Customer Reviews

A Touch of Minx

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Samantha "Sam" Jellicoe used to be one of the best cat buglers in the world. In fact, Sam had been a pro before she even reached the age of ten. (Thanks, Dad.) Then, one year ago, Sam dropped through the skylight of wealthy Richard Addison. Samantha saved Richard's life, but she had been trying to rob him at the time. To be with Richard, Samantha had to retire for being a professional thief and begin a new career.

It has been nine months since Sam began her security consulting and installation business, Jellicoe Security. Joseph Viscanti, with the museum, offers Sam the job of tracking down some Japanese armor. Sam takes the job for a few different reasons; the main one is for the adrenalin rush she'd get. On the side, Sam deals with another theft. This robbery was very recent. Someone has stolen a neutral-gender anatomical dummy from the elementary school. It is not the type of job Samantha would normally accept, but Sam could not tell Olivia (the girl who asked her for help) no.

As for Sam's rich Brit boyfriend, Richard, he is building up the courage to propose to Sam. Seems that the life of a former thief is not so dull after all.

***** Author Suzanne Enoch has done a masterful job with Sam and Richard. A few months ago these two characters were in a half-novel length tale (Twice the Temptation). The two were entertaining in that story, but in this one they absolutely ROCK! (Perhaps because it is full-length and the author could add more into the characters. I do not know.) The author actually seems to breathe life into all of the characters in this book. They seemed vivid and REAL! Consider yourselves warned in advance that once you open the cover to this book, you will not want to stop. Absolutely sinful. I loved it! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

It has a year since Samantha Jellicoe met her hot billionaire boyfriend Richards Addison. For their one year anniversary Rick bought Sam a hundred thousand dollar gift certificate for the garden Sam plan on renovating but really Rick wanted to get Sam a engagement ring. Since Rick knows that if he pushes Sam for marriage then Sam might leave him but still Rick decides to take a chance and so he goes head and buys a engagement ring without telling Sam. Rick keeps on giving subtle hints to Sam about marriage and having kids to let her know that he wants her in his life forever.

Meanwhile, Sam gets a call from Dr. Joseph Viscanti, the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, asking her to recover artifacts that were stolen back to the museum. Sam agrees to do it enough though Rich doesn't want her take this job since it could be dangerous. Sam also gets a call from ten-year-old Olivia Donner (Rick's best friend's daughter) and Olivia wants Sam to find Anatomy unit that was stolen from her school.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I love the fact that they getting more serious with their relationship. Rick and Sam really have good chemistry. I really like the fact that in this book we finally get to see Rick relax more and works less because usually he always working. Sam is great throughout the book but I really didn't like the fact that each time Rick and Sam got into arguments, Sam always made it seem like Rick was pushing her too much and that he is wrong for trying tell what to do. Loved the secondary characters like Stoney, Tom, and Aubrey (I kept wondering if he really was gay or straight but I think I agree with Sam on this). *Might be Spoiler* I thought the end came out of nowhere and it seemed like a cliffhanger. I mean when Rick pops the question, I really wanted to see from Sam's and not just Rick's point of view because and I want know what was going through Sam's mind and what made her change her mind since earlier in the book when Sam figured out that Rick was going to propose she freaked out. Also I was excepting Rick to do something romantic when he was going to ask Sam to marry him but it really was let down on way he did it. Overall, I really like it and I'm really hoping there will at least one or two more book in this series because I want the next book to be about their wedding and see how Rick and special Sam hands their wedding.

Sam and Rick are back and struggling as always to see who is in charge. This time Sam is contracted by a museum to find and "recover" an ancient Japanese suit of armor and two ceremonial swords that went missing ten years ago. And if that's not enough, her archenemy Olivia, Donner's daughter, wants Sam to recover the stolen Anatomy Man that someone stole out of her classroom. To Sam both jobs are about the thrill of the hunt, while Rick just thinks about the risk to Sam and the possibilities of her getting "caught out" while seeking the adrenalin rush "recoveries" give to her.

Meanwhile, Rick is trying, not so subtly, to find ways to keep Sam with him permanently without spooking her. Sam, however, is trying to adapt herself to Rick's expectations without giving up all the "fun" in her life. But with her almost-father, Stony, out in the wind while someone seems to be stalking her, trouble is mounting up and Sam and Rick need to figure each other out quickly before things start blowing up in their faces.

A Touch of Minx is a wonderful continuation of Sam and Rick's story and the fun just keeps pilling on! Suzanne Enoch does it again with A Touch of Minx just packing the action, romance and plenty of tension from all quarters to keep all readers eagerly turning the pages. Sam is as spunky as ever while carefully balancing her need for an adrenaline rush and keeping it on the right side of the law to keep Rick's blood pressure down. Rick, on the other hand, is as commanding as ever, expecting everyone to jump on his command - except that Sam most definitely does not! The mix of these two is as hot as ever and the cast of colorful secondary characters demonstrates Suzanne Enoch's flair and ability to create characters that are flawed, yet appealing. Get yourself A Touch of Minx for a fun romp with favorite characters Sam and Rick!

Note: A Touch of Minx is the fifth installment in the Sam and Rick adventures, and while it can be read as a stand-alone, it is best enjoyed when the series is read in order.

Sabella
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Just finished reading this book for more times than I can recall. Its a keeper, as those who enjoy the genre often say. Quick, clever, great characters and story line. I was shocked when I read it had not sold well enough to guarantee publication of the next book in the series. Perhaps fans of Ms Enoch's historical novels (also superior) doubt her ability to cross over. Don't. Maybe those who prefer contemporary suspense haven't found her yet. Start reading. Hopefully by the time you get to this one (there are five in the series), someone will have the good sense to properly market Ms. Enoch's talent and we will have a new Sam-Rick novel. No, I'm not her mother. I'll actually a very eclectic and discriminating, but compulsive reader. I like what I like and I like these books.

There were several relationship and character issues resolved in this book (Sam became more comfortable with the idea of a long-term relationship, Rick became more able to be honest with her and confront her about her fears, the need for Sam to have something more than a security business due to her need for excitement, etc). The plot was good, for the most part, but did lack the "umph" of the first book in the series. I loved the lack of the "ex" in the storyline... that was getting old in previous books. A growing problem with the series, however, is its increasing similarity to JD Robb's In Death series. With this latest addition, there seem to be a few too many parallels, and I catch glimpses of Eve and Roarke in the story (not a good thing, but I don't know if the author is aware of it or even reads the In Death series - it could be a coincidence). Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I hope the next one has more sizzle and tension.

The latest installment of Sam and Rick's ongoing relationship ties up a few loose ends but lacks a little of the snap of their previous adventures. It will be interesting to see where they go from here.

Fun, fun, fun! This series is just delectable romance/mystery with a dash of humor. In this installment, Sam begins a career retrieving stolen artifacts for museums - exactly the opposite of what she did before, with all the excitement and danger but for the good guys this time. She also struggles with her desire to set down roots against Ricks pressure to make a commitment. Sam is still fun and impulsive, Rick is even more yummy this time around (if that is possible) and the relationship is still just as sigh-worthy But the very BEST part is the ending when Sam FINALLY gets a ring!!!

*The sex ratio in this series is relatively high but is portrayed within a monogamous, committed relationship. Skimming or skipping isn't hard.*

In her latest book A TOUCH OF MINX, author Enoch certainly proves that crime does pay, or it did for Samantha Jellicoe who made a very fine living for herself. Since caught by billionaire Richard Addison, who is now her boyfriend, Sam is doing her best at going legit as a private security consultant and art "retriever". Sam's latest gig, which could really solidify her new legitimate career, is a request by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to recover priceless artifacts that were stolen from them over ten years ago. Jumping at the chance to put her `talents' back to good use, Sam is only too happy to take it on, especially if it can postpone the inevitable possibility that Rick wants her to take a walk - away from the wild side and down the aisle. Unfortunately, there is a dangerous maniac out there that is doing their best to prevent Sam from fulfilling anyone's wishes but his own.


*** I've been a big fan of Enoch's wonderfully rich historical romances and was recently introduced to billionaire Richard Addison - Marquis of Rawley and Samantha Jellicoe in the half historical/half present day novel TWICE THE TEMPTATION. In this, A TOUCH OF MINX, the first novel devoted totally to Sam (the Yank) and Rick (the Brit) you get a real treat. Together and especially in bed - these two rock!

In this story, Sam's life more fully examined with motivations and deep characterizations so one could see how her surroundings and upbringing propelled her to a life of crime. I had a teeny bit of a problem here that with Sam's gift of a photographic memory, I could think of dozens of careers that I would have chosen over that of a cat-burglar, though not as lucrative. But due to the lack of stability in her formative years, I could better understand it. One thing that was real and very well portrayed was the love Sam and Rick had for one another. Of course, what girl wouldn't be enamored of a tall, dark handsome, billionaire, who was "to die for" in bed and out - count me in!!

Along with the sensual romance, stimulating search for the missing artifacts, Enoch also includes a secondary retrieval displaying Sam's softer side as she tries to fulfill the wishes of Rick's best friend's young daughter to return a stolen Anatomy Man model for her biology class. Couple all that with Sam's missing `mentor' Walter, and her male gay (hmmmmm?) secretary Aubrey, Rick's lawyer and best friend Tom, and you have all the ingredients that make reading one of Enoch's entertaining books so unforgettable. Sam and Rick are a team - undeniably hot and heady. This is a book I most heartily recommend.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

Reformed cat burglar Samantha Jellicoe and her long-suffering billionaire beau Rick Addison return for their fourth adventure, as they celebrate a year together and Sam is hired by the New York Met to locate priceless Asian antiquities that were stolen years earlier and are keeping the Met from further display consideration. Setting her sights on local Palm Beach residents who have an interest in all things Asian, she's narrowed it down to two possibilities. But ever the gentleman, Rick won't let her do her caper on her own, as she plans to steal the stuff back from the culprits. Adding comic relief to the story is her search for a school's life-size "anatomy man," as she is hired by Rick's lawyer's daughter to locate the missing dummy in time for her first anatomy class.

A step up from her last entry ("Billionaires Prefer Blondes"), all the usual suspects are back, adding more hilarity to the hijinks. Enoch's characters burn up the pages one moment and have the reader in stitches the next. While it sometimes appears to be an elongated commercial for Diet Coke, readers can't help but be enchanted by the duo that can't seem to have a boring existence. A great entry into the series!

Samantha Jellicoe has been turning her life around for the past year, for herself and for that of the man she loves, Richard Addison. No longer on the wrong side of the law stealing from the rich, she is struggling to keep the adrenaline and excitement levels high in her life. With her new security business she has what she feels is a steady and respectable job but also a quiet and a boring one.

The security business is suddenly looking up when a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art contacts her in regards to finding some Shogun armor that was stolen years ago. Sam needs to some investigating to find out who commissioned the armor's theft. Then she must get it back to the museum by essentially stealing it back as the statute of limitations is up and no charges can be brought against the new owners. Suddenly she is doing what she loves again, but for all the right reasons.

This is the fourth book in the series and you'll want to read the first three before diving into this one. There are a few elements to the story that enhances the reading pleasure; the relationship of Rick and Sam reaches its one year Anniversary, the search for anatomy man, Stoney goes MIA, and Aubrey becomes Sam's Guy Friday.

Sam and Rick are one of my favorite couples to read about. Like the stories before it this one has no shortage of action or adventure. Searching for the Shogun gets dangerous and has some unsuspecting turns. Wrapped into this entertaining tale are pages of sex, laughs, mystery and fun.

Flirting With Danger
Don't Look Down
Billionaires Prefer Blondes