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The Hell of Osirak
The year is 1981. The Osirak nuclear facility will become operational in a few weeks. Can British MI6 agent Nikki Sinclair stop an Armageddon of unimaginable horror and destruction from engulfing the Middle East?
Sinclair is sent on a mission that will be fraught with danger, deception and betrayal. Unexpectedly she encounters her ex-lover, Dvora Bar Zahavi who is an agent for the Mossad, is this a coincidence? Or are dark forces gathering around Sinclair?Sparks fly again, and Sinclair’s emotions are twisted and torn, can she trust Dvora? Can she trust her own side? Or perhaps no one at all? Sinclair begins to understand that she is little more than a pawn in a dangerous international game of physical intimacy. This fast paced, action packed, grand panoramic spy thriller is set in five countries and over three continents. Loosely based on a true story, code named Operation Opera by the Israelis, this exciting book by Jaye Rothman will intrigue and entertain you.
Sinclair is sent on a mission that will be fraught with danger, deception and betrayal. Unexpectedly she encounters her ex-lover, Dvora Bar Zahavi who is an agent for the Mossad, is this a coincidence? Or are dark forces gathering around Sinclair?Sparks fly again, and Sinclair’s emotions are twisted and torn, can she trust Dvora? Can she trust her own side? Or perhaps no one at all? Sinclair begins to understand that she is little more than a pawn in a dangerous international game of physical intimacy. This fast paced, action packed, grand panoramic spy thriller is set in five countries and over three continents. Loosely based on a true story, code named Operation Opera by the Israelis, this exciting book by Jaye Rothman will intrigue and entertain you.
- GenresSuspense
Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2013
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Jaye Rothman
10 books37 followersWelcome to the Goodreads author site of Jaye Rothman; creator and author of the Nikki Sinclair spy thrillers.
Nikki’s adventures begin in 1973, and the eighteen books planned in the series follow her life as a British spy over the next ten years, ending in 1983.
Why spy thrillers, and why a female protagonist?
My interest in espionage stems from a childhood growing up in London during the Cold War. An avid reader of James Bond books during my teenage years, I would watch the movies over and over, gripped by the characters and the non-stop action.
I often wondered why someone didn’t write a female equivalent to 007. But no one ever did.
Then, in 1981, when I was flying from Johannesburg to Lisbon, we stopped to refuel in Kinshasa. After disembarking, officials informed us the plane needed urgent repairs, they’d scheduled a replacement to take us on our way, but the aircraft would not arrive until three days hence. Considered passengers in transit, we had to surrender our passports and were driven, under guard, to a hotel on the outskirts of the city. We were told the non-functioning phones and faxes were due to a power outage as the result of a storm.
I was eating dinner with my fellow passengers in the hotel dining room when the premise for a book came to me. What if someone in our party disappeared in the middle of the night? Would the consequences be far-reaching? Thus, an outline for my novel The Hell of Osirak was born.
The idea percolated in my mind and, gradually over time, a character took shape: MI6 officer, Nikki Sinclair. I’ve set my stories during the years of the Cold War when Communism cast a dark shadow over Europe, and I hope my writing captures that period in history.
In 2017, I spent a year visiting European cities. My intention to gain inspiration for more Nikki Sinclair adventures, research examples of everyday life under Communism and ensure accuracy of location descriptions for the time and place added impetus to the experience.
These days, I live in a small coastal town north of Auckland with my devoted rescue dog, Molly the Collie, and spend my time tapping away on a computer. So far, I’ve written eight books featuring Nikki Sinclair, most of them based on actual events, such as the bombing of Osirak by the Israelis. Publishing these novels during the first half of 2021 is the next step in my writing journey.
Nikki’s adventures begin in 1973, and the eighteen books planned in the series follow her life as a British spy over the next ten years, ending in 1983.
Why spy thrillers, and why a female protagonist?
My interest in espionage stems from a childhood growing up in London during the Cold War. An avid reader of James Bond books during my teenage years, I would watch the movies over and over, gripped by the characters and the non-stop action.
I often wondered why someone didn’t write a female equivalent to 007. But no one ever did.
Then, in 1981, when I was flying from Johannesburg to Lisbon, we stopped to refuel in Kinshasa. After disembarking, officials informed us the plane needed urgent repairs, they’d scheduled a replacement to take us on our way, but the aircraft would not arrive until three days hence. Considered passengers in transit, we had to surrender our passports and were driven, under guard, to a hotel on the outskirts of the city. We were told the non-functioning phones and faxes were due to a power outage as the result of a storm.
I was eating dinner with my fellow passengers in the hotel dining room when the premise for a book came to me. What if someone in our party disappeared in the middle of the night? Would the consequences be far-reaching? Thus, an outline for my novel The Hell of Osirak was born.
The idea percolated in my mind and, gradually over time, a character took shape: MI6 officer, Nikki Sinclair. I’ve set my stories during the years of the Cold War when Communism cast a dark shadow over Europe, and I hope my writing captures that period in history.
In 2017, I spent a year visiting European cities. My intention to gain inspiration for more Nikki Sinclair adventures, research examples of everyday life under Communism and ensure accuracy of location descriptions for the time and place added impetus to the experience.
These days, I live in a small coastal town north of Auckland with my devoted rescue dog, Molly the Collie, and spend my time tapping away on a computer. So far, I’ve written eight books featuring Nikki Sinclair, most of them based on actual events, such as the bombing of Osirak by the Israelis. Publishing these novels during the first half of 2021 is the next step in my writing journey.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 12 reviews
November 21, 2021
A thrilling, fast paced spy novel, which doesnt have a dull moment. Set in Britain, Israel, South Africa, Zaire, France, Iraq and New Zealand. It is a novel where you really do not know what will happens next.
I could really get into the skin of Nikki Sinclair , a beautiful lesbian superpy besotted with memories of her Israeli lover Dvora Bar Zahavi, and sent on dangerous missions around the world for MI5 while battling prejudice against her for her homosexuality, her past demons and her dedication to serving her country.
the lesbian love scenes were tasteful and quite exqusite, while the traumatic rape Nikki undergoes five times during the book is disturbing and heatbreaking.
What makes Nikki so endearing is that she is a combination of both toghness and vulnerability, she is not some cartoon superheo
Her story is in many cases a sad one from her rejection by her parents because of her being a lesbian (the birthday and Christmas cards she sends them even are unreturned) to the way M15 forces her into the beds of men even after her traumatic rape.
Nikki met Dvora during her training in 1973 when a lot of countries still cooperated freely with Israel before the years of isolation imposed on Israel by perfidious enemies.
the heart of the novel revolves around the race to obtain the microfilm details of Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein's nuclear plans to destroy Israel which culminated in 1981 in the Israeli raid that destroyed Saddam's Osirak nuclear plant
I found myself biting my nails for both heroines, cheering for them (especially when Nikki kills one of her tormentors and rapists, also being one of Saddam's key men at Osirak)
Apart from that is great to read fiction that gives a sympathetic portrayal of Israel, in an age when it all so fashionable to demonize that tiny country struggling for survival.
I could really get into the skin of Nikki Sinclair , a beautiful lesbian superpy besotted with memories of her Israeli lover Dvora Bar Zahavi, and sent on dangerous missions around the world for MI5 while battling prejudice against her for her homosexuality, her past demons and her dedication to serving her country.
the lesbian love scenes were tasteful and quite exqusite, while the traumatic rape Nikki undergoes five times during the book is disturbing and heatbreaking.
What makes Nikki so endearing is that she is a combination of both toghness and vulnerability, she is not some cartoon superheo
Her story is in many cases a sad one from her rejection by her parents because of her being a lesbian (the birthday and Christmas cards she sends them even are unreturned) to the way M15 forces her into the beds of men even after her traumatic rape.
Nikki met Dvora during her training in 1973 when a lot of countries still cooperated freely with Israel before the years of isolation imposed on Israel by perfidious enemies.
the heart of the novel revolves around the race to obtain the microfilm details of Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein's nuclear plans to destroy Israel which culminated in 1981 in the Israeli raid that destroyed Saddam's Osirak nuclear plant
I found myself biting my nails for both heroines, cheering for them (especially when Nikki kills one of her tormentors and rapists, also being one of Saddam's key men at Osirak)
Apart from that is great to read fiction that gives a sympathetic portrayal of Israel, in an age when it all so fashionable to demonize that tiny country struggling for survival.
July 24, 2016
3.5 stars! Not my usual genre, but it was fast paced and well written!
The story is about a spy, so be warned that there is quite a bit of abuse and/or torture throughout, but it really gives the reader a sense of what the character (I don't want to give away "who") had to go through.
Not heavy on the romance, but there is some f/f love sprinkled in. Enough to keep me interested, anyway. ;)
One thing I really enjoyed was the French dialogue. There's just a bit and it's not translated (but if you don't speak French, you will quickly understand the meaning once you read the rest of the conversation). However, I had a good time trying to dust off my French vocabulary!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Recommended for those who love thrillers, spies, history, and romantic suspense!
The story is about a spy, so be warned that there is quite a bit of abuse and/or torture throughout, but it really gives the reader a sense of what the character (I don't want to give away "who") had to go through.
Not heavy on the romance, but there is some f/f love sprinkled in. Enough to keep me interested, anyway. ;)
One thing I really enjoyed was the French dialogue. There's just a bit and it's not translated (but if you don't speak French, you will quickly understand the meaning once you read the rest of the conversation). However, I had a good time trying to dust off my French vocabulary!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Recommended for those who love thrillers, spies, history, and romantic suspense!
August 13, 2016
Not at all what I expected. I liked some and some not so much.
I seriously need time to formulate a proper review.
I seriously need time to formulate a proper review.
January 2, 2015
This book just took my breath away!!It has two themes basically,which are intertwined brilliantly!The novel has elements of truth in it..And seems very plausible,very very real..I kinda find it hard to categorize this book as a novel themed on LGBT/Lesbian genera or as a historical fictional!!I'd say,the book belongs to both of these categories EQUALLY!!Which makes this book a masterpiece..It is very rare to find a lesbian themed book which is not erotica and NOT just a graphic description(s) of a series of sexual scenes..It is very tastefully written and the other pro-Israel/spy/Mossad theme steals the show!!
The danger Iraq's Osirak nuke plant created for Israel was very real,Saddam Hussein WAS brutal enough to use chem weapons/poisonous gases on Iraq's own people as we saw,Israel did herself and our world a big big favor by taking out his nukes...And the whole story is written on this backdrop..Israel has saved millions of lives by taking out Osirak..And the novel based on this real incident,shows much of how various state spy agencies interact,or at least interacted during that time..And shows us the complexities of their relations..
The other interesting aspect of the book was the dilemma lesbian agents have to face while working for these agencies.My heart was broken for Nikki Sinclair,the main character of the book as she has to sleep with men to gain intelligence.She is a strong willed character and she is very REAL in a sense,she is vulnerable,not invincible,and that makes you root for her!Her ordeal is heartbreaking,but her will to prevail is very strong,as she goes through her services as an agent for the UK(Britain),she experiences everlasting love form a fellow Israeli spy Dvora only to get her heart broken again and again,just to bounce back!!She's NOT a female Matrix!She is very real and the reader can relate to that..Identify with her..I like that part the most!!
I am pro-Israel myself,very much actually but the novel has much broader appeal than just to pro-Israel crowd!!It is action packed and intense yet at the same time very sensual,and romantic..I would recommend the book regardless of your stance on Israel..If you're pro-Israel,I guarantee you that you'll luv the book as much as I did!This book is very versatile in its likely appeal to various audiences,pro-Israel,LGBT,Lesbian readers,Bleeding heart feminists(that would be me!!),lesbian feminists..a straight reader who loves historical fiction,fans of Middle Eastern conflict stories,a straight person window shopping on LGBT lifestyle.A straight gal curious about Bi/LGBT,A straight man who wants to dabble in lesbian world(No,You're not going to get'em,it doesnt work that way!!Hormones at 6-8 weeks of age,baby!This is as good as you are going to get in our subculture,deal with it!)This book is for EVERYBODY!!So I would suggest you give this book a shot!
If you are a fan of a strong female lead character,you're in for a treat!!You get two of them!!As both Nikki and Dvora are very strong willed women,and their romance is incredible..I was soo eager to see them together throught the book!!And I luved it so much when they are together!The story has a number of strong female characters!And a real treat for feminists who like this type of story!!I could not put the book down!!I read it under 2 days!!And when battery of my laptop died down,I traveled 3 hours to go back home early to continue reading!!I love both these genres,Lesbian and pro-Israel spy/Mossad type of stories and this is the best of both of these worlds!!
I'd luv to write in more detail about the plot but I won't as I dont want to give away spoilers!!But in a nutshell,this story depicts life of Nikki Sinclair,a lesbian agent for the Brits,who falls in eternal love with Israeli Mossad agent Dvora,their time together,the ordeals Nikki had to face,her being a lesbian and having to sleep with bearded sweaty men(Ugh!)to gain intel,her stubborn chiefs,she has to endure two brutal rapes which totally broke my heart and it just made me want to go there and protect her!The rape scenes in the story are brutal and sinister but they contribute to the story a lot and make Nikki a more powerful character..Her encounters with Dvora are intense and super-sensual and I luved reading every word describing them!!The ending kinda surprised me and was kinda unexpected..
I really really enjoyed reading the book,I couldn't think of anything else till I was done with the book for two days!!It was a surreal experience on my part,for this book captured my attention with such interest!!I really like stories with a strong female lead,and this was a gem of a story for me!!Pro-Israel storyline really did the magic!!And captured my heart!!This book is gold and I'd suggest you just go for it!!You'd be happy that you did!
Merged review:
This book just took my breath away!!It has two themes basically,which are intertwined brilliantly!The novel has elements of truth in it..And seems very plausible,very very real..I kinda find it hard to categorize this book as a novel themed on LGBT/Lesbian genera or as a historical fictional!!I'd say,the book belongs to both of these categories EQUALLY!!Which makes this book a masterpiece..It is very rare to find a lesbian themed book which is not erotica and NOT just a graphic description(s) of a series of sexual scenes..It is very tastefully written and the other pro-Israel/spy/Mossad theme steals the show!!
The danger Iraq's Osirak nuke plant created for Israel was very real,Saddam Hussein WAS brutal enough to use chem weapons/poisonous gases on Iraq's own people as we saw,Israel did herself and our world a big big favor by taking out his nukes...And the whole story is written on this backdrop..Israel has saved millions of lives by taking out Osirak..And the novel based on this real incident,shows much of how various state spy agencies interact,or at least interacted during that time..And shows us the complexities of their relations..
The other interesting aspect of the book was the dilemma lesbian agents have to face while working for these agencies.My heart was broken for Nikki Sinclair,the main character of the book as she has to sleep with men to gain intelligence.She is a strong willed character and she is very REAL in a sense,she is vulnerable,not invincible,and that makes you root for her!Her ordeal is heartbreaking,but her will to prevail is very strong,as she goes through her services as an agent for the UK(Britain),she experiences everlasting love form a fellow Israeli spy Dvora only to get her heart broken again and again,just to bounce back!!She's NOT a female Matrix!She is very real and the reader can relate to that..Identify with her..I like that part the most!!
I am pro-Israel myself,very much actually but the novel has much broader appeal than just to pro-Israel crowd!!It is action packed and intense yet at the same time very sensual,and romantic..I would recommend the book regardless of your stance on Israel..If you're pro-Israel,I guarantee you that you'll luv the book as much as I did!This book is very versatile in its likely appeal to various audiences,pro-Israel,LGBT,Lesbian readers,Bleeding heart feminists(that would be me!!),lesbian feminists..a straight reader who loves historical fiction,fans of Middle Eastern conflict stories,a straight person window shopping on LGBT lifestyle.A straight gal curious about Bi/LGBT,A straight man who wants to dabble in lesbian world(No,You're not going to get'em,it doesnt work that way!!Hormones at 6-8 weeks of age,baby!This is as good as you are going to get in our subculture,deal with it!)This book is for EVERYBODY!!So I would suggest you give this book a shot!
If you are a fan of a strong female lead character,you're in for a treat!!You get two of them!!As both Nikki and Dvora are very strong willed women,and their romance is incredible..I was soo eager to see them together thr-ought the book!!And I luved it so much when they are together!The story has a number of strong female characters!And a real treat for feminists who like this type of story!!I could not put the book down!!I read it under 2 days!!And when battery of my laptop died down,I traveled 3 hours to go back home early to continue reading!!I love both these genres,Lesbian and pro-Israel spy/Mossad type of stories and this is the best of both of these worlds!!
I'd luv to write in more detail about the plot but I won't as I dont want to give away spoilers!!But in a nutshell,this story depicts life of Nikki Sinclair,a lesbian agent for the Brits,who falls in eternal love with Israeli Mossad agent Dvora,their time together,the ordeals Nikki had to face,her being a lesbian and having to sleep with bearded sweaty men(Ugh!)to gain intel,her stubborn chiefs,she has to endure two brutal rapes which totally broke my heart and it just made me want to go there and protect her!The rape scenes in the story are brutal and sinister but they contribute to the story a lot and make Nikki a more powerful character..Her encounters with Dvora are intense and super-sensual and I luved reading every word describing them!!The ending kinda surprised me and was kinda unexpected..
I really really enjoyed reading the book,I couldn't think of anything else till I was done with the book for two days!!It was a surreal experience on my part,for this book captured my attention with such interest!!I really like stories with a strong female lead,and this was a gem of a story for me!!Pro-Israel storyline really did the magic!!And cpatured my heart!!This book is gold and I'd suggest you just go for it!!You'd be happy that you did!
The danger Iraq's Osirak nuke plant created for Israel was very real,Saddam Hussein WAS brutal enough to use chem weapons/poisonous gases on Iraq's own people as we saw,Israel did herself and our world a big big favor by taking out his nukes...And the whole story is written on this backdrop..Israel has saved millions of lives by taking out Osirak..And the novel based on this real incident,shows much of how various state spy agencies interact,or at least interacted during that time..And shows us the complexities of their relations..
The other interesting aspect of the book was the dilemma lesbian agents have to face while working for these agencies.My heart was broken for Nikki Sinclair,the main character of the book as she has to sleep with men to gain intelligence.She is a strong willed character and she is very REAL in a sense,she is vulnerable,not invincible,and that makes you root for her!Her ordeal is heartbreaking,but her will to prevail is very strong,as she goes through her services as an agent for the UK(Britain),she experiences everlasting love form a fellow Israeli spy Dvora only to get her heart broken again and again,just to bounce back!!She's NOT a female Matrix!She is very real and the reader can relate to that..Identify with her..I like that part the most!!
I am pro-Israel myself,very much actually but the novel has much broader appeal than just to pro-Israel crowd!!It is action packed and intense yet at the same time very sensual,and romantic..I would recommend the book regardless of your stance on Israel..If you're pro-Israel,I guarantee you that you'll luv the book as much as I did!This book is very versatile in its likely appeal to various audiences,pro-Israel,LGBT,Lesbian readers,Bleeding heart feminists(that would be me!!),lesbian feminists..a straight reader who loves historical fiction,fans of Middle Eastern conflict stories,a straight person window shopping on LGBT lifestyle.A straight gal curious about Bi/LGBT,A straight man who wants to dabble in lesbian world(No,You're not going to get'em,it doesnt work that way!!Hormones at 6-8 weeks of age,baby!This is as good as you are going to get in our subculture,deal with it!)This book is for EVERYBODY!!So I would suggest you give this book a shot!
If you are a fan of a strong female lead character,you're in for a treat!!You get two of them!!As both Nikki and Dvora are very strong willed women,and their romance is incredible..I was soo eager to see them together throught the book!!And I luved it so much when they are together!The story has a number of strong female characters!And a real treat for feminists who like this type of story!!I could not put the book down!!I read it under 2 days!!And when battery of my laptop died down,I traveled 3 hours to go back home early to continue reading!!I love both these genres,Lesbian and pro-Israel spy/Mossad type of stories and this is the best of both of these worlds!!
I'd luv to write in more detail about the plot but I won't as I dont want to give away spoilers!!But in a nutshell,this story depicts life of Nikki Sinclair,a lesbian agent for the Brits,who falls in eternal love with Israeli Mossad agent Dvora,their time together,the ordeals Nikki had to face,her being a lesbian and having to sleep with bearded sweaty men(Ugh!)to gain intel,her stubborn chiefs,she has to endure two brutal rapes which totally broke my heart and it just made me want to go there and protect her!The rape scenes in the story are brutal and sinister but they contribute to the story a lot and make Nikki a more powerful character..Her encounters with Dvora are intense and super-sensual and I luved reading every word describing them!!The ending kinda surprised me and was kinda unexpected..
I really really enjoyed reading the book,I couldn't think of anything else till I was done with the book for two days!!It was a surreal experience on my part,for this book captured my attention with such interest!!I really like stories with a strong female lead,and this was a gem of a story for me!!Pro-Israel storyline really did the magic!!And captured my heart!!This book is gold and I'd suggest you just go for it!!You'd be happy that you did!
Merged review:
This book just took my breath away!!It has two themes basically,which are intertwined brilliantly!The novel has elements of truth in it..And seems very plausible,very very real..I kinda find it hard to categorize this book as a novel themed on LGBT/Lesbian genera or as a historical fictional!!I'd say,the book belongs to both of these categories EQUALLY!!Which makes this book a masterpiece..It is very rare to find a lesbian themed book which is not erotica and NOT just a graphic description(s) of a series of sexual scenes..It is very tastefully written and the other pro-Israel/spy/Mossad theme steals the show!!
The danger Iraq's Osirak nuke plant created for Israel was very real,Saddam Hussein WAS brutal enough to use chem weapons/poisonous gases on Iraq's own people as we saw,Israel did herself and our world a big big favor by taking out his nukes...And the whole story is written on this backdrop..Israel has saved millions of lives by taking out Osirak..And the novel based on this real incident,shows much of how various state spy agencies interact,or at least interacted during that time..And shows us the complexities of their relations..
The other interesting aspect of the book was the dilemma lesbian agents have to face while working for these agencies.My heart was broken for Nikki Sinclair,the main character of the book as she has to sleep with men to gain intelligence.She is a strong willed character and she is very REAL in a sense,she is vulnerable,not invincible,and that makes you root for her!Her ordeal is heartbreaking,but her will to prevail is very strong,as she goes through her services as an agent for the UK(Britain),she experiences everlasting love form a fellow Israeli spy Dvora only to get her heart broken again and again,just to bounce back!!She's NOT a female Matrix!She is very real and the reader can relate to that..Identify with her..I like that part the most!!
I am pro-Israel myself,very much actually but the novel has much broader appeal than just to pro-Israel crowd!!It is action packed and intense yet at the same time very sensual,and romantic..I would recommend the book regardless of your stance on Israel..If you're pro-Israel,I guarantee you that you'll luv the book as much as I did!This book is very versatile in its likely appeal to various audiences,pro-Israel,LGBT,Lesbian readers,Bleeding heart feminists(that would be me!!),lesbian feminists..a straight reader who loves historical fiction,fans of Middle Eastern conflict stories,a straight person window shopping on LGBT lifestyle.A straight gal curious about Bi/LGBT,A straight man who wants to dabble in lesbian world(No,You're not going to get'em,it doesnt work that way!!Hormones at 6-8 weeks of age,baby!This is as good as you are going to get in our subculture,deal with it!)This book is for EVERYBODY!!So I would suggest you give this book a shot!
If you are a fan of a strong female lead character,you're in for a treat!!You get two of them!!As both Nikki and Dvora are very strong willed women,and their romance is incredible..I was soo eager to see them together thr-ought the book!!And I luved it so much when they are together!The story has a number of strong female characters!And a real treat for feminists who like this type of story!!I could not put the book down!!I read it under 2 days!!And when battery of my laptop died down,I traveled 3 hours to go back home early to continue reading!!I love both these genres,Lesbian and pro-Israel spy/Mossad type of stories and this is the best of both of these worlds!!
I'd luv to write in more detail about the plot but I won't as I dont want to give away spoilers!!But in a nutshell,this story depicts life of Nikki Sinclair,a lesbian agent for the Brits,who falls in eternal love with Israeli Mossad agent Dvora,their time together,the ordeals Nikki had to face,her being a lesbian and having to sleep with bearded sweaty men(Ugh!)to gain intel,her stubborn chiefs,she has to endure two brutal rapes which totally broke my heart and it just made me want to go there and protect her!The rape scenes in the story are brutal and sinister but they contribute to the story a lot and make Nikki a more powerful character..Her encounters with Dvora are intense and super-sensual and I luved reading every word describing them!!The ending kinda surprised me and was kinda unexpected..
I really really enjoyed reading the book,I couldn't think of anything else till I was done with the book for two days!!It was a surreal experience on my part,for this book captured my attention with such interest!!I really like stories with a strong female lead,and this was a gem of a story for me!!Pro-Israel storyline really did the magic!!And cpatured my heart!!This book is gold and I'd suggest you just go for it!!You'd be happy that you did!
January 5, 2015
4.5 stars
Agents Nikki Sinclair and Dvora Bar Zahavi met and feel in love during a training they both attended despite being agents of different countries. After a seven year separation the two meet again while on a mission and reignite their romance. However, the mission takes a dramatic twist and the two are separated once again. Nikki Sinclair becomes cast in another risky mission and her world begins to unravel. Can two opposite agents find and keep love? Will Nikki's mission finally be the downfall of everything she's holding onto?
The Hell of Osirak introduced me to a new literary world of espionage and secret missions. The author describes in her blurb that some of the events are based on true events- which had me googling of course as I read. I loved the historical aspect of this book and also enjoyed reading about characters in a different setting and country than I usually read.
This book also contains a harsh look into the sacrifices agents may have to make in the field. Nikki Sinclair suffers some scenes of torture and sexual assault provoked because of her sexuality. While this book takes place in the 80s and times and attitudes have changed, this material may not be for everyone to read. While brutal, I thought the storyline was realistic and I felt that Nikki and I endured so much together as character and reader.
Romance, espionage, and betrayal- this book has it all! While this book accounts to a little over 200 pages on my ereader it felt like a 500 page book with all of the action and intricate details of the selected missions. The first half truly sets up the book with many details and introductions of various characters in various countries. The second half is where everything starts to come together and I was eagerly reading- awaiting- to find out what was going to happen. A stunning debut and a great start to a trilogy- I will definitely read the next book to release!
Recommended for those looking for a thrilling, well-researched & intellectual read with romance served hot on the side!
December 24, 2013
This was quite a controversial book for me to read. One that made me think a lot on the emotions that reading this book has brought forth.
I was kindly asked by the author to review this book, forewarning me of hot lesbian scenes in it. And I have to say yes there are quite a few lesbian love scenes, heart ripping emotions and a buzzing sexual innuendo. Actually the whole book is abundantly filled with sex, lesbian and heterosexual, consensual or not, used as love making or as a means to obtain information, intimate or purely violent.
It is with this part of the book that I wasn't happy with. Rape, repeated rape, is part and parcel of the story. It is the fulcrum on which the plot revolves.
So I would not recommend this book if like me you are not comfortable with reading a book that involves a detailed rape perpetuated on a woman because she is a lesbian.
As regards all the rest of the book the story is fast paced, action filled, riveting and hellishly spellbinding.
I was kindly asked by the author to review this book, forewarning me of hot lesbian scenes in it. And I have to say yes there are quite a few lesbian love scenes, heart ripping emotions and a buzzing sexual innuendo. Actually the whole book is abundantly filled with sex, lesbian and heterosexual, consensual or not, used as love making or as a means to obtain information, intimate or purely violent.
It is with this part of the book that I wasn't happy with. Rape, repeated rape, is part and parcel of the story. It is the fulcrum on which the plot revolves.
So I would not recommend this book if like me you are not comfortable with reading a book that involves a detailed rape perpetuated on a woman because she is a lesbian.
As regards all the rest of the book the story is fast paced, action filled, riveting and hellishly spellbinding.
January 10, 2014
I loved this book. I real great plot. I have read a lot of lesbian novels. This is the best lesbian novel I have ever read.
December 9, 2013
Betrayal
British agent, Nikki Sinclair, is on an intelligence mission in South Africa. The question to be answered is- ‘is the assignment a cover up job, or is it genuine and crucial to the British government and security’?
Sinclair finds herself deep into an extremely dangerous undercover operation. Her position is fraught with danger and she fears for her life.
When Sinclair meets up with her ex lover, the lover she’s been unable to get out of her mind and is still deeply in love with, she is easily persuaded back into her bed. Unfortunately, Sinclair’s Mossad lover may not be all she seems, causing Sinclair to confront her demons and question her sexuality, integrity and whether she is still cut out for her job. Sinclair’s most pressing concern is getting out of Kinshasa in one piece.
Sinclair suffers a brutal assault carried out by another agent. She’s badly hurt physically and mentally and is forced to take time out of the field and sit behind a desk. She hates it.
When Sinclair is browbeaten into accepting another mission, before she’s mentally ready, she finds the assignment is her absolute worst nightmare. She is transported to a nuclear plant in Iraq as an undercover agent. It’s here that Sinclair has to fight hard to escape her demons, her passion for her ex lover and the worst nightmare of all, the sex crazed Pierre Harcourt.
Sinclair is at an all time low. Who can she trust? Her own side have betrayed her, her lover left her for dead after betraying her. Maybe it’s best to trust only herself and her own instincts. But, can she even trust herself?
This is Jaye Rothman’s debut novel. It’s a fast paced, action packed, thrilling spy story. I have no idea how any country runs their intelligence operations, so all I can say is, the storyline made perfect sense and appears to be very well researched.
The characters are well formed and multidimensional. They all play their parts very well, whether they are the goodies or the baddies.
I have no intention of putting in any spoilers. But I did have a few problems getting my head round the way Sinclair was treated by her own country after her return from a particularly dreadful mission and her being assigned a subsequent mission before she was ready. I wasn’t overjoyed with some of the violent sex scenes. But, it did appear to be essential to the story. I just found it very hard to take. This is only my own impressions of the horrific torturous events suffered by Sinclair over a period of time.
All in all, this book is very well written. The story flows along nicely. Apparently, this is the first in a series of books. I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
British agent, Nikki Sinclair, is on an intelligence mission in South Africa. The question to be answered is- ‘is the assignment a cover up job, or is it genuine and crucial to the British government and security’?
Sinclair finds herself deep into an extremely dangerous undercover operation. Her position is fraught with danger and she fears for her life.
When Sinclair meets up with her ex lover, the lover she’s been unable to get out of her mind and is still deeply in love with, she is easily persuaded back into her bed. Unfortunately, Sinclair’s Mossad lover may not be all she seems, causing Sinclair to confront her demons and question her sexuality, integrity and whether she is still cut out for her job. Sinclair’s most pressing concern is getting out of Kinshasa in one piece.
Sinclair suffers a brutal assault carried out by another agent. She’s badly hurt physically and mentally and is forced to take time out of the field and sit behind a desk. She hates it.
When Sinclair is browbeaten into accepting another mission, before she’s mentally ready, she finds the assignment is her absolute worst nightmare. She is transported to a nuclear plant in Iraq as an undercover agent. It’s here that Sinclair has to fight hard to escape her demons, her passion for her ex lover and the worst nightmare of all, the sex crazed Pierre Harcourt.
Sinclair is at an all time low. Who can she trust? Her own side have betrayed her, her lover left her for dead after betraying her. Maybe it’s best to trust only herself and her own instincts. But, can she even trust herself?
This is Jaye Rothman’s debut novel. It’s a fast paced, action packed, thrilling spy story. I have no idea how any country runs their intelligence operations, so all I can say is, the storyline made perfect sense and appears to be very well researched.
The characters are well formed and multidimensional. They all play their parts very well, whether they are the goodies or the baddies.
I have no intention of putting in any spoilers. But I did have a few problems getting my head round the way Sinclair was treated by her own country after her return from a particularly dreadful mission and her being assigned a subsequent mission before she was ready. I wasn’t overjoyed with some of the violent sex scenes. But, it did appear to be essential to the story. I just found it very hard to take. This is only my own impressions of the horrific torturous events suffered by Sinclair over a period of time.
All in all, this book is very well written. The story flows along nicely. Apparently, this is the first in a series of books. I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
October 14, 2014
Danger, deception, and betrayal all the things that women are suppose to be superior at. The year is 1981 and the 80s has never seems so exciting, intense, action filled. MI6 agent Nikki Sinclair has a mission that would put hair on the chest of men around the world. She doing all this to prevent an Armageddon that will cause destruction and fill the country with horrors in the Middle East?
Sinclair encounters danger, deception, betrayal, doubt, ex-lover, and old emotions. There are many things thrown her way and through it all she has to find her way clear to make things right. She learns that she is a pawn in a game that could cost her her life and the lives of others.
I found this to be a dangerous game played on the fields of the international community at large. I find it to be fast paced, action packed, and highly thrilling. Some of the content may not have been to my liking but the ride was well worth the read. Rothman has given women a good name and that we need to be taken seriously in whatever field we choose to be in. Sinclair is a heroine on a serious mission.
Sinclair encounters danger, deception, betrayal, doubt, ex-lover, and old emotions. There are many things thrown her way and through it all she has to find her way clear to make things right. She learns that she is a pawn in a game that could cost her her life and the lives of others.
I found this to be a dangerous game played on the fields of the international community at large. I find it to be fast paced, action packed, and highly thrilling. Some of the content may not have been to my liking but the ride was well worth the read. Rothman has given women a good name and that we need to be taken seriously in whatever field we choose to be in. Sinclair is a heroine on a serious mission.
June 27, 2014
I liked the whole story within a story that was going on. There is some very controversial or sensitive (to some) material in this book. The story and characters were very well written and very believeable. Rothman did a wonderful job with The Hell of Osirak. I look forward to a second book. If you haven’t read this yet, you should.
January 13, 2014
Very good read! Really descriptive and kept my interest! Looking forward to the trilogy series!!
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