laneylegz's review against another edition
3.0
1st book in Lexi Carmichael series. She's a computer geek who works for the NSA and has a boring life and a fixation with fast food. Her best friend Basia disappears and sends Lexi a package that starts a slightly intriguing investigation. Lexi's hacker friends (Zimmerman twins) help her gather info and she's approached by two different gorgeous guys who are befriending her for dubious reasons and trying to find Basia too. Threats from outside entities, gun play, shady government people, murder, and a little romance top the book off. It was a bit of an unbelievable plot and story but enough to stay interesting. I will read the 2nd in the series to see if it improves.
roraima's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
*Reviewed for NetGalley*
At 25, Lexi Carmichael leads a quiet life. She uses her prodigious computer skills to virtually chase and trap hackers for the NSA then goes home to enjoy her only vices, Dunkin Donuts and Diet Coke.
The sudden appearance of threatening armed thugs, a mysterious document, and a missing best friend plunges Lexi into a vortex of secrets and lies forcing her to step into the real world.
No One Lives Twice is a light mystery whose strength lies with an original plot that provides plenty of suprises. There is an intriguing mix of corporate greed and bioethics complicated by terrorism and international espionage, not exactly subjects you would expect to find in this genre. All of this seriousness though is tempered by a sense of humor and romantic entanglement. The book is tightly plotted and as such the story flows well. No One Lives Twice is also well paced, sustaining the mystery and tension to the conclusion. There is also a
There were some flaws in characterisation that niggled though. I can buy that Lexi wanted to protect her best friend and so was relunctant to get officials involved, turning her back on the NSA. What I have more trouble with is that she makes almost no use of her own skills. Any decent geek would have booted up their laptop and run online searches for the missing Bastia or at least run some basic background checks on what she does find out. She also has brothers who are a police detective and journalist respectively but doesn't reach out to them even after being nearly abducted. I think it's unlikely that a techno-geek would be without a mobile phone just to avoid their mother and I don't think much of her anti hacker skills if she can't at least follow the basics of what the Zimmerman twins and Slash are doing. Despite all those inconsistencies, Lexi is likeable, resourceful and entertaining.
Lexi is not sure who to trust among the supporting characters. The Zimmerman Twins, who love a challenge, are friends, but Slash, a legendary hacker, has secrets of his own. Finn got Bastia involved in the mess to start with and Lars isn't telling her everything he knows. Lexi's sudden status as a stud magnet is a bit inexplicable but it is part of the fun. There is certainly lots of potential amongst the characters for building a series.
No One Lives Twice is an entertaining read, carried by a clever plot and could be a fun new series addition to the light mystery genre.
http://bookdout.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/no-one-lives-twice-by-julie-moffett/
At 25, Lexi Carmichael leads a quiet life. She uses her prodigious computer skills to virtually chase and trap hackers for the NSA then goes home to enjoy her only vices, Dunkin Donuts and Diet Coke.
The sudden appearance of threatening armed thugs, a mysterious document, and a missing best friend plunges Lexi into a vortex of secrets and lies forcing her to step into the real world.
No One Lives Twice is a light mystery whose strength lies with an original plot that provides plenty of suprises. There is an intriguing mix of corporate greed and bioethics complicated by terrorism and international espionage, not exactly subjects you would expect to find in this genre. All of this seriousness though is tempered by a sense of humor and romantic entanglement. The book is tightly plotted and as such the story flows well. No One Lives Twice is also well paced, sustaining the mystery and tension to the conclusion. There is also a
There were some flaws in characterisation that niggled though. I can buy that Lexi wanted to protect her best friend and so was relunctant to get officials involved, turning her back on the NSA. What I have more trouble with is that she makes almost no use of her own skills. Any decent geek would have booted up their laptop and run online searches for the missing Bastia or at least run some basic background checks on what she does find out. She also has brothers who are a police detective and journalist respectively but doesn't reach out to them even after being nearly abducted. I think it's unlikely that a techno-geek would be without a mobile phone just to avoid their mother and I don't think much of her anti hacker skills if she can't at least follow the basics of what the Zimmerman twins and Slash are doing. Despite all those inconsistencies, Lexi is likeable, resourceful and entertaining.
Lexi is not sure who to trust among the supporting characters. The Zimmerman Twins, who love a challenge, are friends, but Slash, a legendary hacker, has secrets of his own. Finn got Bastia involved in the mess to start with and Lars isn't telling her everything he knows. Lexi's sudden status as a stud magnet is a bit inexplicable but it is part of the fun. There is certainly lots of potential amongst the characters for building a series.
No One Lives Twice is an entertaining read, carried by a clever plot and could be a fun new series addition to the light mystery genre.
http://bookdout.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/no-one-lives-twice-by-julie-moffett/
nogenreleftbehind's review against another edition
3.0
Lexi Carmichael is a geek, a computer geek to be specific, and works for the NSA. She has no love life to speak of, and doesn't find herself to be very appealing to men. But now her best friend Basia has disappeared and men seem to be lining up to help find her.
I loved the action in this story. It was fast paced and exciting. It was great to see a bunch of computer geeks in action to save the day. In fact, the computer geeks were my favorite part...except for Lexi. Now since Lexi is our main character, that poses quite a predicament. Lexi is just a little too depressing. She complains about her lack of love life, her lack of taste in clothes, and about anyone who tries to help her. She gets a bit annoying at times just because she is always talking herself down.
The action, on the other hand, is fantastic. There are so many twists and turns subtly worked into the story, and they kept me guessing up until the very end.
3/5
I loved the action in this story. It was fast paced and exciting. It was great to see a bunch of computer geeks in action to save the day. In fact, the computer geeks were my favorite part...except for Lexi. Now since Lexi is our main character, that poses quite a predicament. Lexi is just a little too depressing. She complains about her lack of love life, her lack of taste in clothes, and about anyone who tries to help her. She gets a bit annoying at times just because she is always talking herself down.
The action, on the other hand, is fantastic. There are so many twists and turns subtly worked into the story, and they kept me guessing up until the very end.
3/5
selket16's review against another edition
4.0
Every once in a while Harlequin puts out a book that I thoroughly enjoy, which is why I sometimes pick one of their books up when they sound interesting. This book is one of those, a totally enjoyable and well-written book that does not insult your intelligence.
Lexi Carmichael works for the NSA in their cyber-crime division. She's smart, quick on her toes and good at her job. Unfortunately those skills don't come in too handy when strange men start threatening her life over a package her friend Basia sent her. Trying to figure out why they want the package, Lexi finds herself working, separately, with a sexy lawyer and a flirty computer genius/government field agent. Fearing for her life and not quite trusting those who tell her they can, Lexi slowly unravels quite the mystery.
Very much in the style of the Stephanie Plum books of a woman out of her element and the hilarity that ensues, Lexi isn't as inept as Stephanie. She's had training, just not field training.
Lexi Carmichael works for the NSA in their cyber-crime division. She's smart, quick on her toes and good at her job. Unfortunately those skills don't come in too handy when strange men start threatening her life over a package her friend Basia sent her. Trying to figure out why they want the package, Lexi finds herself working, separately, with a sexy lawyer and a flirty computer genius/government field agent. Fearing for her life and not quite trusting those who tell her they can, Lexi slowly unravels quite the mystery.
Very much in the style of the Stephanie Plum books of a woman out of her element and the hilarity that ensues, Lexi isn't as inept as Stephanie. She's had training, just not field training.
lindca's review
3.0
Lexi is a pretty unconvincing tech geek, she's a definite Mary Sue, and the characters' actions and reactions often made little sense. Despite all this, I found the story entertaining and reasonably well-wriiten, a pleasant light-hearted diversion, and I likely will read the next books in the series.
lisajo85's review against another edition
3.0
No One Lives Twice is a fun and wild adventure of an unsuspecting geek thrown into the crazy world of espionage, but be prepared for a few bumps in the road with this novel. Still, that’s no reason you shouldn’t pull up a chair, grab a shaken martini and prepare yourself for Lexi Carmichael...the female James Bond!
Lexi Carmichael was having your average boring and uneventful day when she was confronted in the street by a mad man with a gun. He demands Lexi had over a document she has no knowledge of. Confused and terrified, Lexi arrives at her apartment only to discover her best friend Basia did send her papers with a note that she keep them safe. Knowing there is something deeper behind these papers, Lexi is determined to get to the bottom of this puzzle. With the help of her computer-hacking friends Lexi is working desperately to help Basia. The more she discovers about Basia’s secret, the deeper she becomes entangled in this dangerous web. Now all Lexi needs is a plan...and a miracle.
Moffett pens a delightful and exciting adventure for this simple computer geek gone rouge. Perhaps my favorite part of this first person novel were the secondary characters. No One Lives Twice has a wide range of fun and wacky characters that will make you smile and laugh. These characters mean business, but yet there is a light and funny side in their complimentary relationship when they work together. I could easily see fans of the Stephanie Plum series really enjoying this story and all it’s eclectic characters. It has that same sexy edge, with a bit of light humor and fascinating characters to keep readings intrigued.
Moffett adds plenty of sexy book candy to this novel, all setting their eyes on Lexi. Yet despite the lightness of this novel, one problem was the revolving door of potential romantic candidates. It was incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to believe that a woman with such a dry and uneventful romantic life was turning the heads of every male character in this story (and I literally mean every male character). I wanted to see one character pushed to front as the guy she was most interested in, even if everyone else was still chasing her around. If was hinted at the end, but not enough to be convincing. Usually with any love triangle, or in this case love pentagon, the reader can claim their favorite. It wasn’t so in this case and that took a little of the joy out of the overall story.
Another teeny tiny problem was the overwhelming description and drawn out plot points. By the third chapter, I think I read about Lexi stopping at every fast food joint known to man, and what she ate there. Admittedly, there was some unwanted detail, but the novel was still a fresh and fun read. Lexi is a great character with a lot of spunk and charm! The storyline is definitely unpredictable as you follow along with Lexi to solve the case and rescue her friend. Moffett takes her original characters on a thrilling ride that most girls only dream of! No One Lives Twice is an entertaining and fun novel for anyone who enjoys seeing the underdog computer geek come out of her shell to save the day. This novel is a decent start to a fresh new series. With a few slight modifications, this series could be flat out fantastic.
Overall Rating: 3/5
Heat Level: 1/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
Lexi Carmichael was having your average boring and uneventful day when she was confronted in the street by a mad man with a gun. He demands Lexi had over a document she has no knowledge of. Confused and terrified, Lexi arrives at her apartment only to discover her best friend Basia did send her papers with a note that she keep them safe. Knowing there is something deeper behind these papers, Lexi is determined to get to the bottom of this puzzle. With the help of her computer-hacking friends Lexi is working desperately to help Basia. The more she discovers about Basia’s secret, the deeper she becomes entangled in this dangerous web. Now all Lexi needs is a plan...and a miracle.
Moffett pens a delightful and exciting adventure for this simple computer geek gone rouge. Perhaps my favorite part of this first person novel were the secondary characters. No One Lives Twice has a wide range of fun and wacky characters that will make you smile and laugh. These characters mean business, but yet there is a light and funny side in their complimentary relationship when they work together. I could easily see fans of the Stephanie Plum series really enjoying this story and all it’s eclectic characters. It has that same sexy edge, with a bit of light humor and fascinating characters to keep readings intrigued.
Moffett adds plenty of sexy book candy to this novel, all setting their eyes on Lexi. Yet despite the lightness of this novel, one problem was the revolving door of potential romantic candidates. It was incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to believe that a woman with such a dry and uneventful romantic life was turning the heads of every male character in this story (and I literally mean every male character). I wanted to see one character pushed to front as the guy she was most interested in, even if everyone else was still chasing her around. If was hinted at the end, but not enough to be convincing. Usually with any love triangle, or in this case love pentagon, the reader can claim their favorite. It wasn’t so in this case and that took a little of the joy out of the overall story.
Another teeny tiny problem was the overwhelming description and drawn out plot points. By the third chapter, I think I read about Lexi stopping at every fast food joint known to man, and what she ate there. Admittedly, there was some unwanted detail, but the novel was still a fresh and fun read. Lexi is a great character with a lot of spunk and charm! The storyline is definitely unpredictable as you follow along with Lexi to solve the case and rescue her friend. Moffett takes her original characters on a thrilling ride that most girls only dream of! No One Lives Twice is an entertaining and fun novel for anyone who enjoys seeing the underdog computer geek come out of her shell to save the day. This novel is a decent start to a fresh new series. With a few slight modifications, this series could be flat out fantastic.
Overall Rating: 3/5
Heat Level: 1/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
slc333's review against another edition
3.0
Fun chick lit spy novel in the vein of Stephanie Plum.
What I liked –
Lexi’s reactions to the situations. I kind of liked how she freaked out over things like being held at gunpoint, got an alarm system (as ineffective as it was) when people kept breaking into her place and her reasons for getting involved and doing stuff on her own were believable. I LOVED the Zimmerman twins and their friendship with Lexi. Lexi’s lack of trust for the mysterious men popping up despite her attraction to them. Engages brain despite hormones – YAY.
What I didn’t like so much –
Lexi is supposedly this super smart computer nerd who works for the NSA on computer stuff, is outraged whenever men are surprised that she a woman works in this field yet seems incapable of finding the most basic information about people and companies, relying on the menfolk (the Twins and Slash) to get her info. I don’t have a problem with her getting their expert help but would have like to see her using some of her supposed computer skills to find some info of her own.
Plus while I know this kind of book requires the mysterious spy love interest, and love triangles are de rigeur these days but I was indifferent to both Slash and Finn and didn’t find it believable that either of them developed feelings for Lexi on such short and limited acquaintance. There was also a few hints that one of the twins Elvis likes Lexi (naturally she is oblivious) and he is the only one of the three that I actually found believable as a love interest for Lexi. However I am pretty sure it will be Finn or Slash who carry the day.
What I liked –
Lexi’s reactions to the situations. I kind of liked how she freaked out over things like being held at gunpoint, got an alarm system (as ineffective as it was) when people kept breaking into her place and her reasons for getting involved and doing stuff on her own were believable. I LOVED the Zimmerman twins and their friendship with Lexi. Lexi’s lack of trust for the mysterious men popping up despite her attraction to them. Engages brain despite hormones – YAY.
What I didn’t like so much –
Lexi is supposedly this super smart computer nerd who works for the NSA on computer stuff, is outraged whenever men are surprised that she a woman works in this field yet seems incapable of finding the most basic information about people and companies, relying on the menfolk (the Twins and Slash) to get her info. I don’t have a problem with her getting their expert help but would have like to see her using some of her supposed computer skills to find some info of her own.
Plus while I know this kind of book requires the mysterious spy love interest, and love triangles are de rigeur these days but I was indifferent to both Slash and Finn and didn’t find it believable that either of them developed feelings for Lexi on such short and limited acquaintance. There was also a few hints that one of the twins Elvis likes Lexi (naturally she is oblivious) and he is the only one of the three that I actually found believable as a love interest for Lexi. However I am pretty sure it will be Finn or Slash who carry the day.
marythecrazycatlady's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A pretty fun cozy mystery style story! I laughed out loud a few times. If you're looking for a book with a wild plot, no gore, and fun characters, this might be the book for you. If you're looking for a thoughtful or emotional or strong character development story, this is not that. It's the first in a series so the characters are just getting set up. I'll definitely be reading more!