Jewel Me Twice

by Charish Reid, Marissa Hampton (Narrator)

Love can catch you red-handed.

He was her partner—both in crime and between the sheets. It’s been five years since professional thief Celeste St. Pierre laid eyes on Magnus Larsson. These days, she runs a Manhattan antique store, but her talent for stealing beautiful, shiny things hasn’t faded. And as a chance reunion over a locked safe proves, neither has the heat between her and the gorgeous, ice-cool Magnus.

For Magnus, only one thing beats the thrill of getting away with robbery—and that’s the woman he’s tried hard to forget. Their last job together ended in disaster. But if they’re going to honor their mentor’s last wishes to pull off the theft of the century, they’ll have to temporarily put their grudges behind them.

Crisscrossing Europe on a real-life treasure hunt, Celeste and Magnus quickly rediscover how well they work together. The higher the stakes, the hotter the sexual tension. But one slipup and it won’t be only jewels on the line, but a future that, just maybe, has been the ultimate prize all along…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Second Chance, Audiobook, Adult

Audiobook

First published July 23, 2024

About the author

When Charish Reid isn’t writing romance, she’s watching 1970’s disaster films, reading romance, and hastily preparing lectures for tomorrow’s class. She is a traveling chatterbox with ADHD who enjoys talking to new people in new places. In Bangkok, Charish saw a Thai royal princess in a shopping mall. In Helsinki, she karaoked Alanis Morissette. And in Galway, she found inspiration for her first novel. Charish currently lives in Sweden with her husband and teaches Rhetoric.

Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️
- This wasn’t your typical romance and would make the perfect movie because of the little “missions” that they had to go on! The ending had me scaaaared!! I swear the best parts of the book were trying to figure out how to get out of the hole the dug themselves in.
- I loved how the stakes were so high! The enemies to lovers vibe always hits so much harder when they actually seem to hate each other and their lives are on the line. We need more books like this!!
- This book was spicyyyy! Don’t let the cover fool you!! I don’t know why I didn’t expect the spice because it always seems like the cartoon covers have the most spice but whew!!

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Celeste learns of her mentor's passing, she is not shocked to find herself pulled in for one last thieving job with her old crew. As they plan for a new heist, Celeste is reunited with her former partner and flame, Magnus, for the first time after their dramatic split. With their tension and chemistry running as strong as ever, the two are forced to decide if they are willing to set aside their differences and finally be vulnerable with each other.

I don't think I've ever read a thief romance and I have to say it was so much fun! The story was perfectly balanced with enough romance and chemistry to keep the thievery and heisting entertaining and never broaching on too much. Celeste and Magnus were absolutely breathtaking together, their tension and rapport was so lively and full of chemistry. I loved how the second chance romance played out and the two reflected on their previous relationship and issues before committing to each other. Beyond the romance, the characters and their found family were just lovely, and I cannot wait for the rest of the crew to get their happily ever afters!

~Many thanks to Netgalley and Canary Street Press for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that I received this book via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

Pros were that I liked Magnus and Celeste together as sparring partners. But after that the whole book just started to read as repetitive after a while. The secondary characters were not well developed. And the whole plot of one last heist was wearing thin there for me after a while.

"Jewel Me Twice" follows former lovers and still thieves, Magnus and Celeste. They run into each other trying to steal something and then old memories come rushing back. When their former matriarch dies and requests one last heist with the entire crew, they agree, and then "feelings" arise.

I thought the love scenes and dialogue worked. But honestly, I think the diary entries from the former head that Celeste was reading got old quick. It wrecked the flow of the book.

Also, Beatrice, Santiago, and Lawrence were not very well developed in my opinion.

The ending I thought was solid for a second chance romance, but it seems as if Reid may be setting this up to be part of a series, and I don't know if I am interested enough to read about these same characters again.

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I downloaded this thinking a heist plot starring a crew of clever thieves with a messy past and promises of some (steamy) romance would be a super fun 5-star read, but I couldn’t stand any of the characters and was bored out of my mind. DNF at 50%.

* thanks to HTP/Canary Street Press for the NetGalley review copy. This publishes July 23, 2024.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of my VERY favorite things are heist stories and second chance romances and this latest from Charish Reid seamlessly blends both to perfection!! Full of steamy scenes, a moving connection to a dead mentor who has given them a final job to complete and an Ocean's Eleven esque jewel heist, Jewel me twice delivered on all the feels and romantic suspense I could have hoped for. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Love & other scams by Philip Ellis. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[mel ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚₊ ❥ 𝟒/𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 」

I had no idea if I was going to enjoy this book, mainly because I’ve never read a book with a heist being in the center of the story. I enjoyed it very much though! The heist was cool but backstory and the tension really made this romance amazing. If you liked ocean 11, want romance with tension, definitely try this book.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a joy! I am such a fan of Charish's work and I had such a blast reading this one.

I loved the tension between Mags and Celeste!! They had great chemistry and history with each other; it was a perfect second chance romance!!

The heist aspect of the novel truly kept me engaged throughout and I was dying to figure out what was going to happen next. I also loved the parallels between Celeste and her mentor. I really loved seeing how their relationship made Celeste the woman she is today and how the journal entries aided in her decision making for the future.

I am really hoping that there's a spin off that focuses on Santi and Beatrice, because that story would be everything. I loved their little crumbs between each other throughout!!

Overall, a fun time, and a great change of pace.

Thank you Charish Reid, HTP Books, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little romance about 2 exes who haven't seen each other in years but have to do one last job with their old gang of jewel thieves. It reminded a bit of the TV show Leverage in tone.

This one didn't work quite as well for me as the author's Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up, but it was still a good romp.

[jamadoria reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jewel Me Twice is a second chance romance with older characters (love, love, love). Celeste St. Pierre and Magnus Larsson were lovers who worked together to steal expensive artifacts until a job went back in Stockholm, Sweden, ending both their professional and personal relationships. They end up meeting again and start to work together after the death of their mentor, as his final wish throws them in each other's path again. They aren't sure whether it is a good idea to get involved again which leads to some fabulous tension between them. The writing is witty and made me laugh out loud several times (always the sign of a keeper book).

Readers should note there are themes of grief and loss in this romance; however, both topics are handled with much care.

[Cassidy Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every second of this book!! It was adventurous, funny, emotional, and so different from anything I’ve read. Who knew I’d find myself cheering for thieves?! This second chance romance between Celeste and Magnus was spicy and high stakes! The two characters being a bit older made them feel more mature and I loved that we got both of their POVs. I was surprised at how well this book also had themes around grief and loss. There are 3 generations of Black, female professional thieves in this story and I adored it!!Black girls really do deserve diamonds.

[TinaNoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This book should have been my catnip.

Heists! - I ADORE Heists and capers. Love them. I'd love a sexy romance series written like tv show Leverage. There were different ones, past ones, news ones, memories.

The Heist Crew! - Yeah, we got a crew with their messy history.

Romance! - Yup. Celeste and Magnus were lovers on the same crew of thieves, things ended not-so great and they meet again five years later trying to steal the same thing. They are fully brought back into each other's orbit after the death of their former mentor for one last job. The old spark re-sparks!

All Things Sexy ! - Yes, we got banter, sexy times, jewels, globetrotting, luxury items!

So why not higher?

Well...while it had so many things I loved, they didn't quite all 100% gel for me to make this a 5-star

The Heists were fun but not super clever.
The Crew weren't as well developed as I needed them to be. I liked all the characters but didn't have quite the depth.
The Romance was good. I liked both Celeste and Magnus and felt they had good chemistry. The romance was the best part, imo. They were just sexy and spicy and they had great tension.
All the Sexy Things: Were all sexy

Yeah this was overall really good but I think the parts were greater than the whole. There were some pacing issues, the beginning lagged a bit and I had a hard time getting into it at the start. But it did pick up. And the dialogue was witty.

I will say I'd actually love to see the characters again.

This is an honest review based on an ARC received via Netgalley

[Angie Miale · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book- coworkers and ex friends-with-benefits fall in “love” or at least back to “friends with benefits”? Do you know what romance means? I have read some extremely good books lately and some clever and challenging contemporary romances, but this one was just awful. Clipped dialogue, huge plot holes. The jewel heist parts were confusing at best and boring at worst. There are way too many great books out this year for you to pick up this one. Very skippable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Cringe face— they have a lot of good books, this just isn’t one of them.

[Nella ☾ of Bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an entertaining and humorous read—a cute second-chance romance that hit all the right notes. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Celeste and Magnus; their banter kept things lively. I especially appreciated that they’re both in their forties and childfree—it’s refreshing to see that kind of representation in romance.

[Lastblossom]

tl;dr
A couple of fun heists act as the backdrop for a spicy second chance romance.

Thoughts
Make no mistake - this book is about the relationship, and it knows it. Celeste and Magnus are adults. Their last time together ended poorly, but the spark never left. In fact, it probably turned into a flame during the years apart. This thing is packed with sexual tension, steamy glances across the room, and plenty of spice. They steal gems and it's sexy. They roleplay (for the job, of course) and it's sexy. They have sex and that is also sexy. The whole thing is extremely sexy, and if you're looking for a steamy good time, look no further. Supporting cast are all varied and fun. Doris, the deceased mentor is somehow the strongest personality of them all, and her story shines through her letters and diary entries as our MCs navigate their current heists. The plot itself is straightforward and fast-paced; there are a handful of heists, all with minor complications and major payoffs, and all feeding into the relationship between Celeste and Magnus. It's also a standalone - no cliffhangers to worry about - but with just enough space that the other characters might get up to shenanigans at a later date.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HTTP for this arc for an honest review. This book was so much fun, I loved that this wasn’t the usual heist romcom where the main characters are trying to stop a thief or robbery. The main characters in this book actually do the jewelry stealing and I loved it. The main characters meet at a thief cute and we find out that they have history and dated before their thief clique disbanded. I loved the banter between them and there was immediate chemistry because of the past. They come together, pretend to be together so that they can pull of an ultimate theft.

Read for
- Enemies to lovers
- Second chance
- Interracial romance
- Grumpy sunshine
- Diverse characters
- Opposites attracts
- Heist plot

[Cait · Rating 1 out of 5]

second chance heist shit should have been right up my alley but I bounced off this in the hardest way...

[Jessica Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5**

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, but rounding up. I wanted a fun, adult Heist Society vibe, but this wasn't it.

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had all the potential but it didn’t quite work out for me. I loved the way the characters were brought back into each other’s lives and their history. I would classify this as a second chance romance with two stubborn characters. I did like the ending and the way their mentor had a heavy presence. Overall, it was just okay.


Arc from netgalley

[Meilin · Rating 2 out of 5]

sexy thieves intrigued me! but somehow became very boring with underdeveloped characters and simple plot ...

[Robin]

DNF@45%

Thank you so much to Canary Street Press & Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I was so excited to pick this up - I really want a heist/adventure romance I love. But this one just didn't quite land.

I thought the main characters had fantastic chemistry. And I loved the idea of two agents needing to work together for one final mysterious task.

But all the MCs had was good chemistry. I didn't feel as though there was nothing deeper. Second chance romances are tricky because you need to convince the reader of the depth of their connection when it happened entirely off page.

And this just didn't ever capture that. I kept thinking - but WHY do you like each other? Because all you're talking about is how attractive the other is.

I also didn't find the heist portions to be engaging enough to carry the plot. There was soooo much planning and moving around and it started to feel like the plot was just happening to them. Not like they were creating it.

I've really enjoyed other books from this author, this one just wasn't for me in the end.

[Sierra| HooksxBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very steamy. I enjoyed being a part of the thrill of the hunt and heist, as they tried to figure out their next target and country. I thought it was beautiful that Celeste was left with the journal that allowed her to reflect not only on Mentor's life, but the parts of Celeste that made her and her mentor kindred spirits.

Watching Celeste come to terms with herself and Magnus. Them rediscovering what they mean to each other. WOW.

They work well together. very well. The team as a whole, I enjoyed it. I would def read another book that shows them continuing with new heists and thrills.

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I read it all in one day. Reid writes so well, and I love how I always get so sucked into her storytelling. Magnus and Celeste had great chemistry, and I loved their second chance romance. The found family that formed was so good, and I have my fingers crossed for another potential couple to get their own book as well!

CW: sexual content, grief, cancer, death, sexism

[Tara Kat (MagnoliaPigeonBookBlurbs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oceans 11 but make it HOT 🔥🔥🔥!! I love a good heist storyline and Charish Reid more than delivered! Jewel Me Twice is suspenseful, mysterious, blush worthy and an all around great read!!

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending me an advanced copy!

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun heist x found family x steamy romance book!

[Debbie Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. I was really impressed by how well Reid balanced the second-chance romance and the multiple heists throughout the book!

I laughed out loud multiple time and I was also super stressed during some of the heists. Reid really did a fantastic job creating stakes.

The epilogue did a great job setting up the second book! I am excited to read the next one too!

[Qua'Tesha Ratliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of potential but was lacking!

[gabymck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes I was rooting for them to steal the jewels! 💎😁

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[J R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh kinda fun little romance! The characters were decent and the whole thing sorta worked. Thanks so much for the arc!