Member Reviews

If you have read any of Janet Evanovich you will see the author using her very traditional story telling style that she hasn't broken away from. That being said the story is face pace, fun and an adventure readers will be excited for in the next book in the series.

Gabriela Rose is a fun character that readers will enjoy and excited to get to know more about her life as the stories goes forward. The relationship between the two ex's is fun, laughable moments and fighting lots of fighting.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Janet Evanovich The Recovery Agent.

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What’s it about (in a nutshell):
The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich is a brand-new thriller series featuring Gabriella Rose, a recovery agent who finds assets that have gone missing – for insurances companies, private individuals, and even a ghost in this story.

What I Enjoyed:
Most of all, I enjoyed Gabriella Rose. She’s not an inept agent who just happens upon the items she’s looking for. Instead, she is an intelligent and determined professional who is good at her job. I love her no-nonsense approach to even the most harrowing of circumstances and admired her eye for detail. The same observational skills make her an extraordinary recovery agent. She remains calm and level-headed at all times, and that’s why she is exceptional at what she does.

It wouldn’t be a Janet Evanovich novel if it didn’t have a healthy dose of humor, as this book has. The comedy is primarily situational and works well to cut those intense moments into a mix of pure entertainment and harrowing thrills. I loved that a tiny, subtle situation would come up at the peak of an intense moment, and I would find myself giggling and happy. Mixing humor with thrills does not take away from the quickness of the pace, and as a matter of fact, I think it makes it even faster.

I also love the whole treasure hunting aspect of this story and series. If I see a treasure hunt, I’m there front and center, whether it be a movie, a book, or real life. I love the puzzles, clues, and history involved. It intrigues me endlessly, and this story was no exception. The paranormal aspect of this treasure hunt is a great touch. It increases the intrigue and fun and provides another entertaining avenue. And the fact that it is pirate treasure…well, can you get better than that?

Characters:
I found Gabriella Rose to be well-developed, with just the right touch of development needed to fuel an entire series. I enjoyed the wit and banter between her and her ex-husband Rafer, and it definitely added to the fun. None of the support characters, including Rafer, were developed that well. Still, they did have just enough detail to understand their choices, and I feel that they will show up and get more development as the series continues.

What I Wish:
I wish to see more of Rafer, but not in every book in the series. I think he is an interesting character and that they are fun together, but they are divorced. I think he is a character that would be intriguing on a limited scale.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you love treasure hunts and action/adventure stories with a good helping of humor, then you will absolutely love this new series by Janet Evanovich and be eager for more Gabriella Rose.

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This book fell flat. The plot was so far-fetched and Gabriella and Rafer weren’t developed well as characters. I’m used to outlandish stories from Evanovich, but this didn’t have me chuckling the same way Stephanie Plum does. I hope with more time, these characters and this series become as lovable as Plum.

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Gabriella Rose, a recovery agent (read: bounty hunter for stolen goods and fraud), discovers on a quick visit to her hometown that it is about to go under. Maybe literally. Weather has caused havoc, and many locals are moving out. Then her grandmother tells her about a treasure that the family ghosts insists could save the neighborhood.

Leery but desperate, Gabriella breaks into her ex-husband's home to search for information. While she does discover the fabled family map, she is herself found by Rafer, the ex. Unfortunately, this leads to him insisting on partnering up--it's his hometown too.

Soon, supported by a colorful cast of the kinds of characters that only Evanovich could summon, Gabriella and Rafer and scouring the Southern Hemisphere in search of the Ring of Solomon in the hopes of saving their families' homes. Though Gabriella is more Ranger than Stephanie, she and Rafer frequently find themselves in situations that are just as awkward and amusing. And could it be that they come to believe in Grandma's ghost?

Readers will recognize Gabriella as the elusive agent from a recent Stephanie Plum book, and, though she drops all of her mystery with a series of her own, I believe that it reveals itself to be a great combination of Stephanie Plum and Fox and O'Hare.

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I have been a Janet Evanovich fan for many years. I enjoy her light mysteries filled with humor that are also quick reads. The Recovery Agent with Gabriella Rose fits Evanovich's style but really stresses the strength of Gabriella. She is a well-paid recoverer, mostly working for insurance companies dealing with fraud. This case is much more personal, she travels to Peru to try to find the legendary Ring of Solomon.

The hitch is it was her grandmother who told her where to find the map and that brings her ex-husband into the chase. He knows exactly how to get under Gabriella's skin, but her also has a few skills that come in handy along the way. Unlike Evanovich's Stephanie Plum character, Gabriella Rose is a very competent woman and doesn't NEED the men around her, they are there to help but not lead her. I think I am going to enjoy this series!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

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"#1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich returns with the launch of a blockbuster new series that blends wild adventure, hugely appealing characters, and pitch-perfect humor, proving once again why she’s "the most popular mystery writer alive" (The New York Times).

Lost something? Gabriela Rose knows how to get it back. As a recovery agent, she’s hired by individuals and companies seeking lost treasures, stolen heirlooms, or missing assets of any kind. She’s reliable, cool under pressure, and well trained in weapons of all types. But Gabriela’s latest job isn’t for some bamboozled billionaire, it’s for her own family, whose home is going to be wiped off the map if they can’t come up with a lot of money fast.

Inspired by an old family legend, Gabriela sets off for the jungles of Peru in pursuit of the Ring of Solomon and the lost treasure of Cortez. But this particular job comes with a huge problem attached to it - Gabriela’s ex-husband, Rafer. It’s Rafer who has the map that possibly points the way to the treasure, and he’s not about to let Gabriela find it without him.

Rafer is as relaxed as Gabriela is driven, and he has a lifetime’s experience getting under his ex-wife’s skin. But when they aren’t bickering about old times the two make a formidable team, and it’s going to take a team to defeat the vicious drug lord who has also been searching for the fabled ring. A drug lord who doesn’t mind leaving a large body count behind him to get it.

The Recovery Agent marks the start of an irresistible new series that will have you clamoring for more and cheering for the unstoppable Gabriela Rose on every page."

This sounds like a fun Lara Croft like adventure from Evanovich.

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If you’re in the mood for an Indiana Jones-style story, The Recovery Agent will fit the bill (complete with snakes). The story follows Gabriela Rose, a professional insurance fraud investigator and “recovery agent” in her quest to recover the Seal of Solomon from where it’s been hidden for centuries, somewhere in Peru - or maybe it’s somewhere else. Gabriela is doing this for sentimental reasons, as her South Carolina hometown has been nearly demolished by a hurricane. There’s some mumbo-jumbo about an ancestor who is related to Bluebeard and a ghost named Annie. Gabriela is accompanied by and helped by her ex-husband Rafer, along with two Peruvians, Pepe and Caballo. Of course someone else is also looking for this ring and he’s a certifiable nutcase nicknamed El Dragon. Action-packed is the word for this book. Unfortunately, the story and the characters just didn’t grab me, as I had hoped they would. I wound up skimming quite a bit. I was a fan of the early Stephanie Plum books (before they became - in my opinion - repetitive, with little or no character growth) and if you’re a fan of that kind of madcap adventure with wisecracking side characters, you will probably enjoy this book and whatever books comes next in this new series. As for me, I’ll give them a pass.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich is a very highly recommended thriller that is full of adventure and laughs.

Gabriela Rose is a recovery agent, or insurance fraud investigator, it all depends upon the job. She is hired to find lost heirlooms, treasures, or any missing asset. In this first outing of a new series Gabriela is working to help her family and their neighbors to repair the damage in the little town of Scoon, S.C.. She's using a map made by her pirate ancestor, Blackbeard, that is reputed to show the location of a long-lost treasure and the Ring of Solomon. The location of the treasure is in the jungles of Peru. The only catch is that her ex-husband, Rafer, is coming along to assist.

Even though it is full of coincidences and you know everything is going to turn out okay even in the most dire of circumstances, this is one enjoyable, fun, and laughter filled romp around the Caribbean, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, New York City, and California wine country. I laughed aloud multiple times while reading and enjoyed every second of this farcical adventure story. Take this comical exchange for example, one that left me guffawing: "I have children and cats. What will become of them?” “You’re married?” Gabriela asked. “No... I just have children and cats." Sometimes you just need a novel that is full of adventure and humor.

Gabriela Rose was introduced in a Stephanie Plum novel, Fortune and Glory (#27) and she is a great new character. She’s witty, intelligent, reliable, cool under pressure, able to think on her feet, and well trained in weapons of all types. She's not scared of snakes, getting dirty, or bad guys. Gabriela is simply a delightful character to meet and I'm thrilled about it. Sure, she's not a well-drawn character full of depth and insightful comments yet, but that will come with time. Her character is introduced and developed here, with room for more insight in the next book. She is an entertaining, humorous addition to Evanovich's line up of characters and I can't wait for her next adventure - with or without her ex, Rafer.

This is a perfect read for escapism, humor, suspense, and a bit of romance. Featuring excellent writing, the plot gallops at a fast pace and keeps racing right to the conclusion. There are twists and surprises along the way to keep you focused and entertained along with plenty of humor. 4.5 rounded up

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

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Thanks to Artia Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of THE RECOVERY AGENT by Janet Evanovich in exchange for an honest review.

Reading this spinoff from the Stephanie Plum series, I was surprised because the tone of this novel is way more serious than the comedic Stephanie Plum series.

The character of Gabriella Rose was serious in the Stephanie Plum novel and continues to be serious in this novel.

Perhaps I was not in the mood when reading this novel. I am sure that other people will love this novel though it was not for me.

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This was an interesting story with Indiana Jones type adventure. A lost treasure, one dangerously crazy journey after another, and a little bit of romance.

A fast, fun read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria books and Janet Evanovich for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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A lighthearted typical Janet Evanovich novel with our new heroine Gabriella. There is a lot of adventure and travel mixed in with some really creepy snakes as well as some high irreverence and humor. It’s a lot like Stephanie Plum but in world traveler with the same type of shenanigans thrown in for fun. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read!

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The Recovery Agent is the first installment in author Janet Evanovich's Gabriela Rose series. As I had given up on this author and her Stephanie Plum series, as soon as I saw the cover, I had to request it since it made me think of Lara Croft Tomb Raider. Let's begin. After a bit or research, I've learned that Gabriela first appeared in Stephanie Plum's book called Fortune and Glory. I do believe it was book number Twenty Seven. Gabriel is an insurance fraud investigator, independent contractor, and retrieval specialist. She's a martial arts expert, she's a crack shot, she's been situations that would make Indiana Jones, and Lara Croft jealous.

After failing to retrieve an amulet in the Ecuadorian Rain Forest, she makes a stop at her family's home in Scoon, South Carolina. Scoon has been destroyed by hurricanes, and it needs millions of dollars in order to rebuild. Inspired by an old family legend, Gabriela sets off for the jungles of Peru in pursuit of the Ring of Solomon and the lost treasure of Lima. But this particular job comes with a huge problem attached to it—Gabriela’s ex-husband, Rafer. It’s Rafer who has the map that possibly points the way to the treasure, and he’s not about to let Gabriela find it without him.

After being divorced for 7 years, having Rafer back in her life is a bit disconcerting. He pretty much knows everything about her since they've been together since elementary school. Rafer is as relaxed as Gabriela is driven, and he has a lifetime’s experience getting under her skin. Grandma Fanny has been told by the ghost named Annie, that under the floor boards of the little house now owned by Gabriella's ex-husband, are the heirlooms and map of a possible treasure.

Gabby finds a treasure chest in the floorboards, exactly as Annie had predicted. No money, though; rather, the find is a very old journal from a well-known explorer who describes his quest to find the Treasure of Lima, notably the Seal of Solomon believed to have been held by Spanish conquistador Pizarro, who stashed it somewhere in the Incan city of Paititi. But when they aren’t bickering about old times the two make a formidable team, and it’s going to take a team to defeat the vicious drug lord named El Dragon who has also been searching for the fabled ring. A drug lord who doesn’t mind leaving a large body count behind him to get it.

This story is one that you really have to suspend belief in order to enjoy. The story takes readers from Ecuador, to Scoon, to NYC where Gaby has an office in SoHo, to Lima, Peru, and California before ending in Scoon. The one thing I liked about this story vs Stephanie Plum's series, Gabby's family seems normal in comparison even with the ghost of Annie who is said to have been companion of Blackbird. Marcella, who is Gabby's assistant, is no where near as air-headed as Stephanie's friend Lulu. Also, Gabby doesn't have to deal with any twisted three way love triangles. So, in lieu of my likes, I may very well continue this series.

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Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will find a lot to like about this new one. In fact, it is just like those novels with a name, location, and job title change. I enjoy the Stephanie Plum novels and was sort of hoping for more of a difference, while maintaining the Evanovich character development and humor. Kind of disappointing that it was just more of the same.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced reader copy.

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Janet Evanovich is one of my reading pleasures when I want a fun, light book that is easy to read. When I saw that she had a new series, I was excited. The Recovery Agent did not disappoint! It was a fun-filled travel romp through interesting places trying to find a ring to save the main character's hometown. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

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I am a longtime Evanovich fan stemming way back to One for the Money and my girl Stephanie Plum. I have also loved some of her other series such as Fox and O'Hare and Wicked. When Gabriela popped up in the last Plum novel, I immediately thought that she would make for an amazing leading lady.

Gabriela is a Insurance Recovery Agent and her job can be a little wild at times. Gabriela and Stephanie have a lot in common actually. Both women are beautiful with extremely unconventional jobs to say the least, both have been divorced, and both seem to have crazy grandmas. The difference between the two is Gabriela has real skill when it comes to her job where Stephanie most of the time lucks into things by persistence!

The Recovery Agent is very much a typical Evanovich book by delivering her wit and humor with lighthearted adventures. The side characters are also strong here as in her past books and I will continue to literally read anything Janet has her name on!

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I'm so sad to do this, but this one just didn't feel like a new story, and I wasn't ready for that. It felt like Stephanie Plum but a little flatter, and jokes that missed the mark. I laugh out loud at Stephanie Plum, and I just didn't find myself doing that with this new story.

I know that once you find a recipe that works, you want to stick with it, but I honestly would have preferred to have another Plum story. I didn't like that it was a woman who still tries to find stuff, not a bond agent, but pretty close, and then there's a man in the mix, and it just felt the same as every other story.

Overall, the plot is fine, and I still love Evanovich's work, but this just didn't make me fall in love with a new character the way I wanted. Readers that have not met Stephanie Plum may love this. They won't already know the seek and find agent with a side-kick and a man story, and it might all work for them.

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I loved this book once I started it I couldn't put it down
I needed to know what was going to happen.
Gabs could be Stephanie Plums cousin her character is awesome and is a recovery agent. She looks for a treasure that her Grandma s ghost told her to find so they can save the town that she grew up in which is struggling to rebuild after a storm

I look forward to other books in this series.

Thank you for letting me read this book for a review

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This was an excellent well written book. It was a definite page turner. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.

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Well, now.......

Remember that absolutely iconic scene in Romancing the Stone when Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner are sloshing down through that endless mudslide in the steaming jungles of Columbia? So, this is not that.

Janet Evanovich presents the first edition in her new Gabriella Rose Series. Gabriella is an investigator of insurance fraud and a highly successful recovery agent of lost treasures. Gabriella has left her Soho condo in New York City to check on her family in the small fishing village of Swoon, South Carolina. Everything has been up-ended because of a devastating storm. It's gonna take millions to flip things back to what they once were.

But Grandma Fanny has a plan. Under the floor boards of the little house now owned by Gabriella's ex-husband, Rafer of the amazing good looks and instigating manner, are the heirlooms and map of a possible treasure. There's also a journal that boasts of the Ring of Solomon and the lost treasure of Cortez located in the jungles of Peru.

Are you feeling that Romancing the Stone vibe yet? Yes and no. Evanovich has a heavy background in light-hearted reads that take her fans into humorous situations with a little thriller tone. The Recovery Agent is just that with not a lot of heavy lifting. There's plenty of cutting banter and sexual tension between Gabriella and Rafer. The chase through the jungle and the deadly pursuit by El Dragon seems to be on speed dial. But heaven help me, I'll be checking out #2 when it gets here. Sometimes we just need a giant mudslide to sweep us off our feet and into a bit of full-blown fantasy. The Recovery Agent is escapism with a few muddy fingerprints here and there. Atta girl, Evanovich.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Janet Evanovich for the opportunity.

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Janet Evanovich has a new series and The Recovery Agent is an excellent start. Gabriela Rose is a Recovery Agent. She specializes in finding things, mainly for insurance companies looking for insurance fraud.

Gabriella’s grandmother Franny has told Gabriella that a ghost named Annie, a long lost relative has told Franny that they need to find the Ring of Solomon to help save their town of Scoon. There’s only one problem, the map to aid in Gabriella’s search for the ring happens to be hidden in her ex-husband, Rafer’s home. Together the two go on a wild hunt across several different countries in hopes of securing the ring. Another problem, they are not the only two looking for the ring. A very dangerous man who calls himself El Dragon also wants the ring because he believes it will give him the power to bring to life a demon army.

This story is fast paced and an easy read. Evanovich does a great job as always with creating a wonderful storyline while always teasing at sexual tension between her lead protagonist and interesting characters. Thrills, twists and turns abound.

Thank you to #netgalley, and #atriabooks for allowing me to read an ARC of this story. All opinions expressed above are my own.

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