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Debbiereadsbook (1429 KP) rated The Secret Brokers in Books

Apr 16, 2020

The Secret Brokers

Alexandrea Weis | 2020 | Romance, Thriller

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

very engaging

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

For the most, I did enjoy this. Couple of things let it down, for ME, and I'll enplain shortly.

Dallas is called up by an acqaintance, is best to describe him, to cash in on a favour owned. Someone needs protecting, and the acquaintance needs something from this someone to keep her safe. There follows a lot of double crossing, back stabbing and general underhandedness you would expect from an organised crime boss, and an organisation that walks under the radar of most things.

From what I can gather, this is actually a spin off from another series, The Nicci Beauvior series and Dallas plays a huge part in the 2nd and 3rd book in that series. Some reviewers of THIS have said you should read THOSE books to get the full picture of what Dallas went through, and how he came to where he is now.

Personally, I don't think it's really necessary. There is enough recapped and retold here, for you to get the picture, or for ME anyway, to get enough of the picture to fill in the gaps and for this story to flow.

I was a little concerned at first that this would be a bit too complicated for my addled brain (April 2020, you get my drift?) to cope with, but it's good. There is a good, intriguing plot to follow, but it's not ever so complex that you have to concentrate too hard on, you know? It's ENOUGH to make you think, to excerise the grey matter, and just enough to keep you engaged til the end.

What let it down for ME were two things.

Only Dallas has a say. I would like to have heard from Gwen, the someone who Dallas is called to keep safe. I get maybe some of the plotline would be given away, yes, but still I wanted to hear from her, and (job aside) what she thought of Dallas and what leads her to make the offer she does.

And Dallas himself was very . . standoffish? . .maybe not quite the right word, but I struggled to connect with Dallas, made more difficult because only his voice is heard. Had Gwen had a say, I could have coped better, or maybe connected earlier, with Dallas.

I LOVED Cleveland and Stokes, two of Dallas' operatives. Their banter has, I'm sure, far deeper roots and far further reaching branches, than is currently showing.

A very engaging 4 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Kudos

Elizabeth (1521 KP) rated Next Year in Havana in Books

Apr 24, 2019

I completely relate to Marisol's romanticized idea of Cuba and the desire to see it first hand, being that I too have immediate family that emigrated from Cuba. Unlike Marisol, I don't have stories that my family told of their time there to paint a picture in my mind. For me, it is a desire to trace my roots, to learn my history.

I don't know how much of the present day portion of the story is based on fact. It makes me sad to think that the country is in such disrepair. I always thought that since tourism with other countries was still allowed, that the country was still in good shape and it was just the relations with the US that was in shambles. It just goes to show how little I really know since I've only just begun to learn more about the island where my family came from in the last few years.

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because I reserve that honor to books that change me after having read them. I connect very deeply to this book, but it did not change me.