{"id":5965,"date":"2016-07-14T18:28:21","date_gmt":"2016-07-14T22:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=5965"},"modified":"2022-10-30T19:56:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-30T23:56:50","slug":"a-gift-for-guile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/5965","title":{"rendered":"A Gift for Guile"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Gift for Guile<\/a><\/em> (2016) Alissa Johnson<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A-Gift-for-Guile\"<\/a>Set in London in 1872<\/p>\n

This is the second book in the Thief-Takers series, and follows the second sister, Esther, and the private investigator, Samuel Brass.<\/p>\n

Esther has sneaked into London, and is caught at underground by the Samuel Brass, who ruins the meeting she was getting ready to have.<\/p>\n

Samuel Brass sees it as his personal mission to keep Esther safe, because, he tells himself, she is the sister of the wife of one of his best friends. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who goes into places like Spitalfields when they have a choice otherwise is an idiot.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat is unfair. There are decent, honest, hardworking people who live there.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cA great many. But their combined innocence does not render the cutthroats less vicious.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of the things I particularly like about this story is how sensible Esther is, and how it always takes Samuel (and the reader, to be honest) aback when she is reasonable and sensible.<\/p>\n

She set the book aside and frowned at him thoughtfully. \u201cOut of curiosity, why haven\u2019t you stationed guards outside my door?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think you need them?\u201d She shook her head. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you?\u201d It wasn\u2019t so much that she needed them as that he wanted them for his own peace of mind. <\/p>\n

She shrugged when he didn\u2019t immediately answer. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t make a fuss over it.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI beg your pardon?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIf it would make you feel\u2026 I don\u2019t know\u201d\u2014 she began to wave one hand around as she searched for the right words\u2014\u201c like a properly responsible gentleman, seeing to the safety of the helpless lady\u201d\u2014 she waved her hand some more\u2014\u201c or what have you, then, by all means, hire a guard or two.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But that’s not the only reason I like Esther. I like her because she has struggled in the past, but is slowly becoming, as she puts it, more.<\/p>\n

No one person\u2019s good opinion should mean so much that another person should feel compelled to change who they are to obtain it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She ignored the voice, long since accustomed to the fear that she wasn\u2019t really wanted, wasn\u2019t quite good enough for anyone. That fear had been at the heart of her determination to work with her father and her terrible need to seek out the approval of others. She\u2019d been so desperate to prove the nasty little voice wrong.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But, it’s also a fun little romp.<\/p>\n

Samuel and Esther stepped closer to investigate the admittedly rather large, but definitely very dead, rodent. <\/p>\n

Samuel glanced over his shoulder. \u201cYou screamed because of a dead rat?\u201d The girl was a Londoner. This couldn\u2019t possibly be the first one she\u2019d come across. <\/p>\n

She wrinkled her nose in distaste. \u201cI stepped on it a bit. In me bare feet.\u201d <\/p>\n

Next to him, Esther gave a little shudder. \u201cEw.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAye, mum.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These are just fun stories, even if they do have boinking.
\nRating: 8\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Gift for Guile (2016) Alissa Johnson Set in London in 1872 This is the second book in the Thief-Takers series, and follows the second sister, Esther, and the private investigator, Samuel Brass. Esther has sneaked into London, and is caught at underground by the Samuel Brass, who ruins the meeting she was getting ready […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[12,30,33,26,56],"tags":[156,50,557],"class_list":["post-5965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-8-10","category-british","category-historical","category-romance","category-sexual-content","tag-alissa-johnson","tag-boinking","tag-victorian"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/piQkW-1yd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20115,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/20115","url_meta":{"origin":5965,"position":0},"title":"A Gift for Guile","author":"Michelle","date":"July 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A Gift for Guile (2016) Alissa Johnson (The Thief Takers) Set in England in 1872. Esther has finally admitted that she was involved in her father's schemes--as his teenage henchman. And no one blames Esther for that--except Esther herself. Though he suspected she\u2019d be surprised to hear it, Samuel didn\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"A-Gift-for-Guile","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/A-Gift-for-Guile.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11618,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/11618","url_meta":{"origin":5965,"position":1},"title":"A Gift for Guile","author":"Michelle","date":"February 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A Gift for Guile (2016) Alissa Johnson Set in England in 1872 Esther Walker is the daughter of a famous thief and con artist. Although none of her family knows, she also helped her father, acting as his tiny thug, threatening people with the knives she was taught to throw.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/A-Gift-for-Guile.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9213,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/9213","url_meta":{"origin":5965,"position":2},"title":"A Gift for Guile","author":"Michelle","date":"August 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A Gift for Guile (2016) Alissa Johnson Set in England in 1872 The second book in the Gentleman Thief-takers series tells Esther's story--that of a girl who was used by her scoundrel father as dainty and surprising henchman, and who kept her secrets from everyone--including her sister. Now she is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/A-Gift-for-Guile.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13383,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/13383","url_meta":{"origin":5965,"position":3},"title":"A Gift for Guile","author":"Michelle","date":"August 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A Gift for Guile (2016) Alissa Johnson (The Thief Takers) Set in England in 1872 This series is just SO delightful. As soon as the door shut on the last giggle, she darted out from behind the screen and pulled the lid off one of the platters. Oh, asparagus. She\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"A-Gift-for-Guile","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/A-Gift-for-Guile.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13409,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/13409","url_meta":{"origin":5965,"position":4},"title":"A Dangerous Deceit","author":"Michelle","date":"September 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A Dangerous Deceit (2017) Alissa Johnson (The Thief-Takers) Set in England in the mid 1870s. Miss Jane Ballenger is a recluse. She's tried going out in society, but it went very badly, so she remains at home, hiding her problems from the world. Sir Gabriel Arkwright is a famous thief-taker\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dangerous Deceit","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Dangerous-Deceit-e1511015233441.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13369,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/13369","url_meta":{"origin":5965,"position":5},"title":"A Talent for Trickery","author":"Michelle","date":"August 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A Talent for Trickery (2015) Alissa Johnson (The Thief-Takers) Set in England in 1872. It's still the time for falling back on old favorites. This book was my introduction to Alissa Johnson, and I immediately snatched up everything by her I could find. Charlotte Walker (now Bales) was the daughter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"A Talent for Trickery","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/A-Talent-for-Trickery-e1511012717126.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5965\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}