The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann Review

The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann is the first book I have read by this author but I definitely want to read more of her books. I really enjoyed this thrilling, adventurous, romantic suspense novel. I'm really hoping that she is planning on writing more of these Speranza Team novels. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and really want to see them go on more adventures.

This story is told from multiple points of view, both from the protagonists' and the antagonists' point of view. Sophie is who I would consider the main female character. Though there are several other women whose points of view we see parts of the story through. And there are at least a couple of villains whose point of view we see. And then there is Mac McKenzie, not a villain, but someone who comes between Sophie and her goals more than once, while also getting closer to her, and maybe, just maybe, there are feelings developing. But, she doesn't know whose side he is on, so she doesn't know how much she can trust him.

Sophie is a talented artist and can also forge paintings. Which seems a bit devious for the main protagonist, but she uses her skills for good. Her best friend, Lise owns the art gallery where she works and she is aware of her clandestine activities. She is also involved with a charity that helps the homeless. One day while looking into some suspicious happenings, she disappears. However, her disappearance coincides with the stealing of a long lost famous painting she received, so things are a bit suspicious. But Sophie trusts her friend and needs to find out what happened to her. And she finds herself pulled into events that are way beyond what she thought they were. Was Lise's disappearance linked to her help with the homeless, or with this painting? Or, are they all connected somehow?

And then there is Mac who is also after the painting for his client, but also after Robin Hood, a art thief who steals paintings and replaces them with wonderful forgeries.

And then there are the villains who are after the painting for different reasons.

There is a chase across different cities in different European countries with lots of non-stop action and danger and intrigue. Plus there is a centuries old undercover society helping women in danger. So much going on in this book, and I loved it. And I also loved how the author brought everything together.
As much as I loved the book, I did take off one star because of how many times the author said this or that character was "cussing." If it was the bad guys, it wouldn't have bothered me as much. But our main protagonists were doing a lot of that and I guess I assumed they would have been Christians. Then I realized, it didn't really say whether they were or not, though one of the main saying in the book is, "I believe in God even when he is silent." So, yes, there is belief there, but I would have loved to have seen more of a faith in God lived out in their lives. And no, I'm not saying Christians have to be perfect and not cuss ever.

My feelings on that aside, I did love this book. I loved that there were strong women leads helping those in need. I loved the royal conspiracy that was a part of the story. And the fast paced chases and the treasure hunt and the undercover spy-ish feel. It had me scrolling through the pages as I needed to see what was going to happen next.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.