The Confidence Games by Tess Amy – a Review

The Confidence Games by Tess Amy – a Review

 

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Description:
Two female con artists must pull off the ultimate heist in this rollicking caper from a dazzling new voice.

Emma Oxley and Nellie Yarrow have been inseparable their whole lives. Ever since they reinvented themselves, changing their names and wiping clean their digital footprints, they have made a game of following wherever the next adventure leads and challenging themselves to thefts, street cons, and mind games.

Adhering to only two rules—they will only swindle men, and only ones who deserve it—Emma and Nellie are secure in their reputation as the most trustworthy swindlers on the European black market. Until suddenly, they must play to save their own lives.

Blackmailed into stealing a priceless bracelet from a high-security exhibit, Emma will reexamine everything she believed to be true. This heist takes her far beyond her comfort zone…and she and Nellie will need allies among the glitzy bejeweled gathering in London in order to survive. Will they be able to do the right thing before it’s too late?

 

 

Review:

The Confidence Games by Tess Amy is a fun standalone novel about two best friends who are con artists. We meet Emma Oxley and Nellie Yarrow, who have been best friends forever.  When Emma lost her job, as well as her fiancée, she is despondent, but when Nellie shows up, everything is about to change.  

They reinvent themselves, changing their names, and cleaning digital prints, with them becoming very successful con artists over a 5-year period; making a name for themselves in the European Black Market.  They develop many cons travelling the world, to swindle men, operating under fake personas, stealing valuable things and reselling to them to highest bidders. I really loved their wonderful inspiring friendship and how successful they were. 

But when Nellie is kidnapped, Emma is forced make a plan on stealing a very expensive bracelet (worth millions), The Heart of Envy from a London high-security exhibit. The difficulty of the heist, is because of so much high-tech security, as well as people all over. Nellie is released to help Emma steal the bracelet, with death threats holding against them; they have to race against time to save their own lives. Dax is a member of their team, being a tech and hacking expert. Sophia was a young girl, who was locked up, as Nellie and Emma helped keep the girl save with Dax.  As the day arrives, and plans are put into place, they discover surprising reveals and a family that stays together to fight the battle. To say too much more would ruin it for you, and the last quarter of the books was very exciting.

 I have to say I actually loved this book, as it was so much fun and very enjoyable.  I loved both Emma and Nellie, as well as Dax and Sophia.  The Confidence Games was very well written by Tess Amy, whom I have never read before but I will check out her next book.  The Confidence Games was a fun, delightful, action-filled, suspenseful, exciting story, with wonderful characters, and an amazing heist. I suggest you read this book, as it was so much fun.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins – a Review

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins – a Review

 

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Description:
Julia and Sienna Larkin are sisters-in-law, connected by Julia’s husband and Sienna’s brother, Jason. More than that, the two have been devoted best friends since Jason introduced them. To Sienna, Jason can do no wrong, and although Julia knows he’s not perfect, they’ve built a comfortable life and family together. Recently, Jason has been putting in long hours to secure a promotion at work, so when his boss is found brutally murdered–his lips sewn shut–the Larkins are shocked and unsettled, especially as local gossip swirls.

A few days later, Julia and Sienna’s lives are upended when Jason gets into a car accident and is placed in a medically induced coma. Worse, the police arrive with news that he’s the prime suspect in the murder investigation. With Jason unable to respond–and with Julia and Sienna working to clear his name–the two women find their friendship threatened for the first time: Sienna staunchly maintains her brother’s innocence, but as their investigation uncovers a complicated web of secrets, Julia is less sure she’s willing to defend her husband.

 

 

 

Review:

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins is a very good standalone novel.  The story revolves around Julia and Sienna Larkin, who are sisters-in-law, as well as best friends; Julia is married to Sienna’s brother, Jason.  Julia and Sienna are partners in their own business, and in Sienna’s eyes, her brother can do no wrong; but though she still loves her husband, Julia has not been happy with some issues of recent; which has also affected their son, Aiden, who has become distant.  Though they are extremely close, both Julia and Sienna have kept some secrets from each other.  Julia never told her about some problems with Jason, which included withdrawing 10 thousand dollars from the joint account, that was being saved for a special occasion. Sienna has kept her secret from Julia, about her having resumed her affair with her ex, Wyatt (who had previously cheated on her). 

A few things happened that drastically changes everything.  Jason’s boss, is found brutally murdered, with his lips sewn shut. A couple of days later, Jason was in a terrible car accident, and is put into a medically induced coma.  Shortly thereafter, to their shock, the police arrive at the hospital to let them know that Jason is now the prime suspect in the murder investigation.  With Jason in a coma, both Julia and Sienna team up to prove his innocence.  Sienna is determined to convince the police they are looking at the wrong man, but when they keep finding evidence, Julia begins to worry that Jason is in fact a suspect. This will cause some friction between Julia and Sienna, especially with Jason’s co-worker, Maeve, revealing even more information.

What follows is an exciting and intense story, with filled with secrets, lies, family, drama and truths to be revealed. When Jason comes out of his induced coma, what will he reveal? Thicker Than Water is an excellent mystery thriller, with a family in the center of this drama.

Thicker Than Water was so very well written by Megan Collins.  I loved Julia and Sienna being the major part of the story, their determination to find the truth, as well as their wonderful friendship. The last half of the book was so exciting, I was unable to put the book down.  You need to read this book, without me revealing what happens.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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