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Sedikhan #8
Always
#1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen provides her trademark blend of seductive romance and pulse-pounding suspense in this classic tale of a woman who unexpectedly finds herself living—and loving—on the edge of danger. Lisa Landon makes her living with her voice—a voice fueled by a heartbreak she vows never to experience again. But despite her renown, Lisa’s real ambition is to escape the memories that follow her from one sold-out engagement to the next. Perhaps that’s what brings her to the exotic desert nation of Sedikhan and the nightclub where she meets Clancy Donahue. Clancy takes one look at the beautiful, vulnerable chanteuse and knows she is exactly the woman he’s been searching for. The Sedikhan security chief needs to bait a trap for a terrorist moneyman, and Clancy is certain that Lisa will be irresistible. What he doesn’t count on is that he won’t be able to resist her either—and that he’ll do anything to protect her, even if it means risking his own life. With deadly plans in motion and Lisa in the crosshairs, Clancy realizes that before their romance can get to always, it will first have to reach tomorrow.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1986
129 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Iris Johansen
227 books7,340 followersIris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 4, 2011
Okay, this book has a big problem. Hero kidnapping the heroine and being all possessive towards her when they’ve just met -- sure, bring it on. I even have bookshelves for that. But when the heroine in question was stalked by her ex... it just draws attention to the fact that this is one creepy romantic fantasy. The right author can make it work, but Johansen doesn’t even try: she basically just drops the entire conflict and then story goes into a very weird area very fast. The suspense element is pretty weak too.
This felt more like a series add-on than a real story. Like she just had to wrap up this character with a romance and a chance for all the other characters from the series to say howdy. (Well, technically most of them are just mentioned a lot, except the obvious sequel bait.) An extra star because the parts about Lisa's tragic past were touching.
This felt more like a series add-on than a real story. Like she just had to wrap up this character with a romance and a chance for all the other characters from the series to say howdy. (Well, technically most of them are just mentioned a lot, except the obvious sequel bait.) An extra star because the parts about Lisa's tragic past were touching.
December 17, 2011
I should have known what this book would be like from the cover, but I have read some of Ms. Johansens mysteries and enjoyed them and was hoping for an intellegent romance. Maybe there is no such thing. Anyway this was not worth reading. Plot nonexistant and female vapid and stupid. Hero not much better. Do yourself a favor and skip this.
May 22, 2011
A very short book for a lot of high drama, in a very old-school way. Gun running, kidnapping, getting over a tragic loss, falling in love in a nanosecond - a lot of action, and all of it pretty heavy. Not to mention the obligatory exotic terms of endearment (acushla, in this case). Of course to get all that in, something's gotta go. I'd say more fine-tuned character development (some of the stuff, like the heroine's music career, is basically wallpaper - it gets her to the island, and after that, it's a dim memory, irrelevant and unmentioned) and a more than a superficial sense of what exactly it is the hero and heroine see in each other would have made this book more memorable (in a good way). There was one scene that was memorable, but not for the right reasons - There were some definite silly elements to this book - the kicker for me was the way the romance was wrapped up at the end .
September 28, 2017
"Always" is the story of Clancy and Lisa.
We've met the H in the previous books as this kickass bodyguard. He's hired to get cooperation from Lisa, the ex wife of a drug lord Martin, who constantly stalks and harasses her. He, however, does'nt expect to be blown away by the attraction- and when she refuses cooperation, he kidnaps her.
This book features insta love in an old school setting. The H is described as this mean, badass dude- who turns into a soft, romantic marshmallow once he meets the h. He confesses his love early on, does everything to make her happy- even propositioning a baby for her sake and is just a beautifully giving hero- head over heels for her.
The h herself is strong yet wary. I was a bit shocked by her loyalty to Martin, even though he was an obvious ass- but she slowly starts melting towards Clancy due to his unwavering devotion. The scenes of her describing Tommy's death were heartbreaking.
That being said, the last 1/4th of the book was very rushed- and if that would have been explained well-this would definitely have crossed 4 stars.
Safe
3.5/5
We've met the H in the previous books as this kickass bodyguard. He's hired to get cooperation from Lisa, the ex wife of a drug lord Martin, who constantly stalks and harasses her. He, however, does'nt expect to be blown away by the attraction- and when she refuses cooperation, he kidnaps her.
This book features insta love in an old school setting. The H is described as this mean, badass dude- who turns into a soft, romantic marshmallow once he meets the h. He confesses his love early on, does everything to make her happy- even propositioning a baby for her sake and is just a beautifully giving hero- head over heels for her.
The h herself is strong yet wary. I was a bit shocked by her loyalty to Martin, even though he was an obvious ass- but she slowly starts melting towards Clancy due to his unwavering devotion. The scenes of her describing Tommy's death were heartbreaking.
That being said, the last 1/4th of the book was very rushed- and if that would have been explained well-this would definitely have crossed 4 stars.
Safe
3.5/5
May 23, 2011
Not mrs Johansens best work. Kinda dragged on thru the middle but did end well.
May 10, 2019
This is a departure for me in reading Johansen's works, as I usually read her Eve Duncan series.
This book was a cat and mouse romance with a little danger thrown in.
Lisa Landon is working as a singer after divorcing her husband. Her marriage fell apart after the death of her son in an auto accident while her husband was driving. He was also involved in arms dealing, but she was not aware of it during her marriage. Her husband was obsessed with her, won't leave her alone, and continually stalks her. She is determined never to get involved with another man.
Enter Clancy Donahue. He is the head of security of a small desert country, and after Lisa's ex. He tries to enlist her help, but Lisa refuses. Lisa and Clancy spar, trying to deny the attraction drawing them together after Clancy kidnaps Lisa to use as bait to capture Lisa's ex, Martin. What follows is a very steamy and graphically explicit relationship between Lisa and Clancy, and threatening encounters with Martin.
Yes, you guessed it-- predictably, everything is tied up with a big red bow at the end.
Overall, the book was a big, big disappointment. It would benefit from grammatical editing. Adverbs ending in "ily" and "ly" were so overused! I think the characters had speech defects, because much of what they said was spoken
" huskily". Over and over again. And again.
What saved this book for me was the character of a gypsy woman, and I'll not spoil it for other readers by telling the things she does, is, or how she became involved with Donahue, other than she is faithful, devoted, and committed to Clancy.
This book was a cat and mouse romance with a little danger thrown in.
Lisa Landon is working as a singer after divorcing her husband. Her marriage fell apart after the death of her son in an auto accident while her husband was driving. He was also involved in arms dealing, but she was not aware of it during her marriage. Her husband was obsessed with her, won't leave her alone, and continually stalks her. She is determined never to get involved with another man.
Enter Clancy Donahue. He is the head of security of a small desert country, and after Lisa's ex. He tries to enlist her help, but Lisa refuses. Lisa and Clancy spar, trying to deny the attraction drawing them together after Clancy kidnaps Lisa to use as bait to capture Lisa's ex, Martin. What follows is a very steamy and graphically explicit relationship between Lisa and Clancy, and threatening encounters with Martin.
Yes, you guessed it-- predictably, everything is tied up with a big red bow at the end.
Overall, the book was a big, big disappointment. It would benefit from grammatical editing. Adverbs ending in "ily" and "ly" were so overused! I think the characters had speech defects, because much of what they said was spoken
" huskily". Over and over again. And again.
What saved this book for me was the character of a gypsy woman, and I'll not spoil it for other readers by telling the things she does, is, or how she became involved with Donahue, other than she is faithful, devoted, and committed to Clancy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2018
Good story
Enjoyed a very romantic story. Happy ending the story was short but enjoyed it . would recommend to all romance readers
Enjoyed a very romantic story. Happy ending the story was short but enjoyed it . would recommend to all romance readers
March 11, 2018
Not the same caliber as the Mysteries.
May 30, 2019
Definitely not one of her most powerful nor captivating.
October 28, 2022
Nice
This was a nice romance story. The characters were interesting and the storyline was exciting. The locations were set in a familiar story setting
This was a nice romance story. The characters were interesting and the storyline was exciting. The locations were set in a familiar story setting
February 10, 2023
Sexy, erotic and fun read. I didn't expect this as I am in the process of reading Eve Duncan series. This was pure fluff.
April 1, 2025
Good read
It had a little of everything. Which is a good thing since I'm not at all big on romance novels.
It had a little of everything. Which is a good thing since I'm not at all big on romance novels.
February 22, 2012
Narrated by Janet Metzger
I had fun listening to this vintage, old school romance but I wouldn’t want to make a habit of it. Always was originally published by Loveswept in 1986 and does it ever show its age. It’s an eye opener to hear a hero describe himself as “highly sexed” while he wonders if a woman is “frigid” because she has no men in her life. But things rolled merrily along once I adjusted to 1986-romancelandia-speak and sensibilities.
Clancy Donahue is head of security for Sheikh Alex of a fictional middle eastern emirite. He’s set up a trap at a Bahamian island resort for terrorist financier Martin Baldwin using Baldwin’s ex-wife, cabaret singer Lisa Landon, as bait. Lisa refuses to cooperate with Clancy’s plan even though she knows her ex is scum because “I bore his child!” Oh, Lisa. Her plan to flounce off Paradise Key island is thwarted when Clancy knocks her out with drugs and literally carries her off to his luxury lair. Are you still with me? Because Clancy’s tender concern for Lisa in the light of uh-oh-I-overdosed-her is quite touching and the beginning of our romance. Lisa quickly forgives Clancy, terrorists come after them, Clancy heroically saves Lisa’s life, they fly off to the fictional desert sheikhdom, fend off the terrorists some more, meet up with the characters from the other books in the series – all while they fall in love. Lisa has no problem giving up her career because she wasn’t serious about it anyway. Oh, Lisa. Lucky for her Clancy came along.
Narrator Janet Metzger doesn’t do character voices. Her reading is error-free, smooth, and well paced. I’m not complaining because this is a choice in narration style that can work quite well, as it does here. I am more appreciative of subtle narration than I am of overripe actor melodrama that detracts from the material. So, nice job, Ms. Metzger.
To anyone too young to remember how things really were in 1986, please know that drugging and kidnapping women was not okay in real life – just in soap operas and romance. It was fun!
See my audiobook reviews at Blue Moon
http://saschakeet.wordpress.com/
I had fun listening to this vintage, old school romance but I wouldn’t want to make a habit of it. Always was originally published by Loveswept in 1986 and does it ever show its age. It’s an eye opener to hear a hero describe himself as “highly sexed” while he wonders if a woman is “frigid” because she has no men in her life. But things rolled merrily along once I adjusted to 1986-romancelandia-speak and sensibilities.
Clancy Donahue is head of security for Sheikh Alex of a fictional middle eastern emirite. He’s set up a trap at a Bahamian island resort for terrorist financier Martin Baldwin using Baldwin’s ex-wife, cabaret singer Lisa Landon, as bait. Lisa refuses to cooperate with Clancy’s plan even though she knows her ex is scum because “I bore his child!” Oh, Lisa. Her plan to flounce off Paradise Key island is thwarted when Clancy knocks her out with drugs and literally carries her off to his luxury lair. Are you still with me? Because Clancy’s tender concern for Lisa in the light of uh-oh-I-overdosed-her is quite touching and the beginning of our romance. Lisa quickly forgives Clancy, terrorists come after them, Clancy heroically saves Lisa’s life, they fly off to the fictional desert sheikhdom, fend off the terrorists some more, meet up with the characters from the other books in the series – all while they fall in love. Lisa has no problem giving up her career because she wasn’t serious about it anyway. Oh, Lisa. Lucky for her Clancy came along.
Narrator Janet Metzger doesn’t do character voices. Her reading is error-free, smooth, and well paced. I’m not complaining because this is a choice in narration style that can work quite well, as it does here. I am more appreciative of subtle narration than I am of overripe actor melodrama that detracts from the material. So, nice job, Ms. Metzger.
To anyone too young to remember how things really were in 1986, please know that drugging and kidnapping women was not okay in real life – just in soap operas and romance. It was fun!
See my audiobook reviews at Blue Moon
http://saschakeet.wordpress.com/
March 24, 2013
I am a big fan of the IJ Eve Duncan series. I saw this book and thought great! I would love this..a different type of story, romance but by one of my favorite authors.
I have to admit that I was not crazy about this book as it just did not feel complete to me.
Clancy is out to trap a guy named Martin Baldwin and uses Lisa, a singer and Baldwin ex-wife. Lisa does not go for the idea so Clancy decides to 'kidnap' Lisa and use her a bait. Then suddenly Clancy is in love with Lisa after just a few days but, Lisa is mad as heck at the situation and that she is being used to get Martin.
Clancy takes Lisa to castle to keep her safe there, next thing you know it is four months later and Lisa and Clancy are together. Yes it pretty goes from arriving at the castle to fast forward four months. Then you read about the next few days and the book ends.
I have not read any of the previous books in the series so maybe if I did it would answer some questions and I would have liked this book more. I do like a good romance but, this just seemed a bit off to me.
I have to admit that I was not crazy about this book as it just did not feel complete to me.
Clancy is out to trap a guy named Martin Baldwin and uses Lisa, a singer and Baldwin ex-wife. Lisa does not go for the idea so Clancy decides to 'kidnap' Lisa and use her a bait. Then suddenly Clancy is in love with Lisa after just a few days but, Lisa is mad as heck at the situation and that she is being used to get Martin.
Clancy takes Lisa to castle to keep her safe there, next thing you know it is four months later and Lisa and Clancy are together. Yes it pretty goes from arriving at the castle to fast forward four months. Then you read about the next few days and the book ends.
I have not read any of the previous books in the series so maybe if I did it would answer some questions and I would have liked this book more. I do like a good romance but, this just seemed a bit off to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2011
Lisa Landon, a professional singer, accepts an invitation to sing at an island resort little knowing that it is a plot orchestrated to lure her former husband and current stalker into a trap set by Clancy Donahue. Clancy, the head of security for a small desert nation known as Sedikhan, asks her to participate in the scheme. When she declines, he merely kidnaps her, setting the stage for a simple love story.
This is a 2011 rerelease of and earlier Iris Johansen book, and shows clearly how she has grown as an author. The story is interesting, but lacks the development of Johansen’s later stories.
This is a 2011 rerelease of and earlier Iris Johansen book, and shows clearly how she has grown as an author. The story is interesting, but lacks the development of Johansen’s later stories.
Want to read
September 24, 2014I've read the first page, & can tell I will like it. I like the author's style, & am already feeling like I can relate to the characters. However, I did it again--I got a book that seems to have a predecessor --I think I am already supposed to be familiar with Clancy Donahue, so I think I am at a disadvantage, but I will write more to this review upon completion of the novel.
April 28, 2016
CD/unabridged/Romance:
Female doormat: Check
Bully Hero: Check
Fake country: Check
Stalker ex: Check
Hired Help that doesn't know their place: Check
Heroine who is treated like a princess even though she's the girlfriend of the hire help: Check
This book has all the elements to make a really bad book. Why it was re-released after 20 years, I do not know.
Female doormat: Check
Bully Hero: Check
Fake country: Check
Stalker ex: Check
Hired Help that doesn't know their place: Check
Heroine who is treated like a princess even though she's the girlfriend of the hire help: Check
This book has all the elements to make a really bad book. Why it was re-released after 20 years, I do not know.
June 26, 2012
Nice romance story. Love at first sight that is. Does that really happen in real life? lol Anyways, nicely written with a bit of thriller. Iris Johansen sure does hit the spot with what young women could only dream of in a storybook romance.
September 9, 2015
Another great read by Johansen
I have not read the earlier Sedikhan books but I liked this one so much I will be reading more of them as I come across them in E-book or print format. Don't have money to spend so don't buy many.
I have not read the earlier Sedikhan books but I liked this one so much I will be reading more of them as I come across them in E-book or print format. Don't have money to spend so don't buy many.
October 30, 2011
This is just one of those library kindle books that was in stock when I was checking out what was available. A quick little read, nothing too memorable about it.
January 14, 2012
Easy read, somewhat unrealistic plot.
June 28, 2012
This book read like a Harlequin romance. Much to mushy and full of sex. I love other books my Iris Johansen,but did not like this at all!
June 26, 2012
This e-book was in stock was I was browsing overdrive and it was brutal. Why I even read this crap is beyond me.
June 29, 2012
Very typical, the male character was somewhat better specimen of romantic heroes.
November 24, 2012
o.k. book for a couple of hours.
May 16, 2013
Not my favorite Johansen book. In fact, it was probably my least favorite, therefore getting just an "OK" rating.
April 22, 2013
Good romantic read.
October 17, 2013
An older book (1986) by Iris Johansen. I'm a huge fan of her books and hadn't realized that she had written for Loveswept. I was ready for a short category read and this fit the bill perfectly.
March 14, 2014
A fast beach read that takes place in an exotic local.
April 29, 2014
Insipid Romance
if you like fairy tales and heroes, you will enjoy yet another predictable romance. It reminded me of Grace Kelley + terrorists and helicopters.
if you like fairy tales and heroes, you will enjoy yet another predictable romance. It reminded me of Grace Kelley + terrorists and helicopters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews