Stealing Sunshine

by Tina Michele

In the heart of the Sunshine State, beyond the mouse ears and magic, is a city growing with art and culture. However, in a dark room grows a plot of greed, deception, and revenge twenty years in the making.


Belle Winters has made a successful life and career in art. Although she’s never known a real family, she dreams of having her own someday, unfortunately not with the carefree Tara Hicks.


Tara keeps herself in constant motion, from job to job and from woman to woman—a technique she has perfected to avoid the mundane grooves of life, love, and obligation. Belle moves her unlike any woman she’s ever met, but is that enough?


Belle and Tara struggle to break down the walls that protect their hearts, while the unforeseen consequences of a promise threaten not only priceless art but human lives.

Genres: Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction, LGBT

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2016

About the author

Tina Michele is a Florida girl living on the banks of the Indian River Lagoon in the biggest small town on the Space Coast. She enjoys all the benefits of living in the Sunshine State. During the day, she pretends to do what they pay her for but really spends most of that time daydreaming and plotting some wild adventure. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her BA in interdisciplinary studies—the most liberal of the liberal arts degrees—majoring in fine art and writing with a minor in women’s studies. To say she is motivated by her Right brain is a major understatement. Afflicted with self-diagnosed Sagittarian Attention Deficit Disorder, she spends a lot of time starting projects that she may, possibly, one day, probably finish. When she isn’t writing, playing, drawing, painting, or creating something of some sort, she feeds and waters the three dogs that are permanently tethered to her hindquarters.

Reviews

[Pin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must admit that I struggled to finish this book. I was often bored throughout the book and didn't care much for the main characters. Belle Winters is portrayed as an awkward and jumpy person, whose actions are thoughtless and hasty, and Tara Hicks as a rich girl without a goal and meaning in life.
The plot lags in many places with frequent repetition of certain actions of the main characters. Belle was scared and startled, and she jumped in fear and screamed enough for at least three damsels in distress or scaredy cats.
The whole story about Belle's benefactor Giles was totally unconvincing, opaque and way too artificial for my taste.
This book is not a keeper for me, and I honestly cannot recommend it.

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

[Diane Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmmm i have no idea where to begin with this book because it was so frustrating at times and confusing,the topic was out of place,did not think there was any chemistry between the main characters at all,the back and forth dialogue of attempting or doing art heist was not written properly...and the bonus to this storyline was the struggling lothario who was(wink)trying to be a good girlfriend..the ending was the best part about this book!

[Pippa D · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn’t enjoy this book. It wasn’t too bad at the start, but there were several plot devices that irritated me fairly early on, and then the book jumped the shark when the author made one of the characters suddenly do something completely out of character (as she’d been written). From then on I just skimmed to do this review. Otherwise, I’d have dumped it then.

Belle Winters has no family, but fond memories of the only person who cared for her. Of course, he’s now dead. She’s obsessive about art, and works as an art technician in a gallery, a job she loves. Awkward, shy and scares easily, she isn’t someone most of us can relate to, nor see as the heroine of the story.

The other main character is Tara Hicks, daughter of the very wealthy. Rather than live off her trust fund, she skips from crap job to crap job, completely directionless and devoid of commitment to anything other than her nieces.

How a good looking socialite like Tara would be interested in a plain, nobody like Belle is presumably at the heart of this love story. Michelle does a reasonable job at showing why this is the case at the start, but as the story progresses, it becomes blatantly obvious that these two would never actually work as a couple and when they do finally have sex, the book jumps the shark.

Two other characters, gay men and best friends of Belle, are nothing more than stereotypical stooges to prop up Belle. The final character is a stereotypical thug bent on revenge and designed to provide threat to the main characters.

The plot has some potential, but has so many holes in it that it is completely unbelievable. This was a chore to finish.

Proof provided by NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Both main characters were appealing. I liked the art theme. The only reason I gave it 4-stars instead of 5-stars is that the ending felt rushed. And I almost never feel that way. So I think it must *really* have been rushed :). I am looking forward to reading more of Tina Michele's books.

[A.W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belle is very passionate about art and works as an art technician for Emily J. Grayson Museum of Art. Meanwhile, Tara jumps from job to job and is the same when it comes to women. Belle and Tara spot each other a number of times at different events and Tara decides to work as a security guard at the museum because she finds out that Belle works there.

I thought that Belle was quite adorable with her awkwardness and enjoyed the fact that she was so passionate about art. I'm a sucker for a character who's good with kids and would have liked to have seen more scenes with Tara and her nieces.

Not sure if I liked the action part of the story but it did serve as a way for the two main characters to get closer.

I enjoyed this book as a whole but not enough to reread this one again.

Review is also posted here: http://wp.me/p4Pp9O-2o

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading anything by this author and I must say I truly enjoyed this. The main characters and supporting was great. Belle not only did you see her vulnerability you also saw a strength as well.
Tara you finally see how she grows from being a wandering to being stable and they both ad great chemistry together as well.

Arc given by NetGalley for honest review

[Ameliah Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Gosh, Oh Wow!
This story is AMAZING! This art mystery had me feeling a huge range of emotions from on the edge of my seat anxiety and fear to heart melting mushy love. I absolutely loved both Belle and Tara. They are both lost girls in their own way, searching for the same love and understanding even if they don’t realize it. I loved the descriptions and vivid imagery of this book. I felt so drawn in like I could see and feel and hear the tale, I was part of it. This book is in my All Time Favourite pile and I can’t wait to read it again!!!

[Dew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up after about 40 pages. I kept checking the library book tag to see if the book is categorized as teen fiction because the plot and the writing style are not intended for sophisticated readers.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just by reading the synopsis I wasn't sure I will lake this book, but it was excellent! A little romance, action...drama....all there!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in return for an honest review.
This book piqued my interest from the start - the glimpse of a woman across the room that you just can't look away from, and yet the two don't meet. And it happens again! Belle spoke to me with her shy introverted ways and passion for art. Tara seemed to be a bit of a player, flitting from job to job just like she moved from woman to woman. But Belle gets under her skin, and no matter how much she tells herself that being with Belle is trouble, she can't seem to stay away. I love stories about how two people seem to be wrong for each other, and yet love gives them no choice. There is something about the other person that just draws them in and won't let them go. Add in all the excitement of an art heist happening while the two can't seem to keep away from each other and things heat up quickly. I like that Belle tried to step out of her comfort zone. And I like that Tara didn't just change overnight. She struggled with how easy things seemed to feel. This was an entertaining story and very enjoyable as well.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit I was nervous to start this book due to the low rating and the unflattering reviews. I was actually pleasantly surprised that it was not as bad as I was expecting. I enjoyed the characters where I was engaged in their story and found them likable.

The story is mainly surrounded by incidents that have the main characters in danger which was a bit much for me. I am someone that would prefer more time spent on the emotional development in the book and with some action. Instead of it mainly being about the action. This isn't a very deep book in regards to emotion. For me it was simply a quick enjoyable read but not one that will stay with me.

I'm not sure if I would recommend the book. If you read a lot and don't mind a superficial read then you could enjoy it, I personally did.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. When starting the book I was quite nervous due to other reviews. I was pleasantly surprised by the book. While Belle and Tara may be too different for some I enjoyed the difference in character. I did find myself getting a little irritated when the book skipped to the point of view of Roz. I did not mind the head hopping of the characters, though a couple of times on the digital edition I missed the break and it took a few sentences to figure out which point of view I was reading. I felt the author may have stretched the middle of the book a little too long.

While I cannot say this is one of my favorite books I did enjoy reading it.


~copy provided by NetGalley for honest review~

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an honest review thanks to NetGalley, I was surprised just now reading some of the other reviews on their take of the book. I enjoyed this book immensely, I saw the chemistry and connection between the two main characters right off. The passion Belle has for artwork and the gallery is breathtaking, and seeing her show this to Tara and her start to appreciate art and everything about it. Hearing her compare Belle to a masterpiece seemed perfect at the end. This is a great lesbian romance with some crime and thrill to it, as well as seeing two women with a deep connection finding each other and finding themselves.

[Christine Close · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Some books you like for the prose some for what you learn from them etc., this book just made me fell happy!

A beautifully told love story with two dynamic but very different lead characters. A great setting, which the author has obviously researched well, and a wonderful and interesting story line.

This book is just one of those little diamonds that make you feel alive and that love really is all that matters. A really polished and feel good book.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author just keeps getting better!

Tina Michele's third book dare I say is her best so far. The characters are well developed and the chemistry between them is undeniable. You fall in love with quirky Belle almost instantly and root for Tara to get her head out of her rear. The back story of each character is just that and the focus stays on what is happening now. The pace of the story good and it's just overall great. Read it...Read it...Read it!!!

[Anja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it in parts, even if there wasn't a lot of chemistry between the main characters. It's an okay story which could have been done better.

[MEC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled with this book - the characters seemed flat and oftentimes acted contrary to how the author had developed them up to that point. The plot was a bit lacklustre.