Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang

From the publisher: "Raised in an exclusive boarding school among Fifth Avenue’s finest, Meg Davenport has all she’s ever needed . . . but none of the things she’s wanted most, like family or dreams of a future that include anything other than finding a suitable match. So when her distant father dies, she seizes the chance to throw etiquette aside and do as she pleases. Especially when she learns that John Davenport wasn’t the wealthy businessman she thought, but one of the Gilded Age’s most talented thieves.

Poised to lead those loyal to Meg’s father, Ian Maguire knows the last thing his mentor would have wanted is for his beloved daughter to follow in his footsteps. Yet Meg is determined, and her connections to one of New York’s wealthiest families could help Ian pull off his biggest heist yet. But are they both in over their heads? And in trying to gain everything, will they end up losing it all?"

Honestly, when I saw this cover I had no interest in reading this book.  It didn't look engaging or any different from another light-hearted Christian romance novel.  Happily I was quite wrong! So if the cover has deterred you from reading this, don't let it.  Ignore it a read on.

I haven't read any other stories that dealt with thieves as Maureen Lang has in this book.  This book was quick paced and fun to read.  Ian and Meg are both likeable characters.  Meg is determined to have control of her life and in doing so finds that perhaps she doesn't know her heart well at all.  Ian is trying to do what is right but is still caught up in his own need for power and money.  Their character flaws and understandable.

I thought the Pemberton supporting characters were lively and wonderful was well  The roll that Maureen Lang created for the Pembertons in this story caused the readers to enjoy their subplots as well as the main plot.

The picture of Christ with the two thieves is something I wish I could see in real life.  The way Maureen Lang describes it makes me want to see it myself.

I enjoyed this book very much and only wish that the ending had more details of what happens next.

I received this book free from www.TyndaleRewards.com.  All opinions are my own.