What do you think?
Rate this book
Poppy McVie #1
Operation Tropical Affair
A ruthless Costa Rican smuggling ring...
...Earth’s rarest animals traded on the black market.
One woman is ready to blow it wide open.
Special Agent Poppy McVie’s passion is wildlife, and the sight of beautiful creatures suffering in stifling crates pushes her to the brink. She and her special ops team have the means to stop those behind the atrocity and save the animals, but it means betting her life on a precarious scheme guaranteed to make her handsome new partner furious. Should she trust her instincts and go for broke, or play by a book that’s failed to work so far?
As events spin out of control and the danger escalates, Poppy must risk it all to confront a cutthroat gang that will stop at nothing, including the slaughter of everyone around her. Will her unorthodox ploy succeed and bring the miscreants to justice, or will her Costa Rica mission be her last?
From sweltering inland jungles to sun-drenched beaches, if you love Lara Croft, Indiana Jones, and tenacious female protagonists, this exotic tropical adventure is for you. Grab your copy now!
...Earth’s rarest animals traded on the black market.
One woman is ready to blow it wide open.
Special Agent Poppy McVie’s passion is wildlife, and the sight of beautiful creatures suffering in stifling crates pushes her to the brink. She and her special ops team have the means to stop those behind the atrocity and save the animals, but it means betting her life on a precarious scheme guaranteed to make her handsome new partner furious. Should she trust her instincts and go for broke, or play by a book that’s failed to work so far?
As events spin out of control and the danger escalates, Poppy must risk it all to confront a cutthroat gang that will stop at nothing, including the slaughter of everyone around her. Will her unorthodox ploy succeed and bring the miscreants to justice, or will her Costa Rica mission be her last?
From sweltering inland jungles to sun-drenched beaches, if you love Lara Croft, Indiana Jones, and tenacious female protagonists, this exotic tropical adventure is for you. Grab your copy now!
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2015
2140 people are currently reading
1357 people want to read
About the author
Kimberli A. Bindschatel
39 books150 followersKimberli A. Bindschatel is a thrill seeker, travel adventurer, passionate animal lover, wildlife photographer and award-winning author of the Amazon Best-selling Poppy McVie Mystery series.
When she’s not busting bad guys with her pen, she’s out in the wilderness getting an adrenaline fix. She has rappelled down a waterfall in Costa Rica, rafted the Grand Canyon, faced down an Alaskan grizzly bear at ten feet (camera in hand), snorkeled with stingrays, and white-water kayaked a Norwegian river. She’s always ready for an adventure.
She lives in northern Michigan where she loves to hike in the woods with her rescue dog, Josee, share a bottle of wine with good friends, or sail Lake Michigan with her husband on their boat, Priorities. (You gotta have your priorities!)
Kimberli also co-writes the Charity Styles Caribbean Thriller series with Best-selling author, Wayne Stinnett.
She loves sharing her passion for adventure and wildlife with her readers and happily gives away some of her award-winning wildlife photos. Sign up for her newsletter at www.kimberlibindschatel.com and get a free photograph for your desktop.
Follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberl...
When she’s not busting bad guys with her pen, she’s out in the wilderness getting an adrenaline fix. She has rappelled down a waterfall in Costa Rica, rafted the Grand Canyon, faced down an Alaskan grizzly bear at ten feet (camera in hand), snorkeled with stingrays, and white-water kayaked a Norwegian river. She’s always ready for an adventure.
She lives in northern Michigan where she loves to hike in the woods with her rescue dog, Josee, share a bottle of wine with good friends, or sail Lake Michigan with her husband on their boat, Priorities. (You gotta have your priorities!)
Kimberli also co-writes the Charity Styles Caribbean Thriller series with Best-selling author, Wayne Stinnett.
She loves sharing her passion for adventure and wildlife with her readers and happily gives away some of her award-winning wildlife photos. Sign up for her newsletter at www.kimberlibindschatel.com and get a free photograph for your desktop.
Follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberl...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
August 3, 2019
Join Special Agent Poppy McVie as she heads to Costa Rica to gather intel on a wildlife smuggling gang with her "husband" Dalton, another undercover agent. Trouble is Dalton doesn't trust her and holds her back, so Poppy takes matters into her own hands, meeting up with local activists. Yes, Poppy is headstrong, feisty, and doesn't listen to orders. She's totally unsuitable for the job at hand, and wouldn't even be considered in the real world, but hey, this is fiction, and it makes for a wonderful romp through the jungle.
I did enjoy this book, though it clearly had some flaws, and was totally unbelievable. The situations Poppy finds herself in are ridiculous, but it was fun finding out how she was going to extricate herself from her latest mess. And yes, I probably will read the next book in the series, I have to see how the relationship between Poppy and Dalton plays out. A good one for lovers of action and adventure that can suspend their beliefs for a bit.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I did enjoy this book, though it clearly had some flaws, and was totally unbelievable. The situations Poppy finds herself in are ridiculous, but it was fun finding out how she was going to extricate herself from her latest mess. And yes, I probably will read the next book in the series, I have to see how the relationship between Poppy and Dalton plays out. A good one for lovers of action and adventure that can suspend their beliefs for a bit.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
July 5, 2018
2.5 stars.
This was an ok start to a new series. I enjoyed the wildlife protection angle but didn't really connect with either MC. It didn't help that
This was an ok start to a new series. I enjoyed the wildlife protection angle but didn't really connect with either MC. It didn't help that
Want to read
December 9, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/9/2019)! 🎁
July 14, 2017
Action, adventure and a touch of romance.
Extremely well written, fast paced, with some great characters, particularly the feisty, head-strong Poppy. Even if she did go a little troppo in the idyllic isle of Costa Rica.
A thoroughly compelling story, both the plot itself and the way it discusses the alarming trafficking of endangered species. Loved the totally unexpected ending.
Dalton, the ex-SEAL definitely of interest!
Will definitely be reading more of Poppy McVie's adventures. Rather have to now, after reading the last few sentences of this book!
I received a no-obligation free e-copy of this book and chose to post a review. Had to, this was a great book! And she's a vegetarian…
Extremely well written, fast paced, with some great characters, particularly the feisty, head-strong Poppy. Even if she did go a little troppo in the idyllic isle of Costa Rica.
A thoroughly compelling story, both the plot itself and the way it discusses the alarming trafficking of endangered species. Loved the totally unexpected ending.
Dalton, the ex-SEAL definitely of interest!
Will definitely be reading more of Poppy McVie's adventures. Rather have to now, after reading the last few sentences of this book!
I received a no-obligation free e-copy of this book and chose to post a review. Had to, this was a great book! And she's a vegetarian…
January 5, 2019
This book has a fantastic heroine. She's a Special Agent who takes down wildlife traffickers.
What I loved most about Poppy was that she was all action. She's still finishing her training and the men she meets underestimate and often dismiss her. But that never gets in her way. Her passion and drive are the animals so she pushes past any obstacle and, in my opinion, makes the men look like fools. I loved that she was sexually active and attracted to a couple men, she wasn't immediately besotted by her fake-husband partner.
Smart, quick and passionate, Poppy was my kind of woman. However, I probably won't read the rest of the books because I'm not interested in how the romance develops.
Safety: MCs not exclusive, neither virgin, animal abuse
What I loved most about Poppy was that she was all action. She's still finishing her training and the men she meets underestimate and often dismiss her. But that never gets in her way. Her passion and drive are the animals so she pushes past any obstacle and, in my opinion, makes the men look like fools. I loved that she was sexually active and attracted to a couple men, she wasn't immediately besotted by her fake-husband partner.
Smart, quick and passionate, Poppy was my kind of woman. However, I probably won't read the rest of the books because I'm not interested in how the romance develops.
Safety: MCs not exclusive, neither virgin, animal abuse
May 29, 2015
This lady got game! I was pleased to come across a female MC who was not over the top snarky and always laughing or cracking jokes in the face of real and imminent danger. Poppy McVie is a real character: quick-thinking, smart, resourceful, maybe too quick to overstep authority, but only doing that because she's passionate about doing her job in the best possible way.
Poppy is a newly-minted US Fish & Wildlife Service agent whose youthful exuberance and passion is tested in a life-or-death undercover mission. She encounters romantic complications with two men on the mission, one a fellow agent, the other a good-looking animal rights activist. Her attractions are just enough to threaten the success of the undercover operation, but not overplayed so much that she looks like a love-starved groupie.
The premise is fresh as well. Animal abuse and exploitation is more or less forgotten in this country but impacts many other countries in a big way with regard to animal poaching. The issue is fairly presented and I never felt any author intrusion with regard to a certain point of view on the poaching topic, just Poppy's innate love of all animals and her desire to protect them.
Pacing is excellent, with constant motion and crisp dialogue. Since this is the first book in a series, I imagine Poppy will be fleshed out completely in later books. She's off to a running start.
Poppy is a newly-minted US Fish & Wildlife Service agent whose youthful exuberance and passion is tested in a life-or-death undercover mission. She encounters romantic complications with two men on the mission, one a fellow agent, the other a good-looking animal rights activist. Her attractions are just enough to threaten the success of the undercover operation, but not overplayed so much that she looks like a love-starved groupie.
The premise is fresh as well. Animal abuse and exploitation is more or less forgotten in this country but impacts many other countries in a big way with regard to animal poaching. The issue is fairly presented and I never felt any author intrusion with regard to a certain point of view on the poaching topic, just Poppy's innate love of all animals and her desire to protect them.
Pacing is excellent, with constant motion and crisp dialogue. Since this is the first book in a series, I imagine Poppy will be fleshed out completely in later books. She's off to a running start.
February 1, 2017
A few weeks into her field training, US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Poppy McVie busts a couple of bear poachers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In the midst of that operation, she’s called by her boss and told that she’s being reassigned. Her new assignment; go undercover in Costa Rica with a special operations team already in place to bust an animal trafficking ring.
In Costa Rica, Poppy has to deal with Special Agent Dalton—just call me Dalton—who is wary of having an untested female agent assigned to the operation, even though her cover is as his wife. It doesn’t help matters that they’re attracted to each other, Even worse, Poppy finds herself drawn to an animal rights activist who is after the same illegal operation for his own purposes.
Operation Tropical Affair by Kimberli A. Bindschatel is well-written thriller that takes a deep dive into the illegal animal trafficking business, while at the same time giving the reader a close-up view into the emotions of the characters. Masterfully plotted, with lots of action, this is that rare message novel, it gets the message across without preaching, and it entertains. This author knows her stuff.
In Costa Rica, Poppy has to deal with Special Agent Dalton—just call me Dalton—who is wary of having an untested female agent assigned to the operation, even though her cover is as his wife. It doesn’t help matters that they’re attracted to each other, Even worse, Poppy finds herself drawn to an animal rights activist who is after the same illegal operation for his own purposes.
Operation Tropical Affair by Kimberli A. Bindschatel is well-written thriller that takes a deep dive into the illegal animal trafficking business, while at the same time giving the reader a close-up view into the emotions of the characters. Masterfully plotted, with lots of action, this is that rare message novel, it gets the message across without preaching, and it entertains. This author knows her stuff.
February 23, 2017
A Marriage of Inconvenience!
Poppy McVie is not cut out for undercover work. And with so many hot guys around, she is easily distracted. Just when she gets her big break, along comes a complication that she doesn’t need. A pretend husband???
Off to Costa Rica she goes to join up with her make-believe husband, Dalton. He may not be her real husband but he sure plays the part. Including his annoying habit of treating her like a mindless trophy wife. Is she headed for a make-believe divorce?
She’ll show him. There are animals out there depending on her. But every time she hatches a new plan to prove herself, something goes wrong. And then there are all those other georgeous men falling across her path. Married life is all too complicated. Even if it is not real.
Poppy McVie is not cut out for undercover work. And with so many hot guys around, she is easily distracted. Just when she gets her big break, along comes a complication that she doesn’t need. A pretend husband???
Off to Costa Rica she goes to join up with her make-believe husband, Dalton. He may not be her real husband but he sure plays the part. Including his annoying habit of treating her like a mindless trophy wife. Is she headed for a make-believe divorce?
She’ll show him. There are animals out there depending on her. But every time she hatches a new plan to prove herself, something goes wrong. And then there are all those other georgeous men falling across her path. Married life is all too complicated. Even if it is not real.
November 9, 2015
This is a must read for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts, or for those who just love a great character. Poppy McVie is a spunky animal loving, gun toting wildlife Ranger who takes her job very serious. There will be no poaching on her watch. She might have a tendency to get in a little over her head, but that's what makes you love her. She can be a bit sassy but she doesn't back down.
This book had twists and turns. It takes you on a ride you'll never expect. All I can say is that I can't wait for the next book to come out....
This book had twists and turns. It takes you on a ride you'll never expect. All I can say is that I can't wait for the next book to come out....
January 27, 2017
Poppy is smart, funny, strong and brave. And a little reckless at times. But, most important, she has a conscience and a heart. Which beats faster when near a handsome man...
What really gets her blood-pressure rising, is when she sees someone hurt animals. There is no messing with Poppy McVie! Loved it!
What really gets her blood-pressure rising, is when she sees someone hurt animals. There is no messing with Poppy McVie! Loved it!
July 11, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Bindschatel manages to open the reader's eyes to the cruelty of exotic animal smuggling, while keeping the story light, humorous and always entertaining. The wrinkled romance between Poppy and Dalton is great fun to follow. I'm looking forward to devouring this series.
June 20, 2017
A very good book. It will make you stop and think about animals living in the wild and not in a pet store.
March 17, 2019
This book is the first in the series about environmental protection and lawbreakers. I actually read another one first so I was interested to see how Poppy the protagonist got started.
The tale consists of three stories. There's the story of an ongoing undercover effort to follow the chain of smugglers of endangered wild animals from lush, tropical Costa Rica. There's the story of a small group of activists meeting informally on a beach to take direct action. And there's the story of Poppy herself who walks in and proceeds to lie to everyone in sight, including her new assigned work partner, ignore orders, endanger lives and do her own thing with disregard for anyone else.
Poppy's heart is definitely in the right place, but she's so stricken by the plight of a handful of capuchin monkeys, among other creatures, that she throws away the months of work to try to find the kingpin and shut down the massive sales for good. She's supposed to be the spoiled trophy wife of the other detective, but can't stick with her cover persona and heads straight for a butterfly centre, a remote hiking trail and showing off that there is actually a bit of brain under the glamour. All this may be understandable but makes her an erratic, undependable detective for undercover work, and we can sympathise with her partner, whose life as well as career is at stake along with the mission.
I'll leave you to discover the outcome, and even those who are not that interested in thrillers will have fun exploring the beautiful island and learning about the deadly, commercial trade in endangered wildlife. The book is carefully produced to a high standard on Kindle.
This is an unbiased review.
The tale consists of three stories. There's the story of an ongoing undercover effort to follow the chain of smugglers of endangered wild animals from lush, tropical Costa Rica. There's the story of a small group of activists meeting informally on a beach to take direct action. And there's the story of Poppy herself who walks in and proceeds to lie to everyone in sight, including her new assigned work partner, ignore orders, endanger lives and do her own thing with disregard for anyone else.
Poppy's heart is definitely in the right place, but she's so stricken by the plight of a handful of capuchin monkeys, among other creatures, that she throws away the months of work to try to find the kingpin and shut down the massive sales for good. She's supposed to be the spoiled trophy wife of the other detective, but can't stick with her cover persona and heads straight for a butterfly centre, a remote hiking trail and showing off that there is actually a bit of brain under the glamour. All this may be understandable but makes her an erratic, undependable detective for undercover work, and we can sympathise with her partner, whose life as well as career is at stake along with the mission.
I'll leave you to discover the outcome, and even those who are not that interested in thrillers will have fun exploring the beautiful island and learning about the deadly, commercial trade in endangered wildlife. The book is carefully produced to a high standard on Kindle.
This is an unbiased review.
July 15, 2022
Operation Tropical Affair was a fun start to the Poppy McVie series. I enjoy a good mystery/adventure series and this one has potential. It's fast paced, propulsive, and entertaining.
Poppy McVie is a special agent with a passion for wildlife. She gets an undercover assignment in Costa Rica where she is trying to bust someone who is selling wildlife illegally. She has to figure the case out while learning to work with her new partner, Dalton.
It was an enjoyable ride full of crazy antics. Poppy had a very over the top personality. She kind of drove my rule-following-heart a bit crazy. I found myself siding with Dalton as he tried to rein her in. I did like the yin and yang of their personalities, and I hope as the series progresses they will learn to work together to bring out each other's strengths. The case itself was interesting and the sense of place was strong.
I will continue on with this series when I'm in the mood for a quick, entertaining read.
Poppy McVie is a special agent with a passion for wildlife. She gets an undercover assignment in Costa Rica where she is trying to bust someone who is selling wildlife illegally. She has to figure the case out while learning to work with her new partner, Dalton.
It was an enjoyable ride full of crazy antics. Poppy had a very over the top personality. She kind of drove my rule-following-heart a bit crazy. I found myself siding with Dalton as he tried to rein her in. I did like the yin and yang of their personalities, and I hope as the series progresses they will learn to work together to bring out each other's strengths. The case itself was interesting and the sense of place was strong.
I will continue on with this series when I'm in the mood for a quick, entertaining read.
July 8, 2022
This was a strong start to the series, although it was shorter than I was expecting. I could have used more time to get to know the characters, the crime solving was a little rushed.
I’m excited about the relationship between Poppy and Dalton, there’s definitely some chemistry there. Poppy is feisty and I loved her take charge attitude, even if she was the junior agent on the case.
The sense of place was great, and I’m looking forward to all the different places this series is going to cover.
All in all, I’m excited to get started on this new series!
I’m excited about the relationship between Poppy and Dalton, there’s definitely some chemistry there. Poppy is feisty and I loved her take charge attitude, even if she was the junior agent on the case.
The sense of place was great, and I’m looking forward to all the different places this series is going to cover.
All in all, I’m excited to get started on this new series!
February 2, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. It was full of mystery and intrigue. It will keep you guessing and wondering what the hell is going on. I can't wait to see where this series takes its readers.
March 5, 2017
I love Poppy McVie, she is a passionate protector of all things that deserve to live free in the wilderness they were born in. Her adventures will keep you entertained but you will also cry over some of the things that she comes across powerless to do anything about. I can't wait to read more of her stories.
August 19, 2016
Poppy McVie is new to Fish and Wildlife, but passionate about the job, she just loves helping animals, so when she's called on to help with an undercover mission, she jumps at the chance (or would if she weren't currently taking down some bear-nappers). It's easy to see why the rookie was taken, she's got some serious skill when it comes to hand-to-hand combat and a coolness under fire that only comes from having been under fire--no answer is given as to how she obtained these skills.
Her new C/O, Dalton, is a sexist pr*** and won't let Poppy do any real work, she's just there for show and for him to ogle. Seriously, I hate this guy. Being left out of the operation leads Poppy to slowly begin an operation of her own as she meets some interesting people and to cover some angles that Dalton missed. On top of that, when she tries to tell him what she learned, he goes crazy and yells at her and threatens her .
I like how independent and resourceful Poppy is, and I love how she's never the damsel in distress, but the person person saving the day. She ogles Dalton because he's sexy, and I think that's cool, but I also like that he's not the only thing she's ogling--because he's an a**hole and not worth her time.
This book is full of great characters and beautiful locales, and is pure animal rescue fan fiction. Poppy is the superhero of the animal world, saving those defenseless, cute, furry (and sometimes scaly) little critters when no one else could.
No book is perfect, but the flaws in this are minimal, the pages really stick together (won't be an issue on an ereader) and some scenarios are a little far-fetched--for instance, Poppy, a vegetarian, is served meat and she elaborately hides it and feeds it to dogs to not have to deal with "all the questions." I have, over the years, found that most people don't care. If nothing else, she could have faked a beef allergy. Those do exist. But anyway, these little far-fetched scenarios do add to the story, reminding us that it is a story.
I'm already downloading the next book. I hope Dalton gets better...or killed. I'll be fine with either.
Her new C/O, Dalton, is a sexist pr*** and won't let Poppy do any real work, she's just there for show and for him to ogle. Seriously, I hate this guy. Being left out of the operation leads Poppy to slowly begin an operation of her own as she meets some interesting people and to cover some angles that Dalton missed. On top of that, when she tries to tell him what she learned, he goes crazy and yells at her and threatens her .
I like how independent and resourceful Poppy is, and I love how she's never the damsel in distress, but the person person saving the day. She ogles Dalton because he's sexy, and I think that's cool, but I also like that he's not the only thing she's ogling--because he's an a**hole and not worth her time.
This book is full of great characters and beautiful locales, and is pure animal rescue fan fiction. Poppy is the superhero of the animal world, saving those defenseless, cute, furry (and sometimes scaly) little critters when no one else could.
No book is perfect, but the flaws in this are minimal, the pages really stick together (won't be an issue on an ereader) and some scenarios are a little far-fetched--for instance, Poppy, a vegetarian, is served meat and she elaborately hides it and feeds it to dogs to not have to deal with "all the questions." I have, over the years, found that most people don't care. If nothing else, she could have faked a beef allergy. Those do exist. But anyway, these little far-fetched scenarios do add to the story, reminding us that it is a story.
I'm already downloading the next book. I hope Dalton gets better...or killed. I'll be fine with either.
March 7, 2017
Love love loved this book. Fast paced, exciting story with some well-done plot twists. Great heroine, great supporting characters. Simply a very well-written book and a fun read. Plus, I'm a wildlife nut and I never got to read about this topic in fiction before.
January 25, 2018
Great story, worthy topic, but the heroine is a caricature
Poppy McVie is now special ops - at least temporarily. She's posing as Brittany, who is visiting her "husband" in Costa Rica. Her mission is to support operations already in place to take down the kingpins in the exotic animal black market. This would go better if she were a team player. Conveniently at the outset we're told that special ops should be able to operate without direction, independently. Which means Poppy immediately risks her cover saving a civilian. Or at least what she hopes is a civilian, considering what she risks.
Before I air my problems with this characters in this novel, I want to acknowledge the importance of the topic. The author has an epilogue on exotic animal trafficking at the end, and certainly any effort anyone can make to shed light on this travesty is important.
I have to assume that secret agents in real life are much smarter than secret agents in books and movies. I just don't know the point of making these fictional agents so dense. It doesn't make the story more enjoyable, and there are better ways to propel the plot forward. Poppy was reckless and impulsive, and she endangered her fellow agents and herself, and even civilians, never considering the consequences. Other reviewers consider this bad-a$$, I think it’s irresponsible behavior that can only hurt a woman’s chances at being taken seriously or gaining more respect in the workplace.
The action is good and the adventure is worthwhile, I just didn’t care for the heroine. It really colors my impression of the story overall.
Poppy McVie is now special ops - at least temporarily. She's posing as Brittany, who is visiting her "husband" in Costa Rica. Her mission is to support operations already in place to take down the kingpins in the exotic animal black market. This would go better if she were a team player. Conveniently at the outset we're told that special ops should be able to operate without direction, independently. Which means Poppy immediately risks her cover saving a civilian. Or at least what she hopes is a civilian, considering what she risks.
Before I air my problems with this characters in this novel, I want to acknowledge the importance of the topic. The author has an epilogue on exotic animal trafficking at the end, and certainly any effort anyone can make to shed light on this travesty is important.
I have to assume that secret agents in real life are much smarter than secret agents in books and movies. I just don't know the point of making these fictional agents so dense. It doesn't make the story more enjoyable, and there are better ways to propel the plot forward. Poppy was reckless and impulsive, and she endangered her fellow agents and herself, and even civilians, never considering the consequences. Other reviewers consider this bad-a$$, I think it’s irresponsible behavior that can only hurt a woman’s chances at being taken seriously or gaining more respect in the workplace.
The action is good and the adventure is worthwhile, I just didn’t care for the heroine. It really colors my impression of the story overall.
August 10, 2017
A great listen - dramatic yet with a real message too
This audiobook was offered to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, and I have to say I wasn't sure what to expect - I hadn't read any of the books by this author before and when I read another review that just said something along the lines of "so true, save the rainforest animals", I really wasn't expecting much! However, with a long journey ahead of me, I turned on the audiobook, and was soon caught up in Poppy's exploits.
The book is well-written with great characters, lots of action and drama, and certainly keeps you hooked. Yes there's a serious message behind the author's writing about animal trafficking, but that doesn't overpower the story itself at all, and you can enjoy the fiction while learning about the facts. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes an action-adventure book, especially one with animal theme to it, but really anyone looking for something a bit different to read would enjoy it I think. And I know I'm certainly looking forward to reading the next book to find out what Poppy gets up to next!
NB I received a complimentary audiobook copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
This audiobook was offered to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, and I have to say I wasn't sure what to expect - I hadn't read any of the books by this author before and when I read another review that just said something along the lines of "so true, save the rainforest animals", I really wasn't expecting much! However, with a long journey ahead of me, I turned on the audiobook, and was soon caught up in Poppy's exploits.
The book is well-written with great characters, lots of action and drama, and certainly keeps you hooked. Yes there's a serious message behind the author's writing about animal trafficking, but that doesn't overpower the story itself at all, and you can enjoy the fiction while learning about the facts. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes an action-adventure book, especially one with animal theme to it, but really anyone looking for something a bit different to read would enjoy it I think. And I know I'm certainly looking forward to reading the next book to find out what Poppy gets up to next!
NB I received a complimentary audiobook copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
November 14, 2017
Good quick read, timepass.
May 6, 2017
The plot line for this story sounded great. The story itself wasn't terrible. The characters, however, were awful. The heroine, Poppy, was selfish, impetuous, disorganized and a know-it-all. The navy SEAL, Dalton, was a horny idiot. The Feds made a big deal about protocol all the time, yet said nothing when it wasn't followed. Another male in the story, Noah, had no depth and the whole thing with him seemed so completely out of place that I was never able to connect with him or their relationship. Then there was this very odd love/sexual triangle going on. The one character I kind of enjoyed was Chris, the friend. But, again, his appearance in this story was so out of place it didn't really make sense. There were parts that were somewhat entertaining, but a lot of it was just so totally unbelievable "I almost sprained an eye socket rolling my eyes". (My favorite quote of this book.) I do think there are plenty of people who could enjoy this book, i.e. animal activists, feminists, chick lit readers, etc. It just really wasn't for me.
June 20, 2016
I loved everything about this book and can't wait to jump into the next one in the series!! Poppy is great, I love her determination and her will to overcome any obstacle just to save the innocent. Dalton drove me crazy with his demanding this and that and not listening but towards the end he started growing on me. There were a couple of sad moments in the book (dealt with animals, I don't like animals to suffer at all) but the rest of the time I was enjoying every minute of Poppy's adventure. I can't wait to start the next one. I highly recommend this author. This is the first time I read a book by her and I plan on reading more. She has a great skill in writing stories that keep you locked in and won't allow you to put the book away till you are done and then you feel incomplete you when you finish it b/c you never wanted it to end!!! Go out and get this book, you will not regret it!!
November 19, 2018
Poppy is sent on a special undercover mission, and when she meets up with her new boss sparks fly, and not all in good ways. Poppy is determined to figure this out and quickly, but Dalton, her boss, just wants her to stand around and be pretty, but that doesn't seem to work out so well for her. They must uncover this mystery before it is too late.
**May contain spoilers**
I liked the over all idea of this story, but I really didn't like any of the characters. I hated the fact that Dalton and Poppy seemed like they had chemistry and that there could be something between them, yet they each were seeing other people. I also didn't like Dalton's character because he ended up messing around with a suspect, that says very bad things about him. Other than that, I liked the story, but over all I would have to say this book was just not for me, so I didn't like it.
**May contain spoilers**
I liked the over all idea of this story, but I really didn't like any of the characters. I hated the fact that Dalton and Poppy seemed like they had chemistry and that there could be something between them, yet they each were seeing other people. I also didn't like Dalton's character because he ended up messing around with a suspect, that says very bad things about him. Other than that, I liked the story, but over all I would have to say this book was just not for me, so I didn't like it.
February 8, 2017
This is a book that not only has a powerful mission but also educates and yet is written well enough to keep you caring about the characters and involved in the story. Poppy McVie is a woman of strength and intelligence, two appealing characteristics, and her ability to improvise in dangerous situations creates a compelling story. The male-female interaction in the story adds interest and the setting of primarily Costa Rica, is a delight to mentally consume. I love any mission that promotes caring for and saving the animals of the world and this book does it so admirably that knowing more specific details builds the fire inside me!! I am eager to read more in this series.
February 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and made me not want to put it down. Looking forward to more books by this author
June 30, 2015
I am a wildlife lover and poacher hater so this book hit the spot. Poppy is extremely easy to like. She is a little spitfire and does things her own way no matter what she has been told to do by her superiors. I think the book was well researched and the author has done a great job of taking the heart breaking subject of poaching and trafficking of wild animals and turning it into a wonderfully enjoyable story. As a bonus, all proceeds from this book are being donated to wildlife charities.
June 23, 2016
Great kick butt and take names for a cause
This story was action packed. Poppy was a very endearing character and a bit of a firecracker. Her zest for her job, willingness to go the distance for a cause and sense of humor was refreshing. The author brings to light the overall issue with poaching. Supply and demand. As long as there is demand for exotics, there will always be poaching. I love reading a book with a strong femAle lead.
This story was action packed. Poppy was a very endearing character and a bit of a firecracker. Her zest for her job, willingness to go the distance for a cause and sense of humor was refreshing. The author brings to light the overall issue with poaching. Supply and demand. As long as there is demand for exotics, there will always be poaching. I love reading a book with a strong femAle lead.
February 7, 2017
Operation Tropical Affair is a must read for all animal lovers. Kimberli Bindschatel's love and understanding of animals comes through overtly and also very subtly. Poppy McVie is a strong woman, with her priorities in place, and not afraid to step out for what she believes in. This book is an adventure story, but it will make you think much more deeply as well. This is my first book in this series, and i can't wait to pick up the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews