Booked for Kidnapping

Vigilante Magical Librarians #2

by R.J. Blain

Following the assassination of Senator Maybelle, widespread rioting and unrest transform the presidential campaign into a lethal circus. With protests raging over the new bill, the government scrambles to restore peace and order.

Armed with a probationary private investigation license, Janette and her friends race against time to prevent the next murder. On the surface, the motive for the killings seems simple enough: the senate bill, if passed, would transform the United States into a militant dictatorship.

As hostilities around the nation intensify and the pressure of the investigation strains Janette’s relationships with her family and friends, she learns loyalty only goes so far, friendships are as easily forged as they are broken, and justice means little to those determined to preserve their personal liberties.

But when a murder attempt turns into a kidnapping, she’s left with one choice:

Uncover the truth, or die trying.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Magic, Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance

488 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2021

About the author

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary Sue meets attempt at writing a novel

This is the second of these books I've read, I thought I'd give this author another try, now I'm regretting that. The antagonist of this book is a complete Mary Sue. Much of the dialogue within the book is inane and repetitive. At least she's talking less about Chinese food and her cat in this volume, instead she vspends a lot of time regurgitating information to people who may or may not be her allies, information she should be keeping to herself. She knows that people are worried about her being hurt or taken, but she insists on running off by herself in an attempt to behave in an "adult" manner. There's nothing adult about not taking all of the possibilities into consideration. Whoever edited this book needed to take a fine bladed knife to it. It should be about half this size. With the repeated conversations about medical procedures, costs of medical care, pointless ruinations that are probably supposed to be entertaining and yet miss that mark, the actual point of the book gets lost and the arc of the story goes nowhere. There's the basis of something that's halfway decent here, but the arrow is so far off the mark. I wanted to like the characters within the novel, but they kept doing incredibly stupid things. Like the future father-in-law who's got severe heart disease yet doesn't get it treated because he's waiting for the protagonist to take care of it. But, he never asked her to take care of it. I can't even ... There are so many things wrong here that if I listed them I'd have a novella myself.

[Traci Marcotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

More, give me more and still not satisfied...

The bad news, I want book three now. I'm feeling a bit like her most Magnificent Grumpiness waiting for her food (or brushing) in the morning. The good news is that I get to reread books one and two before three comes out, and any other time in between. The details behind the kidnapping are an unexpected surprise and the unwrapping of said present is a delight. I'm not saying anything else so you can enjoy it too. I'm also going to say that if you enjoy the banter and the story telling, run, don't walk to her Magical Rom-Com series (with a body count) for more reading fun. Start with Playing with Fire. There's also a collection set that will save you money.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Added facets but didn't really advance the plot from adding more people to look into and reveal just how screwed they are before it's descent to post apocalypse in "Outfoxed"

[Alex(Books-In-A-Storm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be just to long. It kind of felt like I've been reading this book for years. It was a good story but way to long.

[BRT · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave the first in this series a less than stellar review but pre-ordered the second because sometimes the writing improves as the series evolves. My biggest complaint from the first was over explanation and constant repetition, (in addition to the teen hormonal crush of a relationship, which I'll comment on later.) Unfortunately, this book got overwhelmingly worse in those two areas. Massive amounts of dialogue and detailed explanations of EVERYTHING, which not only did not move the plot along, it bogged it down in a quagmire of words, words, words. Stirred into that quagmire was what was apparently meant to be witty repartee between the protagonist, her fiance and, believe it or not, his father. The only saving grace to the romance was that we were spared details of their couplings, although we were not spared the hints, wink, wink, of the upcoming and planned couplings. I wouldn't have thought a book about librarians, books, and magic could be deathly dull, but I was wrong.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful tale of the Vigilante Magical Librarians, with Janette being stubborn and ethical and insisting on going to Senator Maybelle's memorial.

Lots of fantastic moments but one of my favourites was Bradley commenting on future babies as possibly having Librarianism as Librarians run in both sides of the family; "Librarianism? What on Earth is librarianism?" Janette "It's like vampirism but with librarians." Bradley

I know its just come out but I'd like the next one please.

[Christine Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Librarians and politics

This one was a good read, Janette and Bradley were entertaining to see interact. Lots of politics in this one, but it was still fun to figure out why Janette got kidnapped. I’m interested to see where Ms Blain goes with the next one in this series!

[Bert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice continuation of the first book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as fun as the first one, but still a good cast of characters.

[Blake · Rating 1 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

1.5*

I thought I read this ages ago but apparently not because I didn't update my 'series' rating.
I was doing a re-read before I read book 3...

I had rated book 1 at 4.25 stars.

This book lost the 2.75 stars (& I feel I'm being generous at that - updated I originally dropped it by 1.5 stars. But after typing why it lost points with me, I decided that the premise of the original plot, not the side tangent the book went into re her foot, and the characters I still liked didn't deserve as much leeway.)

I can put up with a book being repetitive (and telling not showing) if other things don't annoy me. Mainly the plot line has to interest me and not bore me. But mostly I have to like the MC and if there is a love interest or potential one, I shouldn't want them gone.

Reason: I went off the MC near the end of the book. Having the MC kidnapped, then agreeing to stay kidnapped for up to 10 months, (she was released at 9 months), just so she could get her foot fixed, did not endear her to me. Her parents, fiance &friends thought she was dead or were giving up hope of ever finding her alive. All because the MC was totally selfish & should have just had her bad foot amputated weeks prior.

I'm 47 this year, I've been in chronic pain (1 to 10 scale, 6 is my body being nice for a little while each day, much higher is normal) since I was a little child &unlike the selfish MC, mine is my complete body & the only painkillers that work for me (70ish percent of the pain gone), I'm allergic to. But you know what, if I was kidnapped by a so-called caring doctor team & offered a fix, but it'd mean my loved ones thinking me dead for up to 10 months, I'd not take it. Because I'm not a totally selfish jerk!

By the way, if a patient gives consent, (sorry for me, video of MC doing so or it didn't happen) but you memory wipe her recall of having given consent to keep her captive & basically torture her to fix her foot & keep mind wiping her (& implanting false memorises of her being held captive with no contact with anyone for months, using knock out gas to leave food & clean clothes etc.... complete solitary confinement, which is a way people are tortured!), how is that still adhering to the Hippocratic oath that lead torturer... I mean doctor, is later all 'we swore an oath'... how is that not doing harm to the MC, since she can't recall consenting to such torture!

IMHO MC should not have consented to remain with them. She knew the number her being missing did on her loved ones before, to do it again, that's just a jerk move. I don't care that saving her foot would have cost $30 million & that those with a couple of the skills couldn't legally help.

She should have just been a grown up & had the thing lopped off & got a prosthetic. (I'd LOVE to have that option.) She would still have to do physio & such & do her therapy etc. That would also actually make her a strong character, deciding enough is enough, she's in her 'prime' even without her foot & that its stupid to keep wasting so much pain, 'talent', time & money on trying to save it. Doing that would not negate her reason for leaving years ago & not contacting anyone. It would actually just be another way of her taking responsibility for her own health, again on her own terms, rather than a jerk doctor not wanting to put in the time & effort because of her ability & her being a 1st generation adept etc.

The better route would have been that the kidnapping was real for the entire 9 months & she never consented. MC not liking what they did even if she's grateful they fixed her foot (but not in winter months when it'll be in a lot of pain & she lives in New York but okay, whatever... she could have had a top-line prosthetic but nope can't do that.) but her & her loved ones, all deciding that the US government plans are the greater wrong so they'll work with the band of torturers. <-- I'd actually find that much easier to stomach than the MC being a completely selfish jerk.

Also if stopping the Bill/s is so important, then taking up to 10 months out of doing so from the team you've decided are the only ones with a chance is beyond stupid!
Of course they'd put all their effort into finding their kidnapped team member, rather than leaving all their focus onto how to stop the beyond awful Bill from being made into law. A month lost to kidnapping MC & removing her foot so she'd not be distracted as much & able to use it with a prosthetic isn't as bad as 10 months lost (& reality 9 only because she was depressed at not being around her loved ones & they were unable to kidnap her fiance to be with her).

