Christi Caldwell continues to prove to me why she has become one of my FAVORITES in historical romance. I thought The Heiress's Deception was a great finally to the Sinful Bride series.

Mr. Calum Dabney and Lady Evelina Pruitt met first as children. Calum, an orphan of the streets and a thief. Eve, the privileged daughter of a Duke. Through random meeting in her father's stables they embarked on an unlikely friendship. Though, through certain circumstances....Eve is left believing Calum is dead and Calum is left believing Eve is a traitor.

Years Later,
Lady Eve is in dire straights. Her beloved brother, Kit, is missing and her eldest brother, Gerald, now a Duke is severely in debt from gambling and mistresses. Eve needs an escape if she want to keep her inheritance safe and reluctantly takes a job as a bookkeeper at the Hell and Sin Club. She is completely surprised to realize that Calum hadn't died and is her boss.
Mr. Dabney is also having a rough time. His beloved club is losing money and Eve is not a distraction he needs. Will Gerald find Eve? Will we find out what happened to Kit? When will Adair be knocked on his arse(literally) by love?

I loved the interactions between Calum and Eve. Even though Eve knew who he was the whole time I felt that deep down Calum recognized Eve from his youth. I thought their romance had a nice built up and thoroughly enjoyed their office conversations. I can't wait to read Adair's story.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Heiress’s Deception ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️by Christi Caldwell
(Sinful Brides #4)

As children Calum Dabney and Evelina Pruitt meet serendipitously. Calum in a young pickpocket boy of the streets and Evelina is the daughter of a Duke. It is when Calum seeks shelter and food in the stables owned by her father that their friendship develops. Calum lives by the laws of the streets he never trusted anyone except his brothers of the streets.

When Calum appears one night at the stables gravely ill, he had been stabbed while pickpocketing a peer. Lina tries to help him but realizes she cannot and gets her brother Gerald. As luck would have it, Calum had pickpocketed a watch from Gerald. When Gerald see him he beats him and sends him off to Newgate prison.

As the years passed, Calum always felt Lina had betrayed him and Lina also felt she unwittingly had. When Lina’s father dies, Gerard becomes more unreasonable and gambles away the family fortunes. It is when Lina comes of age she will inherit her funds which Gerard wants to control. He has become abusive and debased I his treatment of her.

Lina escapes to find a position a bookkeeper in the Hell and Sin Club. She disguises herself changing her hair and wearing drab clothing and spectacles. However, when she enters the club she has no idea one of the proprietors is Calum. She immediately recognizes him and has mixed feelings of love and fears for what he believes. Calum finds her a conundrum just not fitting the person she is trying to portray.

As they begin to work together, the closeness begins to develop. The conversation between them seem so genuine you are in awe of the author’s ability to see so deep into their souls. I have read all the books in this series and I have enjoyed each one completely.

Ms Caldwell is to be admired for her deep analysis of each characters. She peels alway the lies, the truth and uncovers the souls of each one.

October 3, 2017 – Started Reading
Review 3.5/5. The fourth in the series following the rise of five street urchins to Hell-owners who found family in one another and each finding his/her love from the aristocracy. This is Calum's story, the second-in-command of the Hell. How do we know he is second in command? Because the author repeatedly told us so, like she repeatedly stressed the sibling bond between them to the point of tediousness. Adair was referred to as "his brother" at least 60 times on my word search count and Helena, who only featured in one scene, but was referred to as "his sister" 24 times. That's not even including "brothers" and "siblings". This is a recurring issue I have with Caldwell, and I have read most of her books. Anyway, I digress. Lady Eve Pruitt found herself in dire straits and her safety threatened by her unscrupulous brother, the Duke of Bedford. She sought refuge in a gambling hell, disguised as a book keeper not realising that this particular Hell belongs to Calum, her childhood friend whom she thought dead after she inadvertently betrayed him to her evil brother. Calum did not recognise Eve initially, but he was inexplicably attracted to this strange little malodorous woman (courtesy of her dyed hair). Eve was shocked to see Calum alive after all these years, but she kept her identity hidden, scared that he would turn her away in anger after she caused his near death at the hands of her brother 17 years ago.

Their story just did not move me as it ought to. Not withstanding all the repetitions, Caldwell is a solid writer. I'm not sure, what was missing from this story for me. Perhaps the fact that Eve was only 9 when they met, made it strange for Calum to blame her for her 'betrayal', but the author did not belabor this point, which I appreciated. Perhaps the ending was too abrupt. Calum was a nice person, not a caricaturally tough and embittered man, but tough yet still nice and thoughtful to his fellow beings. Eve too was a lovely heroine, strong and resourceful and never a 'woe me' personality. I will round it up based on the strength of their characters.

