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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I have read books from both of these authors. In fact, I am a fan of MJ Rose. Therefore when I saw that these two authors had teamed up I had to read this book. It is a fun, quick read. I was definitely getting the vibes of the nineteen fifties. Readers of cozy mysteries will want to check out this book.
Instantly, I was transported back in time with Ania and Jerome as they tried to track down and stop the infamous Leopard, jewel thief. They dynamics between Ania and Jerome is nice. At first I did feel like Jerome came off a bit chauvinist towards Ania. However, the more the story progressed, he and Ania worked well together.
The ending does lead to there being more to come hopefully with these two. Which I can see being a nice series. My only fault with this book is that I did not personally jive as well with Ania and Jerome but if there are more books, I could see myself getting closer to them.
Instantly, I was transported back in time with Ania and Jerome as they tried to track down and stop the infamous Leopard, jewel thief. They dynamics between Ania and Jerome is nice. At first I did feel like Jerome came off a bit chauvinist towards Ania. However, the more the story progressed, he and Ania worked well together.
The ending does lead to there being more to come hopefully with these two. Which I can see being a nice series. My only fault with this book is that I did not personally jive as well with Ania and Jerome but if there are more books, I could see myself getting closer to them.
The Steal has such a great premise. Jewelry has been stolen from Ania and she and her insurance agent Jerome are on the case. What follows is fun travel mishaps, some love thrown in and an awesome mystery to be solved. I highly suggest you get a copy of this one. This reader was impressed but not surprised. Both authors are ones I read all the time and their work never disappoints.
I went back and forth between three and four stars for this one. The setting and the premise are both excellent, but the writing and the romance felt kind of flat; the MMC is very film noir and the FMC doesn't have a ton of interiority. (Is that a word?) It felt like reading a novelization of a movie and didn't quite work because it didn't have the same advantages that a movie does - the banter wasn't particularly great, there weren't a lot of long and loving costume descriptions, etc. Basically, the setting is cool but the authors weren't in love with the glitz and glamor of it, so it didn't really pop - it's just a setting.
Plot wise,.
Plot wise,
Spoiler
the book ends on a semi-cliffhanger, with the Leopard identified but on the loose, and our FMC and MMC allied but sort of broken up, but I'm not sure I'm interested enough to continue
When a fortune in jewels is stolen from the Carlton hotel in Cannes Jerome Curtis is brought in by the insurance company to try and find the jewels. Ania Thorne is trying to restore the reputation of her family jewelry company and will do whatever it takes. Together they are trying to figure out the crime before something else happens but is it already to late?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review
I seldom say that but this book made me want to throw it out of the window. I didn‘t Luke the writing, some parts felt incredibly forced or really cliché and not in line with the “romantic caper” the book wants to be.
Content Warnings
Minor: War
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The mystery/romance story set in 1957, France, Cannes film festival, is told by Jerome and Ania.
Jerome Curtis works for, insurance firm, Lambert Securities.
Ania Thorne is the director of his father's company (Thorne and Company) and designs jewelry. She designed the jewels for Cannes and has been robbed. This made the actresses furious and put Ania in a difficult situation.
This was a time that Jerome came to investigate from the insurance company. He saw his old friend of war who works for Ania in a very unexpected situation.
"In war, friendship is a luxury that’s less important than loyalty to your fellow soldier. It’s life or death, not happy hour at the bar after a bad day at work. In war, it’s never happy hour. It’s always a bad day at work."
Leopard, a jewelry robber is a very dangerous man, a thief, and a murderer. Jerome and Ania make a plan to catch him.
A short and quick story that you are in the middle of it from the first page. The story moves along knowing the characters. Well written, and easy to follow. I liked the end and very interesting if the story continues that way.
"I'm in awe of the stones. I bow to them. Respect them. Adore them. I fall in love with every stone I work with." me too. :)
"Every Gem contains a bit of magic."
Thanks to Netgalley, I have given an honest review of The Steal by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner.
Published Date 10 Aug 2021
My review on 09 Jul 2021
Jerome Curtis works for, insurance firm, Lambert Securities.
Ania Thorne is the director of his father's company (Thorne and Company) and designs jewelry. She designed the jewels for Cannes and has been robbed. This made the actresses furious and put Ania in a difficult situation.
This was a time that Jerome came to investigate from the insurance company. He saw his old friend of war who works for Ania in a very unexpected situation.
"In war, friendship is a luxury that’s less important than loyalty to your fellow soldier. It’s life or death, not happy hour at the bar after a bad day at work. In war, it’s never happy hour. It’s always a bad day at work."
Leopard, a jewelry robber is a very dangerous man, a thief, and a murderer. Jerome and Ania make a plan to catch him.
A short and quick story that you are in the middle of it from the first page. The story moves along knowing the characters. Well written, and easy to follow. I liked the end and very interesting if the story continues that way.
"I'm in awe of the stones. I bow to them. Respect them. Adore them. I fall in love with every stone I work with." me too. :)
"Every Gem contains a bit of magic."
Thanks to Netgalley, I have given an honest review of The Steal by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner.
Published Date 10 Aug 2021
My review on 09 Jul 2021
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed The Steal! I was immediately drawn in by the cover. It reminded me of a Nancy Drew book, which was irresistible to me since I devoured as many as I could get my hands on as a kid. The story itself reminded me of the old caper movies of the 1950s with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn, which was really fun to read. The story was engaging, and the characters had enough depth to keep me interested. It’s a short book, so it’s a great option for a fun summer read or a day when you’re curled up inside. I can’t wait to read The Bait, the next book in the To Catch A Leopard series, to see what happens next! Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for my advanced copy!
Interesting novella, fun and entertaining.
I wasn't a fun of the end as I don't like cliffhanger but liked the story and the characters. I will read the next book in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I wasn't a fun of the end as I don't like cliffhanger but liked the story and the characters. I will read the next book in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine