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Undercover
Jenny Moore is good at her job. Her colleagues have become family and her life is enriched by both good friends and a cat with personality. But there's still something missing. She longs for adventure -- in a nice moderate dose that will fit in with the rest of her life.
When Alexei Roshenko steps over her threshold the tall, dark, and handsome stranger sweeps her off her feet. He appears to be the answer to every romantic fantasy any woman ever had, and to make things better, he's mysterious and exotic.
There's more to Alex than meets the eye -- a dark, violent past is catching up with him. When Jenny acts on a whim and follows him to Russia, she soon finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and secrets beyond her wildest imagination.
Survival will depend on an inner strength she didn't know she possessed, and only one thing is life will never be the same again.
When Alexei Roshenko steps over her threshold the tall, dark, and handsome stranger sweeps her off her feet. He appears to be the answer to every romantic fantasy any woman ever had, and to make things better, he's mysterious and exotic.
There's more to Alex than meets the eye -- a dark, violent past is catching up with him. When Jenny acts on a whim and follows him to Russia, she soon finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and secrets beyond her wildest imagination.
Survival will depend on an inner strength she didn't know she possessed, and only one thing is life will never be the same again.
- GenresContemporary Romance
204 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2010
60 people want to read
About the author
Maria Hammarblad
28 books88 followersBorn in Sweden in the early 1970's, Maria showed a large interest for books early in her life. Even before she was able to read or write, she made her mom staple papers together that she drew suns in, and proudly declared them to be the "Sun Book." They were all about the sun. This fascination with books and writing lasted through her teens, but as an adult, her career veered off towards desktop publishing and technical literature.
Even on this winding road through very different employers, she managed to always incorporate writing in her work, making a living by making user manuals and documentations for computer systems. Not until the year 2000 did she find what would be her professional home at SSAB Swedish Steel, where she worked with logistics for the better part of a decade.
During 2008 she felt that it was time for a change, and she promptly enrolled in college and relocated to Florida in November that year. This change of lifestyle gave her the peace of mind and time she needed to pursue her interest in writing fiction, and this far it has resulted in three published novels; "Kidnapped," "Touch of the Goddess," and "Undercover," and several more are on the way.
Even on this winding road through very different employers, she managed to always incorporate writing in her work, making a living by making user manuals and documentations for computer systems. Not until the year 2000 did she find what would be her professional home at SSAB Swedish Steel, where she worked with logistics for the better part of a decade.
During 2008 she felt that it was time for a change, and she promptly enrolled in college and relocated to Florida in November that year. This change of lifestyle gave her the peace of mind and time she needed to pursue her interest in writing fiction, and this far it has resulted in three published novels; "Kidnapped," "Touch of the Goddess," and "Undercover," and several more are on the way.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 24, 2010
I won this book on Goodreads First-Reads.
Undercover was quite intriguing to say the least. Though it's not my typical genre, the love story amidst crime and peril made it difficult to find a place to pause for sleep. The book is exciting enough to keep the flow of action and real enough to be able identify with the characters. Jenny Moore places a sickeningly human faith in her foreign love interest which leads her to a paradoxical nirvana plagued with internal and external threats. She leaves everything she knows to pursue the unknown. As surreal as her unconditional love may first appear, this commitment can be seen in every culture to family, friends, religious and political leaders. The most disturbing parts of this book are not the violent acts, the relationship dependencies, or even the nonchalant reactions to said violence, but the fact that these qualities are possible in any human being. In fact, this is what makes the book so interesting in the first place. There's betrayal, love, explosives, gun-wielding, international spies, and intense levels of deceit. The only request I would have is to be able to see this on a movie screen.
Maria Hammarblad wasn't afraid to touch on controversial issues, such as the death of innocents by people who weren't inherently evil. Instead of trying to establish a firm line between the subjective notions of "good" and "bad" she conveyed a situation in which the lines were blurred. If the riveting plot isn't enough, the philosophical stimulation should be.
Overall, the interaction between the various characters was not only interesting to follow but thought-provoking. The change in location kept things from getting dull and there were even times of comedy. It was easy to place myself in any one of their roles and a little unnerving to predict my own reactions to the life-threatening situations. The flow was perfect, as were the chapter lengths, and it was quite the relaxing read as far as structure.
Undercover was quite intriguing to say the least. Though it's not my typical genre, the love story amidst crime and peril made it difficult to find a place to pause for sleep. The book is exciting enough to keep the flow of action and real enough to be able identify with the characters. Jenny Moore places a sickeningly human faith in her foreign love interest which leads her to a paradoxical nirvana plagued with internal and external threats. She leaves everything she knows to pursue the unknown. As surreal as her unconditional love may first appear, this commitment can be seen in every culture to family, friends, religious and political leaders. The most disturbing parts of this book are not the violent acts, the relationship dependencies, or even the nonchalant reactions to said violence, but the fact that these qualities are possible in any human being. In fact, this is what makes the book so interesting in the first place. There's betrayal, love, explosives, gun-wielding, international spies, and intense levels of deceit. The only request I would have is to be able to see this on a movie screen.
Maria Hammarblad wasn't afraid to touch on controversial issues, such as the death of innocents by people who weren't inherently evil. Instead of trying to establish a firm line between the subjective notions of "good" and "bad" she conveyed a situation in which the lines were blurred. If the riveting plot isn't enough, the philosophical stimulation should be.
Overall, the interaction between the various characters was not only interesting to follow but thought-provoking. The change in location kept things from getting dull and there were even times of comedy. It was easy to place myself in any one of their roles and a little unnerving to predict my own reactions to the life-threatening situations. The flow was perfect, as were the chapter lengths, and it was quite the relaxing read as far as structure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2010
Jenny Moore is a quite ordinary young woman working for a nameless big industry. She does wish for some more adventure in her life, and she gossips wildly with her friends working in the same office. One day, said adventure does enter through her door, in the shape of customer Alexei Roshenko, who is recently arrived from Russia to learn more about the company's materials and manufacturing processes. He thinks that she's just as pretty as the "beauties from the fabled Hollywood," and she finds him extremely handsome and exciting.
After a brief and intense romance, he goes back home, and she goes back to her old life, and that might very well have been all. Except, they can't stop thinking about each other. All might still have been well if it wasn't for the little complication of him being a very competent killer employed by the army. They do find a way to get back together, but the couple's problems are just starting. Alexei finds himself forced to work as a "spy, agent, and occasional terrorist," and to say that Jenny's life is turned completely upside down would be putting it mildly.
The rest of the book follows their adventures trying to survive and trying to stay together and out of prison. The book is divided into three parts, and I found the first part both funny, cute and romantic, but rather slow. The action definitely picks up in the second part, and when reaching the third part it had become impossible to put the book down.
After a brief and intense romance, he goes back home, and she goes back to her old life, and that might very well have been all. Except, they can't stop thinking about each other. All might still have been well if it wasn't for the little complication of him being a very competent killer employed by the army. They do find a way to get back together, but the couple's problems are just starting. Alexei finds himself forced to work as a "spy, agent, and occasional terrorist," and to say that Jenny's life is turned completely upside down would be putting it mildly.
The rest of the book follows their adventures trying to survive and trying to stay together and out of prison. The book is divided into three parts, and I found the first part both funny, cute and romantic, but rather slow. The action definitely picks up in the second part, and when reaching the third part it had become impossible to put the book down.
November 9, 2010
Jenny is a shallow Girl and not someone I would get along with very well in real life but in the book she is fantastic. She's so infatuated that common sense is completely out the door and I can see why. Alex the Man to want in this book might not be a handsome drool over man to want, but Hammarblad makes you want him. Many of the other characters are also great too Like Mark, Jenny's colleague who was so funny I would find myself Laughing out loud, and a few others like Lindsey she is a cute character as well.
The author tells the story actually pretty easily even though there is much interaction between people. The many dialogues flow very nicely and sound like real people. I get confused easy when a book shifts between characters, but Maria did a fantastic Job of making this book not so confusing and very easy to understand and I would rate this a 4 out of 5 stars for sure~!
UNDERCOVER is 436 pages thick but don't let that scare you I read it in 3 days and that is pretty good for me lol.
The author tells the story actually pretty easily even though there is much interaction between people. The many dialogues flow very nicely and sound like real people. I get confused easy when a book shifts between characters, but Maria did a fantastic Job of making this book not so confusing and very easy to understand and I would rate this a 4 out of 5 stars for sure~!
UNDERCOVER is 436 pages thick but don't let that scare you I read it in 3 days and that is pretty good for me lol.
August 15, 2014
This is an interesting twist on a 007 novel. The tense waiting is real as the reader eagerly anticipates Ms. Hammarblad’s next twist in the story.
Read full review in the 2012 November issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2012 November issue of InD’tale Magazine.
November 22, 2010
I had high hopes for this book when I received it through First Reads, but felt my expectations were in risk of being disappointed when I read the "prologue" and found that it wasn't actually a prologue at all, but just more of the same stuff as in chapter one...most of which was completely unnecessary. This story is overly long winded and very poorly edited in terms of story and plot. It feels like it was not planned at all, but just went where ever the author felt like at the moment. Important details were not set up in advance, but given just as they helped turn the plot giving a "deus et machina" feeling, rather than feeling believable.
The characters were extremely shallow and their emotions/thoughts were very unbelievable. For instance, how could the woman's coworkers not notice the two fawning over each other and not "get" what is going on? Or how could the author set up how much this lady was behind in her work and had all kinds of customers mad at her and her company and then it was all dropped and neither she nor her colleagues ever thought about it again? And that's just the first chapter. I hoped it would improve, but it did not.
I really didn't like the main character as she was very one-dimensional and sex obsessed--I just can't relate to a character like that, and the antagonist just seemed to have no personality at all. I was being told how the protagonist felt about him ad nauseum, but since the guy rarely said or did anything, except very cliche things that a man might do if he wanted to appear like 'Mister Wonderful', I not only didn't like him from the start; I actually grew to hate him before anything started happening which was quite a while.
The unbelievability factor of the characters and events of this novel kept bumping me out of the text so that I couldn't enjoy it at all. I love any genre book as long as it is well written, but this one was so badly written that I couldn't help constantly noticing how it had been written. I just couldn't get caught up in "feeling" anything except a growing distaste for continuing. I read to have an experience. I want to experience what the characters are experiencing. But I can't imagine any woman not being skeptical from the start with this guy and very quickly felt like the guy is a jerk and this woman deserves anything she gets, so why bother wasting any more time on the book? I certainly didn't care enough for the characters to care what happened to them.
So, no, I could not tolerate finishing this book. I skimmed through the rest, and it continued to be so cliche and full of sex and violence--and not in a good sense either--that I was extremely glad I didn't sit through the whole thing. Sorry, I read far, far past my tolerance. After I started wondering who would publish a book so badly put together, I noticed it didn't have a publisher's imprint or a publishers name anywhere. I wasn't surprised.
The characters were extremely shallow and their emotions/thoughts were very unbelievable. For instance, how could the woman's coworkers not notice the two fawning over each other and not "get" what is going on? Or how could the author set up how much this lady was behind in her work and had all kinds of customers mad at her and her company and then it was all dropped and neither she nor her colleagues ever thought about it again? And that's just the first chapter. I hoped it would improve, but it did not.
I really didn't like the main character as she was very one-dimensional and sex obsessed--I just can't relate to a character like that, and the antagonist just seemed to have no personality at all. I was being told how the protagonist felt about him ad nauseum, but since the guy rarely said or did anything, except very cliche things that a man might do if he wanted to appear like 'Mister Wonderful', I not only didn't like him from the start; I actually grew to hate him before anything started happening which was quite a while.
The unbelievability factor of the characters and events of this novel kept bumping me out of the text so that I couldn't enjoy it at all. I love any genre book as long as it is well written, but this one was so badly written that I couldn't help constantly noticing how it had been written. I just couldn't get caught up in "feeling" anything except a growing distaste for continuing. I read to have an experience. I want to experience what the characters are experiencing. But I can't imagine any woman not being skeptical from the start with this guy and very quickly felt like the guy is a jerk and this woman deserves anything she gets, so why bother wasting any more time on the book? I certainly didn't care enough for the characters to care what happened to them.
