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Brilliant Audiobook
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(3.07) - 398 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Meet Kick Keswick, an elegant and self-possessed American who has been at London's venerable Ballantine & Company Auctioneer, Ltd., for over thirty years. She is an expert on paintings, furniture, and objets d'art, and so far has lived a perfectly happy life with things on her mind other than love. In fact, Kick rarely lets anyone into her private world. She prefers it that way. She adores her elegant London flat, her books, her music, her delicious meals, and, most of all, her jewels. Kick doesn't need a man in her life messing things up. But when American industrialist, scoundrel, and womanizer Owen Brace grabs the faltering Ballantine & Company in a corporate takeover, he turns Kick's world upside down, opening her eyes to large-scale love, romance and sensuous pleasure. Something tells Kick that Brace's motives are anything but sincere, however. And when he gets near enough to threaten Kick's closely guarded life, Brace learns the dangers of underestimating this woman. From sophicticated London to Kick's secluded farm in Provence, France, BRILLIANT is a playfully delicious novel of suspense, masterful revenge, and secrets of the multi-faceted kind.
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"I read this book in 2007. I picked it up at the public library just by chance. Yes, I saw the cover, it looked interesting, so I read it. It looked like a typical girl novel, which isn't something I usually read (I read mostly YA) but I was intrigued by the cover and the summary inside the jacket. I LOVED this book. It was so good. It's about a female jewel thief who is just so awesome. Kick Keswick... is my hero. This is the first in a series of four and I loved them all. I waiting 2 years for a chance to read the final book and it was worth it. I love Kick's complicated relationships with men and I love her independent spirit. This first book is my favourite and probably the best one in the series. I would recommend these books to ladies that want to read a fun book that will take them out of real life for a little while. It's light, but smart enough to not insult the reader's intelligence."
— Courtney (4 out of 5 stars)
Brilliant Listener Reviews
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" Fantastic beginning to a series!!! Thank you Gwen! "
— Lindsay, 2/12/2014 -
" An absolutely thrilling, sophisticated, romantic book. Kellogg unexpectedly takes you on a trip through a world previously unheard of (or, for myself, a world I would never have imagined even existed!). Lovely, if easy. "
— Ingrid, 2/9/2014 -
" awesome mystery book...great romance...very exciting "
— Theletter12, 2/7/2014 -
" I adore the Kick Keswick series, of which "Brilliant" is the first in the series. These books makes me feel sophisticated, cultured, and urbane. "Brilliant" is not as wonderful as "Perfection," but is was still exceedingly entertaining. "
— Ami, 2/5/2014 -
" want to read more! she is great "
— Joneseyjen, 1/29/2014 -
" These stories about a woman who has made a more than comfortable living as a jewel thief do not read as well in tough economic times, but it is still engaging to read about Kick's trajectory from trailer park to high society. "
— Sharon, 1/26/2014 -
" disappointing and well unrealistic "
— Leslie, 1/25/2014 -
" Fun to read - not really literature but entertaining! "
— LuAnn, 1/19/2014 -
" I have enjoyed every one of Marne Davis Kellogg's books. I would recommend all of them. She has strong independent female leads. "
— Judyr, 1/14/2014 -
" It's a great read if you love Mystery and good food. "
— Holly, 1/12/2014 -
" This is the first in a series that I absolutely love..all about wine and jewelry--how could you go wrong?? "
— Ashleigh, 1/3/2014 -
" A light-hearted bit of fluff, but has some interesting details about jewelry, gems, and the auction business. "
— Jessica, 12/19/2013 -
" #1 Kick Keswick jewel thief turned sleuth "
— Michelle, 11/23/2013 -
" I wasn't kidding when I said I liked books about jewel thieves. "
— Marshall, 11/11/2013 -
" Lots of excellent writing and description, but I can't really enjoy a heroine who is a thief. "
— Maryann, 10/30/2013 -
" Very fun book. Kick's beginning is just as interesting as her adventure in the 2nd book. Now I'm on to the third... "
— Shelly, 8/27/2013 -
" Another in Kellogg's Kick Keswick series about the high-living jewel thief. Great story! "
— Carah, 7/22/2013 -
" A fun lark of a book. I learned a TON about precious gems and gourmet food. "
— Suzanne, 6/16/2013 -
" I struggled to really get into the story until the last third of the book. I'm glad that I did finish the book, though, because the ending was really good. I didn't foresee the ending and was happily surprised. "
— Shelley, 3/15/2013 -
" see comments on previous book by this author "
— Michelle, 1/29/2013 -
" I couldn't get past the first few chapters of this book. I found it to be very boring. "
— Yvette, 10/16/2012 -
" This was a great book to take to the beach. Loved the main character but was a pretty light read. "
— Laura, 8/22/2012 -
" The premise is unlikely, but SO entertaining! A great beach (or, in my case, cabin-fever) read! If you like Doris Day movies, To Catch a Thief, or caper stories--try this. Not too sweet, not too dry, just right. "
— Judy, 8/9/2012 -
" a good beach read... "
— Lisa, 8/7/2012 -
" I read this (and the second in the series) a couple of years ago. It was light, entertaining, a terrific summer read. Enjoyed the character Kick and her "secret" life. "
— Carol, 7/6/2012 -
" Love this book! I love the playful world of art and riches that surround the quirky but admirable main character. The book is well written, well researched and a breeze to read. "
— Michelle, 12/28/2011 -
" Kick is a fun and unconventional heroine, and I enjoyed her capers immensely. The descriptions of jewelry, food, and furniture are sumptuous! I look forward to reading more in the series. "
— Erin, 10/7/2011 -
" The first in one of my favorite series of books. Gotta love the heroine, Kick Keswick, who is most definitely not your average book heroine. Blonde, zaftig and "of a certain age," she's crafty, smart and sassy. Great beach read and as I like to say, "Nancy Drew for adults!" "
— Caroline, 9/5/2011 -
" An entertaining diversion while reading but more suited to made for TV movie than a novel. "
— Barbara, 8/21/2011 -
" Well written and unusual heroine. Not a particularly clever story, but entertaining. "
— Susan, 6/10/2011 -
" This book was a really good, fun read. Kick is awesome! I love this character. The end is priceless. Can't wait to read the rest of the series. "
— Babydimps, 3/26/2011 -
" A new twist on "chick lit/mystery" with a heroine whose expertise lies not only in high end auctions, but stealing high end jewels. The first of a delightful series starring "Kick" Keswick that hooked me from the beginning. "
— Alethea, 3/11/2011 -
" Lots of excellent writing and description, but I can't really enjoy a heroine who is a thief. "
— Maryann, 1/11/2011 -
" An absolutely thrilling, sophisticated, romantic book. Kellogg unexpectedly takes you on a trip through a world previously unheard of (or, for myself, a world I would never have imagined even existed!). Lovely, if easy. "
— Ingrid, 9/11/2010 -
" Fun to read - not really literature but entertaining! "
— LuAnn, 6/1/2010 -
" These stories about a woman who has made a more than comfortable living as a jewel thief do not read as well in tough economic times, but it is still engaging to read about Kick's trajectory from trailer park to high society. "
— Alice, 1/21/2010 -
" A fun read. A bit of a romance, but for the mature woman--fun. "
— Teresa, 9/28/2009 -
" What a fun book; I just love living vicariously through Kick! A jewel thief who works at an auction house. "
— Debbie, 7/13/2009 -
" This was a great book to take to the beach. Loved the main character but was a pretty light read. "
— Laura, 6/12/2009 -
" Very fun book. Kick's beginning is just as interesting as her adventure in the 2nd book. Now I'm on to the third... "
— Shelly, 1/3/2009
About Kate Reading
Kate Reading, named an AudioFile Golden Voice, has recorded hundreds of audiobooks across many genres, over a thirty–year plus career and won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. Among other awards, she has been recognized as an AudioFile Magazine Voice of the Century, Narrator of the Year, Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy, and winner of an Publisher’s Weekly’s Listen-Up Award. She records at her home studio, Madison Productions, Inc., in Maryland.