Tout a commencé à Monte-Carlo

Mac Reilly #3

by Elizabeth Adler

Rien ne va plus entre nos détectives de choc et de charme, Mac Reilly et Sunny Alvarez! Jalousie, aventure et romance sous le soleil de la Riviera... Le plus sexy des duos prend tous les risques dans ce nouveau roman d'Elizabeth Adler.

Sunny est furieuse: Mac a encore repoussé la date de leur mariage. Cette fois, c'en est trop! Elle fait ses valises, laisse la bague et une lettre de rupture derrière elle et s'envole pour Monte-Carlo. Pour oublier le goujat, rien de tel qu'un peu de farniente à l'Hôtel de Paris et de shopping sur les avenues de la principauté.

Loin de Mac, Sunny s'étourdit et flirte avec toutes les tentations: un troublant Brésilien, un businessman suédois, mais aussi les affaires un peu louches de Mara, une créatrice de bijoux indienne, prête à entraîner la pauvre Sunny sur un chemin très périlleux...

Heureusement, Mac veille. Bien décidé à reconquérir sa belle, il est prêt à voler à son secours. L'amour triomphera-t-il? Monte-Carlo n'a pas encore livré tous ses secrets...

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Audiobook, Ebooks, Suspense

413 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Born in Yorkshire, North England, Elizabeth Adler met her husband Richard (an American) while both were working in London. They have lived in England, Ireland, France, Brazil, and the United States and have traveled extensively. They have one daughter and live in Palm Springs, California. Her first novel, Private Desires (also titled Leonie), launched an enormously successful writing career, she also wrote as Ariana Scott. She has now written over twenty internationally acclaimed bestsellers.

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Post-listen review.

How do I begin to describe how bad this book is? Well, for starters bad doesn't do it. This book was horrendous. If I could give it negative stars I would.

I know that movies and television and magazines get a lot of blame for brainwashing girls into being too much into looks and clothes and things like that. Those forms of media are light-weight offenders compared to this drivel.

The woman that is the focus of this book is consistently described as being smart and funny while continually being fooled by everyone around her and sobbing over men. It is non-stop. Also she is described as being "Brainy and ditzy" in the same sentence. I am no language expert but I don't think the two descriptions can apply to the same person. I wish I could say she was just ditzy cause then at least her getting kidnapped would make me feel sympathy for her. Nope, instead she is just whiney and annoying.

She starts the book by leaving her fiance a note saying it is all over and flies off to Paris, never telling the guy where she is going. Then she goes to Monte Carlo again without telling him. She immediately starts to hook up with the guy who randomly sat next to her on the plane (so she is obviously really committed to her fiance now isn't she?) and then when her fiance shows up she says, "What took you so long?" Dude. What took you so long? If I dragged myself off to Monte Carlo in search of my fiancee and found her on a date with another dude that she met on the plane and she said that to me? I would be very single right then and there. That is just not acceptable adult behavior.

The men in the book are all hyper-masculine yet sensitive. And for men who want to know how to be sensitive, here is what you do to show your sensitivity, go shopping and by things for whomever you are dating. When the woman Sunny (the main character) globe trots off to Monte Carlo what does she do? Shoe shop. How does she know her fiance really cares about her? Because he knows she "isn't a lace girl". When she is conflicted between which guy to choose what does she do? Shop. And constantly in the book Mac (the fiancee) thinks about things he did, or would or will buy for her. So that of course shows his commmitment to her as a person and how he respects her right? And of course he is constantly telling her how smart and funny she is, despite the fact that she shows no signs of being either. He doesn't even seem kind of insulted that A. she left him and B. she is about ready to go for another guy given five more minutes.

The reason that Sunny leaves Mac is that he had to delay the wedding they were supposed to have to investigate a murder. Which seems like a fair enough reason to me. And of course Mac is ultra wealthy because he has a private eye reality television show. (as so many men do really)

Every woman in the book was all about clothes and looks and every man in the book was a perfectly formed specimen. Even ones that might be villainous scum. Almost everyone, male and female, including the THIEVES (why steal if you are super rich??) is super wealthy. And the only person that has children in this whole book seems to be the woman that was murdered. Because children are less important than dresses.

If that wasn't enough, I have to tell you that this book is actually not just about relationshipes. It deals with a jewel heist and murder. Some of that part wasn't terrible but it was utterly predictable. And finding out who killed random people was mostly background noise to who Sonny was going to be with. And who her friends were going to be with. And how her friends would all come together and go shopping to help Sonny. The whole getting kidnapped and almost killed by international terrorist thing was just kind of an aside really. Because shoes are much more important.

And if I had heard the words Ugg boots one more single time in this thing I would have chucked the box across the room.



Pre-listen guess

I can tell from the cover of this I am going to hate it. I wanted to skip listening to it but then I would be violating my rule for my audiobook shelves which is just that I have have to listen to all audiobooks at the library from A-Z with the exception of books I want to read in print.

[Kristy Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. If you would like to read about shallow people than this is the book for you. The main character leaves her fiance after he puts off their wedding for the third time. I get that. But instead of being adult and having a conversation about it she runs off to France, leaving him a note on his pillow. This supposedly intelligent woman then flirts with the strange man she meets on the plane and opens herself up to be used by a scheming hooker, while pouting that her fiance didn't follow her.
The book is full of what I call "Brand porn." If you live for mentions of Versace shoes and Rolex watches than this book is for you. If you like people who judge you by your looks than you'll love the characters. If you think anyone over a size 4 is a cow with self control problems you will identify with the characters. If you like stories where the main character acts stupidly but everything turns out okay (I'm assuming) than you'll love the book.

[Han · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at page 26 because really, who wants to read about women crying because they ate the entire sandwich instead of only half?

[Didka · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Adler leva-nos outra vez a França para mais uma aventura de Sunny Alvarez e Mac Reilly. A zona escolhida é Monte Carlo, um local cheio de glamour e mistério, perfeito para mais uma investigação do famoso detective norte-americano.

Cansada de ser deixada para segundo plano pelo noivo, que prefere o seu trabalho, a investigar novos casos e casar com ela, Sunny decide viajar para Paris, sem pensar muito no assunto. No avião conhece um homem fascinante que a convence a ir para Monte Carlo, um local lindíssimo que servirá de tónico para a crise pela qual está a passar.

Opinião completa: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monte Carlo, paisagens bonitas e tempo ameno. O lugar ideial para para Sunny e Mac terem mais uma aventura. Este é já o terceiro livro desta dupla que agora vão desvendar o mistério do assalto a duas joalharias. É um livro muito leve que deve ser lido em tempo de férias.

[Jamie Baldwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was long and drawn out. Basic characters.

[Zuzana Straka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tato kniha je přesně ten případ, kdy vezmete knihu z poličky v knihovně, aniž byste jste zkontrolovali, co je zač.

Děj knihy se odehrává někdy okolo roku 2010.Hlavní postavou, i když těch je v knize více, je Sunny, mladá, krásná, dokonalá Američanka, která se na Vánoce rozhodne opustit svého přítele Maca – americkou televizní hvězdu pořadu o odložených případech takové lepší soukromé očko, protože znova odložil jejich svatbu. Tak Sunny nenapadne nic jiného, než 24. prosince sbalit své nejlepší oblečení – dozvíme se přesně jaké značky, svého psa, koupí si letenku, kde jinde než do Paříže, a bez toho aby komukoliv dala vědět, odletí pryč.  
Mac končí natáčení a vrací se domů, kde najde Sunnin vzkaz, že ho opouští.
Sunny mezitím v letadle v 1. třídě potkává mladého, super atraktívního a bohatého Eddieho, seznámí se s ním, vypije s ním celou láhev šampaňského a on ji přemluví, ať z Paříže letí přímo do Nice a odtamtud do Monte Carla, kde bude lepší počasí, než v Paříži.
Takže se Sunny dostává do Monte Carla, kde v hotelovém baru, ve kterém se všechno odehrává, potkává Kitty – místní, podivnou prostitutku s nekalými úmysly (nechápu jak to že ji personál vůbec pouští dovnitř, ale ok) a krásnou Indku Mahu, obchodnici se šperky.
Všechno se to prosím děje na Vánoce a v pozadí s velkými loupežemi šperků a jedna loupež, s vraždou, se odehraje i v Monte Carlu.
Do příběhu vstupuje Sunnina kamarádka Allie, bývalé americká herečka, nádherná a bohatá, teď žijící s manželem Ronem ve Francii.
No všichni ti se stanou součástí událostí od Vánoc do Silvestra.

Kniha obsahuje tolik hrozného knižního klišé, že až: všichni jsou krásní, bohatí, máme přesně popsané, v jakých módních domech se oblékají. Jediná odporná osoba je podle všeho prostitutka Kitty, kterou přesto žádná z žen není schopna prokouknout, každopádně autorka nikdy nezapomene psát o Kitty jako o něčem hnusném, starém a tlustém.....Sunny jak je stará, tak je blbá, skočí na lep každému, jen aby ji Mac potom zachraňoval. Zásadně neodpovídá na správy, nedává vědět kde je, cestuje po světě tak naivně, že byste ji fakt přáli ať si to vyžere.
Všichni tam stále pijí alkohol, vánoční nálada žádná, všem je očividně jedno, že jsou Vánoce, sedí v barech a chlastají, nebo stále někam lítají po Evropě letadlem.....

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5/5)
Elizabeth Adler é uma escritora britânica, reconhecida internacionalmente, com mais de 20 romances, publicados em 25 países e com mais de 4 milhões de cópias vendidas. Amante de viagens, que são indispensáveis na sua vida, Adler transporta para as suas obras a sua paixão, apresentando-nos inúmeros locais do mundo. Quando não se encontra em viagem permanece em La Quinta, na Califórnia, com o seu marido e os seus dois gatos.

Sunny Alvarez, após um novo adiamento do casamento com Mac Reilly, o homem da sua vida, decide deixá-lo, partindo para França. Durante a viagem conhece um homem que a ajuda a esquecer por momentos a sua dor e que a ajuda a encontrar um hotel em Monte Carlo, onde garante que não se sentirá sozinha, nem mesmo na altura em que se encontram, na véspera de Natal. Quando chega ao hotel, Sunny rapidamente conhece algumas pessoas, contudo as aparências iludem e quem parece preocupado e solidário, poderá ser na verdade um criminoso sem escrúpulos.

No próprio dia da sua chegada, esta jovem contacta a sua velha amiga Allie Ray, uma estrela de cinema, que se encontra radicada numa vinha em França, que rapidamente vem ao seu auxílio, trazendo consigo uma amiga, Pru Hilson, que necessita de realizar algumas mudanças na sua vida.

Quando Mac parte para reconquistar o coração de Sunny irá ter uma missão difícil, não só porque esta tem o coração destroçado, mas porque Sunny se encontra embrulhada numa enorme trapalhada.

Já tinha tido a possibilidade de ler outra obra da escritora, “Verão na Riviera”, que me tinha agradado pela sua escrita agradável, pelas descrições do Sul de França e por conter mais do que romance, mas também um toque de intriga e acção. Quando vi este livro à venda e precisando de um livro para ler nas férias, por não ter a minha estante à disposição, decidi experimentar, contudo rapidamente percebi que era parte integrante de uma saga.

“Intriga em Monte Carlo” é o terceiro volume de uma saga, constituída até ao momento por quatro volumes, que tem como foco Mac Reilly e infelizmente não é colocada qualquer referência na capa sobre esse facto, o que considero um ponto negativo, pois senti necessidade de conhecer a história por detrás deste casal. Porém, também não deixa de ser verdade, que a obra me proporcionou prazer na mesma e que me deixou curiosa sobre como se conheceram, embora a autora faça uma pequena referência, mas essencialmente sobre algumas das aventuras que são referidas na obra, que me deixaram bastante expectante.

Nesta obra continuo a apreciar a escrita da autora, com descrições fantásticas do ambiente, com uma escrita cuidada e muito envolvente, que nos transporta para os diferentes locais abordados na narrativa, desde Malibu, Monte Carlo, Praga, a Bombaim. Contudo, contínuo a achar que um dos aspectos mais negativos da escritora se centra na estruturação das personagens, sendo que neste volume considerei muitas delas fúteis, algumas ingénuas, muito ligadas ao consumismo e aos bens materiais.

Como aspectos negativos tenho a apontar na obra a futilidade das personagens, as referências ao consumismo e materialismo, diversos momentos “enche chouriços”, que não trouxeram nada de novo à narrativa. Considerei a trama previsível, onde desde o início conhecemos a identidade do criminoso por detrás do roubo das jóias e rapidamente deslindamos os desenvolvimentos da narrativa e, por último, a revisão da obra, pois são diversos os erros ao longo da mesma.

Numa escrita fluída e envolvente, Elizabeth Adler apresenta-nos, deste modo, uma obra repleta de amor, intriga e acção, defendendo que não devemos acreditar sempre nas nossas primeiras impressões, pois, por vezes, alguém que poderá parecer muito prestável e solidário para connosco, poderá ser na realidade bastante diferente e que nunca devemos desistir de lutar por aquilo em que acreditamos.

(http://magia-livros.blogspot.pt/2013/...)

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dupla Mac Reilly e Sunny Alvarez deve ter sido a que menos me interessou nos livros de Elizabeth Adler. Foi só por teimosia, acho, ou mania, talvez, que persisti nesta pequena série e cheguei assim a este 3º volume. Qual não é o meu espanto quando as 423 páginas passaram a correr, sem nunca perderem o interesse? E mais, neste livro apareceram cenas tão queridas, tão ternurentas e românticas que me deixaram de lágrimas nos olhos. Adorei!

Depois de Mac pedir a Sunny para alterarem a data de casamento, colocando - novamente - a sua profissão à frente da noiva, esta foge e embarca num avião com destino a Paris. No avião conhece Eddie, que a convence a ir antes para Monte Carlo. Sunny sente-se muito só e não gosta de estar sozinha. Acaba por conhecer duas figuras no bar do hotel que acompanham o livro até ao fim - Maha, uma estilista de joias indiana e Kitty, uma parva e prostituta, burlona e trapaceira da pior espécie (nem sei como Sunny não percebeu logo). Allie, grande amiga de Sunny e que conhecemos desde o primeiro livro da série, também acaba por se dirigir para Monte Carlo, acompanhada de Pru, uma amiga que necessita urgentemente de ajuda de mulheres.

Entretanto, chegam também a Monte Carlo o nosso Mac e, mais tarde, Ron, marido de Allie, para o grupo ficar completo.

Mac acaba por se envolver num caso de joias roubadas, Sunny acaba por se meter em sarilhos e aí está uma trama bem construída para delicia das leitoras!

Um outro casal se formou, que foi tão inesperado e tão bem vindo e que protagonizou uma ou outra pequena cena que me enterneceu.

Um ótimo livro, sem dúvida!

[Tempo de Ler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunny Alvarez embarca impulsivamente num voo com destino a Paris, deixando para trás o noivo - o famoso detective da televisão, Mac Reilly. Destroçada pela incapacidade de Mac em assumir compromissos, Sunny acaba em Monte Carlo onde irá conhecer um conjunto muito intrigante de personagens, de carácter e princípios dúbios, que acabarão por colocá-la no centro de algumas intrigas e de um perigoso esquema criminoso.

Elizabeth Adler combina em Intriga em Monte Carlo personagens de livros anteriores com personagens novas num enredo verdadeiramente intrigante e romântico. Gostei do desempenho da autora na escrita - nunca tinha lido nada de Adler - gostei também das personagens envolvidas e do próprio enredo que protagonizam…mas gostei principalmente da diversidade de locais a que Adler nos leva: Malibu, Paris, Monte Carlo, Praga, Bombaim…

Se conseguirmos ignorar a enorme dose de futilidade, materialismo e consumismo, Intriga em Monte Carlo garante óptimas horas de entretenimento e descontracção.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Elizabeth Adler book - in fact it barely rated two stars. Way too much raunchiness. The main character, Sunny Alvarez, who supposedly is a Wharton graduate and successful businesswoman, comes off for the most part in this book as a ditsy female with romance issues who gets suckered into questionable relationships with people she has just met and barely knows. (Isn't she supposed to be smarter than this?) Come to her rescue Mac Reilly, her long-time love interest, whom she left to start on this adventure. Add in jewelry heists, murder, blackmail, and the underbelly of the sex world. I've enjoyed Ms. Adlers books in the past, even the others in this series, but this one seemed to always be reaching and never really hit the mark. I'd say Ms. Adler needs to re-read her ownh earlier books and find out where she is going wrong in her latest books.

[Marcella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read about 50 pages of this nothingness. Oh and I love some beach-reading fluff, but this was just too much. (Or too little, I should say.) No character to care about, no one to root for. 50 pages in and we should feel something for the characters. And oh yeah, there was a jewelry robbery in the prologue? Completely forgot about that. The only character I felt anything for was the minor character, Pru, the dowdy friend going thru a divorce. (Who at one point asks for a turkey sandwich and the maker of said sandwich looks at his wife for permission to give this fattie something to eat. And slathers it with mayo, cause being soooo fat, of course that's the way he figures she like it. Offensive.)

[Regina Pride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, the first book I've read by Ms Adler. It is a Romantic Mystery in more ways than one, and as the name suggusts, it started mostly in Monte Carlo. The characters were very interesting, and it took place around the holiday season. I thought it began well, kept well in the middle and ended well. If you like a good story that ends well in terms of a little this, that and the other thing, read it. Keep in mind that it also has that romantic theme thrown in on more than one occasion. A good read, yes.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sem dúvida alguma um bom romance como posso classificar. Claro que temos que seguir a história de Sunny e Mac, e de como vai terminar. Intrigas, mistérios, mentiras e romance, mas prefiro um bom romance sem ser policial, é um livro diferente do que esperava, vamos lá a ver a continuação.

http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was alright in the beginning, I liked the description even though there was a lot.. and the feeling was also warm and cheery, yet cold at the same time.. but by the middle I gave up because it just bored me and got too strange for me to enjoy it anymore.

[Emily]

Read about 4 chapters, and the characters were annoying me. In general, I like Ms. Adler's books for a nice, light read. This one and the last were not up to her standards.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy pool read

[Marian Tustison O'Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was in the running for one of 5he worse books for the year. Sunny is completely an idiot. Her fiancé Mac changes the wedding date, which she had done previously, but this time she had bought a dress so she just jumps on a plane to France Christmas Eve. No plans. She then starts talking to a man on the plane and lets him arrange her hotel accommodations in Monte Carlo. Of course he shows up at the same hotel the next day and she’s in love with him! Forget the fact she loves Mactoo and was ready to marry him less tha 24 hours ago!!! She also becomes fast friends and completely trust 2 women she meets in the Hotel bar cuz everyone is so nice. Spoiler both women are bad guys. Next her best friend Allie comes to help her get over the breakups but Allie brings her friend Pru cuz Pru needs a makeover. Somehow the marvelous food and clothes in Monte Carlo change Peru’s life and pounds overnight. The stupidest thing Sunny does is fly to India to help out her new super wonderful friend M, and agreeing bot to tell anyone where she’s going except to India. Of course M is a crook and Suuny gets kidnapped and almost murdered by M’s associates. These are women in their 30*s not mindless teenagers. Throw in murder, jewel thefts, blackmail, falling in love, realizing how important Mac is, and the happy ever after and the book is over. Won’t be reading anything else by this author no matter how desperate I am

[blearyeyed.momboss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had the story picked one or maybe two plots to focus on the book could have been a lot better. It was almost like Elizabeth Adler had too many ideas for plots and knew none of them were well thought out enough to have their own story. I did not really see the point of Allie and Pru coming to help Sunny. They went shopping once. They did not help her fix her relationship. Sunny did it all on her own. I gave the book two stars because I thought it had potential if every part about Kitty and blackmail would have been left out. That was the only plot line that didn’t intersect with anything else. There were too many characters and no one you particularly wanted to root for. I only finished the book because I wanted to know if there would be a redeeming ending. There was not.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It all began in Monte Carlo is a multifaceted book. There is romance, broken hearts, murder, theft, and blackmail. All affecting people who have soooo much money they just jet to wherever, whenever, for whatever reason.
There was a lot of top name brands name dropped, which might mean something or impress someone other than me, but I let them roll on by and stayed with the story line. After all it was set in Monte Carlo.
The characters were okay. The only one I really liked was Pru who was working through the end of her marriage, and trying to find a way to move forward.
I listened to it via audio disk, I’m not sure I would have made it through the book. It kept me entertained as I went about my day, so I can’t completely dismiss it.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had heard good things about this author. She is prolific and popular and I'd hoped to open the door to a new supply of good reading. Perhaps because I have read some really well-written books lately (mostly because of the selections of my book club) I found Adler's writing to be amateurish and uneven (and sometimes even annoying). Her books seem often to be set in exciting cities across the globe and I had anticipated enjoying that aspect of her story, but she concentrated more on her heroines' footwear than on local sites.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another in a series with Mac and Sunny, but somehow disappointing. Too many plotlines, with almost each character having a mystery to solve. Yes, they all arrived at a satisfactory end. The settings in Monte Carlo and Prague were okay. Some good descriptions, but the whole thing was thin, even with all the mysteries. Perhaps fewer mysteries, but more development? I don't know if that would fix this book. I may read more of Adler's books, but not right away.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got 93 pages in and realized that it was book #2 in a series, as the backstory was sparse at best. Took a break to read two other books (both of which I LOVED) and when I picked up this one again, I’ve now lost interest. I suspect the quality of the other books I read made me realize how vapid this one is. Thought I would maybe get book #1 to read and help me plow through this one, but that summary sounds equally terrible.

[Ana Duarte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Adler é atualmente uma das minhas escritoras favoritas. A sua escrita é leve e fácil, o que permite que os livros dela nos façam viajar e passar umas boas tardes de entretenimento. A primeira sensação que tive, numa das tardes em que li este livro, foi de serenidade. O que por outras palavras se pode entender é que a história é de uma leveza tal, que nos permite esquecer o mundo à nossa volta e compenetrar-nos somente naquela realidade.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know I started off thinking this would be a beach type read, not requiring much in the way of brain cells but I was very pleasantly surprised. I thought it had a good cast of characters and sufficient depth to keep me wondering until the end how it would all turn out! I was very glad I picked it up to read and I am looking forward to more of her books.

[Michele Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

When her fiance postponed their wedding, Sunny got on a plane to Paris to spend some time alone. She ended up in Monte Carlo and soon had three new friends: a wealthy, handsome man, an international jewel thief and a prostitute/blackmailer. When her fiance, a real detective with his own TV show, and her best friend, a movie star, show up, things get dicey. A fun summer read.

[Cait Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading a few of Adler's books (most recent being Something About St. Tropez) I figured this would be a decent fun read, but boy was I wrong. I made it about as far as the body shaming started and quite literally threw the book out. Gaining weight or being "dowdy" absolutely never justifies cheating or throwing away a marriage which should be focused on inner beauty. And goodness forbid someone eat an entire sandwich. Definitely the last book I ever pick up by Elizabeth Adler. Needless to say this was a DNF.

[Bobbie Boldt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my least favorite in this three book series. The plot was a little contrived, too little depth to new characters, and unrealistic behavior for the main characters. Okay to read for information between the first and third books. The epilogue was probably the best part.

[Sherry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried hard to get into this book. It was slow and I kept hoping it would get better. But it didn’t. I never actually finished it - but I read most of it before I finally just gave up. I simply couldn’t do it any longer!!