This book gave me vibes of 50s Hollywood, Audrey Hepburn on the back of a Vespa, Cary Grant being all smouldering and sophisticated.

What i didn't know was that it was a novella - which is OK - or that it was the first in a series and ended on a cliffhanger - again, ok with me just unexpected.

Ania and jerome's story had us jetsetting from the glitz and glamour of Canne, across continents, and across boundaries

The Steal is a mystery with a hint of romance along for the ride.

I am looking forward to the next installment when it hits our kindles.

France 1957. The Cannes Film Festival all that is glittering, fashionable and very in is there. Jeremy is also there in his capacity as an insurance agent.

Ania Thorne carrying on the legacy of her father the diamond merchant of impeccable taste and design now forced to retire and she has ably taken over. She did not envisage a robbery of all her priceless pieces in Paris of all places.

The setting of an impossibly well planned robbery meticulously arranged and to Jerome bears all the hallmarks of the infamous Leopard who has never been sighted. The story follows the diamonds and Jerome always one step ahead of the Leopard trying to outsmart him with the rest of the diamond pieces brought over for those that were robbed.

The ultimate unveiling was a bit unbelievable but the story was fast paced and entertaining.

A gem of a novella!
This story was short and sweet- my only complaint is that I would have happily read more! While described as a romantic caper, it is a bit of a genre blender with a suspenseful mystery at the core of the plot. There was good tension between the lead characters and a clear villain. I hope we learn more about all three of these characters in the planned future works. Another thing which I appreciated was that this novella was filled with style and fashion- from leopard print gloves for the thief to luscious descriptions of designer jewelry and 1950’s clothing, including Paris couture. There was a strong classic movie vibe so if you like classic movies, especially those set in the 50’s, then you should pick this one up right away.

The Steal by M.J. Rise & C.W. Gortner
takes place in 1957 France as jewelry designer Aina has her latest collection stolen. Jerome's firm is hired to find the jewels and the thief. As he investigates it seems the infamous thief the Leopard is the culprit but soon it's clear he had help from inside.

With chases and romps through Cannes and Paris Jerome starts to fall for Aina. He admires her fortitude as a strong single working woman in a male dominated field. At first she sees him as a rumpled bungling investigator but there is a discerning charm to him. I envisioned Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant in this romantic caper that's perfect for a quick fun read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #Netgalley for fair and honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the characters well developed and the chemistry between them quite interesting. Ania is a famous jeweler, CEO of her own company after her father was taken out of control by the board. He taught her everything he knew. While in Cannes for the film festival all the jewels she brought with her are stolen. Enter Jerome, who is an investigator for her insurance company. He has a very interesting back story. He is convinced that the thief was someone he has been chasing for years, only known as The Leopard. In this case, there are none of the signatures the Leopard has used in the past. However, Jerome has a gut feeling that he is correct. I enjoyed the relationship between these characters. It was a fairly quick read. I know that this is a stand-alone, but I would love to see a sequel to this book.

This story was more lighthearted and romance-y than my usual reads, but it was a fun one (jewel thief + Cannes + Paris + hot investigator + hot jewel lady), and I really enjoyed it. I especially loved picturing Ania’s clothes and what the jewelry looked like. The ending was a bit abrupt, so it seems like a sequel is in order!

I was completely captivated from the very beginning when the stunning jewelry is stolen before The Cannes Film Festival begins in 1957 and the designer and insurance company representative seek to catch a thief. I loved the instant attraction and off-the-charts chemistry between Ania Thorne and Jerome Curtis as they try to find the Leopard in this fast-paced romantic caper. This is the first book I have read by CW Gortner and MJ Rose but hope to read more by this talented duo., I received an advance reader copy of "The Steal" from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

novella, historical-fiction, theft, adventure, mystery, 1950s, international-crime-and-mystery, no-gratuitous-erotica, romantic, jewelry-artist, investigators*****

She came to the film festival to loan her fantastic jewelry creations to the movie stars of the day and promote the business she inherited from her father. He is an investigator for the insurance company and has trailed the jewel thief before. Fast paced and engaging! Loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Blue Box Press, AuthorBuzz via NetGalley. Thank you!

Interesting novella, fun and entertaining.
I wasn't a fun of the end as I don't like cliffhanger but liked the story and the characters. I will read the next book in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Although M.J. Rose is not new to me, and I love her stories, C.W. Gortner is new to me. I will gladly read more by these two authors. I enjoyed this romantic adventure and it was definitely suspenseful and had a surprise ending to me. I can’t wait to read more .

At under 150 pages, The Steal is a novella. Going in, I knew that, but I did NOT know that it would have a cliffhanger ending and that The Steal is intended as the first book in a series. The next book will be The Bait, expected in January 2022. I was enjoying the story and figured the big ending was coming up quickly as I neared the end of the book. And then, boom. The book just ended!

Other than that sudden ending, I enjoyed the story and the characters. The male lead, Jerome, was more likable than the female lead, Ania, but both of them had depths of character. The setting in the late 1950s Europe and New York City seemed accurate, as well as the clothing described. The cameo appearances by celebrities added a bit of fun also.

The chapters alternated between being narrated by either Jerome or by Ania, and this was an effective technique.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press/Author Buzz for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

(3,5)

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend—until they’re stolen. Did I need more to be convinced that this book was worth the read? Not at all. Except maybe this truly beautiful cover because I’m slightly shallow. The Steal was a quick and deeply enjoyable read. It was easy to read and a great way to spend my morning. I have no regret. Because I would rather read about stolen diamonds and Leopard than exercise and go grocery shopping, obviously.

I had never read a book written by either C.W. Gortner nor by M.J. Rose before but I will definitely keep an eye on them. Why? Because this book was truly well written and even though I hate the French Riviera with a passion, the setting and the fact that the story takes place in the late 1950s did seduce me, I admit. It was pleasant to follow Ania (head of an important Jewelry company) and Jerome (my new and only favorite insurance investigator), my eyes stayed glued to my phone. I had fun, isn’t it what matters most?

Overall, if you’re looking for a short story with a glamorous setting, an adventurous and fast-paced plot, and a good amount of romance, The Steal is what you need. I am definitely looking forward for the sequel (and another pretty cover)!

Ania is jeweler to the stars. She is in Cannes for the film festival when all her jewels are stolen. It is up to Jerome to find out who did this and save Ania’s livelihood.

This story has a little bit of everything, intrigue, history, intensity and a touch of romance! Perfect for a one sitting read! I enjoyed the old Hollywood feel. Elizabeth Taylor and several others made this seem so real and authentic. Add Jerome and Ania connection with the setting of France and you have a wonderful tale!

Need a quick, easy, intriguing novella! This is it! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel for a honest review.

What I liked:
💎 The setting- Cannes film festival, 1950's glam? Loved it
💎 The strong heroine character of Ania
💎 The high stakes atmosphere of a jewel heist

What I didn't like:
💎 The length- clocking in at only 141 pages, I felt that the mystery elements were rushed- I wanted a bit more intrigue!

Thank you Netgalley and Blue Box Press for access to this arc.

As it was probably intended to do, the cover made me think of Grace Kelly and “To Catch a Thief” along with a hefty dose of French Riviera glamor. Of course I had to read it. The book is actually fairly short in length so I don’t begrudge the action starting even before the book does and then not letting up much for the remainder.

Rumpled insurance investigator (so not a high powered job for our hero but I loved that) Jerome Curtis arrives after the impressive heist of mega moolahs worth of designer jewelry, tasked with trying to recover the bespoke pieces that Ania Thorne brought for some of her wealthy and famous clients to wear to the festival. He’s impressed that she hasn’t collapsed from the shock but both he and I can easily see that beautiful Ania maintains a tight grip over her emotions. So tight that at times I thought she’d crack. After her father was ousted from the board of his own company, Ania stepped in and took over and her control is part of making it as a woman in a man’s world.

It doesn’t take Curtis long to figure a few things out and begin to rock Ania’s professional world. By the end of 24 hours, Ania is facing some hard truths – can she contain the damage to the company’s reputation? Is there a chance that Curtis can figure out if the famous jewel thief the “Leopard” is the one behind this? And what are these two going to do about that evening in a small hotel in the Latin Quarter?

The high society of the mid 1950s are evoked in all their glamour and elegance. Jerome has a bit of a chip on his shoulder which might be do to the fact that he wears a creased gabardine suit amidst this world of quiet riches where his company’s client has her own jet, apartments in Paris and Los Angeles, and rubs shoulders with the movers and shakers who have the cash to drop on her elegantly created pieces of jewelry.

Jerome also has an idea who might be behind the theft and manages to stay equal to or only one step behind someone who has carefully planned every move and knows exactly what they’re doing. Ania carefully curates the facade of an unflappable woman and for the most part (huzzah!) she is one. She’s been raised to eventually take over the company and nothing is going to destroy what she’s worked so hard to claw back once already from the brink. She also owns her sexuality.

As the two of them rushed to figure out what could happen next, I began to try and put together the clues. A few things I felt needed a bit more explanation yet at the same time, that would have probably given the game away too early. I had an inkling about who dunnit but even with a little villain monologuing, most of what is needed to piece together the thief’s identity is there. Ania’s reactions to the roller coaster her life becomes seem realistic while Jerome tips his hand about his feelings by his action in the end rather than anything he says. As the book ends, these two are still not in any real relationship which is fine with me since it would push things into something that just isn’t there yet. I hope that there will be a sequel because … well, reasons and I want to see more of these two clashing in all the ways they clash. B-

A star studded event, with the ultimate heist before it could even get started. How could this possibly happen? The adventure to find the Leopard, leads to a bit of romance, with an unseemly pair. I feel the ending left me wanting to tie up lose ends. How the lives of those involved were impacted by the events that unfolded.

A delightful novella based loosely on the movie To Catch a Thief. I really enjoyed it and the characters and location and looking forward to future installments.

This was a quick fun read, perfect for a relaxing weekend. Set in 1957, this is a classic caper mystery. I normally don't enjoy alternating chapters from different voices but it didn't bother me with The steal. The two characters are Ania Throne and Jerome Curtis and it's a case of opposites. Ania is elegant and Jerome is more like a rumpled, unmade bed in appearance. She has been designing upscale, high end jewelry since she was nineteen and has taken over from her father when their board of directors forced him out. She has a lot riding on her latest collection which will be on show at the famous Cannes Film Festival. Millions of dollars in precious gems will adorn some of the most famous and most beautiful women around and success would mean a revitalization of her company. Too bad it also has attracted the attention of a notorious and elusive thief known as The Leopard. When the entire collection is stolen, Jerome is sent by the insurance company to investigate and retrieve the jewelry. That sets the stage for a caper worthy of the classic movies of the 1950's with Ania and Jerome going from Cannes to London to New York - all in a chase to unmask The Leopard.
I enjoyed The Steal from start to finish and I thank the publisher Blue Box Press and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Set in the 1950’s, The Steal is the first novella in a new series by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner and is both a caper story and an open door romance.

Jerome Curtis is the competent but rather rumpled insurance investigator sent to recover stolen jewelry intended for celebrities to wear at Cannes. He’s soon in pursuit of The Jaguar, a notorious thief and his personal obsession, along with jeweler Ania Thorne - an elegant, icy blonde who brings several 1950’s actresses to mind.

With insights into Jerome’s history chasing Nazis after World War II and the way Ania was molded from childhood, this is a story that is interesting on multiple levels. With an ending that leaves much open for the second novella to develop, this caper is a bit of an opposites attract story with a one bed trope thrown in for good measure. Told in alternating voices, there were a few times I was thrown out of the story by a detail or phrase, but overall this first romantic adventure for Ania and Jerome is a bit of historical fiction fun.

This review refers to a digital galley I voluntarily read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own. This review originally appeared on Instagram.

A High Profile Jewelry Theft in Cannes

Ania Thorne, a talented jewelry designer, has worked hard for the last five years to restore the reputation of her father’s company. She has planned a stunning collection centered around special designs for three movie stars that will be shown at the international film festival, but now the enterprise is threatened by the theft of the jewels.

Jerome Curtis is an insurance investigator. He arrives in Cannes to locate the stolen gems. He immediately sees that several things are unusual, like leaving the jewels in a separate room from Ania’s suite. Then at lunch Ania’s salad arrives with a surprise. One of the pieces is returned with a note.

The audacity of the theft and particularly the note lead Curtis to the assumption that the thief is none other than the fabled jewelry their, Leopold. Now the chase is on and he can’t ignore his increasing interest in Ania.

This book is reminiscent of a 1950’s movie. There’s glamour, priceless jewels, a notorious thief and a budding romance. The pace is fast much like a movie. The descriptions of the Carleton Hotel and the avenues of Paris combined with movie stars and jewels is an irresistible combination.

Ania’s character is perfect. She has trained herself to be an ice queen, showing no emotion, to keep her competitors from getting an emotional edge. I enjoyed seeing her transition to a warmer person as she helped Curtis chase the thief. Curtis was also an excellent character. He’s tough and smart and his rumpled appearance is the perfect foil to Ania’s icy perfection.

If you like romance with a gorgeous setting and a mystery, this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.