“Instantly Have You Addicted” – Oprah Magazine#1 Contemporary Romance#1 New Adult Romance#2 Most sold book on Amazon#2 Most sold Fiction book on Washington PostTop 2 book in the entire Amazon Kindle store“My absolute favorite L.J. Shen to date. Indulgent and addictive.” – USA Today Bestselling author RS Grey“This book will ruin you for all other books in 2019” – Bestselling author BB Easton From … will ruin you for all other books in 2019” – Bestselling author BB Easton
From USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author L.J. Shen comes an enemies-to-lovers romance with a twist…
They say your first kiss should be earned.
Mine was stolen by a devil in a masquerade mask under the black Chicago sky.
They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred.
Mine were broken before we left church.
They say your heart only beats for one man.
Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end.
I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit.
Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage.
They say that all great love stories have a happy ending.
I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter.
One kiss.
Two men.
Three lives.
Entwined together.
And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever.
more
This book was everything and more. I’m not usually a person who reads assholes, but I won’t lie… This one was good. So good. Wolfe is…
As a writer I just hope to be THIS great at telling unique stories one day. Holy hell… Grab it, people. You will not regret it.
It was my first book of 2019 and I already know I’ll read it again during this year…
**ARC REVIEW**
OMG!!! I can’t believe I fell in love with the Asshole!!! He is such a jerk!
I truly enjoyed this book so much.
Francesca the daughter of a mobster boss, who has her whole life planned out for her from the day she is born and believes every second of it. To realize it will never go as planned, it’s hard to understand and heartbreaking for her. It’s all she knows…
Wolfe the handsome playboy politician finds himself blackmailing the mob boss and taking his prize possession. The Italian beauty everyone whispers about. Someone he absolutely hates and has every intentions of ruining.
Will Francesca accept Wolfe..? She is still all about her planned life and her childhood crush.. Will Angelo her crush save her from the Big Bad Wolfe???
A 2019 Must Read!!!
If I could give this book 10000 starts I would. I loved absolutely everything about this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and LJ was able to wrap her words and her world around me. Her words were so descriptive that I felt as I was there looking in. I loved the character development, the humor, the darkness, the chemistry. I was on an emotional roller coaster I didn’t want to get off of.
This is and will be the best book of 2019 hands down.
“Our hearts were tarnished. Stained. And guilty. Unpredictable to a fault. And bound to break.”
I was really looking forward to The Kiss Thief the moment I read the blurb. I especially love the arranged/forced marriage trope, so I was extra excited about this book. I have read one book by L.J. Shen before and unfortunately ended up not liking it. But I wanted to give this author another go because everyone around me really loves her books. I was really intrigued by the characters, and especially by Wolfe. He is just the type of arrogant hero I enjoy reading about. However, I just couldn’t fully connect to the characters as a couple, and I think the immaturity of Francesca played a big role in it. I know she is just 19, but some of her decisions were very childish. Towards the end they both made some inconsiderate decisions that could’ve totally been avoided, and I just didn’t like the unnecessary drama.
“He was hell wrapped in a heavenly rugged mask. He was fire. Gorgeous to the eye, lethal to the touch.”
So why rate it three stars you may ask. Because I think the story had a lot of potential, and it kept me interested until the end. I was invested in the development of the characters, I wanted to know what would happen to them. I hate love triangles, so I was happy that it wasn’t predominant in this story. I liked L.J. Shen’s writing style, and I think she definitely has grown as an author. I just think this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I normally love a big difference in age between the characters, but in this book I would’ve liked it if they were closer to age. Or that at least Francesca was in her mid-twenties. Give this book a chance if you enjoy this author’s books or if the blurb sounds good to you.
5/5 NEMESIS/VILLAIN STARS
See my review in French here
Yes, L.J. Shen did it again. She excelled!
Don’t expect the typical love story.
Indeed, this story would be….
“
A story of Nemesis and a villain with no chance at a happy ending.
Where the Prince doesn’t save the princess
He tortures her.
And the beauty doesn’t sleep.
She’s stuck.
In a nightmare.
“
I read all the book from this author, RUCKUS will always be “MINE”, my “baby” forever, but damn… This book, ladies…
I don’t want to give away too much, so my advice would be “dive into this book completely blind and enjoy every single page of it”.
The blurb is all you need.
I devoured the book, I’ve been sleep devprived because I just couldn’0t put it down.
It’s phenomenal like that.
I wascompletely devoted to The Big Bad Wolfe from the first lines, and the heroin…
If you loved our Sinners assholes, you’ll ADORE this one even more!
L.J. Shen is my Queen when it comes to assholes and string heroines.
And the writing
And the hating
And the loving
And the angst
And the passion
GAH!!!! Just grab this baby as soon as it’s live!!!
L.J. Shen never disappoints, but this book may be her best story so far!
Brace yourselves, girls, Major Book Hangover is Coming!!!!!
***ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***
Visit my French blog: https://isalacroqueusedelivres.wordpress.com
The Kiss Thief was amazing. It was angsty, intense and captivating. Wolfe Keaton was intense, demanding, cruel but an oh so sexy alpha. I loved him alot. Francesca Rossi was sweet, sassy and strong. I loved her. Wolfe and Francesca had explosive chemistry and scorching sexy scenes. Their romance was passionate, emotional and a little intense. I loved loved them together. This is definitely a must read!
“You stole my first kiss. Then my happiness. And finally, my life.”
Gripping, captivating, mesmerizing, enchanting, enthralling however you want to say it this book is truly amazing. This is definitely not a sweet and fluffy fairytale romance. For every action there is a consequence. A few times I caught myself clutching my kindle screaming, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?
“Betrayal, no matter by whom, cracks something deep inside you. Then you have to live with the pieces rattling in the pit of your stomach.”
Wolfe Keaton is the very definition of a mysterious, cold, ruthless bastard. He is powerful and when he wants something he takes it without question. Francesca Rossi is innocent, beautiful, smart and caring however she has never been free. She wants to live her life but unfortunately has to abide by her father’s rules. She willingly makes the sacrifices like the dutiful daughter she is, but when her only choice is stolen from her life gets even more complicated.
“I was born into a gilded cage. It was spacious, but locked, nonetheless. Trying to escape it was risking death.”
There is so much more than face value to both Wolfe and Francesca. Some parts caught me by surprise, some parts left me heartbroken and some parts left me swooning. LJ can definitely write alphas that you love to hate and then absolutely can’t live without. This is another unforgettable, unputdownable must read by LJ Shen!!!!
“He was, after all, the Narcissus to my Nemesis.”
~ Read on behalf of Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review Blog
There are no words to describe how much I love this book. Wolfe Keaton is hands down my favorite alpha. You want to hate him but you can’t help but love him. His change from the beginning of the book to the end is perfection. You truly feel for him the more you learn about his story and the why behind his plan. Francesca seems like she is weak, she just does whatever her parents tell her she has to do. She is the exact opposite. She isn’t spineless, she isn’t weak. She’s pretty badass. She isn’t afraid to be herself and stand up for what she believes. She makes sure her voice is heard one way or another.
TKT may hold the top spot for two of my favorite characters. I loved every single moment of this book. It’s hard not to get sucked in to the story, to the characters, to everything. The change in every single character throughout the story is inspiring. I loved how mythology was written in to the story, it just gave it that extra depth that you didn’t know you wanted.
It may be early in 2019, but this is hands down will be one of my favorite books of 2019. This is one book that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. If you’ve never read a book by LJ Shen or you’ve read them all this is not one that you will want to miss out on. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would.
The Kiss Thief is an intense, utterly unpredictable read that had my heart in a vice and left me feeling breathless from the tension the entire way through. L.J. Shen proved every prediction I had about this book false, she turned a villain into a beautifully damaged antihero and a trapped girl without choices into a strong, confident, independent, free woman that knew her own mind.
Wolfe is a bastard focused on revenge. So much so that he stole Francesca in the form of an arranged marriage, to get revenge on her father. She was a beautiful, caged bird and seeing him introduce her to a freedom she’d never known and more epically giving her a voice when she’d been forced to stay silent for so long, was honestly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read.
I’m a proud addict of Shen’s writing but I never imagined that she’d manage to replace Bane for me! She just loves to prove me wrong that one! TKT is a dark (and slightly twisted) fairytale, stunningly written and captivating from the first page. Shen weaves words like it’s an art form and I absorb every one. Beyond excited to see what she brings us next, no doubt it’ll be equally unique and mind blowing as The Kiss Thief.
I knew when I started TKT, I would not be disappointed. I could not get enough of Francesca and Wolfe. Even though Wolfe was the biggest jerk, I was rooting for them to get together from the beginning! L.J. Shen writes the best douchebags and makes you fall in love with them every time. TKT was extremely well written and it intertwined amazingly. I know it’s only January but TKT will definitely be one of my Top Reads for 2019.
BREAK. CRACK. FEEL ME. ACCEPT ME.
I am trying to do an impossible job. And that is reviewing a book which is beyond rating stars and beyond critique. So bear with me while I gather my scrambled thoughts and express my honest feelings after reading the best book of 2019. Are you thinking I am being over dramatic? I can bet everything precious in my life that you will agree with me wholeheartedly after reading the epic saga of love and hate.
Francesca Rossi. Daughter of the head of the most feared Italian mob in Chicago. To the world she is a protected princess who is epitome of beauty ,grace and polished upbringing. Inside she is a rebel who longs for becoming something beyond the gilded cage. She thinks Angelo Bandini is her destiny, her true love and the person she is going to marry. But fate has something else in store for her. Enter Senator Keaton Wolfe. And the game changes in blink of an eye. Wolfe has scores to settle with her father and he won’t stop at anything. Francesca is caught in middle but the story has just begun.
Keaton Wolfe is the baddest of all the badasses. He is the leader of all alpha male I have ever read in my life. He is a Villain yet the man you crave like your worst addiction. He is ruthless, merciless and powerful like a god. A Senator so dirty and filthy behind the mask of his tailored suit and gentlemanly manners. He is the definition of arrogance, confidence, brilliance and power. A man too hard to resist and too easy to love. I wanted to slap his pretty face and then kiss him senseless. That is intensity and The Kiss Thief has it in spades. He has this unbreakable armor but Francesca slowly penetrates it with her fierceness, loyalty, compassion and resilience. Slowly we see the real man hidden behind the pain, fury and vengeance. That man will melt your heart instantly. Francesca brought out the best and worst in him. They were a match made in hell of family bindings, revenge, hatred and ambition. But their chemistry was heaven in middle of the chaos and deceit.
The story is so intricate yet so simple. The play between love and hate. The battle of passion and pride. The process was mesmerizing and absolutely riveting. Walking the line between all encompassing love and destructive hate is an experience. L.J.Shen is a master of writing these kind of stories which make me feel drunken in ecstasy. She played my heart like a puppet. I followed her blindly and got lost immediately. The Mob, the corrupt Chicago police department and the cut throat political world. Each was balanced precariously yet perfectly. In core this is a historical romance with modern telling and contemporary make over. This story had no easy happy ending. The drama, the emotions, the heartbreak and everything else was delivered to the point of perfection.L.J.Shen is the master manipulator and she surpassed all my expectations with The Kiss Thief. My heart barely survived the storm.
The Kiss Thief overwhelmed me, stunned me, drained me emotionally and marked my heart like never before. L.J.Shen proved once again why is she a class apart. Too much of everything yet just enough to make this book a legend. I bow to your genius, L.J.Shen.
I enjoyed this book. Wolfe and Francesca had a hmmm different kind of relationship. Forced together in a sense.
There were some twists that I did not see coming. Which is always a good thing. My only issue was I would of loved to see more of Wolfe’s back story.
The writing was very very good and the story did flow very well.
I love all of Miss Shen’s heroes.
What a freaking honor it was to get my hands on The Kiss Thief! It was more than I expected and I am completely obsessed with Wolfe and Francesca. It has been so long where I’ve read a book that I wanted to re-read for the first time. Man I wish I could have that back again because their story is worth it and so much more.
I’ll be honest, I was so darn nervous to read this book. Ever since I’ve read the blurb and seen the teasers, just the thought of a love triangle had me wondering if I really wanted to go through with it and read this. But I’m a huge fan of L.J. books and I knew I was going to read it no matter what. When it comes to my favorites, I’ll read anything they write. The Kiss Thief is probably the best of L.J.’s work, hands down, we can agree to disagree, but those are my thoughts.
Wolfe flippin’ Keaton, ladies and gents, prepare yourself for possibly one of THE best book boyfriends out there to date. Right from the very beginning where we meet this man who just holds alot of power, walks around with the confidence and the attitude of someone you don’t want to mess with, PERIOD. I was enamored by him and just hooked on everything about him. I was constantly dying to know more about this man and why he was the way he was. And the true reasons behind the arranged marriage with Francesca. Don’t worry, true to all of L.J.’s hot hole heroes, he’s right up there on the crude and a-hole scale, he excels in that with flying colors.
Francesca surprised me so much, she had her teenage tantrums at times, but I adored her love for gardening. It was such a quirky thing for her to do, but the reason why she does it just had me absolutely loving her character. She’s not a scared little girl and is well matched with Wolfe. Despite growing up with a silver spoon in her mouth, she doesn’t always act in that manner, which is another reason why I loved her. For someone so young, she sees so much. There’s more to her than what she shows. And Wolfe will get a healthy dose of it.
I know many are worried about the love triangle, trust me, so was I. It’s tough for me to explain this, it’s really one of those things that you have to read for yourself. It was a love triangle and then it wasn’t, you’ll see alot of growth with Francesca’s character and that will really show you her thoughts and emotions when it comes to these two men. I think the best way to describe is that L.J. wrote it in a way you’re not really emotionally invested in the other part of the triangle. Yes, there were some moments that had me stopping and really looking at the situation, but I carried on. She’s no saint in this one, but everything just flowed into the story so effortlessly. I don’t think it could have been told any differently.
Everything about this book was amazing, loved all the moments between Wolfe and Francesca. And I just never wanted it to end, I’ve already re-read my favorite parts several times and just highlighting like crazy. I really wasn’t expecting some of the angst that nearly tore my heart apart. My goodness guys, I wasn’t prepared for it at all, it hits you like a freight train.
What a way to start off my reading year, TKT is my first book of the year and the first to be added to my #RSFAVE list for 2019! All the highest recommendations.
**I VOLUNTARILY GAVE AN HONEST REVIEW FOR AN ADVANCE READER’S COPY**
L.J. Shen
“Falling in love was so tragic. No wonder it made people so sad”
A standing ovation for ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS THAT I’VE EVER READ, and L.J Shen’s best story to date. It left me with the worst book hangover of the year! ITS INTRICATE PLOT IS A NEW BRAND OF PERFECTION SO MIND-BLOWING THAT IT WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS.
Have you ever felt that words are not enough to describe what you feel? that’s me now after reading this story, I’m an emotional mess and nervous wreck. The Kiss Thief, * sigh *, is EPIC BEYOND WORDS. Oh God, I loved every second when I read it. It’s so different from everything I’ve read before, but so completely addictive. The first words had me hooked on the story and turning the pages as if my life depended on it. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!!
The plot and the characters consumed me, obsessed me, hypnotized me, with an emotional and harrowing romance bordering the dark and raw, full of love, banter, hatred, passion, opulence, power, anguish, that kept me on the edge of the seat, heart racing and a swarm of butterflies inside me stomach.
Get ready for the most ruthless alpha male ever, more than Troy and Vicious together. Wolfe Keaton is despicable, cruel, he has no mercy for anyone, he also is sooooo sexy, he melted my panties, gave me goosebumps and made me blush several times. But nevertheless, he captured my heart. He loves so hard, the sweet way he protects and cares for the heroine, wow, I’m dying of love for him, he’s my new obsession. MY TOP BOOK BOYFRIEND EVER!!!
Francesca is a sweet, beautiful, brave and strong girl who melted my heart, her way of talking to the plants made me laugh out loud, she also faces situations with courage. She is everything I look for in a heroine. I LOVE HER!!
The explosive attraction and passion between the characters is unparalleled, and the slow burn, let me tell you, it reaches stratospheric levels, it could burn a whole room. I cannot get enough of them, I still cannot get them out of my head. THEIR ROMANCE IS SOOO TEAR-JERKING, SO PASSIONATE AND EMOTIONAL, everything what I am looking for in a romance, ahhhh, I keep sighing.
WITH AN EXQUISITE AND FLAWLESS PROSE, L.J. SHEN MANAGES TO CREATE A MASTERPIECE THAT REACHES YOUR SOUL. A masterfully written story that evokes so many different feelings in the reader. Mrs. Shen continues to prove why she is the best storyteller. She has an ability to wrap you with her words and catch your heart, smash it, tear it completely and break it into pieces. My soul still does not recover from the suffering. THIS LOVE STORY IS SO EPIC, SO HEARTBREAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL THAT I NOT WANT TO LEAVE THIS WORLD OR THE CHARACTERS.
It is definitely a must read. An exquisite romance that you will not want to miss. What are you waiting for? Go read it now!
Jawdropping! I cant shut my mouth because of my overjoy excitement. ‘The Kiss Thief’ had brought an unique spin on Cinderella story.. it wasnt all about the crazy mean stepmother… TKT was rich ..deeper storyline.. too many spiky layers like an Arthichoke…you gotta peel the layers of emotions hun!
Francesca Rossi was young naive girl.. sweet caring…believed that she had met her love when the reality.. she is bethroned to Wolfe Keaton the Senator.
Yessss agreed! Wolfe had stolen my broken heart and pieced it back to one.. He was a whole lot of PaIN but I cant deny for his love. He wasnt your average guy.. He love hard within his 10ft tall iron gate wall.
