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A Thief in Venice

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Two thieves. One painting. One very dangerous game.

For seven years, Lucia Petrucci has stolen a painting every year to keep the memory of her parents alive. But now she has made a mistake. She has crossed the most dangerous man in Venice. Antonio Moretti, Head of the Thieves Guild.

She has stolen from Antonio, and he wants retribution. Can Lucia pay his price?

Note: A Thief in Venice is a stand-alone story, but part of the Nights in Venice series. Other stories in this series are of different couples. This story includes spankings, domination, graphic sexual scenes, and more.

137 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2014

31 people are currently reading
434 people want to read

About the author

Tara Crescent

116 books1,077 followers
Tara Crescent writes steamy contemporary romances for readers who like hot, dominant heroes and strong, sassy heroines.

When she's not writing, she can be found curled up on a couch with a good book, often with a cat on her lap.

She lives in Toronto.

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5 stars
77 (32%)
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84 (35%)
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53 (22%)
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16 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Profile Image for Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness (SLOW).
522 reviews824 followers
April 28, 2015
*ACR copy in exchange for a honest review *

♣️♠️4 Madonna stars ♠️♣️



'My Precious Thief.She was a feisty,wounded kitten.She was skittish.One wrong move on my part,and she'd run.'

This Book in a sentence: A fantasy based BDSM Novel with just a dash of story-line to make it through the pages.

My thoughts on the characters: Loved Antonio,but then again who wouldn't ? An Alpha male who treated his girl like gold.Who wouldn't want a guy like that ?

Lucia was a plausible heroine..Wounded by her past,hesitant of her future.

My thoughts on the Plot: To be honest there wasn't really any 'plot' as such,mostly just a fun erotica play.A theif in veince is a novella.So its understandable in a way,I guess.

This book was More like reading someone's fantasy.

Is this book a standalone ?
Yes..Definatly.No cliffhanger either.

Would I recommend the read ?
Maybe and ONLY if your a mood for straight up pure erotica.

Will I reading the squeal ?
Maybe,not sure.The BDSM was a bit hard core for me...

Any warnings ?
Like I said This book leans a bit more on hard-core BDSM. So,certain hard-limits might be passed, ladies...*Ominous voice*You have been warned ;)
Profile Image for Shurrn.
561 reviews902 followers
March 15, 2017
Swoon-worthy & sexy!


Tara Crescent has a knack for balancing kink with sweetness, and that's exactly want I found with this book. The sexytimes between these characters were phenomenal - Completely consensual scenes of mild to moderate D/s - and the emotion was delightful and believable between the MCs.

With the art heist scenario mentioned in the blurb I was expecting some type of non-con situation, but that's not what happened here.

Antonio Moretti
She was so brave, so stubborn and so aroused, my sweet little thief.
Antonio is head of the Thieves Guild in Venice, and it's his responsibility to stop the young woman stealing art in his city. But there's something special about this girl which leads him to administer her punishment personally. Anyone else would have their limbs broken as a warning, but that's not the type of punishment Antonio has in mind for his little thief...

Lucia Petrucci
...if Antonio wanted harm to befall me, well, it would happen. My body would be discovered floating face down in the canal. I could run from here, but if that was his intent, I couldn't outrun it.
Knowing that, in some perverse way, I felt safe.
Lucia is an art thief for all the right reasons. Once a year she steals artwork which has been liberated from the Doge's Palace (Where she works as an assistant curator) and returns it to its rightful place. Unfortunately, this year she's found herself in the clutches of the devastatingly handsome - and potentially deadly - Antonio. The punishment she can take, but she refuses to get emotionally involved...

Antonio isn't afraid of the challenge - if Lucia won't willingly surrender her heart, he's not above stealing it. Like a careful thief, he waits patiently, allowing Lucia to slowly build her trust... Her love is a prize more valuable than any stolen treasure...

The whole story takes place in Venice which necessitated a lot of lovely detail from the author - all of the sights and sounds of the city made for a stunning backdrop for this love story... I can definitely see the appeal of a Nights in Venice series!



And speaking of series: Nights in Venice will feature stand-alone stories which overlap and weave together, but focus on a different couple in each book, so we'll see these characters again, but there was no cliffhanger or anything like that!

***I was provided an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review***

Merged review:

Swoon-worthy & sexy!