Kidnap the stupid MC. Lop off her foot, without consent if need be, dump her with a high tech prosthetic & leave in her memory, (that her to be father in law will see with his power), the reveal of the medical element of the bill, new bill that's also planned. I'm too annoyed at the last part of the book to recall if it was a distinct bill or an um rider or whatever its called on the first one.

But no, go ahead and waste up to 10 months on doing something of no import in the grander scheme of things, especially when she's going to still be in (possibly crippling) pain for months of the winter months of each year even with the foot 'fix'.

First time read the author's work?: No

Will you be reading more?: Yes for most of the authors series (Including those as G.P. Robbins and Audrey Greene) -- I'm not sure with this series. I already own book 3 but I don't know, I'm annoyed at the MC now so will leave reading it for now at least.

Would you recommend?: Not this series.


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Peter D. Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Much Chit Chat

As I have stated in my review of “Booked for Murder”, RJ Blain is one of my favorite authors but the Booked… series just isn’t working for me.

I like characters and I like the author’s style of writing but this series is boring. Like its predecessor, “Booked for Kidnapping” has very little action. It’s mostly conversations amongst the characters.

I’ll definitely continue reading the author’s other books but I doubt I will pick up the third installment of the Booked… series.

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was too much rehashing of the same information - over and over again. The plot barely moved. Ugh. I skimmed whole pages and it still took me three times my usual duration to finish a book because it was just soo slow. I think the political commentary is right on track, but stop telling me and start showing me what's happening. So far, all we have are a LOT of theories and no actual events.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

hidden review *** with a bit of a b*tchfest.

Ok. So I’m absolutely enamored of RJ Blain. Completely. I have all of her books on auto buy. Immediately!!! I’m an adoring fan.

Preorder? OMG YES!!! Bodies? Check. Impossible deaths and ridiculous mayhem? Check. Amazing creatures with magical abilities? Go for it! My humble and awesome Lord Satin??? (Hehe) double check. Ok. No really triple check!! This novel? Jeez. Um …. Well…

Whomever RJ is. Thank you for all of your mind blowing writing. I read and reread your books when times are tough. (I’ve even practiced miswriting Mephistopheles!)
And life has been tough for everyone during the COVID-19 😷 pandemic.

But. But. This book really really lost me I’m the first chapter. It was a thinly disguised diatribe about being a special snowflake. I loved the first book of this series. Like - love loved- the first book. I can’t stop reading something unless it is absolutely horrific, so I’m fighting through, but at this point … I just have to say, I’m really disappointed in you. You can disguise it as much as you want, but your political rant is noted. Good job. Thanks for taking my escape away and putting forth your political opinion foremost.

I read your whole diatribe about how ‘magical with a body count’ series was a dead end, not financially savvy , not worth writing. I was devastated. I preordered every single one of them. I posted everywhere how amazing they were to support you and my favorite imaginary characters. And then you give me this political BS?? WTH???

I expect better of you.

Just remember that many a writer has been felled by turning their writings into a politico manifesto. Please. Please!!! Don’t be one of them.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but

So I'm maintaining like with the last book not much actually happened in this installment. Yes Janette is kidnapped and then rescue gaining important information in the process but this all could have been done in a few scenes rather than the course of a book. While the book definitely serves as a commentary on modern politics making fictional correlations to real events in parts it kind of reads like the author's focus is more on emotional need to vent about a world gone wrong and a people that seem blind to it than a need to tell a story. Jannette and Bradley suddenly jumped into this really connected relationship in a sort of whiplash manner. The secondary characters are still mostly underdeveloped and lack distinction and the book still features way more telling than showing. It's not that I don't like the main character I do and I'm not saying I can't see and agree with a lot of the author's politics but I almost feel like it's a topic Blain needs to step back from to gain focus on what she wants to say. The plot meanders and the pure emotional triggers and hot points in the novel seem to deter from Blain's usual talent to tell a focused and engaging story. It's okay but not nearly at the level of most of the author's body of work.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a 370 page book where almost nothing happens. Janette is kidnapped, and the entire plot could easily happen in the course of 2 chapters, at most.

The plot is mostly the author ranting about the government. She needs to take a step back, figure out what she wants to say, and then come back to it.

My critique of the relationship between Janette and Bradley still stands: this is someone she was deliberately running from, and someone she was hesitant about marrying in the last book. Now they're incredibly close, she's happily engaged and they're discussing children. It's a quick development that doesn't make much sense to me.

Lastly, this book is *very* dialogue heavy. I love dialogue-heavy books, but this was too much even for me. I would estimate 80%+ of the plot is told entirely through meandering dialogue. And boy, does it meander. Major discussions about US Government's plan to implement eugenics are just placed on hold so Janette can make a joke where she calls a character "bitch" and a random, hypothetically funny side conversation can happen.

There is also a lot of issue of repeat dialogue. Janette goes into in-depth explanations on the use of exsanguinators in the ER at least three more times in this book. I found myself doing a lot of skimming.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great continuation of story

I don't summarize books in reviews but this is why I like it...
As someone who has chronic pain and health issues and got them in my 20s- starting with a car accident as well- this is the first book I read that's an urban fantasy with a heroine I can 100% relate with (pretty canes FTW!). Thank you Ms. Blain for writing such a lead character! I really enjoy Ms. Blain's books with my favorite being the royal states series (under her pen name). I can see this series fitting into the royal states as a prequel to royal states series. This may not be the case, but as I've read a good deal of her series my brain must mesh them together lol. If you enjoy Ms. Blain's sense of humor, a chronic baby heroine, cats, books and magic you'll enjoy this series!

[Christine A. Godfriaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of R.J. Brain's books and those of all of her alter egos so this book only cemented more completely that love. This woman has true magic when it comes to spinning her tales that have the ability to keep you hanging on every word. I truly loved how she took our broken heroine and, in a situation that had me wanting to jump into the book and kick some behind, fix a major part of her brokenness. That R.J. Blain also had this become a key to furthering the Librarians Cell's next course of action to save their country was, I felt, pure genius on her part. I highly recommend this book to all of those, who like myself, love a great paranormal mystery with some frighteningly familiar government facets.

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters this author creates. I could tell from the first book in this series that Janette has a talent for leading without broadcasting that she has taken the leadership role. In this book, that fact becomes clear when she is kidnapped and the rest of her investigative cell almost falls to pieces without her. I can't help but think that she seems to inspire extreme over-the-top reactions - who else seems to inspire the current government to kill her or a hidden group of opportunists to kidnap her? Why is she so important? This inquiring mind definitely wants to know! Ms. Blain, next book, puleeeeeeezzzz!!!!

[Nikita Gordyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved seeing Janette finally starting to heal that awful injury she got before Booked For Murder happened. Watching the magical librarian crew come to grips with how much they needed each other, especially everyone realizing Janette as a driving force for organization of the group kept me reading well into the night. I also loved seeing Bradley and Janette's relationship changing and becoming more just by spending time together and getting to know each other on a different level than in the past where she was his bodyguard.

I am SO looking forward to the next books in this series!! I love it so much!!

[JazzRizz · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I like this series ... there's a LOT of info dump in this series.

Jeanette is being wooed by Senators after her heroics at the Rally in the last book. Her meeting with a Senator under the guise of Library Reno Donation goes arwy when they encounter escaped goats in the middle of an intersection.

What happens during the rest of this book is a lot of HUH? There's a lot of mystery and memory loss for her, and dealing with the reprecussions of the events after learning what happened is a lot for her.

There wasn't a lot of series forward movement in this one, but it definitely wrapped up a lot of issues that would've hendered further forward momentum.

[Heather Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it

I devoured this book as usual because this author is my absolute favourite.
This continues the story of Janette and her quest for justice and understanding of the murder of Bradley’s friend. They and their friends and family are an investigative cell and have more questions than answers. Janette has become a reluctant celebrity for saving lives at the cost of her poor foot, again. A group decide to change that, whether she wants it or not.
Another masterpiece by Blain, thought provoking and entertaining.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Booked for a good time!

Janette is fabulous! She does what needs done according to her own beliefs and ethics regardless if her family and friends approve. However, this leads to her kidnapping. (Is it really a kidnapping if you agreed?) when she finally escapes, it’s with a new foot and to discover that 9 months have passed. She contacts her handsome fiancé who brings along his father to rescue her. They discover she was kidnapped for all the right reasons, but the government has worse plans than they thought…

[JW USA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Another interesting adventure for Janette and her crew. There is progress in her relationship with Bradley. It follows the same style and format as book one - lots and lots of conversation that reveal the story. They still haven’t resolved the murder mystery and had added more mysteries which is a little frustrating as there is no arc that is resolved. The voices sounds very much like those in the Jesse Alexander series along with the obsession with animals and the plot devices of being seriously ill and being kidnapped.

[Cathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like 2.5 stars.

Different characters do find their own voice, but I found the writing worse than normal. It felt like a stream of consciousness of someone with ADHD. So the pacing was all incredibly fast, and torturously slow, where you were bombarded with 1000 words a minute, but nothing really happened, but then it did, don’t worry we’ll hand wave that away in 2 sentences.

What’s really disappointing is that the world is interesting and the premise of vigilante librarians is fantastic. I’m mourning for the story I didn’t get

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

On kobo: 9781649640062, 415 pages

Following the fairly damaging injuries received at the end of the previous book our protagonist, one of the 'vigilante magical librarians', finds herself something of a celebrity. This hs some unepected effects as she becomes something of poster-girl (sort of) for two opposing factions, one of which is working nefariously behind the scenes to change the United States beyond all recognition.

As an outsider I might read this series as a damning criticism of the actual trend in the US away from the 'founding fathers' intentions when fashioning their 'new' nation, and health care in particular. It is, however, an intriguing read, full of unexpected twists and a lot of humour. Sadly it seems that the series is currently 'on hold' so the book ends somewhat abruptly and we have yet to find out the ultimate ending of the plotting...

With that proviso I heartily recommend this somewhat quirky magic-riddled series!

[Barbara Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait for book 3

I tried to read Booked for Kidnapping slowly to make it last, but it was too good to put down. This story is darker than the Magical Romantic Comedies, but still contains some humor. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters, and the way the twist was revealed.
I don’t want to leave any spoilers, so I will just say the conspiracy uncovered so far has me on the edge of my seat and very nervous for the characters. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Karen G Hambleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read, great characters!

Loved the book. Ended entirely different from the beginning. However, if you remove the magical aspects and replace those with todays socalled pandemic, you have an Eerily horrific similarity to todays issues and problems, particularly in regard to governmental decisions happening today. Love the books and writing of this author and recommend her to everyone who loves reading.

[Lindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start by giving props to the writer on such a cool series concept! Who wouldn’t love a librarian vigilante? Also, I appreciate the world building and the dystopian setting. But aside from those things…

I just can’t. This book is 50% repetitive banter dialogue, 5% plot development, 20% politics, and 25% unrealistic and fluffy cheap thrills (romantic and/or materialistic). Not really my cup of tea, but maybe it’s just me!

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot in this story is scary, but great Ms. Blain!

Your idea of that horrifying government for the United States just made me want to hide under the bed with my own cat, Sweetie, and cry!

I'm a veteran and to realize I was fighting for a government like that chills me to the bone! Makes me glad that this is mostly fiction. I've had nightmares where minus the magic, slavery would come back.

Great thinking story R.J.. Can't wait for the next book!

[Rhonda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Developments

I love the characters. I love their snarky dialogue with one another. I just wish the pace was a tad faster and more progress would happen. Two major events did occur in this book and more information is disclosed, but the friends and colleagues are still far from coming up with an actionable plan to fix the horrifying events occurring in their government. Still, it is a fascinating problem and I look forward to seeing how it plays out.