Brimstone Burglar

Riley Cruz, Book 2

By: L.A. McBride

Narrated by: Maria McCann

Turns out, the only difference between a felony and acquisitions is who’s bankrolling my heist.

I’m about to go from scrounging up enough tip money to make rent to pulling six figures. I’ll finally put those years stealing for my old alpha to good use. Only this time, I’ll be the one calling the shots. My crew. My way.

When a witch starts dabbling in forbidden magic, the Enclave sends me after the demon artifact fueling her power. The job should be simple, except they can’t point me to the culprit or tell me what I’m after.

To make matters worse, they’ve teamed me up with the alpha tracking the witch. Max Volkov was supposed to be my no-strings-attached one-night stand, not my partner. He likes making the rules almost as much as I like breaking them. To get this job done though, we’ll have to work together.

With vampires after my prize, an old enemy gunning for me, and someone trying to take out my crew, I need to find that artifact fast. Something tells me it’s going to take a lot more than a fancy new job title and the Enclave’s backing to keep us all alive.

Brimstone Burglar is the second book in the Riley Cruz series about a goat shifter who steals magical artifacts. If you like fun, fast-paced urban fantasy with quirky characters and a dose of slow-burn romance, this is the book for you.

©2024 Lisa McBride (P)2024 Lisa McBride

I love Riley!

I absolutely love Riley and her crew!! And I think I have even found myself a new book boyfriend (Max Volkov!) In this book, Riley is given the job to find a dangerous artifact that can control another person. She has no idea what she is looking for or where it is, but that won't stop her! Together with Dez, Max, Helen and a reluctant Nash she is determined to find the artifact. As if that wasn't difficult enough, someone is also trying to kill someone on her team. Riley really must face her inner and outer demons for this mission.
Riley is such a wonderfully fun character! She is optimistic and sees the best in almost everyone. She is both tough and vulnerable at the same time. She wants her team to get along and she will make it happen even if it kills her trying! Dez is reluctant vampire tech genius and Nash is an ex special forces grump! I still love the old ladies and Helen is definitely one of my favorites! Those women love a good time! And Max, what can say about Max other than he really is my new book boyfriend. And I think one of my favorite parts of the whole book was Garth!! I am hoping there is more to Garth than meets the eye!!
If you want a fun heist and found family book, look no further!!
Edited after listening to the audio: I absolutely love Riley! This narrator perfectly captures Riley's spirit. It was fun to revisit this book, esp since I will be reading the next one in a day or 2. After listening, you get a better feel for Riley's emotions and turmoil, esp surrounding her former alpha and everything Max related. And I definitely still claim Max as my book boyfriend! I love that he is letting Riley prove herself but will be there when he is needed. And the twist at the end of this book has me anxious to see where this goes for Riley and finding out where she came from!

best in the business

Riley and her team are the best at what they do, as long as they can all stay on the same side. The narrator is amazing and really brings the story to life. a heist gone wrong, unexpected enemies, and as much trouble as Riley can find

A Magical Heist You Cannot Turn Off!

Ya gotta love a heist! Particularly one with such interesting characters and positive motivations. I completely adore Riley Cruz, the protagonist in this book. She makes me think of myself, if I were an extrovert and had a lot fewer social filters. She is reckless, blunt, determined, and has pink hair. Not to mention the whole goat shifter thing. She makes up her mind and does whatever it takes to make it work. In this book, she turns a group of very different individuals and makes them a team. Everyone has to love her; she is completely irresistible. Things go wrong with her plans rather a lot, but she rolls with it and suceeds, all the while creating great loyalty and support in those around her. This is a wonderful book! I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook and the narrator, Maria McCann, is absolutely perfect to be the voice of Riley!

Teamwork and banter galore

Riley's first "solo" mission...and by solo, I mean the first with her own hand-picked team where she is in the lead. A human, a vamp, a witch, a wolf, and a goat...trying to find an artifact they don't know the identity of in the possession of an individual they...also...don't know the identity of. Oh, and did we mention that the wolf and the vamp both despise the human (and vice versa)? What could POSSIBLY go wrong?!? Hang out with Riley and her team while they navigate each other and the magical world to try to save the day, recover the artifact, and deal with some of Riley's own personal demons from her past in a story full of humor, heart, romance, tears, and karaoke.

My only complaint is that the narrator is slow, so I have to speed her up a tad to make it more of a normal conversational speed, but I do love her narration overall. She's perfect for Riley and the witches, especially.

Amazing Main Character

What a great new installment to this series! Riley, the MC, is so likable and I love how much confidence she has, yet it isn't blatant. I have enjoyed seeing her relationships grow with Max and Nash and also being able to get to know her witch friends too! Riley's love for her "found" family is wonderful and she has clearly grown and matured even more in this book, allowing herself to be vulnerable some too. My new favorite character has to be Garth the rooster! I hope we find out next book that he is a shifter or something like that because I would love to know what he thinks about this ragtag crew!