Sunny Alvarez and Mac Reilly always seem to find trouble in the south of France. This time, all the trouble began in Monte Carlo. Sunny's relationship with Mac is in jeopardy, and Monte Carlo beckons. Soon Sunny is pulled into a web of intrigue involving a series of robberies of high-end jewelry stores. Then there is her wanna-be new friend, who turns out to be a sociopath involved in the sale of sex and in blackmail. Plus there's Sunny's old friend, movie star Allie Ray, who owns a vineyard in France and who comes to help sort Sunny out, while at the same time sorting out the life and appearance of her old friend, Pru Holster, with a makeover that not only changes her dowdy overweight appearance but changes Pru into an amateur detective. If Sunny doesn't untangle this plot, she might end up an unwitting accomplice to theft, blackmail, and even murder. When Mac shows up, he's ready to do anything to get Sunny back, not the least of which is to solve the crimes and save her life.
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"This was a very fast read for me. I liked the romance, mystery, drama aspects of it. It was a little predictable, but there were so many side stories and characters intertwined, it was fun to see how it all panned out."
— Brenda (4 out of 5 stars)
“Lush surroundings, heady shopping sprees, and over-the-top romance makes It All Began in Monte Carlo a summer treat.”
— People“As bright and breezy as a sun-drenched Riviera beach, Adler’s taut romantic mystery manages to thrum with palpable tension.”
— Booklist“Adler stirs up the already muddy relationship between Sunny Alvarez and her soul mate, TV detective Mac Reilly. Even though the story focuses on Sunny’s adventures without Mac, it’s almost as much fun to watch these two battle as it is to watch them make up. And the mystery subplot is not bad either.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)" This was a very good mystery with some surprises and some predicable events. Definitely a good summer read. "
— Nancy, 2/18/2014" I was didn't think this book was up to her usual writing. Nothing too exciting happened to keep me interested. "
— Mariettak2, 2/14/2014" Not the best of hers, but liked it and finished it-I won't finish a book I don't like! "
— Kristine, 2/11/2014" Awful. Worthless. Just two words to describe this novel. I had hoped for an easy, entertaining read and all I got was easy and annoying. The characters and trite; the writing contrived. I hate quitting books because I have to find out if there's something worth reading in all of it, but I quit at 150 pages because I was so annoyed. "
— Melissa, 2/11/2014" I didn't like this one as much as the last one but it still had it's moments. On to the next one! "
— Cecily, 2/1/2014" I was really excited to read this book on my vacation, but it was a let-down. This author has a lot of books set in different locations around Europe, which was really appealing to me since I love to "travel" by reading. The descriptions of the people and places were great and really brought the characters and setting to life. But, the dialog was cheesy and the story line wasn't that believeable. Everything just seemed to work out in the end without a really good description of how things fell into place. It seemed like the overweight, going-through-a-divorce friend lost 30 pounds and moved in with a new boyfriend within about a week! "
— Jackie, 1/26/2014" Not my favorite Elizabeth Adler book - in fact it barely rated two stars. Way too much raunchiness. The main character, Sunny Alvarez, who supposedly is a Wharton graduate and successful businesswoman, comes off for the most part in this book as a ditsy female with romance issues who gets suckered into questionable relationships with people she has just met and barely knows. (Isn't she supposed to be smarter than this?) Come to her rescue Mac Reilly, her long-time love interest, whom she left to start on this adventure. Add in jewelry heists, murder, blackmail, and the underbelly of the sex world. I've enjoyed Ms. Adlers books in the past, even the others in this series, but this one seemed to always be reaching and never really hit the mark. I'd say Ms. Adler needs to re-read her ownh earlier books and find out where she is going wrong in her latest books. "
— Linda, 1/25/2014" very cliche. "
— LaWane, 1/13/2014" It was alright in the beginning, I liked the description even though there was a lot.. and the feeling was also warm and cheery, yet cold at the same time.. but by the middle I gave up because it just bored me and got too strange for me to enjoy it anymore. "
— Emily, 1/10/2014" Just started to read this book. It's started off with a bang. Needed something light after two heavy, draining books. Looks to be fun. "
— Janis, 11/26/2013" I've read all her books. This one continues w/characters Sunny Randall and Mac, from a couple of her earlier books. Enjoyed the story, but didn't think her writing was up to par. "
— Diane, 10/27/2013" Big fat blech. I hated Sunny and her little dog too. I did finish it though... no idea why. "
— •´|||||`•., 10/15/2013" This is the third book in the series. Don't read it first like I did. Of course I didn't figure it out until I was on page 233. There is nothing on or in the book to say it's part of a series but there were so many unexplained past references that I finally looked it up online. "
— Trish, 9/28/2013" Boring. Didn't finish it. I usually like Elizabeth Adler but this book was bad. "
— Delisa, 9/9/2013" Was not a fan... But I think I have a crush on Mac. "
— Cooper, 9/7/2013" These books are so fun. They remind me of the old glamorous "caper" movies. The plot is many times driven by impulsiveness (or stupidity) which is very irritating but I enjoy them anyway. "
— Sandy, 12/18/2012" light summer reading....mystery "
— Lila, 8/1/2012" Great easy summer read!! "
— Gelynn, 5/27/2012" I did not finish this book because it was to explicit for me. Will not read any other of her books for that reason even though the book has real life charactors in it. "
— Nancy, 4/7/2012" This was a light, breezy romance, perfect for a beach read. I just wish I'd been on a beach when I read it! "
— Christine, 2/28/2012" Too similar to the other books. It's supposed to be in Monte Carlo, but they spend quite a bit of time in Cannes, just 'popping over for lunch', when the cities aren't really that close... "
— Janet, 1/31/2012" What has happened to her writing? I used to like her books but this was just trash. "
— Linda, 11/9/2011" I don't know how this woman even got this book published. "
— Christina, 8/11/2011" I liked it, still in love with Sunny and Mac. Elizabeth Adler has a way of describing the Medditerranean so vividly. "
— Heather, 7/2/2011" This book was an easy read. Predictible, yet I enjoyed the exotic locations and the characters. "
— Elizabeth, 9/27/2010" OMG Why did I finish this dreck? "
— Wendy, 9/7/2010" While the continuing central characters of Mac and Sunny involved in escapades in foreign places is fun, it's a light read, although the couple is a unbelievably still in a state of lust after years together... "
— Lee, 7/1/2010Elizabeth Adler is the internationally acclaimed author of more than thirty novels. She is a frequent world traveler who has lived in Brazil, the United States, England, France, and Ireland, and she uses these real locations in her books. She is married with one daughter and lives in Palm Springs, California.
Susan Boyce is the award-winning narrator of over 140 audiobooks. She performs in variety theater, is one half of the song-and-dance team of Jones & Boyce, and holds a degree in theater and biology. She can be heard in phone trees, in computer games, and as the voice of the pink “Care Bear.” She lives in St. Augustine, Florida, and summers in Greenville, Maine.