Customer Reviews

Bane Affair

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So seldom do I start a series from the very fist story so when I found out Ms. Kent had a new book out, and it was the first of several stories to come, needless to say I raced out and ordered it. You can always be guaranteed a good read when you pick up Ms. Kent and this story was no exception.

Without going into a long drawn out synopsis (this could give some things away the reader would probably rather I didn't) suffice to say that this is a very fast-paced, emotional read that will have you glued to the pages until the final chapter.

Well, what's so great you ask? This book offers it all, a great storyline, a hero that is not only damaged, but willing to have his heart healed by a truly remarkable heroine (in this case Natasha) and it offers enough teasers of upcoming characters that you will be hooked and out pre-ordering the rest in the series. Chemistry between Christian and Natasha is great, and there is enough push and pull between the two to keep the reader satisfied that yes, they will get their happy ending, but it won't come easy.

I greatly look forward to the next in the series which will be "The Shaughnessey Accord" and hope that Christian and Natasha will be around for that one. It was hard to see this story come to an end, and I plan on finding room on my keeper shelf.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

I bought this book because the premise reminded me of something I would see on an episode of Alias, one of my favorite television shows. What I did not realize, being that I am not familiar with any of Kent's previous works, was that while Alison Kent is trying to do something different here by writing a novel about spies, she is first and foremost a romance writer. I am not a huge fan of such graphic romances (it is just not my taste) however, despite that I did enjoy the story of sexy spy Christian Bane and the strong willed Natasha Gaudet. The beginning of the book was pure romance so it took me a while to get into it but once it got going I found it hard to put down. This is definitely the beginning of a very interesting series, 3 ½ Stars!

I am an avid reader, and love all of Alison Kent's books, and "The Bane Affair" did not disappoint.

From the minute I picked the book up, I was drawn into Christian and Natasha's story. The action is non-stop, the sex is steamy, and the story line is well thought out and flows seamlessly. Posing as Peter Deacon, Christian is sent to get information on Spectra IT's newest illegal activity. It is here where he meets the unexpectedly beautiful and honest Natasha. From the moment these two meet, sparks fly off the page.

This is one book that I highly recommend that you purchase and add to the keeper collection. Be sure to keep room for the rest of the guys from SG-5...You won't be disappointed!

Going under cover as Spectra IT's womanizing front man Peter Deacon is the last thing Christian Bane wants to do. But when Hank Smithson, founder of SG-5 asks him to take this case to help bring Deacon down, Christian can't tell the man who saved his life "no." Armed only with his good looks, sharp intellect and the Intel amassed about his targets, Christian arrives at Dr. Bow's country estate to locate and retrieve kidnapped computer programmer, Woodrow Jinks. But things are rocky from the start. According to his Intel, Bow's goddaughter, Natasha Gaudet is privy to the deal between Bow and Spectra IT, but it becomes clear that Natasha knows very little. Christian knows that the real Peter Deacon would not miss the opportunity to mix business and pleasure with Natasha and the more he gets to know her, the more Christian wants to be with her...not as Peter, but as himself. Will he be able to figure out the deal between Bow and Spectra before anything happens to Natasha and will she hate him once she realizes he's not them man she thinks he is?

Alison Kent has begun her SG-5 series with a bang. Christian is an emotionally unattached, wounded man who's not quite sure what to do with Natasha...and who can blame him? The last time he put his heart into a woman's hands she left him to die in a Thai prison. Natasha is a woman who likes the finer things in life, expensive clothes, fast cars and hot men and Peter Deacon is just about the hottest she's ever met. But his actions contradict her intuition about him. Is he the womanizer or the wounded soldier? Both of these characters are multi-faceted and wonderful. Their sex scenes sizzle right off the page and it's not hard at all to invest in these two. The story is fast paced and filled with vivid settings (I want my own water garden now!) and excellent intrigue (think a faster version of Alias). It's a one sitting read all the way. The Bane Affair is an outstanding beginning to Kent's Smithson Group series. --Shelly Tavenner, official reviewer at www.allromancewriters.com.

Episode One: THE BANE AFFAIR. Christian Bane is part of a covert ops group gathered by Hank Smithson, who put together the five-man Smithson Group. He handpicked each and every one of them.

Christian Bane is the quietest of the group. Will this quiet one be able to impersonate Peter Deacon, a man working for the syndicate known as Spectra IT? Christian was saved by Hank from a prison deep in the Thailand jungle. Though Hank would trust Christian with his life, Christian carries a look-both haunted and hunted-that worries Hank. Once Christian knows that the syndicate is holding another innocent man hostage, he's more than willing to take on the assignment.

Natasha Gaudet has life rather easy. Her job, where her employer is her godfather, is on a huge estate. Upon arriving to work one day, she notices that her godfather has a visitor-a rare occurrence. A rich, intense visitor, who appears to look into her, through her, and for what she tries desperately to hide from the world. How can he do that? They haven't even met. Furthermore, her godfather informs Natasha that she is to be Peter Deacon's entertainment during his stay-seeing to his every need.

Considering the two have a soul-deep connection from first glance, this does not prove to be a hardship to either one of them. Christian's job as impersonating Deacon includes having to take the gorgeous Natasha to bed. Having already scored with his Ferrari-she has a thing for cars, expensive cars-that'll be easy. Christian was entranced from when he saw her picture in the portfolio he received from his employer. Christian's first order of business is to determine whether or not Natasha is as dirty as her godfather, or at least aware of his crimes. If he has to, he'll expose her, along with her godfather, Wickam Bow, but he will most certainly enjoy her luscious body first. It doesn't take Christian long to determine that Natasha is completely innocent and has no knowledge of Wick's wrongdoing. From Wick's point of view, Natasha makes the perfect pawn. This is wonderful for a man who enjoys playing with people's lives.

Lines are getting blurred the more time Christian spends with Natasha. Something is very, very wrong. They both feel the same way-about a lot of things. But both are reluctant to share their close, personal feelings. Christian has a painful past, like most of the SG operatives. However, the source of his betrayal, and the brutality he subsequently endured, was because of a woman. Sworn to never, ever trust a woman, here is Natasha. Is she at all like the woman who once betrayed him? Is she in cahoots with her very dirty godfather? Christian better find out, and quickly, because their intensely passionate time together becomes far more than sex.

Natasha is burning through each and every one of Christian's barriers. There is one scene-a particular shower scene-that is utterly moving. Not because of the shared explosive passion, but because Christian reveals a part of himself he's successfully managed to hide from Natasha. This scene may indeed be the most powerful scene of this amazing, chilling, and compelling read by Kent. To witness Peter and Natasha's finding something more fulfilling than love-peace-is a touching, affecting experience that I won't forget for a long time to come.

THE BANE AFFAIR is a superb book! It is full of fears and secrets, and the inability to know what is real and not real. Also, danger is high on the list, as well as figuring out who to trust. This is a chilling story of deceit, in part because Natasha can't help but worry whether she's a fringe benefit, or if it could possibly be the real thing with her and Peter, especially once the true danger-and the truth-is revealed.

There are four more books to follow, one each month through February of 2005. If you are anything like this reader, you are NOT going to want to miss a single book in this series. The books are listed above, and you can visit Ms. Kent's website to learn more.

(For Sizzling Romances, October, 2004)

Alison Kent has written The Bane Affair with a different style from her previous works; a style that results in an excellent book full of intrigue, techno savvy, suspense and her trademark intelligent, independent characters. Ms. Kent doesn't skimp on the steam, either. This is the first in a series of five books that will I feel will project Alison Kent several notches. Long-time fans won't be surprised, they have seen it coming. I give this book the highest of recommendations, 5 stars just doesn't do it justice.

Christian Bane, top agent for SG-5 is pretending to be Peter Deacon a member of Spectra IT, a dangerous crime syndicate. At the home of Dr. Wickham Bow Natasha Gauder, Bow's assistant and goddaughter, intrigues him. Christian needs to keep his wits about him but Natasha is finding ways to get under his skin and under his covers.

Natasha has enjoyed her work with her godfathers and outings with her friends in the city. This new visitor to the estate unsettles her. He makes her break all her steadfast rules and act on her desires. But when a friend makes Christian true identity, he is forced to tell Natasha all.

Now they both need to bring down the bad guys, but will this make or break their feelings for each other.

The Bane Affair by Alison Kent is a thrill a minute book. The intrigue is outstanding and exciting. Christian and Natasha are hot, steamy and their story will touch you. I can't wait for the next mission in this series.

This book had my nose wide open. Never before had I read a novel by Alison Kent, or books about covert-ops and mission impossible scenarios. But, when it comes to reading, I am willing to try anything at least once. THE BANE AFFAIR was so good that there is no way on God's green earth that I will be passing on the next four episodes that follow.

The Smithson Group -- better known as SG-5 -- consists of 5 spies specially selected by Hank Smithson. Christian Bane is the first of these men. He is sent out to pose as Peter Deacon, the shady boss of SG-5's archenemy Spectra, who has a weakness for expensive clothes, fast cars and even faster women. Christian, who is the complete opposite of Deacon, must step outside of himself in order to get the information he needs about a deal made between a genius scientist and Spectra, concerning a governmental encryption technology.

To Christian, this case will be an easy one to crack. That is until he meets Natasha Gaudet, the beautiful and sexy personal assistant and goddaughter of the scientist. From when they first meet, Natasha and Christian develop an indescribable love connection. How is he supposed to work like this? Especially when he has no clue as to whether or not Natasha is in on the deal with Spectra. This distraction is way more than he bargained for. It is one that helps quiet the demons of his past, and assures him that he can trust and love again.

This is my first book review, so be gentle. ;)

I've always enjoyed Kent's series romance, and didn't expect The Bane Affair to be any different. In that expectation, I was dead on. I enjoyed the sexy feel I am used to seeing in her work, and connected well with the characters.

This book will definitely reign on my "keeper" shelf, and you can bet I'm leaving room for the rest of the series beside it. A wonderful single title debut, I recommend this book highly.

Because there are so many grammatical errors in this book, it is difficult to read. In order to make sense of the book, I often had to read sentences aloud. I should not have to work that hard to read a book.