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lindseyslittlelibrary's review
3.0
3.75 Stars - This would make a great pallet cleanser book. Jillian is just released from prison (sent there by her family) and returns home determined to get her con artist family to start living the straight life. Easier said than done. Loved the characters (even though two of them had very similar names), the plot was great but the writing could have used a little help. Overall - a fun book to read.
rebroxannape's review
4.0
If there is one word to describe this book, it would be “fun.” Right off the bat, I loved the authorial voice: It flowed easily and drew me right in with the funny remarks and quick immersion into the plot. The idea of the story was intriguing and unusual. It set up a lot of anticipation as to who, how, and what was going down. Because make no mistake, our heroine was going to see that the bad guys (her family) were, indeed, going down.
We meet Jillian, fresh from 39 months in prison, ready to literally and spectacularly descend upon her unsuspecting family who put her there. She debarks from her helicopter on the family mansion’s spacious grounds in the midst of a party where they are laying the groundwork to swindle and con their latest victims. They are not happy. But Jillian is less so. They had promised to go straight in return for Jillian taking the fall for them with the FBI. Now she’s back, she has their number, she holds all of the cards, and she’s had 39 months to contemplate her revenge. And maybe, just maybe, set them on the straight and narrow. Nah. Not happening.
It turns out that her family are not only professional grifters and con artists, but that in an emergency they will not stop at murder. And Jillian’s arrival is definitely an emergency. If some may balk at murdering a family member (that would be against the family rules) they won’t hesitate to send her back to prison. Enter Beck, a very grumpy, sexy, and intimidating bodyguard, hired by one of her loyal allies.
Although the romance is nice and provides a topper to the satisfying ending, the main focus is the battle of wits between Jillian and her family. In the process, we also get the occasional point of view of one of her half-sisters. There are, of course, some twists and turns and surprises. Some of her family are revealed to be truly perfidious, others not so bad. The book did seem to lose a little steam about halfway through as we learn that Jillian is not quite so “together” as she first appeared. Having Jillian gaining insight and having to work on her own issues provided some depth and layers to her character. But it did seem to stall the narrative a bit. I missed the implacable focus of her mission to teach her family the lesson they so richly deserved to learn.
Fortunately, the sensational set-up was matched by a strong conclusion and the book regained most of the momentum it had lost towards the end. All in all, it was light and entertaining and I enjoyed it.
Thank-You to Net Galley and Avon Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
Merged review:
If there is one word to describe this book, it would be “fun.” Right off the bat, I loved the authorial voice: It flowed easily and drew me right in with the funny remarks and quick immersion into the plot. The idea of the story was intriguing and unusual. It set up a lot of anticipation as to who, how, and what was going down. Because make no mistake, our heroine was going to see that the bad guys (her family) were, indeed, going down.
We meet Jillian, fresh from 39 months in prison, ready to literally and spectacularly descend upon her unsuspecting family who put her there. She debarks from her helicopter on the family mansion’s spacious grounds in the midst of a party where they are laying the groundwork to swindle and con their latest victims. They are not happy. But Jillian is less so. They had promised to go straight in return for Jillian taking the fall for them with the FBI. Now she’s back, she has their number, she holds all of the cards, and she’s had 39 months to contemplate her revenge. And maybe, just maybe, set them on the straight and narrow. Nah. Not happening.
It turns out that her family are not only professional grifters and con artists, but that in an emergency they will not stop at murder. And Jillian’s arrival is definitely an emergency. If some may balk at murdering a family member (that would be against the family rules) they won’t hesitate to send her back to prison. Enter Beck, a very grumpy, sexy, and intimidating bodyguard, hired by one of her loyal allies.
Although the romance is nice and provides a topper to the satisfying ending, the main focus is the battle of wits between Jillian and her family. In the process, we also get the occasional point of view of one of her half-sisters. There are, of course, some twists and turns and surprises. Some of her family are revealed to be truly perfidious, others not so bad. The book did seem to lose a little steam about halfway through as we learn that Jillian is not quite so “together” as she first appeared. Having Jillian gaining insight and having to work on her own issues provided some depth and layers to her character. But it did seem to stall the narrative a bit. I missed the implacable focus of her mission to teach her family the lesson they so richly deserved to learn.
Fortunately, the sensational set-up was matched by a strong conclusion and the book regained most of the momentum it had lost towards the end. All in all, it was light and entertaining and I enjoyed it.
Thank-You to Net Galley and Avon Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
Merged review:
If there is one word to describe this book, it would be “fun.” Right off the bat, I loved the authorial voice: It flowed easily and drew me right in with the funny remarks and quick immersion into the plot. The idea of the story was intriguing and unusual. It set up a lot of anticipation as to who, how, and what was going down. Because make no mistake, our heroine was going to see that the bad guys (her family) were, indeed, going down.
We meet Jillian, fresh from 39 months in prison, ready to literally and spectacularly descend upon her unsuspecting family who put her there. She debarks from her helicopter on the family mansion’s spacious grounds in the midst of a party where they are laying the groundwork to swindle and con their latest victims. They are not happy. But Jillian is less so. They had promised to go straight in return for Jillian taking the fall for them with the FBI. Now she’s back, she has their number, she holds all of the cards, and she’s had 39 months to contemplate her revenge. And maybe, just maybe, set them on the straight and narrow. Nah. Not happening.
It turns out that her family are not only professional grifters and con artists, but that in an emergency they will not stop at murder. And Jillian’s arrival is definitely an emergency. If some may balk at murdering a family member (that would be against the family rules) they won’t hesitate to send her back to prison. Enter Beck, a very grumpy, sexy, and intimidating bodyguard, hired by one of her loyal allies.
Although the romance is nice and provides a topper to the satisfying ending, the main focus is the battle of wits between Jillian and her family. In the process, we also get the occasional point of view of one of her half-sisters. There are, of course, some twists and turns and surprises. Some of her family are revealed to be truly perfidious, others not so bad. The book did seem to lose a little steam about halfway through as we learn that Jillian is not quite so “together” as she first appeared. Having Jillian gaining insight and having to work on her own issues provided some depth and layers to her character. But it did seem to stall the narrative a bit. I missed the implacable focus of her mission to teach her family the lesson they so richly deserved to learn.
Fortunately, the sensational set-up was matched by a strong conclusion and the book regained most of the momentum it had lost towards the end. All in all, it was light and entertaining and I enjoyed it.
amym84's review
4.0
After the death of her mother, Jillian Moorewood tried in vain to get her family of grifters to go legit. Things definitely don't go to plan, and the story begins with Jillian returning to her family estate after spending 39 months in prison. But if there's one thing that Jillian knows, it's how to pull a long con. Unbeknownst to her family, Jillian has returned with a few surprises, but she's not fully prepared for how much her family is determined to hold on to the lives they've built. Enter, Beck Romer a security specialist hired to keep Jillian safe from her family. It's hard to know who to trust in the Moorewood household, but Jillian and Beck form a strong working relationship that will hopefully carry Jillian through the upcoming confrontation. That is, if the person who ratted her out in the first place, isn't set on sending her back to prison for good.
I was very interested in reading this book when I found out it would be about a family of criminals and the seemingly one family member who is trying to go legit. I think I was prepared for a lot more scams and cons, these things are all there, but almost in the peripheral. Down to its most basic premise, this story is about a dysfunctional family.
We kind of start the story on the other side of all the cons (although really Jillian's family seems to be in a constant con if not with someone else than with each other). We're seeing this family after years and years of crime. The breaking point for Jillian was the death of her mother. Her mother who, despite everything, loved Jillian's father. She always wanted the family to turn honest. It was her dying wish that Jillian has been trying to uphold when she's sent to prison.
Seeing this family with all the baggage and how they navigate around one another was very relatable. I think we all, at certain times or another, will clash with our relatives (probably not over crime, but still).
The pacing of the book was one that I had to get used to. There's a lot of bantering and back-and-forth between the family and having an understanding of the characters helped pick up on the tone of the story. It's very quirky and it's funny without specifically trying to be just as we see the lengths in which certain Moorewoods are willing to go in order to in order keep up the con. The lies in which they live everyday in order to assure themselves that what they're doing is not wrong.
While not exactly what I was expecting, I thought that this book was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the family interactions and I think the whole idea, the thing that this family is really good at, is shattering expectations.
I was very interested in reading this book when I found out it would be about a family of criminals and the seemingly one family member who is trying to go legit. I think I was prepared for a lot more scams and cons, these things are all there, but almost in the peripheral. Down to its most basic premise, this story is about a dysfunctional family.
We kind of start the story on the other side of all the cons (although really Jillian's family seems to be in a constant con if not with someone else than with each other). We're seeing this family after years and years of crime. The breaking point for Jillian was the death of her mother. Her mother who, despite everything, loved Jillian's father. She always wanted the family to turn honest. It was her dying wish that Jillian has been trying to uphold when she's sent to prison.
Seeing this family with all the baggage and how they navigate around one another was very relatable. I think we all, at certain times or another, will clash with our relatives (probably not over crime, but still).
The pacing of the book was one that I had to get used to. There's a lot of bantering and back-and-forth between the family and having an understanding of the characters helped pick up on the tone of the story. It's very quirky and it's funny without specifically trying to be just as we see the lengths in which certain Moorewoods are willing to go in order to in order keep up the con. The lies in which they live everyday in order to assure themselves that what they're doing is not wrong.
While not exactly what I was expecting, I thought that this book was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the family interactions and I think the whole idea, the thing that this family is really good at, is shattering expectations.
vbenford's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
foxreads18's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
shadowmaster13's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
andrea_author's review
5.0
The daughter of an heiress and a con man, Jillian went to prison for three years to protect her family. Now that she's been released, she finds them still up to their same thieving tricks. Worse, one of them is out to get her—if only she knew which one. Can her hunky new bodyguard help her sort out her messy life?
This book is a fun, fast-paced romp. I'd describe it as women's fiction with a romance subplot. With its quirky characters and family dysfunction, it should appeal to fans of rom com, chick lit, and cozy mystery. Darkly humorous, edgy, and smart, it's a pleasure to read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This book is a fun, fast-paced romp. I'd describe it as women's fiction with a romance subplot. With its quirky characters and family dysfunction, it should appeal to fans of rom com, chick lit, and cozy mystery. Darkly humorous, edgy, and smart, it's a pleasure to read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
highlypuctual's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
emmareviews's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this one sounded fascinating to me, but I’m not sure it lived up to my hopes. Let me start with the positives - I left it thoroughly entertained and having a good time. I liked a lot of the places the plot went (even if none of the reveals particularly wowed me), and I thought the dual perspectives in the story added something. The family definitely grew on me, but the first third of the story especially was underwhelming. It was challenging for me to connect with the characters in this story, and the tone of the lead frustrated me. (It felt like the author kept waffling between trying to make her the sympathetic moral compass of the family and a more devious/complex one who was becoming more like them in her attempts to do the opposite, which felt a bit uneven.) I also think I wanted some more weight to the story and time to set it up more fully so relationships and actions felt earned. (There was also a specific character, the bodyguard, who felt completely unnecessary. I personally didn’t feel like he added anything to the story other than annoying me.) However, rant over, I left this book happy that I stuck it out and enjoying the development of one of the characters in the story.
🫂👥📈🌤️
🫂👥📈🌤️
michellehenriereads's review
5.0
I received an ARC from HarperCollins and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Genre: Romance, Crime Romance (is that a thing?), RomCom, Women's Fiction
Spice Level: Medium (closed door + innuendo)
Language: Fairly low (Some cursing but not on every page)
Representation: Secondary gay character
This is my first book by HelenKay Dimon—honestly, the cover caught me with its romcom vibes.
One word review: HILARIOUS!
Seriously, this one had me laughing aloud several times. The banter between Jillian and Beck is awesome. Sometimes I can't believe that characters click so quickly, but it works in this book. Probably because of the stressful situation. I also loved that Beck isn't described as this traditionally handsome man than belongs on the cover of GQ (I don't even know if that's a current magazine, but hopefully, you get the gist).
I was a little concerned if I'd feel any empathy for the characters because of their conning ways. (Skip this list if you want to go in blind, but it doesn't hold any spoilers.) Warning: morally gray characters on the loose. But can you guess which are morally gray?
Here's my rundown:
Aunt Patricia: Love her & string cheese
Jay: Hate him on a deep soul level
Astrid: Hate her even more than Jay along with her diamond bracelet
Anika: Grew on me—a bit like mold
Tenn: Loved his nerdiness
Kelby: Adored his honesty amongst the wreck
Jillian: Empathized with her and ended up loving her
Beck: Yes! More characters like this please
Gregory: Heebiejeebies
Emma: I liked her, and she kept getting better
Harry: The poor darling
Bev: Shudder
Izzy: Completely beige
Now just because I said I hated some characters, doesn't mean I didn't love them in the story context. They were deliciously bad. Every single character does exactly what they need to do to make the story work.
I kept wondering why Jillian felt so much remorse over one of her actions. To me, her past "action" made sense to me. Now I'm wondering if I'm a morally gray person.
This book was so much fun. A silly tragedy. A farce. A romance. A book about relationships.
I highly recommend this book.
Happy reading!
Genre: Romance, Crime Romance (is that a thing?), RomCom, Women's Fiction
Spice Level: Medium (closed door + innuendo)
Language: Fairly low (Some cursing but not on every page)
Representation: Secondary gay character
This is my first book by HelenKay Dimon—honestly, the cover caught me with its romcom vibes.
One word review: HILARIOUS!
Seriously, this one had me laughing aloud several times. The banter between Jillian and Beck is awesome. Sometimes I can't believe that characters click so quickly, but it works in this book. Probably because of the stressful situation. I also loved that Beck isn't described as this traditionally handsome man than belongs on the cover of GQ (I don't even know if that's a current magazine, but hopefully, you get the gist).
I was a little concerned if I'd feel any empathy for the characters because of their conning ways. (Skip this list if you want to go in blind, but it doesn't hold any spoilers.) Warning: morally gray characters on the loose. But can you guess which are morally gray?
Here's my rundown:
Aunt Patricia: Love her & string cheese
Jay: Hate him on a deep soul level
Astrid: Hate her even more than Jay along with her diamond bracelet
Anika: Grew on me—a bit like mold
Tenn: Loved his nerdiness
Kelby: Adored his honesty amongst the wreck
Jillian: Empathized with her and ended up loving her
Beck: Yes! More characters like this please
Gregory: Heebiejeebies
Emma: I liked her, and she kept getting better
Harry: The poor darling
Bev: Shudder
Izzy: Completely beige
Now just because I said I hated some characters, doesn't mean I didn't love them in the story context. They were deliciously bad. Every single character does exactly what they need to do to make the story work.
I kept wondering why Jillian felt so much remorse over one of her actions. To me, her past "action" made sense to me. Now I'm wondering if I'm a morally gray person.
This book was so much fun. A silly tragedy. A farce. A romance. A book about relationships.
I highly recommend this book.
Happy reading!