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On the Line
The masterful storytelling and gripping suspense that are trademarks of the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author combine in this thrilling story perfect for fans of Nora Roberts and James Patterson…
Mateo Castillo is a rising star chef on the Manhattan culinary scene. But just as he’s about to reap the rewards of his skill and hard work by being featured on a major TV cooking competition, Mateo collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen—and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room.
If it weren’t for a security guard finding him in time, Mateo would have bled to death. The cause of his sudden illness is as mysterious as it is worrying, and Mateo and his family undergo a battery of genetic tests. Yet the answers that start to emerge only raise more questions.
Mateo’s parents fled their home in Colombia many years ago, seeking refuge from the infamous cartels. Now the test results threaten to uncover a dark secret that exposes his family to dangers from the past—while clouding the investigation into who is trying to hurt Mateo in the present . . .
Mateo Castillo is a rising star chef on the Manhattan culinary scene. But just as he’s about to reap the rewards of his skill and hard work by being featured on a major TV cooking competition, Mateo collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen—and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room.
If it weren’t for a security guard finding him in time, Mateo would have bled to death. The cause of his sudden illness is as mysterious as it is worrying, and Mateo and his family undergo a battery of genetic tests. Yet the answers that start to emerge only raise more questions.
Mateo’s parents fled their home in Colombia many years ago, seeking refuge from the infamous cartels. Now the test results threaten to uncover a dark secret that exposes his family to dangers from the past—while clouding the investigation into who is trying to hurt Mateo in the present . . .
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2023
3349 people are currently reading
22387 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
423 books6,465 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
March 14, 2023
Fern Michaels has woven two stories into a fascinating tale of three generations of a family in her standalone novel
On the Line
. The author mixes suspense, mystery, family, friendship, and romance into a heartfelt novel that pulls readers in and keeps them hooked from beginning to end.
Rising star chef Mateo Castillo will soon be featured on a major television cooking competition when he collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room. The cause of his illness is unknown and worrying. But Doctor Adrian Ardell is determined to find the cause. She works relentlessly in the laboratory running blood and genetic tests on Mateo and his family. Mateo’s parents and grandparents fled their home in Columbia many years ago, seeking refuge from drug cartels. The test results uncover a family secret that could threaten them all.
Grandparents Gabriel and Sylvia Espinosa, parents Dante and Elena Castillo, and Mateo and Adrian are characters with depth. Readers understand their strengths and weaknesses through complex traits that develop and change during the story. Their backstories add layers to their personalities.
While the book starts with Mateo in current times in New York City, the second part of the book goes back in time to the escape from Columbia by his grandparents and parents before coming back to current times in part three. This story realistically depicts the devastating impacts of drug cartels and how they can impact others. It transported this reader into Espinosa’s and Castillo’s desperate need for a new life and demonstrated their strength of character.
The author is a superb storyteller. She did a great job of keeping me hooked as the story progressed. I felt for the characters during their struggles. There are some unexpected twists as the story unfolds. Along the way, readers get also get information on Adrian’s background. The ending was predictable, but I still enjoyed it. Themes include violence, friendship, love, helping others, values, integrity, compassion, and much more.
Overall, this storyline grabbed my attention with likeable characters, light banter, a harrowing escape, and a medical mystery. Don’t go into this one expecting an action-packed novel. Instead, expect a powerful story of family and love with a mystery to be solved and great characterization and some suspenseful moments. There are a couple of recipes included at the end of the book that sound great. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Kensington Books and Fern Michaels provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Rising star chef Mateo Castillo will soon be featured on a major television cooking competition when he collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room. The cause of his illness is unknown and worrying. But Doctor Adrian Ardell is determined to find the cause. She works relentlessly in the laboratory running blood and genetic tests on Mateo and his family. Mateo’s parents and grandparents fled their home in Columbia many years ago, seeking refuge from drug cartels. The test results uncover a family secret that could threaten them all.
Grandparents Gabriel and Sylvia Espinosa, parents Dante and Elena Castillo, and Mateo and Adrian are characters with depth. Readers understand their strengths and weaknesses through complex traits that develop and change during the story. Their backstories add layers to their personalities.
While the book starts with Mateo in current times in New York City, the second part of the book goes back in time to the escape from Columbia by his grandparents and parents before coming back to current times in part three. This story realistically depicts the devastating impacts of drug cartels and how they can impact others. It transported this reader into Espinosa’s and Castillo’s desperate need for a new life and demonstrated their strength of character.
The author is a superb storyteller. She did a great job of keeping me hooked as the story progressed. I felt for the characters during their struggles. There are some unexpected twists as the story unfolds. Along the way, readers get also get information on Adrian’s background. The ending was predictable, but I still enjoyed it. Themes include violence, friendship, love, helping others, values, integrity, compassion, and much more.
Overall, this storyline grabbed my attention with likeable characters, light banter, a harrowing escape, and a medical mystery. Don’t go into this one expecting an action-packed novel. Instead, expect a powerful story of family and love with a mystery to be solved and great characterization and some suspenseful moments. There are a couple of recipes included at the end of the book that sound great. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Kensington Books and Fern Michaels provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
May 28, 2023
Remind me to not read another of her novels. The writing was so stilted and robotic. “Masterful storytelling and gripping suspense”…?! HA! Ms. Michaels is not even close to the storytelling of Nora Roberts
May 28, 2023
I had a hard time even finishing this book, between the corny writing and unbelievable storyline. It feels like it was written by a 10th grader.
March 20, 2023
I grew up hearing my mom rave about Fern Michaels’ books so when I saw an ARC available on @netgalley for her latest novel, I figured I’d go ahead and request it; she’s certainly a proven author, initial reviews were strong, and the plot sounded interesting enough. I was thrilled to receive an approval email granting me access to it in January and started reading it almost right away. Fast forward to present day… Ya’ll… I legit just finished this book. I was so close to throwing in the towel a number of times and probably would have put it in a virtual DNF pile if I didn’t promise an honest review in exchange for the “Advanced Reader Copy”. So, I pushed on and finally finished it.
The book is broken down into three big sections: present, past, and back to the present. There are some chapter breakdowns within these sections but most chapters are LONG LONG LONG– at one point my Kindle told me I had an hour and eight minutes of reading left in the chapter. Wait, what? Is that a typo… sadly it is not. I am someone who likes to read a chapter at a time so shorter chapters suit me best. These seemingly never-ending chapters just didn’t bode well for me as a reader.
I was moderately entertained in section one as the problem the main character faces is interesting, and the book is fairly well written. I liked the premise of section two – the backstory and history of the main character’s family but it was extremely detailed and felt a lot like a separate story plugged into the middle of the first one. It left me feeling a bit bored. The third and final section of the book, back to present day, picked up a little for me so it was a little easier to continue reading. However, we finally got to the ending and I hate to say it but it felt rushed. Ultimately, I believe too much time was spent on the the family’s history and some of that energy should have gone towards setting the reader up for the ending, which was somewhat anticlimactic.
Here's what it boils down to… I’m likely not the target audience for this one and that’s okay. I think my mom would love it and I’m actually going to suggest that she read it because I’d love to get her feedback. I just don’t think women below fifty will appreciate this book as much as those over that benchmark. There are plenty of endearing qualities about this story which is why it’s garnered lots of 4 and 5 star reviews. My opinion seems to be the outlier, so please take that into consideration if this book is on your TBR list. Ugh, I truly hate giving books a low star rating but I can’t help but give On the Line two stars, even though it makes me feel sad to do so.
The book is broken down into three big sections: present, past, and back to the present. There are some chapter breakdowns within these sections but most chapters are LONG LONG LONG– at one point my Kindle told me I had an hour and eight minutes of reading left in the chapter. Wait, what? Is that a typo… sadly it is not. I am someone who likes to read a chapter at a time so shorter chapters suit me best. These seemingly never-ending chapters just didn’t bode well for me as a reader.
I was moderately entertained in section one as the problem the main character faces is interesting, and the book is fairly well written. I liked the premise of section two – the backstory and history of the main character’s family but it was extremely detailed and felt a lot like a separate story plugged into the middle of the first one. It left me feeling a bit bored. The third and final section of the book, back to present day, picked up a little for me so it was a little easier to continue reading. However, we finally got to the ending and I hate to say it but it felt rushed. Ultimately, I believe too much time was spent on the the family’s history and some of that energy should have gone towards setting the reader up for the ending, which was somewhat anticlimactic.
Here's what it boils down to… I’m likely not the target audience for this one and that’s okay. I think my mom would love it and I’m actually going to suggest that she read it because I’d love to get her feedback. I just don’t think women below fifty will appreciate this book as much as those over that benchmark. There are plenty of endearing qualities about this story which is why it’s garnered lots of 4 and 5 star reviews. My opinion seems to be the outlier, so please take that into consideration if this book is on your TBR list. Ugh, I truly hate giving books a low star rating but I can’t help but give On the Line two stars, even though it makes me feel sad to do so.
