Stealing Marilyn Monroe

by Sophie Warren

Juliet Chadwick has it all—a job at a New York art gallery, a great boyfriend, and a long-term career in the family theft. But unlike her father, Juliet plays it safe, sticking to small-time art heists and always covering her tracks. Until one day when her father’s creditors show up, demanding that she pay off his debts—or else. And so Juliet comes up with a desperate plan, the greatest con she’s ever She’s going to steal Andy Warhol’s famous portrait of Marilyn Monroe from bachelor billionaire Edward Aster. All she’ll have to do is pose as the Aster family’s new nanny until she can get her hands on the painting. How hard can it be?But all too quickly, Juliet finds herself falling in love with Edward’s children, and maybe even with Edward himself. Can she bring herself to pull off the ultimate theft—if it means stealing from a man who’s stolen her heart?

Genres: Romance

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2014

Reviews

[Mauoijenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good. I normally don't read these kind of books lately, but Warhol's Monroe lips on a cover of a book got my attention!

[Bèbè ✦ RANT ✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Painting and sculpture, labor and good faith, have been my ruin and I go continually from bad to worse. Better it would have been for me if I set myself to making matches in my youth! I should not be in such distress of mind.." - Michelangelo

Personally, Chick Lit is one of the categories that is a little tricky for me. I could either love it or find it so silly & unrealistic that continuing the story itself could feel like the waste of my existence. Stealing Marilyn Monroe was definitely on my good side. Actually, scratch that. I LOVED IT!!!

The cover definitely caught my attention first. Then after reading the summary itself, I was definitely intrigued with its promise. Juliet Chadwick was very likable and even though she was a thief, she did it for the love of art and not just to make money. Her whole apartment was filled with art pieces that she stole from previous galleries but only because she knew they would not appreciate them the way they're supposed to be appreciated.

When she gets threatened for large amount of money in exchange of her father's life, she puts together a heist by pretending to be a nanny of three children of a multimillionaire Edward. All would need to be done is watch the kids and figure out if his art is secured so she can take it. But she never thought that loving the kids would be an option and ultimately, falling for their dad.

Although the story was a little cliché and could be viewed as silly, I actually thought it was a light read & still very entertaining. It kind of reminded me of the show Nanny that I still watch sometimes besides the whole I'm-Going-to-Steal-Your-Art type of deal.



The story flowed very well and I loved the children and how they acted with their dad and Juliet herself. And the ending might have been somewhat silly, it was that grand finish that many stand alone novels have & I am very happy with.

[Cee (The Mistress Case) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stealing Marilyn Monroe earns 3 Stars! An ARC was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I swear this book gave me an actual headache. Not a “this is so mind-numbing stupid” headache but a “I can’t believe this is happening and my brain is hurting for you” headache.

I don’t have much love for this book, but it was a good read. I learned some things about the art world and I think the quotes at the beginning of every chapter are a nice touch. I love the quotes— art related or not— and some dialogues caught my attention.

“We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand. The artist must know the manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies.”
-Pablo Picasso

“We live in a strange world. When a rich man steals from a poor man by paying him less than what he deserves, we call that a good business. But when the poor man takes from the rich, we arrest him as a criminal.”

My favorite character would have to be Cecilia. She stood out the most to me and I think she’s one of the most beautiful characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about. And of course, how can I forget about my little monsters Brendan and Benjamin.

On a final note, the title and cover are perfect for the story!

[Adite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book and picked it up from Netgalley.com and it was well worth the time I spent reading it. It was fast-paced, written in a chick-lit style. Though at times I did wish it was written in the third person narrative as it would give me deeper insights into the other characters and believe me, it has a whole cast of fun characters.

So, to begin at the beginning, Juliet Chadwick works in an art gallery and knows her Picasso's and Rembrandt's and Andy Warhol's like the back of her hand. What's more she has very nimble fingers. Yes, she is an art thief. The fact that the author managed to make her an immensely likeable character despite her not-so-nice profession is in itself a great feat. When Juliet's father (also an art thief) gets into trouble with some mafia types she has to find a way of paying off his debts. Enter, potential victim, billionaire Edward who has in his possession the prized Andy Warhol's portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Juliet's plan is simple: all she needs is to pose as a nanny and inveigle herself into single dad Edward's home and take off with the portrait. However, her plans go awry when she finds herself falling in love with Edward's three children and their handsome dad.

Will she able to carry out her plan? How does Juliet get out of the sticky situation? And will Edward find out about her motives? What happens to their budding romance? I loved the first half of the book as Juliet is truly an entertaining character with her penchant for disguises. However, the manner in which the "mafia problem" was resolved was simply too easy and undermined the buildup. I would have loved to see more of Juliet's "skills" as a disguise-artiste come into play when she tackles the mafiosi but that simply didn't happen. Besides, the romantic resolution too seemed a bit rushed and left one feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

Overall though, it was an enjoyable read. And I particularly loved the characters of Juliet, her friend Bea and Edward's daughter Cecilia.

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, how much fun is Stealing Marilyn Monroe? Let me tell you. A lot of fun.

Stealing Marilyn Monroe is a caper-filled adventure filled with intrigue, romance and art heist romps to boot.

The story is about Juliet Chadwick – art thief and mistress of disguise who steals high end canvases from the art world. Unlike her criminal counterparts she doesn’t sell them but steals them because her love of art and she wants to build up her own collection.

However, when her imprisoned father is beaten up by a bunch of heavy handed criminals, Juliet needs to steal for purpose; that purpose, to clear her father’s debt.

It is through this escapade that Juliet inevitably falls in love with billionaire and art collector Edward Aster. But will her love for him keep her grounded or just give her new opportunities for her stick fingers?

Stealing Marilyn Monroe is just a jolly good fun read. It is a speedy well paced read with plenty of mystery and intrigue. A great book to escape into.

Stealing Marilyn Monroe by Sophie Warren is available now.

For more information regarding Alloy Entertainment (@alloyent) please visit www.alloyentertainment.com.

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealing Marilyn Monroe, Sophie Warren
Genre: Romance, women’s fiction
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I wasn’t sure about this book, but decided to try it – and really, really enjoyed it. Its hard to imagine that a practised art thief could have a soft side, but Juliet does. She a really likable person who’s been brought up by her dad with plenty of love and attention, but questionable morals from his profession as an art thief. She’s got the view that as its covered by insurance its not really stealing....and doesn’t do it for the money but because she loves the works, and feels they’re unappreciated where they are or where they’re going. Working in galleries allows her to get the access she needs, and she created false personas and disguises to get away with it. Then there’s Edward, Billionaire widower with three adorable kids. Juliet is desperate to raise a lot of money to save her dad, he’s gambled with the wrong sort while in prison ( clearly “the insurance covers it” excuse didn’t wash with the judge!) Her little collection won’t raise anything, and by chance while lining up the next job she overhears that Edward had a) a new artwork of Marilyn worth millions and b) a new nanny starting on Monday. That would be the answer to her dads debt, so she decides to stand in as the new nanny – it can’t be hard looking after a ten year old and four year old twins can it? ( add hollow laugh from any parent here!!) It’ll give her an inside into the security and a way to access and steal the painting.
The daughter, Cecilia, adds a real edge to this book, she’s helpful and such a gem, and old beyond her years. You get the feeling she knows Juliet isn’t really a nanny but likes her, and so do the twins, so she helps Juliet to find out how to deal with them and slowly they gel. Cecilia is very protective of her family.The twins like her – they’ve seen off the other nannies, being typical four year olds full of energy and tricks, but Juliet devises ways to wear them out and they start to really feel like a family, especially when Edward stays for meals. Juliet does the unthinkable and is falling in love – and he with her it seems, though he feels he shouldn’t, that he’s being disloyal. Amidst all that her plans to steal the picture are going wrong, but there’s something else she’s shown, that really means a lot to Edward but if she can just bring herself to take it would solve her problems. She’s in love though – with Edward, and with the children. Can she really do that to them? But if she doesn’t times run out for her dad and she’s condemning him to serious injury, maybe death...
I loved Juliet, even though she’s a thief. Somehow she doesn't feel like one, you feel her excuses to herself are what she really believes, and she loves her dad. This is just the way she’s been brought up, that to her its not really stealing. Then she meets Edward – he comes over as a bit uptight, very starched, only wanting the kids when they’re clean and tidy, but gradually he unbends and we see a more relaxed person, one who loves his family. The kids were great especially that Cecilia – ten going on forty, with her mature outlook and yet she’s just a little girl inside. Throw in Juliet’s entrepreneur child neighbour Tony, and Lana the art specialist – I love characters like her, the real rich bitch type – and its the perfect cast. When it all came together in one huge, climatic fiasco I so felt for Juliet – yes what she had planned was wrong, but she was trapped once it all started, and it became a real what to do issue for her. Someone was going to get hurt either way, and she faced loss from whatever she chose to do. Its a terrific ending, wraps up perfectly when I was wondering how on earth Sophie was going to get her out of the hole she’d made. Its a great read, full of humour and tenderness, drama and pathos, and lots of love. Perfect.
Stars: Five, a book I really enjoyed and would reread.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the end of last semester, my roommate was gone most weekends so I decided to spend my weekend evenings watching classic movies on Netflix that had Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe in them. I know, I really need to be less of a party animal. I also recognize that I talk about Netflix a lot on this blog and that I have a Netflix addiction and eventually need to get it under control, but today is not that day. Anyway, because of this Netflix movie binge I have become interested in all things Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, so I was intrigued by the title and cover of this book. It turns out after reading the synopsis that it isn't about Marilyn Monroe, but about a painting of her, I was still really intrigued by the synopsis though so I decided to give it a try.

The book follows the story of Juliet, a girl who loves art and has made a career working at art galleries and stealing paintings because she doesn't want them to be just shoved in the backroom unappreciated. A little ways into the book we find out her dad got into some trouble in jail (I hate when this happens) and now owes an obscene amount of money to this guy who comes after Juliet to get the money. Juliet has to figure out something quickly and when she learns of Edward's acquisition of the Marilyn Monroe painting who's family also just happens to need a nanny a plan begins to form. Of course it doesn't go as easily as expected and Juliet begins to fall in love with not only the kids, but Edward as well.

My main issue with this book was the character of Juliet. I had a hard time connecting with her because she didn't really think things through and I felt that many of the problems she had would have been a problem if she would have actually thought it through. I couldn't really understand how she justified stealing the paintings and not feel bad about it. There also was a part where someone told Juliet something about Edward and Juliet assumed it to be true without even asking Edward. I always hate when this happens in movies and books because I feel like they are just so quick to trust these random strangers and let it ruin everything. The only other big thing I didn't like about the book was there was a little too much about art in the book, but I feel like this is personal taste. I know it was a book about art, but some of it was a little too deep and I didn't really understand or enjoy reading those parts.

Besides those two things though I really liked the other characters, the plot, and watching Juliet's relationships with the other characters grow and change as the book progressed. One of my favorite characters was Juliet's best friend Bea. She is very sassy and at one point suggest Juliet wears her "don't ask my name, just do me up against the bathroom wall heels" which was by far my favorite line of the book. Edward was also a favorite character of mine and I loved to see how much he cared for his children, but also seeing his struggle of balancing his work life with his personal which made him seem real. Overall, the good definitely outweighed my issues with the book and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a confession: I like to read books about con artists. There, I said it. It’s because I enjoy shows like Hustle and Leverage and White Collar (although, I sadly never finished watching White Collar sob). There’s something fun about rooting for the bad guys, especially when they’re not actually bad guys at all, but good guys, doing what’s necessary to beat the real bad guys. And in Juliet’s case, she has a very good reason for lying her way in to a nanny position to try and steal Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe painting – to save her dad, who’s in jail and being threatened by mobsters. TOTALLY REASONABLE, YO.

So, I obviously loved Juliet. I loved that she was willing to do something so drastic to save her dad, because that’s what you do, isn’t it? YOU DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. Although, honestly, I’d never have the guts to do something so audacious. I just like living vicariously through books and TV shows.

Stealing Marilyn Monroe was such a fun read and I liked that Edward and the kids Brendan, Benjamin and Cecilia actually had an impact on Juliet; that it wasn’t just a simple case of getting it, getting the painting, and getting out again. They made an impact, made Juliet re-think what she was attempting to do and very much made her even more like-able (although I liked her just fine before). Her flirtation with Edward, too, was so cute. Especially after the way they first met, not in the best of circumstances, but that was cute, as well.

Honestly? Art isn’t my thing. I don’t quite “get” the whole thing of buying art for millions of dollars. If I had millions of dollars, I’d spend it on actual, real stuff, not pretty paintings (which I know is probably awful of me to say, but art isn’t my thing). I also hated all the cliche art speak. Boy, did it make me roll my eyes, but since Juliet doesn’t actually spend too much time in that world, it’s not so bad and I contented myself knowing Juliet wasn’t like those la-di-dah gallery owners.

I thoroughly enjoyed Stealing Marilyn Monroe. It was cute, it was funny, it made me swoon a little bit, and it was delightful, despite the fact Juliet was a con artist – I love con artists and I loved Juliet, no matter what she did, and there was a lot to appreciate about the fact that she went to the Asher family as herself, not one of her many fake aliases. That set the plot up good and proper, because while I love a con artists, and love plots that revolve around con artistry, I do not like lies in my love stories, thank you very much. It takes away from the magic, but thankfully Stealing Marilyn Monroe ticks all the right boxes!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of Stealing Marilyn Monroe immediately grabbed me. An art thief who goes undercover to steal one of the most well known paintings of the modern era? Awesome. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, just something entertaining, something fun. And Stealing Marilyn Monroe delivered.

Juliet, the main character, is fairly likeable. The author positions her as an honorable thief, someone who appreciates the art she steals and even keeps some of it because of her deep attachment to certain pieces. When she takes a job as a nanny to steal the Warhol, her interactions with the three children are adorable. I think the family shines in every scene and the best parts of the book come from Juliet taking care of the three Aster kids. the children are so much fun, and though some of the language they use is implausible (there is no way a four year old even knows some of the big words Warren puts in their mouths) they seem very realistic.

But overall, the book suffers from too many characters and a lack of urgency. Her best friend is forgettable and the boy from her apartment building is mentioned only a few times. Supporting characters flit in and out of the narrative for no real reason. Take, for example, the entire plot with Juliet's boyfriend Nate. He was barely present in the book and very easily could have been cut to either develop Bea or Juliet's relationship with her father more to make both believable. And, speaking of her father - the whole plot of her having to steal a piece of art to save her father both dragged down the story and was resolved far too easily. It provided an impetus to infiltrate the Aster family and was supposed to lend urgency to the whole arc, but instead I found myself annoyed with it all. And Juliet, though she was shaken in her apartment, never seemed affected outside of her apartment. And the way that plot ended felt rushed.

It's a cute book and a very quick read. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes romance novels or Lifetime movies!

[Marcela (BookaholicCat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up Juliet Chadwick knew her father wasn’t a conventional father; she also knew he was an art thief. Although some days she wished he had a 9 to 5 job, she also knew he was a great father who was always there for her when she needed him.
From her father Juliet learned to love art; so much, she studied art in college. Since her graduation she has been working in galleries. Her jobs usually don’t last long, because of mistakes she makes, mistakes in which art is always lost; but it’s not lost, it’s all in Juliet’s home. She has a rob ethic, she only robs pieces she thinks are been unappreciated. She also doesn’t feel bad for doing it because all the pieces are insured, so the galleries don’t lose any money.
Everything is going well in her life, until the day she has an unexpected visitor. Her father has been gambling in prison - he was caught stealing couple of years back – and now she needs to come up with the money he owns of her father will pay with his life.
Her little collection of stolen art doesn’t add too much; she needs to get her hands on something famous and costly.
After some research, she learns billionaire widower Edward Aster has just acquired the famous Marilyn by Andy Warhol, the perfect piece to pay the debt and more. She also learns his new nanny is starting in couple of days. That’s the perfect opportunity to infiltrate his house… and how difficult will it be to take care of a ten year-old girl and four year-old twins boys?

Read the rest of my review at The Bookaholic Cat

[Lisa Shininger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on my blog: http://lisashininger.com/?p=332

Juliet Chadwick is an expert art curator, employed by some of the top galleries in the country--under assumed identities that conceal her real calling as a thief. But when the gangsters to whom her incarcerated father owes money come knocking on her door, Juliet has to pull off a big money heist to save both their lives and her collection. Naturally, that heist involves conning a mega-wealthy man and his children, and accidentally falling in love with them along the way.

It was cute! Fast read, fun characters, even a little bit of art history knowledge drop. Conversations that sound like real people talking! The progression of the romance was a little hurried--and Juliet suffers from the all-too-common "oh no he wants someone else!!" confusion that always seems to beset romance heroines after initial bursts of "yesss, he wants my face on his face." The ending was more neatly wrapped up than I'd have liked, but Juliet was relatable, root-for-able, and charming, and Edward's kids are fantastic, especially the oldest, Cecilia. I am already lining up for more Cecilia. Write more Cecelia!

Stealing Marilyn Monroe by Sophie Warren will be available 14 April 2015 from Alloy Entertainment. I received an advance copy for review from NetGalley.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested an ARC of this book because I really was intrigued by the premise. I found the first chapter a little hard to read and get into, but I was so intrigued by the premise and liked Juliet, so I continued reading. By chapter 2 I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I don't know how to describe it, but it was like the author and therefore Juliet found her voice. Suddenly, the writing flowed, the writing became enjoyable and I wanted more, more, more. I loved Juliet's backstory, character growth and change over time. Being an art fan and gallery/museum regular, I loved the detail paid to the art world as part of the story. By the end of the book, I couldn't wait for Juliet to become the woman I knew she could be and I was so glad I decided to give it a chance rather than stop after chapter one. Try it and continue to the end--you won't be disappointed.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has really surprised me! I fell in love with this family. The kids are adorable. Edward is such a good father. We can totally understand the reasons why Juliet was so conflicted between saving her dad or living this dream life with them. I'm not sure if Edward's reaction at the end would actually happen in real life, but I really loved this book!

[T Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a great story. I was a little put off at the beginning because of Juliet's stealing but I she grew on me. I thought that the book took a while to warm but once she met Edward, the book started to really catch my attention. Great read. Lots of fun.

[Susan J. Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Loved the storyline and characters, they were believable and even resembled a few people I knew. It was engaging and entertaining.