Boyyy, I love this dysfunctional couple romance. Their banter and relationship were not sweet. It was cruel with heartbreaking reality and Shen, You did it girl! Their story will force you to evaluate your emotions with care. Wolfe and Francesca were meant for each other.. I love loved the steps that were taken.. their token of love were soft… they had fallen in love from the beginning.. Shen, you wrote their love story so beautiful and raw.. At time, I hate Wolfe so much.. people do silly things when they are falling in love…
Romance can be written with many stages. The Kiss Thief had brought my hope of true love. It never meant where it starts but it matter where it end.
L.J. Shen writes romance novels so unbelievably well. The Kiss Thief is a beautifully written and unforgettable love story that will leave you with an emotional hangover like no other. This book is deep, meaningful and passionate with a very engaging storyline that stole my heart.
The Kiss Thief’s plot is unique, refreshing and L.J. Shen truly thought outside the box with this one. I enjoyed the fact that it was unpredictable as it certainly wasn’t what I thought it was going to be and in such an amazing way!! My review is spoiler free as I feel it would be a disservice to give away the entire story. However, I will say that Francesca is a stunning, wonderful, versatile and resilient heroine. Although she’s a bit naive due to her sheltered life, she’s still quite lovable. Wolfe is complicated, a force to be reckoned with and down right cruel sometimes yet he has redeeming qualities about him that made me fall in love with him. Angelo is persistent, charming and has a fair amount of influence over Francesca which made for a very interesting story.
The Kiss Thief is already one of my top favorite books of 2019 and I strongly encourage everyone to read it.
L.J. Shen knows how to write a highly charged story that grabs you and leaves you emotionally invested. It’s a high octane read that will have you turning pages until the very end.
Francesca Rossi knows she lives in a locked cage, but is fine with the bars. What may seem weird to some, she doesn’t look at her life as anything but the way it should be. A long line of traditions that she has now been waiting for as she is finally ready for her life to begin. Within her family a Rossi bride has always received a box that contained three notes that would hold a piece of her destiny within them. The one time Francesca went against what the tradition said, she opened the box before her wedding day and read the first note. Upon discovering that she would know her true love when she received her first kiss Francesca took matters into her own hands and decided to seek out her childhood crush, knowing he had to be her true love. When the kiss happened, it was not her first love that Francesca kissed, but instead a wolf in sheeps clothing who devoured her. The wolf stole more than just a kiss as his plans were to stop at nothing until her entire world crumbled around her. Senator Wolfe Keaton was The Kiss Thief and Francesca was about to find out that she was caught in a wicked game. One that she knew nothing about, but would pay the ultimate price for.
Wolfe Keaton had wanted only one thing for so long – revenge. Little else mattered aside from bringing Arthur Rossi down to his knees. Taking his only daughter away from him, under the guise of outdated traditions was simply the cherry on top of his long awaited game plan. The fact that Francesca was a thing of beauty made his job just that much sweeter. Given his job with the state she would serve him well as a trinket tucked upon his arm at social gatherings, she was a rare treasure, one he hadn’t been counting on when he began his plan thirteen years ago. Wolfe certainly didn’t expect to find his new fiancée intelligent and decent, a polar opposite from the man whose blood ran through her veins. His life would be so much easier if she was exactly like the man he was trying to take down, piece by piece. He’d do well to remember that she was just a pawn in his game and not a queen to sit by his side. He had no need for a happy ending with the woman he was soon to call his bride.
Both Wolfe and Francesca are stubborn creatures – a story where pain and torment surface again and again, much at each others hands. There are so many pieces to move into play before either of them even consider the chance of liking one another much less considering a future where a mobster’s daughter and a senator can reside in peace vs. in pieces.
The Kiss Thief is like reading a modern day Romeo and Juliet, but so much better! It was hard to pinpoint an exact category because it contains aspects of New Adult Romance, Mobster Romance, Twisted Fairytale Romance, Contemporary Romance, Shakespeare, and then with some Mythology (which I loved) thrown in. I loved each small dash of flavor and it made for an excellent first read for 2019!!
This book has it all!
“Falling in love was so tragic. No wonder it made people so sad”
This book is addictive. It is already on my favorites of 2019 and the year just started! Y’all better watch out because the Big, Bad, Wolfe (Keaton) has blown his way into your lives and you won’t ever be the same.
The story has so many twists and turns that you never quite have it all figured out until the end. It keeps you glued to each page; never knowing what is waiting for you around the corner.
Francesca is a fantastic female character. I loved her hopefulness yet her quiet strength and tenacity still shine through. And good Lord how I loved to hate and hated to love Wolfe. Simply put, he is everything. His power and presence emanates off the page.
This ABSOLUTELY cannot be missed. It is phenomenal in all it’s complexities. There is so much more to this than a (non) love story. It is a story about resilience, hope, and forgiveness.