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Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑23 Sep 2024, 00:45 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Aztec Pendant" by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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'The Aztec Pendant' by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski follows the adventurous journey of Scott Collins and Kathy Johnson. Both are in their seventies and have recently lost their spouses. At the beginning of the story, Scott, a retired CFO, is waiting at Appleton International Airport for the fog to clear so that he can travel to Atlanta and then to San Paulo to assist with a deal for his former company. Biding his time in the cocktail lounge, he notices a beautiful silver-haired lady, Kathy, who is also awaiting her flight. Scott buys her a drink and introduces himself. They strike up a good rapport. When her flight is canceled, she is presented with the option of traveling to Atlanta with Scott and then on to her destination, New Smyrna, to meet up with her friends. She makes an impulsive decision to travel with him. Upon reaching Atlanta, they both decide to have dinner before going their separate ways. However, something unexpected happens at the restaurant when they witness a gruesome murder. They catch a glimpse of the killer and Kathy feels that the killer looks familiar. To their shock, it seems like the killer recognizes her as well. While Kathy is unsure, a threatening note found in her hotel room confirms that the killer might know who she is. Faced with a daring decision, they must choose whether to stay and help the police identify the killer or run for their lives. Scott and Kathy ultimately decide to flee and hide from the gunman. After a lot of traveling, they find refuge in a small Mexican village and wait for the police to figure out the murder mystery. Read the story to find out what happens to the couple on the run and learn about the unique role of the Aztec pendant in this story.

The writing style was straightforward and easy to grasp, which I found quite appealing. The playful yet mature banter between Scott and Katie added a touch of humor to the narrative. The vivid descriptions of the settings made me yearn to visit those places, particularly the tranquil beachside. As a passionate food enthusiast, I thoroughly savored the detailed depictions of the cuisine. The couple's travel experiences left me longing for similar adventures.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy adventures with a touch of mystery. It's a light read with a feel-good vibe. The editing could have been a little better as I noticed some errors while reading. The pacing of the book felt slow, repetitive, and monotonous in the middle. The authors could have either shortened the book or developed the storyline further to improve the pace. Additionally, the flow of the story was predictable at some points. Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the book and finished it quickly. Considering the points mentioned, I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

******
The Aztec Pendant
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Gerry Steen wrote: ↑24 Sep 2024, 17:05

Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑23 Sep 2024, 00:45 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Aztec Pendant" by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski.]

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4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

'The Aztec Pendant' by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski follows the adventurous journey of Scott Collins and Kathy Johnson. Both are in their seventies and have recently lost their spouses. At the beginning of the story, Scott, a retired CFO, is waiting at Appleton International Airport for the fog to clear so that he can travel to Atlanta and then to San Paulo to assist with a deal for his former company. Biding his time in the cocktail lounge, he notices a beautiful silver-haired lady, Kathy, who is also awaiting her flight. Scott buys her a drink and introduces himself. They strike up a good rapport. When her flight is canceled, she is presented with the option of traveling to Atlanta with Scott and then on to her destination, New Smyrna, to meet up with her friends. She makes an impulsive decision to travel with him. Upon reaching Atlanta, they both decide to have dinner before going their separate ways. However, something unexpected happens at the restaurant when they witness a gruesome murder. They catch a glimpse of the killer and Kathy feels that the killer looks familiar. To their shock, it seems like the killer recognizes her as well. While Kathy is unsure, a threatening note found in her hotel room confirms that the killer might know who she is. Faced with a daring decision, they must choose whether to stay and help the police identify the killer or run for their lives. Scott and Kathy ultimately decide to flee and hide from the gunman. After a lot of traveling, they find refuge in a small Mexican village and wait for the police to figure out the murder mystery. Read the story to find out what happens to the couple on the run and learn about the unique role of the Aztec pendant in this story.

The writing style was straightforward and easy to grasp, which I found quite appealing. The playful yet mature banter between Scott and Katie added a touch of humor to the narrative. The vivid descriptions of the settings made me yearn to visit those places, particularly the tranquil beachside. As a passionate food enthusiast, I thoroughly savored the detailed depictions of the cuisine. The couple's travel experiences left me longing for similar adventures.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy adventures with a touch of mystery. It's a light read with a feel-good vibe. The editing could have been a little better as I noticed some errors while reading. The pacing of the book felt slow, repetitive, and monotonous in the middle. The authors could have either shortened the book or developed the storyline further to improve the pace. Additionally, the flow of the story was predictable at some points. Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the book and finished it quickly. Considering the points mentioned, I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

******
The Aztec Pendant
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

It is a nice story that two people in their seventies could meet, be attracted to each other, and embark on a thrilling adventure. I would enjoy "a light read with a feel-good vibe". Thank you for this well-written review.

Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑23 Sep 2024, 00:45 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Aztec Pendant" by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski.]

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4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

'The Aztec Pendant' by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski follows the adventurous journey of Scott Collins and Kathy Johnson. Both are in their seventies and have recently lost their spouses. At the beginning of the story, Scott, a retired CFO, is waiting at Appleton International Airport for the fog to clear so that he can travel to Atlanta and then to San Paulo to assist with a deal for his former company. Biding his time in the cocktail lounge, he notices a beautiful silver-haired lady, Kathy, who is also awaiting her flight. Scott buys her a drink and introduces himself. They strike up a good rapport. When her flight is canceled, she is presented with the option of traveling to Atlanta with Scott and then on to her destination, New Smyrna, to meet up with her friends. She makes an impulsive decision to travel with him. Upon reaching Atlanta, they both decide to have dinner before going their separate ways. However, something unexpected happens at the restaurant when they witness a gruesome murder. They catch a glimpse of the killer and Kathy feels that the killer looks familiar. To their shock, it seems like the killer recognizes her as well. While Kathy is unsure, a threatening note found in her hotel room confirms that the killer might know who she is. Faced with a daring decision, they must choose whether to stay and help the police identify the killer or run for their lives. Scott and Kathy ultimately decide to flee and hide from the gunman. After a lot of traveling, they find refuge in a small Mexican village and wait for the police to figure out the murder mystery. Read the story to find out what happens to the couple on the run and learn about the unique role of the Aztec pendant in this story.

The writing style was straightforward and easy to grasp, which I found quite appealing. The playful yet mature banter between Scott and Katie added a touch of humor to the narrative. The vivid descriptions of the settings made me yearn to visit those places, particularly the tranquil beachside. As a passionate food enthusiast, I thoroughly savored the detailed depictions of the cuisine. The couple's travel experiences left me longing for similar adventures.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy adventures with a touch of mystery. It's a light read with a feel-good vibe. The editing could have been a little better as I noticed some errors while reading. The pacing of the book felt slow, repetitive, and monotonous in the middle. The authors could have either shortened the book or developed the storyline further to improve the pace. Additionally, the flow of the story was predictable at some points. Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the book and finished it quickly. Considering the points mentioned, I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

******
The Aztec Pendant
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Adrian Bouknight wrote: ↑24 Sep 2024, 23:31

Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑23 Sep 2024, 00:45 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Aztec Pendant" by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski.]

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4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

'The Aztec Pendant' by James Baudhuin and Judy Benkowski follows the adventurous journey of Scott Collins and Kathy Johnson. Both are in their seventies and have recently lost their spouses. At the beginning of the story, Scott, a retired CFO, is waiting at Appleton International Airport for the fog to clear so that he can travel to Atlanta and then to San Paulo to assist with a deal for his former company. Biding his time in the cocktail lounge, he notices a beautiful silver-haired lady, Kathy, who is also awaiting her flight. Scott buys her a drink and introduces himself. They strike up a good rapport. When her flight is canceled, she is presented with the option of traveling to Atlanta with Scott and then on to her destination, New Smyrna, to meet up with her friends. She makes an impulsive decision to travel with him. Upon reaching Atlanta, they both decide to have dinner before going their separate ways. However, something unexpected happens at the restaurant when they witness a gruesome murder. They catch a glimpse of the killer and Kathy feels that the killer looks familiar. To their shock, it seems like the killer recognizes her as well. While Kathy is unsure, a threatening note found in her hotel room confirms that the killer might know who she is. Faced with a daring decision, they must choose whether to stay and help the police identify the killer or run for their lives. Scott and Kathy ultimately decide to flee and hide from the gunman. After a lot of traveling, they find refuge in a small Mexican village and wait for the police to figure out the murder mystery. Read the story to find out what happens to the couple on the run and learn about the unique role of the Aztec pendant in this story.

The writing style was straightforward and easy to grasp, which I found quite appealing. The playful yet mature banter between Scott and Katie added a touch of humor to the narrative. The vivid descriptions of the settings made me yearn to visit those places, particularly the tranquil beachside. As a passionate food enthusiast, I thoroughly savored the detailed depictions of the cuisine. The couple's travel experiences left me longing for similar adventures.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy adventures with a touch of mystery. It's a light read with a feel-good vibe. The editing could have been a little better as I noticed some errors while reading. The pacing of the book felt slow, repetitive, and monotonous in the middle. The authors could have either shortened the book or developed the storyline further to improve the pace. Additionally, the flow of the story was predictable at some points. Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the book and finished it quickly. Considering the points mentioned, I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

******
The Aztec Pendant
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Thank you for the review, Priya!

This sounds like an interesting read! Reading your review made me think of something like a Caribbean vacation, with fancy cuisine and beautiful beaches! I'll have to add this one to my bookshelf in case it comes up as a review opportunity. Thanks again!

Curious, were there any particular food dishes noted in the book that you might have been interested in making yourself? I find cooking inspiration on occasion through my reading.

Stephen Christopher 1 wrote: ↑25 Sep 2024, 23:07 Priya! Once again you've reviewed a book that I'd love to read. Hmm, but the place and the predictability are a concern, as are the errors. Still, I'm going to add it to my list as I now want to know what happens.

Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis wrote: ↑25 Sep 2024, 19:26 I thoroughly enjoyed your review! The book sounded interesting until I read the flaws that you mentioned. I hate it when a good storyline is ruined by errors and boring passages that don't enhance the book. I'll put this one on the side for now and decide later whether I want to review it.

Martina Sette wrote: ↑25 Sep 2024, 07:31 What a great adventure! I would like to know more about this book.

Anu Anand wrote: ↑25 Sep 2024, 04:27 This book seems like a charming mix of adventure, mystery, and romance. I appreciate the setting descriptions and the dynamic between Scott and Kathy. The slow pacing concerns me a bit, but it still sounds like an enjoyable read. Thanks for the honest review!