Bel-Air Confidential by Jeni Lyn:

3 stars

Having a close family member murdered, being assaulted, and having to hide both events from the public would challenge anyone. For Alex Addington, all three must be endured while she and her cousin, Emily, test the Network and attempt to save a stranded colony. Their lives are further complicated by a rash of break-ins, handsome neighbors, and old acquaintances they’d rather forget.

Bel-Air Confidential begins with an interesting premise and good writing. I was, however, hoping for a little more than it delivered. I did enjoy the story; it had intriguing characters, action, and romance. However, the extreme attractiveness of the four main characters, as well as their curious mix of professional activities, stretched beyond what is plausible.

The heroes are pretty heroic, the villains quite villainous—all with a fairly uniform level of depth. I felt that Daniel should be introduced sooner and built up a little more, that something a little more creative might be done with Richard and Pattie, and that Linc and Emily could stand to have more time on page together.

To be fair, I started reading expecting a futuristic sci-fi with romance; if I reframe it in my head as a romance with a futuristic sci-fi theme, it works better. It’s fun, easy to read, and creative. The inventions and robots are quite entertaining, and Isobelle is a gem. Mixing military actions/government exploration with the fringes of Hollywood movie life is something I’ve honestly never read about until now. And I like the swans.

Bel-Air Confidential would suit readers looking for a fresh take on the boss-romance trope, smart female leads, party life mixed with STEM professions, and quirky characters. It’s a quick, invigorating, closed-door read with heart and humor.

My thanks to Jeni Lyn Books for the opportunity to read Bel-Air Confidential. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I am voluntarily writing this review.