“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.
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This one has left me a bit wobbly. There were so many things I loved about it and yet the items I didn’t like were a hard-core hate.
I loved watching Wolfe as he slowly grew to care about Francesca. A cold, calculating and bitter man, the change did not occur instantly once he laid eyes on the heroine. He had preconceived ideas about Francesca but as he gradually came to really know her he realized she was so much more than what he ever imagined. It was almost magical watching him evolve into the man he was at the ending of this story.
As for Francesca, her character may not have been as fully developed or twisted as the hero’s, but she was a nineteen year old girl thrust into a nightmare without knowing all the whys and hows. However, she reaches a place of extreme maturity and instead of taking the easiest path to apparent happiness, she chooses a path that would ensure she was the best possible her she could be.
Together, they are volatile, angsty, emotional and often times make decisions that will certainly hurt each other. I found myself ranting and raving at Wolfe as he played up the anti-hero role in spades even as I cheered on Francesca during the times she remained stalwart in her decisions that went against him.
Despite the things I hated, I have to confess that the actions Wolfe makes in the end (one of the most sob worthy grovels I’ve ever read) as well as the extended epilogue, left me experiencing such euphoria that I instantly knew this book could not be less than a four star read for me.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love L.J. Shen’s books any more than I already do-she releases The Kiss Thief! Not only is the cover absolutely stunning, the writing will take you on a whirlwind ride. At some points hating characters only a few chapters later to be totally in love with them! Go into this blind-savor every page- fall in love!!!!!
There was angst all over the place with this one. This book has so much hype, especially in her reader group. I didn’t read any teasers and I scrolled on by when people talked about it. I wanted to go in blind because that’s what I like to do with some authors. I did have a slow start in the beginning. I was worried for a sec that it wouldn’t pick up and I was afraid I might not finish it. But then it started to pick up and I read a huge chuck of it in an afternoon. I think my problem was the age of Francesca. There were some times that she was really immature, and a time or two for Wolfe. There was so much back and forth between her and Wolfe that at times, it was really exhausting. I mean it had my eyeballs glued to the story but I kept saying no, no, why? No really…WHY did you do that? But whatever, that’s just me and how I read the book. The overall story was really good and the ending game me the warm fuzzies. I might read it again at some point and feel differently about it.
LJ Shen is masterful. She gives us these characters that continue to evolve with each book she writes. LJ Shen’s writing is merciless, poetic and transports into the trenches of ruthless, life-altering dynamics that you can’t help but get completely sucked into.
These characters aren’t supposed to WOW you at the first glance, that’s never what the author intends. She gives you the opportunity to read about them, their lives, their grievances and get to know the characters as everyone sees them THEN BAM!! She transports you into the characters bodies as you read the page.
LJ Shen didn’t give too much away and THANK GOD! because you need to experience it with no forethought or pre-conceived notions. Just read it. Another fantastic book!
This book absolutely destroyed me… The journey Wolfe and Frankie take is both heartbreaking and beautiful.
Wolf being a Senator and Frankie being the only daughter of a Chicago mobster, they come from two very different worlds and aren’t really fond of each other. But at the same time they’re exactly what each other needs.
I laughed, I cried, and I absolutely loved this book.
Gah. This book was as amazing as I was hoping it would be. It had twists and turns, love, hate, revenge, steam and a hero who breaks your heart but also proves that he is worth it. I really can’t go into too much detail with this story because TKT is a complex story that the author took places that I didn’t see coming.
The dialogue between the characters and inner dialogue was beautifully written and evokes a lot of feelings that at times I wasn’t I could continue. I had those moments when I had to stop reading because I was worried. Like, scared of what was going to happen next. That doesn’t happen to me often but when it does I know the author has hit it out of the park.
This author is known for her “Hotholes” and I will say that Wolfe really lives up to her brand of hero. He was perfect even when he was bad. Francesca was weak in the start but as the story progressed I saw her become such a strong women. She has become one of my favorite heroines by this author.
In the end, this story was perfect and utterly beautiful. The only downfall is that it ended. I would love to see more from these characters because I am addicted to their story and who they are. I will wishful think (lol). If you are looking for a story with a jerk you cant help but love, a story that evokes all the emotions you have in your arsenal. If you want a sexy but sweet at times story. A story about revenge going wrong then this is the perfect story for you. 5 stars #2OCCJD
This book was simply amazing.
Wolfe “takes” Francesca from her father because of her fathers illegal jobs. Little does he know Francesca is anything but a weak female that he will end up falling in love with. This book was filled with twists and turns, and I fell in love with it at every one.
I absolutely love how this author knows what her readers love in a book. She’s simply magnificent in giving life to her A-Grade Alpahole heroes and feisty heroines.
This book is not historical -at all-, but it has a certain vibes in some scenes. The beliefs and some events but otherwise, it is contemporary.
Redeemable heroes with heroines who knows her worth? That’s what I like in what I’m reading. Give me several alphaholes but please team him up with a heroine with backbone and full spirited.
This book will give you that and more. So much more. A perfect example of Class/Status Warfare Romance.
This book got me to laugh out loud, ugly cry and at parts made me angry. More times than I can count my adrenaline was pumping, reading so fast I would skip lines and have to reread. I am in love with Wolfe and Francesa’s story of hatred, love, tragedy and hope. Brilliantly written from start to finish. Highly recommend! L.J. Shen
My first read of 2019 and I think I may be ruined for any others that come after! This book is my new favorite L.J. Shen book! I know I say that every time but this book is just so much more than I could have ever hoped for!
“A story of a 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.”
Shen has this uncanny way of writing the biggest a**holes in a way that makes you fall hard for them. Wolfe Keaton is no exception! In fact he may have surpassed them all! I lost count of how many times I said to myself “God he is such a prick!” Yet I found myself falling harder for him with every arrogant word that came out of his mouth! He is ruthless and lethal and sexy as sin but underneath it all he is just a man whose heart is damaged and can’t find his way back from the pain he has endured in his life.
I truly felt for Francesca being torn between the man she had always believed to be her fate and the man that stole her away from him. Her love for Angelo was sweet and pure and she thought it would last forever. But her chemistry with Wolfe was undeniable and she found herself drawn to his darkness.
“The man was a savage in a suit.”
“He was hell wrapped in a heavenly rugged mask. He was fire. Gorgeous to the eye, lethal to the touch.”
Little by little she chipped away at the walls around his heart and no matter how hard he fought it he wanted her to be his. I fell hard for the ruthless Wolfe Keaton but as Francesca brought out the softer sides of him he quickly shot to the top of my list of favorites!
“Wretchedly gorgeous. Wickedly innocent. Irrevocably mine.”
“You feel so good, Nemesis. I would drown in you and die if you don’t stop me.”
Can they get over all the anger and the hate and find a way to love each other? And with so many outside forces trying to keep them apart will they be strong enough to fight for each other?
Shen’s writing is always so compelling and I was once again consumed by her characters and their story.
On a side note there is a pretty big OMG moment toward the end! I gasped out loud I was so surprised! It’s pretty hard to shock me but she pulled off a big one!
If you’re a fan of L.J. Shen I think you’ll love this book as much as I did! If she is a new author to you this book is a standalone so it would be a great one for you to start with!
5+ Stars for a Villain and his Nemesis
Can people change for the better? Wolfe was able to give up his selfish ways when it came to losing the best thing he ever had ,his wife. Wolfe in my eyes was a better man by allowing his walls to crumble and really give happiness a chance. Francesca I found was like a game of ping pong ,she was the ball in the game as she was trying to figure out the best way to deal with Wolfe , as well as her father. I was so ecstatic when she got a backbone and became the strong woman she needed to be and not the skittish teenager.
I don’t find many books anymore that I can’t put down but this one I loved so much I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next! I highly recommend this book
This book is the best example of why LJ Shen is one of my favorite authors…kick ass heroine, A-hole anti hero, & just the right amount of angst to keep me hooked.
Another amazing book by L. J. Shen. She really doesn’t dissapoint.
This book is about a mob family and an arranged marriage. But it takes such turns that you never know what to expect. The book is a masterpiece. I loved it from the first to the last.
I had to buy it because of all the talk obut it. And it was worth it. I will certainly buy a paperback too. It is just too good to not buy it.
I loves how their story started and how they progressed from enemies, to friend and to lovers.
Francesca is an amazing girl and so beutiful. But not all is about beauty. She is also strong and smart. She wants to go to school even though her parents are now allowing it.
I am glad that Wolfe came and took her. Her world just became better and richer. Not right away of course.
Wolfe, well I like his name. Because in the beggining it suits him. But then we get to know him and see that he is just the sheep in the form of a Wolfe.
He is also determined that he will revenge his family but then his priorities change. I really love his banters and all the comparisons he makes to the other people..he really made me laugh a couple of times. He really didn’t like Dalia so his comparisons about her being so plastic that she could pass as a Tupperware container made me laugh out loud.
You have to read this book asap!!
I first discovered L.J. Shen last year and have been devouring her books ever since! I absolutely love everything she writes. The Kiss Thief consumed me from the very beginning. I could not stop reading once I started and all wanted to do was ignore the world around me and just keep reading. I was consumed by the story and the characters.
I am not sure why, but I love, love, love male heroes that are alpha-holes. They are cocky, determined and can be very cruel and cold. There is just something about watching men like that fall and usually fall hard. And L.J. Shen gives us some of the very best of them, but I believe she may have broken the mold with Wolfe Keaton. He was everything and more!
Francesca Rossi was the sweetheart of her family and now at the mercy of a very dangerous man. I have to say I loved watching her come into her own throughout the story. Which she definitely needed because Wolfe will test her to her very core!
I am not sure if I can truly express how much I loved this story. It was stunning and captivating. I loved everything about it, the cover, the writing, and the characters. For me, The Kiss Thief is my favorite L.J. Shen to-date. It was emotional, heartbreaking and captivating! This is a must-read for sure!
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Oh my gosh! This book was amazing! I loved Wolfe from his first angry words… she never had a chance. I loved that all along he was trying to win her even when he didn’t have a clue why, but it was him buying her the horse that made me cry. I loved it! Every word was beautiful!
I want to start of by saying this is a very different type of book to my normal choice of reads that being said I really enjoyed this drama filled story. It took some time to warm up to Wolfe he’s not a character you fall in love with instantly but as the story unfolds and you get to know him I hope like me you will start to see the real man and hopefully end up liking him.
Wolfe Keaton or Senator Keaton as most know him is a good looking manwhore who now has his future wife living in his mansion, Francesca Rossi is the daughter of a mob boss and the last thing she wants is to marry Wolfe because she always believed she was betrothed to Angelo a fellow mobster’s son. Keaton has a plan and asking for Francesca’s hand in marriage is all part of it, what starts of as a means to an end becomes so much more when hate turns to love…
This is a book that’s full of drama, full of secrets, full of characters that aren’t easy to like and it has plenty of twists and turns. It’s a story that will captivate you so make sure you have lefty of time to finish because I can guarantee you won’t want to put this book down. Great read.
“You stole my first kiss. Then my happiness. And finally, my life.”
I agonized waiting for The Kiss Thief to hit my kindle. Truly. I had heard so much amazingness about this book and my anticipation of its release literally had me refreshing my kindle multiple times a day waiting for my bloggers copy to arrive. And now… WOW – I truly have no words for how much I loved this book.
“Maybe I am the monster. After all, I come out to play at night. But so do you, little one. You’re out in the darkness, too…”
L.J. Shen writes an absolutely exquisite Enemies-to-Lovers romances that is heavy on her unique combination of a one of a kind plot and unmistakably sexy with a sassy heroine and an asshole hero. It’s no secret that I have a major lady crush on LJ Shen’s writing… and I always love the stories she pens. But this story? These characters? EVERYTHING about The Kiss Thief was extraordinarily entertaining. Five stars is not doing this book a service at all. I was sucked into the story upon reading the opening line and read straight through the night forgoing sleep because I truly couldn’t have walked away from the story. The chemistry between Wolfe Keaton and Francesca Rossi was a living, breathing entity. It was delicious, and at times, also completely heartbreaking. Shen wrote the story so superbly that you cannot help but feel everything right along with them. And that chemistry she always seems to nail? Well, in the Kiss Thief, it damn near ignited my kindle. I am sure that anyone who reads this book will love it as much as I do… it’s utterly impossible to read this caliper of a romance and not find yourself hopelessly lost in the romance and timelessness. The prose of Shen’s books is one of my favorite things—her style is completely unique and gloriously captivating every. Single. Time. And while at times, single books struggle to bring a fullness to the characters or the story, that is not something that I find myself ever saying in regards to a book Shen’s written. Certainly not to The Kiss Thief. I implore you to stop reading these reviews… you simply can not go wrong with this book. Buy it now… Start reading it immediately!!! See if I exaggerated its greatness in any way… because I believe you’ll find my review does not do this book justice on any level.
“She was, to my utter displeasure, much more than an ivory pawn, expensive and striking, but useless and still. She was a living thing with a pulse you could feel from across the room, and for the first time since I took her from her father, I truly wished I hadn’t. Not only because of the picture, but because she was not going to be easy to tame. And difficult, I’d decided from a very young age, was a flavor I found distasteful.”
4.5 Stars
This one lived up to all the HYPE!!! I was looking forward to reading this book after seeing all the teasers and early reviews. Not only did I fall in love with this cover, I fell love with Leigh’s writing. She delivered a story full of hateful characters, broken innocence and dark themes that had me simply enthralled I couldn’t help but to keep flipping pages regardless of what was going on around me (ya know work, life, kids, hubs). To say that Wolfe was a complex character is an understatement, but there was something about him that was endearing. Francesca may have been young, inexperienced and innocent but she had the tenacity and sass to endure….
I am having a hard time picking up another book after this one ~ well done Leigh, well done!
Leigh went back to her Sparrow roots and delivered a diamond! The burning chemistry, lust and the love/hate thing that’s been going on between the main characters- it was all perfect for me.
From the very first page I’ve been hooked and couldn’t put it down.