Reluctant Smuggler (To Catch a Thief Series #3) [Paperback]

Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2008

They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer…but what if you can’t tell the difference?

For security consultant Desiree Jacobs, the assignment was simple: make off with an ancient Mayan artifact and hand it over to the good guys in time to plan her wedding to ultra-fine FBI agent Tony Lucano.

Yet, in a world where no one is as they seem, Desi must decipher who the good guys are–before she ends up in the hands of a ruthless enemy.

Suddenly, artifact recovery turns into archaeological espionage, and the woman who finds all the answers must now ask questions: Who’s looting priceless antiquities underneath the nose of the baffled Mexican government? And what does a violent gang of drug and human traffickers have to do with missing artifacts?

Even with Tony on her side, Desi will need way more than luck to survive against the odds. She’ll need the truth–not just to set her free, but to liberate many innocents caught in the snare of calculating evil.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Devotees of classic romantic suspense will love Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s Reluctant Smuggler. Lots of bad guys, a handsome fiancé, a cool chick who’s not afraid to hunt for the truth, stolen artifacts, danger and delight, wedding plans and gangster schemes, it’s all here. Desiree and Tony are expertly-developed characters who are only larger than life when duty requires it. The rest of the time, they are just like the rest of us, and that makes them supremely likeable–and very deserving of this book’s very satisfying ending.”
- Susan Meissner, author of Widows and Orphans

“Author Jill Elizabeth Nelson delivers the goods in Reluctant Smuggler. Desiree Jacobs and Tony Lucano are daring, endearing protagonists portrayed in a lively and distinctive style sure to delight readers.”
- Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, author of The Genesis Trilogy

“Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s Reluctant Smuggler will steal your attention with its fast-paced action and your heart with its south-of-the-border romance. A real page-turner from a master writer.”
- DiAnn Mills, author of When the Nile Runs Red

“Sassy security expert Desiree Jacobs faces her toughest challenge yet in Reluctant Smuggler. Not only is someone out to wreck Desi’s business, she seems to have upset some very powerful bad guys whose influence reaches all the way from the Mexican underworld to her home in Boston. Jill Elizabeth Nelson delivers a fast-paced tale of danger, political intrigue, and a breathtaking dash through the jungles of Mexico. Blend all that with a satisfying touch of romance and the result is one terrific read.”
- Virginia Smith, author of Stuck in the Middle, book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister Series

“Jill Elizabeth Nelson has crafted an amazing tale of international intrigue, pulse-pounding drama, and sacrificial love, as well as one exceptional story line. Reluctant Smuggler is a great read and highly recommended!”
- Mark Mynheir, homicide detective and author of The Void

“Reluctant Smuggler is a must-read from romantic suspense author Jill Elizabeth Nelson! Security expert Desiree Jacobs will be sure to ‘steal’ your heart–all while she tries to track down art thieves in the exotic jungles of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Reluctant Smuggler takes readers on the ultimate adventure–in love, in faith, and in danger! It’s just my kind of book.”
- Christy Barritt, author of the Squeaky Clean Mystery Series

“What a ride! Reluctant Smuggler has everything–intrigue, adventure, exotic locations, wonderful characters, and through it all, the knowledge that God’s grace is sufficient. Jill Elizabeth Nelson has just become one of my very favorite authors.”
- DeAnna Julie Dodson, author of In Honor Bound

“Take one exotic location, add a beautiful woman, a dedicated FBI agent, a few missing artifacts, and mix at high speed and you have one nonstop thrill ride that will have you flipping the pages late into the night. Just when you think it couldn’t possibly get any worse, Jill Nelson manages to turn the heat up on her wonderful characters. You’ll find yourself gasping more than once and quickly turning the page to see how it turns out.”
- Wanda Dyson, critically acclaimed author of The Shefford-Johnson Case Files

About the Author

Jill Elizabeth Nelson takes art seriously–when she’s not having fun with it, that is. The To Catch a Thief series combines her love of the written word with her love of other art forms. She’s thrilled if the adventures that spill from her imagination can raise awareness about art theft–a problem the FBI deems a “looming criminal enterprise.” Jill and her husband, Doug, have four children and live in Minnesota.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 339 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Publishers (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590526880
• ISBN-13: 978-1590526880
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My husband and I have passed our 30th anniversary and life keeps getting better and better. We live in a rural farming community in Minnesota and love the peace and quiet and beauty of nature. Our four children are grown, and we have two grandchildren that we can spoil rotten and send home.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page-Turning, January 26, 2008

By 

Cynthia Hickey "Cynthia Hickey" (AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reluctant Smuggler (To Catch a Thief Series #3) (Paperback)

The Reluctant Smuggler, the third installment in Jill Elizabeth Nelson's To Catch A Thief series, takes the reader from the snow covered landscape of Boston to the tropical jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula, to archaeological digs.

While trying to find flaws in the Mexican museum's security system, Desiree Jacobs finds herself chased and the false artifact she carries stolen. Back in Boston, her fiancée, FBI agent Tony Lucano is almost killed during a raid and lies in a coma. Page turning thrills and suspense tie these two incidents together and threaten to jeopardize Desi's and Tony's upcoming wedding.

In The Reluctant Smuggler, Jill Elizabeth Nelson digs deeper in Desi's and Tony's love for each other, the dangers of crime-solving and protecting precious antiquities, and shows us the strength of true-love. The Reluctant Smuggler was my favorite of the three books in the To Catch a Thief Series. Full of romance, danger, suspense and God's sovereignty. I'm looking forward to more adventures written by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

4.0 out of 5 stars Reluctant Smuggler, October 6, 2011

By 

Melanie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reluctant Smuggler (To Catch a Thief Series #3) (Paperback)

THEY SAY KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER... BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

'Reluctant Smuggler' is the third book in Jill Elizabeth Nelson's 'To Catch a Thief' series and my favorite of the three.

Desiree Jacobs is trying to plan her wedding, run her business 'HJ Securities', and avoid dangerous situations. But her plan isn't working - it seems as though danger follows Desi everywhere.

While she's in Mexico, she was robbed three times in the same day, was held at gun point, and many other similar incidents.

Meanwhile, FBI Agent Tony Lucano was stuck in Boston...literally. A blizzard made airports close, phone lines go down, and cell phone service unavailable. And when Tony goes on a mission during the storm, he ends up in a coma fighting for his life.

"Don't even try to tell me you're a victim. The reluctant smuggler. Hah!" - Page 301

'Reluctant Smuggler' is my favorite in the series (so far). I don't know whether there will be another addition, but if there is, I will definitely want to read it.

As usual, I loved Desi's, Tony's, and Max's characters, but I also enjoyed Mama Gina and even Stevo's character.

I loved this story - it had so many twists and kept me guessing. There were many times I was "on the edge of my seat" waiting for what was going to happen next.

I won't mention one other thing that I really liked about this novel because I feel it would spoil parts of the book for you - should you decide to read it.

I recommend 'Reluctant Smuggler' if you enjoy a good, clean suspense/mystery book (with romance)!

4.5 Stars

4.0 out of 5 stars #3 of the To Catch a Thief Series, June 11, 2011

By 

Shirley M. Corder (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reluctant Smuggler (To Catch a Thief Series #3) (Paperback)

They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer . . . but what if you can't tell the difference?

Even with Tony at her side, Desiree needs more than luck to survive in this final novel of the series.

I loved this series, and shared it with all my friends. Thank you for a fascinating trio of books, Jill. Keep up the good work!

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