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Heroes of Providence #1
Material Witness
Who does she trust when she’s living the real life horror of one of her crime novels…
Bestselling crime novelist, Cassie Alvarez, aka Cassie Lang, had murder on her mind when she walked into Rory's Bar under dressed and under cover to research her latest crime novel. Researching the cool, blue-eyed and dashingly handsome man at the end of the bar stirred her senses more than she wanted to admit. But was this man of leather armor all he appeared to be?
Playing White Knight to an innocent wasn't how Detective Jake Santos planned to spend his time under cover. But there was no way "CJ" was what she claimed to be and that nagging tightness in Jake's chest told him he'd better take her home to safety and leave it at that. Then the barroom exploded with gunfire, leaving a trail of dead that includes a notorious Providence crime boss and an undercover FBI agent. When Cassie’s name is leaked to the media as the only witness to the grisly murders, Cassie insists she only trusts Jake to protect her.
The FBI wants their star witness happy and will do anything to make sure Cassie testifies. But it is clear to Jake that the shooter isn’t the only person who wants Cassie dead. Not knowing who to trust, he vows to protect Cassie at all cost despite the fact that guarding the beautiful novelist is a serious distraction.
Bestselling crime novelist, Cassie Alvarez, aka Cassie Lang, had murder on her mind when she walked into Rory's Bar under dressed and under cover to research her latest crime novel. Researching the cool, blue-eyed and dashingly handsome man at the end of the bar stirred her senses more than she wanted to admit. But was this man of leather armor all he appeared to be?
Playing White Knight to an innocent wasn't how Detective Jake Santos planned to spend his time under cover. But there was no way "CJ" was what she claimed to be and that nagging tightness in Jake's chest told him he'd better take her home to safety and leave it at that. Then the barroom exploded with gunfire, leaving a trail of dead that includes a notorious Providence crime boss and an undercover FBI agent. When Cassie’s name is leaked to the media as the only witness to the grisly murders, Cassie insists she only trusts Jake to protect her.
The FBI wants their star witness happy and will do anything to make sure Cassie testifies. But it is clear to Jake that the shooter isn’t the only person who wants Cassie dead. Not knowing who to trust, he vows to protect Cassie at all cost despite the fact that guarding the beautiful novelist is a serious distraction.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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1134 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
August 17, 2017
Cassie was only researching her latest crime novel when she found herself the star witness in a real life crime. In need of a little inspiration, Cassie dressed the part of a hooker and hit one of the seediest bars in town. What she never expected was to become part of gang style murder, all because she was the only person who saw the shooter.
Detective Jake Santos was on an undercover stakeout when his detective radar told him Cassie was not who she pretended to be. Now he may be the last line of defense to keep Cassie alive as she becomes a pawn in a legal system turf war between the Feds and the Providence PD. Not only could there be an unspoken agenda in the midst, but Cassie herself knows too much to believe that protective custody is anything more than her own personal prison. When push comes to shove, can Jake keep her safe? Can he keep the feisty novelist from getting under his skin? The lines of trust are blurred, and telling the difference between the good guys and the bad guys is not an easy job.
MATERIAL WITNESS by Lisa Mondello starts out with a literal bang and the tension continues from start to finish with only a few moments that seem to slow down. Populated with likable characters, a twisted plot and the heat of romance, this quick read may not be a new concept, but Lisa Mondello’s style is crisp and entertaining! Who knew a novelist’s life could be so dangerous?
Series: Heroes of Providence - Book 1
Publication Date: January 15, 2014
Publisher: Lisa Mondello
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 237 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Detective Jake Santos was on an undercover stakeout when his detective radar told him Cassie was not who she pretended to be. Now he may be the last line of defense to keep Cassie alive as she becomes a pawn in a legal system turf war between the Feds and the Providence PD. Not only could there be an unspoken agenda in the midst, but Cassie herself knows too much to believe that protective custody is anything more than her own personal prison. When push comes to shove, can Jake keep her safe? Can he keep the feisty novelist from getting under his skin? The lines of trust are blurred, and telling the difference between the good guys and the bad guys is not an easy job.
MATERIAL WITNESS by Lisa Mondello starts out with a literal bang and the tension continues from start to finish with only a few moments that seem to slow down. Populated with likable characters, a twisted plot and the heat of romance, this quick read may not be a new concept, but Lisa Mondello’s style is crisp and entertaining! Who knew a novelist’s life could be so dangerous?
Series: Heroes of Providence - Book 1
Publication Date: January 15, 2014
Publisher: Lisa Mondello
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 237 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 17, 2021
I was attracted to the blurb for Material Witness and I have no regrets! I love me some romantic suspense, and while I did find this story to be a bit ridiculous, inaccurate, and predictable, I enjoyed the heck out of this read.
Cassie was a woman who wrote crime fiction for a living and she was pretty good at it... if you chose to neglect the fact that it wasn't wholly accurate or that she naively put herself in dangerous situations in order to research whatever she was writing about. I found her to be a bit deluded when it came to real life as opposed to the fiction she wrote. Who goes into a mob-run bar to conduct research for a fiction novel? Seriously? At least Detective Jake Santos had a reason to be there, seeing as he was undercover. Anyway, her being there ties her whole life up in knots because she's a witness and someone doesn't want to leave her alive.
It was pretty obvious who some of the bad guys were, but I was still caught off guard. I enjoyed the way the story developed and the way the suspense brought the characters closer together. If someone recommended another book from this author for me to read, I'd definitely give it a go!
Cassie was a woman who wrote crime fiction for a living and she was pretty good at it... if you chose to neglect the fact that it wasn't wholly accurate or that she naively put herself in dangerous situations in order to research whatever she was writing about. I found her to be a bit deluded when it came to real life as opposed to the fiction she wrote. Who goes into a mob-run bar to conduct research for a fiction novel? Seriously? At least Detective Jake Santos had a reason to be there, seeing as he was undercover. Anyway, her being there ties her whole life up in knots because she's a witness and someone doesn't want to leave her alive.
It was pretty obvious who some of the bad guys were, but I was still caught off guard. I enjoyed the way the story developed and the way the suspense brought the characters closer together. If someone recommended another book from this author for me to read, I'd definitely give it a go!
July 9, 2018
Material Witness is book one in the Heroes of Providence series by L. A. Mondello. Cassie Alvarez was having trouble with the plot of her next novel and her editor Maureen suggested that she visit a couple of local nightclubs in Providence dress like a lady of the night to help her break the writer's block. However, Cassie did not expect to have to save a law enforcement officer Jake Santos and be the prime witness to a mob hit. The readers of Material Witness will continue to follow the twist and turns to see what happens to Cassis Alvarez and Jake Santos.
Material Witness is the first book I have read of L. A. Mondello, and it did engage me from the beginning. I enjoy the way, L. A. Mondello portrayed her characters and then intertwine then in a way that I was unable to stop reading Material Witness until the conclusion of the book. Material Witness is well written and researched by L. A. Mondello. I like the way L. A. Mondello described her settings and plot.
The readers of Material Witness will see the devastation the corruption has in law enforcement consequences it has on everyone involved. Also, the readers of Material Witness will learn about witness protection in the United States of America.
I recommend this book.
Material Witness is the first book I have read of L. A. Mondello, and it did engage me from the beginning. I enjoy the way, L. A. Mondello portrayed her characters and then intertwine then in a way that I was unable to stop reading Material Witness until the conclusion of the book. Material Witness is well written and researched by L. A. Mondello. I like the way L. A. Mondello described her settings and plot.
The readers of Material Witness will see the devastation the corruption has in law enforcement consequences it has on everyone involved. Also, the readers of Material Witness will learn about witness protection in the United States of America.
I recommend this book.
October 2, 2012
Talk about cliche. Like you couldn't figure out right from the start what was going to happen. Sucked from beginning to end. I mean seriously, you tell the cops and FBI agents, who are trying to keep you alive, that you'll go ahead with their plan if it's a certain cop who protects you and no one else. No, it doesn't look too obvious that you're looking to get laid - not! Oh, only one bed available? Oh, whatever shall we do? Give me a break! What a mindless piece of drivel.
March 10, 2019
I like the idea of this book, but I don't think these characters really pulled it off.
How could a crime novelist who does copious amounts of research think dressing like a prostitute and walking into a mob controlled dive in the worst part of town is a good idea? She would have been, should have been smarter than that. How about the Feds caving to her demands about Jake becoming her protective detail while in hiding? Doubt the Feds would be that accommodating. Maybe being part of the escort, which still would have worked for the story line and been slightly more believable.
I did like how Cassie put herself out there. She wanted to be with Jake and she let him know. Jake was the holdout in this situation, despite himself. I struggle with this kind of hesitation and resistance in romance novels. Two consenting adults who might not live through the night...? No question in my book. Life is short, take comfort where you can, and if you love them, tell them.
I felt like there were almost to many conflicting elements in this book. There was the cop with the son who OD'd mucking up the story line. Dirty FBI agents. The history between Jake and Charley. Talk about the Aztec Corp and some bond fraud that was never explained. And who was the actual target of the shoot out at Rory's? Jake or the mob guy? It seemed overdone.
Decent read though. Might give the next one in the series a shot.
How could a crime novelist who does copious amounts of research think dressing like a prostitute and walking into a mob controlled dive in the worst part of town is a good idea? She would have been, should have been smarter than that. How about the Feds caving to her demands about Jake becoming her protective detail while in hiding? Doubt the Feds would be that accommodating. Maybe being part of the escort, which still would have worked for the story line and been slightly more believable.
I did like how Cassie put herself out there. She wanted to be with Jake and she let him know. Jake was the holdout in this situation, despite himself. I struggle with this kind of hesitation and resistance in romance novels. Two consenting adults who might not live through the night...? No question in my book. Life is short, take comfort where you can, and if you love them, tell them.
I felt like there were almost to many conflicting elements in this book. There was the cop with the son who OD'd mucking up the story line. Dirty FBI agents. The history between Jake and Charley. Talk about the Aztec Corp and some bond fraud that was never explained. And who was the actual target of the shoot out at Rory's? Jake or the mob guy? It seemed overdone.
Decent read though. Might give the next one in the series a shot.
March 6, 2017
Good read!
August 5, 2012
My Review:
I am a sucker for a good romantic suspense book and this one was definitely a good one. I think one of the things that makes this book so good is the fact that Cassie is an author. In fact, that's how she ends up in this mess. She's dressed as a hooker in a sleazy bar looking for research for her latest crime novel, but she gets much more than she expects.
Jake is a cop. He's in the bar meeting one of his informants who doesn't show. Instead he finds Cassie and quickly realizes that she's not actually a hooker. He's just trying to figure out what she's up to and get her out of the bar safely when the place is sprayed with gunfire. Cassie reacts in a split second when she sees the gun and is actually the one who saves Jake. At issue, she saw the shooter and now the FBI wants her as her material witness in the murder of their undercover agent who was also in the bar.
It quickly becomes apparent that there is more at play here when Cassie's author pseudonym is leaked to the press. She doesn't trust anyone else, but Jake and insists that he helps in the protection of her.
There are a lot of interesting sub-plots happening here within the police department and the FBI. I NEVER figured out who was the bad-guy in it all and was really surprised on who the leak had been. I love suspense lines that keep me guessing. The fact that this was a hero/heroine combo that I loved helped in this book too. Cassie sees herself as a wimp, although she does try to emulate the gutsy, kick-butt attitude of her heroine C.J. Personally, I thought she was awesome...definitely kick-butt, but real enough and scared enough to be real. Jake was awesome. So sweet and sexy. *gah* I loved it when he finally gave in to how much he cared for Cassie....such a *sigh* moment. I loved his character and the fact that he has five older sisters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a GREAT read!
I am a sucker for a good romantic suspense book and this one was definitely a good one. I think one of the things that makes this book so good is the fact that Cassie is an author. In fact, that's how she ends up in this mess. She's dressed as a hooker in a sleazy bar looking for research for her latest crime novel, but she gets much more than she expects.
Jake is a cop. He's in the bar meeting one of his informants who doesn't show. Instead he finds Cassie and quickly realizes that she's not actually a hooker. He's just trying to figure out what she's up to and get her out of the bar safely when the place is sprayed with gunfire. Cassie reacts in a split second when she sees the gun and is actually the one who saves Jake. At issue, she saw the shooter and now the FBI wants her as her material witness in the murder of their undercover agent who was also in the bar.
It quickly becomes apparent that there is more at play here when Cassie's author pseudonym is leaked to the press. She doesn't trust anyone else, but Jake and insists that he helps in the protection of her.
There are a lot of interesting sub-plots happening here within the police department and the FBI. I NEVER figured out who was the bad-guy in it all and was really surprised on who the leak had been. I love suspense lines that keep me guessing. The fact that this was a hero/heroine combo that I loved helped in this book too. Cassie sees herself as a wimp, although she does try to emulate the gutsy, kick-butt attitude of her heroine C.J. Personally, I thought she was awesome...definitely kick-butt, but real enough and scared enough to be real. Jake was awesome. So sweet and sexy. *gah* I loved it when he finally gave in to how much he cared for Cassie....such a *sigh* moment. I loved his character and the fact that he has five older sisters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a GREAT read!
March 28, 2017
The blurb for this book drew me in right away. I liked the sound of a crime writer gathering research for a novel by going to a bar dressed as a prostitute. She fully believed she could play the role and get information from the other customers so she could use it in a book. But when the big, handsome, leather-jacketed man approached her, she wasn't so sure she could pull it off.Turned out he was actually a detective, working undercover. He had been waiting for an informant who didn't show. When he started to get a bad feeling he wanted to get Cassie out, knowing she was not the woman she was pretending to be. But as he approached her, she spotted a gunman through the window, so she pulled them both to the floor, just before bullets sprayed the bar, saving Jake's life.
Since Cassie was the only person who saw the shooter, both the police and FBI wanted to keep her safe to testify so she goes into protective custody. She will only agree to go if Jake goes with her for protection. When Cassie's name is leaked to the press, her life is in danger. It doesn't matter where she's put, someone finds her and tries to kill her. Jake and Cassie don't know who to trust other than each other, so they take off without letting anyone know where they are going.
I liked how strong Cassie was. She stood up for what she wanted without being crabby about it. Even though her life was in danger, she kept her cool. Jake was determined to keep Cassie safe no matter what. He knew going off the grid with Cassie could cost him his job but keeping her safe was more important. During all the running, Jake and Cassie come to respect each other and then fall in love.
This is an enjoyable romantic suspense. What I particularly enjoyed was once I thought a problem had been resolved, another one popped up. It started off with a bang, literally, then was slow in the middle, with a rushed ending. But I must say that it left me smiling when it ended.
Since Cassie was the only person who saw the shooter, both the police and FBI wanted to keep her safe to testify so she goes into protective custody. She will only agree to go if Jake goes with her for protection. When Cassie's name is leaked to the press, her life is in danger. It doesn't matter where she's put, someone finds her and tries to kill her. Jake and Cassie don't know who to trust other than each other, so they take off without letting anyone know where they are going.
I liked how strong Cassie was. She stood up for what she wanted without being crabby about it. Even though her life was in danger, she kept her cool. Jake was determined to keep Cassie safe no matter what. He knew going off the grid with Cassie could cost him his job but keeping her safe was more important. During all the running, Jake and Cassie come to respect each other and then fall in love.
This is an enjoyable romantic suspense. What I particularly enjoyed was once I thought a problem had been resolved, another one popped up. It started off with a bang, literally, then was slow in the middle, with a rushed ending. But I must say that it left me smiling when it ended.
August 2, 2012
What is the book about?
Who does she trust when she’s living the real life horror of one of her crime novels…
Bestselling crime novelist, Cassie Alvarez, aka Cassie Lang, had murder on her mind when she walked into Rory's Bar under dressed and under cover to research her latest crime novel. Researching the cool, blue-eyed and dashingly handsome man at the end of the bar stirred her senses more than she wanted to admit. But was this man of leather armor all he appeared to be?
Playing White Knight to an innocent wasn't how Detective Jake Santos planned to spend his time under cover. But there was no way "CJ" was what she claimed to be and that nagging tightness in Jake's chest told him he'd better take her home to safety and leave it at that. Then the barroom exploded with gunfire, leaving a trail of dead that includes a notorious Providence crime boss and an undercover FBI agent. When Cassie’s name is leaked to the media as the only witness to the grisly murders, Cassie insists she only trusts Jake to protect her.
The FBI wants their star witness happy and will do anything to make sure Cassie testifies. But it is clear to Jake that the shooter isn’t the only person who wants Cassie dead. Not knowing who to trust, he vows to protect Cassie at all cost despite the fact that guarding the beautiful novelist is a serious distraction.
What did I think of the book?
You will not be able to put this book down without figuring out who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. Through it all Cassie is becoming more and more like her idol C.J. and the world around her is gaining similarity from her stories. Lisa Modello is an amazing author
Who does she trust when she’s living the real life horror of one of her crime novels…
Bestselling crime novelist, Cassie Alvarez, aka Cassie Lang, had murder on her mind when she walked into Rory's Bar under dressed and under cover to research her latest crime novel. Researching the cool, blue-eyed and dashingly handsome man at the end of the bar stirred her senses more than she wanted to admit. But was this man of leather armor all he appeared to be?
Playing White Knight to an innocent wasn't how Detective Jake Santos planned to spend his time under cover. But there was no way "CJ" was what she claimed to be and that nagging tightness in Jake's chest told him he'd better take her home to safety and leave it at that. Then the barroom exploded with gunfire, leaving a trail of dead that includes a notorious Providence crime boss and an undercover FBI agent. When Cassie’s name is leaked to the media as the only witness to the grisly murders, Cassie insists she only trusts Jake to protect her.
The FBI wants their star witness happy and will do anything to make sure Cassie testifies. But it is clear to Jake that the shooter isn’t the only person who wants Cassie dead. Not knowing who to trust, he vows to protect Cassie at all cost despite the fact that guarding the beautiful novelist is a serious distraction.
What did I think of the book?
You will not be able to put this book down without figuring out who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. Through it all Cassie is becoming more and more like her idol C.J. and the world around her is gaining similarity from her stories. Lisa Modello is an amazing author
March 12, 2017
Wow!
What a ride! Loved the energy in this story! The author did an amazing job of putting together this suspenseful romance. I shed more than one tear and couldn't put it down till I finished the book! A must read!
What a ride! Loved the energy in this story! The author did an amazing job of putting together this suspenseful romance. I shed more than one tear and couldn't put it down till I finished the book! A must read!
August 7, 2012
“Material Witness” action did not have a moment of rest throughout the entire book. In the first chapter, the bar is blown to pieces by bullets in a shooting and it just continues that action until the very last page. So if the action isn’t something that draws you in, maybe the love story behind it will. Cassie is the star witness to the shooting and requests Jake to be the agent in charge of guarding her. But he does it all too well and Cassie starts to develop feelings for him. However, Jake has seen what love can do and it has not represented itself in a positive light. He is weary about his developing feelings for Cassie but that does not stop him from putting his life on the line for hers.
As the reader, you will find that *spoiler alert* little by little walls begin to break down, feelings are unveiled, and traitors are discovered.
I found that I enjoyed this book because to me it was action packed and had a romantic side story that was moving. I liked that the character Cassie took control of her life when she was in protective custody. She demanded that Jake be her protector, no ifs ands or buts about it. I also liked that since she was a writer of this genre that she knew a lot about the FBI’s policies, the police policies, and the law so she knew her rights and knew eventually what was going to happen to her. She was a strong chick.
Jake was just sexy. Undercover detective. Protector. Need I say more about his character? The answer is no.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer MC~
As the reader, you will find that *spoiler alert* little by little walls begin to break down, feelings are unveiled, and traitors are discovered.
I found that I enjoyed this book because to me it was action packed and had a romantic side story that was moving. I liked that the character Cassie took control of her life when she was in protective custody. She demanded that Jake be her protector, no ifs ands or buts about it. I also liked that since she was a writer of this genre that she knew a lot about the FBI’s policies, the police policies, and the law so she knew her rights and knew eventually what was going to happen to her. She was a strong chick.
Jake was just sexy. Undercover detective. Protector. Need I say more about his character? The answer is no.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer MC~
July 4, 2012
Material Witness by L.A. Mondello
Cassie Alvarez writes crime novels but suddenly she feels like a character in one of her own books. She went to Rory’s bar dressed as a hooker to research how her character would think. While talking to the hunky rough and tough guy, gun fire erupts, she becomes an eyewitness and her world turns upside down. Deja vu from eight years earlier all over again.
Detective Jake Santos is undercover but it seems the meeting he planned won’t be happening tonight at Rory’s. But he can rescue the woman who obviously is going to get herself in trouble looking like she does. Only it seems she is the one who rescues him. Jake and Cassie soon find out there is no where to run, nowhere to hide and no one but each other to trust.
I found this to be the type of book I didn’t want to put down. Full of danger and adventure around each turn, not knowing who the good or bad guys were. And in the midst of all the chaos….love blooms. It was uniquely written as Cassie becomes more like her strong heroine, CJ, and the real world becomes like her stories. The author did a fantastic job of keeping the reader guessing who the villains were until the very end. To read more on the characters in this book you can read Yuletide Protector by Lisa Mondello, by Love Inspired.
**Sexual situations and some language
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Cassie Alvarez writes crime novels but suddenly she feels like a character in one of her own books. She went to Rory’s bar dressed as a hooker to research how her character would think. While talking to the hunky rough and tough guy, gun fire erupts, she becomes an eyewitness and her world turns upside down. Deja vu from eight years earlier all over again.
Detective Jake Santos is undercover but it seems the meeting he planned won’t be happening tonight at Rory’s. But he can rescue the woman who obviously is going to get herself in trouble looking like she does. Only it seems she is the one who rescues him. Jake and Cassie soon find out there is no where to run, nowhere to hide and no one but each other to trust.
I found this to be the type of book I didn’t want to put down. Full of danger and adventure around each turn, not knowing who the good or bad guys were. And in the midst of all the chaos….love blooms. It was uniquely written as Cassie becomes more like her strong heroine, CJ, and the real world becomes like her stories. The author did a fantastic job of keeping the reader guessing who the villains were until the very end. To read more on the characters in this book you can read Yuletide Protector by Lisa Mondello, by Love Inspired.
**Sexual situations and some language
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
April 6, 2014
WooHoo! I've found another author of crime novels that I really like. This book was non-stop action.
Cassie is crime novelist and knows her stuff. One night she's doing research in a seedy bar and the next thing she knows she's in the middle of chaos. Jake is on an undercover assignment when he sees Cassie at the other end of the bar. He knows instantly she's not the prostitute she's posing as. What the heck is she doing here? A few minutes after he approaches her and confirms what he already knows all hell breaks loose. Suddenly, Cassie is the only eye witness to the mob style shooting and Jake knows that everything is about to change. He doesn't realize just how much of a change it will be.
This story doesn't let up for one minute until you get to the very end. There's a mole, but who is it? It could be just about anyone and until they're found out no one is safe. Least of all Jake or Cassie. Old betrayals are brought back and suspicions run rampant. Cassie knows all too well the danger she's in. She also knows the protocol and isn't happy. Jake isn't either.
If you pick this one up be ready for a book you won't want to put down until you figure out who the real bad guy is. And don't be surprised if you don't figure it out until exactly when the author wants it revealed.
Cassie is crime novelist and knows her stuff. One night she's doing research in a seedy bar and the next thing she knows she's in the middle of chaos. Jake is on an undercover assignment when he sees Cassie at the other end of the bar. He knows instantly she's not the prostitute she's posing as. What the heck is she doing here? A few minutes after he approaches her and confirms what he already knows all hell breaks loose. Suddenly, Cassie is the only eye witness to the mob style shooting and Jake knows that everything is about to change. He doesn't realize just how much of a change it will be.
This story doesn't let up for one minute until you get to the very end. There's a mole, but who is it? It could be just about anyone and until they're found out no one is safe. Least of all Jake or Cassie. Old betrayals are brought back and suspicions run rampant. Cassie knows all too well the danger she's in. She also knows the protocol and isn't happy. Jake isn't either.
If you pick this one up be ready for a book you won't want to put down until you figure out who the real bad guy is. And don't be surprised if you don't figure it out until exactly when the author wants it revealed.
February 14, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery love story. Detective Jake Santos is at a sleazy bar in a bad part of town waiting for an informant who is late. He knows he should leave but he can't seem to take his eyes off the woman down the bar who is sending out some seriously mixed signals. She looks way too innocent and sure as hell isn't the hooker she is trying to pull off. When the hairs start to stand on end he knows he needs to get them both out of there and fast.
Novelist Cassie Alvarez is doing research in a seedy bar down town but she is so uncomfortable in the dress her best friend and editor insisted she wear she can't stop tugging on the microscopic hem. When she catches the eye of a leather jacket wearing, handsome but grumpy man at the other end of the bar she makes every attempt to play her roll as hooker to further her research. Then he begins to approach her and her nerves are sent into overdrive.
When all hell breaks out in the bar, Jake & Cassie find themselves in positions neither expected or wanted. But Jake finds himself determined to help the woman he suddenly struggles to protect when neither one knows who they can trust.
This book moved along quickly, kept my interest with the constant intrigue of who the bad guys were, and I loved the many faceted characters.
Novelist Cassie Alvarez is doing research in a seedy bar down town but she is so uncomfortable in the dress her best friend and editor insisted she wear she can't stop tugging on the microscopic hem. When she catches the eye of a leather jacket wearing, handsome but grumpy man at the other end of the bar she makes every attempt to play her roll as hooker to further her research. Then he begins to approach her and her nerves are sent into overdrive.
When all hell breaks out in the bar, Jake & Cassie find themselves in positions neither expected or wanted. But Jake finds himself determined to help the woman he suddenly struggles to protect when neither one knows who they can trust.
This book moved along quickly, kept my interest with the constant intrigue of who the bad guys were, and I loved the many faceted characters.
April 13, 2016
I always know that if a book is written by Lisa Mondello, it’s going to be a winner. This one definitely didn’t disappoint me. What surprised me is that it was written 10 years ago, and even then her writing was awesome.
The story centers around detective Jake Santos, and Cassie Alvarez, a novelist that writes crime stories. Researching for one of her books, Cassie goes to a seedy barr dressed as a prostitute. There she meets Jake, who is also undercover for a case he has been working on for a long time.There is a drive by shooting and Cassie can identify the shooter. She goes under protective custody and if you think there is already enough drama in the first few pages , you are now on a roller coaster ride.
Needless to say that in addition to suspense, there is romance and a great deal of unknowns. So don’t hesitate to get on this ride, you will not be disappointed. I am off to finding the second book of this series !
The story centers around detective Jake Santos, and Cassie Alvarez, a novelist that writes crime stories. Researching for one of her books, Cassie goes to a seedy barr dressed as a prostitute. There she meets Jake, who is also undercover for a case he has been working on for a long time.There is a drive by shooting and Cassie can identify the shooter. She goes under protective custody and if you think there is already enough drama in the first few pages , you are now on a roller coaster ride.
Needless to say that in addition to suspense, there is romance and a great deal of unknowns. So don’t hesitate to get on this ride, you will not be disappointed. I am off to finding the second book of this series !
November 18, 2016
MATERIAL.WITNESS by Lisa.Mondello. I love a story that begin with good description, and this one was great. You can picture Cassie,in a dress to short,tight, and she is so out of place in this bar. She doing research for her novel, and Maureen, her agent said this is what she needed to do. Undercover detective is Jake, and he knows at once, that Cassie is out of place, as his grandmother would be. Next thing everything breaks loose, she survived. And FBI wants to kept their witness happy. She feels only Jake can do this. Another enjoyable story, that once you start, you want to finish. Given my voluntary review of ARC and honest opinion.
June 12, 2016
I loved this book! Cassie came across as caring but she didn't have "treat me like a doormat" written across her forehead.
She was scared when the situation warranted it, but she strong when she had to be. I loved that. Although Jake was in many ways a knight in shining armor, Cassie could still hold her own.
I loved the concept of the book and in some ways seemed totally believable.
I'm hoping Book 2 is on its way.
She was scared when the situation warranted it, but she strong when she had to be. I loved that. Although Jake was in many ways a knight in shining armor, Cassie could still hold her own.
I loved the concept of the book and in some ways seemed totally believable.
I'm hoping Book 2 is on its way.
June 27, 2012
A light crime novel that was an enjoyable read. Very predictable all the way through but the like able characters were a joy to hang with. This book is a great "beach read" book for the summer.
November 24, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next one. I received a FREE ARC copy to read volunteerly for an honest review.
December 8, 2016
Plot: 3/5 (simple and predictable)
Characterisation: 4/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed the book: 4/5
Characterisation: 4/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed the book: 4/5
January 25, 2017
Great!
Danger, mystery and love. A woman writer is brought in the middle of an investigation. Strangely, a Detective is the only one she can trust. They are on the run....
Danger, mystery and love. A woman writer is brought in the middle of an investigation. Strangely, a Detective is the only one she can trust. They are on the run....
February 14, 2017
Excellent!
Really good story and strong characters .A novelist ends up at a bar trying to research for her next book and gets caught up in a shooting.
Really good story and strong characters .A novelist ends up at a bar trying to research for her next book and gets caught up in a shooting.
June 8, 2017
>Book review – Materia Witness
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the first in the Heroes of Providence series and ends in an HEA. Crime writer, Cassie is talked into going undercover at a seedy bar to get the feel of the clientele and the atmosphere of the place. Jake is an undercover cop, who knows something isn’t right with the pretend hooker (Cassie) at the bar and decides to make sure she gets out of the place unharmed.
>When a mob hit causes Jake and Cassie to go into hiding, all of the side characters are now suspect. The fun of this story is in trying to figure out who is trustworthy and who the bad guys are. The romance between Jake and Cassie seem to happen a bit too fast to be truly romantic, but the story’s fast pace and action make up for the lack of chemistry.
>Cassie’s editor, Maureen, is shown as a friend to Cassie. Maureen is the one who put Cassie in the dangerous position at the bar where the danger started. A little more backstory or some scenes with Maureen showing her love and friendship with Cassie would have helped make Maureen look less like the bad guy. Maureen came off as a money hungry editor who didn’t care about her author at all. Cassie is actually a bit naïve and only thought Maureen was her friend. At least that is what I got out of the relationship between Cassie and Maureen.
> This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving the story 4 stars. Jake and Cassie could never let their guard down. The action really kept the pages flipping.
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the first in the Heroes of Providence series and ends in an HEA. Crime writer, Cassie is talked into going undercover at a seedy bar to get the feel of the clientele and the atmosphere of the place. Jake is an undercover cop, who knows something isn’t right with the pretend hooker (Cassie) at the bar and decides to make sure she gets out of the place unharmed.
>When a mob hit causes Jake and Cassie to go into hiding, all of the side characters are now suspect. The fun of this story is in trying to figure out who is trustworthy and who the bad guys are. The romance between Jake and Cassie seem to happen a bit too fast to be truly romantic, but the story’s fast pace and action make up for the lack of chemistry.
>Cassie’s editor, Maureen, is shown as a friend to Cassie. Maureen is the one who put Cassie in the dangerous position at the bar where the danger started. A little more backstory or some scenes with Maureen showing her love and friendship with Cassie would have helped make Maureen look less like the bad guy. Maureen came off as a money hungry editor who didn’t care about her author at all. Cassie is actually a bit naïve and only thought Maureen was her friend. At least that is what I got out of the relationship between Cassie and Maureen.
> This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving the story 4 stars. Jake and Cassie could never let their guard down. The action really kept the pages flipping.
October 6, 2018
Undercover cop, Jake, is waiting in a dodgy bar on the wrong side of town when a woman catches his eye. Cassie is perched on a bar stool posing as a hooker to gain research for her next novel. Jake knows she is way out of place and offers to drive her home when his informant makes contact… with bullets.
Cassie saw it coming and pulled Jake down, saving both their lives. The mob boss who owns the bar was not so lucky.
But she is the only witness - the material witness. Title drop.
Things get more complicated when the FBI crash the scene. One of the people sitting with the mob boss was an agent. A two year operation is blown. Jurisdictional toes are trodden on and the FBI want the only witness safely tucked away.
Problem is, Cassie only feels safe with Jake and she insists he has to be part of the deal.
***
I love a good trope and this has more than a few: reformed rake, bodyguard, forced proximity, and there’s only one bed!
But… I just didn’t feel it. I made a couple of highlights that Kindle now refuses to show me. [what even IS a ‘stacked overflow’? Never mind.]
Cassie has done all her research and she should know that it all won’t be over once the shooter is arrested. That could take weeks, the trial could be years away, and add in FBI moles? Yeah… nah. This’ll take lots of years.
The suspense was there, but I didn’t feel the love.
3 stars
Cassie saw it coming and pulled Jake down, saving both their lives. The mob boss who owns the bar was not so lucky.
But she is the only witness - the material witness. Title drop.
Things get more complicated when the FBI crash the scene. One of the people sitting with the mob boss was an agent. A two year operation is blown. Jurisdictional toes are trodden on and the FBI want the only witness safely tucked away.
Problem is, Cassie only feels safe with Jake and she insists he has to be part of the deal.
***
I love a good trope and this has more than a few: reformed rake, bodyguard, forced proximity, and there’s only one bed!
But… I just didn’t feel it. I made a couple of highlights that Kindle now refuses to show me. [what even IS a ‘stacked overflow’? Never mind.]
Cassie has done all her research and she should know that it all won’t be over once the shooter is arrested. That could take weeks, the trial could be years away, and add in FBI moles? Yeah… nah. This’ll take lots of years.
The suspense was there, but I didn’t feel the love.
3 stars
May 20, 2017
A “Witness Protection” plot always grabs and holds my attention, and this book was no exception. The hero, Jake, is a stand-up kind of guy, and dedicated to his job as a police officer. I liked him immediately and appreciated how he was loyal to his friends & family, and protected those close to him. His life takes an expected, but welcomed turn, when a crime novelist saves his life in a mob hit. Cassie is like a female version of “Castle” (you know, the TV show about the mystery writer that assisted the police.) Cassie and Jake find themselves on the run, in a middle of dangerous situation, and not knowing who to trust, but each other. It was refreshing that Jake and Cassie were open about their feelings for each other. Even though their relationship developed quickly, you knew it wasn’t all about sex for either of them. The story ended up being a little complex that I expected and I found myself having to reread a few pages towards the end, as I wasn't sure I followed the plot twist. Rating 4.25
March 15, 2022
To be honest, I expected a bit more tension in the book. In both parts, the romance and the suspense sections.
Both main characters were quite likeable. There was some background info on Jake and Cassie to support their roles, however, I expected a bit more. While reading, I continuously had the impression that the author just scratched the surface of the heroes. In any case, Jake’s and Cassie’s lives were described in such a way that there would’ve been so much more material to use and make them even more three-dimensional than they were presented.
Same for the plot elaboration. Technically, there was nothing at all wrong with it. However, I felt again this need to be more involved in what was happening. The events were technically nicely arranged in a row and guided the reader nicely towards the HEA. But I expected more, wanted more.
In any case and, for sure a nice read. Unfortunately, nothing outstanding, though….
Both main characters were quite likeable. There was some background info on Jake and Cassie to support their roles, however, I expected a bit more. While reading, I continuously had the impression that the author just scratched the surface of the heroes. In any case, Jake’s and Cassie’s lives were described in such a way that there would’ve been so much more material to use and make them even more three-dimensional than they were presented.
Same for the plot elaboration. Technically, there was nothing at all wrong with it. However, I felt again this need to be more involved in what was happening. The events were technically nicely arranged in a row and guided the reader nicely towards the HEA. But I expected more, wanted more.
In any case and, for sure a nice read. Unfortunately, nothing outstanding, though….
April 23, 2019
Material Witness
WOW! What an intriguing and explosive story. This story is about Cassie and Jake. They meet at a rundown bar and as Jake wanted to get her out of there, Cassie saved his life when she saw a gun and knocked him to the ground. After that, it was edge of the seat explosive action as Jake had to protect Cassie. It seems they fell in love with each other but held back since it was only a few days together. What an explosive ending too when all of the bad guys were exposed. Once they were dealt with, Cassie was finally able to get her life back as well as get Jake in the process. I am happy that these two are working on their happily ever after! FANTASTIC job Lisa! I would recommend this book.
WOW! What an intriguing and explosive story. This story is about Cassie and Jake. They meet at a rundown bar and as Jake wanted to get her out of there, Cassie saved his life when she saw a gun and knocked him to the ground. After that, it was edge of the seat explosive action as Jake had to protect Cassie. It seems they fell in love with each other but held back since it was only a few days together. What an explosive ending too when all of the bad guys were exposed. Once they were dealt with, Cassie was finally able to get her life back as well as get Jake in the process. I am happy that these two are working on their happily ever after! FANTASTIC job Lisa! I would recommend this book.
September 22, 2020
First in the series
Cassie is a crime novelist and has gone to a dive bar, dressed as a hooker, to do research for her next book. Jake is an undercover cop meeting with an informant. Cassie and Jake start talking when shots are fired in the bar. Cassie is the only one to see the shooter, now the FBI is taking over the case and want her in witness protection. The only way she’ll go is if Jake goes and protects her. When they get to the safe house, it explodes and they barely escape. Now they are on the run and Jake will do whatever it takes to protect Cassie.
Action and suspense. There were a couple of parts that made no sense and I’d reread it several times but still didn’t make sense. It was still a good story that’ll have you turning the pages until the end.
Cassie is a crime novelist and has gone to a dive bar, dressed as a hooker, to do research for her next book. Jake is an undercover cop meeting with an informant. Cassie and Jake start talking when shots are fired in the bar. Cassie is the only one to see the shooter, now the FBI is taking over the case and want her in witness protection. The only way she’ll go is if Jake goes and protects her. When they get to the safe house, it explodes and they barely escape. Now they are on the run and Jake will do whatever it takes to protect Cassie.
Action and suspense. There were a couple of parts that made no sense and I’d reread it several times but still didn’t make sense. It was still a good story that’ll have you turning the pages until the end.
July 9, 2017
Talk about suspense, Wow! Two of my favs in one, romance and suspense, fantastic. Lisa Mondello's Material Witness had you sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Jake's never met a woman like Cassie and I'm sure he never will again.After Cassie identifies the killer of a Mob boss, an undercover FBI agent and others, Cassie is taken under guard of the FBI but she refuses to go unless Jake whom she saved from getting shot and was also a cop undercover at the time, goes with her. After tempting fate when the safe house explodes, Jake and Cassie are left on the run till the shooter and his cohorts are found.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2019
I quite liked this book. It was a quick and fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The plot was fun and easy to follow along wit. Not to mention how charming some of the characters were.
I did have one problem though. By the end of it book, the resolution felt kind of rushed. The pace had been pretty steady before then but I'd say by the time Jake got the call about Angel being caught, things started spiraling. I would have preferred if there had been a confrontation with him and then all the twists would be revealed. The way it was done felt anti-climatic and extremely unfulfilling.
Other than that though, I had a good time with this book and I think it's definitely worth the read.
I did have one problem though. By the end of it book, the resolution felt kind of rushed. The pace had been pretty steady before then but I'd say by the time Jake got the call about Angel being caught, things started spiraling. I would have preferred if there had been a confrontation with him and then all the twists would be revealed. The way it was done felt anti-climatic and extremely unfulfilling.
Other than that though, I had a good time with this book and I think it's definitely worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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