Reviewed by Rachel & Sharon Thérèse
Books read in this series we’ve loved and the beauty of each one is they can be read as standalones. Ms Cosway has woven a suspenseful tale in Thief of Hearts which kept us on our toes while trying to guess how it was all going to pan out. Saying that, we recommend going in blind since we did feel that the blurb let on a tad.
“One of these days, luv, you’re gonna let me kiss you again, everywhere.”
Set in London, the author pulled the Cockney lingo off to a tee; however, we were a little saddened to see her use a few Americanisms at the beginning of the book. Don’t get us wrong! We have absolutely nothing against them but we didn’t think they were very fitting seeing that she could have used Brit English equivalents. The ‘City’ feeling has been captured perfectly, the story’s characters’ personalities are diverse, well-developed and we couldn’t help falling for Stu Cross, the male protagonist.
“One thing for sure: Stu Cross wasn’t as predictable as I thought. . .”
We can’t possibly spill the beans because the entanglement in this intricate plot has to be savoured for yourselves. What we can do is tell you how we felt about Stu and how he had us completely fooled! Stu hasn’t been around for a while. He’d ‘copped a flower pot’ (got into trouble), and getting back into the swing of things isn’t as easy as he thought it would be. Gravelly-voiced, his East End accent is not only very close to home, but seeing it so well expressed was blinkin’ marvellous. Sarky comebacks and his gorgeous looks get everyone turning their heads when he has something to say. But his self-esteem is on a low and ‘Friar Tuck’… luck, hasn’t been a good friend to him, either. We weren’t the only ones to feel sorry for this moody guy. He caught our attention from word go and that of Andie’s, too.
“I never realised I was so transparent.”
“You’re not. I’ve just been looking real close.”
Andrea (Andie) Anderson has a compassionate soul. Feisty and hard-working, her positive vibes encourage those around her. Being in control of what appears to be quite an orderly and ordinary life and solving an almighty problem right on her doorstep is all she wants. Even though putting others before herself is second nature, at times we thought she was a tad over the top and this made us worry about her well-being. Yet it was difficult not to invest our feeling in her when what made her happy was lending a hand!
“You don’t have to deflect. There’s no judgement here.”
“I’m not deflecting, Miss Anderson, I’m flirting.”
Andie discovers a few things about Stu. Behind his cocky Cockney veneer, he’s emotionally closed off. But something special draws her attention which can’t possibly be ignored. Persuading him to take a step further isn’t going to be an easy task. Once she’s convinced him that he’s more than capable, these two unlikely young adults are thrown together on a more personal level. Mixing business with pleasure is the cause of unrest though. We truly thought this was an excellent idea on Andie’s part. She’d been clinging to a memory we yearned for her to let go. Scared s***less, we silently urged her to dive in headfirst regardless of what could or could not be. We were convinced this was her once in a lifetime opportunity; what we didn’t bargain on was Stu blowing hot and cold every five minutes. All the signals are wrong. . . yep, to say Stu is confused would be putting it lightly. So observing how Andie peeled back the layers of his complex personality and how she came to terms with her past was actually what we loved more about their story!
“. . .just be my soft place to fall. I need you, Andrea.”
The chemistry between these two was clear to see from the very start of their relationship; nevertheless, it’s very slow boil since both of them have their reasons to hold back. When they do take a step further, the amorous scenes are explicit. Say no more!
“I’m trying to warn you to stay away from me. I’m no good for you, Andrea. Please remember that, because next time I try to touch you, if you let me, I won’t stop.”
More than one spanner is thrown into the works as the plot thickens, family members become involved and backgrounds clash. We loved Andie’s parents, her cousin . . . bless him with all his hang-ups and Stu’s family are your typical East Ender clan who look out for each other. In fact, most of the characters are lovely. Of course, the baddies are as they should be, dislikable!
“. . . What the hell have I been thinking?”
“I doubt your brain had much to say in the matter.”
“What? Too early for jokes?”
Now then, our rating. We honestly felt that it needed editing in certain areas which would have made this book the perfect read for us; however, we understand this could be a personal opinion and may not bother other readers. We’ll most definitely be keen to read future books by Ms Cosway because she has a knack for telling a great storyline and brilliant character development.
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