Path of Thieves
Sunniva Dee
Publication date: June 27th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Football hero by day and thief by night, Charles “Cugs” McConnely leads a double life in the small town of Newbark, Florida. At sundown, the seventeen-year-old turns burglar, forced into the business by the man who should be teaching him the difference between right and wrong: his father.
Cugs is a pro at both games, but only one can secure him a college scholarship. It should be an easy decision, a no-brainer—if Newbark hadn’t proffered the only life he knows.
After run-ins with Nadine Paganelli, his accidental victim and the sole person to have caught him in the act, Cugs starts to realize that hearts can be stolen too.
When his long-lost sister makes contact, lies are uncovered and truths revealed. Suddenly, Cugs finds himself questioning both plans and loyalties. Because sometimes the only way to move forward is by pulling the bottom out of the past.
My Review: (ARC provided)
5 stars!
Cugs!
I’m not a huge YA reader, but when I saw Sunniva was writing
this book and it was about Cugs I was super excited. Sunniva has never disappointed
me and this book is right up there with her others.
I have to admit I cried a little bit with this one. It
touched me on so many levels. Cugs was a good guy, a smart guy and he just wanted to play football. It was his
dream but his dad kept ripping it away from him. Everything he did or became
was because of himself, his passion and motivation. Cugs had such a low opinion
of himself and because of that and because of what he did or was made to do he
didn’t feel worthy of Nadine (heroine).
“I’m society’s litter.
There’s a reason I didn’t answer your texts.”
He feels he doesn’t deserve happiness.
“My body is ready, but
my brain isn’t. Would it be fair to decent, law-abiding people if I got this
chance? After the life I’ve lived, would it be fair to the people whose homes I’ve
robbed?”
Nadine was such a good influence for Cugs, it’s like he met
her at the most crucial moment in his life. His dad would bring him down but
Nadine would try to bring him right back up. She brought the best out in him. And
Nadine was the only person in Cugs life that knew what he did. It made it more
intimate that way. I loved their relationship!
Oh my god and then bringing Keyon and Paislee in was so much
fun! It made me want to read their story all over again! (Dodging Trains) I
recommend reading it before this.
The start of this book had a nice steady pace, but once I
got half way I just flew through it. I couldn’t get enough and wanted to know
what became of Cugs.
I would really love a short story or novella with his
father. I don’t know why but I’m really curious as to what happens to him.
Once again Sunniva has taken two characters and had me
feeling for them. If every YA novel read like this one did, I’d read a lot more
of them.
—
EXCERPT:
“Seriously, man. Freddie’s parents are gone the entire weekend, and we’re partying it up. You’ve got to come.” Bear rocks in the passenger seat, trying to get comfortable. We both know the wreck and he are an uneven match.“I’ll try.”
“Right, your father.” He huffs a frustrated breath. “Never, I swear. Like, ever. I’ve seen you drink freaking twice.”
Florida rain hammers on the roof of the car and hauls ass over my windshield. We’re outside Grocery-Pete’s, waiting for the floodgates to shut so we can get inside.
“Hey, I drink sometimes. With my father.” Dad celebrates good heists with a drink or five. If it’s hard liquor, he’ll loosen tight lips and talk about Mom.
“Come on, Cugs.” Bear tries to arch his back for a better position, but his head hits the ceiling. “Tell me you see how lame that is. ‘I can’t party with y’all, ’cause Imma drink with my daddy.’”
I snort out a laugh. “Whatever, fool.”
My eyes are drawn to Grocery-Pete’s gutter. It’s overflowing. The water takes the fast route over the edge, omitting the drain. I’ve stood under gutters like that, or more like penguin-danced under them in Rigita. Paislee dressed me in thick sweaters and rubber boots and topped it off with full raingear. Then we snuck out the backdoor and ran down the street before we got caught.
“Fascinated, much?” Bear grins.
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Author Bio:
Between studies, teaching, and advising, Sunniva has spent her entire adult life in a college environment. Most of her novels are new adult romance geared toward smart, passionate readers with a love for eclectic language and engaging their brain as well as their heart while reading.
Born in the Land of the Midnight Sun, the author spent her early twenties making the world her playground. Southern Europe: Spain, Italy, Greece--Argentina: Buenos Aires, in particular. The United States finally kept her interest, and after half a decade in Los Angeles, she now lounges in the beautiful city of Savannah.
Sometimes, Sunniva writes with a paranormal twist (Shattering Halos, Stargazer, and Cat Love). At other times, it's contemporary (Pandora Wild Child, Leon's Way, Adrenaline Crush, Walking Heartbreak, and Dodging Trains, coming in late March 2016).
This author is the happiest when her characters let their emotions run off with them, shaping her stories in ways she never foresaw. She loves bad-boys and good-boys run amok, and like in real life, her goal is to keep the reader on her toes until the end of each story.
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