Tara Crescent has a knack for balancing kink with sweetness, and that's exactly want I found with this book. The sexytimes between these characters were phenomenal - Completely consensual scenes of mild to moderate D/s - and the emotion was delightful and believable between the MCs.

With the art heist scenario mentioned in the blurb I was expecting some type of non-con situation, but that's not what happened here.

Antonio Moretti

She was so brave, so stubborn and so aroused, my sweet little thief.

Antonio is head of the Thieves Guild in Venice, and it's his responsibility to stop the young woman stealing art in his city. But there's something special about this girl which leads him to administer her punishment personally. Anyone else would have their limbs broken as a warning, but that's not the type of punishment Antonio has in mind for his little thief...

Lucia Petrucci

...if Antonio wanted harm to befall me, well, it would happen. My body would be discovered floating face down in the canal. I could run from here, but if that was his intent, I couldn't outrun it.
Knowing that, in some perverse way, I felt safe.

Lucia is an art thief for all the right reasons. Once a year she steals artwork which has been liberated from the Doge's Palace (Where she works as an assistant curator) and returns it to its rightful place. Unfortunately, this year she's found herself in the clutches of the devastatingly handsome - and potentially deadly - Antonio. The punishment she can take, but she refuses to get emotionally involved...

Antonio isn't afraid of the challenge - if Lucia won't willingly surrender her heart, he's not above stealing it. Like a careful thief, he waits patiently, allowing Lucia to slowly build her trust... Her love is a prize more valuable than any stolen treasure...

The whole story takes place in Venice which necessitated a lot of lovely detail from the author - all of the sights and sounds of the city made for a stunning backdrop for this love story... I can definitely see the appeal of a Nights in Venice series!



And speaking of series: Nights in Venice will feature stand-alone stories which overlap and weave together, but focus on a different couple in each book, so we'll see these characters again, but there was no cliffhanger or anything like that!

***I was provided an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review***

My Other Reviews in the Nights in Venice Series:
1 - A Thief in Venice - You're Reading it
2 - An Heiress in Venice - Read my review here
3 - A Starlet in Venice - Read my review here

A Thief in Venice (Nights in Venice, #1) by Tara Crescent An Heiress in Venice (Nights in Venice Book 2) by Tara Crescent A Starlet in Venice (Nights in Venice #3) by Tara Crescent
Profile Image for Shanny.
186 reviews184 followers
April 25, 2015
What a quick, fun and sexy read!
Good story with lots of hot erotic sex scenes!
The only thing that bothered me was the way Lucia allowed herself to be tied up so soon after meeting someone who is considered dangerous! But apart from that I truly did enjoy it and if the BDSM story line is something you like to read, I would recommend it.

Thank you Sasha for the rec! Kiss and Thank You
Profile Image for CC.
1,250 reviews730 followers
September 3, 2015
Lucia is an art curator at the Doge's Palace in Venice but she is also the daughter of art thieves. Every year, Lucia steals a painting on July 29th as an homage to her deceased parents. Lucia is strong willed, independent and sassy. However, she is also distrusting of love due to the circumstances of how her parents died. Antonio is the head of the Art Thieves Guild. Antonio was an orphan but was parented by a member of the Thieves Guild at a young age. Antonio is very sexy and commanding. When Lucia steals a painting from Antonio, he is hot on her trail and is very willing to punish Lucia for her actions.

"No, Lucia, you are going to get punished. I'm going to bend you over that desk, and spank you hard for thinking you can steal from me without any consequences."

Lucia is determined steal the painting from Antonio and return it to the museum, but her fervor to restore justice only brings her closer to Antonio and his dungeon. Since Lucia already plays at an exclusive club in town, she craves the control Antonio can provide.

"Lucia. His lips curved into a smile of a greeting. You know, if you wanted to go out with me, there are slightly easier ways of asking." Fuck you, I said, but there was a familiar heat between my legs. Damn it. He had haunted my dreams for the last two weeks, and it turned out that I wanted him more than ever."

The chemistry between Antonio and Lucia is palpable and I especially loved the sexy banter between the characters. With alternating POVs, the reader is able to really understand Antonio and Lucia. For a novella, this story was well developed and progressed at a good pace. However, I couldn't help to wonder how this plot could have been developed into a longer novel because there were so many possibilities and the theme of underground art thievery is always an intriguing one. But, that is just me being selfish because I wanted more. I recommend this book and will read other work by this author.




