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Codename: Unicorn.
Jaime Lynde adored her father. She was devastated when she was told he was dead--but she refused to believe he was a traitor to his country. Her determination to prove his innocence sent her on a journey from Washington DC to Paris to Libya and put her on a collision course with a double agent in Tripoli at the time of the 1986 air strike....
Jaime Lynde adored her father. She was devastated when she was told he was dead--but she refused to believe he was a traitor to his country. Her determination to prove his innocence sent her on a journey from Washington DC to Paris to Libya and put her on a collision course with a double agent in Tripoli at the time of the 1986 air strike....
353 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
23 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Norma Beishir
20 books27 followersI've wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I used to get in trouble in school because I was writing when I should have been paying attention in class. I foolishly sent a handwritten manuscript to a publisher when I was sixteen. It was rejected, of course--but an editor actually took the time to look at it and wrote me, saying I had talent but wasn't ready for publication yet. Some years later, I found an agent and sold my first novel within six months. Six months later, Berkley bought two more books from me--for a six-figure advance. In all, I published five bestellers with Berkley, nine romances through Silhouette, and--obsessed with having creative control--I made the move to self-publishing for my latest two. I write under my own name and two pseudonyms: Scarlett Martin and Toni Collins.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 22, 2012
Norma Beishir’s The Unicorn’s Daughter (formerly published as A Time for Legends) has recently been re-released. This fast-paced thriller strikes forward at lightning speed. Beishir is a seasoned author and master storyteller who takes us on an adventure from the USA to Europe and the Middle East. The story spans the World War II era up to the Reagan era.
Beishir spins us a tale of espionage, sacrifice, and growth. James Lynde was the master spy; he was every intelligence agency’s dream. Known as the Unicorn, he was just as mystical at covering his tracks. His ultimate task was to find a cover that would allow him to get into Russia during the Cold War. He came up with a plan that led him to marry a Senator’s daughter and to head an International Investment Banking Firm, which the former Senator had inherited, that allowed him to travel throughout the world. This simple cover became complex when his daughter Jaime was born. He had never really loved or trusted anyone throughout his life, but looking at his daughter, who greatly resembled him, changed his life. We follow this special relationship between father and daughter as we observe their love and devotion to each other. Her mother Fran became severely depressed and very distant precluding her death. Jaime suffers another blow when her father, supposedly on a business trip, suddenly disappears.
Over the years, Jamie is lied to about her father until she doesn’t know what to believe. She is told repeatedly that he is dead; however, her gut intuition leads her to believe he is still alive, and she is determined to uncover the truth, despite the passage of nineteen years.
Jaime has to deal with her personal pain as she is blocked from discovering anything about her father. Someone is serious in stopping her at any cost, and people around her end up dying. Jaime tries to trust again, but only ends up repeatedly hurt. She finally meets someone willing to help her, but can she trust him? And can she really discover the truth about her father? Is he still alive?
Beishir digs deep into the psychology of her characters, and she gives them a three dimensional quality. We understand their pain, confusion, fears and motivations. We take a train through both a physical and a psychological terrain in a world of intrigue and danger.
The Unicorn’s Daughter is an amazing journey that will leave you breathless, and at the end of the trip you will be completely satisfied. It is a powerfully vivid and memorable story.
Beishir spins us a tale of espionage, sacrifice, and growth. James Lynde was the master spy; he was every intelligence agency’s dream. Known as the Unicorn, he was just as mystical at covering his tracks. His ultimate task was to find a cover that would allow him to get into Russia during the Cold War. He came up with a plan that led him to marry a Senator’s daughter and to head an International Investment Banking Firm, which the former Senator had inherited, that allowed him to travel throughout the world. This simple cover became complex when his daughter Jaime was born. He had never really loved or trusted anyone throughout his life, but looking at his daughter, who greatly resembled him, changed his life. We follow this special relationship between father and daughter as we observe their love and devotion to each other. Her mother Fran became severely depressed and very distant precluding her death. Jaime suffers another blow when her father, supposedly on a business trip, suddenly disappears.
