Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike Review

Title: Life After Theft
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Received From: Bought

Synopsis: Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series, shines in this stand-alone novel that offers a humorous twist on ghosts and is perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Rachel Hawkins, and Kiersten White.
Kimberlee Schaffer may be drop-dead gorgeous . . . but she also dropped dead last year. Now she needs Jeff's help with her unfinished business, and she's not taking no for an answer. When she was alive, Kimberlee wasn't just a mean girl; she was also a complete kleptomaniac. So if Jeff wants to avoid being haunted until graduation, he'll have to help her return all of the stolen items. But Jeff soon discovers that it's much easier to steal something than it is to bring it back.
Paying for your mistakes takes on a whole new meaning in this hauntingly clever twist on The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Review: This was a very interesting book. As a whole I don't read very many books with male main characters. Not because I don't like them or think they are somehow lesser; I just connect better with female main characters.

That being said when I see a book with a very interesting premise I am going to pick it up regardless.  That is what happened with Life After Theft.

Life After Theft is a fun take on the classic klepto story. This is because the aforementioned klepto just so happens to be dead. And so our main character Jeff has to return all of Kimberlee's stolen goods so she can hopefully move on and leave him in peace.

There are quite a few bumps and bruises that Jeff experiences while returning the stuff. Including but not limited to being arrested. 

But even though this is a fun and sometimes harrowing story about returning stolen goods and actually feeling bad for taking the stuff. It is mostly a story about forgiving when someone messes up, as well as not holding someone's past against them.

Life After Theft has amazing character development. All of the major characters grew leaps and bounds and became completely different in a believable way.

I enjoyed the book, it was fun and different and I enjoyed how the romance was incorporated.  That being said I found a little of the pacing a little off. But besides that I really enjoyed it.

Playing With Her Heart Character Interview: Jill

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jill one of the main characters from Playing with Her Heart by Lauren Blakely!

What made you want to be an actor?

Because I can't imagine doing anything else. This is my passion, this is my love, this feeds my soul.


What is your favorite part of playing someone else?

I love letting go of who I am, forgetting the day, forgetting my world and becoming someone else wholly. It's a chance to live many lives too, to experience what it's like - for a couple hours at least -- of living another kind of life.

I hear that you like to run. How is running similar to acting?

I love to run!! Running clears my head, and I can just focus on the adrenaline and the action of putting one foot in front of the other! It also requires a lot of focus, a sort of single-minded focus, to be able to run for long distances, and that kind of clearing your head is the same thing you need to do when you're stepping into a role.


Being around so many attractive actors must be fun. But how do you stay separated and focused enough that you can do your job?

It's definitely easy to get swept up and caught up! Especially since you have to turn on and turn off emotions, and I do think that's why so many actors and actresses fall for each other and for co-stars. But I try to think of it as a job, and because it is easy to turn off emotions, that's what I aim to do when I walk off stage so that I don't get swept up in anything more!


If you could only sing or act for the rest of your life which would you choose?

No fair!!! How can I choose between my two great loves??? If you force me though...acting.


What are you the most excited about the prospect of working with Davis Milo?

He's so talented, and has such an amazing reputation for bringing out the absolute best in his cast. I know he can be tough, but he's tough for a reason - because he helps you succeed on stage!

What does it feel like when you get the call? Is it all excitement or is there also some trepidation? 

Getting the call is one of the most thrilling parts of working in the performing arts! Well, besides the reaction from audiences! But getting the call that you've been cast often a moment of true ecstatic joy. In my case, I didn't get the call - I found out when I bumped into my director on the street, so it was even better!

Thank you so much Jill!!

To find out more about Jill and to see how her story ends be sure to check out Playing With Her Heart

Here is a synopsis to get you started!

Twenty-three year old rising theatre star Jill McCormick has built a life out of pretending. Pretending she's happy, pretending she's not haunted by the dark secret that shattered her world six years ago. But then she comes face to face with her new director -- sexy, sophisticated, jealous, all-alpha, dirty-talking Davis Milo. He tries to resist the actress he's cast, but the attraction between them is too powerful, and soon their private rehearsals spiral into new, forbidden territory. The connection, the chemistry is undeniable, and it hits them anywhere, and everywhere -- in the theater, on the piano, in the limo, in the restaurant...But the tragedy in Jill's past stands between them. Davis has walls too, so they can either face their fears together, or risk the most intense love, sex and passion either has ever felt...