Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Many moons ago, an ex-boyfriend’s mom gave me One For The Money by Janet Evanovich ( to put the timeline in perspective- that summer To The Nines was published). And thus began my journey for reads by Janet Evanovich. Oh sure we had some stumbles over the years- the In-Between Plum books were really not that great- but I could count on every summer having a new Plum to read- to stay up for most of the night and basically finish the day I got the book.

Until I couldn’t.

I quit reading the Plum’s in the early 20’s. They just weren’t holding my interest. The triangle was just going on and on. And the capers were not even that original anymore.

Then enter Fox and O’Hare. Goodness, they were like a breath of fresh air- with some of that old Joe and Stephanie chemistry, some fun capers and an Ocean’s 11 meets White Collar setting.

I LOVED books 1-5.

And then… book 6. The Big Kahuna. The book that needlessly killed so many trees. Because it,my reader friends,- was to put it mildly… trash.

It took EVERYTHING I loved about Nick and Kate and ruined it. It went back through all the previously published Plum novels and found the gags and characters that bothered the most and recycled them, attempted (but failed) to shine them up.

I wondered after I finished reading it 2 things: 1. What would it take to get Lee Goldberg back (give him EVERYTHING he wants, people!) and 2. Was 2 Evanovich writers too much on one story? Because Peter (Janet’s son, I believe) had taken on the role as co-writer.

The ONLY saving redemption to The Big Kahuna was an excellent A-Team reference.

When looking around on Amazon one day and seeing The Bounty was the new Fox & O’Hare book- but Peter was still attached as co-writer, I was all “Nope. Not falling for that again.”

Then a few weeks later- an Atria publicist emailed me a widget. And it has a new co-writer (Steve Hamilton) and ya’ll- I’m not saying that Steve can completely fix the wrongs that The Big Kahuna did to this series- but The Bounty is a step in the right direction.

What I liked:

This cover. It’s different from the 1-5 Fox & O’Hare, but I like the change.

While I missed the crazy capers of books 1-5, Janet has proven with the Plum series that eventually she cannot be trusted with crazy capers and ventures into way too much fart type humor. So I was pleasantly pleased to see that this book relied way less on crazy capers and more on skills of career criminals, an FBI agent, and army intelligence (along with some patented Nick Fox charm).

The chemistry between Nick and Kate. It’s not back up to book 5 standards- but it’s closer to where it should be.

Bottom line: I’m going to be honest- Steven Hamilton has some big shoes to fill with Lee Goldberg’s 1-5 books being so good and to right the wrongs of Peter Evanovich in The Big Kahuna. But I am (cautiously ) optimistic about where the series is headed and would love to see this series get an ending it deserves in a couple or 3 more books.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

So, I am new to this series and was not sure what to expect. I loved it! You get a little bit of all the good stuff. The action, characters, suspense, and humor are all entwined into an amazing story you do not want to put down. Nick Fox & his father are a hoot! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

I'm of two minds about The Bounty. I give it 4 stars as a stand alone - forget that it is the 7th of the series. Only the first five are standouts with the chemistry between Kate and Nick. The writing team of Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg did a bang up job of writing a fun adventure series with two well developed characters that had a spark between them. Now that spark isn't there. As a stand alone it is a fun treasure hunt adventure and a good escape read. I'm okay with that plus I have hope that the next Fox and O'Hare book will have found its way back to those earlier books.
Kate and Nick have to deal with their fathers while dodging the bad guys as they all try to follow the clues of a WWII treasure map and find the hidden gold. Jumping from one location to another in the quest kept me engaged, enjoying the armchair travel and the suspense. So, if you want a fun read so you can escape year two of the pandemic, give The Bounty a try.
My thanks to the publisher Atria Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Written by Janet Evanovich, I expected the book to be humorous. I did enjoy a few chuckles, but felt this was more a James Bond type novel. I was engaged in the treasure hunt, and father/child relationship. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure.

Y’all know I love Stephanie Plum. She’s my girl and Ranger is my man.. but I also love The Fox and O’Hare series! Nick Fox was an international thief who got caught by FBI agent Kate O’Hare. Instead of prison, Fox works with Kate to bring down other criminals. Who better to catch a thief than a thief?

In this book we are dealing with much more than someone stealing jewels from the Vatican... we are dealing with a secret organization called the Brotherhood. There is 30 billion dollars of lost gold at stake. Can Fox and O’Hare find the missing treasure map pieces before the Brotherhood does?

Ok listen, I’ll be honest, this story is kind of out there but I still loved it. It was such a fun addition to the series. I love Nick and Kate and their dynamic so much. I think they work so well together and their banter is perfection! I also really love all the side characters. Everyone that helps with their elaborate plans are all so much fun.

If you enjoy heist books with quirky characters, then pick this series up!

Thank you @netgalley, @atriabooks and @janetevanovich for my early copy!

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am an unabashed Janet Evanovich fan. I love everything she has written, everything. In recent years she has . . . branched out, I guess you would call it. These books, written with co-authors, have taken a slightly different route than the highly humorous and sometimes silly Stephanie Plum Series books. The all have Janet's trademark humor and the bent to insane situations, but they lean a lot more to the suspense/adventure area. The Bounty is a non-stop adventure from beginning to end and it is a rollercoaster of a read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I definitely see the influence of her co-author, Steve Hamilton, in the continuous action that is a constant part of the plot. Having been to many of the places where the action takes place was just another reason why I loved this book.

When FBI Agent Kate O'Hare and con man thief turned FBI Consultant Nick Fox are tasked with advising Interpol regarding an impending thief at the Vatican, it starts a non-stop chase across the globe to recover 30 billion in gold looted by the Nazis and lost in the seas of time. They have some very nasty baddies, the Brotherhood, dogging their every step, but with the help of their fathers, Jake O'Hare and Quentin Fox, they make a formidable team.

If you life the puzzles and maps of Dan Brown, but without the political and religious overtones of those books, you should really enjoy "The Bounty".

Kate O'Hare and Nick Fox hit the ground running (rolling and shooting as well!) in The Bounty. When Nick's father is busted trying to make off with a map from the Vatican, the pair get sucked into a seventy-year-old mystery involving a mythical gold horde. Unfortunately for their health, the treasure was accrued by the Nazis, and a new Nazi-based group is after it as well. To keep the stolen gold out of those dread hands, Kate and Nick, accompanied by their fathers and one British professor of German literature, hop around Europe chasing clues with danger constantly on their tails and hope snuffing out of their hearts.

Who doesn't love a good treasure hunt across Europe with a full cast of characters thrown in with historical locations. This fast paced read is heavily plot driven. We are introduced to Nick's dad and of course Kate's comes along for the ride. Definitely a solid entertaining read as well. The 'clues' along the way are pretty easily answered, so the mystery is focused more on finding the treasure rather than the actual decoding the riddles along the way. I think this is why the plot progresses so quickly.

Along with the story comes some changes behind the scenes with a change in coauthors. I think this might account for some changes in the feel of the book. This might also account for the need to suspend belief on some of the situations and escapes.

Overall, I think this is a good read and one I would recommend.

While this is the 7th book in the Fox and OHare series, all the books can be read without being caught up in the series. I am not sure if I’ve read the entire series, but this is definitely my favorite of the bunch.

This reminded me of a book version of the movie National Treasure. Kate and Nick go on a search for long lost hidden gold from the Germans of the WWII era. It all begins with a heist at the Vatican museum and then takes you on a wild ride through Paris, England, Austria, Switzerland and Europe. Having visited some of these places, it was fun to read about their events as they search for the gold. And with some European history along the way, I enjoyed the ride.

While not all of the plot seems 100% believable, it was fun to live in their world. While Kate’s father always makes an appearance in the books, it was a nice addition to meet Nick’s father.

If you’re a fan of Evanovich and her suspense and humor, you will definitely enjoy this book.

The Bounty by Janet Evanovich and Steve Hamilton is the 7th book in the Fox and O’Hare series. Nazi’s, treasure, and fathers oh my. This book has Kate and Nick teaming up with their fathers in a high pace action story to find Nazi treasure before the Nazi descendant Brotherhood does.

This story was a fast pace, read. If you like Indiana Jones do not be surprised by the similarities. I mean both Kate and Nick’s fathers show up, there is a coveted treasure that has been sought after by many, and Nazis. I did not hate this book but once I felt like this was following Indiana Jones, the more I disconnected from the book. Overall I did actually enjoy this book. I have read a couple of the books in the series and this was easy to follow without a huge background of the series.

3 Stars for a solid fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. This is an honest review.

The seventh book in the Fox and O'Hare series is a good addition. I love Kate and her tough exterior. Adding Fox and O'Hare's fathers to the "team" was fun. I liked the way the story line progressed so that it was like working a puzzle. Following the clues and figuring out where the next step would be was entertaining and kept me intrigued.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I adore Janet Evanovich's writing. I can always count on it being a laugh out loud, fun, quirky read. The latest O’Hare and Fox novel does not disappoint. In fact, this book is probably my favorite of the series so far. I love the chemistry between the main characters. Would definitely recommend this book and the series.

This book is the seventh in the Fox and O’Hare series. Our protagonists are Kate O’Hare, who is an FBI agent, and Nick Fox, a conman. My thanks go to Atria Books and Net Galley for the invitation to read and review. While this book isn’t my cuppa, there will be readers that enjoy it. One way or the other, it goes up for sale on Tuesday, March 23.

The first six books of this series were cowritten by Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. There’s no explanation for why Goldberg is out and Hamilton is in, but the switch may account for some of the inconsistencies between the earlier books and this one. An example: Kate and Nick were tight in the earlier stories, and yet somehow, they can’t stand each other now. There’s no reason given for the change, so I have to assume it’s an authorial quirk; I have to say, not an original one.

The premise is that the pair are hot on the trail of a massive cache of Nazi gold; also pursuing this treasure is criminal organization known as The Brotherhood. Kate and Nick are charged with finding the gold and bringing The Brotherhood to its knees.

Before they are even off the plane, I have questions. For example, since when does the FBI have authority to do this sort of thing abroad? In cases of terrorist attacks on American citizens, sure. But treasure hunting on foreign soil? And since when does any law enforcement body send two officers to bring down an entire organization? You can see my point.

But this is the sort of story that one can only appreciate by suspending disbelief and buying the premise. The whole thing has something of a James Bondian flavor to it, consisting of large amounts of chasing, hiding, climbing, leaping, and in between, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. There’s a fair amount of derring- do; there’s a parachute, a grappling hook, lock picks; you name it. The element that distinguishes it from other such books is that both Fox’s and O’Hare’s fathers get involved.

For me to enjoy a novel from this genre, I need either a well-crafted story with literary merit, including character development, (i.e., James Lee Burke, Sue Grafton, John Connolly,) or else some form of well-executed humor. There are a fair number of wonderful satires out there, and of course, there’s the series that made Evanovich famous, the Stephanie Plum numbered series, which have hit more than they’ve missed and almost always make me laugh out loud more than once. In reading The Bounty, I don’t find these things.

However, not every reader has the same preferences that I do. This is a fast read with accessible vocabulary—my inner snark popped out at one point, and my galley has a note when the word “independence” is used: “Wow, four syllables!”—a linear story line, and an easily followed plot. I could see hauling something like this to the hospital when you’re going to have surgery and your attention span won’t be up to par. And then there’s the consideration of interest. Some want to read action, action, action, and if the story were more realistic, we’d probably be reading about paperwork, reports, and endless months cultivating a contact that proves to be useless. Not entertaining.

Even so, I can’t recommend this book for general audiences, or even for those that like the series.

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I’ve read some of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books, but this book is quite different. It’s an action adventure, and all I could think was that it would make a good movie. It even has a lot of the unbelievability of current Hollywood action films. Not that I didn’t enjoy it. It was a quick and enjoyable read with a good ending.

This is the first book I have read in this series, but there was enough back story that I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything.

Kate and Nick work together, and even though he’s an ex-thief, they get along when she’s not having to chase him down. Both of their fathers are in this book, and they have skills that come in handy on this case. The members of the Brotherhood are really bad but the group is lucky because they need their help…at least for a while. But even when the Brotherhood has no use for the group any longer, they’re able to escape (think Indiana Jones or the Expendables).

The Bounty is a quick read that is written well and full of adventure. I’m going to have to read more books in this series!

Kate and Nick are on their next adventure. But instead of pulling a heist, they are hunting treasure with... their fathers! Humor, action, adventure, and treasure!

I like this one, but it lacked the steam and movement of the other books in the series. Sadly, The conversations and quick wit were little to none. (Which is something I love about Janet Evanovich!) I missed it... Nick and Kate banter was.. meh. I was bored but liked the treasure hunt aspect.

I’ll keep reading the series, but if you miss this book, you could probably pick up the next and be fine.

Kate and Nick are at it again. This time includes a quest across Europe looking for a 70 year old treasure. Add in Jake, Kate’s dad, and a newcomer and the adventure awaits.
Opinion
I have yet to read a book by Ms. Evanovich that I didn’t love. This one is a high speed adventure with some interesting historical references. The messes that Kate and Nick find themselves in are interesting, to say the least.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Loved this book - great interaction between Fox and O'Hare - quick read. Felt as if I were a member of the 'crew' on this exciting journey to some of Europe's best destinations! A mini vacation in a book - just what I needed during this pandemic!!

I like this authors books because they are quick reads but to me the author is getting a little to close to the Plum character. This doesn't mean I'll stop reading them I just wish the the laughs would be back it. They are starting to sound the same not even chuckles and nothing like the first few books in the series.

Every assignment of Kate and Nick's turns into an adventure and this one is no exception. I loved the family aspect to this book. We've always had Jake but it was nice to meet Nick's dad as well. The Nazi treasure made for a thrilling read and I enjoyed the history. The pop culture references were quite amusing as well. Overall another great adventure for Kate and Nick.

Wonderful story development, rich characters, and a plot that hooks you and never lets you go. I love it when I can immerse myself within a book and just forget about real life for awhile and “become” a part of the story. This book totally delivered!