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emjm's review against another edition
3.0
Do you know what happens when you have a story about an FBI agent in the White Collar Crime Division (more specifically, art crimes) and a generationally wealthy southern gentleman who happens to look like Lucius Malfoy and have needlessly sticky fingers when it comes to priceless works of art?
You have a pretty solid winner, if a bit niche, story on your hands. It evoked memories of one of my favorite shows, White Collar, which then evoked images of Matt Bomer, which is always nice. Ironically, Matt's character was both a perpetrator of art crime AND a shill for the FBI, but I feel like this author must have drawn inspiration from that when they created these two characters.
All in all, this was so enjoyable and made me thankful to live in a world where there are thousands a books out in the ether about super-specific people and plots that scratch weird itches in our brains.
You have a pretty solid winner, if a bit niche, story on your hands. It evoked memories of one of my favorite shows, White Collar, which then evoked images of Matt Bomer, which is always nice. Ironically, Matt's character was both a perpetrator of art crime AND a shill for the FBI, but I feel like this author must have drawn inspiration from that when they created these two characters.
All in all, this was so enjoyable and made me thankful to live in a world where there are thousands a books out in the ether about super-specific people and plots that scratch weird itches in our brains.
mollygraceful's review against another edition
3.0
this was a nice romantic read. the premise was funny and it was a lovely slice of life.
kaity_b's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Kirt Graves AND Iggy Toma narrating, uhh yes please!
This book is on Kindle unlimited and if you have whisper sync its only $1.99! soo obviously I had to get it!
I really enjoyed this book more than i thought i would seeing as it is rated lower than what i tend to gravitate towards (anything less than an average of 4 stars is what i question on getting, snobby, maybe but i don't want to waste my time on reading something that is poorly reviewed).
I am glad i gave this book a chance, Vaughn while he could be stuck up with his wealth was sweet and charming towards Will and how they interacted together was great. The banter they had was perfect, made me laugh out loud a few times.
I would recommend giving this book a change if you are on the fence, but to really enjoy it get the audiobook because those two guys are perfect!
Kirt Graves AND Iggy Toma narrating, uhh yes please!
This book is on Kindle unlimited and if you have whisper sync its only $1.99! soo obviously I had to get it!
I really enjoyed this book more than i thought i would seeing as it is rated lower than what i tend to gravitate towards (anything less than an average of 4 stars is what i question on getting, snobby, maybe but i don't want to waste my time on reading something that is poorly reviewed).
I am glad i gave this book a chance, Vaughn while he could be stuck up with his wealth was sweet and charming towards Will and how they interacted together was great. The banter they had was perfect, made me laugh out loud a few times.
I would recommend giving this book a change if you are on the fence, but to really enjoy it get the audiobook because those two guys are perfect!
heabooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the tension of an art thief and an FBI agent falling for each other. This set up a lot of good scenarios where Vaughn and William have to confront their personal morals and how it affects other people. I also liked the growth both characters go through as they learn to see the world through someone else's eyes. Both characters are very strong willed and believe wholeheartedly in how they see things, so this was a challenge for both, especially William.
The intimate scenes between these two were a little off for me, especially the first one. It's clearly a case of insta-lust, which is fine with me, I don't mind characters that jump into things with little knowledge of each other. However, the moments leading from talking to sex were just very abrupt and something was missing. I have a hard time describing it but it was most evident during their first time together, but also still lingering in a few of the intimate scenes that follow. There was also a lot of anger in the early sex scenes because William is frustrated by his attraction to a thief. This may have been affecting how I perceived the beginning parts of the book.
The intimate scenes between these two were a little off for me, especially the first one. It's clearly a case of insta-lust, which is fine with me, I don't mind characters that jump into things with little knowledge of each other. However, the moments leading from talking to sex were just very abrupt and something was missing. I have a hard time describing it but it was most evident during their first time together, but also still lingering in a few of the intimate scenes that follow. There was also a lot of anger in the early sex scenes because William is frustrated by his attraction to a thief. This may have been affecting how I perceived the beginning parts of the book.
eesh25's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
This was the book that started my lets-read-everything-I-haven't-already-read-by-Avon-Gale binge. At this point, I only have two books left, and one isn't even M/M. I'll be reading those pretty soon as well. Or maybe later, since I don't want to run out.
This book follows William Fox, an FBI Art Crimes agent. At an event planned by his sister, he's wandering alone and catches the eye of Amory Vaughn. There's a very hot encounter and Amory find himself very interested. In an effort to make an impression, he steals the painting Will had been admiring and sends it to him. In Amory's defense, he didn't know Will was an FBI agent ...And Will finds himself in the unfortunate situation of needing to arrest the guy he kinda liked, in the few minutes they spent together.
It's a very interesting start to a novel, don't you think? And it's just the first chapter. I won't tell you whether or not the arrest happens but I will say that Will has no proof and Amory is absurdly rich, gets away with everything and very charming. And I know that might make him unlikable to some, but he's a good guy and very aware of his own privilege. Also, I give you this line,
He's brilliant, right? So fun. But he's also very vulnerable when it comes to Will. Amory likes how dignified and genuine Will is and it doesn't take him long to be all-in. Will is a lot more skeptical. He's has his own morals, and his own view of right and wrong. He's not rigid exactly, he just prefers his world to... fit. And he doesn't know how Amory, the stealer of paintings, fits.
The beginning is Amory trying to convince Will to take a chance on him, in that way Amory has. Amory knows from the start that he wants something with Will. His point-of-view was so sweet, with how much he likes Will. And their relationship as a whole was heartwarming to the highest degree.
The book may have started off with "exciting" stuff but this book is actually quite grounded. It's about two people who are very different and are learning to be with each other. Because it's not just Will who needs to think about some things. They both need to reevaluate some stuff if they want this thing between them to work. And they like one another enough to really want that.
Overall, this book was adorable and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Highly recommend.
This was the book that started my lets-read-everything-I-haven't-already-read-by-Avon-Gale binge. At this point, I only have two books left, and one isn't even M/M. I'll be reading those pretty soon as well. Or maybe later, since I don't want to run out.
This book follows William Fox, an FBI Art Crimes agent. At an event planned by his sister, he's wandering alone and catches the eye of Amory Vaughn. There's a very hot encounter and Amory find himself very interested. In an effort to make an impression, he steals the painting Will had been admiring and sends it to him. In Amory's defense, he didn't know Will was an FBI agent ...And Will finds himself in the unfortunate situation of needing to arrest the guy he kinda liked, in the few minutes they spent together.
It's a very interesting start to a novel, don't you think? And it's just the first chapter. I won't tell you whether or not the arrest happens but I will say that Will has no proof and Amory is absurdly rich, gets away with everything and very charming. And I know that might make him unlikable to some, but he's a good guy and very aware of his own privilege. Also, I give you this line,
"But, unfortunately, others weren’t so privileged in the fuck-off-forever category, hence my desire to use the Vaughn money to help them tell people to fuck off."
He's brilliant, right? So fun. But he's also very vulnerable when it comes to Will. Amory likes how dignified and genuine Will is and it doesn't take him long to be all-in. Will is a lot more skeptical. He's has his own morals, and his own view of right and wrong. He's not rigid exactly, he just prefers his world to... fit. And he doesn't know how Amory, the stealer of paintings, fits.
The beginning is Amory trying to convince Will to take a chance on him, in that way Amory has. Amory knows from the start that he wants something with Will. His point-of-view was so sweet, with how much he likes Will. And their relationship as a whole was heartwarming to the highest degree.
The book may have started off with "exciting" stuff but this book is actually quite grounded. It's about two people who are very different and are learning to be with each other. Because it's not just Will who needs to think about some things. They both need to reevaluate some stuff if they want this thing between them to work. And they like one another enough to really want that.
Overall, this book was adorable and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Highly recommend.
kelly_shea's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a cute romance, but I don’t feel like there was much of a plot. It seems like more could have been done with the art thief/FBI agent dynamic. But it was nice for a light read! I breezed through it and did enjoy it.
One thing that bothered me was the description of the locations. I’m from near where the book is set, and every time they mentioned the Falls Church “mansion” it totally pulled me out of the story. They made it sound like he was living on acres and acres of land. In some parts of the DC suburbs that would be realistic, but not really Falls Church… nor is there a huge historical area there. I know it’s minor, but it felt like something that could have been easily avoided and was super distracting knowing the area.
One thing that bothered me was the description of the locations. I’m from near where the book is set, and every time they mentioned the Falls Church “mansion” it totally pulled me out of the story. They made it sound like he was living on acres and acres of land. In some parts of the DC suburbs that would be realistic, but not really Falls Church… nor is there a huge historical area there. I know it’s minor, but it felt like something that could have been easily avoided and was super distracting knowing the area.
gillianw's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
I found this to be an almost drama-free, lovely little story about two very different men trying to find their place in a new relationship. It requires a huge suspension of disbelief in regards to Amory's 'work' and his weirdly 18th-century-English speech and mannerisms (he's definitely an American from this century) but if you can disregard that, it's a very sweet and enjoyable book.
I found this to be an almost drama-free, lovely little story about two very different men trying to find their place in a new relationship. It requires a huge suspension of disbelief in regards to Amory's 'work' and his weirdly 18th-century-English speech and mannerisms (he's definitely an American from this century) but if you can disregard that, it's a very sweet and enjoyable book.
bitchie's review against another edition
4.0
This book was both not as angsty as I'd expect from one of the authors, and not as witty as I'd expect from the other. It was very sweet and sexy and romantic. I kept expecting some Big Deal to happen, something to ruthlessly tear these guys apart. Whether it be from Amory's extracurricular habit, or the early seen(but never mentioned again) art forger, I figured something was coming. When it did, it was, happily (for me, anyway) not as big a thing as I expected, but unhappily, I thought that Will vastly overreacted. I get him being angry, but just seemed very much over the top. I'd almost have rathered the Bid Deal to be a Bigger Deal, just to justify Will's anger more.
But otherwise, this was a delightful, sweet, fairly domestic, lovely story, so I'm sticking with 4 stars here.
Spoiler
sending the man he's supposed to love away, not speaking to him for a month, during the freaking HOLIDAYS no less,But otherwise, this was a delightful, sweet, fairly domestic, lovely story, so I'm sticking with 4 stars here.
souymuilk's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lady_perfictionist's review against another edition
5.0
While at Apollycon I was instantly captured by this gorgeous cover sitting on one of the tables! I asked @roanparrish about her book Heart of the Steal and knew I needed it right then and there. So I walked away with it!
Since then it was at the top of my TBR and I couldn’t seem to not want to read it! I picked it up Friday and finished today!!!
This story of an FBI art crimes agent calling for the art thief was just enchanting!! Will’s and Vaughn’s banter throughout this entire books had me all twisted in knots and I laughed out loud more than once! Their intensity and
Since then it was at the top of my TBR and I couldn’t seem to not want to read it! I picked it up Friday and finished today!!!
This story of an FBI art crimes agent calling for the art thief was just enchanting!! Will’s and Vaughn’s banter throughout this entire books had me all twisted in knots and I laughed out loud more than once! Their intensity and