A Thin Disguise by Catherine Bybee

A former gun for hire and a federal agent find themselves on the right side of love but the wrong end of a bullet in this Richter installment from New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee.

On a fateful night in Las Vegas, FBI agent Leo Grant is working on a critical detail in a high-profile child prostitution trial when a beautiful woman jumps into the path of a bullet meant for him. Little does Leo know that the woman is Olivia, an ex-assassin who is seeking redemption one good deed at a time.

One minute, Olivia is lunging in front of Leo on the Vegas Strip. The next, she’s waking up in the hospital in a haze of pain with no memory of her past, her enemies, or even her own name.

With Olivia suffering from memory loss and completely unaware of the danger she is in, it’s up to Leo and Neil MacBain’s team of operatives to keep her safe. With Olivia and Leo both unaware of her past crimes, the two have little reason to avoid their growing attraction. Slowly her past seeps in through the cracks as she struggles to find the answers of who she is. When the veil is lifted and her dark past is staring her down, Olivia must turn her back on Leo and the love she can never allow herself to have, and race to find her would-be killer.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Richter series!
For book one, Changing the Rules, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in this series, but we first discovered just how unusual life at Richter was in The First Wives Club series. Whilst you don't need to read them first (book #5 in particular), I would definitely recommend reading the first book in this series first. It is key to understanding why the team are so reluctant to reveal Olivia's past to her.

One of the skills which Bybee uses to great effect in her stories, is to give characters redemptive qualities. After all, The First Wives Club was made up of women who had married for money. It was with the knowledge and agreement of their husband, but all the same, in theory they should not be the people we are happy to see find love. And again here, Olivia, who has been an assassin for years, has been trying to make amends. In the course of this new way of life, she nearly loses her own, and does lose her memory. Her friends try and protect her from her truth, cautiously supporting her and watching out for her as she starts to remember.

FBI agent Leo wants to thank her for saving his life, and we soon realise how attracted they are to each other – both ignorant of the inappropriateness of their closeness given their careers, even if Olivia is retired. It is both lovely seeing Olivia get the happiness that her education and subsequent role denied her, but stressful, as we know that once she does remember, it will possibly go up in smoke. It is impossible not to keep turning the pages, and find out just how this can work out.

Reminders of just how severe the life at Richter was, and how unexpectedly, friends on the inside will help to bring clarity to the situation. Anyone who thought boarding school life was exciting would think again after reading about this place, that is for sure.

I was so happy at how things were resolved, and I highly recommend that you find yourself a quiet place to immerse yourself in all things Leo and Olivia – you will not be disappointed.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

In this book, we get to meet Olivia. She's fierce. She has done things in her past that she's trying to atone for, but at what cost? While on a job, Olivia is injured and suffers amnesia. Her friends, including FBI agent Leo, all try to give her a safe space to heal and remember, but will Olivia want to remember?

Olivia's true friends and team know that once she remembers her past, she'll disappear without a trace. They are trying to show her that there is a different life – different path. But with knowing what they know about her, none are too optimistic about her future. The bright light they all see is her relationship with FBI agent Leo. Can he convince her that there is a different way? A way where she can still keep everyone safe.

Leo isn't one to give up quickly. When his case seems to be hinging on the testimony of a traumatized witness, the FBI will stop at nothing to make sure she makes it to the stand. While on assignment, Leo happens to see Olivia, not truly knowing who she is. There's a pull that he can't ignore. When she ends up getting hurt, he knows that it's because of him that she wasn't able to protect herself.

Leo wants to spend his life with Olivia. Can he convince her that they are stronger together? Or will he have to face the reality that Olivia works alone?

This is an intriguing story of spy vs. assassin vs. the life they live vs. the life they want. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for more.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
This is book two in the series and an FBI agent meets a former gun for hire on the streets of Las Vegas. When Olivia gets shot jumping in front of Leo, he has to wonder was the bullet meant for him.

When Olivia wakes up in the hospital with no memory of what happened, her past, or even her name, she doesn't know who is after her or why.

The MacBain team now is trying to figure out who targeted Olivia and why as she is recovering in their safe house. As Olivia and Leo get closes, he still has to wonder who was shooting at him or her and why? Can they help her get her memory back or would it be best if she doesn't remember? What does the future hold for Olivia and Leo?

I am loving this series, it is filled with suspense, intrigue, action, and maybe a happily ever after if Olivia can find who is trying to kill her. If you are looking for a romantic suspense, then this series is for you. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

 

 

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author CATHERINE BYBEE has written twenty-seven books that have collectively sold more than three million copies and have been translated into twelve languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series.

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Facebook Group: Catherine Bybee's Chatty Cathy's

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A Thin Disguise (Richter #2) by Catherine Bybee to read and review.