Hustle

The Hunted Hearts #1

by Claire Chilton

RULE#1: DON'T STEAL HIS HEART.
After ripping off a dangerous mob boss, Ellie Phillips decides it’s time to quit hustling and give up her life of crime. She just needs a big score. Then she can give up the grift and start anew.

When she steals a map from Jacob Hawkins that shows the location of a huge heart-shaped diamond, she decides it’s time to go treasure hunting. It’s just one last hustle before she goes straight.

She thinks she’s made a clean getaway when she jets off to South America with the map, but Jacob isn’t letting it or Ellie get away so easily. With the mob hot on her trail and the bullets flying, she finally meets her match when she ends up in Jacob’s sights.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

After completing her honors degree in English Literature, Claire Chilton was interviewed to work for MI5. Fortunately, for the sake of the United Kingdom, she did not get the job. Now a web designer and graphic designer with a passion for great stories, she writes about the adventures she'd like to have.

A prolific writer with wide-ranging interests, Claire specializes in romantic and speculative fiction, which includes genres such as mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, comedy and romance. Her mystery romance novel, Hustle, won Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write contest in 2013, and her previous books in The Demon Diaries won the Most Read award on Wattpad.

After exploring the world in her misspent youth, traveling across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, she now lives in an ancient Roman city in Yorkshire with a fluffy kitten called Shadow, who is convinced she is a bigger cat than she is.

You can find Claire online at claire-chilton.com.

Reviews

[Bunnita (Worth Reading It?) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I wanted more. I didn't connect with any of the characters. The story had promise. I mean a heist gone wrong that turn into finding lost treasure, should've been a page turner. Unfortunately, she didn't dig deep for these characters background. I didn't know what to make of Jacob. Ellie came off as quite immature and a horrible burgler. From the beginning of the book she just f ish up...smh.

[talia ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wow. It was AWESOME!!! It was genius to make Ellie fall in love with the enemy! The treasure hunt, hidden secrets, heart breaking romance, its amazing!! It was cool to see it from Ellie and Jacobs point of view, because it made total,mind blowing, scence! It was so fun to read and had amazing comedy! EVERYONE LISTEN UP AND GET THIS!!!! 😂😆😉

[Diana Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book as it has good action. I don't care for all the internal dialog, since it pulls from the flow. Later on, the heroine fails to have the sense that she seemed to have earlier on. I give stars based on good flow and action. It has that. I can be forgiving of other things.

[Woody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining pleasent read
Good plot,plenty of action, pleasent romance. The story flows along smoothly.My only gripe is it's a bit short. But I will be buying the next book of this series.

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

What I did read of it was well written. I stopped when it got to the gratuitous profanity.
I realize that most people don't care. I do. If there's not a reason for it, don't use it.

[Alida Arabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can i just say that i loved the books genre.. The crime romance just got me so in love with the book. I have to say I really enjoyed the hustle and hawk chemistry. Ellie and Jacob were sooo cute . Loved them.

I honestly liked and enjoyed the book. Cant wait for Hacker. That books got me soo excited. Lara is really one of my fav characters already. Looking for ward for the next book....

[Nurul Hani · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT'S SO GOOD

[Saff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and adventurous, flirty and emotional

[Philip Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING 😄

Great storyline, really funny and fast paced . The book makes u want 2 read on and the romance is hilarious .

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the prequel (Heist) but was a little disappointed when Ellie's father was killed before the start of this book. I was expecting a smoother con and more of a team effort. Much to my surprise, Ellie has struck out on her own with backup from her friend/brother Jimmy, and is working for one of the biggest and nastiest men in the business. While on a recovery mission for him, she accidentally breaks the artifact she is supposed to be stealing. When she discovers a treasure map hidden inside, she recovers it and manages to extradite herself from a very sticky situation. From there it is a treasure hunting nightmare with a race to the finish. Between the bullets there is romance, fighting, and plenty of unsaid accusations. Lots of action, some laughs,and unexpected conclusions mix together to make a fast and fun read.
Once again Ms Chilton's graphic descriptions had me sweltering in the jungle and tensing at every sound I heard. I could almost smell the rotting corpse and the dank inside of the caves. She makes everything seem so real! A delight to read her books. You won't want to miss this one!

[Quinesia Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved, and disliked this book in many different ways. To be concise (and a bit awkward) this book was like Hamburger Helper in many ways. It was meaty, hearty, and rich but not exactly the finest of meals. It's satisfying in its somewhat generic guilty pleasure way, but you've had way better foods, and you'll have way better again. Inferior, yet not unsatisfactory, but still satisfying. Inferior: many cliché aspects, and overexplicated areas. Satisfactory: good (not great) characters and language style. Satisfying/ Fulfilling: clichés can be classic and heartwarming that we don't mind hearing over again in the right setting, plus it wasn't totally cliché, plus easy reading, moving plot, and action/ motive credibility was good.

If you're not super critical you'll enjoy this book, as I did. But it's more action and heartwarming, versus amazing or intriguing. 3 stars.

[Harlie Sumner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it in one go! The love/hate between the main character was cute and entertaining but the magnetism they both faced reminded me a bit too much of the attraction between mates in werewolf romance novels. The sarcasm from her and the slight tantrums from add bit of spice and general humor. The character t-shirts was a cute add. I found it an good read it had me wanting more and whenever I wasn't sure it sparked back up with some drama and sassy comments between the two. There is great detail in this book it brought the setting to life. My one question is the attraction between the two meant to be "fated", natural primal, the ying to his yang or just a proximity thing because of her lack of experience with men romantically?

[Sherry Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie and Jacob go together like oil and water. Truth be told , they get on each other's last nerve. And yet, with all that tension, they fall in love. They are both after the same thing, a fabulous heart shaped diamond. They don't know that their fathers had teamed to find it and she doesn't know that Jacob blames her father for his father's disappearance. Throw in a big mob boss gunning for it, and wanting her dead, and you have the makings for a real treat. Enjoy this book, I know I did. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Lindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun adventure full of twists and turns and a romance that will keep you hooked, Hustle is a book that will appeal to the treasure seeker in you. Ellie is a heroine to root for and I loved reading about the mysteries that she and Jacob uncovered. If you like adventure romance with a hint of mystery and plenty of funny moments, this book is for you!

[Ted Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Gives you a warm feeling"

Good story line, plenty of action and the main characters were an interesting match in the romance department. The only thing that held me back from awarding a rare fifth star was that maybe there were a couple too many 'spats' when we KNEW the sparks were eventually going to fly. This prolonged the wait unnecessarily. Excellent for that holiday in the sun.

[Diane Gilman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lines billing drama I really love the book is very serious and very loving and very fun to read

I guess this one of five because sacculus acapnia hooked on it too late had to finish the book and I really enjoyed it it was really loving book and I can't wait to read another one by her by them thank you

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of silliness and an unbelievable bad~guy, but I really enjoyed this.
The ending was a bit too quick and tidy for my liking. Almost as though the author had decided that she was only going to write a certain amount of words and would wrap it all up as quickly as possible once she hit them.

[Carly McPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

I must admit that I didn't finish this book. The love story was too dramatic and over the top for my liking. Storyline itself is okay and kept me going for a while. If you like cliche love stories you might enjoy it.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and entertaining story.

I couldn't relate to the main characters much, though, and I found myself skipping some passages.
Instead, I'd liked to have read more about Bill and how he took on Meyer's mercs. Ah, well. :)

[Wendy Dye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded this book on a whim and I am beyond thrilled. It was very entertaining with all types of genre. It was adventurous with a side of danger and mystery wrapped up with romance. I loved the cat and mouse game between Ellie and Jacob!!

[Gayle Kee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters in books just don't say and do what the reader tells them to do.

[Beebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, hard to put down.

[Sadie Mazzola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet!

Love, adventure, mystery. A girl is searching for a long lost treasure. The man who she stole from, is following her. Together they find more.