Customer Reviews

All the Queen's Men

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(62)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I must say, that I totally enjoyed this novel. It was a great escape. I actually could not put it down!

I have never read a Linda Howard novel before, and I am pleasantly surprised. This book has it all. Romance, action, suspense and adventure. The characters are totally believable, and their chemistry together sizzled.

The novel was extremely fast paced. There were no boring scenic descriptions or mundane musings that make a person want to skip the whole thing and say to "heck" with it.

I found the heroine, Neima, to be bright and funny. You find yourself feeling for her. And what can we say about the hero, John Medina, except - Love Him! He is the perfect guy. Strong, yet sensitive, tough, yet gentle, hard, yet vunerable. Plus, his looks are not too bad either.

I found the CIA field agent angle to be refreshing in a romantic novel. It was interesting, not to read the same old story once again. The so called "bad" guy, was no such thing. I wonder if there will be a story involving him in the near future.

The only thing I did not enjoy about this book was the ending. It was left too open. We do not know what is the outcome for the future of Neima and John. What role will they continue to play for the CIA? There are some steamy parts to the end, (which were a little to "high octane" for me) but what do you expect in a romance novel? All in all, I truly recommend this book. It was an extremely well written, fast paced read.

In a covert operation in the mountains of Iran, mission leader "Tucker" gives Dallas the go ahead to detonate explosives that will result in Dallas' death. Dallas' new wife, Niema Burdock, is an electronics expert on the same mission, and tearfully assumes the guilt over his death for the next five years, living a quiet and solitary existence in an unassuming position at the CIA. When Tucker is re-introduced into her life, she discovers that he is actually John Medina - an elusive black ops agent (first introduced in the novel "Kill & Tell"). Niema doesn't know that over the last five years, John has silently watched her life from afar, hoping that she can move on with her life and find someone new to love. Since she hasn't, John decides it's time to make his move. But John, who has spent his life in the shadows, assuming one identity after another, has no idea to go about getting close to her. He resorts to what he knows, and convinces her to join his latest mission to capture a French arms dealer. She goes undercover to befriend Louis Ronsard. When introduced into Louis' life, she finds that he's not what she expected at all.

The characters are charismatic, but there are so many unexplored chances that could have been fleshed out to make the story more interesting (like the tension between them as they trained for the mission, and the unexplored relationship between Niema and Louis). Overall a good read, despite a love scene that borders on rape and might bother some readers.

This might just be Linda Howard's best work yet. I wanted to reread it as soon as I reached the last page!

All the Queen's Men plunges the reader into the world of CIA secret missions. In a refreshing turn, the heroine Niema Burdock is as adventurous as her male agent counterparts. No reluctant heroine proclaiming her inexperience and shying from challenges here. If you like strong, unapologetic - and believable characters - you will love Niema.

And Howard outdoes herself creating the hero, John Medina. He is one of the CIA's most legendary agents (was a character in Kill and Tell), yet Howard creates a superb balance of the self-confidence and coolheadedness required of an agent, with the vulnerability that is a logical result of living a solitary and hidden life.

Niema and Medina are well-matched in their spy competencies, and in their intense sensuality. The plot is one of the best Howard has created, with in-depth and complex characters. The love scenes are incredibly intense without being cloying. No annoying euphamisms or "falling back to earth" - Howard doesn't need them.

This is an amazing, intense, and exciting read. The cool assurance and attitude of taking initiatives that the characters exude (without being superhuman) rubs off on the reader. Reading the book made me want to get out and get started with several projects, sports, and/or other activities. Which created a conflict with my great desire to sit down and start the book over!

A quality of a good book is that when you finish it you wish for just a few more pages. This is one of those books.

This book is exactly what you would expect of Linda Howard's move into the suspense genre and it has not, in any way, affected the quality of her writing.

Don't pay any attention to people who say it's different in style, too sensual, too boring, too whatever... Any avid Linda Howard reader would recognise her style under any pseudonym. Too sensual? Not if you've ever read any existing Linda Howard novel, and boring - don't make me laugh.

The story grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go - not for a bit. I was ecstatic to witness the return of John Medina - he was one of those cleverly hinted at characters in one of her earlier novels. Niema is heartbreakingly feisty and vulnerable at the same time, like most of Linda Howard's heroines. John is the strong, silent loner who, in any other book, would be called a stereotype, but in this one just... fits.

The plot is strong and moves at a fast, suspense-filled pace. Surprisingly, one of the secondary characters strikes a bitter-sweet cord in your heart. Just when you thought you'd sifted out the good guys from the bad.

I too, can't wait for Chance McKenzie's story (please don't let it be too far away). In the meantime, I'll make do with anything Linda Howard has to offer. She hasn't disappointed me yet - and that is something I can say about very few authors in all my years of reading.

I have just recently discovered Linda Howard and now find myself on a mad hunt for everything she has written. This is the third novel I have read of hers and would have to say it is probably my favorite so far. There are several reasons for this...the heroine, Niema, is smart, capable and, in no way shape or form, a shrinking violet. That being in mind, she is still a likeable character. The same goes for John Medina. Many romance novels characterize the male antagonist as the stereotypical macho man: cold, sexist, insenstive, and willing to drop his pants at the drop of a hat. Or, when he shows more of his sensitive side, it is just too sweet, bordering on cheesy. This is NOT true of John Medina. Linda Howard has hit the target with this hero--he is just the right mix of sensuality, masculinity, and sensitivity.

Additionally, this novel is a very quick and exciting read--a good thing, except that you wish that you could see even more of the chemistry between Niema and john because they are such interesting characters.

This one is definitely worth reading over and over again!

Okay, who cares about the rest of the book, the sex scene in Rosnard's office is so BURNING HOT that it alone is worth the price of the book. One thing about Linda Howard -- this woman knows how to write scorching sex.

I thought AFTER THE NIGHT and SHADES OF TWILIGHT were erotic, but though there's less sex overall in this book, that one scene is the most starkly erotic thing Linda Howard has ever written. I've always enjoyed her books as romances, but this one made me wonder if maybe she has missed her true calling and should be writing erotica.

This is the third book I've read by Ms. Howard, and I must say that I now see what all the fuss is about. "Now You See Her" and "Mr. Perfect" were both tremendous disappointments in the plot department, although the sex was good. In this book, she has redeemed herself in my eyes. In the future, I will look for her adventure/thriller novels as opposed to her romance-driven ones. I found this book to be a page-turner---I could not put it down! I became entranced and entangled in the lives of Niema and John and, later, Rosnard. I found the characterizations to be well drawn and engaging. I found her writing to be sophisticated and engrossing. (Her style actually reminded me of the old Sidney Sheldon...)And I appreciated that Niema's character did not mirror the brazen, brassy, ballsy, vitriolic heroine of "Mr. Perfect." I was most thankful for that. I appreciated the sexual angst surrounding the build-up to Niema's and John's first sexual encounter. Best sex scenes: between the guard and the secretary (some slight S/M for you kinky folks out there!) and the couch scene where Niema and John are doing some fierce "undercover" work as they prepare themselves to get caught...talk about chair-gripping tension! I was riveted to the page. Yes, it was *sex* as opposed to *making love*, but I found it plausible given the context of the situation. As for some reviewers who have criticized the ending and wondered why "did they leave the yacht to go sightseeing" I believe that the author used this as a literary ploy in order to re-introduce Rosnard into the picture. I, too, found the action onshore a bit *unbelievable*, but was able to reconcile my disbelief with what I believe were the author's intentions to move the story along to its conclusion. All in all, a very good read.

This book is certailnly not as steemy as her usual books like 'Dream Man' and 'After the Night' which are two of my favorite Titles. This book is more orientated towards the suspense and the world of spies than the romance, which I didn't mind at all considering how interesting the plot was. Don't read this book expecting the usual Linda Howard, just read it for an EXCELLENT adventure with a dash of romance written by a very talented author.

I have to admit, I love the romantic suspense genre, and have read as many books as I can in the subject. Very often, I'll end up trudging through a book that fails to fulfill all that it touts. Not so with Linda Howard's novels. I know that when I pick up a book of hers, I know that it'll have good action as well as some hot romance. I have to admit that sometimes the novels are a bit unbelievable, particularly when it's two characters that have known each other for about a day and then all of a sudden fall into bed and have unbelievable sex. (i.e. Kill and Tell). I still enjoy the books simply because they're interesting. The mystery is good without being too bogged down in the darkness of murder. I loved this book becuase it had that "hard-to-get" man's man who never forgot that one girl who connected with him deeper than anyone had in a long time. It's not often that the ability to lust after a fictional character is possible, but the thought of Medina, who was outrageously sexy, manly, and wanted only Niema was simply irresistable. Ms. Howard fed a lot of the female fantasy of that dream guy that everyone wants, yet he only wants one and no other. I loved the fact that with her, he couldn't keep that infamous control. The only other Howard book that I enjoyed more was After the Night, and that was most likely because Gray and Medina had very similar characteristics. They were both men used to getting their own way, forged by their past experiences, who are drawn irresistably to the women in their lives, who aren't weak at all, but have their own minds and know what to do. All in all, a definite keeper, buy this book, it's worth it!

Linda Howard remains one of my favorite authors, not only because she tells a great story, but because she mixes sensual romance into the mix without being too obvious.

The plot is well-developed, and the characters are compelling. My only beef is with Ms. Howard's almost cartoonish portrayal of "black ops" spies. I actually happen to be related to many Force Recon (USMC)and other assorted marines who work in recon/intelligence... I can assure you that, while I of course don't know particulars of their missions, they don't have unlimited expense accounts and most certainly are not James Bond-type spies (despite what they tell the girls at the bars). But this is fiction, and romantic fiction at that, so you allow some "poetic license."

Actually, this book is one of the only that manages to bridge the gap between "erotic romance" and "spy thriller" without giving the reader giggle fits. I read Clancy, for example, and always squirm uncomfortably at the occasional sex scene. I also read the "super-erotic" writers such as Susan Johnson and Robin Schone, and squirm uncomfortably at their attemtps at intrigue.

Linda Howard has managed to combine the two genres in an intriguing way. Her gradual blend towards Romantic Suspense seemed to manifest in "Son of the Morning" (an excellent read, BTW), and continues up to this book. The plot and ending of this book are solid (not inspiring, but worth reading), although she's written better.

Bottom line: If you're a romance reader, read this book. If you're a suspense reader, read this book.