So, no, I could not tolerate finishing this book. I skimmed through the rest, and it continued to be so cliche and full of sex and violence--and not in a good sense either--that I was extremely glad I didn't sit through the whole thing. Sorry, I read far, far past my tolerance. After I started wondering who would publish a book so badly put together, I noticed it didn't have a publisher's imprint or a publishers name anywhere. I wasn't surprised.
July 15, 2011
Undercover by Maria Hammarblad was not my usual choice for reading, but I found it both exciting and original. A novel of the spy variety, filled with action and adventure that takes you on a long voyage, battling between the grey line of right and wrong.
Maria has a smooth way of introducing you to a love for even the most un-heroic of characters and I found myself completely smitten with the Russian accented voice of Alexi. This unlikely love interest takes the main character Jenny for the adventure of a life time, where she not only finds what she has most long for in life but also most frightened of.
The book was wildly imaginative, yet at the same time visually comprehendible; it was... More > so well written I could literally see each detail of character, as well as space and exploit. I found myself at times so engaged that I consciously had to force my muscles to relax, from the tension.
This book was riveting and just when you are sure you know what to expect, Hammarblad completely takes you by surprise with an incredible finale. Amazingly fun and enjoyable, I definitely recommend this book to those who don’t mind a bit of blood shed, thrown in with their romance!
Merged review:
Undercover by Maria Hammarblad was not my usual choice for reading, but I found it both exciting and original. A novel of the spy variety, filled with action and adventure that takes you on a long voyage, battling between the grey line of right and wrong.
Maria has a smooth way of introducing you to a love for even the most un-heroic of characters and I found myself completely smitten with the Russian accented voice of Alexi. This unlikely love interest takes the main character Jenny for the adventure of a life time, where she not only finds what she has most long for in life but also most frightened of.
The book was wildly imaginative, yet at the same time visually comprehendible; it was so well written I could literally see each detail of character, as well as space and exploit. I found myself at times so engaged that I consciously had to force my muscles to relax, from the tension.
This book was riveting and just when you are sure you know what to expect, Hammarblad completely takes you by surprise with an incredible finale. Amazingly fun and enjoyable, I definitely recommend this book to those who don’t mind a bit of blood shed, thrown in with their romance!
Maria has a smooth way of introducing you to a love for even the most un-heroic of characters and I found myself completely smitten with the Russian accented voice of Alexi. This unlikely love interest takes the main character Jenny for the adventure of a life time, where she not only finds what she has most long for in life but also most frightened of.
The book was wildly imaginative, yet at the same time visually comprehendible; it was... More > so well written I could literally see each detail of character, as well as space and exploit. I found myself at times so engaged that I consciously had to force my muscles to relax, from the tension.
This book was riveting and just when you are sure you know what to expect, Hammarblad completely takes you by surprise with an incredible finale. Amazingly fun and enjoyable, I definitely recommend this book to those who don’t mind a bit of blood shed, thrown in with their romance!
Merged review:
Undercover by Maria Hammarblad was not my usual choice for reading, but I found it both exciting and original. A novel of the spy variety, filled with action and adventure that takes you on a long voyage, battling between the grey line of right and wrong.
Maria has a smooth way of introducing you to a love for even the most un-heroic of characters and I found myself completely smitten with the Russian accented voice of Alexi. This unlikely love interest takes the main character Jenny for the adventure of a life time, where she not only finds what she has most long for in life but also most frightened of.
The book was wildly imaginative, yet at the same time visually comprehendible; it was so well written I could literally see each detail of character, as well as space and exploit. I found myself at times so engaged that I consciously had to force my muscles to relax, from the tension.
This book was riveting and just when you are sure you know what to expect, Hammarblad completely takes you by surprise with an incredible finale. Amazingly fun and enjoyable, I definitely recommend this book to those who don’t mind a bit of blood shed, thrown in with their romance!
November 13, 2010
Won this book on Goodreads First-Reads. I really appreciated the note from the author and the bookmark, which also had a note. That was sweet.
Review: This book shocked me and made me feel kind of sick. I wasn't expecting the raw details. I feel bad thinking about what I just read, not to mention, it just didn't make sense to me. Why would any woman stay with a man after finding out that he is a violent murderer, terrorist, rapist, and drunk? Much less marry him? I had to stop reading about halfway through when he killed an innocent little girl. I couldn't take it anymore. If I were the woman, I would much rather have died than stand by a man who has to murder innocent people to keep me safe. How could anyone be so selfish? I don't care how handsome the man is, how great of a lover he is(I had to skip several pages of sex scenes).
I am sorry I just wasted my day reading a book that only made me depressed. Maybe I'm just sensitive, but I feel ill.
The book had some potential, but it was wasted on characters, behaviors and situations that were completely unbelievable. I had high hopes for this book, but was disappointed. The author has talent , and I sorry she wasted it on this story.
Review: This book shocked me and made me feel kind of sick. I wasn't expecting the raw details. I feel bad thinking about what I just read, not to mention, it just didn't make sense to me. Why would any woman stay with a man after finding out that he is a violent murderer, terrorist, rapist, and drunk? Much less marry him? I had to stop reading about halfway through when he killed an innocent little girl. I couldn't take it anymore. If I were the woman, I would much rather have died than stand by a man who has to murder innocent people to keep me safe. How could anyone be so selfish? I don't care how handsome the man is, how great of a lover he is(I had to skip several pages of sex scenes).
I am sorry I just wasted my day reading a book that only made me depressed. Maybe I'm just sensitive, but I feel ill.
The book had some potential, but it was wasted on characters, behaviors and situations that were completely unbelievable. I had high hopes for this book, but was disappointed. The author has talent , and I sorry she wasted it on this story.
April 26, 2013
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Jenny Moore starts the New Year with high expectations of great things. Little did she know that it would happen right in her office. In walks Alexei Roshenko, a Russian Captain, man of mystery with a sexy accent. The chemistry is instant, they’re inseparable. Will she still love him when she finds out his secrets? How far will he go to keep her safe?
There was quite a bit more romance than I’d expected in this book. It starts of a little slow in the beginning, but if you can stick with it, it certainly picks up the pace about halfway through. I thought it was interesting how committed Alexei was from the very beginning. Jenny seemed very trusting, when Alexei gave her a glimpse of his past. After hearing it, I’d personally would have run and not look back. It was very exciting in the second half of the book and things get really interesting. All in all, a great novel filled with romance and suspense.
There was quite a bit more romance than I’d expected in this book. It starts of a little slow in the beginning, but if you can stick with it, it certainly picks up the pace about halfway through. I thought it was interesting how committed Alexei was from the very beginning. Jenny seemed very trusting, when Alexei gave her a glimpse of his past. After hearing it, I’d personally would have run and not look back. It was very exciting in the second half of the book and things get really interesting. All in all, a great novel filled with romance and suspense.
October 18, 2010
Jenny is a little shallow and probably not a person I'd like in real life but in the book she rocks. She's so infatuated that common sense is completely out the door and I can see why. Alex might not be a prince on a white horse but Hammarblad makes you want him.
Many of the other characters are also memorable. Especially Mark, Jenny's colleague who sent me into gigglefits, and Lindsay. Best written cheeky kid ever!
The author tells the story with ease through much interaction between people. The many dialoges flow effortlessly and sound like real people. I often find it confusing when a book shifts between characters points of view but here it makes the story more interesting and it's not hard to follow.
The book is thick and I plowed through it in two nights.
Many of the other characters are also memorable. Especially Mark, Jenny's colleague who sent me into gigglefits, and Lindsay. Best written cheeky kid ever!
The author tells the story with ease through much interaction between people. The many dialoges flow effortlessly and sound like real people. I often find it confusing when a book shifts between characters points of view but here it makes the story more interesting and it's not hard to follow.
The book is thick and I plowed through it in two nights.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews