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The Family Jewels
Sadie Leighton spends her days slinging hash, but she spends her nights stealing from the rich and undeserving, taking what she needs from the worst of the lot to make ends meet. This last job is supposed to be the mother lode…the one to get her out of the biz altogether, if only she can get past the infuriatingly gorgeous stranger intent on foiling her plans and haunting her dreams...
Jake Callahan has one thing on his mind, and that’s revenge. After years of preparation, he’s finally got all the pieces in place to destroy the man who cost his father his career and, ultimately, his life. Now that the end is in sight, he won’t let anything get in his way. Especially not some fake Countess trying to steal his mark, no matter how sexy she is.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Sadie engages Jake in a battle of wits, but winning it just might put her in danger of losing her heart…
Jake Callahan has one thing on his mind, and that’s revenge. After years of preparation, he’s finally got all the pieces in place to destroy the man who cost his father his career and, ultimately, his life. Now that the end is in sight, he won’t let anything get in his way. Especially not some fake Countess trying to steal his mark, no matter how sexy she is.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Sadie engages Jake in a battle of wits, but winning it just might put her in danger of losing her heart…
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2016
16 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Christine Bell
52 books1,273 followersChristine Bell is a romance author and also writes erotic romance as Chloe Cole. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing steamy romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with a rusty spoon. Christine loves to hear from readers, so please contact her through her website, www.christine-bell.com
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Blurb:
Sadie Leighton spends her days slinging hash, but she spends her nights stealing from the rich and undeserving, taking what she needs from the worst of the lot to make ends meet. This last job is supposed to be the mother lode…the one to get her out of the biz altogether, if only she can get past the infuriatingly gorgeous stranger intent on foiling her plans and haunting her dreams...
Jake Callahan has one thing on his mind, and that’s revenge. After years of preparation, he’s finally got all the pieces in place to destroy the man who cost his father his career and, ultimately, his life. Now that the end is in sight, he won’t let anything get in his way. Especially not some fake Countess trying to steal his mark, no matter how sexy she is.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Sadie engages Jake in a battle of wits, but winning it just might put her in danger of losing her heart…
Blurb:
Sadie Leighton spends her days slinging hash, but she spends her nights stealing from the rich and undeserving, taking what she needs from the worst of the lot to make ends meet. This last job is supposed to be the mother lode…the one to get her out of the biz altogether, if only she can get past the infuriatingly gorgeous stranger intent on foiling her plans and haunting her dreams...
Jake Callahan has one thing on his mind, and that’s revenge. After years of preparation, he’s finally got all the pieces in place to destroy the man who cost his father his career and, ultimately, his life. Now that the end is in sight, he won’t let anything get in his way. Especially not some fake Countess trying to steal his mark, no matter how sexy she is.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Sadie engages Jake in a battle of wits, but winning it just might put her in danger of losing her heart…
August 29, 2016
I loved this story you guys! It was so fun and exactly what I love about Christine Bell’s stories.
Sadie has spent the last few years trying to make ends meet for both her and her sister, but that’s easier said than done. During the day she’s a waitress… in the evening she’s checking out her next mark. She’s sure she just needs to do this one last job and it will keep them comfortable long enough for her to save some money and leave a life of cons and robbery behind and then she can focus on getting her sister better.
Jake Callahan has only focused on one thing since the day his father was taken away to jail… Revenge. He finally got all the pieces in place to destroy the man who destroyed his father and he won’t let anything get in his way… least of all the girl who happens to be messing with his plans.
Sadie matches wits with Jake though and manages to outsmart him a few times until he finally realizes that he needs to make her a part of his plan or else she’s going to ruin everything he’s worked for over the years.
The closer they get though, the harder it is to deny that there is something happening between them and if there is one thing you can be guaranteed with a Christine Bell story is that it will be full of sexy and steamy moments and you’ll definitely find that here!
I also liked getting to know a bit about Jake’s brother Mike and based on the ending of this book, we’ll get to read more about the Callahan brothers and I for one, can’t wait!
Sadie has spent the last few years trying to make ends meet for both her and her sister, but that’s easier said than done. During the day she’s a waitress… in the evening she’s checking out her next mark. She’s sure she just needs to do this one last job and it will keep them comfortable long enough for her to save some money and leave a life of cons and robbery behind and then she can focus on getting her sister better.
Jake Callahan has only focused on one thing since the day his father was taken away to jail… Revenge. He finally got all the pieces in place to destroy the man who destroyed his father and he won’t let anything get in his way… least of all the girl who happens to be messing with his plans.
Sadie matches wits with Jake though and manages to outsmart him a few times until he finally realizes that he needs to make her a part of his plan or else she’s going to ruin everything he’s worked for over the years.
The closer they get though, the harder it is to deny that there is something happening between them and if there is one thing you can be guaranteed with a Christine Bell story is that it will be full of sexy and steamy moments and you’ll definitely find that here!
I also liked getting to know a bit about Jake’s brother Mike and based on the ending of this book, we’ll get to read more about the Callahan brothers and I for one, can’t wait!
May 31, 2017
Here we have the story of Sadie and Jack. Sadie is a con artist because she has to support her sick sister. Jake is a con artist for revenge. They meet and he is intrigued...this one was pretty good. It was only a little anticlimactic. This one is probably a 3.75 to 4 for me. I liked it enough to keep going but was a little unsatisfied with the end. I will be reading this author again .
September 16, 2018
Like most con’s it’s always one more job, then they will quit. Meet Sadie, waitress at a rich bistro, picking up clues of when their residents would be empty at night. Having a sister in a long term facility.
One at the table had no background beyond the seven years, Jake, a venture capitalist, a smile, she so wanted to return. His target was Alistair, he wanted full payments for this man’s crimes. His father, career, and life gone, now for revenge. Good plot,or two people, one, to help meet her bills, the other was for the damage he had done to his father. Drawn together, so plans and months wouldn’t be wasted, became more as they spent time together. Interesting and worth reading.
One at the table had no background beyond the seven years, Jake, a venture capitalist, a smile, she so wanted to return. His target was Alistair, he wanted full payments for this man’s crimes. His father, career, and life gone, now for revenge. Good plot,or two people, one, to help meet her bills, the other was for the damage he had done to his father. Drawn together, so plans and months wouldn’t be wasted, became more as they spent time together. Interesting and worth reading.
October 17, 2020
I chose to read and review this book. I do enjoy this author's work but felt something was off in this one. I liked the plot characters. It was sweet how they each have their own ways of work and how they interact is great. I was surprised at the end was expecting something different but still great book do recommend it
August 11, 2016
This was a fun read, with a little bit of everything.
We have Sadie, a girl trying to make ends meet for her and her sister, by doing not-so-legal things. She’s now preparing to make a last job and retire in order to lead a more legal life with her sister. I really liked Sadie, she was stealing from the rich, but at the same time, she used that money to help her and her sister, who was sick at the time and in need of hospital care. I know I’m rationalizing her illegal activities, but I can’t help not to. She wasn’t a bad girl, she was just in a bad place, and this life was all she ever knew. Still, she was preparing to end this and live the life she deserved.
I loved her drive and love for her sister; I really wanted to be her friend, she looked so lonely, never being able to talk about this with anyone.
Then we have Jake, a guy completely focused on revenge. So much so, that he had a very distant relationship with his brother (a cop, trying to catch the bad guy, legally), even though it was obvious he loved him very much, and he longed for a better relationship with him. What these brothers went through was awful, seeing their Dad being framed and giving up on life; I could totally understand their drive for revenge and their different ways of approach. Still, I felt bad for him, how this revenge business was stealing his life little by little. He really needed a wake-up call.
Which is why I loved Sadie and Jake together, they complemented each other, bringing the best of each other, and also showing each other that there was a life beyond the life they had been leading. Their times together were hot, sweet and funny. I was always rooting for them.
The end was perfect, and after that epilogue, I can’t wait to read more in the series.
*Thank you to Frog Prints Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
We have Sadie, a girl trying to make ends meet for her and her sister, by doing not-so-legal things. She’s now preparing to make a last job and retire in order to lead a more legal life with her sister. I really liked Sadie, she was stealing from the rich, but at the same time, she used that money to help her and her sister, who was sick at the time and in need of hospital care. I know I’m rationalizing her illegal activities, but I can’t help not to. She wasn’t a bad girl, she was just in a bad place, and this life was all she ever knew. Still, she was preparing to end this and live the life she deserved.
I loved her drive and love for her sister; I really wanted to be her friend, she looked so lonely, never being able to talk about this with anyone.
Then we have Jake, a guy completely focused on revenge. So much so, that he had a very distant relationship with his brother (a cop, trying to catch the bad guy, legally), even though it was obvious he loved him very much, and he longed for a better relationship with him. What these brothers went through was awful, seeing their Dad being framed and giving up on life; I could totally understand their drive for revenge and their different ways of approach. Still, I felt bad for him, how this revenge business was stealing his life little by little. He really needed a wake-up call.
Which is why I loved Sadie and Jake together, they complemented each other, bringing the best of each other, and also showing each other that there was a life beyond the life they had been leading. Their times together were hot, sweet and funny. I was always rooting for them.
The end was perfect, and after that epilogue, I can’t wait to read more in the series.
*Thank you to Frog Prints Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
August 10, 2016
I never pass up a Christine Bell book and that’s for a very good reason. I know without a doubt that I will have a great book to read. The Family Jewels without question falls into this category, it was so very damn good. It was the type of book that you have every intention of reading only a few pages before bed and you end up reading the whole thing good. I may have done this, whoops. Who needs to be awake at work the next day anyway, pffft.
This book was about so much more than a con. It was about family, love, revenge and satisfaction and what happens when two thieves have the same mark but for very different reasons. Watching Sadie and Jake circle each other with mistrust at first, only to slowly but surely fall in love was a delight to read. The fact that they were opponents for the same mark but for both wildly different and almost similar reasons made it all the more delicious. Yes that sounds odd but the reasoning behind both their plans is family. How they got there is the wildly different part.
To me, both Jake and Sadie are ultimately ruled by their hearts and while it brings the together it might also break them apart. What lengths will they go to for family? And what of the connection and happiness that they have found with each other, is that worth the sacrifice?
If you’ve read this author before you know you can get lost in the world she creates, so be ready to be swept away with Sadie and Jake on this con of a lifetime. If you are new, then get ready for the ride. I adore this authors writing and The Family Jewels is another example of why I do.
I was extremely lucky to read this early via the author and I’m so glad I was.
This book was about so much more than a con. It was about family, love, revenge and satisfaction and what happens when two thieves have the same mark but for very different reasons. Watching Sadie and Jake circle each other with mistrust at first, only to slowly but surely fall in love was a delight to read. The fact that they were opponents for the same mark but for both wildly different and almost similar reasons made it all the more delicious. Yes that sounds odd but the reasoning behind both their plans is family. How they got there is the wildly different part.
To me, both Jake and Sadie are ultimately ruled by their hearts and while it brings the together it might also break them apart. What lengths will they go to for family? And what of the connection and happiness that they have found with each other, is that worth the sacrifice?
If you’ve read this author before you know you can get lost in the world she creates, so be ready to be swept away with Sadie and Jake on this con of a lifetime. If you are new, then get ready for the ride. I adore this authors writing and The Family Jewels is another example of why I do.
I was extremely lucky to read this early via the author and I’m so glad I was.
August 18, 2016
A fun con man vs con woman story--with a twist!
I really enjoyed The Family Jewels. Sadie and Jake were a lot of fun to read about--both devoted to their families, both so good at manipulation to get what they want (her: money to help her sick sister...him: taking down the guy who ruined his father's name and led to his death), and both so, so hot together. A win-win!
I loved all of Sadie's disguises and the way that Jake was able to see through them from the start and recognize the real her. (Every time he called her "Sadie Leighton, Waitress Countess of Bavaria" in his head, I snort-laughed a little bit.) Her sense of humor really made me smile ("Prison was bad. Getting murdered by a psychopath was way worse") and I loved her relationship with her sister Clarissa.
And Jake. Irish accent. Dimples. Smells of Irish Spring soap rather than cloying cologne. Mmmmm.
Not to mention he's dedicated his life to doing right by the people he cares about: his parents, his brother, and soon, Sadie. Is there a downside here?
Well, there might be, if he can't let go of his need for revenge on time to save himself and his relationship with Sadie. Or if his nemesis holds true to his promise to see Jake pay for the less-than-legal methods he used to try and put him away...
Will he or won't he? Jake and Sadie will find their HEA by the end of the book, thank goodness. But will it be enough? We'll have to wait for his brother Mike's book to come out to be sure...
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed The Family Jewels. Sadie and Jake were a lot of fun to read about--both devoted to their families, both so good at manipulation to get what they want (her: money to help her sick sister...him: taking down the guy who ruined his father's name and led to his death), and both so, so hot together. A win-win!
I loved all of Sadie's disguises and the way that Jake was able to see through them from the start and recognize the real her. (Every time he called her "Sadie Leighton, Waitress Countess of Bavaria" in his head, I snort-laughed a little bit.) Her sense of humor really made me smile ("Prison was bad. Getting murdered by a psychopath was way worse") and I loved her relationship with her sister Clarissa.
And Jake. Irish accent. Dimples. Smells of Irish Spring soap rather than cloying cologne. Mmmmm.
Not to mention he's dedicated his life to doing right by the people he cares about: his parents, his brother, and soon, Sadie. Is there a downside here?
Well, there might be, if he can't let go of his need for revenge on time to save himself and his relationship with Sadie. Or if his nemesis holds true to his promise to see Jake pay for the less-than-legal methods he used to try and put him away...
Will he or won't he? Jake and Sadie will find their HEA by the end of the book, thank goodness. But will it be enough? We'll have to wait for his brother Mike's book to come out to be sure...
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2016
Who better to fall in love with a con woman than a con man? I loved this book! Sadie and Jake have a unique story. Both of them pull cons to help their families. Kind of a Robin Hood scenario. When they meet there is hot chemistry and they want to put their con days behind them so they can be together. Sadie is a great heroine. She struggles to make ends meet, but will stop at nothing to make sure her sister gets the cancer treatment that she needs. She is vulnerable, but strong. Jake falls for her quickly. He has a strong sense of family as well and his need for revenge is due to his father being wronged. I loved that they both find each other at an inopportune time, but can't fight their feelings for one another. It is a great love story and I really found this to be a great read.
August 10, 2016
Sadie learned early in her life how to run a confidence game, and now she uses those skills to make ends meet. When she's got to pay for her sister's medical treatments, she resorts to what she knows best for her last job.
Jake is one very smooth and hot man and Sadie is attracted to him from the start, but he catches on to her con game quickly. Instead of tearing them apart, their common enemy brings them together, and things get very riveting and intense.
Christine Bell creates two interesting and entertaining characters in Jake and Sadie. They really carried the story for me, as I had to know what was going to happen between them once the truth came out. There were some slow spots and some predictability, but overall, The Family Jewels is a sexy story about two people looking for revenge and finding love along the way.
ARC provided for review.
Jake is one very smooth and hot man and Sadie is attracted to him from the start, but he catches on to her con game quickly. Instead of tearing them apart, their common enemy brings them together, and things get very riveting and intense.
Christine Bell creates two interesting and entertaining characters in Jake and Sadie. They really carried the story for me, as I had to know what was going to happen between them once the truth came out. There were some slow spots and some predictability, but overall, The Family Jewels is a sexy story about two people looking for revenge and finding love along the way.
ARC provided for review.
September 17, 2016
From the first page, you get drawn into Sadie and Jake's story. Two con artists, one mark and two different cons. Angry and disgruntled with the justice system, Jake is running the long con to take down the man who ruined his father. Strong, independent,and a little sassy, Sadie needs money for paying her sister's medical bills. A chance encounter in a restaurant leads Jake and Sadie to unite in a common goal of taking down a very bad man while falling in love along the way. Steamy with plenty of action, this novella is a fast paced read with a sweet ending. I received an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2016
Although this is somewhat different to what Christine usually writes, I actually think it was really good, some elements of the plot were pure genius, the twists and turns, resulted in the reader not being able to predict where this would end. The chemistry between Jake and Sadie played out well on the page and the bit where Hannigan found the card in her pants was scary. This lead to the trauma of it not being enough for Jake and poor Sadie! The end is a perfect, and does just enough to increase the readers anxiety of what is to come, I hope that Jake is not going to end up locked up!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews