I don’t read as many Harlequin Temptations as I used to. I usually reach for a Harlequin Blaze when I’m looking for a light, frothy kind of read. But Stolen Kisses is one book I’ve been waiting for ever since the author first mentioned it on her website. Luckily, it was worth the wait, a fresh, fun story and a good read.

Melissa Tanner is a cat burglar trying to go straight. When her grandfather, a Hollywood figure somewhat notorious for his own thieving ways, steals a necklace from a famous actress, Melissa knows she has to return it. But when she infiltrates the aging star’s home to return the necklace, something happens that never happened to her before: she gets caught.

Security expert Kyle Radley has his own motives for trying to get the necklace. He doesn’t expect to find a beautiful thief putting the necklace back when he goes to take it from his grandmother’s safe. After going to the trouble of putting the necklace back in the first place, Melissa is not about to let Kyle take the jewels for himself. She decides to stick with him to make sure the necklace goes to its rightful owner. What neither of them realizes is that this is a plot concocted by their grandparents to get them together, or that it would work so well.

This is a light, fun romp, with zippy dialogue and quirky characters. Kyle’s grandmother and great-aunt are both actresses whose different career paths (one won two Oscars and three Emmys, the other remained in small, supporting roles) led to a feud between them. But trying to fix up Kyle brings them together again. Melissa’s grandfather is an eccentric character, and their relationship is a nice one, with a sweet closeness and rapport. They banter about movie lines and he shows up in costume to have her guess what movie character he’s supposed to be. (His determination to marry her off when she’s only 25 is somewhat less charming.)

The story is fast-paced and dialogue driven. The byplay between Kyle and Melissa is very enjoyable. The chemistry between them is strong from the beginning, and the way they relate to each other makes it clear they’re well matched. When Melissa refuses to tell her his name the first time they meet, Kyle starts to call her “Grace,” after Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of her favorite movies. I also liked the conflict between them. Melissa wants a fresh start away from her thieving ways, and once Kyle learns who she is, she tries to fight her feelings, not wanting to be with someone who knows about her past and would always see her as a thief.

There are a few small flaws that make the book lean more toward a B- than a straight B. While the characters are all very likable, Melissa and Kyle are painted out in broad strokes that tells us the basics without really bringing them to life as flesh-and-blood people. They lacked that extra dimension that makes the reader feel like she really knows them. The romance is also a little too fast to be completely believable. It’s romantic and the conflict is nice, but I couldn’t entirely buy that they were really in love so quickly. The mystery element is also unlikely to keep many readers guessing.

Stolen Kisses is still very much a fun read, light and charming. It’s a little different, the characters are a bit unusual, and the storyline is entertaining. It’s the kind of book I read with a smile on my face, enjoying just about every page. Had the characterization been a little stronger and the romance a little more believable, the grade might be a little higher, but it’s still a recommended read.