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Category: Books and Film

If you liked Ocean’s Eleven

If you liked Ocean’s Eleven…

Ocean's Eleven
And what’s not to like… great actors, humour, and clever twists you don’t see coming, whether it’s the great original or the newer version. Well if you like all of that then you should try Heist Society by Ally Carter.

Heist Society

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s history–and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

I love, love, love this book. 14 days, 6 countries. They’re on a mission to rescue Kat’s dad from the evil Arturo Taccone – and steal back five of the most valuable, long-lost paintings in the world.
When Kat walked away from her family’s business she also walked away from her family, friends and the only life she has ever known. Now her father is in danger and the only way to save him is to get back into the business – world-class thievery. But it won’t be easy and together with Hale, friend and fellow thief, Simon, computer and math genius, and her three cousins, all thieves of course, Kat must make the biggest heist of her life and her family’s history.
Readers of all ages will love this brilliant and exciting story, which is well written and deliciously addictive. Read it, I know you’ll love it.

And the best thing about this book? There are two more in the series. Perfect for all you fans of those big heists.

If you liked Downton Abbey

If you liked Downton Abbey…

DowntonAnd what’s not to like… great characters, a great time period, beautiful costume and plenty of drama. Well if you like all of that then you should try A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson.

A countess below stairs

After the Russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian Countess, has no choice but to flee to England. Penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination. 

Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties—not to mention her instant attraction to Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme. To make matters worse, Rupert appears to be falling for her as well. As their attraction grows stronger, Anna finds it more and more difficult to keep her most dearly held secrets from unraveling. And then there’s the small matter of Rupert’s beautiful and nasty fiancée…

This book has been a favourite of mine for years, and it has only been recently when I have re-read it that I realised how closely it resembled the time period and setting of Downton Abbey. Also known as A Secret Countess, this book is equally romantic and charming, heartwarming and loveable. I am particularly fond of the abridged audiobook of the same name read by Sian Thomas. If this book doesn’t satisfy your Downton Abbey cravings, I’m not sure anything but waiting for the next season will.

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