This book was a little different than I thought it would be. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. It's divided into 3 parts and I think I liked part 2 the best - where we learn of Elena and Dante's backstory, and as a result - Mateo's. There was so much build up and character development (which was great) but then the ending felt rushed. Not my favorite Fern Michaels book, but I'll definitely continue to read her novels. Thanks Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Chef Mateo's life is 'on the line' and that diagnosis unleashes an adventure that connects Columbia with the bustling streets of New York City. Learning of her son's life-threatening illness, unearths a secret that Elena has kept buried since his birth.

Like his craft, the truth is revealed in layers and its rich history is both decadent and spicy. Elena and Dante's love affair from the dance halls in Columbia, escaping in fishing boats to Puerta Vallarta to forging a new life in United States will keep readers on the edge of their seats rooting for the couple to succeed.

While reading, readers will wonder how this tale will return to Mateo. What is causing the elevated mercury contents? Is it possible that Elena's secret will shed a light on his symptoms?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #OntheLine in exchange for an honest review. Fern Michaels' stand-alone novel cooks up a delicious blend of machismo and mystery. Foodies will indulge in sampling New York City's culinary world while suspense seekers will cut their chops solving the mercury mystery.

I couldn’t decide if this was a Bobbsey Twins Escape the Cartels or if this was a YA book about the dangers of mercury (or the corporate world). Whatever it was, it had no meat and no reality. There was no real mystery, no real conflict, certainly no real secrets, and at best, a sophomoric plot.

The main plot started well and took at break at 14% of the book. Part II of the book, labelled “History,” went from 14% all the way to 72%. Yes, I completely forgot what the story was supposed to be about. And then when the Big Reveal came (climax?) it was a non-event because the lead character had already guessed the Big Secret and, of course, the reader knew it from way back.

In the plus column, both stories went in a forward direction. We didn’t have 2 timelines going hop, skip and jump as is so popular these days. Also there were few characters. Again, I appreciate the fact that this story was not rife with inconsequential people wandering on and off stage, through scenes as, again, is so popular these days.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Fern Michaels has done it again. On The Line is told in a duel timeline. The main story is about Marco, an up and coming chef who suddenly falls ill, and his doctor Adrian.. The reader is then taken back thirty years to when his parents meet and their subsequent escape from Columbia. As she has done many times Ms. Michaels weaves a story that grabs the reader and contains some mystery, history, insight into blood disease and, of course, romance.

Thank you NetGalley, Fern Michaels and the publisher Kensington Books for the ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Publication date: 3/28/2023

Fern Michaels has woven two stories into a fascinating tale of three generations of a family in her standalone novel On the Line . The author mixes suspense, mystery, family, friendship, and romance into a heartfelt novel that pulls readers in and keeps them hooked from beginning to end.

Rising star chef Mateo Castillo will soon be featured on a major television cooking competition when he collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room. The cause of his illness is unknown and worrying. But Doctor Adrian Ardell is determined to find the cause. She works relentlessly in the laboratory running blood and genetic tests on Mateo and his family. Mateo’s parents and grandparents fled their home in Columbia many years ago, seeking refuge from drug cartels. The test results uncover a family secret that could threaten them all.

Grandparents Gabriel and Sylvia Espinosa, parents Dante and Elena Castillo, and Mateo and Adrian are characters with depth. Readers understand their strengths and weaknesses through complex traits that develop and change during the story. Their backstories add layers to their personalities.
While the book starts with Mateo in current times in New York City, the second part of the book goes back in time to the escape from Columbia by his grandparents and parents before coming back to current times in part three. This story realistically depicts the devastating impacts of drug cartels and how they can impact others. It transported this reader into Espinosa’s and Castillo’s desperate need for a new life and demonstrated their strength of character.

The author is a superb storyteller. She did a great job of keeping me hooked as the story progressed. I felt for the characters during their struggles. There are some unexpected twists as the story unfolds. Along the way, readers get also get information on Adrian’s background. The ending was predictable, but I still enjoyed it. Themes include violence, friendship, love, helping others, values, integrity, compassion, and much more.

Overall, this storyline grabbed my attention with likeable characters, light banter, a harrowing escape, and a medical mystery. Don’t go into this one expecting an action-packed novel. Instead, expect a powerful story of family and love with a mystery to be solved and great characterization and some suspenseful moments. There are a couple of recipes included at the end of the book that sound great. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Kensington Books and Fern Michaels provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

A very different Fern Michaels novel. Matteo, a chef, is diagnosed with mercury poisoning and in the search for answers about his illness, he discovers there's a secret in his past. This moves between the present and the past when his parents met, fell in love and suffered at the hands of the Colombian cartels until they escaped. Their story is more compelling than Matteo's but it's treated lightly. Thanks to Netgalley for ARC.

In Fern Michaels latest story, Mateo Castillo is a rising star chef on the Manhattan culinary scene. But just as he’s about to reap the rewards of his skill and hard work, Mateo collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room. The cause of his sudden illness is as mysterious as it is concerning, and Mateo and his family undergo a battery of genetic tests. Yet the answers that start to emerge only raise more questions. Mateo’s parents had to flee their home in Colombia many years ago, seeking refuge from the cartels. Now the test results threaten to uncover a secret that exposes his family to dangers from the past. But the questions must help the investigation focus on who is trying to hurt Mateo in the present.

Fern Michaels has done it again. On The Line is the story of an up and coming chef who suddenly falls I'll, setting off a search for the cause of his illness. A second timeline shows his family history. A unique story from a beloved author. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book is unlike anything else I've ever read. It is full of mystery, history, even a touch of the medical field, and a hint of romance. For me, the focus on the backstory, the history, it took the wind out of the sails of what I felt was the main storyline, Mateo and Adrian. On one hand, both stories feel a bit rushed, a bit unfinished, like we could have spent a whole book on them. But on the other hand, they seemed to compete for attention. Although you do need that chunk in the middle for the resolution, it just didn't have a flow for me. However there is a lot of good here - Fern Michaels does a great job with dialogue, and setting the scene. If you like a mystery with a historical bend, you may like this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

On the Line
Fern Michaels
March 28, 2023

Fern Michaels latest book On the Line involves Mateo Castillo, renowned Hispanic Chef. On this day he is taken to the Emergency Room from his restaurant, Le Mer after falling. He wounded himself when he fell. Although the incision was not severe, the amount of blood was frightening. He was stitched and once he was more alert the doctor began asking questions regarding the incident. The resident hematologist, Dr Adrian Ardell was brought in to assist on his case. It became a mystery as to why Chef Mateo was suffering from mercury poisoning.
This novel gives us the question at hand as to how the chef developed the problem. Could it be too much seafood? Or could someone be causing the infection.
One the Line will be published by Kensington Books on March 28, 2023. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review Ms. Michaels latest book. The story was divided into sections. The first being the mystery, the second, a historical look at Mateo’s family who hailed from Columbia, and third, the revealing of the truth. Until the conclusion I wasn’t certain why the necessity of a long session regarding his grandparents and the journey to the states. There appeared to be a difference in the plot however once I completed Michael’s novel as I understood and appreciated the full history of the Espinoza and Castillo families. It is worth the read, an excellent chronology of Columbians attempts to escape the drug cartels.
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Two separate stores intertwine in this latest mystery from Fern Michel, On The Line.
When celebrity Chef Mateo Castillo wakes up on hospital he is confused as to why. How did he get there and what happened? When his Doctor, Haematologist Arian Ardell tells him he appears to have been poisoned it simply does not make sense.
When he returns to the hospital only days later, once again in a terrible state, he is forced to come to terms with the fact something is far from right. Why would someone want to poison him, even though he is an up and coming star of the ‘Foodie Cult’. It is indeed a cutthroat world of the Celebrity Chef, but no one would go as far as to try and poison him, or would they.
As he tries to find out what or why, the secret his family have kept hidden for more than thirty years has to be told, which takes the storyline into the dangerous and destructive world of the Columbian Drug cartels.
Mateo and the delightful Adrian are determined to find out what or who is behind the attempted poisoning. Does the past history of the family have any relevance or is the cause and the killer, closer to hand?
The historic detail is fascinating as Michael goes into great detail about the Columbia of thirty or so years ago, which is little different to today, but the escape over the border is or has been somewhat simplified. The storyline throughout the book is good, but sadly somewhat messy. There are two good books in On the Line, which would have been better as stand-alone titles.
So saying, On The Line is a good read for an afternoon in and for younger readers, the history of the Columbia Cartels will make interesting reading.

Great!

This was one of the best Fern Michaels books that I've read in a while. It is a stand-alone, and much different than the books in her several series. I felt that since this was a departure from the norm, it was fresher, researched differently and held my attention.

I enjoyed Elena and Dante's story, her parents and learning more about the real-life issues people faced in Colombia with the drug cartels. I especially liked Mateo's history, his path as an adult, and his burgeoning relationship with Adrian. The story moved fast and wrapped up the mystery quickly at the end. Recommended!

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

At the age of 89 Fern Michaels continues to write new stories. On The Line is almost two stories in one. The present day story focuses on Mateo Castillo, a rising Executive Chef. He is rushed to the hospital after being found passed out at his restaurant. Dr. Adrian Ardell is a hematologist and determined to figure out what is the cause for his blood levels. The other story begins 35 years earlier with the focus on Mateo’s parents. They meet and fall in love in Columbia. It is 1988 and the drug cartels control the country. Due to circumstances Mateo’s parents and grandparents need to flee and with help make their way to Mexico and then the United States. It follows their journey and story.

Both stories are compelling but kind of light. The president day mystery isn’t hard to solve and sets up a potential romance. The past is important gives a story but isn’t fraught with peril. The families are able to move with some assistance and it helps that they have some money and Mateo’s parents are fluent in English and educated. I enjoyed reading the stories but neither kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.

Excellent!!! This one has suspense and a touch of romance. Hiding from the drug cartel, fleeing Columbia and then Mexico, rescuing an abandoned baby and going forward with an illegal adoption. To cap if off - attempted murder. This is book 110 of Fern Michaels books that I have read. Her talent continues to amaze me. I am in awe of her plots. How does she do it!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I hope I never have to find out what life would be like in a country that criminals basically control everything. It was amazing to me to watch this story unfold. How much the people were willing to endure to see asylum somewhere else. All of this history to get to the bottom of this mystery. Quite a story!

On the Line is two stories separated by 35 years. In the present, the story centers on a renowned chef who is being treated for a mysterious mercury poisoning. He falls for his treating physician and before we really even get to know Mateo and Adrian, we are sent back to 1980's Columbia. Elena and Dante's story takes up the majority of the book, which is not a complaint. Their struggles to leave an awful situation and the people they met as they began a new life was so much more interesting than the predictable Mateo poisoning story. I knew right away the who and why which took away from the overall enjoyment of the book. The four stars go to the rich family saga of the Columbian refugees and their ability to adapt to situations that most would find daunting at best. A good afternoon “feel-good” read. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love love love Fern Michaels! And if you're wondering why, grab a copy of On The Line. It is a perfect Fern Michael's book to start if you aren't familiar with her. If you are a Fern Michael's fan you are going to be thrilled with this book. Dual storylines, ancestry and international intrigue all in one book! Michaels has a gift for weaving in seemingly inconsequential plot lines that ends up being so relevant to the story. This is not a book that you were going to want to put down.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

When I first started this book I was kind of like ugh this is not really my type of book?! I've been into murder mystery books! This was not that type but it was a great mystery! It was so very interesting! There wasn't any blood or killing or action but it was filled with intrigue! This book really grabbed you in and made you invested in what was going on?! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I highly recommend reading this book! Like I said its not your typical murder mystery but a really great mystery! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Overall a good read.
When Chef Mateo gets ill, no one can figure out what is wrong. The doctor is determined to find the root of the illness, and starts digging into Mateo's family.
I enjoyed the onset of the book, was very interesting and read quickly. I felt the story lagged a bit when discussing the cartels and the family history. Went on a little too much. But still an enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

On the Line by F. Michaels, published by Kensington Books tells Mateo and Adrian's story.
The hero is an up and coming celebrity chef who finds himself at the ER repeatedly in a short span of time.
Adrian is a doctor at the hospital and she does everything to find the course of his illness.
Both have roots in other countries, he in south america, she somewhere in europe. Both worked hard to make a great living in the us, are successful, included.
But then it starts to get kind of weird, the story jumps to the 80s in Columbia and there it was where the storyline lost me. I love the other books by this author, I re-read them all the time, but On the Line just stubbornly refuses to let me in. A story twisty and full of unexpected turns, an unique read.