Football hero by day and thief by night, Charles “Cugs” McConnely leads a double life in the small town of Newbark, Florida. At sundown, the seventeen-year-old turns burglar, forced into the business by the man who should be teaching him the difference between right and wrong: his father.Cugs is a pro at both games, but only one can secure him a college scholarship. It should be an easy decision, … easy decision, a no-brainer—if Newbark hadn’t proffered the only life he knows.
After run-ins with Nadine Paganelli, his accidental victim and the sole person to have caught him in the act, Cugs starts to realize that hearts can be stolen too.
When his long-lost sister makes contact, lies are uncovered and truths revealed. Suddenly, Cugs finds himself questioning both plans and loyalties. Sometimes the only way to move forward is by pulling the bottom out of the past.
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I love Cugs and Nadine!
If the title doesn’t grab your attention, you’ve got something wrong with you! Okay, I’m totally kidding. You will fall in love with Cugs and Nadine. Like all Sunniva’s writing, Path of Thieves follows characters you can relate with. This is Sunniva Dee’s first YA read, and because she is such an amazing writer, you wouldn’t know that. But I just told you, so now you know. Absolutely amazing and my heart cries out to Cugs.
Sunniva has once again given me characters that I can’t help but fall in love with.
Charles McConnely (Cugs) is a student and high school athlete by day and a thief by night. Stealing was instilled by his father at a very young age. It may not be right but it is all he knows. I really felt for this poor young man to have someone that should shower him with love and protection but instead teaches him to be a criminal. Nadine Paganelli and Charles begin to cross paths and soon develop an unlikely friendship. you quickly begin to realize that the bond they share is so much more. I loved watching their relationship grow and flourish.
I so enjoyed the journey with Cugs and Nadine!
I was given a copy for an honest review.
~~Michele McMullen ~~
I’m sorry to say that I didn’t enjoy this books as much as others seemed too . I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters. Cugs is a sweet boy, just mislead up by an ungrateful and malicious father. He does want to be a thief, but his dad had been grooming him since he was a little boy.
My heart aches for the little boy who begged, BEGGED, his father to not have to “shop”, especially on his birthdays. It made me sad that he just wanted love and affection from his father since he ripped him out of his home and told lies about his mother and sister. How they didn’t care for him, etc. it was heartbreaking.
I chose this book because of the football aspect, I really wish we had gotten more of that though. We only barely got snippets of him playing, I wanted more.
And the relationship between Cugs and Nadine didn’t flow as well as it could have. He broke into her house, twice! And that second time, she gave him her number to call her. He eventually did. They talked some, texted some, and then she came and spent a day with him. In the beginning, there wasn’t enough focused on them, I think. Maybe that’s why it just seemed strange the girl wanted him to call her after robbing her parents twice. Lol. And then they end up being bf/gf.
The writing was ok, it didn’t really draw me in. And there was no break or italics when he had a memory flash back. It was present tense, then a memory, then present tense in the very next paragraph. It was a little distracting.
EX : “They could have taken you from me. I love you. If I can help it, I’ll never let them take you.”
“Cugs!” Bear bellows. “You zoned out again, or what’s the goal here, a thousand?”
First sentence a memory, the very next on, is the present.
It was just an ok read to me, but others seemed to have really enjoyed it. All books aren’t for everyone so if you want to take a chance, go ahead. You may like it more than I did.
This was my first real read by Sunniva Dee, and apparently her first venture into YA. It wasn’t a bad place to start. The characters are believable and the emotions take you by surprise.
Cugs is a sweetheart, unfortunately his start in life has not been kind and he finds himself in situations he wishes he could avoid due to family obligations, this leads to his meeting Nadine in a rather unconventional start to a relationship! He is a good kid who has dreams for a better life but cannot imagine how they could ever work out. Nadine is a strong minded girl who helps him to believe that things could be different.
Cugs’ family dynamic, and its history is shown through flashback and kicks you right in the feels, he deserves so much more!
I will definitely be looking up more by this author!
I have to admit I was a little nervous to read this book. I had read Dodging Trains, Paislee and Keyon’s story, a while ago and while I enjoyed it I didn’t completely love it. When I was given the chance to read Cugs story I said why not. I loved this story! Cugs was such a wonderful young man who had to live a very tough life. A life that made me absolutely HATE his father. Not only did his father lead him down a horrible life path but he tried to manipulate Cugs’s good memories. I do admit I appreciated the simple fact that his step mom didn’t try to hit on him, that would have just added fuel to my hate factor. Nadine was the light to Cugs’s dark. I loved her strength and how she stood by him and helped him become to better person he really was deep down. I was also worried at the beginning that there would be a fight of some sort for Cugs’s affection. I’m glad that the author didn’t go down that path but chose to focus on how Cugs’s grew, with the help of Nadine and his best friends as well. I have to say one of my favorite scenes was when the girls showed their strength with the police. Way to use girl power! If you enjoy YA this is a definite must read.
As her premiere novel into the YA genre, Dee has a definite touchdown on her hands!
A well written and emotional Coming of Age YA novel.
As a reader, you can’t help but fall in love with Cug!
Dee has created an emotional story that pulls the reader in and captures them – bringing them along for the journey
The characters are vivid and mature, easy to connect with; even the supporting cast is written to ensure they connect with the reader on an emotional level – whether you love or hate them -you will definitely feel for them