2.5 stars. This was ok. It wasn't great. I didn't actively dislike it. There was a bit too much of melodramatics for my taste. I'll still give her other books a chance, this didn't put me completely off Heather Snow's books. However, if the timelines are as short as the one in this book, I'm going to really struggle. ( )

Sweet Deception is well written with likeable main characters. I don't know exactly why, but it was difficult to get in to. It took me about four days to read, when I usually finish in one or two. I guess it suffers from second in a series syndrome-a bit of a let-down from the first book. ( )

Full review appeared on Reader's Edyn on 09/30/17 at http://bit.ly/2vOiisE

Derick Aveline, Viscount Scarsdale is a spy – traitor hunter to be exact - for the English government. He hasn’t been home in many years and just on the cusp of retiring, he is pulled back to the responsibilities of his viscountcy as a ruse to conduct an investigation. He never could have imagined just how deep this investigation would take him, or that there could possibly be a murderer in their midst. Also knocking him for a loop is the highly intelligent, mathematician, Emma Wallingford. She was a bit of a pest in their younger years, but she has grown into a force Derick has not yet encountered; nor one he can resist. She stirs feelings he has shut down for so long, dreams he has thought impossible. But Derick believes himself nonredeemable – unable to atone for his past sins as a spy – not worthy of his deep desires.

Emma Wallingford is a brilliant mind. She looks at everything as a math problem – something that can be solved and rationalized logically. Her brain, in fact, is a bit of a handicap in that she flopped in her London season. Women like her are few and far between; definitely not marriage material within the ton. Emma has also been in love with Derick since childhood. His sudden appearance doesn’t quite make sense and she’s determined to figure out what he’s doing there and what his future plans are. Emma never thought he might be continuing to work for the government. She discovers that he does not see himself as “good enough” for her. After all the lies of omission are cleared away, she’s renewed with new purpose. Find the traitor and save Derick from himself.

I just love Ms. Snow. She has a magical way of tuning bookish, highly intelligent women, into some of the best female leads I have come across within HR novels. I remember reading the first book in this series as an ARC, and somehow never got around to this one. Not quite sure how I overlooked this gem, but you can be sure I’ll be reading the rest of the series as well. I truly enjoyed Emma’s literal mind and her difficulty with colloquialisms. There were several fun areas in which she unknowingly misinterprets a common idiom, eliciting a chuckle from me each time. Derick was quite a fun character to spend time with as well. I always enjoy the inner thoughts of the male struggling with new emotions and trying to figure out where the devil they came from. 😊 Also entertaining is the fine line balanced with Derick’s struggle with revealing too much, versus not precisely telling a lie. Ah, the life of a spy.

Knowing the first book, and now reading this one, I can say it is not necessary to read SWEET ENEMY first. There are brief mentions of the previous main characters, but nothing that interferes with the assimilation of this story. This book is a fabulous Historical HEA that is guaranteed to satisfy. I highly recommend the first two books in the series and am confident the others would be just as wonderful. Heather Snow is easily an author who is an automatic read that will hold a coveted place upon my bookshelf. If you haven’t experienced the pleasure of her books, you are committing a disservice to yourself.

Kindle version provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Ms. Heather Snow continues her Veiled Seduction Series [Sweet Enemy was the first one, followed by this one, Sweet Deception, and ending with Sweet Madness] with Sweet Deception, in which she brings together Lord Frederick Aveline and Emma Wallingford, two people that long ago grew up together.

Derick left home under strained circumstances ten years ago never wanting to return to his Derbyshire again. Spending those ten years in service to his country as a spy, he finds that one last job will bring him back to where he least wants to be, his home in England.

Emma Wallingford has been infatuated with young Derick ever since she can remember and all it brought her was pain. The years Derick spent abroad, find Emma helping her invalid brother with his duties of a magistrate, and leading an independent life. Dericks return threatens that life and she’ll do anything to protect it. I loved Emma’s keen mind as she tackles everything in her path with a mathematical equation, even love and passion!

It was such a treat watching Derick play aristocratic fop while trying to use Emma in order to gain the trust of his people in order to ferret out who the traitor is. Emma and Derick were such a great team. As this mystery unfolds, so does their partnership, friendship and love. No one is more taken aback then Derick as he learns of Emma’s activities of a ‘surrogate’ magistrate. He never suspected that a little girl he once knew as Pygmy, who followed him all the time, every chance she had, would grow up to be as smart, astute and infinitely nosy. Like it or not, he is forced to work with her, and in the end he will come to appreciate many of her qualities. His attraction to her is also something he never could have imagined, but there it was.

There’s so much to recommend this read I don’t know where to begin! Her plot, characters, even villains, is fully developed and interesting. Her research is evident as she introduces her readers to people and places that will have them wishing to be there.

I thoroughly enjoyed the unpredictable mystery aspect, which had me in suspense until the end and the
romance between Emma and Derick was strong, entertaining, fun and sensual. This was a delightful read that kept me up all night as I just couldn’t put it down!

Ms. Heather Snow has a knack for creating heroines with brains, brawn and sensuality, all rolled up in one. Her heroes are Alpha all the way, but somehow always have a need for these smart women to show them the path to their happiness.

In the end, I highly recommend this clever, fast paced mystery romance to all that appreciate a heroine with brains! I am happy to give this wonderful story all of my five Quills and hope you will find it as entertaining as I did.

Melanie Friedman for RCJR eZine.

*Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. ( )

To love a spy is to love a lie. To be a spy is to be a traitor and die. Neither love nor intellect can save the soul of a person that has betrayed kin and country men, but a good woman can restore a broken man. This book is about a spy that has gone out for one last mission and the woman who loved him. It is about the chance for forgiveness and the opportunity of renewal. Emma Wallingford is a godly woman who is gifted with the intellect of scholars. She is a woman that is both keeper of her brother and the leader of her small community. Emma is set in her ways and is not looking for change. Derrick, is actually Lord Fredrick Aveline, a spy for England. He is sent to discover a hidden traitor among Emma’s community. However, within his arrival a woman is found dead and another man is missing. Can Emma and Derrick find out who is killing the citizens of the town? Can Derrick discover who the traitor is without ruining his cover? Will Emma and Derrick find a happy ending?

I don’t normally get captivated by romantic stories, but I am happy to admit that for the first time I have been absorbed in a book that has made me take a second glance at the historical romance genre. It is a story that started off slightly interesting and has changed into something that has captivated my attention for the last half of the book. I absolutely enjoyed this story! I loved the main characters and was impressed with how the author made them so unique. I believe it is the first time that I have ever seen an intelligent mathematician in a romance novel. I found that to be refreshing (logistics major here). I also liked how the author showed that women can be intelligent, but can also work with a man as a unit, without getting all gun-no fema-nazi on him. The romance scenes were very tasteful and were not over dramatized. They were just right and I would be totally comfortable buying this book for a loved one. Overall I must give a big thank you to the author for sending me this book. It was much appreciated! I was sent this book privately in a book club so I still want to give credit to her and want her to know that she did a great job! ( )