Caught Stealing by CE Ricci: My Review
CE Ricci’s second installment in the Leighton U series, Caught Stealing, is finally here! Check out my review to see what I thought of this new adult M/M romance.
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Caught Stealing – Summary
It’s not stealing if he’s meant to be mine.
Let me tell you how Holden Sykes operates.
As the campus playboy and one-and-done king, he doesn’t do strings.
Or repeats.
Or names, for that matter.
So when he tries making my best friend the next notch on his bedpost, I react poorly.
Some would call it jealousy or an unrequited crush, but friends protect each other from making mistakes.
The same ones I’ve already made.
Which is why driving Holden away seems like my only option.
Too bad he’s not giving up without a fight.
Each prank leads to another until he turns this into a game far more precarious than intended.
One filled with stolen moments and heated glances, drawing me into his orbit.
But the undeniable attraction simmering between us leaves me caught in the crosshairs of an impossible decision.
Loyalty…or love.
Caught Stealing – My Review
Caught Stealing is classic CE Ricci. As with most of her books, I recommend that you read the author’s note well before deciding to jump in to see if Caught Stealing is a good fit for you.
This is the second book in the Leighton U series. It follows the extremely dark Iced Out, a book that I absolutely loved. I have been anxiously awaiting the second installment, and I am happy to say that it did not disappoint.
This book is a solid addition to the series. While Oakley and Quinton are still my favorite couple from the series (so far), the chemistry between Phoenix and Holden was undeniable and exciting to read.
Caught Stealing is a slightly lighter read than Iced Out, however the characters are still far from perfect. Holden, the self-described campus playboy, tells us quickly that,
"what doesn't kill you just gives you seriously fucked-up coping mechanisms and one massive self-destruct button."
Phoenix, or “Nix” as Holden would prefer, is the tightly-wound baseball player that has captured Holden’s attention. While he is the, outwardly appearing, more stable individual, he struggles with demons of his own.
Together the two have amazing chemistry despite neither of them particularly wanting to be together. They just can’t seem to walk away.
"God, I really am going to Hell for this." My mouth curls into a grin against his lips. "That's okay. I'll meet you there."
CE Ricci’s writing style is always easy to digest and feels like a quick read. I am always a sucker for a dual POV book as well.
I have to throw out there that if you like the premise of the story, but aren’t sure about reading a sports romance, you should not be nervous. After reading the entire book, I still don’t know what position Phoenix plays in baseball.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that has left me excited to continue the series with book three, Fair Catch (Kason’s book).
Have you read this one yet? If you have, let me know in the comments below what you thought of it! I would love to chat.
Hey, I’m Heather!
I read M/M romance books exclusively, and I help other readers find their next great M/M romance read.
