The Thief: Second Anniversary Edition: A Mafia Romance

by Tara Crescent

He is a dangerous threat.
And my greatest temptation.By day, I’m a museum curator.
Respectable, forgettable, safe.

But by night, I steal back stolen art
and return it to the rightful owners.

It’s a secret I’ve kept for years.
Until I make one fatal mistake…
I steal from Venice’s mafia boss.

Antonio Moretti.
Powerful. Ruthless.
The man I ran from once.
The man I never stopped dreaming about.

I think I’ve gotten away with it.
Until I walk into my apartment…
And find Antonio waiting for me.

The King of Venice has set a trap for me.
And this time, he’s not letting me go.

The Thief is a standalone mafia romance with a Robin-Hood-style art thief heroine and an obsessed mafia boss who will do whatever it takes to get her. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.

You can

🖤 Obsessed Mafia Hero

🖤 Cat & Mouse Thieving Games

🖤 He Falls First... and Hard

🖤 Banter

🖤 Found Family

Genres: Contemporary Romance

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2025

About the author

Tara Crescent writes steamy contemporary romances for readers who like hot, dominant heroes and strong, sassy heroines.

When she's not writing, she can be found curled up on a couch with a good book, often with a cat on her lap.

She lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Giny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ 3🌶 [ARC]

The book starts with a drunk Lucia grieving the death of her parents and wandering the dangerous part of Venice. She is saved from being mugged by Antonio. They both feel an instant connection to each other and end up talking and sharing secrets all night until she disappears without a word the next morning. Now, back in Italy after 10 years, Lucia crosses his path again when she steals one of his paintings...

A game of cat and mouse ensues between the two where he's determined to not let her escape again, and she's the guarded one.

If you want a light mafia book, mainly focused on romance, with great banter, chemistry, and spice, this is the one for you!

𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗮 - 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟭


• Mafia boss x Art thief FMC
• Second chance vibes
• He falls first & hard
• "Who did this to you?"

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a good morally gray mafia leader?!

[Wickla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Lucia crossed paths with Antonio on the worst night of her life.

The details of that night are etched into her memory. Reeling from heartbreak and betrayal, Lucia boarded a plane that night, leaving Venice behind with no intention of ever returning.

In the decade since, Lucia has worked across several galleries while tangled in the shady dealings of the elite art world, working in the shadows to right past wrongs—returning stolen masterpieces to their rightful owners, one covert mission at a time.

Their paths cross again—over a stolen painting.

Lucia now curates art for museums; Antonio is deeply embedded in the Mafia. Time hasn’t made either of them saints, but when they meet again? Sparks fly. What begins as a slow burn quickly ignites into something intense and undeniable.

But love in a world of crime is never simple. As a war brews between rival Mafia factions, Antonio pushes Lucia away to protect her, shattering her heart just as it had begun to heal from the loss of her parents. Can she ever forgive him for choosing violence over vulnerability?

Tara adds even more danger and spice to Antonio and Lucia’s story, transforming an already gripping romance into an unforgettable ride.

This is more than just a love story—it's a return to a richly drawn Mafia world, filled with powerful side characters who’ve since claimed their own stories.

Don’t miss this explosive second chance romance.

I received an advance reader copy and voluntarily shared my honest opinion.

[Wendy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 2nd Anniversary edition of the first in the series taking a new road for Tara but a really good journey. This takes us into the world of the Mafia and art theft.
Lucia has lost her parents in tragic circumstances and is drunk, distraught and wandering in a dangerous part of the city of Venice. She is saved from being mugged when a stranger comes across her being threatened by three men. Her saviour Antonio stays with here that night while she grieves and sobers up. She leaves without a word next morning.
Ten years later their paths cross again through a stolen painting. She now works with art and museums he is now deeply entrenched in the Mafia. It seems in the intervening years both Lucia and Antonio have not been walking the straight and narrow but when they do meet again, wow. Light the blue touch paper and stand back. They are a slow burn but when they do fall, they fall hard.
There is a war brewing between Mafia factions and Antonio distances himself from Lucia to keep her safe. Can she ever forgive him for breaking her heart just as it has healed from the loss of her parents.
Tara has added more danger and spice to Antonio and Lucia's story making an already amazing read even better. Grab this book and find out what path these two finally decide to take.
There are a number of very strong characters in this book, besides Lucia and Antonio, who have since been given their own stories. This is an amazing revisit into the mafia world from Tara.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖼️ The Thief ARC Review 🖼️

On the day Lucia buries her parents, she runs into trouble while walking alone later that night until a mysterious stranger comes to her rescue and also provides her some comfort. The next morning, with grief still deep within her, she leaves Venice vowing never to return again… Until 10 years later when Lucia, now an established art thief (and museum curator), finds the perfect heist to honor her parents and has her returning to Venice. Once back she crosses paths with her hero from a decade ago. But Antonio Moretti is not the hero of her past, he’s now the Padroni, the King of Venice.
I love me a good mafia romance and The Thief by Tara Crescent is exactly that. Antonio is everything you want in a mafia boss, possessive yet protective, powerful but soften for the women he loves. The cat and mouse dynamic of Lucia and Antonio’s relationship was enjoyable to read because it plays into both the heist aspect as well as their complicated feelings towards each other.
The Thief is the first book of the Venice Mafia series but this version is the 2nd anniversary edition so it’s is filled with some additional content. If you’re interested in a lighter mafia romance (though there are still some heavy topics) I would highly recommend checking this out.
Thank you Tara Crescent and The Smuthood for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

His little thief

Lucia and Antonio first meet one dark night in Venice on the wrong side of town. She nursing her broken heart, having to have done one of the things she never thought she'd have to. While in her thoughts, she is attacked. Antonio comes out of the shadows and stops them. He knows she is in no shape to carry on having just been attacked as well as almost drinking a bottle of vodka. He takes her and makes sure she is safe and gets a good nights rest. The next morning she leaves without another word to her rescuer.

Ten years later...

Lucia who doesn't want to go back home to Venice, decides to do just that for her best friend and god daughter. Alot has changed in 10 years. She takes over the family business and Antonio's becomes the king of Venice. The Venice Mafia. They meet again after she steals what doesn't belong to her and they begin a game of sorts. He hasn't forgotten about his little thief as he affectionately comes to call her. Nothing gets by Antonio. Its his city. Anything that goes down without his permission has consequences and Lucia learns just what hers will be if she does it again. And boy does she get it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to read something different. It had the mafia feel but also added the flair of Venice and the art world. This is my first book by Tara and I will definitely be continuing this series. 

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Lucia, the female art curator/thief lead, became a thief in memory of her dead parents. Having left Venice after burying them, she hasn’t returned for a decade, only returning now on a short term curator contract to help and be near her best friend.

Antonio, the male mafia boss lead, wasn’t the boss when he met Lucia a decade ago but he protected her then and he’s never forgotten her. As she moves into his sphere, he’s drawn towards her irrepressible spirit and the fact that she doesn’t back down from him.

But Lucia is still emotionally damaged from her parents’ deaths and Antonio has threats appearing from other organised crime sources…

This story is dual POV, well written and edited, and a steamy, contemporary, morally grey, mafia romance. I enjoyed Antonio’s devotion and gentle pursuit. I enjoyed Lucia’s playfulness, and the gradual way she started dealing with her emotional baggage. I enjoyed the descriptions of Venice. I enjoyed the steamy intimate scenes. I enjoyed the supportive and integrated secondary characters. I haven’t read the original of this story so can’t speak to changes for this second edition, but I truly enjoyed the banter and playfulness throughout the story, even in this darker romance.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review

[thebeespot72 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do I have a Mafia Romance Book Rec that you MUST read NOW? Yes, I do! Author Tara Crescent has released a Second Anniversary Edition of The Thief. What does that mean for readers? They will get the Mafia Boss MMC, Antonio, and Lucia the Art Thief FMC, as well as more thieving, more cat-and-mouse games, and more shmexy tension.

Antonio and Lucia are incredible together. Ten years after their initial meet-up, they have a run-in again and restart what should have and could have been. But it didn't happen then for reasons on Antonio’s end, though Lucia had him on her mind over the years.

Roles are reversed in The Thief, and I loved that. Antonio falls first. Lucia plays it stone-cold and aloof at times. She’s the one that doesn’t stay over. If you know what I'm saying, she’s the one that makes Antonio leave her place. And the steamy scenes are written very well.

