Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society Book #1
Published: Hyperion 2010

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.
Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.
For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

MY REVIEW

This is the second time tjat I read this book and even though I already know what is going to happen I am still immersed into the world of Kat and Hale.  The girl who wants to be a normal teenager and the boy who has been normal and wants to be a part of a family.

The internal struggle of Katarina Bishop is a big one.  Growing up in a family of thieves is something you can't fully leave but Kat planned too.  When Kat comes back to save her dad the leaving hurts in statements of "You left" from family and friends.  Then there is the struggle of not wanting to be a thief, but having to do the biggest job of her life to keep her friends and family safe.

There are some great moments that leave you wondering what happened.  Like what happened between Kat and Hale when Kat tried to steal the Monet?

 (Don't spoil me, I know that it is mentioned in book 3: Perfect Scoundrels.)  

Then there is the relationship with the son of the Interpol agent tracking her father, Nick, where is that going to lead to if anything.  Or is the love for Kat going to be Hale the boy that was home when she tried to steal the Monet?  Personally I have made my choice on which relationship I have chosen for Kat, but I am interested in which you have chosen if you had read the books of the series (just remember I am not interested in being spoiled on upcoming events just yet).

I just love this line.  It has to be my favorite in the whole book.

My Rating

Review: Seven-Night Stand by Nicole Helm

Title: Seven-Night Stand
Author: Nicole Helm
Published:  February 2013 by Entangled Publishing
Source: Review Copy from Publishing Company

Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she’ll lose it if she doesn’t find a hit. When she’s sent to Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust…until she meets sexy pilot,
Nate Harrington. His family would make the perfect show to save her career.
Nate can’t deny his attraction to Vivvy, but no way can he let this show take off. The Harrington family is riddled with secrets, and she wants it all out in the open. For the next seven days, he’s going to stop at nothing to keep her out of his family’s business, even if it means keeping her distracted in his bedroom.

My Review

At first reading this was kinda iffy for me, I am not a big fan of reality TV shows, so why would I be interested in the process to make the show.  But then there is the girl in me who loves a pilot (there is this really nice small airfield down the road from my house and I can dream right).

There are alot of things I love about this book that really have nothing to do with the plot.  The Ivy Vines is just great with its creepy guy working the front desk and less than stellar accommodations.  Want to know why I will never travel by myself and not stay in a 5-star hotel this place is the place I would picture when I travel by myself and can not really afford to.  All the things that you envision when you hear "No-Tell Motel" is what I see in this place that she has booked for her stay in Demo.  Of course it is the only place to stay in Demo, so she really did not have much choice on the hotel unless you drive out of town.

Vivvy is great, she grew up traveling so she has no real "roots" anywhere she has never really felt attached to one place so when she feels this attachment to Nate Harrington and his business that is all his.  She has this protective feel of protecting what he loves and making it better.  Nate has no desire to do this reality TV show that was all his father's idea.  Just another way for his father to be surrounded by women that are not the one he is currently married too. 

And then there is Nate's brother Ryan.  Yes he is known to be in existence from the beginning to Vivvy but it is their first meeting which stands out in my mind.

The first time meeting the family should not come at that moment but the one thing I was getting from the whole thing was that yes Nate and Ryan are twins and now I can not wait to find out Ryan's story (which I have found will be book two in the series).

Yes this was a great story to read and I am ready for some more Harrington Field goodness to come from Ryan's story.

My Rating