The Thief

by Bonnie Dee

Street hustler Jody plays any role that will win the confidence of a mark. His sights are set on Lord Cyril Belmont, a potential ticket to financial freedom that could change Jody’s life. With a fake investment scheme in mind and larceny in his heart, he sets a snare for the wealthy gentleman.

Cyril Belmont may have a title but he’s as broke as a china plate and on the verge of selling his dilapidated country estate to start a new life in America. When his quiet, solitary life is invaded by a bright, passionate man who sets his head spinning, Cyril is ready to share whatever he has with the electrifying stranger—including the deepest recesses of his heart.

As Jody begins to cultivate inexplicable feelings for the sweet, gentle man who raises rare orchids, he intends to end his seduction and slink back to the ghetto. But then his cover is blown and the budding romance is crushed.

It takes an ocean voyage and several unexpected twists of fate to bring two strangers to a true understanding of each other and the very real bond they share.

Genres: Historical, M M Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, LGBT, M M Historical Romance, Second Chance

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2020

About the author

I began telling stories as a child. Whenever there was a sleepover, I was the designated ghost tale teller. I still have a story printed on yellow legal paper in second grade about a ghost, a witch and a talking cat.

I enjoy dabbling in many genres. Whether you're a fan of contemporary historical or fantasy romance, you'll find something to enjoy among my books. I'm interested in flawed, often damaged, people who find the fulfillment they seek in one another. To stay informed about new releases, please sign up for my newsletter. You can join my street team at FB. Learn more about my backlist at http://bonniedee.com and find me on FB and Twitter @Bonnie_Dee.

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5~

Bonnie Dee excels at writing historical romance. My two favorite Dee novels are: Jungle Heat and The Masterpiece, but The Thief is a close third.

The story takes place first in London, then on a ship sailing to America, and finally in New York City.

Not realizing Cyril is broke, Jody accepts him as a "mark": someone he's going to charm then rob blind. Jody, who grew up as a street rat, is pushed into seducing Cyril by the hustler who was his "mentor" and groomed him to a life of crime. But once Jody spends time with Cyril, who grows orchids and hangs out with old ladies, the last thing he wants to do is hurt the sweet, innocent man who treats Jody with such kindness.

Cyril and Jody lose each other not once but twice, yet somehow they always come to each other's rescue.

The Thief is a sensual story with enough heat but also an excellent plot that follows the men across the ocean and through the slums of New York City.

Jody has a difficult time understanding how a cultured man like Cyril, who's related to the royal family, could want someone like him. But Cyril doesn't waver in his devotion and makes Jody believe in himself.

I wish the story had been longer; I wanted more on-page relationship development between the MCs. Even so, I loved this book and the beautiful HEA the author created for two lost souls who found, and saved, each other.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Bonnie Dee, and she does another fantastic job with The Thief. If you like Bonnie Dee's historical romances, you'll like this one, I promise.

I've read a number of these type of "con-artist falls in love with his upper-class mark" types of romances, yet The Thief still felt special. I'm not sure if it was the pacing or the way the plot unfolded, but I was hooked. It was difficult for me to put down.

I liked the story being told from a duel POV, and I really liked how we got to see Jody make lots of mistakes. Too often authors have their characters make "mistakes" that are really like good deeds in order to not tarnish the characters in our eyes. Jody screws up and does things that are cringy, yet I liked how he kept redeeming himself and winning Cyril over again.

Cyril was a bit difficult for me to picture, physically, but I really got a great sense of his caring, gentle soul. He put himself fully out there, and I loved his vulnerability. I also liked how this story evolved. It was actually a pretty rapid-paced book, and I didn't want it to end. We get to take a real journey with these characters, and I felt like I knew them well.

There is a touching romance, a bit of danger, and a fresh start for these special characters. Bonnie Dee struck just the right tone with The Thief.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Pretty sweet story about a thief who falls in love with his mark. I did think that Cyrill was a little too "kind". I kind of wanted to read about Cyrill being terribly angry about Jody's betrayal. Alas, he wasn't. He quickly forgive Jody when they met again at the steamship towards America. I guess I wanted more emotion. It was nice, but rather bland in the end for me.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had been a long time since I picked up a historical romance and once again I'm reminded of the charm of the period.
Jody the street hustler was suppose to swindle Cyril's fortune, but what transpired between them was something so much more. I was instantly drawn to Jody's character, a man on the wrong side of the law, but can't seem to bring himself to hurt the naive and trusting Cyril.
Despite the circumstances of Cyril and Jody's meeting each other, the angst level is quite moderate. Cyril was simply too much of a sweetheart to have the decency to hate on Jody even after finding out the truth.
On Jody's part, he never felt good enough. He may be a good lover, but he dare not hope for more. It broke my tender little heart to see these two mens struggle with their want and desire. Don't get me wrong, they hooked up aplenty, but when it comes to planning for a future, they seems so bleak (as with all the other historical m/m romance). Anyway, I do love the direction of the story and about their voyage and the action that Cyril took in order to reunite with his lover. They both seems to reunite again and again and every reunion seems sweeter than the last.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some well-written historical romance. When the ambiance feels and is put down right, the picture is more than pleasurable to visualize.

Cyril is a baron whose estate is in ruins, no money or servants anymore. Jody is the thief and liar who thought he caught a big fish.

Well prepared Jody approached his target, Cyril. One goal, to rob this man. It was quite simple to get an invitation to the man’s home. He easily could take a look around to find valuable things.
But he’s completely floored and disarmed by this trusting, kind, shy, and attentive man.
Still, he’s got business to do.

Cyril cleared his throat. “May I offer you some tea?”
“Fuck tea.”

Cyril is lovesick, he can’t get the man out of his head.
Until he understands the truth.

Everything felt plausible, the polite language, the clothes, the traveling, all the environments. I loved the story so much! This author has a great way of storytelling, I read it in one sit.
There are some heartbreaking side stories and their addition was everything.
These two men stole my heart from the very first moment and throughout this story, they became ever more adorable and lovable.
I loved the solution of how Cyril and Jody could live together during the era they lived in.
This whole story is a great addition to my bookshelf!

[Lena Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Deception may give us what we want for the present, but it will always take it away in the end.” ~ Rachel Hawthorne, Dark of the Moon

An unusual invitation to a party by an old school rival provides Cyril Belmont with a rare opportunity to meet a charming young man, Jody, who shares his secret preference for men. He invites him home where they begin an affair that leads to feelings neither of them expects.

Lassiter, the man who pulled Jody off the streets and introduced him into his life of crime, is always coming up with schemes to get rich for life. As his “best thief”, he is always wanting Jody to help him, one last time. There have been many “one last times” and Jody is sick of it. He wants a life of his own, not one beholden to Lassiter. His life of crime gave him material things he never would have had without it, but it has left him with an emptiness and longing for more. Lassiter arranges for a rich man, who owes him money, to invite Jody to a party where the mark, Cyril, will be.

Cyril is shocked when he receives an unexpected visit from Pointdexter Alden, someone he went to school with, but with whom he was not friends. He is even more surprised when Alden invites him to a small party he is having that will include other men who were schoolmates of theirs. Realizing that he has been a recluse too long, Cyril figures why not go. When he arrives he is reminded of why he hesitated. The men there are older, but the same bullies they were when Cyril knew them before. He is about to leave when he runs into a charming young man, Mr. Jonathan Hunt, whom he has never encountered before and who is supposed to be a baronet’s son from India. After conversing for a while, it is obvious that the attraction between them is strong. They decide to leave and continue their conversation in a more private setting. Cyril has never done anything like this before, but Jody is so appealing that he is compelled to take the leap. They go to Cyril’s house and give each other pleasure, but don’t end up in bed. Jody declines saying he doesn’t want to rush anything.

The thing is, when Jody learns that Cyril has no money after all, he doesn’t see the point of continuing the ruse. Also, Cyril is not the rich snob that Jody expected. In fact, he generally likes the man. That disturbs him a bit, but he fully intends on not seeing him again. However, he can’t seem to keep away. He and Cyril begin a passionate affair, during which time they fall in love. Jody is especially baffled by this idea and begins to fear that if Cyril learns of his past, it will all disappear. Unfortunately, when one of Lassiter's thieves decides to steal from Cyril, Jody tries to intervene and Cyril overhears what he says to the burglar, in a completely different accent, Cyril catches on. Even though it breaks his heart Cyril throws Jody out.

One thing that made this story special was the eccentricities in each of the two main characters, as well as their character growth. Through their experiences, they both learned what it meant to both let go and go for what was truly important to them. Thanks, Bonnie, for giving Cyril and Jody a new start and a happy ending.

NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jody is a con-artist who is pulled in on a big deal - he's to befriend Lord Cyril Belmont and get him to invest money in a fake gold-mine investment scheme. But when Jody meets Cyril, he finds the kindest, most trusting man who grows orchids and shares his attraction for men (and for each other). And so it's no hardship to work a sexual relationship into the con either...in fact, Jody likes it. But Jody also learns that Cyril doesn't really have any money and he begins to realize that even if Cyril did, he wouldn't want to con him. But reality catches up with Jody and Cyril learns who he really is and what he's really about. Cyril is beyond betrayed, but opts not to press charges. When they meet up again shortly after, both bound for a fresh start in America, Cyril is prepared to forgive...how can he not when his feelings for Jody are so strong? But can Jody see his own worth and leave his own past behind sot hey can start a new future?

Overall a cute story - not super-believable, but whatevs. Jody is supposedly a street rat who learned how to "mimic his betters" from a rich boy who used to sneak out and hang with him. But the ease with which Jody sticks to his uppercust accent, even when he's not anywhere near Cyril, kinda messes with that whole trope. But on the other hand, I'm not a fan of reading cockney accents, so I definitely preferred it. Jody is kind of street rat lite, then i guess, since he also doesn't really want to steal from Cyril either. But it might have been more interesting if Jody was just a little bit more ruthless... As it was, he and Cyril connect pretty much instantly and Jody introduces Cyril to the world of MM lovings. I liked the angsty moments as Cyril learns Jody's true purpose and as he catches Jody trying to protect him by falling back on his old ways. It brought thepace, the flavor and the emotion to this story which otherwise would have been quite fluffy and a little bit slow. In the end though, Cyril is quick to forgive and the angst doesn't get drawn out or have emotional consequences later in the story. The HEA was pretty nice as the two settle in on a farm together, but I wonder about how happy they'll ultimately be since, yeah they started collecting stray kids (so at least they have kids now), but the kids obviously don't know that Jody and Cyril are lovers, so they have to be constantly on their guard. I feel like that would seriously hamper their romance.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a lovely, harrowing, sensual afternoon read, you can't go wrong with a Bonnie Dee book. The Thief definitely backs up that statement. With wonderful character development, and an entertaining story, Dee proves once again that historical MM romance can be an amazing way to relax and enjoy the story.

This is the story of the bad information forced upon a decent, if somewhat gullible, and reluctant con-artist, causing deep introspection. Raised in an unfortunate situation, Jody learned how to survive at his abusive "savior's" whim.

Then, there is Cyril Belmont, related to royalty, and near penniless. His one true happiness is his orchids, and his friends are older ladies that share his passion.

Both men have secrets, and both have bad Intel. It's a nice story about a con gone bad and the fall out afterward. The plot could have been fleshed out more if the book had been longer, but the two MCs do not have much luck in love or life, it seems. I personally wanted to strangle Cyril at times, but it turned out well.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and my afternoon off. The Thief is a great example of a historical, street rat/confidence man love story that was hot when needed, and a harrowing romance. A happily ever after was had by all, and our MCs chose to pay it forward in the end.

I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.25 stars

The Thief is a fairly quick read that dips into the angst, but never becomes completely consumed by it. Though the plot is weak, the main characters work well enough and they prevent the book from being boring.

Jody and Cyril are basically stock characters. We don’t see them develop a great deal, but they are sweet together and they work because of that. Cyril sees the best in Jody, regardless of his past, and that acceptance reads as genuine. And as tough as Jody wants to be, he desperately wants to be something more for Cyril. They aren’t deep characters, but they have enough heart to make them engaging. That said, not all of their actions make much sense. Cyril was far too quick to take Jody back given how devastated he claimed to be. There wasn’t much believable conflict when there really should have been given the nature of Jody’s betrayal.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this immensely. This book had plenty of thrills, sex, and heart-warming moments.
A romantic tale of a swindler falling for his pigeon. Set in the early 1900's Jody grew up in the harsh London streets thieving and hustling. He is asked by his old mentor/father figure to charm Lord Cyril Belmont out of his fortune. Being a professional Jody agrees but is unprepared for the absolute innocence and trust he finds in Cyril. It doesn't take long for things to get physical between them. The hot, sweet tenderness they find in each others arms is unlike anything either man has ever known before. As feelings blossom between them Jody struggles between his fixed loyalty to his thief mentor and his desire to protect the angelic Cyril. Events unfold and Cyril must learn to accept Jody and his sordid past. The two men, both weighed by their past and born circumstances, must learn to overcome life's obstacles and forge a new path for themselves.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tweedle Dee

You can hardly ever go wrong with an historical by Bonnie Dee. In this one we have a sultry late 20's but more mature looking con-man and thief, Jody, assigned a new mark, slightly older Lord Cyril Belmont, whose fortune is gone and who's not only distinctly unsocial but also a closet case.

So, of course, Ms. Dee has them fall into compromising situations, nasty little adventures, and love. Just like that.

Oh, you have to go through all the machinations of Jody having changed both his name and life experience to having been raised in India instead of the swill-filled streets of London in order for him to sell his mark a reason for coming to England: to raise money for his father's potential gold mines in India.

(Fortunately, Jody is able to get around his lack of ever having been out of the streets of London by consuming everything Rudyard Kipling ever wrote).

As for Cyril, well he's a puppy-eyed and somewhat fit looking horticulturist of sorts, raising exotic blooms in his Mayfair townhouse's greenhouse, and counting only a couple of biddies as his buddies, but then again, he's broke and unsocial.

How Jody and Cyril face their own personal pasts, current dilemmas and future prospects is almost tongue in cheek interspersed with some nasty business perpetrated by Jody's snake of a mentor (think Oliver Twist's Fagin with a very bad case of viciousness) is a delightful trip.

How they resolve their problems is a brilliantly handled and perfectly descriptive denouement that will have you smiling your face off and maybe even wiping an eye.

[Sadonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews

Lord Cyril Belmont is a gentleman whose fortunes have waned. He lives in London simply because his ancestral home is a crumbling disaster. He was left in a poor financial state and he’s no way to fix it. He’s to the point that he is going to be sell the estate and he’s not sure what to do about his future.

Jody Smith, aka Tobias Wentworth, is a con man. He’s been tasked by his boss with convincing Lord Belmont to invest in a phony Indian mine deal to satisfy the debt of a former classmate. He senses early on a bit if a kindred spirit. He also realizes the mark doesn’t have anything to invest. But when the plan goes awry and he’s found out, he is sorry and ashamed for the first time in his life. And he decides to move on and head into a new life in a new land.

When Jody and Cyril surprisingly meet again, their circumstances are somewhat different. Cyril is still not convinced he can trust Jody, but he does want to know and understand him. And maybe they can come to an understanding and find their futures together?

Oh this was lovely little gem of a story. Cyril is such a sympathetic character. His love of plants and his withdrawal from socializing is not lost on this reader 🙂 And orchids no less! Full disclosure: My grandmother was a grower of orchids and for those US readers – she sold them to David Letterman’s father for his floral shop in Indianapolis in the 40s and 50s 😉 Jody of course has had a much different path. But though he’s lived a hard life and has managed to scrape by after being tutored by many – some well-meaning, others not – along the way. However, when he meets Lord Belmont, he recognizes something in the man. And despite the urging of his “boss” he’s reluctant to see the con through. And when he realizes that truly there is nothing to be gained, he begins to have doubts for the first time. His dawning awareness that he might have actually feelings for Cyril is something new to him. I was cheered by his attempts to make amends and I just knew that couldn’t be the last of Cyril and Jody.

This author is a very reliable crafter of historical romances. And this offering is no exception. I really appreciate the attention to details and the glimpse of life in a time gone by. Every time I hear of the White Star Line, I’m transported to the documentaries and movies dedicated to that storied past. The strictures of the English class system are always fascinating and the amusements of the various strata are always interesting to contemplate. I loved how the men from two very different worlds were able to find their common ground, learn to trust – despite many missteps – and find a way forward. Recommended, especially for fans of historical second chances stories.

[Heather York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure what took me so long to read Bonnie Dee's The Thief, all I can say is 2020 really screwed with my reading mojo. At any rate, I finally got(took) time to read it and loved it! If you've read any of her historical romances before then you already know how much respect she must have for the era to paint such an intricate setting, blending reality and fiction. It's so easy to forget you're in 2021 and not at a table next to the characters watching their journey unfold.

Speaking of characters, what an amazing eclectic bunch they are. Cyril and Jody couldn't be more opposite on the surface but you soon realize that they really are perfect for each other. So many times I was wanting to bang their heads together(possibly with a heavy foreign object😉) and wrap them up in bubblewrap to keep anyone else from hurting them. For me, that is one of the most important tells when it comes to liking a book or not, that warring debate of emotions the story and characters touch inside.

From Cyril and Jody to the old school "friend" of Cyril's that sets the plan in motion to Lassiter, the man who took Jody in off the streets and taught him the tricks of the trade, to the woman and her son in 3rd class on the ship to Cyril's orchid loving friends. Each and every character has a place, adds an element to the story, along the way giving us glimpses into Cyril and Jody's heart. There is no fillers between the covers of The Thief, they all add to the journey.

You know going in that it's going to be a HEA but as you read their journey you wonder more than once "how in the world is the author going to turn this around?". Sometimes you just can't fathom a possible way to create that HEA but when you're reading Bonnie Dee you know she'll do it and she does it again here and it's realistic, it's entertaining, it's heartwarming, and it's simply put: delightful!

[Page Crusherz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonnie Dee is well known as a go-to author for enthralling, sexy and accurate historical novels, and she lives up to her reputation with this novel.

I really loved both characters. Jodie is a career criminal, but he still has a sweetness to him. You can see that he wants more for his life, and that he is trapped by his circumstances and his view of himself.

Cyril is kind, and yet naive. He is isolated and has no one he can really connect with. It made sense that he would connect with Jody, and their chemistry was both hot and sweet. When they first meet, the magnetism between them is so clear and palpable. When things fall apart, I felt for both of them.

One of the things I really loved about this book was that the conflict was dealt with in a way that was believable and honored who the characters are. I love when a character acts in a way that is totally in line with what we know of them, and this novel really hit that mark. I felt like the characters were consistent and rich.

The setting was expertly done, and as with all Dee novels, it was easy to lose myself in the times and places described.

This is a wonderful book and you will want to meet Jody and Cyril as soon as possible!

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thief is another fantastic historical romance by Bonnie Dee. Like most historical romances, you need to be in the mood to read it, and it gets off to a slow start.

The writing is great, with the language and sentence structure well representative of the time period.

This book starts with some dishonest intentions as Jody is a thief set on stealing from Cyril. These are men from two different classes, with different statuses in life.

This is the story of two men who society doesn't want together and the many obstacles they face along the way. After a slow start, the story picks up and by the end, I couldn't put it down. It includes a cruise from London to America, with the two men sneaking around and trying to figure out how to be together. The Ellis Island bits are very interesting and well explored.

And holy crap, add in realistic situations like Dieter, and cue the tears.

Told in dual person pov, the reader is easily able to follow along with both men and their developing feelings. The author definitely does justice to the ways of the world at the time.

The Thief is a wonderful read. I highly recommend this Bonnie Dee book to anyone who loves historical romances. It's emotional and a charming read.

[Macrochiroptera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so weak for the "conman falls for his mark and then refuses to complete the job" trope, and in general this book hit most of my favorite notes. It was such a satisfying story, with nothing going to waste as it was surprisingly short for such a packed narration. I absolutely loved both the characters, they are presented in a one note tone and it was so fun to discover how multifaceted they could be.
I am also such a sucker for "what would my beloved do" in this situation, and for parallel events that, sure, might be predictable (Jody and Cyril meeting again and again), but that are perfect in a story so happy and so fable-like as this.

If I had to name one thing I did not enjoy was how quickly Cyril dismissed what happened to Jody on the ship, which was clearly SA. The book was clear in defining it, but we never saw Cyril fully get to that conclusion, I suppose because of the historical time and the attitude towards sad. Made me wish I could read a small sequel of Jody actually fully dealing with that part of his past.

[Sonia Vice · Rating 3 out of 5]

In just barely the 20th century, a thief sets out to trap a Lord and take him for all he's worth, but he turns out to be what passes for broke amongst the gentry.

This was fluffy and fun, mostly, not terribly historically accurate, and really hinges on you buying in on both characters and how they fit together.

The on-ship drama as they travel to America is a bit contrived and melodramatic, but I liked the two main characters so it was fun. A very genre-first book. Emotional more than eloquent.

[Bb · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a 3.5. The plot was really good and I liked both Jody and Cyril. The story got bogged down some, but overall was interesting. The story did have a lot of twists and turns. Cyril was such a sweetheart and was able to love Jody despite how their story started. Enjoyed the flower angle!

[Briet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, solid story with heart and a sweet romance.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very okay only read for me. Most of it was predictable and boring. I needed a lot more fleshing out of the characters and their backgrounds.