Book Eight - No Strings Attached - A Lexi Carmichael Mystery

No Strings Attached is my very first book by author Julie Moffett. I was a bit nervous reading this book for a couple of reasons. One - I am normally not a mystery reader. The blurb looked interesting and since no books in my preferred genre were demanding my attention, I thought I would try something different. Two - and this one is the biggie, I was jumping into a series that is well established. It can be very hit or miss not starting with a series from the beginning. Lucky for me, not only did I thoroughly enjoy the book but I also had no problem keeping up.

I should have guessed from the blurb this was going to be a first person POV story. Some people have a problem with that, I don't. Everything is from Lexi, who I adored. She's a smart cookie in a geeky computer nerd kind of way. Her friends and boyfriend were also completely likable as well. The plot line I had no problem keeping up with. I did have a sense that there were a few backstory plots I missed out on but instead of feeling lost, those plots had me wanting to go back to start the series from the beginning. Coming from me who normally does not read mysteries, that is saying a lot.

There were (to me at least) two separate plot lines going on in this book. First, you have cyber criminals half. Lexi is in the wrong place at the right time and intercepts a hack into the NSA. The majority of the story revolves around this. There's quite a bit of suspense to be had as Lexi, Slash and her Scooby crew rush to solve the mystery. People are getting killed, there a mole within the agency, and a rush to stop the hackers before it's all too late. All of it was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat playing the whodunit game. Not sure if I had read the series all along I would have figured it out earlier. I'd like to thing no.

Now for the second plot - the bachelorette party. Lexi's best girl friend, Basia, is getting married to her best boy friend, one of the Zimmerman twins so not only is she the maid of honor but she is also planning the bachelorette party all while she is trying to sort the out hack chaos. Oh. My. God. Between the bridal shop and the actually bachelorette party, I could not stop LAUGHING! It was a toss-up which one was the bigger comedy of errors but it doesn't matter. Lexi has a big black cloud of bad luck hanging over her head and it rears its vicious head no matter how hard she tries.

I may have started reading No Strings Attached with reservations, but I finished it with a huge smile on my face. Not only did it work out very well as a stand-alone but now I find myself wanting more Lexi. This was quite the entertaining read for me. Not only will I be recommending it but I will also be looking to read more from Julie Moffett.

I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 4

I loved this book! This is one of my favorite series and this book is a great a ddition to it. Lexi is a computer geek that inadvertently intercepts a threat to national security. Before she knows it, she is on the run for her life while trying to stop a dangerous threat - - -and plan a bridal shower for her best friend. Lexi has no idea what to do for a bridal shower or how to be a maid of honor. Her awkward attempts made me laugh.

Lexi's relationship with her boyfriend progresses in interesting ways that you need to read the book to understand. He is a hacker extraordinaire and we finally get a glimpse into his true job.

This series is just the right blend of mystery, humor, and a bit of romance. One thing I really enjoy in this series is that Lexi is a smart heroine. She is socially awkward, but keeps putting herself out there and never stops trying.

If you like smart chick lit, you will love this book. It is a stand alone novel, but you really owe it to yourself to read them all.

Review by: Terri of Night Owl Reviews

My favorite geek girl is back for interesting adventures in living. Lexie seems to be able to get herself into trouble without even trying. Once there, she usually calls for back up from her sexy but geeky boyfriend, Slash and her friends, the Zimmerman twins. This isn’t a simple hack though. Soon Lexie is involved in international espionage and undercover work. Bullets will fly and car chases will happen. It’s all truly enjoyable to see a geek at work! I loved this book and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Even a bachelorette party becomes a bit more. I don’t think you can find a better geek girl adventure/mystery story. Though this is a series, each book pretty much stands alone and can be read without having read previous books. However, once you’ve read one book, you will find you have to read them all. Lexi is that much fun!

Lexi is a speaker at a conference when she accidently finds herself receiving a hack request. Being curious, she starts to check it out only to discover it’s a hack into NSA! Before she can even decide what to do, the real recipient shows up and grabs it. From there things get interesting and dangerous quickly as the people who sent the hack go about trying to remove Lexi from the picture. In the meantime, Lexi’s best friend is getting married and Lexi has to plan the bachelorette party. Can she do it while dodging bullets?

Disclosure: courtesy copy from the publisher/author for an honest review.

Can I just say how much I totally love this series?!? Every book gets better and better as you get to know the characters more deeply and watch them adapt and struggle and change. It is one of those series that can be both serious and emotional and still laugh out loud funny. There were definitely a few scenes that had me laughing out loud in inappropriate ( like the doctor's waiting room).

This story has Lexi intercepting a hack into the NSA. Since Slash works for them, she quickly turns to him for help. The seriousness of the hack quickly becomes apparent when murders start to follow and Slash and Lexi find themselves becoming targets. As usual, the twins get pulled in to help out along with some other familiar faces from previous books. In the midst of trying to stop a terrorist plot, Lexi is also trying to plan her friend Basia's bachelorette party, a task which seems somehow harder than facing the terrorists.

I loved this edition to the series, and though I've been on the fence between Elvis and Slash for Lexi (with a slight leaning toward Slash), this book put me solidly in the Slash corner.

I ( quite happily and with much celebration) received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

I was asked to read No Strings Attached in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate the opportunity to read this work. This book is about a girl who accidentally intercepts a message and uncovers a dangerous plot that could have national security implications. She and her cyber-geek friends work to keep world peace.
No Strings Attached is a very well written book full of adventure, mystery, and humor. There were scenes that made me laugh out loud. I especially enjoyed the main character’s social flaws – the challenges that an awkward introvert faces in planning her best friend’s bachelorette party. The character’s honesty and wit made her easy to relate to. The hero of the story was also a geeky computer hacker, but he was made to seem attractive with his spy / espionage / 007 skills. Who doesn’t love a mysterious man protecting his girl from foreign terrorists? The bond that grows between the two throughout the book is sweet.
The book was listed as contemporary romance and it took me a while to find the romance that was very subtly woven through the story. The title didn’t make sense to me until the very end. I would have like a little more romance from the main couple, but there was also opportunity with the other couples in the story. I think I was just expecting more in the romance department given the labelled genre.
Overall I really liked the author’s writing style and the fast paced murder, mystery, and intrigue. As a mystery novel, I’d give this book 4.5 stars. As a romance, I give it 3.5 – just not enough romance for me. I look forward to seeing more of what this author has to offer us!

Lexi always finds a way to make me smile. Whether it's with her endearing social awkwardness or the way she unwittingly stumbles into THE WORST situations, I get a kick out of this lady. She's smart and determined and it doesn't matter if she sometimes says the wrong things at the wrong times, she eventually figures things out.

I LIKE THAT!

Smart heroines, man. They do it for me. It doesn't hurt in the slightest that her man is crazy about her and has the training to help her out when things go south. It also doesn't hurt that she has a group of friends who are willing to bend time and space itself (if they could) to help her. She's this goofy, awkward, super smart trouble magnet and it WORKS. I love that she's intelligent enough to see her own limitations and ask for help when she needs it.

*slow nod*

So. This time around, Lexi ends up hip deep in some seriously nasty stuff. Well, wait. That's not uncommon. She ends up in a rough spot, but she has her genius friends and her boo to help her. Between all of them, they're well equipped to handle anything thrown their way. Sure, it's touch and go for a while--especially with that bachelorette party--but THEY HAVE THINGS UNDER CONTROL. Mostly.

Fast-paced and fun, Lexi is going places. Probably dangerous places, but who am I to judge? Besides, she entertains me. So bring on the danger!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

OK, so I'm already a fan of Lexi and I feel like I sort of know her.....or I wish I did....I've followed her through many adventures and watched her as she developed into an almost normal young woman. I say almost because Lexi still has a long way to go in her social interactions. But that is part of her charm. She's a geek, a brilliant computer whiz with a photographic memory and no social skills. She doesn't know how to behave with a boyfriend or a bff, but because she is lovable, they tolerate her and help her along the way.
This latest book has Lexi, and Slash, her sexy, Italian boyfriend, pitted against a Chinese cyber threat that could throw the entire world into chaos. The fact is, that this could happen, which is what makes the story credible. Along with her best friends, the Zimmerman twins, also IT geniuses, and Slash, they are able to recognize the danger and work with a Navy Seal friend from a former book, Hands, to save the day.
The story is complex enough for a reader with sophisticated tastes, mixed with what I can only call slapstick comedy, that also fits in so well that it's almost believable!
Another winner from Julie Moffett and the best one, yet!

I really enjoyed this installment of the Lexi Carmichael series. I found it a balanced blend of mystery, action, romance and humor that really kept my attention and made it a fast read that I could not put down. The dialog between the characters is tight and clever and really helps you understand the characters and moves the plot along briskly. There are several VERY funny scenes that make you laugh out loud. It is clear that the author is targeting women more than men, but I found it an enjoyable, highly satisfying light read. As the books in this series have differed considerably in terms of characters, locations and adventures, it is hard to compare them, but I found this one of the best. I believe that Ms. Moffett has evolved and grown her writing throughout the series even as she has her characters. The technology issues they face are relevant and variations can be found in the headlines or ruminations of experts today. Well done and keep up the excellent storytelling!

“He moved like a ninja. All I could hear was the fading ring in my ears, the rapid beat of my heart and the wail of multiple sirens, all of which were getting louder.”

4 mysterious stars!! Fun, exciting and unique!

Lexi Carmichael has gotten herself in another jam. She’s now the target of a group of cyber criminals because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And it just takes off from there! While there are parts where you are left guessing what’s going to happen, there were times I was chuckling, because the pickle that Lexi gets herself in is, at times, quite funny! I was definitely entertained while reading this book. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book at all!

**Received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and reviewed by Melissa for Alpha Book Club**

No Strings Attached by Julie Moffett was another entertaining and captivating mystery starring my favorite geek heroine, Lexi Carmichael.

Lexi, Slash, the Zimmerman twins and Basia are all back in this complex mystery that includes "major" hacking skills, a super bad virus, assassinations, kidnapping and a bridal shower that goes quickly out of control. Edge of the seat suspense mixed with love and laughter made this a books I could not put down until I finished it.

In this book Lexi accidentally intercepts a threat against national security & this takes us into the world of cyber terrorism. Lexi & Slash also discover that this group is also assassinating people who Slash works with & he is next on the list! Lexi & Slash have a limited amount of time to find out who is behind these attacks & stop them so of course they enlist the help of the Zimmerman brothers.

In this book we learn a LOT about Slash & his super secretive background. Plus, his & Lexi's relationship strengthens in unexpected ways. You will LOVE this book!

I have read so far all the Lexi Carmichael series while some I liked and others I loved this series singing to my little geeky heart. Lexi is awkward, smart, loyal, kind and has friends she would do anything for.
The author Julie Moffett created a series that touches the heart of everyone person who has felt out of place. Each book brings readers into a world where a women can be smart, intelligent, loyal without demeaning her personal beliefs.
If you loved the first 7 in this series you will love No Strings Attached. The characters and stories evolve forcing on a future for all the characters that readers will love.

AC from Netgalley for my honest review.

A fast-paced read—I felt as though I was reading in real-time and trying to meet all deadlines. Lexi presents at a conference and ends up sitting in the wrong place at the right time (as she later puts it). And thus starts the adventure of international hacking, spying, and intrigue. At the same time, Lexi is totally freaking out at everything she is supposed to as Basia’s maid of honor—attend dress fittings and arrange a bachelorette party, and know what to say (or not) at the right time. There are quite a number of laugh-out-loud moments among the terrifying ones. Lexi’s and Slash’s relationship moves along and I can only say I was relieved that there was another upcoming book in the series to look forward to.

I had not read the earlier books in the series so I think I missed some of the "inside" jokes but on balance= this was a smart funny book that's nicely plotted and written. I especially like the fact that Lexi is a mistress of STEM. We need more chick-lit like this, where a woman can balance her technical capabilities (and save the world ;) with the need to have a life. Good role model, good book. Thanks to netgalley for the arc-will look for more in this series.

Dreadful. I understand this is fiction, but c'mon...this "book" bends reality beyond all belief. For example, the hero is:

- at 30 years old, the top man in cyber security in the US
- fluent in at least 4 languages
- a master of martial arts
- an excellent pianist
- able to kill people without a second thought and without remorse
- unmarried because he was recently studying to be a priest
- a gentle and refined lover
- expert at picking locks and hot wiring cars
- capable of picking up formal evening wear for himself and his girlfriend at a local thrift shop at the last minute to attend a formal reception at the Chinese embassy
- handsome in a smoldering European way
- skilled enough in the application of makeup to disguise himself and his girlfriend
- able to squeak by on the $300,000 per year he makes working for the federal government although he could make ten times as much in the private sector. He would rather help people than get rich. He is very humble

...and so on. I'm not kidding you, this is the hero of the book.With the exception of myself, I doubt that such a man exists or ever has.

I'm just picturing all the average or below-average women who dream of meeting such a man at the laundromat or when he gets a flat tire in front of their mobile home on his way to pick up his Nobel prize in biochemistry.

In short, I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon than read this dreck again.

The Lexi Carmichael series is amazing. But this latest book in the series even outdoes the previous books. Things just happen around Lexi and Slash is there to help. This read is based on plausible computer hacking concepts between governments and the way Lexi, the Zimmermans and of course Slash go about saving the country, solving the murders and getting their revenge is so twisted and full of crazy events I couldn't put the book down until it was finished! AND the humor kept me laughing out loud so much I woke my husband and had to read him some of the funniest escapades. Poor geeky Lexi just has no clue how the world outside her computer geekdom works! She is in charge of her best friend's batchelorette party and since she is the maid of honor, is called upon to do her duty. Only she has no clue. The unbelievably funny events at the bridal shop has me laughing even now! Julie tops herself with every book she writes in this series. What could she possibly be concocting for Lexi and Slash next! Keep them coming, I LOVE this series and you will too.

Love Lexi! I love these books. Lexi is such a geek and she must plan Basia's bachelorette party. What a hoot. But. Elvis has two plan the bachelor party for his brother and he's more of a geek than Lexi. This is another adventure with Lexi, Slash and the FBI, the NSA, the CIA, The Zimmerman Twins and an assortment of assassins and black hat coders. Just the kind of story you'd expect. The adventure with Slash is great, finally they are acting like a couple, even if it is over coding. The parties are funny. Who would eat lasagna with such enthusiasm? You'll love this book #8 but read the first seven to get the real impact.

I loved this book! This is one of my favorite series and this book is a great a ddition to it. Lexi is a computer geek that inadvertently intercepts a threat to national security. Before she knows it, she is on the run for her life while trying to stop a dangerous threat - - -and plan a bridal shower for her best friend. Lexi has no idea what to do for a bridal shower or how to be a maid of honor. Her awkward attempts made me laugh.

Lexi's relationship with her boyfriend progresses in interesting ways that you need to read the book to understand. He is a hacker extraordinaire and we finally get a glimpse into his true job.

This series is just the right blend of mystery, humor, and a bit of romance. One thing I really enjoy in this series is that Lexi is a smart heroine. She is socially awkward, but keeps putting herself out there and never stops trying.

If you like smart chick lit, you will love this book. It is a stand alone novel, but you really owe it to yourself to read them all.

Ok, I admit it. My fav author and yes, my fav series. But really, this is like the best one yet!! Geek Extraordinaire Lexi is up to her usual. Burning up the code while dazzling Slash and losing her mind trying to interact with her friends. After all, isn't that a Geek Girl's perfect storm? Don't miss this one, she's better than ever!

No Strings Attached by Julie Moffett was another entertaining and captivating mystery starring my favorite geek heroine, Lexi Carmichael.

Lexi, Slash, the Zimmerman twins and Basia are all back in this complex mystery that includes "major" hacking skills, a super bad virus, assassinations, kidnapping and a bridal shower that goes quickly out of control. Edge of the seat suspense mixed with love and laughter made this a books I could not put down until I finished it.

I was re-reading this book and once again found myself laughing out loud. I really like every one of the books in this series, but of course I have my favorites. This is one. I believe that anyone new to this series would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't start at the beginning. Each book is well worth your time. You will love the characters.