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Shadow Play #1
Best Kept Lies
What becomes of the Russian spy who lands himself in the crosshairs of a rogue British agent?
Grigory Antipov’s work within the intelligence community is exemplary, but attracting too much attention is against his interests as a spy—a lesson painfully learned the night he is abducted off the streets of Rome. Captivity is a dangerous thing and Grigory already operates under a cloud of suspicion given his predilection for male company. Luckily, his stint in British custody is short-lived, a mere flex of muscle from Agent Karim Awad.
Karim’s objective is obvious. Lure Grigory into Section’s clutches and turn him against his own people. Expose him to the wrath of Moscow if he refuses. His mission brief may not specify the methods to be used, but Grigory soon discovers that Karim is a man of many talents. With powerful interests at play and the threat of deadly force in the air, Grigory faces an impossible choice—surrender to his fate or sacrifice the only man whose touch makes him feel alive after so many years.
General Release 22nd September 2015
Grigory Antipov’s work within the intelligence community is exemplary, but attracting too much attention is against his interests as a spy—a lesson painfully learned the night he is abducted off the streets of Rome. Captivity is a dangerous thing and Grigory already operates under a cloud of suspicion given his predilection for male company. Luckily, his stint in British custody is short-lived, a mere flex of muscle from Agent Karim Awad.
Karim’s objective is obvious. Lure Grigory into Section’s clutches and turn him against his own people. Expose him to the wrath of Moscow if he refuses. His mission brief may not specify the methods to be used, but Grigory soon discovers that Karim is a man of many talents. With powerful interests at play and the threat of deadly force in the air, Grigory faces an impossible choice—surrender to his fate or sacrifice the only man whose touch makes him feel alive after so many years.
General Release 22nd September 2015
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2015
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 22, 2015
I love me some espionage. I love the exotic locales. I love the intrigue. I love the language with all its acronyms. I love that there are always plans within plans, that things are never as they seem.
As a matter of fact, if things had gone differently (and by differently, I mean if I could stomach killing someone with a bic) then Cupcake might've gone into the spy game.
This novella contains many of the things I like best about this subgenre.
Grigory is an androgynous SVR agent who is on the radar of the director for advancement. He's cunning and ruthless and he plays the game like a true aficionado. Spies, by definition, are lone wolves and trusting another is typically not in their repertoire. Grigory is doubly cautious because he's a spy and gay in a country that considers homosexuality an abomination and tantamount to a death sentence, or in his case a quiet execution.
When we catch up with him he's in Rome working with a very green asset that's SIS. Shortly thereafter he finds himself tased in an alley and the game is afoot! Best Kept Lies picks up quickly with diligent, chess moves and countermoves, cryptic subtext and smoking hot spy sex between Grigory and Kamir, one of his captors.
What's a little tasing amongst bedmates?
The one wielding the taser is one Arabic SIS agent that is hot, just as guarded as Grigory and even more indecipherable. When these two get together the passion wafted off my kindle; they're literally ravenous for one another. Kamir is a take charge top which melts Grisha into a begging, desperate pile of goo. What surprised and delighted me was how shy Grisha was and completely undone by Kamir's... attentiveness.
But there's little else that defines them. Hot sex is hot, but I don't quite grasp how they got from A to B. I feel like it was right there, just out of reach and if it had been slightly longer with more relationship development I would be rating this higher. The ending is very abrupt and, honestly, a bit farfetched for me to believe; it feels rushed and unfinished. Agents don't make impulsive decisions. There's too much at stake for that and there are always plans within plans, thus I had a hard time believe their relationship could ever be trusting.
What I loved was Maeve's usage of the English language. I wallowed around in her verbiage like a pile of freshly laundered fluffy towels. Words like propitious, métier, simulacrum and nimbus. If she'd walloped me with vicissitude I might've needed a change of under things. She also constructed the intricacies of international relations amongst agencies dexterously and engagingly.
