More deserving of 3 stars than book 1 which was really barely 2-1/2. Less juvenile style, the story line is slowly taking shape. Enough for me to try another quickie 100 page read for book 3. Still hoping the story will develop more, could be good if the author would just stay on task. The characters' time at the Vatican and encounter with the story nemesis could be really interesting, depending on what the author does with it.