ARC – Page 5 – Feed The Bookworm

The Recovery Agent: By Janet Evanovich

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

JE is one of my all time favorite authors, and Stephanie Plum is one of my favorite characters. Her other series, also phenomenal. So when I got the chance to read an early copy of the first book of her new series, I will admit, I did a fan girl dance around my living room.

This series reacquaints us with Gabriella Rose, who we met in another book already. It also introduces her ex husband Rafer, assistant Marcella, and a wonderful supporting cast of characters. It takes us on a river rapid ride through jungles and cities alike. A quick, funny and satisfying read, I cannot wait to read more from this series.

I will note, it’s hard not to make comparisons. Maybe because we first met Gabs in a Stephanie Plum book, but she’s the exact opposite of Steph. Literally, on every sense of the word. The same can be said for Rafer (still bad ass) but so much more laid back than Ranger, and for Marcella, who seems to be everything Lula is not (competent, organized, dependable). Both women manage to step in 💩 frequently, but luckily Gabs has bullets in her gun and knows how to use it!

Thank you to the author @janetevanovich @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced copy of this book!

One Of Us Is Dead: By Jeneva Rose

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

After a months long binge into romance and going down some crazy rabbit holes (more on that later), I needed a palate cleanser and One Of Us Is Dead was the perfect choice.

“I always belived there was another option on the table- forgive, forget or ****** never let it go.”

The ladies of Buckhead are absolutely ruthless, and they’re in the middle of a power struggle. As someone who can quote Mean Girls on cue, this books is basically Mean Girls meets Desperate Housewives. And I absolutely devoured it. This was a one day binge read for me.

While this book would be considered a thriller, it was wickedly funny and sassy and keeping me on the edge of my seat while laughing at all the snark.

Join the ladies, grab a glass of bubbly and dive in, I assure you, you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to the author @jenevaroseauthor @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for the advanced copy of both the ebook and audiobook

The Golden Couple: By Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Oh wow. I needed a minute after finishing this audiobook to process. It’s a roller coaster my friends. Holy cow. This is another one of those books where everyone is lying, and behind every truth there is another slew of lies. Who can you trust? Who’s intentions are good and who’s are nefarious? There are red herrings abound here, reminiscent of classic whodunnit’s.

Avery gives me major Kinsey Millhone vibes. I just love her and I am going to hold out hope for another book featuring her. Or better yet, a series. This was a binge worthy listen, I started it this morning and basically couldn’t put it down.

I was excited to read this book when I heard it was a BOTM pick, and was even more excited to receive an ALC copy. Thank you so much to the authors @greerhendricks & @sarahpekkanen @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy of this book.

Sian Evans: Maiden Voyages

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links, which are no cost to you but do give me a small payout if you choose to purchase via the link on the page.

The Rundown: An indepth look at the history of ocean travel as told through the stories of the women who went to sea.

Written by Sian Evans, Published 2021

I have always been enamored with history, so I’m always looking for a good historical book that isn’t too dry. Sian Evans does a wonderful job of taking us on a journey through history via the monumental innovation of transatlantic cruising.

We begin in the roaring ’20s and move through the first world war, the depression that followed, the second world war, the aftermath, and finally the death of crossing the Atlantic due to the advancement of air travel. Women were not historically welcome on ships, but at the end of WWII, there was a shortage of men in Great Britain, where many of the women in this book hail from. Not to mention that many women were galvanized into the workforce when their husbands, brothers, and fathers went to war. Many were reluctant to give up the freedom they had achieved by earning a paycheck. And when the sea called, they answered.

We meet the “unskinable” Violet Jessop, who was a stewardess on the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic when they were damaged. The Olympic struck another ship, no fatalities, the Titanic, an iceberg (and we all know what happened there, ) and the Britannic when it was acting as a hospital ship and was sunk with 30 fatalities. Her stories are featured prominently through the book, as she published a memoir.

While Jessop was up working mostly with the first and second-class passengers, we also hear the story of Maria Riffelberger, who worked down in steerage with the 3rd class passengers, helping usher them into their new lives as American citizens. Many times she accompanied minors making the perilous journey across the vast ocean.

We also meet many women of leisure, refugees of the 2nd world war, political figures, and even the story of an Irish immigrant seeking a new life in America, whose son soars to the top of American politics.

All in all, I found this a very enjoyable, informative, and easy listen. It felt almost like I was taking a guided tour through the golden age of ocean travel. Evans was able to tell a story while keeping the reader engaged on what could be a dull topic. Her knack for storytelling while being descriptive and informative is much appreciated. A big thanks to the author, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for my review.

This audiobook was provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio free in exchange for my review.

Dan Fesperman: The Cover Wife

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links, which are no cost to you but do give me a small payout if you choose to purchase via the link on the page.

The Rundown: The Rundown: After a blown up and a dalliance with her boss, CIA agent Claire Saylor is back in the game. She’s going undercover to protect a professor from radical religious terrorists.

Written by Dan Fesperman, published 2021

We have 3 plot lines running here in this story. Our first is Claire Saylor, a CIA agent who was involved in a failed operation that tarnished her reputation. It also put the breaks on whatever relationship she was having with her boss Paul Bridger. But now, she’s been assigned to act as the wife of Professor Winston Armitage. The professor has written a controversial book that claims that Muslim martyrs will not be given 72 virgins, but 72 raisins. This enrages the radial Muslim cells that were prevalent around 1999 when the book is set. While “the professor” and Claire are under the impression that he is on a book tour to promote his book, sponsored by a think tank, it turns out that it is a ploy to draw out the radial Muslims associated with Al Queda. I’ll use quotes around the professor because the dorky Mr. Armitage isn’t all he seems. But I won’t spoil that surprise for you.

Our second plotline revolves around Mahmoud Yassin, a recent immigrant, who is trying to prove himself to the group of men, in his new mosque. The group leader, Amir, gives him tasks to prove himself, including dropping off a getaway car and getting rid of Esme, the troublesome wife of one of his brothers. Trouble is, Mahmoud seems a little too drawn to the alluring Esme. She represents the life he left behind, and the temptations he must resist.

Our last POV is from Ken Donlan of the FBI, who is also in Germany to keep an eye on Mahmoud and the men he’s associated with. Agent Donlan almost blows the whole operation when he takes a picture of the group of men, which then gets back to the FBI and CIA, and jeopardizes a whole other mission that Claire knows nothing about.

The photo turns out to be the crux of the matter, and when certain facts finally came to light, I yelled out “I KNEW IT!” as I was listening to the book. These events lead to Claire, once again, defying her superiors and going rogue to save a fellow agent.

I’m going to give this book a solid 3 stars. Maybe 3.5 if pushed. And here’s why. I thought this was going to be a romantic thriller. It isn’t. It’s a thriller for sure, but no romance. It’s the perfect setup, a disgraced CIA agent forced to share a bed with a dorknozzle professor who is all too eager, considering he’s married. Anf Mahmoud and his infatuation with Esme. But then, the violence starts and all thoughts of romance are gone. The book has very Tom Clancy vibes, mixing fact and fiction to create a story that culminated in the terror attack on the twin towers on 9/11. But even though it’s a thriller, the book dragged a bit for me. The action really picked up in the last 1/4 of the book, but I wish that it had persisted through the whole book.

Final thoughts- Other reviewers seemed to like this book a whole lot more than I did. So give it a chance for yourself.

This Audiobook was provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.