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Doctors Unlimited #1
Close Pursuit
On the run and under fire providing medical relief in a war-torn region helps alex peters forget his past and focus on the job-delivering babies. Less easy to overlook is his blonde comrade-at-arms, who knows nothing of the trouble he's running from. Katie mccloud makes the assignment bearable, although her perky innocence proves to be an arousing distraction. Then, as combat explodes around them, their only option is flight. A kindergarten teacher seeking adventure, katie hoped this humanitarian mission and the mysterious, sexy doctor sharing it-would push her out of her comfort zone. With alex, she starts taking tantalizing risks and becoming the survivor she knew she could be. But back on u. S. Soil, alex and katie face a new threat and this time they're the target. Forced into close confines, neither can believe the other isn't the intended mark. With only each other to depend on and suspect-alex and katie can't avoid the simmering attraction between them. But to stay alive, they'll have to trust more deeply than ever before.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2014
12 people are currently reading
1014 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Dees
174 books1,956 followersCindy Dees started flying airplanes while sitting in her dad’s lap at the age of three and got a pilot’s license before she got a driver’s license. At age fifteen, she dropped out of high school and left the horse farm in Michigan where she grew up to attend the University of Michigan.
After earning a degree in Russian and East European studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift and the “C-5” Galaxy, the world’s largest airplane. She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, she got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories.
Her hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening and medieval reenacting. She started writing on a one-dollar bet with her mother and was thrilled to win that bet with the publication of her first book in 2001.
After earning a degree in Russian and East European studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift and the “C-5” Galaxy, the world’s largest airplane. She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, she got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories.
Her hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening and medieval reenacting. She started writing on a one-dollar bet with her mother and was thrilled to win that bet with the publication of her first book in 2001.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 14, 2017
4.5 stars for this book!!!!
Setelah lama tidak membaca genre buku dikejar-kejar dan tembak-tembakan dgn musuh, akhirnya saya mendapatkan kebahagiaan tidak terhingga dari buku ini. Dari awal cerita sampai akhir, kita disuguhi dgn alur cepat, penuh kejar-kejaran, taktik kecerdasan dan kecerdikan utk meloloskan diri, dan baku hantam layaknya di film-film action, buku ini jelas-jelas sangat menghibur saya (dan saya tidak menduganya karena label Harlequin).
Diawali kisah persembunyian di gunung di negara Zaghastan (pecahan Uni Soviet, perbatasan dgn Iran), Alex Peters, dokter tampan, ganteng tapi cerdik luar biasa, membantu proses kelahiran wanita2 setempat di kaki gunung, dibantu oleh Katie McCloud, gadis lugu mantan guru TK, sbg translator bahasa asing tsb, yang sedang bosan selalu hidup terllindungi oleh keluarganya. Tak dinyana, mereka menjadi "saksi" dalam pertempuran yang ganas malam itu (yang ternyata membumihanguskan desa tersebut), mereka melarikan diri dgn menaiki gunung, membawa serta seorang gadis desa yang akan melahirkan yang sayangnya akhirnya meninggal, namun bayinya selamat.
Alex menjadi pelindung bagi Katie dan Dawn (nama bayi tersebut) dan dgn lika-liku yg seru, akhirnya mereka berhasil lolos dari musuh yang mengejar-ngejar mereka, hingga akhirnya sampai di Amrik. Di awal cerita, Alex menganggap Katie itu gadis lugu, namun setelah mengalami petualangan melarikan diri tersebut, Alex sadar Katie tidak selugu yang disangkanya dan memiliki paman yang punya kedudukan tinggi di CIA, makin membuat Alex tidak senang dan curiga bahwa Katie adalah mata-mata yang disusupi utk merayu dirinya. Di sisi lain, Alex memiliki sisi gelap sebagai anak mantan mata-mata Rusia yang tertangkap di Amrik dan diekstradisi ke Rusia (dan menjadi petinggi di FSB, organisasi spionase di Rusia). Masa kecil yang tidak menyenangkan karena gemblengan ketat ayahnya, membuat diri Alex menjadi pemberontak sejati yang selalu berlawanan terus dgn keinginan sang ayah yang ingin merekrut Alex sbg spion bagi Rusia.
Katie yang menyadari dirinya jatuh cinta pada Alex, tahu dirinya menghadapi benteng tebal pertahanan diri Alex, dan Katie terus berjuang utk menerobos ke hati Alex. Setelah tiba di Amrik, ternyata mereka masih dikejar oleh musuh-musuh yang tidak mereka sadari apa tujuannya utk melenyapkan mereka. Dapatkah mereka menemukan siapa musuh mereka sebenarnya? Dapatkah Katie meluluhlantakkan benteng beku hati Alex?
Kelebihan buku ini, jika kamu penggemar suspense romance sejati, inilah buku yang akan kamu baca tanpa merasa bosan. Kamu akan terhanyut dibawa dalam pengejaran-pengejaran yang tiada henti, menegangkan namun seru sekali. Walaupun plot musuh mereka agak rumit, tapi tidak mengurangi intensitas kegigihan musuh dan pasangan jagoan kita utk berjibaku. Tidak heran penulis jago mengarang suspense ttg agen spionase karena beliau pernah berkarier sbg spion juga (Baca: Tentang Penulis).
Karakter H/H juga mendukung, walau berkarakter saling bertolak belakang, chemistry diantara mereka sudah dibangun oleh penulis sejak awal cerita. Alex Peters yang cool, tapi ceksi (cerdas dan seksi) langsung memporakporandakan hati saya dgn aksi-aksi serta dialog-dialog sarkastisnya dan adu mulut dgn Katie selalu menghibur. Dan utk kesekian kalinya, nama heroine yang mirip dgn nama saya (uhuk!!!) memiliki karakter yang ceria, gigih, lugu tapi cerdas dan bisa kebetulan sekali punya persamaan nasib dgn saya sbg anak bontot yang punya sedikit masalah ttg jatidiri.
Dan yang membuat saya takjub juga, ternyata penulis juga piawai menuliskan adegan uhuk-uhuknya. Saya pernah membaca novel romance beberapa pengarang dimana pengarangnya malah menuliskan adegan uhuk2 sang hero dgn wanita lain sbg adegan pembuka (saya mengerti maksudnya menggambarkan hero mereka sbg jagoan kamar tidur, tapi yang terjadi malah saya melongo), yang menurut saya malah menjelaskan ketidakmampuan penulisnya utk menggambarkan kehebatan seksual sang hero. Berbeda dgn di buku ini, penulis mampu memberi gambaran jelas tapi sederhana, bahwa sang hero berpengalaman dan punya skill luar biasa ttg memuaskan wanitanya. Siapa sangka pula pijatan yang dikombinasikan dgn jilatan-jilatan bisa mengakibatkan sesuatu yang maha dahsyat? Penulis mampu mendeskripsikan sang hero sbg Pendekar Ranjang tanpa umbar cerita dgn adegan 21++ dgn cewq lain (yang malah bikin ilfil).
Kelemahan buku ini mungkin pada latar belakang tokoh-tokohnya yang agak kurang sesuai mengingat ketrampilan mereka dalam menghadapi lawan, tidak bisa dipandang remeh. Katie yang digambarkan berprofesi sbg guru TK (mungkin utk mengesankan keluguan cara berpikirnya) menurut saya "kurang sekali" kalau background pekerjaannya hanya itu, karena jelas Katie cukup mampu dan sangat cerdas dalam menghadapi musuh-musuh yang menguntitnya. Untuk karakter Alex, juga menurut pendapat saya, penulis agak meremehkan ketika mengatakan Alex mendapatkan kekayaannya dari perjudian di Vegas sebesar 10 juta dollar. Saya rasa mafia judi akan meringkus dan menghabisi Alex jika dia berhasil membobol uang sebesar itu.
Secara keseluruhan, kekurangan diatas cuma detail kecil yang kebetulan tidak luput oleh saya. Dan karena saya membaca buku terjemahan, saya boleh katakan terjemahannya bagus dan membuat saya bersemangat utk membaca buku lanjutannya, HOT INTENT.
Setelah lama tidak membaca genre buku dikejar-kejar dan tembak-tembakan dgn musuh, akhirnya saya mendapatkan kebahagiaan tidak terhingga dari buku ini. Dari awal cerita sampai akhir, kita disuguhi dgn alur cepat, penuh kejar-kejaran, taktik kecerdasan dan kecerdikan utk meloloskan diri, dan baku hantam layaknya di film-film action, buku ini jelas-jelas sangat menghibur saya (dan saya tidak menduganya karena label Harlequin).
Diawali kisah persembunyian di gunung di negara Zaghastan (pecahan Uni Soviet, perbatasan dgn Iran), Alex Peters, dokter tampan, ganteng tapi cerdik luar biasa, membantu proses kelahiran wanita2 setempat di kaki gunung, dibantu oleh Katie McCloud, gadis lugu mantan guru TK, sbg translator bahasa asing tsb, yang sedang bosan selalu hidup terllindungi oleh keluarganya. Tak dinyana, mereka menjadi "saksi" dalam pertempuran yang ganas malam itu (yang ternyata membumihanguskan desa tersebut), mereka melarikan diri dgn menaiki gunung, membawa serta seorang gadis desa yang akan melahirkan yang sayangnya akhirnya meninggal, namun bayinya selamat.
Alex menjadi pelindung bagi Katie dan Dawn (nama bayi tersebut) dan dgn lika-liku yg seru, akhirnya mereka berhasil lolos dari musuh yang mengejar-ngejar mereka, hingga akhirnya sampai di Amrik. Di awal cerita, Alex menganggap Katie itu gadis lugu, namun setelah mengalami petualangan melarikan diri tersebut, Alex sadar Katie tidak selugu yang disangkanya dan memiliki paman yang punya kedudukan tinggi di CIA, makin membuat Alex tidak senang dan curiga bahwa Katie adalah mata-mata yang disusupi utk merayu dirinya. Di sisi lain, Alex memiliki sisi gelap sebagai anak mantan mata-mata Rusia yang tertangkap di Amrik dan diekstradisi ke Rusia (dan menjadi petinggi di FSB, organisasi spionase di Rusia). Masa kecil yang tidak menyenangkan karena gemblengan ketat ayahnya, membuat diri Alex menjadi pemberontak sejati yang selalu berlawanan terus dgn keinginan sang ayah yang ingin merekrut Alex sbg spion bagi Rusia.
Katie yang menyadari dirinya jatuh cinta pada Alex, tahu dirinya menghadapi benteng tebal pertahanan diri Alex, dan Katie terus berjuang utk menerobos ke hati Alex. Setelah tiba di Amrik, ternyata mereka masih dikejar oleh musuh-musuh yang tidak mereka sadari apa tujuannya utk melenyapkan mereka. Dapatkah mereka menemukan siapa musuh mereka sebenarnya? Dapatkah Katie meluluhlantakkan benteng beku hati Alex?
Kelebihan buku ini, jika kamu penggemar suspense romance sejati, inilah buku yang akan kamu baca tanpa merasa bosan. Kamu akan terhanyut dibawa dalam pengejaran-pengejaran yang tiada henti, menegangkan namun seru sekali. Walaupun plot musuh mereka agak rumit, tapi tidak mengurangi intensitas kegigihan musuh dan pasangan jagoan kita utk berjibaku. Tidak heran penulis jago mengarang suspense ttg agen spionase karena beliau pernah berkarier sbg spion juga (Baca: Tentang Penulis).
Karakter H/H juga mendukung, walau berkarakter saling bertolak belakang, chemistry diantara mereka sudah dibangun oleh penulis sejak awal cerita. Alex Peters yang cool, tapi ceksi (cerdas dan seksi) langsung memporakporandakan hati saya dgn aksi-aksi serta dialog-dialog sarkastisnya dan adu mulut dgn Katie selalu menghibur. Dan utk kesekian kalinya, nama heroine yang mirip dgn nama saya (uhuk!!!) memiliki karakter yang ceria, gigih, lugu tapi cerdas dan bisa kebetulan sekali punya persamaan nasib dgn saya sbg anak bontot yang punya sedikit masalah ttg jatidiri.
Dan yang membuat saya takjub juga, ternyata penulis juga piawai menuliskan adegan uhuk-uhuknya. Saya pernah membaca novel romance beberapa pengarang dimana pengarangnya malah menuliskan adegan uhuk2 sang hero dgn wanita lain sbg adegan pembuka (saya mengerti maksudnya menggambarkan hero mereka sbg jagoan kamar tidur, tapi yang terjadi malah saya melongo), yang menurut saya malah menjelaskan ketidakmampuan penulisnya utk menggambarkan kehebatan seksual sang hero. Berbeda dgn di buku ini, penulis mampu memberi gambaran jelas tapi sederhana, bahwa sang hero berpengalaman dan punya skill luar biasa ttg memuaskan wanitanya. Siapa sangka pula pijatan yang dikombinasikan dgn jilatan-jilatan bisa mengakibatkan sesuatu yang maha dahsyat? Penulis mampu mendeskripsikan sang hero sbg Pendekar Ranjang tanpa umbar cerita dgn adegan 21++ dgn cewq lain (yang malah bikin ilfil).
Kelemahan buku ini mungkin pada latar belakang tokoh-tokohnya yang agak kurang sesuai mengingat ketrampilan mereka dalam menghadapi lawan, tidak bisa dipandang remeh. Katie yang digambarkan berprofesi sbg guru TK (mungkin utk mengesankan keluguan cara berpikirnya) menurut saya "kurang sekali" kalau background pekerjaannya hanya itu, karena jelas Katie cukup mampu dan sangat cerdas dalam menghadapi musuh-musuh yang menguntitnya. Untuk karakter Alex, juga menurut pendapat saya, penulis agak meremehkan ketika mengatakan Alex mendapatkan kekayaannya dari perjudian di Vegas sebesar 10 juta dollar. Saya rasa mafia judi akan meringkus dan menghabisi Alex jika dia berhasil membobol uang sebesar itu.
Secara keseluruhan, kekurangan diatas cuma detail kecil yang kebetulan tidak luput oleh saya. Dan karena saya membaca buku terjemahan, saya boleh katakan terjemahannya bagus dan membuat saya bersemangat utk membaca buku lanjutannya, HOT INTENT.
March 22, 2014
Have you ever read a book that works in one category but not another? That was my primary issue with Close Pursuit. Cindy Dees' latest suspense novel requires a certain suspension of disbelief, but works quite well as a thriller. Well enough that I often pictured it as an action movie as I read. However, as with many action movies, the romance just felt tacked on and more than a bit out of place at times.
The opening of this book requires that suspension of disbelief that I just mentioned. After all, this book calls on the reader to accept that an everyday kindergarten teacher would just happen to speak an obscure Near Eastern language and that an organization would send said teacher on a highly dangerous mission into a war zone with just one other person for assistance. If you can get past that, though, the story picks up quickly.
Kindergarten teacher Katie McCloud just happened to learn the native language of Zaghastan while working in an immigrant community, and so she has been sent to assist doctor Alex Peters on a mission to deliver babies in a remote village where local rebels have prevented women from accessing medical care. Their mission is dangerous because if they are caught, they will likely be killed. We follow Katie and Alex as they camp out in a tent, delivering babies with very little by way of medicine and equipment.
The author does do a good job of helping readers to get to know Katie and Alex in the early chapters of the book before the plot action really kicks into high gear. We learn that Katie comes from a family of police and military, and that she is tired of being dismissed as the family lightweight. Naturally, we will see throughout the story that there is much more than meets the eye with her. And then there's Alex. Alex is a child prodigy and complete genius, and Katie has been warned by her brother in military intelligence to keep an eye on him because he has something of a troublesome past and is thought to be hiding some secrets, possibly dangerous ones.
Things heat up when rebels storm the village near Katie and Alex's outpost. The two find themselves forced to run for their lives, but even after they make it to American soil, they find they still aren't safe. More ominously, it appears that the rebel uprising wasn't entirely all that it appeared to be and so the two find themselves taking many twists and turns down the trail for answers. And that part of the story definitely kept me engaged.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
The opening of this book requires that suspension of disbelief that I just mentioned. After all, this book calls on the reader to accept that an everyday kindergarten teacher would just happen to speak an obscure Near Eastern language and that an organization would send said teacher on a highly dangerous mission into a war zone with just one other person for assistance. If you can get past that, though, the story picks up quickly.
Kindergarten teacher Katie McCloud just happened to learn the native language of Zaghastan while working in an immigrant community, and so she has been sent to assist doctor Alex Peters on a mission to deliver babies in a remote village where local rebels have prevented women from accessing medical care. Their mission is dangerous because if they are caught, they will likely be killed. We follow Katie and Alex as they camp out in a tent, delivering babies with very little by way of medicine and equipment.
The author does do a good job of helping readers to get to know Katie and Alex in the early chapters of the book before the plot action really kicks into high gear. We learn that Katie comes from a family of police and military, and that she is tired of being dismissed as the family lightweight. Naturally, we will see throughout the story that there is much more than meets the eye with her. And then there's Alex. Alex is a child prodigy and complete genius, and Katie has been warned by her brother in military intelligence to keep an eye on him because he has something of a troublesome past and is thought to be hiding some secrets, possibly dangerous ones.
Things heat up when rebels storm the village near Katie and Alex's outpost. The two find themselves forced to run for their lives, but even after they make it to American soil, they find they still aren't safe. More ominously, it appears that the rebel uprising wasn't entirely all that it appeared to be and so the two find themselves taking many twists and turns down the trail for answers. And that part of the story definitely kept me engaged.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
March 15, 2016
I won this book in one of the Goodreads giveaways. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book through the giveaway. This is a Harlequin HQN Romantic Suspense book. Warning: there are some pretty steamy sex scenes throughout the book. The suspense part of the book is a really good espionage story. Then there is the attraction between the two main characters; Dr. Alex Peters and kindergarten teacher Katie McCloud. They each grew up in an environment of military/law enforcement backgrounds. They are thrown together when they each volunteer for Doctors Unlimited, a non-profit organization that goes into war-stricken or third world countries that are in need of humanitarian/medical aid.
Alex does not “do” relationships. His father taught him that it was unwise to form attachments to anyone or anything as they can be used against you, especially when emotions are involved. Katie is the youngest child and only daughter to a former policeman and all her brothers are in the military in one form or another. They have always coddled her and treated her with “kid gloves” not believing she can take care of herself.
I liked the flow of the story and the writing style of the author. This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed “going along for the ride” as I read this book and watched as each character grew and matured. I felt that the sex scenes could have been fewer and a little less detailed but it didn’t detract in any way from the story itself. The suspense part of the book kept me guessing until the end; I really didn’t see it coming.
Alex does not “do” relationships. His father taught him that it was unwise to form attachments to anyone or anything as they can be used against you, especially when emotions are involved. Katie is the youngest child and only daughter to a former policeman and all her brothers are in the military in one form or another. They have always coddled her and treated her with “kid gloves” not believing she can take care of herself.
I liked the flow of the story and the writing style of the author. This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed “going along for the ride” as I read this book and watched as each character grew and matured. I felt that the sex scenes could have been fewer and a little less detailed but it didn’t detract in any way from the story itself. The suspense part of the book kept me guessing until the end; I really didn’t see it coming.
August 17, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5
Do you like intrigue?
Can you handle danger around every corner?
What about suspense that has you holding your breath?
Then Close Pursuit may be the book for you.
Here we meet Katie McCloud. A kindergarten teacher sent on a humanitarian aid mission to the remote lands of Zaghastan to work as a translator for a group called Doctors Unlimited. She is paired with a handsome but quiet doctor named Alex Peters and they are sent to give medical aid to the expecting women of the local tribes. The locals fear the rebels and if they are caught seeking medical help it will no doubt cost them their lives and the lives of the innocent doctors who are there only to help.
Or are they?
Then one night, what starts out as an attempt to aid in a birth, turns into something much more difficult that neither Katie nor Alex was prepared for and the outcome is something they are now both forced to face, accept, and then run from. Their lives, as well as the life of an innocent baby, hangs in the balance but just who’s behind the assaults, no one knows or why. Katie and Alex embark on an explosive ride filled with bullets flying and a constant fear that the one person each was sent to help may be the one who’s behind it all.
Alex Peters is not the person he’s masked himself to be. Granted, his attempts to cover his background are justified when it is revealed that his father is none other than the #1 Russian spy, Peter Koronov. His upbringing was not conventional to say the least and growing up with father who’s a spy lends to some serious relationship and trust issues. Alex has tried hard to separate himself from his father and the legacy that goes with the family name but no matter how far he reaches in the opposite direction, his father’s influence and presence is right there to remind him of where he’s from. He’s got spy capabilities written in his DNA and the internal war raging within him is enough to break anyone who comes within a yard’s length near him.
This story has plenty of suspense, conspiracy, and mind manipulations but there are elements that did not sit well with me either. I found myself drawn in with all the spy action but when Katie and Alex had moments of sexual interaction, it was as if I was reading a completely different book altogether. They had decent chemistry leading up to their sexual interludes but the acts themselves just felt very far-fetched and not indicative of the characters I just spent all that time getting to know. I mean, I’m literally running through the streets alongside of them and the next it’s like I’ve stepped into this odd adult film and all that sexual buildup went up in a puff of smoke. This happened to me with each of their times together and I found myself just wanting to skip all of that and get back into the plot lane where I should’ve stayed. Most of my highlights and notes are me questioning why they are doing this or that or saying these absurd things to each other while having sex. Sometimes less is more and in this story a fade-to-black scene would have been much better than some of the sexcapades that these two were written to do. I think my biggest “Ew” moment was the first time they found refuge in the bunker. After that visceral and barbaric birth -then the running for your life with a newborn in tow- it doesn’t exactly scream “I think now is a good time to get in your pants.” and it bothered me immensely to know that Katie didn’t hesitate or speak of it once. Even a small river bath or hand washing piece should’ve been added because I could not see past all the birthing blood and goo that had to be present. Also, when I’m reading an intimate scene I have a general sense of where the characters are in reference to each other because of the scene that it set leading up to it. When an author writes that the female lead is sucking the toe of the male lead, I expect the body placements to match but when it is written he was face down on the bed, I tend to hit a decent mental speed bump that throws it all off. No one's tongue is that long and last I checked, rock hard dicks don't bend that way either.
Aside from a few spelling and grammatical errors (Please don't use text talk like "WTF" unless there is an actual text being sent to the character. No one actually says the letters, they say "what the f*ck"), the pace of the story did not lag much. There was not much foreshadowing so it fits nicely in the Suspense category. The baby is definitely a key player here and when the reason behind all the action and escaping is revealed, it was not what I thought it would turn out to be that’s for sure! A plot line such as this does require a bit of imagination and the ability to accept facts as they are handed to you for their face value but if you have no issues with that, then I would give this book the green light for you. It also appears the author did some homework when it comes to the nuclear science of it but thankfully, it wasn’t too detailed either. Some of the scientific facts may have been skewed to make the plot work but looking at the bigger picture, it doesn’t matter. *I should also disclose that I am married to a Nuclear Engineer so having him to discuss aspects with is both an asset and a burden. ;)
I personally feel that Katie’s background in Kindergarten teaching is not fitting for this particular story and she would have been better developed had that stayed in the background and given her a bit more mystery. Her family’s patriotic connections were fleshed out enough to lead a reader to questions which, had the teacher element not been introduced, would have aided in the plot development more. I also struggled slightly with her uncle and brother and their ease of divulging top secret intel to her. As I have lived in the realm of the military and had family and friends with this type of security level, I can honestly say that Katie’s ease in obtaining entrance to the CIA as well as her ability to simply ask and receive this information is nowhere near the reality of what actually happens but then again, this is fiction (of which I had to remind myself of a few times). As I said before, her background in teaching made this even more difficult to stomach and her ability to gain this information would have been easier to swallow had her background been left alone or hinted that she belonged there and deserved to have that access.
In the end, if you are looking for a fast paced, suspenseful story that will keep you guessing, then this may be the book for you. Although there are parts that didn’t work for me, I can still put my name behind this story as one I would recommend to the right person. It requires an open mind but is written well enough to take just about any reader on a journey.
Do you like intrigue?
Can you handle danger around every corner?
What about suspense that has you holding your breath?
Then Close Pursuit may be the book for you.
Here we meet Katie McCloud. A kindergarten teacher sent on a humanitarian aid mission to the remote lands of Zaghastan to work as a translator for a group called Doctors Unlimited. She is paired with a handsome but quiet doctor named Alex Peters and they are sent to give medical aid to the expecting women of the local tribes. The locals fear the rebels and if they are caught seeking medical help it will no doubt cost them their lives and the lives of the innocent doctors who are there only to help.
Or are they?
Then one night, what starts out as an attempt to aid in a birth, turns into something much more difficult that neither Katie nor Alex was prepared for and the outcome is something they are now both forced to face, accept, and then run from. Their lives, as well as the life of an innocent baby, hangs in the balance but just who’s behind the assaults, no one knows or why. Katie and Alex embark on an explosive ride filled with bullets flying and a constant fear that the one person each was sent to help may be the one who’s behind it all.
Alex Peters is not the person he’s masked himself to be. Granted, his attempts to cover his background are justified when it is revealed that his father is none other than the #1 Russian spy, Peter Koronov. His upbringing was not conventional to say the least and growing up with father who’s a spy lends to some serious relationship and trust issues. Alex has tried hard to separate himself from his father and the legacy that goes with the family name but no matter how far he reaches in the opposite direction, his father’s influence and presence is right there to remind him of where he’s from. He’s got spy capabilities written in his DNA and the internal war raging within him is enough to break anyone who comes within a yard’s length near him.
This story has plenty of suspense, conspiracy, and mind manipulations but there are elements that did not sit well with me either. I found myself drawn in with all the spy action but when Katie and Alex had moments of sexual interaction, it was as if I was reading a completely different book altogether. They had decent chemistry leading up to their sexual interludes but the acts themselves just felt very far-fetched and not indicative of the characters I just spent all that time getting to know. I mean, I’m literally running through the streets alongside of them and the next it’s like I’ve stepped into this odd adult film and all that sexual buildup went up in a puff of smoke. This happened to me with each of their times together and I found myself just wanting to skip all of that and get back into the plot lane where I should’ve stayed. Most of my highlights and notes are me questioning why they are doing this or that or saying these absurd things to each other while having sex. Sometimes less is more and in this story a fade-to-black scene would have been much better than some of the sexcapades that these two were written to do. I think my biggest “Ew” moment was the first time they found refuge in the bunker. After that visceral and barbaric birth -then the running for your life with a newborn in tow- it doesn’t exactly scream “I think now is a good time to get in your pants.” and it bothered me immensely to know that Katie didn’t hesitate or speak of it once. Even a small river bath or hand washing piece should’ve been added because I could not see past all the birthing blood and goo that had to be present. Also, when I’m reading an intimate scene I have a general sense of where the characters are in reference to each other because of the scene that it set leading up to it. When an author writes that the female lead is sucking the toe of the male lead, I expect the body placements to match but when it is written he was face down on the bed, I tend to hit a decent mental speed bump that throws it all off. No one's tongue is that long and last I checked, rock hard dicks don't bend that way either.
Aside from a few spelling and grammatical errors (Please don't use text talk like "WTF" unless there is an actual text being sent to the character. No one actually says the letters, they say "what the f*ck"), the pace of the story did not lag much. There was not much foreshadowing so it fits nicely in the Suspense category. The baby is definitely a key player here and when the reason behind all the action and escaping is revealed, it was not what I thought it would turn out to be that’s for sure! A plot line such as this does require a bit of imagination and the ability to accept facts as they are handed to you for their face value but if you have no issues with that, then I would give this book the green light for you. It also appears the author did some homework when it comes to the nuclear science of it but thankfully, it wasn’t too detailed either. Some of the scientific facts may have been skewed to make the plot work but looking at the bigger picture, it doesn’t matter. *I should also disclose that I am married to a Nuclear Engineer so having him to discuss aspects with is both an asset and a burden. ;)
I personally feel that Katie’s background in Kindergarten teaching is not fitting for this particular story and she would have been better developed had that stayed in the background and given her a bit more mystery. Her family’s patriotic connections were fleshed out enough to lead a reader to questions which, had the teacher element not been introduced, would have aided in the plot development more. I also struggled slightly with her uncle and brother and their ease of divulging top secret intel to her. As I have lived in the realm of the military and had family and friends with this type of security level, I can honestly say that Katie’s ease in obtaining entrance to the CIA as well as her ability to simply ask and receive this information is nowhere near the reality of what actually happens but then again, this is fiction (of which I had to remind myself of a few times). As I said before, her background in teaching made this even more difficult to stomach and her ability to gain this information would have been easier to swallow had her background been left alone or hinted that she belonged there and deserved to have that access.
In the end, if you are looking for a fast paced, suspenseful story that will keep you guessing, then this may be the book for you. Although there are parts that didn’t work for me, I can still put my name behind this story as one I would recommend to the right person. It requires an open mind but is written well enough to take just about any reader on a journey.
April 19, 2020
Baru kali ini seorang mata2 (Alex) berpasangan dengan karakter wanita polos (Kat). Bisa ditebak dong gimana kisruhnya mereka berdua di setiap adegan. Yg satu penuh perhitungan. Yg satunya lagi penuh pertanyaan. Kadang gw suka sebel dgn karakter Kat. Kepo banget. Jadi ya berasa seperti yg dialami Alex. Kat menghambat geraknya. Tapi untungnya Kat itu pintar. Pintar menganalisis dan juga pintar merobohkan hati Alex.
Konflik cerita rada2 rumit. Melibatkan banyak dugaan seputar dua lembaga rahasia dunia (CIA & FSB). Itu yg terlihat. Belum lagi yg sekadar kedok. Atau faksi di dalam faksi. Njelimet. Apalagi alur cerita ini cepat banget. Kayak ga ada jeda bagi pembaca 'tuk mikir. Tau2 udh duaaarr aja.
Tapi overall, gw suka. Selain aksi romansa khas mata2, juga banyak aksi kejutnya. Salah satunya siapa kira ternyata atasan Alex & Kat memiliki kontak org terdekat Alex yg dicurigai memanipulasi penyerangan terhadap mereka berdua sekaligus juga orang yg bisa jadi menyelamatkan Alex dari serbuan faksi dalam faksi agen mata2 di atas. Poin terakhir itu kesimpulan gw yg ternyata tetap ga terjawab hingga akhir cerita. Benar2 misterius.
Eh iya satu lagi. Kisah ini banyak mengungkap problema psikologi seorg agen mata2. Kat dengan kepolosannya berhasil memporak-porandakan benteng kejiwaan Alex.
Baca deh, biar ga penasaran. Hhh.
Konflik cerita rada2 rumit. Melibatkan banyak dugaan seputar dua lembaga rahasia dunia (CIA & FSB). Itu yg terlihat. Belum lagi yg sekadar kedok. Atau faksi di dalam faksi. Njelimet. Apalagi alur cerita ini cepat banget. Kayak ga ada jeda bagi pembaca 'tuk mikir. Tau2 udh duaaarr aja.
Tapi overall, gw suka. Selain aksi romansa khas mata2, juga banyak aksi kejutnya. Salah satunya siapa kira ternyata atasan Alex & Kat memiliki kontak org terdekat Alex yg dicurigai memanipulasi penyerangan terhadap mereka berdua sekaligus juga orang yg bisa jadi menyelamatkan Alex dari serbuan faksi dalam faksi agen mata2 di atas. Poin terakhir itu kesimpulan gw yg ternyata tetap ga terjawab hingga akhir cerita. Benar2 misterius.
Eh iya satu lagi. Kisah ini banyak mengungkap problema psikologi seorg agen mata2. Kat dengan kepolosannya berhasil memporak-porandakan benteng kejiwaan Alex.
Baca deh, biar ga penasaran. Hhh.
March 7, 2019
Ga nyangka buku ini cukup bikin saya terpukau, diawali dengan kerja keras kelahiran wanita zagasthan ditengah medan perang, sembari kabur keatas bukit, sangat menengangkan dan mengharukan, meskipun ibunya tak tertolong..saya sampe speechles membacanya.
Lalu, mengenai perubahan mindset Alex terhadap wanita dan hubungan cinta, katie bener2 keren bisa menembus "dinding tebal"nya Alex.
Serta mslh ttg masa lalu Alex dan Ayahnya yg Alex yg merupakan agen lapangan mata2 rusia dan selalu menekan dia utk meneruskan jejak Ayahnya. Dan pada akhirnya Alex menang daripada Ayahnya, dia bisa menjadi seseorang yang dia inginkan. Meskipun selalu bertentangan dengan keinginan Ayahnya.
Tekadnya yang kuat untuk menjadi diri sendiri dan yang dia inginkan, aku kagum, pasti tidaklah mudah..
Lalu, mengenai naluri nya yang entah datang dari mana bisa dengan sukarela mengangkat dawn menjadi anak adopsinya, wah keren..Pria playboy, sudah berubah menjadi family man dan bertanggung jawab..
Lalu, mengenai perubahan mindset Alex terhadap wanita dan hubungan cinta, katie bener2 keren bisa menembus "dinding tebal"nya Alex.
Serta mslh ttg masa lalu Alex dan Ayahnya yg Alex yg merupakan agen lapangan mata2 rusia dan selalu menekan dia utk meneruskan jejak Ayahnya. Dan pada akhirnya Alex menang daripada Ayahnya, dia bisa menjadi seseorang yang dia inginkan. Meskipun selalu bertentangan dengan keinginan Ayahnya.
Tekadnya yang kuat untuk menjadi diri sendiri dan yang dia inginkan, aku kagum, pasti tidaklah mudah..
Lalu, mengenai naluri nya yang entah datang dari mana bisa dengan sukarela mengangkat dawn menjadi anak adopsinya, wah keren..Pria playboy, sudah berubah menjadi family man dan bertanggung jawab..
March 5, 2020
From the action/suspense perspective, Close Pursuit is a great book, one that will keep you turning pages and staying up late to find out what happens next.
However, I had two issues with it. The first one has to do with Alex, the main male character. My first impression of him was great and I loved his geeky nature, despite what I felt was lurking below the surface. However, as the story progresses, he looses that geeky side completely and I missed it. My second issue has to do with the graphic nature of the sex scenes. Sometimes too much is just that - too much: unnecessary, distracting and, in my opinion, turning what could be a great book into something else entirely.
Bonus points for originality of the story and for a great first half of the plot. If the second part had been able to keep up it would have been 5-star worthy for sure.
However, I had two issues with it. The first one has to do with Alex, the main male character. My first impression of him was great and I loved his geeky nature, despite what I felt was lurking below the surface. However, as the story progresses, he looses that geeky side completely and I missed it. My second issue has to do with the graphic nature of the sex scenes. Sometimes too much is just that - too much: unnecessary, distracting and, in my opinion, turning what could be a great book into something else entirely.
Bonus points for originality of the story and for a great first half of the plot. If the second part had been able to keep up it would have been 5-star worthy for sure.
March 29, 2025
Had a mixed feeling reading this book, everything mixed up, sometimes possible sometimes impossible.
Alex suspected Katie trying to recruit him into CIA but he never acted upon that suspicion. Katie was recruited into DU to help Alex because of her brother Mike's recommendation but Mike himself spying on Alex and tried to kill him. There were a lot of contradiction like that throughout this book that made me wonder what was the author's aim.
Although the action seemed real but the involved parties were too many and diverse and the motive was quite complicated. I also didn't believe that Katie and Alex were in love, they had chemistry yes but not that deep
I couldn't say that I truly enjoyed this book
Alex suspected Katie trying to recruit him into CIA but he never acted upon that suspicion. Katie was recruited into DU to help Alex because of her brother Mike's recommendation but Mike himself spying on Alex and tried to kill him. There were a lot of contradiction like that throughout this book that made me wonder what was the author's aim.
Although the action seemed real but the involved parties were too many and diverse and the motive was quite complicated. I also didn't believe that Katie and Alex were in love, they had chemistry yes but not that deep
I couldn't say that I truly enjoyed this book
August 16, 2024
This book was a little hard to follow because of all the foreign countries/villages mentioned as well as all of the fighting factions. Alex Peters and Katie McCloud are thrown together as part of a Doctors Unlimited mission that goes very, very wrong. Mix in Russian military, Iran issues and CIA and you have a huge mystery. Who is following them and trying to kill them. Was a good book and kept you interested to the very last word.
November 19, 2017
3,75 stars
February 25, 2014
http://ripeforreader.blogspot.com/201...
My rating: 4 of 5 ⭐️
When she set out with Doctors Unlimited as a translator on a humanitarian mission, Katie McCloud knew she was heading into a dangerous area. With most of her family involved in either law inforcement, the military or intelligence, her job as a kindergarten teacher seemed bland and she had wanted to expand on her experience. Expand she did, under fire and with a newborn baby tucked in her coat she was running for her life....along with her teammate, the brooding and enigmatic Dr. Alex Peters.
In an ongoing attempt to distance himself from his past and the burden of his heritage, Alex Peters has chosen to place himself in unfriendly territory, using his medical degree to assist pregnant women who no longer have medical care. As a physician for Doctors Unlimited, he has been assigned the assistance of a translator, the innocent and chatty Katie, who surprises him with her grit and determination when they end up in the middle of some kind of attack.
Forced to reveal some of his closely guarded secrets, Alex manages to get them out of immediate danger and eventually back into the U.S., but once there he is starting to seriously question his teammate's innocence. His attraction to her grows as his suspicions do, but when attacks occur on homeground and clearly directed at them, his only concern is to keep Katie safe.
The constant unknown threat has forced Katie into Alex' protection and the close proximity has flared up the sparks flying between them. Even though her feelings for him grow, trust is still difficult to give. But in order to stay alive, both Alex and Katie have to let go of what they think they know, and have faith in what is in their heart....
*****
A highly graphic and action-packed opening sequence had me completely hooked into this romantic suspense novel!!
My first introduction to Cindy Dees was a good one! An international counter-intelligence/ espionage novel with substantial romantic and sexual tension and heat is just what this reader enjoys!! An intruiging story with some descriptive chapters not for the faint of heart, and I don't mean that in a sexually explicit way.....
The story starts in a region ravaged by war and civil unrest and some of the resulting scenes and events we encounter are therefore perhaps outside of our frame of reference, but they serve to place the story in the appropriate context.
Katie's character holds more depth than appears at first sight. She proves that fairly early on by her tenacity and ability to adapt under dire circumstances, but also later on in the story when under a tremendous amount of pressure as well as in danger for her life. She has a sense of clarity in the way she regards the world and the people around her, being able to detect BS from a mile away, which proves to be helpful to her.
Alex has had a tough start in life, and frankly, it hasn't gotten much better. He has trained himself to shut down his emotional side completely out of self-preservation, giving him the ability to consider what is around him from a purely analytical perspective. But since meeting Katie, some of his emotions have been flaring up and that is something he is unfamiliar with. Something that makes him automatically distrustful. For someone who has relied on skill and analysis for so long, it is difficult to put any faith in his feelings.
Aside from the fact that this was a very exciting and interesting action filled novel, I really enjoyed the character development of our two protagonists, Alex's being the most dramatic. Very insightful and intelligent writing by Cindy Dees with absolutely blistering hot sex scenes.
So for any lovers of, for instance, the KGI novels of Maya Banks, this is a fantastic read!!
✨An adrenaline packed, sinfully sexy spy story!!✨
**ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin HQN in return for an honest review.**
My rating: 4 of 5 ⭐️
When she set out with Doctors Unlimited as a translator on a humanitarian mission, Katie McCloud knew she was heading into a dangerous area. With most of her family involved in either law inforcement, the military or intelligence, her job as a kindergarten teacher seemed bland and she had wanted to expand on her experience. Expand she did, under fire and with a newborn baby tucked in her coat she was running for her life....along with her teammate, the brooding and enigmatic Dr. Alex Peters.
In an ongoing attempt to distance himself from his past and the burden of his heritage, Alex Peters has chosen to place himself in unfriendly territory, using his medical degree to assist pregnant women who no longer have medical care. As a physician for Doctors Unlimited, he has been assigned the assistance of a translator, the innocent and chatty Katie, who surprises him with her grit and determination when they end up in the middle of some kind of attack.
Forced to reveal some of his closely guarded secrets, Alex manages to get them out of immediate danger and eventually back into the U.S., but once there he is starting to seriously question his teammate's innocence. His attraction to her grows as his suspicions do, but when attacks occur on homeground and clearly directed at them, his only concern is to keep Katie safe.
The constant unknown threat has forced Katie into Alex' protection and the close proximity has flared up the sparks flying between them. Even though her feelings for him grow, trust is still difficult to give. But in order to stay alive, both Alex and Katie have to let go of what they think they know, and have faith in what is in their heart....
*****
A highly graphic and action-packed opening sequence had me completely hooked into this romantic suspense novel!!
My first introduction to Cindy Dees was a good one! An international counter-intelligence/ espionage novel with substantial romantic and sexual tension and heat is just what this reader enjoys!! An intruiging story with some descriptive chapters not for the faint of heart, and I don't mean that in a sexually explicit way.....
The story starts in a region ravaged by war and civil unrest and some of the resulting scenes and events we encounter are therefore perhaps outside of our frame of reference, but they serve to place the story in the appropriate context.
Katie's character holds more depth than appears at first sight. She proves that fairly early on by her tenacity and ability to adapt under dire circumstances, but also later on in the story when under a tremendous amount of pressure as well as in danger for her life. She has a sense of clarity in the way she regards the world and the people around her, being able to detect BS from a mile away, which proves to be helpful to her.
Alex has had a tough start in life, and frankly, it hasn't gotten much better. He has trained himself to shut down his emotional side completely out of self-preservation, giving him the ability to consider what is around him from a purely analytical perspective. But since meeting Katie, some of his emotions have been flaring up and that is something he is unfamiliar with. Something that makes him automatically distrustful. For someone who has relied on skill and analysis for so long, it is difficult to put any faith in his feelings.
Aside from the fact that this was a very exciting and interesting action filled novel, I really enjoyed the character development of our two protagonists, Alex's being the most dramatic. Very insightful and intelligent writing by Cindy Dees with absolutely blistering hot sex scenes.
So for any lovers of, for instance, the KGI novels of Maya Banks, this is a fantastic read!!
✨An adrenaline packed, sinfully sexy spy story!!✨
**ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin HQN in return for an honest review.**
March 15, 2014
My Thoughts:
Close Pursuit was an interesting story, and very well-written, but it just wasn't for me. The story dragged, and I found myself having to put it down several times to take little breaks from it. I enjoyed the fact that there was a lot of action, suspense, and plot twists. However, I felt like there was too much going on, and I found myself lost and confused throughout the story.
I loved Katie McCloud's character. She was determined, sweet, caring, and very likable. However, I did not connect to Alex Peters. He was suppose to be an irresistible, and sexy playboy. I found him to be awkward, unappealing, cold, and a bit strange. The intimate scenes were very hot and well-written between Katie and Alex. However, I just didn't feel the connection between these these two characters. It felt forced, fake, and very contrived to me.
Even though I wasn't a fan of this story, others might be. Some of the great elements in the story included running, hiding, and wild car chases from unknown enemies that would stop at nothing to capture and harm Katie and Alex. As the reader, I found myself contemplating all options, and trying to put the puzzle pieces together to find out who the "bad guys" were. I enjoyed reading about Katie and Alex as they worked together to deliver babies in dangerous, and war ravaged villages.
I give, Close Pursuit, by Cindy Dees, 3 War Torn, On the Run, Suspense Filled Stars! This story wasn't for me. However, if you enjoy complex plots, with espionage, action-packed suspense, and a puzzle to solve, give Close Pursuit a try!
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape
Close Pursuit was an interesting story, and very well-written, but it just wasn't for me. The story dragged, and I found myself having to put it down several times to take little breaks from it. I enjoyed the fact that there was a lot of action, suspense, and plot twists. However, I felt like there was too much going on, and I found myself lost and confused throughout the story.
I loved Katie McCloud's character. She was determined, sweet, caring, and very likable. However, I did not connect to Alex Peters. He was suppose to be an irresistible, and sexy playboy. I found him to be awkward, unappealing, cold, and a bit strange. The intimate scenes were very hot and well-written between Katie and Alex. However, I just didn't feel the connection between these these two characters. It felt forced, fake, and very contrived to me.
Even though I wasn't a fan of this story, others might be. Some of the great elements in the story included running, hiding, and wild car chases from unknown enemies that would stop at nothing to capture and harm Katie and Alex. As the reader, I found myself contemplating all options, and trying to put the puzzle pieces together to find out who the "bad guys" were. I enjoyed reading about Katie and Alex as they worked together to deliver babies in dangerous, and war ravaged villages.
I give, Close Pursuit, by Cindy Dees, 3 War Torn, On the Run, Suspense Filled Stars! This story wasn't for me. However, if you enjoy complex plots, with espionage, action-packed suspense, and a puzzle to solve, give Close Pursuit a try!
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape
July 16, 2014
Close Pursuit is a very good book, full of action, suspense, and romance. It’s the story of Katie McCloud and Alex Peters. Katie, a kindergarten teacher, is in between jobs and decides to work as a translator for Doctors Unlimited which is an International Aid Organization. Alex Peters is the doctor she is translating for. They are working in Zaghastan which is deep in the mountains of Hindu Kush. Katie grew up in a family of military and law enforcement guys. Alex grew up as the son of a Russian spy. Katie and Alex end up placing their lives on the line to save a baby that sets off an international incident of sorts.
There is so much more detail to go into but in doing so would ruin the book. There are several chase scenes, gun battles, and plenty of mind- numbing sex. There’s enough deception and espionage to make a James Bond movie. The Russian FSB, the CIA, Spec Ops, and many other alphabets are explored. The characters are well written and I could not put the book down. Katie and Alex are very intriguing and it was very interesting to get to understand who they were. Although they are polar opposites, they complement each other very well. That’s not to say that they don’t have a complicated relationship. They really have to figure out how to trust each other in order to stay alive.
This was one of the best books that I have read this year. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Source: Publisher
Reviewed by Gemini
There is so much more detail to go into but in doing so would ruin the book. There are several chase scenes, gun battles, and plenty of mind- numbing sex. There’s enough deception and espionage to make a James Bond movie. The Russian FSB, the CIA, Spec Ops, and many other alphabets are explored. The characters are well written and I could not put the book down. Katie and Alex are very intriguing and it was very interesting to get to understand who they were. Although they are polar opposites, they complement each other very well. That’s not to say that they don’t have a complicated relationship. They really have to figure out how to trust each other in order to stay alive.
This was one of the best books that I have read this year. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Source: Publisher
Reviewed by Gemini
December 22, 2014
I received a free copy through Goodreads.
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I would give this book 3 stars.
Who knew being in a war torn country would lead to romance between Alex and Katie? The chemistry between the two is unmistakable and with danger at every turn, the thrill of the hunt is always there.
I enjoyed reading about Alex and his background story. We really get to see how and why he became the person he is today. However, personality wise, I think that sometimes he is too cold and a bit of an ass. It's interesting to see the lengths he goes to to avoid becoming entangled in his father's political web. While Katie is also an equally fascinating person, her personality is much more vibrant and easy to empathize with, after all she has demonstrated that she isn't exactly a ditzy blonde.
The story is pretty much Alex, Katie and Dawn being chased down by these mysterious military and government like people. When we finally find out the reason why Doctor's Unlimited are operating in various war torn countries and why people are after Alex, Katie and Dawn, it feels like a let down and a sense of "oh is that it" settles in. It felt like the entire storyline is just to see Katie and Alex get together and everything else was a filler to keep the story moving onto the next point.
Overall, a decent and somewhat action packed with bits of romance book.
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I would give this book 3 stars.
Who knew being in a war torn country would lead to romance between Alex and Katie? The chemistry between the two is unmistakable and with danger at every turn, the thrill of the hunt is always there.
I enjoyed reading about Alex and his background story. We really get to see how and why he became the person he is today. However, personality wise, I think that sometimes he is too cold and a bit of an ass. It's interesting to see the lengths he goes to to avoid becoming entangled in his father's political web. While Katie is also an equally fascinating person, her personality is much more vibrant and easy to empathize with, after all she has demonstrated that she isn't exactly a ditzy blonde.
The story is pretty much Alex, Katie and Dawn being chased down by these mysterious military and government like people. When we finally find out the reason why Doctor's Unlimited are operating in various war torn countries and why people are after Alex, Katie and Dawn, it feels like a let down and a sense of "oh is that it" settles in. It felt like the entire storyline is just to see Katie and Alex get together and everything else was a filler to keep the story moving onto the next point.
Overall, a decent and somewhat action packed with bits of romance book.
February 22, 2014
Alex Peters and Katie McCloud belong to a volunteer organization that sends them to distant countries to help women in crisis by delivering their babies. Katie is a kindergarten teacher and Alex is the son of an infamous Russian spy so their lives are very different. While in the small country, they are running for their lives as attempts are made to kill them. And they don't know if their attackers are Russian or American.
I found that Close Pursuit was not an easy read and the plot was difficult to follow. There were spies everywhere and many organizations were not as innocent as they first appeared.
I didn't take to the characters. Katie went from adventurous and bold to very stupid. Alex was odd. He had such a difficult past that he was virtually unemotional. There was nothing about him that was attractive other than his body. I didn't see why Katie was so hot for Alex. So he is attractive but why does she want to sleep with him so badly? She doesn't seem to be attracted to him in any other way, so no emotional draw until much later in the book.
I expected this book to be romantic suspense but I didn't see that in Close Pursuit. It turned out that this was not my favorite genre but if you like spy novels, you might enjoy this book.
Won Close Pursuit in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.
I found that Close Pursuit was not an easy read and the plot was difficult to follow. There were spies everywhere and many organizations were not as innocent as they first appeared.
I didn't take to the characters. Katie went from adventurous and bold to very stupid. Alex was odd. He had such a difficult past that he was virtually unemotional. There was nothing about him that was attractive other than his body. I didn't see why Katie was so hot for Alex. So he is attractive but why does she want to sleep with him so badly? She doesn't seem to be attracted to him in any other way, so no emotional draw until much later in the book.
I expected this book to be romantic suspense but I didn't see that in Close Pursuit. It turned out that this was not my favorite genre but if you like spy novels, you might enjoy this book.
Won Close Pursuit in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.
January 10, 2014
Danger, spies, coercion, high speed chases, flashy cars, and a baby?
When Alex Peters and Katie McCloud volunteered to travel halfway around the world to help women in crisis by delivering their babies, neither of them expected to end up on the run with a newborn. After calling in favors to high ranking officials in the FSB and CIA, they finally make it back to the United States where they hope they can escape the people trying to kill them. The problem is that they don’t know who is after them and they don’t know why.
Katie is a kindergarten teacher who is trying to prove to her family that she can make it on her own. Alex is the son of an infamous Russian spy. He is trying to live his life on his own terms but he is constantly being harassed by his father to become a spy for Russia and by the CIA to become a spy for the US. Katie recognizes in Alex a yearning to be loved and she is desperate to show him love and to prove to him that he is capable to loving others.
Cindy Dees’ novel is fast paced and features two very likable main characters. Readers looking for a quick read that contains a little romance with a lot of espionage should look no further.
When Alex Peters and Katie McCloud volunteered to travel halfway around the world to help women in crisis by delivering their babies, neither of them expected to end up on the run with a newborn. After calling in favors to high ranking officials in the FSB and CIA, they finally make it back to the United States where they hope they can escape the people trying to kill them. The problem is that they don’t know who is after them and they don’t know why.
Katie is a kindergarten teacher who is trying to prove to her family that she can make it on her own. Alex is the son of an infamous Russian spy. He is trying to live his life on his own terms but he is constantly being harassed by his father to become a spy for Russia and by the CIA to become a spy for the US. Katie recognizes in Alex a yearning to be loved and she is desperate to show him love and to prove to him that he is capable to loving others.
Cindy Dees’ novel is fast paced and features two very likable main characters. Readers looking for a quick read that contains a little romance with a lot of espionage should look no further.
October 16, 2016
suka novel ini wlau byk plot hole yg masih bikin bertanya2 tp mgkn tar ada jawabannya di buku 2.
Bbrp point yg buat gw mikir...
1. pertama gw curiga bgt dengan DU, terutama pemimpinnya tapi mendekati ending Fortiney yg berperan besar nolongi alex, katie and dawn
2. ayah kandung dawn. apa benar mafia ukraina? lagi2 semoga dijelasin di buku 2
3. karekter peter yg digambarin seolah2 sangat licik, arogan dll...tp gw masih tetap yakin dia punya secuil rasa sayang ke alex
Bbrp point yg buat gw kesal...
1. banyak bgt adegan seru yg sepertinya dipersingkat, ky kejar2an mobil...pelarian mereka di osh...
2. pembunuhan pengacara alex yg belum pasti dilakukan pihak mana
3. katie yg terlalu sering membuat asumsi sendiri
4. reaksi pas katie menghubungi Fortiney ttg alex yg bakal mencuri daftar
overall, ini novel yg bagus bgt.
Bbrp point yg buat gw mikir...
1. pertama gw curiga bgt dengan DU, terutama pemimpinnya tapi mendekati ending Fortiney yg berperan besar nolongi alex, katie and dawn
2. ayah kandung dawn. apa benar mafia ukraina? lagi2 semoga dijelasin di buku 2
3. karekter peter yg digambarin seolah2 sangat licik, arogan dll...tp gw masih tetap yakin dia punya secuil rasa sayang ke alex
Bbrp point yg buat gw kesal...
1. banyak bgt adegan seru yg sepertinya dipersingkat, ky kejar2an mobil...pelarian mereka di osh...
2. pembunuhan pengacara alex yg belum pasti dilakukan pihak mana
3. katie yg terlalu sering membuat asumsi sendiri
4. reaksi pas katie menghubungi Fortiney ttg alex yg bakal mencuri daftar
overall, ini novel yg bagus bgt.
May 26, 2014
I may be a bit biased in my review, so let's state the reason of that bias up front: I felt attached to the plot line of this book, based upon my studies of Afghanistan/Pakistan/India and the remote location of the setting of the opening of this novel.
Despite my inherent bias, however, Cindy Dees employed some clever plot twists with respect to the main male character, Alex. I'll leave it to readers to make a judgment call on this but I thought, "Well done!"
Romantic stories (especially Harlequin romances) are written with a predictable template, but it's up to the author to stretch the boundaries of that template, and to make it interesting. Cindy Dees succeeds on both counts, and added a few secondary characters to this story which made it memorable.
Despite my inherent bias, however, Cindy Dees employed some clever plot twists with respect to the main male character, Alex. I'll leave it to readers to make a judgment call on this but I thought, "Well done!"
Romantic stories (especially Harlequin romances) are written with a predictable template, but it's up to the author to stretch the boundaries of that template, and to make it interesting. Cindy Dees succeeds on both counts, and added a few secondary characters to this story which made it memorable.
March 5, 2014
I truly enjoyed this book! The action and suspense never ceased. this is the first time I've read a book by this particular author, why the style of her writing is so intriguing, and suspenseful, I would be more than willing to pick up another book of hers and hopefully soon. I love the way the main characters interacted, and I loved how she portrayed the heroine as and intuitively intelligent person, whom the hero mistakenly took as an undercover agent. She made the characters strong and smart, and yet filled with passion. I loved the spy aspect of the book, as espionage is always fascinating.
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January 12, 2016"Dees blends action and intrigue in this character-driven romance with deft skill, keeping readers enthralled until the final secret is re veiled and the last chase winds down. Her fictional war zone is minutely detailed, and the dangers surrounding her characters feel dangerously real. Most impressive of all is in her deeply conflicted and enigmatic hero, whose background and personal scars combine to make him a mystery, even to himself. His development, and growing desire for the plucky heroine, keeps the heart of the story strong through every pulse-pounding plot twist". (RT Book Reviews, rated 4 1/2 stars)
March 14, 2014
Reminiscent of an action novel and a romance novel, Close Pursuit reminds me a cross between Jason Bourne and 50 Shades of Gray. It's a quick read and by the time I hit the last 50 pages or so, I was burning through the book to find out how everything would end!
No summary included because I'm sure others will include it in their reviews, but this is definitely a "relaxing by the pool/beach, on vacation" type of read.
This book saved me while I had to serve Jury Duty all week last week. Thanks to Cindy Dees for sharing the book via the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway!
No summary included because I'm sure others will include it in their reviews, but this is definitely a "relaxing by the pool/beach, on vacation" type of read.
This book saved me while I had to serve Jury Duty all week last week. Thanks to Cindy Dees for sharing the book via the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway!
March 19, 2016
Close Pursuit started with a very unlikely premise: a kindergarten teacher who was sent into a war torn country to serve as an interpreter. Once the story moved into the US, it became much more plausible. The interaction between the characters was fun except for Alex's determined suspicion that Katie was a C.I.A. agent when she really never gave any indication that she was more than a smart woman. Otherwise, I really liked this book. The romance was in the forefront of the story throughout, a good light romance that was a quick easy read.
July 21, 2014
Have to say that when there is adventure, sexy men and espionage Cindy Dees sure knows to pack it in a great book. I loved that Alex Peters is not who he is but something dangerous and sexy. Katie is everything he needs in his life to stay balanced even when he denies it. Cindy Dees threw every obstacle to them and like a champion Alex protected what was his. Sex, love and action were all through this book making it worth reading.
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September 9, 2014
Close Pursuit combines suspense and romance into a riveting novel. Kindergarten teacher Katie McCloud goes on a mission to help deliver babies in a war torn country and meets and assists Dr. Alex Peters. Soon the two are on the run from danger, and even when they leave the country, it follows them. It is a fast paced journey to the conclusion of the story. I really enjoyed the mixture of action, developing romance, and steamy chemistry.
August 11, 2016
I read an ARC of this book for an honest review.
I love Ms. Dees' books. She writes some of the best RS books around. I was happy to see she finally had a full sized book(well deserved and long over due)
Close Pursuit has it all- passion, fast paced action, snappy dialogue and great characters(in fact her heroines are always some of favorites- not that heroes are yummy too).
I love Ms. Dees' books. She writes some of the best RS books around. I was happy to see she finally had a full sized book(well deserved and long over due)
Close Pursuit has it all- passion, fast paced action, snappy dialogue and great characters(in fact her heroines are always some of favorites- not that heroes are yummy too).
March 26, 2015
A fast-paced suspenseful read but the plot is absurd and requires more suspension of disbelief than I am capable of. In addition, the hero is creepy and speaks in stilted or crude sentences, as if he is two different characters.
March 7, 2014
Good story but a bit too graphic for my tastes.
March 27, 2015
I couldn't put it down, very fast easy read.
March 9, 2014
This book had a plot that moved along well and we got to know the characters. Not overly my type of book, but if you like Harlequin books, you will like this book
April 27, 2014
A nice quick read filled withsuspence , romance and lots of emotion.
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