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bitchie's review
4.0
This book was both not as angsty as I'd expect from one of the authors, and not as witty as I'd expect from the other. It was very sweet and sexy and romantic. I kept expecting some Big Deal to happen, something to ruthlessly tear these guys apart. Whether it be from Amory's extracurricular habit, or the early seen(but never mentioned again) art forger, I figured something was coming. When it did, it was, happily (for me, anyway) not as big a thing as I expected, but unhappily, I thought that Will vastly overreacted. I get him being angry, but just seemed very much over the top. I'd almost have rathered the Bid Deal to be a Bigger Deal, just to justify Will's anger more.
But otherwise, this was a delightful, sweet, fairly domestic, lovely story, so I'm sticking with 4 stars here.
Spoiler
sending the man he's supposed to love away, not speaking to him for a month, during the freaking HOLIDAYS no less,But otherwise, this was a delightful, sweet, fairly domestic, lovely story, so I'm sticking with 4 stars here.
souymuilk's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lady_perfictionist's review
5.0
While at Apollycon I was instantly captured by this gorgeous cover sitting on one of the tables! I asked @roanparrish about her book Heart of the Steal and knew I needed it right then and there. So I walked away with it!
Since then it was at the top of my TBR and I couldn’t seem to not want to read it! I picked it up Friday and finished today!!!
This story of an FBI art crimes agent calling for the art thief was just enchanting!! Will’s and Vaughn’s banter throughout this entire books had me all twisted in knots and I laughed out loud more than once! Their intensity and
Since then it was at the top of my TBR and I couldn’t seem to not want to read it! I picked it up Friday and finished today!!!
This story of an FBI art crimes agent calling for the art thief was just enchanting!! Will’s and Vaughn’s banter throughout this entire books had me all twisted in knots and I laughed out loud more than once! Their intensity and
33vee's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alexsiae's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
natashaniezgoda's review against another edition
3.0
This was sweet but drawn out.
I love a mature gentlemen's romance (one MMC is in his mid-40s, and the other MMC is in his mid-30s). It's a fun turn from all the 20-something-year-old romances I've been reading.
I loved the prompt, the hint of mischief, the haughty audacity of Vaughn, and the golden-retriever spirit of William. But this could have been 75 pages shorter. It just dragged in the middle.
I love a mature gentlemen's romance (one MMC is in his mid-40s, and the other MMC is in his mid-30s). It's a fun turn from all the 20-something-year-old romances I've been reading.
I loved the prompt, the hint of mischief, the haughty audacity of Vaughn, and the golden-retriever spirit of William. But this could have been 75 pages shorter. It just dragged in the middle.
natashaniezgoda's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
This was sweet but drawn out.
I love a mature gentlemen's romance (one MMC is in his mid-40s, and the other MMC is in his mid-30s). It's a fun turn from all the 20-something-year-old romances I've been reading.
I loved the prompt, the hint of mischief, the haughty audacity of Vaughn, and the golden-retriever spirit of William. But this could have been 75 pages shorter. It just dragged in the middle.
I love a mature gentlemen's romance (one MMC is in his mid-40s, and the other MMC is in his mid-30s). It's a fun turn from all the 20-something-year-old romances I've been reading.
I loved the prompt, the hint of mischief, the haughty audacity of Vaughn, and the golden-retriever spirit of William. But this could have been 75 pages shorter. It just dragged in the middle.
bookish_notes's review
3.0
I didn't know what to expect from this book. It did take me until about 25% to be fully immersed into this book, but when I did, I really liked the story. I have read books from both Avon Gale and Roan Parrish, so as a writing duo, I'm not surprised that I came to like Heart of the Steal.
Will is a black and white kind of guy. He works with the FBI Art Crimes unit and when he attends a function his twin sister, Charlotte, helped coordinate and plan, he meets Amory Vaughn, the well-to-do, rich, fundraiser guy. It soon becomes evident that Vaughn loves skirting the line between what is legal and that makes Will's job that much harder. Will is attracted to the grey haired, Lucious Malfoy lookalike, but when he might have to arrest Vaughn if he gets caught stealing art worth millions of dollars? That makes Vaughn that much more attractive, and dangerous for Will to get close to.
Heart of the Steal is a much more lighthearted book that I anticipated, given the blurb. I legitimately thought that someone was going to be arrested and all that, but this wasn't that kind of book at all. I tend to go for more angsty stories, so this story skirts barely on the morally ethical questions of an FBI agent and a thief and delivers a happy romance instead. Art was the starting off point to the rest of the story, but doesn't come back up much in the last half of the book and I would have loved to see more of it. One character was introduced, James Novack, and was hinted that we may see more of him later, but unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case. Most of the Vaughn Foundation/art storyline was lost in the rest of the book.
