Destined For Theft: Reviewing Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King
TITLE: Other People’s Things
AUTHOR: Kerry Anne King
GENRE: Fantasy, romantic suspense
PUBLISHER: Lake Union Publishing
PUBLICATION DATE: September 21, 2021
TWs: anxiety, panic attacks, narcissistic abuse
It’s not stealing if you’re relocating objects to where they belong. Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King is an interesting story about Nicole, a kleptomaniac, and the inevitable consequences of her actions. Does her “object relocation program” serve as a catalyst for fate, or is she meddling in situations she shouldn’t? The author crafts a unique premise that is entertaining and quick to read.
QUICK SUMMARY
– unique premise
– easy to follow writing
– entertaining plot
– multiple POVs
WHY YOU SHOULD SKIP IT:
– superficial characters
– unresolved plot lines
– underdeveloped romance
Synopsis
Jailbird. Klepto. Spectacular failure to launch. Nicole Wood’s sticky fingers have earned her many names, but it’s not that she’s stealing—some objects just need to be moved elsewhere, and the universe has chosen her to do it. Still, being a relocator of objects isn’t easy. With her marriage on the rocks, no real-world skills, and the threat of prison hanging over her head, Nicole is determined to change her ways.
Things seem to be looking up, thanks to a godsent job with her sister’s housecleaning business—until she encounters a seemingly harmless paperback that insists on moving from one client’s home to another’s. Nicole hopes no one will notice, but the action stirs up long-hidden secrets and triggers a series of fateful events that threatens to destroy the life she’s creating and hurt those closest to her. She’ll need to embrace her unwieldy gift and take a chance on love in order to unravel the mystery and fix what’s gone wrong.
Characters
The characters in the story are a bit superficial and cookie-cutter, with the good guys being good and the bad guys being bad. Let’s take a look at our main characters:
Plot
The premise of Other People’s things is thought-provoking. Should Nicole refrain from meddling with fate, or does her ability to sense an object’s energy obligate her to correct the universe’s imbalance? Kerry Anne King attempts to depict both sides, showing how her “relocating” led to both positive and negative outcomes. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear which side the author favors.
At the story’s beginning, Nicole sought therapy for her kleptomania, and I was curious about the source of her childhood trauma that led to it. However, as the plot introduced more characters and shifted towards romantic suspense, that plotline was abandoned entirely in favor of a more serendipitous feel. Although I enjoyed the serendipitous aspect, Nicole’s childhood trauma, which led to her stealing, is a significant part of her identity, so leaving it unanswered was disappointing.
The romance aspect felt a bit rushed and predictable. And, dare I say, a bit codependent.
Writing
The writing is easy to follow, making it a quick read. However, there are many repetitive details that bog down the story. Nicole repeatedly states that she does not steal but relocates because she puts objects where they belong rather than taking them for herself. This detail is repeated multiple times to every character she meets, and it becomes tedious to read about it over and over again.
The story is told through multiple points of view, which works well for this kind of narrative. The author did a great job establishing a distinct tone of voice for each character, making it easy to tell whose chapter I was reading.
Conclusion
Other People’s Things is a unique story combining an abusive ex-husband, family drama, and a private investigator beau to create a quick and enjoyable read. However, the story falls flat for me due to the lack of depth in the characters and unresolved plot lines. If you enjoy romantic suspense, this book is definitely worth checking out.
Where to Buy
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Other People's Things
RATING: ★★★/5 ᐧ || ᐧ It’s not stealing if you’re relocating objects to where they belong. Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King is an interesting story about Nicole, a kleptomaniac, and the inevitable consequences of her actions. Does her “object relocation program” serve as a catalyst for fate, or is she meddling in situations she shouldn’t? The author crafts a unique premise that is entertaining and quick to read.
URL: https://www.amazon.com/Other-Peoples-Things-Kerry-Anne-ebook/dp/B08TWV7NDF/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1693677801&sr=8-1
Author: Kerry Anne King
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