Review: The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Product Description:
Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad. 

A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

My Thoughts:
When I selected this book to review I had no idea that it was the second book in the Fox and O'Hare series. That being said the book was great as a stand alone but I would definitely love to go back and read book one, The Heist. 

I'm a huge fan of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books but never cared for any of her romance books so I was excited that she ventured into the mystery/suspense genre with a little romantic tension thrown in. Kate is the bad ass that I always hoped Stephanie would progress into but never did. 

The Chase was a quick and entertaining read. The characters were lovable and fun especially Kate's dad and his cronies. It isn't a serious mystery or true suspense but it's a lighter version that works well.

My Recommendation:
I recommend this for all Evanovich fans and anyone who wants a fast, fluffy, easy read.

Review: The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/05/review-chase-by-janet-evanovich-and.html

Review: The Wife of John the Baptist by K. Ford K.

Product Description:
History and fiction merge beautifully in K. Ford K.’s vibrant, breathtaking novel about the man who became John the Baptist and the woman who loved him, his wife. K. Ford K. transports readers to a richly imagined landscape where Hessa, the daughter of a Greek trader, is being prepared for her marriage to a wealthy man. But when Hessa meets a charismatic, young man named John, who is rumored to be a prophet, she falls in love and runs away to marry him. Told in Hessa’s voice, this novel reveals the mystery of a man who was greatly admired in his time and who changed our way of thinking forever. Rich storytelling combined with epic history give us an unforgettable story, as only the wife of John the Baptist could tell it.

My Thoughts: 
I didn't become a fan of historical fiction until just recently. Reading a book a great as this one makes me sad that I didn't take up reading them earlier. 

I wasn't very familiar with the bible version of John the Baptist so I didn't have any idea how the story would play out. I also went into the book knowing that it was 100% fiction so I didn't have any objections as to how the story was told. 

What I really enjoyed the most about The Wife of John the Baptist is that John's wife, Hessa, has the ability to "read" the feelings of anyone she touches and the history of any item she touches. It really gives insight into Hessa's motivation throughout the book. 

Reading this book encouraged me to read more about John the Baptist and even after learning a little more about his life, I still loved that I had a chance to read this one.

My Recommendation:
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance.

Review: The Wife of John the Baptist by K. Ford K.

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/04/review-wife-of-john-baptist-by-k-ford-k.html

Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Product Description:
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice" of Kinnakee, Kansas.” She survived—and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, the Kill Club—a secret secret society obsessed with notorious crimes—locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben. Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history: She’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club—for a fee. As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started—on the run from a killer.

My Thoughts:
OH EM GEE!! I could not get enough of Dark Places. I've read plenty of books that have made me want to skip to the end just because I was dying to find out how it all turned out but this one tops them all. I just couldn't figure out what was going on and as I read each chapter I kept flip flopping on whether or not Ben was innocent. This was the same way I felt when I read Flynn's other bestseller, Gone Girl.

When I did finally get to the end I just couldn't believe this was how it all ended. It was kind of like I loved it and hated it all at the same time. Dark Places is definitely one of those books that you'll be thinking about long after you turn the last page. 

My Recommendation:
I recommend this one to anyone who loves an edge of your seat suspense thriller.

Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/04/review-dark-places-by-gillian-flynn.html

Review: Far Gone by Laura Griffin

Product Description: 
To save her only brother, Andrea Finch must face down a criminal mastermind, the FBI, and her own demons in this thrilling novel from the author of the bestselling Tracers series.

Police detective Andrea Finch is a rising star in her department until a split-second decision derails her career. Disgraced and disillusioned, she’s on leave from her job when she gets an urgent call from her younger brother. She’d prefer to ignore his latest plea for cash, but this time instinct tells her something is very wrong. Andrea’s search for answers takes her to a dusty Texas border town where danger lurks in plain sight and nothing is quite what it seems.

FBI agent Jon North is working undercover in west Texas investigating an unsolved murder that may be linked to a broader plot. But when the evidence points to Andrea’s brother, Jon finds that persuading the stubborn cop to help will be harder than cracking his toughest case.

Andrea must find a way to do what’s right while protecting her only sibling. As the clock ticks down on a deadly plot, Andrea and Jon race to confront a heartless killer who will stop at nothing to deliver a final, terrifying message.

My Thoughts:
From the very first Laura Griffin book I read she quickly became one of my favorite authors. She always weaves a believable suspense story with just the right amount of romance and Far Gone is no exception. 

What's awesome about this book is that it's a different kind of mystery. This time we know up front who the bad guys is and we get to follow along with Andrea and Joe as they unravel the trouble that Andrea's brother is in and connect all the dots in the bigger picture. 

Another fun part of reading Far Gone is that characters from the Tracers series make cameos in the book just as characters from Laura's other books make cameos in the Tracers books. It's such a treat when I recognize someone from another book that I loved. 

My Recommendation: 
I recommend Far Gone for anyone who loves suspense thrillers with a hint of romance.

Review: Far Gone by Laura Griffin

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/03/review-far-gone-by-laura-griffin.html

Review: Feedback by Peter Cawdron

Product Description:

Twenty years ago, a UFO crashed into the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula. The only survivor was a young English-speaking child, captured by the North Koreans. Two decades later, a physics student watches his girlfriend disappear before his eyes, abducted from the streets of New York by what appears to be the same UFO. 

Feedback will carry you from the desolate, windswept coastline of North Korea to the bustling streets of New York and on into the depths of space as you journey to the outer edge of our solar system looking for answers.


My Thoughts:
Feedback was a sci-fi surprise. As soon as I started getting into the book I kept thinking to myself that I knew what the book was about and exactly what was going on. Then everything changed and I couldn't wait for it all to play out. 

I really enjoyed the multiple twists and turns and was really thrown by the ending. I'm still brewing over it. I feel a little disappointed because it didn't fit my idea of the perfect ending but it didn't take away from me really loving the story. 

My Recommendation: 
I recommend this one for anyone who loves sci-fi and aliens. 

Review: Feedback by Peter Cawdron

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/03/review-feedback-by-peter-cawdron.html