Official Review: The Art of Stealing by Sandi Perry

cdnollett · Post by **cdnollett** » 25 Sep 2015, 18:57

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Art of Stealing" by Sandi Perry.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Valentina Phillips is a reformed art thief and current art curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with an uncanny ability to reproduce priceless paintings. When her old flame Luca makes an unexpected reappearance into her life, she is drawn back into the exciting world she once left behind. The Art of Stealing is a story of love, life, and finding yourself; even if you think you have life figured out.

The story is well-written and has that knack for pulling in the reader so that you can’t put it down and are dying to know what happens next. There are no major plot holes, but there are some minor inconsistencies that can distract the reader momentarily from the story. There are a few continuity errors, and the flow of the book leaves a lot to be desired at the beginning, but I would urge a potential reader to “hang in there”, because it straightens out and turns into a great novel. This book can make you laugh with a few well-place jokes and witty banter (there’s even a Justin Beiber joke), can make you sad and emotional, and even contemplate your own life and the direction your life is taking.

It is written in the first person from Valentina’s perspective, and she is a delight. She’s a little sarcastic and has a quick-wit that makes you laugh. She’s a very secretive person, and doesn’t let many people get close to her. She has a few hang-ups, which are a little frustrating, but it seems as though they are justified the more you get pulled into the story. Her mother is Italian and her father is British. She grew up in Italy, attended school in England, and lives in New York. Her jet-setting continues through the book and you get to visit many countries and interesting places along with her.

Luca, on the other hand, is a more difficult character. He’s hard to read and is downright frustrating at times. He is hot and cold, and lets his past dictate his future a little too much. He’s also flighty and doesn’t seem to put down any roots, which makes it very difficult for a reader to connect with him. It’s clear the author wants to convey a mysterious persona, and it is well-achieved. However, the mysterious persona keeps the reader at a distance from Luca, rather than connecting with him.

The genre of this book is romance, however this is not a generic romantic novel. While predictable in some ways, it is refreshingly different. There are even some art and history lessons in the mix, which adds an interesting layer to the story and Valentina’s travels. The characters are all unique with many layers, rather than being two-dimensional. The dialogue between each of the characters is very well thought out and doesn’t feel forced. There are no slang terms used that give the feeling of the writer trying too hard or making the characters seem un-relatable.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers that feel they are stuck in a rut and reading practically the same novel with different characters and settings. I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

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The Art of Stealing
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kimmyschemy06 · Post by **kimmyschemy06** » 12 Nov 2015, 08:39

Nice review! I'm not much into romantic stories but I enjoy books about art and history.

Morgan Jones · Post by **Morgan Jones** » 16 Apr 2016, 12:59

The title totally caught my eye. I absolutely love it and I enjoy any books that include art and histroy; because they always include this sensitive, artistic feel to it. Defintely checking this book out.