I am kind of ashamed to admit that this is my first Janet Evanovich book but I have a feeling it will be far from my last. I won't lie, I avoided reading her books because I didn't want to jump into a series that was already 20+ books long. When I saw that she was finally starting a whole new series (separate from her Stephanie Plum books) I figured here was my chance. Evanovich is a much beloved author in the mystery/cozy mystery world so I was eager to see what her books were like. After reading the Recovery Agent I can see why people enjoy her books so much.

The Recovery Agent was a quick and easy read. I found myself flying through it. I didn't want to put it down and I had to know what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the whole treasure hunting aspect. It reminded me a lot of some of my favorite adventure movies (National Treasure, Sahara, Tomb Raider) and I wasn't mad about that. I really enjoyed being pulled along for the ride. I enjoyed Gabriela and her ex-husband Rafer but I must admit my favorite characters were Pepe & Caballo. What can I say, I am a sucker for the quirky sidekicks.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Recovery Agent (Gabriela Rose #1) by Janet Evanovich from Net Galley, Simon & Schuster Canada &, Atria Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…an adventure filled with dangerous drug cartels, creepy cults, Incan legends, a psychotic antagonist, and snakes…. yep, lots and lots of snakes…

In Evanovich’s first book The Recovery Agent in her new Gabriela Rose series we get what we expect from the prolific author. As with the author’s Stephanie Plum novels in her new series we get a feisty, fast, fun (bordering on silly at times) adventure story reminiscent of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, Romancing the Stone and the like.

Gabriela Rose, the protagonist of this new series a recovery agent hired to find missing treasures, for insurance companies and private clients uses her skills to help her hometown rebuild after a storm. A supposed descendent of the famous pirate Blackbeard Gabriela receives a call from her eccentric grandmother asking for help. Her hometown of Scoon, South Carolina, gets hit by a storm all but wiping out the city’s infrastructure and they are in desperate need of $15 million to rebuild. Her grandmother receives a message from Annie, a long dead relative, who claims to know the whereabouts of a journal that was in Blackbeard’s possession detailing the location of a long-lost buried treasure. The journal the key to finding the elusive Treasure of Lima, in particular the Seal of Solomon, was said to have been in the possession of Spanish conquistador Pizarro, who stashed it somewhere in the Incan city of Paititi.
There is one catch the journal is buried under the floorboards in a former family house in Barbados, a house she lost in a divorce, a house in possession of her Ex-husband Rafer

Gabriela leaves the comforts of her Soho condo to start her mission. First stop is Barbados to sneak into the house to retrieve the journal only to get caught by none other than her ex-husband, Rafer. Always an opportunist, Rafer pressures Gabriela to partner up with him and share what they find. After they come to a mutual agreement the head off on to an adventure filled with dangerous drug cartels, creepy cults, Incan legends, a psychotic antagonist, and snakes…. yep, lots and lots of snakes.

It is a fast-paced fun read that is for pure entertainment. If you’re looking for literary fiction, this isn’t for you however if you want a few hours of escapism replete with adventure and witty banter, then I recommend giving it a read.

A great departure for Ms Evanovich. I have been a fan forever. This new character is as detailed as her others and Rafer is a keeper. Gabriela is no slouch , she recovers items for a price, and this ring might just be too hot an item to handle. Add an ex who knows just the moment to irritate and the fun never stops. The villain is especially vicious and the jungle unforgiving. It’s perfect. It’s funny. It’s very readable.

Recovery Agent is the first book in the new series by Janet Evanovich. The main character is Gabriela Rose, a recovery agent, who is hired to recover lost or stolen items. Her hometown is destroyed by a storm and her family is close to losing everything. Her grandma, who speaks to a ghostly relative, encourages Gabriela to go searching for treasure. Along the way, her ex-husband joins her in the search. Along the way, they meet up helpful drug lords and a a crazy man who believes he is a disciple of the god, Supay. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more in the series.