Will is used to being the quiet one next to his extroverted twin sister. Their father was a cop, and Will is now an FBI agent. He knows what he could construe to being right and wrong. But when Amory Vaughn enters his life, it complicates what Will has always known.
The chapters alternate in first-person between Will and Vaughn. I highly prefer reading Will's chapters because his voice is much more relatable. Vaughn, on the other hand, borders somewhere between formal British aristocrat and someone who likes saying the cheesiest, sappiest lines. Unfortunately, Vaughn's chapters are a bit too over-the-top for my liking? I'm not a feelings person, so it was hard to connect with Vaughn, even on an emotional level. Vaughn is a conundrum. He's rich, but sweet. He will manipulate everyone around him because he is rich and powerful in society. Vaughn is an interesting character, for sure. I kind of wish he could be fleshed out to be more...I don't know. On the level with Will?
We see that Vaughn has a sweet side, and everything he does is always done with the best intentions, but I found it hard to relate to Vaughn in general. I loved Will. He definitely has his concerns about dating someone who knowingly flirts with the law, and I would have loved the rift between them to be more pronounced, if you will? More ethical questionings of their being together in the first place? They have strong sexual chemistry, but emotionally, I guess it didn't have as big an impact for me.
The book starts off enemies-to-lovers, but quickly turns into just a sweet little romance. There's not much tension to speak of between the two. I loved seeing their interactions with one another and I certainly enjoyed reading about the progression of their relationship, but I can't help but feel like that spark between them wasn't quite like it was in the beginning.
This is a fun, lighthearted book overall. William Fox is a darling, and I enjoyed reading the Heart of the Steal.
***Thanks to Judith at Binge on Books/A Novel Takes PR for providing an ARC as part of a bookstagram tour***
Will is a black and white kind of guy. He works with the FBI Art Crimes unit and when he attends a function his twin sister, Charlotte, helped coordinate and plan, he meets Amory Vaughn, the well-to-do, rich, fundraiser guy. It soon becomes evident that Vaughn loves skirting the line between what is legal and that makes Will's job that much harder. Will is attracted to the grey haired, Lucious Malfoy lookalike, but when he might have to arrest Vaughn if he gets caught stealing art worth millions of dollars? That makes Vaughn that much more attractive, and dangerous for Will to get close to.
Heart of the Steal is a much more lighthearted book that I anticipated, given the blurb. I legitimately thought that someone was going to be arrested and all that, but this wasn't that kind of book at all. I tend to go for more angsty stories, so this story skirts barely on the morally ethical questions of an FBI agent and a thief and delivers a happy romance instead. Art was the starting off point to the rest of the story, but doesn't come back up much in the last half of the book and I would have loved to see more of it. One character was introduced, James Novack, and was hinted that we may see more of him later, but unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case. Most of the Vaughn Foundation/art storyline was lost in the rest of the book.
Will is used to being the quiet one next to his extroverted twin sister. Their father was a cop, and Will is now an FBI agent. He knows what he could construe to being right and wrong. But when Amory Vaughn enters his life, it complicates what Will has always known.
It wasn't a compulsion. I could stop any time I wanted, and I never stole from museums or from people who would consider it a true loss. Unless, of course, they deserved it.
The chapters alternate in first-person between Will and Vaughn. I highly prefer reading Will's chapters because his voice is much more relatable. Vaughn, on the other hand, borders somewhere between formal British aristocrat and someone who likes saying the cheesiest, sappiest lines. Unfortunately, Vaughn's chapters are a bit too over-the-top for my liking? I'm not a feelings person, so it was hard to connect with Vaughn, even on an emotional level. Vaughn is a conundrum. He's rich, but sweet. He will manipulate everyone around him because he is rich and powerful in society. Vaughn is an interesting character, for sure. I kind of wish he could be fleshed out to be more...I don't know. On the level with Will?
We see that Vaughn has a sweet side, and everything he does is always done with the best intentions, but I found it hard to relate to Vaughn in general. I loved Will. He definitely has his concerns about dating someone who knowingly flirts with the law, and I would have loved the rift between them to be more pronounced, if you will? More ethical questionings of their being together in the first place? They have strong sexual chemistry, but emotionally, I guess it didn't have as big an impact for me.
"Well, you can't steal me," he said roughly. "And you can't buy me. So you better hope I'm not a work of art, or I doubt you'd know what to do with me."
The book starts off enemies-to-lovers, but quickly turns into just a sweet little romance. There's not much tension to speak of between the two. I loved seeing their interactions with one another and I certainly enjoyed reading about the progression of their relationship, but I can't help but feel like that spark between them wasn't quite like it was in the beginning.
This is a fun, lighthearted book overall. William Fox is a darling, and I enjoyed reading the Heart of the Steal.
***Thanks to Judith at Binge on Books/A Novel Takes PR for providing an ARC as part of a bookstagram tour***