Note: Thanks to Sasha Elle a.k.a. Mrs. Liam Callahan for recommending this book to me!! I really enjoyed the characters and plot! Is there a coincidence that another Liam Callahan appears in this book??? ;D


Profile Image for Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘.
1,314 reviews3,104 followers
dnf
May 11, 2017
I just couldn't continue.. This book had its potential, it really did, however, Lucia was so dumb that I didn't know what to do with myself.. Antonio was a bit hot, but I felt like he pretended to be a dom, yet he couldn't? I don't know how to explain, but I just couldn't finish :/
Profile Image for Kay (❦ ᴗ ❦ ✿) BooksandMe.
470 reviews7 followers
June 5, 2015
A story of a curator in Doge’s Palace, Lucia Petrucci, and the head of Thieves Guild, Antonio Moretti.

Yeah, well there’s that. For eight years, since the death of Lucia’s parent, she steals a painting once a year on a particular date and exchange it with a fake, get it back safe and secured in Doge’s Palace. Until the Madonna. And so the meeting with Antonio.

I guess, I had high expectations for the story and so I was disappointed in reading it. I guess it was the reason that I didn’t connect with Mia nor Antonio. It is centered on the love story and not on the thieving part, which maybe was the reason why I was disappointed.

I always have fascination with this stuff, on how you can always find a way to circumvent a very high end security system and maybe I was hoping to read more on this. The ins and out, the record of how fast you can do it and the details on Lucia’s attempt. I did not like how it was just said that Mia has futile attempts and failures on getting the Madonna back. I mean Antonio was the head of Thieves Guild, after all. And it’s not as if it was mentioned more than once.

So it was okay, but predictable.
Profile Image for Snow.
2,323 reviews728 followers
June 3, 2015
This was a light, quick and veeeery smutty read...
I liked it. It wasn't the read that knocked me off my feet but I was satiated.
I liked it even more cause of the fact my Irish recomended it to me knowing what I'd like the most about it...

1)Antonio Moretti Moretti being my underdoing...

2)alpha male/kinda mobster

3)hot, hot, smutty scenes with the touch of the light BDSM

Irish, and I know why you liked it - there's another Liam Callahan mentioned in there...LOL
Profile Image for BookAddict  ✒ La Crimson Femme.
6,917 reviews1,439 followers
January 8, 2016
Robin Hood of the art world meets the big bad enforcer. Lucia Petrucci is a quiet woman who works as a curator in a museum. Once a year, she is on a mission to return stolen artwork. Apparently, there are unions for thieves and if you are not part of the union, arms or kneecaps will be broken. This "union" is the Thieves Guild. Did you laugh like I did? Seriously, a thief guild? I thought there was no honour among thieves. Antonio Moretti is the head of this guild and he does not condone freelance thieves.

This is a fabulous erotic tale with great imagery and delicious kinkery. The conflict and set up is smooth as Antonio catches Lucia and makes her pay an erotic forfeit. Talk about a dangerous sexy guilty pleasure. The sexual tension between the two is arousing and satisfying for a voyeur. The details described by Ms. Crescent definitely hit the spot and makes a reader feel as though they are in the room watching. Both of these characters are developed and likeable. I like Lucia and why she stills artwork. Antonio reminds me more of a gentleman thief than a thug. These two characters make the story a fun read as initial sparks file.

The BDSM in this story is medium with elements of D/s and definitely good ole spankings. Not exactly domestic discipline for those who are into this kink. This maledom erotica is recommended for those who loved Remington Steele and wished he was into kink.

*I received this book as a review copy in return for an honest review and it took me forever to finally post the review.
Profile Image for Camly Nguyen.
253 reviews46 followers
January 18, 2015
For seven years, Lucia Petrucci has stolen a painting every year to keep the memory of her parents alive. But now she has made a mistake. She has crossed the most dangerous man in Venice. Antonio Moretti, Head of the Thieves Guild.
She has stolen from Antonio, and he wants retribution. Can Lucia pay his price?

Since the book was really short, I felt that the story was extremely rushed, that the romance was instalovy as hell and that the ending was quite predictable...but then again, aren't all romance novels predictable? There was way too much sex and not enough excitement and action. There's nothing special to it.

Meh. Like any other erotica.

Profile Image for Reflection.
355 reviews63 followers
December 30, 2014
Wow, this story is fun - a fairy tale for adults set in Venice to make it sparkle all the more.

Having lost her parents at twenty one, Lucia steals a painting each year on the anniversary of their death to return it to its rightful owner. Following her latest heist, someone recognises who the thief might be and lays a clever trap.

Antonio Moretti head of the Thieves Guild is a dangerous man to cross. When he and Lucia meet, the chemistry between them is palpable. Neither of them have a had a long term relationship and Antonio's reputation precedes him.

The story that follows is romance with bite as they both share a passion for BDSM. The sex scenes left them breathless, as was I from time to time :D

'A Thief in Venice' is far from realistic, it is a magical story of a feisty, independent heroine who meets her handsome prince and against her better judgement falls in love, whilst the rest of Venice watches and gossips.

Antonio may have dominant tendencies, but he also has respect, and a willingness to step back and allow Lucia to make her own choices in life (except in the bedroom or his private dungeon when she cedes control).

The story is told in the first person and shared between Lucia and Antonio giving each of their perspectives which provided additional depth. It is told with humour and pathos, I found myself both amused and moved to tears from the engagingly written dialogue and the private thoughts of the protagonists.

I guess it seems unrealistic because their daily lives were barely alluded to except in conversation with each other; but that is also what makes it such a magical erotic fairytale. So if you feel like indulging yourself in a lovely warm blanket of erotica and a story that has some interesting twists with two sexy independent characters, give this a go, you won't be disappointed.
Profile Image for Dirty Dayna.
2,151 reviews109 followers
September 12, 2014
ARC provided via netgalley and the publisher(author) for an honest review

4.5 Little thief Stars


I wanted nothing to do with love. love was heartache. Love was watching your mother wasting away as the cancer ravaged her body. Love was finding the body of your father with his head blown away. There was no room in my life for love.

This book is wrecking me!!
Stay with honesty, or go

Why is this book destroying my petty little heart omg

This book is about Lucia who works for a museum and on her parents graves she knew she would relive the moment every year by stealing a painting and putting it back in the museum it was stolen from. Like a reverse thief. The reasoning is that her parents belonged to a thief guild and the ring leader is Antonio.

Lucia steals the Madonna from Antonio which sparks their interactions. In Tara's amazing way we are painted a very sexual romantic relationship that breaks down walls and hearts. This is going to be a beautiful series.

The price of the Madonna... is love and marriage <3

 photo http3A2F2F38.media.tumblr.com2Fddb265673405bee16aedfebbd7eb7b472Ftumblr_n41j8o5UGb1slpi32o1_400_zpsfkaywzgo.gif
Profile Image for Charlie.
865 reviews156 followers
January 11, 2015
This was a really sweet read! It reminded me a lot of Cherise Sinclair's stories with the quick romance, alpha male Dom and kinky bedroom scenery. This book ticked all of my BDSM romance boxes and I thoroughly enjoyed it. After favouring a lot of darker BDSM 'romances' recently, it was nice to read something so fun and easy to read.

The story wasn't overly complex and there wasn't a lot of backstory but to be honest that's not always needed in a book like this. The focus was on Antonio and Lucia and their relationship and that was fine.

Antonio was a wonderful Dom. He was protective and strong while still hvaing a sweet and caring side. He wasn't afraid to acknowledge his emotions and I loved that he embraced all his feelings. He is the perfect book boyfriend and I want to steal him for myself.

Lucia is smart and sassy, She has a fire I really liked and she gave the book a very fun, easy going tone. To be honest she didn't seem very submissive to me, even as a bedroom/club only sub, she's maybe more on the massochistic side, but the bedroom scenes were still enjoyable. I think I enjoy my subs to behave a little more 'subbie' but that's just personal preference.

I would definitely reccommend this to anyone who enjoys a quick, lighthearted BDSM romance.

*This book was sent to me by the author through the BDSM group on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Miranda Whore.
937 reviews86 followers
August 18, 2014
Review for A Thief in Venice by Tara Crescent

“Love is loss…”

A Thief in Venice is a BDSM themed story by author Tara Crescent — if you are looking for dark and twisty, this is not the book for you. You’ll get your fill of a completely alpha hero who loves his kink, but he is not your typical a-hole Dominant. And Lucia, she is far from what you would normally expect from a submissive. I have to say Ms. Crescent has a knack for giving readers everything they want in a Dom without all the crazy twists and turns some books take.

Don’t get me wrong, anyone that follows my blog knows that I love my twisty, but it’s a nice change of pace to get my alpha fix without the a-hole. personality. There are very few books out there that actually portray the BDSM lifestyle in a realistic way, even books written by people inside the lifestyle seem to take it to extremes that would never fit the “safe, sane, and consensual” rule of thumb. While the plot of the book is quite obviously fiction, the characters could be real people. THAT is what makes Tara Crescent a step above the rest.

“Love is pain.”

Lucia has lived through tragedy… the loss of her parents hurt her in ways she couldn’t deal with on her own. Looking for solace in the storm of emotion she found her escape, her balance, by submitting. As a tribute to her parents, every year on the anniversary of their deaths she steals a piece of art using the skills they taught her. She knows it’s risky, because if the Thieves Guild caught her she would be punished, but for her the risk was worth it so she could honor the memory of her family.
“Ah, Lucia. Trust me when I tell you it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.”

Antonio is the head of the Thieves Guild. They live with a code of honor despite their criminal tendencies. As head of the guild it’s his job to keep order within the ranks and to deal with anyone who dares to encroach on their turf. When he learns of a small time thief who only comes out once a year he decides to lure them in … much to his pleasure he discovers his little thief and quickly gives her an ultimatum. Face the usual punishment from his goons or face punishment from him.

Spankings, crops, bondage, and blindfolds oh my! Antonio is a Dom that shows no mercy in stealing your heart. I love how he doesn’t just want to Dominate Lucia’s body, but he desires her as a whole. He is the kind of man that opens doors for a lady and pushes in her chair, but pulls her hair and rides her hard in the dungeon. LOVE HIM!

A Thief in Venice gets a solid FOUR stars in storyline for me and FIVE drenched panties. If you love kink with your romance, this is a book you MUST pick up. I will be not so patiently waiting for the next book, I can’t wait to see what happens with Enzo…

A certified Mommy’s a Book Whore MUST READ NOW! Review by the head whore.
Profile Image for Kat.
239 reviews10 followers
November 4, 2014
3.5

This was a clever little story. Erotica all the way. It was light, fun and easy to read. I liked the characters and their quirky personalities. There was sex, more sex, and then even more sex....actually, a little too much sex....but it is erotica.

Venice is a great romantic setting for this story. It fits the art centered plot and the characters well. Antonio's character was great. I loved his profession and swagger. Lucia's spunk and determination were fun to watch unravel when she finds herself falling in love with Antonio.

I did like the BDSM elements to it. They were not the typical Dom/sub we read about. I didn't feel like the club was overdone. I enjoyed the fact that there was very little darkness (they were not stuck in an heavy control battle) they were having fun playing. Antonio also wanted Lucia for more than a romp in the playroom. I liked Antonio when he was thoughtful and caring as a Dom.

I wish this story was a longer and didn't have quite as much sex (gasp!). The plot and story were unique and I wanted more of their experiences with the art, the thieves and Venice. If the characters had been fleshed out a bit and the plot thickened I think the story could have been even better.

Profile Image for Monica Cullip.
314 reviews9 followers
September 4, 2014
A Thief In Venice

Tara Crescent

This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.

It captured my attention from the first page and held on until the final page. It was a quick, brisk story line that flowed effortlessly. The story line was fun to read and the action was well balanced. The sex scenes were hot and steamy and there was the perfect amount of them.

Lucia Petrucci grew up with parents that were professional art thieves and she considers herself almost a Robin Hood in the art world. She retrieves stolen paintings and returns them to the museum where they belong. One time she tries to take the wrong painting and crosses paths with Antonio Moretti, the head of the Thieves Guild. He believes that she should be punished for attempting to take his painting and then delivers a spanking on her naked bottom as she is bent over the desk. This turns them both on and the relationship quickly escalates. She continues to try to steal the painting and he continues to punish her for such an offence.

Their sexual play is frequent and delves a little bit on the wild and funky side. He hog ties her, uses a crop and a butt plug. A visit to the local bondage club that he owns is also on the menu as things really heat up sexually between them.

I loved this story. The story line was great and the hot sex was perfect. I would give it a 5/5 and look forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,288 reviews34 followers
September 19, 2014
July 29th, Lucia buried her mom and her dad. Every year after she steals a picture to honor them. This time she has crossed the line, she stepped on the toes of Anthony Moretti, who is the King among thieves. Only she doesn't end up face down in the canal, she ends up in his dungeon. Begging him for what she wants. Can Lucia survive this torture? Can Anthony?

Anthony has his own rules for winning her heart, she has to come freely to him. He will not force her hand. Lucia never wanted anything forever, until she had it. He is a patient person, who waits as Lucia begins to trust him and then he pounces.

This was a quick read, maybe 3 hours at the most, but I didn't want to put it down. I was drawn in to see if the cat would ever get the slippery little mouse. This entire book is set in Venice, which is a magical place all on it's own, and adds to this story with rich history. I really like both Lucia and Anthony, for as strong as they were, they were still fragile.
Profile Image for FantasyLiving.
604 reviews36 followers
November 3, 2014
This book was a fun, light read.
The characters were interesting and likeable. I enjoyed Lucia's spark and Antonio's easy going nature.

It was refreshing to see the Hero of the story recognising his emotions for what they were. Giving of himself freely and honestly.

Lucia's personal issues with commitment had her second guessing Antonio's agenda.

The BDSM was a little glossed over for me, and although I know this is a short story, I did question Lucia's sanity in allowing herself to be tied up so soon after meeting someone who is considered dangerous.

I was interested in the secondary character Enzo . I want to know more about him. (And luckily his story will be coming up soon)

Recommended for people who like some BDSM scenes without high protocol, fun banter between two well rounded characters, and a HEA



 photo R2RBDSM_zps18e81878.jpg
Profile Image for Heather andrews.
9,520 reviews163 followers
August 26, 2014
I adored this damn book so much and Antonio I loved that man hardcore, "she was so brave, so stubborn and so aroused, my sweet little thief. I was more than a little aroused myself." Lucia and Antonio's relationship is kinda unconventional but honestly that's what made this book fun, "I still want my painting back," she muttered under her breath. I laughed and reached for her again." Antonio likes to take care of his woman and his woman well she's an independent one, "you are angry that I took care of your dues?" he asked me. "You think this makes you my mistress?" A look of amusement rose in his eyes. "The position is currently vacant, sweet Lucia, are you applying?" I wouldn't mind a little update novel to see how their doing.
Profile Image for ~Mel :)~.
356 reviews
September 6, 2014
HOLY SMOKING FIREBALLS!! HOT HOT HOT!!!
A Thief in Venice was NOT what I was expecting! It was WAY BETTER!!

Lucia Petrucci is quick witted and funny! I loved her tenacity, she just doesn't give in or give up! And Antonio Moretti....... Oh yeah, I love me some him!! He was kind hearted, loving, and of course.... Dominate! What could be better?? NOTHING!

Now, it did seem a bit odd coming from the Head of the Thieves Guild, but it just goes to show that even mobsters, and not so nice people still love wholly . (at least in fiction HUH?)

A Thief in Venice was an excellent beginning to what I KNOW is going to be a very FUN, SEXY series!
Tara Crescent is the BEST!! MUST, MUST, MUST, READ!!


*Luck me!!! Book gifted for Honest review!! I <3 Tara Crescent!!*
Profile Image for Claudia.
3,016 reviews109 followers
September 7, 2014


Actually this got 3.5 stars from me because I would have prefered it to be longer and to see both of them outsider their relationship

I loved both characters and really liked how their relationship developed and although the initial start was a Bit far-fetched I could believe what came after that.
The Problem iS that we don't really See them outside of this relationship which takes away the chance to get to know them better

But all in all it was a Good read and I will definitely read something by this author again

More details to come
Profile Image for Chelsey.
766 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. The two main characters are vibrant and colorful, the sex is hot, and the plot is interesting. I admit I would have liked reading a bit more about the planned heist but I understand this was intended as a romance novel. I would definitely recommend it.

Reviewed for netgalley.com
Profile Image for Karen ♐.
608 reviews48 followers
July 8, 2015
This story is about a thief who steals one painting a year and returns them to the museum she works at. She fails trying to steal a painting from the head of the Thieves Guild and they end up (of course) falling in love. There is a lot of hot sex, humor and HEA. I really enjoyed this book. Tara Crescent is one of my favorite erotica authors.
Profile Image for Ari Reavis.
Author 20 books163 followers
April 22, 2015
THANK YOU MRS. LIAM CALLAHAN, for recommending this book! I loved it. The sex scenes... is it hot in here or is it just me? Let's just say I bookmark good sex scenes and more than half this book got bookmarks. The romance was believable, but not too mushy and didn't diminish the male's dominance.
Profile Image for . (not active on this account stop adding me).
613 reviews232 followers
January 5, 2015
★ ARC kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review ★

This was such a quick, easy read and I loved it! To be honest, prior to beginning I thought they would steal paintings together or something along those lines but the actual storyline was great just the way it was.

The story follows Lucia who has lost both her parents and wants to keep the memory of them active. They were previous members of the Thieves Guild and Lucia steals a painting once every year in their memory. When she attempts to steal the Madonna, she comes into trouble with the head of the Thieves Guild, Antonio, and he wants pay back.

Characters: ★★★★☆
The two main characters, Lucia and Antonio were generally interesting people. They both have a damaged past/childhood and have developed a lot since then. After their relationship begins, they both forget their boycott against love without realising it. All of the secondary characters were also fascinating and I look forward to the sequel with those character's stories.

Plot: ★★★☆☆
I liked how quickly the plot developed which made it easy for me to get lost in the story. I honestly didn't expect to finish this in a couple of hours but I could not put it down. I also thought the painting would cause a general uprising between the two main characters, but it is just passed off as banter. It seemed like an important aspect of the plot and I liked the way it was resolved in the end.

Romance: ★★★★★
I loved everything about the romance. They both helped develop each other as people while pleasuring each other and slowly falling in love at the same time. I liked how they began as scared of love and then accepted it at the end.

Ending: ★★★★☆
The climax was lacked a lot of suspense and ended too quickly. I knew what was going to happen but then the resolve happening so quickly surprised me. The ending was a perfect one, but it went too quickly for me. The whole event takes place on two pages and I felt that it could have been dragged to at least 3.

Overall, this is one of the best erotica books that I have honestly ever read. It included crime, sex and romance which is a strange mixture that worked. I hope to read the sequel/companion novel.
1,706 reviews12 followers
February 27, 2015
Lucia Pretucci decided that she wanted to give a tribute so her parents ever year since their deaths it's debatable if it was out of love or revenge because she was upset that her mother died from cancer and her father killed himself on the same day July 29 she was she was lonely and she had a good job with the Museum and she discovered that one of the paintings the Madonna was a fake she was determined that she would find and replace it she found it and didn't realize it was a trap and she stole it now Antonio Moretti the president of the Thieves Guild realized that the woman who had stolen a painting and had been for the last couple of years was a woman he new her face looked familiar to him and it took him a while to figure out who it was so he set the trap when she came out the building that shes stole the painting he was their she thought that she would get her legs or arms broken but she never thought that she would get dominated by Antonio but he wanted to spank her but what he didn't know was that is just what she wanted and more she enjoyed it as much as he enjoyed giving it to her plus some other juicy things he had in store for her he realized that she was a woman that he could really go for but she didn't want anything to do with him but she didn't know what she wanted herself so she decided to try to get the Madonna back from him but he had to punish her again but this time he showed her his dungeon with all his toys she was quiet pleased with the play room and love being submissive to him and he love the way she enjoyed his pain pleasure he let her know he didn't want to hurt her but only to pleasure her and she was all for both she could take whatever he dished out she finally realized that this man did not want to hurt her he wanted something she didn't think she could give she was scared to love but he was a very patient man and she enjoyed his company and so he started breaking into her apartment and leaving flowers. This was a cute short story with a lot of sex some regular some bdsm. For 18 years and older.
Profile Image for Julie Barrett.
448 reviews9 followers
February 25, 2015
A Thief in Venice is a fun, short read with some amazingly steamy sex. This is the second book I've read by Tara Crescent and although I initially struggled with the first person point of view, I've come to really enjoy her writing style. This book is alternately told from both main characters point of view and it was nice to be able to get an insight into both of their thoughts and feelings.

Lucia Petrucci is like a modern day Robin Hood. Every year on the anniversary of her parents death she steals a painting and returns it to the rightful owners. But this year it all goes wrong when she is steals from Antonio Moretti, Head of the Thieves Guild. Antonio gives her a choice of being punished by his him or his notorious henchmen. Fearful of broken limbs and ending up in the canal, she chooses to be punished by Antonio himself.

From here the author weaves a magical tale of domination and submission. Antonio soon falls for his 'little thief' and is determined to make Lucia his. Lucia doesn't trust love, believing it only results in loss and pain, so although she happily submits to Antonio in the bedroom or dungeon she is skittish about getting more involved.

The chemistry between the Lucia and Antonio is sizzling, and the sex scenes are seriously hot. These scenes are well written and will leave you feeling hot under the collar.

Although my brain was telling me that I shouldn't like characters who were thieves, I couldn't help falling in love with both Lucia and Antonio.

A Thief in Venice is a fun, sexy read that gets four out of five stars and I look forward to reading more from Tara Crescent


I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Marianne.
1,314 reviews152 followers
November 5, 2014
*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Lucia Petrucci is a curator at the Doge's Palace and once a year on July 29 she retrieves a stolen painting in homage to her parents death. This year she decides to steal the Madonna but she doesn't realize she is stealing from Antonio, the head of the thieves guild. When Antonio discovers her identity, he decides to handle the situation himself and forego the usual punishment; death, then a plunge into the Venetian canals. In fact, he has something entirely different planned for feisty and independent Lucia, and it involves theft of something far more valuable than a stolen painting… Antonio is not content with just the erotic punishment he dishes out each time she attempts to retrieve the stolen painting, he desires her heart as well. And if Lucia won't willingly surrender it to him, he's not above stealing it.

Antonio is a Dom after my own ♡. As a professional thief, he carefully bides his time, allowing Lucia to slowly let go of her ingrained commitment phobia. He is the kind of man that opens doors for a lady and pushes in her chair, but also rides her hard in the dungeon, giving them what they both crave; delicious, sexual encounters, domination and sensual spankings…

Venice is one of my favorite cities, so it is no surprise I loved the setting. However, as this is such a short book, there is too little in-depth character development, and I also felt the POV’s switched too often.

Overall an enjoyable story. 3.5 stars.
2,879 reviews17 followers
February 26, 2015
A Surprisingly Sweet Love Story! Lucia is a curator at the Doge Palace in Venice. She is also the daughter of thieves guild members. Years ago when her mother died of cancer and her father commited suicide, she found comfort in the eyes of the Madonna in the art work she protects. Every year, on the anniversery of her parents death, Lucia has stolen a piece of art work and had it returned to its rightful owner. This year when she discovers a painting of the Madonna in the Doge's collection is a fake, she is determined to find the original and steal it, then return the painting to the museum.

After successfully stealing the original painting and replacing it with the fake, Lucia is approached by Antonio, the head of the thieves guild in Venice. Since he was the one that stole the painting when he was sixteen and replaced it with the fake, he wants the painting back. He takes the painting from her and offers her a choice, take her punishment from him or he turns her over to to the guilds enforcers. Given the choice between broken bones and a spanking from Antonio, she chooses the spanking. Antonio takes Lucia to his dungeon and punishes her until she begs him to take her. This is just the beginning of a must read full of BDSM. Be prepared for lots of hot punishment and submission. I loved this book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Profile Image for Solmarie.
295 reviews7 followers
March 22, 2015
Ever since Lucia Petrucci's parents died seven years ago she honors them by stealing a piece of art every year on the anniversary of their deaths. This year she made a mistake. The piece she chooses belongs to a one of the most dangerous men she has ever known Antonio Moretti, the head of the Thieves Guild her parents belonged to when they were alive.

Antonio has plans for Lucia after seeing her picture. There is something about her that calls to him like no other woman has before. She is different in every way from other woman he has had in his life. When he catches her in her attempt to steal his painting he makes her his. But can he keep her?

Lucia never wants to be involved with any man to the point that she actually cares for him. Every chance she gets she runs from Antonio and the feelings he evokes in her. The question is can she take a chance and allow herself to free her emotions.

I liked Lucia from the start. She was spunky and smart. Her little cat and mouse game with Antonio was entertaining. Antonio was a contradiction in every way. As the head of the Thieves Guild he had to be ruthless but he was different when it came to Lucia. Whatever he saw in her made him realize that she was worth the fight.
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