Stealing from Mr. Rich

Billionaire Heists #1

by Anna Hackett

To save my brother, all I have to do is steal from a billionaire.

My brother is in trouble. Again. But this time he’s in debt to some really bad people, and I’ll do anything to save him. Even be blackmailed into cracking an unbreakable safe belonging to the most gorgeous man in New York. And one of the richest.

Steal from Zane Roth—King of Wall Street and one of the famous billionaire bachelors of New York—sure thing, piece of cake.

You see, some people can play the piano, but I can play safes. My father is a thief, safecracker extraordinaire, and a criminal. He also taught me everything he knows. I’ve spent my entire life trying not to be him. I own my own business, pay my taxes, and I don’t break the law. Ever.

Now I have to smash every one of my rules, break into a billionaire’s penthouse, and steal a million-dollar necklace.

What I never expected was to find myself face to face with Zane. Tall, dark, handsome, and oh-so-rich Zane. He’s also smart, and he knows I’m up to something.

And he’s vowed to find out.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Billionaire Romance, Suspense, Billionaires

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2021

About the author

I’m a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled romantic suspense and science-fiction romance. I love writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.

I love hearing from readers and you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and my website: www.annahackett.com

Reviews

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun to read romance book with a background of thriller. Is it thriller? Well, I am not sure. But it has some sort of Ocean 12 going on there.

Miss Hackett focusing too much on the romance. The romance is not that hot, sadly. It was boring in the middle. There is insta lust then proceed to love very quickly.

Overall this is OK read. Promising but fell flat on the romance.

3 stars

[Ryan Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just cuz the main dude is rich doesn’t mean that you have to call him “billionaire bachelor” CONSTANTLY. Or have all the characters call him billionaire bachelor. Gotta be honest, I’d put money that the majority of people have no clue who the rich dudes on Wall Street are. I can name the Gates/ Bezos/ and Zuckerburg but that’s it. No other uber rich dudes come to mind. So why does everyone know his name/his face and gawk about it? Tbh maybe I'm just a bit too eat the rich for this story line.

Overall I’m once again disappointed in this author. I’m so sick of the female thief who doesn’t really wanna be a thief but gets blackmailed into it. It’s soooo 2013. Let’s have a thief who’s like stoked to be a thief. Proud of her skills. The rich dudes are stealing from the country so why can’t she? It’s just depressing when the entire book is her going “oh billionaire bachelor is so hot,” “the gulf between us is huge,” “oh I’m so sad because I’m BreAkiNg the lawwwwwwww and i wanna be a GOOD girl.”

Ugh

Hackett give me someone like Eve from the first Eon book or like 90% of the heroines from the HELL Squad, or THS or the Team 22 books. I just think she shines more when she’s writing more fantastical (in a sci fi, not real life, not as in dragons) story. Her series set in the “real” world have been disappointing for me. Also- she seems to be moving towards writing about rich dudes exclusively? Between Norcross and this, we aren't seeing any of her more interesting world building.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealing from Mr. Rich is the first wonderful book in the Billionaire Heists. It is another great story from Anna Hackett. It is full of action, mystery, intrigue and so much more. With an alpha male and a sassy safe cracker, it will delight the senses. He is bored and wants a woman who doesn't want his money so when a woman brings this male to his knees he won't let her go but he now has to convince her. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ⭐️

Another great story from Anna Hackett, full on action and intrigue, with abit of humour mixed in. With an alpha male and a very sassy female who brings this male to his knees. Can’t wait to get into the next book, this trilogy is gonna be excellent, as what we come to expect from Anna. This is a standalone, but if you’ve read the Norcross series it will be even better.

[Luna ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

»I warned you that I'd catch you, Monroe. Now, you're all mine.«

★ ★ ★ ★

❥ 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒓𝒐𝒆
What a strong and intelligent woman - I loved her. She knows how to pick her battles and tried everything to keep Zane safe.

❥ 𝒁𝒂𝒏𝒆
This man is hot as fuck. The way he treats Monroe and is there for her in every situation is so perfect. He falls for her really quick.

✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I adored this book.
It was exactly what I wanted. A billionaire x thief romance with great characters and a thrilling plot.
Monroe and Zane have great chemistry and I liked them together. We got a lot of banter and good smut. They are each others equals and they treat one another with respect and love.
I liked the side characters as well and I‘m curious about Liams story.
The plot is interesting and I enjoyed following the story. It was fast to read and the pages just flew by.
Some things were a little annoying: the author switches between 1st and 3rd person back and forth, this was confusing sometimes and I don’t get why she does this? And Monroe called Zane „billionaire“ a lot, like girl I get that he is rich you don‘t have to tell me this very few pages. But these were comparatively little problems and the positive things predominate.
Overall an enjoyable read!

𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes, this is a cute romance with likeable characters and great tropes.

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓
plot: 4/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 5/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
possessive and protective hero, dual pov, billionaire romance, thief x billionaire, mafia, instant attraction, he falls first, humor

𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: both in their twenties
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no


𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Stealing from Mr. Rich ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Blackmailing Mr. Bossman ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Hacking Mr. CEO ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

STEALING FROM MR. RICH is a heist romance so I couldn't resist trying it because I love a good heist. This was a quick read with Anna Hackett’s usual exciting action and sexy couples. I will say that this was a bit over the top and probably best enjoyed if you suspend all disbelief and just enjoy it as a fun romp with insta-lust and a millionaire who is surprisingly easy going about a woman stealing from him.

One thing I found a bit unusual is that Monroe’s POV chapters are written in first person while Zane’s POV chapters are written in third person. That was pretty jarring at first but once I got into the groove of the story, I noticed it less and less.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Connected Series:
1. Treasure Hunter Security
2. Team 52
3. Norcross Security
4. Billionaire Heists

[Kim (Chipperbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealing From Mr. Rich- Zane and Monroe

Monroe has tried very hard to separate herself from her father. He is serving jail time, as he is a thief. Due to this and mother issues, Monroe was left to raise her brother. Now that brother is in trouble and the bad guys want her to do something she promised to never do..be like her father and steal something. But not just any something, a necklace that The Zane Roth owns. One of the known billionaire bachelors.

Zane is a self-made billionaire. To honor his mother, he bought a sapphire necklace that she is obsessed with. He is going to give it to her as a gift but until then he keeps it in his house safe. Arriving home early one night, he finds Monroe trying to steal the necklace. Enlisting help from Norcross, he must find out everything about Monroe and the real reason she was in his home.

Love the inclusion of Norcross. This was a good read. A fast paced, entertaining read hoping everything works out. Lots of chemistry between Zane and Monroe. Love the faith and trust between the characters. Look forward to the friends stories.

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this authors sexy sci fi books which often feature a paranormal twist but fully admit I'm not particularly fond of contemporary romance stories. Why do I tell you this ? Its because I honestly hoped to enjoy this enough that I could rate it a four and I'm over the moon to say it's a FIVE ! Yes a big fat stupendous five because I just enjoyed it so much.
We have two very strong and likeable souls here who are sheer fun to read about. I was a wee bit concerned initially as I was waiting for them to actually meet but hot baloney from their initial encounter everything was hot, saucy and beyond hilarious ! The synopsis tells you roughly what the plot is but it doesn't begin to describe just how funny and truly steamy this couple are. This is definitely my favourite book from this author in quite some time and I'm really looking forward to whatever she brings out next.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was like oceans 11 written by a preteen. Plot had so many holes in it. DNF

[Lisbeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dio en el clavo para una lectura fácil, alegre y cursi.

[Aleid · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 | Book 1 of the year ✅

[BOOKLOVER_81 · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Monroe’s brother Mag is held hostage, she finds herself needing to steal a priceless necklace from billionaire Zane.

As a locksmith, the job would normally be easy, but between the uncrackable safe and the threats from others, Monroe finds herself caught in a bind…

The pace is fast, and the tone is intense yet hopeful with an action - and character oriented storyline that has some detailed steamy scenes.

Online audiobook

[Aida · Rating 5 out of 5]

fucking loved it

Even though it was a short book to finish it was captivating from the start. I loved it the minute I read it, I loved how the heroine was a strong independent woman who stood up for herself and the man yummmmm he was definitely an eye candy

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealing From Mr. Rich is a story that I honestly just came across as I was browsing through the Kindle Unlimited library and was looking for something to fit my mood and then I saw the title and I was like, I have to read this book. I have read this author before, but only a couple of her science fiction romance titles, and I have really liked her writing style and from the beginning, I knew that this book would work for me. This is a dual POV, which I highly enjoyed, and I loved seeing the various perspectives of both the hero and heroine in this one. I was so captivated by this story here and just sped through it in one afternoon. It was just a fun quick read that gave me exactly what I was looking for at the right time and seeing the way these two people interacted was so delightful. I especially adored the hero. I love how good and honest he is, and that he uses his wealth to help others and I feel for him when he is used and manipulated for his money alone. I felt so much transparency from his character and I just wanted him to find that special woman he could connect with. Seeing how Zane and Monroe just connected to each other, despite the circumstances, was really heartwarming. You see how true they are and even though they are opposite from each other, they connect on a deep level which is on their values and inner principles and I truly couldn't get enough of this couple. I can't wait to explore more of this author's contemporary works, I had no idea she had them until now.

[Melanie Schuler · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book intrigued me and hooked me in at the beginning, I didn’t exactly think there was much in the way of chemistry between the characters but rather more of insta-lust. It was hard to gauge how much time passed in the book but it felt a bit rushed in the romance and the only character that really interested me the most was Zane’s security guy Vander. Otherwise, the whole plot was a bit out there and felt a bit disconnected. To be honest, it didn’t really come across as a thriller and not a whole like a heist book either with a lot of bumbling around of what the characters were doing. The sex scenes were also very rushed in how it was described and a bit on the unbelievable side of how sex would be in real life. This was a light filler like read to pass the time with not a whole lot of substance to it.

[Donna Lucas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off promising but quickly turned into the most far fetched Insta love story

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm buried under all the cheese that can be found in this story. Likable characters, fluid writing, but the cheese. Geez.

[Karine · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 25%

Pretty bad.
UNREALISTIC characters.
UNBELIEVABLE story.
Too many plot holes…

[Delaney Diamond]

I love a good heist, so of course I couldn't resist reading this novel. It's a cute, fun story about a billionaire who can handle himself (he has a personal trainer teaching him martial arts) and a female thief who's a safe cracker.

Despite enjoying the story, I have two minor quibbles: the author constantly mentioned that the hero and his friends were billionaires. I also didn't understand why the heroine was so poor when she ran a successful business with employees. It seemed unnecessary to make her so financially destitute compared to the billionaire.

Otherwise, there was an interesting cast of characters to go along with the main couple, who had great chemistry by the way. I plan to read the other books about the other billionaires. I'm particularly interested in the Latin billionaire.

[Kota · Rating 1 out of 5]

Girl, your brother’s life is literally on the line and you’re out here unlocking new positions instead of the safe.

I ended up DNF-ing this book because the pacing and priorities just didn’t make sense. The heroine spends the entire time saying, “I only have 7 days to save my brother or he’ll die,” but then immediately chooses a two-day sex marathon, a night out at the club, and even a full workday… like girl, what?! You’ve got a literal countdown on your brother’s life, and you waste five out of seven days sleeping or hooking up. If it were me, I’d be laser-focused—forget food, forget work, just save my brother. Instead, we get endless sex scenes while the actual plot takes a backseat. It killed any urgency, and honestly, it made it impossible to stay invested.

[Lynsey A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty enjoyable story. At times it seemed a bit OTT but it was a cute story and had some sexy times. I liked both characters. Zane the hero very much enjoyed having Monroe for dessert...often.

Not too much drama and a little excitement. Definitely worth a read.

[Karen ♐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author and I will definitely be reading more of her books. Zane has bought a very expensive necklace for his mom which Monroe has to steal to save her brother from the Russian mafia.

I didn't expect so much action and suspense in this book. It was a great surprise. Monroe and Zane were great together and I will definitely be reading on in this series.

[Fos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

Zane and Monroe

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

To unbelievable it was distracting

Ok. I generally really love Anna's books. This one, not so much. The 1st person/3rd person back and forth was teribly confusing just pick one and stick to it. The story also felt forces and completely unrealistic. Especially the basement scene...i'm soeey but after someone shoots you, you do not have a sexy tet au tet with your lover with 4 hostles in the room then get all mouthy while someone hold a gun to you and has already shown they are willing to shoot you...that was the worst most unrealistic thing i had ever read and i almost stopped reading right there. I'm sorry Anna. I really do love most of your books. But my disapointment in The Bodyguard and now this...i just dont think i'll be checking out any more new work from you. It just feels like you are cranking out half baked stories to keep busy. I'll keep rereading your older series however.

[Hey Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author and it was a good read! You so t normally see a girl who breaks into safes very often so it was different and unique and stuff happens unlike other books I’ve been reading 😬😂😐😐😐

It was a litttttttle of a stretch that he was so into her even though she was sent to steal something from him but I’ll allow it 😳😂

[Whit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this sweet, spicy and suspenseful story. So good, I found myself reading it at 2 AM.

You know sometimes how our foolish family members do really stupid things and then look to us to rescue them. The question becomes, SHOULD WE? Is it really our responsibility to bail out grown folks that should know better?

Monroe has a good heart and has overcome a horrific childhood where, her safe-cracking father spent more time in jail, than at home with his underage children. Monroe, a child herself, was forced to raise her younger brother. You know the one who is currently being held by the Russian mob, for overdue gambling debts.

Their demand is for a two million dollar necklace owned by billionaire, Zane Roth. Guess who gets caught by Zane when she breaks into his penthouse and his safe to retrieve said necklace?

You think he will forgive and forget?

[Ria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm morally opposed to billionaire heroes these days (no one needs to be a billionaire, and giving to charity is often more about tax evasion than aid, BUT I DIGRESS) buuuut I'm also morally opposed to not reading whatever Anna Hackett writes, so here we are. And as billionaires go, Zane was pretty nice, I liked him as a hero and I bought into his feelings for Monroe. Monroe was great, her career I particularly enjoyed reading about, and if anyone deserved a happy ending with someone super rich, it was her after all the rubbish she had to put up with in her life. Though this book hasn't reinvented the wheel, I had a lot of fun reading it and I look forward to the rest of the trilogy, even if it delays us getting Vander's book!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first story in a trilogy that is lightly connected to another series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Usually, the author writes her stories in third person, but Monroe’s part is told in first person. There are lots of interesting characters to enrich the story with humor, suspense, and action. The romance between Zane and Monroe is pretty darn exciting from the very moment they meet! I can’t wait for the next story, featuring one of Zane’s best friends and the woman that captures his attention without trying.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

On the surface, the first meeting between billionaire Zane Roth and “Lady Locksmith” Monroe O’Connor reads like a slapstick version of a meet-hot-and-cute with more than a touch of the movie Maid in Manhattan.

Unlike the movie, Monroe is only pretending to be a maid, while Zane is a bit too naked to be on his way out to walk anybody’s dog. (And I’m so tempted to keep this joke going, but it’s going to hit the gutter really fast. Sorry, not sorry)

Monroe is in Zane’s apartment to “case the joint” so that she can steal a priceless piece of jewelry as ransom for her not-as-mature-as-he-ought-to-be younger brother, who made the mistake of gambling with the Russian Mafia. Literally. Stupidly. And entirely too typically for Maguire O’Connor.

So Monroe is going to have to break into an unbreakable safe that’s hidden in the penthouse of one of the richest men in New York, break every vow she’s made to herself to stay on the straight and narrow and not follow in her daddy’s criminal footsteps in order to save Mags. Again. From his own idiocy.

But those moments of slippery slapstick on the floor of Zane’s penthouse shower are the most fun and the best sexytimes that either of them have had in weeks, months, possibly even years. Which means that even though Zane learns that Monroe shouldn’t be trusted, and even though Monroe knows that the only ending to their instant flirtation is either a pair of broken hearts or her brother’s broken body, she can’t resist trying to have the little bit of Zane that she thinks she can have.

Neither Zane nor Monroe figure out that they’re playing for even higher stakes than the Russian Mafia. And that they are both already all in.

Escape Rating B+: I enjoyed Stealing from Mr. Rich more than I expected after reading the blurb. That’s partly because there were parts of the description that reminded me a bit too much of the parts of the Norcross Security series that I had some trouble with. In that series, it seemed like the heroines were much too re-active and didn’t have nearly enough agency. There was often a creeptastic element in that series where the villains were sexual predators who intended to add the heroines to their “collections”, whether that was part of the initial evil plot or not.

One of the things I liked about Monroe and her story is that it was all strictly business from the villains’ point of view. Not that there weren’t some disgusting dudes along the way, but the big bads are strictly business. Mags owes them money, Monroe has a skill that they can use to get her to do their dirty work for them, and there’s nothing about their deal that expects Monroe to do any of her work for them on her back. So I enjoyed Monroe’s story – and Monroe’s first person perspective – all the more because she’s actively pursuing a solution to her problem that doesn’t require a rescue and she never loses her agency while she works – however reluctantly – to win her brother’s freedom.

Something else that happened in this story is wrapped around the way that books often remind me of, of course, other books. Like the way that The Specialist, my favorite book in the Norcross Security series, reminded me of Rock Hard, another big favorite.

So it’s not actually a surprise that another interesting thing I realized about this story has to do with my love of J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Whenever a romance features a billionaire, I kind of expect to see someone either very like Roarke or his direct opposite. Like him if it’s the hero, the opposite if it’s the villain.

I am not digressing, I swear.

Zane and Monroe are both Roarke, or Roarke if he’s split into two characters. Zane is the self-made billionaire who gives megabucks to charity, plays the part he has to play while keeping his real self separate, has created a circle of real friends to rely on, knows how to take care of himself in a fight – and is, of course, devilishly handsome.

Monroe is the child of a thief and a conman who has done her best to distance herself from her dad’s criminal ways, but has used the skills he taught her to create a business and make both a living and a difference. People keep trying to drag her back into the muck, but she keeps right on fighting to get out. And has also created a circle of real friends she can rely on – even if she has a difficult time trusting that other people will be there for her.

And all of that is also Roarke, so it’s inevitable that these two parts of a whole will find each other and be drawn together like iron filings to a magnet.

That both Zane and Monroe have SERIOUS trust issues – with good reason – both gives them a lot in common and pulls them apart on a regular basis. After all, they meet because she’s planning to rob him. That’s not exactly a scenario that builds trust.

Neither of them is all that good at relying on others – or on anyone at all outside a tiny, trusted circle. They shouldn’t reach out to each other – and they especially shouldn’t hold on to each other. That they do it anyway, in spite of all the voices on both the inside and the outside saying that they shouldn’t, is what gives this story its zing and its spark.

Although the naked slapstick start sure didn’t hurt – AT ALL!