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Penelope Blue #1
Stealing Mr. Right
I'm a wanted jewel thief.
He's FBI.
What's that saying? Keep your friends close...and your husband closer.
Being married to a federal agent certainly has its perks.
1. I just love the way that man looks in a suit.
2. This way I always know what the enemy is up to.
Spending my days lifting jewels and my nights tracking the Bureau should have been a genius plan. But the closer I get to Grant Emerson, the more dangerous this feels. With two million dollars' worth of diamonds on the line, I can't afford to fall for my own husband.
It turns out that the only thing worse than having a mortal enemy is being married to one. Because in our game of theft and seduction, only one of us will come out on top.
Good thing a cat burglar always lands on her feet.
He's FBI.
What's that saying? Keep your friends close...and your husband closer.
Being married to a federal agent certainly has its perks.
1. I just love the way that man looks in a suit.
2. This way I always know what the enemy is up to.
Spending my days lifting jewels and my nights tracking the Bureau should have been a genius plan. But the closer I get to Grant Emerson, the more dangerous this feels. With two million dollars' worth of diamonds on the line, I can't afford to fall for my own husband.
It turns out that the only thing worse than having a mortal enemy is being married to one. Because in our game of theft and seduction, only one of us will come out on top.
Good thing a cat burglar always lands on her feet.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2017
95 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
About the author
Tamara Morgan
39 books216 followersTamara Morgan is a contemporary comedy romance author. Ninety-nine percent of her information comes from television, movies, books, and all other pop culture activities that limit the amount of time she has to spend in polite company.
Her long-lived affinity for romance novels survived a B.A. degree in English Literature, after which time she discovered it was much more fun to create stories than analyze the life out of them. She lives with her husband and teen in the Inland Northwest, where the summers are hot, the winters are cold, and coffee is available on every street corner.
Her long-lived affinity for romance novels survived a B.A. degree in English Literature, after which time she discovered it was much more fun to create stories than analyze the life out of them. She lives with her husband and teen in the Inland Northwest, where the summers are hot, the winters are cold, and coffee is available on every street corner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
December 11, 2017
While the characters and situation are interesting, Morgan makes some choices that rob the story of much of its impact. The biggest problem with the book is all the directionless flashbacks. They're both unnecessary and kill the pacing dead. Worse, there are at least two times when they are deliberately used as a cliffhanger at a climactic moment—i.e. to deliberately kill pacing dead. Which had the effect of making it hard to decide if I should resent Morgan for being a manipulative jerk or discount her as a cutesy hack.
And yeah, that's rather harsh and I'll come down off that emotional anger eventually and admit her characters are interesting and their banter is good and Morgan does an excellent job presenting dialogue and actions that let the reader clearly see both the sincerity and the misread on both sides of a conflicted scene. And that's truly hard to do. But that doesn't mean I'm ever going to give her a pass on those dreadful flashbacks and the pace-killing intrusion they represent. It really came home when I realized I was a third of the way through the book and still waiting for the good stuff to start (which, hey, FBI guy and cat burglar girl, there should be action).
So this was vying for three stars (on the strength of seeing Grant and Pen together) until I realized that Morgan also had her thumb on the scale with Pen's emotional landscape. Pen has the "I love him" realization four or five times towards the end of the book (including in a flashback from a year ago). Most people really only need that to happen once and frankly, dragging it across the reader's consciousness more than that makes Pen look kind of stupid. Or flighty. Or both.
So this is maybe a 2.5 star read, but I'm going to go ahead and round up to the three because I laughed out loud maybe half a dozen times and that's not nothing.
A note about Steamy: There's an explicit sex scene and it's very well handled. So this is on the low end of my steam tolerance, but with bonus points for drawing me into Grant and Pen and being such a sweet culmination. The only real bad thing is that it happens in a flashback. Ugh.
And yeah, that's rather harsh and I'll come down off that emotional anger eventually and admit her characters are interesting and their banter is good and Morgan does an excellent job presenting dialogue and actions that let the reader clearly see both the sincerity and the misread on both sides of a conflicted scene. And that's truly hard to do. But that doesn't mean I'm ever going to give her a pass on those dreadful flashbacks and the pace-killing intrusion they represent. It really came home when I realized I was a third of the way through the book and still waiting for the good stuff to start (which, hey, FBI guy and cat burglar girl, there should be action).
So this was vying for three stars (on the strength of seeing Grant and Pen together) until I realized that Morgan also had her thumb on the scale with Pen's emotional landscape. Pen has the "I love him" realization four or five times towards the end of the book (including in a flashback from a year ago). Most people really only need that to happen once and frankly, dragging it across the reader's consciousness more than that makes Pen look kind of stupid. Or flighty. Or both.
So this is maybe a 2.5 star read, but I'm going to go ahead and round up to the three because I laughed out loud maybe half a dozen times and that's not nothing.
A note about Steamy: There's an explicit sex scene and it's very well handled. So this is on the low end of my steam tolerance, but with bonus points for drawing me into Grant and Pen and being such a sweet culmination. The only real bad thing is that it happens in a flashback. Ugh.
June 9, 2022
3.7 stars
“Eating in the library?” He made a deep tsking sound. “Shame on you, Penelope Blue. You’re lucky I don’t turn you in to the authorities.”
I relaxed ever so slightly. He wasn’t arresting me. He was flirting with me. “You can’t prove a thing,” I said quickly. “I swallowed the evidence.”
His eyes deepened in color until they were almost black. “Now that’s something I like to hear."
The daughter of the Blue Fox could do nothing but grow up to be a jewel thief. Penelope hasn't seen her father in years or his supposed hundred million nest egg, with a cobbled together group of friends, she makes her living stealing jewels. What starts off as part of bet with her bestfriend Riker, she gets close to a FBI agent who seems to be watching them.
Written in first person and all from Penelope's point of view, I personally missed our FBI agent Grant's thoughts. I can see why the author chose this as it intensifies their cat and mouse game of how much does Grant know about Penelope and is he using her? The author gives a couple emotional hints here and there to give the reader a pretty good idea where Grant's head and heart is at but Penelope is always second guessing.
I flew through this as the writing and story was pretty addictive. However, the flashbacks were laid out in a way that gave the pace a bit of a stop and go feeling, ramping up the pace in the present tense only to halt it with going back in the past to see how Penelope and Grant got together. It felt like the author was purposefully doing this but it ended up making the pace feel very uneven to me.
The series looks to be focused on Penelope, so even though there is no cliffhanger here, her story will continue on. Her group of friends deserve their own series or books as the author did a great job giving us enough of them to support the story and Penelope's character without clogging and enticing us to know more.
This felt a little more madcap chik-lit than strictly romance and, like I said, not having Grant's pov killed a little of their relationship depth for me, but I couldn't tear myself away from reading the adventure.
“Eating in the library?” He made a deep tsking sound. “Shame on you, Penelope Blue. You’re lucky I don’t turn you in to the authorities.”
I relaxed ever so slightly. He wasn’t arresting me. He was flirting with me. “You can’t prove a thing,” I said quickly. “I swallowed the evidence.”
His eyes deepened in color until they were almost black. “Now that’s something I like to hear."
The daughter of the Blue Fox could do nothing but grow up to be a jewel thief. Penelope hasn't seen her father in years or his supposed hundred million nest egg, with a cobbled together group of friends, she makes her living stealing jewels. What starts off as part of bet with her bestfriend Riker, she gets close to a FBI agent who seems to be watching them.
Written in first person and all from Penelope's point of view, I personally missed our FBI agent Grant's thoughts. I can see why the author chose this as it intensifies their cat and mouse game of how much does Grant know about Penelope and is he using her? The author gives a couple emotional hints here and there to give the reader a pretty good idea where Grant's head and heart is at but Penelope is always second guessing.
I flew through this as the writing and story was pretty addictive. However, the flashbacks were laid out in a way that gave the pace a bit of a stop and go feeling, ramping up the pace in the present tense only to halt it with going back in the past to see how Penelope and Grant got together. It felt like the author was purposefully doing this but it ended up making the pace feel very uneven to me.
The series looks to be focused on Penelope, so even though there is no cliffhanger here, her story will continue on. Her group of friends deserve their own series or books as the author did a great job giving us enough of them to support the story and Penelope's character without clogging and enticing us to know more.
This felt a little more madcap chik-lit than strictly romance and, like I said, not having Grant's pov killed a little of their relationship depth for me, but I couldn't tear myself away from reading the adventure.
April 1, 2017
4 Stars
Penelope Blue is married to Federal Agent Grant Emerson. She is a mouthy, sassy and fascinating badass heroine, a highly skilled jewel thief. She “works” with a group of childhood friends and they are the best in their “field”. In theory, her husband is her enemy, her nemesis, who should be willing to catch her if he can. But they have been married for one year and he has never done a thing to hurt her. Their emotional connection is intense. Grant is smoking hot, self-assured, shrewd and incredibly perceptive. He is very good at hiding his emotions, though, and Penelope still questions his motivation. After all, he could be the definition of deep undercover!
I loved this story! It started with a bang and kept up with the twists and turns, leaving me guessing at every turn and finally building up to a suspenseful climax. The plot is intricate and the chemistry between the main characters is intense. Tamara Morgan has woven an entertaining story in a way that is fun and unique. The alternating pattern of past and present storytelling was rather unusual, and kept me flipping the pages until the very end. I loved the humor, the dynamic between Grant and Penelope was so much fun!
Their game of cat and mouse was absolutely delightful, their playful flirtation was irresistible. This book was well-written, the alternating past-present storytelling slowed down the pace of the story, though. The characters were engaging, intriguing and well-developed, the plot was well-constructed and mysterious. I’m really looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received an advanced copy of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley.
Penelope Blue is married to Federal Agent Grant Emerson. She is a mouthy, sassy and fascinating badass heroine, a highly skilled jewel thief. She “works” with a group of childhood friends and they are the best in their “field”. In theory, her husband is her enemy, her nemesis, who should be willing to catch her if he can. But they have been married for one year and he has never done a thing to hurt her. Their emotional connection is intense. Grant is smoking hot, self-assured, shrewd and incredibly perceptive. He is very good at hiding his emotions, though, and Penelope still questions his motivation. After all, he could be the definition of deep undercover!
I loved this story! It started with a bang and kept up with the twists and turns, leaving me guessing at every turn and finally building up to a suspenseful climax. The plot is intricate and the chemistry between the main characters is intense. Tamara Morgan has woven an entertaining story in a way that is fun and unique. The alternating pattern of past and present storytelling was rather unusual, and kept me flipping the pages until the very end. I loved the humor, the dynamic between Grant and Penelope was so much fun!
Their game of cat and mouse was absolutely delightful, their playful flirtation was irresistible. This book was well-written, the alternating past-present storytelling slowed down the pace of the story, though. The characters were engaging, intriguing and well-developed, the plot was well-constructed and mysterious. I’m really looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received an advanced copy of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley.
March 15, 2017
I liked this book but I do have two frustrations I’ll get to in a minute. Penelope Blue (I love that name and I LOVE the way the hero says it in this book – always rhyming it with a sensual undertone) grew up with famous jewel thief for a father. He amassed a great fortune in stolen goods, hid them and then disappeared, assumed dead. Penelope doesn’t know where her father’s fortune is – and many people would love to discover it. This book starts with Penelope and her very close friends (also fellow jewel thieves) all set to steal a two million dollar diamond necklace that is coming out of a vault in a jewelry store. This necklace eluded her father for years, so she feels extra incentive to steal it, to honor his thieving memory. However, there is an obstacle. Penelope’s husband is a FBI agent and he happens to show up as an undercover bodyguard when the necklace makes an appearance (and Penelope is hiding in the air vent). She knows this is not a coincidence. Not being able to figure away around her hulking husband, she has to abandon her plan. Which really pisses her off.
You see – their marriage is somewhat of a farce. Grant, her husband, knows Penelope is a jewel thief – and she knows he knows – but they have never admitted to each other. She started dating him to keep an eye on him, because he was following her moves as she planned thefts. This led to marriage, again the other very wary of the other’s motives. Do they even really love each other or is all a game??
This book is told all in Penelope’s point of view, so as the reader you are unsure, just like Penelope, how much Grant really knows. You assume he knows pretty much everything about her, but he is a very good actor, a cold stone FBI agent, so there is some doubt sometimes. You also get the sense that he deeply loves her, but Penelope is unsure about his true feelings and intentions, again leaving some mystery about their relationship.
I really liked both Penelope and Grant. Penelope is a super fun heroine – funny, stubborn, energetic. She lived a hard life, and now has such a strong group of friends – but it all gets a bit jumbled as she gets in too deep with her FBI boyfriend/husband and feelings start to come about instead of keeping her head in the game to steal all the stuff. Her close friends add a lot to this book and I’m really looking forward to getting more of their story. Some are more mysterious than others, and I love the bond they all share, and the emotions that bubble up when Penelope has to choose the job or her relationship with Grant.
My two frustrations are: One, the book goes back and forth from present day, when she has been married to Grant for a year and the opportunity arises to steal the necklace. In the past we go back to when Grant and Penelope first meet and start dating. I feel like the past portions really weigh the book down and I just wasn’t interested in learning how the meet. I found it a bit boring. I liked their predicament in present day – married, but hiding everything. In love with each other, but would never admit it.
Second, Grant is hot. Like, really, really hot. BUT – their romance takes a back seat to everything else. I wanted more page time together of just them. This book has a chick-lit feel to it, and the sex scene definitely goes that route, as in brief and didn’t give me nearly enough of hot and sexy AND naked Grant. I enjoyed this story, but as a romance book, it’s missing the romance somewhat. It’s in there, hiding and sometimes makes an appearance with very growly Grant but I wanted more of it.
Looking forward to book two.
Grade: B-
You see – their marriage is somewhat of a farce. Grant, her husband, knows Penelope is a jewel thief – and she knows he knows – but they have never admitted to each other. She started dating him to keep an eye on him, because he was following her moves as she planned thefts. This led to marriage, again the other very wary of the other’s motives. Do they even really love each other or is all a game??
This book is told all in Penelope’s point of view, so as the reader you are unsure, just like Penelope, how much Grant really knows. You assume he knows pretty much everything about her, but he is a very good actor, a cold stone FBI agent, so there is some doubt sometimes. You also get the sense that he deeply loves her, but Penelope is unsure about his true feelings and intentions, again leaving some mystery about their relationship.
I really liked both Penelope and Grant. Penelope is a super fun heroine – funny, stubborn, energetic. She lived a hard life, and now has such a strong group of friends – but it all gets a bit jumbled as she gets in too deep with her FBI boyfriend/husband and feelings start to come about instead of keeping her head in the game to steal all the stuff. Her close friends add a lot to this book and I’m really looking forward to getting more of their story. Some are more mysterious than others, and I love the bond they all share, and the emotions that bubble up when Penelope has to choose the job or her relationship with Grant.
My two frustrations are: One, the book goes back and forth from present day, when she has been married to Grant for a year and the opportunity arises to steal the necklace. In the past we go back to when Grant and Penelope first meet and start dating. I feel like the past portions really weigh the book down and I just wasn’t interested in learning how the meet. I found it a bit boring. I liked their predicament in present day – married, but hiding everything. In love with each other, but would never admit it.
Second, Grant is hot. Like, really, really hot. BUT – their romance takes a back seat to everything else. I wanted more page time together of just them. This book has a chick-lit feel to it, and the sex scene definitely goes that route, as in brief and didn’t give me nearly enough of hot and sexy AND naked Grant. I enjoyed this story, but as a romance book, it’s missing the romance somewhat. It’s in there, hiding and sometimes makes an appearance with very growly Grant but I wanted more of it.
Looking forward to book two.
Grade: B-
August 10, 2017
4.5 stars
I’d heard good things about this book when it first came out, and I wasn’t disappointed. Stealing Mr. Right is a fun, light-hearted read in the best caper movie tradition; our heroine, Penelope Blue, is a highly skilled jewel thief and her husband, Grant Emerson is an FBI agent. Right from their first meeting, they are locked into a sexy game of cat and mouse in which neither knows how much the other knows and wants to find out.
Thievery runs in the Blue family, because Penelope is the daughter of the infamous Blue Fox, one of the best in the business. When he disappeared after a heist gone wrong a decade earlier and her stepmother abandoned her, it left Penelope alone on the streets, to fend for herself. Fortunately for her, she was befriended by a street-wise kid named Riker and together they did what they had to survive; stole, ran scams, always moving onto bigger and better jobs.
When the book opens, they and their team are about to steal a fabulous two-million dollar necklace – the very one that Pen’s dad was attempting to steal when he was caught. It’s kind of a point of honour that she should finish the job, but things go wrong when she recognises the man accompanying the necklace’s owner – it’s her very own gorgeous, six-foot-two, former-football-player-turned-FBI-agent husband, Grant. Pen, Riker and the other members of their team, Jordan and Oz, get out and regroup, but it’s clear Grant’s involvement was no coincidence, and Pen thinks he must be stepping up his search for the fortune her father left behind when he disappeared/died.
The story of exactly how a thief and an FBI agent got married is told in flashback throughout the book, and it’s very well done. Penelope believes Grant is out to locate her father’s money, and she’s playing along to find out exactly what he knows while she is searching for it, too. She maintains she married Grant as a way of “keeping your enemies closer” and that as soon as her father’s stash is found, they will go their separate ways. It’s very clear to the reader, of course, that she’s head over heels for Grant, but she maintains that self-deception almost all the way through.
What the author does so cleverly is to muddy the waters where Grant is concerned, making the reader wonder as to his true motives. When we – along with Penelope – first meet him, he’s friendly and open, a gorgeous guy chatting up/being chatted up by a woman he’s interested in. Because the story is told entirely from Pen’s point of view, he remains something of an enigma, and in the sections of the book set in the present, she sews the seeds of doubt and makes us wonder if he really is the good guy who would do anything for the woman he loves, or if he did marry Pen for ulterior reasons of his own.
Tamara Morgan has crafted a terrifically entertaining story which, while for the most part, a fun, sexy romp, has its serious side, too. Pen’s relationship with Riker – her dearest friend and the one person in her life who has always looked out for her – is strained and, as she painfully realises, hasn’t much changed since their childhoods, and she still finds it difficult to believe in herself, one of the hang-ups she acquired as a result of her father’s abandonment. Her friendships with Riker and Jordan are nicely done – Riker is actually rather awesome, dark, brooding and sarcastic, and clearly needs his own book at some point!
The central characters are well-written and likeable; I enjoyed Pen’s wry humour and her resilience, and Grant is super-hot – smart, perceptive, self-assured and very, very good at hiding his thoughts and emotions, so that Pen – and we – are never sure if he’s really a doting husband or deep undercover. The chemistry between them is fabulous, but I can’t deny that the book’s one love scene was just a teeny bit disappointing after all that lovely sexual tension and build-up.
All in all, though, Stealing Mr. Right was a thoroughly enjoyable, read with a nice balance of suspense and romantic comedy. I’ll certainly be picking up the next book in the series.
I’d heard good things about this book when it first came out, and I wasn’t disappointed. Stealing Mr. Right is a fun, light-hearted read in the best caper movie tradition; our heroine, Penelope Blue, is a highly skilled jewel thief and her husband, Grant Emerson is an FBI agent. Right from their first meeting, they are locked into a sexy game of cat and mouse in which neither knows how much the other knows and wants to find out.
Thievery runs in the Blue family, because Penelope is the daughter of the infamous Blue Fox, one of the best in the business. When he disappeared after a heist gone wrong a decade earlier and her stepmother abandoned her, it left Penelope alone on the streets, to fend for herself. Fortunately for her, she was befriended by a street-wise kid named Riker and together they did what they had to survive; stole, ran scams, always moving onto bigger and better jobs.
When the book opens, they and their team are about to steal a fabulous two-million dollar necklace – the very one that Pen’s dad was attempting to steal when he was caught. It’s kind of a point of honour that she should finish the job, but things go wrong when she recognises the man accompanying the necklace’s owner – it’s her very own gorgeous, six-foot-two, former-football-player-turned-FBI-agent husband, Grant. Pen, Riker and the other members of their team, Jordan and Oz, get out and regroup, but it’s clear Grant’s involvement was no coincidence, and Pen thinks he must be stepping up his search for the fortune her father left behind when he disappeared/died.
The story of exactly how a thief and an FBI agent got married is told in flashback throughout the book, and it’s very well done. Penelope believes Grant is out to locate her father’s money, and she’s playing along to find out exactly what he knows while she is searching for it, too. She maintains she married Grant as a way of “keeping your enemies closer” and that as soon as her father’s stash is found, they will go their separate ways. It’s very clear to the reader, of course, that she’s head over heels for Grant, but she maintains that self-deception almost all the way through.
What the author does so cleverly is to muddy the waters where Grant is concerned, making the reader wonder as to his true motives. When we – along with Penelope – first meet him, he’s friendly and open, a gorgeous guy chatting up/being chatted up by a woman he’s interested in. Because the story is told entirely from Pen’s point of view, he remains something of an enigma, and in the sections of the book set in the present, she sews the seeds of doubt and makes us wonder if he really is the good guy who would do anything for the woman he loves, or if he did marry Pen for ulterior reasons of his own.
Tamara Morgan has crafted a terrifically entertaining story which, while for the most part, a fun, sexy romp, has its serious side, too. Pen’s relationship with Riker – her dearest friend and the one person in her life who has always looked out for her – is strained and, as she painfully realises, hasn’t much changed since their childhoods, and she still finds it difficult to believe in herself, one of the hang-ups she acquired as a result of her father’s abandonment. Her friendships with Riker and Jordan are nicely done – Riker is actually rather awesome, dark, brooding and sarcastic, and clearly needs his own book at some point!
The central characters are well-written and likeable; I enjoyed Pen’s wry humour and her resilience, and Grant is super-hot – smart, perceptive, self-assured and very, very good at hiding his thoughts and emotions, so that Pen – and we – are never sure if he’s really a doting husband or deep undercover. The chemistry between them is fabulous, but I can’t deny that the book’s one love scene was just a teeny bit disappointing after all that lovely sexual tension and build-up.
All in all, though, Stealing Mr. Right was a thoroughly enjoyable, read with a nice balance of suspense and romantic comedy. I’ll certainly be picking up the next book in the series.
April 18, 2017
This review can also be found at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
Stealing Mr. Right is the first of the three part Penelope Blue series by Tamara Morgan, about a professional jewel thief and her husband, an FBI agent. It’s the first time I’ve read this author and she’s got my full attention now with a delightful cat and mouse game that has enough plot twists to keep the reader on their toes, while providing a swoonworthy romance.
This quote from partway through the story is an apt description of the relationship between Penelope Blue and Grant Emerson. Penelope is the daughter of a renowned jewel thief, the Blue Fox. When he died, Penelope became a street kid but with all the tricks of the trade under her belt. Those in the crime world on both sides of the law believe she must have access to the millions of dollars worth of jewels her father had hidden over the years, but she has no idea where his fortune is . When the chance to steal a precious diamond necklace that always eluded her father comes her way, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to be successful. If only her husband Grant hadn’t foiled her plans, once again! He’s at the scene of her almost-crime, and she is forced to abort the mission.
Penelope and her partners in crime are busy trying to think up another way to get a hold of the necklace when Grant brings it home for safekeeping. Is it a trap? Did he bring it home to force the issue of her life of crime out in the open, to see if she’d take the necklace and run? The game is afoot, but if one of them wins, they might both end up as losers in love.
This story has both a romantic comedy and a chick lit feel, and when I heard it was the first of three stories about the couple – who are already married – I was worried that this part would end in a cliffhanger. I’m happy to report that that is not the case. Stealing Mr. Right has a wholly satisfactory happy ending and is a complete story on its own. It’s told entirely from Penelope’s point of view and consists of equal parts flashback telling how Grant and Penelope met and got married and scenes in the present dealing with the aborted jewel heist and resulting fall-out. The segments are well identified and the writing voice used also makes it clear which is which – the parts that take place in the past are written in past tense and the parts in the present are written in present tense. It makes for an interesting reading experience.
Penelope is a resilient young woman. She had no choice but to adapt to life on the streets as an abandoned teenager, her mother having passed away in childbirth and her ‘trophy wife’ stepmother unwilling to play the part of mom. She was aided by Riker, another street rat and together they did what they needed to survive, eventually moving on to bigger and better heists. Stealing was a way for her to survive and she’s not apologetic about it at all. Now, she doesn’t do it for the money but for the thrill of the job. Riker is her best friend and they have a close relationship – though that has been strained by her marriage to Grant. He thinks Grant is using her to get at her father’s supposed fortune and that their marriage is a farce that will end with her getting hurt. Penelope finds herself torn between the man she’s in love with and the man who’s always had her back.
Riker and Penelope added two more to their thieving crew, Jordan and Oz, also street kids. They each have a specific role to play. Riker is the mastermind planner who chooses the jobs, negotiates with the backers and runs the show. Penelope is small in stature and can fit into spaces like air ducts and housemaids trolley carts. Ironically, she is claustrophobic yet still finds herself spending hours in small spaces, waiting to give the go ahead or do the job herself when the coast is clear. Jordan is the explosives expert, making whatever is needed to be used as a distraction (like firebombs in garbage cans) and Oz is the everyman, the one who wears disguises and blends into the background, casing joints, providing backup, basically playing whatever character is needed for the situation. These four are not a hard edged violent crew. No one gets killed or injured on their missions (though a guard or two may get knocked out ) and this is one of those scenarios where the crimes are always big ticket items – art heists, jewelry thefts, etc. from big corporations or wealthy people who can live with the loss.
Grant is an enigma. Penelope assumes that he knows exactly who she is when she first – and rather audaciously – approaches him on a surveillance job. In fact she introduces herself by her real name, so there’s no mystery. What she doesn’t expect is that he’ll ask her out! How much he knows about her isn’t clear, and nor is his motive is in wanting to date her. As the story progresses, Grant’s role becomes murky. In the sections of the story set in the past, he’s a handsome man in pursuit of a beautiful woman and they share some sensual scenes (which aren’t overly descriptive, though Grant is a good kisser!) as their relationship heats up. In the present, all bets are off and we don’t know if he’s a good guy or a bad guy, a man who loves his wife and is willing to do anything for her or if everything is leading up to a big takedown. Honestly, it makes for a very exciting and page-turning read because the reader has no idea what is going to happen right up until the very end. The plot twists are eyebrow raising, with the necklace at the center of the story. Stealing Mr. Right entertained me from beginning to end and I definitely plan to read more about this intriguing couple!
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Stealing Mr. Right is the first of the three part Penelope Blue series by Tamara Morgan, about a professional jewel thief and her husband, an FBI agent. It’s the first time I’ve read this author and she’s got my full attention now with a delightful cat and mouse game that has enough plot twists to keep the reader on their toes, while providing a swoonworthy romance.
He was the professional, but I had street smarts. He held the cards, but I called the game. Damn, but it was going to be fun seeing which of us would eventually come out on top.
This quote from partway through the story is an apt description of the relationship between Penelope Blue and Grant Emerson. Penelope is the daughter of a renowned jewel thief, the Blue Fox. When he died, Penelope became a street kid but with all the tricks of the trade under her belt. Those in the crime world on both sides of the law believe she must have access to the millions of dollars worth of jewels her father had hidden over the years, but she has no idea where his fortune is . When the chance to steal a precious diamond necklace that always eluded her father comes her way, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to be successful. If only her husband Grant hadn’t foiled her plans, once again! He’s at the scene of her almost-crime, and she is forced to abort the mission.
Penelope and her partners in crime are busy trying to think up another way to get a hold of the necklace when Grant brings it home for safekeeping. Is it a trap? Did he bring it home to force the issue of her life of crime out in the open, to see if she’d take the necklace and run? The game is afoot, but if one of them wins, they might both end up as losers in love.
This story has both a romantic comedy and a chick lit feel, and when I heard it was the first of three stories about the couple – who are already married – I was worried that this part would end in a cliffhanger. I’m happy to report that that is not the case. Stealing Mr. Right has a wholly satisfactory happy ending and is a complete story on its own. It’s told entirely from Penelope’s point of view and consists of equal parts flashback telling how Grant and Penelope met and got married and scenes in the present dealing with the aborted jewel heist and resulting fall-out. The segments are well identified and the writing voice used also makes it clear which is which – the parts that take place in the past are written in past tense and the parts in the present are written in present tense. It makes for an interesting reading experience.
Penelope is a resilient young woman. She had no choice but to adapt to life on the streets as an abandoned teenager, her mother having passed away in childbirth and her ‘trophy wife’ stepmother unwilling to play the part of mom. She was aided by Riker, another street rat and together they did what they needed to survive, eventually moving on to bigger and better heists. Stealing was a way for her to survive and she’s not apologetic about it at all. Now, she doesn’t do it for the money but for the thrill of the job. Riker is her best friend and they have a close relationship – though that has been strained by her marriage to Grant. He thinks Grant is using her to get at her father’s supposed fortune and that their marriage is a farce that will end with her getting hurt. Penelope finds herself torn between the man she’s in love with and the man who’s always had her back.
Riker and Penelope added two more to their thieving crew, Jordan and Oz, also street kids. They each have a specific role to play. Riker is the mastermind planner who chooses the jobs, negotiates with the backers and runs the show. Penelope is small in stature and can fit into spaces like air ducts and housemaids trolley carts. Ironically, she is claustrophobic yet still finds herself spending hours in small spaces, waiting to give the go ahead or do the job herself when the coast is clear. Jordan is the explosives expert, making whatever is needed to be used as a distraction (like firebombs in garbage cans) and Oz is the everyman, the one who wears disguises and blends into the background, casing joints, providing backup, basically playing whatever character is needed for the situation. These four are not a hard edged violent crew. No one gets killed or injured on their missions (though a guard or two may get knocked out ) and this is one of those scenarios where the crimes are always big ticket items – art heists, jewelry thefts, etc. from big corporations or wealthy people who can live with the loss.
Grant is an enigma. Penelope assumes that he knows exactly who she is when she first – and rather audaciously – approaches him on a surveillance job. In fact she introduces herself by her real name, so there’s no mystery. What she doesn’t expect is that he’ll ask her out! How much he knows about her isn’t clear, and nor is his motive is in wanting to date her. As the story progresses, Grant’s role becomes murky. In the sections of the story set in the past, he’s a handsome man in pursuit of a beautiful woman and they share some sensual scenes (which aren’t overly descriptive, though Grant is a good kisser!) as their relationship heats up. In the present, all bets are off and we don’t know if he’s a good guy or a bad guy, a man who loves his wife and is willing to do anything for her or if everything is leading up to a big takedown. Honestly, it makes for a very exciting and page-turning read because the reader has no idea what is going to happen right up until the very end. The plot twists are eyebrow raising, with the necklace at the center of the story. Stealing Mr. Right entertained me from beginning to end and I definitely plan to read more about this intriguing couple!
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
March 20, 2017
ARC provided by publisher.
4.5 stars
Based on the cover and blurb of Stealing Mr. Right, I was sure I was in for a light, fun cat and mouse read. I was right about the fun part, and some of it was also light, but there was a depth to this story, and to Penelope, that I wasn’t expecting. This story hops back and forth between the past and the present, from Penelope and Grant’s ‘courtship’ to the chips finally falling where they may in the present. Penelope and Grant have chemistry off the charts. There was very little sex in this (which was a bit disappointing after all the build up in Penelope’s head; I wanted full-on Grant sexy time,) but there is just so much tension when they’re on the page together. What I find most odd about this story is that despite feeling detached from the characters, I was still riveted. And I think it’s because Penelope tried so hard to not get attached to people, it was easy to put myself in her shoes and adopt her feeling of detachment. I’m not sure if this was deliberate on the author’s part, but it was brilliant either way. I will say, from almost the very beginning, it was clear to me how much Grant adored Penelope, and it made me sad that she was so busy waiting for him to abandon her that she couldn’t see it. Grant was just so charming and tender, but Penelope was convinced he was all bluster. And they were absolutely adorable together, which is hilarious, because neither personality screams adorable.
Penelope friends were such a wonderful addition to the story, from Jordan, her loyal gal pal, to Oz, a jack of all trades, and Riker (who I’m not sure how to describe, because he has a bit of a big brother feel, but they have…history, so that doesn’t quite work,) she had a family she’d made who had her back even if she couldn’t see it. I loved them all, and I am hoping there will be plenty of them to read about in future installments. Grant’s mother, giving Penelope a run for her money, was a hoot – like mother, like son. And props to the author, because there was a twist near the end of the book that I wasn’t expecting.
I was pleasantly surprised by Stealing Mr. Right, and I can’t recommend it enough. I’m so excited for the next one in the series! If you’re looking for a quick read with a bit of depth and a lot of fun, this is right up your alley.
This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
4.5 stars
Based on the cover and blurb of Stealing Mr. Right, I was sure I was in for a light, fun cat and mouse read. I was right about the fun part, and some of it was also light, but there was a depth to this story, and to Penelope, that I wasn’t expecting. This story hops back and forth between the past and the present, from Penelope and Grant’s ‘courtship’ to the chips finally falling where they may in the present. Penelope and Grant have chemistry off the charts. There was very little sex in this (which was a bit disappointing after all the build up in Penelope’s head; I wanted full-on Grant sexy time,) but there is just so much tension when they’re on the page together. What I find most odd about this story is that despite feeling detached from the characters, I was still riveted. And I think it’s because Penelope tried so hard to not get attached to people, it was easy to put myself in her shoes and adopt her feeling of detachment. I’m not sure if this was deliberate on the author’s part, but it was brilliant either way. I will say, from almost the very beginning, it was clear to me how much Grant adored Penelope, and it made me sad that she was so busy waiting for him to abandon her that she couldn’t see it. Grant was just so charming and tender, but Penelope was convinced he was all bluster. And they were absolutely adorable together, which is hilarious, because neither personality screams adorable.
Penelope friends were such a wonderful addition to the story, from Jordan, her loyal gal pal, to Oz, a jack of all trades, and Riker (who I’m not sure how to describe, because he has a bit of a big brother feel, but they have…history, so that doesn’t quite work,) she had a family she’d made who had her back even if she couldn’t see it. I loved them all, and I am hoping there will be plenty of them to read about in future installments. Grant’s mother, giving Penelope a run for her money, was a hoot – like mother, like son. And props to the author, because there was a twist near the end of the book that I wasn’t expecting.
I was pleasantly surprised by Stealing Mr. Right, and I can’t recommend it enough. I’m so excited for the next one in the series! If you’re looking for a quick read with a bit of depth and a lot of fun, this is right up your alley.
This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
March 25, 2017
Oh this was so cute!! Although Penelope did seem sort of daft, and despite the fact that the main conflict was just a big misunderstanding, I really did enjoy the story. I had a hard time putting it down. And everything about Grant was just awwww, except when he was a jerk, but then we got a chapter from his point of view and he got awwww again.
March 19, 2017
This book was better than I expected before I started reading it! Due to the title and the description, I thought it'd be a story like "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", but I was so wrong.
The story is told very well, it's easy to understand and has a lot of unexpected turns (which I love). Mixing the present time and the past time gives a whole new and fresh perspective into their relationship.
I didn't want to stop reading this story, and not just because some chapters ended with a cliffhanger, but also because the story itself was so catchy and interesting.
This book is totally pop-corn worthy!
The story is told very well, it's easy to understand and has a lot of unexpected turns (which I love). Mixing the present time and the past time gives a whole new and fresh perspective into their relationship.
I didn't want to stop reading this story, and not just because some chapters ended with a cliffhanger, but also because the story itself was so catchy and interesting.
This book is totally pop-corn worthy!
February 12, 2017
'Stealing Mr. Right' by Tamara Morgan is book One in the "Penelope Blue" series. This is the story of Penelope and Grant. Pen is a jewel thief who works with what really are her friends. Her husband is Grant who is a FBI agent. This book starts with her and her friends trying to do a heist but her husband comes in doing his job to help protect a necklace...the same necklace Pen wants to take. This book hooks you in by you wanting to find out how these two even meet much less become married. Which the books slow starts to tell you in the way of jumping from present day to the day they first met to through out their lives up until the present day again. I am usually not a fan of those type of stories that jump around but this one did work for me. I also like the secondary characters, the humor and just all around story. I will be looking for more books by Ms. Morgan for sure! *A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection*
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today-is-not-that-day
August 5, 2019At 33% enjoying, but keeps getting pushed down list for others... May come back to it
February 12, 2017
Stealing Mr. Right 'Stealing Mr. Right' by Tamara Morgan is book One in the "Penelope Blue" series. This is the story of Penelope and Grant. Pen is a jewel thief who works with what really are her friends. Her husband is Grant who is a FBI agent. This book starts with her and her friends trying to do a heist but her husband comes in doing his job to help protect a necklace...the same necklace Pen wants to take. This book hooks you in by you wanting to find out how these two even meet much less become married. Which the books slow starts to tell you in the way of jumping from present day to the day they first met to through out their lives up until the present day again. I am usually not a fan of those type of stories that jump around but this one did work for me. I also like the secondary characters, the humor and just all around story. I will be looking for more books by Ms. Morgan for sure! *A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection*
Read
March 22, 2017DNF.
Ok so I am going to be completely honest I was not able to finish this book. I tried for a month and it just did not work. I think for me the problem was the fact that it kept switching back and forth from present and past. And it just didn't seem realistic, at least not to me. I wasn't able to get lost in the world because I kept questioning the why's of everything that happened. Such as if the husband knew she would be at the heist why not wait to arrest her. Or if she thought he was cheating why not steal the treasure and get rich and leave him. Yeah I understood that they may actually love each other (I am not sure as I could not even get that far into the book) but it just wasn't able to play out for me mentally.
Now these are just problems that I had while trying to read this book so it wont be the same for all. And a lot of readers seem to like the book, it just wasn't for me.
~ A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection.
Ok so I am going to be completely honest I was not able to finish this book. I tried for a month and it just did not work. I think for me the problem was the fact that it kept switching back and forth from present and past. And it just didn't seem realistic, at least not to me. I wasn't able to get lost in the world because I kept questioning the why's of everything that happened. Such as if the husband knew she would be at the heist why not wait to arrest her. Or if she thought he was cheating why not steal the treasure and get rich and leave him. Yeah I understood that they may actually love each other (I am not sure as I could not even get that far into the book) but it just wasn't able to play out for me mentally.
Now these are just problems that I had while trying to read this book so it wont be the same for all. And a lot of readers seem to like the book, it just wasn't for me.
~ A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection.
August 4, 2017
Stealing Mr. Right jumps back and forth between present day and about a year (15 months or so) to show us how Penelope and Grant met and fall in love. The story is told through Penelope’s POV.
Present day Penelope is still a jewel thief who is married to Grant a FBI agent. They both know Grant is watching her and her band of friends. They are playing a sexy cat and mouse game but only one of them knows they are playing for keeps. Or should I say only one is up front about it. It takes one of them a little longer to come to terms with the fact they actually love their spouse.
Stealing Mr. Right is an enjoyable read about a couple living a “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” like life. The characters are fun, lovable and the romance between Pen and Grant is believable.
Present day Penelope is still a jewel thief who is married to Grant a FBI agent. They both know Grant is watching her and her band of friends. They are playing a sexy cat and mouse game but only one of them knows they are playing for keeps. Or should I say only one is up front about it. It takes one of them a little longer to come to terms with the fact they actually love their spouse.
Stealing Mr. Right is an enjoyable read about a couple living a “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” like life. The characters are fun, lovable and the romance between Pen and Grant is believable.
Want to read
April 13, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/13/2019)! 🎁
March 10, 2017
Warning: ebook ends at 68% and the rest is an extensive preview for book two.
I really liked this! I like Tamara Morgan in general, because she often writes stuff I'd sort of class as romantic comedy. And this has SUCH a fun premise. Overall, I thought the flashback/present stuff worked pretty well, though there were various points during the book where I wanted to stay in one or the other for longer, so I sort of wonder what it would have looked like as a sequential story.
But really. This was a lot of fun, and I would recommend.
I really liked this! I like Tamara Morgan in general, because she often writes stuff I'd sort of class as romantic comedy. And this has SUCH a fun premise. Overall, I thought the flashback/present stuff worked pretty well, though there were various points during the book where I wanted to stay in one or the other for longer, so I sort of wonder what it would have looked like as a sequential story.
But really. This was a lot of fun, and I would recommend.
February 27, 2017
This was a fun read. A little suspense, a lot of romantic comedy. Penelope Blue is the heroine and she is a jewel thief. Grant Emerson is her FBI agent husband. When the story starts they are already married. The story is told from Pen's POV and flashes between the present and past. It was fun to read how they met and I would have preferred this book focused more on how they met, but the back and forth was interesting. Pen is slightly unreliable as a narrator as she doesn't fully pay attention to the things going on around her. She is not TSTL, I think it is more a protective mechanism. The story centers around Pen and Grant and how much they know about each other's jobs and how that impacts their lives. Grant was pretty awesome and I would have enjoyed his POV. One thing that really bothered me was how so many people in Pen's life, particularly the men, referred to her as having no common sense. Overall it was a fun and quick read- Solid C+, I wish GR allowed half star reviews.
May 20, 2017
In Morgan's novel she introduces us to Penelope Blue, the daughter of a notorious thief who disappeared after attempting to steal a two-million dollar necklace. Left to live on the streets, she and her partners in crime have successfully pulled off heists that have left her with a tidy sum. However, she is haunted by the loss of her father's disappearance and hidden windfall. She and her friends have spent seven years searching for it. They are in the middle of stealing the same necklace when Grant Emerson, her husband, and FBI agent shows up on the scene and they abandon the heist. The story that unfolds takes place in both the present and the past.
Current Timeline: Penelope is married to Grant, but still pulling off cases but his presence ruins her chances of getting her hands on the necklace. Things get interesting when Grant is assigned to protect the jewelry. ONLY it's a lot more complicated than that. What unfolds was brilliant with lots of twists, turns, and shocking discoveries.
Past Timeline: This takes us through the courtship of Grant and Penelope and offered insight into both. These two are playing a game of cat and mouse. But what is their end game and who will get caught? Mogan weaves past and present together for the romantic aspect of their story all while pulling both threads into the current mystery. It was neat seeing events from the past storyline tie into the present storyline.
The story started off very slowly for me, and admittedly I struggled with the back and forth. I needed to feel connected, and that didn't happen until the 46% mark. I will say, that the remainder of the story was addictive, with puzzle pieces falling into place, suspenseful moments and FINALLY as a reader establishing a connection with the couple. I became a part of the story, one of the gang.
I ended up loving the characters and appreciated how developed the secondary characters were. Penelope is funny, with witty comments but she is also pretty ingenious at devising a plan and sneaking into weird places. Grant, is an FBI agent through and through but he is also loyal, and the more Morgan peeled back his layers, the harder I fell.
So despite my initial struggles, I whole-heartedly recommend STEALING MR. RIGHT and plan to read SAVING MR. PERFECT. Now that the pesky back and forth is over I am ready to spend more time with Penelope and Grant.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Current Timeline: Penelope is married to Grant, but still pulling off cases but his presence ruins her chances of getting her hands on the necklace. Things get interesting when Grant is assigned to protect the jewelry. ONLY it's a lot more complicated than that. What unfolds was brilliant with lots of twists, turns, and shocking discoveries.
Past Timeline: This takes us through the courtship of Grant and Penelope and offered insight into both. These two are playing a game of cat and mouse. But what is their end game and who will get caught? Mogan weaves past and present together for the romantic aspect of their story all while pulling both threads into the current mystery. It was neat seeing events from the past storyline tie into the present storyline.
The story started off very slowly for me, and admittedly I struggled with the back and forth. I needed to feel connected, and that didn't happen until the 46% mark. I will say, that the remainder of the story was addictive, with puzzle pieces falling into place, suspenseful moments and FINALLY as a reader establishing a connection with the couple. I became a part of the story, one of the gang.
I ended up loving the characters and appreciated how developed the secondary characters were. Penelope is funny, with witty comments but she is also pretty ingenious at devising a plan and sneaking into weird places. Grant, is an FBI agent through and through but he is also loyal, and the more Morgan peeled back his layers, the harder I fell.
So despite my initial struggles, I whole-heartedly recommend STEALING MR. RIGHT and plan to read SAVING MR. PERFECT. Now that the pesky back and forth is over I am ready to spend more time with Penelope and Grant.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
April 13, 2018
I read this because I needed a book involving a heist for a reading challenge. From that perspective, it was a letdown (I’m counting it, though! I mean the first chapter is called “The Heist”). There is not enough heist or action for my taste—I wanted an action romp and we get one aborted heist, one offpage heist, and one rescue where the heroine doesn’t do much. I wasn’t convinced by her awesome jewel thief skills because we don’t see them in action.
To be fair, if you’re going to have a happy ending romance between a married couple who are a thief and FBI agent, you may need to abort the heist, but this book is weighed down by too many flashbacks of their courtship—at least stick some past heists in! I found myself wondering if the author simply wasn’t good at writing action so skipped it. There’s a lot of repetitive internal lusting and angsting. I wanted a shorter book that moved more briskly.
This does not sound like a three-star review. I think I’m rounding up because I liked the concept of the couple who each suspects the other is using them/knows more than they are letting on, but isn’t quite sure how much they know, and slowly let their guards down and real feelings in (it’s a bit Scarlet Pimpernel in concept, which I love, but not enough in execution). Some of their banter is fun. There was a great plot in here that couldn’t get out from under the dead wood of flashback and the million descriptions of Grant cupping Penelope’s face in his big hand and running his thumb over her lips. I like the idea of this author’s books but think she is Not For Me.
To be fair, if you’re going to have a happy ending romance between a married couple who are a thief and FBI agent, you may need to abort the heist, but this book is weighed down by too many flashbacks of their courtship—at least stick some past heists in! I found myself wondering if the author simply wasn’t good at writing action so skipped it. There’s a lot of repetitive internal lusting and angsting. I wanted a shorter book that moved more briskly.
This does not sound like a three-star review. I think I’m rounding up because I liked the concept of the couple who each suspects the other is using them/knows more than they are letting on, but isn’t quite sure how much they know, and slowly let their guards down and real feelings in (it’s a bit Scarlet Pimpernel in concept, which I love, but not enough in execution). Some of their banter is fun. There was a great plot in here that couldn’t get out from under the dead wood of flashback and the million descriptions of Grant cupping Penelope’s face in his big hand and running his thumb over her lips. I like the idea of this author’s books but think she is Not For Me.
