Don’t Go Stealing My Heart by Kelly Siskind

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Title: Don't Go Stealing My Heart
Author: Kelly Siskind
Series: Showmen #2
Published by: Indie
Release Date: April 22, 2020
Format: eARC, Kindle Book
Pages: 333
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge, Lenoreo's 2020 New Release Challenge, Lenoreo's COYER Quarantine Edition
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:

Blurb:

She wants to steal his Van Gogh. He wants to steal her heart.

Some people would call Clementine Abernathy a criminal. She considers herself a modern day Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Not exactly on the up-and-up, but she knows what it’s like to lose everything. Her latest heist involves swiping a priceless Van Gogh from its owner, who’s supposed to be an egotistical trust-fund brat.

Turns out Jack David is a sexy, kind-hearted man…and Clementine is in trouble. Falling for her mark would make her the World’s Dumbest Conwoman, but Jack is charmingly persistent, always singing sweet songs in her ear.

And that earth-shattering kiss? She never stood a chance.

Now she’s imagining a fresh start with this dashing man, but that means telling Jack about her past. And other nefarious sorts are after the same painting. Too soon, Clementine learns what it means to risk it all for love.

My Review:

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4.5 stars — I made the mistake of reading this book while I was listening to another book that had a lot of similarities, so I will admit that that had me flustered and confused sometimes.  Rookie mistake, I swear.  Regardless of all that, I really fell in love with the quirky characters in this book, from our MCs to the small town.  They made the book, and I loved my time in the crazy town of Whichway.

Clementine was quirky, sassy, vulnerable, conflicted…and seriously naive (but in an endearing way I think).  There were so many little treats in this book — watching Clementine be accepted by the townspeople, seeing her connect with Chloe…it was all so satisfying.  I loved all those little moments, all those wins for her.  I didn’t even mind if some felt too good to be true, because Clem deserved that.  She had me rooting for her even though she made some classic character mistakes that usually irk me (making assumptions, being a martyr, etc).

Jack was such an intriguing character in his own right, so many strange contradictions.  I fell in love with his shy awkward self, and I understood his more dominating tendencies after hearing his tale of growing up.  It was hot, but I was more in love with the sweating, bumbling, doesn’t-know-how-to-flirt Jack…what can I say, dorkiness does it for me.  I appreciated that he was also shaped very strongly by things that happened when he was growing up…even as he had a loving family.

And they definitely had chemistry in spades.  It was the tummy tingling, smiling, giggling kind…mixed with a large dose of heat.

I definitely called all the twists and turns pretty early on, but I don’t think that dimmed my enjoyment…it just made me hurt for Clementine more, because it showcased how much someone can be influenced from a young age.  Basically it highlighted her naivety.

The book definitely wouldn’t have been the same without the secondary characters…they were delightful.  It almost felt like the town itself was a character — it added so much uniqueness and flavour and fun.

The only reason I’m not rounding up is that I wasn’t completely sucked in…I found my mind wandering.  But that might not be the book, it might just be me and the mood I was in.  It’s definitely the kind of book I’m going to want to come back to and revisit sometime when I need some feel-good moments.