Above Temptation [Paperback]

Karin Kallmaker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 2010

For Kip Barrett, a secret commission from her boss’s boss’s boss, CEO Tamara Sterling, shows that the respect she’s earned for her integrity and intelligence is justified. All she has to do is what she’s done successfully before: Follow the money, find the high-tech thief, and document it so the culprit gets the justice they deserve.

This case is different, though. This time the embezzler is someone inside Sterling Proof, the financial industry’s most-trusted investigation firm. That one of their own could turn out to be a thief is bad enough, but that it wasn’t detected and dealt with immediately is even worse. The scandal would destroy Sterling Proof’s unparalleled and unblemished reputation for ethical conduct and security. Kip has to find out how and who, and no one but Tamara can know what she’s doing.

As Kip gets closer to discovering the embezzler, her clandestine meetings with Tamara grow more frequent. To her consternation, her admiration for Sterling’s work is compounded by an undeniable physical chemistry. But there’s a rule about fraternization, and Sterling investigators never break the rules. She needs to wrap up her findings before anyone—including her emerging prime suspect Tamara Sterling—realizes Kip is not above temptation.
This sizzling romance is the latest page-turning story from Golden Crown and Lambda Literary award-winning author Karin Kallmaker.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karin Kallmaker is a multi-award winner with over twenty-five titles in print and is in high demand for speaking and signing events. Her 2010/2011 tour schedule includes bicoastal venues and her popular blog attracts readers from all fifty states and around the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594931798
• ISBN-13: 978-1594931796
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Excerpts from all my novels: www.kallmaker.com

At my website you can find my complete bibliography, descriptions, reviews and links to additional content, like podcasts and video.

Recent review from the Lesbian News by Teresa DeCrescenzo: "Warming Trend is... populated with a fine, credible cast of supporting characters... It's a good read, as we've come to expect from Kallmaker. The contrasting settings-Alaska and Florida-and the richly drawn characters make us want to connect with them, especially with Ani and Eve. Even the rather esoteric interest in ice rings true."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of her best yet, July 24, 2010

By 

Gordon Clason (kansas city, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Above Temptation (Paperback)

Karin Kallmaker's newest home run is named Above Temptation. All the Kallmaker elements, passion, slowly dawning love, overcoming seemingly insuperable obstacles one by one, leading up to happily ever after, they are all in there and, as usual, masterfully written. However this book has a delightful difference. As always, Ms Kallmaker's plot is dynamic and entertaining, but this time she has conceived an action-spy-story-mystery with dramatic possibilities and breathtaking plot developments.

Kip Barrett is a straight arrow embezzlement investigator working for Tamara Sterling. When Ms Sterling discovers funds missing in her own investigative agency, she chooses Kip Barrett to uncover the thief. Although Kip can't certainly rule out Tamara herself, the passion they both feel pulls them together (against both of their best judgement) as they delve into the misdirection, deceit and fraud which has liberated some six million dollars from Sterling Investigations. Computer hacking plays a big part in this plotline, as does tradecraft of both law enforcement and espionage.

Ms Kallmaker writes the steps of the investigation as if she had been doing it her entire life. No investigator myself, I don't know whether she is accurate or not, I just know that this is a page-turning thriller, with Karin Kallmaker's patented romantic ending working itself out naturally and inevitably from the plot steps which lead up to it. I loved it, and you will too.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the cover, read the book, December 7, 2010

By 

Sage320 (Newport News, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Above Temptation (Paperback)

Karin Kallmaker enters the world of cyber business for her latest romance.

After failing to qualify as a Secret Service agent, Kip Barrett went to work for Sterling Fraud Investigations where she specializes in tracking financial transactions. She's very good at her job, but she's still surprised when CEO Tamara Sterling gives her the special assignment to find out who is embezzling money from the company. Kip has complete access to all of the company's records, but she can't tell anyone else what she is doing and she is to trust no one, including Tam. That proves to be prudent because, as she tracks the culprit through paperwork and cyber information, she can't prove that Tam isn't the thief. Kip and Tam develop an attraction for each other, but there is a strict non-fraternization policy at the company and Kip refuses to compromise her integrity. If Tam turns out to be the thief, Kip is going to make sure she is prosecuted. As they dodge government investigators, rumors in financial newspapers and use false identities to sneak out of the country, Kip is determined to do her job first and worry about a relationship later. At the heart of the story is the issue of trust between the two women and the answer to the puzzle turns out to be the worst kind of betrayal possible.

Kallmaker has written a nice tight suspense story with some action included. Though it's a romance, that's not what drives most of the action. Sometimes the reader can get a little lost in the discussion of the technology involved and the details of how information is gathered, but that's a minor point. This is the type of solid romance that Kallmaker's fans expect from her. The most curious question about the book is the cover. It really doesn't reflect the story at all and could mislead a reader about what to expect.

Karin Kallmaker is referred to sometimes as the "queen" of lesbian romance. Above Temptation is an example of why she has earned the title, but it is proof that she can handle other aspects of a story also.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, January 8, 2011

By 

cptnobby "charlotte1h" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Above Temptation (Paperback)

As usual another Kallmaker classic. Who cares about the cover, it's there to make you pick up the book, guess it worked! Good pacing of the plot, very well researched - I learnt something about the financial world that was well outside my sphere of knowledge, okay a little bit obvious who the protagonist was, but reasonably well hidden considering it's pretty obvious its going to be one of the characters included isn't it?! Very readable, in fact pretty hard to put down.