March 7, 2017
I knew I would love this read half way reading the blurb, the concept is something I really wanted in a book but could not find for the life of me!! So believe me when I say I was over the bloody moon to find this rare gem, this is one of those reads that will definitely pull you out of that dreadful book funk!
Stealing Mr. Right was such a hilarious, swoon-worthy and lighthearted read which was exactly what I needed. It was filled with lovable, entertaining characters with witty dialoguewhich is a must and a sexy, cute romance that always put a smile to my face. I need more of Grant! I honestly can not wait for the next book and I know it will not disappoint me!
ARC provided by Netgalley
Stealing Mr. Right was such a hilarious, swoon-worthy and lighthearted read which was exactly what I needed. It was filled with lovable, entertaining characters with witty dialogue
ARC provided by Netgalley
March 18, 2017
SUCH FUN. I loved the relationship and the "does he know that I know that he knows?" nature of it.
Very much looking forward to the next books.
Very much looking forward to the next books.
March 10, 2017
I first heard about this book over a year ago on Twitter, it had me all atwitter and I knew I had to read it. Fast forward to yesterday, I was scrolling through Net Galley when I saw it as a "read now" offering, I snatched it up and spent the today reading it. I must say that blurb does not fully prepare you for the rollercoaster ride that is this book. I quite enjoyed it and cannot wait to read more in the series.
If you're looking for a fun read that is also a suspense then snatch this bad boy up, you won't regret it.
ARC provided by publisher through Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
If you're looking for a fun read that is also a suspense then snatch this bad boy up, you won't regret it.
ARC provided by publisher through Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
March 6, 2017
This was a seriously fun, lighthearted romp. It made me smile throughout and I didn't want it to end. It's been a long time since I've read a "romantic comedy" and it made me want to go find more books like this. This is a perfect summer beach read and I'll be looking out for more Tamara Morgan, that is for sure.
The only problem I think some people may have with this book is that it's told in alternating timelines. The chapters alternate between present day and the beginning of their relationship. I didn't find it confusing because it tells you what time period you are in at the beginning of each chapter. I think it was a great way to keep the action spread throughout the book and also allowed you to see what led to where they are now. I kinda loved it.
Also, I would be first in line if they made this into a movie. Just throwing that out there.
If anybody has any similar book recommendations, I'm all ears. Until then, I've already added Saving Mr. Perfect and Seeking Mr. Wrong (Books 2 & 3) to my TBR list. I'm definitely going to want to go along for the ride.
I received an advance review copy of this book that I have chosen to review.
The only problem I think some people may have with this book is that it's told in alternating timelines. The chapters alternate between present day and the beginning of their relationship. I didn't find it confusing because it tells you what time period you are in at the beginning of each chapter. I think it was a great way to keep the action spread throughout the book and also allowed you to see what led to where they are now. I kinda loved it.
Also, I would be first in line if they made this into a movie. Just throwing that out there.
If anybody has any similar book recommendations, I'm all ears. Until then, I've already added Saving Mr. Perfect and Seeking Mr. Wrong (Books 2 & 3) to my TBR list. I'm definitely going to want to go along for the ride.
I received an advance review copy of this book that I have chosen to review.
June 5, 2018
I personally can't cope with romance arcs that span multiple books, and that is entirely personal preference. So I won't be reading the rest of the series. But this book is an amazingly fun and sexy (despite being closed-door) story that stands alone and has a great HEA!
September 27, 2017
Fun, and funny read' I have to be in the right mood to read a 1st person viewpoint story , but enjoyed. May re-read, sometime.
April 6, 2017
When I read the synopsis of this book I thought yes please this book is for me. I was correct and I couldn't put it down. The story is completely told from Penelope's POV so we only get her perspective on what Grant knows and is up to. I really enjoyed their cat and mouse game and verbal sparring. The romance was swoony without graphic detail which was refreshing. Grant is currently one of my favorite heroes. He's good looking, sweet, super smart, and an FBI agent who carries a gun and can kick ass. What's not to love? This book is part of a series and I hate cliffhangers so I almost set it aside but the story hooked me so I decided to keep going. I am glad I did because the story ends in a great place without a cliffhanger. Yeah! My only complaint was the flashbacks to the past. The story they told was definitely necessary but I wish it hadn't jumped back and forth. I liked how the book opened but once it went to the past I wish the story would have played out from there. I almost knocked it down to 4.5 stars but I literally do not want to wait for the next book so that earned the full 5.
February 26, 2017
You know you are in for a good, funny read when within the first three pages there is already a joke being told. "What do you call a sleepwalking nun?" "A roamin' Catholic".
After this the book just got better and better. I just love when everything just comes together...great characters, awesome storyline, laughs all around, and a happy ending. The product of this outcome can only be found in Tamara Morgan's Stealing Mr. Right!
Penelope and Grant reminded me of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Although, in this case Grant is the FBI Agent. Yet, it was very entertaining to see Penelope and Grant try to side step each other without entrapping themselves. Penelope may be a good thief but every thief could use some back up. Meet Penelope's partners in crime, Riker, Jordan, and Oz. They were good for laughs as well. However, Oz did not make as many appearances as Riker and Jordan.
One of my favorite moments in this book was involving Riker and Grant. Riker is a no-nonsense type of guy. So to see him wrapped in Grants arms for a "heart hug" was hilarious. I could not stop reading this book. I was having such an enjoyable time. I am thoroughly looking forward to reading the next book.
After this the book just got better and better. I just love when everything just comes together...great characters, awesome storyline, laughs all around, and a happy ending. The product of this outcome can only be found in Tamara Morgan's Stealing Mr. Right!
Penelope and Grant reminded me of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Although, in this case Grant is the FBI Agent. Yet, it was very entertaining to see Penelope and Grant try to side step each other without entrapping themselves. Penelope may be a good thief but every thief could use some back up. Meet Penelope's partners in crime, Riker, Jordan, and Oz. They were good for laughs as well. However, Oz did not make as many appearances as Riker and Jordan.
One of my favorite moments in this book was involving Riker and Grant. Riker is a no-nonsense type of guy. So to see him wrapped in Grants arms for a "heart hug" was hilarious. I could not stop reading this book. I was having such an enjoyable time. I am thoroughly looking forward to reading the next book.
April 23, 2017
3.5/5 I think? There were moments when I was really into this, but overall it didn't quite draw me in the way I wanted it to. I think the flashbacks format ultimately didn't work for me in this particular story.
July 25, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. I'm pretty sure it was an impulse buy in an ebook sale a while back but I will definitely be buying the rest of the series later. 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer' is a trope I didn't know I needed in romance but here we are.
June 23, 2017
Round up to 4.5 stars. This was such a delight! Penelope and Grant play an intriguing game of cat and mouse that kept me guessing until the end.
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