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Dark Alliance #1
Deceived
"Dark, dangerous, edgy, and deliciously sexy!" --Julie Ann Walker, New York Times bestselling author
"Kate SeRine knows how to pack a punch!" --Donna Grant, New York Times bestselling author
Luke Rogan's assignment is secure young Elijah Scoffield and his mother and bring them back to headquarters--just an ordinary mission for an operative of the Dark Alliance. But Elijah is no ordinary kid. He's the grandson of one of the country's most influential politicians--a man privy to the Alliance's most valuable secrets, including its centuries-long connection to the Knights Templar. And someone else is attempting to capture the boy--someone who's proven he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage. . .
Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . .
"A rising star in romantic suspense, Kate SeRine combines action and romance to deliver a dark and sensual story that will keep readers turning the pages. Deceived is must-read." --Cecy Robson, 2016 Double-Nominated RITA® Finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed
"One hell of a story." --The Romance Reviews on Grimm Consequences
"SeRine takes her lucky readers on a nonstop thrill ride!" --RT Book Reviews
"A fabulous kick off to the new Dark Alliance series by the always imaginative Ms. SeRine!" -- The Romance Reviews (Top Pick)
"This sexually-charged, action-packed romantic thriller is the introduction to an intriguing series sure to wow not only romance lovers, but suspense, mystery, and thrill seekers as well!" --Happy Ever After Romance Book Reviews
"Ms. SeRine writes an amazing story that is full of suspense, twist and turns, darkness, and romance." --Alpha Book Club
"This was a great suspense filled romance!" --Romance Book Reviews For You
"High suspense, flammable chemistry and amazing characters pack this addicting page turner. I loved Deceived . It had the perfect balance of story, steam and heart!" -- Tome Tender
"I am already anxiously waiting for the next book in this series!" --Robinson Reviews
"Ms. SeRine writes an amazing story that is full of suspense, twist and turns, darkness, and romance." --Alpha Book Club
"I love action-packed and well-written suspense and Ms. SeRine brings it in spades. . .It's high octane action from the very beginning." --The Sassy Bookster
"This book has it all . . . mystery, suspense, romance, and danger. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat." --Behind Closed Doors
"Hot in and out of the bedroom!" --Books That Hook
"SeRine managed to give me a suspenseful thriller perfectly balanced against the steamy, adorkable romance." --Caffeinated Book Reviewer
"Deceived is a suspenseful, mysterious and dark story that hooks you fast. . .If you are looking for a romantic suspense with an edge, this book is a great pick!" -- Francoise's Reading Corner
"Deceived will hook you from the first sentence, luring you in by the end of the first chapter and leaving you captivated until the very end." --Angela's Reading Cave
"Romantic suspense at is finest." --The Book Junkie Reads
"Murder, mystery and suspense with a good dash of romance and sexy times. I love this one." -- Scandalicious
"Kate SeRine knows how to pack a punch!" --Donna Grant, New York Times bestselling author
Luke Rogan's assignment is secure young Elijah Scoffield and his mother and bring them back to headquarters--just an ordinary mission for an operative of the Dark Alliance. But Elijah is no ordinary kid. He's the grandson of one of the country's most influential politicians--a man privy to the Alliance's most valuable secrets, including its centuries-long connection to the Knights Templar. And someone else is attempting to capture the boy--someone who's proven he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage. . .
Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . .
"A rising star in romantic suspense, Kate SeRine combines action and romance to deliver a dark and sensual story that will keep readers turning the pages. Deceived is must-read." --Cecy Robson, 2016 Double-Nominated RITA® Finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed
"One hell of a story." --The Romance Reviews on Grimm Consequences
"SeRine takes her lucky readers on a nonstop thrill ride!" --RT Book Reviews
"A fabulous kick off to the new Dark Alliance series by the always imaginative Ms. SeRine!" -- The Romance Reviews (Top Pick)
"This sexually-charged, action-packed romantic thriller is the introduction to an intriguing series sure to wow not only romance lovers, but suspense, mystery, and thrill seekers as well!" --Happy Ever After Romance Book Reviews
"Ms. SeRine writes an amazing story that is full of suspense, twist and turns, darkness, and romance." --Alpha Book Club
"This was a great suspense filled romance!" --Romance Book Reviews For You
"High suspense, flammable chemistry and amazing characters pack this addicting page turner. I loved Deceived . It had the perfect balance of story, steam and heart!" -- Tome Tender
"I am already anxiously waiting for the next book in this series!" --Robinson Reviews
"Ms. SeRine writes an amazing story that is full of suspense, twist and turns, darkness, and romance." --Alpha Book Club
"I love action-packed and well-written suspense and Ms. SeRine brings it in spades. . .It's high octane action from the very beginning." --The Sassy Bookster
"This book has it all . . . mystery, suspense, romance, and danger. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat." --Behind Closed Doors
"Hot in and out of the bedroom!" --Books That Hook
"SeRine managed to give me a suspenseful thriller perfectly balanced against the steamy, adorkable romance." --Caffeinated Book Reviewer
"Deceived is a suspenseful, mysterious and dark story that hooks you fast. . .If you are looking for a romantic suspense with an edge, this book is a great pick!" -- Francoise's Reading Corner
"Deceived will hook you from the first sentence, luring you in by the end of the first chapter and leaving you captivated until the very end." --Angela's Reading Cave
"Romantic suspense at is finest." --The Book Junkie Reads
"Murder, mystery and suspense with a good dash of romance and sexy times. I love this one." -- Scandalicious
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 28, 2016
21 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Kate SeRine
13 books457 followersKate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it's no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. She's the author of the award-winning TRANSPLANTED TALES series, the PROTECT AND SERVE series, and the DARK ALLIANCE series.
Kate has been a finalist in the Fire and Ice Contest (2010), the Finally a Bride Contest (2010), the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence (2013), and the Booksellers Best Award (2017); and is the recipient of The Emily (2012), the National Readers Choice Award (2012), and the National Excellence in Story Telling Award (2022). She is represented by Nicole Resciniti with the Seymour Agency.
Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project--probably while consuming way too much coffee.
Series reading order:
Transplanted Tales:
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came a Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out
Protect & Serve:
"Torn" (prequel novella in WAY OF THE WARRIOR)
Stop at Nothing
Safe from Harm
Dark Alliance:
Deceived
Concealed
Kate has been a finalist in the Fire and Ice Contest (2010), the Finally a Bride Contest (2010), the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence (2013), and the Booksellers Best Award (2017); and is the recipient of The Emily (2012), the National Readers Choice Award (2012), and the National Excellence in Story Telling Award (2022). She is represented by Nicole Resciniti with the Seymour Agency.
Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project--probably while consuming way too much coffee.
Series reading order:
Transplanted Tales:
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came a Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out
Protect & Serve:
"Torn" (prequel novella in WAY OF THE WARRIOR)
Stop at Nothing
Safe from Harm
Dark Alliance:
Deceived
Concealed
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 24, 2016
4 - "It'll all work out like its supposed to in the end." Stars!
New author to me + New romantic suspense series + Really enjoyable story = Happy Claire!
Kate SeRine certainly started her new Dark Alliance series with a catchy storyline. I am a sucker for anything with any that is related however loosely to the Knights Templar, so after reading the blurb for this book I was happy to jump right in.
"When it comes to one of our own we don’t fuck around."
Luke Rogan, works for Temple Knight & Associates his role is varied, but often includes the use of guns, and going places and dealing with people that most people would shy away from. Tasked with picking up the daughter and young son of one of the higher ups in the organisation after a massive security breech when an unsanctioned operation goes drastically wrong, initially sounds like a walk in the park, that is until he is given the full information as to why he is picking them up and that fact that he is not the only person looking for them.
"She was the kind of woman a guy could fall in love with before he even knew what was happening."
Sarah Scoffield’s introduction to Luke is not your run-of-the-mill handshake, after a little flirty banter turns into more of a run-and-duck type of scenario, Luke is literally playing protector to her and her son Eli from the get-go. Their chemistry is hot, add to it the stressful situation they find themselves in and it doesn’t take long for a deep bond over and above attraction to form between them.
"I like the way you see me even if it’s untrue."
This is a plot that jumps around a lot, there are quite a few POVs in play, and in the ARC version it isn’t clearly defined all the time when you have moved from one character to the other, so I did find myself going back a few times to differentiate where one person stopped and the next had started, I am sure this will have been sorted for the release version though. That-said, once I had all the players straight in my head (and you are introduced to a large number of characters in this one), I devoured this book pretty quickly. The plot moves along at a rapid clip and being given the POV of the good, and the baddies in it the author gave the story a full 360 feel.
"This one’s personal."
My one niggle, and what dropped it from a five to four star read for me was the actions and behavior of Sarah in a few of the situations she found herself in. Being a mother I just don’t know if I would have acted as recklessly as she did a couple of times. However, this is a woman dealing with a huge change in circumstances, as well as learning that a large chunk of her life may not have necessarily come about as she thought it had, so being overly emotional about things and not necessarily weighing all the options straight away is kind of to be expected. It didn’t impact my overall enjoyment of the story so-much as Deceived is definitely a roller-coaster I was happy to stay on, but it got me a bit frustrated at points. I am all for women with sass and confidence, sticking up for themselves and their loved ones, but if ultimately it puts you and/or your child at risk in the long run then not-so-much.
"Get your shit together."
I LOVED Eli though, he bought another youthful element to the story-line, I liked the ballsy, honest confidence that the author gave him, and there were moments between him and Luke that bought a little moisture to this readers eye.
