Reviews

The Mastermind, Volume 1 by Amy Lane

teresab78's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0


Solid writing, interesting characters, dastardly villains, and found family make for a good book. The premise was sort of Robin Hood in that the their story and con men were actually decent people who cared about art and gave back. However I found the story dragged in a few places and was at times unbelievable. If you put those niggles aside and just enjoy the ride it was great.

liza5326's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Part "Leverage," part “Ocean’s Eleven,” this was a wonderful and intriguing story of grifters, con men, found family, and second chances. Felix and Danny’s story is beautifully told between flashbacks and current events dealing with the con they’re running to even a score. All of the characters were interesting and the long con itself was a joy to see come together.

toshi21's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2021
I loved this book. It was heartbreaking, it was funny, and the con was a delight to watch.

I thought the characters were hilarious working off one another as they planned and found their place in the world.

Amy’s writing lets you sink into the book and go with the flow. The writing is natural and engaging with banter and angst.

I cannot wait to read the rest in this series.

alleson's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I really loved this one. Art history is my jam, (today) low angst is my jam, and I was glad their relationship didn't take a backseat to the story or vice versa. The balance was good. One thing I couldn't help wonder, though: how can a local TV anchor afford priceless jewelry? I Googled it and the average is $38k a year.

claudiereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

AHHHH!!! Feel my LOVE for this book ❤️❤️❤️ This was just…


It really was! I haven’t had this much FUN reading a book in MONTHS!! From the masterfully executed second-chance romance (and I’m not exactly a fan of that particular trope, so I’m a tough crowd), complete with trust issues, angsty pining and an off-the-charts chemistry 🔥 to the PERFECT eclectic cast of characters (oh my god, I loved every single one of these guys! 💘), with a special place for strong, beautiful women who took back their power after being mistreated by jerks — this was a FEAST.

I really need to read more of Amy Lane’s work, because the woman can WRITE! The humor was on point, I was grinning almost constantly while reading this, some of these characters/exchanges were just so precious!! But don’t be fooled, there’s a surprising depth here, too. The ‘found family’ trope was so well done here that I honestly teared up a couple of times. 😭 Where do I find a crew like this?

Kudos to Amy for writing a supporting character (for now?) with social anxiety SO PERFECTLY, too. 👏

There are some Ocean’s 11 vibes here, and also thieves with hearts of gold, a la Robin Hood — if that appeals to you, grab it right now. The stage was subtly set for another couple, so it should be FUN!! 💃 

fleurette's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I am surprised how much I liked this story. I mean, I expected it to be a good story, but I didn't think I'd like it that much. I didn't want it to end, I wanted to stay with these characters as long as possible.

This is a story about a family that does not share blood, but a deep love, and it is truly fantastic. I have had tears in my eyes several times while reading it, and I'm not an easily moved by my books. But the story of Danny and Felix warms your heart. So is the bond they have with other members of their family that they have built for themselves. It's a really cute story.

The characters are colorful and very interesting. Not only the main characters - Danny and Felix. But also Julia, Felix's wife, their son Josh and his friends. This is a group that you want to stay in as long as possible. They warm your heart. It is impossible not to love them all. I can't wait to meet them in the next book. Of course, it helps that I have a great sweet spot for all kinds of thieves, so that was exactly the story for me.

The scam may not be the best I've read about, but it's quite good and interesting enough for me to follow the story. After all, it's not about stealing, but about getting revenge while punishing a sneaky bitch who tries to destroy Felix's good name. This is a good and solid story.

Especially since it is complemented by the love of Felix and Danny. Not for a moment I had any doubts that the two have real feelings for each other. I really like second chance romances so again that was a story for me. In my opinion, the reason Felix and Danny broke up for so many years is quite good, as is their reunion.

This is a really great book, especially if you like these characters. I give it 4.5 stars. I look forward to the next book in this series, I want to meet these characters again badly.

terriaminute's review

Go to review page

emotional funny informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The thing that many writers struggle with, but Amy Lane excels at, is writing big groups of people who are individual and charming and engaging. This is dual POV romance, in a delightful crowd. 

Another thing she's good at is infusing a plot with just the right amount of specialized knowledge. Danny's a con man, and taught Felix, but trouble separated them. This is the reunion. It's diverse and feminist. Crimes are committed in the name of justice--my favorite. 

I look forward to the series. 
More...