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

The mysterious and very talented Gabriela Rose from Fortune and Glory gets her own book, hopefully series. She is a very interesting Indiana Jones/Laura Croft type character. If this book is anything alone those lines, I'm in love! While not as much action as I would have liked, this book more than met my expectations and I enjoyed it immensely. The one think I really liked was the attention paid to historical and geographic details. The research really paid off and make the story so much better. There was witty bander, but I would have liked to see more. The second chance romance between Gabriela and Rafer was beginning to bud, but these two have a lot to work through. After seven years apart, they are almost two different people. This book just doesn't have the snap, crackle or pop I was expecting. It is not a Laura Croft or an Indiana Jones or Romancing the Stone, but it is entertaining and that is what I look for in any book I read.

Gabriela Rose has made a very good living at recovering items that people have lost or been stolen from them. Sometimes she is successful, sometimes the panther eats the object. Oh, well, maybe next time. When she receives a call from her family about the dire situation in her hometown, she decides to pay a visit. It is a lot worse than she imagined and when her grandmother, Fanny, tells her that the ghost Annie has a hidden treasure under her cottage on St. John that will lead her to a priceless artifact, the Ring of Solomon, Gabriela is more than a little skeptical. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained, and Gabriela sets off for St, John and hopefully she can avoid her ex-husband Rafer who now lives in the property.

Well, so much for hopes. With a sketchy map and Rafer in tow they set off for Peru and the lost treasure of Cortez. With two locals to guide them they begin the harrowing trek into the jungle and encounter a crazy drug lord who is searching for the Ring of Solomon too. But he wants it in order to control a demon army for his lord Supay.

And, that is just the beginning of this dangerous adventure.

4 1/2-Stars

What a fun adventure! Think Indiana Jones in female form. Gabriella, an insurance recovery agent, travels the world to find lost, stolen, (or hidden), assets for those who can pay for her services. She is tough and I love her priorities. She carries a Glock, a Buck knife, and moisturizing lip gloss. Just what every woman needs in her badass backpack, right?
This story involves a search for rumored treasure, a trek her grandmother sends her on after Gabriella’s hometown is ruined by a natural disaster. The money the treasure can bring will rebuild the town and save her family’s home. Gabriella’s hunky ex-husband (he has never gotten over her) joins the expedition, as they travel to the jungles of Peru and coca-I mean ‘coffee’- plantations while following an ancient map. Throw in a couple of Peruvian sidekicks, (I'm adding Pepe to my 'Favorite Side Kick Ever list'), some not-so-friendly boa constrictors, scimitar carrying bad guys, and a demon worshiping drug lord and you have a heck of an adventure story.
If you are a Janet Evanovich fan, you will want to add this to your collection. It was a fun read and great adventure. Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Janet Evanovich for early access for my honest review.

I can see this is going to be another good series. What an adventure! Gabriela is good at recovering things for people but now she is on the hunt for something to help her family and her hometown. The problem is that she will have to take her ex-husband along. They have been divorced for years but she still feels that tug of attraction. They have known each other their whole lives but she does remember the reasons for the divorce. As they jet from one location to another, they face so many dangers and have to work together. They are chased by crazed cult leader and his followers while they hunt for treasure. An excellent adventure.

Fans of Janet Evanovich will love this tale of a recovery agent searching for a lost treasure that will save her family. Some laugh out loud moments and a hot leading man harken to the Stephanie Plum Series in the best way possible.

I am not Janet Evanovich’s biggest fan. I thought that her Fox and O’Hare series was super-promising, with five solid entries…and then with a new co-author onboard, book number six was a complete mess. And, while I really enjoyed the first eight Stephanie Plum novels, in the end I grew to hate the character of Stephanie so much that I stopped reading them.

Having said all that, I do concede that the woman can write, and this new series had an intriguing premise —basically Romancing the Stone, but with cell phones? Sign me up!

A book like this, with a breakneck pace, and funny, quirky characters is right in Evanovich’s wheelhouse. It’s played fast and loose, scenes are short, and nothing gets drawn out for affect. It’s a bunch of short action sequences, loosely held together with an over-arching plot and minimal character development. It’s entertaining as hell, laugh-out-loud funny, and does not take itself at all seriously. It is exactly the book I hoped it would be.

Rather than being one long, linear narrative, the plot keeps cycling back on itself. Every time you feel like it’s wrapping up, it ramps up again. This episodic style—it’s structured kind of like a TV show—really makes the plot feel even faster than it would otherwise. It’s a thrill ride—and a really fast read.

The things that disappointed me were undoubtedly things that were deliberately left for a sequel. I did not agree with all of Evanovich’s choices, but I understood why she made them, and I am looking forward to book number two, where I hope that the few loose ends that remain are tied up.

Fans of action-adventure movies will love this book. Romance readers will likely find the relationship between Gaby and Rafer lacking in heat, but there is always book two.

Overall, a strong first book. Looking forward to more.

If Indiana Jones and Lara Croft got together, their love child would be Gabriela Rose, the heroine in Janet Evanovich’s latest novel, The Recovery Agent. Gabriela is a recovery agent, which means that people hire her to find lost things of all kinds. On her last adventure she set out to recover a pendant but a panther ate it. That is sometimes life in Gabriela’s world. Before heading back to New York City, she returns to her hometown, Scoon, which has never recovered from a hurricane that ravaged it. There her grandmother tells her that Annie the ghost says that there’s a treasure under the floorboards in the home that Gabriela inherited that now belongs to her ex-husband, Rafer. The treasure could revitalize Scoon, encourage all those who had left to return. It’s a fantastical idea that a ghost would tell Gabriela’s grandmother about a treasure and it may be equally fantastical that Gabriela follows through on the information and finds a treasure chest with maps, as well as her ex-husband. The ensuing adventure takes Gabriela, Rafer and the reader on a wild ride from Peru to Costa Rica to New York to California to Scoon. Buckle up!

The Recovery Agent was so enjoyable that I couldn’t put it down. Gabriela is a kickass heroine who has changed significantly since she was married to Rafer. Her knowledge of weapons and her ability to defend herself never ceases to surprise him. I love a female MC who can more than take care of herself. The banter between Gabriela and Rafer was witty, swift, and well-written. All of the secondary characters also added humor to the story as well as resourcefulness.

The search for treasure was an adventure that introduced Gabriela and Rafer to El Dragon, a vicious drug lord who has been searching for the same ring that they are looking for so that he can call upon its supposed supernatural powers. He’s also insane and driven.

This was one of the most fun stories I’ve read in a long time and I’m so glad that it’s the beginning of a new series. Between the adventure and the seriously fun chemistry between Gabriela and Rafer, I can see some definitely great episodes in the future, especially if they continue to be guided by Granny and her ghost friend. A great start to a new series.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I used to love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series but I has been getting stale and repetitive. This is a fresh new character and some pretty exciting scenarios. Gabriella Rose finds and recovers lost artifacts and information (expensive jewelry, proof of insurance fraud). She is witty and capable (doesn't blunder into situations like Plum). There was a lot of unnecessary information (gun models, car makes) that didn't really add to the story. I would give this series a shot for sure.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read The recovery agent by Janet Evanovich. This is a brand new series featuring Gabriela Rose who was featured in Stephanie Plum 27, Fortune & Glory. I will admit I have fallen a bit behind Stephanie's series so I went into this book with no background information, but I didn't have too much trouble getting into the story. I found this was more of an action adventure series, with Gabriela being a much more put together recovery agent, knowing what to do, and not bumbling and stumbling into success like Stephanie did. I did like the story, but found it a bit slow in parts, and it was missing one thing the Stephanie series had....Ranger! That being said I will continue to check out this series.

I am a huge Janet Evanovich fan. Gabriela Rose was a blend of Stephanie Plum, Kate, and Riley Moon.

Fast paced and action packed, Gabriela ventures in to jungles, caves, volcanos, and more to recover the Seal of Solomon. It's rumored the ring will make the people and powers of Earth bend to your wishes. But she isn't the only after the seal. When her ex-husband Rafer joins in the hunt, things get interesting!

I can't wait to see what other treasure Gabriela will hunt for next! Janet Evanovich never disappoints!!

Gabriela Rose is a recovery agent. When she is forced to work with her ex to save her hometown, things get interesting.

Gabriela Rose is an insurance fraud investigator and recovery agent. The book begins with Gabriela on a mission to retrieve an amulet for a client. Soon after she returns to her hometown of Scoon, SC to help with a family problem. They had major storm damage and need to repair the wharf to keep the townspeople from having to sell their land. This requires a lot of money. Great Auntie Margaret left Gabriela a house and there’s rumored treasure from Blackbeard in a secret room under the bedroom. The problem is, Gabrielas ex Rafer got the house in a messy divorce. Before you know it, the unlikely pair are working together to find a treasure and save their hometown. They will meet some interesting characters along the way. Will they be able to save the town?

This book has a little mystery, romance and of course humor. Janet Evanovich never disappoints. I can’t wait for her next book

Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars/ 5

Gabriela Rose is someone who looks for things “lost” to other people. This time, she’s looking for a personal treasure that can help her family and her hometown survive after a hurricane wrecked it. Taking her from New York to South America to California and back again, the action is fierce and reminiscent of watching a 1990s blockbuster film.

I enjoyed the character and plot development. I’m interested in her relationship with her ex-husband and their interactions. I enjoyed Pepe and Caballo and thought they were great minor characters. The story fell a little bit because it’s not complete resolved at the end of the book. But, I liked the book and I will definitely read the next in the series. Overall it’s a fun and fast paced read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll admit it, I was worried I wasn’t going to love this one because in my head I thought there was no way she could write another book that I would LOVE just as much as her Stephanie Plum series. But she did and I devoured this hilarious tale filled with action, adventure, and the possibility for a second chance romance!

Gabriela Rose is a recovery agent which means there are times where she finds herself in some tricky situations. But she’s survived them, and she loves what she does so she keeps on doing it. When a new case lands on her lap about a ring with possible powers Gabriela has no choice but to take it because it has the potential to save the town, she grew up in. Only problem is, she has to work with her ex-husband and the job won’t be easy. From the jungles of Mexico to snake infested mansions in California Gabriela is on the ride of her life and making it out unscathed won’t be so easy. But she has some great people on her side helping her with this one and just might make it after all… Guess you’ll have to read about these hilarious hijinks in The Recovery Agent is you want to know what really goes down!

All in all, I loved this book, and it was an easy 5 star read for me. I’m already anxious to get my hands on the next one so hopefully Evanovich is in the writing cave!


𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Humor, Action, and Adventure
• Janet Evanovich’s other series (like the Stephanie Plum series)

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐

I’ve always enjoyed the Stephanie Plum, bail bondsman, series also by Janet Evanovich, but Stephanie’s reliance on the men in her life to get her out of tight spots has gotten a little old in this age of female empowerment. This new series launched by “The Recovery Agent” promises a different kind of story, and for the most part, it delivers. The recovery agent of the title is Gabriella Rose, who is highly skilled at uncovering insurance fraud and recovering treasures both lost and ill-gotten. She is headquartered in New York City, but her roots are in small town South Carolina. This particular case involves tracking down lost treasure originally documented in her family history by Sir Francis Drake. Gabriella intends to use the proceeds from her treasure hunt to fund the rebuilding of her hometown, brought low by a deadly hurricane. Complicating her efforts to locate the treasure is her childhood friend, boyfriend, husband and now ex-husband Rafer who has the potential to contest ownership of any property stored in the house which Gabriella gave to Rafer in their divorce settlement. What appeared to be heading toward one of those oh-so-familiar snarky duels with an erotic edge between Gabriella and Rafer soon developed into a working relationship between partners with complementary skills and a lot of great history. I was so pleased to see the hunt and the victory over the psycho bad guy taking precedent over the sparring of former lovers. That is not to say the two were not still attracted to each other, but their teamwork was what drove the story.
There were a number of colorful secondary characters and lots of great scenes with jungle and island settings. It was about as far from Stephanie Plum and her traditional NJ neighborhood as you could get.
That is not to say I am not looking forward to the next Plum adventure, but it was really fun to root for a character, not afraid of snakes or getting wet and prepared to take charge of a team of testosterone-driven guys with no hesitation. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to meet this hard-driving recovery agent.

This is the first book in a fun new adventure thriller series from Janet Evanovich featuring recovery agent, Gabriella Rose. Her job entails finding lost treasure and people. In this first outing, she's following up on a family legend about Blackbeard's treasure. Her family and the town of Scoon need help recovering from a Cat 4 storm that blew over their coastal town in South Carolina. If she can find this treasure, it could help everyone start over. Gab's grandma tells her that the ghost of a long-dead aunt told her in a dream that there's a chest hidden in her Aunt Margareet's house on St Vincent that has Blackbeard's maps and a diary. Unfortunately the house now belongs to Gab's ex-husband Rafer, awarded him as part of their divorce settlement. She can't get into the house to search without involving him and boy, there's still a lot of hot attraction there.

The two end up going off on the adventure of a lifetime, on the hunt for that hidden treasure, and eventually they do battle with a madman and his minions. Exciting action and fun escapist reading.

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

This book was cute, a fun and light read that you would expect from Janet Evanovich. The main character and her ex husband team up to try to find a ring that might only be part of myth, but would save their hometown that was destroyed in a hurricane. On the way they come across a drug lord who is attempting to get the ring because he worships an old god, a lot of snakes, and some other chaos.

I enjoyed this, I read it in one evening. It was nothing exceptional, very on brand for Evanovich, but also enjoyable.

First…. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

I’ll preface my review by saying I’m a huge Stephanie Plum fan. I have read other books by Janet Evanovich although not nearly as loyally.

I did have high hopes for this book though, as Gabriela Rose seemed so kick-ass and in-charge when introduced in Stephanie Plum #27(??). Unfortunately those hopes didn’t come to fruition. Her character seemed completely different.

The story plot came across as a meld between Indiana Jones and the Mummy. Not a problem for me except it seemed clinical rather than suspenseful and exciting. I also didn’t follow the logic of it. I mean if you had a big chest full of old pirate maps along with an authenticated diary from Sir Francis Drake then you would totally already have the money and publicity to get the little town into the news and get the funding to fix the hurricane damage. And then, throughout the story she keeps giving treasure hordes away! She just wants the ring?! She went after it all to save the town but only wanted the ring?? Doesn’t make any sense. Just saying…..

All in all though, the biggest issues for me were the lack of character development. I got no feel for Gabriela Rose. Whenever a flash of character insight came it quickly went away. Although it was stated that she wasn’t “emotional”, that doesn’t mean we don’t want her thoughts or feelings even if she isn’t outwardly portraying them. The same goes for Rafer, her ex, who is on the adventure with her. Although his character was easier.

Not only did I not develop a rapport with the characters but I didn’t feel like the characters had any rapport with each other. Also, the humor frequently seemed forced and out of place.

In addition, the story was full of descriptive passages. The places and treasures and history, while nice, was too in-depth; I didn’t need pages of it. I just wanted her to get on with the plot line and give me more characterization.

It isn’t until 75% into the story that we finally get some insight to Gabriela and her true personality and thoughts. She actually thinks about “saving the town” but doesn’t factor in all the treasure found that she gave away. She questions going after El Dragon and the ring and breaking the law…. Not nearly the kick-ass female equivalent of Ranger that I thought she was from her Stephanie Plum introduction. She’s not logical, analytical and methodical and she completely misses the obvious.

Maybe I was expecting too much. I was expecting a female Ranger and I got a pretend, wannabe Ranger with a bit of Stephanie Plum mixed in. I give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.