Touch of a Thief

Marlowe (Distracting the Duchess) weaves a gentle paranormal element into this delightful 19th-century romance. When a cursed red diamond is stolen from a temple in Amjerat, India, Capt. Greydon Quinn travels to London to recover it, accompanied by incognito crown prince Sanjay. They set a tempting trap of gems to catch the Mayfair Jewel Thief and force him to help them%E2%80%94but the thief turns out to be penniless Lady Viola Preston. Traveling to Paris uneasily posed as newlyweds, Viola and Greydon indulge their powerful lusts until they discover that Viola's supernatural gift for hearing jewels speak their histories lets her in on Greydon's secrets. The likable and quick-thinking protagonists sail through the challenges of both court and crime, swapping witty, sharp dialogue. Marlowe perfectly integrates Viola's paranormal sensitivity, with real problems balancing its obvious benefits. Both historical and paranormal readers will love this crossover tale. (May)