I did not read book 1 in this series, however, I think I could understand the premise of how it went after reading this book. The writing was a bit juvenile for me (I love YA and read it often) but this was a little too amateur for me. I did not care for the way the author had the MMC asking tacky questions regarding what reminds the FMC to list the ways he reminds her of her ex. WHO DOES THAT?

Also. if you're gonna write a book with characters supposedly in a "mafia" make it at least believable. The entire book was full of scenarios and decisions that made absolutely no sense. It made me cringe so many times, I wanted to throw my kindle.

This is the second book in the Sounds Like a Plan series. Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham are successful private investigators. They are both considered the top of the field at what they do, and they hate each other. While working on a routine missing person’s case, these two find themselves having to work together. Unfortunately.

This story reminds me of one of those cop shows I used to watch as a kid. As I read the story, I could visualize these things happening right in front of me. I love when I can get immersed in the story like this. These two argued like an old married couple. I honestly enjoyed everything but the relationship aspect of the story. This story has mobsters, mercenaries, suspense, and a killer on the loose. I enjoyed it without reading the first book. I will go back and read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC.

Let’s throw it back to my review of the first book (Sounds Like a Plan): “the chemistry between Mackenzie and Jackson is definitely lacking, and their incessant bickering is just annoying. I can't even imagine what will happen when they merge together.” I guess curiosity made me request this sequel.

While the thrill and drama were good, the chemistry between Mackenzie and Jackson? Still missing. I was promised “undeniable attraction” but got…nothing. And the scene where Lieutenant Gooden likes Mackenzie and Jackson breaks into the K-I-S-S-I-N-G song? 🤦🏽‍♀️ Just made things worse.

Overall, I stayed for the suspense and drama—not the romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🍸 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Perfect Pour

This book was fun. Jackson and Mac? They are a hot mess and I loved every second of it. The bickering, the tension, the are they finally gonna get together vibes. Gotta love that. It’s was literally like watching your favorite messy duo try not to fall for each other while also trying not to get shot.

The mystery kept me hooked, I was wrong about the culprit. I was along for the ride the whole time. It’s giving the Black Mr. & Mrs. Smith with a dash of Insecure energy. Action packed, funny, and chaotic in the best way.

🍹 Pairs well with: A spicy Paloma—cute, chaotic, and with a lil’ kick to it.

3.5 stars round up t0 4

Sounds Like Trouble is a fast paced, laugh out loud romantic mystery.

Private investigators Jackson and Mackenzie are opposites who can’t stop fighting bad guys and the sexual tension between them. I enjoyed the trouble Jackson and Mac got into and the banter had me ugly laughing in the most public places.. My main complaint is continuing the will-they-won’t-they.

thank you netgalley for my ebook arc

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. I have not read Book 1 in this series, but it was definitely not an issue to jump into the series with Book 2. The POV flip flops between the 2 main characters: Jackson and Mac who are attracted to each other, but are also business partners in a P.I. firm. They are soon deep in trouble with mobsters and the story continues full of action, drama, and sexual tension. The writing was appealing and kept me turning the pages all the way to the end. I would definitely read more in this series.

We’re first introduced to Jackson and Mackenzie in Sounds Like A Plan, a tale of rival private investigators forced to work together when their missing-persons case turns into a murder mystery with the potential for them to be the next victims. What started as a battle of wits gave way to a tense partnership that gives Maxine and Kyle will they or won’t they vibes (real ones will catch that 90s reference). Sounds Like Trouble picks up where Book 1 left off. Jackson and Mackenzie are officially business partners but there are some hiccups as they come to terms with their new dynamic. This new partnership is immediately put to the test when three mobsters give them a case they cannot refuse. The story had several twists and turns, some I saw coming while others let me genuinely shocked. The witty banter between Jackson and Mackenzie carried over from Book 1. Sometimes Jackson comes off very shallow, however, I understand it’s in response to his humble beginnings briefly mentioned in Book 1. I also think some of Jackson’s ideology aligns with what you may hear on a manosphere podcast (that’s no bueno— definitely earned a side-eye). There was minimal romance, but I think that may be a good thing. Jackson and Mackenzie work better as occasionally flirty friends than lovers. This is an ideal novel if you’re in a reading slump and need a quick read or if you need a palate cleanser after reading an emotionally-challenging book. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.
Rating: 3.5

3.5

A huge improvement over the first novel. I feel like the story and writing flowed better, and the author's were able to meld their writing together more. There are improvements that can still be made, but I feel as if they're moving in the right direction.

I was not a fan of Jackson in the first novel, but his character is much improved in this one. His comments are much less sexist, and the few he does make in a joking manner work better with the conversation. There wasn't a single "tight, little body" comment, of which I am eternally grateful. His relationship with Mackenzie has a big improvement as well. While they still bicker, it fits better with the story and you can see more of the respect and trust they're gaining for each other.

The story does feel as if it moves a little too fast for how short it is. The book is a little over 250 pages but barely lets up. Slightly longer with a little more to the plot would have helped. We don't get much character development from anyone besides Mac and Jackson; and while I'm happy Jackson's character gained a lot of development, Mac's was less so, and every other character was almost non-existent, Hopefully we can get a little more development from other characters, especially those that seem to be mainstays in the series.

I believe the authors are getting a better groove and feel as if they will continue to improve, as they've shown a lot of improvement since the last novel. A bit more polishing and I think this will be a great series.

Sounds Like Trouble is the second book in a fun contemporary mystery series co-written by Pamela Samuels Young & Dwayne Alexander Smith. Jackson and Mackenzie are back at it, this time officially partners in a joint PI firm, and there is just as much drama this time around.

Their last case caught the attention of some very intimidating crime lords, who "ask" Jackson and Mackenzie for some help with a little problem they have. There's a package they need tracked down - discreetly.

This pair is electric. They're sassy, capable, and oh-so-compatible. The level of action and danger is just as high as it was in book one. It's a breakneck pace that will keep you flying through the pages!

I hope this is just the latest in a looong list of installments in this series, because it is such a breath of fresh air. If you're looking for a fun and refreshing read this summer, please don't sleep on this series!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sounds Like Trouble

Mackenzie and Jackson have partnered up for their own Private Investigator agency. Things go awry when the local mob boss decides to hire them to find some dangerous information.

The banter between Mackenzie and Jackson was cute, but I couldn’t quite tell if the love story was an afterthought. The photo and description leads you to think the romance played a bigger role than it does.

I did enjoy their dangerous journey and investigative work. Thank you for the ARC!

Sounds Like Trouble is the new book in the delightful romantic thriller series entitled Sounds Like a Plan.

Mac and Jackson are two Pi's that are like oil and water with a love/hate relationship but they have decided to work together.

I laughed out loud at their banter and when the authors throw in a touch of romance and suspense the pace is quick and the book is hard to put down.

Three mob bosses have offered them a job ( one cant say no to them) with a time limit and dire consequences if they dont succeed.

Did I mention that there is a lot of action.

Sounds like Trouble is almost the perfect storm and I could not wait to see what happened.

I highly recommend this entertaining read . I cant wait to see what Mac and Jackson get up to next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review Souns Like Trouble. I am a big fan.

This is the second installment of Sounds Like a Plan series, delivering a high-octane blend of crime, comedy, and romantic tension. The chemistry between Mac and Jackson is electric. Their witty banter and palpable tension add depth to their characters and keep readers engaged. Sounds Like Trouble is a compelling fusion of mystery, action, and romance. Mac and Jackson’s evolving relationship adds emotional depth to their fast-paced plot, making it a standout in contemporary detective fiction. Fans of dynamic duos and thrilling escapades will find much to enjoy in this installment.

I didnt realize that this was a sequel. So I tried reading the first one, but I hated Jackson. And judging by reviews, he doesn't get better.

A good rom-com that made me smile. Not a favourite but one I woul recommend as the characters are interesting and fleshed out
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Many thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley, and Pamela Young & Dwayne Smith for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review💚

Overall, this second installment in what I’m dubbing the “Safe and Sound” or “Sounds Like” series (I wonder what the authors will ultimately choose) is good. The plot was engaging, and the cat and mouse of this particular case made for an interesting ride that I was willing to go on with Jackson and Mackenzie. We also got to see more of the chemistry between our MCs build up and be acknowledged by each other; #JMac is following in the footsteps on countless other slow burn detective pairings many of us are familiar with on page and screen.

I was happy to see if there was improvement with Jackson as a character. The attitude and I’m becoming behaviors he displayed in the first book were completely gone from this one and it made for a much more enjoyable Jackson.

What ultimately puts this at a three star, ehhhh rating for me is the fact that our dynamic duo seem off their A game. There were a few moments throughout the book where I wondered why they weren’t catching onto certain things as quickly as they should or why they made certain decisions. For the MCs to be experienced PIs, they were making rookie mistakes a little too often for my liking.

I also wasn’t a fan of how the book was structured. Many of the chapters were ridiculously short and could have been combined with one or two other chapters to ensure a better flow of the story. Young and Smith have set flow of these books to go back and forth between the MCs’ POV, but I’d personally be okay with a POV switch in the middle of the chapter as long as there’s something signaling the shift.

It seems like Young and Smith are starting to find a nice groove with this series, and with a bit more work, they may be able to pull together a strong showing for Jackson and Mackenzie on their next adventure.

Before even starting: very exciting about this because I loved Sounds Like a Plan. Quick moving. A mix of romance and suspense. Always love the dual POV. A great adventure and satisfying ending. Book 3 maybe??

Thank you to NetGalley, Pamela Samuels Young, Dwayne Alexander Smith and Atria Books for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a fun series and as a romance reader, I'm loving the clubbing of the romance and mystery genres. Thrillers and suspense novels don't usually give the reader time to get to know the detectives, just fit them into some stereotypical archetype, but I'm loving the effort and time poured in by the authors to get us to know Jackson and Mac. To me, the balance between the fast and slow pacing is perfect, paired with the slow burn romance tease. The ending hints at another book in the series and I can't wait!

Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham opened a private investigation business as partners. When they receive
a job offer from three mob bosses, they have no choice but to accept. However, there is a limited amount of time they'
have to complete the job without informing the authorities. Stakes are raised when it appears there is another
party who seems to be one step ahead of them Their lives are at stake if they don't complete the job.
Fun read with two main characters who are total opposites in their approach to the job. And lots of action.
#SoundsLikeaPlan #Atria #NetGalley

A Sizzling Mystery with Undeniable Chemistry
"Sounds Like Trouble" is a thrilling and humorous mystery that combines the best of the genre with witty banter and undeniable chemistry between its leads. Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham, two of LA's top private investigators, are forced to work together to solve a high-stakes case involving the mob.

Writing Style;
The authors' writing is engaging, with a perfect balance of action, suspense, and humor. The dialogue between Jackson and Mac is particularly well-done, showcasing their contrasting personalities and growing attraction.

Characters:
Jackson and Mac are well-developed characters with distinct voices and motivations. Their banter and interactions are authentic and entertaining, making their partnership both compelling and believable.

Plot:
The plot is fast-paced and engaging, with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The authors expertly weave together elements of mystery, suspense, and romance, creating a thrilling narrative.

Themes:
The novel explores themes of partnership, trust, and vulnerability, all set against the backdrop of a high-pressure investigation.

Overall:
"Sounds Like Trouble" is a fun and exciting read, perfect for fans of mystery, suspense, and romance. With its witty dialogue, engaging characters, and thrilling plot, this book is sure to entertain and captivate.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Recommendation: If you enjoy books like "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" by Ally Carter, "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman, or "The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett, you'll love "Sounds Like Trouble".

Absolutely loved this fast-paced mystery! I didn’t realize this was book 2 in the series but wasn’t lost without reading book 1 - which I plan to do asap!

What to expect:
- Dual POV
- Whodunnit
- High-stakes investigation
- Witty Banter

Thank you Atria for granting me an ARC! All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher.