⭐️ My rating: 4/5

Tropes:
🐈‍⬛ Reformed Cat Burglar FMC
💎 British Lord MMC

Overall this was a light and entertaining read. The main characters were very likeable and I especially liked Samantha and her quick wit. Richard was very protective of Sam, which was very sweet. I only wish his POV was slightly less repetitive in terms of him trying to protect Sam while also providing her with space and respecting her independence.

This was a solid continuation of the first book and it was nice to see more of Sam and Rick’s day to day relationship, as well as of Sam being a reformed cat burglar. I definitely recommend reading this series for a lighthearted read 💛💫

Many thanks to author and publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha “Sam” Jellicoe, reformed cat burglar extraordinaire, faces her latest challenge as a security specialist. She needs to install security in an auction house good enough to keep out her notorious father. Failure is not an option Sam can entertain. However, the job reveals some long-kept secrets. Can Sam outwit her father? Will those secrets jeopardize her freedom and her relationship with Rick?

Richard “Rick” Addison, English aristocrat and billionaire, follows his fiancé to New York. He worries that this latest job will expose Sam’s hidden criminal past. Rick is determined to protect her at all costs. He and Sam never expected the unexpected twist the job tosses their way. Will this latest surprise jeopardize Rick’s future with Sam? Or will it prove beneficial in keeping her safe?

Sam and Rick are total opposites, but they make their relationship work. I like how Rick is Sam’s “voice of reason”. He is her sole reason for staying on the straight and narrow. Sam refuses to do anything to jeopardize Rick’s reputation and standing in society. I also like how Rick is still battling on compromising with Sam. I also like how Rick still battles with compromise with Sam. He is used to having things go his way. Rick fights against his inner need to protect Sam while letting her do her own thing. It is not always easy for him to give up control.

A KISS IN THE DARK is the second installment in Suzanne Enoch’s romantic suspense series, SAM AND RICK. It is a continuation of the author’s SAMANTHA JELLICOE series. I recommend starting with the first series before jumping into the new one. It reveals how Sam and Rick first met and the many trials both faced in their relationship.

I have always loved this series. Heck, I still own the five original cover Harpercollins paperbacks from 2005 to 2007. When I saw there was a new book, I literally squealed (in delight and anticipation). I cannot wait for future Rick and Sam adventures!

This is a heist romance novel with suspense and crime sprinkled on top. Sam is a reformed burglar, whose dad raised her to follow in his criminal footsteps, but love changes all, and so falling in love with Richard changed Sam for good. Now her Dad is mad at her and wants to ruin her security business by targeting the auction she is providing security for.
I honestly loved how the story not only focused on Sam's romance, but also on her own personal journey, and alongside her changing dynamics with her crew. Sam is an independent woman and I LOVE LOVE LOVE strong women in romances.
The plot moves fast, is written extremely well written, and is unique and fun to read. There are surprises, cliff hangers, and people who come back from the dead, which just shows how this book is a miracle itself LMAO.
Thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for the ARC.

Welcome back Sam & Rick - you've been missed! As Sam continues to grow her security business, she's contacted by a NYC auction house to work up security plans, which goes well. Of course, mayhem ensues. There are surprise relatives popping up all over the place. What's supposed to be a one or two night engagement, turns out to require more handholding than anticipated. No surprise that Rick joins her on location. Mayhem includes the surprise relatives, dead relatives (not so dead) and criminal activity. Sam (and Rick) save the day. I look forward to the next installment (and hopefully wedding).

Can I give it 6 stars? It was totally engrossing and the author handled the complexities of the story very well. I received this as an advance copy from the author and NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6815330669

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This is the heist book I've been wanting to read lately. All my spy/thrillers/adventure books have been leaving me wanting, and this book definitely filled the gap. Samantha and her crew and a unique, funny bunch and I definitely want to learn about them, but I enjoyed watching these former theives try to do teamwork and sometimes get it and sometimes fail.
I haven’t read any of the previous Samantha Jellicoe books but I think I might have to! I need to more about Samantha and Rick’s and their relationship.

When Samantha Jellicoe, cat burglar and art thief extraordinaire (reformed!) is tapped to install last minute security for the auction of a priceless art collection, she leaps at the chance. Not only is it a great offer, but it will lead to future jobs, which are hard to find for a talented but notorious ex-thief. If there’s one thing Sam knows, it’s security— and how to get around it!
Walking the straight and narrow (so she can marry her dreamy, aristocratic fiancé Richard Addison) is not going to be easy, and this case adds a whole new level of complications: the possible involvement of her interfering and equally skilled Dad, the auction house's liaison’s mysterious background, as well as the hidden motives of her new staff means that Sam's burglar sack is full to the brim with extra baggage — and not the sparkly kind!
Failure could mean the end of Sam’s freedom, her relationship with Rick, and everything she's been working for, so it’s all hands on deck for Team Sam, with a few twists, fireworks — literal and personal — and some great pizza, in a blowout that New York City’s art scene will never forget!

A Kiss in the Dark was a ton of fun! Suspense, mystery, romance, crime, all rolled into one.

Samantha Jellicoe's cat-burglar dad raised her into a life of crime, and he doesn’t appreciate it one bit when she decides she’d rather go clean and make a legitimate living. She’s built a business protecting against thieves rather than helping them, and fallen in love with a hot British billionaire who she’s all set to marry.

When Samantha is hired to protect a huge collection of art and other precious items, things get pretty wild, maybe a few family secrets come out, and there’s a lot to figure out in a short time. But Samantha is up for the challenge.

I had so much fun trying to discern who was involved with what, where the plot twists would come from, how the characters would approach so many crazy problems, and how everything would turn out. The author takes you on a fun ride through NYC, security nightmares, the high stakes burglar world, and a sizzling relationship between two fiercely independent yet devoted people.

I haven’t read any of the previous Samantha Jellicoe books but clearly I need to! I need to get more details on Samantha and Rick’s backstory.

Thank you to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for my advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

A Cat burglar (& her foxy lord) in the auction house!

Sam Jellicoe, a reformed cat burglar, has a new security business protecting clients from people like her. She should know all the security holes as she has exploited most of them. Rick Addison is her billionaire fiancé and a British Lord. Sam takes a new job for Sotheby’s setting up security for an exclusive auction in New York. It becomes tricky when she discovers her infamous father Martin Jellicoe is in New York. He is unhappy with Sam and throws quite a few kinks into the works. Can she protect the expensive art and deal with her father too?

Love this power couple and their relationship! Sam is independent to the max. Richard struggles with his protective instincts even while realizing she can look out for herself. Unfortunately, Sam seems to be a magnet for trouble. She also attracts unique and fascinating characters like bees to honey. Sam is charming and quick-witted, making this romantic suspense novel very entertaining. This former art thief made me laugh out loud while rooting for her to stay legit.

I also recommend the previous books starring Samantha Jellicoe. A Kiss in the Dark has the back story so enjoy it on its own. Recommended for readers who enjoy Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books.

Thank you to Independent Publishers Group/NYLA and NetGalley for a digital review copy.

I just loved a Kiss in the Dark. It was a great read that kept me turning the pages until the very end.

I didn’t noticed this was book 2 so went a got book 1 on my kindle and loved it
These are such a unique different story which I feel completely in love with
I loved the characters
It was fun easy to read with a sweet romance I couldn’t put it down

A cat burglar extraordinaire trying to reform, and finally marry her sexy British billionaire finds herself walking a tightrope when she takes on the security for a glamorous auction house! I was pleasantly surprised by this one!! It’s not really my type of read but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had suspense, intriguing, action packed, steamy romance, and funny!! The story was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley the publisher and author for sharing this book with me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group | NYLA for providing this book, with my honest review below.

A Kiss in the Dark is a new addition to a series you must pick up if you’re into heists and intrigue, as I am.

While I haven’t yet read the other books in the series and didn’t feel like I missed much past the development of the romance and some events, I did find myself wanting to learn more so I’ll definitely be checking it out. Of the things I enjoyed and would love to check out a bit more was the relationship between Samantha and Richard (a cute couple who I imagine have a great meet cute from the events indicated) and Samantha’s backstory of a car burglar gone good, as well as the exploration of Samantha’s burglar father. In this story we see Samantha find out her father is targeting an auction she is providing security for, with some pretty unbelievable discoveries along the way (and a major cliffhanger that’s just as unbelievable). A great heist novel, I can’t wait to see what other books bring as hopefully some of the side characters are explored further and the dynamics between all of them become closer, making a true (upgraded) crew.

Samantha has gone legit and is engaged to Richard a wealthy aristocrat. Sam is handling security for a Sothebys auction. Her renowned art theft, supposedly dead, Dad is planning to rob the exhibit to prove he’s better than Sam. Who will come out on top? I have enjoyed this series in the past and it has been a long time since the last book. I was happy to see a new one in the series. Although this is part of a series it could be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Samantha finally gets to marry her British billionaire Richard. But lots of complications arise: her dad, the staff and the auction house's liasison. She has do everything to make sure that her personal life doesn't get ruined...

Love Sam and Richard together. They are fun and I love their chemistry. I like the heist too. A fun suspense/romance.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

"A Kiss in the Dark" is a fun blend of romance and suspense, perfect for a light-hearted book club pick. The story follows Samantha Jellicoe, a reformed cat burglar, as she navigates a high-stakes security job while trying to leave her criminal past behind. Her relationship with billionaire fiancé Richard Addison adds a romantic twist, while the plot’s twists and challenges keep the story engaging. The witty dialogue and intriguing characters make this a quick, enjoyable read, especially for fans of romantic thrillers.