I am already anxiously waiting for the next book in this series, I wish it wasn’t such a long gap to be honest, and with Concealed not being released until April 17, I just hope this old memory of mine can store away what happened this time when it comes to reading it. Either that or the author offers up Cliff-Notes of the important bits as a refresher.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.
New author to me + New romantic suspense series + Really enjoyable story = Happy Claire!
Kate SeRine certainly started her new Dark Alliance series with a catchy storyline. I am a sucker for anything with any that is related however loosely to the Knights Templar, so after reading the blurb for this book I was happy to jump right in.
"When it comes to one of our own we don’t fuck around."
Luke Rogan, works for Temple Knight & Associates his role is varied, but often includes the use of guns, and going places and dealing with people that most people would shy away from. Tasked with picking up the daughter and young son of one of the higher ups in the organisation after a massive security breech when an unsanctioned operation goes drastically wrong, initially sounds like a walk in the park, that is until he is given the full information as to why he is picking them up and that fact that he is not the only person looking for them.
"She was the kind of woman a guy could fall in love with before he even knew what was happening."
Sarah Scoffield’s introduction to Luke is not your run-of-the-mill handshake, after a little flirty banter turns into more of a run-and-duck type of scenario, Luke is literally playing protector to her and her son Eli from the get-go. Their chemistry is hot, add to it the stressful situation they find themselves in and it doesn’t take long for a deep bond over and above attraction to form between them.
"I like the way you see me even if it’s untrue."
This is a plot that jumps around a lot, there are quite a few POVs in play, and in the ARC version it isn’t clearly defined all the time when you have moved from one character to the other, so I did find myself going back a few times to differentiate where one person stopped and the next had started, I am sure this will have been sorted for the release version though. That-said, once I had all the players straight in my head (and you are introduced to a large number of characters in this one), I devoured this book pretty quickly. The plot moves along at a rapid clip and being given the POV of the good, and the baddies in it the author gave the story a full 360 feel.
"This one’s personal."
My one niggle, and what dropped it from a five to four star read for me was the actions and behavior of Sarah in a few of the situations she found herself in. Being a mother I just don’t know if I would have acted as recklessly as she did a couple of times. However, this is a woman dealing with a huge change in circumstances, as well as learning that a large chunk of her life may not have necessarily come about as she thought it had, so being overly emotional about things and not necessarily weighing all the options straight away is kind of to be expected. It didn’t impact my overall enjoyment of the story so-much as Deceived is definitely a roller-coaster I was happy to stay on, but it got me a bit frustrated at points. I am all for women with sass and confidence, sticking up for themselves and their loved ones, but if ultimately it puts you and/or your child at risk in the long run then not-so-much.
"Get your shit together."
I LOVED Eli though, he bought another youthful element to the story-line, I liked the ballsy, honest confidence that the author gave him, and there were moments between him and Luke that bought a little moisture to this readers eye.
I am already anxiously waiting for the next book in this series, I wish it wasn’t such a long gap to be honest, and with Concealed not being released until April 17, I just hope this old memory of mine can store away what happened this time when it comes to reading it. Either that or the author offers up Cliff-Notes of the important bits as a refresher.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.
June 27, 2016
What began as an operative saves the girl romantic suspense quickly turned into a tale with delightful depth. SeRine brings us into the modern-day world of the Templar Knights and Illuminati. I am drawn to stories containing these secretive groups for their power and hidden treasures. SeRine managed to give me a suspenseful thriller perfectly balanced against the steamy, adorkable romance.
Deceived provided a captivating and suspenseful plot but the romance took place in a cozy, rural community giving their story a small-town romance vibe. When a high-profile senator is attacked his knowledge regarding the Templar Knights places his grandson and daughter in grave danger. Luke Rogan is assigned to extract them and bring them back to headquarters.
Luke Rogan a former sniper is a member of the Alliance, a force who protects the secrets of the Templar Knights what begins, as a simple assignment soon becomes complicated when they discover a breach. Luke has no other option but to take Sarah and her eleven-year-old son to his haven.
Humor, attraction, and a slow simmering romance enhanced my enjoyment of Deceived. I admired how strong Sarah was, adored the charms and hilarious comments that came from Elijah and totally swooned for Luke. SeRine did a lovely job with their back-stories. She had me packing my bags and moving to Luke’s haven despite the danger. Siblings, family and animals all gave their relationship substance and endeared me to them.
The romance was heated but not without complications. The demands of the Alliance, the mission and more created obstacles but only succeeded in having me flipping the pages to discover the outcome. SeRine balanced the intense action with passion, family time, and humor.
The thread involving Elijah, the Alliance, Templars and Illuminati was well done and kept me turning the pages. The story had a fresh feel as we enjoyed perspectives from all sides. We see plenty of action and moments that had me holding breath despite never doubting I would get my HEA.
It looks like each book will share the story of an operative within the Alliance and SeRine introduced us to a couple of key players. I found myself hooked and cannot wait to continue.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Deceived provided a captivating and suspenseful plot but the romance took place in a cozy, rural community giving their story a small-town romance vibe. When a high-profile senator is attacked his knowledge regarding the Templar Knights places his grandson and daughter in grave danger. Luke Rogan is assigned to extract them and bring them back to headquarters.
Luke Rogan a former sniper is a member of the Alliance, a force who protects the secrets of the Templar Knights what begins, as a simple assignment soon becomes complicated when they discover a breach. Luke has no other option but to take Sarah and her eleven-year-old son to his haven.
Humor, attraction, and a slow simmering romance enhanced my enjoyment of Deceived. I admired how strong Sarah was, adored the charms and hilarious comments that came from Elijah and totally swooned for Luke. SeRine did a lovely job with their back-stories. She had me packing my bags and moving to Luke’s haven despite the danger. Siblings, family and animals all gave their relationship substance and endeared me to them.
The romance was heated but not without complications. The demands of the Alliance, the mission and more created obstacles but only succeeded in having me flipping the pages to discover the outcome. SeRine balanced the intense action with passion, family time, and humor.
The thread involving Elijah, the Alliance, Templars and Illuminati was well done and kept me turning the pages. The story had a fresh feel as we enjoyed perspectives from all sides. We see plenty of action and moments that had me holding breath despite never doubting I would get my HEA.
It looks like each book will share the story of an operative within the Alliance and SeRine introduced us to a couple of key players. I found myself hooked and cannot wait to continue.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
June 27, 2016
'Decived' by Kate SeRine is book one in the "Dark Alliance" series. This is the story of Luke Rogan and Sarah Scoffield.
Luke works for the Dark Alliance and is a Templar who pretty much gives up everything for their cause. Luke has no family had talks in the first part of the book how no one would really miss him if something was to happen to him...other that of course his Dark Alliance team. Luke has been assigned to bring in an influential politicians daughter and grandson who now has both turned into being target. When Luke first sees Sarah he finds her very attractive and is drawn to her.
Sarah too found that Luke brings in feelings she has not felt in a long time. Sarah lost her husband a few years back in a car accident. So she has just been working and raising her son who is now 11 years old thinking he doesn't need to be treated like a baby.
This was a great suspense filled romance that hooks you into their story pretty quickly!
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
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November 6, 2025
Deceived, a deliciously dark, edgy suspense with a heart felt adventure.
Luke, a member of the Templars, is assigned to bring Elijah and his mother in safely after there is a security breach in the Dark Alliance organization. Someone attempted to murder Senator Hal, Sarah’s father and there are rumblings that it is an ancient enemy the Illuminati.
Sarah has felt pushed aside by her father, her sister and their secretive ways. When a dangerous and sexy man tells her to come with him to live she is weary… But Sarah soon finds herself, her son and her magnetic rescuer running for their lives.
Leaks in the organization leave Luke, Sarah and Eli on their own. Luke decides to take Sarah back to his home…a place he’s kept secret from his life in the Dark Alliance. It’s a secret from the Dark Alliance and the traitors in their midst but Luke’s family and past acquaintances still live there and Sarah must play Luke’s fiancée to avoid suspicion. The play acting soon turns into so much more.
High suspense, flammable chemistry and amazing characters pack this addicting page turner. I loved Deceived. It had the perfect balance of story, steam and heart!
I received this ARC copy of Deceived from Kensington Books - Zebra in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 28, 2016.
Luke, a member of the Templars, is assigned to bring Elijah and his mother in safely after there is a security breach in the Dark Alliance organization. Someone attempted to murder Senator Hal, Sarah’s father and there are rumblings that it is an ancient enemy the Illuminati.
Sarah has felt pushed aside by her father, her sister and their secretive ways. When a dangerous and sexy man tells her to come with him to live she is weary… But Sarah soon finds herself, her son and her magnetic rescuer running for their lives.
Leaks in the organization leave Luke, Sarah and Eli on their own. Luke decides to take Sarah back to his home…a place he’s kept secret from his life in the Dark Alliance. It’s a secret from the Dark Alliance and the traitors in their midst but Luke’s family and past acquaintances still live there and Sarah must play Luke’s fiancée to avoid suspicion. The play acting soon turns into so much more.
High suspense, flammable chemistry and amazing characters pack this addicting page turner. I loved Deceived. It had the perfect balance of story, steam and heart!
I received this ARC copy of Deceived from Kensington Books - Zebra in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 28, 2016.
July 5, 2016
A nice romantic suspense in the trope of bodyguard falls for protégée.
Well written and easy to read, but there's nothing new...
I liked both the MCs. They were real people and acted accordingly. Their attraction and love story felt real too and was hot.
What I liked most was Elijah, the heroine's son. He was a kid I would like to be my son! He's a cross between Yoda and a kid! LOL
What most didn't make sense here is the way the Dark Alliance worked.
