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CIA Spies #3
Kiss Me While I Sleep
Efficient and unapologetic, Lily Mansfield is a hired assassin working as a contract agent for the CIA. Her targets are the powerful and corrupt, those who can't be touched by the law. Now Lily is playing a deadly, unauthorized game, seeking her own vengeance, compromising her superiors and endangering her life. Fellow CIA agent Lucas Swain's orders: either bring her in or bring her down. Yet he too is drawn into the game with Lily Mansfield, dancing on a tightrope, trying to avoid a major international incident while battling a tenacious foe dogging their every step. Vigilantly watching her back, Lily doesn't see the lethal peril directly in her path . . . or that loyalty has a price.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 13, 2004
499 people are currently reading
2748 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
187 books7,173 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
March 5, 2016
3.5 stars
“I love you, too,” she said in a somber tone. “I think. I’m pretty sure, though. It’s scary, isn’t it?”
“Damn terrifying.” He dropped the pen he’d been using to figure the square footage of the rooms and turned in his chair so he could haul her down onto his lap. “I thought we’d just have some fun together; then the next thing I knew I was worrying if you ate enough for breakfast. You’re like a Stealth bomber. My radar never showed a blip.” He frowned down at her.
“Don’t look at me,” she protested. “None of this was my fault. I was minding my own business, having a little shoot-out in which I was outnumbered, when you charged into the middle of it. By the way, that was good driving, the way you slid the Jaguar around.”
If you've been wanting a more heavy centric heroine book, then this is for you. The story centers around Lily, a CIA assassin bent on revenge. Swain is the CIA agent sent to neutralize Lily but his off the cuff attitude has him working with her. With the revenge storyline we have a syndicate dipping their hand into biological warfare, a mole in the CIA, and a plethora of characters with a myriad of motivations.
The suspense side is the main focus for most of the story, our hero and heroine don't even meet until 40% in but their relationship was sassy, sweet, and fun (if not completely mega deep).
The last half loads up on the sex scenes you perverts miss in the beginning and even though the ending was abrupt and not given American closure (everything tied up with a huge big bow) it was perfect. Really though, read this for the great heroine.
“I love you, too,” she said in a somber tone. “I think. I’m pretty sure, though. It’s scary, isn’t it?”
“Damn terrifying.” He dropped the pen he’d been using to figure the square footage of the rooms and turned in his chair so he could haul her down onto his lap. “I thought we’d just have some fun together; then the next thing I knew I was worrying if you ate enough for breakfast. You’re like a Stealth bomber. My radar never showed a blip.” He frowned down at her.
“Don’t look at me,” she protested. “None of this was my fault. I was minding my own business, having a little shoot-out in which I was outnumbered, when you charged into the middle of it. By the way, that was good driving, the way you slid the Jaguar around.”
If you've been wanting a more heavy centric heroine book, then this is for you. The story centers around Lily, a CIA assassin bent on revenge. Swain is the CIA agent sent to neutralize Lily but his off the cuff attitude has him working with her. With the revenge storyline we have a syndicate dipping their hand into biological warfare, a mole in the CIA, and a plethora of characters with a myriad of motivations.
The suspense side is the main focus for most of the story, our hero and heroine don't even meet until 40% in but their relationship was sassy, sweet, and fun (if not completely mega deep).
The last half loads up on the sex scenes you perverts miss in the beginning and even though the ending was abrupt and not given American closure (everything tied up with a huge big bow) it was perfect. Really though, read this for the great heroine.
March 8, 2014
This is the third and final book in the John Medina Series.
All I can say is WOW! What an AMAZING ride this story was.
This is the story of Lily Mansfield, a contract killer for the CIA. She was recruited at the young age of 18 and is now 37 years old. Everything she has done, she has done for her Country. She never once questioned who she was sanctioned to kill because she believed that if she was asked to kill somebody, then it was necessary for her to kill them.... and that was all she needed to know.
Unfortunately, because of Lily's job, over time she's totally separated herself from her Mom and Sister because she doesn't belong in their world, and they certainly don't understand hers. They are apart of the Before, and she is irrevocably in the After. Her friends in the business have become her family—and they have now been slaughtered.
Lily finds out her friends have been killed by a very powerful and dangerous man by the name of Salvatore Nervi. Her friends Averill and Tina came out of retirement to bomb a laboratory owned by Salvatore, and she wants to know what made them come out of retirement to take this job.
Salvatore is literally untouchable because of the connections he has with various Government's including the American Government in particular his exchange of information with the CIA.
Lily doesn't care that Salvatore is protected by her own Government, all she wants revenge. Her friends and family have been murdered and not only them, but also innocent 13 year old adopted daughter Zia.
Lily goes undercover posing as Denis Moral and catches Salvatore's attention. She eventually gets close enough to him that she's able to poison him, but in order for her to get Salvatore to drink the wine that she's tampered with, she must also take a sip of wine as well. Salvatore dies, and Lily becomes extremely ill. She then has to prove to Salvatore's son Rodrigo (who is now the head of the Nervi family) that she had nothing to do with his father's death, but she also got sick from the poison. Lily is finally released from Rodrigo's custody and then goes underground to find out why her friends were murdered.
When Frank Vinay, the Director of Operations of CIA finds out about Salvatore Nervi's death and that it was one of his own(Liliane Mansfield) who did it, He is forced to do something about it. He pulls up her security-coded file and reads it. Her psychological profile says that she’d been operating under some strain for a couple of years now. He realizes he should have pulled her out of the field when she first started showing signs of psychological strain, but it was too late now. So, he has to deal with the situation that now exists.
Frank calls in Lucas Swain. Lucas is described as "walking like a cowboy who had nowhere to go and wasn’t in any hurry to get there". Ladies seemed to like that about him. Swain was one of those good-looking people who seemed to be perpetually good-natured, too. There was a goofy smile on his face as he said hello..He was a devastatingly effective field officer because he went in under people’s radar. He might be a happy man, he might have a walk that looked like the definition of laziness, but he got the job done".
When Frank tells Lucas of the "delicate situation", and that one of their contract agents has gone off the reservation and killed a valuable asset, Lucas is given the job of stopping her.
This is where the story become very interesting and intense. After a lot of 'cat and mouse', Lucas finally tracks Lily down outside of the laboratory her friends bombed in Paris. He rescues her from being shot at by Rodrigo's men, and drives her to safety.
Lucas and Lily team up and discover why Tina and Averill took the job, and when they finally do, they discover it's bigger than anything they could have ever expected. Now it's a race to stop the lab from completing what they have set out to do.
Lucas is on his own in this mission because he discovers that there's a mole in the CIA giving Rodrigo all of the intelligence he's passing on the Langely.
This story was full of excitement, thrills, suspense, and wicked-intense chemistry between Lucas and Lily.
...and even though the story is intense and non-stop adventure, the Author has also written some really witty bantering between Lucas and Lily. My favorite scene is when Lucas has to rent a more reliable and non-noticeable car, so Lily makes him rent a Fiat. The whole time Lucas is driving it he makes a high pitched wining sound like a sewing machine when the car changes gears.
The Epilogue is one of the best and most unexpected surprises I read in a long, long time... BRILLIANT!!!
Lucas and Lily will definitely be characters I WILL not soon forget!
Absolutely another Linda Howard favorite!
December 14, 2017
Classic Linda Howard. Lots of fun and fantastic narration.
May 24, 2020
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed most of the book. The beginning and the ending had the exciting parts to the story. The middle seemed to drag a bit, but overall it was good. This was heavy on the suspense and low on the romance.
Hero is a Texas man that still has that wild Texas boy in him, always ready for adventure. Heroine is more serious and pretty badass considering she’s a professional assassin. The ending surprised me. That more than anything made me like this book. I like being caught off guard like that...in a good way.
I enjoyed most of the book. The beginning and the ending had the exciting parts to the story. The middle seemed to drag a bit, but overall it was good. This was heavy on the suspense and low on the romance.
Hero is a Texas man that still has that wild Texas boy in him, always ready for adventure. Heroine is more serious and pretty badass considering she’s a professional assassin. The ending surprised me. That more than anything made me like this book. I like being caught off guard like that...in a good way.
September 26, 2010
Too much filler. Terrible ending. Retired CIA agents were hired to destroy a lab which had created a virus they planned to release on humans.
The owner of the lab, Salvatore, and the Doctor were able to continue the work after the explosion. Salvatore then killed the two agents and their daughter. Lily is a CIA agent who kills Salvatore as revenge for his murdering her friends. CIA then sends Lucas to kill her but Lucas helps her for awhile with her plans to destroy the lab. The best part of the book was watching how Lucas identified her airport disguises and used logic to find her at the park near the lab. However, I don't recommend this book due to three major problems. (1) There was too much telling rather than showing. (2) The book was full of filler, consisting of too much time spent within the characters' minds. For example: having them think about and imagine things that could have happened or might happen in the future; too many ifs, thens and what ifs; too much presupposing and surmising. (3) Terrible ending.
CAUTION SPOILER:
At the end, Lucas drugged her to put her to sleep. As she was falling asleep, she believed he had poisoned her and that she was dying. He then sent her to a hospital for a needed operation, debriefing with the CIA and psychological therapy for several months. He had cleared her so she wouldn't be killed by the CIA. Did he think to tell her any of this before he drugged her? No. He let her think he was killing her. If he had doubts, he could have just tied her up and explained things, in other words, been honest. Then he showed up to talk to her for the first time several months later. He said "Lily, I" She interrupted saying "I know." That's it. No other details or explanations or conversation. Technically it was a positive ending, but it left me unfulfilled and unsatisfied. Don't waste your time. Linda Howard has many other wonderful books.
DATA:
Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: 2004 Paris and London. Copyright: 2004. Genre: romantic suspense.
The owner of the lab, Salvatore, and the Doctor were able to continue the work after the explosion. Salvatore then killed the two agents and their daughter. Lily is a CIA agent who kills Salvatore as revenge for his murdering her friends. CIA then sends Lucas to kill her but Lucas helps her for awhile with her plans to destroy the lab. The best part of the book was watching how Lucas identified her airport disguises and used logic to find her at the park near the lab. However, I don't recommend this book due to three major problems. (1) There was too much telling rather than showing. (2) The book was full of filler, consisting of too much time spent within the characters' minds. For example: having them think about and imagine things that could have happened or might happen in the future; too many ifs, thens and what ifs; too much presupposing and surmising. (3) Terrible ending.
CAUTION SPOILER:
At the end, Lucas drugged her to put her to sleep. As she was falling asleep, she believed he had poisoned her and that she was dying. He then sent her to a hospital for a needed operation, debriefing with the CIA and psychological therapy for several months. He had cleared her so she wouldn't be killed by the CIA. Did he think to tell her any of this before he drugged her? No. He let her think he was killing her. If he had doubts, he could have just tied her up and explained things, in other words, been honest. Then he showed up to talk to her for the first time several months later. He said "Lily, I" She interrupted saying "I know." That's it. No other details or explanations or conversation. Technically it was a positive ending, but it left me unfulfilled and unsatisfied. Don't waste your time. Linda Howard has many other wonderful books.
DATA:
Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: 2004 Paris and London. Copyright: 2004. Genre: romantic suspense.
February 17, 2019
This book pushed a personal button, so keep it in mind in reading this review.
I had the same problem in book 2:" It rubbed me all wrong. Secret services are not in my book the good guys, and I found offensive their way/view of the world. So all the supposed justification of their actions was irritating to me."
But here it went definitely worse. As this is clearly a romance there was no doubt that at the end of the book he would not kill her. This as a reader I knew. But he as character didn't. He manipulated, lied, took her down while having no problems or any qualms whatsoever in seducing her. I can't stomach this kind of behavior. Not when you believe you are a good guy. (I hate this so called good guys, sorry. I prefer the honesty of a bad one.)
I did like Lily, but her instant trust was forced and out of character. It made no sense with her background. She came out stupid.
All of the above kept me out of the story, totally uninvolved, ergo bored.
I might have been nicer in my rating, but honestly the epilogue was the nail in the coffin.
It reminded me of Dream Man. After such a betrayal I need way more meat before an HEA.
Well written, but unacceptable to me.
I had the same problem in book 2:" It rubbed me all wrong. Secret services are not in my book the good guys, and I found offensive their way/view of the world. So all the supposed justification of their actions was irritating to me."
But here it went definitely worse. As this is clearly a romance there was no doubt that at the end of the book he would not kill her. This as a reader I knew. But he as character didn't. He manipulated, lied, took her down while having no problems or any qualms whatsoever in seducing her. I can't stomach this kind of behavior. Not when you believe you are a good guy. (I hate this so called good guys, sorry. I prefer the honesty of a bad one.)
I did like Lily, but her instant trust was forced and out of character. It made no sense with her background. She came out stupid.
All of the above kept me out of the story, totally uninvolved, ergo bored.
I might have been nicer in my rating, but honestly the epilogue was the nail in the coffin.
It reminded me of Dream Man. After such a betrayal I need way more meat before an HEA.
Well written, but unacceptable to me.
January 25, 2015
Not quite 3 stars.
KISS ME WHILE I SLEEP was the third book in the 'CIA's Spies' series but was a mediocre 'ending'. Like some of Ms. Howard's other stories, there was a slow build-up. Necessary information, an explanation of Lily Mansfield's past and the introduction of a new setting.
Lily Mansfield was a contracted agent (assassin/killer) with the CIA. She was suppose to follow certain rules. If you broke the rules, you were terminated; it was that simple.
She broke the rules.
Lucas Swain was sent to put a stop to the damage. He had a method to finishing the job or so he thought. And here is where I had a problem with the story: two assassins with years of being told when and whom to kill and yet they came across as very human. And the immediate chemistry and semi-trust they formed? For some reason I just didn't buy into the premise.
The story was nice. It was pleasant but things just went a little too smoothly. I didn't feel the rush or sparks that a good romantic suspense story should have. The upside? I learned more of Frank Vinay's background; he was a character in the first and second books in this series. But if I needed to recommend this story to complete the 'CIA's Spies', I would tell you to skip it.
KISS ME WHILE I SLEEP was the third book in the 'CIA's Spies' series but was a mediocre 'ending'. Like some of Ms. Howard's other stories, there was a slow build-up. Necessary information, an explanation of Lily Mansfield's past and the introduction of a new setting.
Lily Mansfield was a contracted agent (assassin/killer) with the CIA. She was suppose to follow certain rules. If you broke the rules, you were terminated; it was that simple.
She broke the rules.
Lucas Swain was sent to put a stop to the damage. He had a method to finishing the job or so he thought. And here is where I had a problem with the story: two assassins with years of being told when and whom to kill and yet they came across as very human. And the immediate chemistry and semi-trust they formed? For some reason I just didn't buy into the premise.
The story was nice. It was pleasant but things just went a little too smoothly. I didn't feel the rush or sparks that a good romantic suspense story should have. The upside? I learned more of Frank Vinay's background; he was a character in the first and second books in this series. But if I needed to recommend this story to complete the 'CIA's Spies', I would tell you to skip it.
September 8, 2012
Read this about 2 years ago and I loved it, especially the ending, I was holding my breath!! Lucas Swain...was to die for, his name should be Lucas SWOOOON! Lily was a kick-ass heroine and the sexual chemistry between the two of them was explosive.
Someday I'll do a re-read and write a better review. Every now and again I find a book that I read and don't have marked. Anyhoo...love LH!
Someday I'll do a re-read and write a better review. Every now and again I find a book that I read and don't have marked. Anyhoo...love LH!
February 25, 2021
Romantic Suspence / Contemporary Romance
Series: CIA Spies, #3
Publication Date: July 13, 2004
Lily Mansfield (37) is a contract killer for the CIA (oh yes, female assassin!). She is also a grieving parent whose adopted daughter Zia was murdered, along with her foster parents who were Lily's best friends. Lily has set out to kill the man who ordered the murders, and to cause as much damage to his organization as she can. However, she is doing this mission on her own, without the CIA's sanction. So the CIA send out their agent, Lucas Swain, to stop Lily...
It was another good story with some twist and turns I did not expect. Linda Howard is good at mixing action, danger, romance and passion. Lily was strong and likeable heroine who was obsessed with the revenge against the man who killed the people she cared about the most . Lucas was ok hero but not my favorite guy. I don't much care for absent dads. Makes me wonder if he can be trusted in longer relationship.
You can read all books in this series as a standalone:
Book 1: Kill and Tell
Book 2: All the Queen's Men
Book 3: Kiss Me While I Sleep
Series: CIA Spies, #3
Publication Date: July 13, 2004
Lily Mansfield (37) is a contract killer for the CIA (oh yes, female assassin!). She is also a grieving parent whose adopted daughter Zia was murdered, along with her foster parents who were Lily's best friends. Lily has set out to kill the man who ordered the murders, and to cause as much damage to his organization as she can. However, she is doing this mission on her own, without the CIA's sanction. So the CIA send out their agent, Lucas Swain, to stop Lily...
It was another good story with some twist and turns I did not expect. Linda Howard is good at mixing action, danger, romance and passion. Lily was strong and likeable heroine who was obsessed with the revenge against the man who killed the people she cared about the most . Lucas was ok hero but not my favorite guy. I don't much care for absent dads. Makes me wonder if he can be trusted in longer relationship.
You can read all books in this series as a standalone:
Book 1: Kill and Tell
Book 2: All the Queen's Men
Book 3: Kiss Me While I Sleep
September 23, 2011
Okay, kiss me while I sleep if you want. But mostly wake me up when the novel gets better.
The plot is far more intriguing than the writing itself, which contains generic descriptions and depersonalized dialogues.
CIA professional killer Lily Mansfield (good choice of last name here) plots revenge on the family responsible for the death of her daughter and dear friends. After the first killing, nothing much moves, plot-wise or style-wise. I'll take static if the writing itself is the hero of the novel. I'll forgive language less than elaborate if the plot is good. Example: John Grisham, the king of plots. But if it has neither, where is the reader supposed to go?
It's only toward the end, when CIA agent Lucas Swain gets in contact with Lily and the two have sex that things wake up a bit. Something Howard can do is sex scenes. It gets hot, hot, hot, but too hot, too late. Too late for feelings, at least, which are not believable here. They are plastered on a story that seems improvised from one page to the next. This technique --or lack thereof--might work on more literary pieces. But in a genre defined book where the destruction of a research lab (where the creation of a virus and its antivirus are motivated by profit) is carefully planned, so should the construction of the novel that narrates it. The action packed ending does not save the novel, specially when the last pages, formulaic and thus predictable, can only weaken it.
The major strength lies in the title itself.
The plot is far more intriguing than the writing itself, which contains generic descriptions and depersonalized dialogues.
CIA professional killer Lily Mansfield (good choice of last name here) plots revenge on the family responsible for the death of her daughter and dear friends. After the first killing, nothing much moves, plot-wise or style-wise. I'll take static if the writing itself is the hero of the novel. I'll forgive language less than elaborate if the plot is good. Example: John Grisham, the king of plots. But if it has neither, where is the reader supposed to go?
It's only toward the end, when CIA agent Lucas Swain gets in contact with Lily and the two have sex that things wake up a bit. Something Howard can do is sex scenes. It gets hot, hot, hot, but too hot, too late. Too late for feelings, at least, which are not believable here. They are plastered on a story that seems improvised from one page to the next. This technique --or lack thereof--might work on more literary pieces. But in a genre defined book where the destruction of a research lab (where the creation of a virus and its antivirus are motivated by profit) is carefully planned, so should the construction of the novel that narrates it. The action packed ending does not save the novel, specially when the last pages, formulaic and thus predictable, can only weaken it.
The major strength lies in the title itself.
August 1, 2015
What a ride! Fast cars, exploding buildings, and an explosive romance: What’s not to love? Howard’s fast paced, active storytelling kept me hooked throughout. The plot also kept me on my toes. The entire ending was a surprise to me. I didn’t see any of it coming. Even aspects that I assumed would happen (because really, what’s a romance without the HEA) came about in ways that I would never have imagined. Not only was the story entertaining, but the narrators of the audio version held me hostage.
The characters in this novel were quite interesting. In some ways they were your stereotypical romance couple, in others they were very atypical, making them quite memorable. They were a joy to get to know. The supporting cast was also quite varied and surprising. Everyone had a role that was quite intriguing to see. Some I quite enjoyed while others I loved to hate.
As a whole, this was a fast paced, exciting read that kept me guessing throughout. It was a pleasure to read.
The characters in this novel were quite interesting. In some ways they were your stereotypical romance couple, in others they were very atypical, making them quite memorable. They were a joy to get to know. The supporting cast was also quite varied and surprising. Everyone had a role that was quite intriguing to see. Some I quite enjoyed while others I loved to hate.
As a whole, this was a fast paced, exciting read that kept me guessing throughout. It was a pleasure to read.
March 24, 2017
Slow going at first but takes off rather rapidly. I said a silent "Damn" toward the endand then I was surprised again.
June 8, 2012
Actual rating 4.5 stars
I just have one complaint with the book - WHERE IS JOHN MEDINA?
Honestly i was hoping to get a bit of action from the super-spy, even if just a teensy bit. Not that the book wasn't good. It was awesome, maybe the best Linda Howard book I have read so far. The suspense kept me on the edge and the climax just blew my mind. Predictable, but Howard has a way with showing even the most predictable of endings with a thrill. Though I had guessed the ending correctly, i was still gripped by how it came about. The characters too were well developed and relatable, as relatable as a contract agent for CIA can be. Swain was fun- one of those characters that made you laugh a lot and yet when he was on the job you took him seriously. Lily was simply kick-ass. From her cold vengeful killer trying to avenge her friends and daughter to a broken woman battling her inner loneliness- Lily was portrayed wonderfully. But for a book in the John Medina series it was lacking a bit in John Medina. I was waiting the entire book for John to make a spectacular entry- maybe a mystery savior in a sticky situation, maybe a messenger with hair-raising intel. But i was just waiting. I enjoyed the book immensely, i couldn't have put it down if i wanted to and i didnt. But a John Medina without John Medina (i know this sounds awfully like a rant but i'm trying to be objective here) simply doesnt work for me. Other than that I have no complaints.
I just have one complaint with the book - WHERE IS JOHN MEDINA?
Honestly i was hoping to get a bit of action from the super-spy, even if just a teensy bit. Not that the book wasn't good. It was awesome, maybe the best Linda Howard book I have read so far. The suspense kept me on the edge and the climax just blew my mind. Predictable, but Howard has a way with showing even the most predictable of endings with a thrill. Though I had guessed the ending correctly, i was still gripped by how it came about. The characters too were well developed and relatable, as relatable as a contract agent for CIA can be. Swain was fun- one of those characters that made you laugh a lot and yet when he was on the job you took him seriously. Lily was simply kick-ass. From her cold vengeful killer trying to avenge her friends and daughter to a broken woman battling her inner loneliness- Lily was portrayed wonderfully. But for a book in the John Medina series it was lacking a bit in John Medina. I was waiting the entire book for John to make a spectacular entry- maybe a mystery savior in a sticky situation, maybe a messenger with hair-raising intel. But i was just waiting. I enjoyed the book immensely, i couldn't have put it down if i wanted to and i didnt. But a John Medina without John Medina (i know this sounds awfully like a rant but i'm trying to be objective here) simply doesnt work for me. Other than that I have no complaints.
November 10, 2016
This one disappointed me. I must have read this one before although I don't remember reading it. It's was a peculiar combination of not really remember reading it but knowing what would happen next. I would guess that it didn't make a big impression on me the first time around either.
I found that although the plot was good and it should have been compelling, I was bored. I skimmed through a lot. I was not impressed with Lucas as the hero although I did like the heroine, Lily.
And I found the epilogue to be a huge let down.
I found that although the plot was good and it should have been compelling, I was bored. I skimmed through a lot. I was not impressed with Lucas as the hero although I did like the heroine, Lily.
And I found the epilogue to be a huge let down.
March 23, 2023
Look, it’s not my favorite by Howard, but it’s also not my least favorite. It’s a solid romantic suspense written in the early 2000s so keep that in mind.
The ending is fully worth it though. When everything comes together and it all makes sense? Incredible.
Also I would just like to say: an assassin gets revenge on a crime boss for murdering her friends and their daughter and is just in general a bad ass? “At this angle I’d shoot through your testicles and into your intestines” and I was in love with her. 100%
The ending is fully worth it though. When everything comes together and it all makes sense? Incredible.
Also I would just like to say: an assassin gets revenge on a crime boss for murdering her friends and their daughter and is just in general a bad ass? “At this angle I’d shoot through your testicles and into your intestines” and I was in love with her. 100%
October 22, 2017
#88 for 2017 RC
Genre: Suspense Romance
Genre: Suspense Romance
May 6, 2025
Interesting, complex MCs with a story that kept me wondering. Who would help them, who would betray them, how would they work things out? If it didn't have a huge action-packed ending it was still satisfying, all the way through.
May 7, 2023
Kitap 2004 te yayınlanmıs ,covit ten epey önce ,yazarın hayal gücünü tebrik etmek lazım
May 19, 2016
** spoiler alert **
Some random grousing and eye-rolling…
1. Why did the doc not note her contact lenses? She is a critical case of poisoning and any half qualified doc would wanna see her pupil size/shape and reaction to light. But this never happens. Of course how she keeps her contacts on for 3 whole days is another matter!!
And I am not mentioning hair roots here.
2. How did Damone get her number? Nobody knew it- neither CIA nor Interpol had any inkling where she was.
3. How come the h/H dint even wonder how an Interpol sorts was able to offer them a million bucks..or who was backing him, his motivation for the blast/kill etc. They knew he was after all just a bit player on Nervi payroll.
4.How the h, a coldblooded focused assassin turned into a blindly trusting purring pussycat. Ending 6 yeas of celibacy does that to a gal perhaps?!
Don’t even remind me of the ending. The easiest to please/land h ever!
5. My biggest disappointment – Rodrigo. He went from a diabolical sexy main player sorts to a bare pitiable footnote. I would have liked at least a confrontation between him and the h.
January 23, 2008
I liked this book for its varying POV narrations, its intricate plot, the extensiveness of plot (how the plot had several sections to it) and its epilogue. (Epilogues can be cheesy, but this one was very necessary!) Okay, sometimes the details given were too much (like what how they discarded papers they didn't need), and especially overly detailed sex-scenes that took the book from mystery/suspense to literary voyeurism (another word might work better here).(Aside: why don't books have ratings the way movies do? I give this one XXX.)
Similar to Sidney Sheldon books, but with more substance to the story (and no sci-fi).
In summary: great mystery, plot, and characters, but parental guidance/discretion recommended.
Similar to Sidney Sheldon books, but with more substance to the story (and no sci-fi).
In summary: great mystery, plot, and characters, but parental guidance/discretion recommended.
April 3, 2016
More like 4.25 stars.
Eventhought the heroine is an Assassin, somehow Ms. Howard able to make how sweet she was and made us like her very much.
When I thought about Lily, Glamorous, Lethal and Lovely came to my mind.
Smiling Lucas? Not really my hero's character choices but he was perfect for Lily.
Hm.. I check the publication year of this book, rather new compare with her other books because I think this is the first time I read her book where H/h using the Internet for some researching!:))
Btw, Lily had been recruited such a young age? Mean!!!
I felt like Lucas's, wanted to kill 'Mr. Roberts' too..
Eventhought the heroine is an Assassin, somehow Ms. Howard able to make how sweet she was and made us like her very much.
When I thought about Lily, Glamorous, Lethal and Lovely came to my mind.
Smiling Lucas? Not really my hero's character choices but he was perfect for Lily.
Hm.. I check the publication year of this book, rather new compare with her other books because I think this is the first time I read her book where H/h using the Internet for some researching!:))
Btw, Lily had been recruited such a young age? Mean!!!
I felt like Lucas's, wanted to kill 'Mr. Roberts' too..
March 20, 2016
As other reviewers have remarked, it's good to see a female MC with real agency. I know very little about the life of a CIA agent working undercover in a foreign country - make that nothing - so the details imagined here are convincing. Neat little twist in the end, too.
But I found the long slow build-up frustrating: there's very little dialogue, or character development, so this didn't make it to 4 stars for me.
But I found the long slow build-up frustrating: there's very little dialogue, or character development, so this didn't make it to 4 stars for me.
February 25, 2009
This was really a rather wretched book. I read another book by this author that I actually enjoyed, so when I was able to pick this one up, I did so. Now I wish I'd left it where I found it. Sigh.
There was a little bit of interest regarding how to alter one's appearance and how to try and leave no trace of yourself in travel. But those spots of interest did not make up for the weak plot.
There was a little bit of interest regarding how to alter one's appearance and how to try and leave no trace of yourself in travel. But those spots of interest did not make up for the weak plot.
May 26, 2019
Definitely not my kind of book. I picked this up to read in the airport. I really tried to get through it but could not do it. The story was not riveting enough to hold my attention at all. This book did nothing for me. It was a DNF for me.
August 19, 2020
Ms. Howard does suspense that I can get on board with. Loved Lily Mansfield as a female assassin. I need to get some more books by this author. She has a great way of pulling you in with the beginning chapters.
February 7, 2019
Sărută-mă în timp ce dorm este o carte cu o intrigă deosebit de interesantă, plină de adrenalină și suspans de la prima până la ultima pagină, romantismul adaugând un plus de savoare.
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/sar...
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/sar...
December 23, 2014
I'm giving two stars to this book because it was intellectually dishonest. Am I supposed to believe that a person who chooses to become an assassin for a living is a good person? I couldn't believe the justifications of the main character. She wasn't haunted by the lives she had taken because she hoped her government had made the right decision of killing only "bad guys." What an oversimplification!
If I ever found myself with the necessity of having a kill a person, I wouldn't trust anybody to make that decision for me, not even my husband or my father who are the most honest men I know. How could this woman trust a shadowy person (whose name she didn't even know) to decide who lived or died, supposedly for the good of humankind? Give me a break. A woman that smart cannot be that gullible, so obviously she liked being an assassin or at least she liked the lifestyle and all the big money she got. If she really believed in serving her country with honor, she would have enlisted.
Lily was so outraged that Zia was killed but never acknowledged that when you do illegal stuff, YOU put your children in danger. It was her friends' fault as it was hers that Zia died. You don't tangle with powerful criminal organizations and then expect them to respect the life of your children when they find you out. That's why you shouldn't do stupid shit like that.
Besides my lack of respect for the main character and hoping she would drop dead in a ditch, the action was OK. I liked Swain and how cheerful he was but that was about it. I found out the mastermind of the whole thing before it was revealed so I wasn't surprised when it came out.
It took me a while to get used to the dual narration, mostly because Dick Hill sounded a bit too old for Swain (thankfully, none of the love scenes were from his POV! I was dreading that.) Once I got pass that, I enjoyed the narration better. It definitely sounded more natural.
Not recommending this book at all, either in print or audio, because I loathed the main character's justifications.
If I ever found myself with the necessity of having a kill a person, I wouldn't trust anybody to make that decision for me, not even my husband or my father who are the most honest men I know. How could this woman trust a shadowy person (whose name she didn't even know) to decide who lived or died, supposedly for the good of humankind? Give me a break. A woman that smart cannot be that gullible, so obviously she liked being an assassin or at least she liked the lifestyle and all the big money she got. If she really believed in serving her country with honor, she would have enlisted.
Lily was so outraged that Zia was killed but never acknowledged that when you do illegal stuff, YOU put your children in danger. It was her friends' fault as it was hers that Zia died. You don't tangle with powerful criminal organizations and then expect them to respect the life of your children when they find you out. That's why you shouldn't do stupid shit like that.
Besides my lack of respect for the main character and hoping she would drop dead in a ditch, the action was OK. I liked Swain and how cheerful he was but that was about it. I found out the mastermind of the whole thing before it was revealed so I wasn't surprised when it came out.
It took me a while to get used to the dual narration, mostly because Dick Hill sounded a bit too old for Swain (thankfully, none of the love scenes were from his POV! I was dreading that.) Once I got pass that, I enjoyed the narration better. It definitely sounded more natural.
Not recommending this book at all, either in print or audio, because I loathed the main character's justifications.
February 20, 2012
An experienced female assassin with a heart of gold, walks off the reservation one day and plinks the man who killed her only friends. CIA send in a Texan operator who has a penchant for fast and sexy cars to remind her that it's not a good idea to leave the reservation...did I mention he also has a heart of gold?
Anyway for someone who has been on the job for 20 years she seems to struggle with switching off and pulling the trigger. Presumably he's been on the job for a while as well so it's surprising that when she points a .22 pistol at his head he just laughs at the low caliber like someone who has never seen what a low caliber bullet can do.
I didn't much like this book. It was all a bit too twee. It was quite well written and for what it is the story was entertaining, but I'd be surprised if Linda Howard spent more than 10 minutes on Google doing the research for this book.
Anyway for someone who has been on the job for 20 years she seems to struggle with switching off and pulling the trigger. Presumably he's been on the job for a while as well so it's surprising that when she points a .22 pistol at his head he just laughs at the low caliber like someone who has never seen what a low caliber bullet can do.
I didn't much like this book. It was all a bit too twee. It was quite well written and for what it is the story was entertaining, but I'd be surprised if Linda Howard spent more than 10 minutes on Google doing the research for this book.
September 15, 2015
It's a bit confusing and I can't connect with the characters. I mean, even though the kick at the end really got me, I hope the entire story give me the same kick. I don't like Lily's character. She's too "off" and I want to see her vulnerable sooner. But overall I enjoyed it, though not so much.
Could be better and I can't wait to read more from Linda Howard!
Could be better and I can't wait to read more from Linda Howard!
April 20, 2012
This one was good, but not the best of her books. Not the typical romantic suspense since our main character is a CIA operative who seeks to kill for revenge, and is also a target. It kept me interested and there were no lulls really. I've just read better.
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