I'll be on the lookout for other works by this author in the future.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As a matter of fact, if things had gone differently (and by differently, I mean if I could stomach killing someone with a bic) then Cupcake might've gone into the spy game.
This novella contains many of the things I like best about this subgenre.
Grigory is an androgynous SVR agent who is on the radar of the director for advancement. He's cunning and ruthless and he plays the game like a true aficionado. Spies, by definition, are lone wolves and trusting another is typically not in their repertoire. Grigory is doubly cautious because he's a spy and gay in a country that considers homosexuality an abomination and tantamount to a death sentence, or in his case a quiet execution.
When we catch up with him he's in Rome working with a very green asset that's SIS. Shortly thereafter he finds himself tased in an alley and the game is afoot! Best Kept Lies picks up quickly with diligent, chess moves and countermoves, cryptic subtext and smoking hot spy sex between Grigory and Kamir, one of his captors.
What's a little tasing amongst bedmates?
The one wielding the taser is one Arabic SIS agent that is hot, just as guarded as Grigory and even more indecipherable. When these two get together the passion wafted off my kindle; they're literally ravenous for one another. Kamir is a take charge top which melts Grisha into a begging, desperate pile of goo. What surprised and delighted me was how shy Grisha was and completely undone by Kamir's... attentiveness.
"Yeah, that's right... Scream for me, love. Let the neighbors hear you."
But there's little else that defines them. Hot sex is hot, but I don't quite grasp how they got from A to B. I feel like it was right there, just out of reach and if it had been slightly longer with more relationship development I would be rating this higher. The ending is very abrupt and, honestly, a bit farfetched for me to believe; it feels rushed and unfinished. Agents don't make impulsive decisions. There's too much at stake for that and there are always plans within plans, thus I had a hard time believe their relationship could ever be trusting.
What I loved was Maeve's usage of the English language. I wallowed around in her verbiage like a pile of freshly laundered fluffy towels. Words like propitious, métier, simulacrum and nimbus. If she'd walloped me with vicissitude I might've needed a change of under things. She also constructed the intricacies of international relations amongst agencies dexterously and engagingly.
I'll be on the lookout for other works by this author in the future.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2015
I’ve always had a bit of a thing for spies. My dad & I use to settle in together and watch James Bond marathons every holiday.
I’ve seen them all countless times and love each and every one. So I perked right up when I heard about this Russian spy and his British frienemy. I’ve never heard of Miss Maeve before, but wow, she’s on my radar now.
The espionage is a thick web, impossible to see through. There is no catnapping or daydreaming while reading this multi-faceted tale….you must stay on your toes my friends. If you don’t, well, you’ll miss the subtle body language chatter or how Uncle has manipulated the precise tumbling of the dominoes.
Grigory is a puppeteer as well as a puppet. Strings are pulled and lies are told. It’s a messed up game. Many will not survive. Mr. Antipov (Ha! I kept calling him Antipasto in my head) has been around the spook block enough, he knows how to play. But he’s finally met his match. Karim is…sexy, sweet and always one step ahead of Grigory. They tango and it’s a lethal dance.
This is a world where a dead body is used to grab your attention or simply send a message. There is no room for mistakes and second chances are unheard of. Every move is crucial, every breath could be your last.
These deadly gentlemen are composed of two sides yet only the other has witnessed the lover inside the killer.
Men whose morals are pinched past recognition and trust is not a word in their vocabulary. What they are doing is beyond forbidden, more than dangerous and accompanies heavy consequences.
What happens when the marksman falls in love with his mark? You’ll have to read to find out.
Refined writing delivered a fast-paced erotic thriller and despite the cliffhanger ending, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Count me in for the next installment in Shadow Play
*4 spies-fall-in-love-too stars*
I’ve seen them all countless times and love each and every one. So I perked right up when I heard about this Russian spy and his British frienemy. I’ve never heard of Miss Maeve before, but wow, she’s on my radar now.
The espionage is a thick web, impossible to see through. There is no catnapping or daydreaming while reading this multi-faceted tale….you must stay on your toes my friends. If you don’t, well, you’ll miss the subtle body language chatter or how Uncle has manipulated the precise tumbling of the dominoes.
Grigory is a puppeteer as well as a puppet. Strings are pulled and lies are told. It’s a messed up game. Many will not survive. Mr. Antipov (Ha! I kept calling him Antipasto in my head) has been around the spook block enough, he knows how to play. But he’s finally met his match. Karim is…sexy, sweet and always one step ahead of Grigory. They tango and it’s a lethal dance.
This is a world where a dead body is used to grab your attention or simply send a message. There is no room for mistakes and second chances are unheard of. Every move is crucial, every breath could be your last.
These deadly gentlemen are composed of two sides yet only the other has witnessed the lover inside the killer.
Men whose morals are pinched past recognition and trust is not a word in their vocabulary. What they are doing is beyond forbidden, more than dangerous and accompanies heavy consequences.
What happens when the marksman falls in love with his mark? You’ll have to read to find out.
Refined writing delivered a fast-paced erotic thriller and despite the cliffhanger ending, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Count me in for the next installment in Shadow Play
*4 spies-fall-in-love-too stars*
February 7, 2016
A fascinating immersion into covert tangles. Wonderful use of language setting a fast pace, conveying character without sentimentality. This has all the feel of a classic spy thriller, it takes concentration to follow with the all the mistrust, double dealings and murky morals. Best read alone rather than in conjunction with others as it's very easy to get lost, there's a lot that is confusing and hard to follow with no let-up or guide for lost readers.
I could have done with a companion 'idiots guide to epsionage' to understand people's positions, I was never entirely sure who even the main characters were. It's not a game of good and bad, both men are playing hard and fast.
There's attraction and heat, tentative emotions complicated by being on opposing sides. Not trusting, both aware of the danger and being a danger. Not certain about finer feelings, there didn't necessarily seem enough there, though there's a loneliness in secrets that adds power and hunger to their lusts. Hot but would have liked a few conversations, something to consolidate things. At the same time little gestures and how they were received said a lot.
The characters live so much in the shadows the reader is not entirely welcomed in. I was left feeling this was but one corner of a bigger story and that there were intricities that I was missing. The end is open to lots of possibilites but I would have quite liked the nice bow to finish it off.
A fascinating book that just missed being something amazing.
I could have done with a companion 'idiots guide to epsionage' to understand people's positions, I was never entirely sure who even the main characters were. It's not a game of good and bad, both men are playing hard and fast.
There's attraction and heat, tentative emotions complicated by being on opposing sides. Not trusting, both aware of the danger and being a danger. Not certain about finer feelings, there didn't necessarily seem enough there, though there's a loneliness in secrets that adds power and hunger to their lusts. Hot but would have liked a few conversations, something to consolidate things. At the same time little gestures and how they were received said a lot.
The characters live so much in the shadows the reader is not entirely welcomed in. I was left feeling this was but one corner of a bigger story and that there were intricities that I was missing. The end is open to lots of possibilites but I would have quite liked the nice bow to finish it off.
A fascinating book that just missed being something amazing.
June 9, 2017
Admittedly, this wasn’t the easiest spy book I’ve ever read. Beware an abundance of acronyms and code names, as all players involved must lie, evade, and redirect to cover their motives and plans.
“Willingly sharing a bed with an enemy agent… was a bad idea. A terrible idea. It was no worse than everything they’d already done.”
There isn’t much explanation as Grigory, a soviet spy and handler, is targeted by British special forces, to turn him into an asset and betray his country. Sent to get information out of him, is Karim - oh so charismatic and always at least a step ahead. Will he be able to get his man and keep him too??
Each must do their job while keeping their lust filled meetings separate. How does one go about that? It’s a cat and mouse game, but who is prey and who is predator? The roles switch on a dime, as extortion and betrayal are revealed under a heavy layer of paranoia.
I honestly don’t know what really went down except that this was harsh, rough, and quite sexy, all coated with urgent desperation and fear. Compelling enough - this ends with a HFN, and admittedly one wonders how the rest of this series will play out. Will it shed some light or will it further confuse?
“Willingly sharing a bed with an enemy agent… was a bad idea. A terrible idea. It was no worse than everything they’d already done.”
There isn’t much explanation as Grigory, a soviet spy and handler, is targeted by British special forces, to turn him into an asset and betray his country. Sent to get information out of him, is Karim - oh so charismatic and always at least a step ahead. Will he be able to get his man and keep him too??
Each must do their job while keeping their lust filled meetings separate. How does one go about that? It’s a cat and mouse game, but who is prey and who is predator? The roles switch on a dime, as extortion and betrayal are revealed under a heavy layer of paranoia.
I honestly don’t know what really went down except that this was harsh, rough, and quite sexy, all coated with urgent desperation and fear. Compelling enough - this ends with a HFN, and admittedly one wonders how the rest of this series will play out. Will it shed some light or will it further confuse?
February 7, 2017
3 Stars
An intriguing first read from new-to-me author Helena Maeve.
I’m quite a fan of spy stories in general and this one was no exception. Best Kept Lies is a fast-paced, no-holds-barred, M/M themed espionage thriller, featuring two strong and unforgiving conflicting main characters, and showcasing some fairly impressive and bold writing from Ms. Maeve.
The plot itself was tight and engaging, but I felt like I was thrown in the deep end when it came to the acronyms and terminology being used in relation to the spy trade. I could have done with a handy glossary to interpret much of what was going on, but instead had to refer to my trusty Google search, which only assisted to a point. In a way, I liked the fact that the reader wasn’t coddled with relentless definitions and explanations throughout, but, unfortunately, at times, I was just left confused and questioning, which I doubt was the desired effect.
Overall, though, this was a quick, enjoyable read, and I look forward to exploring Maeve’s stories further in the future.
An intriguing first read from new-to-me author Helena Maeve.
I’m quite a fan of spy stories in general and this one was no exception. Best Kept Lies is a fast-paced, no-holds-barred, M/M themed espionage thriller, featuring two strong and unforgiving conflicting main characters, and showcasing some fairly impressive and bold writing from Ms. Maeve.
The plot itself was tight and engaging, but I felt like I was thrown in the deep end when it came to the acronyms and terminology being used in relation to the spy trade. I could have done with a handy glossary to interpret much of what was going on, but instead had to refer to my trusty Google search, which only assisted to a point. In a way, I liked the fact that the reader wasn’t coddled with relentless definitions and explanations throughout, but, unfortunately, at times, I was just left confused and questioning, which I doubt was the desired effect.
Overall, though, this was a quick, enjoyable read, and I look forward to exploring Maeve’s stories further in the future.
September 30, 2015
It's good but some spy thing were just too hard for me to follow and there were parts where I didn't know if there was a short time skip or something by the way it was written. And I didn't really get who Karim really was and just decided he was what I thought he was.
It was an interesting read that's for sure. The sex scenes were hot too.
It was an interesting read that's for sure. The sex scenes were hot too.
Read
October 16, 2015I like Helena Maeve's writing and her style. She has a knack for bleak, half-empty men and a Deighton/Le Carre sort of spy world with moral bankruptcy and betrayal at every turn. This is quite a sex-heavy story of Russian agent vs British agent, lots of attraction and deception, first part of a series and definitely reads like it, with no conclusive ending and a lot more yet to play out. It felt more like the first third of a big book than a complete novella to me, honestly, but I'll be wanting more.
September 26, 2015
Have you ever turned on a movie, realizing it’s half way through but sit and watch it anyway hoping you can catch up to understand because it looks really good? Well that’s how I felt through most of this book.
You get dropped off during an intense convo not really knowing what’s going on or who the players are, and it never really clears up. Just too many players, too many plots, subplots for this novella to really have time to sort it all out.
Grigory, is a unique character for sure. A Russian spy, being caught so easily by the enemy is not going to set well with his handlers. This knowledge and the fact that he has been hiding his sexual preference just may sway him.
Karim was sent to convince Grigory anyway possible to help with the swaying, what neither were expecting was the chemistry and even though the story line was still a little murky, I thoroughly enjoyed watching (reading) these two way through it. The fact they both know about each other, know the game, the stakes and still go at it was entertaining.
I just wish we had few less players or more time to build on everything.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
You get dropped off during an intense convo not really knowing what’s going on or who the players are, and it never really clears up. Just too many players, too many plots, subplots for this novella to really have time to sort it all out.
Grigory, is a unique character for sure. A Russian spy, being caught so easily by the enemy is not going to set well with his handlers. This knowledge and the fact that he has been hiding his sexual preference just may sway him.
Karim was sent to convince Grigory anyway possible to help with the swaying, what neither were expecting was the chemistry and even though the story line was still a little murky, I thoroughly enjoyed watching (reading) these two way through it. The fact they both know about each other, know the game, the stakes and still go at it was entertaining.
I just wish we had few less players or more time to build on everything.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
October 22, 2019
I love a good spy story. This was so mysterious and convoluted and engaged me entirely. All kinds of double-crossing, double-agents, blackmail and death. This read like a more sophisticated and realistic espionage tale than the norm. It wasn't about some search for high-tech weaponry or a world domination scheme. The clandestine, sometimes murderous exchanges were focused on affecting politics and having influence on the power plays of competing countries. This completely satisfied my fondness for spooks and secret agents.
Gregory and Kirim were so volatile and sexy together. There was quite a bit of sex through the story. I hardly consider that a bad thing! Grigory's character was defined by a sense of being unworthy and shameful, instilled in him by his country's attitude towards gay men, and made him strive to adhere to his agency's demands and expectations. Kirim's background was much more of a mystery but his attraction to his opponent slowly broke down Grigory's resistance.
Helena Maeve has a wonderful skill with words and vocabulary. The atmosphere was incredibly evocative in every scene. I did feel as if the story was rather incomplete. It wasn't a romance ending and left a lot of room to expand on the couple's future. I have another book of the series and hope I'll get more answers.
Gregory and Kirim were so volatile and sexy together. There was quite a bit of sex through the story. I hardly consider that a bad thing! Grigory's character was defined by a sense of being unworthy and shameful, instilled in him by his country's attitude towards gay men, and made him strive to adhere to his agency's demands and expectations. Kirim's background was much more of a mystery but his attraction to his opponent slowly broke down Grigory's resistance.
Helena Maeve has a wonderful skill with words and vocabulary. The atmosphere was incredibly evocative in every scene. I did feel as if the story was rather incomplete. It wasn't a romance ending and left a lot of room to expand on the couple's future. I have another book of the series and hope I'll get more answers.
January 14, 2016
Best Kept Lies is the start of the Shadow Play series by Helena Maeve. It’s a tale of heavy espionage, suspense and intrigue. At first it’s a little confusing. There are acronyms used for the different spy agencies: SVR for Russia, SIS for Great Britain, and CIA for the US. There’s also a host of supporting characters that use an alias, work as double agents, and cause a lot of suspicion and trust issues. The story is fast paced, so once you get started, it’s best not to stop or you could easily get lost.
Grigory Antipov is a Russian SVR agent. He is a handler and gives agents their “wet” assignments (contracts to kill). As situations crop up, Grigory starts to wonder who he can really trust. He’s approached by Karim Awad, who’s a British SIS agent. Karim tries to persuade Grigory to come over to the SIS side. If Grigory chooses not to, though, Karim will find a way to destroy him. Grigory has sworn he would never be a traitor, and he, too, will do what he can to destroy Karim. Grigory actually goes as far as to put a contract out on Karim.
Best Kept Lies is the story of two men, loyal to different agencies, who, when they become involved, have to make decisions based on trust. But emotions definitely get in the way. It’s also a story about making a choice, whether it’s worth being in dangerous situations, or is it better to walk away and stay alive?
One thing that would have been helpful for me is to have had introductions to each of the agencies’ roles, provided in an Author’s Note or Glossary. But, I have to admit that didn’t stop my curiosity, and I enjoyed the drama that Ms. Maeve created. I’m looking forward to the next Shadow Play book.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
Grigory Antipov is a Russian SVR agent. He is a handler and gives agents their “wet” assignments (contracts to kill). As situations crop up, Grigory starts to wonder who he can really trust. He’s approached by Karim Awad, who’s a British SIS agent. Karim tries to persuade Grigory to come over to the SIS side. If Grigory chooses not to, though, Karim will find a way to destroy him. Grigory has sworn he would never be a traitor, and he, too, will do what he can to destroy Karim. Grigory actually goes as far as to put a contract out on Karim.
Best Kept Lies is the story of two men, loyal to different agencies, who, when they become involved, have to make decisions based on trust. But emotions definitely get in the way. It’s also a story about making a choice, whether it’s worth being in dangerous situations, or is it better to walk away and stay alive?
One thing that would have been helpful for me is to have had introductions to each of the agencies’ roles, provided in an Author’s Note or Glossary. But, I have to admit that didn’t stop my curiosity, and I enjoyed the drama that Ms. Maeve created. I’m looking forward to the next Shadow Play book.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
September 23, 2015
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for a Wicked Reads~~
This is the first in a series - and I shall be looking out for the next.
It is a well written story, with some distinctly twisted plot lines and a good dollop of espionage drama. The lead characters are definitely interesting when together and guarantee us a convoluted but sexy journey. I did get to the point where I wasn't even sure which side I was on, so no idea how they determined who their genuine master was. To conduct a relationship through the middle of the prejudice, the deception and behind the other protagonists was quite a challenge.
I look forward to reading more Shadow Play stories.
This is the first in a series - and I shall be looking out for the next.
It is a well written story, with some distinctly twisted plot lines and a good dollop of espionage drama. The lead characters are definitely interesting when together and guarantee us a convoluted but sexy journey. I did get to the point where I wasn't even sure which side I was on, so no idea how they determined who their genuine master was. To conduct a relationship through the middle of the prejudice, the deception and behind the other protagonists was quite a challenge.
I look forward to reading more Shadow Play stories.
August 22, 2019
Please, don't take my rating too seriously. I am not sure what is going on myself .. he-he.
I liked it enough to give 4 stars, which is surprising, considering the amount of sex scenes (not a big fan) and the ending (felt kind of unfinished, not a big fan either). But on the whole, I think I liked it enough for 4 stars, so I am sticking with it.
I liked it enough to give 4 stars, which is surprising, considering the amount of sex scenes (not a big fan) and the ending (felt kind of unfinished, not a big fan either). But on the whole, I think I liked it enough for 4 stars, so I am sticking with it.
April 17, 2016
This is a book about opposites attracting whether they want it or not. A book about two people that are a lot alike but also a lot different in so many ways. A book about two people who are both similar in ways of being a spy and work for the same government but on the opposite ends of the spectrum that just cannot stay away from each other no matter that they are supposed to be enemies.
Karim and Grigory are both spies for the government but they work for different agencies and are both supposed to be enemies because of they work for. They are both after the other to eliminate the threat that the other possesses to each other's agencies but in the end will love for one another win or will their loyalty to whom the work for win in the end.
This book in my opinion is a book about cat and mouse. I never know who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. Everything is constantly changing and who you believe is good isn't and who you think is bad turns out to be good. Karimand Grigory both know they should not get involved with one another because of how dangerous it is to each of them and being deemed a traits if they are caught but no matter how hard they each try to end what they feel for the other they cannot stay away.
This is a book about love being more powerful then the threat of death or jail. This is a book about needing the one person who may end up killing you in the end more then the threat of them turning on you in the end.
It was very well put together book that left you wondering what would happen next and who was going to turn in whom.
Cannot wait to read the next book in the series to see what twist and turns Helena Maeve will come up with.
Was given this book by inked rainbow reads for an honest review
Karim and Grigory are both spies for the government but they work for different agencies and are both supposed to be enemies because of they work for. They are both after the other to eliminate the threat that the other possesses to each other's agencies but in the end will love for one another win or will their loyalty to whom the work for win in the end.
This book in my opinion is a book about cat and mouse. I never know who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. Everything is constantly changing and who you believe is good isn't and who you think is bad turns out to be good. Karimand Grigory both know they should not get involved with one another because of how dangerous it is to each of them and being deemed a traits if they are caught but no matter how hard they each try to end what they feel for the other they cannot stay away.
This is a book about love being more powerful then the threat of death or jail. This is a book about needing the one person who may end up killing you in the end more then the threat of them turning on you in the end.
It was very well put together book that left you wondering what would happen next and who was going to turn in whom.
Cannot wait to read the next book in the series to see what twist and turns Helena Maeve will come up with.
Was given this book by inked rainbow reads for an honest review
September 26, 2015
ThreeStar
Normally I love Helena Maeve's books, but this one just didn't work for me.
There was so much going on, I could keep up or connect with any of the characters. Maybe it was that everyone had an ulterior motive. Maybe it was that it was based in Europe where the spy groups had different labels than the ones we have in the US.
I will say that the book was fast paced and well written, that was the only thing that kept me reading when I was so confused and lost at times.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
Merged review:
ThreeStar
Normally I love Helena Maeve's books, but this one just didn't work for me.
There was so much going on, I could keep up or connect with any of the characters. Maybe it was that everyone had an ulterior motive. Maybe it was that it was based in Europe where the spy groups had different labels than the ones we have in the US.
I will say that the book was fast paced and well written, that was the only thing that kept me reading when I was so confused and lost at times.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
Normally I love Helena Maeve's books, but this one just didn't work for me.
There was so much going on, I could keep up or connect with any of the characters. Maybe it was that everyone had an ulterior motive. Maybe it was that it was based in Europe where the spy groups had different labels than the ones we have in the US.
I will say that the book was fast paced and well written, that was the only thing that kept me reading when I was so confused and lost at times.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
Merged review:
ThreeStar
Normally I love Helena Maeve's books, but this one just didn't work for me.
There was so much going on, I could keep up or connect with any of the characters. Maybe it was that everyone had an ulterior motive. Maybe it was that it was based in Europe where the spy groups had different labels than the ones we have in the US.
I will say that the book was fast paced and well written, that was the only thing that kept me reading when I was so confused and lost at times.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
October 13, 2015
Ms. Maeve's Best Kept Lies is... one of those rare books that I really wanted to like but couldn't truly connect with the characters enough to do so. While many would greatly enjoy the spy thriller, drop into the middle of the action and run style of the story, I quickly got lost as to what was going on and why. Too many people, not enough plot as a friend of mine would say. Still, the characters are intriguing enough to keep me reading and the sex more than made up for the confusion. I don't know that I'll read the other books in the series but this one was good enough to keep me warm on a cooling fall night, so to speak.
January 10, 2016
Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
Best Kept Lies by Helena Maeve is not an easy book for me to review. There is nothing that I can't point to in the plot or execution that I found necessarily wrong or in need of improvement. However, there is nothing I can point to in order to say that I it caused me to like the story.
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November 5, 2016
Interesting read
I liked the spy vs spy theme, but I expected more action and a deeper plot. Probably watch too many Bond films. Overall, the book was well written. Good characters as well.
I liked the spy vs spy theme, but I expected more action and a deeper plot. Probably watch too many Bond films. Overall, the book was well written. Good characters as well.
Read
November 3, 2015DNF will at a later date. Not feeling a spy novel right now.
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