Spotlight & Giveaway: To Catch a Thief by Sloane Steele

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Sloane Steele to HJ!

Hi Sloane and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, To Catch a Thief!

 
Hi – Thanks for having me again.
 

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

The third book in the Counterfeit Capers series is Mia’s book. We’ve watched Mia from the beginning as she built the team to steal art. She’s the mastermind behind the plot, but in her book, she goes up against the FBI agent investigating the forgeries. And of course, she falls for him.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

At one point in the book, Mia has to learn how to run a con. Nikki, the thief, brings her boyfriend Wade in to teach Mia. He gives her a list of rules for running a con, and ends with this, which Mia has to constantly remind herself of for the rest of the story:

“Don’t forget to tell him about the kiss,” Nikki blurted.
Wade stared at Mia.
“Logan kissed me at the end of our ‘date.’ I quipped about the date being the least painful one I’d been on recently. He felt the need to bring it up a notch.”
“And did he?”
Oh my Lord, yes. “Yes.”
“Okay, let me add an addendum to the rules. If you fall for the mark, you’re sunk.”

What inspired this book?

The entire series is inspired by the TV show Leverage, but this book in particular, was inspired by The Thomas Crown Affair. Pierce Brosnan and Renee Russo were hot in their cat and mouse game.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

I do a lot of pre-writing before I start a book so that I do know the characters. I usually don’t’ know much about the plot, but the characters I know. That doesn’t mean they don’t surprise me though. Mia turned out to be way more vulnerable than I envisioned.

What was your favorite scene to write?

I think my favorite scene is the backyard barbecue for Logan’s sister. Mia gets to meet Logan’s whole family, and his sisters rope her into playing a card game called Bullshit. Anyone who’s ever read my books knows that I’m a sucker for a big family.

Carmen stood. “It was a fun game. I think later we should up the stakes and play a drinking game. I bet all the stoicism will be tossed out the window if we get you drunk,” she said to Mia.
“And why would you like to see me drunk?” Mia asked with an arched brow.
“We have to vet you for Logan. It’s like our sisterly duty. Plus, we can tell you all his embarrassing stories.”
Logan walked around the table toward Mia. “As if you need to be drunk to try to embarrass me.” He held out a hand to Mia. “Ready to eat?”
She took it and rose. “Sure.” With a wink at Carmen, she added, “I would love to hear all your stories about Logan.”
Jill came up on Mia’s other side and looped an arm around hers, tugging Mia from his grasp. “First, know that the whole uber-gentleman thing is all an act. He wants to impress you. A more typical image of him is sitting on the couch half-dressed with a bag of Cheetos and a bottle of beer, belching and farting through a football game.”

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The most difficult scene to write had to be the one where Logan confronts Mia. It was hard to write because Mia has to be vulnerable which is her LEAST favorite thing to be. As the author, I had to write her knowing how she felt, but still putting up the icy front she’s known for.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

I think the feel and voice of this book showcases my writing style, but the plot/storyline is definitely a departure. This whole series required a lot of plotting on my part and I am not a plotter. But the things my readers look for – family, friendship, complicated relationships – they are still the cornerstone of every book I write.

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

I want people to have fun reading this series. The books are supposed to be light escapism. I want my readers to walk away knowing that for once, the right guys won.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I am currently drafting a novella for Counterfeit Capers (London, the forger, deserves some love) and I have a book in edits for my new release under Shannyn Schroeder. That series, the Doyles, takes place in the same Chicago neighborhood as the O’Learys. I hope to have both out before the end of the year.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: 1 ebook copy of TO CATCH A THIEF by Sloane Steele, open internationally.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: One of the fun things about Logan is that he has a knack for finding the perfect gif to use when texting. He and Mia have a number of gif conversations. What is your all-time favorite (or most used) gif?

 
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Excerpt from To Catch a Thief:

In this excerpt, Mia is at a mark’s house having dinner with the couple and Logan. During dinner, Nikki sneaks in and steals the painting that Mia is there to evaluate.

A grunt came across the comm. “Damn window is tight.”
Time to change the subject. Mia spoke louder than normal, her heart thudding in her ear, afraid everyone would hear Nikki. “Speaking of organizations, Sheila, tell me about the programs you have coming up.”
“I’m in,” Nikki whispered. “Keep up your boring-ass conversation.”
She patted Logan’s leg under the table as she faced him. “Sheila is the queen of coordinating the best outdoor summer events.” Turning back to Sheila, she added, “I’ve always thought you could sell your services. You handle every minute detail and make it look effortless.”
“Actually, since you’re here, maybe I could hit you up for some tickets to special exhibits at the Art Institute.”
While Sheila talked about the upcoming event, Mia nodded and forced herself not to look toward the hall where she knew Nikki would be stealthily climbing the stairs. Mia ate her meal of prime rib and seasoned asparagus without tasting much. She tried to focus on the conversation, but her heart was racing. How the hell did Nikki do this all the time without having full cardiac arrest?
“This thing is even more fucking hideous than the pictures you showed us. How can people not only waste money on crap like this but then actually hang it where others can see?” Nikki whisper-ranted in her ear.
Mia started to laugh but covered it with a cough, and reached for her wine. She took a sip.
“Are you okay?” Logan asked.
“Yes,” she said quietly and laid a hand on her chest. “Wrong pipe.”
“Nikki, stop talking. You’re making Mia laugh.”
“Swap is done. Safe for me to travel back downstairs?”
Mia was about to compliment Sheila on the delightful dinner, but then Logan stood. Mia almost shot out of her seat. “Where are you going?”
“Excuse me,” he said to Keaton and Sheila, “but I need to use the restroom.” He paused, waiting for directions.
“Wait. I’ll show you where it is,” Mia said quickly, tucking her napkin next to her plate. She hoped to God Nikki was listening.
“Got it,” Nikki whispered.
Mia walked with Logan back to the foyer. With a stealthy glance up the stairs, she walked a few steps down the hall and pointed. “First door on the left.”
Before moving, he pulled her close and kissed her. Against her lips, he said, “I’ve been wanting to do that since we got here.”
In her ear, Nikki said, “Bow-chicka-bow-wow.”
Mia ran her hand down his label. “Save it for later.” She waited until he turned and walked to the bathroom. When she looked to the top of the stairs again, Nikki stood there with a grin on her face, pumping her hips. Mia shot her a dirty look, pointed, and mouthed, “Wait,” and gestured to where Logan had just walked off to.
Nikki gave her a flirty wave and rolled her eyes.
Mia returned to the table and finished a few more bites of food, chewing nervously, waiting for Logan to come back.
“Here comes lover boy,” Nikki whispered.
A moment later, Logan returned to his seat.
“I’m heading out. Keep them all there,” Nikki said.
“I hope you’re all saving room for dessert,” Sheila said.
Sheila to the rescue.
“Of course,” Mia said. “Dessert sounds delightful.”
“I’m stuffed,” Logan said. “I don’t know that I can eat another bite.”
Mia smiled at him. “I hope you don’t think I’ll be sharing. In addition to being an excellent event planner, Sheila is known for being the best baker this side of the state.”
“Gotcha,” Nikki said. “Give me three minutes and I’ll be gone.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

“A charming, action-packed heist.” —Publishers Weekly on It Takes a Thief

Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to Sloane Steele’s high-stakes romantic heist series, Counterfeit Capers!

It was the perfect plan…until he interfered.

There’s nothing Mia Benson wants more than to right her father’s wrongs.

She’s crafted the perfect plan—a Robin Hood scheme to get revenge while returning millions to innocent people. Five years of careful work and finally, it’s Go Time.

Only one thing stands in her way: a grumpy FBI agent doing a shoddy job of posing as an insurance investigator. Seducing Logan Ford, with his sexy grin, gorgeous body and irresistible charm, isn’t exactly a hardship.

In fact, keeping him distracted and away from her team becomes a personal pleasure.

But it’s impossible to hide behind a tangled web of lies and half-truths forever. Mia never counted on falling for Logan. And when he starts to put the pieces together, revealing her true feelings might be the most dangerous move of all.

Counterfeit Capers
Book 1: It Takes a Thief
Book 2: Between Two Thieves
Book 3: To Catch a Thief

Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Sloane Steele is the pen name for contemporary romance author Shannyn Schroeder. Shannyn is a part-time English teacher, part-time curriculum editor, and full-time mom, even though her kids are pretty self-sufficient teens. In her down time, she bakes cookies, reads romance, and watches far too much TV.
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