What do you think?
Rate this book
Samantha Spade #1
All the Wrong Moves
USAF Lieutenant Samantha Spade and her techies try out the latest gizmos for the military. On a test run with the Ergonomic Exoskeletal Extension (EEEK), Sam stumbles over two dead bodies in the desert. With the help of handsome Border Patrol Agent Jeff Mitchell, Sam must unravel a cover-up involving an illegal arms deal.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 13, 2009
17 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Merline Lovelace
407 books139 followersAfter a 23-year AF career, Colonel Merline Lovelace launched a second career as a writer, basing many of her tales on her own experiences in uniform and on her travels all around the globe.
The USA Today best-selling author now has more than 11 million copies of her books in print. Her works have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA. Merline is especially proud to have been named the University of Oklahoma's Writer of the Year and the Oklahoma Female Veteran of the Year.
The USA Today best-selling author now has more than 11 million copies of her books in print. Her works have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA. Merline is especially proud to have been named the University of Oklahoma's Writer of the Year and the Oklahoma Female Veteran of the Year.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 20, 2024
I liked it a lot.
This heroine is one you are going to love or you are going to hate, and both with a passion, or how she would say, WAP.
She is the undebiable protagonist. The rest of the cast simply revolve around her.
I love characters who don't take themselves too seriously and the self-deprecating humor this heroine shows is refreshing, fun, and at
times, (OMG) embarrasing.
What I can say is that this story is different. I have never read anything remotely alike. So I was invested from the begining.
The romance was hardly there, but I liked it nonetheless, it was unobtrusive, my favourite. And I'm looking forward to more of Samantha & Mitch.
The suspense was good too. I liked all the bureau acronys the author tossed my way (FBI, CIA, DARPA, USAF...) It was crazy.
An then, when I was thinking about tagging this story as science-ficction, I came to the author's notes.
Oh-oh.
I didn't tagged it.
This heroine is one you are going to love or you are going to hate, and both with a passion, or how she would say, WAP.
She is the undebiable protagonist. The rest of the cast simply revolve around her.
I love characters who don't take themselves too seriously and the self-deprecating humor this heroine shows is refreshing, fun, and at
times, (OMG) embarrasing.
What I can say is that this story is different. I have never read anything remotely alike. So I was invested from the begining.
The romance was hardly there, but I liked it nonetheless, it was unobtrusive, my favourite. And I'm looking forward to more of Samantha & Mitch.
The suspense was good too. I liked all the bureau acronys the author tossed my way (FBI, CIA, DARPA, USAF...) It was crazy.
An then, when I was thinking about tagging this story as science-ficction, I came to the author's notes.
Oh-oh.
I didn't tagged it.
July 12, 2020
On the fence with this one.
It sounded like a great premise, and I enjoyed this, but there was just something that kept me from loving it.
Sam and Mitch work well together and we get a brief glimpse into the baggage they’re carrying around from life. However, we don’t get a huge amount of personality from them and that’s a shame as I did like the spark that crops up between them. The other characters are pretty bland and two dimensional. Perhaps if the book was longer the author could have expanded on characters and events.
The circumstances that bring Sam and Mitch together was certainly unique, and I did love Sam’s initial reaction when she realizes just what EEEK stepped in 😁. The mystery surrounding the murders unravels at a fairly fast clip, but it was too down pat. No real wrong assumptions or avenues of investigation which made the investigation a tad boring at times.
Still I will be checking out the next book to see if I like it any better.
3 stars ⭐️
It sounded like a great premise, and I enjoyed this, but there was just something that kept me from loving it.
Sam and Mitch work well together and we get a brief glimpse into the baggage they’re carrying around from life. However, we don’t get a huge amount of personality from them and that’s a shame as I did like the spark that crops up between them. The other characters are pretty bland and two dimensional. Perhaps if the book was longer the author could have expanded on characters and events.
The circumstances that bring Sam and Mitch together was certainly unique, and I did love Sam’s initial reaction when she realizes just what EEEK stepped in 😁. The mystery surrounding the murders unravels at a fairly fast clip, but it was too down pat. No real wrong assumptions or avenues of investigation which made the investigation a tad boring at times.
Still I will be checking out the next book to see if I like it any better.
3 stars ⭐️
February 19, 2021
I enjoyed this book, and found the protagonist to be a perfect first person POV character. There was the right mix of wit, cynicism, and knowledge to make Samantha Spade seem believable. This book had a lot of things lacking in Janet Evanovich novels, and I think most if it has to do with the author knowing what she is writing.
While I did like the Samantha character, I do with she would have been more of an engineer or technically minded, like the rest of her team. It would have tipped this into a higher level, and made it even more enjoyable. Still, I'd definitely read more in the series, because I think it has a lot to offer.
While I did like the Samantha character, I do with she would have been more of an engineer or technically minded, like the rest of her team. It would have tipped this into a higher level, and made it even more enjoyable. Still, I'd definitely read more in the series, because I think it has a lot to offer.
November 18, 2017
Sam is sassy, witty, and doesn’t accept untruths. Her connection with Agent Jeff Mitchell lightly sizzles without taking away from other characters. Her quirky subordinates and a charming bartender are fun to get to know. The mystery engagingly brings up plenty of questions. Why was a suspected ex-military gunrunner killed before being extradited? Who is willing to risk killing Sam and her team and why? As Sam seeks the truth she also gives a hilarious look at the mundane aspects of military life and living in the desert. This was a fun read!
Read
April 16, 2020First of all, I refuse to believe that "Merline Lovelace" is anybody's actual name. Also, it should be noted that I chose this book mostly for its size--it was a paperback, handy for holding in one hand while snuggling a drowsing toddler with the other. That said, it was a very servicable action story about a young military officer (Samantha Spade--get it?) who discovers a body in the desert while testing out a sort of exoskeleton for the Air Force and of course gets sucked into the mystery.
February 15, 2025
This book was ok, i felt like it spent too much time on information that wasn’t really needed, and nothing ended up happening between her and her love. The book its self had a good concept, just got a bit boring at points and I zoned out a lot. Unless you are good at reading slower books, not highly recommended. :)
October 30, 2018
Air force desert mystery
Samantha was testing metal exoskeleton when it stumbled over dead bodies in better dead category. It only got worse from there. Part of good series flavored with humor.
Samantha was testing metal exoskeleton when it stumbled over dead bodies in better dead category. It only got worse from there. Part of good series flavored with humor.
June 25, 2019
Really liked the book.
Solid heroine
Likeable Hero
Interesting murder
Loved the first person voice and setting
Touching moments, the hero's partner and the loss of a ten year old
Solid heroine
Likeable Hero
Interesting murder
Loved the first person voice and setting
Touching moments, the hero's partner and the loss of a ten year old
January 29, 2012
I'm not a big mystery reader, but I LOVE Merline Lovelace's romance novels and I LOVE her characters. Esp. her military heroines. This auther was in the service, so she knows of what she writes. I love snarky heroine first-person POVs. I want the snorts and the eye-rolling and irreverence. So I thought I'd try her "other" genre.
THIS BOOK HAD IT IN SPADES. (Pun intended)
USAF Lt. Samantha Spade is NOT a gung-ho career-military type. She has authority issues, which makes for a rocky life in the military, and gets her banished to the backside of beyond. What saves her is her brains, and she leads of team of techno-geek misfits testing possibly beneficial new technologies for military applications. EEEK is featured in this book - an Ergonomic Exoskeletal Extension, which is just a fancy word for a robotic suit you put on and take off that enhances human abilities.
Samantha is taking the suit for a jaunt out in the TX desert when she steps into murder and mayhem and government conspiracies - literally. Soon everyone and their cousin is involved in the investigations, and jurisdictional turf wars between several government agencies ensues. It's enough to give a poor lieutenant a major headache.
Her partner in crime-solving is US Customs & Border Patrol agent Jeff Mitchell. They have a definitely unprofessional attraction, but don't let it get in their way...much. Both of them have relationship and commitment issues, both of them acknowledge that it has NO place in the workplace. But they're only human, and it's there. Adds a nice layer of subtext throughout every exchange.
The infighting and lies and coverups keep you turning the pages. Sometimes you want to laugh at Sam, and sometimes you want to shake her. Writer's done a good job if her characters come across as real people. Samantha Spade is one of those characters you can stick with in a series - I have Catch Her If You Can to read next!
THIS BOOK HAD IT IN SPADES. (Pun intended)
USAF Lt. Samantha Spade is NOT a gung-ho career-military type. She has authority issues, which makes for a rocky life in the military, and gets her banished to the backside of beyond. What saves her is her brains, and she leads of team of techno-geek misfits testing possibly beneficial new technologies for military applications. EEEK is featured in this book - an Ergonomic Exoskeletal Extension, which is just a fancy word for a robotic suit you put on and take off that enhances human abilities.
Samantha is taking the suit for a jaunt out in the TX desert when she steps into murder and mayhem and government conspiracies - literally. Soon everyone and their cousin is involved in the investigations, and jurisdictional turf wars between several government agencies ensues. It's enough to give a poor lieutenant a major headache.
Her partner in crime-solving is US Customs & Border Patrol agent Jeff Mitchell. They have a definitely unprofessional attraction, but don't let it get in their way...much. Both of them have relationship and commitment issues, both of them acknowledge that it has NO place in the workplace. But they're only human, and it's there. Adds a nice layer of subtext throughout every exchange.
The infighting and lies and coverups keep you turning the pages. Sometimes you want to laugh at Sam, and sometimes you want to shake her. Writer's done a good job if her characters come across as real people. Samantha Spade is one of those characters you can stick with in a series - I have Catch Her If You Can to read next!
March 22, 2010
A mystery novel written by one of my old favorite romance authors. The book was set in a military funded research station with a mixed team of military and civilian. The military head of the team Lt. Samantha Spade finds a pair of bodies on a jog out testing some equipment and gets drawn into a giant jurisdictional battle which she seems to think she needs to be in the middle of. After an arsonist targets her lab, she makes finding the murderer a personal goal despite having no jurisdiction herself. All in all, I think that I'll stick to reading her romance novels which generally contain a suspense element but seem to be better developed and make more sense logically.
January 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this book but I tend to like most of Ms. Lovelace's books. This one is a little different from her romantic suspense books and is the first in a trilogy. It is basically a murder mystery with a hint of romance.
Samantha Spade is a fun character with lots of great dialog and lots of talking to herself. I like her wry sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself. She meets Jeff 'Mitch' Mitchell on a bad day but these two click almost right away. I look forward to the continuation of their relationship in the next book.
I would recommend this book and most others written by Merline Lovelace.
Samantha Spade is a fun character with lots of great dialog and lots of talking to herself. I like her wry sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself. She meets Jeff 'Mitch' Mitchell on a bad day but these two click almost right away. I look forward to the continuation of their relationship in the next book.
I would recommend this book and most others written by Merline Lovelace.
December 17, 2009
This book is a little different from her other books. I felt like I was reading a Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich, except with a lot of military jargon. It's not a straight romance book at all but a mystery of sorts. I don't know how you could describe it. It's not really a romantic suspense but more like a science fiction mystery. If you can get past the first person narration it's not a bad read.
January 29, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. Not only is it a wonderful mystery and takes you to the end to find the culprit, it gives you a wonderful understanding of just how the military works within itself.
I look forward to more Samantha Spade novels.
I look forward to more Samantha Spade novels.
September 4, 2010
I'll try another one before I decide about the series. I was hoping for more of a scientific/nerdy lead character but she is actually the normal one heading up the nerd group---sort a Eureka-like situation. It had it's good points but the mystery was a little too contrived.
December 13, 2010
This is supposed to be the first of a new series. I liked it and look to see more in it. Lt Samantha Spade is the head of a little company of techie type people - each of them odd balls in their own way. It will be interesting to see what will happen in future books.
May 25, 2011
I LOVED this series. The whole alphabet soup thing (acronyms in the military) was so funny (and so true). Great concept, great romance and I loved the mystery. I rec. this to all my reading friends. I hope the series continues.
December 18, 2011
The story of a Vegas cocktail waitress turned USAF scientist (sort-of) I started this series in the wrong order when I read book 2 first - oops.
Wanted to go back and start the series properly and I'm glad I did.
June 11, 2015
Lovelace has a way with words! The plot of a USAF officer working with DARPA and having run ins with the law really had me interested. I was able to stay engaged, read the book quickly, and I found myself not being able to put it down!
February 16, 2010
First book by this author. Funny.
February 5, 2010
I loved this book! It was laughout-loud funny! Sam is a perfectly flawed heroine! I can't wait for the next book!
January 24, 2011
I love these books. They are a light read and I love the characters. I love how Samantha's mind works. They make me laugh out loud.
Read
January 29, 2011I enjoyed it. It was a quick read. I loved Samantha's coworkers and would love to see more background on them.
March 2, 2011
Eh. That's how I felt about this book. Nothing special.
July 30, 2011
A very enjoyable mystery that I read while on holiday & was perfect as a holiday read. Very funny in parts, likeable characters, and also an interesting venue & premise. Also a bit of romance. Great!
August 5, 2011
A good first book. The author needs a little time to develop her craft, but I'm in for the next one in this series when it comes out.
November 15, 2011
This was a little bit sci fi, a little bit romance and some mystery to solve. Enjoyed it. Would read another in this series.
September 1, 2011
First in series, written by ex AF officer, which made me cringe at some very improbable military situations. Characters have potential as series developes. Very fasr read.
October 26, 2011
A breezy mystery--nothing spectacular. I read it on a plane trip and it was perfect for that.
First in a series and I'll track down the next one.
First in a series and I'll track down the next one.
May 31, 2013
Fun mystery!!
December 15, 2014
A light, quick read. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon. Fun characters!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews