A man wronged. Revenge disguised as robbery. An unexpectedly romantic ruse. Determined to right the wrongs against him, Arie Hondros hones the perfect plan. But to succeed, he must have the perfect wife. When his brother’s wife suggests her friend, Annabelle, he immediately refuses.
The woman — who clearly has nothing but disdain for him — has already captured his affection, something he vowed he’d never permit. Imagine his surprise then, when she assents to the union, and his scheme prepares to unfold.
For Arie’s ploy to steal priceless Greek artefacts to work, he and Annabelle must convince the museum Board of Trustees that they are husband and wife. But when true love blooms from counterfeit sentiment, there is more than only the greatest robbery in London history at stake —
Ellie St. Clair writes heartwarming Regency romances with spirited heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and happily ever afters. Her passion for history shines through in richly drawn characters and romances brimming with irresistible tension.
A former journalist with an incurable love of history, she is the author of popular series such as Remingtons of the Regency and The Bluestocking Scandals. She lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, with her husband and three children.
When she isn’t crafting romantic tales or keeping up with her kids, she’s mainlining coffee, sweating it out on her Peloton, valiantly attempting to keep her plants alive, planning her next dog rescue, or dreaming of lake escapes.
Ellie loves corresponding with readers, so visit her website, email her, sign up for her newsletter or join her Facebook group for exclusive content, giveaways, and sneak peeks at upcoming books.
A man wronged. Revenge disguised as robbery. An unexpectedly romantic ruse. Determined to right the wrongs against him, Arie Hondros hones the perfect plan. But to succeed, he must have the perfect wife. When his brother’s wife suggests her friend, Annabelle, he immediately refuses. The woman — who clearly has nothing but disdain for him — has already captured his affection, something he vowed he’d never permit. Imagine his surprise then, when she assents to the union, and his scheme prepares to unfold. For Arie’s ploy to steal priceless Greek artefacts to work, he and Annabelle must convince the museum Board of Trustees that they are husband and wife. But when true love blooms from counterfeit sentiment, there is more than only the greatest robbery in London history at stake There is the matter of his heart. Arie and Annabelle are meant for each other although it doesn't matter how they came together. Ellie St. Clair has written another exciting romance. It is the last book in the series. I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
A remarkable family. Where you could read this as a standalone it was enhanced by reading the other books in the series first. By reading those books prior you will know what a real jerk Artie has been to his family at times, but finally fate has come knocking at his door. The whole cast of characters are blended together so well and the adventure that they embark on in this book was so interesting. One big heist the one his has being planning for years what could go wrong? Loved the story, have really enjoyed the series, and I highly recommend not just this book but the whole series excellent work by Ellie St. Clair. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Determined to right the wrongs against him, Arie Hondros hones the perfect plan. But to succeed, he must have the perfect wife. When his brother’s wife suggests her friend, Annabelle Kennedy, he immediately refuses. Annabelle, who clearly has nothing but disdain for him, has already captured his affection, something he vowed he’d never permit. Imagine his surprise then, when she assents to the union, and his scheme prepares to unfold. For Arie’s ploy to steal priceless Greek artefacts to work, he and Annabelle must convince the museum Board of Trustees that they are husband and wife. But when true love blooms from counterfeit sentiment, there is more than only the greatest robbery in London history at stake. This is the fifth & final book in the series & what a finale. Arie has been far from my favourite character throughout the series & I wondered if he could be redeemed. He's tough, ruthless, single minded, proud & believe it or not honourable. Annabelle is a very talented jeweller, things haven't gone well for her but with help from Arie & his siblings she now has her own shop. I loved how these enemies became lovers, as their journey unfolded I found myself liking Arie more & more. All of the siblings featured in the book & I loved how they were all there when they were needed. An engrossing read which I devoured in a sitting, I’m sorry to leave the series & I’m going to miss these likeable characters My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
While reading this story I couldn’t help but notice a lot of animosity and anger among Arie and other characters. Thank God there was Annabelle to sooth the inferno that was constantly flaring in Arie. The romance was a slow burn between the two, but there were a few innuendos among the two. The story kept the dialogue, narrative and background story simple. This really helped with the pace of readers the book I think. All of the characters were pretty interesting and added some witty moments to the scheme of gaining back the artwork for Greece. In the end I enjoyed the entertainment of the story.
Arie's story is here, and I couldn't be more pleased to have this tale of redemption out in the world! Over the last four books of the series, you have come to hate the head of the Hondros family, the man who will apparently do anything if it means the greatest prize. But now, we finally learn more about who Arie truly is and see what happens when he fakes a marriage with a woman who is more than his match.
Then there is also the fact that he is trying to pull off the biggest theft in the history of London. Will he succeed?
Another outstanding book in this delightful series. Never a dull moment for this well-developed couple. Arie and Annabelle’s attraction starts out rocky but develops as they work together to plan the perfect robbery. I couldn’t put this book down. Don’t miss this one. I received an ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
A wonderful redemption story. He was the villain throughout the series but Arie has finally been redeemed.
Annabelle is his match. She's headstrong, she's been through a tough life just as he has been but he thinks he can push her away by keeping his emotions locked away but she's not going to give up on him no matter how much he tries to push her away. She shows him what it's like to be loved and to have that person to never walk away..
I'm sad to see this series come to an end but I definitely look forward to seeing what else Ellie has coming out next.
I received this as a gift from the Author in exchange for an honest review and these are purely my thoughts and no one else's views.
This is the last book of the Thieves of Desire series. This last book is Arie's story, which further explains who he is and why he acts the way he does. Although it could be read as a standalone, having read the other books in the series, you learn about Arie Hondros throughout the previous books. I loved this story and how both he and Annabelle came together, to pull off a heist. Loved that she seemed to be a great match for him.
I am sad that the series is now finished, and totally recommend this book (and series). I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Wish I could give 10 Stars!!! Unfortunately, this is the last book in the "Thieves of Desire". If you have not read the series, you have missed the best series to come along in a long time. All the books can be read as stand alone. To get the true meaning of the series you really need to read them in order. This is a family of Thieves were some are true siblings and other adopted or saved. But all are treated as brothers and sisters. With Arie as the leader and father of the group. Each book is about one of the siblings. Arie always does what he thinks is best for the family, sadly his thinking is not always right and he ends up hurting the ones he loves the most. During the first four books, Arie was not one of my favorite characters. He is like sandpaper, rough, very prickly, easy to anger, nasty and always thinks he is right. Now we finally learn what has motivated him from a young age. Revenge against the wrongs done to his family and others. He has been planning how to right the wrongs for years, now the time is finally here. All his plans are in order except one, he needs a woman who is an artist and who will go along with the robbery. The largest one London has ever seen, from the British museum ! The right woman will also be able to make jewelry. The last person he thought of for the job was Annabelle, friend to his daughter in law. She hates him with good reason (A Jewel for the Taking, Book 2) Other reason is she makes him want things he never can. Annabelle is shocked when told of the plan and her part in it. She knows she should say no and run, but is also intrigued with the idea. Biggest problem will be working closely with Arie. She dislikes him but also feels things when around him too, things she doesn't always understand. What a story !! We learn a lot more about Arie, and why he is the way he is. As his armor starts to crack the feelings between them heats up and so does the suspense of the robbery. There are those out to ruin everything. What will happen if any or all get caught ? Even with years of planning can something this large really work ? You need to buy the series and get started, as each book is so good, it should only take you a week to read them all!! The you will know the answers to all the above questions... I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.
I loved this book. It completely wound the series up altogether. If you have not read from book 1 then you should do so. In book 1 you get introduced to the Hondros family. Who is run by the oldest brother who was controlling, frightening, in charge, in control of his brothers and sisters. They were all wary of Arie. They did everything he said. Each book is individual, it tells the story of each brother and sister and how they performed in the theft that Arie set for them.The last book in the series was Arie’s story, which told us how he didn’t want his brothers and sisters to marry or have relationships with other people as he wanted to keep them private and he could still control them all. But in each book this happens and one by one they fall in love with a partner and then marry. So Arie had a plan up his sleeve to rob the National Museum in London. And decided that he needed another member of the team to get this scheme to work properly. so one of the family mentioned Annabel who could make fake jewellery and copy the patterns of the jewellery that they robbed. So he arranged to meet Annabel and discuss the matter with her. So it was planned that Annabel joined the family and became his pretend wife. They would go to the Museum and firstly pretend that he would donate an antique item to the museum and Annabel could sketch the antiques already displayed at the museum. So Annabel designed what she wanted to donate to the museum. One day on going home with Arie, she found her shop and the flat that was her home had been broken into and robbed. She was heartbroken and Arie said it wasn’t safe there anymore and she should live in their house. Reluctantly she went, then the romance got sweeter and Arie was determined that there was nothing between them and denied any feelings for her. Well the story went on and got even more romantic but Arie would not change his mind. The Story got more and more exciting and he realised that he loved Annabel all the time. I read this book as it was sent to me by the publisher was not coerced to read it and I enjoyed each and every word of it. Mrs St Clair, this series is magical, I enjoyed every word.
Arie Hondros made a promise after his father's murder, he would steal the Greek artifacts that were sent to England and return them to Greece. Arie has been working on a plan to steal them for twenty-five years. He has his family to help, but he needs Annabelle to pretend to be his wife. Annabelle does not trust Arie. They had a falling out in the past, but the closer they work together as husband and wife, the more they fall in love. After all his detailed planning to rob the museum, what could possibly go wrong? Enemies to passionate lovers with the suspense of pulling off a robbery without getting caught.
I Loved It! ”Romance of a Robbery" is the fifth and last in ‘Thieves of Desire’ series and it doesn't disappoint. I absolutely loved Annabelle and Arie. Arie, with his scars of the past, has built a wall around his heart and Annabelle, with a loving spirit, sees the pain in Arie's eyes and can't help but reach out to Arie. Ellie St. Clair has a way of weaving a story that you can’t put it down and this book was no different. She has given readers a book that is well-written, filled it with great cast of characters that come off the pages and pull you into this emotional ride that keeps you involved until the very end, it's a well-written romance that brims with tension-building twists and turns, remarkable emotions, and sizzling passion. With setting descriptions and action sequences are wonderfully vivid which brings this read together perfectly. With visit from characters who you found a special place in your heart for from the four in the series that brings this read together perfectly!
My heart is breaking of the ending of this series! What fantastic character's and we finally get Arie's story. Oh, in the first few books, he is as nasty as they come. A leader of the underworld but as the series progresses he shows his love for the family who have come together not by blood but their own way of love. You get more of an insight to him and why he became as he is.
The h in this story is perfect for our H. She is kind, smart, creative and has a logical head on her shoulders. This starts out with both disliking each other. Watching him give into his caring side and how he struggled with his feelings made me feel like I was watching the layers being peeled away.
You are treated to suspense, intrigue, twists, great main and secondary character's, romance that builds slowly and two people realizing they can't live without each other. The H is afraid to show his true feeling for the h and I felt his changing was emotional.
Lovemaking, outside of marriage heat level 4 out of 5. Every time they came together who saw the H give into his feelings for the h. Loved every emotional step these two took together.
Even though the last of the series, it is a stand alone. But, I enjoyed all the character's from the other stories making an appearance. It is a fantastic series, and I can't recommend this author and her stories enough.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, romance at it's best and some spice.
I received an ARC, all opinions are my own and freely given. (ljb)
The final book in this outstanding series ends up with Aries story, which is so appropriate since he is the heard of his family of thieves. Ruthless, take no prisoners and with a firm hand, he has always ruled and taken control.
But he has met his match with Annabelle, when it is suggested her as a wife. He needs someone to help him in his revenge plot and she has the skills.
Superb, with the attraction causing sparks and a journey to find their happy ever after with many twist and turns!
This is the 5th and final book in the series Thieves of Desire, and I really enjoyed it. You do not have to read the rest of the books to enjoy this story, but if you did it would give you a better understanding of how this family, who is not blood related, became a family. I read the previous books and I have loved everyone of them. Arie Hondros is the head of the family, I have to say in previous books there were times I did not like him, but in this book, I loved him. He has always wanted to send statues which originally belong in Greece back to Greece. But to do this, he and his family have to steal them. He needs the help of Annabelle, who is his brother and sister-in-law’s friend. He needs her to act as his wife. Arie always keeps his feelings to himself and seems hard and stand offish but with Annabelle, he is softer and starts to smile. You will love these two together and this was a wonderful book to end the series. I am going to miss this family. I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my honest opinion.
Arie Hondros is one of the controlling leaders of the East End of London & since the beginning of this series it has been proven over & over again how he obtained & sustained that leadership - he is ruthless, hard-hearted, hard-headed, controlling, sly businessman, tough but proud & honorable.
Annabelle Kennedy was raised with family love but when she talked her father into letting her apprentice with a jewelry designer - things didn't go as planned & she found herself on the streets with a friend. With the help of the friend & one man she despises, Arie Hondros, they were able to buy space & open a jewelry shop & Annabelle designs all the pieces.
Now Arie needs her help in a theft plan but how can this possibly work? Their rocky relationship builds from here into a wonderful romance. I was so happy to see Arie get some happiness for himself & I loved that all the characters from the previous books were in this final one. I just can't say enough about this story & all the character to do it justice. I voluntarily read & reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts & opinions are my own.
I was skeptical that I would ever like Arie, the "big brother" of the Hondros family, who has been so manipulative and controlling throughout this series. I wondered after finishing Gambling for the Lost Lord's Love how Ellie St. Claire could possibly make him a sympathetic character. Until just after the halfway mark of this book, I was still somewhat skeptical. Then there was a passionate scene between him and Annabelle, the h, that completely changed my mind. At first, I thought they were too different as characters, but their chemistry clicked, and they ended up being perfect together.
I'm sorry to see this series come to an end!
Note: If you haven't read the previous books in this series, this works as a standalone, but there's more emotional impact if you know more about the other characters' stories. If you only read one book in this series, besides this one, I would highly recommend A Prize Worth Fighting For, which is Grace and Damien's story and my favorite.
Steam level: 3. There is on-page sex, but it is more emotional than graphic.
Arie was a bit of jerk in the previous books in the series. Because he saved his non-biologically related siblings from the streets and he is the leader of their organization he expected they would do whatever he wanted without question regardless of how illegal it was. I was surprised he would have gall to work towards this big of an art heist and that his enemy Annabelle would agree to help him. But she becomes his weakness in the book because he starts to have romantic feelings and put her first and it scares him. This was nice conclusion to an interesting series. I don't often see romance books where the main characters are criminals.
Arie and Annabelle, what a story! Arie Hondros is the controlling head of the family we have come to know as hard, callous and tough. Annabelle Kennedy is the only woman to crack his facade. In this novel we see intrigue, plotting, blackmail, thievery, passion and finally love. I loved their first kiss! At this point she had stolen his heart, he just didn’t know it! I loved seeing characters from previous novels! Bravo Ms St Clair for a wonderful ending to a fantastic series! I am usually a fast reader but I wanted to take my time to savor this story.
This has been such an original and delightful series. It concludes with Arie’s story. He is the head father figure for the family of thieves. He has not, up until now, been a very likable guy, being a stiff necked Anarch of the family. He finally meets his match in Annabelle, a Jewelry maker, and we can finally see a lot into what has made him how he is. For his final big heist he needs the perfect wife, and Annabelle agrees to the role. Who knew they would fall in love, and Arie would finally get his redemption!
What a wonderful book to end the Thieves series! I love how the author helps Arie finally let go of the past and be able to love outwardly what he held in so long. The initial enemies to lovers trope is my favorite and was a welcome addition to the story. Would have loved to see the revenge of the villain to be more pronounced, but they got theirs in the end. Ms Ellie is truly an author who brings life to her characters and weaves a tale to get lost in!
I absolutely loved that Arie found a love in this end of the series book. He has admired Annabelle since he tried to steal from her. She has good reason to hate him. But when she is asked to play the part of his wife for a heist he has beven planning for, things get real. Arie does his best to not show emotion which frustrates Annabelle. When something drastic happens it will make him realize how important Annabelle is to him.
Throughout his siblings stories we see Arie's scheming, anger and arrogance being left to wonder why he is unable to want their happiness and welcome their spouses to his extended family. We finally find out what drives Arie Hondros and witness his Achilles' heel! Well written and crowning finish to the Hondros family series! Loved these unusual regency stories!
This is an absolutely awesome end to wrap up the series. The head of the Hondros family Arie, finally loses his heart. After plotting and scheming for years this is to be his big score and all he needs is a pretend wife. Annabelle is a woman who despises Arie but is also fascinated by him. Sparks fly as they spend time together and pretense becomes reality. The author does a great job of bringing all the characters together to finish out the series. They started as a family and finish as a family that has grown and expanded in love.
Arie finally finds his happy ever after in this book, and I am so glad (yes, I have a soft spot for him). With an enemies-to-lovers trope, his and Annabelle’s story was worthy of being the last book in this series. This book has everything that makes a book fascinating to read, and again, I couldn’t put it down. It was just that mesmerizing.
Love Arie’s story.. this was a great finish to the entire series.. from the beginning the stories had great character development that only depend as the books went along. Arie was a mean shit most of the time, it was excellent to see a women bring him down from his throne in the end..
This is a wonderful conclusion to this amazing series, which is full of suspense and emotional interludes. All the characters in this steamy story are brilliantly crafted, and manage to bring their capers to a happy ending. This along with the rest of the series is a compelling read.
An entertaining romance, Arie finally gets his story and a woman that is his perfect match. A romantic ruse, enemies to lovers and redemption all in one package. Arie and Annabelle are wonderful, great chemistry and a true love that means more than robbery. I enjoyed reading the conclusion to this series.
Arie you scoundrel, you met your match with a woman who hated you, working next to you on an idea, falling in love with her and she with you, giving yourself up to save her, leaving her and your family to try to rescue you, what a wonderful ending to a series
Mainly because Arie is such an interesting character. There’s a plan for a heist, steamy times and a surprise in Annabelle and of course, the strong wills of these two.