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Off the Grid: FBI #3
Desperate Play
Special Agent Wyatt Tanner has always worked undercover. He thrives in the dark of the night. He survives by turning himself into someone else. But living so long in the shadows can make a man forget who he really is. When people start dying, when he finds blood on his own hands, he questions the choices he has made, the people he is with.
Can he find his way back to the light? Can the beautiful woman offering her help be trusted? Or does she also have a secret life?
He'll have to make one desperate play to find out…
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2018
1521 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Freethy
155 books2,701 followersBarbara's love of writing developed out of a love of reading. Growing up in an all-boy neighborhood, she spent quite a bit of time reading through her mother's large library, many of which were romantic novels. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, she went into Public Relations, but soon discovered that writing was her true passion.
Barbara was traditionally published for many years, then formed her own publishing company FOG CITY PUBLISHING in 2011 and has since sold over 10 million books! She has published 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
Her book SUMMER SECRETS was a #1 New York Times bestseller! And twenty-five other novels have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. She is currently writing two ongoing series, a contemporary romance series set in Whisper Lake and a romantic suspense series: Off The Grid: FBI Series. She is also known for her bestselling Callaway Family Series, which offers up fourteen books and two novellas.
When Barbara isn't writing or publishing, which isn't very often these days, she is playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family in beautiful Lake Tahoe or reading books!
For a complete list of her books, visit her website!
Barbara was traditionally published for many years, then formed her own publishing company FOG CITY PUBLISHING in 2011 and has since sold over 10 million books! She has published 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
Her book SUMMER SECRETS was a #1 New York Times bestseller! And twenty-five other novels have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. She is currently writing two ongoing series, a contemporary romance series set in Whisper Lake and a romantic suspense series: Off The Grid: FBI Series. She is also known for her bestselling Callaway Family Series, which offers up fourteen books and two novellas.
When Barbara isn't writing or publishing, which isn't very often these days, she is playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family in beautiful Lake Tahoe or reading books!
For a complete list of her books, visit her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
June 13, 2018
This is the third installment from the FBI series and it left you wanting more. I'm a fan of Ms. Freethy's stories and they have that similar rhythm that grabs you from page one.
We met Wyatt from the previous books. He was reclusive, deep cover and preferred to stay there. He is working deep cover to get access to an aeronautics company who is preparing for a launch of a special satellite that is creating a lot of interest and so it of attention from nefarious characters which is the reason the FBI is involved. They believe there is a potential international breach that could cause irreparable harm. Wyatt is able to use his skills to get in their security group and establish a unique bond with the owner of the company.
He follows an employee who is acting suspiciously and she is suddenly killed. He believes this is tied to the suspicious activity with this employer but there are too many pieces to the puzzle. The victim is discovered by her friend, Avery, who is devastated. Her friend has final words but they don't make sense. Wyatt recognizes Avery from his security monitors and knows she has a big role with their employer.
Avery is in shock with her friends murder but needs to find out what her message meant. She is being followed by dangerous people and Wyatt. Their paths cross and the two decide that working together is the best way to stay safe and find out who killed her friend. The two find Thatcher lives are in danger and are racing against the clock to find the killer before the launch.
This book had such a fast and demanding pace. It was effortless to read because you were constantly wanting more. I can't wait for the next installment to the series, I'm addicted.
We met Wyatt from the previous books. He was reclusive, deep cover and preferred to stay there. He is working deep cover to get access to an aeronautics company who is preparing for a launch of a special satellite that is creating a lot of interest and so it of attention from nefarious characters which is the reason the FBI is involved. They believe there is a potential international breach that could cause irreparable harm. Wyatt is able to use his skills to get in their security group and establish a unique bond with the owner of the company.
He follows an employee who is acting suspiciously and she is suddenly killed. He believes this is tied to the suspicious activity with this employer but there are too many pieces to the puzzle. The victim is discovered by her friend, Avery, who is devastated. Her friend has final words but they don't make sense. Wyatt recognizes Avery from his security monitors and knows she has a big role with their employer.
Avery is in shock with her friends murder but needs to find out what her message meant. She is being followed by dangerous people and Wyatt. Their paths cross and the two decide that working together is the best way to stay safe and find out who killed her friend. The two find Thatcher lives are in danger and are racing against the clock to find the killer before the launch.
This book had such a fast and demanding pace. It was effortless to read because you were constantly wanting more. I can't wait for the next installment to the series, I'm addicted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
This series is really very good. One thing bugs me, however. In the previous book, along with this one, there is obviously someone with tremendous power who has singled out this tight group of FBI operatives with nefarious intentions. They don't seem to be taking it seriously. We shall see. Onto the next book in the series. ;)
November 5, 2018
Barbara Freethy is not an author I usually turn to for my usual Romantic Suspense fix, but the blurb of this book sounded interesting enough. At least, well enough because it rubs all my kinks about undercover and double identities the right way.
Freethy has up a great opening that catches Wyatt Tanner smack dab in the middle of an undercover op, or at least in the middle of a nefarious start of one, where he infiltrates a possible case of industrial espionage at Nova Star for the FBI. That much sets the tone for ‘Desperate Play’, where he gets tangled more and more in the affairs of Astrophysicist and employee of Nova Star Avery Caldwell who’s found herself an unwitting player in a murder investigation.
Freethy’s red herrings—in the form of random suggestions, insinuations and some supposed clues—that throw suspicion on every character do keep the good ol’ whodunnit mystery rolling and kept me guessing because the big picture couldn’t be put together. The only downside is that it didn’t make the secondary characters likeable at all, while putting only the protagonists above questioning.
Still, ‘Desperate Play’ ended up an unexpectedly slow read for me somehow, with a writing style—sentences, dialogue, etc—that felt a little…amateurish(?) at times…this is however, a personal preference about style coming into play here.
From a steady trot in the first quarter, I also thought that the pacing faltered towards the middle as I went through pages of Avery being a naive pushover where her dead, flaky friend was concerned (the questions she asks as well seem to show that), with Wyatt’s rather adept juggling of his undercover identity becoming the only thing that kept me going.
The rather unsettled ending is certainly a set-up for Freethy next few books in this series, but I did finish the book feeling a bit more short-changed than usual.
Freethy has up a great opening that catches Wyatt Tanner smack dab in the middle of an undercover op, or at least in the middle of a nefarious start of one, where he infiltrates a possible case of industrial espionage at Nova Star for the FBI. That much sets the tone for ‘Desperate Play’, where he gets tangled more and more in the affairs of Astrophysicist and employee of Nova Star Avery Caldwell who’s found herself an unwitting player in a murder investigation.
Freethy’s red herrings—in the form of random suggestions, insinuations and some supposed clues—that throw suspicion on every character do keep the good ol’ whodunnit mystery rolling and kept me guessing because the big picture couldn’t be put together. The only downside is that it didn’t make the secondary characters likeable at all, while putting only the protagonists above questioning.
Still, ‘Desperate Play’ ended up an unexpectedly slow read for me somehow, with a writing style—sentences, dialogue, etc—that felt a little…amateurish(?) at times…this is however, a personal preference about style coming into play here.
From a steady trot in the first quarter, I also thought that the pacing faltered towards the middle as I went through pages of Avery being a naive pushover where her dead, flaky friend was concerned (the questions she asks as well seem to show that), with Wyatt’s rather adept juggling of his undercover identity becoming the only thing that kept me going.
The rather unsettled ending is certainly a set-up for Freethy next few books in this series, but I did finish the book feeling a bit more short-changed than usual.
March 18, 2021
Part of the anthology Dangerous to Love compiled by Toni Anderson
First time reading this author for me. She had me at the first sentence: "As the sun rose over Manhattan Beach . . ." Who can resist a story that starts in your own backyard? I doubt it will stay there, there just isn't any mystery or intrigue that happens in the Beach Cities. Good solid suspense. Strictly cozy romance. There was a lot of narrative that didn't add much to the plot.
Avery lives her life with her head in the clouds, literally - she is a astrophysics working for an aerospace company, Nova Star, whose owner wants to travel to Mars. Avery is in charge of the educational outreach program. During a girls night out with her friend, Noelle, Avery finds Noelle dead in the funhouse on the Santa Monica Pier. Now Avery is the target of the hit man.
FBI Special Agent Wyatt Tanner has spent his whole career undercover. Sometimes he wonders just who he is anymore. His latest assignment is to find the mole at Nova Star who is selling secrets to the a foreign government. His cover is as head of security at Nova Star.
When Avery ends up in the middle of everything, the head of Nova Star assigns Wyatt to protect Avery. Now Wyatt has to find the mole and protect Avery. The suspects include just about everyone at Nova Star and Avery wants to find the mole just as much as Wyatt does. As these two grow closer, trust is strained when each has secrets the other needs to know.
First time reading this author for me. She had me at the first sentence: "As the sun rose over Manhattan Beach . . ." Who can resist a story that starts in your own backyard? I doubt it will stay there, there just isn't any mystery or intrigue that happens in the Beach Cities. Good solid suspense. Strictly cozy romance. There was a lot of narrative that didn't add much to the plot.
Avery lives her life with her head in the clouds, literally - she is a astrophysics working for an aerospace company, Nova Star, whose owner wants to travel to Mars. Avery is in charge of the educational outreach program. During a girls night out with her friend, Noelle, Avery finds Noelle dead in the funhouse on the Santa Monica Pier. Now Avery is the target of the hit man.
FBI Special Agent Wyatt Tanner has spent his whole career undercover. Sometimes he wonders just who he is anymore. His latest assignment is to find the mole at Nova Star who is selling secrets to the a foreign government. His cover is as head of security at Nova Star.
When Avery ends up in the middle of everything, the head of Nova Star assigns Wyatt to protect Avery. Now Wyatt has to find the mole and protect Avery. The suspects include just about everyone at Nova Star and Avery wants to find the mole just as much as Wyatt does. As these two grow closer, trust is strained when each has secrets the other needs to know.
March 24, 2019
You know how sometimes you don’t care about all the characters in a book? Well that’s what happened, they could have had anything happen to them, I did not give a damn
December 16, 2022
2,5 stars
fizzled out after great start
fizzled out after great start
February 8, 2021
Hello, Wyatt
Danger, murder, intrigue. Fast Paced but not so much that you don't have moments to make those personal connections with the characters. Wyatt has been in previous books so it was good to have his story at the front and it was a good one! I liked Wyatt a lot.
Content: one fade to black sex scene with a few details, violence, peril, mild swearing, death.
Danger, murder, intrigue. Fast Paced but not so much that you don't have moments to make those personal connections with the characters. Wyatt has been in previous books so it was good to have his story at the front and it was a good one! I liked Wyatt a lot.
Content: one fade to black sex scene with a few details, violence, peril, mild swearing, death.
June 10, 2018
LOOK OUT! There's danger up ahead. Off the Grid is a labyrinth. Each tale pulls readers deeper into the abyss. Desperate Play amplifies the chill factor. Wyatt finds himself at the center of a scary situation. Who do you trust, when it seems like the whole world is against you? Freethy intensifies the fear as the danger level rises. Unpredictability is a seductive aphrodisiac. Barbara Freethy uses it in a way that will chill, thrill and appeal. Avery and Wyatt will leave you breathless.
June 12, 2018
My only disappointment with DESPERATE PLAY (OFF THE GRID: FBI #3) was when it ended. Like all of Barbara Freethy's books, I want them to keep going. The reader is so pulled into the lives of the characters it is easy to shut out the rest of the world. This story of Wyatt and Avery pulled you deeper with each page turn-- romance, mystery, and suspense! Wyatt made a brief appearance earlier in this series and we finally to get to know more about him. Be sure to read the first two books in this series if you've not already done so. You won't be disappointed,
September 11, 2020
Another amazing audiobook in the series! This one was fast-paced and full of suspense. You find yourself second guessing the characters’ actions, trying to piece together the clues and find out who is the traitor. Wyatt is one of my favourite characters so far (I loved the snippets we saw in previous books), and I loved seeing more of Bree in the book too.
Want to read
May 9, 2020included with "Dangerous to Love" romance collection.
July 28, 2021
What a brilliant story. Couldn't put it down. It had so many twists and turns. Would highly recommend. Open another avenue of new authors to investigate.
April 25, 2023
Not believable but entertaining.
February 23, 2025
What a good story. Had me guessing the identity of the bad guy to the very end. There was just enough of a love story to keep it interesting.
October 2, 2021
Another exciting adventure.
October 25, 2021
Another crime , another love struggle and a twist at the end !
December 14, 2018
I Love Barbara Freethy's books I love this Series. I love FBI' guys.
Wyatt Tanner has appeared in all previous books in this series, he is part of a group of FBI agents who have become very close in Quantico, and who are the main characters in each of the books in this wonderful series.
Wyatt has always worked undercover for a long time, in this new service, he ends up hired to do a job as a Security Chief at the Nova Star Company ... and becomes one of the trustworthy men of the company owner.
In the midst of Wyatt's work, an employee of the company is murdered and he becomes a bodyguard for one of the company's researchers, Avery, who is at risk of life.
When Wyatt and Avery's relationship gets closer, even though professional, and as they become friends, Wyatt begins to tell things that few people in his life know about his life and realize that he wants to be himself again, let live undercover, hidden in 'characters' and stories that is not his own.
Another book full of suspense and twists, mixed with a charming love story.
Wyatt Tanner has appeared in all previous books in this series, he is part of a group of FBI agents who have become very close in Quantico, and who are the main characters in each of the books in this wonderful series.
Wyatt has always worked undercover for a long time, in this new service, he ends up hired to do a job as a Security Chief at the Nova Star Company ... and becomes one of the trustworthy men of the company owner.
In the midst of Wyatt's work, an employee of the company is murdered and he becomes a bodyguard for one of the company's researchers, Avery, who is at risk of life.
When Wyatt and Avery's relationship gets closer, even though professional, and as they become friends, Wyatt begins to tell things that few people in his life know about his life and realize that he wants to be himself again, let live undercover, hidden in 'characters' and stories that is not his own.
Another book full of suspense and twists, mixed with a charming love story.
August 11, 2020
Barbara Freethy has once again delivered an incredible romantic thriller with Desperate Play. I absolutely loved Desperate Play, the third book in her Off the Grid series. Each book in the series keeps getting better and better. I think that Desperate Play is my favorite in the series so far. It had me guessing who was behind the dramatic events the entire book. I was truly surprised when the culprit was revealed and the reasoning behind their actions. I could not out it down. I loved every page. I have read some of Barbara Freethy's other books, both her romances and other romantic thrillers and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I really enjoyed how the book was told from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. Barbara Freethy has shown that she is a master storyteller regardless of the genre. Desperate Play is the story of Wyatt Tanner, an undercover FBI agent who takes on various assignments where his undercover skills are needed and Avery Caldwell an astrophysicist and in charge of the education department at Nova Star. Wyatt is working undercover as the newly hired security director at Nova Star investigating issues involving national security. Avery's childhood friend is murdered in the fun house on the Santa Monica Pier and Avery wants to know who killed her friend. Avery goes to Noelle's apartment the following day searching for clues, when an armed man comes out of the bathroom. Wyatt arrives in time to save Avery, but the gunman gets away. While they are searching for clues about Noelle's murder and the attempts on their lives, Wyatt and Avery share secrets from their past and begin to explore their feelings for one another. My favorite line describing their relationship is "They'd shared and shown their true selves to each other." I really enjoy the poignant and bittersweet moments, the plot twists and the surprises that I have come to love and expect in Barbara Freethy's books and Desperate Play did not disappoint. One of my favorite parts of the story are the poignant moments that Avery shares with her father, Brett and the moments she shares with Wyatt. I love that Bree Adams, was also a character in Desperate Play and the role she played in the story. I love how all Barbara Freethy's epilogues, wrap up the ending of the story. Never would I have guessed who was behind the murder of Noelle and the attempts on Avery's life, that was truly a surprise plot twist. I love how all the lose ends got tied up. I loved the characters and the way she describes the locations in and around Los Angeles. My favorite location was the beach where Wyatt takes Avery to let out her emotions following Noelle's murder and how that same location is used for Noelle's memorial. It was really an incredible story and I loved every page. So looking forward to reading Parisa Maxwell's story in Elusive Promise.
November 25, 2023
I liked the espionage, mystery, betrayal, etc. in this book. It was nice to have Bree make an appearance. Vincent is still sus in my book. Now for the hard part.
I did not like Avery at all. I appreciated her intelligence and curiosity. I felt as if Avery was truly as intelligent as everyone claimed she was, she would have understood Wyatt's situation.
He worked as the head of security for a corporation involved in satellite technology. Yrt, she was too dense to understand the international implications AND that the HEAD of security might have done something more than sit behind a desk looking at monitors.
Maybe Avery was intelligent, but she lacked all elements of common sense. I hated it when she kept pushing at Wyatt for more information. She was so irritating. My dislike of Avery's character definitely took my enjoyment of the book down a notch or two.
I don't know if the narrator did it intentionally or subconsciously. She made Avery's inquiring, upset, and angry voice so annoying that I had no issues with my dislike of the character.
Avery was so judgemental of Noelle, I was surprised she wanted to help her so desperately. Seemed more like a flex to me.
I believe this book can be read as a standalone. I think it would be more enjoyable if read in order. There are important pieces of info that are repeated from book to book. I thought some of the information was more detailed depending on its prominence in the particular book.
This was not my favorite because of Avery, but I plan go continue the series.
I did not like Avery at all. I appreciated her intelligence and curiosity. I felt as if Avery was truly as intelligent as everyone claimed she was, she would have understood Wyatt's situation.
He worked as the head of security for a corporation involved in satellite technology. Yrt, she was too dense to understand the international implications AND that the HEAD of security might have done something more than sit behind a desk looking at monitors.
Maybe Avery was intelligent, but she lacked all elements of common sense. I hated it when she kept pushing at Wyatt for more information. She was so irritating. My dislike of Avery's character definitely took my enjoyment of the book down a notch or two.
I don't know if the narrator did it intentionally or subconsciously. She made Avery's inquiring, upset, and angry voice so annoying that I had no issues with my dislike of the character.
Avery was so judgemental of Noelle, I was surprised she wanted to help her so desperately. Seemed more like a flex to me.
I believe this book can be read as a standalone. I think it would be more enjoyable if read in order. There are important pieces of info that are repeated from book to book. I thought some of the information was more detailed depending on its prominence in the particular book.
This was not my favorite because of Avery, but I plan go continue the series.
July 5, 2018
This is the 3rd book in Barbara Freethy’s Off the Grid series. It is another winner, it pulls you in and does not let go!!!
We learned a little about Wyatt Turner in the first two books. Wyatt is an undercover FBI agent who’s been doing his job so long that he is not sure who he really is anymore. He plants himself into a company as head of security. The FBI have watching this company for espionage, but they don’t want the FBI involved. He meets Avery Caldwell an employee there, she’s an astrophysicist who loves all things about space. Wyatt is asked by the owner of the company to keep a close eye on Avery after her friend Noelle is murdered. Who only had recently starting working there. Things start to heat up between them but Wyatt is trying to keep things as professional as he can.
The story line and plot are fast and exciting, and the suspense continues to grow. This book will keep you guessing the whole way through. It will have you second guessing yourself if you are not careful. Who is behind acts of espionage and the thefts? Who murdered Noelle? Who is after Avery?
Barbara has not disappointed us once again. She has written another superb romantic suspense novel. This book can be read as a stand alone but if you want to know the background of other characters in the book then I suggest that to read it in order.
I would highly recommend this book and the whole series so far. I am looking forward to book 4 in this series.
We learned a little about Wyatt Turner in the first two books. Wyatt is an undercover FBI agent who’s been doing his job so long that he is not sure who he really is anymore. He plants himself into a company as head of security. The FBI have watching this company for espionage, but they don’t want the FBI involved. He meets Avery Caldwell an employee there, she’s an astrophysicist who loves all things about space. Wyatt is asked by the owner of the company to keep a close eye on Avery after her friend Noelle is murdered. Who only had recently starting working there. Things start to heat up between them but Wyatt is trying to keep things as professional as he can.
The story line and plot are fast and exciting, and the suspense continues to grow. This book will keep you guessing the whole way through. It will have you second guessing yourself if you are not careful. Who is behind acts of espionage and the thefts? Who murdered Noelle? Who is after Avery?
Barbara has not disappointed us once again. She has written another superb romantic suspense novel. This book can be read as a stand alone but if you want to know the background of other characters in the book then I suggest that to read it in order.
I would highly recommend this book and the whole series so far. I am looking forward to book 4 in this series.
March 4, 2023
The third book in the FBI series carries on the high standards set in the first two. This time it’s Wyatt Turner, who’s undercover at a company about to launch a defence satellite into orbit. But someone’s leaking secrets to a foreign power. When an employee is found stabbed to death at a funfair by her best friend Avery, Wyatt’s challenges increase. Not only must he find out who committed murder, he must protect Avery, who’s a key player at the company.
The attraction between the two leads builds as they go on the run, hotly pursued by the bad guys. As the launch of the satellite draws ever nearer, the bad guys play dirty. Wyatt has to clear his name and convince Avery and the top people at the company, that he’s on the level and homing in on the killer.
It’s an exciting, well written story with lots of action, tension and suspense as the story unfolds. The characters are likeable, realistic and engaging, keeping me interested and invested in what happened to them, leading to an entertaining and enjoyable read.
This is a well-crafted and beautifully written series, linked by the camaraderie between the FBI agents who each take a lead role in every new story, often helping out their friends when no one else can.
The attraction between the two leads builds as they go on the run, hotly pursued by the bad guys. As the launch of the satellite draws ever nearer, the bad guys play dirty. Wyatt has to clear his name and convince Avery and the top people at the company, that he’s on the level and homing in on the killer.
It’s an exciting, well written story with lots of action, tension and suspense as the story unfolds. The characters are likeable, realistic and engaging, keeping me interested and invested in what happened to them, leading to an entertaining and enjoyable read.
This is a well-crafted and beautifully written series, linked by the camaraderie between the FBI agents who each take a lead role in every new story, often helping out their friends when no one else can.
April 17, 2023
Wyatt is an undercover FBI agent. He has spent his whole career working in the shadows and likes it that way. He sees an older man being attacked and rescues him. Hamilton is the owner of Nova Star, a company having to do with space and satellites. Hamilton hires him as head of his security, just want Wyatt wants. Someone is selling secrets and putting the nation at risk and its Wyatt's job to find out who it is.
Avery is an astrophysicist and created and runs the educational outreach program at the company. She goes to a carnival with her friend Noelle. Noelle goes into the funhouse and is stabbed and killed. Avery is the one to find her and is devastated. Wyatt saves Avery when she goes to Noelle's apartment and a masked man tries to kill her. Hamilton asks Wyatt to keep Avery safe so he becomes her bodyguard. That won't be the only time he saves her as they both work to find Noelle's killer.
This was so good. I absolutely did not know who the villain was and was totally surprised. This story kept me on the edge of my seat. Plenty of fast paced action. No explicit sex. A story that will keep you up until you are finished.
* Read this as part of the box set*
Avery is an astrophysicist and created and runs the educational outreach program at the company. She goes to a carnival with her friend Noelle. Noelle goes into the funhouse and is stabbed and killed. Avery is the one to find her and is devastated. Wyatt saves Avery when she goes to Noelle's apartment and a masked man tries to kill her. Hamilton asks Wyatt to keep Avery safe so he becomes her bodyguard. That won't be the only time he saves her as they both work to find Noelle's killer.
This was so good. I absolutely did not know who the villain was and was totally surprised. This story kept me on the edge of my seat. Plenty of fast paced action. No explicit sex. A story that will keep you up until you are finished.
* Read this as part of the box set*
February 25, 2025
Wyatt finds himself undercover for the FBI yet again in this one. He is being tasked with infiltrating the place where Avery works. He uses a ploy to get the owner and CEO, Hamilton, to trust him. Once he gains his trust, he is quickly put in charge of security. Avery is an astrophysicist and works for Hamilton and his company. They are trying to launch a new satellite in space that has some new technology that will help America and its defense department. Avery is shocked when her friend, Noelle, who was her childhood BFF is killed. Things become dangerous when she finds herself targeted by whoever was behind Noelle's death. Wyatt is helping her both through the FBI and Hamilton's urging. They have numerous suspects most of whom are related to Avery or her dad. It was an interesting read and I did enjoy it for the most part. I did have an issue with Avery and how invasive she was with her questioning of Wyatt in the beginning. She felt she was owed answers, but wasn't exactly forthcoming herself. She acted like a brat for most of this book. It wasn't endearing to me. An Astrophysicist relies upon their brain and logic and she was very illogical most of this book.
June 11, 2018
Review of Barbara Freethy’s new Off The Grid Series —-Desperate Play
There are a few things in life you can depend on, and Barbara Freethy,s books are one of them. Honestly I can’t fault her style of writing, she sucks you in, keeping you hooked until the very end...and this book was so good, I read it in one sitting and I’m writing this review at 1.40am, despite the fact I have to get up for the school run in 5 hours
We meet Wyatt a couple of times in the previous books, an FBI agent who lives in the shadows, an undercover agent, quite happy to be someone else, his way of coping with his past. Avery is grounded, likes to know what’s happening, plays it safe, and when her friend is killed, she is thrown together with Wyatt, faced with situations that should terrify her, but proves to herself she is stronger and braver than anyone thought.
There are still unanswered questions, a recurring threat that ties all the books together, and I can’t wait to read the next one
Congratulations Barbara Freethy on another exceptional book
There are a few things in life you can depend on, and Barbara Freethy,s books are one of them. Honestly I can’t fault her style of writing, she sucks you in, keeping you hooked until the very end...and this book was so good, I read it in one sitting and I’m writing this review at 1.40am, despite the fact I have to get up for the school run in 5 hours
We meet Wyatt a couple of times in the previous books, an FBI agent who lives in the shadows, an undercover agent, quite happy to be someone else, his way of coping with his past. Avery is grounded, likes to know what’s happening, plays it safe, and when her friend is killed, she is thrown together with Wyatt, faced with situations that should terrify her, but proves to herself she is stronger and braver than anyone thought.
There are still unanswered questions, a recurring threat that ties all the books together, and I can’t wait to read the next one
Congratulations Barbara Freethy on another exceptional book
August 30, 2020
Undercover romance
Wyatt and Avery are a fun couple. Their chemistry is quickly apparent, but they both try to avoid it for different reasons. The intrigue of this story was fascinating and very fluid. The facts kept creating different hints and pictures of the overall story and criminal aspect.
The FBI family has introduced some more and I like the story within a story component that is arising with Vincent and the original baseball crew. JoAnne was abrasive and I am not a fan, so her warning should be interesting to see play out.
This is a good series and I can’t wait to read more!
Wyatt and Avery are a fun couple. Their chemistry is quickly apparent, but they both try to avoid it for different reasons. The intrigue of this story was fascinating and very fluid. The facts kept creating different hints and pictures of the overall story and criminal aspect.
The FBI family has introduced some more and I like the story within a story component that is arising with Vincent and the original baseball crew. JoAnne was abrasive and I am not a fan, so her warning should be interesting to see play out.
This is a good series and I can’t wait to read more!
September 3, 2018
I loved Wyatt's story. He is still undercover but finally realizing that maybe he has been undercover too long & needs to make some changes. He is now undercover in a space & science company when an employee is murdered and another employee is now in danger. Wyatt is determined to protect Avery but he doesn't know who to trust. Avery is nervous to trust Wyatt but he is the only choice she has. There are a lot of suspects, danger to numerous people including some of the suspects, friends & family of Avery's involved. I think this is a great series and looking forwarding to books 4 & 5.
July 22, 2018
Barbara Freethy's stories grabs you from page one. The reader is so pulled into the lives of the characters it is easy to shut out the rest of the world. The bad part about her books is that I want them to keep going. I can't wait for the next installment to the series. I'm addicted to all her books. Be sure to read the first two books in this series if you've not already done so. You won't be disappointed.
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May 8, 20205/7/20 currently free in Dangerous to Love: Ten Novels of Romantic Suspense
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https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Love...
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May 20, 2020
Wyatt and Avery make a good team. However, my beef with this story is the same with a lot of romance themed books -- why must they always profess their love within a week of meeting?! Really? I could believe it (and the story line of murder/espionage plot) if things happened in a more realistic stretched out time frame. That said, the action was exciting and the secrets intriguing, hence the three stars.
March 15, 2024
What do you get when your main characters are FBI Special Agent Wyatt Tanner and Astrophysicist Avery Caldwell? A fast-paced and thrilling story of romance, murder, espionage, betrayal and suspense that will keep you turning page after page as fast as you can. Author Barbara Freethy is a brilliant writer of this genre and narrator Amy McFadden truly brought this fabulous book to life! Well done, ladies! I wholeheartedly recommend it!!!
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