But steamy scenes aside, I enjoyed the cleverness of the plot and the banter-like dialogue between Antonio and Lucia. I also enjoyed seeing the development of their romance throughout the story. The Thief was another great Mafia story for me.

[Anij · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Love is pain, Antonio. Love is loss. I've already lost everything once. I won't risk it again."

I read both prior versions of Antonio and Lucia's story and loved each one. So I was especially thrilled when Tara announced she was doing a special anniversary edition that was going to give us even more of these wonderful characters. She definitely fulfilled her promise. This version really is more everything. I wouldn't have thought it could get better than the last version but it did. Even if you've read their story before, go ahead and read this one. It's like a director's cut, everything you love from the original but better.

No way to say much without spoilers but to be brief, Antonio and Lucia are fascinating characters and they have incredible chemistry. Nothing comes easy for either of them but these two were destined for each other. There's tons of plot and action, great supporting characters and lots of sexy times.

If you've never read any books by Tara, this is the one to start with. And if you have read some of her books but somehow missed out on this one, you need to get on it right away. You're going to love this one. Really.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been ten years since Lucia Petrucci left Venice and the only thing that could bring her back is helping out her best friend. Of course, she also plans to steal a priceless painting in order to return it to the museum it was stolen from years ago. What she didn't realize at first though, is that the man who is currently in possession of the painting is none other than Antonio Moretti the Padrino of the Benice mafia. Anonio Moretti remembers that night ten years ago when he saved the grieving Lucia from thugs, he also knows that she is a skilled art thief known for stealing art from "owners" who obtained the artwork by nefarious means and returning it to the original owners. He also knows that he is more than likely her target in Venice.
I loved this book! The characters are realistic and complex; the dialog is fast-paced and highly entertaining. Lots of steam with plenty of twists in the plot kept me engrossed from the first page to the last.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read every book in this series except the 1st book, LOL. There wasn't a reason why that is but when Tara announced that there is a special edition of the book celebrating the 2nd anniversary, I knew it was time to read it! This features Antonio who is the leader of the Venice Mafia and Lucia who is an expert art thief. They actually met once 10 year prior but it was during a time where Lucia was experiencing grief, losing her parents so this is the 2nd chance. This is a classic cat and mouse game where each is stealing a prized art piece and try to one up each other. This also introduces a set of side characters that we will get to know in future books. I am glad to be caught up on this series and patiently waiting on the next one!

Tropes:
🖤 Mafia hero x art thief heroine
🖤 He falls first (and hard!)
🖤 Who did this to you?
🖤 Second chance vibes
🖤Power play and kink
🖤Stealing as foreplay

Thank you to Tara Crescent and team for the gifted e-ARC!

[Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new author for me and I found this anniversary edition of “The Thief” a really enjoyable read. There are all the typical elements of a Mafia style story, including the strong, possessive and swoon worthy Mafia boss, Antonio. What makes this story stand out for me is the fact that the main female character is a thief, albeit one with a moral compass. Antonio and Lucia are so well matched and the way they try outsmart each other had me smiling at their antics. They have things in common which adds to their relationship.
Both main characters are carrying emotional baggage but I like the way they work through their issues, support each other and come to terms with it by the end of the book. Added to that, there’s plenty of danger, drama, spice and banter between the characters. A great read!

Thank you for the early copy.

[Cindy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually want too sure if I was going to like the book or not but there was plenty going on through out the book to keep me invested! I love the instant attraction between Lucia & Antonio,and that even after 10 years of not seeing one another it’s still there. I love the banter between them & even though Antonio is a Mafia boss he shows that he also has a big heart ❤️
Lucia is an art thief with lots of sass & smarts, Antonio is a Mafia Boss & likes to be in control but when he meets Lucia everything changes. This is the first time I’ve read a book by Tara Crescent and
I loved everything about this book & can’t wait to read The Broker :)
Thank you to Tara Crescent & The Smuthokd for trusting me with an ARC , I would of read sooner but suffer a lot with fatigue .

Mafia Boss MMC- Art their FMC
Second chance vibes
He falls first
Who did this to you
Dual POV

[Chani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfection! It had everything you could want. There’s the mafia part, with the suspense and the drama. I was at the edge of my seat. There’s so much spice and such delicious spicy scenes. I mean, how could there not be? Lucia is a sassy, funny art thief and Antonio is a sexy, dominant, smooth af mafia boss. They literally use thievery as foreplay. There are certain chapters (ahem, shmex club 😉) that should not be read in public. And there’s such good banter too, especially while Lucia is trying to stay away and Antonio is head over heels in love with her. Tara took 2 characters made with fiery personalities, added in a terrific plot and enough chemistry to fuel the world, lit the fuse and came out with a brilliant masterpiece. Good enough to steal 😜.

[Vianca (Vee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was so much fun!! I absolutely loved how fast Antonio falls for Lucia and goes above and beyond to show her how he feels. He is a man of grand gestures and enjoys the chase. Lucia doesn’t make it easy for Antonio but she can’t hide her feelings towards him. She takes a lot longer to get around to the level that Antonio is with his feelings but once she does it is awesome. I love that they bond over their past as well as their love for art and that they use it as a sort of foreplay. I had so much fun reading about the mafia world and the troubles that arose for the Venice mafia. Such a thrilling and exciting read that captures you from start to finish. I literally devoured this book in a couple of hours 😄

[Yaasmiyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

My first time reading Tara Crescent's book, and I wasn't disappointed. So, this book starts off with the FMC, Lucia drunk and distraught that her parents are dead. In the midst of it, she doesn't realize she's in danger until it's too late and is saved by Antonio. He stays with her while she sleeps it off, and they kinda split and go their own ways. Years later, they are thrust back into each other's lives when she is caught stealing from him and their cat and mouse game ensues.

I really liked this book. The writing is great, the characters are awesome, the back and forth between the main characters is hilarious, intriguing, and spicy and relatable. I'm so glad I read this book, and can't wait to read more from this author.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Second Edition is Fantastic!

I read the first edition previously and came back for more! And boy we got more! I thought the first edition was great but this second edition surpassed it! I was thrilled!

The Thief is the first book in the Venice Mafia series. This can be read as a standalone but the main characters are so interesting with their own HEA and the minor characters are intriguing so a binge read is in order!

The Thief is a lighthearted mafia romance with a whirlwind of drama and deception, a whole lot of spice and a few laughs. There is a great combination of Italian hotties, supportive friends, classic works of art and wonderful banter. I thoroughly enjoyed!

[Brandy 💜 · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

The Thief by Tara Crescent | ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

If you are looking for a spicy mafia boss romance, I highly recommend this read. It only took a few days to read it and that is only because I had to work or it would have been read in one sitting. This is a dual POV from Lucia and Antonio. Lucia’s whole world crumbles unexpectedly and fate brought Antonio into her life on one of the worst days of her life. This stranger that she only meets once appears back in her life 10 years later. And Antonio never forgot about Lucia. Quite the opposite as he kept track of her all these years. Their chemistry is undeniable and I love their banter. You can’t help but root for them.

[Lianne Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read any of Tara's books before so wasn't sure if this would just be similar to other Mafia books. It wasn't! Very pleasantly surprised to see it was a new premise I haven't seen before. Broody, dangerous mafie Don yes, but obsessed with an art thief. The writing was superb, I was sucked in just from the first few pages! I genuinely couldn't put it down, which led to a very tired me the next day at work. The character progression was so interesting with Lucia learning to manage her grief and Antonio helping her in his own unique way. Being set in Venice is also a nice change and now I'm considering there for my next holiday 🤣.

[Kiera Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️
2.5 🌶

ARC

I was instantly captivated by the brief, and once I got into the book itself, I was entranced by the characters, their banter, and overall chemistry. the plot is great, and character development/chemistry is fairly well thought out. That being said, I didn't rate higher as I was disappointed in the quality of writing. I think the best way to describe it is that the author explained everything instead of painting a picture. For me, this made it feel very immature, and it was difficult to get through. I didn't DNF as I enjoyed the plot itself, but it made what should have been an easy read, incredibly laborious.

[thespicybooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antonio and Lucia are a spicy cat and mouse game between the Venice mafia don and the art thief in Tara Crescent's 2nd Anniversary edition of The Thief. There's tension, great banter, and so much chemistry between the two as we meet more members of the Venice mafia that round out the rest of the series. This 2nd Anniversary edition includes even more spice, potential art heists, and the chance of greater risks than the original plus gorgeous art prints that should not be missed!

"Hello, little thief."

[Karon Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an update to the original story with added content. Not your typical mafia story, there is added depth with the art elements that I just loved. Antonio is the local mafia boss and owns Venice, where he'd met Lucia ten years ago during the worst period of her life. Lucia is a bit of a Robin Hood, stealing art from those who've already stolen it and returning to the original owner. I liked the originality of this story and the mysteries as well as the romance. The cat and mouse game between Antonio and Lucia had me sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I feel like the additions to this story really fleshed it out and made it much better. Great HEA and now a book that can truly say it's the start of this mafia series.

[Ev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to walk into my apartment with 303 dozen flowers and new furniture. It’s a very specific number and he explains. 🥹 One day.. one day it’ll be me. Not sure if he’ll be head of the mafia but a girl can dream 💭

They met ten years ago on a dock. Antonio comes to a drunk Lucia rescue. Then 10 years go by and she’s back home to steal a painting. That painting is in the hands of the man she hasn’t seen in 10 years. He is now the head of the mafia in Venice and she broke his rules.

A cat and mouse game ensues. With banter and romance and some danger. I’ll take 14 of’em right now. 😅

[PEIRoxyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Theif is a slow burn open door getting what they want after 10 years. They have great chemistry, and the author sure does know how to write that builds the tension until it snaps!

I have not read any of this series and I was hooked by the banter-filled, cat and mouse game they played. Watching their romance unfold amid some drama and mystery.

♡ I loved The Thief and recommend it to readers who enjoy dark, mafia romances featuring broody anti-heroes who give you butterflies.

Overall Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️
Dark: ☠️☠️☠️

[Nikki Wilbur · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of her parents, Lucia runs from the life she knew, only to fall into it anyway--stealing back precious works of art from those who have them by nefarious means.

When her best friend is in need, she goes back to Venice, no matter the heartache. But a new job at a museum leads to her next heist, the Titian that is simply a second-hand rendering of the original, and she must find it.

Antonio, a kind man who helped Lucia years ago, finds that she's back in Venice, and she knows who and what she does. However, he's never forgotten her, and while he, the king of Venice, never lets anyone steal in his city, he might let her...again and again and again.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Mafia romances. And this one really kept me on my toes. A really exciting read. Lucia is a thief, but this might be her last heist. Antonio is such a strong man, physically, but also in what he wants. Lucia's life has been quite the train wreck. The relationship between Lucia and Antonio made for a wonderful story, there history and now. Could not get enough of this book. Such a fantastic experience reading this book.

[Bene_reads_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second anniversary extended edition of The Thief by Tara Crescent. This is a mafia romance.
Lucia is a museum curator at day and an art thief at night, Robin Hood style. and she steals a painting from Antonio, the Venice Mafia boss.
Lucia and Antonio characters are endearing and their chemistry is palpable. I loved the banter and the cat and mouse play between them.
Venice is so well described that it feels like an essential secondary character.
It was a very enjoyable read.

[Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review~
I just wanted to say thank you to Tara Crescent and @thesmuthood for giving me the chance to read this arc!

I enjoyed the story, the tension, the smut, and the characters! Antonio was such an interesting character and the way his personality was written is just 💘 And Lucia’s parents being thief’s was not what I was expecting!
I can’t wait to read Valentina’s and Dante’s story! The first time I read about the characters and the sexual tension between them got me hooked!!

[mrs lynne featherstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I really enjoyed catching up with Antonio and Lucia in this anniversary edition. It was even more spicy and lots more thieving. The story evolves around the main couple with Lucia being the art thief trying to steal from Antonio who is the Venice mafia king.
I received this copy as an arc in exchange for my review.

[❤️Heather❤️ Collins❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, sexy, and full of suspense, The Thief is a fast-paced romantic thrill ride. Tara Crescent delivers sizzling chemistry, complex characters, and a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. A must-read for fans of steamy, high-stakes mafia romance. The FMC is a strong independent woman which makes me love it even more!