Jewel Me Twice is like the old Reese’s Peanut Butter cup tag line. “Two great tastes that taste great together.” It combines two of my favorite things, a heist romance written by one of my auto-buy authors, Charish Reid. I liked Charish Reid from the first page of The Write Escape, and have enjoyed all of her books. I love the characters she writes and the relationships she builds with them.
As a side note, I got into a conversation about Charish Reid’s heroines, and the phrase “academia to heist pipeline” was introduced by ariana_reads. I think that if any of Reid’s heroines were faced with planning a heist, they could pull it off. If I wrote fanfiction, I would assemble a team of Reid’s lead characters, but I would put Celeste in charge. Dr. Doris Grant, Celeste’s mentor, did put Celeste on the academia to heist pipeline, though Celeste ultimately left academia to become an antiques dealer (and thief).
Celeste St. Pierre was once a part of a team of 5 that pulled off heists all over the world. One bad job and a falling out with her friend with benefits, Magnus Larsson, and the team disbanded. Now she owns an antique store and consults with wealthy clients. While on a job with her protege, Beatrice, running tech, Celeste runs into her former lover and makes off with a kiss and a tiara. A few days later the team is pulled back together by the last wishes of their former leader. She wants to send them on a last job to rectify some mistakes from the past. She’s giving Celeste and Magnus another shot at a relationship.
I love that Celeste and Magnus are in their 40s with all the self-knowledge and baggage that brings. Grief and regret are woven through the story. Though initially Celeste and Magnus downplay their past relationship, it becomes clear that they were both more serious and in love than they’ve been willing to admit. As they circle each other, they are each reexamining the past and making small movements towards emotional intimacy (they’ve already got a gold star in physical intimacy). It is a lovely and grown up romance. Jewel Me Twice gives the reader emotional depth and maturity along with stolen diamonds and some smoking hot pre-heist role playing.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Canary Street Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.