No Biz Like Showbiz

Lexi Carmichael Mystery #4

by Julie Moffett

Lexi helping geeks everywhere get some.

Okay, so it's not exactly as it seems, but that's what's happening on the dating reality show called Geeks Get Some that I, geek extraordinaire Lexi Carmichael, have been called to work on. Not that I'm a fan of reality shows (I can barely deal with my own reality). Still, I've been sent to Hollywood to find a hacker who's screwing with the results of the show's online voting system.

So, what happens when I get there? Well, the producers convince me to continue my investigation from the inside. And what should be an easy hunt for the hacker turns ugly when he sets his sights on me. Add to that a studio obsessed with ratings, a bunch of nerdy contestants, and my own confusing love life, and unraveling this mystery might make me a star...or get me killed.

75,000 words
Meet Lexi for the very first time in No One Lives Twice!

Other Books in the Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series
No One Lives Twice (Book 1)
No One To Trust (Book 2)
No Money Down (Book 2.5) -- Novella
No Place Like Rome (Book 3)
No Biz Like Showbiz (Book 4)
No Test For the Wicked (Book 5)
No Woman Left Behind (Book 6)
No Room For Error (Book 7)
No Strings Attached (Book 8)
No Living Soul (Book 9)
No Regrets (Book 10)
No Stone Unturned (Book 11)
No Questions Asked (Book 12)
No Escape (Book 13)
No Vow Broken (Book 14)

Check out the YA White Knights Spy/Mystery Series (a spin-off of the Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series)
White Knights (Book 1)
Knight Moves (Book 2)
One-Knight Stand (Book 3)

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Romantic Suspense, Humor

229 pages, ebook

First published July 21, 2014

About the author

Julie Moffett is the bestselling author of the long-running, geeky Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series that USA Today says: “…runs a riveting gamut from hilarious to deadly, and the perfectly paced action in between will have you hanging on to Lexi’s every word and breathless for her next geeked-out adventure.” Julie also writes the young adult White Knights spin-off series featuring a cool, teenage hacker girl. Julie's been publishing books for 25 years, but writing for a lot longer. She writes in the genres of mystery, young adult, historical romance and paranormal romance.

Julie has won numerous awards, including the Mystery & Mayhem Award for Best YA/New Adult Mystery, the HOLT Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, a HOLT Merit Award for Best Novel by a Virginia Author (twice!), the Award of Excellence, a PRISM Award for Best Romantic Time-Travel AND Best of the Best Paranormal Books, and an EPIC Award for Best Action/Adventure Novel. She has also garnered additional nominations for the Booksellers' Best Award, Daphne du Maurier Award, the Dante Rossetti Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

Julie is a military brat (Air Force) and has traveled extensively. Her more exciting exploits include attending high school in Okinawa, Japan; backpacking around Europe and Scandinavia for several months; a year-long college graduate study in Warsaw, Poland; and a wonderful trip to Scotland and Ireland where she fell in love with castles, kilts and brogues.

Julie has a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Language from Colorado College, a M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an M.Ed from Liberty University. She has worked as a proposal writer, journalist, teacher, librarian and researcher. Julie speaks Russian and Polish and has two awesome sons.

Visit Julie's website at: https://www.juliemoffett.com/

Follow Julie on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieMoffett...

X: @JMoffettAuthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/julie_moffett/

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Biz Like Showbiz by Julie Moffett
Lexi Carmichael mystery series #4. Computer investigation self proclaimed “geek” books.
Lexi travels to Hollywood, Los Angeles to investigate electronic voting fraud on a dating show. She is threatened while searching the computer systems and friends come to help her solve the crime.

Ok, I’m not sure I would have continued investigating if the first thing I find is a video of me in the hotel room! Yikes. Get me out of there!
Fortunately Lexi is braver than me and she digs in to find the hacker.
A quick read and adventure with the usual humorous naïve Lexi and her rallying friends.
Enjoyable and I will continue the series.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heading back to the early days of Lexi Carmichael as I had previously read book #10 and now jumping to her backlist with book #4. In No Biz Like Showbiz, Lexi has just returned from her trip injured along with Slash. In Book #4 the pair are still in the early stages of a possible blossoming romance as Lexi had a close relationship prior with her boss Flynn who seems overly interested in her safety - a bit too much for my liking as I was like back off, Flynn - give the girl some space. In Book # 4, Lexi is hired to find out who is hacking and changing the votes on a new reality dating TV show “Geeks Get Some” where Geeks get the Hot girl. Lexi hates the show with a passion as she is offended, and when she gets to Hollywood, she realizes it's worst than she imagined. I love Lexi's character as she is honest and geeky herself and also a tad clumsy which makes her a realistic character. As someone who connects with the geeky side of Lexi, I love this series so much. What happens though when it turns out that the cracker isn't just going to roll over and make it easy for Lexi ? Especially when a video of her in the shower etc. is released virally. Enter Lexi's friends Basia, Slash, and Elvis - yes that's their names. With excellent team support to help put her back on track, can Lexi save the reality TV show she hates and completes her job so she can hightail it out of Hollywood? Find out in this fun geek chic spy/hacker novel - There's "No Biz Like ShowBiz" by Julie Moffett. The Lexi Carmichael series is perfect for readers of Janet Evanovich and Lisa Lutz.

[Tara Raymond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Highly anticipated, very disappointed

I rarely write reviews for books and felt compelled because I was so immediately enamored with this series when I discover it a few months ago. I have been dying to see the next adventure for Lexi and the gang and I have to say that I am very dissatisfied. There are spoilers that follow.
The biggest disappointment for me is the development of the relationship between Slash and Lexi. While this book finally has them come together as a couple, it is done without any of the chemistry of the previous books. It is almost as if Moffett has written it in to get it out of the way to make room for the development of a relationship between Lexi and Elvis, which I feel she strongly foreshadows in this book. I am not opposed to that development, but it completely contradicts the character developments we saw in the previous books, especially the last one. The beauty of Slash with Lexi was that he brought out emotional rather than purely analytical responses, and we don't see much of that here. The chemistry really just falls flat. At one point he asks her in disguise to describe her perfect boyfriend and she describes Elvis, hence the foreshadowing. The few times she needs help in the book before any other friends are around she calls Elvis, but otherwise are normals cast of characters are absent, and are definitely missed. Basia pops up for a brief portion, one poignant conversation, but her place in the story is otherwise pointless.
The story itself is cute, but after the intensity of the previous mysteries, as well as knowing we have a great group of the world's best hackers at hand I had to ask, why weren't they a part of the story? Overall I was more than let down and might not even read the next book, and it takes a lot for me to give up a series, especially one that I started out loving so much. I just don't want to see the characters I came to love I the first few books fall apart.

[Valérie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le verbe dévorer n’est pas assez fort pour exprimer le plaisir que j’ai depuis que j’ai découvert cette série. Cela fait un bon moment que je n’avais pas enchaîné les tomes comme une Addict : je suis accro à Lexi !

Ce tome est savoureux, l’auteure a plongé notre héroïne dans le pire milieu qui soit pour elle : la télé-réalité. Et sa recherche du cracker va obliger Lexi a sortir de sa zone de confort et seule cette fois-ci. La voir confronter à ce monde artificiel est jouissif et sa fraîcheur comme d’habitude va faire un malheur et en désarmer plusieurs.

C’est drôle, avec une enquête toujours aussi pointue et des situations rocambolesques. Mais derrière certaines scènes légères, une vraie dénonciation de ses séries et du système hollywoodien transpire. À savourer sans hésiter.

[Dawn Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! One of my favorite series, this one had me laughing out loud!

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As another installment in the Lexi Carmichael series, this one is ok. It's good as a glimpse into Lexi's mind and as a member of the so-called "geek culture" I can vouch for the authenticity of the author's portrayal of such. This book (and whole series)would be great for older teens and even twenty-something geeks who are finding their way socially. I think it would be great as a learning tool, as a "you are not alone" therapy tool, that sort of thing. I think the author could be really good at YA stuff.

However, as an entertaining piece of fiction that is read for escapism from my middle-aged suburban life (at least that's my usual purpose for reading fiction) it felt like a filler. Good, but not wholly satisfying. Yes, the MC makes a major life decision at the end of the book, but the mystery and conflict of the story was really tangential to the relationship stuff. It was good, don't get me wrong, but it didn't feel like it really progressed the romance part of this series despite the relationship status change(s).

I'm still rooting for another character (no spoilers!) and will continue to follow this series. Hope the next one comes out soon!

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series. If you haven't read it yet, and are a fan of smart chick lit/mystery, you are missing out on a wonderful series. This book follows Lexi, IT hacker and geek, as she attempts to find a cracker disrupting a reality tv show.

Lexi is a very lovable character and this is a very intelligently written novel. Lexi is uncomfortable and inept in social situations and is thrown into the world of reality tv as she attempts to find and stop a cracker. I'd never heard the term cracker before (or many of the terms in the novel), but it's a hacker with malicious intent. I really love how the author is able to weave all of this complexity into a wonderful and engaging book. She has a way of making it feel natural and easy to understand.

This is a stand alone novel and can be read by itself, but you might want to start with the first book in the series, No One Lives Twice https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It's definitely one of my favorite in the series so far (and I've loved them all). The case was lighter than those in previous books which was a nice change of pace. There were lots of laugh-out-loud moments. Lexi is such a fantastic and fun character and I love all her friends (though I must admit I'm not a huge fan of Basia). I wish Elvis and Xavier had been in the book more but nonetheless, I still loved it. I anxiously await the next in the series. I waited a long time before reading this series and am so glad I finally did! Highly, highly recommended.

[Linda Lassman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this book--not as much as I liked No Place Like Rome, but I still enjoyed it.

The mystery was well-written, the characters engaging, and the pace was good. I really like Moffett's writing style and this was generally up to expectations.

The premise seemed a bit forced to me and a couple of the characters (Stone and Gregg) were so completely off-putting that I dreaded any scenes with them in them. I was a little surprised by how little time Lexi spent on the actual cracking problem, and while it bothered me quite a lot at first, the reasoning behind it actually made some sense to me and so it ended up not making a big issue. My biggest issue really had to do with the time lapse between this book and No Place Like Rome--Lexi had major surgery on her hand and stitches in her back; her hand was recovered to the p0int that she was having physio and it didn't bother her any longer, yet she still had stitches from a cut that still bothered her; Slash had a serious concussion (with no cognitive side effects at all--lovely for the character and the reader, but not realistic) and multiple broken bones, yet was completely recovered except for a walking cast, meanwhile Basia arrives in Hollywood a week or so after Lexi gets there and was still suffering from jet lag from the Rome trip. It was just really jarring. These are the reasons I only gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.

Nevertheless, I still really liked the book (explaining the issues makes them larger than the actual effect they had on my enjoyment) and am looking forward to their next adventures.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoo-boy. Fresh off her last adventure in Rome (mostly recuperated, if you ask her), Lexi accepts a job in Hollywood stopping a hacker who's messing with the results of a reality show. The fact she finds the show in itself offensive? Well, Lexi can act professional and ignore how irritated the show makes her to do her job.

Until, you know, she can't. Because suddenly she's getting her makeup and wardrobe done to go in front of the camera while still trying to stop the hacker.

To say that Lexi is unprepared for interacting with people with everyone watching might be an understatement. Heck, Lexi is pretty socially awkward on a normal day. Setting her up with men who are just as socially awkward is a recipe for disaster.

Plus, you know, she's still working and trying to stop the mysterious hacker from messing up the online voting results.

A solid installment (it's fun to go back and see Lexi when she's REALLY off her groove) with Lexi stepping WAY out of her comfort zone. We get some forward movement on the thing going on between her and Slash. We have Basia dropping everything to step up and help Lexi out when she needs her. Fun all around.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Elaine Lucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in Lexi series. Lexi is still recovering from the injuries sustained on her trip to Rome. Anxious to return back to work she heads back into the office. Finn has a new job for her to catch a hacker that has reality show voting skewered. A trip to Hollywood to join the I.T. department for the "geek" reality show has Lexi way out of her element. She rarely watched TV, let alone reality TV but it's geeks trying to win the heart of a geek girl. Uncovering the farce and working with the contestants has the hacker now threatening Lexi. Roped into being the star of the show throws Lexi in front of the cameras and really out of her zone. Hot on the trail of the hacker & getting to know the geek boys who speak her language has her questioning her relationships with Finn & Slash. Coming to some realizations about her own social life and closing in on catching the hacker has Lexi pulled into different directions. With her best friend Basia's help and the Zimmerman twins on backup, Lexi closes in on the hacker and deals with her feelings for Finn & Slash.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A liitle contrived..... Interest waxed and waned.... But bought most of the books, so I will plug on.....

Lexi Carmichael: helping geeks everywhere get some.

Okay, so it's not exactly as it seems, but that's what's happening on the dating reality show called Geeks Get Some that I, geek extraordinaire Lexi Carmichael, have been called to work on. Not that I'm a fan of reality shows (I can barely deal with my own reality). Still, I've been sent to Hollywood to find a hacker who's screwing with the results of the show's online voting system.

So what happens when I get there? Well, the producers convince me to continue my investigation from the inside. And what should be an easy hunt for the hacker turns ugly when he sets his sights on me. Add to that a studio obsessed with ratings, a bunch of nerdy contestants, and my own confusing love life, and unraveling this mystery might make me a star…or get me killed

[Sophie ARGINTARU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pour le moment, mon tome préféré de la série ! Déjà, le contexte est hyper sympa : le tournage d'une téléréalité mettant en scène une bachelorette, et comme prétendants, des geeks socialement désespérés et désespérants... Et voici Lexi qui débarque, chargée de trouver un hackeur qui change les votes. L'humour prédomine ici avec deux scènes hilarantes en prime. Le rythme est soutenu, le contexte est souriant à souhait avec bien évidemment une critique acerbe de la téléréalité où les "acteurs" suivent un scénario totalement écrit et qui se retrouvent broyés par des financiers sans scrupule.

Quant à la vie sentimentale de Lexi... et bien elle évolue également !

Léger, raffraichissant et franchement drôle !

[Kimberly Kurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book

This book proved to be worth reading. I did enjoyed the twists and turns of the storyline. It was definitely different than previous books. I was wondering how Slash was going to play into this book and it was surprising. I do wish that grammar and spelling would be looked at more closely. I had to read sentences multiple times to understand what was being said. Some errors were just a reversals of words or added words. It can get frustrating. I do enjoy the storyline and find the books worth reading.

[Nichole Carrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because I love Lexi Carmichael and the series but I just did not like the premise of this book. The dating show seemed off, I was really tired of Lexi complaining left and right even though she agreed to do it and I would love to have seen more of Slash. But like every series, everyone has their favorites and least favorites and this one just happens to be my least fav. I also think it's hard because I absolutely LOVED book 3 so my expectation for this one was probably too high to begin with.

[Nancy Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly geeky

Lexi Carmichael can turn from authoritative and certain how to proceed to totally clueless when confronted with human interaction on a personal level. The character is so appealing because of the real life people I’ve known with the same problems. And, of course, there’s the hilarity factor of the situations in which she gets herself. Totally addictive series for me. I can’t stop reading the next one and the next one....

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi’s company has a new client – a company that runs a reality show – “Geeks Get Some”. Someone is hacking their voting platform and altering the results. Lexi is determined to catch the cracker (a hacker with a criminal bent). There is a plot twist that Lexi ends up as the contestant. What could possibly go wrong with Lexi being forced to socialize and date!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book four in the series and my favorite so far. Lexi is so much fun and relatable. The mystery, the tech speak and all the characters are so much fun. Slash is surprising in this book, but still Slash. The book takes place in Hollywood and definitely puts Lexi in the spotlight, in more ways than one.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

No biz like showbiz

Best one yet! This series is hilarious , computer geek, smart, naive, a real person, but slightly accident prone so if you are near here watch out! Great series !

[Roxi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi may have her social challenges, but she definitely is out of her element on a dating show. Will she find love or die trying?
This entire series should be offered in print and print boxed collector’s sets, it’s one of My favorite series for sure.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've loved this series, but this book is a shocker. Lexi moans and whines her way through it, or at least the second half. There was fodder for more comedy, but the reader feels as awkward and lost as the geek characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

another winner from author Julie Moffett.

Another winner from author Julie Moffett. The characters are quirky but genuine. The plot twists and turns and keeps you guessing. There is mystery, intrigue, romance, and humor. I recommend this book and the whole Lexi Carmichael series.

[Diane Rapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi takes on a role out of her comfort zone.

She's a geek but she can steal the heart! I loved seeing Lexi take on a role so far out of her comfort zone. This series is exceptional.

[Yvonne Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite series!! This book had me laughing out loud on many occasions!!! These characters are a BLAST.

[Alma Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read!

Can't wait to dive into Lexi's next adventure! I know it will be fun! Can't wait to see where her and Slash's re!ationship takes us!

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
International Mystery & Crime Fiction, Romance, Humorous Fiction, Women Sleuths Mystery & Detective Fiction

Miniseries
A Lexi Carmichael Mystery

[JadeShea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was hilarious! I loved how Lexi handled everything. She was the true star of the book. I'm so excited for more.

[Colleen Evers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two

Lexi spends most her time complaining in this book, it gets old. Prior characters are not reintroduced until late in the book. Just a ho hum read.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous and enjoyable relaxing read.