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Elite Crimes Unit #1
The Thief
The Elite Crimes Unit works behind the scenes of Interpol—and employs some of the world’s most talented criminal minds. Because as everyone knows, it takes a thief to catch a thief—or to seduce one . . .
The old farmhouse in the French countryside is a refuge for former jewel thief Josephine Deveraux. Admittedly, there aren’t many men in the vicinity, but she has her cat to cuddle up with. It’s a far cry from her former life, constantly running from the law, and she’s enjoying her peace . . . until the intruder in the three-piece suit tackles her. He wants her back in the game, helping with a heist—and he’s not above making threats to get his way.
Little does Josephine know that notorious—and notoriously charming—thief, Xavier Lambert, is after the very same 180-carat prize she’s being blackmailed to steal. To his chagrin, he’s doing it not as a free agent, but as a member of the Elite Crimes Unit—the team he was forced to join when his brilliant career came to a sudden end. And little does Xavier know that his comeback is about to include a stranger’s kiss, a stinging slap, and a hunt for missing treasure—along with the infuriatingly sexy woman who’s outfoxing him . . .
The old farmhouse in the French countryside is a refuge for former jewel thief Josephine Deveraux. Admittedly, there aren’t many men in the vicinity, but she has her cat to cuddle up with. It’s a far cry from her former life, constantly running from the law, and she’s enjoying her peace . . . until the intruder in the three-piece suit tackles her. He wants her back in the game, helping with a heist—and he’s not above making threats to get his way.
Little does Josephine know that notorious—and notoriously charming—thief, Xavier Lambert, is after the very same 180-carat prize she’s being blackmailed to steal. To his chagrin, he’s doing it not as a free agent, but as a member of the Elite Crimes Unit—the team he was forced to join when his brilliant career came to a sudden end. And little does Xavier know that his comeback is about to include a stranger’s kiss, a stinging slap, and a hunt for missing treasure—along with the infuriatingly sexy woman who’s outfoxing him . . .
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2017
35 people are currently reading
627 people want to read
About the author
Michele Hauf
208 books939 followersMichele has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for over twenty years. Her first published novel was DARK RAPTURE.
France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen.
Michele also writes as Michele Renae, and you can find her erotica, chick lit, and Harlequin Romance titles at your favorite online retailer.
--From the author's website bio
France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen.
Michele also writes as Michele Renae, and you can find her erotica, chick lit, and Harlequin Romance titles at your favorite online retailer.
--From the author's website bio
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 18, 2025
Retired thief, Josephine Deveraux is blackmailed by an ex, back into the life to steal a notorious diamond. When she goes for her prize she is interrupted by Xavier Lambert, another thief who was supposed to be in jail after getting caught doing a heist a few years earlier.
The diamond they both were after is the key to a terrorist plot. Xavier was after the jewel because he is working off his jail time as a member of an Elite Crimes Unit. Xavier is given permission to retrieve the diamond so he pushes Josephine into helping him.
The thrill and Xavier entices Josephine.
Xavier is drawn to this thief but he knows his life is tied to the Elite Crime Unit and doesn’t want to get Josephine caught up in their web as well.
The story starts out strong with a cast of characters that you want to really get to know. I loved the semi-anti-hero, high end thief turned into special ops agent idea. I was all in and loving it and for the most part I kept loving it but...their seemed to be a few twists that were thrown in in the end that didn't seem necessary and/or over kill in my opinion. Still a really great read and I would highly recommend The Thief to anyone who enjoys a good romantic suspense.
I received this ARC copy of THE THIEF from Kensington Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. THE THIEF is set for publication April 11, 2017.
The diamond they both were after is the key to a terrorist plot. Xavier was after the jewel because he is working off his jail time as a member of an Elite Crimes Unit. Xavier is given permission to retrieve the diamond so he pushes Josephine into helping him.
The thrill and Xavier entices Josephine.
Xavier is drawn to this thief but he knows his life is tied to the Elite Crime Unit and doesn’t want to get Josephine caught up in their web as well.
The story starts out strong with a cast of characters that you want to really get to know. I loved the semi-anti-hero, high end thief turned into special ops agent idea. I was all in and loving it and for the most part I kept loving it but...their seemed to be a few twists that were thrown in in the end that didn't seem necessary and/or over kill in my opinion. Still a really great read and I would highly recommend The Thief to anyone who enjoys a good romantic suspense.
I received this ARC copy of THE THIEF from Kensington Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. THE THIEF is set for publication April 11, 2017.
April 7, 2017
I am a suckers for books about talented criminals working together. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have watched movies like Oceans the classic to Catch a Thief and the list goes on so when I saw the chance to pick up advance copy from netgalley about a Elite Crimes Unit with talent criminal I couldn't help but myself.
I guess I am giving it 3.50 stars because this series had great potential. The author might need to scale back the endless amount of characters that pop in and out of the book like popcorn. The romance was a little to forced and could use more build up.
The story is fast pace with lots of action and violence which isn't normally found in this type of set up but I enjoyed the change in pace. Yes there is humorous moments.
This book is a wonderful start to a series and I can't wait to read book 2 which I hope will tie up the loose ends this book seemed to have endless amounts.
Advance Copy from Netgalley.
I guess I am giving it 3.50 stars because this series had great potential. The author might need to scale back the endless amount of characters that pop in and out of the book like popcorn. The romance was a little to forced and could use more build up.
The story is fast pace with lots of action and violence which isn't normally found in this type of set up but I enjoyed the change in pace. Yes there is humorous moments.
This book is a wonderful start to a series and I can't wait to read book 2 which I hope will tie up the loose ends this book seemed to have endless amounts.
Advance Copy from Netgalley.
