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

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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

Product Description

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Publishers (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590526880
• ISBN-13: 978-1590526880
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #683,640 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 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

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

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling, edge-of-your-seat package, October 14, 2009

By	Novel Teen Book Reviews (USA) - See all my reviews

Review by Gretchen Hoffman

I was so excited when Reluctant Smuggler came out. I started reading the series when the first two books were out, but I had to wait for this one. Book three did not disappoint.

In the final book of the trilogy, Desiree Jacobs faces her most difficult task yet. It started off simple--obtain an antique Mayan artifact and get it to the good guys. But the simple task gets complicated when espionage, people looting Mexican antiquities, corrupt government officials, and a violent gang, the Fraternidad de la Garra, find their way into the picture. How is Desi supposed to plan the perfect wedding to her fiancé, FBI agent Tony Lucano, with all this trouble?

With injuries, lots of questions, and someone close who ends up in the hospital, Desi faces a lot of "what-if" situations and must rely on more than her wits to survive. She needs to find the truth before anyone else, including herself, gets hurt.

If you've read book one and two, this book is a must. Ms. Nelson ties everything together in a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat package. Check it out.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, August 18, 2009

By	MARIA (FLORIDA) - See all my reviews

The third book in the 'Reluctant' series and possibly the best - it's kinda hard to tell for sure. I love them all. I love the characters, the suspense, the humor and the romance. And the faith woven throughout the book is outstanding. The deep down kind of faith that survives anything, even moments of doubt and fear. The only downside to this book is that it is the last in the series. How I wish there were more!!!