The Kiss Thief

E-arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING! I LOVED IT SO MUCH!
Okay, now that you know how I feel about it I'm gonna try to break it down for you.

THAT COVER! Does it not give you Cruel Prince vibes? Because it does to me!

One kiss.
Two men.
Three lives.
Entwined together.

And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever.

Do you really need to know more?
The book was quite fast-paced and I loved the multiple point of views in the book.
This is stand-alone and so it's packed with goodies! I loved it from the very first line until the end.
MUST READ PEOPLE!

Wolfe, Senator Keaton to be precise, doesn't realize he'll have his hands full when he decides he'll marry Francesca Rossi. Well, maybe not decides. More like coerce.


I'm normally not a fan of enemy to lover stories, but the title was intriguing and wow, was I blown away. The book made me upset, it made me want to curse, and then it made me smile and cry. Shen did an excellent job with character development and the climatic points in the plot. And just when you think it's over, not!

Take a chance on the book. I promise it will be worth your time.

(I have a feeling that this might not be a popular opinion and that's okay because different strokes for different folks - ya dig? So don't come for me... Or do. Whatever...) Now that I've set myself up (ha!), I did enjoy The Kiss Thief. It took me a while to get into it and I figured out why as soon as I got to my first Wolfe chapter - apparently, I do not care for Francesca (the female lead). She grew on me a bit as the book went on, and I understand where the author was coming from with her characterization, but I just could not vibe with her. In the long run, that's one of the things that kept me reading the book - I could not put it down because I just had to see what this girl was going to do next! There were literally times when I exclaimed expletives over some of the moves she made. Now Wolfe, the epitome of the alpha jerk that I've come to love and expect from LJ Shen's male characters, him I liked. Immediately you could tell that there was so much more swimming under the surface of his douchiness and I was so here for it. I found myself wanting to speed through the other chapters to get to his (the book is told in alternating first person POV). I found his character, background, and arc to be truly compelling. He sort of saved the book for me. So I'm left with mixed feelings: the story/plot was interesting and entertaining, and I truly liked Wolfe, but Francesca left me feeling sort of meh. Where I find all of the other LJ Shen books that I've read highly reread worthy, I'm not quite sure The Kiss Thief falls in that same category for me. I may give it another shot to see whether my opinion changes if I'm in another head space, but as it stands, I can't see this as a book that I go back to repeatedly. Since that is not the only marker of a great book (imo) and I truly did find the book entertaining and unputdownable, I feel comfortable giving it 3.75/4 out of 5 stars. I'll still read and buy whatever the author blesses us with and can't wait to see what she does with Sinners of Saint: Gen 2 in her upcoming All Saints High Series!

An ARC was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

This book is completely enchanting! I was utterly blown away from the very first page. Not to judge a book by its cover, but what's inside is every bit as beautiful as the cover. The flowery language that the author uses to describe the characters give you the butterflies and keep you swooning on every page.

It's told from two POV's and it's a enemies to lovers romance, which I'm an absolute sucker for. I loved Francesca and Wolfe's chemistry. The enemies to lovers trope is one that I will never get tired of and L.J. Shen writes it so perfectly.

There were times that Wolfe pulls a few dick moves but the chemistry that he and Francesca have and how immersed I was in the storyline says something. If you're a fan of romance, this should be on your bookshelf for sure!

The writing was stunning and the story blew me away. This is my first book by L.J. Shen but I will definitely be on the lookout for her books in the future!

Where to begin? I loved this book! The plot is what drew me in. Super vague, and very enticing. From the first chapter I was hooked! Francesca was a strong character that made me feel all of her emotions. Wolfe was someone you loved to hate. It was a roller coaster through the whole book, but it was worth it! L. J. Shen is now added to my list of authors to follow!

4.5 stars

I was a little unsure going into this read whether I’d like it. However, the premise for this book of an arranged marriage and the cover won me over into giving it a try.

LJ Shen likes to write about mobsters some of the time. I have to be honest that this isn’t my favourite context for a story, however in this read, it is not constantly in the fore. LJ Shen always writes jerks and Wolfe was a jerk-a-thon to read but he didn’t irritate me (much). I liked that he was supposedly a straight guy, not a criminal. The heroine, Francesca was young and naive but she was strong-willed and I really came to like her a lot. She made some stupid decisions that irritated me but I lived with it.

The story was unpredictable in some ways and I really liked not knowing the direction. Most of all I enjoyed the begrudging connection between these two. The emotional connection is slow burning which is my favourite kind. Their chemistry and heat was sometimes uncomfortable at first but became rather lovely.

Definitely give this book a try, if like me, you’re unsure.. I hope you enjoy this angsty ride.

If there was a ten star option this book would get it. This will most likely be one of the best books I read in 2019. This book was amazing. It had everything and so real that I read it cover to cover in 4 hours. I couldn't put it down. Wolfe and his Nem, was a crazy match.

I really thought especially with Angelo in the picture that things would go differently. In true LJ fashion her H is definitely a bit dark and brooding. He flies off the handle and is a total alpha. This book had a great story line, tons of drama, tons of steaminess and a ton of alphaness. Plus I laughed out loud about 20 times- especially with the engagement stories! I would totally recommended this book!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I imagined this book would be a bit more dark but to me it wasn't. Very fast read and wonderful characters. I highly recommend this book.

The Kiss Thief is my first lJ Shen read, I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this author. Definitely did not disappoint. I love it so much.

It has been a while since I have read a book that I couldn't put down. This book had you guessing where the story was going after every word you read. I loved following the love, the dislike, and the thoughts behind every move the characters made. This book will make you sit back and just say wow. I don't want to go into details about the book because you just have to read it to experience it.

This book killed me. I have ALLLLLL the feels right now. I stayed up until 5:30 this morning to read it, and I haven’t done that in YEARS!

It reminded me so much of one of those epic, sweeping romances that used to be popular in the 90s, but with its own unique tone. I loved the characters, and damn, LJ Shen can write an anti-hero like no other.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. SO SO SO good.

5 <b> I was born into a gilded cage </b> Stars
As with all books I went into this completely blind and I found me a yummy mafia book how delicious. This book starts off with Francesca ( Frankie or Rossie ) at a gala where the theme is greek hero/heroines and she shows up as Nemesis. Wolfe Keaton sees her, steals her first kiss and her entire life. This is a very well written enemies to lovers story for me and I didn’t mind the age gap either ( she is 19 and I believe is is 32). There were so many fantastic elements added in here. There was a good love triangle, a bit of Stockholm, revenge, hate fucking, conniving plot twists, and a really good medium burn love story. This story is angry, happy, sad and perfect and every combination in between. I have read two back to back L.J. Shen books and its official.. she is a new favorite author for me. My book is literally scattered with highlights of how good this was!

<b> “Pretty lies and devastating truths.”
<i>“you’re worth more than the sums of your mistakes.”</i>
“My wings are not meant to fly,” I whispered. “They’re meant to shield our family.”
<i>“The only person I needed was me.”</i>

"The Kiss Thief" is a page-turner with the kind of characters you love to hate and hate to love. I wanted Francesca to triumph despite my rational brain protesting her naïveté and I wished for Wolfe to find happiness despite cringing at his cruelty. I read to escape reality, so when an author can make me go along with the fantasy, I root for them all they way to the end. Fans of "Vicious" will like this one as well.

Thank you to NetGalley the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is definitely a read again book. L.J. Shen writes the most compelling books, the characters grab hold of you and stay well after the book is finished.

Francesca Rossi knew she was going to eventually marry Angelo Bandini, she has loved him for so long and he certainly doesn't treat her like a little sister, hinting at how their life will be entwined very soon.

Wolfe Keaton was a powerful man, a Senator no less. And as he decides to clean up his city, he finds a particularly beautiful young lady, youngest child of one of the powerful men in The Outfit, and to him an excellent bargaining chip.

Francesca has lived a very sheltered life, she has grown up with the belief that she will marry the one she loves and a beautiful wooden chest has evidence inside of how her life will play out, starting with the first note telling her that on this night she was going to be kissed by the lover of her life.

The Masquerade Mask that Angelo wears is gold and black and when he appears on the patio the relief Francesca feels is wonderful. Her first kiss with the man she loves and is going to marry is a breath away, or so she thinks.

Yes the kiss was everything she could have imagined, however never had she imagined that it was not a given kiss but a taken one. Wolfe Keaton stole her first kiss and her love Angelo Bandini witnessed it.

This book is on the slightly darker side and if this is your genre of books, then you will love it. For me a straight read through, keeping me entertained from the first page to the last.

Thanks to NetGalley and L.J. Shen for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Like a dark, sexy and emotionally-charged Beauty and The Beast, The Kiss Thief will have you hooked with it’s intriguing characters and addictive storyline. Themes of family, vengeance, deception and power are explored and in amongst the rawness and grittiness there is also romance, passion and beauty.

The Kiss Thief is intense and riddled with angst and the chemistry between the two main characters is electrifying. Francesca appears to be a beautiful, sweet, delicate and naive girl sheltered by her family but underneath this she possesses resilience, spirit and strength that takes everyone by surprise. I loved Francesca’s romantic heart, which was a great foil for the powerful Wolfe, a complex character that you will love to hate. I enjoyed getting an insight into his motivations, discovering the vulnerability underlying his hardened personality and watching him transform and redeem himself throughout the book. The subject matters of arranged marriages and the age gap between Francesca and Wolfe might not be everyone’s cup of tea but Francesca’s intelligence and ability to hold her own are a relief and the love that blossoms seem believable.

Overall I found The Kiss Thief to be a captivating story and I rated it 4.5 stars. This was my first L.J. Shen read and I have gone on to read more of her, she has become one of my favourite erotic romance authors with her complex and often broken characters and her compelling and gritty storylines.

Francesca and Wolfe come from two different worlds.
They meet.
He wants her.
He gets her.
He wants to ruin her father.

I really enjoyed this one! I would have preferred him not to sleep with random women when mad at his wife, but I guess that was just his character. I hated how easily she forgave him.

This is a standalone story about a Senator and a mobster's daughter.

This author is rather hit or miss for me -- but this was a hit. The characters are well developed and the reader gets closure with all of them. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

Really loved this book! It was heartbreaking in so many ways but by the end there is a sense of triumph. Another great read from L.J. Shen!

This was a really fun and fast read! It reminded me of Beauty and the Beast mixed with The Hating Game mixed with The Selection. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives within the book to allow the reader to get more insight into Francesca and Wolfe. I enjoyed watching Francesca's and Wofle's love develop and liked that they took time to get to know each other at the end. I also really enjoyed the flash forwards to show more of their life and future together. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary romance!

Thank to netgalley and the author/publisher for the Arc for my honest review.

LJ Shen is such an amazing author. I’ve adored every book I’ve read by her, and this is so different. Such an easy, enjoyable read.

3 Stars - I might recommend if you enjoy books categorized as "dark romance".

This had the over-the-top vibe that I was looking for at the time. I loved the mob + politics + high society romance element. At first it was a blast to read, but I did have some issues with the male character and of their relationship in general. There were definitely some things that were possibly considered "dark romance" i.e. they were kinda problematic for me.... but I was still rooting for the characters. I think if it hadn't been SO "dark" I would have liked it more. Dark romance isn't really my thing. It's not a healthy situation. A lot of manipulation and dangerous miscommunication going on. Aside from the problematic stuff, the plot is entertaining. A mob boss is being blackmailed by a senator, so he marries his daughter off to him to meet his demands. Love/hate relationship ensues. Mixture of high society lifestyle, politics, and mob life was interesting and made for an interesting setting. In the end I was still rooting for the characters and enjoying the setting. Just a little less dark and I would have quite liked it.

***6 "Nemesis & Villain!!!" stars for me!!!***

“A Story of a Nemesis and a Villain with no chance at a happy ending.
Where the prince doesn't save the princess.
He tortures her.
And the beauty doesn't sleep.
She's stuck.
In a nightmare. ”

L.J. Shen + mobster + rearranged marriage??? My absolute dream!!!
Honestly guys, i'm seriously in love with this woman and her writing!!! She never disappoints me in everything she writes...
I'm mesmerized by her stories and their heroes... from the plot of each book!!!
But here there was a huge plus for me since I'm a big sucker for mafia books with rearranged marriages!!! Honestly, i don't know why!!! Maybe because I'm in love with the prospective that the heroes will fall in love eventually!!!!

“Your love story was no fairy tale. More like a witch tale. Wicked and real and painful.”

Well in here, our heroine, Francesca, or Nem as our hero was calling her (short of Nemesis, if you're wondering) was a mafia princess who has been raised as a woman of her class should be...
She was pampered and she was living in a golden cage....
Her only dream was love and her only satisfaction was that she was about to get enganged with her childhood sweetheart, Angelo Bandini.
But everything changed when a devil in mask had stolen her first kiss which was supposed to be Angelo's...
And then, he had stole her life!!!

"You stole my first kiss. Then my happiness. And finally, my life."

Wolfe Keaton, already a Senator at his thirty, is a cold hearted and ruthless bastard...
He is seeking revenge from the man that had stolen everything from him in the past, but then Francesca Rossi is getting in the way and he is changing his plans when he is forcing his enemy to give him his most precious thing, his daughter...
But now, he had stuck with a young pampered and idiotic woman whom may desire her body, but to whom he can give nothing more than physical connection...

“Maybe I am the monster. After all, I come out to play at night. But so do you, little one. You’re out in the darkness, too.”

So what will happen with those two when they are bickering all the damn time, but at the same time, they desire each other???
Will love be an option for them when Frankie is still in love with Angelo and Wolfe doesn't want anything to do with this emotion???
There is a chance for this marriage to not break apart???

"Jesus. What was wrong with my body? I loathed him. But I also craved him.. Terribly."

"No matter how I tried to spin it, my relationship with Wolfe Keaton was doomed."

To be true to you, in the beginning, i was longing for Frankie to be with Angelo...
Love conquers everything and all that jazz...
But very quickly in the book, i became a Wolfe's team and my heart was pounding wildly inside my chest in every encounter between those two... The anticipation was too big and felt too real...
They were both very strong and powerful characters and i fell in love with them...

“No love is fully requited. No love is equal. No love is fair. There is always one side that loves more. And you better not be that side—because it suffers.”{Wolfe}

"Break. Crack. Feel me. Accept me." {Frankie}

Frankie was a spitfire and i was overjoyed by her antics!!! She was wearing her emotions on her sleeve and i love how long she went from the beginning to the end...
Wolfe was a ruthless man with no emotions on display and i was enjoying the way that Frankie was wearing him down...
Those two were catching fire everytime that they got closer, but the bad blood between them was too much...
Will they have a chance to win each other over???

"You need to weather the storm, my dear. I think you'll find,... that you two are so explosive together because you finally met your challenges in one another."
"I don't think anything can scare Senator Keaton."
"Oh, you'd be surprised. I think you'd give him a healthy dose of things to worry about. He did not expect you to be so... you."
......
"Love him. He will be defenseless against your love."

God, I LOVE L.J.'s stories and i LOVED this one too!!!
I'm like a madman until her next book get released every single time and i can't wait to start reading her wonderful, crazy stories...
Wolfe and Frankie will stay with me for ever, as the rest of her heroes do!!!

***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***

Absolutely loved this book. It's hooked me from the first page until the last. I never wanted it to end. This book is now one of my all time favorite books and completely different than any book I've ever read. Seriously couldn't put it down until I finished. I wish there was more to this story because I loved these two so much.

The Kiss Thief is the first L.J. Shen book that I have read, but definitely won't be my last. I had heard a lot of buzz about this book, so I was happy to finally get the opportunity to read it.

This story was well developed and crafted in such a way that you were constantly unveiling layers and there were surprises lurking behind every turn. You had a nemesis and a villain going head to head and you never knew who was going to end up having the upper hand because just when you thought you knew, something else would be brought to light.

Wolfe Keaton is one of those heroes you love to hate. He's alpha to the core, he's cunning, intelligent, calculated and ruthless. He's the type of man that makes other men scared and makes women weak in the knees. He doesn't like to show emotion an he always wants to be in control. That is the one thing he doesn't ever want to lose.

Francesca Rossi is a strong woman regardless of her upbringing. While certain things were expected of her, there was a lot more to the woman than anyone could have ever imagined. She thinks things in her life are destined to go one way, but one never knows what life will throw your way and that was the case for Francesca.

There were times in this book I wanted to throw it and pull my hair out and then there were times that I wanted to melt into a puddle of goo. You truly felt all the emotions while reading this book. I don't dare give away the story, that's something you need to experience all for yourself. You won't be sorry you did.