I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

What a fantastic book!! I stayed up til 2am to finish. This was an enticing combination of modern day and the Sidhe, a combination I hadn't found before.

Very well written and the story was very engaging! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!

Integrity Taylor is a thief, a very good one. But, she was born a Sidhe. Not knowing how her father died, or what he did, she was still treated bad because of those acts. Finally having enough, at age eleven, she ran away and decided to live clanless. Taken in by Taylor, she learned to be a gifted thief. Now that she is an adult, she gets summoned to Sidhe court. With a hit on Taylor for his gambling debt, two of her friends locked up on bogus charges, she can see she's being manipulated into going back. But what choice does she have? I enjoyed the world Helen created, and warmed to Integrity and her friends. I can't wait to read the next one!

- I got an advance kindle copy for an honest review. -
This is the first Helen Harper book I have read and I have to say I am a fan already The main character and story dragged me in from the start. and all the characters made the story totally enthralling..
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Highly recommended.

Integrity what a great name for a character! I love that name. I was not as happy as I thought I would be with this book. It was a good story line but I felt the first few chapters in the book were too slow for me. Once the story picked up the pace I thought it was fun story. I felt Integrity was a very down to earth personality for the book. * I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Gifted Thief is a nice urban fantasy, if not ground shattering. The plot is pretty straightforward, an orphan runaway is adopted by a family of thieves. As an adult, she is blackmailed into returning, because as the last of her line she is needed for an important task. On its own, the novel is a bit plain. But, it looks like this book is more of a prologue or teaser, a means of getting Integrity interested in her family's past and the politics of the sidhe world. I would expect her team of thieves will also play a greater role in future novels. Of course this is only my opinion.

If I look at Gifted Thief on its own, the novel isn't bad. The writing is decent, the main character doesn't need rescuing by a hero, and there is a good bit of humor - though some jokes are funnier than others. As the start to a series, it has a lot of potential. I look forward to reading the next novel in the series.

4/5

I received a copy of Gifted Thief from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

5 stars! ★★★★★
I really liked this book! I was laughing out loud with it and I couldn't put it down I finished it at 5 in the morning like where has the time gone.

General Comments:
Ok so there really was only one problem for me and that was the introduction, it was a little rough/hard to understand. hear me out though it got better pretty quick and I loved the book. It was one of those beginnings where it kinda just jumps into it and your getting the info as you go. The only thing I didn't like about it was I was a bit confused, I was asking questions in my head like what year is this take place(that gets answered) how is the world kinda set up does everyone know about the Sidhe are they "out" so to speak, it was just coming to understand the workings of this world. All of it was rather quickly answered.

I say this because I don't want people to put the book down before it really gets started, it was just confusing because the main character didn't really have a name at the start so she was talking about herself as "her" so it took a minute to wrap my head around it. But this book definitely deserves a shot.

Characters:
The main character was awesome! I LOVED her, she was witty and it seemed like she was just unapologetic of herself and I liked that. Its actually crazy how many stupid female characters are out there in book world and I come across a book like this with such a great character its refreshing. Its nice to read a book and not get insanely irritated at a main character.

I liked how first and foremost her family she chose came first to her and that even if there was a love interest it didn't take over who she was or her thoughts. Its like she goes " oh yeah you're hot, but I gotta go do this thing first.... bye" so we get the fun tension between the two but its not a main focus.

World building:
Was actually pretty cool, I loved this authors last series. I really like her versions of fairies and shifters and magic etc. So I was excited to start her new series. As I said It was a bit confusing at the start but its ok because you kind of grow into the book and suddenly I was super into it and couldn't stop reading. This book is worth a shot, and now I have to wait for the second one to come out, probably the only downside to getting an ARC and loving it seems like an even longer wait for the next.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I just finished reading an amazing book by Helen Harper titled Gifted Thief. It's urban fantasy romance and so well written. I love the world and the characters. She is not a new author, but new to me and I can’t wait to start reading some of her other books, I can definitely see her becoming one of my favorite authors if they are as good as this one.

Integrity was an orphan. The other fae treated her poorly. Eventually she ran away and met Taylor. He gave her a home and taught her his profession, which was thievery. After many years, the fae contacted Integrity. She planned to flee, but bad things began happening to those she loved. She had to figure out who was after them and why.

Integrity despite being a thief managed to live up to her name. She would steal without batting an eye, but she had a moral code. She didn’t want to take anything that would have sentimental value. It was almost hard to believe she was a thief because she was too caring, but she was raised to do it. It was all she knew. Her life was all about taking risks, but the decisions she made weren’t dumb. She was mouthy and had an attitude sometimes, but she also knew when it was wise to shut up. Integrity does have the potential to become a special snowflake. Her magical abilities haven’t thoroughly been explored, but they definitely are unique.

Byron was the equivalent of a fae prince. He could be charming, sweet, and seductive. He also knew how to be manipulative. I got the vibe that he’s a good guy at heart. I really liked him although I didn’t agree with everything he did. There was strong chemistry with him and Integrity, so a romance may happen later on.

The side characters needed more work. Taylor was Integrity’s surrogate dad. Her 3 partners in crime Lexie, Speck, and Brochan were also like family to Integrity. It was explained why those people were important to her, but it wasn’t shown. They didn’t get enough page to feel the bond between them. For a group of thieves they were incredibly loyal to each other, which wasn’t realistic. Some of the fae side characters were more dynamic, but there hadn’t been time to determine their motives.

In this world the fae were divided into 4 clans. Something crazy happened, and Integrity was the only surviving member of hers. There were other fae who were clanless. They were considered insignificant. Humans were aware of the fae, but the interactions amongst the clans, the clanless, and humans wasn’t thoroughly explained. Some hints were given about what happened in Clan Adair and to Integrity’s parents. I can’t wait to read the next book to find out more!

Gifted Thief was a vibrant start to the Highland Magic series.

Integrity, an outcast, the runaway, clanless, has been living by her wits and survival skills for almost longer than she can remember. She is shocked to discover the high born clans have been keeping their eye on her. Wanting nothing to do with clans, Integrity is pulled back kicking and screaming into their world of deceit and magical manipulation by none other than Byron, prince charming of the clans.

She is the last surviving member of her clan, it was all but wiped out, leaving a black mark in everyone’s memory. The deeper Integrity delves into her clan history the more she discovers that the history has been rewritten by someone who wishes to do her harm.

Integrity must pull out all the stops and employee all her well-honed skills if she wishes to survive her return to her rightful place being the last of Clan Adair.

There is a chemistry at play between Integrity and Byron that has potential but overall this is Integrity’s search for truth.

She does bring along her side kicks, partners in crime (quite literally), which provide some great character interactions.

Definitely a series I will continue to follow, Gifted Thief left me hanging and looking for more to come.

I receive this ARC copy of Gifted Thief from HarperFire in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication Jan. 29, 2016.

My rating: 4 stars

Written by: Helen Harper Series: Highland Magic Sequence in Series: 1 Paperback: 348 pages Publisher: HarperFire Publication Date: Jan. 29, 3016 ISBN-10: 1519683820 ISBN-13: 978-1519683823 Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Thief-He...

GoodReads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1519895986

I wasn't overly interested in wanting to read this book, because it's not my usual read. When I started reading it, I was highly confused. Was is high fantasy? Urban fantasy? Or a futuristic type fantasy? I honestly had no idea when it was set. Because of this, it took me a while to get into it. Just so we're clear, it's a present day book. (How did I not get that straight away?)

I loved Integrity. I found the overuse of hot pink really annoying, especially because I couldn't relate to it. I do like what it represented, however. For some reason, women are perceived as "girly girls" or "tomboys". This book wasn't like that. Although the pink everything was annoying, I like how she has a sense of fashion, and high heels, while being a badass bitch. She was a talented thief while enjoying her feminine side.

Byron was a pretty well rounded character too. I love-hated him. He's perceived as some pompous prince thing, and sometimes he can be. But other times he's pretty cool.

I loved Integrity's team of thieves: Lexie, Speck, Brochan, and Taylor. They aren't really featured much in the story (although, I did think they'd be thrown to the side and completely forgotten - which they weren't). I wish we'd learned more about them. One thing I like, is Integrity being an orphan but having adopted Taylor as her dad. As someone with an adoptive parent, it's really cool to see that just because Taylor isn't her blood parent she still goes by his name and calls him dad.

I also love how it's not set in America!!!!! I'm so sick of American set books. I've never travelled to the USA and I feel like I don't need to because of books and tv shows. It's set in Scotland, and I love the language (it's non American and has some pretty cool slang).

There's only one thing I didn't like about this book (other than the "which time period is this?"), and that's the post traumatic sex thing. No spoilers, I won't say who, but you don't go from hating some, to trying to fend off a monster thing, to having 10 minute sex. It felt very wrong and off.

Overall this was a fantastic book that I recommend to any urban fantasy fan. I loved this book and can't wait until the next one!

She's an orphan. She has been taken in by the "bull" of the Sidhe and is almost treated like a servant. She hates it but she has no other options. When she's been insulted again and it's almost too much for her to stand, she notices the doorman is gone and she runs away. She doesn't want anything to do with the Sidhe. They have magics, lots of charm and beauty, riches and power. She has nothing and likes it that way.

HarperFire and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It is being published today.

As she's walking down the road on the other side of Sidhe barrier, a human stops and offers her a ride. He seems nice, but she's wary. She also knows what to do if he gets out of hand, so she says fine. Time goes by and she's now working for the man who picked her up. She's also an excellent thief. She intends to go on one last job and then get out of thieving and do some search and rescue work. She climbs well, isn't afraid of heights and hopes to save some people who are in dangerous situations. She knows something is wrong when she gets to the latest heist's jewel and it's already gone. Who took it? Probably the Sidhe that sent her a summons to return to court. She wasn't going but now she's going to have to save her boss.

This was an excellent read. She calls herself Integrity and she's a smart defiant Sidhe who doesn't want to get involved with the clan wars. She's a necessary component because she's the only one left of her clan and the magic is dying. It's bad enough being among enemies but it's even worse when someone is trying to kill her.

There's romance, magic, treachery, hatred, and stubbornness all wound up in this story. It ends with her going one way and her potential love going the other but this is a series and that romance isn't over yet. Neither is the danger to Integrity...

Thanks for the opportunity - I published my review on my Blog, GodReads and Amazon.

This was an exceptional book that I absolutely loved! From the first page to the end, this was a complete page turner! This story is about an orphaned girl ostracized, terrorized and abused by those who were supposed to take care of her. One day after just being kicked repeatedly by the princess of the house, she meets a new stranger, who dismisses her just like everyone else. This was the last straw. The girl with no name decided to run away into the unknown, and chose the name Integrity, after her encounter with a human who took her in.

Fast forward 16 years later, and Integrity is now an excellent thief with a few close friends that she considers her only family. Little does she know that she has been watched for the entire time she lived among the clan-less, and that every crime she has committed has been closely monitored. These people are now ready to do what they need to do to get Integrity back to the clan she left behind. Even having her friends imprisoned, or threatened with death. Integrity intentionally runs into Byron, the boy who dismissed her when she was a child, in order to acquire an expensive gem to get her friends out of the trouble they are in. The jewel, her friends being imprisoned, and her mentor being threatened were just a way to get Integrity where they want her. Little does she know that the magic that is so integral to their lives is not working the way it should, and they desperately need her help to fix it. Integrity is also learning that everything is not what it seems. Now she just has to survive long enough to find out what is real, who she really is, and what really happened with her father.

I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait to read the next installment!!!!

For the full review, please visit the provided link, on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange. My review is too long for NetGalley's standarts :)

Honestly, this book. I don’t recall the last time that I fell so hard for a female main character as I did for Integrity. She had me since page one and never once lost me – which is a very important accomplishment, as the book is narrated in first person by her and I usually have no patient at all with the protagonists. But I connected in such a level with her, it was just like if I had found a new best friend. I actually cried when the book ended because there would be no more Integrity waiting for me on my e-reader (and the end was perfect, just saying). I don’t know how I’m going to keep breathing until February, when the sequel is to be released. Helen Harper did a hell of a job here and think every human being on the planet should read this book. If I could, I would rate it a million stars

Title: Gifted Thief Author: Helen Harper Series: Highland Magic #1 Publication Date: January 26, 2016 Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal My Rating: 4.5 Stars

My Review:

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Wowzers!!!!

Did I mention how fortunate I was to get a copy of this book!? Because, it wasn't just fortunate. It was as if the book gods looked down upon me and smiled. They said, our poor avid fantasy lover reader has not found a new series to fall head over heels in love with this year. We must remedy that. Here, have this book!

Okay, book gods and all aside, this was freaking fantastic. I mean seriously, it has the best recipe for a freaking amazeballs book. Its like the author made a check list of all things phenomenal and somehow managed to include every single thing on her list without even having to try! The book was absolutely along the lines of being epic with the author making it look effortless.

The characters are kick butt fantastic. I mean, come on! Who doesn't like a sassy strong female lead who has the worst jokes this side of the continent? Its just a big ball of awesome. A new twist on fae in a modern world has a needs no saving criminal with morals lead character with a midget sidekick genie with a knack for disastrous wishes and the ultimate hands-off-no-touchy-bad-boy-dreamcicle. Yeah, its that kind of awesome.

My only real disappointment is, that while I've been supremely lucky in receiving an arc copy of this book, who knows when the next book comes out!

This paranormal story set in modern day Scotland is an interesting and promising introduction to this new series.

Integrity is an orphan who is treated very badly by her ward, the head of a wealthy Sidhe Clan. She is from a Clan surrounded with mysteries and wasn't even named until she runs away. The high class of the Sidhe Clans rule with magic and wealth whereas the Clan-less are despised and treated with no respect. When Integrity runs away at a very young age, she meets Taylor who takes her under his wings. She joins his team of thieves. They become her family and as far as she is concerned she is not Sidhe.

Byron, the heir to one of the clans, renowned for his good looks and womanising has something that Integrity needs to help Taylor get out of a dangerous situation. Taylor's life is being threatened and the rest of her 'family" are in danger of losing their freedom. When Integrity discovers that Byron is staying in a hotel, she sets out to find him and hopefully steal what she so desperately needs. She would do anything for her family. Here comes the first twist!

Integrity is informed that she is needed to help the Sidhe Clans and the Clan-less from a disaster. She goes along with Byron and plans to make a swift escape once the mission is accomplished. It turns out that nothing is as it seems when she meets the Clans. From here on there endless twists and the surprises keep coming. Not in a good way. There are numerous attempts on her life but she retains her sense of humour!

The other thing is that there is an attraction between Integrity and Byron but with all the treachery going on, she is not sure that he can be trusted. She encovers than her father was not what everyone leads her to believe and at the same time, she is surprised when she identifies the one responsible for the latest attempt on her life. This is enough to leave her wondering if there is anyone she can trust besides her family. She has a plan though and the ending left me wanting for more.

This story builds up gradually and is full of magic, intrigue, suspense, jealousy, blackmail, lies and betrayal. Who knows where the real truth lies? I am hooked on this story and look forward to the next instalment. I would recommend to those who like the paranormal with new and different concepts.

I received an advanced complimentary ecopy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read Helen Harper's Blood Destiny and Bo Blackman series, am a fan of her writing style, which is very consistent. Strong female lead(Check!), a hidden trait(check!), a ménage of friends who help her fight crime/solve mysteries/or come to grips with the mentioned hidden trait (check!), and a good looking love interest that takes a few books to develop (check! check!). Gifted Thief has all of the facets of a Helen Harper jewel!

Gifted Thief follows the story of a self named young Sidhe named Integrity, who is clan-less. She is the last surviving member of the clan Adair. Her father was legendary, though not in a positive way. So legendary that the other Clans wiped out clan Adair, but allowed Integrity to survive. Helen Harper writes Integrity with a sense of humor and a nod and a wink mischievousness. I was easily able to visualize her awkward walk in heels, her hair flips, and her expressions as she delivers punchlines to some very awful jokes. This book would translate well being made into an animated movie, as some of the characters were a little over the top and outrageous, but told with the same amount of tongue in cheek.

Integrity has grown up amidst a small group of thieves, who she now considers her family. This love for her friends is used against her to blackmail her into coming back to the Sidhe world. I loved how when faced with the glitz and glamour of the Sidhe world again, her love still remains with her small group of friends. We can all probably identify with this feeling of family, which follows our life experiences. The people closest to you aren't necessarily the people you share blood, genetics or race with, they are the ones you have struggled through difficult times and survived lifes challenges and have drawn you closer than blood ever could.

Helen Harper once again delivers a heroine with humor and heart. I can't wait to read about her other adventures as she continues to outwit and elude the Sidhe clans.
❤️❤️❤️❤️

I loved this book, character development was great and I can't wait for the next one. I love a story where there are more grey areas than life in black and white, so much more realisitic when you are rooting for someone who's not perfect at everything. Will definitely be recommending to friends

Rating 4.5/5 What an intriguing mix of contemporary and fantasy this novel proved to be! Set in Scotland, the Sidhe are the ruling class, with varying magical Gifts, belonging to Clans and looking down on humans and the Clanless. When the orphaned child, Integrity, being brought up in the home of the Bull has had enough, runs away and is rescued by Taylor she turns her back on the Sidhe and becomes a very talented thief. She grows up in age and talent and is happy until the Sidhe appear in her life again and things will never be the same for her or those close to her as she starts to learn more about her birth family and clan.

This is an epic adventure story, with a delectable mix of daring, magic, mystery, intrigue, double dealing, deception and so much more! Well written, with a superb range of amazing characters, it is a riveting read that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in highly recommending. There are plenty of surprising twists and turns in this story to keep you enthralled and amazed as the story progresses. Even though the story works well as a standalone, I really want to read the sequel as soon as possible!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

Outcast among her own kind, Integrity has made her own family, a family of highly skilled thieves and she wants nothing to do with the Sidhe unfortunately the playboy heir to the Moncrieffe Clan has something she desperately needs in this enthralling new urban fantasy.

She’s an orphan, runaway and a thief, but she’s got spirit and she’s highly skilled so when her mentor gets in a bit of a tight spot, Integrity sets out to the day and the reader can’t help but get caught up in the spine tingling suspense, as the tables are turned and Integrity finds herself face to face with Bryon Moncrieffe. There is plenty of sizzling chemistry between Byron and Integrity but they both have their own agendas and things are about to get really interesting as these strong compelling characters demand the reader’s attention in this steady to fast paced and smooth flowing plot full of suspense, action and a touch of romance.

Not only do readers get the adrenaline pumping thrill of the heist that Integrity and her family of thieves pull off but they also get unexpected twists and lots of exciting thrills as everything from loan sharks, to sea monsters keep Integrity on top of her game as she struggles to deal with all the emotional turmoil of having to be among the very people who rejected her when she was a child. The scenes are well written with vivid details that make it easy for the reader to become caught up in the story and the characters and the intriguing events ensure that the readers can’t put the story down.

The author has created a fascinating world full of delightful characters, especially Integrity (I just love her attitude), and interesting elements with an intriguing overall plot that arouses curiosity and captures attention ensuring that the readers come back for more and I for one can’t wait to find out what Integrity does next.

Integrity is an orphan, an outcast, Clan-less, and the last surviving member of the Adair Clan.

She was taken under the care of the Bull until the age of 11 when she ran away.
She met Taylor who became her mentor and trained her to be a thief. She's a very professional thief, there's virtually nothing that she cannot steal.

Several years after she's run away, she received a letter summoning her to the Sithe Court. She tried to ignore it but several things happened that meant she couldn't eventually avoid going to the Court.

She met Byron, who's the heir to the Moncrieffe Clan. In fact she's met him once when she was eleven and Byron called her pathetic back then.

The Foinse, source of all magic, is failing, and representatives from the 4 strongest Clans must take on a journey to try and save it. The Adair Clan is one of the 4 and Integrity was forced to make this journey with several other Sithe including Byron.

There's a certain chemistry between Integrity and Byron but we haven't really seen anything blossom yet. There are also other characters like Jamie (who had a thing with Integrity) and Tipsania who's constantly throwing herself in Byron's arms.

While Integrity was at the Sithe Court, there were 2 attempts on her life. She managed to find out who it was, but after she helped fix the Foinse, another attempt was made.

The story ended soon after and it left us hanging and left me wanting for more. I'll certainly be looking forward to the next book in the Highland Magic series!

**I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**

5 stars

Born in Faerie as the girl with no name, she is an enigma and an orphan; made to feel like she was little more than servant, when in reality she’s the illegitimate child of a powerful fae leader who died when she was a child. Left to be raised by fae who despise her very being, when she decides that she’s finally had enough and she runs away, the first person she runs into is Andy “Taylor” – a professional thief by trade. When asked her name, she thinks of the one thing she wants to have – despite being a fae – and names herself Integrity. Fast forward 16 years, and Integrity is part of Taylor’s crew – stealing from those more fortunate, quite often the Fae, for their own survival. Along with three others in Taylor’s crew – all Clan-less Fae – they have run a successful theft ring, until one day when the item they are in search of isn’t where it’s supposed to be. Of course that doesn’t stop Integrity from taking a “pretty looking” letter opener from one of the desks within the building they break into. She thinks nothing of it – it’s just a pretty memento from her final job with her beloved team. But when they arrive back at Taylor’s and inform him the item they were there to steel – a gem called the Lia Saifir – was missing, Taylor confesses that he needed the money from his share of the sale of the gem to pay off a bookie. But not just any bookie – his debt was sold to a mysterious financier. With Taylor’s existence hanging in the balance, it’s a bad time to tell him about the letter opener that turns out to be an enchanted “dagger” with a genie named Bob residing inside – one that Integrity can’t get rid of, even though she tries, until she makes her three wishes (which she vows to never do as she knows the repercussions of genie wishes).

While Integrity wants out of the business, her love and devotion to Taylor and the team drives her to settle his debt – once again – as her constant repayment for the life he helped her have since leaving Faerie. But it proves a bit more difficult than she’d dealt with in the past – seeing as the creditor turns out to be a Fae from Integrity’s past – the son of one of the power families in Faerie, Byron Moncrieff. All he wants is for Integrity to come back to Faerie with him to complete a ritual to repair the magic in Faerie. Along with her trusty “letter opener” genie Bob at her side, she reluctantly agrees and heads back to the place she tried so hard to escape and forget. But Byron isn’t the indignant prick of a Fae that she remembers from her youth…he’s an attractive, successful, and surprisingly kind gentleman that wants to help her along her path back during her brief time in Faerie. So when someone wants her dead – and will use any means necessary to complete the task, Integrity turns once again to her team, and reluctantly Byron and his clan to figure out who it is that wants her out of the way and why. But sometimes, as Integrity finds out, it might be better to not know – lives will be lost and futures forever changed by the Gifted Thief name Integrity.

I simply loved this story! I thought Integrity was funny, witty, and had amazing self preservation skills – that are a must when dealing with the snooty Fae. Her relationships are a source of strength for her – she knows that even though her bio-Fae family may have discarded her, but they never would – and she is better for it. With the arrival of Byron and is betrayal and eventual protection of her, I loved the interaction between the two. Kissing one minute, bickering the next – all the makings of a great relationship, if only they could see past each other and their pasts to make their futures worth it. I was a bit let down with the seemingly sudden ending, but I cannot WAIT to see what else is in store for Integrity – Faerie is definitely not done with her yet, and her past is still so up in the air. So in Integrity style “What’d the beaver say to the tree?”… “It's been nice gnawing you!” So corny and endearing, how could you not fall completely for this series???

story of an orphan turned spylots of action and subplots

Can't wait for the next one!! Main character is believable and how many thiefs are named Integrity? Storyline is absorbing and love the puns. Great read.

This is a magical rollercoaster of a read. I really enjoyed this magical adventure it had me hooked from beginning to end. thankyou for letting me read your amazing book well done.

I loved this book and the main character. It was set in interesting setting and I liked the plot. The twists and turns were great. Loved the female lead who was slightly "bad" but who still operated by her own strong ethics. This is a book that you want to immediately jump into the next book. I highly recommend this book. I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange of honest review