Title: Dark Deceptions

Author: Dee Davis

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publication Date: April 1, 2010

Format: Paperback, 384 Pages

ISBN-10: 0446542016 (Forever)

ISBN-13: 978-0446542012 (Forever)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A-Tac is an elite CIA unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college. Brilliant, badass, and seemingly bulletproof, the members of A-Tac are assigned to the riskiest missions and the most elusive targets.

TORN BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE

Covert operations expert Nash Brennon has spent the last eight years trying to forget Annie Gallagher, his former field partner and the only woman he ever loved. Annie betrayed him when he needed her most, then vanished without a trace. Now suddenly she’s back in the game – this time as a suspected traitor and threat to national security.

Annie’s son has been kidnapped by political terrorists. The price for his life? Assassinate a UN ambassador. When Nash and his group find her, the smoldering passion between Annie and the man she swore she’d never contact again blazes out of control. But can Nash trust her? The stakes couldn?t be higher: Their enemy’s endgame is personal, and one false move could cost them their lives.

Quick & Dirty: An intense tale with an equal mix of romance, suspense and rapid-fire action.

Opening Sentence: “So do you think we’re ever going to feel like a normal couple?”

Excerpt: Here

The Review:

Nash Brennon leads an elite black-ops team known as American Tactical Intelligence Command (A-Tac).  The team is comprised of the best covert agents in the business.  They operate under cloak and dagger at an Ivy League university, waiting for the next high-level assignment to show up on their radar.  The team is pulled in to stop an assassination attempt on the U. N. Ambassador and unfortunately for Nash, the assassin is someone he knows.  Annie Gallagher is an ex-CIA operative with a long history with Nash.  Former lovers and partners, their relationship ended on an explosive note when Anne left Nash twisting in the wind mid-op.  Anne has surfaced eight years later, blackmailed into assassinating the U.N. Ambassador.  Despite Annie’s betrayal, Nash is reluctant to believe that Annie would commit treason.  When Annie’s son is kidnapped, she will stop at nothing to get her son back.

Dark Deceptions is a perfect blend of action, romance, suspense, and danger that will keep readers captivated.  Ms. Davis does a wonderful job of keeping the danger intense and weaves an intricate web of betrayal, espionage, and political intrigue.  I especially appreciate strong female characters.  It was great reading about kick-butt female operatives that had no problem going toe-to-toe with men twice their size.  Annie is no mere damsel in distress, proving herself just as capable as Nash.  Annie had her flaws, but overall I found her to be a very believable character.  Nash on the other hand was a bit disappointing at times.  I expected him to be more Alpha, but he is surprisingly agreeable.  Nash is more of the cool, calm and collected variety.  After certain events unfold and new things are brought to light, Nash’s acceptance was immediate.  This was a bit predictable, but not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story.  Annie and Nash have an undeniable chemistry, but they oftentimes couldn’t see past their disagreements.  It’s an understatement to say that their relationship suffered from lack of communication and trust, which is odd given the business they’re in. Great secondary characters and complex villains make Dark Deceptions a thrilling read.

Overall, Dark Deceptions is worth reading.  Ms. Davis delivers a fast-paced, action-packed thrill-ride that will leave your pulse-pounding and your heart skipping a beat.  Full of suspense, twists and turns, Dark Deceptions is a strong addition to the genre.

A-Tac Series
1. Dark Deceptions
2. Dangerous Desires (07/2010)
3. Desperate Deeds (08/2010)

Notable Scene:

As if he’d heard her, Drake bent down, and Annie closed an eye as she gently squeezed the trigger, the motion at once intimate and deadly, everything coming back to her with one fluid motion.  She was a trained killer and nothing-not her life in Creede, not her absence from the Company, not even her love for her son-could change that fact.

Using the scope, she ascertained that the man was indeed down. Nash and Drake had already pulled his body deeper into the shadows. She struggled for breath, the past and present coming together in nightmarish fashion. Angrily, she pushed away her rioting emotions. There was no time for introspection. Her son’s life and quite possibly Nash and Drake’s depended on her ability to keep a cool head.

You can visit Dee around the web here: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

FTC Advisory: Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Dark Deceptions .  No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.  In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

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