Reckless Deceptions

Dallas after Dark #3

by Karen Rock

DESIRE WITH NO LIMITS
 
Erica Keeley has always been willing to break the rules to catch a criminal, until her unorthodox tactics get her booted from the CIA and betrayed by the man she trusted. Now, gone rogue to stop a terrorist group, she’s working undercover at Dallas’s top male strip and burlesque club, dancing alongside sexy, sculpted men. Not that any of her co-workers give her the adrenaline rush she got from her former life. Erica hits the jackpot when she overhears her targets discussing a homegrown terrorist plot. But her last shot at redemption means getting up close and personal with her traitorous ex.
 
Control is what CIA officer David Arnell values above all things. Yet he was irresistibly drawn to Erica’s impulsive, uninhibited nature in the field—and in bed—until her bull-headed tactics risked the agency’s mission. Teaming up to stop a deadly attack, he’s falling again for this spontaneous, high-octane woman. And with Erica’s ties to the terrorists proving closer than either of them expected, the riskiest mission of all might be this second chance at love . . .
 
“A highly entertaining and cohesive suspense novel with an emotionally satisfying romance that will keep readers glued to the page.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars on Dangerous Moves

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

First published December 18, 2018

Reviews

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5/5*
This is one of a series of books based around the top male strip and burlesque club in Dallas but it works well as a standalone. In this story, CIA officer Ryan Arnell is instructed to make contact with one of the club's dancers, Erica Keeley, as she has information to help stop a terrorist group. She used to work with him but was kicked out of the CIA when her innovative techniques broke too many rules. That was a double blow as the two were lovers and she feels he betrayed her. . . . . 

Sparks definitely fly between these two as their attraction is as strong as ever but there's a serious threat to national security to be thwarted, a terrorist plot to be squashed and traitors to be revealed in this action packed, steamy, romantic suspense. It is a real page turner, with many surprises along the way. Ryan's 'by the book', unemotional way of working and his need for control is in direct contrast to Erica's impulsive, 'follow your gut' and openly emotional attitude but this is definitely a case of opposites attracting! Can they work together again to keep themselves and others safe? Can they prevent the terrorists causing more deaths and destruction? Does their love really have any second chance?

The family pressures on Ryan, his relationship with his twin older brothers and his father, are all explored as part of the story. I loved how Erica was able to coerce and help his father without upsetting him. This is an enthralling romantic suspense and a great addition to the series.I requested and was gifted a copy of it without obligation. I have chosen to read it and this is my honest review after doing so. I've actually read the earlier books in this series and others by this author and I'll definitely be looking out for more from her in future.

[Karen Rock]

I'm excited for today's release of Reckless Deceptions! It's the last book in my Dallas After Dark trilogy. If you love romantic suspense and thriller shows like Criminal Minds and Quantico, then I hope you'll check out this second chance love story of two CIA agents who to team up to take down a deadly terrorist group before they can strike in Dallas!

[Book Him Danno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Rock is able to create two likable characters that develop friendship over time while trying to terrorist from ending everything they have worked so hard to save.

Erica is interesting character with more depth than I originally thought as I read the synopsis. She is strong willed wanting to complete the mission she created even though David by the rules refuses see her for more than a wash up CIA agent.

The story moves quickly and effortlessly from beginning to end of the story keeping readers engaged.

The perfect story to curl up and read during the winter rights. The romance will keep readers warm.



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Lyrical Liaison for the advance copy of Karen Rock Reckless Deceptions

[Maria11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read lots of action and chemistry. The feeling of racing to find out the plot was there and kept you on edge. I did figure it out near the end and it was frustratingthat the characters did not at that point in the story. It was very obvious. I did not like the fact that Ryan didn’t realize his feelings until something terrible happened. I would have been kinda mad at him not oh yeah! It made him a tad tainted in my eyes. I also wish the book had a prologue to show what happened between them before this happened. It is mentioned but not in the detail that I would have appreciated.

Good read. Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved being back in Dallas for the third instalment in this series, this is another action packed story of reunited love and the threat of terrorism, we get to meet CIA agent Ryan Arnell and former CIA agent Erica Keeley, not only is she a former CIA agent but she is also the former partner of Ryan, and they are back working together, will their love ignite again through danger.

Ryan is good at what he does, a top agent in the field and always, always follow protocol, he is back in The States to follow up a lead that has come from his ex-partner and arrives at The Dallas Heat nightclub where she is now working, and meeting up again starts the fire roaring in Ryan, after all that they had been through, could he still feel this way for her.

Erica was dismissed from her role as a CIA agent two years previously for not following orders, but that has never stopped her from investigating what went wrong then and now has found a lead that needs to be followed up and who arrives none other than Ryan, the person she loved, will he let her help in the investigation, will she find that love again.

This is a sensual and scorching journey for Ryan and Erica with danger thrown in, and also some personal family problems that Ryan must overcome and he does so with the help of Erica, together Ryan must learn to follow his heart and Erica needs to find some patience and then they can go into the future knowing that they have caught the bad guys and found their true love and happiness. Another story that I highly recommend.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ex CIA agent Erica Keeley has a new job, one quite a bit different from her previous one. After being let go from the CIA she is now a bartender and premier headliner at the burlesque show at Dallas Heat. Her routine there has all the men in the club all ga-ga. The night Ryan Arnell, CIA agent and Erica's ex-partner as well as ex-lover, stops in at Dallas Heat finds Ryan no less enthralled by Erica's routine. Plus he has the advantage of having touched and enjoyed the beautiful lady to add to his enjoyment. But that's not what he is there for. His boss has sent him there to follow-up after a phone call from Erica informing her former boss that she overheard a conversation that has her believing there is a domestic terrorism plot afoot. Erica was shocked to see Ryan there since, as far as she knew, he was still in Syria trying to track down Khalid Mohammad-al-Harbi, the head of the Jabhat-al-Nusra terrorist organization. He's the last person she wants to see after he refused to stand up for her at her CIA hearing following an operation that went terribly wrong. But as the saying goes, beggars can't be choosers" so she has to work with him.

Reckless Deceptions by Karen Rock is the third book in her Dallas After Dark series. I have read the two previous books in this series and enjoyed them and also enjoyed how the club was the backdrop for the stories. In this book the club, Dallas Heat has only a minor role in the story but it served its purpose by being the perfect place for Erica to go underground. Erica may not be a CIA agent anymore but she didn't stop trying to complete her original mission - find Khalid Muhammad-al-Harbi. There's lots of action and twists and turns in Karen Rock's storyline. I really liked all that action but I also really liked how she developed the renewed relationship between Erica, who is all gut instinct and, yes, somewhat reckless and Ryan who is very by-the-book at all times. She writes a very realistic path to their renewed relationship. This is an exciting series and I recommend this book as well as the two before this one.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book of the series. That said, if like me , you have not read the previous books, rest assured that it’s a stand alone.
The story centers around CIA agents Erica Keeley and David Arnell. Erica was always a rule breaker and David a by the book man. Their stands caused her to lose not only her job , but her former partner and lover, when he doesn’t back her up.
Two years later , she is working undercover to find a terrorist and ends up crossing paths with David . They end up working together once more and of course, the chemistry is re-ignited.
The plot is full of suspense, bad guys, lots of action, and of course , romance. Will they survive the terrorist cell and have a second chance at love?
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Beverly S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Dallas after dark series.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Rock’s latest Dallas After Dark novel, Reckless Deceptions, starts fast and doesn’t let up the entire time. Rock weaves serious family drama into a significant terrorist plot, all while bringing the hero and heroine back together. If you look up, you will definitely miss something. Rock’s story is compelling and makes you want to keep reading. I know I couldn’t turn pages fast enough.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

[Whispers From · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan is a by the rules CIA agent and Erica goes with her gut. Two years ago she was fired and Ryan didn’t back her up. Now she’s hunting the terrorist responsible for a bombing in Amman that resulted in the deaths of hundreds. Erica and Ryan had a short affair but the flames still burn just as hot. As they work together to stop an attack on American soil and find the mastermind behind the attack two years ago, Erica realizes that sometimes the best approach is to go in slow. Ryan doesn’t show his feelings but he knows if he doesn’t he could lose the only woman he has ever loved.

Excellent story with sex and action and suspense. It will hook you from the very first page. Strong capable woman and super sexy CIA agent. Second chance story.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *

[Jess Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reckless Deceptions by Karen Rock is the third book in the Dallas After Dark Series. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series. They are all standalone' s and do not have to be read in order. Ryan and Erica get a second chance but they have many battles to overcome to accomplish this happiness. This fast paced book kept me engrossed completely I had to filter through the suspense to see exactly who our enemy was as well as see how Ryan and Erica would fair.

[Kathy Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica Keeley was devastated when she was booted from the CIA, especially when it was due to the testimony by her partner and lover, David Arnell. When the elusive terrorist cell shows up in Dallas, now is her chance to not only stop them, but redeem herself too. When David shows up, Erica finds herself working with him once again.
I like the interaction between the two and was a great read. Erica and David’s characters were well written and loved their banter. With lots of action, suspense and sexy scenes it deserves more than five stars.

[Madm007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot and Edgy 2nd Chance Romance 💚💙
You won't want to put this down until the end.
Ryan, a buttoned up, by the book CIA agent gets to cross paths once again with Erica X-go with your gut CIA agent/girlfriend seeing her performing with aerial silks and the feels begin! They both get hot, Ryan with lust and Erica with anger as the past comes back to remind them.
The bigger picture is too important to both of them and they need to put a stop to some very, very evil people--together. The web of deceipt runs deep in the world as these two are finding out, and they just don't know who to trust anymore.
A lot of action, intrigue & suspense keeps you turning the pages, along with heat, bits of snark and emotional family issues for a great journey. Stand alone, HEA, 3rd in Series
I received an ARC thru Net Galley/Kensington and am giving my honest review

[Dolly Sickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third time’s the charm in Karen Rock’s Dallas After Dark series, RECKLESS DECEPTIONS. It’s got all the best elements of my favorite genre — it’s sexy, suspenseful and romantic. She hooked me with the first sentence of the book:

Sometimes a little menace went a long way.

Erica Keely is an ex-CIA agent with a headstrong personality and a penchant for leaping before looking. She was good at her job and a dedicated agent in the fight against terrorism, but two years ago her unusual approach got her fired. And her partner and lover, Ryan Arnell, didn’t do a thing to save her.

But as rigid and by-the-book as Ryan is, it’s not his job to always bat cleanup for Erica. Yes, their affair burned hot and was tumultuous. Yes, Erica’s tactics got results. But no, she was not a good team player. And as a result, her life spent in pursuit of taking down an Al-Qaeda splinter group hit a dead end while his continued on its course.

Because their breakup — both professionally and personally — wasn’t planned, neither was prepared for the emotional punch when they reunite two years later, at the burlesque club where Erica’s working as a performer known as Blaze Star. Ryan had no idea she’d been continuing her pursuit of the splinter group since he’d last seen her, but there was no denying her instincts were on target. She followed them to Dallas, to the burlesque club, and some weapons suppliers who like a little sexy entertainment on the side of their business conversations.

Loving someone isn’t about staying on the straight and narrow, or following the rules. Too bad Ryan didn’t realize the very things that drew him to Erica — her impulsive nature and ability to change course midstride — were the things missing in his own life. And too bad Erica didn’t realize that being part of a team meant sometimes it was necessary to make and follow a plan. Love is impulsive and wondrous and unscripted, and sometimes it blurs the edges of life … and whether you’re reckless and impulsive, or careful and by-the-book, it’s worth taking a chance.

*Originally published at USA Today's Happy Ever After: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2...

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book three in the Dallas After Dark series, but you don't need to have read the other two before this: these are very much stand alone books.

After going rogue Erica is working at Dallas Heat, trying to clear her name. Ryan is in town on family business, but also following up his own leads to catch an international terrorist who might be in town. When Erica and Ryan cross paths again, and that terrorist is a little closer to home than they thought, Ryan follows his instincts, going against everything to keep Erica safe.

For the most part, I DID enjoy this. It was mostly the HUGE cast of minor characters who, while needing to be talked about and mentioned, that I struggled to keep up with. So many names I just glanced over, not putting the terrorist threat bit together, at all, but I resigned myself to that and after that, I did enjoy it.

Erica and Ryan have history, and it's clear right from the start that the chemistry they had two years ago is still burning bright and hot. Ryan wanted Erica forever then, but the situation blew up around them and Erica was booted out the CIA and Ryan had a hand in that. He regretted that, but still. Revisiting that chemistry would be a bad thing, but when forced into close contact, trying to stop this terrorist, the inevitable happens. It's not until he nearly loses Erica does Ryan finally get his head out his ass and listen to his HEART!

I loved the banter between these two, it bubbles and simmers along in the book, and I thought they would give in far sooner than they do! Loved that Ryan was finally able to break free of his strict upbringing and to break the control he feels he needs to hang on to, and that it was Erica who made him see that.

Both Erica and Ryan have a say, but Ryan speaks first, and that surprised me for some reason! Rock keeps throwing me for a loop with these books!

Aside from the never ending list of suspects, I DID enjoy this so. . .

4 solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're heading back into the Dallas Heat nightclub for another intriguing case to solve! The mystery was higher in this book than previous ones in the series, but I missed the deeper inclusion of the club that we got with the prior books. Still satisfying, just different. Strong characters, well developed plot and lots of steam!

Former CIA agent Erica Keeley is working on her own to try to track down answers from the case that lost her everything. She's always been one to go for whatever bit of information she needed no matter what the cost, but her rogue semantics cost her the job she loved and the man she was enjoying spending her time with. Now she's knee deep into the middle of an undercover delve for info when she stumbles across some info about a homegrown terrorist mastermind. She has no choice but to contact the CIA with the info, but she hopes to be able to help track down the answers!

CIA special agent Ryan Arnell didn't approve of Erica's methods previously, but as he works with her again on this case, he realizes he did her a disservice by not standing by her when she had her chops busted. The info she's uncovered is volatile and he's afraid she's biting off more than she can chew this time, but no matter what, he's going to be right there by her side!

[Gin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suspected terrorist plot, a sexy former CIA spy, an even sexier CIA boss and high sexual tension makes this a fast-paced, engrossing read. It starts out hot and doesn't stop as the boss, Ryan *swoon* and disgraced former agent, Erica work together to foil the terrorists' plot and try to resist their sizzling chemistry. Neither is an easy feat with Ryan and Erica's history both in and out of the sheets. These two are hot! Erica wants to redeem herself, catch the bad guys and guard her heart against her feelings for Ryan. Good luck! Ryan is in town dealing with family issues and catches this case much to his chagrin. He still harbors feelings for Erica but he doesn't want to get burned again. These two are hardheaded and trained to hide their emotions so neither will open up until it's almost to late. Both are fantastic characters. Ryan is everything you want in a hero and Erica is a super heroine. Terrific writing, a thrilling storyline and a smokin' hot couple of spies makes this a terrific romance suspense. 4.5 stars

[Shelley C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, a big thank you to Netgalley and Karen for my advanced copy for which I voluntarily leave my honest review. Secondly, I’ve never read anything by Karen before but I’m definitely keen to go back and read the first two stories that come before this one!

Ryan and Erica were lovers and colleagues but an incident overseas forces them to separate. Fast forward two years and Erica is working at Dallas Heat as an exotic dancer when she overhears something in regards to a terrorism threat and calls in the information to the CIA, her former Agency. Unbeknownst to her, they send Ryan in to investigate which leads to all sorts of emotional and physical confrontations between the both of them due to unresolved issues from their past. But they quickly discover, that they are both still attracted to each other and fight the clock to prevent further lives from being lost!

A good storyline and enjoyed the chemistry between both characters.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

If you like romantic suspense novels then look no further then this great new installment to this series. We meet Erica as she is working undercover as a dancer/bartender in order to keep tabs on some terrorists that she has been tracking for years even after losing her CIA job over it. Ryan used to work with her so when he finds out he has to again he is not happy. This gets more difficult since they had a past affair as well. Full of spy tricks as well as suspense as they try to fight their attraction to one another only to cave in the end. Nice development if the main story line as well. Great for fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

[Sarah Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third story in the Dallas After Dark series. I loved it especially because Erica & David's personalities are so different. Erica has always been willing to bend the rules to get answers & solve cases & Dave is a by the book kind of guy. When her actions get her fired from the CIA she decides to go rogue to find a person of interest that she had been tracking. David is drawn to Erica but also wishes she would follow the rules. It was fun to see how they worked together to find the terrorist she had been hunting on her own.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what?  This is one of those times where I don't think that the synopsis does justice to the book.  Erica is kind of undersold in it, yet she is a complex, strong character who is a great counterpoint to Ryan.

Their attraction to each other lends another layer of tension to the what was already a pretty high octane storyline - in a really good way.  

In summary, an exciting, fast paced tale.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced story that has former CIA Operative Erica Keeley teaming up with her former partner and love interest Ryan Arnell. They are tracking and trying to stop members of a terrorist group operating in the Dallas area. He's a by the book kind of guy while she's a do what needs to be done kind of girl. Together they make a great team. The story is full of suspense with lots of twists that keep you turning pages and completely absorbed. This is one I highly recommend.

[Sherry Bohrmueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book in this series. Karen Rock's books are always so good. Definitely recommend any book by this author.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

I enjoyed this book.I liked the story line and the characters. I felt some of the book felt forced or a lil like a filler but over all was a good read.