What can I say, I’m a true romantic at heart :) And that is one reason why I enjoyed this book. Even though I was hoping for a bit more jewel thievery, I loved the romance aspect of it. Will and Mari definitely made a great couple. That being said, I did want to see more of Mari’s jewel-thief life, other than just the botched heist at the beginning where Petrov (the bad guy) finds them and then the blip at the end. The real meat of the story focused on Mari and her mom hiding from Petrov in NYC, trying to have normal lives.

Of course, I loved the ending (no, I’m not going to tell you what it is!) because I thought it wrapped everything up perfectly.

The pacing of this book was spot on, as well. I didn’t notice any lulls and I actually flew through it. I read this in only a couple days (with two small kids, that’s sometimes a challenge) and, especially toward the end, I had a hard time putting it down. The one thing I would like to see, however, is a companion novella that maybe shows what Mari’s life was like before New York? But that’s just my inability to let characters go. I always want more :)

3.5 Stars

I went into this book expecting it to read like a teenage Penelope Blue filled with heists, antics, and awesome ninja/jewel thief stuff.

I liked it, but it wasn't what I was expecting. This had a light romance, and was more about Mari being lonely, fitting in, and trying to be "normal" when all she knows is the life of a jewel thief. It does have some action during the second half of the book, but even then it feels almost out of place because of how the beginning of the book went.

I don't normally read books about general teenage issues because I'm way past that point of my life but I think that the target audience would enjoy this book.

I received an advance reader copy of this book that I have chosen to review.

**3.5 Stars**
Marisol and her mother are in the process of their last jewel heist when something goes wrong and they are being pursued. They escape to New York and attempt to start normal lives, something Marisol has no idea about. Marisol has no idea how to be a regular teen girl, add in the fact that she has never had a boyfriend or real friends before and now she is thrown into the wilds of High School. Just when things seem to be looking up, with a cute attentive boy hanging around and the start of freindship, Marisol can't shake the feeling that something is coming.

I found this book to be a very fast, fun read. It was a quick plot, over just a few weeks and it was easily something that could be read in an afternoon. I was instantly interested in the story, enjoying the quirky awkwardness that was Marisol. As the book progressed I became a little less interested in the story because I kept picking at the things I found frustrating, instead of just letting this be an entertaining afternoon read. The thing is, I think reality has to take a backseat to plot to fully be able to enjoy this read, which for some reason I was not expecting (yes I know teen thief is not super realistic, but hey, it could happen!). The first half of the book felt very realistic, believable and engaging- a highly trained teen thief who was more equipped to steal a jewel than to manage the messy waters of high school, and I loved how awkward Marisol was. Add in the fact a murder occurs right in front of Marisol within the first few pages to add the danger aspect as she and her mother flee for their lives. Loved her starting school, the awkwardness and uncertainty was tangible and I felt for her. But then things became odd for me and I started to lose interest, and I had a lot of questions about the logistics of things that were never really explained or fit. 

For example, her highly paranoid mother who wants to walk her teen-aged daughter to school and needs her to text her whereabouts suddenly doesn’t have her phone available to answer Marisol’s calls and doesn’t take her seriously when she says she is being followed. AND then she leaves her paranoid- refusing to leave the house daughter alone to go out of town for 4 days? What? No way. It was like a 180 personality reversal that made no sense and had no reasoning behind it. 

And that brings me to Will who raised all my red flags when I was reading. The explanation the author used was totally reasonable, but until that happened, I found his behavior super suspect. I mean honestly, Marisol acted like a total crazy on multiple occasions, treating Will like he was a yo-yo, and yet he just rolled with the punches. Any normal guy would have been irritated, or at the minimum at least asked a question. But no, not Will, he just rolled with the crazy. As a side note, his suggestion at the end seemed like an interesting idea but really is super unnecessary and unrealistic- I am pretty sure people who were wronged know they were wronged, and telling them about it won't really solve anything except give you yourself a purpose, but sure, go ahead.

