'The Steal' by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner is a mystery with a touch of romance. This book wasn't long and time consuming at all and I promptly read it in one sitting. There's never a boring moment in the entire book, as the authors twisted the story with brilliance. And the ending, it was my favorite part, the twist at the end was something I didn't expect (I couldn't guess who's behind the heist until the very end, not before the clues became clearer). The characters are very well written and I could almost imagine how the protagonists were.

The story is set in 1950's France, specifically, the international and prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Jerome Curtis, an investigator for a renowned insurance company, Lambert Securities, is sent to investigate a high-profile jewelry heist at The Carlton while the Cannes Film Festival is about to begin. Jerome's mission is to assess the situation, gather as much information as he can, uncover the truth and retrieve the stolen jewelry. The stolen pieces are iconic and priceless, and belongs to one of their most important clients, Thorne and Company.

When he arrives at The Carlton, he meets Ania Thorne, the Director of Thorne and Company. Ania is magnetic, poised and flawless, and rightfully so. The more you'll read about Ania, the more you'll like her. The book's told from two perspectives, Jerome and Ania. And I loved how the chapters went back and forth between them, weaving a perfect story.

A historical fiction set in France. This was a great beginning or introduction to the series which I hope will be good. I hope the upcoming books will live up to my expectation. Because I liked this book. It was also a very quick read, more like a novella. The dual POV also gave insight perspectives of both protagonist. I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an early copu.

A book set in Cannes and Paris during 1957 will always capture my eye. Especially when it’s penned by one of my favorite historical fiction authors, C.W. Gortner! And I’m just discovering M.J. Rose.

This is a short, fun book to kick off a new series and Im here for it. To me, this book is a great set-up for a longer series where our protagonists chase down the Leopard. And I’m looking forward to discovering the stories behind some of the side characters introduced in this one.

France, 1957 the setting for The Steal gives this story not just a vintage feel but also a romantic exotic one. M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner have given the readers a story reminiscence of the movie, “To Catch a Thief” with an updated romance between the two main characters. Jerome Curtis who works for Lambert Securities comes to Paris to investigate a high profile jewel heist. Failure to recover the stolen gems is not an option. Anya Thorne is the jewelry designer and CEO of the company, from which the jewels were stolen is determined to catch the thief too. Their plan, chase and romance is classic.

Told from a dual perspective giving insight into each of the main characters, their past, their present and somewhat their dreams for the future. Anya’s especially is at risk because the robbery could ruin the family company. Not easy to like this is a woman in a business world dominated by men in the 1950’s. The authors did a wonderful job portraying her in this role.

Also the jewel thief, Leopard is as intriguing as he is mysterious and dangerous. A quick escapism read that ends with some unasked questions. More to come. I will be on the hopeful lookout.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

France, the 1950's and a jewell heist in Cannes - this is the allure of The Steal. A short, quick story that throws the reader into the fray, with a socialite and a insurance investigator, when millions of dollars of custom jewelry are stolen.

The Steal is a mystery and a romance. And, the authors have done nice job in pairing the two together as detectives and lovers. This caper sparkles like a diamond.

Thank you to Lets Talk Book Promo and the authors for a complimentary copy.

#letstalkthesteal #thesteal #letstalkbookspromo

A cute and quick read about a jewelry heist I’m gone wrong and the people involved. I feel like lately I’ve been getting to the end of books and being confused because it’s not the end of the story. I liked both of the authors writing styles, but I feel like it ended quite abruptly

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion

Fairly short story-a mystery set in the 1950’s with some romance thrown in. Not really my cup of tea but for those who like this genre, it will probably be well liked. The writing was well done, I just didn’t connect with any of the characters or get involved in the story.
Ania is involved in her family business, the business her father created and she has been part of all her life. Creating exquisite jewelry and providing famous people like Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren with the jewels for events. On the night of the Cannes Film Festival, the entire collection that she brought with her for the actresses gets stolen and Jerome, a professional investigator for the insurance company comes to try and find out what has happened in order to catch the robber, who he believes to be a serial thief known as “The Lepord” aim he process, he gets feelings for Ania, and has to put them aside to maintain professionalism as they go on the hunt that leads much to close to home. The ending sets up for the next book.
Thanks to Blue Box Press and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

This past year I read two books by C.W. Gortner ,The Romanov Empress, and M.J. Rose's The Last Tiara and enjoyed both of them, so when NetGalley and Blue Box Press offered me The Steal, a collaboration between the authors, I was all in. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released August 10.

The Steal is a quick read, more like a novella than a full-length novel. Things move fast with the plot, too. The setting is practically Cannes one day, Paris the next, and New York the third. The plot keeps moving along with both Ania, the jeweler, and Jerome, the insurance investigator’s points of view.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the pacing, and while I have no need for them personally, imagining hundreds of thousands of dollars of jewels in intricate designs was fun. Jerome is sort of a stereotypical detective, of scruffy face and schlumpy dress, ala Columbo, but he’s a lot younger and handsome in his scruffiness. He eludes to a dark past, which is revealed in time.

I was a little disappointed in the depiction of Ania as an icy woman who’d never had a proper man show her a good time. Sparks fly between her and Jerome, and you know it’s just a matter of time before they get together. What surprised me was how quickly they got together. Like I said, things move FAST in The Steal. And things get a bit graphic, for those that don’t like that in their romantic mysteries.

As Jerome and Ania try to avoid the Leopard, the famous jewel thief who’s never been caught but seems to have a vendetta against Ania’s company in particular. Jerome figures it has something to do with his shady past post-WWII as someone in covert ops hunting down Nazis because the guard Ania employs happens to be one of his old army buddies. The Leopard knows who they are and what they’ve done.

Jerome and Ania close in on the elusive thief, and just when you think the story is about to wrap up, it just ENDS! Looking into it, it appears this is the first in a series of caper books about The Leopard. Apparently Gortner and Rose enjoyed Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief as much as me because this book reminds me of it. Even the cover features a woman who looks suspiciously like Grace Kelly. That being said, I will continue with the series to get to know Ania and Jerome a little better.

Set during Cannes Film Festival in France 1957, The Steal follows the story of Jerome Curtis who works as an insurance investigator for Lambert Securities, and Ania Thorne, the director of Thorne & Company, a jewelry company.

Ania designed jewelleries for actresses attending the film festival. But they were stolen in broad daylight and Jerome immediately suspects The Leopard, a ruthless robber and murderer. Now both of them must retrieve the jewelleries and stop The Leopard before the news break out about the robbery which will ruin the company's reputation.

This is an entertaining and thrilling book and I think it was a well-done one. Although a romance caper, I felt it leans more towards mystery which I really liked! The plot twists were interesting and I enjoyed the banter between Ania and Jerome. It is a short book that is not lacking in suspense. It is engaging with a good story flow.

In a nutshell, an entertaining quick read and whodunit story!


Pub. Date: Aug 10th, 2021

***Thank you Blue Box Press, authors C. W. Gortner, M. J. Rose and NetGalley for this gifted review copy to read and review.***

I wanted to like this book so very much. The premise ticks off all my boxes: mystery, historical fiction, romance. . But in the reading it just didn't come together for me. It was a good beginning and hopefully the next book will finish the story this book began.

Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a fun book! The Steal by C.W. Gortner and M.J. Rose made me feel like I was in a 1950’s movie. The book was not very long which lent itself to a movie script feel. I had fun imaging all of this in my head. I have to tell you that I love old movies. This was a new book but it felt like a blast from the past!

There was a jewelry heist right as the Cannes Film Festival was too begin. Ania was the beautiful daughter who took over the famous jewelry store. Jerome was the investigator from the insurance company. They work together to solve the theft. Do you see a romance happening?

I liked the characters. Ania was hard as diamonds and Jerome was a hard nose investigator who smokes. This book is so typical of an old movie but, that is what made it fun for me.

The writing was spot on. The cadence and length of the book were well planned. If it was any longer, it would have reached the boring point. It didn’t! I think it ended just where it needed to. I was still having fun!

If you like old movies or anything that takes place in the 50’s, you might like this book as much as I did. I think the authors had fun with The Steal too. I can just picture them working all the fun details out.

I received a copy of this book from #Netgalley/#BlueBoxPress for a fair and honest review. Thank you!

I felt like I was back in time, the romance amd nostalgia of Cannes amd stars like Elizabeth Taylor a d Audrey Hepburn- add in a dramatic theft and the notorious jewel thief who is suspected and it is a perfect flashback to old black and white movies I loved. The only thing I didn’t love was the set up for another book. I like novels to wrap everything up!

3.5 stars really

This is part of a series I do believe, but I haven’t read any others. I do not think it affects the book any though because I didn’t feel lost over anything.

Jerome Curtis, ex military and covert op, is now an insurance investigator looking into claims for his company. Ania Thorpe, highly respected jewelry creator, has had millions of jewelry stolen from her before opening night at the Cannes festival. Jerome has to investigate Ania for fraud or find whom he suspects has stolen the jewelry from her….The Leopard. Can Ania’s company survive this loss and scandal? Can Jerome locate the jewelry or The Leopard? How many people will get hurt before this case is solved?

This story was short and interesting. I loved the time period it was in and the little details into Jeromes life during WWII. I really wasn’t expecting who The Leopard was until a little before it was revealed. The ending made me go “really?! That’s how it ends?!” Because I NEED to know more. Quick read and a good whodunnit book.

THE STEAL BY M.J Rose and C.W. Gortner
Historical fiction
141 pages

Ania Throne is a successful jeweler and very proud of her company.  All is going great for her until she goes to Cannes with some new stunning jewelry and she is robbed!!!!
She pairs with Jerome Curtis to get her jewels back. What neither of them expected is to fall in love during their thrilling chase.

I loved this novella by one of my favorite historical fiction writers and a new one. It is an adorable thrilling chase for these two new lovebirds. I highly recommend this book

If you like To Catch A Thief, I would give this book a try ... it is set in a nearly identical world and has similar pacing, twists and turns. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and imagine it will be part of a series since it ended on a cliffhanger. The characters are well written and the story felt real but also inspired. A very fun and fashionable caper!

The Steal comes out next week on August 10, 2021 and you can purchase HERE.

I want to lose myself in his body. I want to feel all of him against me. I press into him until he falls onto the bed. Conversations from cafes in the streets below drift through the window, and Piaf sings. And then i feel the sudden chill on my shoulders as he removes my pullover, his urgency as he trails his lips down my neck to my collarbone, his unshaven skin rough against mine. Coarsen in the way it should be, how I want it to be.

I enjoyed The Steal tremendously. With a glamorous backdrop of Cannes in the '50s, a heist-style mystery unfolds. Jerome is ex-military special operations. He works for the insurance company that insures jewels that have been stolen at the start of the Cannes film festival. Jerome came across and very competent in his job, and I liked that his ability to take charge. Ania is jewelry designer extraordinaire, daughter of a jewelry designing icon. It took a little time for Ania to grow on me, as the author unveiled her character a little more slowly. Ania's specially designed jewels for well-known screen icons to wear during Cannes have been stolen. The story is told from alternating points of view between Ania and Jerome. Our interactions with the side characters are quick-lived as they move in and out of the story. The story was a quick read and I had no problem finishing it in one day. All the action in the story happens quickly as well before moving on to the next scene. The overall feel of the story is a draw because the author presents a well-formed backdrop for the action that moves from Cannes, to Paris, and to New York. If I could change one thing, it would be that there was more story, character development, and more time spent on each aspect of the mystery.

Ultimately, the ending is left open a bit as if we may be getting a book two, which I would be happy to read.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc. This is my honest reivew.

This was a jewel heist mystery/romance set in France in the late 1950’s. I got serious To Catch a Thief and Charade vibes from this book.

I do like that there is a dual perspective with chapters from Jerome’s POV and others with Ania’s POV. While Jerome and Ania were interesting characters, I didn’t feel the spark or chemistry that led to their romance.

I enjoyed the spectacular settings for this book, namely the Cannes Film Festival, Paris, and New York City. I also like the mid-1950’s vibe of the book.

The mystery of the jewel thief is solved at the end of the book, but there are issues that remain unresolved. For me, this made the ultimate unmasking of the jewel thief a bit blah.

All in all, an enjoyable read for people who love mid-1950’s movies like To Catch a Thief.

3.5 rounded up

I was immediately interested in this book because its cover evoked some of the books I read in high school by Mary Stewart and Phyllis A. Whitney.
The story setting is glamourous, with a daring heist of several pieces of high-end jewelry intended for various actors to wear at the Cannes film festival in 1950. The two leads have much to lose if they fail to recover the stolen jewels. Insurance Investigator Jerome Curtis is off balance when he meets cool and tough jewelry designer and CEO of her company, Anya Thorne. They race around from Cannes to Paris to New York City, chasing leads and getting to know each other.

The two authors switch PoV between the two characters, so that we can learn a little of their histories, so we learn about Anya's relationship with her somewhat mercurial father and founder of the jewelry company, and we also learn a little about Jerome's activities immediately following the war.

I was not particularly enamoured by Jerome's constant pointing out Anya's "alabaster" skin or icy beauty. This got old really fast. I am so tired of hearing how having alabaster skin automatically makes someone seem so beautiful.
Also, this book doesn't have the snappy pace both Stewart or Whitney were great at writing, even though the plot still moves reasonably well. I say this because though this was a pretty short book, it took me much longer to get through it than I expected.
So, this this was diverting, but not as much as I had hoped.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This is a light quick read- it's a novella not a novel- that might remind you, like me, of romantic caper films. Set in 195os France, the plot involves the investigation of a jewelry heist and the young woman whose jewels have been swiped. There isn't much character development and it's not especially complex. It's very much a trifle, Thanks t0 Netgalley for the ARC,

Thank you NetGalley, M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner and Blue Box Press for the ARC of The Steal. This is my personal review.
This book was such a fun read for me. The 1950’s vibe was a great break for me from all the other books I have been reading. I enjoyed the mystery and the interaction of everyone.
I like watching James Bond- Kojak- To Catch a Thief type of shows and this book was for me just like this type of show. Thank you, authors, for giving us this book- job well done.