Lust, Money & Murder - Book 1, Lust (Lust, Money & Murder #1)
by
Mike Wells (Goodreads Author)
This is Book 1 of the series.
This book begins with a young and naive Elaine Brogan as she initially pursues her dream of a career as a photomodel. After becoming entangled with a sleazy modeling agency, she decides to become a Secret Service agent, struggling through the arduous training academy. After her first disastrous assignment, she is transferred to Bulgaria. There,...more
This book begins with a young and naive Elaine Brogan as she initially pursues her dream of a career as a photomodel. After becoming entangled with a sleazy modeling agency, she decides to become a Secret Service agent, struggling through the arduous training academy. After her first disastrous assignment, she is transferred to Bulgaria. There,...more
Kindle Edition, 106 pages
Published
(first published June 14th 2011)
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Elaine had a childhood like many growing up in a single parent household raised by her father and in a very low income neighborhood. As a little girl, her father would tell her enchanting tales of how her great-great-great-great-grandmother was an Irish Princess and lived in a castle surrounded by a moat and how she too would grow up to be filthy rich and do great things. Her father thought the world of Elaine and would do anything for her to ensure she received a good education at a prestigious...more
Okay, who’s the salt and pepper guy at the beginning of the book? This is the question that will keep you reading Book 1 of Lust, Money, and Murder, by Mike Wells @MikeWellsAuthor, and have you buying Book 2. Great beginning; you know you are in for a shocking, no frills, and no fun and games story that keeps you guessing.Lust
After a quick beginning, the story unfolds at the beginning of Elaine Brogan’s life. Born to Patrick and Kathy Brogan, Elaine grows up believing she is a Princess and that...more
After a quick beginning, the story unfolds at the beginning of Elaine Brogan’s life. Born to Patrick and Kathy Brogan, Elaine grows up believing she is a Princess and that...more
In our century, if an author makes inroads toward marrying a page-turning thriller with talent-lurking prose, then he is certainly heading somewhere; Mike Wells is an author to keep your eyes on, ladies and gents.
Mike Wells is an aesthetically keen painter using a large brush yet still managing to provide us an occasional peek into his poetic heart. He'll paint broad strokes, escalating a plot to draw you in, employing powerful, unpredictable story lines to be sure you don't take his novel for g...more
Mike Wells is an aesthetically keen painter using a large brush yet still managing to provide us an occasional peek into his poetic heart. He'll paint broad strokes, escalating a plot to draw you in, employing powerful, unpredictable story lines to be sure you don't take his novel for g...more
How many men would hand you a Gucci bag and tell you to convert all of the money into casino chips and then let you gamble with all of it?
When Elaine Brogan was young, she had a wonderful dad. He would carry her up the tiny wooden deck, holding her in his arms, saying, "Your great-great-great grandmother was an Irish Princess." Even though Elaine would never be rich and her dad was a beer-guzzling laborer, she knew her dad would always protect her and she would always be his princess. What a wo...more
When Elaine Brogan was young, she had a wonderful dad. He would carry her up the tiny wooden deck, holding her in his arms, saying, "Your great-great-great grandmother was an Irish Princess." Even though Elaine would never be rich and her dad was a beer-guzzling laborer, she knew her dad would always protect her and she would always be his princess. What a wo...more
Do you like stories about deception, mystery, international espionage, and the lengths to which men will go in the name of power and greed? If so, then Lust, Money, and Murder, by Mike Wells may be a book for you.
Lust, Money, and Murder was the first novel by Mike Wells I've read, and I'm glad I did for several reasons. Mr. Wells writes in a style that grabs ahold of the reader and doesn't easily let go. Without a lot of emphasis on unnecessary details, the story hits you like a passenger jet la...more
Lust, Money, and Murder was the first novel by Mike Wells I've read, and I'm glad I did for several reasons. Mr. Wells writes in a style that grabs ahold of the reader and doesn't easily let go. Without a lot of emphasis on unnecessary details, the story hits you like a passenger jet la...more
A young woman enters a casino to exchange a large amount of money for chips and ends up falling to her death from a cliff edge. Then we have Elaine Brogan who follows her dream of becoming a model and ends up working as a secret service agent to avenge a family tragedy.
This story takes the reader from casinos to exclusive private beaches and then all around the globe from the US, Bulgaria and Germany. Can Elaine get the revenge that she seeks on the mysterious man that has taken her father away?...more
This story takes the reader from casinos to exclusive private beaches and then all around the globe from the US, Bulgaria and Germany. Can Elaine get the revenge that she seeks on the mysterious man that has taken her father away?...more
Have you ever been on a blind date...someone says, 'you should meet...'
Okay, I've never been on a blind date and the last time I read a book written by a male author writing adult fiction was years ago.
Mike ought to have his butt kicked LOL, and I say this with indulgence, a smile and laughter. His writing is addictive. His writing portrays the heroine's emotions so real, her attitude strong and determined in revenge, love and holding her own ina world investigating counterfeit money and the man...more
Okay, I've never been on a blind date and the last time I read a book written by a male author writing adult fiction was years ago.
Mike ought to have his butt kicked LOL, and I say this with indulgence, a smile and laughter. His writing is addictive. His writing portrays the heroine's emotions so real, her attitude strong and determined in revenge, love and holding her own ina world investigating counterfeit money and the man...more
I have to laugh at all the people complaining about the author suckering them into buying more books. If you read, people, it says in red on the cover - a SERIES by Mike Wells. Plus it's called Book 1. What else would you like him to do? Put a neon flashing warning on it?! If you don't like series books that's fine, your opinion. But don't blame the author because you didn't look before you hit the buy button!
Lust, Money & Murder immediately pulled me in. The opening chapter was intriguing t...more
Lust, Money & Murder immediately pulled me in. The opening chapter was intriguing t...more
Elaine Brogan's father is a construction worker, and though he lacks the education, he understands to bring up his child properly; he must do whatever it takes to provide her with the opportunities he never had. Even if that means he must engage in unsavory and illicit activities on occasions. (Some spoilers if you continue reading...)
Elaine learns at the tender age of 16, that the world is full of swindlers and con artists. Only her father, who gives her unconditional love, can be trusted. When...more
Elaine learns at the tender age of 16, that the world is full of swindlers and con artists. Only her father, who gives her unconditional love, can be trusted. When...more
Lust, Money and Murder
This is a pretty fast paced story. You start with a older guy and a young women. The women is a escort and the guy is up to no good. After a fun weekend of sex and living the plush life, the guy puts his plan into effect. He wants her to cash in some $$ to a casino. She doesn't think twice. He knows they are counterfeit and want to see if the pass. They pass through and they continue on there weekend. He knows that she has been seen on camera with the $$. So he knows what h...more
This is a pretty fast paced story. You start with a older guy and a young women. The women is a escort and the guy is up to no good. After a fun weekend of sex and living the plush life, the guy puts his plan into effect. He wants her to cash in some $$ to a casino. She doesn't think twice. He knows they are counterfeit and want to see if the pass. They pass through and they continue on there weekend. He knows that she has been seen on camera with the $$. So he knows what h...more
When Elaine Brogan was born the spastic little creature, who would grow into a model beautiful woman, gave Patrick Brogan's life new meaning. He brought her up with tales of princess castles and the hope of being something special one day. He worked hard to send her to Bromley, an all girls private school, and give her all she could ever need, like the ability to pursue the dream of becoming a model by attending classes. The only thing he couldn't give her was the ability to save him from arres...more
I really wanted to really like this book...or first part of one. And that is important--this is only 1/3 of a novel. You must buy the other two parts to get the full story. I get that--marketing--but I don't really like doing reviews before the story is finished.
Luckily for me, the story itself is pretty good. It is very fast-paced, has some surprises, and is spiraling toward some conclusion that you can reasonably assume is also quick and shocking. I can see why people read on, but I won't be.
I...more
Luckily for me, the story itself is pretty good. It is very fast-paced, has some surprises, and is spiraling toward some conclusion that you can reasonably assume is also quick and shocking. I can see why people read on, but I won't be.
I...more
Elaine just can't seem to catch a break. Her mother is jealous of her relationship with her father, she thinks her father pays to much attention to Elaine. Her mother left them and dad has to bring his daughter up alone. They live in a poor neighborhood. Elaines father devotes all his time to his daughter making sure she goes to a good school,paying for it by stealing from his work construction sites. Elaine has a feeling her dads doing something shady but can't bring herself to believe it. Elai...more
I can't be accused of giving the ending of this book away because there is no ending. Really, this book was headed for three stars from me but I took one away in anger at the end when I realised you have to buy book 2 to get a resolution. I shouldn't have felt bad about this - after all, book 1 was free (via Twitter) in the first place. That earned it a star before I even started reading and -- easy come, easy go -- it was the same star I took away at the end.
The remaining two stars are well des...more
The remaining two stars are well des...more
'Lust,' part one of Mike Wells' 'Lust, Money & Murder,' series follows Elaine Brogan, a girl who rises from the slums of Pittsburg and joins the Secret Service in the hope that it will help her to exact revenge on the man who was responsible for her father's imprisonment (and later, suicide), several years earlier.
Overall, I found the book enjoyable but falling short of the raving reviews to which I'd previously been exposed. Wells' prose is engaging and direct and he uses this to propel the...more
Overall, I found the book enjoyable but falling short of the raving reviews to which I'd previously been exposed. Wells' prose is engaging and direct and he uses this to propel the...more
Mr. Wells' book is indeed "unputdownable." It's a page-turner that ends much too quickly. I immediately plunked down money to buy books #2 and #3 and am looking forward to continuing Elaine Brogan's saga.
Elaine is a likeable, strong, and at the same time, vulnerable character the reader can relate to, even though she lives a far different life than most people do. It's obvious that the author did his research developing her character, from her ancestry to her employer, for a complex character s...more
Elaine is a likeable, strong, and at the same time, vulnerable character the reader can relate to, even though she lives a far different life than most people do. It's obvious that the author did his research developing her character, from her ancestry to her employer, for a complex character s...more
This is another series book, which ends in medias res, leaving the reader yearning for more, and yet, it’s such a good read, long enough to give the feel of a full length novel, that it didn’t bother me too much when it abruptly ended. While I would much rather prefer a full-length novel to multiple shorts, Wells has actually put all three together for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, for only $4.99, and in my opinion, that’s a steal, especially as the storyline and writing is so well do...more
This is the first in a series and as such I was disappointed that it was not a stand alone novel. You are in effect getting the first part for free and if you want the rest you need to buy the set. I assume like some eighteenth century novel, it is in three parts, but not as long, another Clarissa would be commercial suicide.
The Prologue sets up the counterfeit storyline and proves that where money is concerned, people will go to any lengths. In contrast a father's love for his daughter, will il...more
The Prologue sets up the counterfeit storyline and proves that where money is concerned, people will go to any lengths. In contrast a father's love for his daughter, will il...more
Elaine thinks that she wants to be a model, but when the trainer, Ronald Eskew, makes a pass at her she realizes it was all a scam. After her father is arrested for passing counterfeit money and kills himself in prison, Elaine vows to avenge her father's death. To do this, she decides to join the Secret Service. After messing up and being sent to Bulgaria, she meets Nick and falls in love. When faced with another life changing decision, she can only hope she makes the right one by standing by Ni...more
The story is "fast paced" because it's written in an explanatory tone. I can't really describe it very well.
The tone bored me in the back story which started after chapter one. Just when I was about to leave it bamm the relevance to the plot came quite out of the blue. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
This happened again in later in the story when I was getting bored again. I have to say that Mike Wells did well there, to surprise me more that once because way too often stories are too p...more
The tone bored me in the back story which started after chapter one. Just when I was about to leave it bamm the relevance to the plot came quite out of the blue. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
This happened again in later in the story when I was getting bored again. I have to say that Mike Wells did well there, to surprise me more that once because way too often stories are too p...more
It was a decent story, or rather the start of a decent story. I know others have mentioned it, but it is IMO deceitful to put something out and call it book 1 when it is only part of a story. It just seems underhanded.
And think about this:
Book 1 - 106 pages - free
Book2 - 92 pages - 2.99
Book 3 - 97 pages - 2.99
or you can buy all three together for 4.99.
295 pages = ONE book, not three.
Either way, 4.99 or 5.98 is not an inexpensive book. I got to the last page of the first 'book' and my only thoug...more
And think about this:
Book 1 - 106 pages - free
Book2 - 92 pages - 2.99
Book 3 - 97 pages - 2.99
or you can buy all three together for 4.99.
295 pages = ONE book, not three.
Either way, 4.99 or 5.98 is not an inexpensive book. I got to the last page of the first 'book' and my only thoug...more
Fast-paced. Gripping.
The events caught me in a real whirlwind. I went zipping through the pages as if a rope is pulling me through it. The prologue, I think, is fine if it's not there. Or maybe you need to read all of the books to know the significance of that part.
Another thing is that this book is way to short for me. Its almost like its a 'part' not 'book 1'. I think i'd prefer it if it is all written into 1 big book.
~SPOILERS~
But this is very fascinating and before I finished it I think I f...more
The events caught me in a real whirlwind. I went zipping through the pages as if a rope is pulling me through it. The prologue, I think, is fine if it's not there. Or maybe you need to read all of the books to know the significance of that part.
Another thing is that this book is way to short for me. Its almost like its a 'part' not 'book 1'. I think i'd prefer it if it is all written into 1 big book.
~SPOILERS~
But this is very fascinating and before I finished it I think I f...more
I enjoyed the writing style of this author. The book is not a complete story, but is a cliffhanger. The prologue of book 1 has nothing to do with the events presented in book 1. I have not read books 2 and 3 yet, so I can't say whether the prologue will eventually make sense within the context of the trilogy, or if the trilogy has a satisfactory ending. Basing the rating for this book solely on the merits of this volume, I was tempted to rate it a 3 instead of a 4, but the story does pull you al...more
Lust, money & murder; key ingredients for a crime time read with greed topping the menu. Wells plots his storyline with confidence, paints his characters convincingly and gives a sense of local knowledge to real or imagined locations. The introduction is a useful bluff. For Maria, 'it's a man's world' where women like her are bought, then discarded when they have outlived their usefulness. Don't be fooled; Elaine is made of stronger stuff. When you've lost someone you love, really love, what...more
this book is indeed unputdownable. I would've read it in one sittingg had it not been 4am when I reluctantly put it down and went to sleep.
however this book wasn't exactly up my alley style-wise. I feel that although the plot was riveting and creative the story lacked in sophistacation. it was more of a tell rather than a show. I also felt that the story was very rushed, but it may be because it's an introductory book leading to the rest of the books in the series.
In addition, as a matter of per...more
however this book wasn't exactly up my alley style-wise. I feel that although the plot was riveting and creative the story lacked in sophistacation. it was more of a tell rather than a show. I also felt that the story was very rushed, but it may be because it's an introductory book leading to the rest of the books in the series.
In addition, as a matter of per...more
I was gifted this book by the author through twitter and very pleased with the read. I'm not writing a glorious review because the book was free but because this is a really great book. The protagonist, Elaina, character was built very well and I was able to understand her emotions and actions behind what she does as well as the struggles she faces. The intrigue in the book is remarkable and left me hanging on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. I'm not sure if Nick is th...more
Fast paced clever book. Counterfeiting always intrigues. The beginnings of a love story. Well maybe? Certainly a conflicted relationship with hidden agendas which keep the pages turning. Elaine Brogan who I can only assume is also on the book cover triumphs in her own way over many adversities not of her making. But there is a certain angst about her.
Mike Wells has been bold in using settings of Bulgaria and small town America. The settings make the reader concentrate on a rapid story line and...more
Mike Wells has been bold in using settings of Bulgaria and small town America. The settings make the reader concentrate on a rapid story line and...more
Pace, power, precision and sexy. Wells understands what makes a thriller. This, the first of 3, Lust, Money and Murder books has great edge, intrigue and is very easy to read and absorb. The author takes the reader on a journey across the world from the slums of Pittsburgh, the elegance of Berlin, and the mystery of Sofia and much more, and has clearly researched the background well. Readers who have been charmed by the quick pace of the Dan Brown novels will relate to Wells' short, sharp, conci...more
I thought I would check out the other reviews on Amazon for this book before I did mine and I really can't understand the low rated reviews and their comments.
They didn't read the same book as me that's for sure.
This is a really good read with a great strong lead character and good supporting cast.
Yes it is book 1 of a series but isn't that a fantastic way to get to know a new author.
Especially as it's free for Kindle.
I'm not going to tell you anything more on the story, just read it.
It doesn...more
They didn't read the same book as me that's for sure.
This is a really good read with a great strong lead character and good supporting cast.
Yes it is book 1 of a series but isn't that a fantastic way to get to know a new author.
Especially as it's free for Kindle.
I'm not going to tell you anything more on the story, just read it.
It doesn...more
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American bestselling author of over 20 thriller & suspense books. I also teach in the Creative Writing program at Oxford. I'm known for my super fast-paced, 'unputdownable' novels.
Please follow my blog at:
http://thegreenwater.com/
And please join me on Twitter and Facebook:
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More about Mike Wells...
Please follow my blog at:
http://thegreenwater.com/
And please join me on Twitter and Facebook:
http://twitter.com/mikewellsauthor
http://facebook.com/mikewellsauthor
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Dec 17, 2012 02:47pm