Over the years, Jamie is lied to about her father until she doesn’t know what to believe. She is told repeatedly that he is dead; however, her gut intuition leads her to believe he is still alive, and she is determined to uncover the truth, despite the passage of nineteen years.
Jaime has to deal with her personal pain as she is blocked from discovering anything about her father. Someone is serious in stopping her at any cost, and people around her end up dying. Jaime tries to trust again, but only ends up repeatedly hurt. She finally meets someone willing to help her, but can she trust him? And can she really discover the truth about her father? Is he still alive?
Beishir digs deep into the psychology of her characters, and she gives them a three dimensional quality. We understand their pain, confusion, fears and motivations. We take a train through both a physical and a psychological terrain in a world of intrigue and danger.
The Unicorn’s Daughter is an amazing journey that will leave you breathless, and at the end of the trip you will be completely satisfied. It is a powerfully vivid and memorable story.
September 30, 2012
I was going to review this, but I just can't. It wouldn't be fair. I don't like or read romances and I didn't know that's what this was until I was too far into it.
I will say the formatting is ABYSMAL, and that there is far more to copyediting than spellcheck.
If I could give it negative stars, I would.
I will say the formatting is ABYSMAL, and that there is far more to copyediting than spellcheck.
If I could give it negative stars, I would.
June 13, 2013
I finished it… but I wouldn't re-read it. Improbable and unsatisfying.
July 2, 2012
The Unicorn's Daughter- previously published as A Time For Legends- is a sprawling tale, set over several decades between World War Two and the 1980s, using world events as a backdrop. The emotional core of the story, and its greatest strength, is the bond between a father and daughter.
James Lynde starts out the story, signing up for service in the OSS during the war. He serves behind the lines throughout with resistance fighters in occupied Europe, aiding the efforts to overthrow the Nazis, and quickly discovers he's rather good at the work he does. He and his colleagues have codenames drawn from mythology, and his is the Unicorn. He comes through the war in one piece, and gets the opportunity as the Cold War heats up to join the fledgling CIA, doing the same thing he's already been doing, just with a new adversary.
His boss, Harry Warner, warns that he'll have to develop a good cover to move through the new Europe, and he comes across one, marrying into the family of a former senator and going to work in the family investment firm. It gives him a place in society, a reasonable cover, and the opportunity to travel in rough places without excessive scrutiny. Unfortunately he doesn't actually love the woman he married, though he does a good job (at first) of covering it up. A few years into their marriage, his wife Fran gives birth to a daughter, Jaime, who from the start has her father wrapped around her little finger.
Problems arise, of course. Fran becomes depressed and withdrawn, resentful even of her daughter, who's headstrong and stubborn. The state of her marriage and her life leads her to take her own life, an event that weighs heavily on both father and daughter. Later, James disappears on one of his trips abroad, and Jaime is told that he's dead, a fact that she cannot accept, a status that continues to have an effect on her.
Jaime grows up in the custody of an aunt and uncle who have their own secrets. She becomes successful as a photographer, but still haunted by the absense of her father. She discovers that her aunt and uncle have lied to her about James' death when she finds letters and packages from him posted after his death, causing her to wonder if she's even related to them at all. And it drives her to start asking more questions, to seek out the truth about her father. Death follows close behind as Jaime presses for answers. The journey brings her to hearing conflicting stories about what really happened to him, including the allegation that he's committed fraud and treason. It takes her to Europe and North Africa, meeting an American embassy official, Nicholas Kendall, along the way, a man she falls in love with. And the trail leads right into Libya, at the same time as Gadhaffi (take your pick on the spelling of the First Rate Nutbar's name) is increasing tensions with the United States.
With another of her novels, Angels At Midnight, the story was about revenge, but it was also a love story. Here, the love story is a sideshow to the real plot. Nicholas, indeed, doesn't show up at all until halfway through the book. The bond between father and daughter is integral to the narrative, and even in his absense, the reader feels his presence. Norma does a terrific job in conveying the strength of that bond, and it drives the action forward. It's the heart of the book, and it breathes life into what's happening. I really enjoyed the way she brought this about, giving it a very natural feel to the way the story unfolded.
