Member Reviews
Wow. The second book in the Richter series and it's just so good! Suspense? Yes. Action? Yes. Romance? Of course!!
Richter, the elite school that Olivia attended, educates their students to excel in all subjects, including languages, computer science, and for some, hand to hand combat and weapons training. Once they've graduated, some go to covert government agencies around the globe, and some, are enticed into the underworld as computer hackers and assassins. Olivia was handpicked to become an assassin. Her handler is dead, and now Olivia is trying to right the wrongs she committed for him.
This book picks up where the first book in this series left off, and you get so much backstory it's probably best to read these books in order. Olivia has been protecting a young woman who will be testifying against a mobster. She is using every trick in her toolbox so the bad guys don't know she's around. Unfortunately a police officer, on the same detail but not undercover, notices her and is attracted to her.. Come on, it's Vegas!! When a shooter fires on them, Olivia is hit and everything changes.
The first part of the book quickly shoots you out of the gate. The second part slows down just a bit, but gives you so much to think about regarding deeds that have been done. Once the team in is 'off the mountain', literally, you're taken on a ride that seems headed to disaster, but is resolved in a bang! A very satisfying read!
I read an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley by request. I read the previous book in this series and enjoyed it enough that I wanted to see what happens next.
This is the story of Olivia (the Operative) and Leo (the FBI Agent). There is so much more that goes on in this story with so many characters and just the right amount of drama and romance. I normally don’t choose to read suspenseful romance books but I really enjoy these and can visualize the event as my kindle reads it to me.
Outstanding action-suspense romance. This is Olivia’s story. This book holds many twists and turns as the story evolves. Richter was a school that changed many young lives. Many students ended up trained as operatives or assassins. Leo works for the FBI and hopes to take down a mobster but at what personal cost. The characters are realistic and so well developed. It was explosive when he met Olivia. Wonderful and entertaining story that keeps you turning pages to find out what happens. I received a complimentary copy of the book via NetGalley and I chose to write a review.
I haven't read a Catherine Bybee book that I didn't seriously love. She's one of the best authors at writing well developed characters and a solid story line. Olivia was such a strong heroine. Leo was her perfect match. This book was super fun, fast paced and kept me interested from the first to the last page. As long as you keep writing Ms. Bybee, I'll definitely keep reading. I highly recommend this one. Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
This was another wild book from Catherine Bybee. Once again the focus was on Richter. I enjoy reading about Neil’s team. The characters are exciting. Fun read.
When I finished Changing the Rules, the first book in the Richter series, I was already ready for this second book. A Thin Disguise did not disappoint! One of the things I love about Catherine Bybee's writing is that you always get a full story, but you also get very strong heroines and I think that is amazing! While these women featured in the Richter series are fighters, they also have their vulnerable sides and it makes the stories so rich.
Olivia Naught is a well trained assassin who is now looking for redemption. She's in Vegas doing a job and she encounters Leo Grant, who as an FBI agent, is also doing his job. She's trying to help Leo by keeping his star witness safe even though he has no idea she's doing it. When they encounter one another on a Vegas street and she is shot as they talk, things change in an instant.
Neil McBain, who has his own group of operatives, whisks Olivia, who doesn't officially work for him, but they are associated, away to safety once she's released from the hospital, with Leo in tow. She's suffering from dissociative amnesia and Neil wants to make sure to keep both of them safe since no one knows exactly who the shot was meant for.
Leo and Olivia continue to grow closer while in hiding and while no one knows what will happen when Olivia actually remembers who she is, the team tries to temper Leo's expectations. Once she does remember, she creates a plan to go after the person who shot at them the only way she knows how - by herself. The team isn't going to stand for it and they put their own plans into motion. Will they succeed in taking down the shooter and showing Olivia it's good to have people you can count on?
This is such a great group of people that you can't help but be invested. The storyline is one that keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat. Bybee has a way of creating a world that is so intriguing along with weaving in the romance and personal relationships. I have no doubt this will be another hit for her.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Another great addition to this engaging and addictive series! It easily stands alone but the nuances that come from having read the previous books add a depth that enriches the reading experience. The amnesia plot device is not usually one I enjoy but in this instance it was explained and explored in a way that is very realistic which made it surprisingly interesting. The first half of the book did move along a bit slow, however. I was never eagerly anxious to pick it back up once I set it down like most of this author's stories. BUT, the second half suddenly takes off and from then on it's a race to the finish! There are twists and turns that one will never guess. And every one is superbly and intelligently penned. It is edge-of-your-seat reading that is also real and riveting!
I loved the whole book although I've found like something, just a little small something was missing. Otherwise it was tense and thrilling at once. The plot was never boring, not for a single second and kept you on pins and needles the whole time.
This was the second book in a Richter series but in my opinion there was enough background information for the reader to read it as a stand alone. You get quite the picture through the pages and every charackter is well explained.
From assassin to good guy, from amnesia to falling in love. Private sector meets the Feds....
Who does the better job of protection of the main witness? Will they keep her alive or fail?
Find out for yourself. I loved the story pretty much and read it in one go.
This is the second book in the Richter series and I loved every minute of it. But then I love all of Catherine Bybee’s books. The chemistry between Leo and Olivia was excellent and the suspense/drama in the book was really good. It kept your attention clear to the end of the book. Olivia, who is always been alone because of her past, saves Leo’s life but in the process loses her memory and falls in love with Leo. Not only does Leo care about her but she finds out there are a lot of others that care about her too. Olivia has a hard time with this because every person she has ever gotten close to dies. When she gets her memory back, she tries to get away from them so that she can protect them from dying too. Olivia finds out that this is not an easy thing to do and that they are there to protect her too. A great second book in the series and can't wait for the next book.
This second Richter novel begins at a trial for a former child prostitute that the Russian mob wants dead. FBI Agent Leo Grant is protecting her with the help of the FBI. McBain Security and Solutions is also on the case. So is Olivia who is known to McBain and his people.
Like a number of McBain operatives, Olivia is also a graduate of Richter. But Olivia didn't work on the side of law and order. She was groomed to be a spy and assassin doing missions for whomever her boss chose. She got out of that life but it wasn't easy and the ending wasn't clear cut. She's still a target.
When she leaps in front of Leo on a Las Vegas street and is shot, it isn't clear if the shooter was after Leo or her. McBain puts them both in a safe house in order to determine which was under threat and who wanted one of them dead. McBain is also hoping to add Olivia to his team if he can just convince her.
While they are in the safe house, Leo and Olivia fall in love but only Leo admits it. Olivia doesn't feel herself worthy of being loved and she certainly doesn't want to put anyone close to her in danger.
This was a fast-paced and romantic thriller. It was nice to see some of the characters from the first Richter book again. I loved the byplay between them all. I loved watching Leo and Olivia's slow-burn romance grow. The suspense part of the story was also very well done.
In book # to of Catherine Bybee’s Richter series we are introduced to another graduate of this infamous school, Olivia, who unbeknown to FBI agent Leo Grant, who is working the teenage prostitution case and trial. Olivia attracts his attention and in a moment their lives will be intertwined and while their mutual lust and attraction keeps them busy, it’s the business of trying to keep her alive after she takes a bullet meant for Leo.
Olivia wakes up from the surgery that saved her life to not knowing who she is. She just knows that an elite team headed by Neil McBain is giving her the chance to recover those memories and when she does, they know exactly what she will do. And Leo finds out just who she is and who she is working for, but her past could keep her from having a future with Leo and a life she does not know that she wants.
Catherine Bybee knows just how to weave an intriguing story, put in lots of lust and love to keep her readers turning the page to find out what happens next. Her characters are always intense, especially her female characters. They can almost do it all... Except know how to fall in love, but she gives them sexy, dynamic men to help them with the emotions they have been denied while attending the military like school of Richter. They can protect their bodies, but can they protect their hearts...
This is a 5 Star read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake and most of all Catherine Bybee for giving me the chance to read and review this fantastic book #3. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Loved it! Great story with Leo from Claire’s book as our hero and the mysterious Olivia who saves his life and suffers amnesia. Neil and his team swoop in and whisk them off while she recovers and they look for who’s responsible.
Whether this is your first Bybee book or you’ve read them all, you will love this story. As a long time Bybee fan, I love that we see so many characters she’s introduced us to over the years. I laughed when Neil mentioned he and Gwen had been together almost 20 years...guess all the kids from those books need a series next!
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy via NetGalley!
Oh Catharine Bybee knows how to write a story that draws a reader in from the first page and captivates to the last!
I highly recommend.
I voluntarily reviewed this book.
Solid, But With A Glaring Error Early. As a romance between an amnesiac assassin and an undercover FBI agent, this story works great. As a continuation of this new Richter series (which is apparently a spinoff from the First Wives series, though I did not know that until perusing the reviews on Goodreads for this book), this works quite well. As a forced-proximity romance, this is actually fairly inventive, as the leading couple is not alone in the house... *and* there are cameras and sensors (almost) everywhere to boot!
