“refreshingly original and incandescently clever” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)He’s pulling the con of a lifetime. Unless she exposes the naked truth.Conman Jack Weaver has his eyes on the prize. The arrogant Earl of Bardrick has offered five thousand pounds to anyone who can prove his castle is haunted. With money like that, Jack can ensure he’ll never end up on the streets or in prison … the streets or in prison again. And his spirit photography skills are just the trick needed to convince all of the earl’s houseguests to believe in something unseen.
Investigative journalist Tess Cochran believes in one thing: the truth. She’s not going to let phony ghosts and trick photographs swindle anyone, even a snobbish aristocrat like Bardrick. And she’s certainly not going to let herself be swayed by Jack Weaver’s charming smile and mischievous antics.
When Jack and Tess stumble upon one of the castle’s many secrets, they realize something nefarious lurks behind the earl’s competition. To solve the mystery, these rivals forge a reluctant partnership. As they strip down the facts, Jack and Tess begin to find that the deepest truths may be concealed in their hearts.
more
The Scoundrel’s New Con
Arcane Tales Book 1
Catherine Stein
https://www.facebook.com/catsteinbooks/
Release Date 06/01/2020
Publisher Catherine Stein
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08563GDGL/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_awdo_P751D867S77C0YXEVAW2
He’s pulling the con of a lifetime. Unless she exposes the naked truth.
Conman Jack Weaver has his eyes on the prize. The arrogant Earl of Bardrick has offered five thousand pounds to anyone who can prove his castle is haunted. With money like that, Jack can ensure he’ll never end up on the streets or in prison again. And his spirit photography skills are just the trick needed to convince all of the earl’s houseguests to believe in something unseen.
Investigative journalist Tess Cochran believes in one thing: the truth. She’s not going to let phony ghosts and trick photographs swindle anyone, even a snobbish aristocrat like Bardrick. And she’s certainly not going to let herself be swayed by Jack Weaver’s charming smile and mischievous antics.
When Jack and Tess stumble upon one of the castle’s many secrets, they realize something nefarious lurks behind the earl’s competition. To solve the mystery, these rivals forge a reluctant partnership. As they strip down the facts, Jack and Tess begin to find that the deepest truths may be concealed in their hearts.
Will she choose her heart or reason …
Fun but I loved Jack instantly, he is the swindler of this story, but he does it with talent and a certain empathy. He might be scamming people but they are in some way willing participants.
And as his past is explained along the pages, I loved him even more. He is just a young man who had been dealt the wrong cards in life. He tried to survive and more than once life threw him a punch. And while innerly he knows he should stay away from Tess, he admires her independence and spirit and it is what draws him to her.
His kind and caring persona wants to help her even if it might endanger his own living. He is a man who can’t changes his gentle soul and his true goodness, even more from the woman who makes him long for more, for another life.
Tess is Jack’s enemy from the beginning, determined to expose him for the con man she is sure he is. Yet the devilish man is welcoming of her, smiling, teasing and joking with her. He even teaches her how to proceed to develop photographies. So as she investigates all the houseguests and most closely Jack, she learns not everything is black and white, and begins to doubt part of the purpose of her mission. As while she wants to open the eyes of her readers, she does not want at the same time hurt the living of some of the people she came to like.
Plus Jack is so much more than his tricks, he has an uncanny knack for reading people.
But for the truth seeker she is, he is more than a challenge, he screams danger to everything she has clung for the past years. So is she right to hold on her own prejudices or can she compromise when she discerns the real Jack behind his flourish persona.
I loved this tale, and with Halloween getting closer, this tale with a spooky side, was the perfect story to warm my day.
In a few read books, the author has quickly ascended the stairs to be now among my favorite writers.
So do not miss Jack and Tess’ story, it is packed with everything for a cost entertaining moment with some pluck, fantom, steam and mystery.
5 stars
onscreen lovemaking scenes
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVa3q7vD9gE/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/948976022358236/?d=n
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2021read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram #bookbirthday
Catherine Stein continues to show tremendous growth in her craft with another excellent offering. The Scoundrel’s New Con is a great study in character development, especially with Jack’s. It contains snappy dialogues and a proper amount of push and pull between Tess and Jack that enhances the anticipation of the satisfying payoff.
Full review at maidamalby.com