Stealing His Heart

by P.A. DePaul

She’s a thief. He’s FBI. Together, they're about to execute the heist of their lives.

Everyone thinks the big-shot CEO who kidnapped my uncle is an amazing humanitarian. He’s not. He’s holding Uncle Liam hostage to force me and my crew to steal a dangerous, specialized computer for him. I’m Holly Bell, and that’s what my uncle—the only family I have left—raised me to do. Steal things. We’re amazing at it. If you can’t get justice anywhere else for your property that's landed in the wrong hands, that’s when you hire us to steal it back. But this time, I'm in over my head. That’s why I decide to do the impossible (or the insane): recruit the FBI agent who's been chasing us for six months.

Jackson Kendrick is the head of the specialized FBI unit dedicated to capturing me and my crew. He's gotten so close so many times that I fear our days are numbered. But I manage to talk this committed man into catching a much bigger the crooked CEO holding my uncle. Not only would Jackson receive gold star accolades for this unprecedented arrest, he'd show his shortsighted boss that suspending Jackson for not hauling me in when he had the chance was a big mistake.

If only Jackson hasn't been living rent-free in my wildest fantasies. Working with him day in and day out has us discovering a sexy, unlikely obsession that can only lead to heartache since we're on opposite sides of the law. Yet, as my new partner in crime, Jackson’s good at playing the bad guy. He fits in with the misfit crew of hackers, a mistress of disguise, and a guy who’s good at making things go BOOM! I need all the leverage I can get and he needs to stay on his toes. I’m a thief, after all. By the time we steal the computer, I just might also steal his heart.

Do you like capers, heists, hilarious hijinks, and unlikely romance? Winner of the prestigious Sapphire Award from the Romance Writers of Australia, Stealing His Heart just might steal your heart, too!

Kirkus Reviews Get it. “A sexy, suspense romance. The dialogue is zippy and the tension between the leads it thick enough to cut with a knife. ..It’s a fun page turner.”

Genres: Romance

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

P. A. DePaul is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling and award-winning author.

Her books are full of action, suspense, and romance.

As a hybrid author, she has books traditionally and independently published. Her traditional publishers include Berkley, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Harlequin Books.

She loves connecting with readers! You can find her on these social media and book sites: Newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon, BookBub, YouTube.

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story walked the line of action and romance nicely. Lightening the story, without becoming mushy or overly sentimental. I enjoyed reading this book, though it could have benefited from another pass through an editor before publishing. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[MissMaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I can’t decide on whether to give this 3 or 4 stars. I highly recommend it if you’re into action-packed, suspense genre. There were non-stop excitement, adventure, even funny incidents that I really enjoyed.

This is where I struggled in giving this book 4 stars. It was on the cheesy side for me. It was hot and heavy, their chemistry was off the charts, but it was just a tad too much for me.

I wish there was more of Reggie and Gretchen in the story, though it was quite understandable why you didn’t see them much in the book. I mean, there were four people on the cover, yet you only saw the other two for just a fraction of the story (side note: I really liked the cover).

I was expecting an HEA so I sort of predicted the ending, but the twist near the end was very clever it even caught me off guard.

An epilogue would’ve been great. The story ended too abruptly for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, BookSirens and P.A. DePaul.

[Wendie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stealing His Heart is about a group of Robin Hood-syle thieves led by Holly Bell & her uncle, Liam, who raised her. After a daring caper to recover a valuable sword belonging to someone who wasn't able to get it back themselves, Liam is kidnapped by a billionaire who is lauded by everyone. He wants Holly & her crew to steal a device that would give him control of the internet in exchange for her uncle

Enter the studly FBI agent who has been chasing Holly & her crew for years. She makes a deal with him to help her rescue her uncle & take down the billionaire.

What follows is a somewhat typical romance book - lots of innuendo, serial tension, will they /won't they - mixed in with the details of the caper & those they enlist/convince to help.

