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No One to Trust
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Final Target , Iris Johansen raises the stakes and the heart rate with this relentless new thriller that follows the harrowing trail of a ruthless killer on the hunt--and the woman who is determined to hunt him down.He is the most terrifying of ruthless, cunning, charismatic. And he has the means to get whatever he wants. And what Rico Chavez wants most is Elena Kyler--and he wants her dead. Trained as an assassin, Elena didn’t need anyone to survive. But now she finds herself on the run from one dangerous man and turning for help to another.Sean Galen was a man without illusions. He knew it was only desperation that caused Elena to accept his help--a mother’s desperation to save her young son from a psychopath father who would raise their son in his own chilling image. And yet he was determined to get this woman who had never been able to trust anyone or anything in her whole life to accept him as her ally. But both Galen and Elena know that Chavez’s power and wealth mean there is no place they can be safe and no one they can trust--not even each other. Already Chavez’s assassins and connections to those in the highest positions of power have turned this into a war with no rules.With two shocking acts of brutal violence, Chavez shows he will stop at nothing and that nothing will stop him. Soon a trail of horrifying murders will follow Galen and Elena across country to a last stand and a shattering showdown. For Chavez is a master of control and he wants more than just to take Elena’s life. He wants her alive long enough to see him destroy every reason she has for living. He wants her to turn against everything and everyone she ever believed in. He wants her to commit the ultimate act of betrayal. And by the time he is through, he wants her to beg him to take the only thing she’ll have left to her life.From the Hardcover edition.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
327 people are currently reading
3788 people want to read
About the author
Iris Johansen
226 books7,329 followersIris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
August 24, 2007
this is a great book if you are bored or traveling or in jail.
August 5, 2007
This book was one I had gotten from a collection of "Free to a Good Home" books. Now I know why this one, in particular, was given away. It's absolutely awful.
I knew how the book would end halfway through. The heroine and her dashing hero (ick!) are so predictable and cookie cutter it's dreadful. What was supposed to be suspenseful was nothing more than yawn-inducing drivel.
I took this book with me on a business trip and only picked it up each night because I didn't have anything else to fall back on.
I knew how the book would end halfway through. The heroine and her dashing hero (ick!) are so predictable and cookie cutter it's dreadful. What was supposed to be suspenseful was nothing more than yawn-inducing drivel.
I took this book with me on a business trip and only picked it up each night because I didn't have anything else to fall back on.
August 19, 2017
Originally published in 2002, I wondered if I would have liked it better back then. Now it seemed to represent what got me tired of this genre. Although it started out strong, it lulled significantly in the middle where little happened but changing hiding places and some sex between the H/h. It was hard to stay with it and I did have to skim to get towards the end. The end was fairly predictable, but I did finish.
January 23, 2014
Actual Rating 3.5
No One to Trust was surprisingly good. I was a little worried about giving Johansen a second chance after having most of my alarms set off when I read the The Killing Game. This book, while set in the same universe, was so much better in so many ways.
For starters the female lead was incredibly likable in a way Eve perhaps wasn’t. The way Elena grew up hardened her. She was not a female lead to pity but one to admire. I was fascinated by how strong she was. She was kick ass in a way that I, as a reader, haven’t come across often. She was willing to do whatever it took to keep her child safe but she wasn’t ruthless, she just did what she had to survive. It wasn’t the bad ass in her that was willing to walk over anyone but the mother in her that would do anything she had to in order to protect her son. She was vulnerable but she tried to overcome her faults. Most importantly, in spite of her kickassedness, she wasn’t afraid to ask for help when she needed it, after making sure the person was trustworthy of course.
Sean was very interesting. I was surprised by how easily he developed feelings for Elena but I loved how he never pushed her. He made his feelings very clear but he also made it clear that he didn’t expect anything in return. He knew she would walk over him if she had to to protect her son. It’s very easy to admire a lead who respects the female lead and doesn’t view her as an object to protect. Instead he views her as a person who is more than capable of killing him but he wants to take care of her because no one else has.
The romance between the two, despite the fact that it came out of nowhere (not necessarily insta.. but just.. yeah), was very well done. Elena is bound to have intimacy issues, and yes they weren’t cured in one go. It took her a while to finally let go and they had to work to get to the point. She didn’t just wake up ‘cured’. One of the things I really loved was how their hotness was not in fact emphasized. Sean’s handsomeness was mentioned in passing but the focus was clearly on their personalities so it was easy to see why they would fall in love with one another and it was easy to admire the romance.
The secondary characters were a definite plus which is why I was disappointed by some of the twists this book took. Another drawback for me as a reader was the fact that it was set in the same world as the Eve Duncan series. I usually wouldn’t mind so much but seeing that I don’t feel any tenderness towards the characters in that series, it becomes somewhat of an issue.
The suspense itself was nicely developed and the book kind of just flew by in a way that didn’t feel rushed.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick entertaining read to help them cool off.
No One to Trust was surprisingly good. I was a little worried about giving Johansen a second chance after having most of my alarms set off when I read the The Killing Game. This book, while set in the same universe, was so much better in so many ways.
For starters the female lead was incredibly likable in a way Eve perhaps wasn’t. The way Elena grew up hardened her. She was not a female lead to pity but one to admire. I was fascinated by how strong she was. She was kick ass in a way that I, as a reader, haven’t come across often. She was willing to do whatever it took to keep her child safe but she wasn’t ruthless, she just did what she had to survive. It wasn’t the bad ass in her that was willing to walk over anyone but the mother in her that would do anything she had to in order to protect her son. She was vulnerable but she tried to overcome her faults. Most importantly, in spite of her kickassedness, she wasn’t afraid to ask for help when she needed it, after making sure the person was trustworthy of course.
Sean was very interesting. I was surprised by how easily he developed feelings for Elena but I loved how he never pushed her. He made his feelings very clear but he also made it clear that he didn’t expect anything in return. He knew she would walk over him if she had to to protect her son. It’s very easy to admire a lead who respects the female lead and doesn’t view her as an object to protect. Instead he views her as a person who is more than capable of killing him but he wants to take care of her because no one else has.
The romance between the two, despite the fact that it came out of nowhere (not necessarily insta.. but just.. yeah), was very well done. Elena is bound to have intimacy issues, and yes they weren’t cured in one go. It took her a while to finally let go and they had to work to get to the point. She didn’t just wake up ‘cured’. One of the things I really loved was how their hotness was not in fact emphasized. Sean’s handsomeness was mentioned in passing but the focus was clearly on their personalities so it was easy to see why they would fall in love with one another and it was easy to admire the romance.
The secondary characters were a definite plus which is why I was disappointed by some of the twists this book took. Another drawback for me as a reader was the fact that it was set in the same world as the Eve Duncan series. I usually wouldn’t mind so much but seeing that I don’t feel any tenderness towards the characters in that series, it becomes somewhat of an issue.
The suspense itself was nicely developed and the book kind of just flew by in a way that didn’t feel rushed.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick entertaining read to help them cool off.
April 29, 2012
This is my second Iris Johansen book and my rating may be a little biased because I liked Galen since the first time I've read about him in Johansen's The Final Target. It's nice to actually get his POV and get an in-depth look at his character. The plot and pace of the story is good. It has suspense, action, and romance. I couldn't quite put it down. It's a light but entertaining read. :)
November 2, 2021
This book was terrible. I’ve read a handful of Iris Johansen books and thought they were pretty good but this one definitely wasn’t. It seems to start right out in the middle of a story of a woman escaping a Colombian prison. There is no explanation of why she’s there, and there’s no background info on any of the characters. It’s as if it’s part of a bigger book in which they took a hunk out and made it into another book. You get some snippets here and there but mostly the book just seemed to be pointless. I had wondered if maybe it was part of a series or something but from what I can tell, it isn’t. Can’t recommend this one and I’ll throw it on the nearest donation pile for some other poor sucker to grab up. Maybe they’ll find something to like about it.
June 28, 2016
I enjoyed a few Iris Johansen novels many years ago, but this one just did not ring true for me. I stopped a number of times in the first fifty pages saying to myself that the line I had just finished was 'not what they would say' or 'too cliché' or 'too old fashioned'. The book is near 15 years old and maybe writing (and thus reading?) has changed that much in those years...but I don't think that is completely true. Probably my reading tastes have just evolved. In any case, too many books to read and write to burn time on one that does not grab me.
February 11, 2015
DNF at 85%. Holy crap did this book go south in a hurry. The violence was gratuitous and ridiculous. The suspense was emotionally manipulative and I saw it all coming from a mile away. Seriously, how did I once enjoy anything written by this author? There were moments when I started to enjoy it but I'm so mad now that I can't remember why. I am officially done with this series and this author.
February 12, 2011
Iris Johansen was brought to my attention by my aunt and while this has been the only book I've read by her, I have to say, it was pretty good. Her characters are all solid and well fleshed-out. Elena is one tough chick and I found her interactions with the various characters, particularly with her son, very real and well-written. She obviously has some tough past issues to get through and the way the story was written was done really well, in that I believed this could actually happen in real-life.
The romance here isn't really your typical romance-love-fest. It's more subtle and speaks more of sexual tension rather than romance. That comes in later. And with sexual tension, the male lead is important too, and with Sean Galen, readers will get the sense that while he may come across as some aloof bad-ass, he's actually rather kind and underneath that aloofness, he cares very much about Elena, even when they were just strangers.
A great read for those seeking a thrilling ride. :)
The romance here isn't really your typical romance-love-fest. It's more subtle and speaks more of sexual tension rather than romance. That comes in later. And with sexual tension, the male lead is important too, and with Sean Galen, readers will get the sense that while he may come across as some aloof bad-ass, he's actually rather kind and underneath that aloofness, he cares very much about Elena, even when they were just strangers.
A great read for those seeking a thrilling ride. :)
February 20, 2021
No One To Trust was an okay read. The heroine, Elena, was likable and fascinating. She's a kick-ass heroine. And I like that even though she's a fighter and strong woman, she wasn't afraid to ask for help whenever she needed it.
I liked Sean. He was a fascinating character. I admired him for respecting Elena as a woman and as a mother. It was not surprising for me how easily he developed feelings for her. And I loved him for wanting to take care of her. Such a sweet see guy.
The thing that I don't like and probably the reason why I gave it only 2 stars was the fact that it was just like the Eve Duncan Series.
But I still recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read.
I liked Sean. He was a fascinating character. I admired him for respecting Elena as a woman and as a mother. It was not surprising for me how easily he developed feelings for her. And I loved him for wanting to take care of her. Such a sweet see guy.
The thing that I don't like and probably the reason why I gave it only 2 stars was the fact that it was just like the Eve Duncan Series.
But I still recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read.
February 6, 2019
A light read, equipped will all the usual kidnapping, betrayal, murder, mayhem, and sexual tension. Johansen let us have a peek into the minds of the two main characters, Elena and Galen, who were both quite intense and focused. I was surprised that Galen was so trusting of people, especially given the nature of his job. The secondary characters had some measure of likability, but were not in the plot long enough to miss. The villain was your typical ruthless thug. I'm not generally thrilled about books dealing with the Mexican cartel, but in this case, it was used mainly as a title to characterize a person rather than emerging the reader into the lifestyle.
July 21, 2015
This was a fast paced action story on audio cassette. There was mystery, suspense and a touching love story that bloomed between Galen and Elena. Elena is one tough cookie who fights a dark enemy. I loved this tale with its twists, turns and non-stop excitement. There will be more Iris Johansen novels in my "Want to Reads".
June 27, 2018
Elena is a trained assassin, but needs help escaping from the killer who is after her. Enter Sean Galen.
This book is not part of the Eve Duncan series, but it does contain characters from that series. Fast-paced and exciting.
This book is not part of the Eve Duncan series, but it does contain characters from that series. Fast-paced and exciting.
July 30, 2015
Elena was a kick ass female and with Galen even better. Nothing came easy to her but she did everything she could to protect what was hers and really enjoyed her happy ending too.
August 21, 2022
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. ❤️📚 A fast paced and action packed thriller.
December 6, 2022
Wow, this book is bad. So so so bad. It starts "in the middle", as if you put a movie on and it was already 45 minutes in. The dialogue is really corny.
They live in Bogota, but Elena's soon is playing Robin Hood and learning Yankee Doodle. Unlikely.
One of the guys stitched up Elena's knife wound. She went to the bathroom. He came in to "check on her". She was sitting on the toilet, and he put on her bra. That was just weird.
Elena wants herself and her son sent to the United States, set up in a safe house, with new identities, a house, US citizenship, and enough money to be comfortable. "I'm not asking for much!" Yeah, ok.
Their house (that they just filled and are never going back to) gets burned to the ground. "Dominic's house?" "Yes. I have to tell Dominic. It's his house too." What???
In the helicopter: "I think we're descending. We just be landing." Duh.
Also, listened to the audiobook. One of the characters, who I think was supposed to be Columbian, sounded Irish. And the little boy sounded like he had a really bad head cold.
They live in Bogota, but Elena's soon is playing Robin Hood and learning Yankee Doodle. Unlikely.
One of the guys stitched up Elena's knife wound. She went to the bathroom. He came in to "check on her". She was sitting on the toilet, and he put on her bra. That was just weird.
Elena wants herself and her son sent to the United States, set up in a safe house, with new identities, a house, US citizenship, and enough money to be comfortable. "I'm not asking for much!" Yeah, ok.
Their house (that they just filled and are never going back to) gets burned to the ground. "Dominic's house?" "Yes. I have to tell Dominic. It's his house too." What???
In the helicopter: "I think we're descending. We just be landing." Duh.
Also, listened to the audiobook. One of the characters, who I think was supposed to be Columbian, sounded Irish. And the little boy sounded like he had a really bad head cold.
January 7, 2025
The ending was really rushed. It was very clear from the beginning how the book was going to end, so the whole book you were just trying to figure out how you would get there
June 24, 2018
Ok krimić. Ništa više od toga.
September 18, 2022
Wow this book was horrible.
No One to Trust is my first Iris Johansen novel and it may also be my last. This has serious whatpad, fanfic vibes.
Where do I begin? The lead character, Elena was written so annoyingly I almost lost all sympathy for her. She has a forced romance with the other lead, Galen. They simply had no chemistry and how they fell in love was not properly built up or did not make any sense.
The dialogue and action are wooden and cartoony. Reminded me of 80s cartoons like GI Joe but GI Joe was at least enjoyable. Someone even begged to die here and it couldn't be more obvious. I chuckled when it happened. I guess it's supposed to be a tragic?
This was also poorly researched, I could tell with how general the descriptions were of the weapons, equipment and attack moves. I'm dumbfounded that this is rated above 4. Is it bots? Anyways if you wanna read an 80s action romance written by a boomer who did the bare minimum I guess this is for you.
No One to Trust is my first Iris Johansen novel and it may also be my last. This has serious whatpad, fanfic vibes.
Where do I begin? The lead character, Elena was written so annoyingly I almost lost all sympathy for her. She has a forced romance with the other lead, Galen. They simply had no chemistry and how they fell in love was not properly built up or did not make any sense.
The dialogue and action are wooden and cartoony. Reminded me of 80s cartoons like GI Joe but GI Joe was at least enjoyable. Someone even begged to die here and it couldn't be more obvious. I chuckled when it happened. I guess it's supposed to be a tragic?
This was also poorly researched, I could tell with how general the descriptions were of the weapons, equipment and attack moves. I'm dumbfounded that this is rated above 4. Is it bots? Anyways if you wanna read an 80s action romance written by a boomer who did the bare minimum I guess this is for you.
July 27, 2014
This spinoff from the earlier Eve Duncan series highlighted a new tale of danger and intrigue. Elena Kyler's life was in danger from an abusive man who was her child's father. Although Elena's a trained assassin, she required Sean Galen's help in the midst of desperation to escape from him. She didn't want her child to live in his father's dangerous world. Together Sean and Elena with her child flee from his clutches, while they watch him self-destruct with murder in their waking path. Her former lover only wished to see her dead. With nowhere to go to be safe and no one to trust with Rico Chavez's evil wealthy connections to stop them in their tracks, they learn to trust each other, lean on their own two feet, while a sizzling sparking chemistry happened between them, before they could put his madness behind them and end it for good.
