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Night Magic
WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE A SECRET AGENT?
Author Clara Winston was snuggling in for the night when the strange men burst into her carriage house apartment. Terrified, she couldn't make sense of their heavy Russian accents, but they seemed to be demanding the whereabouts of the "real" Magic Dragon -- the one she had dedicated her last romance novel to. "Under the bed," she managed to squeak out, wondering why in the world they wanted her old gray Persian cat, Puff...
When they went to look, Clara escaped out into the darkness and right into the strong arms of a magnificent stranger -- a man as sensual and exciting as the perfect lover she described in her books, but had never found in real life. He was CIA agent Jack McClain, code-named "Magic Dragon," a man running for his life and taking Clara and Puff with him into a wild spill of hair-raising adventure, deadly espionage... and unforgettable love.
Author Clara Winston was snuggling in for the night when the strange men burst into her carriage house apartment. Terrified, she couldn't make sense of their heavy Russian accents, but they seemed to be demanding the whereabouts of the "real" Magic Dragon -- the one she had dedicated her last romance novel to. "Under the bed," she managed to squeak out, wondering why in the world they wanted her old gray Persian cat, Puff...
When they went to look, Clara escaped out into the darkness and right into the strong arms of a magnificent stranger -- a man as sensual and exciting as the perfect lover she described in her books, but had never found in real life. He was CIA agent Jack McClain, code-named "Magic Dragon," a man running for his life and taking Clara and Puff with him into a wild spill of hair-raising adventure, deadly espionage... and unforgettable love.
373 pages, Trade Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
216 people are currently reading
1048 people want to read
About the author
Karen Robards
135 books3,238 followersKaren Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
April 27, 2013
After all these years, I still seriously enjoyed this one. One of my old favs from the 80's, Night Magic features an almost washed up super spy and a plucky romance novelist thrust together because of the big bad Soviets- that's Russians for the youngin's. (Interesting how Russians still feature prominently as bad guys in many a romance novel, however now as drug dealer/mobsters rather than enemies of the States. These guys do bad good I guess.)
John "Jack" McClain is all but out of the spy business, forced into Desk Jockeydom after a deal gone bad antecedent to a breakdown. Yet, he somehow becomes embroiled in a game of cat and mouse to catch a major Soviet sleeper agent who is about to attempt to assassinate the Secretary of State.
The book opens with Jack daringly escaping the bad guys- with the help of dolphins oddly enough- and making his way to a hospital. At the hospital they catch up with Jack and blame the melee that ensues on him so that the cops believe he's a renegade psycho they need to bring in.
Meanwhile Clara Winston, romance novelist having just completed her latest book, is ready for some down time at her remote family home, having no idea the trouble about to rain down on her head.
They come together when the bad guys, believing that Jack is her boyfriend because of a dedication in one of her previous novels, break into her house and threaten her life. Jack, having followed the bad guys to her place assumes she's with them till she comes running out of her house and right into him. They escape, together with her mean old fat cat, Puff (as in The Magic Dragon)- who is as memorable as the H/h- now on the run from the bad guys AND the cops.
Considering herself stolid and stay at home, Clara wants no part of this madman who obviously gets high on danger but is now in it up to her neck. (Besides he infuriates the crap out of her!) Their willy nilly flight from danger will test her mettle- and she is just as surprised as Jack with the steel in her spine that results. Oh, they do discover who the man is pulling the trigger, thanks to some microfilm, (::snort:: microfilm), but not till after being chased by police dogs, going over a falls and sleeping in a hollowed out log in the woods- and capture, torture and escaping again!
Ok, this book is a tad over-the-top, but hey it was written in the 80's, everything was over-the-top in the 80's, from our hair to our clothes to our bad guys! It was a hoot reading it once again, thirty yrs later O_O, with the outdated references,and still it worked for me.
Clara and Jack are great together, as they mutually prejudge and bicker with each other, from the very beginning. They go toe to toe like the best of romantic/comedy couples, creating tons of sexual tension which the author relieves quite fittingly. ::srsly thought some hot stuff there for the age of this novel::
There is also a scene where the bad guys torture her to get Jack to talk that stuck with me as much as anything in this book because of the way the author "went there" which, believe me, NOBODY did in romance novels back then. (She wasn't raped, thank God, but how the authored played it was very effective, imo. His and her actions, I still feel, seem believable. Well, for a romance novel anyway...)
It's a great book, though I think I'm pretty much alone on thinking so. Don't know why it does it for me, but I'm glad it does. (I'm totally gonna go back to some of my other old favs and see if any of them still strike the same chord too!)
John "Jack" McClain is all but out of the spy business, forced into Desk Jockeydom after a deal gone bad antecedent to a breakdown. Yet, he somehow becomes embroiled in a game of cat and mouse to catch a major Soviet sleeper agent who is about to attempt to assassinate the Secretary of State.
The book opens with Jack daringly escaping the bad guys- with the help of dolphins oddly enough- and making his way to a hospital. At the hospital they catch up with Jack and blame the melee that ensues on him so that the cops believe he's a renegade psycho they need to bring in.
Meanwhile Clara Winston, romance novelist having just completed her latest book, is ready for some down time at her remote family home, having no idea the trouble about to rain down on her head.
They come together when the bad guys, believing that Jack is her boyfriend because of a dedication in one of her previous novels, break into her house and threaten her life. Jack, having followed the bad guys to her place assumes she's with them till she comes running out of her house and right into him. They escape, together with her mean old fat cat, Puff (as in The Magic Dragon)- who is as memorable as the H/h- now on the run from the bad guys AND the cops.
Considering herself stolid and stay at home, Clara wants no part of this madman who obviously gets high on danger but is now in it up to her neck. (Besides he infuriates the crap out of her!) Their willy nilly flight from danger will test her mettle- and she is just as surprised as Jack with the steel in her spine that results. Oh, they do discover who the man is pulling the trigger, thanks to some microfilm, (::snort:: microfilm), but not till after being chased by police dogs, going over a falls and sleeping in a hollowed out log in the woods- and capture, torture and escaping again!
Ok, this book is a tad over-the-top, but hey it was written in the 80's, everything was over-the-top in the 80's, from our hair to our clothes to our bad guys! It was a hoot reading it once again, thirty yrs later O_O, with the outdated references,and still it worked for me.
Clara and Jack are great together, as they mutually prejudge and bicker with each other, from the very beginning. They go toe to toe like the best of romantic/comedy couples, creating tons of sexual tension which the author relieves quite fittingly. ::srsly thought some hot stuff there for the age of this novel::
There is also a scene where the bad guys torture her to get Jack to talk that stuck with me as much as anything in this book because of the way the author "went there" which, believe me, NOBODY did in romance novels back then. (She wasn't raped, thank God, but how the authored played it was very effective, imo. His and her actions, I still feel, seem believable. Well, for a romance novel anyway...)
It's a great book, though I think I'm pretty much alone on thinking so. Don't know why it does it for me, but I'm glad it does. (I'm totally gonna go back to some of my other old favs and see if any of them still strike the same chord too!)
January 28, 2019
This was a blast from the past, classic 1980's romantic suspense. With a theme which immediately reminded me of the movie "Romancing the Stone" with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas and the hero's name John McClain so again I'm thinking of Bruce Willis aka John McClane from Die Hard it was full of amusing clichés so common to books written in this time. Big bad KGB agents, a ladylike heroine sexually restrained till she met our intrepid hero and of course the obligatory sex on the run scene whilst being pursued by the above mentioned KGB agents! All a bit of a hoot really and a nostalgic fun read.
Oh and I nearly forgot to mention Puff the Persian Cat who was a scene stealer.
Oh and I nearly forgot to mention Puff the Persian Cat who was a scene stealer.
October 8, 2018
Robards at her best in my humble opinion. I love when she writes books where the main characters are being chased by bad guys and have to survive in the wilderness... When I picked this book up I wasn't really too excited about the whole KGB angle but Robards is my favorite author so I said what the hell.... I certainly was not disapointed. I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting.
March 5, 2017
Pure disappointment and fury was what I felt reading this book on every single page. Jack was no hero and anyone who finds him worthy of being called that must be over fifty by now because this is NOT what a woman of today's generation would fall in love with. This man was the epitome of what the average woman today would turn her nose up at, walk right on by him, and never look back because there are plenty of options and she knows that she can do better. This book was absolutely terrible and I cringed at Clara's lack of confidence in herself that she settled for such a douchebag because she didn't give herself a chance to see what was out there. The way she let him treat her and talk to her, I don't know if I wanted to cry for her or slap the back of her head and yell at her to grow a backbone and shut him down. I guess this was what women expected back in this day, a hot man who treated her like crap one minute, then kissing them the next to show that they do have a heart, and going right back to the cocky as*hole who put her down, no matter what she did. I have a huge appreciation for 80's music, movies, lifestyle, but I've come to find, books written during this time period, we don't get along very well and we never will because it was written by women who were still born during a time where it was ingrained in them that men were the decision makers of the family, men were to be catered to because they were the providers, men were to be forgiven for indiscretions or hurtful words because it was the right thing to do as their woman.
Jack degraded her, used her, emotionally abused her, and this was acceptable as romance once upon a time, whereas today, women know that it's not right to let a man talk down to them like that. It's hurtful to hear the man you like tell you that you could stand to lose ten pounds, not because he's trying to motivate you to be healthy, but simply so you can look better because you don't match up to what he liked in his women. It's hurtful when you're doing the best you can in keeping up with him on the run but it's still not good enough as you show you're exhausted because you don't have the same stamina as he does considering your jobs are on opposite sides of the scale. It's hurtful when he nitpicks everything wrong with you and compares your flaws to his model girlfriends. How can any woman in her right mind be attracted to a man like that? This is how little problems become huge issues for women. They get told they're fat so they outright binge eat because no matter how hard they work to try to lose the weight they're mocked anyway or worse, they become bulimic or anorexic to solve the problem. They get told that they will never succeed because they're just not good enough, so they lose motivation and their self-esteem drops to where it's now non-existent, watching life pass them by where others grow and change while they're stuck in the same place years later. They get told that they're ugly, they're fat, no one cares about them, they contribute nothing to the world...and they kill themselves because the more they're told, the more they believe it. This book is everything a romance shouldn't be. I normally roll my eyes at reviewers who make it a point to try and call out an author that they're setting a bad example for young female readers. These women tend to be hypocritical feminists or readers who hate romance and just look for excuses to trash a book, but I'm neither of these, and I want to say that this is not what women should be perceiving as a man to marry or be in a relationship with. He taunts her for not being at his physical level for cruel amusement, he gets annoyed that she cares about her cat too much to leave him behind, he lashes out in anger to motivate her, he makes her feel insecure by comparing her to thinner and prettier women and his own former girlfriends, he confuses her by kissing her and pushing her away, he expects her to be a fit and tough soldier when she's a writer who's never had to be on the run to stay alive.
I initially liked how Clara could insult him right back but after they kissed the first time and it disappointed me that she didn't push him away because of all the things he said to her and how he treated her, I lost some respect for her and it just went all the way downhill from there. I didn't like her and I hated him. The icing on the cake? She went looking for him, she proposed to him, he accepted her, and this was all after he left her in the hospital to recover on her own. Sure, it's ok for him to freak out about his feelings and push her away to protect himself, but when she does it, oh its a whole different story. He gets his feelings hurt ONCE by her and all bets are off, he's done. He hurts and insults her on every other page of the book from beginning to end and she lets it go or gets over it. This was not a man who was rough around the edges, but lovable, and capable of loving back in return once he let you in. This was a little boy who didn't know what he wanted, lashed out at anyone who threatened his protective bubble, and ran off crying the first time he got hurt. I am beyond shocked at how women find a character like this romantic and a "hero" worth reading about. This book traumatized me enough that I will never read anything by this author again, current or past works. I learned my lesson by trying to give Diana Palmer a second chance and never again will I make that mistake for anyone. If a man treats the woman who cares for him like crap because he gets some sort of twisted amusement out of it, that is where I draw the line. I've drawn the line with this author...
Jack degraded her, used her, emotionally abused her, and this was acceptable as romance once upon a time, whereas today, women know that it's not right to let a man talk down to them like that. It's hurtful to hear the man you like tell you that you could stand to lose ten pounds, not because he's trying to motivate you to be healthy, but simply so you can look better because you don't match up to what he liked in his women. It's hurtful when you're doing the best you can in keeping up with him on the run but it's still not good enough as you show you're exhausted because you don't have the same stamina as he does considering your jobs are on opposite sides of the scale. It's hurtful when he nitpicks everything wrong with you and compares your flaws to his model girlfriends. How can any woman in her right mind be attracted to a man like that? This is how little problems become huge issues for women. They get told they're fat so they outright binge eat because no matter how hard they work to try to lose the weight they're mocked anyway or worse, they become bulimic or anorexic to solve the problem. They get told that they will never succeed because they're just not good enough, so they lose motivation and their self-esteem drops to where it's now non-existent, watching life pass them by where others grow and change while they're stuck in the same place years later. They get told that they're ugly, they're fat, no one cares about them, they contribute nothing to the world...and they kill themselves because the more they're told, the more they believe it. This book is everything a romance shouldn't be. I normally roll my eyes at reviewers who make it a point to try and call out an author that they're setting a bad example for young female readers. These women tend to be hypocritical feminists or readers who hate romance and just look for excuses to trash a book, but I'm neither of these, and I want to say that this is not what women should be perceiving as a man to marry or be in a relationship with. He taunts her for not being at his physical level for cruel amusement, he gets annoyed that she cares about her cat too much to leave him behind, he lashes out in anger to motivate her, he makes her feel insecure by comparing her to thinner and prettier women and his own former girlfriends, he confuses her by kissing her and pushing her away, he expects her to be a fit and tough soldier when she's a writer who's never had to be on the run to stay alive.
I initially liked how Clara could insult him right back but after they kissed the first time and it disappointed me that she didn't push him away because of all the things he said to her and how he treated her, I lost some respect for her and it just went all the way downhill from there. I didn't like her and I hated him. The icing on the cake? She went looking for him, she proposed to him, he accepted her, and this was all after he left her in the hospital to recover on her own. Sure, it's ok for him to freak out about his feelings and push her away to protect himself, but when she does it, oh its a whole different story. He gets his feelings hurt ONCE by her and all bets are off, he's done. He hurts and insults her on every other page of the book from beginning to end and she lets it go or gets over it. This was not a man who was rough around the edges, but lovable, and capable of loving back in return once he let you in. This was a little boy who didn't know what he wanted, lashed out at anyone who threatened his protective bubble, and ran off crying the first time he got hurt. I am beyond shocked at how women find a character like this romantic and a "hero" worth reading about. This book traumatized me enough that I will never read anything by this author again, current or past works. I learned my lesson by trying to give Diana Palmer a second chance and never again will I make that mistake for anyone. If a man treats the woman who cares for him like crap because he gets some sort of twisted amusement out of it, that is where I draw the line. I've drawn the line with this author...
September 3, 2008
Rating - 3.5 / 5
I enjoyed this book to a certain extent. I think you can definitely tell, though, that it is one of Robards early romantic suspense novels. It doesn't have the polish and solid romance that her later books have.
The book focuses mostly on the character of Clara, a romance writer who suddenly finds her life in danger because some Russian bad guys think she knows where CIA agent Jack McClain is hiding. Clara had never heard of Jack, let alone met him, until after the Russians busted into her house. Then she finds herself on the run with him. And like most "on-the-run" type romance stories, the two end up having sex and later professing their feelings.
So the storyline is rather predictable. It's also on the ridiculous and unrealistic side of things. But it was still mostly fun to read. I loved Puff the cat. He was freakin' hilarious.
The romance was so-so. A lot of the time, Jack was almost an anti-hero. Not really a Gamma like Anne Stuart's ICE heroes, but he wasn't ever very nice. He said some mean things to Clara and never treated her very well. So I can't say I was all that into the romance. Sure, there was some chemistry, but there was nothing particularly endearing.
All in all, not bad, not great. If you're a Robards fan, like me, it's something worth reading. Or if you just happen across it used somewhere. But I wouldn't consider it a must-read romantic suspense.
I enjoyed this book to a certain extent. I think you can definitely tell, though, that it is one of Robards early romantic suspense novels. It doesn't have the polish and solid romance that her later books have.
The book focuses mostly on the character of Clara, a romance writer who suddenly finds her life in danger because some Russian bad guys think she knows where CIA agent Jack McClain is hiding. Clara had never heard of Jack, let alone met him, until after the Russians busted into her house. Then she finds herself on the run with him. And like most "on-the-run" type romance stories, the two end up having sex and later professing their feelings.
So the storyline is rather predictable. It's also on the ridiculous and unrealistic side of things. But it was still mostly fun to read. I loved Puff the cat. He was freakin' hilarious.
The romance was so-so. A lot of the time, Jack was almost an anti-hero. Not really a Gamma like Anne Stuart's ICE heroes, but he wasn't ever very nice. He said some mean things to Clara and never treated her very well. So I can't say I was all that into the romance. Sure, there was some chemistry, but there was nothing particularly endearing.
All in all, not bad, not great. If you're a Robards fan, like me, it's something worth reading. Or if you just happen across it used somewhere. But I wouldn't consider it a must-read romantic suspense.
March 30, 2020
This is an early book of Karen Robards, but every bit as good as her current ones. Lots of tension, excitement and romance. It kept me turning pages well into the night.
January 30, 2021
CWs: torture, rape threats
May 24, 2010
I'm going to give this book the same rating that I did for Walking After Midnight, because I think they are virtually the same book. Same action hero type main character - not handsome but with a "pugnacious" jaw, covered with bruises and with a smoking hot body. Same running away from bad guys non-stop for most of the book, same on-the-run danger sex with the hero, same ridiculous HEA, same, same, same. Same sexist comments from hero about liking big tits and a round ass. Jeez.
There are a few of Ms. Robard's books that I absolutely LOVE - Whispers at Midnight, Green Eyes, Scandalous to name a few. But as big of a hit as these books are for me, when she misses it's completely.
There is a quote on the cover of this book from Johanna Lindsay that says "Karen is one of those writers I buy without needing to read a review." Not me anymore, I'm afraid.
There are a few of Ms. Robard's books that I absolutely LOVE - Whispers at Midnight, Green Eyes, Scandalous to name a few. But as big of a hit as these books are for me, when she misses it's completely.
There is a quote on the cover of this book from Johanna Lindsay that says "Karen is one of those writers I buy without needing to read a review." Not me anymore, I'm afraid.
October 10, 2019
Started out great, but than it fizzled. I did like the character of Claire and I adored Puff, but never warmed up to Jack. Some great action scenes.
December 15, 2018
Storyline kept you riveted
February 4, 2018
Okay, so this was written in the 80’s, meaning the hero is way more alpha macho than anyone would write today. But the description of the book was so funny to me, I had to read it. Romance author dedicates a book to her cat, Puff (the magic dragon), which turns out to be the code name for a CIA agent. Next thing we know, Russian spies are chasing our hero, heroine, and Puff the cat.
March 12, 2019
I was very fond of the characters from the outset. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
November 25, 2019
Night Magic is an older contemporary adventure. It was entertaining, but also ridiculous. Many typos in the kindle version.
August 22, 2023
I literally could not rate this higher cause of the sheer amount of typos and lack of attention in the editing. It was also just kind of mediocre but it served its purpose as a romance I guess
November 6, 2023
1980s hijinks and bananapants drama and I ate it up lol
December 12, 2009
Night Magic for me was all things I enjoy in a book. This book may have been a re-issue, but if I read it in 1987 I sure don’t recall doing so. This book was a roller-coaster ride of fun and hair-raising non-stop action.
CIA agent John McClain and romance novelist Clara Winston who in a case of mistaken identity is thrust into the adventure of a lifetime on the run from the police, the government and ruthless KGB agents.
John and Clare couldn’t be more different but when forced to depend on each other to save their lives during a chase through the wilderness, white water rafting, car chases and helicopter rides they rise to the occasion and learn to trust each other. And let’s not forget Puff the cat who adds some funny moments to their story. Oh there is some hot sex as well.
I didn’t want to put this book down and in fact my only criticism is that the book ended far too quickly and left me wanting more. I wish the author had written about 50 more pages.
Pick up this book if you want to be entertained from start to finish!
5+ stars
CIA agent John McClain and romance novelist Clara Winston who in a case of mistaken identity is thrust into the adventure of a lifetime on the run from the police, the government and ruthless KGB agents.
John and Clare couldn’t be more different but when forced to depend on each other to save their lives during a chase through the wilderness, white water rafting, car chases and helicopter rides they rise to the occasion and learn to trust each other. And let’s not forget Puff the cat who adds some funny moments to their story. Oh there is some hot sex as well.
I didn’t want to put this book down and in fact my only criticism is that the book ended far too quickly and left me wanting more. I wish the author had written about 50 more pages.
Pick up this book if you want to be entertained from start to finish!
5+ stars
November 17, 2016
This is one of the worst '80's romances I've read. It borders on ludicrousness (if that's even a word), with spies, murder, kidnapping, torture, escape, betrayal...I don't believe ANYTHING was left out of this one, including a scene where the H/H are held captive in a semi trailer, waiting for their captors to return, so of course they have sex. They also have sex while they're on the run, sex in the hospital (while he's recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest!), and sex after he leaves the hospital TWO DAYS after he's been shot, and nearly bleeds out, and he carries her to bed! She is burned on the neck with a cigarette, and claims that it only "stings a bit".
Absolutely ridiculous. I should have known better.
Absolutely ridiculous. I should have known better.
March 21, 2008
Night Magic is all about Puff! (ah, a teaser to read the book!) Robards is an outstanding author of quick, funny reads. I enjoy her earlier work more because of her wit than the latter offerings of labored contemporary suspense. Consider this a cross between Romancing the Stone and ...well, any romantic comedy that leaves you rolling with laughter. Where else can you have a hero that's allergic to cats?
February 23, 2011
Found a reprint of this at Christmas and snatched it up! I LOVE this story and now can reread it whenever I want instead of stalking the library.
November 11, 2023
I liked this book but there were different aspects of it that made it clearly that it was first published in the 80s and aged not-so-great:
December 18, 2023
It looks like this book was originally published back in the 80s, so, yeah, some aspects are a little dated. But it's fun. I mean, you get a romance author who is NOT up for all the adventure Jack unwitting delivers to her doorstep and a CIA agent who comes with a lot of baggage. Like, A LOT. And I'm not talking about any physical baggage either. In fact, Clara's cat Puff is kind of the only physical baggage between them.
So. Clara and Jack. She's dragged (kicking and screaming for the most part) into Jack's life all thanks to one (seemingly) harmless dedication in a book. She gets menaced, kidnapped, and nearly killed (several times) by some VERY BAD PEOPLE who think she knows where Jack is. To be frank, Jack isn't terribly sympathetic when they first meet and there might be some hard feelings on Clara's end because of it. After all, she's only in this situation because of Jack, right?
On Jack's end, his career is floundering after an operation gone bad and he's determined to get the job done with this newest operation he's been tapped for. Besides which, the information he's been entrusted with is big and needs to stay out of the bad guys' hands. He's driven and focused and getting distracted by the tempting woman on the run with him would probably be a very bad idea. Very bad. But what can a guy do when the woman of his dreams is within reach?
A whole lot of danger, a very unhappy cat, more adventure than a quiet romance author wants to deal with, bad guys, good guys, double crosses, a man who is determined to see things through, and a lady who has far more steel than she gives herself credit for. Good stuff!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
So. Clara and Jack. She's dragged (kicking and screaming for the most part) into Jack's life all thanks to one (seemingly) harmless dedication in a book. She gets menaced, kidnapped, and nearly killed (several times) by some VERY BAD PEOPLE who think she knows where Jack is. To be frank, Jack isn't terribly sympathetic when they first meet and there might be some hard feelings on Clara's end because of it. After all, she's only in this situation because of Jack, right?
On Jack's end, his career is floundering after an operation gone bad and he's determined to get the job done with this newest operation he's been tapped for. Besides which, the information he's been entrusted with is big and needs to stay out of the bad guys' hands. He's driven and focused and getting distracted by the tempting woman on the run with him would probably be a very bad idea. Very bad. But what can a guy do when the woman of his dreams is within reach?
A whole lot of danger, a very unhappy cat, more adventure than a quiet romance author wants to deal with, bad guys, good guys, double crosses, a man who is determined to see things through, and a lady who has far more steel than she gives herself credit for. Good stuff!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 19, 2025
Night magic
"“You really are my Mr. Irresistible, you know,”
“Baby, what I am,” he said, punctuating his words with kisses, “is irresistibly yours.”"
(he’s ugly! she’s gorgeous! swans!) I enjoyed Jack and Clara's adventures with Puff haha. Kasi, imagine being frightened dahil lang sa dedication mo sa book na magic dragon, tapos pagsusupetsahan ka agad?! Like ang boang ng bad guy pls huhu. Ang daming nangyari dito tapos ewan ko, tuwang tuwa me sa adventure talaga nila. Isama mo pa iyong torture scene ni Clara huhu na hinayaan pa talagang masaktan siya huhu. Then may caretaking din na naganap. I love the elements nito
This may be my new go-to for “on the run” novels. These two have to hike, steal vehicles, at one point they hijack a helicopter! there’s bedside surgery my favorite
For every insult he throws at her initially (he calls her an old maid and insults her novels), she throws the insults right back at him. She point blank describes him as ugly Then later, when she’s in love, she’s like “how could I ever have thought he was ugly?” Lol
"“You really are my Mr. Irresistible, you know,”
“Baby, what I am,” he said, punctuating his words with kisses, “is irresistibly yours.”"
(he’s ugly! she’s gorgeous! swans!) I enjoyed Jack and Clara's adventures with Puff haha. Kasi, imagine being frightened dahil lang sa dedication mo sa book na magic dragon, tapos pagsusupetsahan ka agad?! Like ang boang ng bad guy pls huhu. Ang daming nangyari dito tapos ewan ko, tuwang tuwa me sa adventure talaga nila. Isama mo pa iyong torture scene ni Clara huhu na hinayaan pa talagang masaktan siya huhu. Then may caretaking din na naganap. I love the elements nito
This may be my new go-to for “on the run” novels. These two have to hike, steal vehicles, at one point they hijack a helicopter! there’s bedside surgery my favorite
For every insult he throws at her initially (he calls her an old maid and insults her novels), she throws the insults right back at him. She point blank describes him as ugly Then later, when she’s in love, she’s like “how could I ever have thought he was ugly?” Lol
March 30, 2020
I DNFed not even a chapter in and I had to stop. Do u know what a list writer is? Basically it's when an author tells a story as fast as possible. So there is no details or feelings it's just, so and so did this, this, and this. Over and over again.
What's annoying is the beginning of ur book should be what draws u in. The first chapter is supposed to make me want to read the rest. I didn't get that here, I got some great 'oh no dudes in trouble' moments to be over shadowed by something that happened in the past. Wtf. Get to the part were they throw him over the boat or he fights his way out. Idk this might be a great book and if I'd had been patient and continued reading would have liked it. But after reading for so long I know what I like and what I don't like, this is just a don't like🤷
What's annoying is the beginning of ur book should be what draws u in. The first chapter is supposed to make me want to read the rest. I didn't get that here, I got some great 'oh no dudes in trouble' moments to be over shadowed by something that happened in the past. Wtf. Get to the part were they throw him over the boat or he fights his way out. Idk this might be a great book and if I'd had been patient and continued reading would have liked it. But after reading for so long I know what I like and what I don't like, this is just a don't like🤷
November 18, 2023
WELL that was certainly a book I read (picked it up on sale). It is definitely of the time it was written (late 1980s) so do expect a complete jackass 'hero' who loves to tell the heroine to drop some weight and other similar gems. Definitely gave me Moonlighting vibes now that I've seen some episodes of that.
That said, I wasn't bored? per se? The story centers on a spy who is on the run from evil Russians who have beat him up very badly, and then the romance author who they think is his lover because she dedicates her latest novel to "Puff" which is his code name LMAO.
This is so OTT and so very violent, lots of "on the run" and danger bang vibes, but definitely light on the "oh yes, this is romantic and I see why they love each other" points.
Definitely reminds me of Annie from Speed saying "Relationships that start under intense circumstances never last." LMAO
That said, I wasn't bored? per se? The story centers on a spy who is on the run from evil Russians who have beat him up very badly, and then the romance author who they think is his lover because she dedicates her latest novel to "Puff" which is his code name LMAO.
This is so OTT and so very violent, lots of "on the run" and danger bang vibes, but definitely light on the "oh yes, this is romantic and I see why they love each other" points.
Definitely reminds me of Annie from Speed saying "Relationships that start under intense circumstances never last." LMAO
May 15, 2025
The premise of the story is wild: a CIA operative code-named “Magic Dragon” escapes from a KGB interrogation with information that a senior official in the US government is a spy for the Soviets. The KGB attempt to track him down by following a lead, which is a romance author’s dedication in her latest book wherein she thanks her “Magic Dragon.” The KGB assumes this is a reference to the aforementioned CIA operative and not, strangely enough, the author’s cat (his full name is Puff the Magic Dragon).
Let’s not waste time figuring out how/why the KGB found this reference to a Magic Dragon in a romance book, because it already makes no sense. Instead, let’s jump into the story of our two reluctant allies trying to escape capture by the KGB with only each other to trust for support. During their harrowing adventure, John McClain (yes) tells our girl, Clara, how fat and unappealing she is multiple times. She’s also in a nightdress for most of the story, which compounds my pain for her, since they are tromping through the woods and get waterlogged several times. In fact, she only starts feeling good again when she realizes she’s lost weight from spending three days starving and on the run. McClain is almost never kind to Clara and treats her pretty poorly throughout. Somehow, they end up being attracted to each other(?) and develop strong feelings(?) and have sex on the beach(?) but I’d be hard-pressed to classify this as a romance in any capacity.
Let’s not waste time figuring out how/why the KGB found this reference to a Magic Dragon in a romance book, because it already makes no sense. Instead, let’s jump into the story of our two reluctant allies trying to escape capture by the KGB with only each other to trust for support. During their harrowing adventure, John McClain (yes) tells our girl, Clara, how fat and unappealing she is multiple times. She’s also in a nightdress for most of the story, which compounds my pain for her, since they are tromping through the woods and get waterlogged several times. In fact, she only starts feeling good again when she realizes she’s lost weight from spending three days starving and on the run. McClain is almost never kind to Clara and treats her pretty poorly throughout. Somehow, they end up being attracted to each other(?) and develop strong feelings(?) and have sex on the beach(?) but I’d be hard-pressed to classify this as a romance in any capacity.
May 15, 2019
Romance writer, Clara Winston, is completely shocked and confused, when criminals break into her home, demanding she give them the location of someone she has never heard of. She manages to escape into the fields outside her house, when she runs into CIA agent, Jack McClain, who is just as suspicious of her as she is of him. Knowing nothing about each other or why the criminals believe they have a connection, Clara and Jack make a run for it together. Although Clara and Jack initially seem to despise one another, they come to rely on each other as they continue to run from the seemingly unstoppable threat to their lives. Adding some humor to the story line is Clara's cat, Puff, who is also along for the ride.
February 22, 2024
Saw this book recommended in a subreddit I follow, and omg, what an over the top, highly enjoyable ride. It’s important to note this book was written in the 80s and feels pretty dated (the Soviets are the enemy, microfilm features as a major plot point, and the MMC is a grizzled Vietnam vet). With all of this in mind, the story still worked for me. It was a high speed, action packed plot, and there was fantastic tension between the main leads. At the start, the MMC and FMC truly hate each other, with insults, attempts at sabotage, and more. But somehow their attraction was *chef’s kiss*. Also, I might have squealed when the MMC called the FMC a “good egg” and she just 😒. However, I’m pretty corny like that.
November 2, 2025
DNF at 77%. Fated Mates brought me here. I knew there was a possibility this book may not have aged well and that was definitely the case with some of the writing. And there were some typos that needed editing as well. But I still stuck to it for the ridiculousness of a spy plot and for Puff the cat and a somewhat competent average FMC. But it just kept going with the on the run, recapture, on the run etc. Could have been a much shorter book. It was like watching a spy movie but having to visualise all the action scenes yourself. Then the FMC asks “How could a man like that have reached the kind of level in our intelligence network that Bigfoot supposedly has? Don’t they do background checks, for goodness sakes?” And that’s when I give up because she’s given dumb lines like that.
June 27, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed this book about a disgraced CIA agent and the unworldly romance author who inadvertently gets kidnapped with him by the Russians. They are in a race to identify a high placed Russian sleeper agent and prevent the assassination of the US Secretary of State. It kept me entertained with lots of action and sex. This book was written in the 1980’s, so the bad guys are the Soviets. Some of the actions involving the bad guys reminded me of the spy novels of the 1970’s and some of the descriptions about the hero being so manly and his dialogue made me cringe, but it was a fun romp.
July 5, 2019
Fast action and strong passion
Clara is a successful romance writer who accidentally uses Jack's code name in her last book's title. Jack is a CIA agent who is working a case about a high level mole for the KGB in the US government. Clara gets identified as his girlfriend and kidnapped by KGB agents. Jack tries to rescue her and it's an all out chase across the countryside while their attraction grows.
Clara is a successful romance writer who accidentally uses Jack's code name in her last book's title. Jack is a CIA agent who is working a case about a high level mole for the KGB in the US government. Clara gets identified as his girlfriend and kidnapped by KGB agents. Jack tries to rescue her and it's an all out chase across the countryside while their attraction grows.
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