Member Reviews
Ooooh this one was awesome. I felt some angst in this one and I love me some angst in books. Definitely everyone shoukd read this book. Very superbly written.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I will try to give this review without spoilers, but please forgive me if I slip up in my enthusiasm. This book is all about a woman who works for a private investigation company, who's slightly more than your normal run of the mill one (bordering on spies, and quite 007 just without the misogynist main character and needless violence). There's 2 elements to this story, one about Jax trying to find out the backstory to her parents divorce, and the other trying to work out if he boarding school is once again trying to train up assassins (it did remind me quite a bit of Carmen sandiego with this part of the story). I can normally solve mysteries fairly early on the book, but with this I was guessing right the way up to the end, and in a way it's still a bit of a cliffhanger with one of the mysteries, so I'm really hoping for a sequel. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon or Netflix took up this to make a TV series out of as it was so good. Just 1 slight criticism, the art work for the book doesn't do it justice, and just makes it look like a mills and boon story which this definitely isn't. I almost didn't read it due to doing what we're not supposed to and judging a book by its cover, so I'd recommend the editor rethink the cover to make it better reflect the type of book. I would definitely recommend this book, and will be looking out to buy more in the series once they've been written
Wonderful read from Catherine Bybee. Really enjoyed Jax's story. This series can be read as a stand alone but it is worth reading all the books as they are all equally wonderful. Jax is called home by her brother to help with family issues. Her father has moved in with her brother and neither parent is letting them know what is wrong. Jax is not close with either of her parents but goes home to help. Andrew a friend of her brother picks her up at the airport but she mistakes him as a driver. Richter the German military school plays a part of the storyline. This is the school for spies and assassins that Jax attended when she was a child. Loved reading Jax's history and watching Andrew worm his way into her heart. Highly recommend.
Received this book as an ARC from Netgalley for my honest opinion.
A long time fan of Catherine’s, I devour every book she writes and am fascinated with the Richter series. Jax’s story was no different. As a graduate of Richter, Jax loved the school as it made her feel she belonged and knows that despite troubles in the past, it is still an excellent school. Jax goes back to Europe when she receives a strange call from her brother and finds herself falling for a handsome stranger, Andrew Craig. With trouble between her parents, she is sent back to Richter knowing secrets are hidden within its walls.
Ms. Bybee has given us the story I love to read including romance, all the twists and suspense we love.
Catherine Bybee has done it again and continues to delivers amazing romantic thrillers and An Unexpected Distraction did not disappoint. I absolutely loved An Unexpected Distraction the third book in her Richter series. I am not sure how Catherine Bybee does it, but I can truly say that I absolutely loved every page of this incredibly, emotionally charged love story and that I could not put it down. I loved An Unexpected Distraction and cannot wait to read the other books in the series. One of my favorite parts is how the title of the book is incorporated into the story, with a simple statement by Andrew. Catherine Bybee has once again proven that she is a master storyteller who always delivers truly page turning romances. Who doesn't love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families and friends, who always support one another? Catherine Bybee continues to deliver all that and so much more. She writes stories with great characters, but most of all she writes about strong women who are not defined by their upbringing or their pasts. This page turner is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments that I have come to love and expect in a Catherine Bybee book. I love that An Unexpected Distraction continues to reunite the reader with characters from Catherine’s other series. An Unexpected Distraction is the story of Jacqueline “Jax” Simon, a former Richter student and current employee of McBain Security and Solutions, and Andrew Craig, best friend of Jax’s brother, Henry and a banker. Jax and Andrew meet when Andrew arrives at Heathrow to pick up Jax, after her brother Henry summons her home to London because of an issue with their parents. I love Jax’s initial interactions with Andrew, she mistakes him for her driver. Since Jax is in England, Neil wants her to return to Richter to make sure that they are still operating appropriately. I love Jax and Andrew’s love story and how they got romantically closer to each other as they spent more time together trying to solve what was going on with her parent’s marriage. Andrew also accompanied her to Richter, as her potential fiancé. Jax has never had a close relationship with her mother, so I love the heart-to-heart conversation that Jax has with her mother and how that transformed improved their relationship. While wedding dress shopping with Claire, Jax discovers a secret her father has been keeping from her family. It is with this discovery that Jax finally realizes why her parents sent her to Richter, instead of a boarding school closer to London. I like that the events at the start of the story come full circle during the plot twist. I love that Jax decides to make changes in her life, so that she can share a life with Andrew. I love all the plot twists, especially the unexpected one, that I did not see coming, and the travel throughout London and Germany. I love the lighter moments in An Unexpected Distraction, especially when Jax sarcastically calls Andrew ”Andy”. An Unexpected Distraction is a beautifully written story for Jax and Andrew, filled with all of Catherine Bybee’s normal bittersweet moments, plot twists and surprises, and so much emotion. I really enjoyed seeing the softer, gentler more vulnerable side of the characters. My favorite part of the book was the epilogue, I truly love how it went above and beyond the happily ever after, I loved all the special moments surrounding Claire and Cooper’s wedding and how the story includes a little surprise at the end. I loved catching up with Claire, Cooper, Sasha and Neil and Gwen McBain, it feels like catching up with good friends. I loved the moments between Claire, Neil and Gwen, they were truly touching. Loved the book, I am so excited for the other books in the series. Highly recommend this incredible love story.
Jax's book was fantastic! I feel like this series just gets better and better with each book. The investigation into Richter has been very exciting and while it is continuing throughout the series, you could actually read each book as a standalone. I highly recommend starting from the beginning only because I feel each book is fantastic.
It's funny how a side character that didn't stand out too much to me in previous books has become one of my favorites. I really liked Jax. Her personality, how she handled each situation and especially how she was with Andrew. Their growing romance was easy and fun despite being in a suspenseful situation. They were adorable and I love that.
This is one of those endings that you could say had just a bit of a cliffhanger. One part of the Richter investigation is over but there is so much more to learn and uncover. I really can't wait to see what will be next. I'm not even sure who the next couple will be. Either way, I will be waiting very impatiently for the next book.
Catherine Bybee has been a favorite author of mine from reading her past series, and this new series of hers has not been a disappointment. She has a way of weaving intrigue, romance, and witty dialogue that makes her a "must-read" author for me, and the third book in the Richter series, which seemed to have an extra dose of wit, was my favorite of the three!
Jacqueline "Jax" Simons, a graduate of Richter Boarding School, has taken the skills she's learned from her time spent there and is using them for the greater good as a private investigator with McBain Security. She loves her job and the work-family she has now. Jax, a native of England, has spent the last 6 years living and working in California with minimal contact with her family back home, which isn't much different than her time spent at Richter. After an unexpected call from her brother asking her to help him, Jax returns home, apprehensive of the time she'll spend with her parents.
Andrew Craig is just helping his friend out by picking up his sister at the airport. He didn't expect to be mistaken for a car service driver, and he certainly didn't expect to be intrigued by the beautiful, blonde-haired woman. So intrigued that he returns to her hotel, hoping to get another glimpse of her. An encounter quickly clears up the mistaken identity, and the spark of attraction begins to burn brighter.
While in England, Jax receives an assignment to return to her former boarding school and make some inquiries. Has Richter, once a breeding ground for assassins-for-hire, returned to its nefarious ways? Andrew tags along for the trip and gets a glimpse into Jax's job. He's fascinated by her skills and tools of the trade but is doubtful of the necessity of their use. Unfortunately, Andrew learns quickly why Jax never takes things at face value. Will Jax's training be enough to get her out of the trouble she finds herself in?
I've loved all of the books in this series but, I'd have to say, this one is my favorite. The banter and witty dialogue between the characters kept me engaged and the suspense kept me in it to the end. The ending of the book was slightly abrupt and left me a little letdown but really only because I didn't want it to end. The author also set us up for another series spin-off from this one so that has me excited for what's to come! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
You simply can’t go wrong with a book written by Catherine Bybee. I love how she spins her plot with such strong and loving characters and a plot line that grabs me every time.
I loved finding out about Jax and seeing her build a relationship with her mother and discovering she could open her heart and fall in love, even at a most unexpected time. I really liked Andrew, he was certainly thrown into the deep end with Jax’s job and I loved how he didn’t feel less or had to belittle her or her skill in order to feel good about himself. He stepped right up, rolled up his sleeves and took his place as a supporter and despite his own fear he was able to still be there for her.
I loved everything, I really can’t wait to see who is next and where the twisting plot line is going. However, best moment has to be getting to see the softer side of Neil shedding a tear at Claire’s wedding.
Another winner from Bybee.
Jax, part of Neil's team, is summoned to London by her brother because there is an issue with their parents. A handsome driver picks her up at the airport. At least Jax assumes he's s driver
The next day Jax discovers 2 things. One, her parents have separated and no one knows why - hence the call from her brother. Since she is an investigator, he wants her to ferret out the why. And two, Adam, the driver, isn't really a driver by in investments and a friend of her brother's.
What unweaves next is a tangle of lies and threads that all leads back to that infamous school Richter where Jax was sent as a child.
In typical Bybee style, you've got two people falling in love while trying to unravel a dark and twisted mystery.
I was given an arc of this book by Montlake and Netgalley for an honest opinion of the work.. As always, my opinion is if you are a fan of Catherine ByBee,you will enjoy this boo.
5 stars.
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately I did not read the previous book which was to my disadvantage since this book opens up with a group of people that already know each other. I had a hard time figuring who was who and how they mattered to the storyline. The plot read rather slow as well and the characters pretty bland. Good thing the woman were kick ass.
Absolutely fantastic story! I was so happy to learn it was the third book in a series. I quickly went to get book 1 and 2 to read. Love the characters and there strength. Jax gets a call from her brother and he asks her to come home. Jax knows there must be trouble because her brother rarely asks anything of her and especially asking her to return home to London. Jax is surprised to learn her parents are getting divorced. She uses her PI investigative skills to find out what happened between her parents.
What will Jax discover in her investigation? Will it bring any insight to why she was sent away to boarding school in Germany.
This was so good I read it all in one day. Thank you Netgalley for complimentary copy.
I recommend to anyone who enjoys a whodunnit kInd of story with family drama and a little bit of romance.
I have read all Catherine Bybees books, and they don’t disappoint. I really liked the first Richter book, but was not so impressed with the second, so was not sure how I was going to find this book, but this was a much better story than the previous book, so will be looking forward to the next book. If I have any complaint it would be that the end came too quickly.
LET ME START by saying I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this book. It had been on my home screen of Goodreads for days, so when I got the email to review it, I was ecstatic. This was both my first Catherine Bybee novel, and first of reading this series; so I brushed up on the other books before diving into this one.
Thankfully, I don't think not having read the others stunted me at all, and I tore through this book like a maniac. The London setting got me from the start, and Jax being this badass spy reminded me VERY much of my obsession with Gallagher Girls back in the day. The whole premise of trying to defeat these undercover super villains and spies sucked me into this book, and I enjoyed just about every second of it.
Many reviews that I looked over had said this was a series that just gets better as you read, so obviously I have to go back and read the first two now. The ONLY reason I'm not giving this five stars is because the ending was a letdown. I think I was expecting something a little more in your face, but I totally understand that it's left open for the purpose of continuing this series, so I'm excited to see what Bybee puts out next.
Inherently, I enjoyed this book- there was a bit of romance, intrigue and towards the end, I couldn't put it down because I was at the edge of my seat. That said, I felt like the first 50% or so of the book was set up and a little slow. This is a standalone novel but there are many recurring characters and as the third in the series, we see the couples from the prior books returning. Jax, another member of the MacBain Security group, has to go back home to England because of a family issue. There, she meets her brother's best friend, Andrew. The romance of this story is secondary to the development of the overall arc, which is to find out in what ways the powers that be at the Richter boarding school (whichJax attended) are involved in nefarious activities. From California to the UK to Germany, this story is multinational and that's part of the fun. The other cast members are also good to visit in on and I look forward to their stories. And, we get the perspective of the bad guy in this book as well. The overall arc does not conclude in this book and will likely continue across the series. So, overall, a well rounded, interesting story where the author really develops a multifaceted world for the readers to get lost in. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an early read.
I don’t know where to start. I’m in awe. I’m speechless. I’m definitely wowed. This book was awesomely written. Catherine drew me in where the outside world disappeared. I didn’t want to stop reading, yet I wanted to prolong it too. all in all, this book is amazing!
I requested to read and review for free from Montlake from Amazon Publishing. This book is action packed and wanting you not to put it down and coming back for more. Characters Jax, Neil. Andrew, Claire and many more make a fantastic team. You can feel the energy and the group feeling from the boom. This book has drama, mystery, romance and suspense. Are secrets good, bad or maybe in between. Is someone truly sorry if they tell you the truth ? Or does it depend why they told the truth. Does it mean they want to or had to? Can two people from the same world but different backgrounds be good for one another? Is love an instant thing ? This is for a mature reader and can be read anywhere.
I'm a huge fan of Catherine Bybee's "Not Quite" series so this series was a must read for me. She's a great writer and her books have a way of drawing you in. This book was no exception. "An Unexpected Distraction" was heavy on the plot and the characters were intriguing. The pacing of the book was also great because the book didn't drag at all. The book was the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, and action. You can always count of Catherine to write great female characters and you can add Jax to this list.
The mystery of the series only continues to grow and it's compelling. I cant wait to see what Catherine does next.
From the beginning you wonder when it will get into the story. When a call comes from her brother, she rushes to London. Finding out the secrets her parents had withheld especially of her going to Richter known for its military training. Third book in this series, that has a tightly woven plot, filled with secrets to uncover and action to the end.
Given ARC from Net Galley and Montlake for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
An Unexpected Distraction, book 3 in Catherine Bybee’s Richter series doesn’t disappoint. It’s filled with mystery, danger, secrets and romance. Jax gets called home to London by her brother to help with a family crisis, but her attempts to get at the heart of her parents’ issues lead Jax and MacBain Security to Richter. This is a book you won’t want to close unfinished…and there’s a hint at the end about another story! I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.
This is one of those series that gets better with each book. Book 3 focuses on Jax and her past and present family issues. Loved it! This is a fast-paced read. Well-written. Good character development. You get invested in the characters story.
Can’t wait to see what happens next as the mystery around Richter continues and evolves.
Again, as with the previous book, the only thing I didn’t/don’t like is the cover.
Thank you #netgalley and #montlake for the eARC.