I loved that the last 20% of the book picked back up with the thievery aspect, which was nice to see Marisol's training in action. Overall this was a cute, fast read, great for someone wanting an adventure with a quirky teen girl who has no idea where she really belongs. The story was fun regardless of my observations and I look forward to more from the author.

I received this title in return for my honest review.

Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief by Rosie Somers is a pretty fast paced story.

The story starts out with Marisol a sixteen-year-old who was raised in a family of jewel thievery. Her and her mother move to New York City to hide from another thief. Marisol just wants to blend in at her new high school.

I really felt that the character Marisol was awesome, I loved her diary entries and also her story. Her point of view. Of course, she meets a guy at school, very typical of a girl in high school.

I like the development of Marisol and Will, her new “boy” friend. I love the chemistry and also the story is a clean story just a cute sweet start of a romance.

Since this story is based on Marisol diary, her mother and other characters weren’t developed but I was given enough information to make this an interesting journey.

I felt this story is a fast-paced action adventure and a great ending. I thought this was a really good book to read and like that it is clean story.

Thanks to the Author Rosie Somers and to YA Reads for providing me a copy of this book.  My review is all my own and I did enjoy reading this book.

I am giving this book 4 stars. Awesome book if you are looking for an adventure that is clean and still a good story.

This was a very sweet book that pulled me in early on. I really loved Mari and her family. I really liked how this story puts others of its kind on its head. In most cases, this story would go the other way. It would be a normal teen getting sucked into the world of jewel stealing and in this one, we go the other way with a jewel thief being hidden out as a normal teen for the first time in her life.  That made this book set apart from others and it made it awesome. 

This one has some great action and wonderful pacing and I couldn't put it down. I do wish that it would have been a little longer. But I could see this becoming a great series as well set up wonderfully for a really interesting tv show.

Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief is a fun story with an unexpected twist and great characters. I liked it but felt it would have been much better if the story had been fleshed out a little more to give the storyline more depth.

(I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

Mari comes from a long line of jewel thieves, but when a crime boss targets her family, they are forced to flee Europe and come back to New York. She starts school and dreams of being a regular teenage girl, for once. It's too bad that repelling off buildings and disarming security cameras hasn't taught her anything about talking to cute boys or being a good friend.

This book was fluffy and self-deprecating on the front end ("Instalove only happens in novels"), but couldn't follow through with anything unpredictable in the second half. Every single part of the plot made me roll my eyes and go, "of course". 

It's fine, it's cute, but nothing new here. Teens would probably enjoy this if they're unfamiliar with the genre.

I read a fair amount of YA, but this felt like it was meant for a very young audience.  Probably this is appropriate and would be enjoyed by girls 11-14. I debated about letting my 9 year old try it. No profanity, two or three kisses and not too much violence. For me it felt silly and over the top. I was rolling my eyes for much of it. Just not for me,

A cute fun read but I felt like it could have had more of the backstory to make the relationships even stronger.   I did enjoy it and I have some students who will as well!

Marisol comes from a generational line of jewelry thieves, so it's not new to her learning about heists and stealing jewels. The thing is that someone has betrayed the crew her family belongs to as they turn up to the same heist they are doing. It turns out that the guy who turned up is known for killing Marisol's dad and now he wants the whole family wiped and the journal that he supposedly left behind. Marisol's mother takes the pair of them back to New York where Marisol becomes Mari - a new transfer student. The pair of them in hiding trying to live a normal life. Well, that was Mari's goal to stay under the radar, but she has attracted the attention of hot guy Will Campbell. No matter how much she tries to stay away, he is there. The pair soon starts dating, and Mari believes that maybe the life of a Normal Teenage girl is something that she could get used to. That is until Marisol's Uncle turns up and then Will gets himself kidnapped but is it a trap to lure Marisol and her mother out into the open? What will happen when Marisol realizes that it's her diary that her father left her is the main prize?

A big Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC for my honest review.  
This is not an adult book-this is for YA!! 
This was a cute fun book that I think most teenage girls would like.  I know that my juniors from the Marshall Islands would like it. 

Mari gets to travel, has a romantic interest and has issues that are valid in real life.  A good book for young teen girls.  I gave it a 3.5.

I loved this book. It was such a quick and cute read. I liked how Mari comes from a family opposite side of the law. It's an enjoyable book full of twist and turns. It was an interesting book to read. Amazing.

Review posted to realm of the Sapphired Dragon 8/8/17

I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and engaging from the very first chapter. 17 year old Mari is from a family with long glorious tradition of jewel thievery and that has been the life she has led so far. After finding out a dangerous rival is out to get them, Mari and her mother head to New York to hide out and Mari has to pretend to be a normal teenager for the first time in her life.

Firstly, I liked this spin on the extraordinary teen hiding out as a regular teenager premise and Mari was a likeable main character. I thought the idea played out well in the story giving a plausible fun and intriguing story line. We got see both the jewel thief side of her in action as well as the regular teen and Ms Somers showed the contrasts well which really helped make mar are more rounded and believeable character.

The pace and flow of this story really hit the mark. I was in the story from the first page and quickly flew through this only putting it down briefly once. Mari's voice was relatable and I cared what happened to her and to Will. I liked the twists and surprises the author threw in and while i picked some of it, I still felt compelled to keep moving threw to the story to see how it all turned out.

Overall the story is great blend of sweet romance, action and adventure with feels a plenty and a satisfying conclusion to leave you smiling.

I really enjoyed this and gave it 3 3/4 stars :-)

Sapphired Dragon xx

Spoilers Free Review!
3.5 Stars!

Teens living unusual lives are on of my soft spots. I enjoy stories where teens 'have different jobs'. So, this was a book I knew I wasn't going to pass up. It was a good read, I kinda want a little more of the 'Jewel Thief' side of her life. We got a little bit, a little tease but other than that, it's just what I was looking for. The lead character Mari moves back to New York to go into hiding. Her father's side of the family comes from a long line of Jewel Thieves. ( World of love to know more about the history side of her family.) We follow her as she's in hiding and how that plays out. Her mother is a good side character who plays a role in the story than just a parents role. This is a swoony, action story with a strong girl who followers her heart.

Characters: We get to know the tips of these characters, there's so much more to these characters, I wish we got to know more of them. (This felt like a first book in a series so I hoping there's more.) The lead, Mari, journals a lot, and I found those parts to be the best-written parts.

Plot: This plot of simple, with a few little twist. I could see one of the twist coming, but it planned out different than what I thought was going to happen.

Writing: I really enjoyed author Rosie Somers writing. Her pacing of writing, flow and styles made this book great.

Didn't like: I found that the Mari and Will falling for each other happened a little too fast.

Other than that this was a cheesy swoon, with a little bit of kick-butting book.


Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief was read and reviewed part of a blog tour but all these thoughts are all mine and what I truly think of this book.

This  Book was awesome! It was not your typical high school romance. The characters were well developed. This book should definitely it into a series!

Disclaimer: I was provided a free ARC in exchange of an honest review. Thank you "Entangled Teen" for the opportunity to review this book.

     I'm going to get straight to the point. I did not raelly enjoy this book. I feel like it had potential, but it fell very short. The synopsis is very misleading as the main plot happens in just the last 1/3 of the book. Most of the book feels like a contemporary, which would be fine and dandy if this was actually a contemporary novel, but it isn't, and the romance feels out of place and very insta-lovey. The main characters weren't enjoyable to read. Matter of fact, I really wasn't a fan of the narrator, Mari. She is so incredibly naive and stupid for a girl who is supposedly a master jewel theif. 

     The writing was very basic and the plot was cookie cutter basic. The only reason why I'm giving this two stars and not ones is because there were a few cute moments that I liked. It's a shame. I really wanted to like this book because the premise sounded interesting and kind of reminded me of "Heist Society" by Ally Carter which is one of my favorite series from when I was in middle school, but this comes no where near as good as Ally Carter's books. Overall I'm glad this was a quick read and didn't take up too much of my time and this is not a book I would recommend at all.

"Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief" was a really fast YA (light) thriller! We follow Marisol, who has been raised in the family business of stealing jewels- although her mother and she have recently given it up and are trying to settle in New York City. Her father was killed by Petrov Rosinsky, a crime leader in Europe who has extensive influence. She and her mother are trying to escape his grasp by fleeing to NYC. At first, things look safe and all Mari has to worry about are normal teenage things, starting at a new high school- friends and classwork. Things are also changing as she finds she has a shadow in a hot boy named Will- and she might not mind too much.

Overall, it was a fast-paced and quick read that was enjoyable all the way through. I also see the ending was left as if a sequel is in the works, and I would love to continue with this interesting storyline in the next book (and the new characters we meet at the end). The first half of the book seems like it will just be another high school new-kid story, but then about halfway through, everything changes for the more intense! I liked both sides of the story, as Mari is an easily likable character, and we all know how hard it can be to fit in in a new school. The romance with Will was cute but really fast (which Mari herself admits), and even though it has a flair of insta-love, I liked it anyway. 

At first, I didn't understand why it focused on her diary when so much of it is told through regular prose, but this became clear later, and I liked how everything developed/came together throughout the story. Mari and her mother were really sweet and had a great relationship, which is always refreshing to see in YA. Overall, it's a delightful and quick read that toes the edges of the thriller category without being too intense.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Most teenagers wish their lives were more exciting, more thrilling, anything but dull and normal. Then, there’s Maribel.

Maribel is a “Teenage Jewel Thief.” We meet her scaling the wall of a museum in the middle of a heist. The job is interrupted by the arrival of goons sent by Petrov Rosinsky, the leader of a crime syndicate. Petrov killed Mari’s father nine years ago, and he seems determined to wipe out the rest of the family.

Mari and her mother flee to New York, where they attempt to live a “regular life.” Mari begins high school as just a typical teenage girl—a life she has been pining for as she moonlighted as a professional thief.

On her first day of school, Mari meets Will Campbell. She instantly falls for his good looks and charm, but tries to distance herself from him in case Petrov finds her.

When Mari starts seeing suspicious people that appear to be following her, she becomes convinced that Petrov has found her. Is her imagination threatening to destroy her new love and regular life, or has her past caught up with her again?

Mari frequently takes a break from the high school drama to write in her diary. We learn about her fears for herself and her mother, her growing attraction toward Will, and her attempts to fit in at school.

The action in Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief is addicting—by the end of Chapter 1, I couldn't put the book down. Mari battles typical teenage problems and doubts, while also struggling with her fears from her past. Mari is charming and vulnerable, and I was cheering for her throughout the book as she looked for to ways fit in and make friends.

The publisher of Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief has provided this synopsis:

Most sixteen-year-olds shouldn’t know where museums keep their rarest jewels (the basement) and they really shouldn’t know that vans make the worst getaway cars. But for Marisol Flores, a life of jewel thievery is a birthright handed down from generation to generation, even if she didn’t ask for it. So when a rival thief targets Mari and her mother, Mari’s more than happy to flee to the anonymity of bustling New York City.

Blending in is a dream come true for Mari, but keeping her former thieving ways a secret gets way more complicated when handsome Will Campbell sets his sights on her. She can’t help but like his terrible puns and charming grin…but when her past catches up with her, it’s not only her life—and her anonymity—that’s at stake.

Will could be the next target.

This is a great book to pick up if you want a fun, exciting, compelling read, with a little love thrown in. You can find Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other book retailers.

About the Author:

Rosie Somers is a beach-going book addict who’s been crafting stories since before she learned her ABCs. When she’s not busy trying to bring the characters in her head to life on paper, she can be found volunteering with local animal rescues, crocheting funky hats for her friends, or eating herself into the poorhouse at Chipotle. Her fondest dream is to one day own a goat.

You can follow Ms. Somers on her blog (rosiesomers.blogspot.com), on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ProsyRosie/) or on Twitter (@prosyrosie).

Have you read any great books lately?