Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Reynolds Recoveries #4

The Scarab's Game

Rate this book
My undercover mission is threatened when my sister’s best friend appears. With danger closing in, I’ll do anything to protect her—except confess my true identity.

I’m in Monte Carlo to recover a priceless artifact, not get tangled up in old feelings. Until I see Jenn—the art restorer I walked away from years ago—sitting with my target.

My sister warns me to keep my distance. But when someone breaks into Jenn’s hotel room, distance is no longer an option. To keep her safe, I have to keep her close. Dangerously close.

As Jenn unravels the web of lies surrounding her restoration contract, she’s pulled right into the center of my covert operation.

Right into the line of fire.

If I put the job first, I’ll show Jenn I haven’t changed. But if I put her first, and tell her the truth, it could destroy everything—my mission, my team, and any hope of a future with Jenn.

If you love the sizzling tension of a best-friend’s-sibling romance, a determined art apprentice in over her head, and a protective hero navigating the glitz and danger of Monte Carlo’s underground, you won’t be able to resist this adventure.

The Scarab’s Game is the fourth installment in the Reynolds Recoveries romantic suspense series. Each romance is a standalone, but the series is best enjoyed in order.

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2024

10 people are currently reading
15 people want to read

About the author

Janet Oppedisano

25 books43 followers
Janet Oppedisano delivers award-winning romantic suspense with smart, driven women and sexy, protective men that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Her heroines excel in their fields and aren’t looking for love—until they meet the charismatic heroes who fall hard and fast for them! Throw in gripping mysteries, heart-pounding danger, and a touch of history or legend, and you’ve got stories that keep you hooked.

With a Mountie father and a Navy diver husband, Janet’s life has been steeped in adventure, inspiring her high-stakes stories. She’s lived all over Canada, from the Maritimes to the Prairies, and her books reflect the authenticity and depth of her journey.

When she’s not plotting her next twist, Janet is baking, hiking, traveling, or cheering for her hockey goalie son. And if you’re wondering about her last name, it’s pronounced oh-ped-ih-SAH-no—just like it looks. Honest!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
22 (50%)
4 stars
17 (38%)
3 stars
3 (6%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
2 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
1,501 reviews13 followers
January 2, 2025
My undercover mission is threatened when my sister’s best friend appears. With danger closing in, I’ll do anything to protect her—except confess my true identity.

I’m in Monte Carlo to recover a priceless artifact, not get tangled up in old feelings. Until I see Jenn—the art restorer I walked away from years ago—sitting with my target.

My sister warns me to keep my distance. But when someone breaks into Jenn’s hotel room, distance is no longer an option. To keep her safe, I have to keep her close. Dangerously close.

As Jenn unravels the web of lies surrounding her restoration contract, she’s pulled right into the center of my covert operation.

Right into the line of fire.

If I put the job first, I’ll show Jenn I haven’t changed. But if I put her first, and tell her the truth, it could destroy everything—my mission, my team, and any hope of a future with Jenn.

This contemporary romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in Monte Carlo, and characters that are alpha male exuding power, obsessive, possessive, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with explicit romance that is consumed by steamy, sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, the Scarab's game, a best friend's brother romantic suspense, drama, humor, a determined art apprentice is in over her head, a protective hero navigating the glitz, a danger of Monte Carlos underground, heartfelt emotions, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her reader's hearts and attention with the Scarab's game and explicit romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly dangerous and unforgettable.

I received this book via BookFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
833 reviews32 followers
January 2, 2025
The Scarab’s Game by Janet Oppedisano is book four in the Reynolds Recoveries Series. I’ve read the previous three books in this series and I’ve quite enjoyed this world. These books are standalones but I personally recommend reading them in order to fully immerse yourself. When I read the blurb I couldn’t wait to get my eyes on this story and I finished it in a matter of hours. The suspense just caught me and next thing I knew time had passed without me putting my kindle down. I was also hooked when I realized it was a best friend’s brother romance. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jenn and Emmett… as much as I loved them; they also drove me crazy. The highlights for me was the fact she could make him lose his focus on things and then working through preconceived notions and misconceptions. I also liked the whole team spirit vibe that was going on as well. The writing was good with a suspenseful story that you can’t help but be immersed into. The drama and intensity could definitely be felt. Im looking forward to more not only in this series but whatever else the author has up their sleeve. Highly recommend if you like yourself a good suspenseful romantic read.

Final review:
4 out of 5 stars
97 reviews
December 18, 2025
I should be upset with Janet Oppedisano because of the lack of sleep her books induce, but when it's this good, I can't be upset and can only start on the next in the series. This book is not for those with heart conditions - there were times my heart was racing because of the danger/adventure, times my heart melted from the denied love between the main characters, and times when I could not put it down no matter that it was 1:00 in the morning! This is the story of Emmitt and Jenn - we find out more about Emmitt other than the glimpses we had in the first 3 books and we're introduced to Jenn (Scarlett's best friend) who has a history with Emmitt. The setting is Monte Carlo and it's a fast paced story that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. And the parts that are predictable, well Ms. Oppedisano tosses in a tidbit of two that will change the trajectory of the series. Oh yes, these books just keep getting better and better as the series progresses.
2,700 reviews33 followers
December 28, 2024
What a non stop thrill ride of a book. Emery and Jenn had a Josie that didn't really get started.

Art restorer, Jenn gets a job and while in that job she meets up with Recovery officer Emmett who needed access to the same employer.

Fast paced and suspenseful. I very much enjoyed the team spirit but it was the romance aspect of the story they had me captivated.

Emmett and Jenn had a rare connection that was built on misconceptions and prejudice. They had a lot to work through as well as other influences in the romance. But that chemistry and attraction was there strong and constant.

Very well done. Danger, suspense drama and intensity kept this plot travelling along. Not much steam but that wasn't needed and what was there was a delight to read.

Overall an amazing book I can recommend highly.
Profile Image for Brenda Hojonski.
521 reviews36 followers
December 30, 2024
What I absolutely love about this series is the "Leverage" like way this team operates, with romance and suspense. Emmett and Jen, so much to say about this couple: sister's best friend, secrets unfolding, forbidden feelings, dealing with PTSD, and the Monte Carlo setting to tie it all together. The suspense was right on and an unexpected ally at the end, made the conclusion exciting and satisfying. Janet has become one of my favorite authors.
161 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2024
Emmett is determined to prove he can run a recovery mission for a stolen scarab. When Jenn, his sister's best friend walks into the middle of the mission and is working with his perceived enemy, he realizes the attraction he has felt since they were 15 is still messing with his heart and his focus. Can he retrieve the scarab in the face of great danger and keep Jenn safe, while proving to himself, his sister, and Jenn that he is worthy? I can't wait for more of the series.
Profile Image for BecReadReview.
1,900 reviews35 followers
December 17, 2024
Janet has definitely weaved a plan so intricate that i had to at times go back & read the last few lines again just to make sure i can follow the plan. So much of internal turmoil within Emmett & Jen had me stuck between feeling for them & wanting to smack their heads together. Team camaraderie was evident & i loved the grovelling at the end. Interesting read!
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,560 reviews15 followers
January 5, 2025
High Octane

This book is great fun. It’s like a mix between James Bond, Mission Impossible and a romance novel. I enjoyed the quasi forbidden aspects of dating your sister’s bff. Also facing up to the woman you loved and left for various reasons that seemed valid at the time. Emmett and Jenn are a great couple and I loved reading their story!
Profile Image for zen_s.
2,015 reviews17 followers
February 7, 2025
for some reason i just didn't like the execution. the characters just felt kind of dumb and pretty one-dimensional especially the heroine.
109 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2025
High stakes in Monte Carlo.

Emmett Reynolds is still recovering mentally from his kidnapping and torture a few months ago but he is desperate to prove himself to his family and other team members. His plans are thrown into disarray by the arrival of his childhood crush whilst leading a mission in Monte Carlo to recover a priceless artifact. Jenn has been a best friend of Scarlett Reynolds since they were children but she has no idea of the true nature and activities of Reynold’s Recoveries. She has been employed to restore a painting in readiness for an auction but then she realises that everything and everyone around her are not what they seem. Despite Emmett’s best efforts, Jenn is soon caught in the midst of the recovery operation and she no longer knows who to trust. Long buried feelings still exist between Emmett and Jenn but they both dance around this fact. The plot twists and turns in all directions with old foes surfacing and Emmett’s burning need for revenge almost derails the entire mission. There is non-stop action in the final stages where Jenn’s life hangs in the balance and Emmett must make hard choices in order to save her. I received an ARC for this book - this is my true and honest opinion.
Profile Image for Floraljoy.
1,136 reviews
January 9, 2025
Wonderful:
This truly was a fabulous read and I was drawn in from the very start. I really liked that it was full of intrigue, action and suspense; however the overall tone was more upbeat and not too heavy. Despite dealing with some quite heavy topics at times, it was nevertheles done in such a way as to be encouraging and hopeful. I really liked Emmett and Jenn together and thought that they were perfect together.
This book really ought to be read as part of the series as there is an ongoing mystery and interwoven characters. It doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but not everything was fully resolved either. I now can't wait for the next book in order to find out what is going to happen next.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.