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asquared92's review
3.0
I’m a sucker for any book that takes place abroad. This novel started off with a bang and continued to intensify throughout. The characters were realistic and funny. Bec was someone easy to root for when she wasn’t complaining about life. When she was complaining about life, it was hard to connect with her. The relationships between her and her colleagues were interesting to watch develop but sometimes they got lost in the shuffle of the plot. There was a vagueness about her parents though which was not unsurprising due to how Bec described them. However, to me it seemed a little farfetched that her parents were so removed from her life.
The plot was intriguing with interesting twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Bec discovered another clue and made a different assumption than I did changing the direction of the story. I liked how the setting was described in rich detail. I felt like I was in Rome with Bec; walking the cobblestone streets and eating dinner outside on the piazza. I could see each event unfold easily which made it a fun read.
The ending fell a little flat for me. After the fast paced plot, the ending slowed too quickly. Which left me with questions about what came next in the life of Bec and other characters. I wanted there to be more pages. Overall, I enjoyed the book and loved the romance and mystery it conveyed. I loved how I wasn’t able to figure out who was behind it all.
The plot was intriguing with interesting twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Bec discovered another clue and made a different assumption than I did changing the direction of the story. I liked how the setting was described in rich detail. I felt like I was in Rome with Bec; walking the cobblestone streets and eating dinner outside on the piazza. I could see each event unfold easily which made it a fun read.
The ending fell a little flat for me. After the fast paced plot, the ending slowed too quickly. Which left me with questions about what came next in the life of Bec and other characters. I wanted there to be more pages. Overall, I enjoyed the book and loved the romance and mystery it conveyed. I loved how I wasn’t able to figure out who was behind it all.
mavisinspanish's review
3.0
2.5
It's not that I hated it, because I truly didn't. It's just that there could have been improvements. First off, it was a little longer than needed, and therefore, it was slow going. I'm sure if some pages had been cut off (mostly about her work in the Edge Magazine that had nothing to do with her own investigation), it would have flowed more. Reading this book took me quite a while. Longer than I thought it would.
Algo, the synopsis seemed a little bit misleading: You think it's kinda this teengage spy thing with a touch of the Fashion world, but it turned out to be not one of those things. It was more like a spy-ish wannabe teenger who turned out to end up doing an intership in a magazine. And that's it.
I also thought the end was kind of inconclusive. What happened to Dante? No one knows.
I just think it could have been more worked on.
It's not that I hated it, because I truly didn't. It's just that there could have been improvements. First off, it was a little longer than needed, and therefore, it was slow going. I'm sure if some pages had been cut off (mostly about her work in the Edge Magazine that had nothing to do with her own investigation), it would have flowed more. Reading this book took me quite a while. Longer than I thought it would.
Algo, the synopsis seemed a little bit misleading: You think it's kinda this teengage spy thing with a touch of the Fashion world, but it turned out to be not one of those things. It was more like a spy-ish wannabe teenger who turned out to end up doing an intership in a magazine. And that's it.
I also thought the end was kind of inconclusive. What happened to Dante? No one knows.
I just think it could have been more worked on.
bee_mydarling's review
4.0
I, originally, thought I wasn't going to like this book and it would be a quick read to make I've read all the books on my shelves, but I was pleasantly surprised. The main character isn't a stereotype, thankful, and is actually really funny and interesting. There are many plot twist that keep you enthralled and make you finish it quite quickly. I was sad to let it go. Though the storyline was a bit too fast paced and I wish I had gotten to know the main character a little more.
zoesallbooked's review
3.0
3.5/5 stars
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved how the main character is a hacker, and that's actually incorporated into the story instead of it just being mentioned once and then never again. However, the main character herself pissed me off constantly. There were parts where I thought she was redeeming herself, but then she'd go right back to being an idiot. The twists were pretty predictable, although the reasoning behind some of them wasn't. As in, it was easy to figure out who was behind everything, but the motive wasn't something I was expecting. At least for some of the characters.
Overall, it was a quick, easy read, but it didn't blow me away or exceed my expectations.
Pretty sure that extra half star is just because I love the outfit on the cover. It's one of the main reasons I bought the book.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved how the main character is a hacker, and that's actually incorporated into the story instead of it just being mentioned once and then never again. However, the main character herself pissed me off constantly. There were parts where I thought she was redeeming herself, but then she'd go right back to being an idiot. The twists were pretty predictable, although the reasoning behind some of them wasn't. As in, it was easy to figure out who was behind everything, but the motive wasn't something I was expecting. At least for some of the characters.
Overall, it was a quick, easy read, but it didn't blow me away or exceed my expectations.
Pretty sure that extra half star is just because I love the outfit on the cover. It's one of the main reasons I bought the book.
lenni_loves_literature's review
3.0
Actual Rating: 3.5
We start the book “Blonde OPS” with a prologue where the main character and her friends have been tied together by kidnappers. Sounds exciting, right? It’s a shame all the good action like that doesn’t happen until the very end of the book. The first half of this book was so utterly boring I wanted to quit. But, there were kidnappers, so it had to get good soon!!! Right?
On the bright side, the authors sure know how to write a good kiss. The main character, Bec, has two guys fighting over her. The kisses that went on were so sweet and swoon worthy! That’s probably what earned this book an extra 0.5 stars for me. If I ever reread this book, it would probably be for the romance.
Let’s talk about the main character for a second. Bec is a hacker with neon pink hair who has been expelled from a growing list of schools. In other words, she’s computer smart, but not common sense smart. This little fault of character does result in some funny stuff, but still. I guess you could say that Bec is more of a “act now think later” type of person at the beginning.
So, the reason I read this book is because I knew the author would be at this book festival I go to every year. Here are some fun facts I learned about the book:
•Every good author does their research, even if it’s a minor detail, everything MUST be perfect. Considering that this book is about kidnapping the First Lady, there was definitely some interesting research Charlotte Bennardo would’ve had to do. Turns out, the FBI is always watching and they kept shutting her research down because they didn’t know it was for a book. Lol!!!
•Charlotte Bennardo has never been to Rome where this book takes place. But, she could tell you exactly where everything was on each street because she used Google Earth to virtually walk through Rome.
That’s all I have for now! In summary of this review, the book was mostly boring, but got exciting 3/4 into it. If there was a sequel, I’d probably read it, but I can’t be 100% if I’d enjoy it.
We start the book “Blonde OPS” with a prologue where the main character and her friends have been tied together by kidnappers. Sounds exciting, right? It’s a shame all the good action like that doesn’t happen until the very end of the book. The first half of this book was so utterly boring I wanted to quit. But, there were kidnappers, so it had to get good soon!!! Right?
On the bright side, the authors sure know how to write a good kiss. The main character, Bec, has two guys fighting over her. The kisses that went on were so sweet and swoon worthy! That’s probably what earned this book an extra 0.5 stars for me. If I ever reread this book, it would probably be for the romance.
Let’s talk about the main character for a second. Bec is a hacker with neon pink hair who has been expelled from a growing list of schools. In other words, she’s computer smart, but not common sense smart. This little fault of character does result in some funny stuff, but still. I guess you could say that Bec is more of a “act now think later” type of person at the beginning.
So, the reason I read this book is because I knew the author would be at this book festival I go to every year. Here are some fun facts I learned about the book:
•Every good author does their research, even if it’s a minor detail, everything MUST be perfect. Considering that this book is about kidnapping the First Lady, there was definitely some interesting research Charlotte Bennardo would’ve had to do. Turns out, the FBI is always watching and they kept shutting her research down because they didn’t know it was for a book. Lol!!!
•Charlotte Bennardo has never been to Rome where this book takes place. But, she could tell you exactly where everything was on each street because she used Google Earth to virtually walk through Rome.
That’s all I have for now! In summary of this review, the book was mostly boring, but got exciting 3/4 into it. If there was a sequel, I’d probably read it, but I can’t be 100% if I’d enjoy it.
labraden's review
3.0
Blonde Ops is the story of Bec Jackson, a teenager who has been kicked out of several schools due to her hacking. Bec's parents don't have time for her, so she is constantly shuffled from relative to relative, until this time. Bec is sent to Rome to work for her mother's best friend, Parker who is the editor of a fashion magazine doing a shoot there. Bec barely gets a chance to meet Parker when she is in a car accident and hospitalized somewhere in Rome. Bec knows Parker was seriously injured, but can't find out any specifics about her condition or even what hospital she is in. When Bec starts to investigate the wreck, she finds out that there is more going on than just a car crash. With the imminent arrival of the First Lady of the United States for the photo shoot, Bec starts to wonder about all of the people she is working with and what their endgames really are, especially the mysterious Taj and attractive Dante who have both shown interest in her.
Blonde Ops is well written and interesting, but I had trouble reconciling the fact that when the woman who is tasked with taking care of Bec is injured, she isn't sent back to her parents rather than being allowed to remain in a European city with people that her parents don't know. Also some of the descriptions of Rome are a little long-winded. Otherwise this was a good mystery/adventure story with a good plot and unique characters.
Blonde Ops is well written and interesting, but I had trouble reconciling the fact that when the woman who is tasked with taking care of Bec is injured, she isn't sent back to her parents rather than being allowed to remain in a European city with people that her parents don't know. Also some of the descriptions of Rome are a little long-winded. Otherwise this was a good mystery/adventure story with a good plot and unique characters.
redcardryan's review
3.0
This book was a quick and fun read. The book started a little mehhh but as I kept reading it got much better. Surprisingly less fashion focused than I thought it would be and the mystery about the bad guys plot was actually pretty well done.
Definitely appreciated that the authors made an effort to show that Bec actually was a hacker and knew her stuff rather than it being a one off mention, never to be addressed again.
Definitely appreciated that the authors made an effort to show that Bec actually was a hacker and knew her stuff rather than it being a one off mention, never to be addressed again.
lobstergal's review
2.0
Started off strong then for some reason the authors decided to turn it into a love triangle.
jennifer_lynn's review
2.0
DNF at page 147. I was going to try to skim the second half of the book but i'd rather read something that better captures my attention. I think I expected it to be more mystery and danger and less fashion/photo shoots/glam etc. The protag is actually really likable, I just didn't care to read her story.