Changing the Rules (Richter, #1)

by Catherine Bybee

Lori Prince (Narrator) and Joe Arden (Narrator)

• ISBN10: 1713559676
• ISBN13: 9781713559672
• Publish Date: 23 March 2021
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Brilliance Audio
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Duration: 9 hours
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Changing the Rules is the first book in the Richter series. Catherine Bybee is not an author whose work I am familiar with. However, the synopsis hinted at an exciting read and with that in mind I jumped at the chance to read this book. The story delivered as expected.

While reading, I recognised that this was a spin-off of another series. Information I wish I had before jumping into this book. This in no way prevented me from enjoying Changing The Rules. However, if I had the chance to read the previous series, I would have had more information regarding the background of the main characters.

Claire and Cooper, the stars of the show, both work for McBain Security Solutions. Cooper left six years ago to work with the London team. His reason for leaving had to do with his intense feelings towards Claire, but now he is back hoping to win her heart. However, before he can accomplish that, they need to infiltrate a high school to uncover the mastermind behind a teenage prostitution ring.

The story captured my attention from start to finish. Throw in some dirty cops, shady teachers and misbehaving students and you get an intense story which will keep you on your toes.

I had an interesting time watching Claire re-inventing her high school experience. From what I gathered, her true experience was not so great. Cooper made a great coach. I loved how well the team worked together to bring down the culprits. The interactions and the banter between helped to lighten some of the moments in the story.

The romance, although not the focus of the story, could have benefited from a little more development. Cooper’s feelings were made clear from the get go, while Claire’s proved difficult to determine. One moment she sees him as a friend, then the next she is head over heels.

I alternated between the e-book and the audiobook.  Lori Prince and Joe Arden narrated. While I didn’t mind the male narrator’s voice, the female narrator irked me. Her accents and her attempts to sound like a teenager were off-putting, which pulled me out of the story several times. The e-book saved me from giving up on the story, which made it the better choice.

Overall, a good story and one I would recommend to fans of romantic suspense.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Jeff Sexton]

More Action, Arguably Less Romance. Still Bybee. This book - arguably a *version* of a take on 21 Jump Street (though admittedly my only exposure to that franchise is the Tatum/ Hill movies) - continues Bybee's recent (2020+) path of moving to less saccharine / comedic romances and to more thriller-ish romances. There is still comedy and sweetness here, but it takes more of a backburner to the thriller elements. Also continuing is Bybee's more recent examination of weighty real-world topics while telling a romance tale, and in this case the topic in question is sex trafficking - particularly of high school/ just after high school age young women. Bybee, at least in my experience with her books, isn't really known for having multiple sex scenes throughout the tale, and this particular book is no exception to that norm. Truly a solid romance, with all of the old RWA standards I am aware of met, and a pretty good (low body count) thriller to boot - particularly when considering that the author is more known in the romance world and has written far more in that genre. This reader, for one, is looking forward to seeing where this series goes. Very much recommended.