“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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5 FREAKING STARS!!!
L.J. Shen has done it again! Another extremely anticipated book that completely blew all expectations out of the water and proved once again she’s a total romance writing mastermind.
I absolutely loved the small differences this book highlighted from all of the previous books by this author. The modern twist on a dated hierarchy was perfection! When I heard the term historic romance thrown around when this book first was making a buzz, I worried it’d be something completely unlike the author’s previous works. But that was not the case at all. It was still very much L.J. with a new and captivating spin on things!
Francesca was the perfect daughter, socialite, marionette… wife? She proved that her backbone was strong and her loyalty was stronger. No matter how many times she was knocked down, she kept getting back up and fighting. A true heroine!
Can we just take a moment to swoon over Wolfe, please? That man! Oh that man! I think Wolfe may be my new favorite a-hole created by L.J. He was good yet so, so bad! Deep in his core he wanted what was just and right and stopped at nothing to see his plan to fruition.
This book was magnificent from beginning to end. The epilogues sealed the deal for me. This book was nothing short of amazing!
This book was definitely fantastic as only LJ Shen can write!! I devoured this book in one sitting!!! I was blown away by the character development and Wolfe and Francesca grow and change in so many ways during this book I had to know what was next. This was one of my first books of the year and it’s definitely one of my favorites so far!! Wolfe makes an excellent addition to my harem!!
Leigh Shen really knows how to execute a book to perfection.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019 and L.J. Shen DID NOT DISAPPOINT!
I couldn’t get enough of Senator Keaton and Francesca. The author weaved the story line so, so good that I found myself unable to put the kindle down. It’s for sure a very captivated story that will leave you with excitement and fright at the same time not knowing what to expect. Not sure where the story was going to lead and where it was going to end.
There is so much depth to this story that made my heart beat fast at times. I was unable to breathe or focus at times because it was just that good.
This book was fantastic, the characters were brilliant and the story line was to die for.
Leigh Shen really slayed it with this one. She really knows how to work and weave her stories to perfection.
I have loved EVERY single LJ Shen books I have read, so I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but The Kiss Thief is definitely my new favorite of her books. I am literally speechless!! It was THAT good. I started it late at night, and stayed up all night to finish. I had to know what was going to happen!
The Kiss Thief had seriously everything I love in a book! It’s not only a love triangle, but also an arranged marriage type of book and I seriously can’t get enough of those! I really loved the characters in this book. Francesca may be young, but she’s so strong. She doesn’t back down and I loved that about her. Wolfe would seriously give all other book boyfriends a run for their money. He is THE ultimate book boyfriend.
I don’t want to give too much away, just know that this book is a MUST READ! Be ready for a major book hangover when finished!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2568983487
LJ Shen is always a one click. I love arranged marriage books and this is a great one.
The Kiss Thief is a contemporary romance that pays perfect homage to the story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I loved the classic feel of the story with its masquerades, ball gowns, and galas.
Francesca Rossi was such an endearing character who struggled to find her rightful place in the machinations of her mob family. When Wolfe Keaton bulldozed his way into her life, her idyllic life was suddenly turned upside down. Her heart belonged to another but instead, she was forced to marry a stranger.
I loved how these two fought to find their way back to each other. It just goes to show how you really can’t fight who you fall in love with. With so much angst that seeped through Wolfe’s soul, it was Francesca’s guileless innocence that saved him. She proved that love can be made into an equal give and take. That no matter how the odds are stacked against them, they could still have the winning hand as long as they have each other.
I am amazed at how LJ Shen was able to build the characters from this book. They were so vividly real to me that I instantly devoured it the moment I had my copy. And I must say that Wolde is already one of my favorite LJ Shen anti-heroes, right next to Vicious of course.
5 Where Do I Even Begin Stars!!!
This is only my second book by Ms. Shen and I can unequivocally say I’m going to be a stalker of all things LJ Shen from this day forward.
This is book is everything so much more than that I thought it was going to be. I mean the blurb drew me in I thought “oh a love triangle” I’m good with that… yeah this is WAY BEYOND a typical love triangle story in all the best ways!
This is story is consuming and addictive. I was gasping and had a rapid heartbeat at almost every twisty turn that Ms. Shen took us on. There’s sex and a warped view of love, a darkness while at the same time Francesca brings a light to both of these men’s lives.
There’s a corruptness with malicious and painful consequences that I seldom see in books and I LOVED IT!!! Her father is evil corrupt and the things he does to get what he wants astounded me. The fact that Francesca is a young woman that tries not to see what’s going on around her and her innocence of the love she feels for Angelo both warmed my heart and had me wanting to slap her silly for her naiveté.
And Wolfe is not a man to be crossed…he wants Francesca and he will have her…no matter what he has to do to get her, even if some would consider it demeaning. Especially given his history with The Outfit.
There were so many moments when I had my mouth hanging open while reading this book. The writing is clear, concise and exacting. The story is unique and almost a little taboo in its telling with characters that will stop at nothing to get what they want. If you read nothing else this week or this month, this is the book that you should read and be ready for a ride that will at times confuse and enlighten you!
#thekissthief #tkt #ljshen #wolfekeaton #mafiaromance #arrangedmarriage #agegap #romanticsuspense #alphamale #theoutfit #chicagomob #mustread #blogger #francisfabulousreads
Wow, this author has certainly outdone herself with this masterpiece! This is a phenomenal story which is an emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end. Francesca’s whole life has been planned out for her but fate has other plans for her future. Wolf is a sexy and dangerous man and his transformation is certainly something to read. There is so much to say about these characters, but no spoilers; this story deserves to be read, you will not be disappointed! This is a beautifully written flawless story, which is intense, gritty, heartbreaking, emotional, and with twists and forgiveness. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more from this extremely talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all. Truly brilliant work!!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that LJ Shen knows how to write an asshole. TKT is Shen’s masterclass.
From the very first moment Wolfe Keaton enters the scene he exudes arrogance, hubris and just enough contempt to peak your interest.
TKT is set against the backdrop of Chicago and it’s murky underworld of organized crime. There are plenty of twists, turns, and intrigue to keep you turning the page until the very end.
But what makes the story shine is Shen’s ability to make you fall in love with her characters. The time and care she takes in developing them is what sets her books apart.
While Wolfe is a near perfect anti-hero, the real star of the show is Francesca. She’s young and innocent and yet so very brave. She feels everything, and has compassion for everyone. She cries—a lot—and that’s so refreshing. It takes a certain level of strength to show people your heart. Francesca’s possess that kind of grit in spades. She also smokes like a chimney and digs (see what I did there) gardening.
TKT is worth every bit of the hype.
He stole her first kiss. Then her last name. Then her heart.
Five Stars.
4.5 Stars
OK… I am going to admit this is my first L.J. Shen book. But I think that it has made the experience all the much more. I find myself in complete awe after reading Francesca and Wolfe’s story. I don’t even know where to start, the story, the plot the twists and turns I am almost seasick but at the same time it was a wonderful growing of love that was healing and so powerful. It had the power to shut down The Outfit.
Wolfe was a closed off man with a vengeance to be taken. His sole focus was revenge. He never let anyone in and had not intention of that when he took the only daughter of the man he despised most in life. He was heartless in the way he treated her despite her young age. What he wasn’t prepared for was her push back. Or the feelings that she would eventually pull from him with each confrontation. As she slowly knocks down his walls we see another man completely, one who has a beautiful heart.
Francesca was so innocent to the world around her, her father did a very good job of hiding most of what transpired. Of course sending her off to boarding school helped in the matter. But in the weeks of her return knowing she was smitten with one man, he lets her be taken by another. This is the first opening of her eyes to the man her father really was. That in itself was heartbreaking for her, but the wrath of Wolfe was a disaster. For all her innocence, she was strong against the man and did everything she could to hold her ground. Little did she know that the more time she spent with him the less she would hate him.
Is it possible to go from complete hatred to lasting love? Is it possible to find some light and happiness of the darkness that threatened to pull them all down the rabbit hole?
Wow…. just wow, this is a book worth your read. I am running off now to see what L.J. Shen book I will read next.
*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***
You know the sigh you have when you are in love with something? You know, the feeling of being content and that all is good? That is how I feel right now at 4:30 am finishing this book. Sigh….
Don’t worry it’s not all syrupy sweet. There is a war between men. There are broken people who don’t understand how to love. There is the power of a mob boss and a senator. There is ugliness of people who hurt people.
Wolfe steals the beautiful Francesca from her family and her childhood love. On the surface he hates while gives her a new life and freedom. There is that fine line of power and love and hate, and their line keeps moving. I love their messy love story. Leigh Shen is a master at strong women and men we love.
Wolfe is seriously trying to take over as the favorite male character…
Vengeance and hate permeate this story, but through the pain and anger, can Wolfe and Francesca find love? The Villain and the Nemesis spent so much time and energy at each other’s throats, how could they ever escape the past? This book was filled with highs and lows, and the more Wolfe tried to hurt Francesca, the more he began to realize there was more to her than he had thought. Theirs was a tough road to finding love, and there was all kinds of angst interfering with their intentions. It was utterly amazing, full of tear-jerking moments and thievery of the highest prizes, but also filled with moments of forgiveness and love. A masterful, most unconventional romance!
I.AM.BLOWN.AWAY
Forget Vicious, forget Bane and forget Alex Winslow, here’s Wolfe Keaton, the best anti-hero ever! L.J. Shen you, woman, are one fucking fantastic author! No other author brings me to where you do! The Kiss Thief was brilliant. It’s without a doubt your best work to date!
I think I say it every single time I read one of her books but damn it’s also true! I mean every single word I say. And L.J, you deserve all the praises send your way!
The Kiss Thief is my first read this year and I can already tell it’s gonna be a top favorite for me! This is a must read and I know it will be in my top fav by the end of 2019. How terrific is that?
« Ours is not a love story. »
This story is like any you’ve read before! Anti-hero has never felt so bad, yet so good at the same time!
Wolfe Keaton is a complex man and not a kind one. His thoughts and actions are dirty! He’s doesn’t fight fair and he’s not a man to yield. EVER.
Francesca Rossi has always been raised to think and act a certain way. Her idea of love has always been thinking about one man only but her world is about to explode.
« 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. »
You might think Francesca is a sweet innocent girl, good only to stay out of the way but if you know most of LJ’s heroine you’ll know that her women always have inner strength and backbone to get the better of what’s thrown their way. I loved how Francesca continuously kept pushing back and stood for herself, how her character grew throughout the book to become an independent woman.
« Wolfe Keaton was a kiss thief, but it wasn’t only a kiss that he stole. He stole my heart, too. Ripped it from my chest and put it in his pocket. »
Mark my word, thank me later, Wolfe Keaton is your next obsession! It’s your next book boyfriend and you’re gonna love hating him. The evolution you see in the book comes slowly. Even if his words are despicable, you feel from the start, the heart hidden behind all the ugly.
« We were so good at hurting each other.
Not for the delicate hearts, The Kiss Thief is also a fantastic story about love and what real love is. LJ Shen shows that no matter the fight, no matter the obstacles, love will always win!
This book stole my heart!
I loved this book! I was enthralled from the first chapters as I lived in the world this author created, & I loved the roller-coaster ride Francesca & Wolfe’s story took me on as they first fell in hate then fell in love. I felt so many emotions for both Francesca’s journey from a compassionate yet sheltered girl to a woman with a backbone and Wolfe’s journey from a closed off man to something much more. My heart broke then soared so many times for them! If you want a book rich in story, character, love & hate, then devour this book like I did!
TKT is a heartbreakingly beautiful, compelling, angsty book that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. It is unlike any story that I have ever read. I was so hooked from the very beginning that I did not move until I read the very last page. You will definitely want to make sure that you will have several hours set aside to do nothing but read. I have loved all of the books that I have read by LJ Shen. This book is one that will stick with me for a very long time! You definitely want to grab a copy for yourself to see how the story unfolds but hold on, because you will spend the majority of the book on the edge of your seat! Happy Reading!
Squeeee! This book! OMG! All the feels! I could not get enough of this story! One chapter in and I was hooked! I disregarded my adult responsibilities for the day and read this book in one sitting. I was consumed by the storyline, the characters… the EMOTIONS! I laughed, I cringed, I cried, I swooned, and I happy danced on more than one occasion. I even wanted to throw my Kindle in frustration a time or two, but I did not want to walk away from Wolfe and Francesca for one minute. The dynamic between them was captivating. You will rally for this heroine and will hate to LOVE this anti-hero.
“He was hell wrapped in a heavenly rugged mask. He was fire. Gorgeous to the eye, lethal to the touch.”
THIS man! Holy hell… he is one of the hottest alphaholes EVER! He may be the only one that can rival Vicious. Broken, jaded, and hell bent on revenge, Wolfe Keaton had me salivating time and time again. His intensity and sex appeal oozed off the pages. He made me want to jump into his world and volunteer as tribute!
“Wretchedly gorgeous. Wickedly innocent, Irrevocably Mine.”
Sweet Francesca. Young, naive, and stronger than anyone could have imagined. She may just be my favorite L.J. Shen heroine. I loved her fire. Wolfe thought he could just take what he wanted, but in the end, he got so much more than what he bargained for. And I loved every single minute of it!
“Wolfe Keaton was a kiss thief, but it wasn’t only a kiss that he stole. He stole my heart, too. Ripped it out from my chest and put it in his pocket.”
The Kiss Thief is EVERYTHING I have come to love in a L.J. Shen novel. She continues to feed my soul with her words. I have devoured every single one of her novels, and I can’t wait to read what comes next. If there is one book that you must read… THIS IS IT!
Review by Lys
I have never read any books from this author until now. I read the prologue and I knew I needed this story. Well I’ve been missing out on this author because this is my first read of 2019 and she set the bar pretty high. An amazing 10 star story.
I was hooked from the very first page read to the very last one. I was kept on the edge of my seat because it was full of shocking surprises. An original storyline that was beautifully mastered. The level of writing is astonishing and juts plain brilliant.
These characters were perfectly created and made me feel so much. They were remarkably distinguishable and ones I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
From the first page I just knew the author was taking me on one hell of an emotional and twisted ride. I was completely enthralled by this book from beginning to end.
Unique, powerful and intriguing…
Sensuous, seductive and unpredictable!
The story was flawlessly written and it just flowed so well, and before I knew it it was over!
This is hands down my favorite of this author’s books and she’s written some incredible stories. This one just kicked it up a notch with some very devilishly dirty characters!
When Wolfe sees something that he wants, he takes it. He has the power, the looks and the means to get whatever he wants. When he meets Francesca he KNOWS what he needs to do and will ensure that he gets her.
Francesca is naive in a lot of ways but she understands power. She didn’t understand her father though and it turns out she didn’t understand Wolfe either. When she finds out about both of them and what they’ve done, who will she choose?
These two will take you on a ride of deceit, truth, love/hate and twists and turns. Couldn’t put it down and fell in love with Wolfe!
I have really enjoyed this author’s work for a while and this book brings it to a whole other level. These characters were hard to swallow and not because they weren’t amazing but because they had walls so big and strong, I wasn’t sure they will ever allow someone else in, but I loved watching it all play out.
This book isn’t your typical love story, it is a story of revenge, regret, vulnerability, innocence, deceit, acceptance and finally love. It is not always easy to read because some parts are deep and make you want to cry, laugh, scream, and pick up the pieces of your broken heart but it totally worth every tear and spike in your blood pressure.
Francesca is the mobster boss’ only daughter and has planned her whole life to be married to her childhood friend, and he was always meant to be the one who received all her first, but someone stole her first kiss and now her life will never be the same.
Wolfe has had nothing but revenge in mind for years and now he has the perfect plan in place, but his Nemesis, defies him at every turn and he doesn’t know how to get control back.
How will two people who tear each other apart at every turn, learn to move past the hate and anger??