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Agency of Burglary & Theft #1
A Beautiful Heist
Everyone has a talent. Some are just more legal than others. Cat Montgomery steals jewels for AB&T, the premier agency for thieves in Seattle. Career perks: good pay, great disguises, constant adrenaline rush. Drawbacks: the possibility of jail time…or worse. Now she’s taken on a lucrative side job—recovering a priceless Faberge egg for an alleged Romanov descendent.
Though Cat is working solo, there are plenty of interested players. Her FBI ex-boyfriend is nosing around, as is her former mentor-turned-nemesis. Then there’s the sexy art thief helping—or is he hindering?—her mission. If her luck holds out, this could be the case that allows Cat to retire with her conscience and her life intact. If not, it’ll be her last job for all the wrong reasons…
Though Cat is working solo, there are plenty of interested players. Her FBI ex-boyfriend is nosing around, as is her former mentor-turned-nemesis. Then there’s the sexy art thief helping—or is he hindering?—her mission. If her luck holds out, this could be the case that allows Cat to retire with her conscience and her life intact. If not, it’ll be her last job for all the wrong reasons…
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
50 people are currently reading
1036 people want to read
About the author
Kim Foster
4 books292 followersKim Foster writes YA and adult books about thieves, spies, and assassins. Her YA debut GAME OF SECRETS will be out in Fall 2017 and is a historical fantasy—a spy thriller set in an alternate Victorian world. Prior to becoming a writer, Kim went to medical school and practiced as a family doctor (don’t worry; it doesn’t make much sense to her friends and family, either).
Kim lives with her husband and their two young sons in Victoria, BC, where she’s hard at work on her next book.
Kim's Facebook page:
http://facebook.com/AuthorKimFoster
Kim lives with her husband and their two young sons in Victoria, BC, where she’s hard at work on her next book.
Kim's Facebook page:
http://facebook.com/AuthorKimFoster
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June 15, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
Everyone loves a great caper story--that’s what made Ocean’s Eleven so popular--twice!
A Beautiful Heist is just that, the story of a great caper, a high stakes robbery (the penny-ante stuff isn’t any fun) but it’s more than that.
In the midst of that high-stakes robbery we have one of the classic forbidden romances: the thief and the cop, well, FBI agent, who have fallen for each other and can’t manage to fall out.
And then there’s two of the greatest stories ever told, all wrapped up in the beautiful object being stolen, one of the missing Fabergé eggs and the secret inside. There are secrets within secrets within secrets.
Cat Montgomery is a thief, and she’s very, very good at her job. It is a job, she even has a real employer: AB&T, the premier thieving agency in Seattle. As long as she plays by the rules, the job has a lot of perks.
The problem is that AB&T is a real employer that files real tax returns, and Cat hasn’t. So when the IRS comes calling for back taxes, Cat takes a very risky side-job for someone she can’t check out properly. She thinks she’s returning one of the lost Fabergé eggs to the Romanov family.
Instead she’s stealing one of those treasures from a Romanov descendant and giving it to, whom exactly?
Stealing it back turns out to be much, much harder than the original theft. The egg’s new owners turn out to be very, very nasty people. But Cat feels like she has to right the wrong she created. No matter what it costs.
Because Cat’s not sure who is betraying her, but someone certainly is.
Escape Rating B: A Beautiful Heist does remind me a lot of one of those great caper stories, because those movies are usually built with multiple plot misdirections that layer one on top of another, and keep you guessing until the very end.
The overarching story is the caper itself. Cat stealing the egg, and then, stealing it back. Everything else fits under that big umbrella. Maybe the better picture would be circus tent.
There’s also Cat’s redemption story. Cat is still trying to forgive herself for her sister’s death. Penny died in an auto accident because Cat wouldn’t steal something from another student’s locker. Cat still hasn’t forgiven herself.
Then there’s the love story between Cat and Jack, Cat’s once and future love-interest. They did break up, because, well, a thief and an FBI agent, that’s a recipe for disaster. But they broke up because they thought they should, not because they were really done with each other. They’re so obviously not.
And speaking of Jack, the way that Cat and Jack resolve their differences revolves around the secret of the egg, which turned out to be a humdinger. This particular bit of mythology, which I’m desperately trying not to give away, was one that I haven’t seen before. The egg, yes, the Romanovs, yes, this particular thing inside the egg, no. And very cool.
Everyone loves a great caper story--that’s what made Ocean’s Eleven so popular--twice!
A Beautiful Heist is just that, the story of a great caper, a high stakes robbery (the penny-ante stuff isn’t any fun) but it’s more than that.
In the midst of that high-stakes robbery we have one of the classic forbidden romances: the thief and the cop, well, FBI agent, who have fallen for each other and can’t manage to fall out.
And then there’s two of the greatest stories ever told, all wrapped up in the beautiful object being stolen, one of the missing Fabergé eggs and the secret inside. There are secrets within secrets within secrets.
Cat Montgomery is a thief, and she’s very, very good at her job. It is a job, she even has a real employer: AB&T, the premier thieving agency in Seattle. As long as she plays by the rules, the job has a lot of perks.
The problem is that AB&T is a real employer that files real tax returns, and Cat hasn’t. So when the IRS comes calling for back taxes, Cat takes a very risky side-job for someone she can’t check out properly. She thinks she’s returning one of the lost Fabergé eggs to the Romanov family.
Instead she’s stealing one of those treasures from a Romanov descendant and giving it to, whom exactly?
Stealing it back turns out to be much, much harder than the original theft. The egg’s new owners turn out to be very, very nasty people. But Cat feels like she has to right the wrong she created. No matter what it costs.
Because Cat’s not sure who is betraying her, but someone certainly is.
Escape Rating B: A Beautiful Heist does remind me a lot of one of those great caper stories, because those movies are usually built with multiple plot misdirections that layer one on top of another, and keep you guessing until the very end.
The overarching story is the caper itself. Cat stealing the egg, and then, stealing it back. Everything else fits under that big umbrella. Maybe the better picture would be circus tent.
There’s also Cat’s redemption story. Cat is still trying to forgive herself for her sister’s death. Penny died in an auto accident because Cat wouldn’t steal something from another student’s locker. Cat still hasn’t forgiven herself.
Then there’s the love story between Cat and Jack, Cat’s once and future love-interest. They did break up, because, well, a thief and an FBI agent, that’s a recipe for disaster. But they broke up because they thought they should, not because they were really done with each other. They’re so obviously not.
And speaking of Jack, the way that Cat and Jack resolve their differences revolves around the secret of the egg, which turned out to be a humdinger. This particular bit of mythology, which I’m desperately trying not to give away, was one that I haven’t seen before. The egg, yes, the Romanovs, yes, this particular thing inside the egg, no. And very cool.
June 29, 2013
Thieves. Romance. Fashion. Humor- what more could you ask for?
Cat Montgomery is a jewel thief- she knows it's wrong- yet it's the thing that makes her feel alive.
She gets asked to do a job that is impossible, dangerous, and intriguing. Cat takes the job- unaware that ex-boyfriend is also on the job (he's an FBI agent so this presents problems).
Cat knows 2 things- 1. She must not get caught and 2. knowing who to trust in her line of work can be hard.
*Full review to be posted later.
Cat Montgomery is a jewel thief- she knows it's wrong- yet it's the thing that makes her feel alive.
She gets asked to do a job that is impossible, dangerous, and intriguing. Cat takes the job- unaware that ex-boyfriend is also on the job (he's an FBI agent so this presents problems).
Cat knows 2 things- 1. She must not get caught and 2. knowing who to trust in her line of work can be hard.
*Full review to be posted later.
June 7, 2013
Cat Montgomery was born to be a thief. She works for AB&T, a secret Agency in Seattle that commissions her for high-stakes heists. It’s a great life, with one catch: She’s had to give up any notion of a fairytale happily-ever-after. After all, the villain doesn’t get to ride into the sunset. Cat’s not in it for greed, though. A modern day Robin Hood, she gives most of her earnings away to the homeless. Thieving is the only thing she’s ever good at; and she’s in it out of guilt, ever looking for that one job that will be her redemption, her deliverance from her haunted past.
