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Crime and Passion series #1
Smooth Operator: The Life and Crimes of Warren Baker
He knows what you want…
Born into privilege, wounded by war, and skilled in the art of manipulation, Warren Baker works like a spider. He weaves plans and plots, drawing people into his web until they accomplish his goals without ever knowing he was involved.
In some cases, his influence is as delicate as a woman's smile. In others, he is a blunt instrument ruthlessly pursuing his goals. All the stories reveal insights into this complicated man and his mysterious quest for power.
Smooth Operator is ultimately about our desires, and how they define us. From ambition to passion, from bloodlust to vengeance, our motivations do more than shape what we are willing to do; they reveal who we are as people. When you are faced with a critical life choice, what you are capable of?
Born into privilege, wounded by war, and skilled in the art of manipulation, Warren Baker works like a spider. He weaves plans and plots, drawing people into his web until they accomplish his goals without ever knowing he was involved.
In some cases, his influence is as delicate as a woman's smile. In others, he is a blunt instrument ruthlessly pursuing his goals. All the stories reveal insights into this complicated man and his mysterious quest for power.
Smooth Operator is ultimately about our desires, and how they define us. From ambition to passion, from bloodlust to vengeance, our motivations do more than shape what we are willing to do; they reveal who we are as people. When you are faced with a critical life choice, what you are capable of?
- GenresErotica
359 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2013
161 people want to read
About the author
Gamal Hennessy
31 books60 followersGamal Hennessy is an experienced entertainment contracts attorney and author from New York City.
His expertise is in comic book publishing and comic IP licensing.
During his career, he has represented major corporate clients including AfterShock, Amazon, Mad Cave, and Marvel, as well as individual creators and small publishers.
His expertise is in comic book publishing and comic IP licensing.
During his career, he has represented major corporate clients including AfterShock, Amazon, Mad Cave, and Marvel, as well as individual creators and small publishers.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 13, 2013
★★★★Smooth Operator The Life and Crimes of Warren Baker by Gamal Hennessy
I was given this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Warren Baker is spec ops. He is employed by RSVP, but due to an injury that has left him permanently disabled, he is a paper pusher. He is a liability, more than an asset. But once you live a life like that, you can't go back to the mundane life of a normal person. And he can not sit behind the desk. He likes to think of himself as an asset manager. I know he is the cocky, arrogant asshole, I should hate, but I don't. I might be crushing on him. He's the kind of bad boy, I would defiantly like to play games with.
Getting what you want, from who you want is as simple as M.I.C.E. Everyone is driven by something, you just have to figure it out, and exploit the hell out of it. Money is a great motivator for the materialist types. Ideology is great for the person with strong beliefs. Coercion, works well, blackmail can't be ignored. And finally Excitement, for the thrill seekers.
This story follows Baker and some of the ops he's worked.
Rose Mendoza, is in charge of profits/looses for the company. And she is going for Baker's head. Just goes to show book smarts, isn't the same as common sense and street smarts. Maybe taking her salary, would keep profits up.
I like Trent. He's the adrenaline junkie. Bonus points for throwing PK into the book. What a great entrance and extraction plan. Knowing he can label his ops SNAFU, just adds to my appeal. He can call me Summer or Rain, anytime he wants.
I was given this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Warren Baker is spec ops. He is employed by RSVP, but due to an injury that has left him permanently disabled, he is a paper pusher. He is a liability, more than an asset. But once you live a life like that, you can't go back to the mundane life of a normal person. And he can not sit behind the desk. He likes to think of himself as an asset manager. I know he is the cocky, arrogant asshole, I should hate, but I don't. I might be crushing on him. He's the kind of bad boy, I would defiantly like to play games with.
Getting what you want, from who you want is as simple as M.I.C.E. Everyone is driven by something, you just have to figure it out, and exploit the hell out of it. Money is a great motivator for the materialist types. Ideology is great for the person with strong beliefs. Coercion, works well, blackmail can't be ignored. And finally Excitement, for the thrill seekers.
This story follows Baker and some of the ops he's worked.
Rose Mendoza, is in charge of profits/looses for the company. And she is going for Baker's head. Just goes to show book smarts, isn't the same as common sense and street smarts. Maybe taking her salary, would keep profits up.
I like Trent. He's the adrenaline junkie. Bonus points for throwing PK into the book. What a great entrance and extraction plan. Knowing he can label his ops SNAFU, just adds to my appeal. He can call me Summer or Rain, anytime he wants.
Rita Marlen is a piece of work. Whatever you do don't cross her. I really don't know if I love her or hate her. Towards the end I was warming up to her, but she is so shady, even amongst this group.
Hamilton Chu, love him. He's out spoken, slightly defiant, and a smart ass. But he is a gamer. Shaking my head, I swear they are everywhere, just to raise my blood pressure. I guess at least his game of choice is football. He could be my personal shopper and football buddy. What more could a girl want? With his op being FUBAR, from the get go, you know it has to be good.
Chris Carpenter is a habitual user. He has a way of buttering you up, to get whatever he wants. Never take anything he says at face value, there is always a hidden agenda. He'll do anything to keep his secrets quiet. I'm not feeling Chris. I was really hoping Nikki would punch him in the face, for all his wine and dine bullshit.
I really liked this story. It was fast paced and full of action. And it left me wanting more.
But there were some things that drove me crazy.
*Time jumping- I know it makes for an interesting story. However, there are so many characters, plots, and story lines going on in here, it was overwhelming at times. Eventually I gave up on the whole date and time thing. I think the only way I would have followed it in proper order, since there was overlapping in story lines, would be to make a graph and plot it out. I do think the format is good, telling each persons story, by itself. I think if it would have played out in order it would have turned into a jumbled ball of mess.
*Most of the stories feel unfinished to me. Book 2 is set to come out in Feb 2014, but that is a lot to keep track of for that long. I am left with so many questions.
*Last one, and I'm probably the only person who would wonder about it or need to know it
-What does RSVP stand for? This is driving me insane, lol. Guess I'll just have to make it up. Really Special, Very Private, or maybe Real Serious Violent People. I know it's Really Soft Velvet Pants, wouldn't want someone knowing it is private investigations.
So I have an active imagination, nothing new.
Thanks to the author, I enjoyed the ops and can't wait for more.
January 13, 2016
I am not sure why the novella is called Warren Baker, when the man who carries through the action is actually called Trent. Baker is more like a fixer and Trent is ex-military, trained in parkour and reluctant to harm women but willing to risk his life with no backup. The shift in focus can be a little confusing for a reader, as it's a short book and you don't feel there is time to follow two principal characters.
The scene is a bad area of east New York, and it's very macho and gang-related. If you are stupid enough to want to join one of these gangs, you seem to get what you deserve. Some young men and woman don't seem to think there are alternatives on offer, they just go with what they know. After one young man doesn't survive a pathetically bullying initiation ritual, his mother asks for vengeance. But maybe the woman facilitating the vengeance has another motive of her own? We can't be sure.
I didn't get into the tale at all until the middle when the action begins, and then it was like reading an SAS story, with tension, split second decisions, violence and the benefits of reconnaissance all in the space of a few pages. This pushed my estimation of the tale right up - Hennessy is a surefire storyteller when the action is under way. Smooth Operator is an adult read.
The scene is a bad area of east New York, and it's very macho and gang-related. If you are stupid enough to want to join one of these gangs, you seem to get what you deserve. Some young men and woman don't seem to think there are alternatives on offer, they just go with what they know. After one young man doesn't survive a pathetically bullying initiation ritual, his mother asks for vengeance. But maybe the woman facilitating the vengeance has another motive of her own? We can't be sure.
I didn't get into the tale at all until the middle when the action begins, and then it was like reading an SAS story, with tension, split second decisions, violence and the benefits of reconnaissance all in the space of a few pages. This pushed my estimation of the tale right up - Hennessy is a surefire storyteller when the action is under way. Smooth Operator is an adult read.
August 2, 2013
I received this book for free from the author before it was released in exchange for an honest review. Usually when I finish a book, I immediately grab my laptop or iPad and write my review, spilling out all emotion that I got from the book without thinking about it. This review I had a chance to think about and I'm glad I did. Had I written this as soon as I completed the book, I would have given it 3 stars, maybe less. The reason? The ending. Here is why: I hate - HATE - books that just end, especially when you are full of all kinds of questions. I realize that there is a second book, BUT the story that will be continued in the second book just started and then ... bam ... have to wait for next book. In my opinion, this is a terrible way to end a book and it would have been much better had he gone and saved that story to begin the next book with. The ending killed it for me, but I do plan on reading the next one because I did like the stories and would like to see what happens next.
I do have to say that I enjoyed the Ria character a lot - she was a main staple in all of the stories except for the last one - and it was neat to see how small the world really is. In fact, I was really disappointed when she didn't show up in the last one because, to me, the stories were about Warren, but she was the one who had all the control. I do think that both characters were written well and it was neat to see how they progressed through the stories.
Gamal, if you're interested in writing it, I'd really like to read a book just about Rita. Thanks.
I do have to say that I enjoyed the Ria character a lot - she was a main staple in all of the stories except for the last one - and it was neat to see how small the world really is. In fact, I was really disappointed when she didn't show up in the last one because, to me, the stories were about Warren, but she was the one who had all the control. I do think that both characters were written well and it was neat to see how they progressed through the stories.
Gamal, if you're interested in writing it, I'd really like to read a book just about Rita. Thanks.
September 10, 2016
Wow, what a brilliant mind this author has, well done.
What an interesting and complex character Warren is! I loved the way each story flowed on to the next, the plot was wonderfully woven and full of surprises!
A phase that comes to mind for these villains is - Karma is a BITCH!!
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is that I found the beginning confusing, due to the constant time shift, and found myself having to re-read some sections. However once I got up to play with who the characters were it made sense and flowed nicely.
Oh and I could have done with a bit more sex thrown in. Give me an erotic thriller and I am in heaven. I do believe this author is more than capable of writing such a thing and I will be looking out for more of his work.
What an interesting and complex character Warren is! I loved the way each story flowed on to the next, the plot was wonderfully woven and full of surprises!
A phase that comes to mind for these villains is - Karma is a BITCH!!
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is that I found the beginning confusing, due to the constant time shift, and found myself having to re-read some sections. However once I got up to play with who the characters were it made sense and flowed nicely.
Oh and I could have done with a bit more sex thrown in. Give me an erotic thriller and I am in heaven. I do believe this author is more than capable of writing such a thing and I will be looking out for more of his work.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews