Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: The Heart Heist
SERIES: Crimes of the Heart #2
AUTHOR: Elle Keaton
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 221 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2021
BLURB:
When a gorgeous stranger wanders into his life one summer night he knows he’s in trouble; he’s going to break all his rules and probably his heart.
Duff Cleveland knows better than to open himself to love, that’s how you get hurt.
Jacob De Rossi is a family guy; he’s got the house and the picket fence he’s just missing the man.
Something about Jacob has Duff wanting more, but how many just one more time’s can a dedicated hookup artist justify? He can hardly handle the life he’s living, having an actual boyfriend is impossible.
Jacob’s not letting Duff go easily. It’s obvious, to him at least, that Duff needs someone in his corner, and he is the man for the job.
Will Duff admit his heart is safe in Jacob’s hands, or turn his back on the one thing in his life that makes sense?
REVIEW:
I was sideswiped by this gorgeous love story, the epitome of a hurt/comfort relationship. I was not expecting to be floored by such heartfelt emotions. A profound sadness for both men put down roots in my gut.
Jacob is well-settled in his life with a home he owns, a job he loves, a close relationship with his grandparents, and a stray cat he serves. He’s just missing a person to call his own. Duff is quite the opposite. He’s becoming disillusioned with his career as an international model, and is soon to be homeless when his best friend and roommate, Arnie (from Feinted Love), moves in with his finance, Tobias. His life is terribly complicated by having to take care of a poorly functioning relative, and as a result, deems himself a poor choice for a long-term relationship.
The men meet when Duff takes one of the yoga classes Jacob teaches. There’s instant attraction and they spend an incredible night together. It’s full of the promise of a deeper meaning that Duff neither needs or wants, but deep-down longs for. Jacob hopes it wasn’t just a one time “alignment of the stars”. He feels a powerful connection, and not just from the amazing sex. They continue with a series of sporadic minor dates and hookups, separated by weeks over many months, always on Duff’s terms when he reaches out. He knows he’s not good enough for Jacob, who wants and needs something more permanent, and feels he’s being unfair by getting someone entangled in his messed-up life. He just can’t resist coming back for the comfort Jacob has to offer, though.
Jacob is a study in patience, too passive in his best friend’s opinion. He worries he’s giving pieces of himself to Duff without getting anything in return. Duff is complicated, afraid of commitment, and full of secrets. Those secrets contain two interesting side plots, and when Duff finally shares some of himself with Jacob, their connection solidifies. As the book progresses, Jacob faces a decision – do the hard thing and fight for the man he loves but who is pushing him away, or let him go and put an end to the constant heartbreak.
There’s plenty of personality in the side characters. Jacob’s octogenarian grandparents, Nonna and Nonno, are beyond hilarious and love Jacob with all their might. As in the previous book, Arnie continues to be silly and fun and endearing, and always standing by Duff’s side. And Jacob’s best friend, Robbie, is a fiercely loyal, opinionated, hard ass who doesn’t approve of Duff.
I simply adore The Heart Heist and am so glad I chose to review it. It’s ending made me swoon. I eagerly await Charley’s story up next in The Boyfriend Spree, due out later this year.
RATING: 
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