute – revenge. But inside the walls of Wyverne Hall, she discovers the rumours about the family barely scratch the surface, and she can’t escape the dangerous allure of the Viscount.

Once her plans are set in motion, will he be her saviour or her ruin?

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1811. Sophie Delavallois is employed at Wyverne Hall as a companion to the elderly Dowager Marchioness, a job which pays very well for duties which include little more than reading the old lady racy French novels - mainly due to the scandalous reputation of the Wyverne family.

Lord Drake, heir to the Wyverne title, no longer lives at the family seat, having distanced himself from his infamous father, the Marquess, and disreputable step-mother, but he still visits the house to see his beloved grandmother. He generally takes little account of his grandmother's middle-aged companions, but Mademoiselle Delavallois is something quite different. He becomes captivated by her, and is sure he has met her before somewhere... if only he could remember where?

Sophie cares little that working for the Wyverne family will reflect badly upon her own reputation, for she is not quite what she appears to be. However, she cannot allow herself to fall for the young Viscount and become distracted from her purpose. For Sophie's quest is not for love, but for revenge... 

Welcome to more Regency gorgeousness from the pen of Emma Orchard, with a story that takes place outside the strict codes of the haut ton, in a family steeped in scandal. She pulls out all the stops in her latest escapist novel to conjure a tale which is a delicious concoction of riotous revenge scheme, helter-skelter heist plot, and risque romance. And I was here for it all!

Sprawling Wyverne Hall makes a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop for this tale, with a lovely contrast between its opulent public rooms and the hidden, forgotten passageways that ooze Gothic vibes. Against this imagination stirring backdrop, the threads of the story around Sophie's plans for retribution unfurl, revealing her reasons for being here, and showcasing the very particular skills that have kept her alive against the odds.

Orchard has a lot of fun going overboard in the den of iniquity vein, indulging in scenes on a grand scale that paint Marquess Wyverne as morally corrupt as they come, with a wife to match. Weaving in and out of the salacious, show-stopper vignettes, the more intimate side of the story emerges as Sophie's turbulent emotions threaten to derail her carefully laid plans. Unexpectedly, she becomes fond of the elderly Dowager Marchioness, and an all-consuming, passionate affair blossoms between her and Lord Drake, a man very different from his father. I absolutely loved the astute and unapologetic old Dowager, who has lived life to the full; and the bumpy road to happiness of Sophie and Lord Drake was just the ticket for hitting the romantic hot spot in more ways than one - oh my, those steamy, roof-top trysts!

This was a lot of fun, and so much more than a light romantic dalliance. The highly enjoyable crime caper to adds pace with its slick twists and turns, and there are cracking characters to love and loath too. Emma Orchard is rapidly becoming a bit of a favourite with me for an entertaining literary romp. I cannot wait to read more of her page-turning Regency delights. 

The Viscount and the Thief is available to but now in paperback, ebook and audio formate.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for sending me an ecopy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Rare Resources Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Emma was born in Salford and studied English Literature at the universities of Edinburgh and York.

She was a copy editor at Mills & Boon, where she met her husband in a classic enemies-to-lovers romance.

Emma has worked in television and as a Literary Agent, and started writing in 2020.