Blog Tour + Review: "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" by Kelly Siskind

Today, I am very happy to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" by Kelly Siskind. This is the first book I've ever read by Ms. Siskind, but it's safe to say that it will not be the last. A full review is included later in this post, but in short, I very much enjoyed this quirky, funny, and sweet story with its wonderful characters and unique plot complete with a twist at the end that took me completely by surprise. I'm pleased to recommend "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" for all fans of contemporary romance.

About "Don't Go Stealing My Heart"

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

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

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

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

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

My Review

I very much enjoyed Kelly Siskind's "Don't Go Stealing My Heart," a sweet, quirky, funny, and ultimately uplifting story that featured wonderfully complex, well-developed characters and a unique, engaging plot complete with a twist at the end that I never saw coming. The Elvis theme that ran throughout the book was a lot of fun, as was the small-town setting of Whichway, Nebraska. I especially loved that the residents were so friendly and gave their businesses such comical names, in keeping with the town's history.

The main characters of this story, Jack and Clementine, were well-matched in spite of their very different upbringings, and I loved the slow burn of their relationship dynamic as they got to know each other over the course of the story. It took me a few chapters to warm up to Clementine because she seemed a bit prickly at first, but as she started to open up and I got to know and understand her, I fell in love with her just as much as Jack did. Given her line of work, it made sense that she would try to keep people at arm's length as much as possible, but I was so happy when she finally decided to let Jack see her true self.

Most of the time in his day-to-day life, Jack was endearingly nerdy and awkward, but he really came to life when performing his Elvis tribute act. Above all else, he tried to do what was best for his family, their company, and its employees, even though it was a challenge as he struggled to complete his research in time for the town's annual Elvis tribute festival. Jack also struggled with romantic relationships and had been burned several times in the past, but he really connected with Clementine and knew there was something special about her from the start. There were a number of roadblocks along their path to happiness, but I found it very easy to root for them along the way.

Overall, "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" was an excellent read and I look forward to checking out more of Ms. Siskind's work in the future.

*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.