Stealing Heaven

“My name is Danielle. I’m eighteen. I’ve been stealing things for as long as I can remember.”

Danielle was born a thief, trained a thief, and lived the life of a thief. There’s nothing she does better than stealing antique silver behind your back and getting away with it. Moving from town to town, Danielle and her mother made a living by stealing silver. They soon targeted the beach town of Heaven but they didn’t know the life they knew was about to change. Dani started doubting herself as a person; she started questioning whether or not this is what she wanted for herself. She had to choose where her loyalties lie: with the life she’s known or the life she’s wanted. Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott is a gripping story on growing up, making decisions, and breaking free.

The previous quote hooked me into the book and didn’t let me go until the very last word. It got me asking questions and flipping the pages, desperately trying to find the answers. The chapters of this books are short, which is a perfect way to create cliffhangers and keep the readers thinking. Fortunately, Scott never missed an opportunity to do so. Once my previous answers were answered, new questions will pop up and so will the answers later on. In a way, it is a cycle but it also allows readers to interact with the book.

Scott created Dani as a realistic and believable character that I was able to relate to in many ways. As I was reading, I would unconsciously compare my life with hers. From the way she interacts with her mother to the inner debates she had with herself. By writing the story in Dani’s point of view, Scott successfully reached out to her audience.

Stealing Heaven is easy to read, short, enjoyable and most importantly, relatable. If you prefer a story as such, Stealing Heaven just might steal your heart.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

18-year-old Danielle lives with her mother and they are professional thieves. They move quickly from affluent town to affluent town, staying only long enough to find out the information they need and steal what they target, and then they move on. Dani has learned to keep invisible and not form any connections. It may not be the life she wants deep down inside, but its all she has, all shes ever known.

At the beach town of Heaven, however, things begin to be different. Dani meets several people she thinks she can actually be friends withif not more. Unfortunately, her and her mothers lives demand that she not make friends, not feel like she wants to settle down.

This puts stress on her budding relationships with two people: Allison, a talkative but genuine girl who lives in the mansion that her mother is targeting next; and Greg, a young and funny local cop who seems intent on making her smilebut hes a cop!

How can Dani not lose her mothers love and respect, while learning how to go for what she wants?

Elizabeth Scotts books remind me very much of Sarah Dessens. The characters are well-developed. Greg in particular is charming and will make every girl wish he was real. This is a fun and moving read.

Reader reviewed by Nurin Chatur





After reading Elizabeth Scotts Bloom and Perfect You, I was expecting something stupendous. And I wasnt disappointed.

Eighteen year old Danielle has been stealing things for as long as she can remember. Shes never lived a regular life, never been to school or made friends. Instead, Danielle and her mom travel from town to town making their living off burglary

Then, when they move to Heaven, everything changes. At first Danielle is so sure itll be just like all the other towns where they execute their burglary without a hitch. But this time, its all different. Danielle might have just made her first friend, Allison, and theres also a cute guy-a cop- who keeps on turning up wherever she is.

When it turns out that Danielle and her mothers next target is Allisons family, Danielles torn between her love for her mother and her for a normal life, for friends, for school...for normalcy. But when everything comes to head, can Danielle make the right choice for herself?

Stealing Heaven was a completely absorbing read; it sucked me in from the very first word! Elizabeth Scott portrayed realistic characters and despite Danielles unique situation, I was able to relate and sympathize with her. Stealing Heaven was terrific, Id recommend it to everyone!!

Reader reviewed by Writer's Block Reviews

Dani is an eighteen year old girl, that has been brought up as a thief. She has never had friends, a boyfriend or gone to school. Her mother and her travel the country to steal (silver, their choice of loot) and are always in a different place at different times. DanI and her mother have been doing it, since Dani can remember. So, when they go to the town of Heaven, she never thinks that something would change. She wastes her days trying to get near the infamous Donaldson House to catch a glimpse of it or how to get into it. Especially to find where the silver is hidden. Her mother always gets her to investigate on where cameras and motion sensors are. When Dani goes to the beach, she never means to make any friends, much less a loyal one. Allison is one of the only people that have ever gotten near DanI, much less spend time with her as a friend. Then, at the supermarket, Dani meets Greg. Greg is a guy that wont leave Dani alone, and he just happens to be a cop. One of the guys that Dani tries her best to avoid.

Stealing Heaven is a different kind of book. I havent read something this different in a long time. When you read it, you get a feeling of how DanI feels with all of this chaos. You want her to see Greg, but then are afraid for her, that he wont accept her if he finds out the truth. Allison is a loveable blabber mouth that always talks too much and I think thats why DanI is drawn to her. DanI is always trying to take care of herself and her ditzy mother who is always loaning herself out to get in with the guys that can help her with what she wants to get. When DanI starts spending more time with Greg, her mother notices and decides to hurry and get the job done. This book is a enjoyable, engrossing read.