Pages: 336
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Goodreads
A beautiful computer hacker and a bad-boy FBI agent must collaborate—in more ways than one—in the sizzling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.
Allison Trent doesn’t look like a hacker. In fact, when she’s not in college working on her degree, she models on the side. But behind her gorgeous face is a brilliant mind for computers and her real love is writing—and hacking—code. Her dream is to write a new security program that could revolutionize the tech industry.
Hotshot FBI agent Liam Scott has a problem: a leak deep within his own department. He needs the skills of a top-notch hacker to work on a highly sensitive project: to secretly break into the FBI servers and find out who the traitor is. But he can’t use one of his own. He finds the perfect candidate in Allison. Only, there’s one problem—she wants nothing to do with his job and turns him down flat.
What Liam doesn’t know is that Allison is hiding secrets that she doesn’t want the FBI to uncover. But Liam will do nearly anything to persuade her to join his team, even break a few rules if that’s what it takes. A temptation that could put his job—and both of their futures—on the line…and longing for more . . .
Wired by Julie Garwood is the tale of a white hat hacker recruited by the FBI. Fairly classic tale, but I still enjoy the trope. Allison is a brilliant computer scientist who is finishing her college degree. Everyone recognizes her brilliance and her superior mind (seriously-it got irritating after awhile with everyone raving about her brilliance). Oh, and she is a drop dead gorgeous model on the side. Everyone wanted her to be the face of their campaign but she stuck with 1 designer who helped her hide money from her evil aunt and uncle (Ok, so let me be clear here: We get it. She is hot and smart and everyone in the world loves her. Well, her evil aunt and uncle, who had to raise her, only want to use her. Seriously, you have read this book before. Its pretty much any Disney movie ever made).
Can you see my eyes rolling so far? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate any of the tropes used so far, but its all a bit over the top. Gorgeous girl, evil guardians… Anyway, let me get to the rest of the story. Allison hasn’t always stayed on the correct side of the law when it comes to her hacking, but she never did anything for a selfish reason. She hacked to give back stolen money. But, needless to say, when the FBI wants her, she is scared they have discovered her secret and she will be on the next episode of Orange is the new Black or something. Liam, the FBI agent who is determined to get her on his team, is instantly smitten with the stunning hacker (ok, I know you can’t see my eyes rolling but they are).
So, the action centers around Liam and Allison trying to figure out who the mole in the FBI is and how to stop that person. This was probably the most compelling part of the story. Its high tech and intriguing and really, this is what kept me reading. I never really believed Allison and Liam were in love. Liam was gone a lot. Then he would reappear and things were fine. It just never felt believable and didn’t hook me.
Wired brings the intrigue with the plot line of a mole in the FBI, but felt like it missed the mark in the romance. Overall, I still think it was a good story but I think it had the potential to be great. I haven’t read a Julie Garwood book in many years, but I do remember enjoying the romance a great deal more. Maybe it was just me? Maybe I am just not feeling it right now? Who knows! If you have enjoyed Julie Garwood, you will probably not want to miss this book anyway!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: Aphrodite effect, genius, FBI
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
Books by Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, Catherine Coulter, Cynthia Eden…then you will probably like Wired!
I read this one and didn’t end up loving it either. I had been wanting to give Julie Garwood’s books a try so I jumped on this one when I saw it was about a hacker and an FBI agent. I normally love those. I expected a little more action in a book dealing with an FBI agent….and I also didn’t feel their chemistry at all. The thing that bothered me the most was the “special snowflake” trope that is Allison. She is just too perfect. Without an training at all, she is somehow a better hacker than anyone else in the FBI (who HAVE been thoroughly trained for years) AND she also the most beautiful person in the world who is a muse to big professional photographer….? Ehhh. It was too much, in my opinion.
I actually loved the sound of this book. Too bad it wasn’t that good. I love the story when the romance is still the focus. Awesome review, Sam. 🙂