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Blonde Ops
Expelled from yet another boarding school for hacking, sixteen-year-old Rebecca "Bec" Jackson is shipped off to Rome to intern for Parker Phillips, the editor-in-chief of one of the world’s top fashion magazines. But when a mysterious accident lands Parker in a coma, former supermodel and notorious drama queen Candace Worthington takes the reins of the magazine. The First Lady is in Rome for a cover shoot, and all hands are on deck to make sure her visit goes smoothly.
Bec quickly realizes that Parker's "accident" may not have been quite so accidental, and when the First Lady's life is threatened, Bec is determined to uncover the truth. On top of that, Bec must contend with bitchy models, her new boss, Candace, who is just as difficult as the tabloids say, and two guys, a hunky Italian bike messenger with a thousand-watt smile and a fashion blogger with a razor-sharp wit, who are both vying for her heart.
Can Bec catch the person who's after the First Lady, solve the mystery of Parker's accident, and juggle two cute boys at the same time? Blonde Ops is a fun, action-packed romp through the hallways of a fashion magazine and the cobblestone streets of Rome.
Bec quickly realizes that Parker's "accident" may not have been quite so accidental, and when the First Lady's life is threatened, Bec is determined to uncover the truth. On top of that, Bec must contend with bitchy models, her new boss, Candace, who is just as difficult as the tabloids say, and two guys, a hunky Italian bike messenger with a thousand-watt smile and a fashion blogger with a razor-sharp wit, who are both vying for her heart.
Can Bec catch the person who's after the First Lady, solve the mystery of Parker's accident, and juggle two cute boys at the same time? Blonde Ops is a fun, action-packed romp through the hallways of a fashion magazine and the cobblestone streets of Rome.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2014
17 people are currently reading
1791 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Bennardo
11 books109 followersUntil she gets that beach house in the Caribbean, Charlotte lives in the NJ suburban jungle with her family, a floofy cat and a new squirrel family. Her books include the newly released "The Excalibur Vow," (available for review in Netgalley!) and the MG Evolution Revolution trilogy: Simple Machines, Simple Plans, and Simple Lessons. She is the co-author of Blonde Ops (St. Martin’s/Dunne) and the Sirenz series (Sirenz, Sirenz Back In Fashion, Flux). She’s written for anthologies, magazines and newspapers, and has given presentations and workshops at NJ SCBWI conferences, schools, libraries, and book events. Fresh from her MFA, she’s working on sci fi, fantasy, paranormal, horror, and romance novels. She loves to chat about weird things.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
June 21, 2018
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.
May 12, 2014
Review originally posted at: http://mostlyyalit.blogspot.ca/2014/0...
I was really excited for Blonde Ops and I'm really, really sad to say that it wasn't my cup of tea. In theory, it seemed like the perfect book for me: I love fashion, I love spies/heist scenarios, and I love travel. This book had all of those elements, but somehow, it just failed to really make me care about the characters or the story.
The basic premise is that the main character, Bec Jackson, is a hacker who has just been kicked out of yet another prep school. Fed up, her absentee mom sends her to Rome to her friend and big-time fashion magazine editor Parker Phillips. Bec will stay with Parker, finish her year through distance assignments and intern at the magazine, called Edge. Edge is in Rome to do a special feature and photo shoot with the American First Lady. But Bec soon discovers that there's a plot to hurt the First Lady, and using her hacker skills, she needs to help uncover the plot and make sure the First Lady is safe. And oh yeah, there are cute boys around, too!
The Good
The Action-Packed Ending: I liked how everything was tied up. I found this book a little slow getting into, but he pacing picked up near the end, and the big reveal, while a little obvious, was still pretty fun and made for a good romp around Rome.
The Fun, Well-Rounded Secondary Characters: The secondary characters, especially some of the other people who work at Edge, were really pretty fun. I loved the hairdresser, Joe, and his ex, the makeup artist. I also especially enjoyed Bec's fellow intern, Sophie, and managing editor Kevin and their side story. I appreciated the way that these stories were in the periphery but we got to watch them grow. In fact, I would venture to say that I liked some of the secondary characters better than I liked the main character.
The Not-So-Good
The Unlikeable MC: I found Bec kind of whiny. I get that she's not into authority, but the way she acts as an intern - insubordinate most of the time, complaining about most of her tasks - makes her seem very young, irresponsible, and frankly, pretty flakey. Example: When the managing editor asks her to bring him coffee, she basically refuses to do so because he doesn't say "please." Here's the scene:
Ok, seriously? I'm pretty sure that as an intern, getting coffee is her job. And yeah, maybe Kevin should have been more polite, and sure, this internship wasn't Bec's idea, but I'm pretty sure this is how interns are treated. This isn't that bad, and doesn't warrant what she does to him. It's just one example of Bec's immaturity.
This immaturity is in direct contrast with the skills that we're told that she has at manipulating the system and finding ways out of dangerous situations. I just couldn't reconcile Bec's smarts with her personality - especially when, as a hacker, she's supposed to have a naturally suspicious mind, but ends up trusting people and making decisions that seemed incredibly naive or just plain stupid. I don't want to give anything away, but in the interest of trying to back up these statements, let me just say that when the villains were revealed at the end, the first thing Bec does is hug one of them. It's only when that villain actually outright admits his treachery that she stops believing in him.
The Totally Implausible Story: At the beginning of the book, we're told that Bec is a hacker. To me, a hacker really means someone who is on their computer constantly, looking for chinks in the armour of the internet and technology. They work mostly on their computers, NOT in the outside world. For Bec, a hacker means getting into mischief any way she knows how - she's hardly ever on her computer and seems to have skills that go more towards "spy" than "hacker." For instance, one of the first things she does is use black eyeshadow as a powder to find fingerprints on stuff. First of all, who thinks like that? And second of all, as dumb as it sounds, I actually know from experience (re: having my stuff stolen in London on my honeymoon) with the police that it's actually really hard to get fingerprints off stuff - I actually had a CSI dust our stuff and then say to me and my husband, "It's not like it is in the movies." So yeah...because of that experience, I was immediately suspicious of Bec's skills at being a spy - she's not trained, but she seems incredibly able to fool high-level government operatives. There's a lot more to this gripe than what I can say in a spoiler-free review, but suffice to say...I just didn't believe it.
The Pacing and Writing: I think the believability issue came out of two things: 1) the naivete that I mentioned, where Bec was super easily distracted by the boys in her life instead of being uber focused on what she was doing and 2) the voice and pacing of the writing, which I found gave me too much telling and not enough showing. The prose just did not flow smoothly at all - I felt like one moment, I was reading a beautiful description of a square in Rome, and the next, the momentum was dialed up in a way that didn't feel natural. It happens more than once and I honestly felt like I was just being tossed and turned with the writing. Example:
First of all, we're already in Bec's head, so I don't know if I need to get her talking to herself as well. Secondly, instead of immediately going with that suspicion, which I think a hacker would do, Bec ends up trying to tell herself that a) she's not interested in this dude b) that she's the one who's being weird here. And c) the way she describes what he does is just...I don't know, weird? Immature? I just didn't really connect with the writing and pacing here.
The Final Word:
Blonde Ops will definitely be compared to Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl books, but I really found it to be a much lesser book in the same genre. Carter's books always pull me in immediately, and the writing and characters feel believable. Unfortunately, I often found my mind wandering while reading Blonde Ops. It's definitely a light read, and while I found that it strained credulity, I do think that younger teens or reluctant readers might not have the same problems escaping into this fun summer read.
I was really excited for Blonde Ops and I'm really, really sad to say that it wasn't my cup of tea. In theory, it seemed like the perfect book for me: I love fashion, I love spies/heist scenarios, and I love travel. This book had all of those elements, but somehow, it just failed to really make me care about the characters or the story.
The basic premise is that the main character, Bec Jackson, is a hacker who has just been kicked out of yet another prep school. Fed up, her absentee mom sends her to Rome to her friend and big-time fashion magazine editor Parker Phillips. Bec will stay with Parker, finish her year through distance assignments and intern at the magazine, called Edge. Edge is in Rome to do a special feature and photo shoot with the American First Lady. But Bec soon discovers that there's a plot to hurt the First Lady, and using her hacker skills, she needs to help uncover the plot and make sure the First Lady is safe. And oh yeah, there are cute boys around, too!
The Good
The Action-Packed Ending: I liked how everything was tied up. I found this book a little slow getting into, but he pacing picked up near the end, and the big reveal, while a little obvious, was still pretty fun and made for a good romp around Rome.
The Fun, Well-Rounded Secondary Characters: The secondary characters, especially some of the other people who work at Edge, were really pretty fun. I loved the hairdresser, Joe, and his ex, the makeup artist. I also especially enjoyed Bec's fellow intern, Sophie, and managing editor Kevin and their side story. I appreciated the way that these stories were in the periphery but we got to watch them grow. In fact, I would venture to say that I liked some of the secondary characters better than I liked the main character.
The Not-So-Good
The Unlikeable MC: I found Bec kind of whiny. I get that she's not into authority, but the way she acts as an intern - insubordinate most of the time, complaining about most of her tasks - makes her seem very young, irresponsible, and frankly, pretty flakey. Example: When the managing editor asks her to bring him coffee, she basically refuses to do so because he doesn't say "please." Here's the scene:
"I was about to take a cup up to Ugi when Kevin came barreling down the stairs.
"I'll take that--" he started, but I pulled back, sloshing some onto his hand and the pristine white cuff of his shirt. "Look what you've done!" he shouted.
If I gritted my teeth any harder, they'd crack. "That wasn't for you--"
"Hello? I'm the one who ordered the espresso."
Ordered?"Get the stain remover pen from my office!" he shouted, then added, "Move," when I didn't bolt for the steps.
I gave myself credit for working hard, not complaining, and resisting the urge to tie up Kevin's e-mail account with thousands of spam messages to keep him too busy to bug me, but this time, he'd crossed the line."
Ok, seriously? I'm pretty sure that as an intern, getting coffee is her job. And yeah, maybe Kevin should have been more polite, and sure, this internship wasn't Bec's idea, but I'm pretty sure this is how interns are treated. This isn't that bad, and doesn't warrant what she does to him. It's just one example of Bec's immaturity.
This immaturity is in direct contrast with the skills that we're told that she has at manipulating the system and finding ways out of dangerous situations. I just couldn't reconcile Bec's smarts with her personality - especially when, as a hacker, she's supposed to have a naturally suspicious mind, but ends up trusting people and making decisions that seemed incredibly naive or just plain stupid. I don't want to give anything away, but in the interest of trying to back up these statements, let me just say that when the villains were revealed at the end, the first thing Bec does is hug one of them. It's only when that villain actually outright admits his treachery that she stops believing in him.
The Totally Implausible Story: At the beginning of the book, we're told that Bec is a hacker. To me, a hacker really means someone who is on their computer constantly, looking for chinks in the armour of the internet and technology. They work mostly on their computers, NOT in the outside world. For Bec, a hacker means getting into mischief any way she knows how - she's hardly ever on her computer and seems to have skills that go more towards "spy" than "hacker." For instance, one of the first things she does is use black eyeshadow as a powder to find fingerprints on stuff. First of all, who thinks like that? And second of all, as dumb as it sounds, I actually know from experience (re: having my stuff stolen in London on my honeymoon) with the police that it's actually really hard to get fingerprints off stuff - I actually had a CSI dust our stuff and then say to me and my husband, "It's not like it is in the movies." So yeah...because of that experience, I was immediately suspicious of Bec's skills at being a spy - she's not trained, but she seems incredibly able to fool high-level government operatives. There's a lot more to this gripe than what I can say in a spoiler-free review, but suffice to say...I just didn't believe it.
The Pacing and Writing: I think the believability issue came out of two things: 1) the naivete that I mentioned, where Bec was super easily distracted by the boys in her life instead of being uber focused on what she was doing and 2) the voice and pacing of the writing, which I found gave me too much telling and not enough showing. The prose just did not flow smoothly at all - I felt like one moment, I was reading a beautiful description of a square in Rome, and the next, the momentum was dialed up in a way that didn't feel natural. It happens more than once and I honestly felt like I was just being tossed and turned with the writing. Example:
"Finished with this water bottle, he crushed it--and put the bottle in his courier bag. What was he, a hoarder? Or maybe he thought someone would take it and sell it on eBay for a small fortune - him being who he was. Ha! If there was one thing I had already learned in my few days abroad, it was that these fashion types were crazily delusional when it came to their own importance.
Odder still was the twinge and flutter I felt in my stomach when he glanced my way with those intense brown eyes. Okay, it's just a normal reaction to a guy you find intriguing, even if he is strange. Get over it, Bec"
First of all, we're already in Bec's head, so I don't know if I need to get her talking to herself as well. Secondly, instead of immediately going with that suspicion, which I think a hacker would do, Bec ends up trying to tell herself that a) she's not interested in this dude b) that she's the one who's being weird here. And c) the way she describes what he does is just...I don't know, weird? Immature? I just didn't really connect with the writing and pacing here.
The Final Word:
Blonde Ops will definitely be compared to Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl books, but I really found it to be a much lesser book in the same genre. Carter's books always pull me in immediately, and the writing and characters feel believable. Unfortunately, I often found my mind wandering while reading Blonde Ops. It's definitely a light read, and while I found that it strained credulity, I do think that younger teens or reluctant readers might not have the same problems escaping into this fun summer read.
July 16, 2014
Blonde Ops promises a lot of fun and shenanigans but delivers very little of either. When Rebecca Jackson is expelled from yet another boarding school, her executive mother (the readers are never told what her parents do though we gather from the hints given that they are prominent in the business world) ships her off to Rome where one of her friends, the editor of a fashion magazine, is. This friend has settled in Rome temporarily while working on an issue based in Rome.
