ARC for honest review with no compensation 4.5 stars Received from NetGalley and Montlake

A Thin Disguise is book 2 in the Richter series by Catherine Bybee and while about different couple, reading in order will give you a better understanding of this series.

We met Olivia Nought also a Richter alumni like Claire from Book1 and in Say it Again (First Wives series) is helping McBain Security in the hopes of atonement for her past. While in Vegas, she takes a bullet meant from someone else…namely Leo Grant FBI agent, who also is working for McBain. When she wakes up she has no memory of who she is…what happens next keeps you turning the pages to see how Leo and Olivia go from here….

Tensions running high, action, drama, memory loss, mystery, sparks, romance and so much more…can’t wait for the next book in this series!

A thin disguise by Catherine Bybee.
A really enjoyable read. Lots of action. I liked Olivia and Leo. Surprised how quickly I read this book. 5*.

BOOK REVIEW: A Thin Disguise by @catherinebybee

4 Stars

I loved the first book in this series and although A Thin Disguise wasn't quite as good, I still really REALLY enjoyed it and thought the writing, storyline and characters were excellent. It is best to read the first book in the Ritcher series (Changing the Rules) first or this book may be a little confusing!

The storyline focuses on another student of the Ritcher school named Olivia. At first we see Olivia working on a case in Las Vegas. I instantly liked her for her strength, wit and intelligence. Olivia is such a complex, tough and focused character and I loved seeing all her different layers be revealed throughout the book. In Vegas she meets FBI agent Leo who is unknowingly messing up her plans. Then Olivia gets shot and the main story begins. Leo is an absolute star and I adored this brave and strong cinnamon bun of a man! He is the sweetest person but not a pushover and I loved his contradictions and willingness to love and protect others.
The romance was great and had a small side order of smut. Although I LOVED the romance, it is not the main selling point of the book.
Catherine Bybee is the QUEEN of writing suspenseful stories of crime and undercover operators working to take out the bad guys. I loved that this story linked to the illegal smuggling ring in the first book and that we got to see previous characters but that the attention was on Olivia and Leon. I won't go into the story as I don't want to give much away! However it is filled with excitement, drama and danger, although not quite as hard hitting as the first book.

If you are interested in a suspense filled romance that is both exciting and interesting then I really recommend this series. The writing and storytelling is incredibly smart and the humour and romance is perfect. I loved it and can't wait for the next book!

Please note that I was #gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

This is book two of the Richter Series and though it is a separate couple and storyline, I feel it would be best read in order. There were definitely some tie in's from the last book. A well weaved plot of mystery, a little more insight to Richter and a side of romance to keep you turning the pages.

Olivia was trained for a purpose and as much as she understands that was wrong and a part of her would love to just go into hiding and leave her past behind, it isn't that easy. These type of people don't just let you walk away. A job is not done until a job is done. But when that job lands her in the hospital and with a lack of memory, she is forced to take a break. Will she get her memory back? Will she ever understand the weird little things that have caught her attention?

Leo understands the world of undercover and not being able to share all your truths. But he was drawn to this beautiful woman longer before understanding who she was. When he is certain that he is the reason for her incident that leaves her with no memory. He feels obligated to be there for her, to protect her, to get to know her better. But as he learns the truths will he be able to push aside her past knowing that he is obligated by his job as an FBI Agent?

Though neither were looking for any sort of relationship, Leo's need to be there and care for her slowly builds to more. Olivia's hesitancy that she doesn't understand at first. But sometimes the heart trumps all and you just have to find a way to make things work.

I did enjoy the book but didn't feel the same draw as I did with book one. I am loving the strong independent woman of the Richter group and I am sure it will pull be back for the next installment.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

In a Thin Disguise, Ms Bybee brings us back to the world of MacBain Security and the slightly younger set of operatives we've been getting to know. This story focuses on the elusive Oliva and Leo Grant, the FBI agent who appeared as a secondary character in the first Richter book.

This was a fun read! The set up is unigue and allowed us to see a softer side to Olivia's personality in addition to the hard core operative. I appreciated the opportunity to get to know her when her walls were down and see how the characters around her truly cared about her. Ms Bybee did an excellent job of introducing new information to keep the intrigue portion of the story moving while also building up the romantic story line.

Olivia and Leo are characters that are easy to like and become invested in. It was a pleasure to watch there story unfold while also getting to see how they interacted with the MacBain team. Loyal Bybee reader's will be glad to see several previous main characters appear here in key secondary roles. I am looking forward to seeing what may be coming next for our Richter grads.

I do love this series! There's a lot of action with a good dose of romance mixed in. The friendships and camaraderie among the characters is fabulous. Olivia is an very intriguing character. While we didn't know much about Olivia from past books, we did know about the way she was trained. Leo is so normal in comparison. I really enjoyed how Leo's persistence worked to make Olivia more human. The book was fast paced and I practically read it in one sitting. The more characters I meet in this series, the more I want to know. I can hardly wait for the next. I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone who likes some action and intrigue mixed in with their romance. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A Thin Disguise is the second book in the all-new Richter series by Catherine Bybee. I’m an avid romantic suspense lover and have been for many years. I really enjoyed Changing the Rules (book 1 of the series), so I jumped into this one with high expectations. I was not disappointed. I actually enjoyed it a little more than the first book in the series.

Quick note: this can be read as an absolute standalone book. With that said, being a series lover, I always recommend reading them in order to enhance the experience. There’s plenty of backstory in this book to keep you up to speed on who’s who and what’s previously happened without being an information dump. But if you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, do yourself a huge favor and pick up both books and read them in the correct order.

Now, I’m a characters girl, so if I can’t connect with the main characters, I will generally give up on a story. I loved Leo in book 1 and felt bad that he seemed so lonely, so I was a bit giddy to find out he did get his own story. Leo is a straight-laced, really great guy. One of the truly good ones. So Olivia being who she was challenged him to think outside the box. But it was awesome to see him go a bit rogue. I also love a redeemed antihero, and Olivia fits that to a T. Their chemistry was sizzling, too. The action was fast-paced in the beginning, slowed a bit in the middle, then really picked up at the end.

My only complaint is that it still feels like I’m not quite getting the connection between some of the secondary characters. I’m not sure if that means there’s some reveal planned for future books or I haven’t found it yet in previous books. Regardless, this book was just the kind of story this romantic suspense junkie desires: well-paced action, great characters, and mystery and suspense that weren’t too simple that I figured out the who and the why before the climax.

I give A Thin Disguise by Catherine Bybee 5 out of 5 stars!

A Thin Disguise is Book 2 Catherine Bybee's fast-paced, addictive Richter series. Fans ofCatherine Bybee are going to be delighted with this newest addition. The book has the same gripping, 'can't-put-it-down' quality, and it was nice to see the familiar faces again.

This is the story of Olivia Nought, a graduate of the same military boarding school in Germany where Claire, the protagonist of the previous book, got her unusual set of skills. Olivia wasn't as lucky as Claire who was practically adopted by Neil McBain and given a chance to do good by working for McBain Security and Solutions.

Can this book be read as a standalone? Yes, but if you have both books, it is better to start with Book 1, as the second book deals with the same human-trafficking case Claire and Cooper solved in Changing Rules. Olivia is helping Neil's team protect Marie, the key witness in the case, before and during the trial. If Marie survives, she is supposed to go into a federal protection program and start a new life with a new identity. I'm not going to say anything else to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible.

FBI agent Leo Grant is as invested in the case as Neil's team. When he gets a call from Claire to stop getting too close to one of the cousins of the powerful criminal on the trial, he isn't too happy. Apparently, he is interfering with Neil's 'maverick' security. Then while he is trying to work out who it is, Leo gets almost shot. A beautiful girl Leo has just been trying to chat up takes the bullet and has to be rushed to the hospital to save her life. Needless to say, Leo is feeling guilty and responsible for what happened to Jane Doe (the girl didn't have any documents on her). When she wakes up, she cannot remember anything. Something is connecting the girl to Neil's team, although nobody wants to confide in Leo. Neil persuades Leo that he and his people will take care of her until she gets back her memory and Leo takes sometime off his work to stay with them.

Leo and Olivia come from the opposite sides. A relationship that can never exist, can never work in real life, but there is a strong romantic attraction they can't do anything about. Leo needs to make some tough choices, while Olivia...she has a lot of past to put behind before she can allow herself get attached to anyone. If you've read Say it Again from Catherine Bybee's First Wives series, you know why Olivia is so cagey and quick to flee in order to protect people she cares about.

Similarly to the first book, Catherine Bybee strikes a fine balance between the romantic and mystery elements. The pace was a bit faster at the beginning when the narrative was action-movie -like and a bit slower in the middle to allow for Olivia's healing and the development of the relationships. The end was as thrilling and full of action as Catherine Bybee's faithful fans have come to expect from this author.

Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Related titles:
1 Say it Again (First Wives #5)
2 Changing Rules (Richter #1)

A Thin Disguise by Catherine Bybee is the second book in the Richter Series. This is a romantic suspense standalone; however, it is best if you read book 1 Changing the Rules prior to reading this book as the characters in this novel were first introduced in book 1. I didn’t read book 1 prior and did feel that it took me a bit to understand who everyone was and why they were associated with each other. It wasn’t a continuation, it’s just that the story has parts that don’t seem to make sense at first and you know it’s because you missed something from the first book.

We learn that ex-assassin Olivia Naught is working with Neil MacBain’s private security team who have highly specialized skills. Olivia is tasked with a case that she goes undercover on. During her last leg of the mission, she runs FBI Agent Leo Grant, who she has meet in book 1 where they were both undercover for different agencies.

A huge issue occurs when Leo, who doesn’t know Olivia, tries to talk to her innocently because he finds her attractive, but ends up with someone being shot. The plot is mysterious and based on who did what to and to whom. Leo works for the FBI and should be onto other things, but he can’t seem to let the mysterious woman off his mind. Leo is completely smitten with Olivia and vows to protect her. Feelings develop between the two while a case needs to be solved and witnesses need to be protected.

There is also a bit of forced proximity for a portion of the book. My issue with the book is, that it wasn’t exciting enough to keep me entertained. I was honestly losing focus at times, and I kept wondering why but it was just not the fit for me. I would have preferred the focus to be on Leo and Olivia rather than Neil’s entire team. Once the team comes into play, there is a lot of banter and back and forth and while investigating. To me, there were too many secondary characters for my personal tastes. I mainly enjoy a couple’s progression of feelings developing which I feel wasn’t the main focus of the book. I’m not ever a fan of a lot of secondary characters but if it kept me interested, I wouldn’t have minded.

We do see a strong woman, Oliva overcome several obstacles and it’s nice that she was portrayed as the aggressor and actually physically stronger one at times in the relationship, I still could have done with less everything else and more romance. I would have loved some sexual tension or some feeling development rather than just an unemotional straightforward approach. I think as this is a romantic suspense though and not a romance, that’s why it occurred the way it did. It’s truly me, not the book. I think I just need emotions in my books and without love or romance, I cannot capture an interest in a plot.

I am so grateful to have received an ARC and am leaving my review voluntarily.

This is the 2nd book in this series and is Leo and Olive’s journey. Leo is an FBI agent who is working on a high-profile case, and Olive is an ex-assassin, who is looking for redemption one step at a time. When Olive steps in the way of a bullet to safe Leo, she wakes up in hospital with no memory of who she is or her past. When Olive is recovering in a safe house, she and Leo become closer, and their chemistry is intense and undeniable, but danger is around every corner. What will happen when Olive regains her memories? This is a well written story which is filled with danger, suspense, twists, intrigue, action, secrets, and love, which leads to an entertaining and all-consuming page turner. I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend.

I am a big fan of Catherine Bybee and have read all her books, This one didn't disappoint! This is the 2nd book on the Richter series and follows the story of Olivia and Leo. Olivia is a former Richter pupil who was recruited as an assassin but has left the life behind. Leo is an FBI agent who falls for Olivia after she loses her memory. The book then follows their relationship and what happens as Olivoa regains her memory. Having read all other books linked to this series I enjoyed hearing about some of the characters from previous books and how they were doing. I think some of the storylines are getting more elaborate but I enjoyed the romance and drama and it kept me gripped.
Thanks to netgally for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

The second installment in The Richter series does not disappoint!

Olivia is haunted by her past, and lives on the edge doing whatever it takes to survive. Contract for hire work, protection services, surveillance or worse, it’s all the same to her. She runs into a familiar face while on a job, and a short while later saves Leo, an FBI agent from a shooting, taking the bullet herself.

A small team of operatives give her shelter while recovering from amnesia, and Leo is there as well. The others all share a similar past to Olivia and know what to expect when her memory returns, and are prepared. Leo, who is falling hard for Olivia isn’t prepared, and takes it hard.

This book is full of action, suspense and hot romance too. I don’t write spoilers, so read for yourself, warning, you will be on the edge of your seat!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

A Thin Disguise is book two in the Richter series of romantic suspense novels.

This book has a few different POVs. But the main narrators are Olivia and Leo (3rd person POVs).

Olivia is another student from the Richter school. She is such a complex character. And I loved that about her. Leo is an FBI agent. I loved getting to see him again.

Can this book be read as a standalone or do you need to read Changing the Rules (book 1)? This book has different narrators so I think that you could read this as a standalone. However if you are ever planning to read book one then read them in order. The case was solved in Changing the Rules. But A Thin Disguise does continue with the aftermath of that case (including some stuff about the trial and witness). In many ways it reads like its own story. But some things from book one are definitely spoiled here.

We do get to see some familiar faces in this book. Leo was introduced in Changing the Rules. And Claire, Neil, Sasha, Jax and the others are in this book.

This book has a mystery and a romance. And again both aspects were handled so well. The book started off strong. It was a bit slow for me in the middle. However the last part of the book was full of action. Overall I enjoyed this story very much. And I am excited to see who the next book is about. Can't wait to read that one!

4.5⭐

A Thin Disguise is my first introduction to author, Catherine Bybee and the Richter series.

However, I did download Changing the Rules, but I didn't believe I needed to read it first. And in some ways, I was right. Although this story does continue a case from that first book and so there is a part of me, that wishes I had taken the time to read it. But I was so into A Thin Disguise and enjoying it enormously that I didn't see the point, but going back I would have done things differently.

Yet, this was a tremendously well-written story. That was well-paced, engaging and fascinating. Not to mention full of wonderful, well-crafted and intriguing characters that I want to know more about.

And with a great blend of romance, mystery and action as well as shades of the author Kaylea Cross' Valkyrie series that I'm a huge fan of; this was a brilliant read, and one I had a hard time putting down, and I'm now definitely going to dive straight into Changing the Rules.

Would happily recommend.

This will be posted on the Romance Reviews Today site in July: http://romrevtoday.com/

A THIN DISGUISE – Catherine Bybee
Richter, Book 2
Montlake
ISBN: 978-1542009959
July 2021
Romantic Suspense

Various Locations in the United States & Europe – Present Day

Olivia Naught is a gun for hire. If the job calls for it, she will kill her target. How she got to where she is today fades away after she is shot in Las Vegas. She wakes up in the hospital not knowing who she is. By her bedside is FBI agent Leo Grant, who was standing next to Olivia when she got shot. Someone aimed their way, and she was shot. The local authorities figure Leo was the target because he was recently involved in a high-profile case. However, Olivia’s past is murky, so she might have been the target. To add to the intrigue, there is a close-knit group surrounding her at the hospital that appear to know the truth. The group consists of high-powered operatives who were trained at a German school called Richter and they operate barely above the law. The group, along with Leo and the FBI, recently took down a bigtime sex trafficking ring, with the head of it just convicted. No one is saying if Olivia was involved in the takedown, but they are forming plans to remove her to a safe location.

The plan is to take Olivia to a remote area in Colorado where she can recover from her injuries and hopefully, get her memory back. The head of the group, Neil, knows that Olivia will try to escape once she gets her memory back. She is like a caged animal who will want to escape, even if her captors are friendly. Leo volunteers to go along since he was there to witness the shooting and a deep connection has formed between Leo and Olivia. They are attracted to each other. Despite the people around them at the remote property, they still manage to find time to explore their attraction. But inevitably, Olivia gets her memory back, though she doesn’t tell anyone. As expected, she makes her escape. The group is now racing across Europe trying to track her down—before she gets to the person who tried to kill her.

A THIN DISGUISE is a suspenseful drama that has as many twists and turns as a winding road. Leo and Olivia didn’t know each other before their fateful encounter in Vegas, but there is a connection neither expected. Leo was following a relative of the kingpin of the sex trafficking ring and had just gotten kicked out of the restaurant where the man was eating. As he’s leaving, he bumps into Olivia and their eyes meet. Then, in a split second, a shot rings out and she is laying in a pool of blood. The super-secret operatives are not unknown to either of them. Leo had infiltrated the school in California where the sex trafficking was suspected to be happening, but he didn’t know that Neil’s operatives were doing the same thing. They ended up collaborating and the bad guys get caught, but there are still lingering aftereffects of it. But where does Olivia fit in all of this? She is not part of the group, yet they know her well.

Olivia’s memory is a blank, but she does remember bits and pieces. Leo is sweet and attentive toward her. Yet, she feels sassy at times around him. She wants her memory—and her freedom back—but will the memories be painful? It’s clear from the clues in A THIN DISGUISE that Olivia is a well-trained operative. The reader will have to learn if she is part of the good guys or the bad guys. How will her attraction to Leo play into things once she gets her memory back? Will she get the revenge that she seeks?

There are a lot of questions that come up while reading A THIN DISGUISE, and by the end, the answers should all be taken care of. The characters are intriguing and the plots tense and convoluted. If you love a suspenseful read with a romance on the side, then be sure to grab a copy of A THIN DISGUISE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Oh my goodness! I couldn't put this book down! I LOVED it! I was really excited to get Olivia's story. As a Richter kid, she hasn't had an easy life, for many reasons. But she's trying to protect an innocent. While on the job, things don't go exactly as planned. Olivia doesn't know who she is or what secrets her past holds. I enjoyed the chemistry between Olivia and Leo! I also liked how strong Olivia is. She's not a weakling. And Leo doesn't try to change her. He wants to be there for her and help her, but not hold her back. I thought they were a dynamic duo and worked well together! I appreciated the danger/mystery around her and how they were racing the clock to find out what was really happening. I couldn't read this book fast enough and I definitely recommend the first book in this series before reading this one.

4 1/2 Stars for the action-packed romance!

This book had me on the edge of my seat all the way through ... I couldn't put it down. I loved Olivia ... she is so strong but she couldn't believe that she just knew how to do all these dangerous things. She thought to herself "who am I?" And Leo is the typical alpha protector and doesn't want to let Olivia out of his sight. One minute I thought I had the story figured out ... only to be proven wrong in the next chapter. I love it when a book can keep me guessing. This is a great addition to the series and I can't wait for the next book.

Leo is an FBI Agent working the detail protecting a witness in a child prostitution ring, Olivia is working the same detail (in secret for MacBain Security) only she's keeping her eye on the witness AND the people protecting her. When Olivia takes a bullet meant for Leo, she lands up in the hospital with no memory. Olivia is released from the hospital and MacBain Security doesn't trust the FBI to keep her safe, so his team takes over her security ... only to keep the FBI happy Leo must go with them. The chemistry between Leo and Olivia is off the charts, but when Olivia gets her memory back will she be able to keep Leo in her life?

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I loved everything about his book…the dialog, the story and the characters including a badass female and the FBI Agent who falls in love with her. Olivia Naught has lived on the edge after escaping from the man who controlled her and the Richter military academy. Now, although still a loner, she assists Neil at MacBain Security and Solutions. Her latest assignment is to protect a witness who is to testify against a Russian mobster. When she saves an FBI agent from being shot, she ends up in the hospital with a bullet wound and amnesia. Neil’s team will step in to protect her until she can recover. The FBI Agent, Leo Grant, is deeply attracted to Olivia even though he realizes what her previous life entailed. The team will investigate whether she or Leo was the intended victim and begin a search for the shooter as well as the person who paid for the hit. An amazing tale of intrigue, suspense, danger, romance and humor as Leo forces his way into her investigation, her life and her love. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

What a great suspense romance. When a assassin and a FBI agent find themselves on the same team, protecting a witness, the sparks fly. She the assassin is shot and loses her memory the fun begins. Can they keep their witness, and themselves alive? Only reading the book will tell!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Catherine Bybee continues to delivers amazing love stories and A Thin Disguise did not disappoint. I absolutely loved A Thin Disguise by Catherine Bybee, the second book in her Richter series. I am not sure how Catherine Bybee does it, but I can truly say that I absolutely loved every page of this incredibly, emotionally charged love story and that I could not put it down. I loved the book and cannot wait to read the other books in the series. One of my favorite parts is how the title of the book is incorporated into the story. Catherine Bybee has once again proven that she is a master storyteller who always delivers truly page turning romances. Who doesn't love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families and friends, who always support one another, and wonderful characters? Catherine Bybee continues to deliver all that and so much more. Catherine writes stories with great characters, but most of all she writes about strong women who are not defined by their upbringing or their pasts. They survive in spite of the circumstances of their pasts, that changed the consequences of their lives. Once again Catherine Bybee has delivered another amazing book. This page turner is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I loved A Thin Disguise and reuniting with characters who were first introduced in Say It Again, Sasha Petrov Hoffman’s story. A Thin Disguise is the story of Olivia Naught, a former assassin and Richter student, and Leo Grant, an FBI agent. Olivia and Leo meet on the Las Vegas Strip when Olivia jumps in front of a bullet that she believes was meant for Leo, saving his life. Olivia suffers from amnesia following the incident. Sasha Petrov Hoffman and Neil McBain are aware of Olivia’s true identity, but go along with ploy. Neil rents a safe house for both Olivia and Leo, since they are not sure who is behind the shooting. They assume it has something to do with a recent high profile child prostitution trial, where the defendant was found guilty. I love Olivia and Leo’s love story and how they got romantically closer to each other as they were trying to discover who was behind the shooting and help Olivia regain her memory. Sasha knows that the minute Olivia regains her memory she will disappear, because she does not want to be close to anyone and jeopardize their lives. That is exactly what happens. I love all the plot twists and the travel throughout Europe, and Olivia’s return to Richter seeking answers to the identity of the gunman. I love the lighter moments in A Thin Disguise, especially when Olivia and Leo are battling in the snow, and Sasha’s purchase for Olivia. A Thin Disguise is a beautifully written story for Olivia and Leo, filled with all of Catherine Bybee’s normal bittersweet moments, plot twists and surprises, and so much emotion. I really enjoyed seeing the softer, gentler more vulnerable side of the characters. My favorite part of the book was the epilogue, I truly love how it went above and beyond the happily ever after. I loved catching up with Claire Kelly, Cooper Lockman, Jax Simon, Sasha and A.J. Hoffman and Neil and Gwen McBain. Also, loved how the cover picture and the book title gets incorporated into the story. Loved the book, I am so excited for the other books in the series. Highly recommend this incredible love story.