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Stolen #1
Stolen Fury
To unearth a centuries-old secret, an archaeologist must team up with the rakish thief who’s stolen both an ancient relic and her heart…
Oh, is he handsome. And charming. And sexy as all get out. Dr. Lisa Maxwell isn’t the type to go home with a guy she barely knows. But, hey, this is Italy and the red-blooded Rafe Sullivan seems much more enticing than cataloging a bunch of dusty artifacts.
After being fully seduced, Lisa wakes to an empty bed and, worse yet, an empty safe. She’s staked her career as an archaeologist on collecting the three Furies, a priceless set of ancient Greek reliefs. Now the one she had is gone. But Lisa won’t just get mad. She’ll get even.
She tracks Rafe to Florida, and finds the sparks between them blaze hotter than the Miami sun. He may still have her relic, but he’ll never find all three without her. And they’re not the only ones on the hunt. To beat the other treasure seekers, they’ll have to partner up—because suddenly Lisa and Rafe are in a race just to stay alive.
Oh, is he handsome. And charming. And sexy as all get out. Dr. Lisa Maxwell isn’t the type to go home with a guy she barely knows. But, hey, this is Italy and the red-blooded Rafe Sullivan seems much more enticing than cataloging a bunch of dusty artifacts.
After being fully seduced, Lisa wakes to an empty bed and, worse yet, an empty safe. She’s staked her career as an archaeologist on collecting the three Furies, a priceless set of ancient Greek reliefs. Now the one she had is gone. But Lisa won’t just get mad. She’ll get even.
She tracks Rafe to Florida, and finds the sparks between them blaze hotter than the Miami sun. He may still have her relic, but he’ll never find all three without her. And they’re not the only ones on the hunt. To beat the other treasure seekers, they’ll have to partner up—because suddenly Lisa and Rafe are in a race just to stay alive.
339 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2008
About the author
Elisabeth Naughton
69 books3,145 followersBefore topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—award winning author Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Elisabeth now writes full-time.
Though primarily known for her romantic suspense work, Elisabeth has penned over thirty books and continues to write in multiple genres, including paranormal romance and contemporary romance. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have earned several award nominations, including three prestigious RITA® nominations from Romance Writers of America. In 2017, REPRESSED, the first book in her Deadly Secrets series, won the RITA® for best romantic suspense.
Elisabeth's work has been praised by the Chicago Tribune as being filled with "deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion.” Kirkus calls her "a writer talented enough at weaving a yarn to get her readers ensnared in it.” When not dreaming up new stories, Elisabeth can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home, wrangling two cats, or chasing after one very rambunctious Dalmatian.
Learn more about Elisabeth and her books at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.
Though primarily known for her romantic suspense work, Elisabeth has penned over thirty books and continues to write in multiple genres, including paranormal romance and contemporary romance. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have earned several award nominations, including three prestigious RITA® nominations from Romance Writers of America. In 2017, REPRESSED, the first book in her Deadly Secrets series, won the RITA® for best romantic suspense.
Elisabeth's work has been praised by the Chicago Tribune as being filled with "deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion.” Kirkus calls her "a writer talented enough at weaving a yarn to get her readers ensnared in it.” When not dreaming up new stories, Elisabeth can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home, wrangling two cats, or chasing after one very rambunctious Dalmatian.
Learn more about Elisabeth and her books at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
July 21, 2012
**Update 7/21/12 - This book is now available for free on Amazon.
Wow! What a ride!
Stolen Fury is the story of Dr. Lisa Maxwell, an accomplished archaeologist. Lisa is on a quest to find three ancient Greek artifacts – reliefs of the Three Furies. The book takes us on a chase through Italy, Greece, Chicago, Miami, and the Caribbean. While in Italy, Lisa meets the suave Rafe Sullivan, who woos her and manages to steal one of the Furies. Lisa is furious and enlists her police officer brother Shane’s help in tracking Rafe down. She finds Rafe, confronts him, and then becomes partners with him in order to track down the remaining artifacts.
I really enjoyed the story. It did feel like a female Indiana Jones story, albeit without the whip. The author maintained a good sexual tension between the two main characters. The supporting characters were interesting as well and I understand that the next books will focus on them. The villain was especially deranged and a little bit of a surprise.
At first, I disliked Lisa’s character. I mean, someone drugs her and steals a precious artifact from her, and she travels from Italy to Florida to confront him? On her own? And then partners with him to find the remaining artifacts? Lisa, have you no sense of self preservation? But Lisa’s character grew on me and by the end of the book, I really did like her.
Part of my initial dislike of Lisa’s character was due to her attraction to Rafe Sullivan. Rafe is described as being an Antonio Banderas lookalike. (What’s not to like there?) Rafe is a thief with a conscience and a duty to his family and friends. Rafe really has a difficult time reconciling his need to steal the artifact from Lisa and his attraction for her. Eventually, the attraction does win out and the sparks begin to fly. I liked how the author slowly revealed parts of Rafe’s life and his personality so we could see exactly why Lisa was attracted to him.
I found the book to be a great distraction during this busy holiday season. While I could not believe all that went on in the novel, it was worthy of suspending belief and just enjoying a good read. I’m starting the next novel in the series Stolen Heat today.
Check out my review (and more) on Badass Book Reviews
Wow! What a ride!
Stolen Fury is the story of Dr. Lisa Maxwell, an accomplished archaeologist. Lisa is on a quest to find three ancient Greek artifacts – reliefs of the Three Furies. The book takes us on a chase through Italy, Greece, Chicago, Miami, and the Caribbean. While in Italy, Lisa meets the suave Rafe Sullivan, who woos her and manages to steal one of the Furies. Lisa is furious and enlists her police officer brother Shane’s help in tracking Rafe down. She finds Rafe, confronts him, and then becomes partners with him in order to track down the remaining artifacts.
I really enjoyed the story. It did feel like a female Indiana Jones story, albeit without the whip. The author maintained a good sexual tension between the two main characters. The supporting characters were interesting as well and I understand that the next books will focus on them. The villain was especially deranged and a little bit of a surprise.
At first, I disliked Lisa’s character. I mean, someone drugs her and steals a precious artifact from her, and she travels from Italy to Florida to confront him? On her own? And then partners with him to find the remaining artifacts? Lisa, have you no sense of self preservation? But Lisa’s character grew on me and by the end of the book, I really did like her.
Part of my initial dislike of Lisa’s character was due to her attraction to Rafe Sullivan. Rafe is described as being an Antonio Banderas lookalike. (What’s not to like there?) Rafe is a thief with a conscience and a duty to his family and friends. Rafe really has a difficult time reconciling his need to steal the artifact from Lisa and his attraction for her. Eventually, the attraction does win out and the sparks begin to fly. I liked how the author slowly revealed parts of Rafe’s life and his personality so we could see exactly why Lisa was attracted to him.
I found the book to be a great distraction during this busy holiday season. While I could not believe all that went on in the novel, it was worthy of suspending belief and just enjoying a good read. I’m starting the next novel in the series Stolen Heat today.
Check out my review (and more) on Badass Book Reviews
September 5, 2020
This one was just okay. I was expecting a lot more actual searching for artifacts and long lost treasures, but instead we got one scene in the prologue, then Rafe and Lisa going to different places to talk to people. For almost the entire book. Then, we only got some more action at the end. Sure people were trying to kill them along the way, but I wanted a lot more treasure hunting than we actually got. The romance was okay. I'm not sure I felt that connected to it other than the fact that they just were super attracted to each other. I also got confused who all of the characters were, especially when we were taken away from Lisa and Rafe and place in a new 3rd person POV who we haven't heard from before.
This wasn't a bad read, it just wasn't anything special.
This wasn't a bad read, it just wasn't anything special.
May 11, 2015
I have just discovered this author and read her paranormal romance Eternal Guardians Series which I loved.
Having seen that she also writes romantic suspense, which is another of my favorite genres, I started with her Stolen Series, described by the author as..
Stolen Fury, the 1st book in the Stolen Series, gave us all of that!!!! And more!!!
A female Indiana Jones……as the lead character!!! I could not wait to start reading !!
The adventure begins from the first sentence….
Dr Lisa Maxwell – is the kind of heroine I adore. Mature….yes, no simpering, naïve and whiny woman…in her thirty’s, knows what she wants and goes for it.
That man is known by many names, one of them - Rafe Sullivan (just by the way, his real name is Rafe Garcia!!!!). This is the ultimate anti-hero.
Dark, sexy and gorgeous (described as looking a bit like Antonio Banderas!!!! ) Imagine any woman being able to resist a man like this!!!!!
Dr Lisa Maxwell certainly did not..pity it cost her the treasured piece she had just excavated from a cave in Jamaica…illegally I must add!!!! Totally enraptured by his seduction, she never realized what he actually was
A thief – but wait…he’s a good one though…what I mean is that this guy has a heart of gold…I kid you not…you find that out as we continue with the story!!! Look, let’s just say that he steals priceless items for a gallery he co-owns with a friend…but he only does that as a last resort – if the owner does not want to sell, he comes back to get it for free!!!!!! And one way he does it….seduces Lisa, drugs her and runs away with her treasure!!!!! Oh, he did feel a tinge of regret when he left her sleeping off the drug he gave her….especially sorry that they didn’t go all the way before she knocked out…should have checked the dosage!!!!!!!
This being the author’s debut novel was pretty impressive!!!!
Well written, believable and endearing characters, stunning settings, well researched Greek mythology and a fun and fast paced ride!
Liz tracks down the thieving Rafe to the Florida Keys…and their second meeting was so totally fabulous!
What follows is a funny, sexy, action packed, dangerous and exciting treasure hunt when the two form a “working” relationship that has them running from the bad guys who want the same thing they are looking for. The Greek mythical Furies statues
I loved the verbal sparring between these two. The sexual tension was – something like ….sparks flying!!!
The secondary characters are really interesting. Lisa’s cop brother, Shane. Rafe’s ex wife, Hailey and Peter Kaufmann, Rafe’s business partner in the gallery they own together in Miami and I even warmed up to Rafe’s wasteful brother in the end.
I am really looking forward to their stories.
I am so looking forward to book #2, which is Peter Kauffman’s story!!!
And if you are a lover of paranormal romance, try her Eternal Guardians Series – you can check out my reviews here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Having seen that she also writes romantic suspense, which is another of my favorite genres, I started with her Stolen Series, described by the author as..
Filled with globe-trotting adventure, steamy romance and riveting suspense, the Stolen books are red-hot romantic adventures that will appeal to fans of Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones.
Stolen Fury, the 1st book in the Stolen Series, gave us all of that!!!! And more!!!
A female Indiana Jones……as the lead character!!! I could not wait to start reading !!
The adventure begins from the first sentence….
Dr Lisa Maxwell – is the kind of heroine I adore. Mature….yes, no simpering, naïve and whiny woman…in her thirty’s, knows what she wants and goes for it.
And what she’s on a treasure hunt to find an ancient Greek relic (yes a bit of Greek mythology here!), which she does and which she has stolen from her when she allows herself to be seduced by a gorgeous and mysterious man attending her lecture in Milan.
That man is known by many names, one of them - Rafe Sullivan (just by the way, his real name is Rafe Garcia!!!!). This is the ultimate anti-hero.
Dark, sexy and gorgeous (described as looking a bit like Antonio Banderas!!!! ) Imagine any woman being able to resist a man like this!!!!!
Dr Lisa Maxwell certainly did not..pity it cost her the treasured piece she had just excavated from a cave in Jamaica…illegally I must add!!!! Totally enraptured by his seduction, she never realized what he actually was
A thief – but wait…he’s a good one though…what I mean is that this guy has a heart of gold…I kid you not…you find that out as we continue with the story!!! Look, let’s just say that he steals priceless items for a gallery he co-owns with a friend…but he only does that as a last resort – if the owner does not want to sell, he comes back to get it for free!!!!!! And one way he does it….seduces Lisa, drugs her and runs away with her treasure!!!!! Oh, he did feel a tinge of regret when he left her sleeping off the drug he gave her….especially sorry that they didn’t go all the way before she knocked out…should have checked the dosage!!!!!!!
This being the author’s debut novel was pretty impressive!!!!
Well written, believable and endearing characters, stunning settings, well researched Greek mythology and a fun and fast paced ride!
Liz tracks down the thieving Rafe to the Florida Keys…and their second meeting was so totally fabulous!
“Nice to see you again, querido." Her flat palms connected with his solid chest. She pushed hard, catching him off guard, knocking him right off his feet.”Yes, Dr Lisa Maxwell is back to her normal self….
What follows is a funny, sexy, action packed, dangerous and exciting treasure hunt when the two form a “working” relationship that has them running from the bad guys who want the same thing they are looking for. The Greek mythical Furies statues
I loved the verbal sparring between these two. The sexual tension was – something like ….sparks flying!!!
Then trying to ignore the feelings that are growing for each other!!! It certainly made great reading….At times, it had me wanting to grab the two and get some sense into their heads…you know…
The secondary characters are really interesting. Lisa’s cop brother, Shane. Rafe’s ex wife, Hailey and Peter Kaufmann, Rafe’s business partner in the gallery they own together in Miami and I even warmed up to Rafe’s wasteful brother in the end.
I am really looking forward to their stories.
I am so looking forward to book #2, which is Peter Kauffman’s story!!!
And if you are a lover of paranormal romance, try her Eternal Guardians Series – you can check out my reviews here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
March 29, 2009
Fun action/adventure/suspense romance with a great hero and heroine duo. A great suspsense plot with plenty of twists and turns. Fans of the romance suspense genre will especially enjoy this one. The story takes place in Europe, US and the Carribean. Dr. Lisa Maxwell and Rafe Sullivan both are trying to find three marble statues known as the furies. Only a few believe they exist, but years of research has these two believing they are real. And pricless! And of course bad guys want them too, so as Lisa and Rafe gets closer to finding all three statues, the bad guys get closer on their heals.
Rafe is an absolutely delicious latin-lover hero. His background is a theif, which made for a very interesting hero of a romance book. But his motives are pure good. Lisa is a smart firecracker who works perfectly with Rafe. Their dialog and chemistry is first-rate fun stuff. The sensuality was medium-warm,(nothing too graphic), but the tension between hero/heroine took it up a notch.
My only beef with the story is it took so dang long to really understand what motivated these two to risk so much for these marble statues. With all the risk, danger and money being spent globe trotting around the world I didn't always understand WHY. Yeah, they are pricless statues but these two were not greedy, money hungry people. Their motives were clearly elsewhere. But when all is revealed it made great sense.
Overall, an amazing debut. I look forward to reading more by this author. Fans of romance suspense with a fast moving plot will enjoy this one a lot.
Rafe is an absolutely delicious latin-lover hero. His background is a theif, which made for a very interesting hero of a romance book. But his motives are pure good. Lisa is a smart firecracker who works perfectly with Rafe. Their dialog and chemistry is first-rate fun stuff. The sensuality was medium-warm,(nothing too graphic), but the tension between hero/heroine took it up a notch.
My only beef with the story is it took so dang long to really understand what motivated these two to risk so much for these marble statues. With all the risk, danger and money being spent globe trotting around the world I didn't always understand WHY. Yeah, they are pricless statues but these two were not greedy, money hungry people. Their motives were clearly elsewhere. But when all is revealed it made great sense.
Overall, an amazing debut. I look forward to reading more by this author. Fans of romance suspense with a fast moving plot will enjoy this one a lot.
March 8, 2009
Dr. Lisa Maxwell is happily teaching a lecture in Milan, smug in the knowledge that nestled in her hotel safe lies one of the three fabled Furies. After fifteen years she finally has one of the Furies in her possession and she's already on the hunt for the next one. She's at the top of her game and she figures nothing is going to stand in her way. Until she's slipped a mickey by the suavest, most lust inducing man she's ever encountered, who has the most delicious panty dropping spanish accent she's ever heard. When she wakes up she's enraged to discover that she's lost her treasure just after finding it and she tracks Rafe Sullivan to Florida where she proceeds to show him hell hath no fury like a woman slipped a mickey and robbed in the middle of the night. Rafe may have lost his panty dropping Antonio Banderasesque accent, but he's still got enough to charm his way out of her righteous anger. He proposes a deal. Lisa will help him find the next Fury and he'll return the Fury he stole from her. (Yeah, right) Lisa is no one's fool, at least not twice, and she figures the only way to beat Rafe at his own game is to at least get into the game. Their new partnership takes them from Florida to Chicago and then to the Bahamas. Lisa and Rafe discover that while they may have teamed up and gotten an edge over the competition, so have a lot of other shady characters. This story has bullets whizzing, bodies dropping like flies, encoded secrets lost in time, and the emergence of three small statues that will change history.
If you like action adventure movies then you will love this book. It's like Fool's Gold, Romancing the Stone, National Treasure, and Into the Blue all rolled into one paperback novel. Rafe is sexy and roguish and has enough hidden depths to make him interesting. Lisa has got quite a past which definitely comes back to haunt her and it allowed Elisabeth Naughton to throw a few curveballs our way in regards to the plot. There are also the requisite sidekicks in Lisa's twin brother Shane and in Rafe's ex-wife who tags along for the ride. I can already sense the raised eyebrows with that little tidbit. There are no romantic entanglements between Rafe and his exwife Hailey and in fact, Hailey and Shane might possibly get it on in a later book in this series.
I really enjoyed this story. Some parts were slow, but when this story got moving, it really moved! The sex in this book was pretty tame. No words that rhymed with rock and no catlike references to female genitalia. Lisa and Rafe are in their late thirties and early forties, which just means that when the bullets were whizzing by they were old enough to know better, but figured what the heck and went for it anyway. The sexual heat between Lisa and Rafe was good but this book's strength definitely lied in it's fun action. Stolen Fury is pure popcorn entertainment complete with a feisty, independent and capable heroine and a handsome, dripping wet sexy rogue, all backdropped against the bright blue Caribbean Sea. There's definitely something for everyone in this fun, fast paced new book by Elisabeth Naughton.
If you like action adventure movies then you will love this book. It's like Fool's Gold, Romancing the Stone, National Treasure, and Into the Blue all rolled into one paperback novel. Rafe is sexy and roguish and has enough hidden depths to make him interesting. Lisa has got quite a past which definitely comes back to haunt her and it allowed Elisabeth Naughton to throw a few curveballs our way in regards to the plot. There are also the requisite sidekicks in Lisa's twin brother Shane and in Rafe's ex-wife who tags along for the ride. I can already sense the raised eyebrows with that little tidbit. There are no romantic entanglements between Rafe and his exwife Hailey and in fact, Hailey and Shane might possibly get it on in a later book in this series.
I really enjoyed this story. Some parts were slow, but when this story got moving, it really moved! The sex in this book was pretty tame. No words that rhymed with rock and no catlike references to female genitalia. Lisa and Rafe are in their late thirties and early forties, which just means that when the bullets were whizzing by they were old enough to know better, but figured what the heck and went for it anyway. The sexual heat between Lisa and Rafe was good but this book's strength definitely lied in it's fun action. Stolen Fury is pure popcorn entertainment complete with a feisty, independent and capable heroine and a handsome, dripping wet sexy rogue, all backdropped against the bright blue Caribbean Sea. There's definitely something for everyone in this fun, fast paced new book by Elisabeth Naughton.
May 19, 2013
Contemporary romance shouldn't be different from a fantasy. Even if the world is real, things like world and plot should be well "done".
Clearly I do not expect an author to explain to me the real world, as its mine too. But I do expect it to be real, coherent, not a make-believe to suit their mood.
At the same time I expect characters to show at least some remembrance of a real person.
Living in Europe, I know for an unfortunate fact that treasure hunters exists and so do historical/art thieves. I admit do not like to see them "elevated" to hero status, but even I am a fan of Indy to let it go.
Unfortunately, the hero is a real thief and, whatever his holy reasons (he will have them), he is still a thief. He has no problem in duping and betraying someone to take what he wants, making the theft more personal and cruel.
He has no problem keeping on, either.
I have a bigger problem in accepting a university professor as a tomb rider. And a bigger one in accepting that a guy with a BA in Arts could dupe an Archaeology professor into believing he's one of her colleagues.
(As I said even a cont. needs coherence, just of a different type.)
I didn't like the heroine either. I'm not a fan of one-night stands, but this is judgemental and shouldn't be considered. :) I didn't. < grin > I did take into account the fact she knows he's a thief, that he has seduced and drugged her to gain access to what he wanted. She knows he'll do it again, that he's using her. But of course she pants after him, she lusts after his body every time she looks at him.
And I'm sorry I can't really stand this kind of stories anymore. Women are not stupid, are not driven by sex hormones. We have a brain and can use it too.
I have nothing against a love story between this two. But make this such, for God's sake. Make them realize they fell in love, make this a real enemy to lover story. Make me believe these characters are real. As it is I don't know anyone (male or female) who is so much hormone/lust blinded. The people I know are everyday folks.They wouldn't like to be duped, they might react in all different ways, but react they would. And without lust.
I suspect this kind of stories works better at the theatre. On the big screen you'll fall for Michael Douglass' charms too. Quite easily too :D But on the page, unless the author is really great and makes you feel the heroine, it doesn't really work.
At Chapter 8 while he plots how to dupe her again (even if he feels guilty, heh, as this should make the situation any better), while sexing her, I quit. Too many books, too little time.
Clearly I do not expect an author to explain to me the real world, as its mine too. But I do expect it to be real, coherent, not a make-believe to suit their mood.
At the same time I expect characters to show at least some remembrance of a real person.
Living in Europe, I know for an unfortunate fact that treasure hunters exists and so do historical/art thieves. I admit do not like to see them "elevated" to hero status, but even I am a fan of Indy to let it go.
Unfortunately, the hero is a real thief and, whatever his holy reasons (he will have them), he is still a thief. He has no problem in duping and betraying someone to take what he wants, making the theft more personal and cruel.
He has no problem keeping on, either.
I have a bigger problem in accepting a university professor as a tomb rider. And a bigger one in accepting that a guy with a BA in Arts could dupe an Archaeology professor into believing he's one of her colleagues.
(As I said even a cont. needs coherence, just of a different type.)
I didn't like the heroine either. I'm not a fan of one-night stands, but this is judgemental and shouldn't be considered. :) I didn't. < grin > I did take into account the fact she knows he's a thief, that he has seduced and drugged her to gain access to what he wanted. She knows he'll do it again, that he's using her. But of course she pants after him, she lusts after his body every time she looks at him.
And I'm sorry I can't really stand this kind of stories anymore. Women are not stupid, are not driven by sex hormones. We have a brain and can use it too.
I have nothing against a love story between this two. But make this such, for God's sake. Make them realize they fell in love, make this a real enemy to lover story. Make me believe these characters are real. As it is I don't know anyone (male or female) who is so much hormone/lust blinded. The people I know are everyday folks.They wouldn't like to be duped, they might react in all different ways, but react they would. And without lust.
I suspect this kind of stories works better at the theatre. On the big screen you'll fall for Michael Douglass' charms too. Quite easily too :D But on the page, unless the author is really great and makes you feel the heroine, it doesn't really work.
At Chapter 8 while he plots how to dupe her again (even if he feels guilty, heh, as this should make the situation any better), while sexing her, I quit. Too many books, too little time.
March 17, 2010
Stolen Fury is a solid, fantastic debut novel. It iss fast-paced, steamy, hot and action packed. Elisabeth Naughton has completely pulled me into her series with this first read. When I read romance suspense novels there are key elements that I look for: drama, action, romance and realistic scenarios. I got all of that and then some in this book. The action and suspense did not overshadow the romance and vice versa. There was enough of each element to satisfy my needs.
For years, Dr. Lisa Maxwell has worked hard to find three precious artifacts. Finally, gets her hands on one of the pieces, only to have it stolen by an art thief, whom she has a steamy encounter with in Milan.
Rafe Sullivan regrettably leaves Lisa in her hotel room after he steals the Fury. Thinking he has escaped her, Rafe is completely surprised when Lisa shows up on his boat in Key West. The exchange between the two is hilarious. I loved reading the constant humourous banter between Rafe and hilarious.
Realizing the only way to ger her piece back is to team up with Rafe and hunt down the other furies, leaves Lisa steaming. She vows to make him suffer and boy does she. Lisa is a bad tempered, foul mouth, fiesty, witty and smart heroine. I loved her smart mouth and quick lines. She reminded me of myself.
Rafe is a multi-layered character whom I found myself loving. He was a hot Puerto Rican who was more than what he protrayed to Lisa. I enjoyed watching Lisa slowly expose Rafe's character in pieces. The H/H was complimented each other and I flipped through each page, waiting for the moment that they realized that each other was the one. The sexual buildup was intense and I felt the heat pour off the pages.
The action scenes were intense and written so vividly that I saw the scenes unfold clearly in my mind. I felt like I was dodging bullets right along with Rafe and Lisa. The secondary characters like Hailey, Shane and Pete were well developed and I look forward to reading more about them in later books.
Overall, Stolen fury is a wonderful, intense and suspenseful read. I recommend this book for those who would enjoy a high intensity, funny and action packed romance. I believe that EN can be an auto buy for me.
For years, Dr. Lisa Maxwell has worked hard to find three precious artifacts. Finally, gets her hands on one of the pieces, only to have it stolen by an art thief, whom she has a steamy encounter with in Milan.
Rafe Sullivan regrettably leaves Lisa in her hotel room after he steals the Fury. Thinking he has escaped her, Rafe is completely surprised when Lisa shows up on his boat in Key West. The exchange between the two is hilarious. I loved reading the constant humourous banter between Rafe and hilarious.
Realizing the only way to ger her piece back is to team up with Rafe and hunt down the other furies, leaves Lisa steaming. She vows to make him suffer and boy does she. Lisa is a bad tempered, foul mouth, fiesty, witty and smart heroine. I loved her smart mouth and quick lines. She reminded me of myself.
Rafe is a multi-layered character whom I found myself loving. He was a hot Puerto Rican who was more than what he protrayed to Lisa. I enjoyed watching Lisa slowly expose Rafe's character in pieces. The H/H was complimented each other and I flipped through each page, waiting for the moment that they realized that each other was the one. The sexual buildup was intense and I felt the heat pour off the pages.
The action scenes were intense and written so vividly that I saw the scenes unfold clearly in my mind. I felt like I was dodging bullets right along with Rafe and Lisa. The secondary characters like Hailey, Shane and Pete were well developed and I look forward to reading more about them in later books.
Overall, Stolen fury is a wonderful, intense and suspenseful read. I recommend this book for those who would enjoy a high intensity, funny and action packed romance. I believe that EN can be an auto buy for me.
September 28, 2010
Ok for action, adventure and buried treasures, but I wasn’t drawn in emotionally, which is what I want for a romance novel.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
On the book’s cover, the story is compared to the movies Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone - a lot of action scenes with stealing treasure and bad guys chasing good guys. It had the ingredients for romance, but it had no spark for me. It was missing something. The characters sounded like they should be interesting, but I wasn’t drawn to them emotionally. I didn’t find myself smiling, chuckling or being surprised enough. A minor point, but noticeable, was the use of artificial cliffhangers. On several occasions, the author stopped a scene in the middle of a dramatic moment, to be continued a few pages later. I’m willing to accept limited use of this by authors, but in this story, it bothered me. I also had problems with the ending which confused me.
STORY BRIEF:
Lisa is an archaeologist searching for three ancient Greek marble sculptures called the Furies. She found one. Rafe steals it from her. He offers to give it back if she helps him find another one of the Furies. She agrees. Bad guys chase and try to kill them during the process.
DATA:
Story length: 339 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 4. Total number of sex scene pages: 17. Setting: current day Jamaica, Milan, Italy, Chicago, Illinois, Miami, Florida, Bahama Islands, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Copyright: 2009. Genre: romantic suspense.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
On the book’s cover, the story is compared to the movies Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone - a lot of action scenes with stealing treasure and bad guys chasing good guys. It had the ingredients for romance, but it had no spark for me. It was missing something. The characters sounded like they should be interesting, but I wasn’t drawn to them emotionally. I didn’t find myself smiling, chuckling or being surprised enough. A minor point, but noticeable, was the use of artificial cliffhangers. On several occasions, the author stopped a scene in the middle of a dramatic moment, to be continued a few pages later. I’m willing to accept limited use of this by authors, but in this story, it bothered me. I also had problems with the ending which confused me.
STORY BRIEF:
Lisa is an archaeologist searching for three ancient Greek marble sculptures called the Furies. She found one. Rafe steals it from her. He offers to give it back if she helps him find another one of the Furies. She agrees. Bad guys chase and try to kill them during the process.
DATA:
Story length: 339 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 4. Total number of sex scene pages: 17. Setting: current day Jamaica, Milan, Italy, Chicago, Illinois, Miami, Florida, Bahama Islands, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Copyright: 2009. Genre: romantic suspense.
June 29, 2010
Yeah, my exclamation in the only reading update for this book was quite right. This was an impulse buy (with the rest of the trilogy), based on the good reviews I read up here.
Well, let me tell you, many more such impulse buys for me, please.
This was a great mix of action, adventure, drama, angst, romance, and treasure-hunt. Great pacing, wonderful, fully-developped characters, great back-story, good, solid issues and character flaws, and one heck of a treasure-hunt plot keep things lively, and page-turningly interesting.
Add to it a smokin' hot hero (love the accent), smokin' hot tension between the hero and heroine, resulting in a couple of explosive and scorching bedroom-tango scenes, lovely little tidbits about the falling-in-love part (boy, were they goners or not), loads of fun, humor, and laugh-out-loud scenes, great banter, and overall a well-rounded and developped story, and you have yourself a winner.
I loved the fact not everything was concentrating on the hero-heroine dynamic and story. Ms. Naughton succeeded in making all the characters believable, to the point the reader wants to learn more about them, keep following them into the future.
Thanks to the brief glimpses into the blurbs of the next two books, I won't be disappointed.
Excellent! 5 stars
Well, let me tell you, many more such impulse buys for me, please.
This was a great mix of action, adventure, drama, angst, romance, and treasure-hunt. Great pacing, wonderful, fully-developped characters, great back-story, good, solid issues and character flaws, and one heck of a treasure-hunt plot keep things lively, and page-turningly interesting.
Add to it a smokin' hot hero (love the accent), smokin' hot tension between the hero and heroine, resulting in a couple of explosive and scorching bedroom-tango scenes, lovely little tidbits about the falling-in-love part (boy, were they goners or not), loads of fun, humor, and laugh-out-loud scenes, great banter, and overall a well-rounded and developped story, and you have yourself a winner.
I loved the fact not everything was concentrating on the hero-heroine dynamic and story. Ms. Naughton succeeded in making all the characters believable, to the point the reader wants to learn more about them, keep following them into the future.
Thanks to the brief glimpses into the blurbs of the next two books, I won't be disappointed.
Excellent! 5 stars
January 12, 2009
This debut is fabulously original, and I can't wait to read the rest in the series. The treasure hunt kept me intrigued, but the romantic tension kept me up late! Rafe is one of the most unique heroes I have read in a very long time, and I won't soon forget him! I loved the intense attraction between Rafe and Lisa and really enjoyed their banter. If you've been wishing for more lighter Romantic Suspense (no serial killers here!) with plenty of action and steamy heat, then you'll find a treasure here. Fans of Susan Andersen, Christie Ridgeway, Rachel Gibson, Patti Berg, Lori Foster, and Christina Dodd's Contemporaries will want to welcome this addition to their must-read lists!
October 1, 2017
Lisa Maxwell could give lessons to Lara Croft and Indiana Jones!
For me this was an action packed ride filled with breathtaking descriptions of exotic locations, wonderfully thought out twists, a very determined protagonist and the sizzle and heat between Lisa and Rafe hiked the romance readers enjoyment to the max as they worked both against and with each other in pursuit of the priceless relics at the heart of this story.
There were quite a few threads woven through this book, some of which converged and some of which should be explored more fully as the series progresses.
For me this was an action packed ride filled with breathtaking descriptions of exotic locations, wonderfully thought out twists, a very determined protagonist and the sizzle and heat between Lisa and Rafe hiked the romance readers enjoyment to the max as they worked both against and with each other in pursuit of the priceless relics at the heart of this story.
There were quite a few threads woven through this book, some of which converged and some of which should be explored more fully as the series progresses.
January 18, 2010
I bought and read this book because of seeing it compared to "Romancing the Stone" on Amazon. After reading it, that description ended up being a very accurate one. The beginning was great! I then enjoyed the near constant action and the relationship development very much. It would have been a 5 star read for me if the ending hadn't been off for my tastes. Too coincidental at one point which I could have lived with, it is fiction after all. But then to end with a sudden separation instead of some good communication to get to the HEA? I was riding an amazing high, thrilled with the book and looking forward to it being a favorite re-read until then. I can go with a flat start, or middle but not feeling flat at the end of a good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2014
The first book in the Stolen Trilogy by Elisabeth Naughton. It wasn't bad. Fast-paced with plenty of action and romance. Not a great fan of the criminal hero/heroine theme and was tempted to give only 3 stars but Ms. Naughton did a good job and it wouldn't be fair of me to lower the rating because I didn't like that element in the story. Also I knew about it going into the book but the rave reviews made me pick it up.
June 12, 2021
A good mystery and adventure. Lisa is a little bit Indiana Jones, little bit too trusting and full of sass and strength. Rafe is a little bit Robin Hood and a good looking thief. This is their story of trying find missing treasure and beating criminals at their own game.
August 29, 2015
3.5 stars
I'm not sure what it was about the cover and blurb on the back that led to me expecting this one to not quite hit the mark for me. Something about the focus on artifacts, I guess, that just doesn't work for me in fiction. Thankfully, I enjoyed this one more than I expected.
Stolen Fury has a touch of the enemies to lovers theme about it, although with a twist. It almost happens all at once. When archaeologist Dr. Lisa Maxwell decides to do something out of the ordinary and go for a one-night-stand with the sexy, charming, accented stranger, neither expect what happens.
Although Rafe Sullivan (aka Raphael Garcia) planned this out, he didn’t expect to be so attracted to Lisa, and Lisa certainly didn’t expect to be drugged and robbed of her most precious possession. No longer one to take things lying down (no pun intended), Lisa immediately goes after Raphael, who she now knows is really just Rafe, determined to get even.
Again, neither gets what they bargained for, and instead they find themselves reluctant and wary partners on a dangerous mission that carries them across the world and pairs them in the face of grave danger, while they fight their enemies and the growing attraction between them.
Stolen Fury is solid, well-paced and well-written romantic suspense. Had I written this review at the time of reading, I probably would have rated it a solid 4 stars. Unfortunately, with the passage of a short amount of time and a number of subsequent reads, it has proven to lack that quality that would set it apart.
While I had a great time reading it, it is now largely forgotten and I have struggled to remember any specific details. That said, I enjoyed it enough to read the next in the series.
I'm not sure what it was about the cover and blurb on the back that led to me expecting this one to not quite hit the mark for me. Something about the focus on artifacts, I guess, that just doesn't work for me in fiction. Thankfully, I enjoyed this one more than I expected.
Stolen Fury has a touch of the enemies to lovers theme about it, although with a twist. It almost happens all at once. When archaeologist Dr. Lisa Maxwell decides to do something out of the ordinary and go for a one-night-stand with the sexy, charming, accented stranger, neither expect what happens.
Although Rafe Sullivan (aka Raphael Garcia) planned this out, he didn’t expect to be so attracted to Lisa, and Lisa certainly didn’t expect to be drugged and robbed of her most precious possession. No longer one to take things lying down (no pun intended), Lisa immediately goes after Raphael, who she now knows is really just Rafe, determined to get even.
Again, neither gets what they bargained for, and instead they find themselves reluctant and wary partners on a dangerous mission that carries them across the world and pairs them in the face of grave danger, while they fight their enemies and the growing attraction between them.
Stolen Fury is solid, well-paced and well-written romantic suspense. Had I written this review at the time of reading, I probably would have rated it a solid 4 stars. Unfortunately, with the passage of a short amount of time and a number of subsequent reads, it has proven to lack that quality that would set it apart.
While I had a great time reading it, it is now largely forgotten and I have struggled to remember any specific details. That said, I enjoyed it enough to read the next in the series.
April 29, 2016
Unearthing one in an infamous set of ancient Greek artifacts depicting the Furies in Jamaica, world class archaeologist, Dr. Lisa Maxwell barely escapes with her body and booty, the illegally obtained prize intact. Crisscrossing the globe with stops in the Florida Keys, Milan, the Bahamas, Chicago and Puerto Rico and points in between, Lisa's on a quest to regain, obtain and retain the three reliefs.
Suave, sexy, charming and smart no-goodnik, Rafe Sullivan (one of many last names) rescues Lisa from a sticky situation between two undesirables. But Rafe's reasons were definitely not altruistic. He needed to use charm, he did. He wanted the Jamaican Fury and wasn't above theft to obtain it. Much to Lisa's chagrin, seduction and lacing her drink with drugs are also in Rafe's repertoire.
The worse than Rafe guys are after the pair because they too want the artifacts and are a few steps behind Lisa and Rafe as they try to work together without giving into the full blown attraction that has exploded between them. There was good chemistry between the leads and the supporting characters and enough about Greek Mythology to intrigue and interest this reader.
.
With a combination of a 'take no prisoners or crap' female holding her own in the boys club without sacrificing her femininity and a handy, dandy rogue at her back, the pages flew fast. This outing is definitely for romantic suspense, Indiana Jones and/or Romancing the Stone fans, maybe even Lara Croft for adults with sex and romance. Archaeology is definitely for girls!
Rating:4.5stars
Suave, sexy, charming and smart no-goodnik, Rafe Sullivan (one of many last names) rescues Lisa from a sticky situation between two undesirables. But Rafe's reasons were definitely not altruistic. He needed to use charm, he did. He wanted the Jamaican Fury and wasn't above theft to obtain it. Much to Lisa's chagrin, seduction and lacing her drink with drugs are also in Rafe's repertoire.
The worse than Rafe guys are after the pair because they too want the artifacts and are a few steps behind Lisa and Rafe as they try to work together without giving into the full blown attraction that has exploded between them. There was good chemistry between the leads and the supporting characters and enough about Greek Mythology to intrigue and interest this reader.
.
With a combination of a 'take no prisoners or crap' female holding her own in the boys club without sacrificing her femininity and a handy, dandy rogue at her back, the pages flew fast. This outing is definitely for romantic suspense, Indiana Jones and/or Romancing the Stone fans, maybe even Lara Croft for adults with sex and romance. Archaeology is definitely for girls!
Rating:4.5stars
June 10, 2014
3.5 stars
First of all this was freebie I got a while back and for some reason I though it was a vampire story. I only found out it was romantic suspense after reading 20% of it!!
It was an Indiana Jones kind of story . A bunch of good guys and bad guys were after 3 ancient artefacts.
I thought it was a bit too long , not that it was boring ,it just could have been a bit shorter and I would have given it higher rating.I had a few other problems with it . The hero was a thief , glorified one but still a thief .This bothered me a bit .
There was a twist at the end of the book which didn't go well with the story and it left a lot unsaid(remember I said it was too long?) anyway just ignoring all these ,I did enjoy it . I guess you just shouldn't take it too seriously and analyse the details.
I'm interested in the other couples in this series ,I might read the next books sometimes in the future.
First of all this was freebie I got a while back and for some reason I though it was a vampire story. I only found out it was romantic suspense after reading 20% of it!!
It was an Indiana Jones kind of story . A bunch of good guys and bad guys were after 3 ancient artefacts.
I thought it was a bit too long , not that it was boring ,it just could have been a bit shorter and I would have given it higher rating.I had a few other problems with it . The hero was a thief , glorified one but still a thief .This bothered me a bit .
There was a twist at the end of the book which didn't go well with the story and it left a lot unsaid(remember I said it was too long?) anyway just ignoring all these ,I did enjoy it . I guess you just shouldn't take it too seriously and analyse the details.
I'm interested in the other couples in this series ,I might read the next books sometimes in the future.
September 15, 2013
My first thought when I began reading this was how similar the premise sounded to Three Fates by Nora Roberts, and as the story progressed there were certain plot elements that solidified that impression. However, while the plot was basically a good one, Naughton never quite managed to make me believe in these characters. They seemed, well, like *characters* as opposed to real people, and the secondary characters were little more than props. Though she spent quite a bit of time telling us (via internal monologue)about the sexual tension between the main characters, as well as their individual pain due to certain experiences in their past, I never really connected with the characters enough to feel those emotions. So, while the plot kept my attention, I felt that the characters themselves weren't fleshed out enough to really carry it off.
August 27, 2012
This was actually pretty good.
The first in a series of books about stolen art & relics. Lisa finds one of three relics only to have it stolen by a super hot guy she spent an evening with in Italy. Luckily her brother the cop tracked him down & she can get her relic back. Unfortunately nothing goes as planned & they have to partner up to find the remaining ones.
It was a short fast read with plenty of action & romance. I will eventually go on to the next book. This one gets only a 4 star rating because having to compare to her argonaught books... this one pales!
The first in a series of books about stolen art & relics. Lisa finds one of three relics only to have it stolen by a super hot guy she spent an evening with in Italy. Luckily her brother the cop tracked him down & she can get her relic back. Unfortunately nothing goes as planned & they have to partner up to find the remaining ones.
It was a short fast read with plenty of action & romance. I will eventually go on to the next book. This one gets only a 4 star rating because having to compare to her argonaught books... this one pales!
December 11, 2022
I hated Rafe who is a lying, scheming jerk from the beginning with no plans to change his ways. Lisa was just too flattered at his attention and his looks to be totally believable. As a whole, professional women are smarter and more sure of themselves than this. I couldn't see a future for these two and struggled to complete this book. I won't be continuing the series.
January 27, 2020
F U N !!!! this book is a total blast to read... H/H were a hoot and the secondary characters were a blast to.
A thief
An Archaeologist ,,, oil and water.
YES read this !!!
A thief
An Archaeologist ,,, oil and water.
YES read this !!!
August 8, 2014
SEMI-REVIEW; AUGUST 6, 2014
Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley
4 stars for the narrator
3 stars is for the 32% of the book I listened to.
Why I'm aborting: Too much thinking about sex and how hot the other is. It could be that I prefer my MCs to just get on with the deed then get me back to the action/suspense plot.
It could also be that I don't like the H/h.
The heroine's response to Rafe did not sit right with me - Lisa willing to kiss a stranger who walks up to her was unrealistic. Then again, perhaps archaeologists and treasure-hunters do things like that. That is such a hackneyed idea but I guess it works so writers will keep using it. Lisa's willingness to do so pulled me out of the story and I had to stop and revise the genre I'd subconsciously slotted the story into when I started on the book. I was treating it as a "serious" romantic suspense and Dr Lisa Maxwell as a serious professional who did not go around kissing strangers on the lips as a ploy. I also expected the book to be serious as in serial-killer serious à la Karen Rose, or at least Linda Howard in Heart of Fire.
After Lisa happily pouncing on Rafe's lips, I told myself I'd have to treat this as an erotic romp with sprinklings of Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone. Nowhere on my book's cover or in the blurb was the story likened to Indiana Jones or Romancing the Stone. The comparison came to me as I listened to the story.
Unfortunately, what worked for me as a movie did not work as a book and I soon got distracted, and irritated, by the characters constantly thinking about sex. Instead of getting emotionally-invested with Lisa, I was thinking things like "so fuck him and get it out of your system and my book, twit!". And I hadn't even reached the first sex scene!
When I feel so negatively about the H or h, I usually do not see the point of continuing. I have done so in some books, however, and have come to revise my opinion. In Stolen Fury's case, the type of story it was turning out to be worked against it - I do not care for Indiana Jones/Romancing the Stone type plots, and especially when there's a lot of thinking about sex and how hawt he is. Lisa getting all hot and heavy over Rafe in her head because of his Spanish accent? It didn't ring my bell because instead of coming across seductive, Rafe was sleazy to me. One woman's poison and all that...
I also felt as if the book came about because the author intentionally wrote a Harlequin romance crossed with erotica mixed with adventure. It should have worked because that sounds like a good mix. It didn't and I'm rather stumped why it didn't. I'm not satisfied that it didn't because, I repeat, it does sound like a good mix, so I plan on listening to the second book, Stolen Heat, and even the third, Stolen Seduction because I'd already been introduced to Lisa's brother, Shane, a homicide detective, and I liked what I saw of him.
What I did like: the narrator, Elizabeth Wiley. I like her voice, her speed and she didn't make Lisa sound unlikeable. That's the author's fault, not Wiley's. I'm glad Wiley narrated the rest of the books. It means one less factor to contend with.
My lack of connection with the MCs ruined the book for me and I didn't see the point of finishing it because the action/adventure thread was no longer important, this being essentially a Romance. If I wanted the adventure plot to be the topnote, I'd go read a Dan Brown.
Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley
4 stars for the narrator
3 stars is for the 32% of the book I listened to.
Why I'm aborting: Too much thinking about sex and how hot the other is. It could be that I prefer my MCs to just get on with the deed then get me back to the action/suspense plot.
It could also be that I don't like the H/h.
The heroine's response to Rafe did not sit right with me - Lisa willing to kiss a stranger who walks up to her was unrealistic. Then again, perhaps archaeologists and treasure-hunters do things like that. That is such a hackneyed idea but I guess it works so writers will keep using it. Lisa's willingness to do so pulled me out of the story and I had to stop and revise the genre I'd subconsciously slotted the story into when I started on the book. I was treating it as a "serious" romantic suspense and Dr Lisa Maxwell as a serious professional who did not go around kissing strangers on the lips as a ploy. I also expected the book to be serious as in serial-killer serious à la Karen Rose, or at least Linda Howard in Heart of Fire.
After Lisa happily pouncing on Rafe's lips, I told myself I'd have to treat this as an erotic romp with sprinklings of Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone. Nowhere on my book's cover or in the blurb was the story likened to Indiana Jones or Romancing the Stone. The comparison came to me as I listened to the story.
Unfortunately, what worked for me as a movie did not work as a book and I soon got distracted, and irritated, by the characters constantly thinking about sex. Instead of getting emotionally-invested with Lisa, I was thinking things like "so fuck him and get it out of your system and my book, twit!". And I hadn't even reached the first sex scene!
When I feel so negatively about the H or h, I usually do not see the point of continuing. I have done so in some books, however, and have come to revise my opinion. In Stolen Fury's case, the type of story it was turning out to be worked against it - I do not care for Indiana Jones/Romancing the Stone type plots, and especially when there's a lot of thinking about sex and how hawt he is. Lisa getting all hot and heavy over Rafe in her head because of his Spanish accent? It didn't ring my bell because instead of coming across seductive, Rafe was sleazy to me. One woman's poison and all that...
I also felt as if the book came about because the author intentionally wrote a Harlequin romance crossed with erotica mixed with adventure. It should have worked because that sounds like a good mix. It didn't and I'm rather stumped why it didn't. I'm not satisfied that it didn't because, I repeat, it does sound like a good mix, so I plan on listening to the second book, Stolen Heat, and even the third, Stolen Seduction because I'd already been introduced to Lisa's brother, Shane, a homicide detective, and I liked what I saw of him.
What I did like: the narrator, Elizabeth Wiley. I like her voice, her speed and she didn't make Lisa sound unlikeable. That's the author's fault, not Wiley's. I'm glad Wiley narrated the rest of the books. It means one less factor to contend with.
My lack of connection with the MCs ruined the book for me and I didn't see the point of finishing it because the action/adventure thread was no longer important, this being essentially a Romance. If I wanted the adventure plot to be the topnote, I'd go read a Dan Brown.
September 19, 2012
I ended up liking this story a good deal. I think if there was an editing spit shine it might have been a solid four stars.
There was too much repetition of words and phrases. It got to be distracting. (And resulted, I think, in gardenias being referred to as a "sexy flower".) The description of eyes were too plentiful and tedious as well. She had emerald pools, gems, etc. His were obsidian. It made me cringe a little.
There were too many cliffhangers, which feels odd to say about a completed novel, but some ostensibly gasp-inducing thing would happen and then we'd cut to what other characters were doing.
The climax of the story got to be a little unrealistic . It was a little too coincidental.
I didn't understand the apparent miscommunication at the end. It was confusing, like I had missed something that would have prompted the situation. It marred the ending for me some.
Rafe started out super skeevy to me in his actions in Milan. Then he was rather obnoxious when he'd be hurt or irritated when Lisa made assumptions about him based on him being a thief. But I really got to like him a lot. He had a conscience. He was caring, loving, and sweet.
I loved Lisa. She was snarky, strong and pretty kick ass at times. She wasn't pushed around, she'd fight along side the men and did some saving herself. While I think she missed asking some pertinent questions, I don't think at any point I wanted to yell, "Ugh, why are you so stupid?!"
I liked the two of them together a lot. Even though it was a short amount of time I bought their relationship and their feelings. I could see why they fell for each other and that they really did care about the other for more than sex. I liked the suspense storyline. Both with finding the Furies and the mystery of who was behind hunting Rafe and Lisa down.
The love scenes were pretty steamy. I think I liked them a lot more since she went out of her way to not use silly euphemisms. Except when things like this happened: "Their joining was slow and slick, heated rod against clenching glove." Yikes. But it was a rare occurrence, thankfully.
Even with the issues I had, and that I think the order of the stories of the next two books in the series is odd, I'll still read them. I think I rate this one between 3 and 3.5 stars.
There was too much repetition of words and phrases. It got to be distracting. (And resulted, I think, in gardenias being referred to as a "sexy flower".) The description of eyes were too plentiful and tedious as well. She had emerald pools, gems, etc. His were obsidian. It made me cringe a little.
There were too many cliffhangers, which feels odd to say about a completed novel, but some ostensibly gasp-inducing thing would happen and then we'd cut to what other characters were doing.
The climax of the story got to be a little unrealistic . It was a little too coincidental.
I didn't understand the apparent miscommunication at the end. It was confusing, like I had missed something that would have prompted the situation. It marred the ending for me some.
Rafe started out super skeevy to me in his actions in Milan. Then he was rather obnoxious when he'd be hurt or irritated when Lisa made assumptions about him based on him being a thief. But I really got to like him a lot. He had a conscience. He was caring, loving, and sweet.
I loved Lisa. She was snarky, strong and pretty kick ass at times. She wasn't pushed around, she'd fight along side the men and did some saving herself. While I think she missed asking some pertinent questions, I don't think at any point I wanted to yell, "Ugh, why are you so stupid?!"
I liked the two of them together a lot. Even though it was a short amount of time I bought their relationship and their feelings. I could see why they fell for each other and that they really did care about the other for more than sex. I liked the suspense storyline. Both with finding the Furies and the mystery of who was behind hunting Rafe and Lisa down.
The love scenes were pretty steamy. I think I liked them a lot more since she went out of her way to not use silly euphemisms. Except when things like this happened: "Their joining was slow and slick, heated rod against clenching glove." Yikes. But it was a rare occurrence, thankfully.
Even with the issues I had, and that I think the order of the stories of the next two books in the series is odd, I'll still read them. I think I rate this one between 3 and 3.5 stars.
September 2, 2012
I presume you know what the book is about. I'm letting you know what I liked or disliked about it.
I enjoyed this book and its cast of characters very much. In fact I think it is my first Elisabeth Naughton book. I plan to read the rest of the books in this series though I'm a bit skeptical about the amount of repetition and tie-in's with each previous book. Sadly, I've come to expect way way way too much of it but every now and again I am pleasantly surprised and that's what keeps me picking up book 2 in a series. I digress but for the record I've come to value my time enough to NOT continue with book 3 if the repetition is too much. But, whatever -
I liked the characters - especially the male protagonist (Rafe). Left me wanting more ;) Lisa was strong, smart and equally well written. There wasn't enough smut for this lust crazed bird but the story was good. ha!
I recommend Stolen Fury. It was a great late-summer read. Very entertaining and I'm sure you'd enjoy it too.
I enjoyed this book and its cast of characters very much. In fact I think it is my first Elisabeth Naughton book. I plan to read the rest of the books in this series though I'm a bit skeptical about the amount of repetition and tie-in's with each previous book. Sadly, I've come to expect way way way too much of it but every now and again I am pleasantly surprised and that's what keeps me picking up book 2 in a series. I digress but for the record I've come to value my time enough to NOT continue with book 3 if the repetition is too much. But, whatever -
I liked the characters - especially the male protagonist (Rafe). Left me wanting more ;) Lisa was strong, smart and equally well written. There wasn't enough smut for this lust crazed bird but the story was good. ha!
I recommend Stolen Fury. It was a great late-summer read. Very entertaining and I'm sure you'd enjoy it too.
January 28, 2013
I always love mysteries mixed with a little bit of action, love and a bit of traveling. Stolen Fury had it all for me! It's about a archeologist who runs into a little trouble along the way of a discovery. She is a determine, smart, sassy little thing with a big mouth. The Fury gets stolen right underneath her nose. She risk everything to get it back, even her heart. I totally recommend this book. I completely fell in love with the way Elisabeth Naughton writes. I just can't wait to read the next book in the series.
August 20, 2012
Read it! I promise you won't be disaapointed.
Sexy, tough as nails with a heart of gold hero and a smart, sassy and loveable heroine. It's a suspense kind of story which is not my normal choice but I really enjoyed this one and has opened me up to a new sub-genre of romance.
It's action packed and not predicatable so you will be constantly suprised as you read trying to figure out the mystery. The best part is the main characters will keep you hooked from beginning to end and the secondary characters are just as good.
Looking forward to the rest of the series. A definate keeper!
Sexy, tough as nails with a heart of gold hero and a smart, sassy and loveable heroine. It's a suspense kind of story which is not my normal choice but I really enjoyed this one and has opened me up to a new sub-genre of romance.
It's action packed and not predicatable so you will be constantly suprised as you read trying to figure out the mystery. The best part is the main characters will keep you hooked from beginning to end and the secondary characters are just as good.
Looking forward to the rest of the series. A definate keeper!
May 13, 2015
having read the firebrand series, and thoroughly enjoyed them, it came as no surprise that I loved this too! well written, very well researched (lots of reference to Greek ancient history) with believable characters with flaws and faults and problems of their own. written from his AND her point of view, with snippets thrown in from other characters too, it draws you in! I have purchased the next two in this series, although I can see who they are about already from this book.
September 13, 2012
I got this book for free on ibooks and I can honestly say I did enjoy it. There was adventure, laughs, sexual tension, and twists. I would like to see a part two to Rafe and Lisa- maybe on a search for a new treasure. Lisa is confident, smart and def. not afraid to seduce a man. Rafe has a sweet, caring and strong side to him. Hes a bad boy I would like to meet. lol
September 5, 2012
Uh not at all paranormal so i am not really getting some of the other reviews. It was kinda dull & dragged in places. There where like 2 or 3 sex scenes in total and none of them which really hit the mark with me. Disappointing.
April 9, 2009
5 stars – Romantic Suspense
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