April 6, 2013
I am a huge Iris Johansen fan, however I only have read the Eve Duncan books so it was good to read a stand alone book by her. In this book there's the trust between parent and child, the trust between a man and woman, trust between friends, and of course the flip side of trust -betrayal. These themes are juggled and twisted until even the reader doesn't know whom they can trust besides Galen and Elena.
April 26, 2009
Remarkable similar plotline to many of Johanson novels: Despartely in need women, meets hansome, viril man that's saves her and they live happily everafter...a fun read...lots of action...I am entertained by the book, but not floored by it...just what one would expect...save the woman and find love
February 6, 2016
I loved other books by this author, but after taking a few days to read just over a 100 pages (and that's with pushing myself,) I've finally given up. It's probably just my tastes here, but I don't care for drug lords and their quest for money. Also, betrayal is ok in small doses, or as part of a larger more intricate plot. That was not the case here.
January 11, 2020
Decent story but I didn't feel any chemistry between characters where there was supposed to be. I guess I had a tough time liking any of the characters which were not well developed. Barry is the name of the 10 year old boy in the story. Barry? Really, this name is more suited to a beer drinker at Cheers bar. Sheesh.
December 10, 2015
This was my "airplane book" when I flew to SD last week. I just finally got around to finishing it. This is a very forgettable book. Very poor character development, terrible story development...hard to even call it fluff.
September 29, 2020
Classic Iris Johansen novel. Liked the shout out to Eve and Joe Quinn. I like kick butt female characters and this book was led by one.
October 31, 2021
The story drew me in and was a real page turner, though there were moments about ½-way through that were draggy and repetitive. Elena, a daughter of a now deceased South American guerilla who raised her alone and taught her survival skills, is a single mother with a 5-year-old son, Barry. We are endlessly reminded of her love for him and the ends to which she’ll go to protect his innocence. Elena trusts very few after being raised in the environment in which she lived.
Rico Chavez is a guerrilla drug lord, ruthless and charismatic, who always gets what he wants—anywhere in the world. What he wants is to destroy Elena by first stripping her life bare and then taking the only thing that really matters to her—Barry, his only son after a handful of daughters by other women. He needs someone to train up in his image to lead his band.
Ben Forbes, one of the few people Elena trusts, is hired to extract Elena and Barry from their predicament. In order to get into the cartel’s territory, it will require superior personnel as part of his team to do that. Elena is upset and resistant to the idea, especially after she meets Sean Galen, one of those men. He is a restless retiree from such missions but misses the excitement of his old job.
Sean Galen, hardened of body, mind and spirit to the niceties of life as one who contracts with various people worldwide to do their dangerous bidding, is the handsome hero to the rescue. Thinking at first, they will be extracting two (mother and young son), he agrees. At the point of pickup, he is told that they will be taking a third, Dominic, a Priest who works among the guerrilla fringes. He is essentially Barry’s mentor and caretaker when Elena is away on business. Galen knew the extraction would be risky with two but with the third added, new arrangements have to be made on the spot.
There are no rules in this cat-and-mouse game of hide-and-seek as Chavez’ men discover every move that Elena makes. To her surprise, Sean Galen is clever and wealthy, spiriting her to several of his properties with built-in protections of safety. It must be a fight to the finish for Elena and Barry to be free forever of Chavez’ reach.
Rico Chavez is a guerrilla drug lord, ruthless and charismatic, who always gets what he wants—anywhere in the world. What he wants is to destroy Elena by first stripping her life bare and then taking the only thing that really matters to her—Barry, his only son after a handful of daughters by other women. He needs someone to train up in his image to lead his band.
Ben Forbes, one of the few people Elena trusts, is hired to extract Elena and Barry from their predicament. In order to get into the cartel’s territory, it will require superior personnel as part of his team to do that. Elena is upset and resistant to the idea, especially after she meets Sean Galen, one of those men. He is a restless retiree from such missions but misses the excitement of his old job.
Sean Galen, hardened of body, mind and spirit to the niceties of life as one who contracts with various people worldwide to do their dangerous bidding, is the handsome hero to the rescue. Thinking at first, they will be extracting two (mother and young son), he agrees. At the point of pickup, he is told that they will be taking a third, Dominic, a Priest who works among the guerrilla fringes. He is essentially Barry’s mentor and caretaker when Elena is away on business. Galen knew the extraction would be risky with two but with the third added, new arrangements have to be made on the spot.
There are no rules in this cat-and-mouse game of hide-and-seek as Chavez’ men discover every move that Elena makes. To her surprise, Sean Galen is clever and wealthy, spiriting her to several of his properties with built-in protections of safety. It must be a fight to the finish for Elena and Barry to be free forever of Chavez’ reach.
June 24, 2025
Plot Summary:
"No One to Trust" is a gripping novel that follows Elena Kyler, a trained assassin, as she navigates a treacherous world filled with danger, deception, and intense emotions. With her young son's safety at stake, Elena reluctantly seeks help from Sean Galen, a mercenary, to escape the clutches of Rico Chavez, a ruthless killer and her son's father. As they journey across the country, their lives intertwine, and they must decide who to trust in a world where betrayal lurks around every corner.
Review:
This book is a thrilling ride filled with non-stop action, suspense, and romance. Elena is a strong and complex character who embodies both strength and vulnerability, making her relatable and admirable. The relationship between Elena and Galen develops amid chaos, adding depth to the plot. The themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child are well-woven throughout the story.
Pros:
Dynamic Action: The book is filled with intense action sequences that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Strong Female Lead: Elena is a complex and admirable character who drives the story forward.
Romantic Tension: The relationship between Elena and Galen adds an emotional layer to the plot.
Cons:
Predictable Plot Twists: Some readers may find the plot twists predictable, which can detract from the overall suspense.
Forced Romance: A few readers have noted that the romance between Elena and Galen feels forced or lacks proper buildup.
Overall:
"No One to Trust" is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that will appeal to fans of romantic suspense and thrillers. With its strong female lead, dynamic action, and romantic tension, this book is sure to keep readers engaged. While some may find the plot twists predictable, the story's emotional depth and intense action sequences make it a compelling read.
"No One to Trust" is a gripping novel that follows Elena Kyler, a trained assassin, as she navigates a treacherous world filled with danger, deception, and intense emotions. With her young son's safety at stake, Elena reluctantly seeks help from Sean Galen, a mercenary, to escape the clutches of Rico Chavez, a ruthless killer and her son's father. As they journey across the country, their lives intertwine, and they must decide who to trust in a world where betrayal lurks around every corner.
Review:
This book is a thrilling ride filled with non-stop action, suspense, and romance. Elena is a strong and complex character who embodies both strength and vulnerability, making her relatable and admirable. The relationship between Elena and Galen develops amid chaos, adding depth to the plot. The themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child are well-woven throughout the story.
Pros:
Dynamic Action: The book is filled with intense action sequences that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Strong Female Lead: Elena is a complex and admirable character who drives the story forward.
Romantic Tension: The relationship between Elena and Galen adds an emotional layer to the plot.
Cons:
Predictable Plot Twists: Some readers may find the plot twists predictable, which can detract from the overall suspense.
Forced Romance: A few readers have noted that the romance between Elena and Galen feels forced or lacks proper buildup.
Overall:
"No One to Trust" is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that will appeal to fans of romantic suspense and thrillers. With its strong female lead, dynamic action, and romantic tension, this book is sure to keep readers engaged. While some may find the plot twists predictable, the story's emotional depth and intense action sequences make it a compelling read.
October 1, 2025
He is the most terrifying of killers: ruthless, cunning, charismatic. And he has the means to get whatever he wants. And what Rico Chavez wants most is Elena Kyler--and he wants her dead. Trained as an assassin, Elena didn’t need anyone to survive. But now she finds herself on the run from one dangerous man and turning for help to another.
Sean Galen was a man without illusions. He knew it was only desperation that caused Elena to accept his help--a mother’s desperation to save her young son from a psychopath father who would raise their son in his own chilling image. And yet he was determined to get this woman who had never been able to trust anyone or anything in her whole life to accept him as her ally. But both Galen and Elena know that Chavez’s power and wealth mean there is no place they can be safe and no one they can trust--not even each other. Already Chavez’s assassins and connections to those in the highest positions of power have turned this into a war with no rules.
With two shocking acts of brutal violence, Chavez shows he will stop at nothing and that nothing will stop him. Soon a trail of horrifying murders will follow Galen and Elena across country to a last stand and a shattering showdown. For Chavez is a master of control and he wants more than just to take Elena’s life. He wants her alive long enough to see him destroy every reason she has for living. He wants her to turn against everything and everyone she ever believed in. He wants her to commit the ultimate act of betrayal. And by the time he is through, he wants her to beg him to take the only thing she’ll have left to give: her life.
Sean Galen was a man without illusions. He knew it was only desperation that caused Elena to accept his help--a mother’s desperation to save her young son from a psychopath father who would raise their son in his own chilling image. And yet he was determined to get this woman who had never been able to trust anyone or anything in her whole life to accept him as her ally. But both Galen and Elena know that Chavez’s power and wealth mean there is no place they can be safe and no one they can trust--not even each other. Already Chavez’s assassins and connections to those in the highest positions of power have turned this into a war with no rules.
With two shocking acts of brutal violence, Chavez shows he will stop at nothing and that nothing will stop him. Soon a trail of horrifying murders will follow Galen and Elena across country to a last stand and a shattering showdown. For Chavez is a master of control and he wants more than just to take Elena’s life. He wants her alive long enough to see him destroy every reason she has for living. He wants her to turn against everything and everyone she ever believed in. He wants her to commit the ultimate act of betrayal. And by the time he is through, he wants her to beg him to take the only thing she’ll have left to give: her life.
January 3, 2018
One of the leading drug lords in Columbia, Rico Chavez is a ruthless killer. Elena Kyler, a former Columbian rebel, has some information that she believes the DEA would really want about Chavez. However, before she would give this information over to DEA head she wanted safe passage into the US with new identities for her and her five-year old son Barry. This is because not only does Chavez want her dead, he is also Barry's father.
Brought into help extract Elena from Columbia, mercanary Sean Galen is more than willing to do what he is paid to do. However, after the DEA lead on the case is murdered by Chavez's men, it's up to Galen to protect Elena and her son. Because of Chavez's influence and money, just about anybody can turn out to be a traitor including DEA agents. And of course, in the process, a love affair blossoms between Elena and Galen amongst all the bloodshed.
Bah. I'm sorry. This book sucked. It's hard writing a simple review for it when I just want to write "don't waste your time" as my only sentence. Normally I really like Johansen's work. Ya, they're not complicated books and really fall under the category of "light summer reading," but that's what I was looking for after the "Bloated Epic:" a nice easy read. Instead I got...well...crap. The characters are shallow, there is just way too much detailed violence (a good author can describe the terror and suspense without resulting in gore), and the relationship between Elena and Galen is forced. I bought this as a used book for $2.50 but I don't even think it was worth that much.
Brought into help extract Elena from Columbia, mercanary Sean Galen is more than willing to do what he is paid to do. However, after the DEA lead on the case is murdered by Chavez's men, it's up to Galen to protect Elena and her son. Because of Chavez's influence and money, just about anybody can turn out to be a traitor including DEA agents. And of course, in the process, a love affair blossoms between Elena and Galen amongst all the bloodshed.
Bah. I'm sorry. This book sucked. It's hard writing a simple review for it when I just want to write "don't waste your time" as my only sentence. Normally I really like Johansen's work. Ya, they're not complicated books and really fall under the category of "light summer reading," but that's what I was looking for after the "Bloated Epic:" a nice easy read. Instead I got...well...crap. The characters are shallow, there is just way too much detailed violence (a good author can describe the terror and suspense without resulting in gore), and the relationship between Elena and Galen is forced. I bought this as a used book for $2.50 but I don't even think it was worth that much.
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