*****This was a GOODREADS win******** THANKS!!!

This book was very good. I enjoyed reading it. It will be one of those books I will read again. ( )

Monarch is a tale about two families thrown together by history and current circumstance. Both sides evolve and in the end, metamorphosis into something new. Although designed around a suspense/thriller premise, this story lingers more on the emotional, sentimental aspects of relationships, family, divorce and career. The story does not belong to a main character, but rather is shared equally by several and by doing so, a distinct voice speaks for all. This approach works in the overall telling of the story, but doesn't lend to give depth and personality to individual characters. Reactions to events were similar as far as emotional response, which left me wondering if this were a collective consciousness or wishful thinking driving the plot toward a happier ending. Because of this, some interactions did not seem genuine or natural. If you are looking for a softer side of suspense with a dash of chick lit sentimentality, you'll enjoy Monarch. ( )

Michelle Davidson Argyle's MONARCH breaks free and spreads its wings for a read sure to thrill readers.

When assassins fly into Nick's life, he must run to the one place he can be safe: the Monarch Inn. Lilian Love struggles with running the inn, worries over her grown son, and fears the inn will fail if the monarch butterflies stop migrating through their area. Nick and Lilian become reacquainted, but the danger isn't over. Nick brings his two daughters to the inn to be safe while he must leave them and Lilian for Brazil and answers, yet danger and love were closer to home than he ever could imagine.

MONARCH is a thriller unlike any I've ever read. The character-driven novel involves fearful realities from the dwindling monarch butterfly population to terrors in the drug trade. The characters are three-dimensional. I loved the complexity of their relationships. Argyle excels in writing great pacing, speeding it up when the action dictated it and slowing it down to stretch out the tension. The symbolism of wings and butterflies flutters throughout. MONARCH shows the fragility of life and the human strength to go on.

MONARCH by Michelle Davidson Argyle is a thriller unlike any other with complex characters and a touching plot filled with hope, life, and love in the face of fear and danger. ( )

Thriller with a Twist

As a child, on vacation, I remember my Mom’s guilty pleasure was reading “True Detective” magazines. Mine was reading romances. As an adult, I still prefer gentle love stories to gritty thrillers, so when I received Argyle’s latest offering from the publisher to review, I hesitated to read it, expecting blood and gore and all that I like least in my entertainment.

But this is more than your run-of-the-mill thriller. “Monarch” is a story that delves into the emotional impact that high-risk jobs have on a man and his family. With insight and empathy, the author shows the price some men must pay to keep not only society safe, but their families as well.

An underlying thread, adding both menace and melancholy, was the juxtaposition of the dangers and threats facing the migrating Monarch butterflies to Nick’s final contract.

Plotting is tight, characterisation is excellent – even the minor secondary characters have depth – and the pace is fast. The interplay between Nick and those he loves is fascinating: his doubts and fears only add to his essential strength.

Overall, an enjoyable, entertaining read. (This review is for the Kindle edition) ( )