I’m late!  I’m late!  For a very important date post.  Happy Monday everyone!  I’m changing things up a bit this week.  I’ve got two posts for you today because I missed Friday’s book review.  And I couldn’t wait to share it with you, but I did end up waiting because it was Spring Break, and the boys were home, and I’m sick again, though I’m pretty sure it’s allergies, (It seems to get worse when I go outside and things are BLOOMING here!) which means I will learn to suffer through it.

Anyway, I’ve been waiting to read The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, ever since I found out the release date.  I reserved a copy from my library as soon as they had the title in their database (MONTHS AGO) Janet Evanovich is one of my all time FAVORITE authors, (read more about that here) I haven’t yet had a chance to read any of Lee Goldberg books, but I have put in a hold request on a number of them through my library.  I’m pretty sure I’m going to love his books though, just going off this one and the previous.

Characters:

In what I think of as typical Evanovich style, the characters in this series do not disappoint.  You’ve got your loveable characters; your likeable characters; your hate-able characters; and the you’ve got your love to hate and hate to love characters.  When it comes to the two main characters, Ex-Special Forces, Special Agent Kate O’Hare and Con-man on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List, Nick Fox, the interplay is fantastic.  Did you ever watch NCIS in the early years?  Because the way these two interact reminds me so much of Tony Dinozzo and Kate Todd.  It is a dynamite combo, and there are so many places the authors can take it.

The supporting cast is not left wanting either.  My favorite supporting character in this series is Kate’s Dad.  He’s retired special forces, and is finding retirement boring.  If you’ve seen the movie Red, then you can kind of get what his character is like.  He keeps grenades in his night stand, just in case!  The best part for me, is that he always has Kate’s back.

Setting:

I ditched the setting part a while ago, but I’m bringing it back because this novel takes place all over the world.  The setting details are fantastic, and not just the location, but the fact that author’s paid such close attention to even the smallest detail, such as Fête du déménagement, or Moving Day, which is held in Quebec on July 1st, same day as Canada Day.  You have to read the book to find out why that day is integral to the story line.

Plot

What is not to love about this plot.  The series is centered around two main characters.  Kate O’Hare has spent years trying to catch Nick Fox, when she manages it in the first book, he cuts himself a deal and ends up working (secretly) with Kate on special, super secret, very off-book cases.  These may or may not include running cons on bad guys and pulling off the odd felony or twelve.

Seriously, there are so many ways these two authors could spin things, that I can see this being a long running and beloved series.  Besides the intrigue aspect, and the secret agent taste, there’s also some action and adventure.  Kate and her Dad are both ex special forces, and you can pretty much guarantee there will be shenanigans and rocket launchers, and dead of the night escapades.  Really and truly, there is enough going on to keep it interesting, without totally overtaking the story line.

Aside from each individual case, there is a possible romantic story line running under the surface between Kate and Nick. How could there not be, danger and mystery breed romance, not to mention you have a bad boy, who’s not really all that bad and the good girl, who’s not a goody-goody and you get fantastic interplay. It will be interesting to see where this goes.  My money is on it staying pretty much where it is for a good long while.  It’s just too much fun!

Final Thoughts

I love this series.  When I read the first one, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Sometimes author duos can be fantastic, or sometimes they can be a real flop.  With these books though, the author’s writing styles blend together so well that you get a seemless story.  As I said above, I can’t wait to check out a few books written solely by Lee Goldberg, but I think I’ll find them right up my alley.

If you want a great read, that’s entertaining but still right up there on quality of character and story line development this book is the one for you.  Seriously, it’s an uplifting read, and you know what, it’s also a great couple book.  I really think guys would like this book just as much as gals.  Which is a total winner right?!?!

Next week Later this week, I’m reviewing the Divergent Trilogy, by Veronica Roth.

I can’t wait to share my thoughts on that one with you all

Have you read anything good lately?  Do you have a favourite author?

Happy Reading!