Killer Instinct

Danger in Arms #2

by Cindy Dees

Q: What's beautiful, hard to trace...and cold as ice?

A: Black-market diamonds. And Amanda McClintock, the covert operative assigned to dismantle a diamond smuggling ring. Thanks to Amanda's double-agent father, killer instinct was in her blood. Her most lethal weapon: cold professionalism. But Amanda was burning out, and even her new partner, a disturbingly attractive rookie, had begun to notice. Cracking up was not an option. Neither was giving in. So the weary spy would make one last run, never guessing it would set her on a collision course with the deadly legacy of her own shadowy past.

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Cindy Dees started flying airplanes while sitting in her dad’s lap at the age of three and got a pilot’s license before she got a driver’s license. At age fifteen, she dropped out of high school and left the horse farm in Michigan where she grew up to attend the University of Michigan.

After earning a degree in Russian and East European studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift and the “C-5” Galaxy, the world’s largest airplane. She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, she got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories.

Her hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening and medieval reenacting. She started writing on a one-dollar bet with her mother and was thrilled to win that bet with the publication of her first book in 2001.

Reviews

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and furious, this suspenseful novel takes the reader on a ride through various countries with a target that stays just out of reach. Amanda McClintock lives with the legacy of her disgraced father, but his training has nevertheless prepared her for the life of an operative. On the brink of burn-out, she is teamed up with psychologist Taylor Roberts, who appears to be a mild rookie, but has hidden strengths that come to the fore as he endeavours to keep Amanda safe. Possibly the most dangerous mission she has been on, Amanda finds it more and more difficult to stay in the zone where her thoughts and feelings stay under rigid control. Watching and waiting for her to crack, Taylor gives her the courage to allow herself to acknowledge her feelings, even whilst under constant fire. I was left with a few questions when I finished reading this book but overall it is well written and very exciting. It is a standalone and comes to a successful close. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[Gloria Wenman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving and intense adventure, so much travelling, following leads, I was totally surprised that both of the main characters actually got out a live, and their physical injuries will heal over time, I just hope their mental health is as lucky..... Must be difficult, like PTSD. Loved both characters, and even the bad ones played their part in making this story line into something really worth reading. Amanda knows her strengths, and owns her weaknesses, which adheres her to Taylor. Beautifully written, and enough humour to let if flow but no so much as to squelch out the tension that is required to make this story work.

A well deserved 5 stars.

[Maretha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with sparks, suspense and lots of action. An enjoyable read with a few twists. You can’t help but love both Taylor and Amanda. Ultimately this is a story of two people finding something special with each other when they least expected it. A must read for all suspense romance lovers. A really really enjoyable read.

I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[Zandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique storyline and characters. A fresh point of view and great characters. Very fast-paced and exciting. Love it.

[Janet L. Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Lots of action, great story line. Just goes to show you can't trust old dogs & government agencies to do right.

[Deborah Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just found this book...forgotten I had it. What a thriller. I love Cindy Dees writing. It's more than a romance; it's an adventure. I learn so much reading her books.