They're were supposedly a super secret society, deriving from ancient Templar Knights, working for the good of the world (... I suppose...???) and against the Illuminati who want world dominion. But unfortunatly their security is so full of holes that it's a miracle they're not on Twitter or Facebook!
So the good guys, our hero, Luke, his commander, Will, the computer wiz, Finn, another operative and friend Jack are running around like a headless chickens. Jack mostly talk about restricted information with people outside their circle even knowing that there's a traitor very near them, only because the other person is a long time friend!!!! So crazy!!!
They also take a lot of time to get who's who and to discover what's happening, while there're a lot of clues that, them being so super, should have immediately recognized...
So sorry, but I don't know if I'll keep reading this series...
Well written and easy to read, but there's nothing new...
I liked both the MCs. They were real people and acted accordingly. Their attraction and love story felt real too and was hot.
What I liked most was Elijah, the heroine's son. He was a kid I would like to be my son! He's a cross between Yoda and a kid! LOL
What most didn't make sense here is the way the Dark Alliance worked.
They're were supposedly a super secret society, deriving from ancient Templar Knights, working for the good of the world (... I suppose...???) and against the Illuminati who want world dominion. But unfortunatly their security is so full of holes that it's a miracle they're not on Twitter or Facebook!
So the good guys, our hero, Luke, his commander, Will, the computer wiz, Finn, another operative and friend Jack are running around like a headless chickens. Jack mostly talk about restricted information with people outside their circle even knowing that there's a traitor very near them, only because the other person is a long time friend!!!! So crazy!!!
They also take a lot of time to get who's who and to discover what's happening, while there're a lot of clues that, them being so super, should have immediately recognized...
So sorry, but I don't know if I'll keep reading this series...
July 8, 2016
There's nothing better than a romantic suspense that combines both the romance and suspense elements successfully!
Luke Rogan has lived a hard life. Between a deadbeat dad, military service and now an operative with Dark Alliance, it seems he's always been fighting for one thing or another. He's been tasked with protecting Sarah Scoffield and her son Eli after finding out that Eli has been chosen as the successor to his grandfather, a high ranking Templar. Sarah was never expecting a man like Luke to enter her life. A young widow with a pre-teen son, she's content as a teacher in her small town until Luke barges in, saves Eli and whisks them both off to his ranch in Wyoming. Can Luke keep them both safe, and his hands off of Sarah, until the threat is neutralized?
I'm sooo in love with Kate SeRine! Her Transplanted Tales series is one of the best out there, so I was so excited to get the opportunity to read DECEIVED. With secret societies straight out of The DaVinci Code, Ms. SeRine has created a world of lies, manipulation, cloak and dagger organizations…oh and some seriously hot sex! I loved Luke, he was totally dedicated to the Alliance but found himself considering a future and a family for the first time in his life. He wants nothing more than to protect the woman and little boy who've wormed into his heart. Sarah was a bit of an enigma, she was a great mom, a woman who was finally getting a lil summin summin from Luke, but by all accounts a bit of a wimp…until her little boy is threatened, then WATCH OUT!! The two of them had combustible chemistry, and the sex scenes were droolworthy!
My favorite part of DECEIVED, though, was Eli! That kid was well written, with just enough snark and eye rolls and little boy wonder to seem legit. All in all this is a fabulous kick off to the new Dark Alliance series by the always imaginative Ms. SeRine! I'm only pissed that I have to wait almost a year for Jack's story in Concealed!!
Bottom Line: Loved this book! I would highly recommend just about everything by this talented author! - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
Luke Rogan has lived a hard life. Between a deadbeat dad, military service and now an operative with Dark Alliance, it seems he's always been fighting for one thing or another. He's been tasked with protecting Sarah Scoffield and her son Eli after finding out that Eli has been chosen as the successor to his grandfather, a high ranking Templar. Sarah was never expecting a man like Luke to enter her life. A young widow with a pre-teen son, she's content as a teacher in her small town until Luke barges in, saves Eli and whisks them both off to his ranch in Wyoming. Can Luke keep them both safe, and his hands off of Sarah, until the threat is neutralized?
I'm sooo in love with Kate SeRine! Her Transplanted Tales series is one of the best out there, so I was so excited to get the opportunity to read DECEIVED. With secret societies straight out of The DaVinci Code, Ms. SeRine has created a world of lies, manipulation, cloak and dagger organizations…oh and some seriously hot sex! I loved Luke, he was totally dedicated to the Alliance but found himself considering a future and a family for the first time in his life. He wants nothing more than to protect the woman and little boy who've wormed into his heart. Sarah was a bit of an enigma, she was a great mom, a woman who was finally getting a lil summin summin from Luke, but by all accounts a bit of a wimp…until her little boy is threatened, then WATCH OUT!! The two of them had combustible chemistry, and the sex scenes were droolworthy!
My favorite part of DECEIVED, though, was Eli! That kid was well written, with just enough snark and eye rolls and little boy wonder to seem legit. All in all this is a fabulous kick off to the new Dark Alliance series by the always imaginative Ms. SeRine! I'm only pissed that I have to wait almost a year for Jack's story in Concealed!!
Bottom Line: Loved this book! I would highly recommend just about everything by this talented author! - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
July 4, 2016
Mon avis en Français
My English review
This is the first novel of a new genre for Kate Serine and it’s true that I was curious to discover the story and to see what the author had in store for us. How not to be a curious while we have an intrigue starring Templar Knights? Yes you heard it right, the Templars!
It is in this context that we meet Luke Rogan, a member of this community, a former mercenary who must now protect a mother and her son against a constant threat. Indeed, it seems that the child is the heir of his grandfather, himself a Templar and thus could hide many secrets that could be very dangerous if they were to be revealed … Knowing this, many people are in pursuit of this little family but Luc is in charge of the case and takes them home to protect them as best as he can. But during that time, Sarah and Luc will connect gradually although he knows that nothing is possible between them.
It was interesting to follow the trio, to see Sarah’s confusion over this new world she does not know about, to understand her betrayal when she realizes that all her relatives played her … but one thing is sure, she is desperate to protect her son! She is a strong and courageous woman who will be forced to change her life in a very short time. And then we have Luc … This character is very enigmatic and yes we are curious to better understand him and to discover the history that he seems to hide. We are quickly affected by these two characters, what they endure and finally the obstacles they must both confront.
It was a very good book and I had a good time with the story. I was curious to find out more about the enemies of the Templars and it was fascinating to see the frames of both organizations. I was a little confused sometimes regarding all the different names, unable to locate everyone while going from one character to another…. These passages were sometimes a bit too rough for me but it’s really a detail and I am curious to read more.
My English review
This is the first novel of a new genre for Kate Serine and it’s true that I was curious to discover the story and to see what the author had in store for us. How not to be a curious while we have an intrigue starring Templar Knights? Yes you heard it right, the Templars!
It is in this context that we meet Luke Rogan, a member of this community, a former mercenary who must now protect a mother and her son against a constant threat. Indeed, it seems that the child is the heir of his grandfather, himself a Templar and thus could hide many secrets that could be very dangerous if they were to be revealed … Knowing this, many people are in pursuit of this little family but Luc is in charge of the case and takes them home to protect them as best as he can. But during that time, Sarah and Luc will connect gradually although he knows that nothing is possible between them.
It was interesting to follow the trio, to see Sarah’s confusion over this new world she does not know about, to understand her betrayal when she realizes that all her relatives played her … but one thing is sure, she is desperate to protect her son! She is a strong and courageous woman who will be forced to change her life in a very short time. And then we have Luc … This character is very enigmatic and yes we are curious to better understand him and to discover the history that he seems to hide. We are quickly affected by these two characters, what they endure and finally the obstacles they must both confront.
It was a very good book and I had a good time with the story. I was curious to find out more about the enemies of the Templars and it was fascinating to see the frames of both organizations. I was a little confused sometimes regarding all the different names, unable to locate everyone while going from one character to another…. These passages were sometimes a bit too rough for me but it’s really a detail and I am curious to read more.
July 1, 2016
A suspenseful story about modern-day Templars, yes please ! When additionally this story is well-written, fast paced and unputdownable, I couldn’t ask for more!
After the Order of the Templars was officially dissolved in the 1300s, some knights went underground to continue their mission. Eventually, their organization became the Dark Alliance. The famous treasures of the Templars were moved to a secure location and helped fund their operations over the centuries. Their descendants are members of the Alliance but only a few of them know where the treasures are hidden. Senator Hal Blake, one of the most respected Templars embedded in the government, is privy to this information and has transmitted it to his eleven years old grandson Eli.
When someone attempts to murder Hal and abduct Eli, the Alliance sends Luke Rogan, one of their best field operatives, to protect Eli and his mother, Sarah. The Alliance suspects a mysterious organization, the Illuminati, to be re-forming with the intention of controlling the world and destroying the Alliance. The attack also means that there is a traitor among the leaders of the Alliance or the persons they trust.
Luke Rogan is an intriguing character, engaging but also dark and secretive. His vast experience as member of the Special Forces will be necessary to protect Eli and Sarah against determined enemies. What follows is a suspenseful pursuit race that kept me on the edge of my seat! The stakes are high, as Luke begins to care deeply for Sarah.
Deceived is a suspenseful, mysterious and dark story that hooks you fast. Its many twists and subplots kept me eagerly turning the pages. I enjoyed the historical references and the world building. This book is a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to read more about the Alliance. If you are looking for a romantic suspense with an edge, this book is a great pick!
An advanced copy was provided by publisher Kensington books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
After the Order of the Templars was officially dissolved in the 1300s, some knights went underground to continue their mission. Eventually, their organization became the Dark Alliance. The famous treasures of the Templars were moved to a secure location and helped fund their operations over the centuries. Their descendants are members of the Alliance but only a few of them know where the treasures are hidden. Senator Hal Blake, one of the most respected Templars embedded in the government, is privy to this information and has transmitted it to his eleven years old grandson Eli.
When someone attempts to murder Hal and abduct Eli, the Alliance sends Luke Rogan, one of their best field operatives, to protect Eli and his mother, Sarah. The Alliance suspects a mysterious organization, the Illuminati, to be re-forming with the intention of controlling the world and destroying the Alliance. The attack also means that there is a traitor among the leaders of the Alliance or the persons they trust.
Luke Rogan is an intriguing character, engaging but also dark and secretive. His vast experience as member of the Special Forces will be necessary to protect Eli and Sarah against determined enemies. What follows is a suspenseful pursuit race that kept me on the edge of my seat! The stakes are high, as Luke begins to care deeply for Sarah.
Deceived is a suspenseful, mysterious and dark story that hooks you fast. Its many twists and subplots kept me eagerly turning the pages. I enjoyed the historical references and the world building. This book is a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to read more about the Alliance. If you are looking for a romantic suspense with an edge, this book is a great pick!
An advanced copy was provided by publisher Kensington books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
June 29, 2016
Five Suspenseful Stars! Sarah is a widow and a mother to her son Eli, her main concern is keeping her son safe. She is estranged from her father and has no idea about his involvement in the Dark Alliance. Luke is an operative with the Dark Alliance and is sent to guard Sarah and Eli. It is soon discovered that there is a traitor who wants Eli, so Luke takes them to his home. Sarah and Luke have an attraction towards one another that they are fighting. Will they give in to their attraction, and what about the traitor? Ms. SeRine writes an amazing story that is full of suspense, twist and turns, darkness, and romance. The characters had great chemistry! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found myself unable to put it down! This is the first book in the Dark Alliance Series and I can't wait to read the next one!
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. This book was read and reviewed by Annamaria for Alpha Book Club.
Plot: 5
chemistry: 5
Pacing: 5
Ending: 5
Character Development: 5
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. This book was read and reviewed by Annamaria for Alpha Book Club.
Plot: 5
chemistry: 5
Pacing: 5
Ending: 5
Character Development: 5
June 28, 2016
4.5 Stars
I love action-packed and well-written suspense and Ms. SeRine brings it in spades in this opening installment of her new series. DECEIVED is a dark, explosive and exciting take on modern day secret societies and the quest for wealth, power and influence. It's high octane action from the very beginning, the kind that leaves you at the edge of your seat, mixed with a heated attraction and really likable characters and is perfect for anyone who loves a great mystery or suspense.
When an attack on a high-profile politician threatens the security of the Knights Templar and places his estranged daughter and her son in danger, former sniper and Knight Templar operative Luke Rogan is tasked with protecting them, but a simple protection detail morphs into more when murder and an attempted kidnap become a part of the equation. The best course of action is to hide out while the rest of the team tries to figure out if there is a traitor within the ranks or if the threat is from the outside.
Sarah Scoffield had no idea the secrets her father was keeping from her but when those secrets put her son is danger, Sarah will do almost anything to keep him safe, even accept help from a stranger. What Sarah is unprepared for is the strength of the attraction between her and Luke, but with the uncertainty in her life, it would be foolish to deny herself the temporary pleasure she can find in Luke's arms.
DECEIVED is a very captivating book and Ms. SeRine does an amazing job building a shadowy, secret world where power and wealth are the currency and life is expendable in the quest for it. I'll admit to jumping up and down at some point because the suspense was sooo good, I couldn't sit still and honestly, I can't wait for the next book. The possibilities are endless with the bigger plot line and I'm bracing for lots of surprises, while already trying to imagine who the man behind the curtain is.
The characters are really great and easy to root for. Sarah brings a brightness to Luke's dark and duty-driven life and for the first time, he finds himself wanting to hold onto happiness and a future with Sarah and her son, Eli. Eli brings a freshness to the story with his upbeat outlook on life and his trust in Luke's ability to keep them safe.
All in all, this is a really great start to the series and I definitely recommend it!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I love action-packed and well-written suspense and Ms. SeRine brings it in spades in this opening installment of her new series. DECEIVED is a dark, explosive and exciting take on modern day secret societies and the quest for wealth, power and influence. It's high octane action from the very beginning, the kind that leaves you at the edge of your seat, mixed with a heated attraction and really likable characters and is perfect for anyone who loves a great mystery or suspense.
When an attack on a high-profile politician threatens the security of the Knights Templar and places his estranged daughter and her son in danger, former sniper and Knight Templar operative Luke Rogan is tasked with protecting them, but a simple protection detail morphs into more when murder and an attempted kidnap become a part of the equation. The best course of action is to hide out while the rest of the team tries to figure out if there is a traitor within the ranks or if the threat is from the outside.
Sarah Scoffield had no idea the secrets her father was keeping from her but when those secrets put her son is danger, Sarah will do almost anything to keep him safe, even accept help from a stranger. What Sarah is unprepared for is the strength of the attraction between her and Luke, but with the uncertainty in her life, it would be foolish to deny herself the temporary pleasure she can find in Luke's arms.
DECEIVED is a very captivating book and Ms. SeRine does an amazing job building a shadowy, secret world where power and wealth are the currency and life is expendable in the quest for it. I'll admit to jumping up and down at some point because the suspense was sooo good, I couldn't sit still and honestly, I can't wait for the next book. The possibilities are endless with the bigger plot line and I'm bracing for lots of surprises, while already trying to imagine who the man behind the curtain is.
The characters are really great and easy to root for. Sarah brings a brightness to Luke's dark and duty-driven life and for the first time, he finds himself wanting to hold onto happiness and a future with Sarah and her son, Eli. Eli brings a freshness to the story with his upbeat outlook on life and his trust in Luke's ability to keep them safe.
All in all, this is a really great start to the series and I definitely recommend it!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
Like my page on Facebook.
June 27, 2016
Action-packed from beginning to end! This romantic suspense had me hooked from the beginning and kept me turning pages till I finished. It was dark and edgy with deception, murder, friendships, family, romance and more.
Two historical groups, the Knights Templar and the Illuminati, have regrouped and gone dark at some point in the past. Both are vying for supremacy and world domination but one seems to be slightly better than the other. Luke Rogan, a Templar, is given the mission of keeping Sarah Scoffield and her son Eli safe after Sarah’s father is injured. Finding out who is out to get Eli and why lies at the root of his mission. A Templar gives up much and is not supposed to get involved or have ties but Luke finds this more and more difficult as time with Sarah continues. Knowing who to trust is not easy and could prove lethal. I loved Luke, Sara and Eli – their personalities, strengths and interactions as they got to know one another and grew together into a unit.
This is a new author to me and I found her work exciting and thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of her books and the second book in this series when it comes out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Two historical groups, the Knights Templar and the Illuminati, have regrouped and gone dark at some point in the past. Both are vying for supremacy and world domination but one seems to be slightly better than the other. Luke Rogan, a Templar, is given the mission of keeping Sarah Scoffield and her son Eli safe after Sarah’s father is injured. Finding out who is out to get Eli and why lies at the root of his mission. A Templar gives up much and is not supposed to get involved or have ties but Luke finds this more and more difficult as time with Sarah continues. Knowing who to trust is not easy and could prove lethal. I loved Luke, Sara and Eli – their personalities, strengths and interactions as they got to know one another and grew together into a unit.
This is a new author to me and I found her work exciting and thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of her books and the second book in this series when it comes out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
July 21, 2016
On the blog today. Lee is giving this kick off to a new series 4 stars!
Follow this link to her complete review:
http://bit.ly/29WiXD1
Follow this link to her complete review:
http://bit.ly/29WiXD1
October 7, 2017
3.5 stars
May 23, 2018
3.5 stars
slow-paced, but plot intriguing
slow-paced, but plot intriguing
December 11, 2021
Knights Templar and sexy romance.
I liked it.
I liked it.
October 22, 2022
New Author for me book was ok
did-not-finish
January 27, 2023DNF @ 30%
This was way too convoluted and confusing and that made enjoying it really hard.
This was way too convoluted and confusing and that made enjoying it really hard.
November 3, 2016
Love the hero and the overall story line.
Not a fan of the insta love. Am all for insta lust!!!
Not a fan of the insta love. Am all for insta lust!!!
August 1, 2016
Luke Rogan loves working as an operative for the Dark Alliance, but his latest assignment is his toughest yet. Protecting Elijah and Sarah Schofield is his number one priority, and he will do anything to keep them safe, even if it means going against his boss's orders. Not only because the Dark Alliance need to keep the knowledge deeply embedded in Elijah's head secret, but because Sarah and her son are coming to mean more to him than an assignment.
Sarah Schofield will do anything to keep her son safe, even if it means teaming up with the handsome stranger that rescues her and her son from the dangerous people after them. She never could have imagined falling in love again, but Luke Rogan is a man hard to resist.
Being a total fan of romantic suspense, I was really looking forward to reading this story, and I've got to say that Ms. Serine does not disappoint. From start to finish, this story was everything I could have hoped for and more when it comes to the genre. As it encompassed compelling and well-written dialogue, remarkable characters that drew me into this story with everything they go through, and a fast-paced plot that had a perfect blend of suspense and romance to make this story a real page turner.
As for the dialogue, it was intense because it's not only narrated by the main characters but also the antagonist; a dangerous man that wants Elijah since the information the child knows will bring the bad guy power. However, there were some light-hearted moments between Sarah and Luke as well as the main characters and Elijah that had me laughing or smiling. There is so much love between Sarah and her son, and I liked that Elijah was just as protective of his mom as she was of him.
Both Luke and Sarah were incredible, and together with the secondary characters had me flipping the pages quickly to discover how this story would develop. Would Luke be able to keep Sarah and Elijah safe? Would Sarah be able to handle everything she discovers about her family and her late husband? How far would the bad guys go to learn the information Elijah knows? I felt sorry for Sarah because it isn't easy for her. Her father has kept a lot from her, and being so in the dark as she was, it took time for her to process. Yet, in saying that, I thought she handled everything quite well.
The heroine is strong, brave, and I liked how determined she is to protect her son. Everything Luke teaches her when it comes to protecting herself comes in handy, and she definitely shows the bad guys that she's a woman not to be messed with. She's also very smart and proves that with the way she sacrifices herself to prevent anything happening to Elijah. The fact that she trusts Luke, even after he admits why he's gotten so close to her, goes to show that she also knows he'll do whatever it takes to protect her.
While Luke, he's honorable, loyal and a very good operative for the Dark Alliance. Certainly, he'll do whatever it takes to protect Sarah and her son, especially when their lives have been turned so upside down. He's had quite an interesting past and it goes to show why bad guys are hesitant to go up against him. His reputation proceeds him, and it was understandable why the Dark Alliance recruited him. I also liked what he was willing to do to be with Sarah. She was more important to him than his job.
Overall, Ms. Serine has penned a very good novel where the sex scenes were hot, and illustrated the strong chemistry the hero and heroine had from the moment they met. The way this story ended was wonderful, as Luke finding love finally has his boss looking to change the rules when it comes to relationships while being an operative. I would recommend Deceived by Kate Serine, if you enjoy romantic suspense where the hero and heroine have some pretty tough obstacles to achieve their happy ever after. Also, this first book of Ms. Serine's Dark Alliance series has me looking forward to more of this series.
July 18, 2016
This book was very predictable right up until the end. I saw things coming from miles away and I really got tired of rolling my eyes and calling Luke, Sarah and the rest of the characters dumbasses. It followed the typical romance of hero saves the girl storyline. Even the adding in of the Dark Alliance which was interesting and intrigued me enough to enter the Goodreads giveaway for this book couldn’t save it.
I don’t think there was a good balance in this book between the plot and the romance at least in the beginning. Every chapter it jumped from Luke and Sarah to the Alliance. I realize that this is the first book in the series and there is a lot of information that the reader needs to understand about the players and the Dark Alliance it’s self but it really seemed like Luke and Sarah were getting nowhere in their story for most of the book but we got a lot of information and back stories on the Alliance side. And yes it was a little confusing to keep all the characters in the Alliance straight when the author uses last names and a lot of the characters have multiple family members within the Alliance.
The heroine Sarah who I am sorry I felt was an airhead from the start only redeemed herself when she was being protective of her son Elijah. Otherwise she was a wishy washy airhead who made poor decisions and time and time again.
The hero Luke was supposed to be this big badass agent for the Dark Alliance and yet he still made major blunders and mistakes regarding Sarah and Elijah’s safety throughout the story. Come on man you’re the Dark Alliances top agent and you take them to your personal home which you bought from your stepfather and that is supposed to a “safe” and unknown location? Then you take them into town where you grew up and have a reputation not once but twice both times getting into trouble. Think man.
The Dark Alliance is the old Knights Templar and full of arrogant and dense men that think they can’t be fooled well guess what they were. It took them a long time to figure out what was what. I thought they had top of the line agents from all branches of the government, state-of-the- art technology and security? Jacob Stone wasn’t that smart. Certainly not smarter then all those guys to have gotten one over on them, but he did at least for a while. I am siding with Jacob Stone. These characters are too stupid to live and I am not sure how they managed to catch him. Somehow they pulled this out of their butt’s major blunders and all.
I actually liked Jacob Stone even though he wasn’t that much smarter than the Dark Alliance. But he felt like he and his family had been wronged by the Dark Alliance and they had been so he took his revenge plain and simple.
This story had potential but there were so many problems and issues with the plot, the characters and the Dark Alliance it’s self that I couldn’t buy it. There might have been a real story between Luke and Sarah but it was over shadowed at least for me by their poor decisions and messed up logic. The idea of the Dark Alliance and the Templers still being around was interesting but it fell short and seemed like a pretty big joke for most of the story.
I received this book from Goodreads as part of a giveaway.
I don’t think there was a good balance in this book between the plot and the romance at least in the beginning. Every chapter it jumped from Luke and Sarah to the Alliance. I realize that this is the first book in the series and there is a lot of information that the reader needs to understand about the players and the Dark Alliance it’s self but it really seemed like Luke and Sarah were getting nowhere in their story for most of the book but we got a lot of information and back stories on the Alliance side. And yes it was a little confusing to keep all the characters in the Alliance straight when the author uses last names and a lot of the characters have multiple family members within the Alliance.
The heroine Sarah who I am sorry I felt was an airhead from the start only redeemed herself when she was being protective of her son Elijah. Otherwise she was a wishy washy airhead who made poor decisions and time and time again.
The hero Luke was supposed to be this big badass agent for the Dark Alliance and yet he still made major blunders and mistakes regarding Sarah and Elijah’s safety throughout the story. Come on man you’re the Dark Alliances top agent and you take them to your personal home which you bought from your stepfather and that is supposed to a “safe” and unknown location? Then you take them into town where you grew up and have a reputation not once but twice both times getting into trouble. Think man.
The Dark Alliance is the old Knights Templar and full of arrogant and dense men that think they can’t be fooled well guess what they were. It took them a long time to figure out what was what. I thought they had top of the line agents from all branches of the government, state-of-the- art technology and security? Jacob Stone wasn’t that smart. Certainly not smarter then all those guys to have gotten one over on them, but he did at least for a while. I am siding with Jacob Stone. These characters are too stupid to live and I am not sure how they managed to catch him. Somehow they pulled this out of their butt’s major blunders and all.
I actually liked Jacob Stone even though he wasn’t that much smarter than the Dark Alliance. But he felt like he and his family had been wronged by the Dark Alliance and they had been so he took his revenge plain and simple.
This story had potential but there were so many problems and issues with the plot, the characters and the Dark Alliance it’s self that I couldn’t buy it. There might have been a real story between Luke and Sarah but it was over shadowed at least for me by their poor decisions and messed up logic. The idea of the Dark Alliance and the Templers still being around was interesting but it fell short and seemed like a pretty big joke for most of the story.
I received this book from Goodreads as part of a giveaway.
June 6, 2016
"Deceived" is the first novel in Kate SeRine's "Dark Alliance" series and the first book I have read by this author. I loved it! It was well written and the plot sucked me in. The pace was fast and smooth. It had everything I love in a book: action, suspense, mystery, danger, a hot guy, and of course romance.
I wasn't sure about this book going in. I knew the premise was of a modern day Knights Templar vs The Illuminati. It would be easy for this to turn hokey. Luckily the author did a great job bringing this to life and making it believable. This first book set up much of the world building but not so much as to be tedious. It was the perfect amount to keep it interesting and it left wiggle room for future growth. One issue, and this is totally a weird personal quirk, is that I don't particularly enjoy story lines where the villain is an organization or entity that persists throughout a series. Especially when there is too much of the villains POV as was the case here. Less is more sometimes. That being said, there was enough other stuff going on that it was more of a minor irritation, and probably just specific to me.
I loved Luke, Sarah, and Eli and the interactions they had with each other. Sarah had hints being fragile at first but began to show the steel in her spine as the book progressed. And I loved the unexpected bits of badassedness that popped up. The attraction between her and Luke felt real and believable and although their relationship moved quickly it didn't come off as being rushed to me.
Luke was a complicated, damaged, Alpha male kind of guy. I loved how he became more and more human and less of the single minded machine he started out as. His history was delved into some but not quite enough. It gave a hint of the type of operations he had gone on but it only touched the surface. References were repeatedly made about him being in a bad place and having some sort of messed up assignment years before and how Jack bringing him into the Alliance saved him. But it never gave any details as to what the mission was, what happened, and how Jack met him and brought him into the Alliance. I really wish that information had been included. It would have given much more insight into Luke's character. That's probably only my real complaint about the book. I did love watching Luke fall in love. He just seemed so surprised and amazed by it because he didn't feel capable of loving and being loved. It was really sweet watching him come to terms with that.
They side characters were interesting and fleshed out enough to make me want more. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series which will be Jack and Maddie's story. Looking forward to Will and Finn's stories as well.
All in all a very enjoyable read. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up some of the author's other books while I am waiting on the next in this series to be released.
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I wasn't sure about this book going in. I knew the premise was of a modern day Knights Templar vs The Illuminati. It would be easy for this to turn hokey. Luckily the author did a great job bringing this to life and making it believable. This first book set up much of the world building but not so much as to be tedious. It was the perfect amount to keep it interesting and it left wiggle room for future growth. One issue, and this is totally a weird personal quirk, is that I don't particularly enjoy story lines where the villain is an organization or entity that persists throughout a series. Especially when there is too much of the villains POV as was the case here. Less is more sometimes. That being said, there was enough other stuff going on that it was more of a minor irritation, and probably just specific to me.
I loved Luke, Sarah, and Eli and the interactions they had with each other. Sarah had hints being fragile at first but began to show the steel in her spine as the book progressed. And I loved the unexpected bits of badassedness that popped up. The attraction between her and Luke felt real and believable and although their relationship moved quickly it didn't come off as being rushed to me.
Luke was a complicated, damaged, Alpha male kind of guy. I loved how he became more and more human and less of the single minded machine he started out as. His history was delved into some but not quite enough. It gave a hint of the type of operations he had gone on but it only touched the surface. References were repeatedly made about him being in a bad place and having some sort of messed up assignment years before and how Jack bringing him into the Alliance saved him. But it never gave any details as to what the mission was, what happened, and how Jack met him and brought him into the Alliance. I really wish that information had been included. It would have given much more insight into Luke's character. That's probably only my real complaint about the book. I did love watching Luke fall in love. He just seemed so surprised and amazed by it because he didn't feel capable of loving and being loved. It was really sweet watching him come to terms with that.
They side characters were interesting and fleshed out enough to make me want more. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series which will be Jack and Maddie's story. Looking forward to Will and Finn's stories as well.
All in all a very enjoyable read. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up some of the author's other books while I am waiting on the next in this series to be released.
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
March 25, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
Point of View: third person, alternates characters
Tense: past
Setting: primarily Wyoming
Sexual Content: explicit, for ages 18+
Pet Peeves: “her sex” — sex is not a body part
Hot in and out of the bedroom!
Deceived is a fast-paced novel, packed with action and romance. The story is about a senator’s daughter, Sarah, whose son is in danger because he is the successor of her father in the Templar organization, meaning he may know the locations of Templar treasures. Luke is assigned to protect them. He finds himself becoming more attached to Sarah and her son than he should be in his position.
I really enjoyed the character development. Both Sarah and Luke have reasons they shouldn’t get involved with one another. They have an instant attraction, yet the author doesn’t make it overwhelm them. Their reactions were believable. The progression of the romance was natural, not forced.
I appreciated that Luke was a gentleman. He was an alpha male without being rough, abusive, or sexually aggressive. He allowed Sarah to make the first move.
I also enjoyed how the author made the villain have more than one side to him. I liked that she humanized him by allowing him to feel some regret about his past and future actions. Even the minor characters like Will, Maggie, Jake, and the senator were all well-developed; I thought Kate SeRine put a lot of thought into every character.
Although there isn't much mystery in this book--the villain is identified early on, there is plenty of suspense. It was a hard book to put down. The middle of the book focuses on the romance more than the danger, but it still held my interest.
If I had to give criticism, it would be about the Dark Alliance (Templars) organization. They seemed inept. In one part of the book, for example, they are supposed to have people in Chicago following Jacob from the airport to his mansion. Everyone is very confident that Jacob would be under surveillance until Luke and Will could arrive. Somehow, this didn't happen, and I didn't see an explanation for why that was so. If the Dark Alliance was so great, how did all hell break loose at the mansion? Where were all their agents, which should have been a considerable amount due to the fact that Chicago was a major base of operations?
Other than that, I don't have any complaints. I enjoyed reading Deceived.
Do I Recommend Deceived?
I recommend this book to readers who like a blend of romance and suspense. The basic idea of the protector falling in love with his charge is very common in this genre, but Kate SeRine gave it a new twist by adding in secret societies and villains bent on world domination and treasure. I enjoyed Deceived because of the fast pacing, likable and believable characters, and clean, concise writing that allowed me to visualize everything easily.
Point of View: third person, alternates characters
Tense: past
Setting: primarily Wyoming
Sexual Content: explicit, for ages 18+
Pet Peeves: “her sex” — sex is not a body part
Hot in and out of the bedroom!
Deceived is a fast-paced novel, packed with action and romance. The story is about a senator’s daughter, Sarah, whose son is in danger because he is the successor of her father in the Templar organization, meaning he may know the locations of Templar treasures. Luke is assigned to protect them. He finds himself becoming more attached to Sarah and her son than he should be in his position.
I really enjoyed the character development. Both Sarah and Luke have reasons they shouldn’t get involved with one another. They have an instant attraction, yet the author doesn’t make it overwhelm them. Their reactions were believable. The progression of the romance was natural, not forced.
I appreciated that Luke was a gentleman. He was an alpha male without being rough, abusive, or sexually aggressive. He allowed Sarah to make the first move.
I also enjoyed how the author made the villain have more than one side to him. I liked that she humanized him by allowing him to feel some regret about his past and future actions. Even the minor characters like Will, Maggie, Jake, and the senator were all well-developed; I thought Kate SeRine put a lot of thought into every character.
Although there isn't much mystery in this book--the villain is identified early on, there is plenty of suspense. It was a hard book to put down. The middle of the book focuses on the romance more than the danger, but it still held my interest.
If I had to give criticism, it would be about the Dark Alliance (Templars) organization. They seemed inept. In one part of the book, for example, they are supposed to have people in Chicago following Jacob from the airport to his mansion. Everyone is very confident that Jacob would be under surveillance until Luke and Will could arrive. Somehow, this didn't happen, and I didn't see an explanation for why that was so. If the Dark Alliance was so great, how did all hell break loose at the mansion? Where were all their agents, which should have been a considerable amount due to the fact that Chicago was a major base of operations?
Other than that, I don't have any complaints. I enjoyed reading Deceived.
Do I Recommend Deceived?
I recommend this book to readers who like a blend of romance and suspense. The basic idea of the protector falling in love with his charge is very common in this genre, but Kate SeRine gave it a new twist by adding in secret societies and villains bent on world domination and treasure. I enjoyed Deceived because of the fast pacing, likable and believable characters, and clean, concise writing that allowed me to visualize everything easily.
October 17, 2016
Thank you to Zebra and Netgalley for allowing me to review this novel. This in no way influenced my review.
Deceived is the perfect blend of romance and suspense. Once you start Deceived you will not want to put it down- the action is just that intense!
Luke is on a mission that goes south, a mission involving Senator Hal Blake. He finds out later that his was an unsanctioned mission. Which is why when the Senator ends up in the Hospital, Luke is sent to protect his grandson Eli. Senator Hal had apparently named Eli, heir apparent to his Dark Alliance knowledge. Somehow, the Illuminate found out though and they are hunting Eli as well.
Sarah is a widow, who has been kept in the dark about her family’s allegiance to the Dark Alliance. That being said she is no weeping willow. Instead she stands tall like the mighty oak tree, trying hard to accept Luke’s story. Mainly she will do anything to protect her son. She is relatable, strong, and compassionate. She struggles with her attraction to Luke, something that takes her by surprise. Her husband has been dead for years, yet she hasn’t moved on. She knows that Luke is hard-core, he is protecting them and yet she will still go toe to toe with him is she feels he oversteps his boundaries with her or with Eli. How she demands answers and respect is a thing a beauty.
Luke has orders and he tries very hard to follow them. He is a sexy loner, a company man. He fights the attraction he feels for Sarah, the attachment that is developing with Eli. There are times though, that all Eli has to do is say please with hero worship eyes and he caves. Those were some of my favorite moments, like the one with Master Chief. Luke’s suspicious nature has him looking not only into this case, into Sarah’s past. Will he like all that he finds? Will she like all that he finds?
The big baddie is…. well they cause you to do a double take. Makes sense, they are playing both sides. They make you suspicious though of everyone in the Dark Alliance. Who else has also turned? Who else is a traitor? Not only that but what a great actor they must have been to never once give away their true emotions.
Deceived will hook you from the first sentence, luring you in by the end of the first chapter and leaving you captivated until the very end. At the end, is a tease for the next book in the series, Concealed which is scheduled to release in April 2017. The perfect bait to make you count down the days until you can re-enter the Dark Alliance series and once again be reunited with the a blend of romance and suspense is flawless.
My Rating 5 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote “I like the way you see me- even if it’s untrue.”
Other People
Eli- Sarah’s son
Finn- computer expert
Jack- Luke’s partner
Maddie- Sarah’s sister
Will- Luke’s commander
Mel- Luke’s step-sister
Deceived is the perfect blend of romance and suspense. Once you start Deceived you will not want to put it down- the action is just that intense!
Luke is on a mission that goes south, a mission involving Senator Hal Blake. He finds out later that his was an unsanctioned mission. Which is why when the Senator ends up in the Hospital, Luke is sent to protect his grandson Eli. Senator Hal had apparently named Eli, heir apparent to his Dark Alliance knowledge. Somehow, the Illuminate found out though and they are hunting Eli as well.
Sarah is a widow, who has been kept in the dark about her family’s allegiance to the Dark Alliance. That being said she is no weeping willow. Instead she stands tall like the mighty oak tree, trying hard to accept Luke’s story. Mainly she will do anything to protect her son. She is relatable, strong, and compassionate. She struggles with her attraction to Luke, something that takes her by surprise. Her husband has been dead for years, yet she hasn’t moved on. She knows that Luke is hard-core, he is protecting them and yet she will still go toe to toe with him is she feels he oversteps his boundaries with her or with Eli. How she demands answers and respect is a thing a beauty.
Luke has orders and he tries very hard to follow them. He is a sexy loner, a company man. He fights the attraction he feels for Sarah, the attachment that is developing with Eli. There are times though, that all Eli has to do is say please with hero worship eyes and he caves. Those were some of my favorite moments, like the one with Master Chief. Luke’s suspicious nature has him looking not only into this case, into Sarah’s past. Will he like all that he finds? Will she like all that he finds?
The big baddie is…. well they cause you to do a double take. Makes sense, they are playing both sides. They make you suspicious though of everyone in the Dark Alliance. Who else has also turned? Who else is a traitor? Not only that but what a great actor they must have been to never once give away their true emotions.
Deceived will hook you from the first sentence, luring you in by the end of the first chapter and leaving you captivated until the very end. At the end, is a tease for the next book in the series, Concealed which is scheduled to release in April 2017. The perfect bait to make you count down the days until you can re-enter the Dark Alliance series and once again be reunited with the a blend of romance and suspense is flawless.
My Rating 5 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote “I like the way you see me- even if it’s untrue.”
Other People
Eli- Sarah’s son
Finn- computer expert
Jack- Luke’s partner
Maddie- Sarah’s sister
Will- Luke’s commander
Mel- Luke’s step-sister
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2016
Two dark powers in war, secret societies, that could rule the whole world with their powers. Innocent caught in the middle, fighting to survive and stay alive, yet hopelessly falling in love with their guard and protector.
The suspense and action of the story are based on the war between Alliance and Illuminati, even thought the high powers of alliance refuse to believe that Illuminati still exists and is as powerful and infiltrated as they are.
As many of the players in the tale gets their chance to tell their point of view of events occurring, the big picture of the war and its components, risks, manipulations, and lies comes to clear to the reader.
It takes about the first 20% of the story for the scene to be set, and the cast of characters to introduced, and their positions revealed, the Alliance and its dimension and span explained.
The attraction between Luke and Sarah is immediate and palpable. The situation of danger and fear escalating their emotions, and being forced to be in close quarters giving them a chance to get to know each other in a deep, intimate level. I enjoyed the connection Luke and Eli had, the joking and banter, the humor between them. The trust and respect that grew between Eli and Luke, helped Sarah to surrender to her budding feelings as well. The passion is ardent, the emotions turbulent, but either of them are able to deny them. Only, Luke as a Knights Templar and part of Alliance isn't allowed to have any personal relationships.
I liked how the romance and building of the relationship are set up in the story, the time it was given to grow and take roots, and how Sarah, Eli, and Luke form a unit, family, willing to do anything and everything needed to protect each other, and stay together.
The story sets up an interesting stage for the upcoming series. Any conspiracy theorist will get excited about the possibilities of the power and control the Alliance could have in the world. The schemes between Alliance and Illuminati could be endless as they fight for the world dominance and the counterplots, treasons, manipulations and lies between the players intriguing, their destinies alluring.
Even though the power struggles of the two secret societies were not for me, I enjoyed the short spurts of action, the presence of constant danger, and the adorable, fragile relationship developing between Sarah and Luke, and Eli as well.
~ Three Spoon and a teaspoon on the side
The suspense and action of the story are based on the war between Alliance and Illuminati, even thought the high powers of alliance refuse to believe that Illuminati still exists and is as powerful and infiltrated as they are.
As many of the players in the tale gets their chance to tell their point of view of events occurring, the big picture of the war and its components, risks, manipulations, and lies comes to clear to the reader.
It takes about the first 20% of the story for the scene to be set, and the cast of characters to introduced, and their positions revealed, the Alliance and its dimension and span explained.
The attraction between Luke and Sarah is immediate and palpable. The situation of danger and fear escalating their emotions, and being forced to be in close quarters giving them a chance to get to know each other in a deep, intimate level. I enjoyed the connection Luke and Eli had, the joking and banter, the humor between them. The trust and respect that grew between Eli and Luke, helped Sarah to surrender to her budding feelings as well. The passion is ardent, the emotions turbulent, but either of them are able to deny them. Only, Luke as a Knights Templar and part of Alliance isn't allowed to have any personal relationships.
I liked how the romance and building of the relationship are set up in the story, the time it was given to grow and take roots, and how Sarah, Eli, and Luke form a unit, family, willing to do anything and everything needed to protect each other, and stay together.
The story sets up an interesting stage for the upcoming series. Any conspiracy theorist will get excited about the possibilities of the power and control the Alliance could have in the world. The schemes between Alliance and Illuminati could be endless as they fight for the world dominance and the counterplots, treasons, manipulations and lies between the players intriguing, their destinies alluring.
Even though the power struggles of the two secret societies were not for me, I enjoyed the short spurts of action, the presence of constant danger, and the adorable, fragile relationship developing between Sarah and Luke, and Eli as well.
~ Three Spoon and a teaspoon on the side
June 28, 2016
I got this book from net gallery for an honest review.
Wow this was one amazing, fast paced book and I really enjoyed it.
Luke has been assigned to protect Sarah and her son Eli. Sarah's father, is a politician and a member of the Alliance. An assassination attempt on Sarah's father, sets things in motion: Eli is to be his grandfather's successor in the Alliance.
Luke is drawn to Sarah from the moment they meet and Sarah doesn't hide the fact that she's attracted to him. He takes Sarah and Eli to his safe haven to lie low but doesn't expect to lose control of his emotions and feelings.
There were moments I was laughing my head off: first is when Eli says in the car he didn't like way Finn looked at Sarah, "he had that look like in the movies when the guy puts his tongue in the girl's mouth.....but it's okay when Luke looks at you like that. I don't mind him wanting to kiss you"... "You think my mum's pretty right?" - Luke wanted to be anywhere but in the car because of where the conversation was going - can't say I blame him either.
There was another hilarious moment when Eli asks Luke "so are you having sex with my mum?......so do women really moan and scream like that?". Luke's reaction to this was so funny, choking on his breakfast, not to mention he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him just to avoid the awkward yet embarrassing situation he found himself in.
Luke surprises himself because he starts caring for Sarah and Eli and he's willing to take the ultimate plunge, if it means he can be with them. Eli is such a sweet, brave lad, he wants to learn self defence to protect his mum but also looks up to Luke.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and action packed . I loved Luke and how he tries so hard to control himself around Sarah and without even trying becomes attached to both of them. This book is definitely full of deceit, lies and disloyal people but the problem lies in figuring out who exactly is disloyal because some people are not what they appear to be. Brilliant book with a great narrative and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Review posted on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2PC42B...
Wow this was one amazing, fast paced book and I really enjoyed it.
Luke has been assigned to protect Sarah and her son Eli. Sarah's father, is a politician and a member of the Alliance. An assassination attempt on Sarah's father, sets things in motion: Eli is to be his grandfather's successor in the Alliance.
Luke is drawn to Sarah from the moment they meet and Sarah doesn't hide the fact that she's attracted to him. He takes Sarah and Eli to his safe haven to lie low but doesn't expect to lose control of his emotions and feelings.
There were moments I was laughing my head off: first is when Eli says in the car he didn't like way Finn looked at Sarah, "he had that look like in the movies when the guy puts his tongue in the girl's mouth.....but it's okay when Luke looks at you like that. I don't mind him wanting to kiss you"... "You think my mum's pretty right?" - Luke wanted to be anywhere but in the car because of where the conversation was going - can't say I blame him either.
There was another hilarious moment when Eli asks Luke "so are you having sex with my mum?......so do women really moan and scream like that?". Luke's reaction to this was so funny, choking on his breakfast, not to mention he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him just to avoid the awkward yet embarrassing situation he found himself in.
Luke surprises himself because he starts caring for Sarah and Eli and he's willing to take the ultimate plunge, if it means he can be with them. Eli is such a sweet, brave lad, he wants to learn self defence to protect his mum but also looks up to Luke.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and action packed . I loved Luke and how he tries so hard to control himself around Sarah and without even trying becomes attached to both of them. This book is definitely full of deceit, lies and disloyal people but the problem lies in figuring out who exactly is disloyal because some people are not what they appear to be. Brilliant book with a great narrative and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Review posted on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2PC42B...
June 27, 2016
Luke Rogan's assignment is simple: secure young Elijah Scoffield and his mother and bring them back to headquarters--just an ordinary mission for an operative of the Dark Alliance. But Elijah is no ordinary kid. He's the grandson of one of the country's most influential politicians--a man privy to the Alliance's most valuable secrets, including its centuries-long connection to the Knights Templar. And someone else is attempting to capture the boy--someone who's proven he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage. . .
Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . .
Review:
Ms. SeRine is making a new and fresh series out of the Knights Templar like she did for fairy tales in the Transplanted Tales series.
There was lots of excitement and intrigue from page one. I thought how the history and lore of the Knights Templar was woven into the present day was unique. This being the first book in this new series, the Author does spend some time giving us backstory, introducing us to a lot of characters and setting up the series with what looks as continuing bad guys. The book moves along at a pretty fast pace, so it kept me interested throughout the story. The use of implanted information in both Eli and Sarah, was very interesting and I was fascinated by it. The romance between Sarah and Luke was instantaneous and though they both fought it for different reasons, it was inevitable. It is a romance after all. The scenes between Luke and Sarah were fun, sexy and heartfelt. Both Sarah and Luke were likable characters, well all the Templars were great to read. It looks as though Jack and Maddie may be the next couple up and I cannot wait to read more about them. Great Beginning!
4.5Stars
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . .
Review:
Ms. SeRine is making a new and fresh series out of the Knights Templar like she did for fairy tales in the Transplanted Tales series.
There was lots of excitement and intrigue from page one. I thought how the history and lore of the Knights Templar was woven into the present day was unique. This being the first book in this new series, the Author does spend some time giving us backstory, introducing us to a lot of characters and setting up the series with what looks as continuing bad guys. The book moves along at a pretty fast pace, so it kept me interested throughout the story. The use of implanted information in both Eli and Sarah, was very interesting and I was fascinated by it. The romance between Sarah and Luke was instantaneous and though they both fought it for different reasons, it was inevitable. It is a romance after all. The scenes between Luke and Sarah were fun, sexy and heartfelt. Both Sarah and Luke were likable characters, well all the Templars were great to read. It looks as though Jack and Maddie may be the next couple up and I cannot wait to read more about them. Great Beginning!
4.5Stars
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
June 19, 2016
3.5 Stars, 3 Flames
A secret organization that has been working in the dark to keep humanity safe. Luke has been part of a few big missions with the Dark Alliance now and feels like he has finally found a brotherhood to belong to. It seems that all good things must come to an end however after a major plan gone horribly wrong. He is running from a long time conspiracy, the Illuminati, while trying to protect one of the Templars (aka Dark Alliance newly named) high officers'daughter and grandson.
I am all for conspiracy and mystery stories. It always has that what if factor that definitely wheels you in. This novel started off slow and I could not make much out of the key players at first. Then by 30% it starts to pick up. The tension between Luke and Sarah heat up as the bond between Eli and Luke grow. You can also start to piece the book together what will happen but with twist and turns that will keep you second guessing.
Sarah was a hard character to love she was hypocritical in her feelings and actions. She wanted to her son to have a life and grow. But she ever really gave him a chance to. I mean she went all crazy on Luke because he let Eli cook pancakes on a stove. Luke was closed off but after all that he has seen and done it seems the most natural thing to do. I enjoyed his character for the most part but was not a total hard a$$ like he could have been. Maybe I have a soft spot for those because he seemed sort of a push over, well as much as an alpha can be.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I will most definitely be picking up the next in the series!
**I was gifted a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The ratings and opinions are solely my own.
A secret organization that has been working in the dark to keep humanity safe. Luke has been part of a few big missions with the Dark Alliance now and feels like he has finally found a brotherhood to belong to. It seems that all good things must come to an end however after a major plan gone horribly wrong. He is running from a long time conspiracy, the Illuminati, while trying to protect one of the Templars (aka Dark Alliance newly named) high officers'daughter and grandson.
I am all for conspiracy and mystery stories. It always has that what if factor that definitely wheels you in. This novel started off slow and I could not make much out of the key players at first. Then by 30% it starts to pick up. The tension between Luke and Sarah heat up as the bond between Eli and Luke grow. You can also start to piece the book together what will happen but with twist and turns that will keep you second guessing.
Sarah was a hard character to love she was hypocritical in her feelings and actions. She wanted to her son to have a life and grow. But she ever really gave him a chance to. I mean she went all crazy on Luke because he let Eli cook pancakes on a stove. Luke was closed off but after all that he has seen and done it seems the most natural thing to do. I enjoyed his character for the most part but was not a total hard a$$ like he could have been. Maybe I have a soft spot for those because he seemed sort of a push over, well as much as an alpha can be.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I will most definitely be picking up the next in the series!
**I was gifted a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The ratings and opinions are solely my own.
May 29, 2016
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Luke is an operative with the Dark Alliance, an affiliate of the centuries old Templers. He has been sent to bring back Elijah and his mother Sarah. They are the grandson and daughter of a man that holds many of the Alliance's secrets and has named his grandson as his successor. Now they are in danger from those who want the secrets.
Sarah is a teacher and a widow. She and Eli live in a small town, enjoying small town life. She is estranged from her father so she knows nothing of what is happening or the other life he has lead.
Both Luke and danger arrive at the same time and it is up to Luke to protect them. He cannot go back to the Alliance with her right now because of the feeling of a traitor on the inside so he takes her to his haven, his home that no one in the Alliance knows of.
While the traitor is regrouping his efforts to get Eli, Luke and Sarah are fighting attraction. Sarah has not wanted to be with anyone since her husband died 3 years ago and Luke had a tough childhood and lives with self loathing and guilt, he has never known love.
Will they survive a traitor? Will Sarah ever forgive her family when she learns the truth? Will she and Luke love?
I have read a couple stories by this author but I think Deceived was so much more a deeper book. It is packed with action, twists and turns and yes, love. Even though the reader knows who the traitor is, it is a journey to see how others finally figure him out. Even he is a victim of a twist he didn't expect.
There are many characters in this book that I can see having their own story and I cant wait to see if we get to read more about them and the Alliance! Good read, great mystery!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.
Luke is an operative with the Dark Alliance, an affiliate of the centuries old Templers. He has been sent to bring back Elijah and his mother Sarah. They are the grandson and daughter of a man that holds many of the Alliance's secrets and has named his grandson as his successor. Now they are in danger from those who want the secrets.
Sarah is a teacher and a widow. She and Eli live in a small town, enjoying small town life. She is estranged from her father so she knows nothing of what is happening or the other life he has lead.
Both Luke and danger arrive at the same time and it is up to Luke to protect them. He cannot go back to the Alliance with her right now because of the feeling of a traitor on the inside so he takes her to his haven, his home that no one in the Alliance knows of.
While the traitor is regrouping his efforts to get Eli, Luke and Sarah are fighting attraction. Sarah has not wanted to be with anyone since her husband died 3 years ago and Luke had a tough childhood and lives with self loathing and guilt, he has never known love.
Will they survive a traitor? Will Sarah ever forgive her family when she learns the truth? Will she and Luke love?
I have read a couple stories by this author but I think Deceived was so much more a deeper book. It is packed with action, twists and turns and yes, love. Even though the reader knows who the traitor is, it is a journey to see how others finally figure him out. Even he is a victim of a twist he didn't expect.
There are many characters in this book that I can see having their own story and I cant wait to see if we get to read more about them and the Alliance! Good read, great mystery!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.
June 27, 2016
When I read the words, "Dark, dangerous, edgy, and deliciously sexy!" I had no idea waht I was getting myself into, but let me say this. I was not disappointed. Romantic suspense at is finest. Think of things in the sense of Knights Templar and Illuminati all in current times with all the plot twist and turns that could be expected and maybe a few not thought of. Dark Alliance is a secret organization with more secrets than the name implies.
As with most good books that feature good and evil there is that place that must provide a turning point to make a difference. I got chemistry, passion, action, secrecy. Luke may have gotten more than a simple snatch and stash assignment when he went in after the future of the Dark Alliance and his mother. There was an immediate attraction between Luke and Sarah. Elijah was just a bonus. When I say kids say the darnedest things I truly mean they do. Elijah was not the exception in this read. The funniest parts came from him and at moments of embarrassment for others.
A sexy suspense with deceit, lies, misdirection, misconception, action and adventure. There was sexy passion that was building between Luke an Sarah, and a true to the bone protection from both Sarah and Elijah. Luke was will to make sacrifice to make a future. And we get to enjoy the growth in strength within Sarah. She grows as a character and strengthen her bond with Elijah and Luke. The various cast of characters on both sides makes for a very intricate and interesting read. I am fully on board calling this one dark, dangerous, and deliciously sexy, and action filled, with intrigue and deception awaiting the turn of the page.
**This ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
As with most good books that feature good and evil there is that place that must provide a turning point to make a difference. I got chemistry, passion, action, secrecy. Luke may have gotten more than a simple snatch and stash assignment when he went in after the future of the Dark Alliance and his mother. There was an immediate attraction between Luke and Sarah. Elijah was just a bonus. When I say kids say the darnedest things I truly mean they do. Elijah was not the exception in this read. The funniest parts came from him and at moments of embarrassment for others.
A sexy suspense with deceit, lies, misdirection, misconception, action and adventure. There was sexy passion that was building between Luke an Sarah, and a true to the bone protection from both Sarah and Elijah. Luke was will to make sacrifice to make a future. And we get to enjoy the growth in strength within Sarah. She grows as a character and strengthen her bond with Elijah and Luke. The various cast of characters on both sides makes for a very intricate and interesting read. I am fully on board calling this one dark, dangerous, and deliciously sexy, and action filled, with intrigue and deception awaiting the turn of the page.
**This ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
July 18, 2016
Resurrected from the Knights Templar, the Dark Alliance is an organization that is filled with secrecy. After an influential member of the Dark Alliance is injured, a race against time starts to find and secure his successor. Dark Alliance member Luke Rogan has one simple mission. Track down and protect a child named Elijah Scoffield and his mother Sarah. Unbeknown to Sarah, Elijah has been named her father’s successor. When Luke shows up claiming they need to leave with him for their protection she is terrified. While Luke and Sarah run from danger, passion ignites.
Verdict: So there are a lot of really good reviews for this title. I personally don’t feel like it was my cuppa’ tea. It wasn’t that the writing or the characters were bad - they were actually quite good. I just didn’t care for the premise. This is a classic romantic suspense with two warring factions who fight over the same thing. In one corner you have the Knights Templar who have managed to take over key spots in the federal government and who are quietly leading people and organizations where they want them to go. In the opposite corner you have the Illuminati who have managed to secretly infiltrate the Knights Templar and want steal the Templar’s treasures and then take over the world. I personally can handle one secret society in a book, but two is a little much. Also, after a couple chapters I felt like I was reading a slightly different version of the movie “National Treasure”.
*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Verdict: So there are a lot of really good reviews for this title. I personally don’t feel like it was my cuppa’ tea. It wasn’t that the writing or the characters were bad - they were actually quite good. I just didn’t care for the premise. This is a classic romantic suspense with two warring factions who fight over the same thing. In one corner you have the Knights Templar who have managed to take over key spots in the federal government and who are quietly leading people and organizations where they want them to go. In the opposite corner you have the Illuminati who have managed to secretly infiltrate the Knights Templar and want steal the Templar’s treasures and then take over the world. I personally can handle one secret society in a book, but two is a little much. Also, after a couple chapters I felt like I was reading a slightly different version of the movie “National Treasure”.
*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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