A Counterfeit Heart: A Secrets and Spies Novel

'A Counterfeit Heart' by K. C. Bateman is book Three in the "Secrets and Spies" series. This is the story of Sabine de la Tour and Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell. Sabine has been pretending to be "Philippe Lacorte" a famous forger. No one but a friend knows who she really is. With things chancing with Napoleon and her country she has decided to go to the enemy...Hampden. Hampden has been trying to catch Philippe Lacorte forever but now he has been looking for him so that they could work together now. Hampden is surprised when Sabine comes to his door at night to talk to him. At first Hampden thought she was coming to ask to be his new mistress. But Sabine ask question about what he plans to do if Philippe Lacorte comes to him. Hampden makes it clear that he would like to work with him and use his services as a forger for England. Sabine has been wanting to no longer be a criminal and go legit with her work...and this is that chance. Sabine proves to him that she is "Lacorte" and that she will work with him if he agrees to her demands. Which he does..but comes back with some demands of his own. This is one of those books you cannot put down! I have been in Love with Ms. Bateman's writing from the first book I read of hers. So I was so happy to see this book and it is a great book for this series. I just hope to see more of her work soon. "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

It is hard to believe this is only the third book released by this author....she is that good! K. C. Bateman develops such wonderful characters and creates such a fun, beautiful romance that entwines itself with events that had really happened in history that you feel like you are living in that moment. In this story, the heroine, Sabine de la Tour is leading a double life in France. To most people, she works in a print shop, but her best friend, Anton Carnaud, also knows that she is the mysterious Phillipe Lacorte, the notorious French counterfeiter. As one of the best counterfeiters in the world, Sabine can forge passports, official documents and even produce currency. Problem is, is that Sabine tends to be too honest and doesn't want to help the really bad people....which is why her and Anton are on the run trying to get to England so Anton can escape to America. Sabine needs to get some authentic money quickly to help Anton escape and has come up with a plan to do it....she just needs to expose herself to Richard Hampden, Viscount Lovell, the spy who has been trying to catch her alter ego. The first meeting between Sabine and Richard was priceless. There is nothing better than a female who is both smart and sassy especially when standing up to an arrogant male like Richard. Such great laugh out loud parts to the story! Of course it doesn't hurt when the chemistry between Sabine and Richard is off the charts! They both know that they cannot trust the other, but that can't stop their growing lust! When Richard finally accepts that Sabine is Phillipe Lacorte and agrees to do business with her in exchange for the money she needs, Sabine thinks she has the upper hand. Too bad Richard throws a wrench in her plans by forcing her to stay with him in his house. I just adored these two. It was obvious these two would end up together and when they did, it was explosive. I really enjoyed the plan of Richard's that Sabine had to help with. It was fun watching them have to work together to get to the same end result. And their final happy ending was just perfect for them! Overall, this was a fantastic story, with such wonderful characters and I just couldn't put it down.

I was thrilled to read another story in this series by Ms. Bateman and I was not disappointed. Richard, an agent for the Crown, and Sabine, a French counterfeiter for Napoleon in the last war, meet when Sabine boldly offers her forging services to him and England so that she can make a new life for herself. Neither one counted on falling for the other…madly and intensely…while trying to catch a couple of spies and thieves against the crown. Theirs was an exciting and unusual courtship that could not be denied, which had me at times wanting to slap them for their denseness and at others clap for their astuteness. A sigh-worthy romance! I sincerely hope this is not the end of the series.