A Single Woman... A Double Life International, super-model Sadie Stewart meets her Dutch lover, Sebastian Wilde, in Venice to celebrate their six month anniversary. But having lived a double life as a CIA operative for ten years, her life is never simple. During a costume ball in an ancient Venetian palace, an assassin tries to kill her. As a result Sebastian gets ridiculously, over-protective, which drives her crazy. Her old boss offers to help her, but wants something in return. Bakari al-Sharif, an arms-dealer with an insatiable thirst for power, is planning to steal King Tutankhamen’s scarab from Highclere castle near London. Sadie is the only person who has ever gotten close to al-Sharif and lived. The CIA wants her to stop him. Or at least that’s what they say. When it comes to the world of espionage, the true motivation of the players is never clear. Can Sadie return to the life of a spook and maintain a relationship with Sebastian? Can she nail the arms-dealer? And why did the masked man try to kill her? Life is complicated for Sadie Stewart. a cross between Covert Affairs and Indiana Jones by award winning author by Jo-Ann Carson Smart, Sexy, Suspense
Jo-Ann Carson ~A little bit of magic~ Jo-Ann Carson is an award-winning author who loves the magic of storytelling. She writes evocative settings, strong characters, and fast-paced plots. Her current project, Fangsters, is a six book, urban fantasy series about a sorceress blackmailed into running an academy for delinquent, teenage vampires. To date, Jo-Ann Carson has published 37 stories. Her latest series are: Fangsters, the Dial Witch Trilogy, The Perfect Brew Trilogy, the Ghost & Abby Mysteries, and the Gambling Ghosts Novellas. A firm believer in the magic of our everyday lives, Jo-Ann loves watching sunrises, walking the beaches with her poodle near her home in the Pacific Northwest, and reading books by a crackling wood fire. You can find more about her on her website.
Sadie has left the life of the CIA and has enjoyed six months of just being herself (international model and girlfriend). Life is good and she's enjoying herself along with her Viking boyfriend, Sebastian, at a charity ball when she's attacked by an assassin. Before she can get him to talk, he swallows arsenic and dies right on the spot.
"We're watching you."
Sadie shivers at the threat and contacts the only person who can answer her questions... Jeremiah from the CIA. She has a sit-down and agrees to go back into the CIA. Her feminine wiles are about to be tested with the one man who can help her. Bakari.
Sebastian protests and pleads with Sadie not to go back into the CIA. Sadie rebels against his alpha protective nature. She tells him she needs her space and flies back to New York. The reality is that Sadie has mixed feelings. She's one person living two lives. Can she be a spook while still being in a relationship with Sebastian?
I loved this book and it pretty much picked up right where second book left off. Sadie is a very real woman with character flaws. I imagine the identity conflict Sadie is dealing with is what every spook in the world works through. While I didn't agree with many of the thoughts Sadie had, I had to respect her decisions. I mean, if I was in her shoes, I might have done the same thing.
Love can be deadly for a spook (spy).
Filled with sexy tension and dramatic scenes, this book hooked me from start to finish. The pace is fast and the characters will leave you wanting more. There are some surprises, too, that I wasn't expecting. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you read the books in order. You won't be sorry.
Favorite Character:
I know I usually list the character I identify with most here but for this book, I'm listing my favorite character I loathe. His name is Khalid and he is one evil young man. He is the offspring of Bakari and a sorceress. He mopes around his father (Bakari) all the while secretly aligning himself with a soul-eating demoness. He's wicked and a delight to read.
Ms. Carson's Mata Hari Series always delivers a sensual, suspense-filled adventure to vibrant locales brimming with danger and intrigue. Her complicated heroine spy, Sadie, is challenged once again by familiar friends and foes, including her super-hot Dutch warrior boyfriend, Sebastian. Then there's Casanova and Beatrice—perfect additions to an already captivating cast of characters. Can't wait to see what happens next in this series!
★★★★★ Sadie has been trying to stay away from the dangerous world of spying and the CIA, but it seems that is not going to be possible. Someone attacks her at a fancy dress ball, but he can not be questioned. The CIA are the only ones who might help her find out who is after her. Sebastian, her VERY over protective lover doesn't want her to go back to that world. She must choose between the exciting life of a spy and her love for Sebastian. This is a really exciting story that draws you in from the first page. It is easily read as a stand alone, but as I can see there are likely to be more books in the series, it would be best to start at the beginning. Sadie is a sexy, independent ,kick ass heroine. She uses every resource she has to do the job, even her body. Sebastian is a typical Alpha male, determined to protect his woman even when she doesn't want it. Really good fun read.
Sexy Sadie has a problem. She's addicted to the excitement and danger involved with being a spy. But now she’s fallen for a man, Sebastian, who wants to keep her safe. Who wants her to lead a quieter life. Well, she tried. After the first book in the Mata Hari series, Covert Danger, Sadie gave up the life for six whole months. It’s not her fault this time trouble found her. The first page of Ancient Danger, set at a masquerade ball in Venice, draws you into Sadie’s exciting, jet setting life. From Venice to Amsterdam to New York to Egypt, Sadie gets into one sticky situation after another. Carson’s villains are 3 dimensional. In fact, she devoted the whole novella that is book two of the series to the background of her main antagonist, the Egyptian arms dealer Bakari, and he's back in this book pursuing Sadie and an ancient Egyptian amulet purported to have magical powers. Although Sadie is in love with Sebastian, once she’s back in the game, how can she give it up? A fun read.
Sadie Stewart, a high fashion model,is pulled back into her undercover life as a CIA agent when she's stalked at a masked ball in Venice. Her attacker, a member of a fanatic sect sworn to protect the arcane knowledge of Egypt and Greece, takes cyanide before he can be questioned. Sadie's involvement with the CIA doesn't sit well her lover, Sebastian, a gorgeous Dutch art dealer. He wants to keep her safe at all times. But spying is in Sadie's blood and she can't say no to a new assignment. She must stop Bakari Al Sharif, a notorious arms dealer, who plans to steal King Tutankhamen's scarab from Highclere castle near London. But why does Bakari want the scarab and why did the assassin try to kill Sadie? Will her romance with Sebastian survive? Their sensuous love scenes woven between tales of demons and Egypt's sorcerers spin a magic all their own.
Sadie Stewart is on the case again. This is the third installment in this sexy, suspenseful series. Sadie intended to cut ties with the CIA and explore her relationship with Sebastian, but they want her back. Now arms dealer Bakari al Sharif has his sights set on stealing an Egyptian Scarab that he hopes has healing powers. Because of Sadie's past dealings with Bakari the CIA feels she is perfect to get close to him and find out what his plans are. But if she returns to the CIA will she lose Sebastian? Meanwhile Sadie is given a puppy. Will she keep him and complicate her life? This series keeps getting better!
Sadie and Sebastian have a good and hot thing going on but being a spy isn't easy in that type of relationship.Sadie loves the danger and thrives on adventure.Sebastian has and brings his own into the picture.Read the book to see what happens.Well worth it.
Action packed thriller! Sadie has tried to retire as a CIA operative, building a new life with her modeling and with boyfriend Sebastian. But an attempt on her life drags her back into working with the agency. She's again after Egyptian bad guy Bakari al-Sharif now that its been discovered he is going to try and steal a valuable ancient artifact. Lots of jet setting all over the world, and a new wrinkle with some mysticism through Bakari's recently discovered son Kalid. Some sexy times with Sebastian add spice to this exciting tale.