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Follow the Money #1
By the Book
A gruff FBI agent and an adorably earnest accountant team up in a riveting new romantic suspense series from G.B. Gordon
A junior accountant at a successful import/export company, Ben Coyne is just beginning his career. His life is nearly perfect—until he finds his boss murdered, unravels a million-dollar embezzling scheme, and becomes the target of a madman. An FBI agent is assigned to protect him, but with Ben looking like the primary suspect, trust is hard to come by.
Nick Marshall excels at his job, but despite a lengthy career as an FBI agent and Interpol liaison, he’s still known in social circles as the playboy with the extravagant trust fund. He stopped trying to prove himself years ago, but lately, it’s been getting under his skin. A protection detail is the last thing he needs, especially when his assignment is distractingly cute, blond and extremely off-limits.
When Ben becomes the target, Nick is determined to protect him. But when a new threat hints at a conspiracy that reaches further than they could have imagined, it’s not just Ben’s life at stake…
Follow the Money
Book 1: By the Book
A junior accountant at a successful import/export company, Ben Coyne is just beginning his career. His life is nearly perfect—until he finds his boss murdered, unravels a million-dollar embezzling scheme, and becomes the target of a madman. An FBI agent is assigned to protect him, but with Ben looking like the primary suspect, trust is hard to come by.
Nick Marshall excels at his job, but despite a lengthy career as an FBI agent and Interpol liaison, he’s still known in social circles as the playboy with the extravagant trust fund. He stopped trying to prove himself years ago, but lately, it’s been getting under his skin. A protection detail is the last thing he needs, especially when his assignment is distractingly cute, blond and extremely off-limits.
When Ben becomes the target, Nick is determined to protect him. But when a new threat hints at a conspiracy that reaches further than they could have imagined, it’s not just Ben’s life at stake…
Follow the Money
Book 1: By the Book
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
9 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
G.B. Gordon
13 books94 followersG.B.Gordon worked as a packer, landscaper, waiter, and coach before going back to school to major in linguistics and, at 35, switch to less backbreaking monetary pursuits like translating, editing, and writing. Having lived in various parts of the world, Gordon is now happily ensconced in suburban Ontario with the best of all husbands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 8, 2023
This is the kind of book that should have been good but it was a total mess and by that I mean it has good bones but its execution is kinda awful. The murder mystery is not quite a mystery because the culprit was revealed to us at about 30% in the book so as you can imagine my interest waned a bit from that moment forward . The romance had potential because slutty FBI /nerdy shy accountant, and yet the author had no idea who his character were. By the end of the book our shy straight-laced meek accountant was suddenly a self-confident aggressive top and the cold commitment-phobic, slutty FBI was all of a sudden a submissive kitten. . It was so anticlimactic and sudden that I was like Whaa?? Also the book is advertised as a “slow burn” but I don’t think the author knows what a slow burn is because all they (the MCs) did was thinking about sex.The insta lust hits you in the face from the moment they meet and instead of focusing on their job they only lust after each other therefore we have a useless and quite incompetent FBI agent and a “too stupid to live” accountant who always gets them in trouble . The writing was ok so at least there’s that.
May 17, 2022
DNF at 29%
I am strangely mad about how much of a disappointment this was. I tried really hard to keep reading but I had to tap out.
I am fine with suspending disbelief for reading romance books, I wouldn’t be able to read so many otherwise. But even then, there are limits. This book far surpasses any ability to suspend disbelief because it is just so wrong on all counts. I expect at least TV show level realism, you know? The bar isn't very high.
Characters
Ben: Ben is a total dumbass (derogatory). The narration tries to build him up as smart, confident, something, but what’s shown is someone with no critical thinking and is a doormat. The mismatch is painful. If he were just supposed to be a wildly naive soggy breadcrumb of a person, that’s one thing. But the other MC says he’s smart, clever, Ben himself thinks things he would never have confidence to do…
Ben also has a totally mysterious background to me, through this first third. Not in a good way. I don’t know where he comes from, what his family is like, and the context clues were distractingly vague. He feels like he’s existing in a weird vacuum of details. I don’t need his pedigree or massive infodumping, but give me something beyond a short phone call with his mom. Maybe I didn’t make it far enough?
Nick: Nick just didn’t make much sense to me. He’s a forty year old partyboy who’s also in the FBI, and has no friends because he sucks as a person. He sucks because he constantly hits on his married, straight partner “as a challenge” and also tries to provoke fights because he is a hungover waste of space. Am I supposed to feel bad for little rich boy going on two day benders mid murder case at age 40? I sure don’t.
Plot
What even is the FBI doing? This isn’t how it works. Even with my normal levels of disbelief suspension for romance novels, it’s baffling. What’s the point of having a partner if you don’t do anything with said partner? Nick is always wandering off alone. And like never checks in with the boss-person? Whoever it might be? This is something that I feel like shows up casually in any law enforcement book, but this one he’s just roaming free. It really lessened the FBI/law enforcement vibes of the whole thing, making it feel like its just two random dudes doing dumb shit.
And then!!! Ben is the one who found an executed dude, with shady files, and then…they just let him pop into forensic accounting department to help out immediately. NO
There isn’t much plot otherwise at this point. Just Ben being a colossal dipshit (“the head of my accounting office will be so happy I’m categorizing all these weird monetary things!!! Definitely unrelated to the last dude who brought it up and got promptly executed and then fbi showed up and implied they weren’t mistakes and also the murder was a hit”) so I’m sure there’s a lot more dumbassery to look forward to.
Plus Ben hiding things from the FBI (which a. illegal, b. dumb, c. the FBI should be able to find this small beans bullshit themselves so what’s the point)
Accounting
I wanted to call this out, specifically. I buddy read (sort of, we tried okay) this with an accountant friend, and wow every single aspect of this is just wrong. The entire premise is wrong, right off the start, and I’m just gonna quote them so I don’t mess it up (as a non-accountant):
Ben finds that the bank account doesn't match net income. This is not an exercise an accountant would perform. No one tries to trace on to the other. And why? Because it's almost impossible for the bank balance to match net income. That's not how accounting works. That would raise zero red flags, even to the most dedicated forensic accountant. There's a lot more that's wrong, but like, for the whole premise of the book to be wrong really grates.
Check out madigans review here for the Real Accounting Words
Even to me, the accounting details seemed wrong, which says a lot. It’s like they watched an episode of Ozark. (I have seen half an episode of Ozark and feel confident this is an accurate comparison)
Romance
lolololol
what romance
This is pure instalust. Telling me they have chemistry does not make them have it. They absolutely do not have any chemistry.
Every single one of their interactions had some level of this, brain frying “electric” connections instead of actual, human connections through conversation or shared experiences.
Maybe there’ll be romance in the second book? Someone can tell me later. Or not. Please don’t.
The writing
The author tells us things in character POV that are not supported by what’s actually shown on page. The most ridiculous one to me was all the times Ben is said to be confident, and yet every time his leech of an ex shows up, he gives him like a hundred dollars, several times. confident doormat!
Purple prose….attempts: there were attempts to be poetic and descriptive I think, mostly were baffling and just excess words for random stuff. Like a duck, sitting on a path. Leave the duck out of this! It made me have to double back to reread things to figure out what was going on.
Random fellow kids slang(?): far from the first author to try this, but some things are not meant to be in a book. This is a mild one:
zzz’s? just say he’s been crashing or his body is demanding sleep. These small things really build up over time.
At one point the super wealthy father in his 60’s says “true that”.
…no he wouldn’t.
Miscellanies
1. This is set in Boston, I guess. I kept forgetting, because I could barely remember they were in a city at all, as the location didn’t seem to matter. The T is mentioned - I take it this is the subway system in Boston, which could have used a one line clarification for all the readers in the world not in Boston. Little details like this are tiring.
2. Ben kisses Nick and Nick asks him to stop because kissing is tampering of evidence under "Title 18, US Code, Section 1512" and that means Sullivan, the boss, could get away with the crime.
First of all, this is ridiculous. Second of all, I have been assured by a lawyer friend (i’m so popular with my smart friends) that people who regularly refer to US Code sections never say it this way. It's always 18 USC section 1512. So if you’re gonna refer to the legal code of witness tampering, at least do it correctly. It's the overall interaction with the person that would be tampering, not "did you kiss, y/n”
3. i definitely had another thing. might have been all the illegal shit ben is doing. or the ham handed references for future stuff (i assume, i will not find out if archery matters) or Trauma Past (someone died idgaf)
Overall, this was a miss on all accounts. There is no romance, no suspense, nothing to recommend it in the slightest. I do not connect with or care about the characters, or the plot.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All the opinions are my own.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
I am strangely mad about how much of a disappointment this was. I tried really hard to keep reading but I had to tap out.
I am fine with suspending disbelief for reading romance books, I wouldn’t be able to read so many otherwise. But even then, there are limits. This book far surpasses any ability to suspend disbelief because it is just so wrong on all counts. I expect at least TV show level realism, you know? The bar isn't very high.
Characters
Ben: Ben is a total dumbass (derogatory). The narration tries to build him up as smart, confident, something, but what’s shown is someone with no critical thinking and is a doormat. The mismatch is painful. If he were just supposed to be a wildly naive soggy breadcrumb of a person, that’s one thing. But the other MC says he’s smart, clever, Ben himself thinks things he would never have confidence to do…
Ben also has a totally mysterious background to me, through this first third. Not in a good way. I don’t know where he comes from, what his family is like, and the context clues were distractingly vague. He feels like he’s existing in a weird vacuum of details. I don’t need his pedigree or massive infodumping, but give me something beyond a short phone call with his mom. Maybe I didn’t make it far enough?
Nick: Nick just didn’t make much sense to me. He’s a forty year old partyboy who’s also in the FBI, and has no friends because he sucks as a person. He sucks because he constantly hits on his married, straight partner “as a challenge” and also tries to provoke fights because he is a hungover waste of space. Am I supposed to feel bad for little rich boy going on two day benders mid murder case at age 40? I sure don’t.
Plot
What even is the FBI doing? This isn’t how it works. Even with my normal levels of disbelief suspension for romance novels, it’s baffling. What’s the point of having a partner if you don’t do anything with said partner? Nick is always wandering off alone. And like never checks in with the boss-person? Whoever it might be? This is something that I feel like shows up casually in any law enforcement book, but this one he’s just roaming free. It really lessened the FBI/law enforcement vibes of the whole thing, making it feel like its just two random dudes doing dumb shit.
And then!!! Ben is the one who found an executed dude, with shady files, and then…they just let him pop into forensic accounting department to help out immediately. NO
There isn’t much plot otherwise at this point. Just Ben being a colossal dipshit (“the head of my accounting office will be so happy I’m categorizing all these weird monetary things!!! Definitely unrelated to the last dude who brought it up and got promptly executed and then fbi showed up and implied they weren’t mistakes and also the murder was a hit”) so I’m sure there’s a lot more dumbassery to look forward to.
Plus Ben hiding things from the FBI (which a. illegal, b. dumb, c. the FBI should be able to find this small beans bullshit themselves so what’s the point)
Accounting
I wanted to call this out, specifically. I buddy read (sort of, we tried okay) this with an accountant friend, and wow every single aspect of this is just wrong. The entire premise is wrong, right off the start, and I’m just gonna quote them so I don’t mess it up (as a non-accountant):
Ben finds that the bank account doesn't match net income. This is not an exercise an accountant would perform. No one tries to trace on to the other. And why? Because it's almost impossible for the bank balance to match net income. That's not how accounting works. That would raise zero red flags, even to the most dedicated forensic accountant. There's a lot more that's wrong, but like, for the whole premise of the book to be wrong really grates.
Check out madigans review here for the Real Accounting Words
Even to me, the accounting details seemed wrong, which says a lot. It’s like they watched an episode of Ozark. (I have seen half an episode of Ozark and feel confident this is an accurate comparison)
Romance
lolololol
what romance
This is pure instalust. Telling me they have chemistry does not make them have it. They absolutely do not have any chemistry.
His wrist touched Coyne’s knuckles and they both flinched. Hot damn! Coyne stared at Nick as if he’d been struck by lightning. His eyes widened at whatever he saw in Nick’s. Nick had the feeling some telepathic message was passing between them,
Every single one of their interactions had some level of this, brain frying “electric” connections instead of actual, human connections through conversation or shared experiences.
Maybe there’ll be romance in the second book? Someone can tell me later. Or not. Please don’t.
The writing
The author tells us things in character POV that are not supported by what’s actually shown on page. The most ridiculous one to me was all the times Ben is said to be confident, and yet every time his leech of an ex shows up, he gives him like a hundred dollars, several times. confident doormat!
Purple prose….attempts: there were attempts to be poetic and descriptive I think, mostly were baffling and just excess words for random stuff. Like a duck, sitting on a path. Leave the duck out of this! It made me have to double back to reread things to figure out what was going on.
Random fellow kids slang(?): far from the first author to try this, but some things are not meant to be in a book. This is a mild one:
His sleep-deprived body had been catching up on zzzs with a vengeance.
zzz’s? just say he’s been crashing or his body is demanding sleep. These small things really build up over time.
At one point the super wealthy father in his 60’s says “true that”.
…no he wouldn’t.
Miscellanies
1. This is set in Boston, I guess. I kept forgetting, because I could barely remember they were in a city at all, as the location didn’t seem to matter. The T is mentioned - I take it this is the subway system in Boston, which could have used a one line clarification for all the readers in the world not in Boston. Little details like this are tiring.
2. Ben kisses Nick and Nick asks him to stop because kissing is tampering of evidence under "Title 18, US Code, Section 1512" and that means Sullivan, the boss, could get away with the crime.
First of all, this is ridiculous. Second of all, I have been assured by a lawyer friend (i’m so popular with my smart friends) that people who regularly refer to US Code sections never say it this way. It's always 18 USC section 1512. So if you’re gonna refer to the legal code of witness tampering, at least do it correctly. It's the overall interaction with the person that would be tampering, not "did you kiss, y/n”
3. i definitely had another thing. might have been all the illegal shit ben is doing. or the ham handed references for future stuff (i assume, i will not find out if archery matters) or Trauma Past (someone died idgaf)
Overall, this was a miss on all accounts. There is no romance, no suspense, nothing to recommend it in the slightest. I do not connect with or care about the characters, or the plot.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All the opinions are my own.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
April 26, 2023
This was such a delightful surprise.
I started this book with some expectations, about the murder case and the characters and especially about the dynamic between them, but all of them were completely wrong: this book subverts them all and I adored that. I even, weirdly, adored some stuff that usually sends me running to the nearest DNF shelf. So yes, this book was a complete surprise for me.
The story was, in some ways, the bog-standard murder mystery: there was a lot of investigating (with a dash of amateur-sleuthing) and discoveries, life-or-death situations and back-stabbing betrayals, but the villain(s) are discovered early on, so there was no bated-breath, on-the-edge-of-my-seat, gasping-out-loud to be had, but weirdly (again), I actually enjoyed that. Not to say that I wasn't intrigued or that the story wasn't captivating, but the slow-burn-ish "ordinary" quality to the murder/money laundering plot made me appreciate the investigation process a lot more, and also, accounting: who would have thought?
The story was solid, the writing was even better (and lovelier! G.B. Gordon has some serious storytelling skills), but the thing that actually made me fall in love with this book was, as usual, the compelling characters. Or, one specific compelling main character.
So, okay, I did like Ben: he's not at all what I was expecting, and he kept on surprising the hell out of me (and also out of Nick). He's not at all helpless or vulnerable as he first appears, and his bossy/controlling side eventually won me over. What I didn't like of him was how he kept on hindering the investigation, hiding stuff and in general, disregarding his own (and others) safety without a second thought. I know, amateur sleuth 101, but in him it wasn't endearing at all. I did appreciate him though.
Nick was the true surprise of this book, though. Like Ben, he ends up being completely different from what I initially thought. He's privileged, older, an FBI agent with all the power... but he's actually a mess. He can be snarky and flirty, but also stand-offish and unwelcoming and petty, BUT ALSO anxious and unsure, with a surprising amount of hidden vulnerabilities and needs. We only get small glimpses of his past, and I'm so damn curious to discover more. I needed more of him. I also adored his relationship with George (seriously, she's fantastic and I need more of them being adorably irascible BFFs) and Duncan (he's the best).
The romance aspect of the book was fairly minimal: both Ben and Nick spend more than half of the book pining over the other, so there's still a lot of room for their relationship to develop (especially in regards to what I was saying earlier, about this book subverting the expected relationship dynamics). Nonetheless, I was still quite satisfied with them: the romance aspect is quite minimal, but the sexual and emotional chemistry is VERY present.
The book ends with a fairly satisfying HFN, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be disappointed if it were to end like this: I need to know more about the case, and I need more Nick. Much more. I'll be impatiently waiting for the sequel.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I started this book with some expectations, about the murder case and the characters and especially about the dynamic between them, but all of them were completely wrong: this book subverts them all and I adored that. I even, weirdly, adored some stuff that usually sends me running to the nearest DNF shelf. So yes, this book was a complete surprise for me.
The story was, in some ways, the bog-standard murder mystery: there was a lot of investigating (with a dash of amateur-sleuthing) and discoveries, life-or-death situations and back-stabbing betrayals, but the villain(s) are discovered early on, so there was no bated-breath, on-the-edge-of-my-seat, gasping-out-loud to be had, but weirdly (again), I actually enjoyed that. Not to say that I wasn't intrigued or that the story wasn't captivating, but the slow-burn-ish "ordinary" quality to the murder/money laundering plot made me appreciate the investigation process a lot more, and also, accounting: who would have thought?
The story was solid, the writing was even better (and lovelier! G.B. Gordon has some serious storytelling skills), but the thing that actually made me fall in love with this book was, as usual, the compelling characters. Or, one specific compelling main character.
So, okay, I did like Ben: he's not at all what I was expecting, and he kept on surprising the hell out of me (and also out of Nick). He's not at all helpless or vulnerable as he first appears, and his bossy/controlling side eventually won me over. What I didn't like of him was how he kept on hindering the investigation, hiding stuff and in general, disregarding his own (and others) safety without a second thought. I know, amateur sleuth 101, but in him it wasn't endearing at all. I did appreciate him though.
Nick was the true surprise of this book, though. Like Ben, he ends up being completely different from what I initially thought. He's privileged, older, an FBI agent with all the power... but he's actually a mess. He can be snarky and flirty, but also stand-offish and unwelcoming and petty, BUT ALSO anxious and unsure, with a surprising amount of hidden vulnerabilities and needs. We only get small glimpses of his past, and I'm so damn curious to discover more. I needed more of him. I also adored his relationship with George (seriously, she's fantastic and I need more of them being adorably irascible BFFs) and Duncan (he's the best).
The romance aspect of the book was fairly minimal: both Ben and Nick spend more than half of the book pining over the other, so there's still a lot of room for their relationship to develop (especially in regards to what I was saying earlier, about this book subverting the expected relationship dynamics). Nonetheless, I was still quite satisfied with them: the romance aspect is quite minimal, but the sexual and emotional chemistry is VERY present.
The book ends with a fairly satisfying HFN, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be disappointed if it were to end like this: I need to know more about the case, and I need more Nick. Much more. I'll be impatiently waiting for the sequel.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2022
2.5 rounded down
I'm conflicted on this one.
This was my first read by this author, and the summary seemed promising, so I was excited to receive an ARC from Netgalley, and while I generally enjoyed myself, I never quite loved it.
The pairing of a junior accountant--Ben--and an older, wealthy, playboy FBI agent--Nick--was certainly a unique one, and I definitely appreciated the author's twist on a fairly common "witness/agent" trope. However, I wasn't entirely sure what the point of their 15 year+ age difference was supposed to be. It basically never comes up, and there's no real indication that they aren't closer in age in terms of POV and context, so it just felt like an unusual choice to have an age difference but do nothing with it.
And the characters themselves... Honestly, I just really didn't like them that much. Nick I found slightly more likable, but I felt like the author didn't entirely have a handle on his character, and so some of his assholish, rich-boy behavior was off-putting in a way that didn't totally gel with the rest of his characterization. Ben, I found incredibly frustrating, as he continued to make stupid, selfish choices to "help" the investigation, kept it a secret, and then had the AUDACITY to get mad at *Nick* for "keeping secrets" as if a fucking FBI agent owes you privileged information about his cases. I found him manipulative and kind of a dick, and the sexual dynamics here did absolutely nothing for me and felt a little forced. The attraction between the two felt a bit too intense too quickly, though eventually the pacing evened out a bit. The conflict of an agent not hooking up with a witness felt believable, and I actually really liked I didn't entirely hate the characters or their relationship by any means, but I just wasn't really sold on them or bought into their relationship.
The mystery aspect itself was decently interesting, and it's clear that this will be a series as there are some open threads on the mystery, and I'm assuming they'll cover different pairings. I think I'll keep an eye out for book two and give it a try, as there were some interesting aspects here, even if the romance and characters didn't do much for me. I liked the actual writing itself, so I'm hoping a different book by this author might work better for me.
**I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I'm conflicted on this one.
This was my first read by this author, and the summary seemed promising, so I was excited to receive an ARC from Netgalley, and while I generally enjoyed myself, I never quite loved it.
The pairing of a junior accountant--Ben--and an older, wealthy, playboy FBI agent--Nick--was certainly a unique one, and I definitely appreciated the author's twist on a fairly common "witness/agent" trope. However, I wasn't entirely sure what the point of their 15 year+ age difference was supposed to be. It basically never comes up, and there's no real indication that they aren't closer in age in terms of POV and context, so it just felt like an unusual choice to have an age difference but do nothing with it.
And the characters themselves... Honestly, I just really didn't like them that much. Nick I found slightly more likable, but I felt like the author didn't entirely have a handle on his character, and so some of his assholish, rich-boy behavior was off-putting in a way that didn't totally gel with the rest of his characterization. Ben, I found incredibly frustrating, as he continued to make stupid, selfish choices to "help" the investigation, kept it a secret, and then had the AUDACITY to get mad at *Nick* for "keeping secrets" as if a fucking FBI agent owes you privileged information about his cases. I found him manipulative and kind of a dick, and the sexual dynamics here did absolutely nothing for me and felt a little forced. The attraction between the two felt a bit too intense too quickly, though eventually the pacing evened out a bit. The conflict of an agent not hooking up with a witness felt believable, and I actually really liked I didn't entirely hate the characters or their relationship by any means, but I just wasn't really sold on them or bought into their relationship.
The mystery aspect itself was decently interesting, and it's clear that this will be a series as there are some open threads on the mystery, and I'm assuming they'll cover different pairings. I think I'll keep an eye out for book two and give it a try, as there were some interesting aspects here, even if the romance and characters didn't do much for me. I liked the actual writing itself, so I'm hoping a different book by this author might work better for me.
**I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
May 16, 2022
I received a copy from netgalley for this review -
I enjoyed my time with this book, even if it felt a little formulaic at points. It's not a bad thing, but when you've read as many of these types of books as I have then you tend to see things coming.
I did like the pairing, an FBI gent with an accountant rather than another FBI agent or someone else in law enforcement. It was a good little switch up, and it made accounting seem less boring than it actually is! The romance was fun, if a little underdeveloped. The book itself was pretty short, and you can tell that a lot is obviously being kept back for an eventual sequel.
All in all, I had fun with it and would recommend it to anyone who wanted a quick read in this particular genera. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but that's not always needed.
I enjoyed my time with this book, even if it felt a little formulaic at points. It's not a bad thing, but when you've read as many of these types of books as I have then you tend to see things coming.
I did like the pairing, an FBI gent with an accountant rather than another FBI agent or someone else in law enforcement. It was a good little switch up, and it made accounting seem less boring than it actually is! The romance was fun, if a little underdeveloped. The book itself was pretty short, and you can tell that a lot is obviously being kept back for an eventual sequel.
All in all, I had fun with it and would recommend it to anyone who wanted a quick read in this particular genera. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but that's not always needed.
June 19, 2022
disappointing
DNF
I Did not like the writing. Clumsy plotting and characters and people doing stupid things. The sexual tension stuff was just stupid.
DNF
I Did not like the writing. Clumsy plotting and characters and people doing stupid things. The sexual tension stuff was just stupid.
July 17, 2022
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.
In G.B. Gordon’s By the Book, a young accountant becomes a target when he stumbles across a money laundering operation, and ends up in the protective custody of a gorgeous FBI agent. Although I suspect some of the procedural elements are off, that’s not unusual for the genre; many movies and TV shows condense or make stuff up in order to enhance the drama, and I suppose the degree to which you enjoy – or don’t – this story will depend on your knowledge of such things and how far you’re willing to suspend your disbelief. I found the premise a bit wobbly, but on the whole By the Book is a quick and entertaining read.
Twenty-five-year-old Bennett Coyne works for a successful import/export company as a junior accountant. He’s been there for about six months and it’s his first real job, so he’s keen to prove himself; he’s scrupulous and hard-working, and when he comes across a serious accounting error, alarm bells start ringing. There is more money in the bank than there should be – a LOT more – and he immediately takes the problem to his boss, who doesn’t seem to be at all bothered by it and tells Ben to leave it with him. Ben worries afterwards – it’s as likely Henderson will throw Ben under the bus as give him the credit for finding the discrepancy – and he spends the rest of the week on tenterhooks, wondering if he’s going to be shown the door. The call comes last thing on Friday afternoon – but instead of being invited in to the office for a discussion, Henderson gives Ben a list of files he wants from storage and tells him to bring them down to his car in the garage. Perplexed, Ben does as asked – only to find his boss face down in a pool of blood next to his car.
Having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, FBI Special Agent Nick Marshall worked hard to prove himself and is damn good at his job, but despite all that, he’s been unable to shake the trust-fund-baby/playboy label… and has given up trying. It’s not something that’s bothered him all that much until recently; it must be turning forty that’s given him a fit of the glooms. He’s relieved when his boss calls him away from the birthday party he most definitely did NOT want to tell him that he’s just received word of a homicide that took place the day before in which the bullet came from the same gun used in an execution-style murder from six years earlier that has never been solved. Intrigued, Nick goes to interview the guy who found the body.
From here, the story proceeds along expected lines; it’s somewhat formulaic, but the formula works, and the pairing of an FBI agent with someone outside law enforcement is a refreshing change. The investigation held my interest and the author does a good job of building the tension and keeping things moving as Ben decides to do some digging of his own and then becomes a target of whoever is behind the murder and the money-laundering scheme he’s uncovered. At times, he seems to be following moves from the Amateur Sleuth Handbook; I got a bit annoyed with him for holding back important information and being careless of his own safety, for instance – but I liked his determination to get to the truth. Nick is a bit more developed as a character; he’s fifteen years older than Ben (I found it odd that the age difference isn’t mentioned once) and privileged, and would seem to have it all worked out, but really he’s a bit of a mess. He’s snarky and flirtatious, but can also be standoffish and snippy, usually when he’s feeling vulnerable or like he’s on the back foot – which is how he feels around Ben a lot of the time. The two of them are attracted to each other from the get go even though Nick doesn’t want to be, recognising that there’s something about Ben that could spell big trouble for him and his carefree lifestyle. The romance is secondary to the suspense plot and is a bit underdeveloped, but there’s enough chemistry and interaction between Nick and Ben to keep it bubbling along to a firm HFN. I liked the author’s decision not to have the pair become imtimately involved until after the case is concluded; so often in stories of this type, the LEO and the witness begin a relationship during the investigation, which must surely be a conflict of interest or something that could ultimately be damaging to the case.#
#There are a couple of great secondary characters in the story. Duncan Reid, Nick’s partner, is a great foil for him, and George, his financial adviser, best friend and next-door neighbour is da bomb – she has his number and doesn’t let him get away with anything.
As I said at the outset, procedural dramas are often inaccurate when it comes to the actual procedure and I can mostly go with the flow on that, provided there’s nothing so obviously wrong that it takes me out of the story. But there are other things that did bother me here, the main one being – how come Ben was the only one who discovered the accounting error? When I mentioned this to the accountant in the family, she said that was plausible depending on circumstances – it’s the fact there’s such a large sum sitting unnoticed in the bank account that is the real issue! Also problematic – the fact that Ben apparently takes his own laptop to the office and uses it for work. I had to stop reading and go back to make sure I’d read that correctly; surely that’s a massive no-no? (It is here in the UK). Ben is also given a backstory that feels slightly superfluous, and his characterisation is inconsistent; he feels like a different person at the end of the book to the one we first met. I didn’t like his propensity for nicknames; almost every time he thinks of Nick, it’s as “Agent something” – Agent Prince Charming. Agent Know-it-All. Agent Suit Porn. Agent Dark-and-Handsome… The first few times it was amusing, then it just came off as contrived and gimmicky.
Then there’s the big question I was left with at the end – what happened to the connection between Henderson’s murder and the one six years earlier? That thread is forgotten never to be seen again – although this is the first in a series, so perhaps it will be picked up later? But it that’s the case, there’s no real groundwork for that here.
The thing is, this ended up being one of those times where a book worked for me in spite of its faults. The story is well-paced, the writing is accomplished and very readable, and I liked the characters (in spite of Ben’s coming a bit close to TSTL once or twice).By the Book is the first in the Follow the Money series and I liked it enough to be interested in reading the next instalment when it comes out.
In G.B. Gordon’s By the Book, a young accountant becomes a target when he stumbles across a money laundering operation, and ends up in the protective custody of a gorgeous FBI agent. Although I suspect some of the procedural elements are off, that’s not unusual for the genre; many movies and TV shows condense or make stuff up in order to enhance the drama, and I suppose the degree to which you enjoy – or don’t – this story will depend on your knowledge of such things and how far you’re willing to suspend your disbelief. I found the premise a bit wobbly, but on the whole By the Book is a quick and entertaining read.
Twenty-five-year-old Bennett Coyne works for a successful import/export company as a junior accountant. He’s been there for about six months and it’s his first real job, so he’s keen to prove himself; he’s scrupulous and hard-working, and when he comes across a serious accounting error, alarm bells start ringing. There is more money in the bank than there should be – a LOT more – and he immediately takes the problem to his boss, who doesn’t seem to be at all bothered by it and tells Ben to leave it with him. Ben worries afterwards – it’s as likely Henderson will throw Ben under the bus as give him the credit for finding the discrepancy – and he spends the rest of the week on tenterhooks, wondering if he’s going to be shown the door. The call comes last thing on Friday afternoon – but instead of being invited in to the office for a discussion, Henderson gives Ben a list of files he wants from storage and tells him to bring them down to his car in the garage. Perplexed, Ben does as asked – only to find his boss face down in a pool of blood next to his car.
Having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, FBI Special Agent Nick Marshall worked hard to prove himself and is damn good at his job, but despite all that, he’s been unable to shake the trust-fund-baby/playboy label… and has given up trying. It’s not something that’s bothered him all that much until recently; it must be turning forty that’s given him a fit of the glooms. He’s relieved when his boss calls him away from the birthday party he most definitely did NOT want to tell him that he’s just received word of a homicide that took place the day before in which the bullet came from the same gun used in an execution-style murder from six years earlier that has never been solved. Intrigued, Nick goes to interview the guy who found the body.
From here, the story proceeds along expected lines; it’s somewhat formulaic, but the formula works, and the pairing of an FBI agent with someone outside law enforcement is a refreshing change. The investigation held my interest and the author does a good job of building the tension and keeping things moving as Ben decides to do some digging of his own and then becomes a target of whoever is behind the murder and the money-laundering scheme he’s uncovered. At times, he seems to be following moves from the Amateur Sleuth Handbook; I got a bit annoyed with him for holding back important information and being careless of his own safety, for instance – but I liked his determination to get to the truth. Nick is a bit more developed as a character; he’s fifteen years older than Ben (I found it odd that the age difference isn’t mentioned once) and privileged, and would seem to have it all worked out, but really he’s a bit of a mess. He’s snarky and flirtatious, but can also be standoffish and snippy, usually when he’s feeling vulnerable or like he’s on the back foot – which is how he feels around Ben a lot of the time. The two of them are attracted to each other from the get go even though Nick doesn’t want to be, recognising that there’s something about Ben that could spell big trouble for him and his carefree lifestyle. The romance is secondary to the suspense plot and is a bit underdeveloped, but there’s enough chemistry and interaction between Nick and Ben to keep it bubbling along to a firm HFN. I liked the author’s decision not to have the pair become imtimately involved until after the case is concluded; so often in stories of this type, the LEO and the witness begin a relationship during the investigation, which must surely be a conflict of interest or something that could ultimately be damaging to the case.#
#There are a couple of great secondary characters in the story. Duncan Reid, Nick’s partner, is a great foil for him, and George, his financial adviser, best friend and next-door neighbour is da bomb – she has his number and doesn’t let him get away with anything.
As I said at the outset, procedural dramas are often inaccurate when it comes to the actual procedure and I can mostly go with the flow on that, provided there’s nothing so obviously wrong that it takes me out of the story. But there are other things that did bother me here, the main one being – how come Ben was the only one who discovered the accounting error? When I mentioned this to the accountant in the family, she said that was plausible depending on circumstances – it’s the fact there’s such a large sum sitting unnoticed in the bank account that is the real issue! Also problematic – the fact that Ben apparently takes his own laptop to the office and uses it for work. I had to stop reading and go back to make sure I’d read that correctly; surely that’s a massive no-no? (It is here in the UK). Ben is also given a backstory that feels slightly superfluous, and his characterisation is inconsistent; he feels like a different person at the end of the book to the one we first met. I didn’t like his propensity for nicknames; almost every time he thinks of Nick, it’s as “Agent something” – Agent Prince Charming. Agent Know-it-All. Agent Suit Porn. Agent Dark-and-Handsome… The first few times it was amusing, then it just came off as contrived and gimmicky.
Then there’s the big question I was left with at the end – what happened to the connection between Henderson’s murder and the one six years earlier? That thread is forgotten never to be seen again – although this is the first in a series, so perhaps it will be picked up later? But it that’s the case, there’s no real groundwork for that here.
The thing is, this ended up being one of those times where a book worked for me in spite of its faults. The story is well-paced, the writing is accomplished and very readable, and I liked the characters (in spite of Ben’s coming a bit close to TSTL once or twice).By the Book is the first in the Follow the Money series and I liked it enough to be interested in reading the next instalment when it comes out.
February 12, 2023
This is the first book by the author I've read and I'm glad to say it wasn't a disappointment. The action/suspense (mainly murderous action taken against MC Ben) was not subsumed by the romance aspects as the only serious M-M 'action' comes in the last couple of chapters (which is fine by me). I also find secondary characters Duncan and George quite interesting and am I'm looking forward to see how Ben's forensic accounting skills will aid/assist Nick in his future cases. 3.5 stars.
July 21, 2022
Hey! A book about an accountant. You know me, folks - that's an automatic 3 stars straight out of the gate. Especially for a blurb including the rarely-used phrase "an adorably earnest accountant."
Only, wouldn't it be nice if the author had known how accountants actually operated? Like, they don't take their own laptops to work. And they don't usually have the ability to make private copies of sensitive company info. And...
And (because I'm being picky tonight) can we talk about Nick Marshall blurring the lines big-time between investigator and suspect? And how difficult it is to sympathise with an MC seriously embarrassed by his own wealth, yet employing a butler / hacker / chef?
Plus points for intention, but minus points for execution.
Only, wouldn't it be nice if the author had known how accountants actually operated? Like, they don't take their own laptops to work. And they don't usually have the ability to make private copies of sensitive company info. And...
And (because I'm being picky tonight) can we talk about Nick Marshall blurring the lines big-time between investigator and suspect? And how difficult it is to sympathise with an MC seriously embarrassed by his own wealth, yet employing a butler / hacker / chef?
Plus points for intention, but minus points for execution.
June 20, 2022
This was uhhhh kinda boring honestly. Can't speak to whether or not the accounting was accurate but judging by some of the reviews I read it was kind of a mess, haha.
Genuinely not sure about why the two guys even liked each other, considering Nick treated Ben like he was a stupid kid the whole time. They didn't even seem like casual acquaintances, let alone friends or lovers.
The ending was incredibly abrupt and this is apparently the first in a new series, so the "mystery" as it is didn't get solved at all.
Thanks to Carina Press and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Genuinely not sure about why the two guys even liked each other, considering Nick treated Ben like he was a stupid kid the whole time. They didn't even seem like casual acquaintances, let alone friends or lovers.
The ending was incredibly abrupt and this is apparently the first in a new series, so the "mystery" as it is didn't get solved at all.
Thanks to Carina Press and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2022
The blurb for this book sounded great so I requested a copy from Netgalley. This is my first read by this author and I have to say I was left feeling confict in how to review. The story was ok however I found the characters hard to connect with and the balance of romance to story a bit uneven. Will I read more by this author, yes, not connecting with one story means nothing, Will I recommend, well I would like to think readers would read this story and make their own opinion as I am sure many people will enjoyed it.
June 9, 2022
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
By the Book by G.B. Gordon is the first book in the Following the Money series. Ben Coyne stumbles upon some inconsistencies in the accounting files he’s checking at this first job out of college. He never expects that his find would lead to murder, mystery and him finding himself under the protection of the FBI. Special Agent Nick Marshall is placed on this case due to its similarities with a case he had previously worked on. He is immediately drawn to Ben but knows he must keep professional distance. As the circumstances get more dangerous with each attempt to keep Ben safe Nick is forced to mix work with his private life. Can Nick keep Ben safe while still maintaining the professional boundaries or will Ben find himself too much temptation for the senior agent.
I regularly read and enjoy suspenseful romances. This book failed to balance the suspense with the romance. I understand that Nick was trying to maintain a professional stance and keep Ben safe but the back and forth became too much. It was frustrating because although the case seemed pretty straight forward it just seemed to take way too long for anything to happen.
I didn’t become attached to either character which is a big red flag for me. I appreciated that Nick enjoyed being controlled by the younger man but his constant letting his guard down and then immediately backing away or becoming cold was just too aggressive. Ben was interesting in the sense that I enjoyed his internal dialogue at the start but all the nicknames and comments became repetitive.
2.5 stars
By the Book by G.B. Gordon is the first book in the Following the Money series. Ben Coyne stumbles upon some inconsistencies in the accounting files he’s checking at this first job out of college. He never expects that his find would lead to murder, mystery and him finding himself under the protection of the FBI. Special Agent Nick Marshall is placed on this case due to its similarities with a case he had previously worked on. He is immediately drawn to Ben but knows he must keep professional distance. As the circumstances get more dangerous with each attempt to keep Ben safe Nick is forced to mix work with his private life. Can Nick keep Ben safe while still maintaining the professional boundaries or will Ben find himself too much temptation for the senior agent.
I regularly read and enjoy suspenseful romances. This book failed to balance the suspense with the romance. I understand that Nick was trying to maintain a professional stance and keep Ben safe but the back and forth became too much. It was frustrating because although the case seemed pretty straight forward it just seemed to take way too long for anything to happen.
I didn’t become attached to either character which is a big red flag for me. I appreciated that Nick enjoyed being controlled by the younger man but his constant letting his guard down and then immediately backing away or becoming cold was just too aggressive. Ben was interesting in the sense that I enjoyed his internal dialogue at the start but all the nicknames and comments became repetitive.
2.5 stars
June 15, 2022
DNF at 60%.
I’ve been trying, but so much doesn’t work. There’s the magic healing (like, how did Ben recover enough from the first assault that he wasn’t particularly damaged by attempt #2?). There’s the B-plot characters that actually don’t make a B-plot. (the asshole ex? He vanishes for good. The best friend who works for Nick? She pops up, but it’s not clear what her role in the story arc is. The partner? Sure, he’s got Nick’s back, but, uh, do they actually partner their work in any sense?)
Like, the book is mostly back story, but then it’s main story. And the main story is what, a bit of money laundering? Like, sorry, I love me a good accounting romance (uh, ok, I can’t name one, but I’m sure they exist). But, “save my laptop! It has the ledger on it!” propelled the plot in no good romance ever.
Finally, I actually quit when I realized who the mole is. I’m not entirely sure how much earlier I got to it than our heroes, [looks: a chapter? Two?]. But I hate that this kind of story is kind of a prediction exercise for that task.
Language problems are occasional, but glaring: perhaps only a Boston expat in Canada would grumble at a Bostonian seeing a “physiotherapist”, but I did, and I think there similar Canadianisms that made it into the book.
More fundamentally, though: 60% of the way through the book, we don’t know why the FBI cares, we don’t know what the MCs see in each other, the suspense is mostly of the “oh, shit now what” variety, and I just can’t root for these people to be together. I should get back to reading “Less”.
I’ve been trying, but so much doesn’t work. There’s the magic healing (like, how did Ben recover enough from the first assault that he wasn’t particularly damaged by attempt #2?). There’s the B-plot characters that actually don’t make a B-plot. (the asshole ex? He vanishes for good. The best friend who works for Nick? She pops up, but it’s not clear what her role in the story arc is. The partner? Sure, he’s got Nick’s back, but, uh, do they actually partner their work in any sense?)
Like, the book is mostly back story, but then it’s main story. And the main story is what, a bit of money laundering? Like, sorry, I love me a good accounting romance (uh, ok, I can’t name one, but I’m sure they exist). But, “save my laptop! It has the ledger on it!” propelled the plot in no good romance ever.
Finally, I actually quit when I realized who the mole is. I’m not entirely sure how much earlier I got to it than our heroes, [looks: a chapter? Two?]. But I hate that this kind of story is kind of a prediction exercise for that task.
Language problems are occasional, but glaring: perhaps only a Boston expat in Canada would grumble at a Bostonian seeing a “physiotherapist”, but I did, and I think there similar Canadianisms that made it into the book.
More fundamentally, though: 60% of the way through the book, we don’t know why the FBI cares, we don’t know what the MCs see in each other, the suspense is mostly of the “oh, shit now what” variety, and I just can’t root for these people to be together. I should get back to reading “Less”.
June 12, 2022
This is a fast paced mystery that I found I was loathe to put down. I found myself making all the excuses to keep reading.
Ben is more than a junior accountant, and his growth through the story is developed well. He seems earnest and geeky, but he actually quite domineering and like a dog with a bone in terms of solving the crime. He survives a few attempts on his life, and I appreciate a good mystery that makes it seem like they characters are in real danger.
Nick, the trust fund kid turned special agent has to fight his immediate attraction to Ben (the whole conflict of interest thing). This can only be described a slow burn book because nothing happens between the love interests until almost the end of the novel. That seemed more real -- who has time between chasing, hiding and fighting to get between the sheets.
I really enjoyed all the side characters and the story was intricate and interesting. I see now they are calling this number one in a series. Yay, I am here for more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for advanced copy. I recommend it if you like a strong mystery and two well developed characters. By the Book is out June 14.
Ben is more than a junior accountant, and his growth through the story is developed well. He seems earnest and geeky, but he actually quite domineering and like a dog with a bone in terms of solving the crime. He survives a few attempts on his life, and I appreciate a good mystery that makes it seem like they characters are in real danger.
Nick, the trust fund kid turned special agent has to fight his immediate attraction to Ben (the whole conflict of interest thing). This can only be described a slow burn book because nothing happens between the love interests until almost the end of the novel. That seemed more real -- who has time between chasing, hiding and fighting to get between the sheets.
I really enjoyed all the side characters and the story was intricate and interesting. I see now they are calling this number one in a series. Yay, I am here for more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for advanced copy. I recommend it if you like a strong mystery and two well developed characters. By the Book is out June 14.
June 14, 2022
Sometimes the hardest books to review are those that had great potential but didn't quite accomplish what they set out to do. This story is one such book.
As a police procedural the story works for the most part. The overall setup of the story is an interesting one but there are some plot threads that frustrated me to no end as they were left dangling and not revisited by the author. The story of Ben's past, in particular, points to a possible connection to events in the present plot but is never tied in, just hinted at. Nick seems confident enough as an FBI agent but there are several different points in the story that didn't make sense as Nick and Ben alternated between making brilliant deductions or decisions that were breathtakingly stupid. And their romance felt shoehorned into the story - it was just a bit difficult for me to buy their chemistry. The book, in my opinion, probably would have been better off being left as a straight adventure story.
Anyway, the writing style was light and breezy. With this book presenting some interesting characters I'd be interested in seeing what this author comes up with in the future (with some work on plotting, of course).
As a police procedural the story works for the most part. The overall setup of the story is an interesting one but there are some plot threads that frustrated me to no end as they were left dangling and not revisited by the author. The story of Ben's past, in particular, points to a possible connection to events in the present plot but is never tied in, just hinted at. Nick seems confident enough as an FBI agent but there are several different points in the story that didn't make sense as Nick and Ben alternated between making brilliant deductions or decisions that were breathtakingly stupid. And their romance felt shoehorned into the story - it was just a bit difficult for me to buy their chemistry. The book, in my opinion, probably would have been better off being left as a straight adventure story.
Anyway, the writing style was light and breezy. With this book presenting some interesting characters I'd be interested in seeing what this author comes up with in the future (with some work on plotting, of course).
May 4, 2022
Thank you to the author and the publisher, Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin), for sharing an ARC of this book with me, through NetGalley!!!!
“Ben wondered idly why Agent Marshall hadn’t been here today. Maybe it was his day off. Not that it made any difference. To anyone”
“You want me, and you can’t stop. But you want me to stop?”
I really liked it !!
Mystery, murder, secrets, investigation and a forbidden attraction that can’t be explored !!!!
There was a forced proximity, a working together and an age gap trope … honestly it was really good !!! It’s even LGBTQIA so … definitely a plus !!!!
I liked following the investigation and even reading about the twist and turns of the two main characters’ relationship !!! And the spice, though short, was really good too !!!!
And honestly … I also felt a bit of a grumpy / sunshine trope in here that made it all more thrilling !!!
Definitely check this series out !!
“He needed to remember that Marshall had been grumpy and snappy earlier, not the way he had melted into the almost-kiss”
“Eyes up, Benny Boy”
“Ben wondered idly why Agent Marshall hadn’t been here today. Maybe it was his day off. Not that it made any difference. To anyone”
“You want me, and you can’t stop. But you want me to stop?”
I really liked it !!
Mystery, murder, secrets, investigation and a forbidden attraction that can’t be explored !!!!
There was a forced proximity, a working together and an age gap trope … honestly it was really good !!! It’s even LGBTQIA so … definitely a plus !!!!
I liked following the investigation and even reading about the twist and turns of the two main characters’ relationship !!! And the spice, though short, was really good too !!!!
And honestly … I also felt a bit of a grumpy / sunshine trope in here that made it all more thrilling !!!
Definitely check this series out !!
“He needed to remember that Marshall had been grumpy and snappy earlier, not the way he had melted into the almost-kiss”
“Eyes up, Benny Boy”
Read
June 29, 2022Heat Factor: Somehow the second time is more explicit and elaborate than the first time? (What?) But not by much – it’s very much a “just the highlights” situation
Character Chemistry: Did not work for me
Plot: Ben discovers a quarter million accounting error at his company, tells his boss, and then his boss gets murdered
Overall: The characterizations were so muddy I eventually got a headache
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Character Chemistry: Did not work for me
Plot: Ben discovers a quarter million accounting error at his company, tells his boss, and then his boss gets murdered
Overall: The characterizations were so muddy I eventually got a headache
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
May 3, 2023
I couldn’t put this one down!
By the Book is the first book I’ve read by G.B. Gordon even though I have several in my eBook library. I must now make time to read more of this author’s work!
I was captivated right from the get-go. I love solving a good puzzle myself so I found Ben’s character to be extremely interesting as he tried to figure out why certain company accounts didn’t reconcile. There is so much action and suspense in this story and that is why I was glued to my eReader from start to finish.
This book ends with a satisfying HFN but I know there is more coming for this couple and I’m looking forward to reading book two.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
p.s. I really don’t understand why there are so many negative reviews on Goodreads. I think that this is a great romantic suspense story.
By the Book is the first book I’ve read by G.B. Gordon even though I have several in my eBook library. I must now make time to read more of this author’s work!
I was captivated right from the get-go. I love solving a good puzzle myself so I found Ben’s character to be extremely interesting as he tried to figure out why certain company accounts didn’t reconcile. There is so much action and suspense in this story and that is why I was glued to my eReader from start to finish.
This book ends with a satisfying HFN but I know there is more coming for this couple and I’m looking forward to reading book two.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
p.s. I really don’t understand why there are so many negative reviews on Goodreads. I think that this is a great romantic suspense story.
April 20, 2022
CW: murder, brief mention of a hate crime (past)
-
A bit of romantic suspense was exactly what I’ve been craving. I enjoyed the mystery and I’m curious to see what else is revealed in book 2. I have a theory and I’m anxious to see if I’m right!
This was a short read, but I feel like I got to know the characters well enough. I enjoyed their romance; all of that sexual tension was nice. I looking forward to seeing how their relationship progresses in book 2!
-
4 stars, BY THE BOOK by G. B. Gordon is available June 14! Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me an eARC to review.
-
A bit of romantic suspense was exactly what I’ve been craving. I enjoyed the mystery and I’m curious to see what else is revealed in book 2. I have a theory and I’m anxious to see if I’m right!
This was a short read, but I feel like I got to know the characters well enough. I enjoyed their romance; all of that sexual tension was nice. I looking forward to seeing how their relationship progresses in book 2!
-
4 stars, BY THE BOOK by G. B. Gordon is available June 14! Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me an eARC to review.
August 29, 2022
2 1/2 stars
I did not like the MCs at all. I started out ambivalent about Ben. Then, Nick came along and I felt very strongly about him. He'was mean and entitled and just off-putting. The more I got to see of Ben, the more I started not liking him either. Ben was weird in not a fun way.
The plot wasn't bad, and I think I would have enjoyed the book more with different MCs. For me, George was the one redeeming character.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***
I did not like the MCs at all. I started out ambivalent about Ben. Then, Nick came along and I felt very strongly about him. He'was mean and entitled and just off-putting. The more I got to see of Ben, the more I started not liking him either. Ben was weird in not a fun way.
The plot wasn't bad, and I think I would have enjoyed the book more with different MCs. For me, George was the one redeeming character.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***
April 17, 2023
This was just the book I didn’t know I needed right now! The suspense plot line was so well done, I kept figuring out what was going on with Nick and Ben and I couldn’t stop reading, I had to know what was going on! The sexual tension between them was clear from the moment they meet, and I loved the buildup to when they finally give in. So good!
This was my first book by G.B. Gordon and I’m definitely going to read more by them!
This was my first book by G.B. Gordon and I’m definitely going to read more by them!
May 22, 2023
This was fairly diverting. I was worried about a swoony/steely dynamic, but the protagonists both showed backbone and competence. I do wonder about stories set in Boston that have the characters driving everywhere, though. What about parking? fender benders? I wouldn't leave my Jaguar just anywhere.
March 24, 2025
I've got this book and the sequel on sale on Smashwords and finally got a chance to read them.
Overall, I really liked them. Yes, I did notice the plot holes some reviewers pointed to and BS about accounting but since I liked the writing, I chose to ignore them.
I liked both books and will read the next in series when it will be published.
Overall, I really liked them. Yes, I did notice the plot holes some reviewers pointed to and BS about accounting but since I liked the writing, I chose to ignore them.
I liked both books and will read the next in series when it will be published.
July 22, 2022
4.5 minor niggles
This was the kind of suspense I like. The plot was logical, believable and with decent procedural aspects and enough action to add some excitement. Except the author had to give Nick ethics, so no steam until the end. Looking forward to this series.
This was the kind of suspense I like. The plot was logical, believable and with decent procedural aspects and enough action to add some excitement. Except the author had to give Nick ethics, so no steam until the end. Looking forward to this series.
December 31, 2022
2.5 to 3 stars!
Quick easy read. Good story but also sadly a bit forgettable after the fact. I didn't do my review right away and it took me a bit to recap the story in my memory after the fact.
Quick easy read. Good story but also sadly a bit forgettable after the fact. I didn't do my review right away and it took me a bit to recap the story in my memory after the fact.
June 4, 2022
I was attracted ted to the premise of this story. I, unfortunately, didn't feel like satisfied with the story once I finished it.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
dnf
July 15, 2022Weak story
February 9, 2025
Bennet and NIcholas ... yeah they are hot together. I really enjoyed this one .
September 9, 2025
Really!! Hated the ending, or rather a lack of ending
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