This was sadly not what I was hoping it would be. I did like the world building, with real magic existing in the real world, just hidden with tricks and lies. The storyline jumped around and had a lot going on that did not always work well and at times was distracting from the actual plot. There was also a lot of dark and betrayal here, and then the end was very HEA with no real work to get there, kind of abrupt. Also, the romance was more of the Main Character remembering that she had feelings for a person, with no actual real relationship development- I was actually rooting for another love interest instead. I guess this is a standalone with how the epilogue went, but I feel like there were more loose ends then I like, but I probably would not read another in this world anyway.

I'm a sucker for a heist book and thought I had just about read it all, but Gwenda Bond's The Frame-Up was full of the delightfully unexpected. Introducing magic into modern-day thievery is pure gold and was such a fun plot to read. Dani is such a multi-layered character and I couldn't get enough of her mom's old crew. I was on the edge of my seat to see if they could truly pull off such an impossible heist on a crazy short timeline!

I enjoyed this books about thieves in which a daughter sends her mom to prison. But then ends up having to pull off a heist only her mom could pull off. I have to say to say that this one gave me grow up Heist Society by Ally Carter vibes.

Without giving too much away, I'm going to review this a little vaguely (sorry!) - It took me a bit to get through this book, it's a combo of grand larceny/art theft/magical realism/romance - which made for an interesting story line, but I just didn't connect with any of the characters and I didn't get "hooked" at any point in the story, but I did finish it. Looking forward though to see what Gwenda Bond does next!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a funny, quirky story that drew you right in. You were rooting for Dani to pull off the heist, you were hoping the trust she is putting in her old crew is warranted, you are torn between her old friend and her new friendship with the art collector's son. There is magic, mystery, twists and turns. It is a fun story to read with an array of unusual characters that will keep you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. This book will appeal to older children, teenagers, and adults. It was very enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

A fun heist novel with a small side of romance, Bond's newest title features magic, art, and complex family relationships. Dani has been alone and on the run since she helped the FBI arrest her mother, a famous art thief. When approached by a mysterious family friend and asked to do a job only her mother could pull off, Dani finds herself thrust back into a world of art and magic while also trying to make amends with her first love and her best friend. Learning that the stakes are higher than she could have ever imagined, Dani must plan a heist in under a week while also learning to love again. Readers looking for a breezy romantic comedy with a side of art might be disappointed by the relative lack of romance in The Frame-Up. The novel definitely focuses more on trauma and learning to navigate old relationships than it does on falling in love. While perhaps not a first recommendation for romance or heist lovers, readers who enjoy art history will devour the well-researched callbacks to famous heists and works of art.

2.75 stars. First, I want to thank NetGalley and Random House publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Frame-Up is a magical realism art heist that was not for me. I struggled to make it through 30% of the book. The premise was so promising, which is why I requested the arc, however, I was bored from the start. I also was confused half the time with all the new character introductions and subplots. This was also supposed to be a romance, but the FMC and her 2 love interests/options had no chemistry and no real love? The characters lacked depth and I didn’t feel a connection with any of them. The heist itself was fun, but as soon as the “magic” was brought in, it took away from what could have been an awesomely fun read. The writing was good, but also bland (does that make sense?). It seemed like the story wanted to be funny and romantic, but it just wasn’t? For those who read this and enjoyed it, I am happy, it just wasn’t for me.

Read this if you enjoy these tropes:
- Second chance romance
- Art Heist
- Found family
- Magic & magical realism

I read the first 10 chapters, but could not finish I didn’t care about any of the characters or what happened to them. I’m not even sure what the storyline was supposed to be.

DNF @ 20%. It felt like this book couldn't figure out what it wanted to be - the magic wasn't fleshed out well, but neither was the con artists/heist element. . Promising, but ultimately boring.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Frame-Up definitely wasn't what I was expecting when I read the book synopsis. I'm not sure I can review this book honestly without giving away a few secrets. I'll try to keep them to a minimum. So yes, magically gifted con artists and thieves -- check. The range of magical abilities was quite varied, and we didn't really learn how they came about or why some people possessed them, but that wasn't a huge problem for me. Yes, estranged mother, best friend, and love of her life -- check. She had a messed up childhood to say the least, but some of the relationships are mendable. Huh? A narcissistic demon who hires Dani to steal something -- nope, I was not expecting that... and it just gets weirder.

Pros: The storyline was unique and unexpected. It definitely took me by surprise. I liked how likeable the mark was and how genuine he was; oh, and how he was a great father. Dani is a great heroine who decides to do what is right no matter the cost. I love how she makes healthy choices for herself in the end.

Uncertainties: I just finished reading the novel less than 24 hours ago, and I am still not sure how I feel about the story. Perhaps I won't ever come down on one side of the fence or the other. I wasn't really a fan of a story with a demonic main character, though admittedly, this story wouldn't exist without him. His schemes and dreams were very central to the plot.

Mixed feelings put this books at 3 or 3.5 stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Dani Poissant used to work as part of a team that was able to steal valuable artwork. Some of the most famous art thefts were the results of their actions. They are good at what they do. But they have something else working for them...magic. Each member of their team has a different skill. Dani has the ability to reproduce any work of art. Her mother heads up the team. But a teen-aged Dani believes her mother is changing for the worst. This leads to her turning her mother over to the FBI.

Fast forward to the present and we find Dani pulling con jobs and avoiding her painting skills. But she gets the offer of a lifetime. She has the chance to steal a particular work of art. In order to do this, she must reassemble the team. If she can pull of this seemingly impossible heist, will she be able to reunite with her estranged mother?

As usual, with the novels about characters with "special skills", it takes a bit to establish what's going on. But once this was done, this novel proceeded on in an enjoyable fashion. The characters were well-developed and enjoyable. The dialog was crisp and lively. The pacing of the book as it counted down the days to the heist was lots of fun. I highly recommend this book.

Dani is estranged from her mother who is in jail after Dani ratted her out on a heist they were working on. Dani is propositioned by her mom’s former partner, Archer, to work a security job/heist for a wealthy family who are selling their patriarch’s art collection. Dani’s magical abilities come into play as she reconnects with her mom’s old crew to get the job done.

The premise of this book was really fun and unique! I went in not knowing a ton about the magical/whimsical aspects of what I was getting into which was a fun surprise. The pacing was a little off for me, but one of the characters featured Dani's dog Sunflower who stole the show if I do say so myself.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just didn't like this book it was probably me but I didn't like the characters, I didn't feel connected to their backstory, I couldn't really care about what was going to happen.

Sadly this sounded interesting but just missed the mark for me. It had such potential but it felt boring.

Dani is a magically talented art forger who has been hired to steal and replace a certain painting in a highly secured vault. She knows all about theft – she learned from her mother, an infamous, magically gifted master thief. But to pull off the job, she’ll need help from her mother’s old crew, who still hold a grudge for Dani’s key role in her mother’s arrest. Among them is her ex, Elliott. Can she smooth over old wounds to get the job done?

Magic AND a heist AND romance should have ticked all the boxes but there was something about this book that didn’t quite connect for me until more than halfway through the book. I could tell that parts were supposed to create tension, but I didn’t really feel it. I wanted something – either the heist or the romance – to grab my attention and hold it tight, but neither of those elements really landed for me. It was only around the middle, when more backstory was revealed and the stakes became clear, that things started to interest me. And even that faded in and out as the focus of the story changed.

That said, it was still good. Nothing wrong with it (aside from a bit of a love triangle, which is simply a trope I don’t care for.) I just wanted to be enthralled more than I was. But it might be perfect for someone else. Four stars, plus bonus points for a good dog and a John Prine shout-out.

Representation: LGBTQ+ characters

CW: mention of suicide

The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond
Contemporary romance with magic abilities and demon.
Dani Poissant is the daughter of a famous art thief. At seventeen, and fearing the mysterious influence of Archer, Dani worked with the FBI to stop her mother and crew from using their magic to steal. Ten years later, Dani is forced to go back to her mother’s crew to help her steal a painter of Archer that dates back to 1890. She has questions, but so do all those she betrayed. Why would they work with her again or trust her?

The magical elements are intriguing. Dani can reproduce a masterpiece that will fool the experts. Sunflower, the dog was my favorite character.
There are a lot of secondary characters that make up crew with unique abilities as well but needed a list to keep track of everyone. Unfortunately I lost interest at about 25% and it took me a few months to find the time to get back to it. Picking it up again, I was hoping for a unique magical painting switch but the demon manipulation, the FBI, and trying to reflame an old crush felt forced and unfocused for me.
This is the second disappointing read for me by this author. With so much new each month, it will probably be my last.
The ending is happy and successful.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

The premise of this book sounded so different and very fun but unfortunately I ended up not enjoying it as much.

I really liked the parts of the heist but the romance wasn't hitting for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I had fun reading this one! It was a nice magical realism heist novel. It gave me old-timey vibes in the art theft, old-school action movie type vibe. The characters were likable and the story overall was enjoyable. Quick read though the ending was somewhat predictable. Highly recommend! Thank you for the ARC Netgalley!

Heists are my favorite, so this magical one was obviously a delight! Sometimes you have to learn the hard way that blood doesn't always mean family.

It pains me to say that I didn’t enjoy this book - I struggled wanting to pick it up and eventually gave up around 40% in. The cover and the blurb made this seem like such an exciting story but I just could not connect to it. I have loved some of Gwenda’s others books so this was really surprising for me.