It Takes a Thief

by Anne Stuart

Emma Manchester was a proper young lady with the soul of a pirate. For the last twelve years she’s done everything she’s supposed to do, while yearning to break the rules, and now she’s engaged to marry a respected magistrate and her future looks bland and assured, without the chance of ever sailing free.

Ben Crawford was the love of her childhood, her partner in crime, until he was driven away by her harpy of a mother. Now, all of sudden he’s returned as Nick, king of thieves and ruler of a den of criminals, and she still feels the same way about him.

But the judge isn’t about to let her go and Nick doesn’t want to drag her into the mess his life is, especially since the judge and he are at odds. And yet, he cannot stay away .

What’s a girl with the soul of a pirate going to do?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2022

About the author

Anne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.

Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.

She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.

When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.

Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.

Reviews

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting offering from Anne Stuart. I felt that she avoided most of her usual writing quirks, although the new quirks I noticed here were odd (using "fitful" to describe light and "repressive" to describe a way of speaking). She employed great restraint in writing her hero here, and he was a lot nicer than some of her others. I wish he'd had more depth of character though. Even though he had his own POV, I still felt kind of removed from him.

Although this book required quite a lot of suspension of disbelief, and the heroine was TSTL several times, it was pretty fun.

[MBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You aren’t going anywhere.”
She looked up at him. She knew tears were swimming in her eyes—he’d always been the only one who could make her cry. “Why not?”
“Because…” he said in a harassed voice. “Because…” He took a step toward her. “Because…” He caught her arms in a tight grip, pulling her against his hard body so suddenly that she let out a gasp. “Because of this.”

It Takes a Thief by Anne Stuart was one of the most highly anticipated novels for me in 2022 from an author who remains on my top shelf of go-to authors due to her exceptional flair for writing dark heroes that most romance readers don't find affinity with.

I know that there are many authors of today who label themselves as writers of dark romance because their stories feature heroes from backgrounds such as the mafia. However, those authors don't really live up to the hype and buzz that their books create amongst a wider audience. Heroes who are truly dark are written by authors like Ms. Stuart who captures in most of her books, the essence of what it means to be a villainous hero in its finest sense.

Published in June of 2022, told in the third person from the perspective of four characters, two main and two secondary, It Takes a Thief is a novel in a historical setting, featuring the story of how 23 year Emma Louise Manchester wins over the heart of her long lost step-brother Ben Crawford, aka Nick the Butcher.

It is unfortunate circumstances that reveals to Emma that her partner in crime up till she was eleven years old when Ben had been kicked out of the family home and seemingly lost to her forever, is in fact alive and thriving, albeit in a criminal setting. It is common knowledge that Ben is the leader of the Beggar's Ken, of which the name itself signifies what the "organization" does.

Betrothed to a man not of her choosing as compensation for the gambling debts incurred by her brother, Emma was willing to bury her yearning for adventure and her belief in true love and happily ever after to become the dutiful wife of her betrothed. However, that single glimpse of Ben changes everything and Emma finds herself pursuing him with a newfound enthusiasm and fervor that makes a mockery of everything she is supposed to do.

Emma's spirit for adventure and zest for everything to do with Ben, even when he tries (and fails spectacularly) to dissuade her, is the reason that Emma finally manages to pierce through the armor that Ben protects his heart and soul with. Ben believes that he is undeserving of a woman like Emma, even when he knows that her betrothed would destroy Emma's spirit and heart if he were ever to truly claim her.

I must admit that for the very first time in a novel by Ms. Stuart, I was more enamored by the love that blooms between the secondary characters in the story, Molly O’Hanlon, better known as Red Molly who looks after the young ones at Beggars' Ken and Thomas Alexander Campion, the man who pursues her, who wears her down bit by bit, and brings down the walls that she puts up with renewed strength every single day. Her back story was fascinating, and it was truly heartwarming when she found love in its truest form when she has always believed that she was of the undeserving.

I found that throughout the story, I was in a state of anticipation for that special something to happen between Emma and Ben which would give the novel the Anne Stuart factor, but alas. Nevertheless, because Ms. Stuart is such a stellar weaver of magical tales of love where one would least expects to find it, I enjoyed this little number and will continue to look forward to her announced publications in the future.

Recommended for fans of Anne Stuart and those who love romances in historical settings.

Final Verdict: It takes a thief like Emma's undaunted spirit to win over the hardened heart and cynical soul of such as Ben's. Ms. Stuart always delivers a rousing tale!

Rating = 3.75/5

For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance

[Anne in VA · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like giving such a low rating for an Anne Stuart book, but I did not like this. It was a struggle to finish, the secondary romance was uninteresting and I didn't believe the main characters fell in love. If anything, it seems like we're supposed to believe Ben at seventeen, fell in love with a twelve year old??? That's just ick.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to have a new Anne Stuart. Loved this book. It felt like her writing, but also felt fresh. I liked seeing a different type of Heroine from her. I thought Emma was a great balance if stubborn but not obstant.

And as I every Anne Stuart, the phrase "You and what army?" makes its appearance.

[P.S. Seaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have read Anne Stuart for years. This one is formulaic for her and not her best.

[Kira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like more depth in my romance. I am not a fan of stories where they fall in love as children, don't see each other for over a decade, but are still in love when they meet again. All of this makes it unnecessary to have them fall in love as adults.

The characters were one dimensional. Nick and Emma were described differently than they acted. Nick the Butcher never did anything remotely mean or violent despite his title and the fact that he was the leader of a gang of thieves. He was so nice it was disappointing. A little bit of a bad boy can be a good thing. People described Emma as smart and able to take care of herself, but she needed rescuing so many times. Almost every time she put herself in that situation.

[Nabilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her older books. The self-denial went a wee bit too long. The hero thought he was not good enough for her and the heroine thought he didn't love her enough. And this went on and on. Furthermore, all the characters sounded like modern Americans. I noticed this in her other books as well, although not as prevalent as in this one. This aspect took me out of the book from time to time. Do yourself a favour and skip this one. Go for her older works. The plotline is good but isn't enough to save the story.

[Kiera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just didn't get me

I usually love Anne Stuart books, but this one just didn't get me. The H&H both needed their heads knocking together. The premise was odd - recognising a man instantly, at a glance, 13 years after you last saw him - and I was really, REALLY bugged by Campion's eyes constantly changing colour. Were they blue, grey or amber?

I dunno, the whole thing just didn't feel Anne Stuart-y. 3* (sorry)

[EvilAntie Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore pirates

I just enjoyed this story immensely. The character all were amazing and the storyline was one of ANne Stuart’s best.

[MrsMascara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant as always

[Kathleen Lanman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun enough but I just couldn’t engage with it like I wanted to.

[Paul Hinkley]

Very good

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really fun story with lots of unconventional and bold choices.