Ace Deuce: National Security is Not a Game

by Freida Goodman Fail

The sights, sounds, and smells began to awaken John’s senses, long subdued by hospital confinement. I am alive, John thought as he inhaled deeply as if to speed the process.

Unravel the mystery in Freida Fail’s heart-pounding debut, Ace Deuce. A suspenseful blend of mystery and intrigue, this complex thriller pits a group of truth seekers against authorities ravaged by greed and revenge.

After stumbling across a comatose man in the middle of the road, the French ambassador to Niger takes the man, whom he begins to call John, to his own estate to recover upon his release from the hospital.

While under the watchful eye of the French ambassador, John begins experiencing painful flashbacks when he glimpses a sign reading “Ace Deuce, Ltd.” in a uranium mine.

As word spreads of the mysterious amnesiac, Chance Bradford, chief counsel of the world’s largest defense contractor, begins to suspect that he may in fact be her missing twin brother—and CEO of the company—Josh Bradford.

His reunion with Chance only further confuses him as she reveals a phone call from the day after Josh disappeared that indicated a threat to national security.

Will John and Chance discover the truth before it’s too late? And what exactly is Ace Deuce, Ltd.? There’s only one way to find out…

372 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 2014

About the author

Freida Fail has spent many years living abroad as both a military dependent and an expatriate. She holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in International Management from The American Graduate School of International Management.

After having spent her career in commercial real estate she now devotes her attention to her passion, writing. She, her husband, Charlie and their miniature Schnauzer, Mitzi, divide their time between their homes in the mountains of Southern Arizona, Southwest Florida, and San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez.

Reviews

[Olga · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads Giveaway contest in exchange for my honest review. I started reading it with interest but did not finish it. I did read more than half of it since overall it is an easy and fast read. I think my main reason for not finishing is that all the characters so far seemed to be "good guys" and had no flaws. I am used to characters that are more complex than that. Also I felt that there was too much dialogue and too many mundane things that were unnecessary for the plot. You know how they say that if in a Tchekhov's play there is a gun hanging on the wall, then later in the play it will fire? Well, there were all kinds of descriptions in the book that did not serve much purpose. Of course since I thought it was a mystery (maybe it is still - don't know since I did not finish), I expected something less rosy and more dramatic and ominous, some tense atmosphere, ... Like say in a Wilkie Collins' novel. I also appreciate any social commentary and there was none. More background on politics, current events, to have some historic feel would have been appreciated by me as well. Also I have to say I saw some plot lines coming a mile away.

[Diane Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ace Deuce was the first book I have read that was written by Freida Goodman Fail, but I promise it will not be my last. I was very pleasantly surprised. I got to read a very good suspense story with some romance thrown in the mix, which is two of my favorite types of reads. Once I started Ace Deuce, I could not put it down. It is was my husband calls "a tuned out page turner" because I am lost in the story and I tune everything out, and I don't stop until I have finished. I will be looking for more books by Freida Goodman Fail.
I definitely recommend this book to read.
I am very thankful to Goodreads firstreads for sending me this book for free and giving me the chance to be introduced to a wonderful author that will now be on my Christmas Wish list.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book synopsis gives the impression this is edge-of-your-seat reading. Instead, it is an old-fashioned, clean cut romance (anyone remember Doris Day movies??). You'll read about beautiful people eating delicious food in elegant homes and falling in love. If you're looking for a suspenseful thriller, this is not it. If your taste runs to scrubbed clean romance (no sex scenes, no profanity), I think you'll enjoy it. It wasn't a fit for my personal taste and I would suggest a strong edit to the cover notes to give future readers a better idea of what to expect.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free through the goodreads giveaway program in exchange for an honest review. The story is militaristic in nature (which is obvious given the title) with some intrigue and romance thrown in. At times the book was slightly wordy, but it kept my interest throughout. And the best part, a portion of the proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project, according to the blurb on the back.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

I really felt this book was a case of bait and switch.

Upon reading the description, I thought I was getting some sort of spy thriller. Instead I got an old fashioned romance novel, with a little bit of unexciting spy stuff near the end.

The romance itself isn't too bad, if a little too easy for all involved.

[Vykki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully written book I enjoy it from beginning to end. It had awesome characters the plot is like riding on a roller coaster. You never knew what was around the next curve. I would like to thank the author for this wonderful book. I won this book on Goodreads. Thank you

[Robert Druce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book!! I really enjoyed it. Ready to enjoy more books from Freida Goodman Fail. Don't want to spoil this book in my comments so I won't say anything else but I would and will recommend this book to everybody that likes mystery and thrillers. Good job Freida!

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program and think that it interesting. I would recommend it to everyone.

[Mike Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ace Deuce

I enjoyed the story I was intrigued to find out who John Doe was and the story that lead him to be there.

[Lou Wooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting book