Action: ♠♠♠♠.♠ / Emotion: ♣♣♣♣.♣ / Romance: ♥♥♥♥ / Sensuous: ♦♦♦♦.♦ / Suspense: ♠♠♠♠♠
Action: 4.90 / Emotion: 4.75 / Romance: 4 / Sensuous: 4.25 / Suspense: 5 // Humor: 0 / Tears: 1
One decidedly different aspect of Dark Deceptions stands out. Physical descriptions of the characters were missing. In most romance novels, the heroine cannot help but be intrigued by the hero's hair, eyes, broad shoulders, six-pack abs, muscled legs, etc. Just as the hero can barely contain himself while looking at the willowy, but curvy, beautifully-made heroine. Davis does not waste any time with such descriptions. While there is no doubt the hero are heroine are attractive individuals, the curse of possessing no imagination necessitates that an author graphically describe physical attributes of the characters. [Note: found physical, psychological and background profiles for characters at HachetteBookGroup.com.]
Davis's prologue gives the reader a brief taste of what the rest of the book will be like -- romance and adventure. Admitted adrenaline junkie Nash Brennon is introduced making love to his partner Annie Gallagher while on a mission in Paris. Their lovemaking is interrupted by an armed shooter that must be dispatched.
Chapter One begins eight years later. Davis quickly draws the reader into the depth of the book by involving Nash on another mission as part of A-Tac (American Tactical Intelligence Command), the CIA's most elite black ops unit. Several pertinent facts about Nash, his team, and the story are revealed. One, Annie betrayed him and disappeared. Two, the A-Tac team has been experiencing difficulties in its last few missions. Three, Nash as second-in-command, proves he is a competent, qualified leader as he directs the team through a harrowing, action-packed mission fraught with difficulties.
Chapter Two reveals where Annie has been these past eight years. She is hiding with her son in Creede, Colorado. The natural assumption is that Annie disappeared because she did not want Nash to know she was pregnant with his son. If that is so, what happened to cause such a huge rift between Nash and Annie. The suspense factor is further increased for two reasons: {1} Annie's son, Adam, is kidnaped and {2} who found out her identity and her supposedly-undisclosed location?
Found the location and cover for the A-Tac team uniquely fascinating. Each member of the team was a professor at Sunderland College, New York. When Avery Solomon (the college dean and A-Tac commander) called the team for a meeting, they would stroll though campus to the Aaron Thomas Academic Center, a renowned think tank, and take a "Professors Only" elevator to an underground complex. Found Davis's description of this center and the professors' descent from academia into espionage a vivid part of the story.
Nash became involved in Annie's life again because A-Tac was contacted when there was a credible threat across the airwaves that the "Ashad" cell was targeting a top-level governmental official. Nash was having difficulty believing that Annie was the possible assassin, but the team had pictures of Annie meeting with known terrorist Emanuel Rivon.
As A-Tac meets, Annie waits in her hotel room waiting to hear from Rivon about what actions she must take to save her son. Even more questions come to mind when it is revealed Annie won't call Nash for help because she believed he betrayed her.
The plot thickens when Homeland Security's Tom Walker inserts himself into the A-Tac operation. Several aspects of Tom's relationship to Nash and Annie raised lots of red flags. {1} Tom was their ex-CIA boss. {2} Tom saved Nash when Annie left him high and dry and was, thus, promoted. {3} Tom helped Annie disappear.
The stage is set. {1} For Nash and his partner, Tyler, to catch Annie trying to assassinate Blake Dominico (U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.). {2} For Annie to reveal that her son had been kidnaped. {3} For Annie to try to escape because she knew the team was more concerned about keeping Dominico from being assassinated that saving her son. {4} For Annie to start becoming involved with other members of A-Tac. {5} For Tom to try and take Annie to Langley for treason. There was so much action in this book that the reader is enthralled as Nash and Annie became an integral part of A-Tac's efforts to not only rescue her son but to find the person behind the plot to assassinate Dominico.
Dark Deceptions introduces A-Tac members but does not go into depth about their personalities. Davis reveals just enough about the members to cause the reader to want to read their book (and to hope each will receive his or her own book). {1} Avery Solomon is described as a big man with unparalleled leadership capabilities and seriously high-powered connections. {2} Emmett Walsh is the communications system engineer. {3} Drake Flynn is ex-CIA and an extractions specialist. {4} Tyler (Nash's partner) is an army-trained demolitions expert. {4} Jason Lawton is the IT specialist. {5} Hannah Marshall is a communications expert. {6} Lara Prescott is biochemical expert and unit's medical officer.
Nash and Annie have found that their emotions are still strongly engaged. They are unable to withstand the temptation of being together without making love. Their lovemaking is spicy and heated. Even though it takes a while, they come to terms with the lies and betrayals that caused their separation and find that they can have a happily-ever-after.
It was incredibly difficult to put this book down after starting it. The high level of suspense was engaging. The featured, exciting non-stop action was thrilling. The romance and sensuality were powerful. The other members of the A-Tac were fascinating. This book is a definite addition to "to be re-read" list.
Loved this book so much, could not wait to pick up Book Two, Dangerous Desires , and continue with another A-Tac story.
--Vonda M. Reid (Friday; October 8, 2010 : 5:53 a.m.)
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Books In The Series: "The A-TAC Series"
| # | Date | Book Title | Hero | Heroine |
| 01. | 04-2010 | Dark Deceptions . . . . . . . . . | Nash Brennon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Annie Gallagher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 02. | 07-2010 | Dangerous Desire . . . . . . . . | Drake Flynn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Madeline Reynard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 03. | 08-2010 | Desperate Deeds . . . . . . . . . | Owen Wakefield (Cantor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Tyler Hanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 04. | 09-2011 | [Deep Disclosure] . . . . . . . . | Tucker Flynn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Alexis Markham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 05. | xx-2012 | [Deadly Dance] . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 06. | xx-2012 | [Double Danger] . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Books Similar to "Dark Deceptions"
| Site | Author | Title | Series |
| 01.ff | Webb, Debra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Anywhere She Runs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . |
| 02.ff | O'Clare, Lorie . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Strong, Sleek and Sinful . . . . . . . . . . . | 03. The FBI Series {3} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 03.ff | Reece, Christy . . . . . . . . . . . . | Last Chance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 03. The Last Chance Rescue Trilogy 2 {3} . . . |
| 04.ff | Reece, Christy . . . . . . . . . . . . | Second Chance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 02. The Last Chance Rescue Trilogy 2 {3} . . . |
| 05.db | Reece, Christy . . . . . . . . . . . . | No Chance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 01. The Last Chance Rescue Trilogy 2 {3} . . . |
| 06.db | Herron, Rita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Forbidden Passion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 03. The Demonborn Trilogy {3}. . . . . . . . . . . |
| 07.db | Mann, Catherine . . . . . . . . . . . | Defender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 01. A Dark Ops Novel {3... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 08.db | Davis, Dee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Dangerous Desires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 02. The A-Tac Series {6... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| 09.db | Tyler, Stephanie . . . . . . . . . . . | Hard To Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 01. The Hold Trilogy {3} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Dee Davis
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Dark Deceptions Reviews:
| Rated | Posted | Site | Notes, Comments, Etc. |
| 5.0 | -- | Affaire de Coeur | |
| B- / warm | 05-21-2010 | All About Romance | |
| 4.07 average | {15 reviews} | Amazon | as of: February 26, 2010 |
| -- | 05-01-2011 | Arms of A Sister | didn't rate / recommend |
| 4.5 | -- | Bella Online | |
| 4.0 | 05-14-2010 | Book Addict Patti | also posted on Good Reads |
| 5.0 | 04-11-2010 | Book Junkie | |
| 2.0 | -- | Book Loons | {2.0 of what} |
| 5.0 | 02-03-2010 | Book Pleasures | also posted on Amazon, Good Reads |
| Book Chat | 05-27-2010 | Borders True Romance | |
| 7¾ out of 10 | 09-24-2010 | CA Reviews | |
| 5.0 | 04-....-2010 | Coffee Time Romance | |
| 4.0 | 05-04-2010 | Dark Faerie Tales | also posted on Amazon, Good Reads, Shelfari |
| 10 / 8 / 10 | 08-16-2010 | Eye on Romance {Suspense Romance Writers} | |
| 4.0 | 04-12-2010 | Fiction Vixen Book Reviews | also posted on Amazon, Good Reads |
| -- | {2 reviews} | Fresh Fiction | didn't rate / positive inflection |
| 3.67 average | {34 reviews} | Good Reads | as of: March 24, 2011 |
| 4.5 / B | 03-21-2010 | Jandy's Reading Room | |
| 5.0 | 04-02-2010 | Harriet Klausner | also posted on Amazon |
| 4.5 | 11-02-2010 | Loves Romances And More | |
| About Dee | 06-25-2010 | Mason Canyon | Guest Blog |
| 3.0 | 04-11-2010 | Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks | also posted on Good Reads |
| 5.0 | 04-05-2010 | My Book Addiction and More | |
| 4.5 | 04-15-2010 | My Reading Addiction | |
| 4.75 / top pick | 03-24-2010 | Night Owl Romance | also posted on Good Reads |
| -- | -- | Reader To Reader | didn't rate / positive inflection |
| 5.0 | -- | Reader's Favorite | |
| 4.0 | 09-17-2010 | Romance Junkies | unable to find on website any more |
| -- | 04-06-2010 | Romance Reviews Today | didn't rate / positive inflection |
| 4.0 / hot | 03-30-2010 | RT {Romantic Times} Book Review | |
| 4.0 | 04-04-2010 | Rundpinne | also posted on Good Reads |
| 4.67 average | {3 reviews} | Shelfari | as of: February 26, 2011 |
| -- | 04-16-2010 | Simply Stacie | didn't rate / positive inflection |
| 3.5 | 03-31-2010 | Smexy Books | also posted on Good Reads {2: Mandi, Tori} |
| 4.5 | -- | The Romance Readers Connection | |
| 4.5 / explicit | 07-13-2010 | The Romance Studio | similar post on Amazon |
| -- | 08-06-2010 | Wendi's Book Corner | didn't rate / recommend |
| 4.90 | 02-24-2011 | Wolf Bear Does Books | shorter post on Amazon, Good Reads, Shelfari |
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♥ Very Subjective Rating: rated before created Blog
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♣ Will add your Dark Deceptions review link to table, just ask
Thanks for stopping by my blog during the blog hop!
ReplyDelete~Kimberlee
www.TheSpunkyDiva.com