Bec gets a nasty surprise when she finds out that she has landed in an unpaid intern position when all she would rather do is hole up in her room in front of her computer, hacking, as is her wont. Parker, her mother’s friend, informs her of the fictional Mrs. Barack Obama’s impending arrival and the security concerns associated with her visit before getting into a severe accident that is suspicious for all sorts of reasons. Parker is replaced by Candace Worthington, a super model designer type person with Miranda-esque qualities. Bec decides that it is she and not all the trained and more intelligent people present who can get to the bottom of Parker’s accident and save the First Lady from getting kidnapped or worse.
There are several things wrong with this book. Now, this is supposed to be a light, fluffy read so I didn’t expect any grand discourse on the meaning of self and the quest for identity but I did expect something smart. Considering the high intellect of the protagonist, I don’t think I was wrong in expecting Rebecca to have razor sharp wit or if not that, to have an internal voice that is engaging and cultured considering her upbringing. She has seen more of the world than is possible for the majority of the teens her age. She has been places and probably done things that should reflect in the way she sees the world and the way she constructs herself in it. Unfortunately, Rebecca is neither engaging nor does she have anything profound to say. We’ll get to the ridiculous romance later.
What concerns me is the heavy reliance on stereotypes in this novel and the subtextual racism. Consider the treatment of all people of colour: Parker, an African-American woman, is superficially shown to have power in the beginning, being the editor of a famous magazine. Almost immediately, she is removed from that position of power and is largely absent from the narrative being replaced by a white, bitchier version of her. Dante, the Italian boy who for reasons unknown to me is in love with Rebecca (or her American-ness) is stereotyped as having too many cousins etc. Dante is in love with America so much that he dismisses the history and beauty of Italy and Rome in favour of…you know, I do not understand why he loves America so much.
I understand that Brazilians and Indians share similar features but do not insult my intelligence by insinuating that a Brazilian person is indistinguishable from an Indian person. Perhaps not to you, dear authors, who see the world in shades of white, but for people who are a different colour than you, differences exist and they are substantial. A character who identifies himself as belonging to a race he does not will raise questions. And then there is Oritz. Another person of colour whose presentation is suspect. The First Lady is portrayed as this Mother Theresa-esque woman who barely has a voice in the narrative and is doing good things but is criminally negligent of her own safety.
Now for the ridiculous romance. There is a love triangle which is not at all interesting because the reader doesn’t understand why, in an environment filled with models and smarter women, any boy would fall for Rebecca. Rebecca goes around kissing both boys which hey, if that’s the way she rolls, is cool and dandy, but when there is no meaning attached to the romance except as fan service and neither boy has any purpose in the narrative except to elevate Rebecca’s position as an object of desire and envy, then I have issues with the romance.
For someone who makes a lot of noise about her hacking and her equipment, Rebecca displays a remarkable lack of skills when she lets “Raj” once and again slip easily behind her defences and have his way with her so called equipment. In a similar tone, the plot of the novel is simple and anticlimactic as the primary conflict is easily resolved by the super amazingness that is Rebecca.
I did not enjoy the novel and cannot recommend it to you.
Bec gets a nasty surprise when she finds out that she has landed in an unpaid intern position when all she would rather do is hole up in her room in front of her computer, hacking, as is her wont. Parker, her mother’s friend, informs her of the fictional Mrs. Barack Obama’s impending arrival and the security concerns associated with her visit before getting into a severe accident that is suspicious for all sorts of reasons. Parker is replaced by Candace Worthington, a super model designer type person with Miranda-esque qualities. Bec decides that it is she and not all the trained and more intelligent people present who can get to the bottom of Parker’s accident and save the First Lady from getting kidnapped or worse.
There are several things wrong with this book. Now, this is supposed to be a light, fluffy read so I didn’t expect any grand discourse on the meaning of self and the quest for identity but I did expect something smart. Considering the high intellect of the protagonist, I don’t think I was wrong in expecting Rebecca to have razor sharp wit or if not that, to have an internal voice that is engaging and cultured considering her upbringing. She has seen more of the world than is possible for the majority of the teens her age. She has been places and probably done things that should reflect in the way she sees the world and the way she constructs herself in it. Unfortunately, Rebecca is neither engaging nor does she have anything profound to say. We’ll get to the ridiculous romance later.
What concerns me is the heavy reliance on stereotypes in this novel and the subtextual racism. Consider the treatment of all people of colour: Parker, an African-American woman, is superficially shown to have power in the beginning, being the editor of a famous magazine. Almost immediately, she is removed from that position of power and is largely absent from the narrative being replaced by a white, bitchier version of her. Dante, the Italian boy who for reasons unknown to me is in love with Rebecca (or her American-ness) is stereotyped as having too many cousins etc. Dante is in love with America so much that he dismisses the history and beauty of Italy and Rome in favour of…you know, I do not understand why he loves America so much.
I understand that Brazilians and Indians share similar features but do not insult my intelligence by insinuating that a Brazilian person is indistinguishable from an Indian person. Perhaps not to you, dear authors, who see the world in shades of white, but for people who are a different colour than you, differences exist and they are substantial. A character who identifies himself as belonging to a race he does not will raise questions. And then there is Oritz. Another person of colour whose presentation is suspect. The First Lady is portrayed as this Mother Theresa-esque woman who barely has a voice in the narrative and is doing good things but is criminally negligent of her own safety.
Now for the ridiculous romance. There is a love triangle which is not at all interesting because the reader doesn’t understand why, in an environment filled with models and smarter women, any boy would fall for Rebecca. Rebecca goes around kissing both boys which hey, if that’s the way she rolls, is cool and dandy, but when there is no meaning attached to the romance except as fan service and neither boy has any purpose in the narrative except to elevate Rebecca’s position as an object of desire and envy, then I have issues with the romance.
For someone who makes a lot of noise about her hacking and her equipment, Rebecca displays a remarkable lack of skills when she lets “Raj” once and again slip easily behind her defences and have his way with her so called equipment. In a similar tone, the plot of the novel is simple and anticlimactic as the primary conflict is easily resolved by the super amazingness that is Rebecca.
I did not enjoy the novel and cannot recommend it to you.
April 27, 2014
Models. Hackers. Plots. And Rome.
Need I say more?
Blonde Ops is a fluffy adventure ideal for fans of Ally Carter and Robin Benway. The characters are fun and entertaining, the plot is exciting although a tad predictable, and the setting is awesome!
The main character, Bec, is a hacker just kicked out of a boarding school for the umpteenth time. I absolutely loved reading from her POV! She is smart, quirky, and... how can I phrase this?... very meddlesome. Additionally, Bec was refreshingly enthusiastic about Rome, food, and of course, the cute Italian delivery guy!
Once Bec was shipped of to EDGE, under the custody of EDGE's editor, Parker. However, soon after arriving, things start going awry and Bec must use al her skills to find out a scheme involving the first lady! While I predicted the "bad guys", i still immensely enjoyed the mystery/adventure aspect of Blond Ops!
I've been to Italy before. The place is so amazing. I loved visiting there again while reading Blonde Ops! Also, I enjoyed the setting of Edge. There were a lot of quirky models, photographers, assistants etc. Also, I think I lot of YA books portray people who enjoy fashion in a bad way, so I enjoyed how the authors didn't shame anyone into fashion. I also enjoyed the light-hearted portrayal of the drama of the magazine. I especially like Sophie, Candace, and Kevin.
Overall, the two authors of Blonde Ops have written a delightful, unputdownable story! I've been wondering if they will write a sequel as the ending wrapped enough up while still leaving the story open for a next installment. A girl can hope!
4/5 Stars
*I received this book for free from FirstReads in exchange for an honest review*
Need I say more?
Blonde Ops is a fluffy adventure ideal for fans of Ally Carter and Robin Benway. The characters are fun and entertaining, the plot is exciting although a tad predictable, and the setting is awesome!
The main character, Bec, is a hacker just kicked out of a boarding school for the umpteenth time. I absolutely loved reading from her POV! She is smart, quirky, and... how can I phrase this?... very meddlesome. Additionally, Bec was refreshingly enthusiastic about Rome, food, and of course, the cute Italian delivery guy!
Once Bec was shipped of to EDGE, under the custody of EDGE's editor, Parker. However, soon after arriving, things start going awry and Bec must use al her skills to find out a scheme involving the first lady! While I predicted the "bad guys", i still immensely enjoyed the mystery/adventure aspect of Blond Ops!
I've been to Italy before. The place is so amazing. I loved visiting there again while reading Blonde Ops! Also, I enjoyed the setting of Edge. There were a lot of quirky models, photographers, assistants etc. Also, I think I lot of YA books portray people who enjoy fashion in a bad way, so I enjoyed how the authors didn't shame anyone into fashion. I also enjoyed the light-hearted portrayal of the drama of the magazine. I especially like Sophie, Candace, and Kevin.
Overall, the two authors of Blonde Ops have written a delightful, unputdownable story! I've been wondering if they will write a sequel as the ending wrapped enough up while still leaving the story open for a next installment. A girl can hope!
4/5 Stars
*I received this book for free from FirstReads in exchange for an honest review*
April 10, 2015
Once again, here is a book that doesn't suck too much, but because of the typical plot, characters, and romance, things end up not so well. I also was kind of skim-reading through the last 50 pages or so. It's hard for a book like this to keep my interest.
So all in all, this is just another typical spy novel.
So all in all, this is just another typical spy novel.
April 17, 2021
1 star
Oh dear. Blonde Ops... where did we go wrong? To be fair, I didn't have EXTREMELY high hopes for this as being like some kind of mindblowingly awesome adventure story, but I hoped for some fun, some intrigue, hopefully some lovely wanderlust-evoking passages about Rome, and maybe a cute romance. Sadly, I didn't really get any of those things.
First off, the main character is bland as fuck. I can't get a grip on her personality, because one minute she's cool and defiant, but the next she just does the stupidest shit ever. I guess reckless is the right word - but she doesn't have the kind of spark that makes that kind of character exciting or endearing. It really bothered me how there wasn't really any character built up - Bec felt random to me. Like how she met Parker and only knows her for a day, but when she lands in a coma, Bec acts like it's the end of the world and is almost crying and yelling at everyone how keeping her condition from her is unfair and whatever. I'm like, you knew this woman for ONE DAY. What even?
Next, I get that this is a young adult spy novel, so I should be expecting a story along the lines of Agent Cody Banks or Get a Clue or another one of the dozens of Disney-esque movies, but the lighthearted tone was not there for me to forgive the terrible plotting - which mostly stems from the revelations at the ending, so sadly, it's spoiler time.
But above all it's that stupid love triangle situation that had me yelling at this book in frustration. Bec shows up in Rome, and when she sees Dante for the first time, he's immediately in love with her and pursuing her, and the next day they're making out and whatever. Taj, an INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITY AND FASHION ICON, meets her and soon does the EXACT SAME THING. Then the two boys are in the same vicinity and they glare at each other until the tension is so high that it could easily have turned violent. It's absolutely fucking ridiculous, not only because I couldn't see anything so freaking special about Bec in the first place. But this is what happens, I guess, when you try to do a full love triangle in one book of LESS THAN 300 PAGES. Development? What development? Let's just throw in the drama.
The problem is, I was waiting for there to be something behind that overdramatic love triangle because it felt so off and out of place to me. The way that Dante immediately attached himself to Bec and felt almost possessive about her, and then, as a delivery boy, just worms his way into shoots and the office, and whatever? That's not normal behavior. Then Taj, same, he's a celebrity, what interest would he have in her? (Though, I'll give them the bonding over hacking.) But it was the extent to which their rivalry flared up that made me think those two had to know each other beforehand or have something else going on - because seriously. Well.
Summing Up:
I thought I was mostly just bored reading Blonde Ops, but the more I think about it, the more aggravated I become. I didn't care about the characters, I hated the romantic drama, I didn't get ANY impressions about Rome or how awesome Italy is (super sadface!), and the plot really borders on idiotic. This book just tried to do way too much and ended up imploding. The Devil Wears Prada meets James Bond for teens? Not even freaking close.
GIF it to me straight!
*This review is of an ARC, given to me by a friend.
Oh dear. Blonde Ops... where did we go wrong? To be fair, I didn't have EXTREMELY high hopes for this as being like some kind of mindblowingly awesome adventure story, but I hoped for some fun, some intrigue, hopefully some lovely wanderlust-evoking passages about Rome, and maybe a cute romance. Sadly, I didn't really get any of those things.
First off, the main character is bland as fuck. I can't get a grip on her personality, because one minute she's cool and defiant, but the next she just does the stupidest shit ever. I guess reckless is the right word - but she doesn't have the kind of spark that makes that kind of character exciting or endearing. It really bothered me how there wasn't really any character built up - Bec felt random to me. Like how she met Parker and only knows her for a day, but when she lands in a coma, Bec acts like it's the end of the world and is almost crying and yelling at everyone how keeping her condition from her is unfair and whatever. I'm like, you knew this woman for ONE DAY. What even?
Next, I get that this is a young adult spy novel, so I should be expecting a story along the lines of Agent Cody Banks or Get a Clue or another one of the dozens of Disney-esque movies, but the lighthearted tone was not there for me to forgive the terrible plotting - which mostly stems from the revelations at the ending, so sadly, it's spoiler time.
But above all it's that stupid love triangle situation that had me yelling at this book in frustration. Bec shows up in Rome, and when she sees Dante for the first time, he's immediately in love with her and pursuing her, and the next day they're making out and whatever. Taj, an INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITY AND FASHION ICON, meets her and soon does the EXACT SAME THING. Then the two boys are in the same vicinity and they glare at each other until the tension is so high that it could easily have turned violent. It's absolutely fucking ridiculous, not only because I couldn't see anything so freaking special about Bec in the first place. But this is what happens, I guess, when you try to do a full love triangle in one book of LESS THAN 300 PAGES. Development? What development? Let's just throw in the drama.
The problem is, I was waiting for there to be something behind that overdramatic love triangle because it felt so off and out of place to me. The way that Dante immediately attached himself to Bec and felt almost possessive about her, and then, as a delivery boy, just worms his way into shoots and the office, and whatever? That's not normal behavior. Then Taj, same, he's a celebrity, what interest would he have in her? (Though, I'll give them the bonding over hacking.) But it was the extent to which their rivalry flared up that made me think those two had to know each other beforehand or have something else going on - because seriously. Well.
Summing Up:
I thought I was mostly just bored reading Blonde Ops, but the more I think about it, the more aggravated I become. I didn't care about the characters, I hated the romantic drama, I didn't get ANY impressions about Rome or how awesome Italy is (super sadface!), and the plot really borders on idiotic. This book just tried to do way too much and ended up imploding. The Devil Wears Prada meets James Bond for teens? Not even freaking close.
GIF it to me straight!
*This review is of an ARC, given to me by a friend.
August 10, 2016
What a cute, fun, and keep-you-on-your-toes YA thriller! You immediately love Bec, the main character, who is smart and unconventional. I truly didn't know who the "bad guys" were until the end. Great YA read!
January 15, 2015
I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads.
Oh, my goodness. I'm totally in love with Blonde Ops. I mean, the mystery, love, intrigue, and characters were all perfect. I thought this book was absolutely fabulous. I warn you: It's addicting and lovely.
Yes, there's the CIA involved. Along with Interpol and a whole bunch of other people. It's espionage, but Blonde Ops isn't exactly espionage. Yes, Parker is a hacker, but she isn't skilled enough to be a professional. Still, I would label this book as espionage, mystery, thriller, romance, and YA. To me, it's the perfect combination of delight and squeals. I just love espionage because of the mystery. However, I don't like mysteries without espionage. I must have them both. I guess that's the way I am.
What's next? Oh, Parker. Parker reminds me of Parker from Leverage (tv show). Although they are different in many ways, they are in the same world. Still, Parker (tv show) is better than Parker from here.
Bec is the main character. (I had a terrible case of identity recognition). She's wonderful and is a girl at heart. She may think she's smart and good, but she soon realizes she isn't good enough. (Fingers-crossed for a chance CIA train her. Espionage is always fun). She's innocent and naive at times, but she can be as fierce as a lion.
There's a love triangle. First is a guy named Taj who is a fashion blogger from South America or something like that. He posses a British accent and is very hot according to Parker. The other guy is Dante or something like that. I can't remember his name, because the chemistry between Taj and Parker is hotter than Parker and Dante. Anyway, Dante is a delivery boy and works for his family. He's a family man.
I root for Taj! I don't care about what you guys hate about him. He's awesome and has more depth than this Dante guy.
The plot is perfect. I love how it spins around and around. It twists here and there. Then you start forming a list of suspects. I can certainly give you mind, but that's sort of a cheat-cheat, so no. Anyway, someone is trying to kill the First Lady. At least that's what the CIA believes. The plot goes around and around (I'm repeating myself) until it stops in the final betrayal/reveal of the plot. And I can't help but love it.
I'm addicted. I can't help it. I hope there's a sequel to Blonde Ops. When I finished the book, I'm quick to realize that not everything has been completed yet. And I hope the authors won't leave the conclusion to debate. I hate when that happens!
Rating: Five out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
Oh, my goodness. I'm totally in love with Blonde Ops. I mean, the mystery, love, intrigue, and characters were all perfect. I thought this book was absolutely fabulous. I warn you: It's addicting and lovely.
Yes, there's the CIA involved. Along with Interpol and a whole bunch of other people. It's espionage, but Blonde Ops isn't exactly espionage. Yes, Parker is a hacker, but she isn't skilled enough to be a professional. Still, I would label this book as espionage, mystery, thriller, romance, and YA. To me, it's the perfect combination of delight and squeals. I just love espionage because of the mystery. However, I don't like mysteries without espionage. I must have them both. I guess that's the way I am.
What's next? Oh, Parker. Parker reminds me of Parker from Leverage (tv show). Although they are different in many ways, they are in the same world. Still, Parker (tv show) is better than Parker from here.
Bec is the main character. (I had a terrible case of identity recognition). She's wonderful and is a girl at heart. She may think she's smart and good, but she soon realizes she isn't good enough. (Fingers-crossed for a chance CIA train her. Espionage is always fun). She's innocent and naive at times, but she can be as fierce as a lion.
There's a love triangle. First is a guy named Taj who is a fashion blogger from South America or something like that. He posses a British accent and is very hot according to Parker. The other guy is Dante or something like that. I can't remember his name, because the chemistry between Taj and Parker is hotter than Parker and Dante. Anyway, Dante is a delivery boy and works for his family. He's a family man.
I root for Taj! I don't care about what you guys hate about him. He's awesome and has more depth than this Dante guy.
The plot is perfect. I love how it spins around and around. It twists here and there. Then you start forming a list of suspects. I can certainly give you mind, but that's sort of a cheat-cheat, so no. Anyway, someone is trying to kill the First Lady. At least that's what the CIA believes. The plot goes around and around (I'm repeating myself) until it stops in the final betrayal/reveal of the plot. And I can't help but love it.
I'm addicted. I can't help it. I hope there's a sequel to Blonde Ops. When I finished the book, I'm quick to realize that not everything has been completed yet. And I hope the authors won't leave the conclusion to debate. I hate when that happens!
Rating: Five out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
November 21, 2014
Excuse me for a moment.
That's how it feels to finally read a book that is just pure fun. I feel like I've been reading serious books, after serious books--or books that try a little bit too hard to be funny. Reading Blonde Ops was like a breathe of fresh contemporary air. I haven't read a young adult contemporary novel in a long time and I'm so glad I took a moment to read this one.
Blonde Ops isn't perfect, but it's a heck of a lot of fun. While I would have liked a more clean-cut ending (It kind of makes it obvious that there might be a sequel by the lackluster, "There, we're finished....for now!" conclusion), the meat of the novel was great. The reader is thrown clue after clue regarding the mysteries in this novel and missing one could mean complete confusion. I loved that it wasn't just Bec, the protagonist, working the case--but the reader, as well.
I enjoyed seeing characters grow and change as time went on, but it's a bit farfetched that this all happens in the span of a week. The novel feels like it takes place over several months, so a week is stretching it. The time frame makes it a little hard to comprehend how extreme characters can change so drastically and so quickly is such a short time.
Regardless of the pacing, I loved the action, mystery, and the romances. I enjoyed how Bec was faced with multiple guys, but somehow kept a level head. She didn't' show too much internal struggle about her romantic choices--she just lived and enjoyed her time in Rome.
I would have liked to see more from her parents, but then again, they kind of lived up to their reputation of being unaware of their daughter's adventurous life.
I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy light YA mysteries, fashion, romance, Rome, and kick-ass female protagonists who can hold their own--think Charlie's Angels, minus two angels and a non-spy job. I look forward to reading more about Bec and her many adventures!
Happy reading!
That's how it feels to finally read a book that is just pure fun. I feel like I've been reading serious books, after serious books--or books that try a little bit too hard to be funny. Reading Blonde Ops was like a breathe of fresh contemporary air. I haven't read a young adult contemporary novel in a long time and I'm so glad I took a moment to read this one.
Blonde Ops isn't perfect, but it's a heck of a lot of fun. While I would have liked a more clean-cut ending (It kind of makes it obvious that there might be a sequel by the lackluster, "There, we're finished....for now!" conclusion), the meat of the novel was great. The reader is thrown clue after clue regarding the mysteries in this novel and missing one could mean complete confusion. I loved that it wasn't just Bec, the protagonist, working the case--but the reader, as well.
I enjoyed seeing characters grow and change as time went on, but it's a bit farfetched that this all happens in the span of a week. The novel feels like it takes place over several months, so a week is stretching it. The time frame makes it a little hard to comprehend how extreme characters can change so drastically and so quickly is such a short time.
Regardless of the pacing, I loved the action, mystery, and the romances. I enjoyed how Bec was faced with multiple guys, but somehow kept a level head. She didn't' show too much internal struggle about her romantic choices--she just lived and enjoyed her time in Rome.
I would have liked to see more from her parents, but then again, they kind of lived up to their reputation of being unaware of their daughter's adventurous life.
I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy light YA mysteries, fashion, romance, Rome, and kick-ass female protagonists who can hold their own--think Charlie's Angels, minus two angels and a non-spy job. I look forward to reading more about Bec and her many adventures!
Happy reading!
April 26, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.)
What I expected from this book – a smart, savvy heroine with a few tricks up her sleeve, and a nose for uncovering the truth, and keeping herself out of trouble.
What I got – a slightly stupid heroine, who had no idea how to cover her tracks, and was more interested in dating two different guys than working out who the evil-doers were.
I have to say that Rebecca ‘Bec’ annoyed me in this book. She cared more about taking shortcuts than doing a job properly, walked head-first into trouble without a care, had no idea how to avoid getting caught, and spent more time worrying about which boy she was dating that day than anything else. Needless to say that she was not what I was expecting, and I wasn’t impressed. The neon pink hair also did not a good spy make – way too unusual.
The storyline in this bored me. As if it wasn’t bad enough having ‘Bec’ as a main character, the storyline just couldn’t keep me interested. I didn’t care what happened to the characters, and I just wanted Bec to start taking things more seriously, and stop acting like everything was just a game.
The love triangle in this was annoying. I didn’t like either guy, and I was so fed up of Bec juggling the both of them.
The ending was a relief, and I was just glad to have made it there. I won’t be reading any more books in this series.
Overall; a stupid heroine, and an annoying storyline,
4.5 out of 10.
What I expected from this book – a smart, savvy heroine with a few tricks up her sleeve, and a nose for uncovering the truth, and keeping herself out of trouble.
What I got – a slightly stupid heroine, who had no idea how to cover her tracks, and was more interested in dating two different guys than working out who the evil-doers were.
I have to say that Rebecca ‘Bec’ annoyed me in this book. She cared more about taking shortcuts than doing a job properly, walked head-first into trouble without a care, had no idea how to avoid getting caught, and spent more time worrying about which boy she was dating that day than anything else. Needless to say that she was not what I was expecting, and I wasn’t impressed. The neon pink hair also did not a good spy make – way too unusual.
The storyline in this bored me. As if it wasn’t bad enough having ‘Bec’ as a main character, the storyline just couldn’t keep me interested. I didn’t care what happened to the characters, and I just wanted Bec to start taking things more seriously, and stop acting like everything was just a game.
The love triangle in this was annoying. I didn’t like either guy, and I was so fed up of Bec juggling the both of them.
The ending was a relief, and I was just glad to have made it there. I won’t be reading any more books in this series.
Overall; a stupid heroine, and an annoying storyline,
4.5 out of 10.
October 9, 2018
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.
December 18, 2018
I dove into this book expecting it to be a cute, cheesy teenage romance set in Italy, but this just wasn't it.
I knew this was going to be very cliché and probably include a million tropes, and this is exactly what I got. However, I feel like they weren't necessarily done well.
The plot was a little bit all over the place, to be honest. It was all very improbable and a little unrealistic at times. It didn't always make sense to me, but I was running with it. Obviously, it was somewhat predictable. However, I never saw that plot twist at the end coming! The big reveal was definitely unexpected to me, and this is what kept me from simply giving this book one star.
The characters felt very flat and unidimensional. Our main character, Bec, is not like other girls . *eye roll* She's a HACKER, she has PINK HAIR, and she doesn't want to be in Italy interning for a fashion magazine after being kicked out of her posh boarding school for the millionth time, she would much rather be home in the US and start things over in a new school that she'll inevitably get kick out of eventually. To be honest, Bec is a brat. I mean, really? The not-like-other-girls trope? We're in 2018, I thought we were past that. I feel like the authors attempted to make their main character stand out, but it just felt like they tried too hard. The rest of the characters were pretty cliché and uninteresting too. They all followed some kind of trope and none of them, including our main character, really evolve throughout the story.
One thing that I do feel the authors did write is the actual writing. Despite being written by a duo, the story read pretty seamlessly and if I hadn't known this was written by two different people, I never would have been able to tell. The story was also greatly paced and kept me entertained pretty much all the time. The only flaw in the writing, in my opinion, was the lack of descriptions of the environment. The story is set in Rome, and yet, the city is barely described. The only reason I even picked this book up to begin with was because it was set in Europe, and yet, we barely an idea of where it's taking place. A few tourist spots were mentioned, but that was pretty much it. That left me disappointed and wanting more.
Despite its flaws, I feel like this book would make a great Disney Channel-style movie. It just wasn't that great of a book.
I knew this was going to be very cliché and probably include a million tropes, and this is exactly what I got. However, I feel like they weren't necessarily done well.
The plot was a little bit all over the place, to be honest. It was all very improbable and a little unrealistic at times. It didn't always make sense to me, but I was running with it. Obviously, it was somewhat predictable. However, I never saw that plot twist at the end coming! The big reveal was definitely unexpected to me, and this is what kept me from simply giving this book one star.
The characters felt very flat and unidimensional. Our main character, Bec, is not like other girls . *eye roll* She's a HACKER, she has PINK HAIR, and she doesn't want to be in Italy interning for a fashion magazine after being kicked out of her posh boarding school for the millionth time, she would much rather be home in the US and start things over in a new school that she'll inevitably get kick out of eventually. To be honest, Bec is a brat. I mean, really? The not-like-other-girls trope? We're in 2018, I thought we were past that. I feel like the authors attempted to make their main character stand out, but it just felt like they tried too hard. The rest of the characters were pretty cliché and uninteresting too. They all followed some kind of trope and none of them, including our main character, really evolve throughout the story.
One thing that I do feel the authors did write is the actual writing. Despite being written by a duo, the story read pretty seamlessly and if I hadn't known this was written by two different people, I never would have been able to tell. The story was also greatly paced and kept me entertained pretty much all the time. The only flaw in the writing, in my opinion, was the lack of descriptions of the environment. The story is set in Rome, and yet, the city is barely described. The only reason I even picked this book up to begin with was because it was set in Europe, and yet, we barely an idea of where it's taking place. A few tourist spots were mentioned, but that was pretty much it. That left me disappointed and wanting more.
Despite its flaws, I feel like this book would make a great Disney Channel-style movie. It just wasn't that great of a book.
March 31, 2017
I didn't know what to think going into this book. I had never read anything by this author before and I have not read a lot of spy books. There were parts of this book that I enjoyed, however I struggled to get through most of the book. The only reason that I am giving this 3 stars is the fact that I enjoyed the fact of trying to figure out the mystery and the fact that this book wasn't normal.
September 6, 2016
As the publisher's description states, Blonde Ops is "a fun, action-packed romp through the hallways of a fashion magazine and the cobblestone streets of Rome." It's a light-hearted YA read with enough spying, hacking, fashion, and traveling to please almost everyone.
That being said, it didn't feel as authentic as some of the other books in the young adult spy genre. I know, I know, teen spy novels aren't exactly realistic anyway, but the background, situations, and characters in some feel more realistic than others.
I was frustrated with Bec because she often didn't seem to be displaying much common sense. But the adults in the book were aggravating, too -- leaving a delinquent teenager with someone they barely knew anymore, letting a known hacker still have access to computers and other electronics, sharing some sensitive information with Bec but not trusting her with other seemingly less sensitive information, having so much security personnel around because of the First Lady but then not actually paying much attention to the comings and goings of anyone, not thinking it was strange that a celebrity model / magazine editor was bossing around Secret Service agents... Seriously, Bec is the only person who thinks it's strange that Candace has control over and bosses around the Secret Service agents.
Blonde Ops has a fun concept, and YA readers will enjoy it for what it is -- a fashion-tinged spy romp through Rome -- but it could have been polished a bit more to make it more plausible, less frustrating, and an overall better read.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
That being said, it didn't feel as authentic as some of the other books in the young adult spy genre. I know, I know, teen spy novels aren't exactly realistic anyway, but the background, situations, and characters in some feel more realistic than others.
I was frustrated with Bec because she often didn't seem to be displaying much common sense. But the adults in the book were aggravating, too -- leaving a delinquent teenager with someone they barely knew anymore, letting a known hacker still have access to computers and other electronics, sharing some sensitive information with Bec but not trusting her with other seemingly less sensitive information, having so much security personnel around because of the First Lady but then not actually paying much attention to the comings and goings of anyone, not thinking it was strange that a celebrity model / magazine editor was bossing around Secret Service agents... Seriously, Bec is the only person who thinks it's strange that Candace has control over and bosses around the Secret Service agents.
Blonde Ops has a fun concept, and YA readers will enjoy it for what it is -- a fashion-tinged spy romp through Rome -- but it could have been polished a bit more to make it more plausible, less frustrating, and an overall better read.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
April 17, 2014
Blonde Ops was set around Rome and the glamorous world of fashion. When Bec was expelled from school for hacking, her parents sent her off to stay with Parker, a friend of her mother, who was also the editor of Edge magazine. But when Parker is injured in a car accident, a former supermodel, Candace Worthington took over Edge, and the custody of Bec. When Bec realized that there are something suspicious about Parker’s accident, she started to investigate the people around her.
This book was a very fun read with a little bit of thriller, mystery and romance. I think the author did a very good job with the plot. The storyline was entertaining, and the mystery of who was it that was trying to hurt the first lady was very exciting. Everyone sounded like a possible suspect to me.
Bec was a likeable character. Although I do question her hacking skill, I still like her voice and attitude. Bec may be the usual troublemaker, but she can also be kind and meddlesome. I love Bec’s and Candace relationship. They didn’t start out well, but when they get to know each other well, they can be fun. I especially love it when Bec would always do or say something to annoy Candace.
The romance between Bec, Dante and Taj was light, fun and exciting! Dante was the Italian who worked as a delivery man. He’s a family man who happened to have a lot of cousins in Rome. Taj was a fashion blogger who had some mysterious side. I love both Dante and Taj and would like to see them again. Hopefully, there will be a sequence to this book.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a very fun read with a little bit of thriller, mystery and romance. I think the author did a very good job with the plot. The storyline was entertaining, and the mystery of who was it that was trying to hurt the first lady was very exciting. Everyone sounded like a possible suspect to me.
Bec was a likeable character. Although I do question her hacking skill, I still like her voice and attitude. Bec may be the usual troublemaker, but she can also be kind and meddlesome. I love Bec’s and Candace relationship. They didn’t start out well, but when they get to know each other well, they can be fun. I especially love it when Bec would always do or say something to annoy Candace.
The romance between Bec, Dante and Taj was light, fun and exciting! Dante was the Italian who worked as a delivery man. He’s a family man who happened to have a lot of cousins in Rome. Taj was a fashion blogger who had some mysterious side. I love both Dante and Taj and would like to see them again. Hopefully, there will be a sequence to this book.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2014
Rebecca "Bec" Jackson was just kicked out of another school and sent to Rome to intern for her mother's friend, Parker Phillips, who works at one of the top fashion magazines. When Parker is in an accident under curious circumstances, Bec is determined to get to the bottom of it. On top of trying to figure out what happened to Parker, the First Lady is going to be visiting the studio. When the First Lady is threatened, Bec decides to try to figure out who is responsible. Bec has her hands full at the office, and with the two guys who have taken an eye for her, it becomes a lot to handle. When questions arise about the First Lady, Bec's guard goes up and she is not sure who she can trust. Can she manage to find the person responsible before anyone else is hurt?
This book was entertaining and I really enjoyed it. Bec is very knowledgeable with computers. She is good at knowing how to manipulate the computers around her. I enjoyed reading from Bec's point-of-view. She enjoys the attention from both Dante and Taj, but I like that she is on guard with the both of them, as well as many other people. Even though Bec is a hacker, you can tell she cares about people, and doesn't do it to hurt others. She is conflicted about hacking to figure out what happened to Parker and finding out the status of her injuries, even though she knows it could get her sent back to the states. Overall, I thought this book was a fun read.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This book was entertaining and I really enjoyed it. Bec is very knowledgeable with computers. She is good at knowing how to manipulate the computers around her. I enjoyed reading from Bec's point-of-view. She enjoys the attention from both Dante and Taj, but I like that she is on guard with the both of them, as well as many other people. Even though Bec is a hacker, you can tell she cares about people, and doesn't do it to hurt others. She is conflicted about hacking to figure out what happened to Parker and finding out the status of her injuries, even though she knows it could get her sent back to the states. Overall, I thought this book was a fun read.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
April 1, 2014
This is a pretty good read, but keep in mind it's a pretty light read.
The main character, Bec, finds herself kicked out of another private boarding school and in trouble with the parental figures yet again. Her mother comes up with a unique solution, though... send Bec to Rome for the summer to work as an unpaid intern to her old college friend. Enter the college friend who seems pretty cool and easy to be with. The job is with a fashion magazine, which Bec loves, but it's high-paced and crazy. Then the next morning the old college friend of her mom's gets in a bad accident and no one is telling Bec anything. Enter an evil boss now who is now also Bec's guardian while in Rome. Answers aren't offered, more questions arise, and the wife of the President of the United States comes over for a visit to be interviewed and photographed. OF course we have to have a couple of cute boys in the mix, too! Intrigue, spies, and lots of technology comes into the picture to make the spy story pretty fascinating.
While I didn't feel it was an entirely new premise or even story, the author put a pretty good spin on it to make it entertaining and you to want to finish reading the story. That's huge in my book. ;) I would recommend it to anyone girl who just wants to have a fun read that adds in some suspense and intrigue!
The main character, Bec, finds herself kicked out of another private boarding school and in trouble with the parental figures yet again. Her mother comes up with a unique solution, though... send Bec to Rome for the summer to work as an unpaid intern to her old college friend. Enter the college friend who seems pretty cool and easy to be with. The job is with a fashion magazine, which Bec loves, but it's high-paced and crazy. Then the next morning the old college friend of her mom's gets in a bad accident and no one is telling Bec anything. Enter an evil boss now who is now also Bec's guardian while in Rome. Answers aren't offered, more questions arise, and the wife of the President of the United States comes over for a visit to be interviewed and photographed. OF course we have to have a couple of cute boys in the mix, too! Intrigue, spies, and lots of technology comes into the picture to make the spy story pretty fascinating.
While I didn't feel it was an entirely new premise or even story, the author put a pretty good spin on it to make it entertaining and you to want to finish reading the story. That's huge in my book. ;) I would recommend it to anyone girl who just wants to have a fun read that adds in some suspense and intrigue!
May 11, 2014
This book was very unique. But i was not invested in the characters i liked the main lead, Bec . i did not however like Kevin. i was really bored for most of the book and did not care what happened to the characters. my favorite was the ending . the fashion element was not as drawn out and as enjoyable as i thought. i thought the spy element was good but could have been better. the plot and pacing were a bit slow. i was not very invested in the mystery as much as i would have liked.
April 27, 2014
DNF @ 11%
I know. I'm horrible. I've been a DNFing machine lately and trust me, I don't like it at all. :/ It makes me think just how evil I am. I have no idea if this is because of my reading slump or if I just didn't get the story at all. I wanted to love this. Honestly, I did. But urghh, I can't shake this...this unsaturated feeling inside my head.
I know. I'm horrible. I've been a DNFing machine lately and trust me, I don't like it at all. :/ It makes me think just how evil I am. I have no idea if this is because of my reading slump or if I just didn't get the story at all. I wanted to love this. Honestly, I did. But urghh, I can't shake this...this unsaturated feeling inside my head.
May 27, 2014
This book delivered in all aspects: action, mystery, and romance. When Bec, the main character journeys to Rome, each scene set in the city portrays the historical beauty of Italy. The mystery Bec attempts to solve never leads to an obvious solution, but instead leaves the reader guessing, and suspecting characters during all points of the story. Overall 5/5 stars; there better be a sequel!
February 15, 2014
I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It was fun, fast paced and entertaining. And I loved the main character right from the start!
May 12, 2014
*ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Griffin thru Netgalley.*
April 17, 2014
I won a copy of this through a FirstReads giveaway on GoodReads!
This fast-paced and engrossing book is a fun YA read. Totally unbelievable, but thrilling once it gets going.
This fast-paced and engrossing book is a fun YA read. Totally unbelievable, but thrilling once it gets going.
Want to read
March 14, 2014Thank you Good Reads First Reads for having given our school the chance to win this book. Once it has been added to our collection a student review of the book will be added.
May 21, 2014
I enjoyed this! Love reading about Italy.
July 28, 2015
Has been returned unfinished. Because reasons
February 7, 2017
3.5 stars
November 11, 2016
2-1/2 stars.
After being kicked out of yet another prep school, hacker Bec Jackson gets shipped off to Rome to do an internship with her mom's friend, Parker, who is the head of a fashion magazine. Shortly after Bec arrives, Parker is in a terrible accident that maybe wasn't so accidental. Parker's replacement is a Miranda Priestly-wannabe, and Bec is determined to find out what really happened to Parker. Throw in a couple of cute boys and some action-packed scenes, and you've got Blonde Ops.
I was so excited for this book, and I don't know what took me so long to read it. But, unfortunately, I had it so hyped up in my mind, it just didn't deliver. I thought Bec was okay, but I wasn't a huge fan. She just wasn't a strong heroine, and I didn't feel her actions or intelligence reflected what we know about her--being a hacker who is supposedly pretty good. The romance aspect was almost distracting. Which I know sounds funny coming from me, but that's how I felt. I was hoping for a book similar to Also Known As by Robin Benway (a fave) but totally didn't get that.
The pacing of this book was fine and toward the end there was a lot of action. Also, the setting was amazing, and I think the authors did a good job with that. Overall, I feel kind of meh about this book. The idea is great and the cover is pretty, but the delivery left me wanting.
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After being kicked out of yet another prep school, hacker Bec Jackson gets shipped off to Rome to do an internship with her mom's friend, Parker, who is the head of a fashion magazine. Shortly after Bec arrives, Parker is in a terrible accident that maybe wasn't so accidental. Parker's replacement is a Miranda Priestly-wannabe, and Bec is determined to find out what really happened to Parker. Throw in a couple of cute boys and some action-packed scenes, and you've got Blonde Ops.
I was so excited for this book, and I don't know what took me so long to read it. But, unfortunately, I had it so hyped up in my mind, it just didn't deliver. I thought Bec was okay, but I wasn't a huge fan. She just wasn't a strong heroine, and I didn't feel her actions or intelligence reflected what we know about her--being a hacker who is supposedly pretty good. The romance aspect was almost distracting. Which I know sounds funny coming from me, but that's how I felt. I was hoping for a book similar to Also Known As by Robin Benway (a fave) but totally didn't get that.
The pacing of this book was fine and toward the end there was a lot of action. Also, the setting was amazing, and I think the authors did a good job with that. Overall, I feel kind of meh about this book. The idea is great and the cover is pretty, but the delivery left me wanting.
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June 28, 2018
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.
April 5, 2018
What a cute read! I enjoyed the storyline, and it was a quick read. It was the type of mind-numbing books you read when you need a break from homework. So, I'm grateful for the break it provided me, and how it relaxed me. However, it didn't change my life in any way- and it's not the type of story to resonate with me, hence the lower rating. It's about this girl, who's a hacker, but super stylish and rich, and gets expelled from school a lot because she likes trouble. Her parents send her to Rome to stay with a family friend who's a famous stylist. She's an intern for her until they can find a school to put her in. It's all boring at first, but then she finds out there's a lot of stuff going on like crimes, other hackers, someone was in an accident, the accident was rigged, and she tries to help the detectives figure out what happened using her hacker skills. She's also in love with two different boys and they take her on dates. One is cute and perfect, and the other one is dangerous- and she loves danger. They both pull her in different directions, and she's trying to figure out who she likes the most. It was pretty cute, but I found some parts super boring, an overly simplistic storyline, and it honestly seems like another modern day Disney channel movie- and I didn't like that vibe.
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