And she's gifted with characters. Fran's point of view as her mental stability deteriorates is a good example. We feel empathy for the character, seeing the world through her eyes, and her choice is tragic. Indeed, so much about her is tragic, and getting into her head helps us to understand. The connections- and similarities- between James and Jaime also come across beautifully in their characters. They're both strong, stubborn minded people, both seeming to be of the "hang the consequences" way of thinking. Even with minor characters, such as Jaime's "uncle" Harcourt, we see a man who feels regret over his own part in the deceptions- even though we understand in the end that it was nessecary.
Norma also has a talent for paying attention to details. This can be found throughout the book, in terms of Jaime's journies and the places she sees, the observations she makes about people. One moment that I liked in particular features Jaime, Nicholas, and her father's old partner Jack Forrester having dinner in an Algerian hotel, and Norma describing the meal itself... I've had a meal like that, and yes, it's delicious. It's small details like that which open up a fictional world.
The book is firmly set in the real world, which I really like. The events of world history form the backdrop of the novel, and particularly towards the end, we see the power brokers of Washington playing roles in what was actually going on. The novel reaches its climax during the highest tensions of the Libyan crisis in 1986, and Norma uses the air strikes ordered by President Reagan as part of her narrative. It's a thrilling finish, and a terrific, satisfying resolution to the narrative.
I highly recommend the novel. It's a jigsaw puzzle of sorts, and I like jigsaw puzzles. Jaime Lynde is a sympathetic character with depth who seeks to move on with her life by resolving the unanswered questions of her past. She has to sort through the secrets and lies, put the puzzle together. Along the way, we the reader are doing the same, wondering what's true and what's a cover story. And by making the novel so close to the real world, Norma succeeds in giving it the extra edge of authenticity. With the way the Middle East has been turning about lately, it's all the better to read.
James Lynde starts out the story, signing up for service in the OSS during the war. He serves behind the lines throughout with resistance fighters in occupied Europe, aiding the efforts to overthrow the Nazis, and quickly discovers he's rather good at the work he does. He and his colleagues have codenames drawn from mythology, and his is the Unicorn. He comes through the war in one piece, and gets the opportunity as the Cold War heats up to join the fledgling CIA, doing the same thing he's already been doing, just with a new adversary.
His boss, Harry Warner, warns that he'll have to develop a good cover to move through the new Europe, and he comes across one, marrying into the family of a former senator and going to work in the family investment firm. It gives him a place in society, a reasonable cover, and the opportunity to travel in rough places without excessive scrutiny. Unfortunately he doesn't actually love the woman he married, though he does a good job (at first) of covering it up. A few years into their marriage, his wife Fran gives birth to a daughter, Jaime, who from the start has her father wrapped around her little finger.
Problems arise, of course. Fran becomes depressed and withdrawn, resentful even of her daughter, who's headstrong and stubborn. The state of her marriage and her life leads her to take her own life, an event that weighs heavily on both father and daughter. Later, James disappears on one of his trips abroad, and Jaime is told that he's dead, a fact that she cannot accept, a status that continues to have an effect on her.
Jaime grows up in the custody of an aunt and uncle who have their own secrets. She becomes successful as a photographer, but still haunted by the absense of her father. She discovers that her aunt and uncle have lied to her about James' death when she finds letters and packages from him posted after his death, causing her to wonder if she's even related to them at all. And it drives her to start asking more questions, to seek out the truth about her father. Death follows close behind as Jaime presses for answers. The journey brings her to hearing conflicting stories about what really happened to him, including the allegation that he's committed fraud and treason. It takes her to Europe and North Africa, meeting an American embassy official, Nicholas Kendall, along the way, a man she falls in love with. And the trail leads right into Libya, at the same time as Gadhaffi (take your pick on the spelling of the First Rate Nutbar's name) is increasing tensions with the United States.
With another of her novels, Angels At Midnight, the story was about revenge, but it was also a love story. Here, the love story is a sideshow to the real plot. Nicholas, indeed, doesn't show up at all until halfway through the book. The bond between father and daughter is integral to the narrative, and even in his absense, the reader feels his presence. Norma does a terrific job in conveying the strength of that bond, and it drives the action forward. It's the heart of the book, and it breathes life into what's happening. I really enjoyed the way she brought this about, giving it a very natural feel to the way the story unfolded.
And she's gifted with characters. Fran's point of view as her mental stability deteriorates is a good example. We feel empathy for the character, seeing the world through her eyes, and her choice is tragic. Indeed, so much about her is tragic, and getting into her head helps us to understand. The connections- and similarities- between James and Jaime also come across beautifully in their characters. They're both strong, stubborn minded people, both seeming to be of the "hang the consequences" way of thinking. Even with minor characters, such as Jaime's "uncle" Harcourt, we see a man who feels regret over his own part in the deceptions- even though we understand in the end that it was nessecary.
Norma also has a talent for paying attention to details. This can be found throughout the book, in terms of Jaime's journies and the places she sees, the observations she makes about people. One moment that I liked in particular features Jaime, Nicholas, and her father's old partner Jack Forrester having dinner in an Algerian hotel, and Norma describing the meal itself... I've had a meal like that, and yes, it's delicious. It's small details like that which open up a fictional world.
The book is firmly set in the real world, which I really like. The events of world history form the backdrop of the novel, and particularly towards the end, we see the power brokers of Washington playing roles in what was actually going on. The novel reaches its climax during the highest tensions of the Libyan crisis in 1986, and Norma uses the air strikes ordered by President Reagan as part of her narrative. It's a thrilling finish, and a terrific, satisfying resolution to the narrative.
I highly recommend the novel. It's a jigsaw puzzle of sorts, and I like jigsaw puzzles. Jaime Lynde is a sympathetic character with depth who seeks to move on with her life by resolving the unanswered questions of her past. She has to sort through the secrets and lies, put the puzzle together. Along the way, we the reader are doing the same, wondering what's true and what's a cover story. And by making the novel so close to the real world, Norma succeeds in giving it the extra edge of authenticity. With the way the Middle East has been turning about lately, it's all the better to read.
June 24, 2018
Entertaining story until halfway through. Then plot does not connect and unbelievable - fall madly in love 2 times that fast?? End is flat. I almost quit reading with all the formatting errors any typos. Turned it ino a hunt to see how many I coud find...multiple per chapter! Yikes! Glad I didn't pay to read this.
April 2, 2023
I enjoyed the story, but whoever did or was supposed to have edited the book really dropped the ball. I'm hoping because it's an older book that was on my kindle that maybe it just didn't get the attention it deserved. Will still give it 4 stars because of the story itself.
March 30, 2024
good premise
I had a hard time with the start of the book, it seemed to drag on. But once Jaime was an adult and searching for her father, the pace definitely picked up. I was a bit disappointed in the shocking reveal, but I’m also glad it wasn’t needlessly drawn out.
I had a hard time with the start of the book, it seemed to drag on. But once Jaime was an adult and searching for her father, the pace definitely picked up. I was a bit disappointed in the shocking reveal, but I’m also glad it wasn’t needlessly drawn out.
February 21, 2013
The Unicorn's daughter is Jaime, but the story begins with her father. He worked first for the OSS and after WWII for the CIA. When he takes on a cover of married man with a child, his unhappy wife kills herself but his young daughter adores him. She works to make him proud and waits eagerly for him to come home from his travels.
But one day he leaves and doesn't come back. For years, she thinks he's dead. Then she discovers her aunt and uncle have been lying to her, that her father has been sending letters and packages to her all along. He isn't dead. She's determined to trace down where he is and what happened to him.
The book begins quite slowly, delving into James Lynde's character and life, showing how Jaime's own character is shaped by her father's profession and personality. Then it gets up speed, rushing to the headlong finale where Jaime's about to lose him again.
This isn't a quick read, but it's for anyone who likes to take their time and get to know the characters. There's a love story but it's muted. The relationship between the spy and his daughter takes front and center stage.
A nice story.
