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A Chrissy McMullen Mystery #8
Unleashed
Unleashed
Chrissy McMullen #8
"Dangerously funny stuff." –Janet Evanovich
LA therapist, Chrissy McMullen and her on-again-off-again LAPD hottie, Jack Rivera, finally agreed that it would be best for the rest of the civilized world if they ended their too-hot-to-handle relationship…
Until they run into each other at a posh Rodeo Drive restaurant. Chrissy is there with a date. Rivera is escorting his mother, who ends up guarding the restroom door while the ex-couple revisits their decision to break up (a discussion that involves the removal of many, many items of clothing and continues at Rivera’s house.)
Their reunion was definitely explosive—but could it actually be deadly? The Black Flames, the most bloodthirsty criminal gang in modern history, arrives at Rivera’s front door carrying a big grudge and deadly weapons…and now Chrissy is also a target!
Desperate to protect her, Rivera convinces her to leave town until it’s safe. Thus Chrissy’s frantic exile to parts unknown—a city girl adrift in wheat fields! Sans money, decent clothing, and any kind of technology, Chrissy takes an alias, becomes a waitress and spends her time defending her dubious honor and trolling for tips. She can feel her IQ dropping with every slack-jawed patron she serves; with the exception of Hiro Jonovich Danshov, the intriguing mystery man who Chrissy hates….but is undeniably (although she DOES deny it) attracted to.
Will he teach her to defend herself before they kill each other or is he a member of the very gang she’s hiding from?
"Lois Greiman is a modern day Dorothy Sayers. Witty as hell, yet talented enough to write like an angel with a broken wing." – Kinky Friedman, author of Ten Little New Yorkers
“Sexy…sassy…An entertaining series.” —Mystery Scene
“For the Janet Evanovich fans who are craving a protagonist similar to Stephanie Plum.” —Mystery Scene
A delightful romp, a laugh on every page." –MaryJanice Davidson
Chrissy McMullen #8
"Dangerously funny stuff." –Janet Evanovich
LA therapist, Chrissy McMullen and her on-again-off-again LAPD hottie, Jack Rivera, finally agreed that it would be best for the rest of the civilized world if they ended their too-hot-to-handle relationship…
Until they run into each other at a posh Rodeo Drive restaurant. Chrissy is there with a date. Rivera is escorting his mother, who ends up guarding the restroom door while the ex-couple revisits their decision to break up (a discussion that involves the removal of many, many items of clothing and continues at Rivera’s house.)
Their reunion was definitely explosive—but could it actually be deadly? The Black Flames, the most bloodthirsty criminal gang in modern history, arrives at Rivera’s front door carrying a big grudge and deadly weapons…and now Chrissy is also a target!
Desperate to protect her, Rivera convinces her to leave town until it’s safe. Thus Chrissy’s frantic exile to parts unknown—a city girl adrift in wheat fields! Sans money, decent clothing, and any kind of technology, Chrissy takes an alias, becomes a waitress and spends her time defending her dubious honor and trolling for tips. She can feel her IQ dropping with every slack-jawed patron she serves; with the exception of Hiro Jonovich Danshov, the intriguing mystery man who Chrissy hates….but is undeniably (although she DOES deny it) attracted to.
Will he teach her to defend herself before they kill each other or is he a member of the very gang she’s hiding from?
"Lois Greiman is a modern day Dorothy Sayers. Witty as hell, yet talented enough to write like an angel with a broken wing." – Kinky Friedman, author of Ten Little New Yorkers
“Sexy…sassy…An entertaining series.” —Mystery Scene
“For the Janet Evanovich fans who are craving a protagonist similar to Stephanie Plum.” —Mystery Scene
A delightful romp, a laugh on every page." –MaryJanice Davidson
330 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2016
41 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Lois Greiman
79 books291 followersBorn on a North Dakota cattle ranch, Lois Greiman graduated from a high school class of sixty students before moving to Minnesota where she professionally trained and showed Arabian Horses for several years. Since that time she's been a high fashion model, a fitness instructor, and a veterinary assistant. But an incurable case of writing fever put a stop to all those occupations.
Since selling her first book to Avon in 1992, she has sold twelve other historical romance novels, most of which are set in medieval Scotland and involve her very popular Forbes clan. In an attempt to pursue her love of humor, Ms. Greiman has also recently sold three romantic comedies to Harlequin Enterprises.
While caring for three children, fifteen horses, and a menagerie of pets on her small farm in Minnesota, Ms. Greiman writes full time, producing two or three novels a year and garnering much praise from readers and reviewers alike. Affaire de Coeur called HIGHLAND WOLF "magnificent." Romantic Times proclaimed LADY AND THE KNIGHT"...pure magic." Christina Dodd proclaims "Lois Greiman delivers....The Fraser Bride offers delightful characters, breathless adventure."
Her Highland novels have received Affaire de Couer's Critic's Choice Award, Romantic Times K.I.S.S. Award, and been nominated for Romance Writer's of America's prestigious Rita. Her titles have appeared on Barnes and Nobles Best Selling Romance list and won her the Midwest Fiction Writer's Rising Star Award.
Since selling her first book to Avon in 1992, she has sold twelve other historical romance novels, most of which are set in medieval Scotland and involve her very popular Forbes clan. In an attempt to pursue her love of humor, Ms. Greiman has also recently sold three romantic comedies to Harlequin Enterprises.
While caring for three children, fifteen horses, and a menagerie of pets on her small farm in Minnesota, Ms. Greiman writes full time, producing two or three novels a year and garnering much praise from readers and reviewers alike. Affaire de Coeur called HIGHLAND WOLF "magnificent." Romantic Times proclaimed LADY AND THE KNIGHT"...pure magic." Christina Dodd proclaims "Lois Greiman delivers....The Fraser Bride offers delightful characters, breathless adventure."
Her Highland novels have received Affaire de Couer's Critic's Choice Award, Romantic Times K.I.S.S. Award, and been nominated for Romance Writer's of America's prestigious Rita. Her titles have appeared on Barnes and Nobles Best Selling Romance list and won her the Midwest Fiction Writer's Rising Star Award.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 30, 2016
Spoilery! Beware!
I was really pleased to find another Chrissy McMullen book was coming out after quite a long time. I have to say I am a bit disappointed in this one, though. This was not my favorite book of this series, but it was certainly the rape-iest.
I like that Greiman is going after the Damsel In Distress routine we see in books like hers, I just didn't like the way she went about it. There is much in this book that makes no sense at all and the author doesn't care and frankly neither do I. These books are fluff and a few plot holes aren't going to make any difference. If you are wondering why this woman never gets to a computer in all the time she is away from her normal life or why she never asks to be paid for the job she takes up when she is on the lam or fills her car with gas or gets the heck out of the punishing, Deliverance-like hillbilly nightmare she finds herself in just relax. It's because if she did those things the book might be over too soon. It is slightly irritating I will admit-but there are so many bigger fish to fry in this mess that plot holes are the least of our worries.
I have two main issues with this book. One is Chrissy's casual racism. Calling an Asian person "Confucius" isn't cool and doesn't show what a wacky, madcap, smart-aleck character you are. It just shows you to be a racist tool. Assuming that any Asian person should step up for your silly, white behind and be your personal Mr. Miyagi and train you to fight is quite racist as well. Chrissy really goes overboard in this book to be her most obnoxious and that's saying something because in this series her obnoxiousness is clearly meant to be charming. Usually I can handle that. I understand that in spite of the fact that she has a PhD she is supposed to be "wacky and fun", but the way she comes off is more "frantic and brain damaged". Can you get a PhD from a community college or maybe one of those on-line schools that purports to teach you how to fix televisions or AC units? I am almost convinced that's where Chrissy got hers. She is shockingly unprofessional and childish. I feel like smart women can be sarcastic and funny without being rude and ignorant of how to behave like an adult.
My second issue is that every grown man in this book treats Chrissy like garbage and we are supposed to be okay with some of it. There is not one grown man in this book who does not sexually assault her, beat her, kidnap her, or lie to her and manipulate her. Not one. I was going to say that her best friend Elaine's husband doesn't, but then I remembered that Chrissy mentions the time he was crushing on her and felt her up without her consent. If you are upset by sexual assault in your frivolous novels or physical abuse of women maybe skip this one. When she is being "trained" by Hiro (her Mr. Miyagi) she is mostly just being abused. Women manage to take self defense classes, karate and other martial arts classes, krav maga classes all the time without being abused by their teachers. I would understand him being hard on her but he is abusive and it is often played for a laugh or clearly supposed to be sexy. It's gross. When she is questioned about her bruises and contusions while waiting tables she cracks hilarious jokes that wink at domestic abuse. WTF.
You know what-I have three issues. My bad. Third issue: why does this crazy B think she is the hottest thing since toast while at the same time whining that men don't like her? Men clearly like her. According to this book every man who meets her wants to bone her and some of them don't really care if she returns the feeling. No matter what a scary, beaten down hot mess she is they all want her. She obnoxiously assumes that Hiro is gay when he doesn't respond to her dubious charms because apparently not being hot for Chrissy means you are gay. *sigh* I just cannot even with Chrissy in this book. I cannot even.
If you tried to eke out some enjoyment of this book by focusing on the fact that finally she is learning to defend herself instead of depending on some man to come and save her don't get too comfortable. When Chrissy leaves her hillbilly waitress gig to run to Rivera's side at the hospital she proceeds to completely forget anything she learned about self defense from Hiro and bizarrely cooperates with a kidnapper and basically kidnaps herself for him. Because she is an idiot. Or maybe she had a quickie lobotomy in the hospital that we aren't privy to. This is the most irritating part of a very irritating book. After making our dummy in distress learn to take care of herself Lois Greiman throws all of that out the window and has Hiro and Jack rescuing her at the end because of course she does. Of course she does.
I was really pleased to find another Chrissy McMullen book was coming out after quite a long time. I have to say I am a bit disappointed in this one, though. This was not my favorite book of this series, but it was certainly the rape-iest.
I like that Greiman is going after the Damsel In Distress routine we see in books like hers, I just didn't like the way she went about it. There is much in this book that makes no sense at all and the author doesn't care and frankly neither do I. These books are fluff and a few plot holes aren't going to make any difference. If you are wondering why this woman never gets to a computer in all the time she is away from her normal life or why she never asks to be paid for the job she takes up when she is on the lam or fills her car with gas or gets the heck out of the punishing, Deliverance-like hillbilly nightmare she finds herself in just relax. It's because if she did those things the book might be over too soon. It is slightly irritating I will admit-but there are so many bigger fish to fry in this mess that plot holes are the least of our worries.
I have two main issues with this book. One is Chrissy's casual racism. Calling an Asian person "Confucius" isn't cool and doesn't show what a wacky, madcap, smart-aleck character you are. It just shows you to be a racist tool. Assuming that any Asian person should step up for your silly, white behind and be your personal Mr. Miyagi and train you to fight is quite racist as well. Chrissy really goes overboard in this book to be her most obnoxious and that's saying something because in this series her obnoxiousness is clearly meant to be charming. Usually I can handle that. I understand that in spite of the fact that she has a PhD she is supposed to be "wacky and fun", but the way she comes off is more "frantic and brain damaged". Can you get a PhD from a community college or maybe one of those on-line schools that purports to teach you how to fix televisions or AC units? I am almost convinced that's where Chrissy got hers. She is shockingly unprofessional and childish. I feel like smart women can be sarcastic and funny without being rude and ignorant of how to behave like an adult.
My second issue is that every grown man in this book treats Chrissy like garbage and we are supposed to be okay with some of it. There is not one grown man in this book who does not sexually assault her, beat her, kidnap her, or lie to her and manipulate her. Not one. I was going to say that her best friend Elaine's husband doesn't, but then I remembered that Chrissy mentions the time he was crushing on her and felt her up without her consent. If you are upset by sexual assault in your frivolous novels or physical abuse of women maybe skip this one. When she is being "trained" by Hiro (her Mr. Miyagi) she is mostly just being abused. Women manage to take self defense classes, karate and other martial arts classes, krav maga classes all the time without being abused by their teachers. I would understand him being hard on her but he is abusive and it is often played for a laugh or clearly supposed to be sexy. It's gross. When she is questioned about her bruises and contusions while waiting tables she cracks hilarious jokes that wink at domestic abuse. WTF.
You know what-I have three issues. My bad. Third issue: why does this crazy B think she is the hottest thing since toast while at the same time whining that men don't like her? Men clearly like her. According to this book every man who meets her wants to bone her and some of them don't really care if she returns the feeling. No matter what a scary, beaten down hot mess she is they all want her. She obnoxiously assumes that Hiro is gay when he doesn't respond to her dubious charms because apparently not being hot for Chrissy means you are gay. *sigh* I just cannot even with Chrissy in this book. I cannot even.
If you tried to eke out some enjoyment of this book by focusing on the fact that finally she is learning to defend herself instead of depending on some man to come and save her don't get too comfortable. When Chrissy leaves her hillbilly waitress gig to run to Rivera's side at the hospital she proceeds to completely forget anything she learned about self defense from Hiro and bizarrely cooperates with a kidnapper and basically kidnaps herself for him. Because she is an idiot. Or maybe she had a quickie lobotomy in the hospital that we aren't privy to. This is the most irritating part of a very irritating book. After making our dummy in distress learn to take care of herself Lois Greiman throws all of that out the window and has Hiro and Jack rescuing her at the end because of course she does. Of course she does.
July 14, 2021
This series keeps getting better and better. Chrissy is on the run from the mob who have a bounty on her head. I loved the story line and the characters though I kind of wish Chrissy and Jack could just make it work. They love each other so just stop bickering and breaking up. A great story that will keep you turning the pages.
July 21, 2022
I enjoy this series but this one was just … messy . No actual plot .
September 21, 2016
After years of waiting for another Chrissy McMullen story, I have to say I was really excited about this book. I'm not sure I made the right decision to read the few reviews there were, before actually starting to read because at that point, I was dreading the book.
In Unleashed, we are once again reunited with the slightly obnoxious, often times horny and awkward psychologist Chrissy McMullen. And as with nearly all of her books, there's once again a feud going on with her and police detective Jack Rivera.
I nearly cried reading they had called it quits. Because Jack Rivera is to me, what Roarke and Ranger are to other readers. He's overprotective and overbearing, charming and sweet. The man makes we swoon from the pages of the book.
I will say beforehand, I read the entire series leading up to this book, so I was once again fully acquainted with all the characters. So I can tell, as most readers will, that the black woman sidekick trope? That's her assistant Sherry who's been around since book 3 I believe...
The Morelli/Ranger love triangle? If there's one thing you can count on with Chrissy McMullen, it's that this horny but insecure lady never lacks male attention. There's always another man waiting in the wings.
This time, it's Hiro Jonovich Danshov, a mysterious guy I didn't completely grasp. I had a hard time even understanding his background; one review said he's Asian. I didn't get that; the Confucius quip had more to do with Hiro's philosophical words than anything else.
Hiro is there, when Chrissy has to deal with some serious sexual harassment. He doesn't help her, and she needs to stand up for herself. She manages, but does earn his help in learning her how to efficiently protect herself. (Finally, she learns some self-defense - which Rivera had offered at the end of book 2, but she soundly refused. Something Hiro holds against Rivera, by the way.)
Hiro seems to me like another D, Dagwood Dean Daly the Chicago gangster, a bad boy counterpart to Rivera. They both have something going on, that makes them really interesting characters. I'm still rooting for Rivera, because he's my guy, but then, I'm not sure we've really gotten to know Hiro yet, and I think he might factor majorly in the next book.
He seems to really care for Chrissy, and Rivera is being his obtuse self. I'd hate to see him lose out to another guy after all this time, when we've been pining for them to get together. (And I should state here, that I really hate when authors make us invest in a couple and spring another character on us in the last book with whom they'll end up. Not fair.)
Chrissy was perhaps a bit too obnoxious. Not as sympathetic as before, though she does have all the little quirks she has in the other books. Perhaps, with so much time in between, we should believe she's grown, too. Except that no time has actually passed in the books.
I do hope she'll continue to grow more, mature a bit, in the next book.
In Unleashed, we are once again reunited with the slightly obnoxious, often times horny and awkward psychologist Chrissy McMullen. And as with nearly all of her books, there's once again a feud going on with her and police detective Jack Rivera.
I nearly cried reading they had called it quits. Because Jack Rivera is to me, what Roarke and Ranger are to other readers. He's overprotective and overbearing, charming and sweet. The man makes we swoon from the pages of the book.
I will say beforehand, I read the entire series leading up to this book, so I was once again fully acquainted with all the characters. So I can tell, as most readers will, that the black woman sidekick trope? That's her assistant Sherry who's been around since book 3 I believe...
The Morelli/Ranger love triangle? If there's one thing you can count on with Chrissy McMullen, it's that this horny but insecure lady never lacks male attention. There's always another man waiting in the wings.
This time, it's Hiro Jonovich Danshov, a mysterious guy I didn't completely grasp. I had a hard time even understanding his background; one review said he's Asian. I didn't get that; the Confucius quip had more to do with Hiro's philosophical words than anything else.
Hiro is there, when Chrissy has to deal with some serious sexual harassment. He doesn't help her, and she needs to stand up for herself. She manages, but does earn his help in learning her how to efficiently protect herself. (Finally, she learns some self-defense - which Rivera had offered at the end of book 2, but she soundly refused. Something Hiro holds against Rivera, by the way.)
Hiro seems to me like another D, Dagwood Dean Daly the Chicago gangster, a bad boy counterpart to Rivera. They both have something going on, that makes them really interesting characters. I'm still rooting for Rivera, because he's my guy, but then, I'm not sure we've really gotten to know Hiro yet, and I think he might factor majorly in the next book.
He seems to really care for Chrissy, and Rivera is being his obtuse self. I'd hate to see him lose out to another guy after all this time, when we've been pining for them to get together. (And I should state here, that I really hate when authors make us invest in a couple and spring another character on us in the last book with whom they'll end up. Not fair.)
Chrissy was perhaps a bit too obnoxious. Not as sympathetic as before, though she does have all the little quirks she has in the other books. Perhaps, with so much time in between, we should believe she's grown, too. Except that no time has actually passed in the books.
I do hope she'll continue to grow more, mature a bit, in the next book.
July 2, 2016
What a hard to follow story....
I loved this author s previous books in this series and was disappointed when she stopped writing them, so I was excited to hear she had a new one out. The story is c confusing, silly and disjointed. Not humorous like her first few at all. If you're looking for a fun and fluffy book, skip this one and rE read the series.
I loved this author s previous books in this series and was disappointed when she stopped writing them, so I was excited to hear she had a new one out. The story is c confusing, silly and disjointed. Not humorous like her first few at all. If you're looking for a fun and fluffy book, skip this one and rE read the series.
June 26, 2016
Finally!!! Now give me more!!!
I LOVE this series, I've missed Chrissy so much. I'm hoping Lou's is typing away on book 9! Please doing leave us hanging!!! Thanks for another great Mac Book!!!!
I LOVE this series, I've missed Chrissy so much. I'm hoping Lou's is typing away on book 9! Please doing leave us hanging!!! Thanks for another great Mac Book!!!!
July 6, 2016
Really enjoyed visiting Chrissy McMullen again. Wish I'd seen more of Rivera, he's hot! But the introduction of another hero (?) with a decidedly very different view than Rivera was really interesting, leaving me to wonder...how much will both men feature in the next book?!
June 27, 2016
As brilliant as all the ones before it, and again left me waiting for the next one. Let's hope it doesn't take as long as this one did. Don't think I could cope!
January 14, 2025
…so much Mr. Myagi? Was waiting for a wax on wax off moment. I think this whole training montage lasted way too long and the ending was rushed. All this training and she doesn’t even come back to LA and use it on one of the so called deadly gang members?
Random murderer in there? What was the point of the over sexed twins.
Is he gay is he not gay? So many weird holes.
Wanted to give it 2.5.
Random murderer in there? What was the point of the over sexed twins.
Is he gay is he not gay? So many weird holes.
Wanted to give it 2.5.
April 12, 2018
Absolutely love, love, love this series. I was crying tears of laughter. The hillbilly portion of this was to die for. And with less Rivera, a potential new love interest/nemesis kept the heat quotient up there.
April 19, 2021
DNF 50%. The plot so far does not exist. I do not understand how or why Chrissy is doing what she is doing.
Generally, the books are entertaining and I can ignore some annoying tropes- obsession with what she eats, looks, every guy wanting her...
Generally, the books are entertaining and I can ignore some annoying tropes- obsession with what she eats, looks, every guy wanting her...
May 19, 2021
This was my least favorite so far. The storyline was jumpy and I had a hard time following it. It was hard to stay invested and because of it. I won’t quit though. Everyone has a bump in the road, I will put it behind me and keep reading the series.
July 8, 2017
Fun, light reading. Lois's Chrissy books make me laugh and make me shake my head!
August 21, 2017
Funny, exciting and definitely entertaining
November 24, 2017
I love this series. Chrissy is hilarious! And oh my the situations she gets herself into are just wow! I chuckled all the way through this book. Can’t wait to read the next one!
February 13, 2018
2.5
I'm really happy to have this series back - but this one was not my favorite.
I'm really happy to have this series back - but this one was not my favorite.
July 1, 2018
Who needs Morelli
I'd take Rivera any day!
Always brilliant and hilarious. The fact that she's not as well known as Evanovich is surprising.
I'd take Rivera any day!
Always brilliant and hilarious. The fact that she's not as well known as Evanovich is surprising.
June 18, 2020
This was the worst book of the series. It was a mess, ridiculous and just plain stupid.
December 29, 2020
The kindle version has too much space between the lines for me to read the book.
August 7, 2016
I was so excited to see that Greiman wrote another installment of the Chrissy McMullen series! This not my favorite of the series, but I really enjoyed the tension between Chrissy and Hiro when she's on the run, though I missed the banter between she and Rivera, I feel like this book is a real turning point for Chrissy in that she stops just doling out advice and starts taking her own advice as well - she becomes her own hero. I hope that Greiman continues this series - Chrissy is one of my favorite characters in the series I read.
May 11, 2017
Umm. Not as good as the rest, BUT I'm definitely looking forward to Ms. Greiman's next in the series. She's writing it now, and it will probably be titled "Unhinged". I think this one was just the build up for the next one. In the meantime l have to go find another spunky series to fill the void until it's written.
September 4, 2016
So funny! It was a departure from the usual story line with Chrissy, and I had no idea where it was going. It was a really strange, but nice, change of pace. I love this series. It's one of the few book series I read more than once.
July 26, 2016
The ending ties it all together!!!! I loved it
November 25, 2016
Disappointing...just disappointing
March 28, 2017
Not up to the usual weirdness.
Love Mac. Wasn't as good as the other books. Hoping the next one will be better. Wished there was more Rivera.
Love Mac. Wasn't as good as the other books. Hoping the next one will be better. Wished there was more Rivera.
March 29, 2017
Not my favorite. Didn't like the ending.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews