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Hagen #3
Rafferty's Wife
From New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper comes a classic tale of love undeniable, as two government agents posing as newlyweds learn the real meaning of “undercover.”
Sarah Cavell is a beautiful, brilliant cryptographer with the uncanny ability to crack any code. But her most daunting challenge may be reading the true feelings of her new “husband,” Rafferty Lewis, the secretive federal agent to whom she’s just been assigned. Sent on a perilous mission to a Caribbean nation teetering on the brink of revolution, the two must go undercover as husband and wife to make contact with a shadowy informant passing on cryptic messages that could trap a terrorist.
Sarah Cavell is a beautiful, brilliant cryptographer with the uncanny ability to crack any code. But her most daunting challenge may be reading the true feelings of her new “husband,” Rafferty Lewis, the secretive federal agent to whom she’s just been assigned. Sent on a perilous mission to a Caribbean nation teetering on the brink of revolution, the two must go undercover as husband and wife to make contact with a shadowy informant passing on cryptic messages that could trap a terrorist.
Pilot, sharpshooter, and accomplished yachtsman, Rafferty prides himself on being the epitome of coolness under pressure. But in the aftermath of a marital tragedy that exposed his vulnerable core, the prospect of pantomiming intimacy with a woman of Sarah’s intoxicating allure has him unnerved, to say the least—and that could prove deadly for both of them. Dodging danger at every turn even as passion’s magnet draws them closer to each other, these two make-believe lovers will learn that the heart is a puzzle they can only solve together.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1987
87 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Kay Hooper
97 books2,452 followersKay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 25, 2011
★★½✩✩Narration of audiobook by Parker Leventer was acceptable; however, she didn’t have a fighting chance when the content was So Very Dated. I think my tastes have become more sophisticated in romantic-suspense genre for this 1987 publication. Just too, too implausible; especially the heroine keeping the hero out of the loop of her ulterior mission when she needs to rely on him. Not that this hasn’t been done before, but he’s the undercover agent. Why wouldn’t his boss tell him? Also, these two go back and forth on the whole “come-here-come-here-come-here-go-away-go-away-go-away” theme, though for a variety of reasons. It was almost too painful to listen to all the way to the end, but I needed it for a couple of challenges. I've read better by this author.
June 7, 2018
"Rafferty's Wife" is the story of Sarah and Rafferty.
When Rafferty is blackmailed by Hagan to go on a mission on a revolution bound Caribbean nation, he is paired with the brilliant cryptographer Sarah- and both have to pretend to be spouses.
As they meet and interact, attraction sparks and they soon realize they have been lied to and bought together for this dangerous mission. But as they work against the tides to send a cryptic message that could save lives, they realize what they feel for each other is deeper than expected.
Can they brave the storm and still be together?
Another sweet story with insta love and attraction, mixed with elements of mystery and intrigue. Would have had a higher rating if I wasn't bored in the middle of the book. But I do like how much in love these couples are, and how they communicate.
Safe
2.5/5
When Rafferty is blackmailed by Hagan to go on a mission on a revolution bound Caribbean nation, he is paired with the brilliant cryptographer Sarah- and both have to pretend to be spouses.
As they meet and interact, attraction sparks and they soon realize they have been lied to and bought together for this dangerous mission. But as they work against the tides to send a cryptic message that could save lives, they realize what they feel for each other is deeper than expected.
Can they brave the storm and still be together?
Another sweet story with insta love and attraction, mixed with elements of mystery and intrigue. Would have had a higher rating if I wasn't bored in the middle of the book. But I do like how much in love these couples are, and how they communicate.
Safe
2.5/5
October 30, 2012
This one was just OK for me. I'm not sure I bought the love connection between Sarah and Rafferty. It was just too quick. For me, it felt like lust at first sight, not love. While they had a nice HEA, I was still pretty much underwhelmed by it. There really wasn't any action and no suspense at all. I figure if there are spies or undercover agents involved, there should be some suspense.
July 2, 2013
Ok so I have to rant about this book and the whole series! These books aren't very good. They aren't good for two reasons. 1) All the guys fall in love with the "women" within the first chapter of the book. 2) All the 24-26 year old women in these stories are virgins.
So yeah these books are under 200 pages where the guys falls in love and spends the next couple chapters convining the virgin women to have sex with them and marry them because they can't live without them. There is not any time for character development and they magically fall in love right away. Insta-love is such crap! Sorry but it is! I might have to give up on this series! Luckily they are short so they don't waste too much of my time.
So yeah these books are under 200 pages where the guys falls in love and spends the next couple chapters convining the virgin women to have sex with them and marry them because they can't live without them. There is not any time for character development and they magically fall in love right away. Insta-love is such crap! Sorry but it is! I might have to give up on this series! Luckily they are short so they don't waste too much of my time.
August 26, 2013
The worst book that I've read in a long time. Not good,not good at all.
May 5, 2017
This has got to be the worst CD book I've ever listened to. There were a couple places on the last disc, but the rest is garbage.
January 26, 2020
Silly - little plot
November 2014
November 2014
November 1, 2021
Not quite sure what i just read here .... Got this as a stand-alone and then realized i was thrust in the middle of a series where there were a lot of blurred lines and undefined characters and it felt like i should know who they were and what’s going on. I didn’t!
The two characters had chemistry- but there was a lot of nonsensical back and forth - let’s play a game of seduction but let’s not.... it was weird. I did read this in another language so some of that may have been lost in translation, but.....
The spy part of the plot ?! Ludicrous!! Why were two random people thrust into this ?! Why was she - with no experience in “spying” thrust into this and given information on how to free someone from a dictator’s jail and this information wasn’t shared with her partner ?! In the end - why would the “dictator” just let them walk away ?!?!? And finally - what’s the deal with her looking just like the dictator’s lost love?! Im sure it was mentioned this lookalike was dead - yet the heroine claims she has to go find her in the end... Huh?!?
Mostly nonsense here ....
—————————
Ne znam sta ovo bi?!? Ubaceni smo u pola neke price o kojoj nista ne znamo..... Bar da negde pise da je ovo 3.knjiga u serijalu ..... Likovi nedefinisani, radnja nedefinisana .... pola izgovorenih stvari jednostavno nema smisla - prevod bukvalan i ocajan. Ubacuju likove koje bi mi kao trebali da prepoznamo a zapravo ne znamo o cemu se radi ... Glavni junaci igraju igru zavodjenja cija pravila nemaju smisla (lose prevedeno) i menjaju se kako vetar dune. “SPIJUNSKA” akcija veze s vezom nema ..... Sarina dvojnica cas se spominje kao mrtva , cas se spominje kao neko koga Sara mora da pronadje.... Tajna misija nema smisla - agenti nisu cak ni agenti nego advokat i kriptografkinja - zasto bi njima bilo zadato da spasavaju zatvorenika u diktatorskoj zemlji?? Ne postoje trenirani operativci za to ?? Diktator skroz nedefinisan , na kraju ih pusta da mu pobegnu pod nosem.... Ma svasta! Pola recenica i sala jednostavno nema smisla / los prevod! Manite se prevodjenja ako ne znate jezik ! To je sve sto imam da porucim izdavacu!
The two characters had chemistry- but there was a lot of nonsensical back and forth - let’s play a game of seduction but let’s not.... it was weird. I did read this in another language so some of that may have been lost in translation, but.....
The spy part of the plot ?! Ludicrous!! Why were two random people thrust into this ?! Why was she - with no experience in “spying” thrust into this and given information on how to free someone from a dictator’s jail and this information wasn’t shared with her partner ?! In the end - why would the “dictator” just let them walk away ?!?!? And finally - what’s the deal with her looking just like the dictator’s lost love?! Im sure it was mentioned this lookalike was dead - yet the heroine claims she has to go find her in the end... Huh?!?
Mostly nonsense here ....
—————————
Ne znam sta ovo bi?!? Ubaceni smo u pola neke price o kojoj nista ne znamo..... Bar da negde pise da je ovo 3.knjiga u serijalu ..... Likovi nedefinisani, radnja nedefinisana .... pola izgovorenih stvari jednostavno nema smisla - prevod bukvalan i ocajan. Ubacuju likove koje bi mi kao trebali da prepoznamo a zapravo ne znamo o cemu se radi ... Glavni junaci igraju igru zavodjenja cija pravila nemaju smisla (lose prevedeno) i menjaju se kako vetar dune. “SPIJUNSKA” akcija veze s vezom nema ..... Sarina dvojnica cas se spominje kao mrtva , cas se spominje kao neko koga Sara mora da pronadje.... Tajna misija nema smisla - agenti nisu cak ni agenti nego advokat i kriptografkinja - zasto bi njima bilo zadato da spasavaju zatvorenika u diktatorskoj zemlji?? Ne postoje trenirani operativci za to ?? Diktator skroz nedefinisan , na kraju ih pusta da mu pobegnu pod nosem.... Ma svasta! Pola recenica i sala jednostavno nema smisla / los prevod! Manite se prevodjenja ako ne znate jezik ! To je sve sto imam da porucim izdavacu!
May 21, 2020
Good guys, bad guys somewhere in between?
Kay Hooper certainly has developed the knack of twisting her characters to keep them, and the reader, guessing. I’ve read the earlier Hogan Books, so had an idea what to expect. I expected the misdirections and the romance. I also expecting characters from the earlier books to arrive to provide information and help. With all that, this story was a delight to read and, once again, my reaction is to read anything KAY hooper writes. Her books are gems - perfectly crafted, each character’s personality unique and their reactions in synchronized with the activities and story line. There’s just some recognizable and satisfying about her writing.
Kay Hooper certainly has developed the knack of twisting her characters to keep them, and the reader, guessing. I’ve read the earlier Hogan Books, so had an idea what to expect. I expected the misdirections and the romance. I also expecting characters from the earlier books to arrive to provide information and help. With all that, this story was a delight to read and, once again, my reaction is to read anything KAY hooper writes. Her books are gems - perfectly crafted, each character’s personality unique and their reactions in synchronized with the activities and story line. There’s just some recognizable and satisfying about her writing.
October 11, 2017
I had a hard time with this one, mainly I didn't feel the connection between the narrator and the characters. I also felt the predictability of the story, it just felt as though something was missing overall. I would have liked to know more about the special abilities and their source.
October 16, 2025
I love Kay Hooper's FBI series. This one, Rafferty's Wife, not so much. I thought pace was too slow and I guessed too much of what was going to happen. I felt it was missing an "oh" or "ah ha" moment.
That said, I do love most of her writing, just not this series.
That said, I do love most of her writing, just not this series.
April 27, 2019
This novel was straight romance with the tease of a thriller that never materialized! Okay but not a favorite.
December 28, 2019
Great addition to the series. If you love mostly romance with a little bit of adventure this is a good book for you.
March 24, 2021
Another good Hagan
The series is amusing and quick to read. An easy way to spend a rainy afternoon. Looking forward to the next one.
The series is amusing and quick to read. An easy way to spend a rainy afternoon. Looking forward to the next one.
library
July 30, 20215
August 13, 2022
Horrible. Agonizing. Painful.
April 27, 2025
I am enjoying how Kay Hooper ties these friends together and the adventures they getting tangled into.
March 14, 2011
"Rafferty's Wife
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Rafferty's Wife
by Kay Hooper
Rafferty's Wife 3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 57 ratings · 4 reviews
From New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper comes a classic tale of love undeniable, as two government agents posing as newlyweds learn the real meaning of “undercover.”
Sarah Cavell is a beautiful, brilliant cryptographer with the uncanny ability to crack any code. But her most daunting challenge may be reading the true feelings of her new “husband,” Rafferty Lewi...moreFrom New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper comes a classic tale of love undeniable, as two government agents posing as newlyweds learn the real meaning of “undercover.”
Sarah Cavell is a beautiful, brilliant cryptographer with the uncanny ability to crack any code. But her most daunting challenge may be reading the true feelings of her new “husband,” Rafferty Lewis, the secretive federal agent to whom she’s just been assigned. Sent on a perilous mission to a Caribbean nation teetering on the brink of revolution, the two must go undercover as husband and wife to make contact with a shadowy informant passing on cryptic messages that could trap a terrorist.
Pilot, sharpshooter, and accomplished yachtsman, Rafferty prides himself on being the epitome of coolness under pressure. But in the aftermath of a marital tragedy that exposed his vulnerable core, the prospect of pantomiming intimacy with a woman of Sarah’s intoxicating allure has him unnerved, to say the least—and that could prove deadly for both of them. Dodging danger at every turn even as passion’s magnet draws them closer to each other, these two make-believe lovers will learn that the heart is a puzzle they can only solve together."
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Rafferty's Wife
by Kay Hooper
Rafferty's Wife 3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 57 ratings · 4 reviews
From New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper comes a classic tale of love undeniable, as two government agents posing as newlyweds learn the real meaning of “undercover.”
Sarah Cavell is a beautiful, brilliant cryptographer with the uncanny ability to crack any code. But her most daunting challenge may be reading the true feelings of her new “husband,” Rafferty Lewi...moreFrom New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper comes a classic tale of love undeniable, as two government agents posing as newlyweds learn the real meaning of “undercover.”
Sarah Cavell is a beautiful, brilliant cryptographer with the uncanny ability to crack any code. But her most daunting challenge may be reading the true feelings of her new “husband,” Rafferty Lewis, the secretive federal agent to whom she’s just been assigned. Sent on a perilous mission to a Caribbean nation teetering on the brink of revolution, the two must go undercover as husband and wife to make contact with a shadowy informant passing on cryptic messages that could trap a terrorist.
Pilot, sharpshooter, and accomplished yachtsman, Rafferty prides himself on being the epitome of coolness under pressure. But in the aftermath of a marital tragedy that exposed his vulnerable core, the prospect of pantomiming intimacy with a woman of Sarah’s intoxicating allure has him unnerved, to say the least—and that could prove deadly for both of them. Dodging danger at every turn even as passion’s magnet draws them closer to each other, these two make-believe lovers will learn that the heart is a puzzle they can only solve together."
September 25, 2015
Oldie But a Goodie
"There's nothing rational about love, Sarah. Nothing predictable. There's just a madness, filled with hopes and fears, literally impossible to control."
FINAL DECISION: The story isn't complex and neither are the characters, but I love the story for its clear good and evil stance. The characters are fun to read and the stories are a fun.
THE STORY: Rafferty Lewis the the attorney for the wealthy Josh Long. Rafferty, along with Josh and his friends/employees got "drafted" into helping a secret government agency. Rafferty's time has come up to help. He has been sent on a mission to masquerade as a newlywed and travel to a war torn South American country to retrieve some information for the U.S. government. HIs partner is Sarah Cavell to whom Rafferty is immediately attracted. The two have to work together to complete their mission without allowing their attraction to get in the way.
OPINION: I love this series of books because of the memorable characters. The stories are larger than life and at times too incredible to be believed, but the romance is heartfelt and the characters are fun. The hero and heroine are not very complex characters -- they are the good guys and it shows, but I have always liked how the story comes together. The appearance of the other characters from the series is also welcome as it gives more depth to the story. Just a fun read.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book was originally written as a category romance written in the 1980s. The story reflects the types of category romances being written at the time.
CONNECTED BOOKS: RAFFERTY'S WIFE Is the second book in the Hagen series. It can be read as a standalone, but I think readers will enjoy it better understanding what happened in book one.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
"There's nothing rational about love, Sarah. Nothing predictable. There's just a madness, filled with hopes and fears, literally impossible to control."
FINAL DECISION: The story isn't complex and neither are the characters, but I love the story for its clear good and evil stance. The characters are fun to read and the stories are a fun.
THE STORY: Rafferty Lewis the the attorney for the wealthy Josh Long. Rafferty, along with Josh and his friends/employees got "drafted" into helping a secret government agency. Rafferty's time has come up to help. He has been sent on a mission to masquerade as a newlywed and travel to a war torn South American country to retrieve some information for the U.S. government. HIs partner is Sarah Cavell to whom Rafferty is immediately attracted. The two have to work together to complete their mission without allowing their attraction to get in the way.
OPINION: I love this series of books because of the memorable characters. The stories are larger than life and at times too incredible to be believed, but the romance is heartfelt and the characters are fun. The hero and heroine are not very complex characters -- they are the good guys and it shows, but I have always liked how the story comes together. The appearance of the other characters from the series is also welcome as it gives more depth to the story. Just a fun read.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book was originally written as a category romance written in the 1980s. The story reflects the types of category romances being written at the time.
CONNECTED BOOKS: RAFFERTY'S WIFE Is the second book in the Hagen series. It can be read as a standalone, but I think readers will enjoy it better understanding what happened in book one.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
October 2, 2012
I thought that the author gave a good story line, but she could had developed the characters a bit more. This was my first time reading one of her books. I think that the other characters may be discussed in more details in her other books. I get the feeling that she centers around each character's own story individually. When I read (actually I listened to the soundtrack) the book it appearead that the next character Zack would have his own story. The plot was interesting enough, but nothing extraordinary about the book. I probably would most likely read another of her books just to see how her writing of her characters improve. I would rate the book 2.5 stars.
January 22, 2011
I wasn't even going to post this book to my list, except that it serves as a reminder that -while I do like some romance in my books- books that are written for the express purpose of being romantic are actually either vapid (definitely the case here) or pornographic (may have been, didn't read enough to find out).
Plus, if the print is size 14 font, and it isn't specifically listed as a large-print book, you know the plot can't be that complex or thought-provoking.
Plus, if the print is size 14 font, and it isn't specifically listed as a large-print book, you know the plot can't be that complex or thought-provoking.
August 20, 2011
This book didn't engage me - partly because it was part of a series and I hadn't read the earlier books yet. Rafferty seems like a good man and Sarah was interesting, but the pace moved too quickly. There was insta-love and a bit too much angst for my liking.
December 23, 2013
Really starting to not like this series. They are all the same. The man falls in live with the woman, usually in chapter one or two. She is a virgin. They live happily ever after. Bleh. Don't get me wrong, I love a good love story but these are a bit ridiculous.
April 14, 2014
I was enjoying this book right up until the end. I thought that the ending was tooooo pat. I felt like the author had built this 'story'... then couldn't figure out how to end it, or create the climax necessary to really pull it off... Disappointed.
May 16, 2015
I checked this out from the library and actually returned it without finishing which is unusual for me. It was definitely dated and maybe I would have like it back in the day; but that day has passed.
February 8, 2011
Part of the Hagen series. Too cute! Great starter books.
March 30, 2011
Just too bland to hold my interest. I stopped listening after disc 1 of 4.
July 23, 2011
Why do I keep reading these???
March 25, 2012
One of Kay Hooper's early books and definitely before she had developed her flare. This book was trite and rediculous.
August 22, 2012
Ok, another quick read on an airplane.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews