Reviewed by Anabela
TITLE: It’s a Steal
AUTHOR: Arden O’Keefe
PUBLISHER: Self published
RELEASE DATE: July 27, 2020
LENGTH: 125 pages
BLURB:
Edric Wilcher has realized growing up that there are simply two things in this world he can never imagine his life without—music and coffee. This is the reason why he chooses the life of a famous rock star—at least, famous in his own small town, and then, goes ahead and opens up Rockstar’s Hideout Café. Every morning he serves his regulars and has a nice, long chat with them before they go back to their daily routine. His charms work wonders on them. Thanks to the good genes bestowed upon him, he doesn’t look half bad. So, it strikes him as odd that this new customer who walks in that morning carrying a heap of books doesn’t seem to even spare him a second glance.
“Coffee” is what he orders and Ed goes out of his way to make him feel special. But the redheaded nerd—okay, a cute nerd, probably cutest he’s seen in his life—just leaves with his books, leaving even the muffin-on-the-house completely untouched. The mystery surrounding this guy gets the best of Ed and when he finds a book left behind by this customer, he can’t help follow the trail to see him just one more time. Even if it is to get a name.
Dean Harrett has somehow misplaced the one thing that was supposed to help him out of his current problems—and that thing is not a cheesy, romance novel. What matters to him the most is what he’s kept in the book—the perfect plan that can make or break his future. And that book has gone now. Only if he can remember where he’s last seen that book…
Of course! The café, where that annoying barista just wouldn’t leave him alone so he had to leave.
But now Dean has to get back there and look for himself before anyone can lay their hands on it. He doesn’t even want to think about the worst-case scenario of someone finding out what he is up to. But this only means he will have to face the annoying, but handsome barista again. Ugh!
REVIEW:
The blurb describes perfectly just the beginning of the book, which ended up being what I liked and convinced me most of all the story. It was hilarious, particularly thank to Edric’s dismay at being completely ignored by Dean. But, once the two of them started spending more time together, I felt like the author just wanted to speed things up and reach the ending in a hurry, making things a smidge unbelievable.
For example, Edric’s family were introduced, but it felt like it was written only to give him some kind of background, because in just a few pages a years long conflict was talked about and already resolved.
Also, Dean’s money drama. Hacking, stealing or planning to do so, and in the end, in a convoluted way, it turned out that he already knew who caused the problem in the first place?
About the relationship between Ed and Dean: the guys have known each other for two weeks, I think, and they were already declaring undying love. Also, there’s been a lot more fantasizing about sex than what happened on page, which normally is ok for a longer book, but not in this one.
Overall, this was a cute story. I liked Ed and Dean together, despite the fact that I wished they’d gotten to know each other better. I recommend it to those who are looking for a short, smile inducing read.
RATING: 
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