How to Shield an Assassin

Unholy Trifecta, Book 1

By: AJ Sherwood

Narrated by: Iggy Toma, Antonio Amato

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s not stealing if you’re stealing it back…

Ari had a game plan for life: shoot people. Get money. Hang out with fellow criminal friends. He saw absolutely no reason to change that plan until one dark night in Memphis, when a little girl reached out to him with pocket change and a desperate plea for him to help her.

Adopting an abused little girl off the streets was, needless to say, not part of the plan. Ari had no idea what he was doing with an eight year old. He especially didn’t know how to juggle taking contracts and raising a little girl.

Things get more complicated when the mercenary, Carter Harrison, approaches him with a job. He needs Ari’s expertise to get into the very high-security museum, Knowles, and steal back Monet’s Water Lily Pond. The job isn’t an easy one. He’d need more than the two of them to make it happen. It’s further complicated because Ari’s not sure what to do with his new daughter while working this job.

And for that matter, how’s he supposed to handle the sexy mercenary?

©2022 AJ Sherwood (P)2022 Podium Audio

4.7* for this off-beat adventure

It's time for this story. While I'm not normally into reading books about children in any respect at this stage, I had to get this one based on the beginning, I know I haven't read everything and I have read other books that addressed extraction of children who are then placed into regular situations and most often forgotten for the rest of the book. This story has a continuing and strong focus on the child while it's really posing as a romance. There's a crime or two, and it is about her mentors creating a chosen family along with her. It's about how she begins to improve, grow, and thrive within their family group.

Who else would come up with a nonjudgmental book about a child being more than safe among thieves and assassins who raise her the proper way versus a so-called "normal" family beating and berating her until she pays an assassin to to stop the pain--except for AJ Sherwood? And who writes an enjoyable book about an assassin who refuses to leave a young child to fend for herself in the streets or in the hands of the state and the luck of the draw when he promises to never hurt her if she chooses to go with him and become his family? AJ Sherwood. AJ loves the unusual storyline AND unusual characters, and that's why I love this author.

AJ is one author who also recognizes that people enjoy the tropes of: two cops, cop +K-9, cop + 1 (from the entire pool), PI +1, extraction expert + 1, two hitmen, villain +1, etc. I enjoy these tropes as crime, adventure, fantasy, and romance fiction, and I know I'm not alone. Thank you AJ and the other writers who write these stories, the ones who throw in a lot of wrenches and red herrings. Publishing world take note: I talked with a long-time friend yesterday who has never agreed with me about any genre or book. We hardly ever talked books though we're both strong readers (she reviews them). Yesterday she suddenly tells me this is where she is also heading for her reading and listening pleasure. For the first time, we exchanged author names and had even read some of the same books!

For readers like us, this book is about a good adventure tale, a little humor, close friendships and chosen families, which makes me like this story very much. I also like the adult and more true to life romance between the adults. My reviewer friend very much agrees with this.

The narration has a few small potholes, but nobody is perfect except for AJ.

very entertaining

I quite enjoyed the characters. Each so different but the blend together so well. good story with the heist and several burgeoning relationships.

Sometimes a family is an eight yr old girl, her murder dad, and a collection of crime uncles

As a first foray in AJ Sherwood, this was a fun read! A found family, low-stakes crime romp, the characters are lovable and the plot is easy to follow, making it a great “mill-about-the-house” book.

If you’re looking for a pulse-pounding action packed crime read, this is not gonna be for you. The heist itself takes a backseat to the romance, but if you want a sweet mlm love story with awesome communication, this’ll be up your alley!

Loved it!

Ari is just a guy, assassin, who’s doing a job and gets a last minute hire he can’t refuse. This decision changes his life for the better. His 2 friends , hacker and thief, are there to help with his daughter, she’s in training and it’s awesome. There’s lots of laughs and heart. Very enjoyable, looking forward to the next one.

Great story but who assigned narrator roles?

I loved the book when I read it and thought I’d like the audio, too. Nope.

I’d swear that whoever assigned the roles to the narrators hadn’t read the book. The older sounding Amato was performing Ari, the younger MC, and the younger sounding Toma voiced the older MC, Carter. It was a total disconnect & disappointment for me. Unfortunately, book 2 is the same. I may give the audio of 3 a try because the voices finally seem to fit the characters.

Bunch of big guys One little girl

love the whole concept of a bunch of big tough guys, hardened killers, all coming together to raise one little girl. Remi is adorable, love her spunkiness as the story progresses. the guys are all great. Ari's emotional journey is fantastic as he slowly opens up. I like how Carter is patient and careful throughout. really enjoyed the story, glad I bought it. I've listened many times to this series.

Sweet…

But a little boring. I liked all the characters, but it could’ve used more suspense and depth.

Fabulous book

I love this whole series by AJ Sherwood. Ari and Carter make the perfect team and Remi is a little doll. And you can’t forget Ivan and Kyo. These guys are amazing and I love the way this has been produced for audio. These dual narrators did a fabulous job bringing these characters to life. I can’t wait for the rest of this series to come out on audio.

Wonderful!

I love this first book in the Unholy Trinity Trifecta. Sri and Carter are a wonderful couple. I can’t wait for the next one!

I suck at reviews

I really love books that have the main characters with good communication and all the angst comes from outside the couple. This story was fun. The characters are all lovable. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.