From New York Times, USA Today and #1 Kindle Bestselling author, Gemma Halliday...
Her name is Bond. Jamie Bond. And she is licensed to kill any pre-nup you can throw at her.
Catching cheating husbands became Jamie Bond's life when her father was shot and wounded on the job, forcing Jamie to take over the family The Bond Agency. But three years later, the P.I. is shocked when the gun that wounded her father surfaces during a high-profile murder trial. Is this the connection Jamie's been waiting for to finally nail her father's shooter? But, oddly enough, Derek Bond doesn't seem interested. In fact, if Jamie didn't know better, she'd say he's even trying to stop her from looking into it. Along with her team of bombshell investigators, Jamie suddenly finds herself in the middle of a cold case that's heating up the media, dodging old grudges and new enemies, and questioning the motives of those closest to her. If she can live with the truth, the secrets Jamie uncovers may just bring down more than a marriage this time.
The Jamie Bond Unbreakable Bond (book #1) Secret Bond (book #2)
Here’s what critics are saying about Gemma Halliday's
"A saucy combination of romance and suspense that is simply irresistible." - Chicago Tribune
"Stylish... nonstop action...guaranteed to keep chick lit and mystery fans happy!" - Publishers’ Weekly, starred review
“Smart, funny and snappy… the perfect beach read!” - Fresh Fiction
Gemma had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up. She worked as a film and television actress, a teddy bear importer, a department store administrator, a preschool teacher, a temporary tattoo artist, and a 900 number psychic, before finally selling her first book, Spying in High Heels, in 2005 and deciding to be a writer.
Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice award and three RITA nominations. Her books have hit both the USA Today and the New York Times Bestseller lists.
Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is hard at work on her next book.
Secret Bond is a great story. Gemma Halliday writes characters that are humorous and endearing. They make you smile. Add in romance and you have a winner. Jamie Bond and her three faithful employees run a well known detective agency that cheating husbands fear. Who would think that a former model could be so successful. When information on her father's attempted murder surfaces, Jamie has to know who tried to kill Derek three years ago. At the risk of her life she follows the clues. A further complication is her budding romance with Aiden Prince the new L.A. county DA and the unexpected attention of Danny Flynn, her former photographer and best friend. How Jamie juggles all this and at the same time catches a killer will keep you reading. I can't wait for more!
i love this series, i need to pay more attention when they come up for free
she is a pi in her dads co. he had to stop working when he got shot in the chest. she used to be a model
the gun that was used to shoot him was used in another shooting involving a cop. she is trying to figure it out but her dad doesnt want her to. he knows something hes not telling her. he lives on his boat
another case is a wife wants to know if her husband is cheating when he goes to a nudist retreat. the whole crew goes to see if they can get photos of him, they do. the wife comes and puts something in his drink so he falls asleep in the sun and gets burned all over
she figures out what was going on when her dad got shot. the former mayor tried to kill them but he got shot and killed instead
the lawyer that was interested in her told her hes not ready, his wife died a year ago and he cant date her
the coworker that likes her had to pretend to be gay in another case. but they found out the husband is getting a baby to adopt so they were happy
she doesnt know what the coworker wants to tell her, the timing never seems to be right
the last client wants them to make sure the son in law to be is not cheating so they are going to jump out of a cake at his bachelor party
i love this series and want to read the rest
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ooohhh I liked this one more than the first. The plot seemed very relevant and the mystery was thrilling.
I do find Jamie and her father's relationship interesting. It has a dynamic in it that shows their individuality while also emphasising their bond (literally, pun entirely unintended.)
I am still not a big fan of either love interest. Especially Danny. Sure, he might have appeal, but I can't stop thinking about how old he must have been when he first met Jamie (who was, as we've been reminded, 14-15 at the time.) I'm not certain how old she is now, either late 20s or early 30s, and Danny has been described or suspected to be late 30s or early 40s, which icks me. (It probably would help me to know how old they actually... if I could just find some confirmation someone...or if anyone knows....)
Anywho, off to the next one. Because despite thoughts on the love interests, the mystery is interesting, the Charlie Angels vibes are cool, and I've always liked anything 'spy' themed (and this has buckets and buckets of spying involved). Also, this book was a vast improvement from the first one. I didn't feel like the mystery was a waste of my time....
This was such a fun story. I loved that Jamie Bond’s father was so sure she was going to be a he, that he named her James when she was born. Though she goes by Jamie. I also enjoyed the play between Jamie and her father, Derek. He was a successful P.I. until someone wanted him dead. Jamie left a high-end modeling job to come home to take care of her father and take over the P.I. business. They mostly work divorce cases, but Jamie is determined to find who shot her dad, which gets her into a lot of trouble.
She also has two guys - Aiden, an assistant DA, and Danny, a high-end photographer she met when she was a model. He is now her best friend, but there are definite hints throughout that he wants something more. Aiden, on the other hand, isn’t quite so sure.
The action is good, the suspense ramping up until the end with a sort-of satisfying ending. But also with a tiny thread left dangling that we know there will be more to come. Something I am definitely looking forward to. Recommended.
Jamie Bond runs a detective agency, which mostly tracks down cheating spouses, but this time the main case is personal. The gun used to shoot her father, Derek, three years ago has been found. In order to protect her, he hasn't told her what really happened. Slowly she unravels the truth and almost gets herself killed.
The two secondary plot lines add a lot of humor. One involves a nudist colony and the other requires her best friend Danny (who we all know wants to be more than a best friend, and who is as straight as they come) posing as a gay guy. Lots of jokes, and situational humor.
Adding to the bedlam is an emerging love triangle between Jamie, her best friend Danny and the grief-stricken DA Aiden. I'm personally rooting for Danny, but I'm not at all sure he'll win and of course, I have to read the next story to find out.
Its' the second Bond mystery I've read and I'm eager to start a third.
Loved it! Gemma Halliday is such a comfort read for me.
Really enjoyed the mystery and I was able to easily follow along, granted I felt that the end was kind of sudden? The turn around from being shot at and then confronting the villian felt a bit rushed, I felt like not enough tension had been built up to that point for me to be on the edge of my seat.
Really enjoying the push and pull between the love interests, liking the dynamic between Aidan and Jamie. It annoyed the hell out me that we never ended up hearing what Danny wanted to say, he just wanted to have lunch with Jamie and the entire book he was just getting shot down. I NEED THE REVEAL GOD DAMN IT. The only progression the Jamie x Danny relationship got was that they've seen each other nude now, which isn't enough for me to feel content that this book has changed the nature of their bond.
Definitely looking forward to reading the next book!
I started this series with the 2nd book but it was easy to get up to date. The characters are easy to love and the overall tone of the mystery kept me reading. I love a good lighthearted mystery that contains humor. This is definitely a series I will keep up with.
Ihr Vater musste die Beamten überzeugen, damit er seine Tochter James nennen durfte. Nachdem James, genannt Jamie, ihre Modellkarriere beendet hat, ist sie für ihren Vater in dessen Privatdetektei eingestiegen als dieser mit einer schweren Schussverletzung im Krankenhaus gelandet ist. Dies ist nun ein paar Jahre her und der Anschlag auf Derek Bond ist immer noch nicht aufgeklärt. Die privaten Ermittler um Jamie haben sich auf Scheidungsfälle konzentriert, wobei sie regelmäßig versuchen, die vermeintlich untreuen Ehegatten zu erwischen. Doch in Jamie rumort es und als die Waffe, mit der ihr Vater angeschossen wurde, wieder auftaucht, ist Jamie nicht mehr zu halten.
Wieder eines dieser fluffig leichten Büchlein, die man hin und wieder mal ohne großen Aufwand bekommt, die aber trotzdem sehr gute Unterhaltung bieten und viel Freude machen. Jamie Bond ist eine sympathische junge Privatdetektivin, die neugierig ist und nicht so schnell locker lässt. Da kann man in der Stadt der Engel schon mal in Gefahr geraten. Und dann gibt es gleich zwei Ritter, die zur Rettung eilen. Da sind die Scheidungsfälle schon manchmal eher lustig, wenn der FKK-Anhänger schließlich von seiner betrogenen Ehefrau, nein nicht direkt körperlich beschädigt wird, sondern in der prallen Sonne mit einen Schlafmittel versehen wird, was weder dem großen noch dem kleinen Mister gut bekommt. Und so hüpft die Handlung auf amüsante und spannende Art von Szene zu Szene. Gerade das Richtige für einen Sofa-Abend oder eine entspannte Mittagspause.
Natürlich gibt es weitere Bücher um Jamie Bond, die sicherlich genauso gute Unterhaltung bieten. Leichte Lektüre zwar, aber sehr angenehm und wirklich herzerwärmend.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. Gemma Halliday is an excellent writer who breathes life into the characters she creates. Her main character, Jamie Bond, is witty and relate-able. Jamie Bond is instantly likable as an ex-model turned private investigator. Jamie goes after scum-bag cheating husbands in L.A. in hopes of breaking pre-nups. This story takes a more personal twist as Jamie investigates her father's shooter much to the dismay of her father. Derek Bond just wants Jamie to leave the matter alone but Jamie pushes ahead getting pulled deeper into the mystery and risking her life.
Gemma Halliday weaves mystery with laughs (an a few tears). She writes real characters. Jamie Bond does not have a perfect life (as you find with many novels), she does not always know how she feels about the men in her life. Jamie struggles to ask her friends/coworkers for help. For me, this was what added true depth to her character as this is a conundrum we all struggle with. When is it time to ask for help? Halliday's Jamie deals with real problems in a fictional setting making the novel's story more real. Jamie Bond seems like she could be your best friend.
Gemma Halliday's delightful tale is a definite read! After picking up this novel, I now want to read the rest of Halliday's work.
Overall, it was entertaining but for me the true judge of a book is if I would read it again. In the case of Secret Bond I would read it again as well as the rest of the series.
I am truly enjoying the Bond Girls series and "Secret Bond" is a great follow up to the first book. This installment gives us more insight into the past of Derek, Jamie's father.
Jamie meets Aiden for dinner and the conversation changes when Aiden informs her he is prosecuting a case of a cop who shot and killed a defense attorney with the gun that was used to shoot her father. Of course Jamie is not about to let this information slide; so, after her father is evasive and demands she drops any investigation, she is determined to find out who was behind the shooting.
Meanwhile, the ladies of the Bond agency are asked to investigate a possible cheating husband who likes to go to a nudist resort twice a week. While Jamie isn't really thrilled about going to the resort, she and the girls go any way. Back at the office, Maya"s mother wants her to bring Jamie over for lunch. It seems that she doesn't think to highly of Maya's skills. Little does Jamie and Maya know but they are headed for more than a little Mama drama.
As events unfold in this little gem of a read, Jamie and Aiden's relationship hits a pivotal point. The question is, what's next? I am loving this little reading adventure with all of the empowered women who are not afraid to use their sensuality as a weapon to get to the truth. If I had a criticism it would be that we really don't get to know Aiden very well. We know a lot more about Danny. However, this does not distract from my reading enjoyment. If you want an easy, fun, female P.I. read, this series is the one for you. I am having fun with it and can't wait for the next book.
Secret Bond is the second book in the Jamie Bond Mystery series. I have not read the first book yet, but I found that even though she has longstanding relationships with some of the characters I did not feel like I was missing important information while I was reading. This is a really good mystery filled with quite a few laughs. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
Jamie Bond has left her modeling life behind her to become a P.I. and take over the responsibility of The Bond Agency from her father who even helps her out once in a while. It’s been three years since she took over and there are not many things that shock her anymore. But when the gun that was used to wound her father shows up in an ongoing murder trial she realizes she can still be shocked. She finally has the chance to discover who shot her father and why, by Derek Bond has no desire to discuss it and does not want her looking into any information she comes across. Jamie will not accept his decision and sneaks behind his back to find out what he’s hiding. With the help of her friends and co-investigators from the agency she will uncover more than she ever expected, but someone wants her investigation to stop and they will do anything to make that happen. Can Jamie solve the mystery behind her father’s shooting? Or will someone stop her at any cost?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Her name is Bond. Jamie Bond. And she is licensed to kill any pre-nup you can throw at her.
Catching cheating husbands became Jamie Bond's life when her father was shot and wounded on the job, forcing Jamie to take over the family business: The Bond Agency. But three years later, the P.I. is shocked when the gun that wounded her father surfaces during a high-profile murder trial. Is this the connection Jamie's been waiting for to finally nail her father's shooter? But, oddly enough, Derek Bond doesn't seem interested. In fact, if Jamie didn't know better, she'd say he's even trying to stop her from looking into it. Along with her team of bombshell investigators, Jamie suddenly finds herself in the middle of a cold case that's heating up the media, dodging old grudges and new enemies, and questioning the motives of those closest to her. If she can live with the truth, the secrets Jamie uncovers may just bring down more than a marriage this time.
The Jamie Bond books: Unbreakable Bond (book #1) Secret Bond (book #2)
The story was a bit predictable, but this was an easy read. It is billed as a romantic suspense, but it is more of a suspense with romantic overtones. I cannot tell which of the two male characters is the heroine. I am certain that was the authors' purpose, but I could not count this one as a romance.
Thank you Netgalley and Gemma Halliday for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cute and funny. This is an entertaining read whether you've read any of the other Gemma Halliday books or not. While I've purchased several of Ms. Halliday's books I still have yet to read them. But not for any particular reason, just so many books to tackle.
In any case, this book is well written and enjoyable. The characters are introduced and described so that you get to know them and look forward to what happens next.
This is a quirky, intriguing book and I had to LOL several times over the situations that take place. The plot begins by taking you down one road and thickens by turning down another. It develops with a few side stories and eventually culminates into the ending that will have you satisfied with a good story and wanting more. I felt each emotion for the characters and crossed my fingers a few times.
If you're looking for a suspenseful read that will make you laugh over and over again and care about the characters, then definitely get this book.
Although I didn't read the first book in this series, it was easy to get into the swing of things with the main characters and their interactions. Jamie Bond has joined her father's detective agency, mostly working on proving or disproving cases of infidelity for concerned spouses. Her friend, ADA Aiden is currently prosecuting a murder case against a corrupt cop when his department finds evidence that the gun used in this case also was involved in the near fatal shooting of Jamie's father three years prior. Although her father refuses to talk about this, she starts her own investigation, looking for any and all possible links. The story also features some of her other ongoing investigations, including one they need to conduct at a nudist colony. The story is told at a good pace, keeping the reader involved, sometimes with humor, sometimes with emotion, with a nice twist at the end. Her relationships with Aidan and one of her friends and coworkers, Danny, is left to explore in future novels. Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I hadn't read the first book in the series, but it was easy to understand the situation and characters.
There were a couple of different cases in Secret Bond. One involved a possible cheating husband at a nudist resort which I felt was more entrapment than solving/proving the case. The PI literally sits on the guy and rubs all over him. He never actually propositioned her or anyone else, yet the case is solved.
The story line about Jamie's dad was more interesting and better written. The story packed a lot in the limited pages, but I would have liked more interchange between all the characters who tended to be stock characters you find in chick lit PI type stories. Danny and the other PIs deserved more page time and it would have made for a richer story.
I found the story to be light read, but I never actually laughed out loud.
I received an ecopy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read the first book in the series quite some time ago, and just got around to reading Secret Bond. It was easy to pick up the characters from the first book and could be read as a stand alone. The reader is given a better understanding into the characters past history. Jamie is just your average gal who runs a thriving PI business, generally getting proof of infidelity for her client. She is somewhat hesitant to ask for help or bare her soul with her gal pals/employees when a particular case arises that could possibly solve the mystery of who shot her dad some years back. That trait may be great for a PI, but is not so good when it comes to romantic interests. She is getting mixed signals from her longtime friend/business photographer and her current beau and ADA, Aiden, and is reluctant to bring them up to speed on her progress on her dad's case, which has uncovered some dirty dealings with high powered political officials.
Jamie Bond has just been told by love I Teresa ADA Aidan Prince that the gun used to shoot her dad Derek, has turned up in another case. Being a PI Jamie can not just let this sit and be..no matter that her dad wants her to forget about it.
in the course of the investigation, Jamie deals with possible other couples cheating, possible bribery, a nudist coloney and Maya's mom causing problems with her friend by trying to play PI. of course Jamie's life is in danger while looking into Derek shooting. throw in the romance between Aidan and Jamie and also Danny trying to get Jamie alone as he has something important that he really wants to tell her and yiu have the second book in the Bond series.
I admit I loved Maya mom and was really wanting to know what Danny had to say. I did get a bonus at the end of the book for the next one...Lethal Bond and I can not wait to finish that book after reading the first couple chapters.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Secret bond is book 2 in this series. While you don't have to read the previous book to fully understand this one, I would recommend it. This is a really great series.
In Secret Bond, Jamie is back with her ladies to hunt down more cheating spouses.
I loved the high heels series by Gemma Halliday so when I saw this series, I knew it was a must read. There is a lot of action, mystery and comedy but is pretty light on the romance. I really loved this book and can't wait to read the next one!!
After finally starting the first book in this series Unbreakable Bond I had to dig through my kindle until I found the second book in the series that I bought months ago. As with the first book I absolutely loved the character interactions, and the situations they found themselves in were always hilarious. There were a number of laugh out loud scenes but the scene with the girls in the diner was by far my favorite. The story was a little more serious than the first book, but since it was for the most part a quick, funny story it didn't make it feel dark at all. I'm still rooting for Danny!
'Secret Bond' pulled me in from the beginning and didn't let go. The storyline was full of action, mystery, uncomfortable situations and humor. The way it played out had Jamie in a few hairy situations. She makes a great lead. Sam, Maya and Caleigh make great side kicks for Jamie. They are all super smart, quick thinkers, beautiful and loyal. Danny made a good addition to the agency. I love his loyalty to Jamie. This series, 'James Bond Mysteries', has been one of my favorites. I can't wait to read more. A great add to your tbr list.
I found this book on YouTube as an audiobook. I thought it was as funny as the 'High Heels' series. Unfortunately, it wasn't. It was silly and not every well written. I lost interest when there was this alteration between breakfast and lunch in a scene that was supposed to be a breakfast. Not very professional. Also if we remove the reminder of what a hot ex-supermodel Jamie was, and all the references to sex and sexual innuendoes a shallow, déjà vu story lies beneath. I don't think I'm reading anymore 'Bond' series any time soon.
could not wait for the 2nd in Gemma Hallidays new series. I love that her charecters always have humor and are well developed. she gets to explore her very complex relationship with her dad Derick. goes back to when he was shot a few years back tangled with another case. don't know if I'm liking Aidan too much he does not seem to have much depth and then there is Danny,well read the book and be intrigued too.