THE KISS THIEF BY L.J. SHEN
Release Date: January 9th
Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser at RBA Designs.
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Blurb
They say your first kiss should be earned. Mine was stolen by a devil in a masquerade mask under the black Chicago sky. They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred. Mine were broken before we left church. They say your heart only beats for one man. Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end. I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit. Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage. They say that all great love stories have a happy ending. I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter. One kiss. Two men. Three lives. Entwined together. And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever.
Excerpt
“Are you sure you’re on my card?” I turned to the man with a polite yet distant smile. I was still disoriented from the exchange with Angelo when the stranger pulled me against his hard body and pressed a possessive hand lower than socially acceptable on my back, a second from groping my butt. “Answer me,” I hissed. “My bid on your card was the highest,” he replied dryly. “The bids are undisclosed. You don’t know how much other people have paid,” I kept my lips pursed to keep myself from yelling. “I know it’s nowhere near the realm of what this dance is worth.” Un-freaking-believable. We began to waltz around the room as other couples were not only spinning and mingling but also stealing envious glances at us. Naked, raw ogles that told me that whomever the blonde he’d come to the masquerade with was, she wasn’t his wife. And that I might have been all the rage in The Outfit, but the rude man was in high demand, too. I was stiff and cold in his arms, but he didn’t seem to notice—or mind. He knew how to waltz better than most men, but he was technical, and lacked warmth and Angelo’s playfulness. “Nemesis.” He took me by surprise, his rapacious gaze stripping me bare. “Distributing glee and dealing misery. Seems at odds with the submissive girl who entertained Bishop and his horsey wife at the table.” I choked on my own saliva. Did he just call the governor’s wife horsey? And me submissive? I looked away, ignoring the addictive scent of his cologne, and the way his marble body felt against mine. “Nemesis is my spirit animal. She was the one to lure Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection and died of vanity. Pride is a terrible illness.” I flashed him a taunting smirk. “Some of us could use catching it.” He bared his straight white teeth. “Arrogance is a disease. Compassion is the cure. Most gods didn’t like Nemesis, but that’s because she had a backbone.” “Do you?” He arched a dark eyebrow. “Do I…?” I blinked, the courteous grin on my face crumpling. He was even ruder when we were alone. “Have a backbone,” he provided. He stared at me so boldly and intimately, it felt like he breathed fire into my soul. I wanted to step out of his touch and jump into a pool full of ice. “Of course, I do,” I responded, my spine stiffening. “What’s with the manners? Were you raised by wild coyotes?” “Give me an example,” he said, ignoring my quip. I was beginning to draw away from him, but he jerked me back into his arms. The glitzy ballroom distorted into a backdrop, and even though I was starting to notice that the man behind the demi-mask was unusually beautiful, the ugliness of his behavior was the only thing that stood out. I am a warrior and a lady…and a sane person who can deal with this horrid man. “I really like Angelo Bandini.” I dropped my voice, slicing my gaze from his eyes and toward the table where Angelo’s family had been seated. My father was sitting a few seats away, staring at us coldly, surrounded by Made Men who chatted away. “And see, in my family, we have a tradition dating back ten generations. Prior to her wedding, a Rossi bride is to open a wooden chest—carved and made by a witch who lived in my ancestors’ Italian village—and read three notes written to her by the last Rossi girl to marry. It’s kind of a good luck charm mixed with a talisman and a bit of fortunetelling. I stole the chest tonight and opened one of the notes, all so I could rush fate. It said that tonight I was going to be kissed by the love of my life, and well…” I drew my lower lip into my mouth and sucked it, peering under my eyelashes at Angelo’s empty seat. The man stared at me stoically, as though I was a foreign film he couldn’t understand. “I’m going to kiss him tonight.” “That’s your backbone?” “When I have an ambition, I go for it.”
“Are you sure you’re on my card?” I turned to the man with a polite yet distant smile. I was still disoriented from the exchange with Angelo when the stranger pulled me against his hard body and pressed a possessive hand lower than socially acceptable on my back, a second from groping my butt. “Answer me,” I hissed. “My bid on your card was the highest,” he replied dryly. “The bids are undisclosed. You don’t know how much other people have paid,” I kept my lips pursed to keep myself from yelling. “I know it’s nowhere near the realm of what this dance is worth.” Un-freaking-believable. We began to waltz around the room as other couples were not only spinning and mingling but also stealing envious glances at us. Naked, raw ogles that told me that whomever the blonde he’d come to the masquerade with was, she wasn’t his wife. And that I might have been all the rage in The Outfit, but the rude man was in high demand, too. I was stiff and cold in his arms, but he didn’t seem to notice—or mind. He knew how to waltz better than most men, but he was technical, and lacked warmth and Angelo’s playfulness. “Nemesis.” He took me by surprise, his rapacious gaze stripping me bare. “Distributing glee and dealing misery. Seems at odds with the submissive girl who entertained Bishop and his horsey wife at the table.” I choked on my own saliva. Did he just call the governor’s wife horsey? And me submissive? I looked away, ignoring the addictive scent of his cologne, and the way his marble body felt against mine. “Nemesis is my spirit animal. She was the one to lure Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection and died of vanity. Pride is a terrible illness.” I flashed him a taunting smirk. “Some of us could use catching it.” He bared his straight white teeth. “Arrogance is a disease. Compassion is the cure. Most gods didn’t like Nemesis, but that’s because she had a backbone.” “Do you?” He arched a dark eyebrow. “Do I…?” I blinked, the courteous grin on my face crumpling. He was even ruder when we were alone. “Have a backbone,” he provided. He stared at me so boldly and intimately, it felt like he breathed fire into my soul. I wanted to step out of his touch and jump into a pool full of ice. “Of course, I do,” I responded, my spine stiffening. “What’s with the manners? Were you raised by wild coyotes?” “Give me an example,” he said, ignoring my quip. I was beginning to draw away from him, but he jerked me back into his arms. The glitzy ballroom distorted into a backdrop, and even though I was starting to notice that the man behind the demi-mask was unusually beautiful, the ugliness of his behavior was the only thing that stood out. I am a warrior and a lady…and a sane person who can deal with this horrid man. “I really like Angelo Bandini.” I dropped my voice, slicing my gaze from his eyes and toward the table where Angelo’s family had been seated. My father was sitting a few seats away, staring at us coldly, surrounded by Made Men who chatted away. “And see, in my family, we have a tradition dating back ten generations. Prior to her wedding, a Rossi bride is to open a wooden chest—carved and made by a witch who lived in my ancestors’ Italian village—and read three notes written to her by the last Rossi girl to marry. It’s kind of a good luck charm mixed with a talisman and a bit of fortunetelling. I stole the chest tonight and opened one of the notes, all so I could rush fate. It said that tonight I was going to be kissed by the love of my life, and well…” I drew my lower lip into my mouth and sucked it, peering under my eyelashes at Angelo’s empty seat. The man stared at me stoically, as though I was a foreign film he couldn’t understand. “I’m going to kiss him tonight.” “That’s your backbone?” “When I have an ambition, I go for it.”
A conceited frown crinkled his mask, as if to say I was a complete and utter moron. I looked him straight in the eye. My father taught me that the best way to deal with men like him was to confront, not run. Because, this man? He’d chase.
Review
You know that feeling when you look across the room and make eye contact with the most attractive man in the room? Yeah, me neither. 😂😂😂😂😂Let’s be real here, we’re not all fortunate enough to experience moments worthy of a romance novel in real life, but I totally got a taste of what that feels like when Francesca Rossi looked across the table and made eye contact with the man who shall not be named. At least not in my review. I hate spoilers so I promise you that this review is absolutely spoiler free. 😉
The first time Francesca and our swoony alpha hero made eye contact, I just felt the hate rolling off the man in waves and I was a goner. What can I say? I have a soft spot for alpha A-holes. Sue me. 😂
If you already know who the alpha hero is in The Kiss Thief, cool. But let’s keep it tight-lipped for those who are avoiding spoilers like I was. I literally dodged the blurb and all teasers like the plague. Okay, maybe not literally. It’s not like they were coming at me like bullets, but I proactively dodged everything and I mean EVERYTHING. I did not want to know absolutely anything before I dived into The Kiss Thief. Why go to so much trouble? Well, I wanted to go in completely blind and I’m talking like Birdbox status. Nothing and I mean NOTHING got me to lift that dang blindfold from my eyes.
I stayed strong until the very end and made it into The Kiss Thief without any knowledge other than there are two male suitors and there is an arranged marriage. That was all I knew and I’m pretty proud of myself for resisting all the gorgeous teasers floating around leading up to the release of The Kiss Thief. *pats myself on the back*
Let me just say, avoiding anything and everything regarding The Kiss Thief was not easy but it was absolutely worth it. But don’t worry, if you couldn’t resist the blurb and all the gorgeous teasers. You will still enjoy reading The Kiss Thief no matter what. That I have no doubt about. The story is freaking amazing whether you know nothing, very little or a lot going into it. That I know for a fact.
I personally decided to go in blind because I’ve already read a few of L.J. Shen’s books and have FLOVED everything I have read from her. I have absolute trust in her writing and know that no matter what she writes, I’m gonna love it. She’s just that much of an amazing writer and I love everything that comes out of her brilliant mind. Seriously, this woman knows how to create some of the most captivating stories that will have your heart feeling like it’s going to rip out of your chest. And her alpha heroes, don’t even get me started on them. If anyone knows how to command a room with just their eyes, it’s Shen’s alpha heroes. Just one look at them and you're a goner. They’re that irresistible. 😉
Shen truly has a way about her when it comes to creating characters we all love to hate but can’t help but love so fiercely. And love fiercely is exactly what I did when I met the alpha hero in The Kiss Thief. He wasn’t just a hero though. He was a hero and a villain interwoven into one man. A man I could not get enough of. *swoons* He took my breath away and left me reeling in the best way, just like his and Francesca’s love story, which was anything but perfect, but I loved it just the same.
Their love story was no fairytale and together, they created one of the messiest love stories of all, but love isn't perfect and sometimes just sometimes, there's something beautiful in the chaos, and together they found that. It was not an easy road for either of them. And their story is without a doubt one of the most heart-wrenching stories I have ever read and I do mean ever. But the heartache and the rollercoaster of emotions I road while reading their story was worth it.
My heart. It endured so much while reading The Kiss Thief. It was broken, sewed back together to be broken and then repaired all over again. I'm pretty sure it broke way more times than that throughout the course of me reading The Kiss Thief but it was so worth all the agonizing heartache. This beautiful story made me mad, happy, sad, angry and it shocked me to the core. It was truly an emotional rollercoaster through and through, and it was one ride I did not want to get off of. Sadly, all stories must come to an end and that includes Francesca’s and nothing and I mean nothing could have prepared me for that ending. It was perfectly imperfect and I loved it down to the very last word.
Thank you so much, L.J. Shen for writing this story! I’m so thankful you took a chance on Francesca and that you rediscovered your love of writing through the process of writing her story that is the epitome of a beautiful disaster. You have stolen my heart with this heartbreakingly beautiful story and honestly, I don’t ever want it back. My heart belongs to Francesca and the man who will still not be named. 😉
My heart is still in shambles after reading this beautifully imperfect love story but slowly but surely I will recover from all these feels that are still hitting me days after finishing The Kiss Thief. This story is one that will without a doubt stay with me forever and one I will gladly read over and over again. It’s that freaking amazing and I have no doubt The Kiss Thief is going to end up in my top ten reads of 2019! So do yourself a favor and pick up your very own copy of The Kiss Thief today and read it. You won’t regret it. I promise!
I give The Kiss Thief 5 shining stars and bow down to L.J. Shen for creating this masterpiece. *bows*
About the Author
L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.
Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets peoples’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.
She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.
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