Jake spent three years in prison for his first offense, an armed robbery. Now he's out and is willingly trying to help young boys on the same path he tread. He hasn't been with a woman in three years, and Kate is even more beautiful than she used to be. He wants to explore every fantasy he's ever had with her, even if it means scaring her away. Especially if it means scaring her away.

Once a Thief isn't your typical romance. It had a bite to it that I didn't expect from a short story. Jake was utterly intense, sometimes frighteningly so. I had trouble believing Kate was so willing to take a chance with Jake after avoiding it so long. There was also the added complication of her career. Perhaps if she'd known Jake better as a teenager, I could have believed she'd have been so willing to take him into her home and bed. There are some elements of BDSM, and towards the end, the psychological impact of what was going on was very apparent within Jake's mind. I was honestly surprised by how strong the scenes seemed. And Jake was a very incredible hero. He was alternately dominating and tender, and the vulnerability he showed was endearing. Once a Thief is a strong short story that will likely delight erotic romance fans.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Tara Black
May 16, 2004