Mexico to Boston – Present Day

Who would want to break into the world famous Arte Mejicana Museum and steal the priceless golden headdress of Pakal, the mightiest of ancient Mayan kings, from right under the nose of security? That would be Desiree Jacob, and she does it well. Except Desiree Jacob is an internationally renowned security consultant and is paid a great deal of money to see if the security system is flawed.

When Desiree travels to Mexico to check the security of Arte Mejicana Museum, not only are her skills put to the test, but she meets danger at every turn. This assignment is not just important to her company, but it gives Desiree the opportunity to find out who murdered her father. In the mist of the heist, she discovers her competition, Greybeck Security, has alerted the authorities. Desiree must prove who she is and why she stole the headdress, not an easy task. However, as she discovers, all is not as it seems. When she informs Senor Presidente that the headdress is a fake, Desiree learns he is aware of this problem. She is then given the opportunity to do a hush-hush investigation to find the missing artifacts. As she begins her quest, she learns that Greybeck Securities is at the root of her problems. But with just weeks before her wedding, Desiree is pushing herself to fulfill her commitments. Part of the push is to forget about her pain in the loss of her father. Will she attempt to solve the mystery by herself or turn to Tony, her fiancé?

Tony Lucan is a respected, no-nonsense FBI agent. He knows there are too many unanswered questions about Desiree’s father’s death, and he is worried about Desiree being in Mexico. However, he is the one almost killed at a stakeout that goes wrong. When Tony and Desiree finally are united, they discover that both their lives are in danger. Are the missing artifacts the cause of her father’s death, and will she and Tony be next? Will they live long enough to get married?

RELUCTANT SMUGGLER is a fast paced, action filled read. It is balanced by the romance between Desiree and Tony and with a taste of family interference by Tony’s Mama Gina into both their lives. Both characters are strong, independent people who are not afraid of danger, but their vulnerability makes them likeable. Both have strong faith to which they turn for guidance and strength. Secondary characters, good, bad, and evil, add to the flavor of the story.

Jill Elizabeth Nelson has written a winner. RELUCTANT SMUGGLER is book three in the Catch a Thief Series. This book enthralled me; I could not wait to read the next page, and neither will you.

Enjoy.

Deborah C Jackson