Cover Image: Red Carpet Christmas

Red Carpet Christmas

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Well written.

This is good, intense, captivating, well developed! I wish I read all of this series!

Beautiful cover as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Excellent novel of two star crossed lovers. The mystery of the night that destroyed their trust in each other begins to unravel the night Simone walks unknowingly into Gideon's bar. The supporting cast is enjoyable and entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

Couldn't pass this one up since I had read the proceeding ones. I get a gift in this one also with it being a second chance. In this we follow Gideon and Simone as they meet up once again. Secrets will also be waiting to reach the light of day. Murder will be at play with anticipation on what will happen. It will play at our emotions keeping us hostage until the last page.

Was this review helpful?

He hasn’t seen recent widow Simone Burke for nearly two decades – since he testified to put her father in prison, but suddenly she needs his help - and Team Undercover – to prove she is innocent of a yuletide murder. Working with Gideon could reignite the past and a forbidden passion that still burns between them, but she can’t let him discover the secret she’s kept hidden all these years.

This ‘Club Undercover’ story is chock full of gripping emotions, thrilling suspense and some scorching passion. The characters are strong, compelling and easily draw readers into their story and the chemistry between Gideon and Simone singes the pages with its sizzling heat, but the relationship between will takes some serious work as they have a past that is full of some emotional land minds that could blow at any moment.

The plots is fast paced with lots of thrilling suspense and adrenaline pumping excitement building throughout as Gideon and Simone work together to discover the true murderer before Simone finds herself behind bars. But the situation is quite complex with lots of twists and turns with more deaths along the way and Simone looking guiltier with every move she makes. Readers can’t help but become completely caught up in all the intrigue, betrayals and a conclusion that readers don’t see coming.

Was this review helpful?

Passion, drama, suspense and a second chance to make it right. For Gideon, all of the danger is worth every moment of the unknown if he can stop running and resolve his heartstrings. But will revenge and hurt feelings overrule what the hopes can bring

Was this review helpful?

As this is the fifth in a series I definitely feel I missed something not having read any of the others. Essentially two people who knew each other well years ago, although from different families of mobsters. They broke apart when father of one was apparently shot and killed by father of the other. Years later they meet again, both with different names and lives now but that historic spark re-ignites especially after she is suspected of murdering a rather nasty man at a party. He, Gideon, is the owner of the club where the murder happened and has a group of people around him - Club Undercover - with special detecting skills shall we say. Knights in shining armour or something. What with wives, partners, ex-partners, revenge and jealousy there are plenty of red herrings for Gideon, not helped when Simone, the suspect, and various others are attacked and sometimes murdered. It did get a bit silly with the two running around chasing clues and just missing the perpetrator and not that believable when they kept breaking into places as well. We do get quite a bit of their background eventually which helped and they got their happy ever after too. An ok read then but not totally my cup of tea. Thanks to NetGalley and Dangerous Love Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Chicago philanthropic Club is different from other organizations as it pays the vendors, that way money can’t be redirected away from the approved project. Simone told the reporter and pointed out the leader of the organization. The reporter to talk to her. This year the request for this auction items was give something you love to charity. The party was just beginning but already the main floor of the club was filled with Chicago’s rich and famous - those who could afford the three hundred dollar- a- person entry. It had been months since her husband david had died in an accident deemed to be a tragic accident. He had been a criminal lawyer. She was alone, the worries and questions resurfaced for Simone. As there had been black paint from another car on David’s car. Simone couldn’t believe fate would have taken away her best friend and the best father a woman could wish for her son. Maybe she felt guilty because she didn’t love him romantically like he had wanted her to. She had that once, but that had been another lifetime ago. Cass came over and told Simone she was the club hostess and asked if there was anything she could do for her. Simone said she was fine. Cass introduced herself and Simone said her name and public relations. Simone asked cass wasn’t she the one who got the owner to let their fund raiser be held at the club. Cass said once Gideon heard it was planned to support the Umbrella House which was a shelter for abused women and their children. Simone came down the stairs and she got dizzy when she realized who was the owner of the club. Than Gideon saw her and realized that it was Simone, the one woman he’d thought was out of his life forever. He couldn’t stop staring at Simone. She could destroy everything he’d worked for, she could destroy him. All she had to do was tell her brother Mob Boss Michael DeNali that he had returned to Chicago. Michael had sworn to kill him before he disappeared several lifetimes ago. But he wasn’t running anymore, not ever again. Simone hurried through the club to find michael and head him off before he came face-to -face to the owner of the club . Joe Rusetti who called himself now. Drew was Simone’s sixteen year old son and wasn’t over David’s death and was looking more and more to Michael for guidance. Gideon was aware of the curiosity he inspired in team Underground. They knew nothing about his past, part of his past had just caught up to him. Team Underground had worked together several times now to help people out of dire straits. When the desperate had nowhere else to turn, they could turn to him and his associates. That was why he had agreed to the charity event being in his club. Giving aid to abused women and their children fit right in with the team’s mission. Maybe it was time to let the team know his true identity. Than her husband’s law partner was murdered. He had just shoved Simone a couple of times and she threatened him and then walked away and went to the ladies room. One of the wealthy women -Nikki Abright- said Simone had killed Al. Gideon got her through the crowd and to his office to wait for the police. Her father had been convicted of murdering Gideon’s father. Gideon had many identities in the last seventeen years but he never forgot he was really Joseph Ruscetti only son of mobster Frank Ruscetti who’d been gunned down by Simone’s father who was his rival. He had witnessed his father’s murder and held his father as he died. His testimony had put Simone’s father in prison and she had refused to see or talk to him. He had broken Simone’s heart. Gideon’s mother and younger sister Angela had been put in the witness protection program and had new identities and lived far from Chicago. At age eighteen Gideon had taken off alone. Drew- Simone’s son - was a lot like David but biologically Gideon’s son. Gideon met Simone at the zoo, he wanted to help her.
Great book and I loved it. I loved the intrigue, mystery. suspense, and action. I felt bad for Simone that her brother was the one gideon had seen and all she had been through. I read this in one setting i couldn’t put it down. I advise you to read the other books in this series for a smoother read. Even though somewhat twisted in some cases I loved the value of family shown, and love for family. I loved the characters and the ins and outs in this book and I highly recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

This is a story that I have been waiting for as I read some of the other stories in this series. Gideon has been quite the man of mystery all along. That he helped people wasn't a mystery though.
What about Simone? I found it pretty hard at times to like her. Oh, I got how some things had changed her even understood some of her reasons but she's so rude to Gideon. And she keeps it up for quite a while and after a while it felt a bit juvenile. Hey, he's a good guy and I didn't appreciate that. At times I even felt she was kind of stupid. It's like, you are a high level suspect in a murder and you are going to fight against his help? It's not the only stupid thing that she does that has me shaking my head.
Of course reading both of their P.O.V.'s helped make me side even more with him.
The Undercover Team was there and they helped but they were more in the background this time around.
Although, this book wasn't my favorite, it does have a fair amount of action and comes to a startling conclusion. It has more than one twist too!
I had high expectations for the reveal into Gideon's life and didn't feel like it met all of them. Still, I have liked other books by this author and will still be looking for them.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Was this review helpful?

Finally we get Gideon's story the man that is at the helm of the undercover club and it was well worth the wait

Gideon Maddox (Joey Rusceti) hasn't seen Simone Burke for years but they have history they are both children of rival mobs in They where driven apart when Gideon saw her father kill his father and he testified against him. Now Simone has been accused of killing a man and it will be up to Gideon to prove her innocence with the help of his team. Meanwhile Simone has a secret that she has been keeping is it time to tell Gideon. As usual in this series there will be plenty of suspense and dram ass you work your way through the mystery of what is happening to Simone and the clearing of her past.

Was this review helpful?

Novella, I didn't feel the need to read the series first. Boy meets girl but both hide their relationship because of who they are to the man.

Years pass and a chance meeting opens old hates and prejudices that Gideon must overcome to win his prize

Was this review helpful?

I have been looking forward to Gideon's book and it did not disappoint. His past is even more intense than I expected. There is plenty of mystery, suspense, and action. Simone is an interesting compliment to Gideon. There is the right amount of romance and I like the way the past has such an effect. There is a lot happening here and it keeps you guessing. I am hoping we get one more book in this series because I really want to know all about Cass.

Was this review helpful?

Red Carpet Christmas is a wonderful addition to Patricia Rosemoor’s Club Undercover series and as with previous stories, provides readers with ample mystery and suspense; but there’s also an element of forbidden love mixed in among the murder and mayhem and the combustible sexual tension. Family angst, romantic history and characters that are emotionally damaged and somewhat flawed; this is a story that will have you cheering for a much deserved HEA and the long-awaited happiness that has eluded this engaging couple. I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series and I hope others enjoy the Club Undercover stories too.

Was this review helpful?

I took a chance on Patricia Rosemore's Red Carpet Christmas  and I'm really glad I did. It's a terrific suspense mystery with a 2nd chance romance for Gideon O'Neill,  the man who runs Club Undercover. I haven't read the previous Club Undercover books, something  I'll have to rectify.

Simone Burke hadn't seen Gideon in 17 years, not since they were teenagers and he was Joey Rusceti. They were star-crossed lovers, kids of rival mob bosses, separated one fateful night when Gideon (Joey) witnessed her father kill his. Simone  ever got the nerve to tell Gideon about the son she raised with another man. Theyve never stopped loving each other despite the conspiracy that drove them apart.  This fast paced mystery is full of danger, intrigue,  and a solid mystery set against the Christmas season. I got a little irritated with the heroine for some questionable actions. The ending seemed rushed.

I highly recommend this romantic mystery. 4 solid stars.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and provide my honest review of this story.

Was this review helpful?

I voluntarily read this in return for an honest review - all thoughts and opinions are mine

I have been fortunate to be able to read the others in this series so was thrilled to be able to read this last one

I have really enjoyed the series as a whole and this one

With lots of twists and turns - some expected and some not - and the romantic element thrown in, I found this a very enjoyable read

I would highly recommend the whole series although they can each be read as standalone
Love the author and can't wait to read more of her work

Was this review helpful?

Another winner for Club Undercover! This is a quickly moving story that finally lets us learn Gideon's story. It happens when he spots a woman from his past in the club. When a short time later a man is murdered and Simone is suspected of committing it, Gideon steps in to help her clear her name. Along the way they must both face their shared past and pain, while fighting to learn the truth.

If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. I loved the characters, especially Gideon and his fragmented past. Simone is also a likable character, but had demons of her own. I found myself invested in their story and wanted them to get their HEA ending.

Put this one on your TBR list - you'll be glad you did. The author is on my must read authors' list.

Was this review helpful?

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Throughout this series, I have been patiently (not really) waiting for Gideon's story and was not disappointed that he had a really sad and tragic past. When a man is murdered, we meet Gideon's first love and he helps her prove that she is not the murderer.

Along the way, we find out that Simone hid a huge secret from Gideon before he took off and was out of her life. She had refused to believe Gideon (Joey) when he testified that her father killed his father.

There are lots of suspects in the murders and they keep piling up until we find out who all the killers are and who was not a killer. I figured out the significance of Gideon's reoccurring dream but did not figure out who was behind the murders.

Another case solved for the Undercover Club and I hope that we get one more book from the series as everyone has found their love except for Cass.

Was this review helpful?