The Phoenix Encounter

Family Secrets #0.6

by Linda Castillo

AGENT: Robert Davidson
MISSION: Pinpoint exact location of the missing agent in Rebelia.
DEEPEST SECRET: He's never recovered from the horror of watching the woman he loved die.

Robert Davidson thought he could handle returning to Rebelia, the war-ravaged country that nearly cost him his life -- and had cost him Lily Scott, the passionate journalist he'd fallen in love with. But nothing could have prepared him for the shock of finding Lily still alive -- with a child.

With Lily's and her son's life in danger, Robert must set aside his jealousy -- and desire -- in order to protect the only woman he's ever loved. But Lily has one more secret -- which will change his life forever.

FAMILY SECRETS: No one is who they seem.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination for an “Audie Award” for best mystery audiobook. Her work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and earned a spot on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel.

In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.

She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.

Reviews

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 2 years earlier, Dr. Robert Davidson, an agent for the CIA's ARIES project, lost the woman he loved when she was killed in an explosion in Rebelia. Now he's asked to return to obtain information on General DeBruzkya, the vicious dictator causing all the havoc, and to find the location of a missing scientist. When he arrives, he is shocked to discover that his contact is Lily Scott, the very woman he loved and thought was dead. He's even more surprised to see that she has a son, indicating that she'd gotten over him and moved on quite quickly. And she's not answering any of his questions, not about her child, its father or about why she let him believe she was dead for so long. When Lily's son becomes sick though, she's going to have to share her secrets to gain Robert's help. She knows she's hurt him beyond belief but she's done it to protect him, because she loves him and so she can carry out her work in Rebelia.

So this had a strong premise with a second chance romance and a secret baby plot that had enough angst to keep me reading. The thing about second chance romances though is that, if one party is to blame, I need to see that character feeling some serious remorse for his/her actions before I can end the book totally satisfied. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite deliver there. Lily had some serious apologizing to do. First of all, she refused to leave a war torn country when the man she loved asked her to because he feared she'd be in danger. Turns out he was right since her building was bombed 5 minutes later (which is why he thought she was dead). This right away has me wondering if she really loves him as much as he loves her... Then, she doesn't bother to tell him she's alive, she doesn't bother to tell him he's a father and she keeps SUPER IMPORTANT information from him for 2 years. And for me, her reasons of trying to keep him safe just didn't ring true. It sounded more like she didn't want him to have any further reason to demand she leave Rebelia. So Lily had a lot to beg forgiveness for. She apologizes, she feels kinda bad for breaking his heart, but she's adamant that she needs to stay in Rebelia and he can't make her leave. So her moments of remorse are overshadowed by her moments of reckless selfishness and stubbornness.

On that note, I struggled to like a heroine who believes she can single-handedly take down a vicious dictator and claims that she can keep her and her infant son safe in this war-torn country. She continually denies that she's putting her baby at risk by keeping him here, yet the moment they step outside her cottage they're attacked by all manner of soldiers trying to take her to the General. Yeah - real safe. Her reasoning is especially ridiculous since a) she knows the General is romantically obsessed with her b) she's publishing the rebel newspaper and c) her son is sick and she can't even frickin take him to the hospital because it's too dangerous. I wish she'd had the realization that if Robert hadn't shown up, her son probably would have died because of his disease. Now all of this could have been overlooked if she'd had a DAMN good reason for staying, but all of her arguments and reasons felt hollow in the face of all she was sacrificing by staying. So needless to say she frustrated the hell out of me. Robert should have taken the child away from her and left her to her martyrdom.

Don't get me wrong, despite the heroine and her frustrating behavior, this was still a decent story with plenty of angsty drama and suspense to keep you interested, but this could have been better with a more likeable heroine and a stronger motivation for her to give up the man she loved.

[Karen Eller Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is second time reading this series (Family Secrets). The main heroine is like some people I know, too stubborn for their own good. Moved along at a nice pace. Kept you wondering what next.

Not one of Linda Castillo's best but we'll worth reading as you gather on-site to the Family Secrets Series.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short on-line book,but gripping in subject matter. I don't know how I missed it.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok.

[Ken Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undercover

I enjoyed reading this piece by Linda. I had some trouble believing the sexual encounter in the old mine. Oh what secrets lie in writers minds.

[Zezette · Rating 3 out of 5]

In its genre it is a good and easy read written by a woman. It showed huge sensitivity from the part of the author but other than that it is not the kind of read that I enjoy. I prefer books from which I learn something and that was not the case. Good to past the time. The author used many formulaic sentences which made me smile in many instances.

[Ladyacct · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm just going to say, I DID NOT in any way like the heroine. Kind of hard to enjoy any book when you cannot find any qualities, in one of the major characters of the story, you like.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prequel #2 in the Family Secrets Collection.

[James A. Rice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utterly moronic attempt at a spy novel.

Insipid dialogue contending with plot line to be most annoying thing about book. Hard to believe this is Linda Castillo 's work.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Family Secrets (Silhouette)