Customer Reviews

Wildcard

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Heart Beat of Our Nation Hangs in Balance in Robin Shope's New Thriller, Wildcard

Shope has a unique way of producing heart-pounding, pulse-racing thrillers leaving the reader on the edge of their seat wanting more. Wildcard ups the ante because the premise of voter fraud is alive in today's politics. Think beyond acorn, hanging chads, or stuffing the ballot box. What if someone developed a micro chip to trip results toward the chosen candidate of a particular party?

However, the book is much more than what's described above. It's about finding the right pieces in order to find out where the stolen microchip is hidden. Who is behind this plot to take over America from the inside of the nation? The mystery is a journey taking the reader from Washington DC to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, to Austin, Texas and making the circle back again to the Nation's Capital.

There is so much for the reader here, even if the political thriller genre is outside of the reader's typical box; an Egyptian map, a look into the past life of Hatsupshet who was the first female Pharaoh, an unpopular congressman seeking re-election.

The book opens with heroine Ivy Dillon at her roommate's theater party where she meets a stranger. What seems to be an innocent meeting ends up in a tangled web of lies involving the death of the secretary to the President of the United States. Enter the former fiancé who is now a political news reporter with a Washington station who says he wants to help solve the murder. Is he sincere or does he want to use Ivy for the best news breaking story of the century?

In the midst of the turmoil, Ivy finds love, but can she trust it? Does she carry the secret that the Wildcards (a maverick secretive segment of the FBI) thinks she has, or is it beyond her reach?
I highly recommend this one. Romance lovers will be very satisfied with this book. Mystery buffs will be intrigued with the various plot twists. This book kept me guessing all the way through. It's a good page turner and the writing is excellent.

Although I've read all of Robin Shope's books, I think this one was my favorite. I became caught up in the story and didn't put the book down until the last page. It had just the right combination of romance and mystery. In today's technological world, it wouldn't be unheard of for just this wrinkle to happen in our voting booths. Between the mystery of the voting booth and the mystery of which side Ian/Adam is really on, the romance is another thread to entertain its readers. The reader can feel the frustration and fear Ivy/Shelby goes through when worrying about both who might be behind whatever conspiracy is surrounding her and her growing attraction for whatshisname.

This is a must read -- pure enjoyment!

Shope's Wildcard introduces a heart-stopping combination of terrifying tension and sexual tension. Although the description suggests this is a political thriller, the politics fall into the backdrop- this truly is a love story, if only the lovers can survive to see it through! In addition, in between moments of panic, there are some light touches of humor, too.

Ivy Dillon knows what she likes and the one happy coincidence here is that a certain person - and not one dressed in drag either - appears to find her equally attractive; very convenient. However, she wastes not a moment. She stands and chats up the dear whatzhisname, while fending off canapés although ultimately caving to the chocolate covered strawberries.

The odd over-the-top emotional description rather fits Ivy's personal tendency to the dramatic, and gives the reader a little breather between the more heart-hammering sequences. The eerie quality of Ivy's dreams, and certain events, create an aura as early as chapter one. Ivy's haunting past, and current friendships and obligations, fill her every moment. Ivy herself is a well-developed and unusual character. She has a certain girlish attraction, but is clever and confident about her own work and position, but at times offers a level of, perhaps it is gullibility. Is it possible to fall in love with someone you don't know? In Ivy's case - not only is it happening, but she is asking the very same question. Ivy's character, in particular, gives this work a distinctly unpredictable quality.

Throughout, the dialogue is great and situations are believable. Worth noting are the real-feeling descriptions, making scenes so very real and immediate. Shope makes good use of a few words on ordinary things - from things like flavors to the physical sense of a hot shower. Point of view changes filled in some of the blanks, and were well done, if often not especially appreciated by readers.

Wildcard is engaging and a hard-to-put-down. The occasional quirky event, or character, like Martin in drag, add light touches that sharply contrast with some of the more dangerous moments.

[...]

I read this thriller in 2 days and what a nice ride! Robin has a way of sneaking in twists and turns and then these gems of humor when you least expect it. This is the second book I have read of hers (the first was The Christmas Edition--another great book!) A Shope book is now on my list of favorites to read.

Ivy Dillion was a Washington Intern. At a party she meets a great looking green-eyed guy, she calls whatzhisname. He ends up popping up in unexpected places. One day Ivy and her boss, Geneen Waters, overhear a conversation they shouldn't have. Ivy thought nothing more about it. When her Intership was complete Ms. Waters give Ivy a gift and she returns home. She then goes to work for an old friend who's running for office. When she finds some large discrepancies in the petty cash records she knows something shady is going on. One of the body guards gets rough with Ivy and it's then she decides to quit. She goes back to her folks house where she finds some FBI guys who are there to take to her to a safe house. One of the men was whatzhisname. This sets off a series of events that keeps rolling until you close the book. I was GLUED from start to finish and I have to say that I was NEVER really sure who to believe were the good guys and the bad guys.

This is an EXCELLENT READ. I promise that once you start this book you will NOT put it down. Ivy Dillion was a wonderful character. She was down-to-earth, funny and smart. I loved the way Robin let you get inside her mind to see the way she thought things through. I found myself agreeing with her reasoning. I say this is a keeper to be enjoyed over and over.

This is a very good read, I love Robin's books and this one didn't disappoint. I didn't want to put this book down. This is a good suspense/mystery. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. What I love about the story how the story builds, it starts with a few tibbits which set up the whole story. Ivy's strength in this story is also great to see. I love the mix of mystery, suspense and a little romance. If you like mystery or light suspense I am sure you would love this book. Its well written and well worth a read.

Robin Shope is a master storyteller. Her book, Wildcard, offers readers a fast paced political suspense. About the time the reader figures out whom to trust, Shope changes things up and the suspense keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The plot of a Washington intern inadvertently overhearing a threat to change the outcome of voting and consequentially the way in which the United States is governed is believable. For romantics, an endearing love story is mingled in amidst the suspense. The wit and interaction between the main characters Ivy Dillon and FBI agent Ian Serby add to the attraction of this story. Robin Shope has done a remarkable job of creating realistic, complex characters, whose story must be followed through to the very end despite how late the hour has become. Wildcard is a wonderful blend of suspense and romance!

"Ivy, never react to any situation emotionally. I survived all these years because I remained in the shadows and kept my emotions in check. It would behoove you to do the same." This is advice from FBI Special Agent Ian Serby. .

Ivy starts an investigation of her own. Agent Sherby had told her she couldn't trust anyone but herself - especially after uncovering information about a microchip used to manipulation election figures. Things get complicated and life threatening -the stakes of getting to the bottom of this situation are high. Ivy quickly realizes she has to stop reacting to things emotionally, like Agent Serby said. She has to think clearly and not feel--this can save her life and that of her loved ones.

When Ivy's friend; Ms. Geneen Waters turns up dead, realization of how dangerous her predicament is comes to light. She knows she could be blamed for Ms. Geneen's death; but why?

An agent tells Ivy she could be accused of stealing something from Ms. Waters, this is all so crazy! She tells the agent, "Look here, the only thing she had that I wanted was her love and her kindness...The most important things in life can't be held in your hand, only in your heart."

If the scenario in this book ever happened in real life it could rock the world. At the end I began to wonder if we'd already experienced affects of the microchip. Robin pens an endearing, action packed; suspenseful story that will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next. In parts it will make you smile as Ivy learns, who to trust and discovers the really important things in life.

Finding Hope Through Fiction
Book Club Servant Leader

This book should come with this warning, Don't start reading late at night because once you start you will want to read it until you finish.
I have read Robin's books and I think this is her best one yet, and her other books were very good. The book keeps your interest and you cannot put it down. I love the way Robin describes every detail. She makes the words come alive with feeling and emotion. I tried to figure out what would happen but I was always surprised. If you want a fast paced mystery and romance book, this is the one to read. You will love it all the way through.

Intriguing, fast-paced story. From Ivy's roommate to her ex-fiance to people in the Washington D.C. office where she interned, Ivy's life is suddently full of suspicious people. Every time she figures one out, he proves to be not what he seems--or she. FBI? CIA? Friend or foe? Love or danger? It's a fun read.

Robin Shope already has one book in movie production. This one, too, would make a great feature film in the DC milieu and other places the heroine flees to as well, before her life is back to normal--whatever that is.