But there is one *blinding* in its glaringness issue that needs to be mentioned, even though it isn't objectively strong enough to remove a star over (though I know some who would likely 1* the book on this issue alone). And that issue is the very moment the assassin becomes an amnesiac. When she is shot on a crowded Las Vegas street in a drive by shooting with a "silenced" weapon. That nobody hears.
Why is this so glaring?
Because I know from both handling firearms and speaking/ listening to others who do that suppressors - they aren't actually called "silencers", for one - don't actually silence a weapon, unlike what happens so often in Hollywood. Depending on several factors such as barrel length of the gun (usually shorter, in drive by situations), temperature, humidity, etc - all of which would be known and factored by professional hitmen/ security / assassin types - a suppressor *at best* takes a gun shot from sounding like you're standing beside the speakers at a rock concert to sounding like your is using a chainsaw to cut down a tree on the other side of the fence you are standing beside.
In other words, for the shot not to be heard by *everyone* nearby - inside or outside - is so implausible that it brings the reader out of the story if they know the realities of these devices *at all*.
And since Bybee herself noted during the discussion of her Canyon Creek series that she knows her way around a shotgun, it is implausible that the author is not aware of these issues directly. Which makes them being written this way even worse. Though again, because it was a singular point in the book and not a recurring problem, it isn't a star-deduction level error.
Ultimately, this is a quite solid book for what it actually is, and I'm still very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here. (And I'll need to go back and read the book this series spins off from, since I bought it years ago and have yet to read it. :D) Very much recommended.
What a fantastic addition to the series!
Catherine Bybee is a master storyteller. In this second book of the Richter series, the spotlight is on an ex-Richter student, Olivia. With each book, we readers get to know some more details of the dreadful boarding school. A dash of romance with whole lot of suspense make A Thin Disguise an entertaining and engrossing read. Highly recommended to fans of romantic suspense.
YES! I thought it would be pretty hard to top the first book (Changing the Rules), but then here comes book 2, A Thin Disguise and I was equally as enthralled! I really couldn't put it down, I had to know what was going to happen next and who the heck Olivia really was! I was so happy to see the reappearance of my beloved characters from book 1 but also to see the development of some of the secondary characters in book 2! Where Changing the Rules was a book about sex trafficking of kids, A Thin Disguise is more about the deep roots of the operation and who really runs the show; but also about the lengths at which some take to keep others safe!
It's a great read, one you won't regret when you pick up this book; or the series for that matter! Incredible writing skills!
This book is a captivating read in the Richter series. Olivia has a difficult and violent past, one she’s trying to make up for when she is shot and ends up with amnesia. Leo is fascinated with her from the first time he sees her, knowing nothing of her past or present. The Richtor team has her back first and foremost as they move forward to solve the case. There’s plenty of mystery, with twists and turns, chemistry, romance, suspense, derp friendship and teamwork. I’m loving this team and look forward to more of their experiences.
A Thin Disguise is a nail biter. You will find it hard to put down. The characters are intriguing with lots of diamention. You'll learn if love can turn hard fought lessons to doing good.
Wow, this was a great read! I love an amnesia story and this one fit perfectly into what I enjoy about them.
The heroine, Olivia is one scary character if you’re on the wrong side of where she’s standing. Despite that, a good portion of this book shows her vulnerable, softer side as she struggles to regain her memory. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to play out once her memories returned but I was very pleased with the outcome of her story.
Leo was amazing! His reaction to Olivia was delicious as was his protectiveness of her. There were moments when my heart just about leapt out of my chest on his behalf because of his sheer torment at what happened or what he imagined had happened.
We get lots of the team in this story and I loved how they were all there for each other but especially Olivia as she needed it so much. The angst level ranges from low to high and the heat is mild to hot at times. I did feel the romance was more prevalent in this book than book 1 but still not the primary focus of the story. And that was okay because this has some great suspense and plenty of danger and drama.
A Thin Disguise, published by Montlake, by C. Bybee is the second book in the Richter Series. ATD is not a stand-alone.
Olivoa and Leo's story continues.
Olivia, the former student from Richter Academy is living in the shadows. After being freed from boarding school, she moved to US, working for Neil and his company.
Leo Grant is a FBI Agent, assigned to a case that brings O and him together.
I read the first book and couldn't wait to get my hands on this second book. And what can I say, this one's just as great as the first one.
A romance with thriller elements, fast paced, action packed, with characters that have chemistry that could burn everything.
An excellent read, 5 stars.