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

by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Author)

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 (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,922 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 --, April 17, 2009

By	Christian Review of Books - See all my reviews

It was supposed to be a routine job: steal an artifact from a Mexican museum to prove to the board members that Desi's security company could protect it better. And it starts out well enough--she gets the goods and makes her escape. But questions crop up soon that make her wonder what's really going on in Mexico and whether she wants to accept the President's request to help them figure out the archaeological espionage. After all, she has a wedding to plan, and her FBI fiancé will be none too thrilled if she finds herself in trouble!

Reluctant Smuggler takes the reader back into the rush and tumble lives of Desiree Jacobs and Tony Lucano as the two work on opposite ends of a serious drug/art trafficking problem between the U.S. and Mexico. The third book in the To Catch a Thief trilogy, returning readers will find the same fire and punch in the main characters and a brand new mystery that needs solving. But when the simple turns complicated for both of them, they have to wonder if they'll make it to their wedding day.

The action in this book stands on its own, but readers will be better able to understand the dynamic between the hero and heroine if they read Reluctant Burglar and Reluctant Runaway first, both fantastic reads that it's no hardship to pick up! I had been eagerly awaiting this final installment in the series, and I wasn't disappointed. Desi and Tony had to work at overcoming their personal obstacles as well as the world that was ganging up on them, and I absolutely loved how it all played out.

I'm often frustrated with characters' emotional hang-ups, even when I know they're necessary, but I was thrilled at how Nelson handled the inner conflict in this book. Both Tony and Desi remained reasonable and open to the Spirit of their Lord through it all, which allowed the action to remain quick and steady.

Reluctant Smuggler is a must to add to your reading list if you're a fan of romantic suspense! The pages will fly by under your fingers, and the depth and intrigue will make each one satisfying.

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner, February 8, 2009

By	Teresa Morgan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Desi and Tony are strong, confident and vulnerable. Intricately plotted, the suspense builds as they try to stay alive while pitting themselves against the rulers of darkness in the world of stolen art and antiquities. Unable to walk away from the battle, Desi and Tony struggle to submit themselves to God, no matter what the cost. The books in this series are keepers that I'll read again and again. Jill Elizabeth Nelson has again crafted a gripping tale of love and adventure, and selfless sacrifice.

The To Catch a Thief series stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best fiction on the shelves, anywhere, CBA or ABA.