March 10, 2017
This book has potential but I'm honestly so disappointed by how it ended up playing out. The romance wasn't convincing to me and the plot itself was semi interesting but there were too many characters who were too vague. It set itself up quite abruptly, which would have worked better if the gaps had been followed through, but there were too many loose threads for me to buy into the romance and the connection between the two characters.
April 11, 2017
Josephine has left her previous life of being a master thief to settle down in the country and live an honest, quiet life. Her retirement is disrupted by her ex-boyfriend who forces her into one last job. She didn’t count on going up against the one man who she emulated her career after.
Xavier works for the Elite Crimes Unit, not exactly by choice, but he has accepted it as his life since he was caught in a heist. Working an easy job he was thrown off his game by a kiss out of nowhere.
I loved this book! While the story behind the necklace was a little odd, it did not get in the way of the plot, the characters and the writing. I loved the relationship of Josephine and Xavier, especially when you get to the point that they start sharing their secrets. I hope, since this is labeled ‘book one’ that we will get to see their relationship progressing in the background of any subsequent books. I’m excited to see more from this series if they will be anything like this first book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
Check out the Blog!
https://nightbirdnovels.wordpress.com...
Xavier works for the Elite Crimes Unit, not exactly by choice, but he has accepted it as his life since he was caught in a heist. Working an easy job he was thrown off his game by a kiss out of nowhere.
I loved this book! While the story behind the necklace was a little odd, it did not get in the way of the plot, the characters and the writing. I loved the relationship of Josephine and Xavier, especially when you get to the point that they start sharing their secrets. I hope, since this is labeled ‘book one’ that we will get to see their relationship progressing in the background of any subsequent books. I’m excited to see more from this series if they will be anything like this first book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
Check out the Blog!
https://nightbirdnovels.wordpress.com...
July 16, 2019
I picked up this book in the Nook store on my tablet because it seemed interesting and it was on sale for $1.99. My personal review of the book is as:
I enjoyed the basic premise of the book. I personally feel that both of the main characters were both interesting(even though at times they did do things that I personally feel were a bit formulaic to the "Theives fall in love" with each other trope).
I personally found the writing style overall to be enjoyable, however I was personally annoyed at times when the storyline(for lack of a better way of phrasing it) would "end" but there was still chapters remaining (that happened at least twice that I specifically remember).
I personally found what I feel to be personally a big "plot hole"(I can't really think of a better way of phrasing it than that) with the main female character's age in contrast to the male main character especially in regards to their backstory with each other(Yes I know that they are both adults now)
I was just personally weirded out with it given how they met originally (I can't really explain more without giving away major plot points/plot twists). I did personally enjoy the romance overall between them once I stopped thinking about the age thing.
Overall I personally think that if you like theives falling for each other and shadowy crime fighting organizations then I think that you might want to check out this book. Overall I personally rate this book a 5 and out 10.
I enjoyed the basic premise of the book. I personally feel that both of the main characters were both interesting(even though at times they did do things that I personally feel were a bit formulaic to the "Theives fall in love" with each other trope).
I personally found the writing style overall to be enjoyable, however I was personally annoyed at times when the storyline(for lack of a better way of phrasing it) would "end" but there was still chapters remaining (that happened at least twice that I specifically remember).
I personally found what I feel to be personally a big "plot hole"(I can't really think of a better way of phrasing it than that) with the main female character's age in contrast to the male main character especially in regards to their backstory with each other(Yes I know that they are both adults now)
I was just personally weirded out with it given how they met originally (I can't really explain more without giving away major plot points/plot twists). I did personally enjoy the romance overall between them once I stopped thinking about the age thing.
Overall I personally think that if you like theives falling for each other and shadowy crime fighting organizations then I think that you might want to check out this book. Overall I personally rate this book a 5 and out 10.
March 29, 2017
Josephine Devereaux is a retired jewel thief, and after two years, an unwelcome ghost from the past resurfaces and not so kindly convinces her to steal a necklace: and Lincoln Blackwell is not a welcome sight. Josephine had been living quietly in the French countryside, but must return to Paris for the job, which will take place during a black tie charity ball. Unbeknownst to Josephine, she is not the only one after the piece of jewelry; so is legendary thief Xavier Lambert, known as Le Renard – The Fox, for his calling card. Xavier had been whisked from prison from The Elite Crimes Unit under duress, and he now steals for them in exchange for a semblance of freedom. At the ball, Xavier charmed his way in relieving the precious necklace from a countess, although I wondered how a woman would not notice a necklace removed from her person, without being otherwise incapacitated, but Xavier is no ordinary thief; he is a legend! Xavier then encounters a woman in the dark, she kisses him, and when she’s gone, he notices she left with the stolen necklace! Josephine has outsmarted her teenage idol! They have met before, but Xavier can’t seem to remember Josephine, the traitor! But Josephine was not stealing for herself, and Xavier must tell her that it’s not professional pride that has him needing to get the necklace back, it’s a question of life and death to some people!
THE THIEF is a heist caper that matches the best movies of the genre, which are also Josephine and Xavier’s favourites! It’s action-packed, fast-paced, infused with a healthy dose of humour, and in a way reminded me of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on some aspects. While Josephine and Xavier run madly around Paris, the sexual tension between them mounts as they bicker, and even manage to chat civilly once in a while, and get to know each other a tiny bit better. But for people accustomed to making a living through deception, trust doesn’t come easily. THE THIEF is a romantic suspense with thieves, basically. I was a bit reckless in choosing to review this book, as I disapprove of stealing as a profession, if you will, but Michele Hauf is a favourite author of mine, and she does not disappoint. I pushed my preconceived notions out of the way, and reviewed THE THIEF objectively. THE THIEF was also a tad more violent than I would have wanted though, and I did not appreciate Gentleman Jack’s presence; I think things could have been dealt with more peacefully. But still, THE THIEF is a very entertaining read with complex and interesting characters, and quite an original premise with fun gadgets galore, and a romance where both characters have to really work at it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
THE THIEF is a heist caper that matches the best movies of the genre, which are also Josephine and Xavier’s favourites! It’s action-packed, fast-paced, infused with a healthy dose of humour, and in a way reminded me of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on some aspects. While Josephine and Xavier run madly around Paris, the sexual tension between them mounts as they bicker, and even manage to chat civilly once in a while, and get to know each other a tiny bit better. But for people accustomed to making a living through deception, trust doesn’t come easily. THE THIEF is a romantic suspense with thieves, basically. I was a bit reckless in choosing to review this book, as I disapprove of stealing as a profession, if you will, but Michele Hauf is a favourite author of mine, and she does not disappoint. I pushed my preconceived notions out of the way, and reviewed THE THIEF objectively. THE THIEF was also a tad more violent than I would have wanted though, and I did not appreciate Gentleman Jack’s presence; I think things could have been dealt with more peacefully. But still, THE THIEF is a very entertaining read with complex and interesting characters, and quite an original premise with fun gadgets galore, and a romance where both characters have to really work at it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
April 5, 2017
Unique paranormal stories created by Michele Hauf have kept me entertained for years, and I was excited to discover that she had written a suspenseful series. The Elite Crimes Unit solves white-collar offences, and the first book concerns two individuals whose lives take a drastic turn when they end up working together for the good of others. Though both once stole jewelry, neither did it to make a huge profit, and whatever they lifted often ended up helping someone less fortunate. Ms. Hauf always manages to bring her characters to life with distinctive personalities and often nonconforming behavior, and I found her two main characters to definitely be original. THE THIEF is imaginative and packed with surprising incidents.
After Josephine Deveraux gave up her career of being a jewel thief, she came to live in a rural area far away from Paris. Now the current thrill in her life is what vegetables will be ready to pick next. While she may miss the excitement of pulling off a successful heist, the tranquil existence she enjoys on a daily basis is definitely less stressful. When someone breaks into her home and insists she steal a certain object, Josephine realizes the past that she thought was buried has resurfaced.
A quickly made plan to keep from once again becoming a thief does not go as hoped, and she ends up agreeing to snatch a valuable necklace. When Josephine goes to a gala in order to swipe the jewelry, it appears someone else is also after the piece. Xavier Lambert is also a former thief who presently works for the Elite Crimes Unit because he was given little choice after being caught. Now his talent is only used for good. But when there is competition to obtain an extravagant diamond necklace, the stakes of whom will come out on top is significantly raised with each new development.
When I read a story from Michele Hauf, I know there will be lots of amusement sprinkled throughout the many compelling scenes. From bantering comments to comical thoughts, various characters caused me to laugh in THE THIEF, as the author’s unique brand of humor is evident in how they conducted themselves at times. There is an adorable cat which had me smiling, and some bad guys who made me want to boo them, especially when they worked against what Josephine and Xavier wanted. A French setting is enchantingly realistic, whether the story is taking place out in the country or the streets of Paris. Ms. Hauf likes to set a book in this country, and it always amazes me in how she makes locations occurring anywhere in France seem so genuine.
THE THIEF is suspenseful plus emotional. There are several situations that are rather nerve-racking, and I was not exactly sure what would happen to Xavier and Josephine. These two are delightfully fun to watch interact with one another, as it is very difficult for either to trust easily. This makes for plenty of scenes where they disagree and even sometimes argue about a particular detail. While I do not condone thievery, Ms. Hauf had me really liking Josephine and Xavier despite their backgrounds, and I am looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series will involve.
I voluntarily reviewed the book and all comments are my honest opinion - 4.5 Stars
After Josephine Deveraux gave up her career of being a jewel thief, she came to live in a rural area far away from Paris. Now the current thrill in her life is what vegetables will be ready to pick next. While she may miss the excitement of pulling off a successful heist, the tranquil existence she enjoys on a daily basis is definitely less stressful. When someone breaks into her home and insists she steal a certain object, Josephine realizes the past that she thought was buried has resurfaced.
A quickly made plan to keep from once again becoming a thief does not go as hoped, and she ends up agreeing to snatch a valuable necklace. When Josephine goes to a gala in order to swipe the jewelry, it appears someone else is also after the piece. Xavier Lambert is also a former thief who presently works for the Elite Crimes Unit because he was given little choice after being caught. Now his talent is only used for good. But when there is competition to obtain an extravagant diamond necklace, the stakes of whom will come out on top is significantly raised with each new development.
When I read a story from Michele Hauf, I know there will be lots of amusement sprinkled throughout the many compelling scenes. From bantering comments to comical thoughts, various characters caused me to laugh in THE THIEF, as the author’s unique brand of humor is evident in how they conducted themselves at times. There is an adorable cat which had me smiling, and some bad guys who made me want to boo them, especially when they worked against what Josephine and Xavier wanted. A French setting is enchantingly realistic, whether the story is taking place out in the country or the streets of Paris. Ms. Hauf likes to set a book in this country, and it always amazes me in how she makes locations occurring anywhere in France seem so genuine.
THE THIEF is suspenseful plus emotional. There are several situations that are rather nerve-racking, and I was not exactly sure what would happen to Xavier and Josephine. These two are delightfully fun to watch interact with one another, as it is very difficult for either to trust easily. This makes for plenty of scenes where they disagree and even sometimes argue about a particular detail. While I do not condone thievery, Ms. Hauf had me really liking Josephine and Xavier despite their backgrounds, and I am looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series will involve.
I voluntarily reviewed the book and all comments are my honest opinion - 4.5 Stars
August 22, 2017
3.5 Stars!
I found out about The Thief when one of my Goodreads friends reviewed the second book in the series and I’m so glad I picked this up as it was a very fun read.
Former jewel thief Josephine Deveraux retired two years ago and has been living with her cat in an old farmhouse in the French countryside. Despite how different her new life is, Josephine has been enjoying the quiet of the countryside. All of that changes when she’s blackmailed into going to Paris to steal a 180-carat diamond necklace. What Josephine doesn’t know is that Elite Crimes Unit member Xavier Lambert is after the very same jewel. Xavier isn’t working for the ECU willingly, but it’s that or prison and he’d much rather the limited freedom the ECU offers. Soon an enjoyable game of cat and mouse ensues as these two former jewel thieves race for the same prize.
Josephine dedicated a large portion of her life to being a thief and honing her craft before deciding to retire. After being blackmailed to steal the necklace, you could see how much she still enjoyed being a thief and that she clearly missed the excitement. I loved watching Josephine in action and really believed in her skills as a thief. Due to her past, she has a number of trust issues and has very little faith in others. I did really enjoy her relationship with her cat and thought Chloe was absolutely adorable.
Xavier, also known as Le Renard or The Fox, definitely reminded me of a modern day Robin Hood. Before becoming part of the ECU, Xavier would give away large portions of everything he stole to charity. His biggest regret in regards to getting caught is that he can no longer support all of the charities he once did.
Josephine and Xavier are where this book fell a bit short for me. They did have some good moments (I particularly enjoyed when they discussed favorite heist films) and I enjoyed their banter, but there wasn’t much else I liked. Their chemistry in the bedroom wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite what I look for when I’m reading romance. Also, I think their shared history was a bit much and didn’t really seem to fit with everything else we knew about them.
The plot in this book does border on the ridiculous at times, so some suspension of disbelief is required. That said, the action is pretty consistent throughout the book which was definitely a plus. The moments when the main characters got to engage in their craft and just be thieves were some of the best scenes. The author did a great job making me believe that both of the characters are masters at what they do. The ECU did seem like it had way too much power, but honestly if there was a secret division in Interpol that would probably be the case.
Overall, while I wasn’t fully invested in the characters’ relationship, I did still really enjoy The Thief and will definitely be continuing with the series.
I found out about The Thief when one of my Goodreads friends reviewed the second book in the series and I’m so glad I picked this up as it was a very fun read.
Former jewel thief Josephine Deveraux retired two years ago and has been living with her cat in an old farmhouse in the French countryside. Despite how different her new life is, Josephine has been enjoying the quiet of the countryside. All of that changes when she’s blackmailed into going to Paris to steal a 180-carat diamond necklace. What Josephine doesn’t know is that Elite Crimes Unit member Xavier Lambert is after the very same jewel. Xavier isn’t working for the ECU willingly, but it’s that or prison and he’d much rather the limited freedom the ECU offers. Soon an enjoyable game of cat and mouse ensues as these two former jewel thieves race for the same prize.
Josephine dedicated a large portion of her life to being a thief and honing her craft before deciding to retire. After being blackmailed to steal the necklace, you could see how much she still enjoyed being a thief and that she clearly missed the excitement. I loved watching Josephine in action and really believed in her skills as a thief. Due to her past, she has a number of trust issues and has very little faith in others. I did really enjoy her relationship with her cat and thought Chloe was absolutely adorable.
Xavier, also known as Le Renard or The Fox, definitely reminded me of a modern day Robin Hood. Before becoming part of the ECU, Xavier would give away large portions of everything he stole to charity. His biggest regret in regards to getting caught is that he can no longer support all of the charities he once did.
Josephine and Xavier are where this book fell a bit short for me. They did have some good moments (I particularly enjoyed when they discussed favorite heist films) and I enjoyed their banter, but there wasn’t much else I liked. Their chemistry in the bedroom wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite what I look for when I’m reading romance. Also, I think their shared history was a bit much and didn’t really seem to fit with everything else we knew about them.
The plot in this book does border on the ridiculous at times, so some suspension of disbelief is required. That said, the action is pretty consistent throughout the book which was definitely a plus. The moments when the main characters got to engage in their craft and just be thieves were some of the best scenes. The author did a great job making me believe that both of the characters are masters at what they do. The ECU did seem like it had way too much power, but honestly if there was a secret division in Interpol that would probably be the case.
Overall, while I wasn’t fully invested in the characters’ relationship, I did still really enjoy The Thief and will definitely be continuing with the series.
July 1, 2017
the thief should probably be called the thieves, because our two leads are both master burglars. xavier lambert, also known as le renard, has reformed somewhat after getting caught red-handed. now a reluctant member of the elite crimes unit, he is sent out on missions that require his particular skills.
his current mission involves stealing a necklace with the recipe and target for a biological weapon etched on the diamonds. when josephine deveraux intercepts and distracts him during his mission he is confounded, confused and incredibly drawn to her.
he knows their paths have crossed before, but he doesn't know when or how. and josephine has the answers. she knows more about le renard than he thinks. she has been following his career for years, modeling hers on his. when he was captured she retired from the business, intending to live her life out in quiet retirement. her ex-boyfriend is the one who tasks her with stealing the necklace. and the next thing she knows she's in up to her neck.
she doesn't want to be so drawn to xavier. she doesn't want to admit how fascinated she is by him. she doesn't want to admit that he is her perfect match. not just as thieves, but also in life, in love. she knew this the first time she ever kissed him, even if at the time the thirst for revenge was clouding her judgment. but now as passion explodes between them, the thrill of the heist and their need for each other consuming them in a vortex of emotion and lies and broken hearts. there is no way this ends well for them, the cost of being together is too high even though it might be worth it? this is what they need to figure out. is it just the thrill of what they do that binds them together or is the passion and the emotion between them real. is freedom worth it if they can't be together? is the elite crimes unit really such a terrible prison?
this is a romance, so you can probably guess the answers to these questions, but the stakes are and the sense of danger and impending doom stays with you as josephine and xavier figure it out.
**the thief will publish on april 11, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/kensington books (lyrical press) in exchange for my honest review.
his current mission involves stealing a necklace with the recipe and target for a biological weapon etched on the diamonds. when josephine deveraux intercepts and distracts him during his mission he is confounded, confused and incredibly drawn to her.
he knows their paths have crossed before, but he doesn't know when or how. and josephine has the answers. she knows more about le renard than he thinks. she has been following his career for years, modeling hers on his. when he was captured she retired from the business, intending to live her life out in quiet retirement. her ex-boyfriend is the one who tasks her with stealing the necklace. and the next thing she knows she's in up to her neck.
she doesn't want to be so drawn to xavier. she doesn't want to admit how fascinated she is by him. she doesn't want to admit that he is her perfect match. not just as thieves, but also in life, in love. she knew this the first time she ever kissed him, even if at the time the thirst for revenge was clouding her judgment. but now as passion explodes between them, the thrill of the heist and their need for each other consuming them in a vortex of emotion and lies and broken hearts. there is no way this ends well for them, the cost of being together is too high even though it might be worth it? this is what they need to figure out. is it just the thrill of what they do that binds them together or is the passion and the emotion between them real. is freedom worth it if they can't be together? is the elite crimes unit really such a terrible prison?
this is a romance, so you can probably guess the answers to these questions, but the stakes are and the sense of danger and impending doom stays with you as josephine and xavier figure it out.
**the thief will publish on april 11, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/kensington books (lyrical press) in exchange for my honest review.
July 30, 2017
This was a good starting point for this new series. Josephine and Xavier had passion and great banter but I felt like it took quite a while for the story to come together. I will continue with the second book however as I love action romance and the idea of a crime fighting elite unit.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. 3 stars! ~Ratula
I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. 3 stars! ~Ratula
March 11, 2017
**** ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ****
Warning: This review/rating is based on my feelings, thoughts, likes and dislikes. You should read the book to form your own opinion/thoughts. Read on!
Rating: 4 Stars
Cover: I like it
Cliffhanger: Nope
Triangle: Nah
The story, Josephine is a thief, well, a retired thief, she is trying to have a normal life now that she has stopped stealing jewelry. Her ex blackmails her into stealing a necklace, but also a member of the Elite Crimes Unit intents to steal it too. But he is not just a thief, it is her “mentor”, the thief she loves to hate. Xavier wants to steal it for the greater good, so now he has to partner with Josephine to save the world and sparks fly. Needless to say, it was fast paced, intriguing, and very well written. I didn’t think it would be possible for them to trust, I mean, they are thieves and they are ruled by, trust no one, so their struggle was very palpable.
Josephine, I liked her, she had a hard time trusting, and she admired and at the same time hated Xavier. That spin of the story, it was a bit predictable but it brought spice into the plot. Her love for Chloe was adorable.
Xavier, I felt for him, he was doing good things but at the same time he felt like he was in a cage and in a way he was. So when he stumbles into his “protégé” and has to work with her, he realizes there is more to life, that unpredictability is good sometimes and that some things just can’t be stolen.
Overall, it was a fast paced, hot, intriguing, suspenseful story.
Warning: This review/rating is based on my feelings, thoughts, likes and dislikes. You should read the book to form your own opinion/thoughts. Read on!
Rating: 4 Stars
Cover: I like it
Cliffhanger: Nope
Triangle: Nah
The story, Josephine is a thief, well, a retired thief, she is trying to have a normal life now that she has stopped stealing jewelry. Her ex blackmails her into stealing a necklace, but also a member of the Elite Crimes Unit intents to steal it too. But he is not just a thief, it is her “mentor”, the thief she loves to hate. Xavier wants to steal it for the greater good, so now he has to partner with Josephine to save the world and sparks fly. Needless to say, it was fast paced, intriguing, and very well written. I didn’t think it would be possible for them to trust, I mean, they are thieves and they are ruled by, trust no one, so their struggle was very palpable.
Josephine, I liked her, she had a hard time trusting, and she admired and at the same time hated Xavier. That spin of the story, it was a bit predictable but it brought spice into the plot. Her love for Chloe was adorable.
Xavier, I felt for him, he was doing good things but at the same time he felt like he was in a cage and in a way he was. So when he stumbles into his “protégé” and has to work with her, he realizes there is more to life, that unpredictability is good sometimes and that some things just can’t be stolen.
Overall, it was a fast paced, hot, intriguing, suspenseful story.
July 7, 2017
An entertaining game of cat and mouse uniquely disguised as a coerced master thief and a former jaded one. The action is nonstop and fast paced with constant direction changes when least expected. There were gaps in some of the players involved, but in the interest of the story not being twice as long with too much fluff and filler, I can forgive that in favor of the overall storyline.
Xavier and Josephine were a unique pair who kept the action tightly twisted, one with an objective, and the other thwarting the same. The writing was superb, with wonderful descriptions of the locations and players. Everything playing in real time to keep the activities at hand nonstop...with enough back history to set the stage for the current choices and decisions having to be made. Certainly enjoyed the revelation Josephine dropped on Xavier which was the catalyst to their history and the present.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author with the next installment in the series.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Xavier and Josephine were a unique pair who kept the action tightly twisted, one with an objective, and the other thwarting the same. The writing was superb, with wonderful descriptions of the locations and players. Everything playing in real time to keep the activities at hand nonstop...with enough back history to set the stage for the current choices and decisions having to be made. Certainly enjoyed the revelation Josephine dropped on Xavier which was the catalyst to their history and the present.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author with the next installment in the series.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
April 13, 2017
The Elite Crimes Unit works behind the scenes of Interpol—and employs some of the world’s most talented criminal minds. Because as everyone knows, it takes a thief to catch a thief—or to seduce one . . .
The old farmhouse in the French countryside is a refuge for former jewel thief Josephine Deveraux. Admittedly, there aren’t many men in the vicinity, but she has her cat to cuddle up with. It’s a far cry from her former life, constantly running from the law, and she’s enjoying her peace . . . until the intruder in the three-piece suit tackles her. He wants her back in the game, helping with a heist—and he’s not above making threats to get his way.
Little does Josephine know that notorious—and notoriously charming—thief, Xavier Lambert, is after the very same 180-carat prize she’s being blackmailed to steal. To his chagrin, he’s doing it not as a free agent, but as a member of the Elite Crimes Unit—the team he was forced to join when his brilliant career came to a sudden end. And little does Xavier know that his comeback is about to include a stranger’s kiss, a stinging slap, and a hunt for missing treasure—along with the infuriatingly sexy woman who’s outfoxing him . . .
Review:
I have been hooked lately by a show called The Catch and this story sort of reminds me of it, a little intrigue, a little thievery, and a little sexy.
I had not read a contemporary story by this Author before, just the supernatural ones. I quite liked the story. The writing was great. She did a good job of setting up the this story as this is the first book in the series. Josephine and the attachment to her cat gave some lightness to the story that I really liked. The cat does get kidnapped but I loved the extremes she went to keep her cat safe. I liked there was an age difference between Seph and X, though I could not really determine just how far apart they are. I loved the back story on how Seph knew who X was and his occupation, it added a great twist to the story. I will say that there were a lot of people thrown into the mix and I did have a little difficulty keeping who was who straight. The terrorist gist of the story really fits into what is going on in the world today. Of course, this is a romance and there is good sexy times for those who like spice in their action.
Great start to this new series, not sure how the series will go but would love more X and Seph adventures.
3.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*
The old farmhouse in the French countryside is a refuge for former jewel thief Josephine Deveraux. Admittedly, there aren’t many men in the vicinity, but she has her cat to cuddle up with. It’s a far cry from her former life, constantly running from the law, and she’s enjoying her peace . . . until the intruder in the three-piece suit tackles her. He wants her back in the game, helping with a heist—and he’s not above making threats to get his way.
Little does Josephine know that notorious—and notoriously charming—thief, Xavier Lambert, is after the very same 180-carat prize she’s being blackmailed to steal. To his chagrin, he’s doing it not as a free agent, but as a member of the Elite Crimes Unit—the team he was forced to join when his brilliant career came to a sudden end. And little does Xavier know that his comeback is about to include a stranger’s kiss, a stinging slap, and a hunt for missing treasure—along with the infuriatingly sexy woman who’s outfoxing him . . .
Review:
I have been hooked lately by a show called The Catch and this story sort of reminds me of it, a little intrigue, a little thievery, and a little sexy.
I had not read a contemporary story by this Author before, just the supernatural ones. I quite liked the story. The writing was great. She did a good job of setting up the this story as this is the first book in the series. Josephine and the attachment to her cat gave some lightness to the story that I really liked. The cat does get kidnapped but I loved the extremes she went to keep her cat safe. I liked there was an age difference between Seph and X, though I could not really determine just how far apart they are. I loved the back story on how Seph knew who X was and his occupation, it added a great twist to the story. I will say that there were a lot of people thrown into the mix and I did have a little difficulty keeping who was who straight. The terrorist gist of the story really fits into what is going on in the world today. Of course, this is a romance and there is good sexy times for those who like spice in their action.
Great start to this new series, not sure how the series will go but would love more X and Seph adventures.
3.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*
June 21, 2017
I've not read any book where the hero/heroine is a thief, so this was quite refreshing and enjoyable for me; this was like a breath of fresh air from my usual reading fare. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, as I follow the unexpected yet delightful twists and turns in the story.
The thing though is, because they're both thieves, they didn't know when it was time to trust the other. Maybe never. I thought that would get super exhausting in time. Yet, both Xavier and Josephine managed to surprise me with their devotion to the other, especially toward the end, when Josephine... (spoiler). I myself can't imagine me doing that for anyone.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, and I'm glad that the next book in the series is coming out soon!
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=24721
The thing though is, because they're both thieves, they didn't know when it was time to trust the other. Maybe never. I thought that would get super exhausting in time. Yet, both Xavier and Josephine managed to surprise me with their devotion to the other, especially toward the end, when Josephine... (spoiler). I myself can't imagine me doing that for anyone.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, and I'm glad that the next book in the series is coming out soon!
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=24721
June 26, 2017
Intense and intriguing. I love the exciting plot of the story.
April 15, 2017
This was fantastic! It had action, adventure, romance, two thieves who are after the same necklace and of course there's a lot of chase scenes as well. Xavier is a reformed thief (he works for the Elite Crimes Unit) and Josephine is a retired one. He steals for the good, she steals to get her cat back! Right?! Kick ass, smart and sexy and a cat lover! I mean who wouldn't like Josephine. Xavier isn't too bad himself. But despite the very lighthearted tone and the action scenes, there is a lot of mystery going on as well, including when did Josephine and Xavier really first meet and how? Their chemistry simmers, the job is excellent foreplay and the romance may appear instant ah but who can really resist these two!
The Thief is the first in the Elite Crimes Unit and readers will be going crazy waiting for the next one to come out!
Oceans Eleven and The Italian Job move over cause Josephine and Xavier are here!
*ARC provided thru NetGalley*
The Thief is the first in the Elite Crimes Unit and readers will be going crazy waiting for the next one to come out!
Oceans Eleven and The Italian Job move over cause Josephine and Xavier are here!
*ARC provided thru NetGalley*
May 23, 2017
This story starts off with a bang the horrible ex of an retired jewel thief breaks into her home and tells her that he needs to get her back in the game. She refuses A fight ensues and he leaves. Josephine Devereaux our heroine in this story decides that she needs to find out what is going on and how Lincoln was able to find her. In the end Josephine has no choice, as she is being blackmailed by Lincoln to find this diamond. Josephine and Xavier encounter each other when they find out they are both after the same thing. Xavier our hero, has no choice really he is an ex criminal and if he should obtain this diamond he will be getting time off his jail sentence. He now works for the Elite Crimes Unit. This story is filled with suspense, action and quick witted banter. The romance seemed off to me, there was just too much going on, but in a good way. This seems to be to a great start in this series. 4 stars!
***ARC provided thru Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review***
***ARC provided thru Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review***
April 22, 2017
This book grabs your imagination from page 1. It entertains from beginning to end. Hauf's characters are enthuse with life and are very likeable, including the elf-eared cat.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
July 6, 2017
I love heist plots, so I was looking forward to this book. It was entertaining, but not what I had hoped.
The two thieves, Josephine and Xavier, meet while trying to steal the same necklace. She is trying to steal it for her ex-boyfriend who is threatening her and beating her up. He is trying to steal it for the government organization who let him out of jail to work for the Elite Crimes Unit.
I understand that stories are stories, but this stretched too far. A formula for weapons on the gems of the necklace? Really?
Josephine's familiarity with Xavier and his thieving methods was too much. Being obsessed with him throughout the years due to her first encounter with him is one thing. But the amount of information that she had would have meant that she had been just following him around, stalking him, for years. When did she have time for her life?
I also thought the level of control that the Elite Crimes Unit had over Xavier was over-the-top. Ok, being let out of jail is great, but having a 24/7 tracker implanted under your skin, and being set up in a really crappy apartment, for like 10 more years? Way too much.
BUT - it was entertaining, it is the first in a series, and I read the second one also, so it was worth the quick read.
The two thieves, Josephine and Xavier, meet while trying to steal the same necklace. She is trying to steal it for her ex-boyfriend who is threatening her and beating her up. He is trying to steal it for the government organization who let him out of jail to work for the Elite Crimes Unit.
I understand that stories are stories, but this stretched too far. A formula for weapons on the gems of the necklace? Really?
Josephine's familiarity with Xavier and his thieving methods was too much. Being obsessed with him throughout the years due to her first encounter with him is one thing. But the amount of information that she had would have meant that she had been just following him around, stalking him, for years. When did she have time for her life?
I also thought the level of control that the Elite Crimes Unit had over Xavier was over-the-top. Ok, being let out of jail is great, but having a 24/7 tracker implanted under your skin, and being set up in a really crappy apartment, for like 10 more years? Way too much.
BUT - it was entertaining, it is the first in a series, and I read the second one also, so it was worth the quick read.
May 11, 2017
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was simply an amazing and astonishing story! It gave me the feeling that I really want to know all that is possible about the characters. I loved the main character, he is a hero and at the same time thief or special agent.
The story starts with Josephine Deveraux who is a retired thief or at least she thought so. The problem is, she’s blackmailed by her ex to try and steal a diamond. When she goes to try and steal it, she is surprised by the appearing of Xavier Lambert who works for the Elite Crimes Unit.
This is where the story develops, because both Josephine and Xavier are after the big prize. They both have different reasons, the problem is Xavier wants the stone because he is working off his jail time, and because of this particular reason he cannot leave Elite Crimes Unit. He really has to get the diamond so he pushes Josephine to help him.
This was a really great story and I highly recommend The Thief to anyone who enjoys a good romantic and suspense story, which has a lot of twists and turns. I loved the story and I can’t wait to read more stories written from Michele Hauf. Thank you for the opportunity!
This was simply an amazing and astonishing story! It gave me the feeling that I really want to know all that is possible about the characters. I loved the main character, he is a hero and at the same time thief or special agent.
The story starts with Josephine Deveraux who is a retired thief or at least she thought so. The problem is, she’s blackmailed by her ex to try and steal a diamond. When she goes to try and steal it, she is surprised by the appearing of Xavier Lambert who works for the Elite Crimes Unit.
This is where the story develops, because both Josephine and Xavier are after the big prize. They both have different reasons, the problem is Xavier wants the stone because he is working off his jail time, and because of this particular reason he cannot leave Elite Crimes Unit. He really has to get the diamond so he pushes Josephine to help him.
This was a really great story and I highly recommend The Thief to anyone who enjoys a good romantic and suspense story, which has a lot of twists and turns. I loved the story and I can’t wait to read more stories written from Michele Hauf. Thank you for the opportunity!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2018
I really wanted to love this, to the point where I initially stockholm-syndromed myself into giving it four stars, but... It definitely wasn't her best.
The plot was AMAZING (I may have given it an extra star for the noise I made when the truth behind the treasure was revealed), the worldbuilding was fantastic and I liked the cat... But I have to agree with a lot of other reviewers, and say that the two main characters didn't have any depth. Josephine's character can best be summed up by the fact that she prefers the Mark Wahlberg version of the Italian Job. Xavier is a little more interesting, but I still can't entirely place my finger on what his personality was. Their romance seemed incredibly paint by the numbers, from flirtatious enemies to casual sex to happily ever after with no emotion whatsoever.
A disappointment overall, because I really genuinely loved her last one. Fun, and I'll check out the next one in the series because I do enjoy the world, but never more than surface level.
The plot was AMAZING (I may have given it an extra star for the noise I made when the truth behind the treasure was revealed), the worldbuilding was fantastic and I liked the cat... But I have to agree with a lot of other reviewers, and say that the two main characters didn't have any depth. Josephine's character can best be summed up by the fact that she prefers the Mark Wahlberg version of the Italian Job. Xavier is a little more interesting, but I still can't entirely place my finger on what his personality was. Their romance seemed incredibly paint by the numbers, from flirtatious enemies to casual sex to happily ever after with no emotion whatsoever.
A disappointment overall, because I really genuinely loved her last one. Fun, and I'll check out the next one in the series because I do enjoy the world, but never more than surface level.
October 1, 2023
Plodded along nicely.
This story line plodded along and just kept the interest going. It wasn't a page turner where you stay up all night to finish. It is what I call a ' nearly' read. 'Nearly tense, nearly exciting, nearly thrilling. You get my drift. Lacked that only to get it over the line of being a really good read.
It's not easy to come up with a story then put it in writing, so 3 stars for the effort. With a little bit more effort this could be a great read.
This story line plodded along and just kept the interest going. It wasn't a page turner where you stay up all night to finish. It is what I call a ' nearly' read. 'Nearly tense, nearly exciting, nearly thrilling. You get my drift. Lacked that only to get it over the line of being a really good read.
It's not easy to come up with a story then put it in writing, so 3 stars for the effort. With a little bit more effort this could be a great read.
October 17, 2019
Mixed feelings. Josephine and Xavier had sizzling banter, but I felt the story dragged on in some parts and over the top in other parts of the book. The whole necklace and gems importance felt stretch too far into the impossible, I kept hoping there was going to be other gems or items that would need to be stolen for the reveal but unfortunately that wasn't the case.
May 13, 2017
Just ok.
January 22, 2020
Read these awhile ago. Comments and review to follow.
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hi.
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hi.
April 6, 2017
I really hate not liking books, it makes me feel pessimistic and petty. But I cannot say that I was too fond of this one.
I have the same love for heists stories as the author. If there’s a movie about a convoluted robbery, I’ve seen it. I also watched and loved the shows White Collar and Leverage (I guess the author has seen this one too and that’s why the main character is called Deveraux). It would be unfair of me to not mention that I was very much into that aspect of the book. The problem is that the plot really stretched my suspension of disbelief. The characters want to steal a diamond necklace, so far so good. I can buy that. But they want that necklace because it has the recipe for a biological weapon engraved with laser into the stones and… what!? From the start it was obvious that all that bio mumbo-jumbo was just an excuse and what the author really wanted was to have a case with two white collar thieves on opposite sides of the legal spectrum. I guess she could have come up with something less preposterous than a bioweapon.
The characters all sounded the same to me. Might have something to do with all of them punctuating their sentences with “…, yes?”. I didn’t notice at first, but once I did it was one of those things I just couldn’t unsee. That and the constant one-liners that were just so cool that they only fit in a movie script.
It would have all been forgivable if we could have seen some actual robbery. The cool kind, with all the preparation, synchronization, and cool lies and tricks. But all we got was a breaking and entering in which we don’t get to see the actual theft because we follow the character that is cracking the wrong safe. That kind of stuff dragged the book and made it a little bit boring. The second half of the book took me an excruciating amount of time to read because I just didn’t see the point and was waiting for the characters to be done with everything already.
I hate not liking books and I hate even more finishing reviews on a bad note, so I will say that I like elegant thieves and for that this book gets an extra star.
This review can also be read on my blog.
I have the same love for heists stories as the author. If there’s a movie about a convoluted robbery, I’ve seen it. I also watched and loved the shows White Collar and Leverage (I guess the author has seen this one too and that’s why the main character is called Deveraux). It would be unfair of me to not mention that I was very much into that aspect of the book. The problem is that the plot really stretched my suspension of disbelief. The characters want to steal a diamond necklace, so far so good. I can buy that. But they want that necklace because it has the recipe for a biological weapon engraved with laser into the stones and… what!? From the start it was obvious that all that bio mumbo-jumbo was just an excuse and what the author really wanted was to have a case with two white collar thieves on opposite sides of the legal spectrum. I guess she could have come up with something less preposterous than a bioweapon.
The characters all sounded the same to me. Might have something to do with all of them punctuating their sentences with “…, yes?”. I didn’t notice at first, but once I did it was one of those things I just couldn’t unsee. That and the constant one-liners that were just so cool that they only fit in a movie script.
It would have all been forgivable if we could have seen some actual robbery. The cool kind, with all the preparation, synchronization, and cool lies and tricks. But all we got was a breaking and entering in which we don’t get to see the actual theft because we follow the character that is cracking the wrong safe. That kind of stuff dragged the book and made it a little bit boring. The second half of the book took me an excruciating amount of time to read because I just didn’t see the point and was waiting for the characters to be done with everything already.
I hate not liking books and I hate even more finishing reviews on a bad note, so I will say that I like elegant thieves and for that this book gets an extra star.
This review can also be read on my blog.
April 5, 2017
The Thief is a well written romantic suspense, good plot and well developed characters. I received an ARC from Netgalley for this unbiased review.
April 11, 2017
1.5 stars
Its really tough to rate this book. I liked Josephine and Xavier but HATED ECU,felt the unit was full of bunch of manipulative b******s and this series is supposed to be all about them. I didn't like ECU's treatment of Xavier and they are planning to recruit Lincoln(another thief and Josephine's ex).It doesn't matter that he was the one who hit and beat Josephine in the climax.So NOT continuing the series.
Its really tough to rate this book. I liked Josephine and Xavier but HATED ECU,felt the unit was full of bunch of manipulative b******s and this series is supposed to be all about them. I didn't like ECU's treatment of Xavier and they are planning to recruit Lincoln(another thief and Josephine's ex).It doesn't matter that he was the one who hit and beat Josephine in the climax.So NOT continuing the series.
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