Lost childhood friend! Class-crossing-rescue romance! Hiding out in a game hell as an accountant! This is a fun romance read, with an engaging pair of lovers and just enough danger to throw them together,

The Heiress' Deception is the first novel I've read by Christi Caldwell and I'm so looking forward to reading more! I really enjoyed the dynamic between Eve and Calum as the main characters. The back story between them made me curious as to how everything would turn out. I did like the ending however I wished some things would have turned out a bit differently. I would like to see another book with some of the characters we met here.

Totally different approach. A little girls mistake ends up saving her as an adult!

Christi Caldwell is always one of my go-to authors so I was super excited to read this book. Although I enjoyed this read, it wasn't my favorite of the series. I thought Calum and Eve had some definite chemistry and I liked their backstory from childhood. That being said, there were little things that bothered me. Like how could Calum be so interested in Eve when she smells like vinegar (due to dying her hair). I kept thinking about how it'd be like to kiss someone who stunk of vinegar... Yuck! Also, I like to see the villain get their comeuppance and that didn't happen to my satisfaction. Even though this wasn't my favorite, I'd like to see Adair's story in the future!

I have been captivated by this fabulous series following the men who run one of London’s most notorious gaming hells and the women who defy society by falling in love with them. This fourth book in the series was bittersweet for me. I was elated because it featured Calum who has been my favorite of the gaming hell proprietors. I fell in love with this gentle giant early on in the series and have been anxious to hear his story. I was heartbroken because this book marked the end of the series. I have fallen in love with each and every character in these books and hate to see it end. The only consolation is that any book worth reading is a book worth rereading. Which I’m sure I’ll do repeatedly.

As a boy, Calum Dabney had been one of the best pickpockets in London. Now he was second in command at one of London’s finest gaming hells. He’d committed every crime short of murder to secure the funds necessary to survive and build his empire. His only family was his “brothers” he’d grown up with on the streets of St. Giles, and with whom he now ran the Hell and Sin. He’d never trusted anyone other than his family. Except for once, and that had nearly cost him his life.
Lady Evelina Pruitt had grown up lonely. She had befriended a young boy who often hid out in her family’s stables. Eve had fed and cared for her friend sharing time together discussing all manner of things. He was her dearest friend. Her only friend. She had even considered herself a little in love with him, fascinated by his strength and resilience. But that friendship had been destroyed the night she unwittingly aided in his capture. After that she’d been truly alone. Though she was an heiress with a sizeable fortune, Eve had only had one season before the decline of her father’s health. After his death, she’d been left with her brother, Gerald, a cruel man who’d gambled away the family wealth. “The only funds between Gerald and dun territory were Eve’s monies.” And he’d proven he’d stop at nothing to secure those funds.
In only 3 months, Eve would come into her majority and Gerald would be unable to touch her funds. Until then, she needed to hide where Gerald could never find her. Seeing a post for a bookkeeping position at the Hell and Sin, Eve knew her brother would never venture there as the Hell and Sin held the vowels for her brother’s weakness. They needed help and she needed to hide. It was her only hope. And so, disguised, Eve artfully commandeered the position. But her luck may have run out when she realizes her employer is Calum Dabney, the very boy she’d betrayed years ago. Luckily, Calum didn’t recognize his childhood friend. And in the weeks that followed, Eve settled into her position. She was really quite good at it. Calum was intrigued by Eve. There was an allure of innocence and a hidden beauty about her. She was direct and didn’t cower. “What manner of employer was he hungering after a respectable woman newly employed to his staff?” Eve’s childhood fascination with Calum hadn’t waned in the years they’d been apart. There was a raw primitiveness about him that sent her heart to double time. She was glad to see that not only had he survived, he’d thrived. She was amazed at the kind and giving man he’d become. They forged a friendship all over again. But this time, it was more than just friendship. They were falling in love. But Eve’s brother was escalating his attempts to discover where she was. A discovery that could not only destroy Eve, but could cause the Hell and Sin to topple like a house of cards.

As in every book in this series, The Heiress’s Deception was filled with endearing characters and breathtaking romance. Eve and Calum were two souls destined to be together. After Eve’s unintentional betrayal of Calum, she’d dedicated herself to seeing that other children didn’t suffer the same fate as her friend. She had carried the memory of her friend with her all those years. Calum had thought he’d put that time behind him but it was sweet to see how much of their brief friendship had stayed with him. That time in his youth with Eve had been the only time in his life he’d been allowed to dream rather than only think of survival. I loved watching their friendship and love form anew. The things they loved about each other went beyond the physical. They both appreciated the kindness and selflessness of the other, even if they didn’t see those qualities in themselves.
The relationship between Adair and Calum was especially compelling in this book. I worried that their friendship might not survive. Calum faced the hardest decision of his life and Adair could not grasp the sacrifice he was expecting Calum to make. I hope Adair is in a future book. I really want to see him find love so he can appreciate the choices his brothers made.
The entire series and this book in particular does an excellent job of showing the injustices of the time period. The unequal treatment of women and children especially. So many people depended on the Hell and Sin for their survival. The hell offered women and children opportunities they wouldn’t find anywhere else. Also, the snobbery of the ton. How high society was eager to patronize the Hell and Sin but God forbid the proprietors ever assume to enter their world. This book really made me appreciate the risk these couples took when they chose love.
There were light moments in the story to offset some of the darker elements. I got such a kick out of people’s reactions to Eve’s hair dye. And I always love the joking manner among the men at the club. And, as in any Christi Caldwell book, the development of the romance is magical with just the right amount of heat. I’m not ready for this series to end. I’m hoping it segues into another series that includes many of these characters. I still need to know about Adair and Killoran. I’d also love to see more of Eve’s mysterious brother Kit and her friend Nurse Mattison. So many possibilities! But Christi Caldwell is the master of storytelling so I’m sure I need not worry. I know whatever follows will be just as enchanting as this series has been. A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team selection.

The Heiress's Deception kept my attention from page one with memorable characters, smoothly flowing plot, and a hero to fall in love with. Eve risks her reputation to escape her brother's viles intentions to claim her inheritance. Seeking refuge as a bookkeeper in a gaming house, Eve faces the boy who was her only friend and who she accidentally betrayed. Hiding her identity, Eve tries to do her job and stay hidden until she reaches her majority but cannot fight that Calum still has over her. Calum has risen from depths of poverty and despair to be a successful gaming hell owner. Loyalty and fairness rule in Calum's life as he struggles to repair the damage to his establishments reputation after his family marries into the titled masses. Falling in love was never part of either one's plan as the danger from her brother mounts and the truth is revealed. The right mix of sweet and heat to keep me reading and enthralled with a good HEA. My voluntary review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

"The Heiress's Deception" by Christi Caldwell is Book Four in The "Sinful Brides" series. This is the story of Lady Eve Pruitt and Calum. I have read the other books in this series (and Loved Them!!!) but feel this can easily be a stand alone book.
Eve was a lonely girl growing up and found a friend in Calum who lived on the streets and had to pick pockets to survive. Calum would come to her stables and she would give him food and they would talk. Eve was around 9 years old and Calum was a teenage book. But one day Calum was picked the wrong pocked and was hurt badly. But when Eve thought she was doing right by letting her brother know Calum was hurt he was instead carted off to prison. Eve assume he died and always carried the guilt of it. Well now in the their present day Eve's older brother that she was somewhat close to is missing. But Eve's other older brother who turned her friend in and is also a evil gambling man who has awful plans for Eve. So she escapes and goes to the Hell and Sin Club to hide out as an account there. Eve finds that Calum is alive and is part owner operator of the club. Eve tries to keep her identity secrets from Calum and hide from her brother.
I am so in love with this series! I quickly had to read and finish this book as soon as I got it! This book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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So I've read all the other book in the Sinful Bride series by Christi Caldwell and really liked them so I had high hopes going into The Heiress Deception and it did not disappoint. The series is around these 5 characters who run The Hell and Sin Club and were all from rough beginnings with them stealing and living on the streets to survive as children. This story focuses on Callum who is one of the men who run the Hell and Sin Club. When he was younger and living as a pickpocket, he had befriended a young girl who he feels ultimately betrays him. Years later when he's now established, this same girl, now young woman, comes to his club to interview for a position as a bookkeeper. Eve is running/hiding from heartless brother bent on doing her harm and decides that the club might just be the place to do it. Callum and Eve are both likeable characters that make following their story fun. Eve is especially plucky and not what you expect in a typical ton chit. Callum is rough around the edges but all around nice guy. Can't wait for the next one!

I have read some of Ms. Caldwell's novels and this one did not disappoint!! I enjoyed the characters and the flow of the novel. Forgiveness is a difficult thing to give. Letting go of the past is even more challenging.
Lady Eve Pruitt "betrayed" her childhood friend Calum many years ago and has regretted it. Believing him to be dead, she volunteers her time at a foundling home. When her brother, a duke, wants to get her massive dowry, he hatches a plan with one of his friends. Eve realizes she is in danger and flees. She is talented with bookkeeping and takes a job at the Hell and Sin Club, a place her brother would not look for her since she dislikes gambling.
Calum has never forgotten what Eve did to him all those years ago. He is the second in command at the club and has a strong sense of loyalty and protects those under him. He does not recognize Eve when she comes for the bookkeeping position, but agrees to let her on a trial basis. Calum knows Eve is keeping secrets and if it will impact his club, he will let her go.
Eve recognizes Calum and is afraid to reveal her identity to him, believing he will tell her to leave. Eve proves her skills though as a bookkeeper and negotiator. Eve and Calum are attracted to each other, but both still have wounds that need closure. Eve's brother is determined to find her and that worries her, especially since her feelings for Calum have reemerged. When Calum discovers the truth, will he give Eve to her brother to save his club or will he allow himself to love her?