Stealing His Heart is a good beach read since it's a romance but has some action. Holly & Jack are a bit too "larger than life" and the writing is sometimes over the top with all the budding romance, but it's still entertaining.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read!

This was my first introduction to this author, and I am glad I took the chance on this book. I definitely enjoyed my time with these characters.

Holly is easy to connect with, and she and her crew are very skilled thieves. It's all good, until it's not, and Uncle Liam's life is in jeopardy.

Jackson Kendrick has been fingertips away from catching Holly and the crew on multiple occasions and his FBI higher-ups are looking for answers as to why they are still not in custody.
The way Jackson and Holly get together (and their steamy chemistry) kept the pages flipping! Soo good. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this storyline and the way the danger resolved.

I absolutely recommend reading this one, as it is a very entertaining story, with engaging characters and a great HEA. I'm hoping this author will release more stories like this one. I'll definitely read them! 😀

My complimentary ARC came from Booksirens and I happily leave my review.

[Jamie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book!! The story was interesting and engaging right from the start, and the storyline just kept getting better as the book progressed. I couldn’t put it down! I love Holly and Jackson. They had a chemistry and connection that you could really feel right off the bat. And their flirting and banter is some of the best I’ve read lately. Holly is a very strong and determined FMC, but doesn’t trust easily. I loved seeing how she was able to let her guard down throughout the book, without losing her sense of self. And Jackson is strong, cocky, and so protective…they really both upset the balance of each other’s worlds, but by doing so they end up balancing each other out perfectly. This book had me laughing, swooning, and even angry at one point; but ultimately I love the way it turned out, and I highly recommend you add it to your TBR!

[Michael Hadovim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealing His Heart was a compelling tale, well-written and very much worth the time. So close to five stars, but not quite. And to focus on that missed opportunity should not be taken to mean you shouldn’t read and enjoy it. Not at all. I really liked it. But as an editor, I would have trimmed it. Bringing it in at nearly 400 pages was necessary because of the twists and turns in the plot. However, although they were intriguing, they were not necessary. This is meant as constructive, certainly not damning. Stealing His Heart is a readable, entertaining book.

I received an advance review copy without charge and my comments are my own and strictly voluntary.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I’m a little late on typing out my written reviews. Due to moving I lost my journal but now that I’ve found it unpacking storage it’s time to release all of my written reviews!❤️)


I loved this book. It was such a great read. I love the characters and I feel like they are relatable. It’s a walk between romance and some action blended together. I love that. I love any amount of spice and that was also sprinkled in there. I read that someone had mentioned a “Robin Hood style” and I absolutely agree with that as well. This was just a great book all together. I highly recommend!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining thief and FBI agent romance that grabs your attention from the start and holds it to the very end. The storyline is intriguing and dramatic as the elements unfold. The characters are well written with depth to their personalities and strong chemistry between each other. I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just such a FUN read. I enjoyed every minute of it and am suffering the hangover now. The thief - FBI agent coupling made a fast paced action read and their chemistry was off the charts! I loved the banter and teasing and watching it grow into more. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Definitely a comfort read that I will come back to.

I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thankful for winning an advanced copy.

[Nin :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG?! this book is so good i’m actually obsessed!

[Heather Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was so creative and full of hilarious moments between Jack Kendrick and Holly Bell. I love when the MMC gives the FMC cute nicknames. He calls her cupcake, and she calls him Kisa (inside joke).

The story is smart, inventive, and just lovely! I loved it!

[Glenda Bettin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book but wish it was both POV instead of just her. Unusual for now

[Chelsi Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall. Usually I am into books with spice but this had a great story to it. Definitely a slow burn as far as the relationship went but all the twists and turns of the story kept you interested. Defiantly recommend if you’re into suspense with a comedy aspect to it.

[Read All About It · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not at all like the other books I’ve read by this author. It’s a refreshing change to this authors military suspense. Way more light hearted but just as good.

[Ale · Rating 3 out of 5]

ITA
Holly insieme allo zio Liam, Reggie e Gretchen sono una banda di ladri.
Vengono pagati profumatamente da clienti che rivogliono qualcosa che gli è stato ingiustamente estorto.
Da un po’ di tempo però c’è un agente dell’FBI,Jackson Kendrick, che riesce a sbucare sempre durante le loro missioni.
Il libro comincia proprio con un furto che portano a termine proprio sotto il naso dell’agente dell’FBI. Nei giorni seguenti, nessuno della banda riesce a mettersi in contatto con Liam. Damien Burton, un CEO noto per essere un filantropo, ma che in realtà è il peggiore dei criminali, aveva chiesto a Liam di rubare un potente computer, ma quando gli è stato risposto in modo negativo ha rapito Liam, contattato Holly dicendole di rubare il computer in cambio della vita dello zio.
Holly accetta e chiede aiuto all’agente dell’FBI.
Premessa.
Ho preso il titolo perché pensavo che ci sarebbero state più scene di azione (binomio ladro-agente FBI), invece no, c’è molta più spicy romance. Per cui se vi piace questo genere, questo potrebbe essere il vostro libro.
Di questa parte romance dove loro flirtano in modo spropositato per troppi capitoli senza nessuna evoluzione alla storia, mi è piaciuto solamente quello inerente la “Sex Therapy”. Però secondo me si potevano ridurre di molto questi capitoli.
Nelle scene d'azione (che sono pochissime!!!!) è stato reso anche il suono (tipo rumori di spari, versi di animali), ma mi è risultato un po’ confusionario.
E nel finale ci sono 4 capitoli che mi hanno fatto venire in mente una cosa che non sopporto dei drama romantici coreani, ossia quando i personaggi si lasciano/si fraintendono/litigano per il bene della storia.
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente


ENG
Holly, along with Uncle Liam, Reggie, and Gretchen, are a gang of thieves.
Their customers hire them to get something that was wrongfully extorted from them.
For some time, however, there has been an FBI agent, Jackson Kendrick, who always manages to pop up during their missions.
The story begins precisely with a robbery they carry out right under the FBI agent's nose. In the following days, no one in the gang is able to get in touch with Liam. Damien Burton, a CEO known to be a philanthropist but who is actually the worst of criminals, had asked Liam to steal a powerful computer, but when he was answered in the negative, he kidnapped Liam and contacted Holly, telling her to steal the computer in exchange for her uncle's life.
Holly agrees and asks the FBI agent for help.
First of all, I selected the title because I thought there would be more action scenes (thief-FBI agent duo), but there is much more spicy romance. So if you like this genre, this might be your book.
In my opinion, in the romance part, they flirt disproportionately for too many chapters without any evolution to the story; I only liked the chapter about “Sex Therapy”. In my opinion, though, these chapters could have been shortened a lot.
In the action scenes (which are very few! ), sound (like gunshot noises, animal noises) was also rendered, but it was a bit confusing to me.
And in the ending, there are 4 chapters that reminded me of something I can't stand about Korean romantic dramas, which is when characters break up/misunderstand each other/argue for the sake of the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that this book was advertised as comedy + crime, I knew I had to snatch it up. P. A. DePaul’s “Stealing His Heart” features Holly, a trained thief whose desperation to free her kidnapped uncle makes her team up with an FBI agent who’s been on her trail for months, and may or may not often feature in her dreams. And this book is a lot of fun.

The pacing is insane. Scenes aren’t merely filler, and each one adds up to advance the plot or give an extra layer to a character. We’re constantly reminded of the stakes, and as if they aren’t wild enough, (with the life of a not-so-innocent man dangling on the line while a big bad guy breathes down Holly’s neck), they get even higher when other lives and fragile hearts get involved. The author doesn’t make any step of this heist easy, not at any point, not even when the characters are settled into their usual roles of thief or law enforcer or hacker. There’s always a curveball to keep you on your toes and keep your heart in your mouth.

And the descriptions! I must’ve highlighted at least a hundred lines of descriptions of actions or scenery or emotion that I’m hoping to artfully include in some of my own writing 🤭. I’m a little miffed that I may not describe chemistry as well as Ms DePaul does, but I’m holding out hope that I’ll get there soon. Someday. It is a little irksome too that she’s set such high standards with describing even the littlest things. I feel that’s raised the bar too much and ruined me for other books forever.

I loved the inclusion of flashbacks, through dialogue, to add character depth. I liked the moments of vulnerability and raw emotion to further humanize the characters and show the construction of a romantic relationship. That being said, this book was waaay too sexually charged. Holly as a narrator is funny, and I loved seeing through her eyes, but man, she is so starved for some action that it keeps coming up how much being in her love interest’s presence makes her come undone. More times than I cared to know Holly lets me know the state of her underwear because of something Kendrick says or does. Their banter is witty, their conversation gold, but my, there is so much sexual innuendo. I commend the author, however, because with attraction this sizzling, mutual, and on-the-nose, the book could’ve easily gone south and devolved into a celebration of lust, but it keeps its head and carries on with the main story, i.e. freeing (or trying to free) Uncle Liam from bad man masquerading as humanitarian.

It is also incredibly sweary. 😞

Still, lots and lots of action in this book. The point of a story: Figure out what the character wants to do, and do everything to make it hard for them to do this thing. Ms DePaul clearly understood the assignment. I’d recommend “Stealing His Heart” if like me you’ve watched (and rewatched) every season of Leverage and want its likeness in book form, and don’t mind a heavy dose of romance. Or if you’re just in the market for something funny and crimey and crackling with sexual tension.

A million thanks to Ms DePaul and BookSirens for making the ARC for this book available! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealing His Heart by P.A. DePaul is an entertaining fast-paced story about a quick-thinking thief (Holly Bell), who steals unique items and returns them to the rightful owners, and the FBI agent (Jackson Kendrick) who is determined to catch Holly and her gang of thieves. The book is filled with many cons, plots to deceive, kidnappings, daring stunts, betrayals as well as an unlikely romance. Holly and Jackson team up to help save Holly's uncle who has been kidnapped by a narcissistic CEO and along the way fall in love.

The book is well written with witty dialog and non-stop action. All the capers are well thought-out and keep the reader guessing what will happen next. The voice of the story is Holly's, and I must admit I would have enjoyed getting Jackson's viewpoint of all the adventures they experienced. The romance between Holly and Jackson is slow to progress with a lot of will they/won't they, but it keeps the story moving and their romance more believable. I do wish that the other members of the gang had more of a voice in the story, and I hope that this book is just the first in a series of stories about these characters. Overall, it was a quick fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elizabeth H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is a fun-loving read with lots of subterfuge, action, and hilarity.

I loved the story but my anxiety got the better of me and I was reading scared throughout the whole book! A thief and an FBI agent fall in love, but where are they going to live? I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did, I was completely shattered!

Stealing His Heart ran the gamut of emotions from start to finish and captured my interest until the very end. I really enjoyed the quirky, loveable Robin Hood-esque plot, eclectic cast of characters, and steam-filled, no holds barred romance that fairytales are made of. Highly recommend it.

**ARC generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

[Debra Tunnicliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story of Holly Bell and her crew who have to steal a computer for her uncle's enemy a crooked CEO who has kidnapped her uncle and will kill him if Holly does not get the computer.
Full of twists and turns especially as Jackson Kendrick is the head of the specialized FBI unit has been trying to capture Holly and her uncle but she manages to persuade him to help free her uncle and catch a master criminal instead.
This is a great story that keeps you hooked and I really was engrossed hoping that Holly manages to rescue her uncle with Jackson's help.
Would highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a captivating and fast paced romance read. I love the characters that came thru like a band of robin hood type, stealing and returning items to their rightful owners all the while being chased by the FBI and entertaining and unlikely of romances - mixed in with hilarious hijinx and more. Seemingly nonstop but with the best mix of action, cons and deception, laughter and of course romance. I very much enjoyed this!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nathania Haan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a nice mix of romance, action and fun/comedy! I really enjoyed Holly and Jackson's relationship for the most part, particularly their flirty banter and they had great chemistry - though I do think it felt a little "Ista-Love." I would have gone 4 stars easily except I just could not handle her nickname for him. Every time it came up it made me cringe and it just felt…. too much? too cheesy? Either way, if you're in the mood from something fun and action-packed, I would recommend this book!

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you to BookSirens and the author for letting me read this as an ARC.
I loved this. Once I got past the first couple of chapters, I could hardly put it down, the story gripped me that much. I loved the characters and their chemistry, and the way they grew individually and together as the story progressed. The plot had so much going on, but it never felt like anything was there that didn't contribute to the story, which made it all the more exciting.
I'll definitely be picking up more books by this author.

[Kim Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea behind this book. Lovely lady thief needs the help of the hunky FBI agent who has been chasing she and her gang of thieves because her uncle has been kidnapped. And the story starts off with a bang. The pace is fast, the need is dire, and like it or not, there is an attraction between the two people who should be adversaries. However, after the initial few chapters, the pace and the storyline just grind to a halt. All the wonderful energy that had been built up in the beginning just dies when the storyline drags into chapter after chapter of no apparent movement toward saving her uncle. Literally, the fun of this book is in the first few chapters in the last few. Everything in the middle just drags. I am truly disappointed by this book. Such a great beginning and it fell flat on its face.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun romance. The enemies-to-lovers trope was well represented. The sexual tension between Holly and Jack was spicy and full of banter. The plot was developed and nothing was rushed. Each event made sense while fostering the spark of attraction between the characters. It's nice to read a good book, especially a contemporary romance one that didn't have over the top characters nor a semi-impactful climax. I hope the author will change her mind and make it a series.

[Brenda Hojonski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chemistry between Holly and Jackson is off the charts! This is a slow burn, fade to black romance that is full of suspense and a lot of action going on that keeps you engrossed in the book and entertained. I hope we will get stories for the rest of the team.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This one was an easy, quick read, I breezed through the story. The wittiness and banter was fun. It does not consist of any explicit scenes but it has usage of adult language. Other than that, the novel is a cute adult rom-com about a thief and a FBI agent 👍.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly steals things for a living and Jackson arrests people who steal. An unlikely duo if there ever was! Only this time Holly is going to need Jackson’s help to save her uncle when he’s kidnapped. What can go wrong? Stealing His Heart was an action packed romantic ride from the start. Surprisingly fun romantic suspense that kept me turning the pages late into the night. I could see this as a series. Fingers crossed!!

*ARC provided by BookSirens for an honest review.

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Do you like capers, heists, hilarious hi-jinks, and unlikely romance?' Yes, especially if the book is well written and the plot complicated enough to gain my full attention.

This particular gang of four con-artists are the Robin Hoods of today's world, they retrieve stolen items and return them to the legal owners. For a fee. Usually a very large fee. Head of the gang, Liam, is kidnapped and held hostage by a master criminal planning on gaining world dominance. In exchange for Liam's release, his niece Holly Bell, has to devise and execute a rescue with a daring swindle. The only way to achieve this is by teaming up with FBI agent, Jackson Kendrick, who’s intent on capturing her and the gang and bringing them to justice. Easy peasy.

P. A. DePaul has written an entertaining book which is probably the start of a series, I’ll certainly read more from this author.

4.5* rating because the final pages were syrupy sweet and not in keeping with Jack's macho character, increased to 5 due to half points being unaccepted.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.