ARC Review: The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Title: The Scam Series: Fox and O'Hare #4 Author: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg Published: September 15, 2015 by Balantine (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Nicolas Fox is a charming con man and master thief on the run. Kate O’Hare is the FBI agent who is hot on his trail. At least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, Fox and O’Hare are secretly working together to bring down super-criminals the law can’t touch. Criminals like brutal casino magnate Evan Trace.  Evan Trace is running a money-laundering operation through his casino in Macau. Some of his best customers are mobsters, dictators, and global terrorists. Nick and Kate will have to go deep undercover as high-stakes gamblers, wagering millions of dollars—and their lives—in an attempt to topple Trace’s empire.  It’s a scam that will take Fox and O’Hare from the Las Vegas strip, to the sun-soaked beaches of Oahu’s North Shore, and into the dark back alleys of Macau. Their only backup—a self-absorbed actor, a Somali pirate, and Kate’s father, and an ex-soldier who believes a rocket launcher is the best way to solve every problem. What could possibly go wrong?

*** I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This fact has not changed my opinion of the book ***

I so love my annual Fox and O'Hare read. It always comes at the perfect time. Right after I read a book full of feels that threats to  overtake me with a book hangover (cough cough Queen of Shadows cough). This series is the perfect palate cleanser. It's a lighthearted globe-trotting adventure, an interesting and engaging heist style mystery, and fun and quirky characters. The Scam once again took me for a great ride.

My favorite thing about this book is the characters. Thy are so fun and quirky and you can't help but love them. We of course have our main characters, Nick Fox who is a notorious thief on the America's Most Wanted list, and Kate O'Hare an FBI agent. Nick and Kate could not be more different. Their relationship started very adversarial but at this point they have so much respect for one another and they make a great team. And as their professional relationship grows, so does their personal. And oh what banter they have. My favorite thing about them might be that they break the gender norms. Kate is the brawn. She's kickass and tough and more than once in the book she shows that to unsuspecting characters. Meanwhile Nick is the brains of the operation. He creates these elaborate plans and is always two steps ahead of everyone. In the course of four books it had been great getting to know these characters and seeing their development.

However it is the secondary characters that really shine with this series. Many of them have very little screen time but they make a big impression. I'm a huge fan of Kate's father Jake. He reminds me a bit of Kieth Mars. He treats his daughter as more of an equal but he has so much love and compassion for her. I also loved seeing more of Boyd, who is a terrible method actor who takes his parts entirely too seriously but that makes him so fun in these cons. He gets to play a Canadian mobster in this one and his mention of Tim Horton's and poutine made me so very happy. There were also some fantastic new characters who would fall in the villain category. But when you have dubious main characters who have to also have some dubious villains.

And once again Evanovich and Golberg have given me an interesting and engaging plot. It's a cinematic globe-trotting adventure but it's also a heist style mystery. The schemes and cons that they plan are always so elaborate and interesting. But as the reader you are privileged to how they are going to achieve their goal but things never go according to plan. It's great to watch them go through all the steps and then see things get all messed up. Keeps you on your toes. I was even worried about how they were going to get out of a particular scrape. Nothing ever goes according to plan, which is totally fine because then you can watch them improvise. But because things don't go as planned the larger plot was a bit muddled. Things had to change about 2/3rds of the way in which made the pacing a little strange as well as the second plot point had to rap up a little too quickly for my taste. Plus the way the book ended was so frustrating. It wrapped up the general plot of the story and left me needing the next book right away!

The Scam is the perfect change of pace for mystery month. It's lighthearted and fun but a interesting and engaging story that I just powered through. I'm just loving this series more and more with every passing book. I love the characters and the adventure the authors take us on.

I give The Scam by Janet Evanovichand Lee Goldberg a 8.5 out of 10

Buys/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are a fan of Cozy Mysteries especially books by Janet Evanovich or Lee Goldberg then pick this one up. If you're looking for a fast and fun read with quirky characters to get you out of a book slump or just a refreshing change of pace grab this.

Have you read The Scam? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Job by Janet Evanovichand Lee Goldberg

Title: The Job Series: Fox and O'Hare #3 Author: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg Published: November 18, 2014 by Bantam (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: He’s a charming con man and she’s a dedicated FBI agent, and they’re about to drive each other crazy . . . again!  The FBI had one demand when they secretly teamed up Special Agent Kate O’Hare with charming con man Nicolas Fox—bring down the world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons. This time it’s the brutal leader of a global drug-smuggling empire. The FBI doesn’t know what their target looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but Nick Fox has a few tricks up his sleeve to roust this particular Knipschildt chocolate–loving drug lord. From the streets of Nashville to the back alleys of Lisbon, from the rooftops of Istanbul to the middle of the Thames, Nick and Kate chase their mark. When they find themselves pitted against a psychopathic bodyguard and a Portuguese enforcer who gets advice from a pickled head, they decide it’s time to enlist some special talent—talent like a machete-wielding Somali pirate, a self-absorbed actor, an Oscar-winning special effects artist, and Kate’s father Jake, a retired Special Forces operative. Together they could help make this Fox and O’Hare’s biggest win yet . . . if they survive

*** I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This fact has not changed my opinion of the book ***

I really enjoyed the last book in this series that I read The Chase, and when I was pre-approved for this next book I immediately added it to my schedule for this month and I was not at all disappointed. The Job was refreshing change of pace for me and I loved continuing with the story of these character and their shenanigans.

And that's exactly what they were, shenanigans. The whole plot of this book was to take down a notorious drug kingpin in disguise by conning him into believing he was buying billions in the treasure from a shipwreck that has been lost for centuries. It was quite an enjoyable globe-trotting adventure that had me wishing I could tag along on their trips to Turkey and Portugal. I'm used to Janet Evanovich for her mysteries but this is not really a mystery here. It's not about solving something. It's about not solving something, or rather, convincing the antagonist not to solve something. But this joy in this series is watching the characters attempt to pull=off their cons. There were moments where I thought that they weren't going to succeed, and it definitely added an unexpected level of suspense, but I forgot how complicated these schemes tend to be. On the whole The Job was full of adventure, humor, and suspense.

But the con is only part of the fun. These characters are seriously quirky and delightful. Our main characters of Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare may be your stereotypical unlikely duo but some tropes exist for a reason. Kate is the tough as nails FBI investigator while Nick is the suave and devious con man. I love every interaction that the two of them have. They have such spectacular banter and the perfect amount of sexual tension. They both have have such charm and I'm totally into it. But Nick and Kate are just he tip of the iceberg. With each passing book their crew of accomplises is growing and they are such a ragtag group. In this one we are once again joined by Kate's father the ex-Marine who packs an arsenal of firepower and Boyd, the terrible method actor who does some of the most hilarious over-acting I have ever seen. But we also added a former Somali pirate and a computer graphic designer who added quite a few laughs. All that plus some interesting and quite devious antagonists to the mix. The characters in this series are very over-the-top but that's what makes them enjoyable.

The Job was the perfect change of pace after spending so much of my reading time with complicated thrillers, supernatural adventures, and fantastical world that were messing with my mind. It was a quick and fun read with quirky characters and lots of adventure that had me hooked until the very end. I raced through it and finished it in just a few days, but I enjoyed every second of it. I recently saw a post by Jamie at The Perpectual Page Turner about "Sacrificial Lamb Books." And I now understand why those can be important. It was the perfect shift in genre to cleanse the palate and get me excited for my next read. Perhaps I should try something like this more often.

I give The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg a 9 out of 10

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich looking for something different from her usual or if you like stories about cons ala Ocean's Eleven and Blue Collar then definitely check this series out and grab on your next trip to the bookstore. If you are a fan of mysteries or contemporary romances and/or want to try something fun and different pick this series up on your next library run.

Have you read The Job? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC REVIEW, RELEASE DAY SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: THE CHASE by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHASE!

THE CHASE by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Bantam – Random House

On sale: February 25, 2014
978-0-345-54308-0
THE CHASE at your favorite retailers

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling authors of The Heist, return in this action-packed, exciting adventure featuring master con artist Nicolas Fox and die-hard FBI agent Kate O’Hare. And this time around, things go from hot to nuclear when government secrets are on the line. 

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.

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My Review of The Chase 

*** I received an Advances Reader Copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This has not influenced my opinion in any way***

If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich you will love The Chase. I haven't read anything by Lee Goldberg but I have seen the TV show Monk and really enjoyed it. Despite the fact that this book is co-authored, it flows with relative ease even with the alternating perspectives throughout the book. It has the same lighthearted tone as the Stephanie Plum books, but instead of the murder mystery our main characters are a notorious thief and his FBI handler trying to pull of a daring heist. It's Stephanie Plum meets White Collar and I loved it!

The characters are instantly likeable. Nick Fox, the thief, is now number 10 on the FBI's Most Wanted List and is very swoonworthy. He's definitely a playboy type of guy who uses his looks to get ahead but he's also sarcastic, witty, hilarious, smart and a damn good thief. Meanwhile Kate O'Hare, the FBI agent, is a strong and kickass female. She doesn't pull any punches but she does punch and hard! There is a scene in the beginning of the book where she throws two muscle-bound enforcers through a window. She is tough as nails but she is also smart, savvy, and snarky. Nick and Kate have a great dynamic. They enjoy working together but they bicker a lot and there is a fair amount of sexual tension. In addition to Nick and Kate, I also loved the secondary characters. Kate's father, Jake, who is an ex-military operative who eagerly goes on missions with them. He's obsessed with weaponry and is always packing the heavy artillery was amazing. I also loved the rest of the crew including Boyd a terrible character actor who wants to be true to the character no matter how small the part and Willie their reckless adrenaline junky of a getaway driver.

As far as the plot goes, it was interesting and exciting. It quickly moved from mission to mission, as what seemed like a simple heist turned complicated. Each wrinkle in the plan added more of a challenge for our heroes and I waited to see how they would outsmart their target and pull off their heist.With Janet Evanovich I usually expect a pretty good mystery. In The Chase there was no murder to solve and unlike Ocean's 11 we didn't have to figure out how the theft had occurred, but I was still curious to see how the characters were going to pull everything off. Just when I thought everything was hopeless, they proved me wrong and figured out another crazy scheme to save themselves or get what they wanted. It was definitely a page-turner. There is so much action. And I mean this in the Hollywood movie sense of the word. There are thrilling fight scenes, car chases, narrow escapes from the law, and lots of explosions. It kept me engaged and interested from the first page all the way to the last.

This is the second book in a series that starts with The Heist. I haven't read The Heist, it was actually in my TBR pile, but when I got the opportunity to review The Chase I started reading it immediately. Even though I didn't know the story going into this second book I was able to jump right into the story. They do a great job of catching the reader up to speed. If you follow my blog then you know that I am not usually a fan of first books so it may have been better to start with this one. It was a quick and fun read and I read it in just a few days.

I give The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg an 8 out of 10

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Stephanie Plum books, the TV show Blue Collar, heist movies like Oceans 11, or are looking for a fun and engaging read that will keep your interest and take a short time to read. It would be a great beach read. Check the book out and enter the giveaway to win Janet Evanovich swag including an "I <3 morelli="" t-shirt="">

 

ABOUT JANET EVANOVICH 
Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O’Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.

Connect with Janet

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ABOUT LEE GOLDBERG 
Lee Goldberg is a screenwriter, TV producer, and the author of several books, including King City, The Walk, and the bestselling Monk series of mysteries. He has earned two Edgar Award nominations and was the 2012 recipient of the Poirot Award from Malice Domestic.

Connect with Lee

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | Google +

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