When Cat is approached by a stranger who claims to be descended from the Romanovs to steal back a Faberge Egg taken from his family long ago, she knows she should turn him down. Extra-curricular jobs are verboten within her Agency. And without the agency’s resources, the risk is much higher: she will have to plan everything herself and goes in without backup. Trouble is, she’s in a financial pickle with the IRS and needs the money. Besides, this job offers a chance to right an old wrong. It will make the perfect last heist. After that she’ll be ready to retire.
It turns out she’s not the only one after the Egg. An ancient group of thieves is also looking for it. Her ex-boyfriend Jack Barlow, who is on the wrong side of the law (he’s an FBI agent), is nosing around the case as well. And there seems more to this Egg than the client reveals. Worse, her former mentor turned arch nemesis, Brooke Sinclair, out of prison and writing a tell-all book, is looking for a chance to get even and expose her transgression to AB&T.
On top of it all, she has to deal with her nagging mother, who keeps offering unwanted thieving career advancement tips, while trying to hide her true profession from her straight-laced father. Finally, in between completing agency assignments and planning the Faberge job, she needs to find time to finish that term paper, so she won’t blow her cover as a French literature graduate student.
Against all odds, Cat manages to pull off the heist. But her problems have only just begun. Cat learns she was tricked by her client and stole the Egg for the wrong people. Now her attempt at righting an old wrong has backfired bitterly. In spite of the danger she has to make it right. She’ll have to steal the Egg back. Retirement—and her chance at happily-ever-after—will have to wait.
This is a romantic thriller/action adventure that is best described as Covert Affairs meets White Collar. Full of vivid characters, witty dialogue, edge-of-your-seat action, and unexpected turns of event, A Beautiful Heist has everything you could want in a fast-moving page-turner. Cat Montgomery is a sassy, charming, and loveably imperfect heroine that combines the best qualities of Irene Adler, Stephanie Plum and Bridget Jones. You will be compelled to cheer her on during her hire-wiring exploits and root for her to get her fairytale happy ending.
When Cat is approached by a stranger who claims to be descended from the Romanovs to steal back a Faberge Egg taken from his family long ago, she knows she should turn him down. Extra-curricular jobs are verboten within her Agency. And without the agency’s resources, the risk is much higher: she will have to plan everything herself and goes in without backup. Trouble is, she’s in a financial pickle with the IRS and needs the money. Besides, this job offers a chance to right an old wrong. It will make the perfect last heist. After that she’ll be ready to retire.
It turns out she’s not the only one after the Egg. An ancient group of thieves is also looking for it. Her ex-boyfriend Jack Barlow, who is on the wrong side of the law (he’s an FBI agent), is nosing around the case as well. And there seems more to this Egg than the client reveals. Worse, her former mentor turned arch nemesis, Brooke Sinclair, out of prison and writing a tell-all book, is looking for a chance to get even and expose her transgression to AB&T.
On top of it all, she has to deal with her nagging mother, who keeps offering unwanted thieving career advancement tips, while trying to hide her true profession from her straight-laced father. Finally, in between completing agency assignments and planning the Faberge job, she needs to find time to finish that term paper, so she won’t blow her cover as a French literature graduate student.
Against all odds, Cat manages to pull off the heist. But her problems have only just begun. Cat learns she was tricked by her client and stole the Egg for the wrong people. Now her attempt at righting an old wrong has backfired bitterly. In spite of the danger she has to make it right. She’ll have to steal the Egg back. Retirement—and her chance at happily-ever-after—will have to wait.
This is a romantic thriller/action adventure that is best described as Covert Affairs meets White Collar. Full of vivid characters, witty dialogue, edge-of-your-seat action, and unexpected turns of event, A Beautiful Heist has everything you could want in a fast-moving page-turner. Cat Montgomery is a sassy, charming, and loveably imperfect heroine that combines the best qualities of Irene Adler, Stephanie Plum and Bridget Jones. You will be compelled to cheer her on during her hire-wiring exploits and root for her to get her fairytale happy ending.
March 3, 2014
I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author for my honest review.
Let me begin by telling you a little about the some of the important characters in this story. First of we have....
Cat Montgomery- she is the leading lady and the story pretty much resolves around her. She is a very skilled jewel thief that is on a mission to redeem herself for what happened to her sister Penny when they were kids. Cat ends up taking a very difficult and dangerous job out side of AB&T thinking that it is the job that will set her free. She soon learns that there is much more going on then she knew and sets out to fix a new wrong. She is over all a very strong and likeable character.
Jack Barlow- he is Cat's ex boyfriend/FBI/hypocrite. He ends up involved in trying to steal the Faberge Egg because of a promise to his deceased father. Now mind you...he broke up with Cat because she is a thief! He goes through a lot throughout the book to help keep Cat safe as he discovers he still has strong feelings for her. P.S. he sucks at being a thief and is always way behind. Although he is foolish he is still a likeable character.
Brook- what to say about her. She is a bit of a conniving b!@$h. She is a ex thief that taught Cat how to move up and become a jewel thief rather then just a pick pocket. However as Cat got good and began to be noticed by the agency Brook became jealous and set out to ruin Cat which ended herself in jail. Now out she has set out to ruin Cats life untill the end of the book when she redeems herself by helping Cat. I like where things end with her.
Ethan- he is in the Elite. He is a highly skilled art thief and him and Cat end up hooking up. He is kind of a jerk but in the end comes through for Cat and even ends up nearly dying in the process. I actually feel sorry for him in the end.
Nicole Johnson- first let me start by saying I went to school with a girl with this name and she too was not a nice person. just sayin! anyway she is FBI agent/ Jack's gf/ bad guy. I'm sure we will see her again in the future.
Cats mom- I enjoyed her character throughout the book. She made me laugh several times with her meddling.
Over all as a whole, this was a good book. It was very well edited and the story kept me engaged. The book flowed seamlessly. You had several important characters in this story but it never felt to busy.
I'm anxious to see what will be discovered about the prophecy that s clearly about Cat and what will happen between Jack, Ethan, and Cat in the next book. Not quite sure who I'm pulling for there cause I have faults with both men so we will see.
Let me begin by telling you a little about the some of the important characters in this story. First of we have....
Cat Montgomery- she is the leading lady and the story pretty much resolves around her. She is a very skilled jewel thief that is on a mission to redeem herself for what happened to her sister Penny when they were kids. Cat ends up taking a very difficult and dangerous job out side of AB&T thinking that it is the job that will set her free. She soon learns that there is much more going on then she knew and sets out to fix a new wrong. She is over all a very strong and likeable character.
Jack Barlow- he is Cat's ex boyfriend/FBI/hypocrite. He ends up involved in trying to steal the Faberge Egg because of a promise to his deceased father. Now mind you...he broke up with Cat because she is a thief! He goes through a lot throughout the book to help keep Cat safe as he discovers he still has strong feelings for her. P.S. he sucks at being a thief and is always way behind. Although he is foolish he is still a likeable character.
Brook- what to say about her. She is a bit of a conniving b!@$h. She is a ex thief that taught Cat how to move up and become a jewel thief rather then just a pick pocket. However as Cat got good and began to be noticed by the agency Brook became jealous and set out to ruin Cat which ended herself in jail. Now out she has set out to ruin Cats life untill the end of the book when she redeems herself by helping Cat. I like where things end with her.
Ethan- he is in the Elite. He is a highly skilled art thief and him and Cat end up hooking up. He is kind of a jerk but in the end comes through for Cat and even ends up nearly dying in the process. I actually feel sorry for him in the end.
Nicole Johnson- first let me start by saying I went to school with a girl with this name and she too was not a nice person. just sayin! anyway she is FBI agent/ Jack's gf/ bad guy. I'm sure we will see her again in the future.
Cats mom- I enjoyed her character throughout the book. She made me laugh several times with her meddling.
Over all as a whole, this was a good book. It was very well edited and the story kept me engaged. The book flowed seamlessly. You had several important characters in this story but it never felt to busy.
I'm anxious to see what will be discovered about the prophecy that s clearly about Cat and what will happen between Jack, Ethan, and Cat in the next book. Not quite sure who I'm pulling for there cause I have faults with both men so we will see.
June 23, 2013
There's a lot to like about this book. You have a tough heroine who steals things for a living, believing she's righting an old wrong. Her jobs had me on the edge of my seat. They were heart-stopping. Many times I didn't think she would make it. I loved her sense of humor and sarcastic wit too.
"...was there a specific reason they made church pews so damn hard and uncomfortable? I mean, stained glass here, gilded whatnot there--surely there wasn't a lack of money in the budget."
There's a romance with fellow, very hot thief. There's a good side story about morals and whether what she does it bad or good and is she still a good person even though she does something bad? Her dad and dead sister play into this a lot. I appreciated the points this brought up and the things it makes you think about.
The narrative switches seamlessly between first person and third, depending on who it's following.
It's a terrific yarn, really, as this woman dodges the FBI, the IRS, a Russian casino-owning family, a former thief turned author, and also tries to get a promotion within the company of thieves. This was rather cute. I loved a peek into the lifestyle and gadgets: gloves with blood-packed fingertips for one.
In the middle of it all is a Faberge egg and some possibly religious artifacts.
I enjoyed this, very much, but I have some quibbles. I found the entire Brooke thing just kind of crazy. This lady just seems to stalk her and make trouble for her every which way, and in the end this sub plot left me feeling very unsatisfied. I also didn't buy the lady FBI agent showing up everywhere. It seemed so obvious to me something wasn't right. There were just too many coincidences. The romance...I'm disappointed with the heroine. One man risks life and career to help you but you end up in the arms of another? No....that's not where I was was hoping this would go.
Read my full review here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
"...was there a specific reason they made church pews so damn hard and uncomfortable? I mean, stained glass here, gilded whatnot there--surely there wasn't a lack of money in the budget."
There's a romance with fellow, very hot thief. There's a good side story about morals and whether what she does it bad or good and is she still a good person even though she does something bad? Her dad and dead sister play into this a lot. I appreciated the points this brought up and the things it makes you think about.
The narrative switches seamlessly between first person and third, depending on who it's following.
It's a terrific yarn, really, as this woman dodges the FBI, the IRS, a Russian casino-owning family, a former thief turned author, and also tries to get a promotion within the company of thieves. This was rather cute. I loved a peek into the lifestyle and gadgets: gloves with blood-packed fingertips for one.
In the middle of it all is a Faberge egg and some possibly religious artifacts.
I enjoyed this, very much, but I have some quibbles. I found the entire Brooke thing just kind of crazy. This lady just seems to stalk her and make trouble for her every which way, and in the end this sub plot left me feeling very unsatisfied. I also didn't buy the lady FBI agent showing up everywhere. It seemed so obvious to me something wasn't right. There were just too many coincidences. The romance...I'm disappointed with the heroine. One man risks life and career to help you but you end up in the arms of another? No....that's not where I was was hoping this would go.
Read my full review here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
June 10, 2013
An ethical criminal. Seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it?
Cat Montgomery is a thief, but she's a thief with rules. She only steals from those who are wealthy and have insurance, and she specifically takes the one items her agency (AB&T) hires her to procure. But more than that, she's looking for the assignment that makes her feel whole again and washes away a job she didn't take--one that cost her sister her life.
Thanks to the IRS on her heels, she takes a side job with a big payoff and high stakes. In addition to avoiding the FBI and police, which includes her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, she also faces an ex-colleague who is determined to see Cat pay. Will Cat finally find peace? Can she survive this latest assignment?
Instead of just page after page of action and intrigue, this story looks deeper. Cat struggles with what her parents think of her and with matters of the heart. Should she give in to her feelings for Jack, an ex-FBI agent, or Ethan, a thief and someone who can understand her? In addition, her one-time friend is trying to take her down at every turn.
Although it was interesting to see how Cat's parents reacted to finding out their daughter's real job, at times I felt like there were two many subplots going on. But, they ultimately helped build an interesting and memorable character main character, so it's hard to really complain.
If you are a reader who enjoys thrills coupled with well-developed characters, pick up A Beautiful Heist. Not only will it have you on the edge of your seat at times, it will also give you a character who promises to only get more interesting in future installments.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the opinions expressed are my own.
Cat Montgomery is a thief, but she's a thief with rules. She only steals from those who are wealthy and have insurance, and she specifically takes the one items her agency (AB&T) hires her to procure. But more than that, she's looking for the assignment that makes her feel whole again and washes away a job she didn't take--one that cost her sister her life.
Thanks to the IRS on her heels, she takes a side job with a big payoff and high stakes. In addition to avoiding the FBI and police, which includes her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, she also faces an ex-colleague who is determined to see Cat pay. Will Cat finally find peace? Can she survive this latest assignment?
Instead of just page after page of action and intrigue, this story looks deeper. Cat struggles with what her parents think of her and with matters of the heart. Should she give in to her feelings for Jack, an ex-FBI agent, or Ethan, a thief and someone who can understand her? In addition, her one-time friend is trying to take her down at every turn.
Although it was interesting to see how Cat's parents reacted to finding out their daughter's real job, at times I felt like there were two many subplots going on. But, they ultimately helped build an interesting and memorable character main character, so it's hard to really complain.
If you are a reader who enjoys thrills coupled with well-developed characters, pick up A Beautiful Heist. Not only will it have you on the edge of your seat at times, it will also give you a character who promises to only get more interesting in future installments.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the opinions expressed are my own.
December 1, 2015
I love a good caper, and this heist series is off to a great start. A heroine I loved, a complicated romance, and plenty of suspense... Yup, I'm hooked.
July 3, 2020
This review is of “A Beautiful Heist”, book #1 in the “Agency of Burglary & Theft” series by Kim Foster.
The story: In Seattle, Washington, a woman named Catherine “Cat” Montgomery, the heroine of the book, is performing her job. Cat is a thief, working for an organization called Anderson, Bradford & Taylor, or at least, that’s it’s outside name. The organization is colloquially known as the Agency of Burglary & Theft, a group of high-end thieves. Her current mission: steal a diamond ring. Cat succeeds, but cuts it pretty close.
We later meet Jack Barlow, the hero of the book. Jack is an FBI agent, but when we meet him, he’s taking a side job. Also important, he and Cat used to be involved.
Cat is asked to do a job outside the AB&T auspices. This job will help her with a financial issue she is dealing with. It also brings her into contact with another AB&T thief, Ethan Jones. There is a fly in the ointment, however; Jack is involved in the same job.
Cat manages to complete her “outside job”, but not without issues and consequences. In the end, Cat and Jack reunite, and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: The best part of “A Beautiful Heist” is the last four chapters. It is here that a spanner is thrown into the works, and most of the action takes place.
Downside: In order to get to the last four chapters, however, one has to get through the first 38, and there isn’t much to write home about there. Writing a book with an anti-hero-or in this case anti-heroine-lead character is challenging. It is a challenge Ms. Foster does not succeed at.
I didn’t find Cat particularly likeable or interesting. Ms. Foster’s attempt to explain why Cat became a thief is not explained well nor interesting.All of the characters lack depth and Ms. Foster never made me care for them.
Sex: One implied sex scene where Cat sleeps with Ethan; one chapter ends with them planning to go to bed together, and the next chapter begins the morning after.
Violence: Assault, battery, shootings and killings. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: There was potentially a good story here, but lack of depth and uninteresting characters doom “A Beautiful Heist”.
The story: In Seattle, Washington, a woman named Catherine “Cat” Montgomery, the heroine of the book, is performing her job. Cat is a thief, working for an organization called Anderson, Bradford & Taylor, or at least, that’s it’s outside name. The organization is colloquially known as the Agency of Burglary & Theft, a group of high-end thieves. Her current mission: steal a diamond ring. Cat succeeds, but cuts it pretty close.
We later meet Jack Barlow, the hero of the book. Jack is an FBI agent, but when we meet him, he’s taking a side job. Also important, he and Cat used to be involved.
Cat is asked to do a job outside the AB&T auspices. This job will help her with a financial issue she is dealing with. It also brings her into contact with another AB&T thief, Ethan Jones. There is a fly in the ointment, however; Jack is involved in the same job.
Cat manages to complete her “outside job”, but not without issues and consequences. In the end, Cat and Jack reunite, and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: The best part of “A Beautiful Heist” is the last four chapters. It is here that a spanner is thrown into the works, and most of the action takes place.
Downside: In order to get to the last four chapters, however, one has to get through the first 38, and there isn’t much to write home about there. Writing a book with an anti-hero-or in this case anti-heroine-lead character is challenging. It is a challenge Ms. Foster does not succeed at.
I didn’t find Cat particularly likeable or interesting. Ms. Foster’s attempt to explain why Cat became a thief is not explained well nor interesting.All of the characters lack depth and Ms. Foster never made me care for them.
Sex: One implied sex scene where Cat sleeps with Ethan; one chapter ends with them planning to go to bed together, and the next chapter begins the morning after.
Violence: Assault, battery, shootings and killings. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: There was potentially a good story here, but lack of depth and uninteresting characters doom “A Beautiful Heist”.
March 18, 2014
A Beautiful Heist was a fun, quirky action adventure romance featuring the very intriguing Cat Montgomery and her agency of merry thieves. This was one engaging and entertaining read. Cat was such an interesting character. A card carrying professional thief who's failed to file her taxes and is scared the IRS will come and get her. So she takes a job on the side which is not going to go well with her bosses at AB&T. Not to mention she's always bumping into her ex's new girlfriend who happens to be FBI. While her ex Jack seems to have his own problems which seems to always cross with her own plans. Never mind that the old feelings seem to still be burning. Told from both Cat and Jack's point of view, A Beautiful Heist seems like a cross between Indiana Jones and the Pink Panther. The action was fast paced, the dialogue humorous and flowing. The only confusing thing was as a reader I seem to be expecting a first book prior to this one. There was a lot of flashbacks and old moments between Jack and Cat that seems to deserve its own story. It felt like you were already in a the middle of the book rather than the start. Otherwise, this was really good. Fans of Romantic Action/Adventure Comedies would definitely like this one.
*A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for an honest review*
*A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for an honest review*
May 19, 2014
Cat Montgomery is a thief—a jewel thief who steals on assignment for an agency. Even though she loves her job, she’s conflicted because she believes she caused the death of her sister. When Cat is approached to steal a missing Faberge egg, she accepts the assignment. more to return the egg to its rightful owners than for the money. I enjoyed this book because not only was Cat an interesting and highly skilled thief (and I love a good heist), but other major characters were also strong women. This has “Soon to made into a major motion picture” written all over it.
October 25, 2014
If you're looking for a perfect escape and a page turner, this is your book. A bubbly and funny cosy mystery with a delicious heroine, Cat, whose narrative voice I particularly enjoyed: 30% chick lit, 30% film noir, 30% romantic comedy.
I particularly enjoyed her slightly schizophrenic personality: she's the Girl Next Door who has a vocation to become a perfect thief.
All the indegredients of good entertainment are there: the Romanovs of the Imperial Russia, Fabergé eggs, London, Louboutin shoes.
June 10, 2013
This is a really good book and was very entertaining with suspense, thrills and romance . The story flows well and keeps you glued to the book. I found it a very enjoyable read. The main character, Cat, was a very likable thief and one you could sympathize with.
Would make a good movie or tv series. Hope the author continues with more in this series. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Kim Foster.
Would make a good movie or tv series. Hope the author continues with more in this series. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Kim Foster.
October 12, 2013
A BEAUTIFUL HEIST—Kim Foster
Cat is all about trouble. If trouble doesn't find her, she’s sure to find it. That’s easy to do when you’re a slick, talented and beautiful jewel thief. For me, it was love at first sight, when she stole my heart and left me laughing out loud from caper to caper.
This one is destined for the big screen. The book’s a gem and so is writer Kim Foster. Her voice rings true and she’s a knockout, too. Don’t miss out on all the action. I wouldn't kid you.
Cat is all about trouble. If trouble doesn't find her, she’s sure to find it. That’s easy to do when you’re a slick, talented and beautiful jewel thief. For me, it was love at first sight, when she stole my heart and left me laughing out loud from caper to caper.
This one is destined for the big screen. The book’s a gem and so is writer Kim Foster. Her voice rings true and she’s a knockout, too. Don’t miss out on all the action. I wouldn't kid you.
January 20, 2014
A fun read with a quick-moving plot that makes it hard to put down, A Beautiful Heist is enhanced by a unique perspective, as it is told from the point of view of a thief or "bad guy." Although there are elements of romance in the story, this book is less of an "adult romance" and more of a mystery/action/spy novel blend. There are cheesy moments, but overall I found this to be an entertaining and surprisingly unpredictable read. I'll be keeping my eye out for the next AB+T novel.
June 15, 2013
As a mother of two young children, I think the best compliment I can give A BEAUTIFUL HEIST, was that I finished reading it in two days. The quick-paced, intriguing plot-line had me fully hooked. I also liked the casual voice the author used to tell the story--the main character, Cat Montgomery, felt like "one of us."
December 20, 2013
This book was great. It was fun to read and offered a little bit of everything. Romance, suspense, mystery, money trouble, over baring parents, and a jewel thief!! I had a hard time getting into this book to start but once I got over that I was sucked right in. I so look forward to the next Ab&T!!
November 2, 2013
Hi, I just finished reading your first book A Beautiful Heist and just have to say I really enjoyed it. I couldn't for the life of me put it down, as it is that good and had me glued to the end. It not only has the romance that every woman wants but it is also an intellectual suspense thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat Can't wait to read your next AB&T instalment.
December 27, 2013
I don't usually read mystery genres, but thought I would try this one to support a Canadian author that I follow on the Yummy Mummy website. It was a fun read and I think this book would make a great movie! It is also a great idea to read this right before taking a trip to Seattle, which is what my husband and I were planning to do right before I read this!
June 3, 2014
Oceans Eleven meets Entrapment! I loved it! This isn't the usual type of book I read, but I'm glad I did! Cat is a jewel thief and a damn good one. This book is funny, dramatic, and keeps you turning the pages. I loved the humor of the characters, the plot twists, and the ending. I will definitely find out what happens next for Cat & Jack.
June 11, 2013
I had so much fun reading A Beautiful Heist! A modern heist story that, refreshingly, has a woman as its main character. An ethical thief? And an agency of thieves? Great ideas that make this story stand out from the others. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!
July 23, 2015
Fun, if a bit rushed the last 10%. An enjoyable, convoluted and action-packed caper.
Review to come.
Review to come.
June 20, 2013
This is a fun, breezy, fast-paced read, great for a beach vacation or a day on the dock at the cottage!
July 30, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I was captivated right from the start and couldn't put it down. Just wish it was a longer book. Looking forward to Kim's next book!
June 28, 2017
Very fond of trilogies, this one was really good. Loved the characters and the heists. Kept me turning the pages.
July 11, 2017
Good summer escapist read. Caper is interesting and characters engaging. Fun, light read.
May 16, 2018
A super fun heist story!
June 21, 2019
DNF at 20% although it wasn't super horrible, I was just very bored. I might want to come back at some point... but I really didn't like the MC very much. It bounced around a lot.
August 9, 2019
Cat Montgomery has a special talent and that is stealing things. She has been involved with Jack an FBI agent in the past and their paths will cross once more.
March 7, 2025
My reading slump continues and this was not the page turner it might have been, or that I needed it to be.
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