Sweet Deception: A Veiled Seduction Novel

By: Heather Snow

Narrated by: Kate Marcin

Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Winner of the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence in Published Historical Romance and finalist for the Bookseller's Best Award

The spy she once loved...

After years as England’s most elusive double agent, Lord Derick Aveline has vowed to leave his days of espionage behind. Though he’d like nothing more than to make a fresh start in the Americas, he first must complete one last mission for the Crown - to unmask a deadly traitor. But to do that, he must return to the one place he’d vowed never to go again...home. 

The girl who always saw through him...

Lady criminologist Miss Emma Wallingford can scarcely believe the dandy who waltzes back into Derbyshire is the same man who left without a word a decade ago, taking her heart with him. What’s worse, he is poking his nose where it no longer belongs, which threatens all she holds dear. Still, it doesn’t take long to deduce the truth...that Derick is not who he is pretending to be. And, he’s hunting the same murder as she. 

Though she suspects he’s only back in her life until the killer is found, Emma is determined to convince Derick to stay this time. Will their re-found love prove true? Or is it all just a Sweet Deception?

©2012 Heather Snow (P)2019 Heather Snow

A Swoon worthy love an mystery novel! A must for book lovers!

Heather Snow impresses again with this delightful tale of a criminologist who surpasses expectations for lasts with her clever inquisitive mind yet charming seeetness. When her childhood crush returns to town after more than a decade away, chemistry unites as the two must join forces to solve a mystery. For Emma the mystery is a death of a staff member but for Lord Aveline, undercover agent for the crown he suspects a much more sinister traitor in their midsts.

The novel is expertly written, the characters come to life, and the audio version is engaging and a thrill to listen to. Definitely a great summer addition to your audio collection or a great addition if you have a long commute! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!

My least favorite style of writing

There may be a good story here, but I don't like this style of writing. I don't like being constantly told what the characters are thinking at all times. I like books best where what the characters say, do, and how they interact with their environment and other characters tells the story and not to be told at great length what they are feeling or thinking. The constant asides also are annoying. Stay on plot. It's too distracting when I'm so annoyed with the writing that I can't get into the story or the characters.

Sweet Deception

Listening to this in audible brought the story alive and the narrator Kate March did such an amazing job. Her variation on the different voices and inflections are excellent and brought me under her spell.
Sweet Deception brings Lord Derick Aveline returning home after 14 years away, where he had been working for the crown. He had been unable to find a traitor which was his last assignment. What he finds is Miss Emma, a criminologist, in his home and he did not recognize her until he met her eyes. She was the neighbor girl he had grown up with and wanted to know what she was doing.
Thus begins an adventure and mystery. Emma was looking for a missing maid and it ends up they both are looking for possibly the same person. I loved these two! Emma was really brilliant and had a knack for deductions and mathematics. She had always been in love with Derek from childhood and he now sees how she has grown up.
Heather Snow utilizes the strong heroine in Emma and takes her and Derick through many twist and turns. There is humor, delightful dialogue and a mystery that needs to be solved.
I cannot wait to read or listen to more by this author. I highly recommend this story! You will not be disappointed!

Sweet Deception

Sweet Deception is yet another fabulous story by Heather Snow. I was given the chance to listen to the audio book version of this story and I enjoyed it so much that I listened to the whole book in one day.
Sweet Deception is very romantic with a twist of mystery and suspense. I loved it! I am giving it well deserved five stars. I recommend to readers who enjoy fun and romantic historical fiction. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Greatest Deception is Man's Own Opinion.

Sweet Deception is an exiting and engaging historical romance set during the early 1800s. Author Heather Snow is a master with character development, intricate plot, and descriptive information.

The story revolves around Lord Frederick Aveline and Emma Wallingford who grew up together but who have not seen each other in over a dozen years because Derick has been spying for England as a double agent. Considering he’s spent the majority of his adult life in France, he no longer feels at home in England and desires to move to America. Before he relocates, he needs to finish one more assignment for the crown: he needs to uncover a suspected traitor who is living in Derbyshire. After a 15-year absence, Derick returns home and plans on using Emma to gain the trust of the locals. However, he did not plan on falling in love with Emma.

Emma is probably the best female character I’ve ever read/listened to. She is a trained mathematician who acts as the magistrate for her ailing brother. She has an eidetic memory and can recall any conversation she has ever had. At the same time she is terrible with cliches because her big smart brain doesn’t have time to be bothered with the trivial. Emma uses her beautiful mind to both assist Derick in searching for answers for the crimes he is investigating, but also about Derick himself.

I listened to the Audible version of this book narrated by the highly talented Kate Marcin. Like she did with the first book in the Veiled Seduction series, Kate’s narration is simply outstanding. She provides different voices for all the characters and she has a rhythm to her reading that is simply melodic and enchanting. I highly recommended this audiobook!