April 17, 2023
This was such a great read, a slow burn mystery and generational family drama all in one. Told in two timelines, current day which is the mystery, and past which is the generational family drama, the two timelines are related and Michaels weaves them together in a wonderful way. It is on the slower burn side but well worth the read. The audio for this is fantastic as well, just such a great book overall.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Bibliolifestyle for the free copy to review. This one is available now.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Bibliolifestyle for the free copy to review. This one is available now.
May 1, 2023
Oh come on, this was definitely NOT a " riveting novel of suspense". I have only read a few of Fern Michaels books. When I read the blurb , I thought she might be veering from her normal style. The premise of the book was good but, the back story took up the vast majority of the story. When the book finally got back to Mateo, it was rushed, cheesy and a huge letdown. I won't be reading Fern Michaels again. Too many better books out there.
May 1, 2023
Why did I read this? I should know better. The author isn't for me, too simplistic, the dialogue stilted and unnatural...
March 15, 2023
At the age of 89 Fern Michaels continues to write new stories. On The Line is almost two stories in one. The present day story focuses on Mateo Castillo, a rising Executive Chef. He is rushed to the hospital after being found passed out at his restaurant. Dr. Adrian Ardell is a hematologist and determined to figure out what is the cause for his blood levels. The other story begins 35 years earlier with the focus on Mateo’s parents. They meet and fall in love in Columbia. It is 1988 and the drug cartels control the country. Due to circumstances Mateo’s parents and grandparents need to flee and with help make their way to Mexico and then the United States. It follows their journey and story.
Both stories are compelling but kind of light. The president day mystery isn’t hard to solve and sets up a potential romance. The past is important gives a story but isn’t fraught with peril. The families are able to move with some assistance and it helps that they have some money and Mateo’s parents are fluent in English and educated. I enjoyed reading the stories but neither kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.
Both stories are compelling but kind of light. The president day mystery isn’t hard to solve and sets up a potential romance. The past is important gives a story but isn’t fraught with peril. The families are able to move with some assistance and it helps that they have some money and Mateo’s parents are fluent in English and educated. I enjoyed reading the stories but neither kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.
March 25, 2023
Mateo Castillo is a chef in NYC and loves cooking for people. He is found unconsciousness at his restaurant. He is sent to the hospital and meets Dr. Adrian Ardell a specialist. He is told he has too much mercury in his system.
We also travel back to when Mateo's parents meet in Columbia and flee the country from the drug cartels in the eighties. They leave his Elena's parents and end up in Mexico. They have help along the way from some great people.
We are told his parents story and Mateo's story. The stories are all connected and written very well. I love the mystery of who was poisoning Mateo and can his parents finally tell him the truth about his life.
I love Fern Michaels stories.
We also travel back to when Mateo's parents meet in Columbia and flee the country from the drug cartels in the eighties. They leave his Elena's parents and end up in Mexico. They have help along the way from some great people.
We are told his parents story and Mateo's story. The stories are all connected and written very well. I love the mystery of who was poisoning Mateo and can his parents finally tell him the truth about his life.
I love Fern Michaels stories.
April 13, 2023
I FINALLY WON A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY! Thanks to Between the Chapters, Kensington Books and Fern Michaels for gifting me this copy of On the Line.
This book unfortunately was all over the place. The tag line "A riveting novel of suspense" feels strangely inaccurate and accurate at the same time. In short, I was never truly concerned that the ending would be anything but happy, and I knew things would work out, but there were some moments where I wasn't certain what would happen next.
I struggled with the time jump in this book. I enjoyed learning the history of Mateo's family and childhood, but I don't think the writing between present and past flowed well. I felt as if I was reading a separate book for the middle chunk that was all background. I think if the two stories were weaved together better, it would have been more enjoyable.
I also was disappointed in the ending. It felt like the solution to Mateo's sickness was out of left field and didn't fit the rest of the story. I felt like the first few pages were intriguing, but my interest was lost fairly quickly. Also, the writing style was too much telling, not enough showing for me. It felt a bit too basic and didn't draw me in enough.
How did it end?
Read more book reviews & ending spoilers at www.howdidthatbookend.com
This book unfortunately was all over the place. The tag line "A riveting novel of suspense" feels strangely inaccurate and accurate at the same time. In short, I was never truly concerned that the ending would be anything but happy, and I knew things would work out, but there were some moments where I wasn't certain what would happen next.
I struggled with the time jump in this book. I enjoyed learning the history of Mateo's family and childhood, but I don't think the writing between present and past flowed well. I felt as if I was reading a separate book for the middle chunk that was all background. I think if the two stories were weaved together better, it would have been more enjoyable.
I also was disappointed in the ending. It felt like the solution to Mateo's sickness was out of left field and didn't fit the rest of the story. I felt like the first few pages were intriguing, but my interest was lost fairly quickly. Also, the writing style was too much telling, not enough showing for me. It felt a bit too basic and didn't draw me in enough.
How did it end?
Read more book reviews & ending spoilers at www.howdidthatbookend.com
September 26, 2023
Not a riveting novel of suspense
I don't know what this novel is, but it is not suspenseful nor riveting. At times it was downright boring. Conversations were so trite that I skipped through many of them. I don't recommend this book.
I don't know what this novel is, but it is not suspenseful nor riveting. At times it was downright boring. Conversations were so trite that I skipped through many of them. I don't recommend this book.
June 4, 2023
Interesting how everything came together.
May 25, 2023
Really enjoyed this book.
April 14, 2023
This book is billed as a suspense but reads more as a chronologically told family history bracketed by a slightly more interesting suspense/romance. The synopsis of the book makes it seem like the focus of the book will be the characters Mateo and Adrian. The first 30 pages and last 60 pages are about these characters and the mystery of Mateo's inexplicable illness. The middle two-thirds of the book is about Matteo's grandparents, parents and their escape from Columbia to Mexico (and from there to the US). I am not a fan of the author's writing style which reads dryly. The parts about Mateo and Adrian were more gripping of my attention, but I found them, unfortunately, predictable. It was easy to see who the culprit was and also what was happening to Mateo. Overall I was disappointed.
This was a book I read because of winning it through a Goodreads giveaway.
This was a book I read because of winning it through a Goodreads giveaway.
November 28, 2022
*Thank you to Kensington Books, Fern Michaels, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I was a little bit disappointed in this novel and I adore Fern Michaels. I wanted more of Mateo and Adrian and their relationship, and less of the history. There were some things that didn't add up with the history of Elena and her parents but it seemed almost too easy for them to get to the America from Colombia. As usual, the writing is superb but sadly, the story didn't interest me as much. I was drawn in by a celebrity Chef and his gorgeous doctor but given a mediocre history. it felt unbalanced.
I was a little bit disappointed in this novel and I adore Fern Michaels. I wanted more of Mateo and Adrian and their relationship, and less of the history. There were some things that didn't add up with the history of Elena and her parents but it seemed almost too easy for them to get to the America from Colombia. As usual, the writing is superb but sadly, the story didn't interest me as much. I was drawn in by a celebrity Chef and his gorgeous doctor but given a mediocre history. it felt unbalanced.
September 23, 2023
I won this in a giveaway in exchange for a review. “A riveting novel of suspense” is what some platforms are saying. ABSOLUTELY NOT. There was nothing enjoyable about this book. It felt like it was written by a child in middle school, yet this author is supposed to be known for being a good story teller. The characters were one dimensional and obnoxiously annoying. And suspense? Um what? Everything about this book was cliched. I’d never read anything by Fern Michaels before and I’m not inclined to after this.
September 27, 2023
A riveting novel of suspense?
More like nonsense. There were interesting parts of the book but there was no suspense. The middle two- thirds of the book is backstory, so much that I thought I’d accidentally started reading a different book on my Kindle. it could have been interesting, but it was not and I’m sorry I read it.
More like nonsense. There were interesting parts of the book but there was no suspense. The middle two- thirds of the book is backstory, so much that I thought I’d accidentally started reading a different book on my Kindle. it could have been interesting, but it was not and I’m sorry I read it.
September 13, 2023
Fern Michael’s has been around for a long time. I’ve never read one of her books but thought I’d give this a whirl. It was formulaic and there was suspense but then end had no tie into any of the background. I dislike rushed endings that just fall short.
September 3, 2023
I finished the book bc the reviews were so high. I was so bored. Too much focus on eating and sleeping and day to day stuff. Sadly this book was painful
September 20, 2023
The CHEESIEST BOOK EVER
So very predictable and very cheesy :( Not what I expected from a Fern Michael's book. I only finished it because I had nothing else to do.
So very predictable and very cheesy :( Not what I expected from a Fern Michael's book. I only finished it because I had nothing else to do.
September 26, 2023
I adore Fern Michaels but just could not get into this one. I found it quite boring.
March 18, 2023
Chef Mateo's life is 'on the line' and that diagnosis unleashes an adventure that connects Columbia with the bustling streets of New York City. Learning of her son's life-threatening illness, unearths a secret that Elena has kept buried since his birth.
Like his craft, the truth is revealed in layers and its rich history is both decadent and spicy. Elena and Dante's love affair from the dance halls in Columbia, escaping in fishing boats to Puerta Vallarta to forging a new life in United States will keep readers on the edge of their seats rooting for the couple to succeed.
While reading, readers will wonder how this tale will return to Mateo. What is causing the elevated mercury contents? Is it possible that Elena's secret will shed a light on his symptoms?
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #OntheLine in exchange for an honest review. Fern Michaels' stand-alone novel cooks up a delicious blend of machismo and mystery. Foodies will indulge in sampling New York City's culinary world while suspense seekers will cut their chops solving the mercury mystery.
Like his craft, the truth is revealed in layers and its rich history is both decadent and spicy. Elena and Dante's love affair from the dance halls in Columbia, escaping in fishing boats to Puerta Vallarta to forging a new life in United States will keep readers on the edge of their seats rooting for the couple to succeed.
While reading, readers will wonder how this tale will return to Mateo. What is causing the elevated mercury contents? Is it possible that Elena's secret will shed a light on his symptoms?
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #OntheLine in exchange for an honest review. Fern Michaels' stand-alone novel cooks up a delicious blend of machismo and mystery. Foodies will indulge in sampling New York City's culinary world while suspense seekers will cut their chops solving the mercury mystery.
May 31, 2024
I first want to thank Kensington Books for my copy of On the Line by Fern Michaels. I was able to win it through their newsletter.
I wish I had nicer things to say, but reading "On the Line" was horribly mundane. It was like making small talk about a stranger's distant relatives who have done nothing spectacular and are simply ordinary. It was a trudge to get through.
I thought it was supposed to be a crime mystery about a chef who was supposedly being poisoned while participating in a competition. A who don'it at the least.
It is indirectly about him. He was only the catalyst for a story about how his parents came to America from Colombia. As an immigration story, it is very procedural and dry. I felt no horror for the couple. No urgency. I instead felt they were being manipulated, and that was mainly due to the pacing and writing. Such a shame for what was on the surface appeared to be a lovely couple that they had to live the drudgery of such boring writing.
I felt reading this was a waste of time if I am completely frank. Enough so I didn't struggle to write this not so nice review. I usually at least try to be constructive. Just couldn't with this one.
I wish I had nicer things to say, but reading "On the Line" was horribly mundane. It was like making small talk about a stranger's distant relatives who have done nothing spectacular and are simply ordinary. It was a trudge to get through.
I thought it was supposed to be a crime mystery about a chef who was supposedly being poisoned while participating in a competition. A who don'it at the least.
It is indirectly about him. He was only the catalyst for a story about how his parents came to America from Colombia. As an immigration story, it is very procedural and dry. I felt no horror for the couple. No urgency. I instead felt they were being manipulated, and that was mainly due to the pacing and writing. Such a shame for what was on the surface appeared to be a lovely couple that they had to live the drudgery of such boring writing.
I felt reading this was a waste of time if I am completely frank. Enough so I didn't struggle to write this not so nice review. I usually at least try to be constructive. Just couldn't with this one.
August 2, 2023
I must say this story by Fern Michaels is a bit different than what I'm used to reading from this author. The beginning was very intriguing and then suddenly it takes a dramatic turn, which took quite time for me to figure out. When all was said and done, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it! 8 out of 10.
June 7, 2023
This would be a great book to read on vacation. Fast read with a decent story; love and mystery.
Read
July 7, 2023Great ending.
May 25, 2024
Very enjoyable - liked the characters and the plot.
June 20, 2024
I enjoyed this story of Mateo and his family and their journey away from the narcoterrorism of the countries of their origins.
April 24, 2023
41/2 stars great family saga, runs at a steady pace. There is a mystery woven into the story, but it is introduced then kinda on the back burner until way later into the book. It was very interesting and intriguing at the last couple chapters. It’s certainly worth the time to read, but not as suspenseful as the back of the book leads you on.
I received a paperback ARC from between the chapters in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
Enjoy
I received a paperback ARC from between the chapters in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
Enjoy
September 13, 2023
3.1060918467 stars - meh
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