I am always a huge lover of books that explore the complexities of grief (for the living and the dead) in any capacity and this did that very well through the connection to the painting. Castleman included these elements so well and we could see the character drive within that. The opening chapter that has the reader on edge from the first page was done so well and had me hooked right from the start. This novel really surprised me and I really enjoyed it

this was... alright. honestly, it took me a while to get invested in, but when i did, i started truly rooting for the main character (ella). she was definitely an unreliable narrator imo and one of the reasons why i couldn't fully connect with the book. i liked the sapphic/ace representation though!

overall, not a bad book, but in the end kinda weird. i don't know what else to say, really.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I struggled to stay engaged in the story. I found the writing to be quite amateur and in need of revision. Many details were unnecessary and distracted me from the main story. People who don't understand Northern English words or slang won't be able to read it. The vocabulary used throughout the book, is typical from that area, which is more complicated and limits the audience from the book.
The premise was good but the execution lacked in many ways.

An easy but clever read that I enjoyed a lot. When a thief steals a painting that belonged to Ella’s mother, Ella is determined to find the person who took it. However, as we watch her solve the mystery it becomes obvious that there’s something more complicated going on.

The novel felt like one big chess game, revealing one move at a time while working five moves ahead. Although you are left in the dark for quite a lot of the story, it is very satisfying to see everything fall into place and make sense towards the end. The mystery behind everything feels really natural too, not like it was just there for shock value.

One thing that was neglected though was the background of these characters. We are shown glimpses of their pasts and their relationships slowly, but there definitely could have been more development for these characters. The plot was satisfying though so it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment, it’s more just something I would have liked to see.

I would definitely recommend this for someone looking for an easy mystery book to read.

I would like to start off this review by thanking Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and Michele Castleman for allowing me to read this book, Stolen Hearts, via Netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

This book follows the main character, Ella, who is on a mission to retrieve a beloved piece of art, Her Heart, that was stolen from her father's office while she was home alone. It is important to her because it was her mother's favorite piece, and it is the one thing she had as a remaining connection to her mother. At 17, she hasn't seen her mother since she was eight years old. The piece was so important to Ella, in fact, that she fought the intruder. However, after the intruder cut Ella's face unintentionally with a ring she was wearing, the intruder was able to escape. After all this happened, readers find out that Ella's dad is the very successful, rich, and aloof owner of a security company. Embarrassed that his own security system couldn't stop the intruder, he refuses to report the art missing. With seemingly no one to help, Ella decides to get the painting back herself. Is she in over her head?

I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️. There were parts of the book I liked, but it took awhile for the book to take care off. Once it did, it kept me intrigued and guessing how it would all come together. While I felt most of it came together, I felt other aspects, particularly a side romance storyline, were rushed. I would recommend this book to readers who like a slow burn, but don't read it for the romance.

#brenbreathesbooks #BrenReviewsBooks #netgalleyreviewer #StolenHearts #ThreeStarReads #121 #ReadingChallenge #BookWorm #BookNerd #BookCommunity #bookstagramcommunity #MicheleCastleman #Mystery #Thriller #SlowBurn #Lgbtq #Bookish #Reader #Bookstagram #Romance

Ella is on her own when someone steals her mothers favourite painting.
She struggles with the theif but they get away.
She is upset but her father won't report the theft.
I am not sure what I really thought of this book. It wasn't what I expected from the description.
Just to say there are mentions of trauma. Also physical and domestic abuse.
I didn't like the book as it went on. I thought it would be a kind of cat and mouse but it wasn't really
It turned out not to be my thing.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

Like a game of chess this is a tale with a long end game plan. Ella a soon to be 18 year old on the hunt for not only answers but also objects that have been stolen from her home that were precious to her and her memories of her mother. There are many twists and turns as the story unfolds. Ella is quite hard to like as the narrator as she is closed off, full of rage and unfortunate trauma. There is a trigger warning prior to reading which I would advise do take note as referenced throughout. There is also Ace representation which at times could lead to some form of love triangle but more suggested than actual. She is on the hunt for a thief which leads to a lot more than she expected. I have to be honest it was an interesting read but personally felt it was very slow and at times felt like a chore to read. If you like a long drawn out hunt for answers, references to chess then this is most likely for you. Thank you to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this and provide an honest review in exchange.

Maybe it's the cover, but I was expecting more of a thriller-y type story, so I kind of set myself up to not like this one as much as I could have. I did still enjoy it though. I liked the twists and turns (for the most part) and I had fun following Ella as she basically puzzled out her entire life. I will say, this has one of my least favourite writing tropes- twists that have absolutely no foreshadowing. Some of these "shocking" twists and turns are literally only shocking because there is NO hint to them. Luckily, the most important reveals don't have this problem, so I did end up still finding the ending mostly satisfying.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stolen Hearts tells the story of Ella, a teenager who seems to have it all, though appearances can be deceiving. She embarks on a quest to recover a stolen painting from her home, with only a few days to uncover the thief and reclaim "her Heart."

While I felt the story had significant potential, the execution left me unconvinced. In an attempt to introduce twists and unexpected turns, the complete development of certain characters was neglected. For instance, Erica and Sunny had some intriguing backstories, but not enough detail was provided to give them real depth.

Overall, the plot was enjoyable, especially if you're into mysteries and family drama. It’s an interesting read, but I wouldn't revisit it, even though I did enjoy certain parts.

This story took me a little bit to get into, but I really liked it. There’s an emotional disconnect to the main character due to the writing style that I think is intentional given the trauma the poor girl has endured. (Trigger warning for child abuse) But I was really rooting for Ella.

I know nothing about chess, but I found it fascinating how much information she knew about not only the game but could recite famous chess matches move for move in her head. Ella approached life like one giant chess board and I’m glad she got her checkmate in the end.

There’s a hint of a love triangle going on in this book, and I’m happy with who Ella ended up dating in the end. They were so cute together and I’m hoping for many happy years for them! 😅

Ella must find who has stolen her heart. Without embarrassing her families name. This mystery read was really enjoyable. I liked the secrecy and the family secrets element. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this gem.

"When I rounded the corner to the dining room, all thoughts ceased. There, sitting alone at Father’s table as if waiting for Thanksgiving dinner, her hair recently cut and styled to look just like mine, sat the thief. She gazed at me, a wicked grin bleeding across her face."

When her mother's precious 'Portrait of Her Heart' painting got stolen, Ella, all the more vexed at her father's dismissive and nonchalant behaviour, determinedly took upon herself to catch the art thief. Soon she'll discover the truth behind her mother's mysterious disappearance and involvement.


⚠️Triggers⚠️
includes some references to off-page physical abuse and on-page mentions related to domestic abuse and violence


I just want to highlight that it's cute that the author included her cats in her acknowledgements and dedication page. 😻
This wasn't what I expected. This is more of a light slow burn 'who-done-it' YA mystery thriller with a little bit of romance thrown in. The MC is written as a rich teenager with a strong, calculative and manipulative streak. A pro chess player, she doesn't care if she also uses people as real life chess pieces ♟️ to get her way. She is born to a rich family with a controlling father and a mother she has lost contact with for nine years. As a result of a broken family, she has grown detached, untrusting, always questioning people's motives for being nice, kind and helpful. As the story progresses though, it is hard not to empathize with her as she discovers the painful and shocking truth about both her parents.
📖 If you:
✔️ like Heist-related mystery suspense/thriller
✔️Like added trivias about famous paintings
✔️are a fan of chess ♟️♟️♟️
✔️Just one POV / strong female character

3.5 ✨

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the arc 🖤

I want to first thank Bold Stroke Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read Stolen Hearts by Michele Castleman, in exchange for my honest and true review. First off, this book was not what I thought it was going to be when I started it. It is tagged as a romance, while there is a romance there, it is not a romance story. The story follows Ella, whose father is the head/owner of a prestigious security firm. While Ella is home alone, a thief breaks in and steals a painting that is irreplaceable. Ella's father won't report the theft or look for the painting so Ella takes it upon herself to find the stolen painting. Ella is a Chess prodigy and the entire book is a giant game of chess.

The book is full of multiple misdirections, some we didn't have a clue about until it was finally revealed. Expect to have questions throughout the entire book. It all does come together at the end, albeit not exactly how I thought it was. I gave this book a strong 3.5 stars.

Stolen Hearts by Michele Castleman is a heartwarming romance that captures the magic of unexpected love. The story follows two characters as they navigate their personal struggles and find solace in each other, creating a compelling emotional connection. Castleman's writing is engaging and descriptive, bringing the characters and their journey to life. With its blend of tenderness and passion, this novel is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys heartfelt romantic tales.

*Stolen Hearts* by Michelle Castleman is a gripping young adult thriller that weaves together mystery, family secrets, and the quest for identity. Seventeen-year-old Ella Gatz is left to fend for herself when a thief breaks into her family’s mansion on Halloween night and steals her mother’s cherished painting, *Her Heart*. The loss of this artwork represents not just a theft but a painful reminder of her mother, leaving Ella determined to reclaim what is rightfully hers.

Castleman effectively portrays Ella's fierce resolve as she embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the identity of the thief, guided only by the clue of a distinctive pink-and-blond hair. As she delves deeper into the mystery, Ella uncovers shocking family secrets that threaten not only her father's reputation but also their financial stability. The tension builds as she navigates a dangerous game of wits, forcing her to confront the complexities of her family's past and her own sense of self.

With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, *Stolen Hearts* captures the emotional turmoil of adolescence while delivering a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Castleman crafts a compelling tale of loss, determination, and the strength it takes to reclaim one’s identity amidst chaos.

The quick cut: A girl ends up in a game of wits with the thief who stole a painting from her father's house.

A real review:
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing the arc for an honest review.

Some possessions are more prone to being stolen than others, like art. What would you do if someone stole something of yours? For Ella, it's just about anything when a thief comes in and steals a favorite painting of her mom's.

Ella has spent her life in the privileged cage that her father has made for her. With no real friends and her every move being watched, she rarely does anything other than play chess or hang out at home alone. All that is thrown off when someone breaks in and steals the painting named "Her Heart" - her mom's favorite. Will she find the thief and get it back?

The premise to this book is very intriguing and from the description, I thought it would be more cat and mouse games with the thief. While it sort of started that way, it was anything but by the end. It got real messy by the final page in a confusing way.

Ella is presented as a lonely girl, but she's definitely not what she appears to be. She lies about who she is and why her life is the way it is. I found myself actively hating her by the end. You don't like your life? Then take responsibility for it. Having an abusive parent doesn't absolve you from your decisions.

There's a fine line between a twisty story and an overly complicated one. This one definitely went deep into too complicated territory and the main character thinking so highly of herself didn't help.

An overly complex thriller that fails to create a thrill for the reader.

My rating: 3 out of 5

Stolen Hearts follows Ella Gatz as she tries to unravel the mystery of an art theft in her home while her family secrets unravel around her.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. At no point did I know what was going to happen next, but I thought it was cool that we were essentially following Ella trying to attack life like a giant chess game. I also love when books have chapter titles!

The characters were all a little unreliable, which added to the intrigue, but I felt like it took away from my attachment to any of them. The plot was a little slow at times, but the mysteries kept me interested.

This was an interesting book that wasn’t exactly what I expected. Definitely note that this one should have trigger warnings for child abuse. The narrator was hard to connect with although I did have a lot of empathy for her. Ella lives with her rich, powerful, and abusive father. She hasn’t seen her mother in years. One Halloween the security team is away when a thief breaks in and steals a painting that was valuable to her mother, almost all she has left, and despite a quick tussle the thief escapes and her father refuses to report it or follow up. Ella has plans in motion and is counting down until her final play, treating life like a giant chess match. The writing style was interesting as was the story overall. It was definitely one that will be sticking with me and made me think.

<i>digital ARC was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc.</i>

So, I found it funny that after I finished Icarus, a story about a thief, I came across a story about someone whose possession was stolen. It kinda the opposite, but sadly, this one's a confusing one to read and review.

Ella had an altercation with a thief who stole her mother's beloved art. Said mother was 'away' in a facility because she tried to hurt Ella the same way she hurt themselves, and now Ella lives with her abusive dad. Rich, but abusive. And now, Ella swore to get the art back.

Why? I asked. Oh, because Ella missed her mom.
Why? She has little memory of her mom, and even then it was muddled with her dad's story on how deranged her mom was and all.
Anyway, that's just one thing I couldn't get from the story. The motivation, for everything.

The blurb and synopsis made me think that I would get a cat-and-mouse chase with strategies from Ella and the thief, and for a while there was; but then, to me at least, it took a weird turn and ended up where the story ends. Not necessarily bad, but just... weird. Maybe the marketer need a better proofread for the synopsis?

Apart from the art thingy, which frankly, didn't interest me, Ella had to deal with her dad, security, school situation-stuffs that couldn't even help me to understand Ella. She was resourceful and smart and at least for an almost 18 year old, she was mature enough (but not enough).

In the end, I didn't really know where the book kinda went and just read along. Writing's not bad, often I felt Ella's anger (as a girl myself), and there's that. Could be repackaged (thus, edited more) as a YA thriller, might be more interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Book, Inc. for the ARC

Stolen Hearts is a unique YA mystery. Is dark and explore psyche and emotional trauma. The trauma part was tackled really good, which I highly appreciated. In addition it had both asexual and sapphic representation, another plus in the book for me. The book was really interesting and fast paced. I'd love to see more from the author. A book I really recommend for the spooky season.