OCEAN'S 8 meets Janet Evanovich, this fast-paced crime caper features one badass mother, with a certain set of skills who is forced to come out of retirement to protect her son, and teach a few men a few lessons!

Ex-con artist Bee Cardello is going legit. Divorced from her mafia boss husband, she is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. So, when ex-hubby Charlie steals $37.5 million from a dangerous kingpin, who puts out a hit on Bee and her ten-year-old son Oliver, she finds herself pulled back into the life she's worked so hard to escape.

Part of that old life being one Adam Gage – an old flame and all-round sexy badass who Charlie's now employed to keep her and Oliver safe . . . well, that's what he tells her. Bee has been in this game long enough to know that everyone is in it for themselves, and she'd be stupid to trust Adam . . . again.

When Oliver is snatched from right under their noses, rather than risk losing him forever, Bee gathers her old team, dusts off all her old grifting tricks, and comes out of retirement to get her son back!

"Stolen Pieces" by S.K. Golden is a crime drama thriller novel. It is nonstop action and easy to binge read or listen all at once. I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Amara Jasper. She did all the voices well, even the male and female ones.

Bea is a former wife of a mob boss, and she is raising their son alone. One day, some bad guys come into their home and kidnap her, her 10 year old son Oliver, and the young nanny Malika. An old flame and expert bodyguard, Adam, rescues them but still has to take them to her ex's Jersey beach home. Things get worse from there. No more summary so as to not spoil it.

For humor, there is Bea's chubby bulldog, Hogarth. No harm comes to the dog or the kid. I know that is important to a lot of readers. Apart from them, there is a lot of violence, blood, and bodies.

One other issue with this book was that it was missing transitions, so that sometimes I couldn't tell if we were in the present or the past or a dream. This happened quite often, and it's the reason I took one point off on the Writing in the rubric below.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5 (dropped one for poor redubbing)
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 35/8 = 4 3/8 rounded to 4 stars

Highly recommended for readers who like crime dramas and action adventure novels.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and S. K. Golden for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Rather than being genre-bending, this book had an identity problem. It couldn’t decide if it wanted to be an irreverent get-the-band-back-together book or a gender-flipped Jack Reecher book. It didn’t quite land for me.

Thank you to Severn and S.K. Golden for the gifted copy! Thank you Severn for the eARC and to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC!

I love Golden’s Pinnacle Hotel series and simply had to try her series set in the modern day - what a great start to what I have no doubt will be an excellent series! Action, fun characters, romance and hijinks, this had it all!

I was so wrapped up in the story and loved the fast pace of the novel. I couldn’t stop listening! This was so much fun and I cannot wait for the next one.

The first book I’ve read by S.K Golden but will not be my last! Such a good book! You will love every character even the bad ones! I highly recommend! Thanks NetGallery!

This was a fun read and I really liked most of the characters. I love the fact that there a happy ending for Bee and her son and the journey getting there was pretty hilarious! This was my 2nd book by S.K. Golden, but not my last. I am adding all of their books to my TBR!

#StolenPieces
#NetGalley

A nice fast past oceans 8 type story. The narration was fantastic with lots of sexual tension and sarcasm which I thoroughly enjoyed! Overall, the story was well thought out and I think future works are going to improve.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is described as Oceans 8 meets Janet Evanovich however a lot of it is simply what could be a great heist story reduced to a vain woman attempted to bed the one who got away.

The narration was fine for the most part, though the nasally voice used for the MCs son caused full body cringes at times.

The twists and turns were a fun listen but the main character was unbearable and inspired no reader to route for her - she was vain, quick to forget her darling son when a shot at her old love returned and a lot of the plot was riddled with holes. If it wasn't so fast paced, this title would have been marked lower.

DNF @ 22%

I'm just not interested in this, and the narrator's voice for the MC's son is very, very irritating. I'm sad about it. I will keep trying stuff from this author, but this one didn't work for me.

Please tell me that this is only the first of a very long series!! I listened to the audiobook nearly nonstop from beginning to end. I LOVED it!! The narrator is amazing with different voices and I’m looking for more audiobooks she narrates. The book has a Finlay Donovan feel to it! I cannot wait to hopefully read more in this series. The characters were so interesting and I already want more. Highly recommend!!

DNF at 60%.
This is maybe the third or forth dnf of my entire life, so please know it's something I avoid whenever possible. My main take-away is that the mc is a hysterical shrieking banshee. I couldn't deal.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The heist in the book was well thought out and was very intense. There were so many twists and turns in this book and it kept me guessing. I also really enjoyed the characters.

🎧 audiobook review: Stolen Pieces - S. K. Golden
🗓️ expected release date: May 7, 2024
📈 overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🫢 twist gasp level: ⭐️⭐️
…

Stolen Pieces is a bit out of my “thriller” genre comfort zone, but this action-packed crime novel stole my heart! It’s witty, fun, fast-paced and has some very colorful characters. The audiobook was wonderful and Amara Jasper did a fantastic job bringing the story and personalities of the characters to life. I felt like I was listening to a crime comedy movie—a movie I would certainly watch.

The synopsis details the story perfectly. Stolen Pieces is the perfect title because it’s not just about stolen art or money, but the stolen pieces of our main character Bee’s life due to choices she has made. Beyond the buildup to the heist and the heist itself, there is a “will they, won’t they” romance element with a little spice that surprised me. There were also moments I laughed out loud, especially whenever the nanny Malika was involved.

There were a few twists and turns here and there. One moment around 85% made me audibly gasp (hence the 2-star twist gasp level rating), but overall this was a bit predictable and in line with other books with similar premises.

If you enjoy mafia crime, action, and romance—add this to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Meda for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

…
🌃 audiobook publisher: Dreamscape Media
🎧 listened on: NetGalley
🎙️ narrator: Amara Jasper
…

Outstanding. Each page was so incredibly cinematic, it almost felt like a novel based on a movie. Such a fun action-packed rom-com. Will definitely be recommending this book far and wide. 4.5 stars

3.5 stars. I did like this audio book. The narrator did an incredible job. The first half was fast paced and twisty with great banter and tension. The second half was more predictable but still fun. I would recommend this book if the reader is looking for something easy to digest with a familiar plot line. It wasn’t a book I couldn’t wait to get back to - but entertaining enough to keep going. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to an early publication.

"Stolen Pieces" by S.K. Golden is a high-octane crime caper that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end. Bee Cardello, a former con artist turned single mom, is forced to confront her past when her ex-husband steals millions from a dangerous kingpin, putting Bee and her son Oliver in grave danger. With the help of her old flame Adam Gage and her trusted team, Bee must navigate a treacherous world of deception and betrayal to save her son. Golden's writing crackles with energy, and Bee is a fierce and unforgettable protagonist who will stop at nothing to protect her family. Full of twists, turns, and plenty of action, "Stolen Pieces" is a gripping thrill ride that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.

I LOVED this title! I could never quite figure out where it was going. There was twist after twist after twist. I love Bea, er, Shelby, and all the special skills she had she kept revealing. It was a great cast, a great story, and I wasn't ready for it to be over!

"Stolen Pieces" by S.K. Golden is a fun crime caper that delivers action, suspense, and a healthy dose of humour. Billed as "Ocean's 8" meets Janet Evanovich, this fast-paced novel introduces readers to Bee Cardello, a former con artist determined to leave her criminal past behind.

Golden masterfully crafts a story filled with twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the end. The dynamic relationship between the characters adds depth and emotion to the narrative, and the chemistry between Bee and her old flame Adam Gage adds a touch of romance to the mix.

While "Stolen Pieces" offers plenty of excitement and entertainment, some elements of the story may stretch the bounds of realism. However, this only adds to the book's charm and makes it a perfect escape for readers looking for a thrilling ride.

Overall, "Stolen Pieces" is a fun and engaging read that offers a welcome respite from reality. Despite its occasional lapses into the improbable, the novel delivers on its promise of suspense and excitement. I rate the book three out of five stars and recommend it to anyone in need of a thrilling adventure with a side of humour and heart.

Mama will take care of things will a little help from her friends.

It is not often that I feel that a book summary encapsulates the story as well as this one does. It is definitely OCEAN'S 8 meets Janet Evanovich.

From the start of the story, you knew it was going to take you on a fast ride. Bee formerly Shelby has a great backstory and it felt like we were just scratching the surface. Heck, all of the characters have great backstories that we are only seeing a glimpse of. Even 10 y.o. Oliver is fun and engaged, not just the kid they have to save.

There were several moments that I gasped out loud, fussed at the book and was incredulous about what had just happened. Can you tell I enjoyed the book? I DID!

It is a book that even my dad would like and that is saying a lot. There was lots of action and bada** scenes to keep him entertained. Be warned this is not a chaste cozy mystery/thriller, there is cursing, heavy petting, sexual references, and violence but all done in a fun and tasteful way. There are some great one liners that I am trying to figure out how to work into friend conversations (just kidding, sorta).

I don’t know this author but guess we are about the same age with the same TV taste as some of my favorite shows from the past got a mention (so much fun).

You probably got from the summary that the ex-husband caused the drama. He was useless in solving it. Bee, gets it done with the help of her friends and muscle from Adam Gage. Ah Adam. Well, there is soooo much there that if I tried to explain your head would probably spin. They have a past, he is muscle and things are complicated.

I think I need a Malika and the Nans in my life. If nothing else, it would never be boring and I could probably get out of any kind of scrape I ever found myself in. I can’t forget Linda with her “magical” black bag and Paster Foster, there is a story there I would like to know.

I did have a bit of confusion about two characters who could have possibly been the same character referenced two different ways. While it did cause some head scratching during memory moments and explanations, there was so many other things going on, I moved on quickly.

The narrator was fantastic.

I finished this in one sitting, maybe I will do a second listen and figure out my confusion. Or… just enjoy the ride for a second time.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!

Rating math- Audio narration- negative stars, plot 3 stars. Giving it 2 stars since the audiobook narration will be relevant to only some readers. And, in case my negative stars didn't give it away- stick to the print for this one.

This is fast paced and I overall enjoyed it. It started out a little <i>too</i> fast in my opinion- took me a minute to figure out what the heck was happening. And the end was too drawn out. The middle was pretty good though.

Now, the audio. Amara Jasper narrates the audiobook. There were a lot of lines that were re-recorded and dubbed in. And it is a noticeable difference. This is not just once or twice, either. Oliver (the child) in dialogue was painful to listen to. Then, my biggest pet peeve- pronunciation. Normal words like "coupe" were mispronounced. But the one that got me repeatedly was "Os". There is a character named "Os"- the narrator pronounced it like the beginning of "osprey"- short o followed by a definite "s" sound. I kept trying to figure out who the heck this person was and why that was his name. Like 2/3 in, he is finally referred to as Osborne. So it should have been "Oz" all along- which would have made a whole lot more sense.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.