But one day he leaves and doesn't come back. For years, she thinks he's dead. Then she discovers her aunt and uncle have been lying to her, that her father has been sending letters and packages to her all along. He isn't dead. She's determined to trace down where he is and what happened to him.
The book begins quite slowly, delving into James Lynde's character and life, showing how Jaime's own character is shaped by her father's profession and personality. Then it gets up speed, rushing to the headlong finale where Jaime's about to lose him again.
This isn't a quick read, but it's for anyone who likes to take their time and get to know the characters. There's a love story but it's muted. The relationship between the spy and his daughter takes front and center stage.
A nice story.
July 25, 2015
The Unicorn's Daughter
This was a really good read. Covering decades of the life of an American spy and covert operator and his daughter. Called to a life of espionage James Lynde always rose to the occasion and followed where the winds of war and terrorism
His only child, a daughter who deeply loved the only parent she had left home alone more often than not. As she reached her majority Jamie Lynde went to the middle east to find her father after being told that he had committed treason against his country and that he was dead.
Following a dangerous path she finds the love of her life and answers to many of her questions.
Like I said, it was a good read, but the editing was bad. I would have given it a 5 star review if someone had at least used a basic spell check.
This was a really good read. Covering decades of the life of an American spy and covert operator and his daughter. Called to a life of espionage James Lynde always rose to the occasion and followed where the winds of war and terrorism
His only child, a daughter who deeply loved the only parent she had left home alone more often than not. As she reached her majority Jamie Lynde went to the middle east to find her father after being told that he had committed treason against his country and that he was dead.
Following a dangerous path she finds the love of her life and answers to many of her questions.
Like I said, it was a good read, but the editing was bad. I would have given it a 5 star review if someone had at least used a basic spell check.
July 26, 2015
Parts of this story I liked quite a bit other parts I found repetitive. Attempts to set in a historical context from OSS activity in WWII up to to terrorist activity in 1980's Libya, worked up to a point but they were generally superficial. The main plot line of a top journalist looking for her missing father, was a good start, until the said journalist fails to carry out basic checks on the story. Instead going to visit a series of characters who all are immediately killed to stop them telling her anything.
There is a reason for this explained in a few paragraphs at the end, but by then it had lost me.
The love interests which were supposed to be deep and meaningful with two fiancés in the space of 6 months, one murdered, stretched the belief level.
There is a reason for this explained in a few paragraphs at the end, but by then it had lost me.
The love interests which were supposed to be deep and meaningful with two fiancés in the space of 6 months, one murdered, stretched the belief level.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2012
I really enjoyed this book until the end. It had a great plot build-up that was suspenseful and kept you hanging on to find out what was going to happen next. However, I was greatly disappointed at the climax of the story: the pieces of the puzzle weren't connecting back to that awesome plot build-up, and events were happening with little to no explanation how. The book ended very quickly without actually filling you in on everything. I loved the book through the end and then was left disappointed.
February 11, 2016
read on cruise - free kindle ebook
Jaime Lynde would stop at nothing to find the truth....
As a child, she was told her father was dead, but one by one, the lies began to unravel. James Lynde was an operative for the OSS during World War II, and later for the CIA. In 1986, he was still alive and working undercover in Libya. As Jaime followed his trail, a traitor followed hers...and the US prepared to take military action....
Jaime Lynde would stop at nothing to find the truth....
As a child, she was told her father was dead, but one by one, the lies began to unravel. James Lynde was an operative for the OSS during World War II, and later for the CIA. In 1986, he was still alive and working undercover in Libya. As Jaime followed his trail, a traitor followed hers...and the US prepared to take military action....
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May 27, 20121st published as a Time For Legends
June 3, 2012
This book reads like the cliff notes for a much longer novel. It is a good storyline, but seems to skim through the story. But it kept my interest.
August 14, 2012
This was a Kindle book. The editing was terrible. Story was ok.
March 18, 2014
I have nothing good to say.
January 12, 2015
One of those books that you don't want to put down.
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June 7, 2012A fun read but a bit improbable of course. Strong female main character was nice.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews