Decoy

Melody Beecham #1

by Jasmine Cresswell

Decoy by Jasmine Cresswell released on Jan 25, 2004 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Suspense

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Born in England, Jasmine Cresswell now divides her time between her winter home in Sarasota, Florida and her summer home in Evergreen, Colorado. Jasmine has been writing since 1975 and has published over 50 novels, with 9 million copies of her books in print.
Jasmine served for two years as the editor of the Romance Writer's Report. She also served as president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and is a founder and former president of Novelists, Inc. She received the Colorado Authors' League Award for Best Paperback Novel of the Year and the Romance Writers of America Golden Rose Award. Her books also have received numerous Romantic Times certificates of excellence.

Experienced as a public speaker, Jasmine has conducted college seminars and addressed many writers' conferences. Interviews and profiles have appeared in newspapers throughout the country, and Jasmine considers herself a veteran of talk shows and news broadcasts.

Married to Malcolm Candlish, whom she met while she was working for the British Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Jasmine and her husband have lived all over the world. She has a Bachelor's Degree with a double major in history and philosophy from Melbourne University, a second degree in history from Macquarie University, as well as a Masters Degree in history and archival administration from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

Reviews

[Vysakh C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strictly mediocre. An unexciting plot with unexciting characters. This belongs to those category of books where there is nothing in it to motivate you to go forward but you still read through it because you have nothing else to do. I remember the end of this book having an excerpt to the second of this trilogy. I did not even feel like reading it.

[Ritaaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'ho amato, Melody e Nick sono due personaggi fantastici così come chi li circonda. Fortunatamente su Kobo plus ci sono tutti e 3 perché ora devo capire se Jasper sarà perdonato e soprattutto se quei 2 piccoli idioti apriranno gli occhi e capiranno che nella loro relazione ci sono anche sentimenti molto profondi.

[Donna Covell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting story, little bit of thrill, little bit of romance - reminded me of a James Bond movie.

[Dennis KIeswetter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but felt something was missing. Would have liked if it didn't move so fast with Melody. Books where the character changes so much are books that tend to move to fast.

[ElaineY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those who remarked on the inconclusive ending to Nick's and Melody's romance can't have realized this is only the first installment of the trilogy. As such, Cresswell does a great job introducing the two protagonists and their attraction towards each other. With 2 more sequels to go, Nick's and Melody's relationship is not rushed through in this book unlike other stand-alone titles which need the HEA even though the entire plot may cover only 5 days. While their romance is strong so the reader is carried along by their chemistry, not having to rush the HEA means the action/suspense aspect is given a balanced treatment and when this first installment came to a close, I was so thankful I had all 3 titles and didn't have to wait.

If I have to complain at all, it's that the sex scenes are a bit of an anti-climax. Cresswell gave Nick and Melody great sexual chemistry but this did not translate into great sex. Cresswell is no Linda Howard and certainly not Gennita Low.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melody comes from a rich daddy and a flighty mother, divorced when she is young. She never knows either until her mother dies and she finds her papers. Turns out her dad is not her dad, he is running an empire trying to make clones and are otherwise bad guys. Her mom on the other hand is smart and crafty, running a blackmail scheme for income, and researching her "dad's" empire. She lives with her mother's friend Jasper--her best friend and confidant.
Then she is recruited by a secret government agency--and they want to bring down her father...
Is all her life a Lie?
I liked the story, felt bad for Melody, but is felt unrealistic that everything was a lie. It took a long time to set up, but the wrap up felt rushed.
I will follow up with the next book, I liked it that much.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has me conflicted. I think the author did a good job with the suspense plot. It flowed well and it made sense. But I felt the romance plot was stilted and contrived. It's disappointing really because I liked the characters a lot. The book is shades of the tv show 'Alias.' I would have liked to have seen more natural tension between the two characters and further exploration of what makes each character tick. I also feel like the heroine gave up too easily and the revelation as to who the Commander was felt really hokey to me. That said, I'm rushing out to get the sequel.

[Jena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful mix of suspense and romance! Make sure you have the other books in this trilogy ready, Full Pursuit, and Final Justice, other wise, you'll be left feeling oddly incomplete.

Recommended.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this and it was a quick read. Read it during lunch time. The usual sexual tension between the main characters. Seems like a set up for further books using Unit One or the same characters.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has plenty of romance, action, an ongoing storyline for a first book in this romantic suspense series. A great ready for the summer.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was mildly entertaining, with a few twists to keep the reader interested.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melody & Nick #1

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young woman is pulled into a government investigation of her father. Good, but I've read better.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decoy is my first and last book by Jasmine Cresswell. It was a terrible romance and only a so-so mystery.

[Kim]

2010