Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Even though this book wasn’t touted as a follow up book to ‘The Schuyler House’, it is. I also should also let you know this is a stand alone book. You know, same characters but now that some time has passed meaning the cast has aged, to.
The first half of this book is somewhat slow, not a lot of action. That comes in the second half. Art thieves sure but Maddie Pearson has stepped away from that life when she met and married Alex.
Now along comes Maddie’s old friend Ellen Church with an interesting proposal. But is it interesting enough to make Maddie return to the life she left behind. She is married now but the lure is still there. Nice read, not great but you will still find yourself turning the pages so, all in all not too bad either.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books.

I hadn't read a book by Cade Haddock Strong before, but the blurb sounded fascinating. I can't remember reading a romantic adventure/intrigue about a group of art thieves planning a heist. They decided to use the Victor/Victoria theme to cover their identities, and that turned out to be a brilliant idea. Following along with the planning and then the actual execution was exciting.

I really wanted to love this book, but there were just too many implausibilities for my taste. And a few too many loose ends not tied up. It could be that I hadn't previously read The Schuyler House, the book that is the first in what seems to be a series. Although this book wasn't for me, I still look forward to what comes next from Cade Haddock Strong.

3 stars
This was just an Ok read. It's a basic heist story. 4 women plan to steal a Warhol painting. The planning seemed sort of amateur rather than experienced thieves. I was not sure if this was going to be a comedy. The dialog was very light, cute and somewhat silly. Not the serious planning I expected. And there was a budding romance in the mix. The story was sort of blaa up to about the 80% point and then it took a surprising turn. Things got a bit more serious. But that only lasts for a few chapters and it went back to simple dialog and the romance gets completed.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I am looking for some excitement in my life. I am looking for a little extra cash to accomplish some of the things I want to accomplish. I needed to relax my logical thought process and just enjoy the read. The beginning was slow but it did set the stage for why the characters were doing what they were doing (Wallace and Alex). Ellen Church and Mattie Pearson are art thieves. Mattie is living her life with her wife Alex and wants to leave the art thief behind her. Ellen is interested in continuing the life and comes to Mattie with an intriguing proposal. As the story unfolds, I was enthralled with the planning process and the decision to use Victor/Victoria as the disguise. I recall seeing the 1982 movie with Julie Andrews. It was fun and entertaining just like this read. Really enjoyed the couple dynamics.

This is the first novel I've read by the author. I didn't read her novel Schuyler House. Regardless I felt that this stood on its own. The story a light easy read and turned out to be quite interesting.. The characters were great and likeable. The only question that popped in my mind constantly was: If I was a criminal would I have openly welcome someone I didn't know into my crew I just met? regardless of the attraction.
I recommend 4 stars.


I received an ARC copy from the publisher Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

On the Fence by Cade Haddock Strong is an interesting story about four women who team together to pull off an art heist in Washington, D.C. Though I didn’t realize it when I asked for this book, it is actually connected to an earlier novel by this author called The Schuyler House. I have not read the first story yet, so I guess I’m proof that this one can be read as a standalone.

This book is a combination of an adventure story involving an art heist, and a romance between two of the women involved (Wallace Mahar and Ellen Church). The other two women are already a couple, and I believe they are also the main characters in the first novel.

The first half of this story covers the preparation for the theft while Wallace and Ellen slowly get to know each other. The second half is the actual heist and its aftermath. I must admit, the first part of the book is rather slow reading, but I really enjoyed the second half where most of the action happens. The author gives a good, solid ending to both the theft and the romance between Wallace and Ellen. I love endings that go beyond the “I love you’s” and lets the reader know something about what happens afterward.

While this novel can be read as a standalone, I do remember a couple of spots in the story where I felt I was missing something, so I’m going to recommend you read both books in order. I’m giving this novel a 3.5 star rating.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

This book comes after The Schuyler House and the focus here is now directed at Ellen. Both Ellen and Mattie, the protagonist of the previous book, are retired criminals and friends. While this book can technically be read as a standalone, the previous book provided some insight into their past criminal lives, which was kinda exciting, and how Mattie and her now wife, Alex, both of whom play a substantial role in this book, got together. Ellen and Mattie come out of retirement for another job and people are recruited into their 'gang' along the way, including Wallace, whose car Ellen had rear-ended into just before that.

This book is what I would call an amateur crime novel. The premise is fine but the execution isn't great and the dialogue is stilted. I suppose it's meant to be a fun book but it's unrealistic and simplified and simply looking at how Wallace is so easily recruited into crime here proves my point. There is a love story between Ellen and Wallace too but frankly speaking, it didn't leave much of an impression on me.

I don't hate this book, but I'm not exactly impressed either.

On the Fence is the follow up novel to The Schuyler House published in 2017. Maggie and Ellen are retired from the exciting world of stealing multimillion dollar works of art. That is until their ‘fence’ approaches Ellen with a job to steal just one more piece of art.
At this point in the novel the reader needs to suspend their belief in logic and right and wrong in order to enjoy the rest of the novel. It is fiction after all!
The plot is a lovely mix of romance with excitement. Maggie’s wife joins in on the heist as well as their friend Wallace. The writing is serviceable with characters who are fun to get to know. Wallace is a sweetheart whom everyone will like.
If you are looking for a light read On the Fence definitely will fill this roll.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Wallace meets a mysterious woman after her car gets rear ended. While at a club it’s seems fate is throwing Wallace in the path of mysterious Ellen and she sees her again at her friends house and she becomes intrigued by Ellen.

Mattie is a retire art thief who married to Alex and lives a normal life when she and Ellen get a offer for one more heist they can’t refuse and it becomes wether they can pull it off.

This was ok read I enjoy it the dialogue could be bit better in certain parts of the story.

Such a lovely read!

Ellen and Mattie’s are retired art thieves after a heist gone wrong. Now living mundane lives, their booker gives them an offer that they can’t refuse. Mattie’s wife needs the money so she convinces her to do the heist with her help. Then there’s Wallace. A swim coach enthralled by the sexy Ellen after being rear ended by her. Along the way she finds out that Ellen is an art thieve and wiggles her way into the heist.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Wallace was such a likable character and her and Ellen had such a cute chemistry. Turns out this book is kind of a sequel and I didn’t know that so I was a bit annoyed because initially I wondered why Mattie and Alex had so few scenes then realized I missed a whole book. Just annoying lol

There’s also a few impractical moves, why did they trust Wallace so quick? Why let newcomers in on such a big heist especially one you just met? I’m also not so sure how the victor/Victoria thing worked but hey, alls well in the world of fiction. Those impracticality weren’t turn offs for me. It was fine

The dialogue was a bit stiff as times but as the book went on it cleaned up.

Definitely an improvement from the last book I read by this author.

A very short and simply criminal adventure! I recommend for a light read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bellabooks for the ARC in exchange for a honest review!

I enjoyed this book but you have to put reality on the shelf. Wallace Mahar is a college swim coach and is rear ended while driving. A mysterious woman (Ellen Church) tosses her a wad of cash to cover the damages and drives away. She sees the same person at a club and later in the home of her newly married friends. It turns out that one of the friends use to steal art with Ellen, but they've given up their life of crime. Now their old fence is asking them to do one more heist. This turns into an Ocean's Eight, scouting and planning the theft.

I enjoyed the main escapism plot. I am not sure that how quickly you'd really let someone into your "gang". And there is no discussion on money splits and details like that. Wallace's only motivation is wanting to get out and be more adventurous which doesn't necessarily translate to a life of crime. Looking, I found this is a sequel to a book the author wrote in 2017, but I read easily as a stand alone. The romance is light and they do manage a few dates with some sizzle while working the job. I really don't want to reveal more. Thank you to Net Galley and Bella Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.