Suspenseful
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2021
2nd book in the series it can read as a standalone.
Suspenseful tale of an assassin meeting an FBI agent. Secrets are kept safe so that all involved stay alive.

The 2nd book in the Richter series was a very good fast-paced book.

Olivia, a former assassin looking for redemption is shot taking a bullet for an FBI agent Leo out on the Las Vegas strip. She wakes with amnesia, not knowing who she is or anything of her troubled past. The question is who was the actual target & how to find the shooter? With the help of the MacBain operatives, Leo plans to find the answers and keep Olivia safe.

I loved this book. The romantic suspense trope is becoming a favorite of mine, and this one does not disappoint. The twists it takes were unexpected and kept the book moving well. The chemistry and growing relationship between Leo & Olivia was addicting and left you rooting for them & the outcome of the book.

FBI Leo had one coming with his name on it but Olivia was at the right place at the right time. Fascinating thing is what she was is forgotten in the hospital. You at times have it also in the back of your mind as the two have a growing relationship. Of course she does want to know what is in the dark so she searches for answers. You become antsy when she does know because what is she going to do? Of course one of what she used to be is after her now. This had me turning the pages to see if it will be in time.

This was my 16th Catherine Bybee book, so you can say I’m a “bit” of a fan. And while I’m enjoying this romantic suspense series, I think I enjoy Ms. Bybee’s contemporary romances more.

A Thin Disguise is the second book in a spin-off series that spun off from another series. Just to help you keep things straight, the Richter series connects with a character from The First Wives series (which I read and LOVED), and that series connects with a character in The Weekday Brides series (which I have NOT read but fully intend to at some point). And A Thin Disguise sort of continues the story from Changing the Rules (Richter #1) where the employees of MacBain Security and Solutions go all 21 Jump Street to infiltrate and take down a sex trafficer.

This story - which you could totally read without reading book one, but really why wouldn’t you read book one because it was really good! - begins as the trial for the sex trafficer is ending and, in addition to FBI agent Leo Grant, MacBain Securities has been brought in as a second layer of protection for the young girl who has testified against the man who kidnapped her for his sex trafficing ring.

Olivia has spent the last six years on the run. Growing up she was trained as an assassin at Richter, a school in Germany that at first glance was just your typical boarding school. But behind closed doors students with certain aptitudes were trained to be killers (Sasha from the First Wives series is a former student, and Claire from Changing the Rules was her classmate). But now that Olivia has severed ties from the school and that life, she lives as a ghost, weighed down by the guilt she carries for her past deeds and fear that her past will hurt those she cares about most. When an opportunity comes along to protect a young female witness, Olivia jumps at the chance to use her skills for good instead of evil.

What she doesn’t expect is to be the one shot. And when she wakes up in the hospital with no idea who or where she is, Leo and MacBain are there to keep her safe. As she spends time sequestered away, waiting to heal from her injuries and hoping for her memory to return, she learns what it’s like to be part of a caring, close-knit group of colleagues. Her budding romance with Leo isn’t a hardship, either.

But when Olivia’s memory does return, it sends her fleeing across the globe to find out who really was the target of the bullet that hit her. And Leo, along with help from MacBain Securities, isn’t far behind.

This book took a bit to pull me in. Even though I knew the basics of the story and was familiar with all the players, I originally had a hard time following the action. Ms. Bybee is well known for contemporary romance so this suspense genre is sort of new for her and I’m not sure if it’s her writing that isn’t connecting with me...or if it’s just me. However, the parts where Leo and Olivia were together are great. I love how there’s “conflict” between them but it never gets dragged out. No matter the genre, Ms. Bybee is hands down one of the best at writing realistic relationships that make my heart swoon.

So while this one isn’t a favorite of mine, I still enjoyed this book. And I’ll still be waiting (not so) patiently for the next Catherine Bybee book!

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Olivia and Leo. What a pair.
I love how Catherine writes and it sucks you in every time. I start and a few hours later I realized I've read the entire book in 1 sitting.

Olivia is a loner thanks to Richter but that is about to change. Leo cracks open a piece of her heart. Is it enough for her though?

Olivia is a former student of Richter and an ex-assassin. She is slowly making steps towards changing her life and while she is in Las Vegas overseeing a witness in a court case, she crosses paths with Leo. Leo is busy flirting with the beautiful girl that caught his eye one moment and the next he is flat on his back after she jumped in front of a bullet meant for him.

When Olivia wakes in hospital, she has no recollection of the shooting or anything else about her previous life. It will eventually return but in the meantime the focus is on her healing and keeping her safe from whomever took the shot at her. Leo does not want to leave her side and happy to be tasked with taking care of her. It turns out he is more connected to her forgotten life than he realised and even though he doesn’t know the full extent of her past he knows she has worked with Neal.

Over the weeks that follow, Olivia and Neal fall into a daily routine that eventually morphs into something more for both of them. The term ‘ignorance is bliss’ definitely applies here as Olivia enjoys the ‘normal’ life of a young woman rediscovering herself and falling in love. Something she has never experienced before now. However, in the back of everyone’s minds is that as time goes by, Olivia is having small memory recalls popping up and when it all comes, her first instinct will be to run.

This is the second story in the Richter series and is a continuation of the main storyline from the first book. This time the focus is on Olivia and Leo. If you have read the first book in this series you will be familiar with Olivia but this can be read as a stand alone so no worries if this is your first dip. Once again, this is a fast paced, suspense laced story.

What a great story. Lots of excitement, suspense and action but never forgetting that swoony romance I want.

Olivia is a former Richter student who has gone deep off grid but crosses paths with FBI agent Leo Grant at exactly the wrong moment.
I loved Olivia’s growth as she tries to remember who she was and ultimately discovers who she can be.

A Thin Disguise is the second book in the Richter series. It could be read as a standalone because everything is explained but would probably spoil some things from Changing The Rules if you later decided you wanted to read book one. I loved both stories and would definitely recommend reading both.
-5 Stars-

3.5/5 - Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so honestly did not expect this book to better than what I had thought. The description caught me but the writing and how the plot developed was what hooked me in. There were some minor grammatical errors but I assume that it's because this is not a final copy. Catherine Bybee wrote well, the characters had believable backgrounds, there was some action, some romance, and that was more than enough. It wasn't too long and draggy. I didn't really feel the adrenaline while reading some parts and I couldn't relate as much as I would have liked to but if I wanted some action to spice up my daily reads, this is definitely one I would have picked. The memory loss wasn't dull at all, in fact, I liked the isolated house with some found family relationships. The ex-assassin and FBI agent romance made me start the book, but the building was part of what had made me stay for the entire book.

When I pick up a book by Catherine Bybee, I know I'm getting a good one! She has the ability to write a story that draws you in and has you turning the pages as fast as you can to see what's coming. The 2nd book in the Richter Series doesn't disappoint!

Olivia is a trained assassin. Leo is an FBI agent. Yet, they are drawn to each other even when everything about her past is telling them to steer clear.

When Olivia finds herself suffering from amnesia and unable to even remember her name, Leo finds himself falling deeper and deeper for this intriguing woman. He is having a hard time reconciling this Olivia to the woman with the dark past. When she regains her memory and sets off on her own to confront the person who shot her, Leo has no choice but to follow her and hope that she accepts his offer of help. For Olivia, this is uncharted territory. Is she willing to risk it all in the name of love? Pick up this book and find out! You won't be disappointed!

Gripping Story of Security & Romance!!

May be one of the best of this genre I have read. Detailed and delightful. My first from this author and I am already browsing her prior stories, and anticipating her next.

Olivia is a “ghost”. Alumni of the Richter school which is the basis for this series. She stays on the fringe of things, changes appearances 4-5 times per outing. She is also a crack shot and an assassin.

Leo Grant is a government agent. A momentary flirtation with Olivia ends up with her critically shot, and results in her losing her memory. During her recovery the team surrounding her warns him that when she remembers – she will disappear.

A simply amazing story. I definitely need more!!

**I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book**

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

This is the second book in Catherine Bybee's "Richter" series. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first. I was hooked on the first page! This book follows the story of Olivia and Leo, both with interesting backgrounds and working to protect a victim of human trafficking as her abuser faces trial. If your're looking for crazy stunts and steamy romance, look no further! This book is fast moving and full of action, suspense, secrets, and romance. Important to note, however, because of the tough subject matter (human trafficking) this book and series could be difficult for some people to read, especially if they have been victims themselves. Overall, I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next installment in the Richter series.

DNF: Not for me.

I received an ARC of the second book before the first one was published, and I wouldn't have downloaded it if I'd read that one first. The tone just didn't work for me, and I found the story to be overly drawn out - in both books. After disliking the first book, I couldn't muster up much enthusiasm for this one and it ended up being a DNF. I'm not the reader for this series; it definitely skews much older and feels outdated to this 30-something romance reader.

I really enjoy this series so much. Love a great romantic suspense and listened to this one straight through - found family, amnesia, FBI agent/trained assassin romance, what’s not to love?! Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the free audiobook and the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook.

This is the second book in the Richter series and was as suspenseful as the first. Olivia is a loner who was forced into a life she never wanted and is constantly trying to make amends for. Leo is an FBI agent involved in a case that Olivia has been "monitoring". She ends up with amnesia, causing some major changes in her outlook on life. Once her memory returns, they must join forces to stop any further murders. A great story in a great series that has me looking forward to the next book. Ms. Bybee is one of my favorite contemporary authors and I am never disappointed with her work. Highly recommended. #netgalley

Being a fan of Catherine Bybee, I was interested in this new series but missed book one. I know this one is about different people and is billed as a stand-alone, but I think I’m missing background material that’s important to this book.
I tried to get excited about the story, as well as Leo and Olivia, but it was a DNF for this reader.

I loved Neil and Gwen's story in the Weekday Brides series, so I was excited about this spinoff series with McBain Security and the characters that suffered so much abuse at the Richter Academy in Germany. This story is based on another Richter character, Olivia, trained as an assassin for hire. After killing her boss years ago, everyone thought she was dead. Still acting as a loner, afraid to get closer to anyone, she reaches out to Neil, hoping to work for good to make up for her past. While providing security for Marie, the victim from book one, during the sex trafficking trial, she takes a bullet for Leo, an undercover FBI agent working the same case. When she wakes up in the hospital with no memory of even her own name, Neil and his team take her to a remote cabin along with Leo for protection and time to heal. There, Neil hopes to show her a more normal life with people she starts to consider family and even love and a future with Leo. But when her memory returns, she remembers it's not safe for anyone to get close to her.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily

I loved everything about this book. With the trademark Bybee suspense and action, as well as an unusual romance, this one ticked off all the boxes for me.

Even with a questionable background, Bybee has created another heroine worthy of redemption and a hero who is strong enough to support and complement her. Leo and Olivia are two sides of the same coin, Leo is just doing things on the “legal” side. Olivia has quite a past and I loved watching her come to terms with what she has done and learning to forgive herself but also holding herself accountable. And watching the two of them work as a team to resolve things at the end was perfect.

One of the things I liked most about this book was it really showcased the relationships between the characters and how they really are family, though not by blood. Even though Olivia isn’t technically on Neil’s team, he goes all out to help her and provide a safe space for her to heal both physically and emotionally, even though he knows she will most likely go underground again rather than reach out for help. Sasha is a favorite of mine and once again I love how she adds so much to every page she is on. She knows what Olivia needs and is always there to provide that support – even if it may work against what Neil thinks is best. Getting to catch up with many characters from previous books was great and I love how they are always busting on one another but can always be counted on to have each other’s backs.

This is the second book in this series and can easily be read as a standalone, but I think that starting the with first book in this series and probably even going back to the First Wives Club series would add so much to the reading experience.

Once again, Bybee has crafted a well-written book that was hard to put down – one that should appeal to most anyone!

A Thin Disguise is the story of Leo Grant, an FBI agent who falls for the amnesiac Olivia, a woman with a dark past.

Synopsis:
Olivia, or she who has no memory for about half of the story, is a spy/assassin (let the mystery remain!) who was shot while trying to warn about the same to FBI agent Leo Grant.

What happens next will blow your mind as the author takes us through a well-crafted story of a secret academy and the forces of the world who won’t let someone survive.

Review:
Narrated in the third person, the story starts with Olivia, who is keeping a lookout so that no one harms the witness in an active case while also following the yet unpunished “respected” criminal Navi Sobol.

Thirty-two-year-old Leo Grant is a federal agent who’s also keeping an eye on the monster to see who he’s meeting up with. And during one such surveillance operation, he’s shot at but it’s Olivia who takes the bullet.

Hello transient amnesia, since the lady hit her head hard when she fell. But isn’t she still intelligent! And I am not talking normal intelligence, rather spy level intelligence of piecing things together, having stellar observation skills, etc.

I didn’t want to stop reading this book, it was that good, that intense, alas, life intruded. And I couldn’t believe that I still managed to finish it in three days in between my hectic schedule.

While there was the constant threat of mafia and mobster danger just out there, the story was also adorable, especially Leo and Olivia’s interactions/banter, both before and after she had amnesia. The author builds up fantastic chemistry and paces the story such that I kept on craving more and more of it.

In spite of such dangerous characters and the danger at play, the story felt like home because of the easy camaraderie between the team. Moreover, there was this balance maintained between (what I would say) good and evil that all in all it felt like a feel-good story despite it being a romantic suspense.

But the time comes when our lovebirds have to part ways, especially as it was a given that in a romantic thriller, the amnesiac badass lady’s memories would return. Oh…how heartbreaking it was to read about Leo and Olivia in those moments. Also, A Thin Disguise was so much more than a romantic suspense as the story ended with a bang and a beautiful epilogue.

This is my first read by Catherine Bybee and I can’t wait to read all of her works! This book was nothing short of a spy flick, and I wish it could be made into a movie. Yes. That good.

This is a Netgalley ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.

Catherine Bybee writes strong, badass women. A Thin Disguise, book two of the Richter series, is no difference. This is a romantic suspense series. It's different from other books written by Catherine Bybee. I recommend reading in order otherwise some of the background of Richter will be lost. It is narrated by Joe Arden and Lori Prince. Their performances really make the words leap off the page.

Leo Grant is an FBI agent that was introduced in the first book of the series. He is working a case when Olivia Naught is shot in front of him. He thinks the bullet is meant for him. What he doesn't initially know is that Olivia was trained at the Richter School which made her a trained assassin. When she wakes from her injuries she has amnesia but the pull between Leo and Olivia is immediate. They hide out in a safe house and things get HOT!! They make a plan to take down the person who shot at them and the chase begins.

I expect a great story and some hot scenes from Catherine Bybee all the while creating characters who are strong. This is no different. I can't wait to read the third book in the series.

Olivia is fun. Maybe that is not the word that most would use to describe her, but I thought she was a fun character. She kept me guessing at what her life would be and when it would happen. She starts with not remembering anything about her life, she would realize that she knew things but was never really sure how she knew them. Leo was the only person who did not know of her history, and he was “her person” as she worked towards remembering them. As the attraction between them grows and her past life comes to life, I was excited to see it all play out.

I have enjoyed this series and seeing how the Richter Academy plays a role in the characters. The strength of the women and the lives that they are living are so much fun to read about. The Richter Series is a spin off of another of Catherine Bybee’s series, The First Wives Series, but those books do not have to be read to enjoy this series. I do feel like The Richter Series is best read in order as some of the events in the first book do add to what is happening in the second book. It is fun to get to the know the characters as they evolve through the series.