Customer Reviews

Dangerous Desires

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(1)
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A-Tac is a secret part of the CIA operating out of a New York college. Their current mission takes them to Colombia, where they will go head-to-head against Jorge de Silva's drug cartel. Di Silva's number two man, Hector Ortiz, shifted the cartel's focus over the last few years. The cartel now deals in weapons, as well as drugs. A-Tac is charged with extracting Madeline Reynard from Ortiz's clutches. Once retrieved, Madeline would lead them to Ortiz's hidden arms cache. After documenting the site and blowing it up, A-Tac would deliver Madeline to U.S. officials.

Drake Flynn finds himself separated from the rest of the team and stranded in the Colombian jungle after the mission goes sour. Drake and Madeline must make their way through the hostile environment while evading the mercenaries hot on their trail. Drake has been burned one too many times by a secretive woman. So no matter how high the flames of passion burn between him and Madeline, Drake refuses to fully trust her.

**** FOUR STARS! Subtle sub-plots spring up as this suspenseful tale runs its course. Every time I believed that I understood it all, the author would toss in a twist and I found myself totally caught off guard. Exciting, fast paced, and some steamy romance make this story a winner. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

After years of being forced to work for a dangerous crime lord Madeline Reynard finally sees the chance to escape. In exchange for information US officials agree to free her and give her a new life. The A-Tac team, an elite, secret CIA unit, is ordered to rescue Madeline and destroy an arsenal of weapons. But soon after the mission starts it becomes clear that someone betrayed the team and to survive A-Tac team member Drake and Madeline are forced to fight their way through the jungle. On the run from the crime lords men Drake and Madeline are forced to work together and soon they develop feelings for each other. But to have a real chance for a HEA they have to survive the attempts on their lifes and they have to overcome the trust issues that stand between them.

"Dangerous Desires" is the second book about the A-Tac team and after reading it I'm completly fascinated by this romantic suspense series. I enjoyed "Dark Deceptions", the first book, however I loved "Dangerous Desires".
The story is fast-paced, the main characters are both compelling and I just love reading about secret missions that play in the jungle. Madeline and Drake both went through hard times that made them sceptical about trusting in other people. Her connection to the crime lord makes Drake even more wary however he soon realizes that Madeline is a strong woman who tried to do the best in a hopeless situation. I enjoyed that he doesn't condemn her and that he appreciates what she did for her sister. I'm happy that Madeline is a fighter and stayed strong even in dangerous situations. She's no pushover and learned the hard way to trust nobody.
Their escape through the jungle was thrilling to read and I enjoyed meeting the other A-Tac members like Tyler and Hannah again. The possibility that one A-Tac member might be a traitor adds some suspense to the story and so far I have no idea who the bad guy could be. There's also a big suprise in the story and I didn't see it coming but enjoyed reading about it.

All in all "Dangerous Desires" combines everything that I enjoy about romantic suspense. The book is thrilling but also lovely and sexy. I also like that the plot is intelligent and that no institution or country is glorified.

When I read the first book in this series, Dark Deceptions, I was trying something new, as "special ops"-type books are not usually my thing. I was pleasantly surprised, and have been looking forward to Dangerous Desires, the 2nd book in the A-Tac series.

Dangerous Desires did not disappoint! Drake was a great moody Alpha male. Burned at love and trust by another agent, he want's nothing to do with Madeline - he' sure she's untrustworthy from the get-go. I really, really liked Drake.

Madeline's story ripped my heart out... her attempt to help her drug-addicted sister lands her in a Colombian prison. She is released to a drug lord (her sister's source) and forced to do various jobs for him to pay off her sister's debts. Then she learns her sister is dead, and she knows she has to get out. Her attempt to contact the US Embassy ends in her contact's gristly death, and Madeline is ready to give up hope. Then, Drake Flynn comes charging into her room at the drug lord's compound....

The action in Dangerous Desires was high - the jungle adventures and fighting off the bad guys kept me turning the pages. Watching Drake and Madeline get to know each other while fighting for their lives was riveting and their physical relationship progressed at a satisfying pace. I liked them both and was rooting for their HEA. There was also a bonus HEA for them that was super sweet :)

There is still someone sabotaging the Unit's missions. My suspicion from the first book is still my suspicion in this book, and I'm ready to jump into the next book, Desparate Deeds, to hopefully find out who it is. Desparate Deeds takes a little turn from the first two books in the series, as the main character is a female member of the Unit. Based on the excerpt it's going to be good!

Loved this book! It's a keeper and one I re-read often. This is my favorite book of the series so far.

The hero Drake is a black ops CIA operative and has to rescue the heroine Madeline from a drug lord compound in South America. This is one of my favorite situations in a romantic/suspense book. I love it when h/H have to rely on each for survival, especially when fighting their way through a jungle while dodging bullets at the same time. This H also HATES that he wants her (won't spoil the story but he's got the wrong impression of her and he thinks most women like her he'd be a fool to trust). She surprises him time and again. Mr. Gruff Macho Man gets wrapped right around her finger.

Since most reviewers have already done a great job explaining plot, I just want to write what this book is to me. It's exciting, fast-paced, and well-written with enough romance to it. If you decide to read this book, please just imagine Drake, the big strong commando, pushing you every step of the way, as he secretly craves and desires your body. You're sleeping alone in the jungle together, and he's the alpha male making the descions that protect you and keep you alive. HOT! :) And you, as the h, are totally tough and street smart and kicka** too.

This is an awesome read with two great characters who have such electric chemistry and sexual tension. You won't be disappointed with it.

The series in order-
Dark Deceptions
Dangerous Desires
Desperate Deeds
Deep Disclosure

After surviving a horrible childhood, a few years in a Columbian prison, and more time under the thumb of a crime lord, Madeline Reynard becomes the rescue subject of A-Tac (American Tactical Intelligence Command) - an off the books arm of the CIA. She has information that can help the CIA, hurt the Columbian crime group, and may just get her killed unless A-Tac succeeds in their mission. The A-Tac team is comprised of several highly-skilled professionals (covert operations, IT, ordnance, communications, etc.). The author reveals enough about each A-Tac member to get a feel for their personality as well as their importance to the team.

The person most involved in Madeline's rescue is Drake Flynn. He's the confident and capable guy anyone would want on their side. Even though he has questions about her connections to known criminals he keeps the mission his priority. My favorite part of the novel was the escape of Drake and Madeline from the jungle to a safe house a day's travel away on foot and small boat. The action is fast-paced and had me turning pages long past my bedtime.

Davis's action scenes are exciting. Her descriptive writing placed me in the drama which I loved because sometimes when I'm reading suspense novels I get lost in the details. Davis had me following right through the heart-stopping conclusion. If you like your romantic suspense heavy on the suspense I recommend Dangerous Desires.

Dangerous Desires is the second book in Dee Davis's A-Tac series and follows a group of men and women who are member of a CIA black ops unit called American Tactical Intelligence Command (aka A-Tac). The book began with Drake killing a woman he was working with on mission after he found out she was a double agent. He was attracted to the woman and was deeply troubled by what had happened; he vowed never to let a woman get under his skin again. Enter Madeline Reynard and she has been under the thumb of a ruthless crime lord until she found out that the sister she was trying to protect was dead. Now she wants out, has reached out to the U.S. for help and they sent the A-Tac. Madeline knows too much about the crime lord's illegal activities, however, and will stop at nothing to get her back. After being separated from the team, Drake and Madeline were on their own, evading hired mercenaries, surviving the Colombian jungle and fighting their growing attraction to each other.

Madeline is a great heroine--she is resilient, smart, brave, tough and she goes after what she wants. She is a great match for Drake, though I feel Madeline had more of the spotlight than him and that's okay because her past and her years with the crime lord was interesting. But in the end, I feel like I didn't get to know him as much as I did her. I thought Drake and Madeline are great together and there are plenty of chemistry between them. As for secondary characters, I thought the villain was a bit cartoonish especially during the confrontation in the end but we do see Annie and Nash from the first book as well as the other A-Tac members. The most interesting character we are introduced to in this book is Drake's brother Tucker--he was thought to be dead until Madeline proved otherwise and is rescued from a Colombian prison. I hope Tucker gets his own book in the future because I'd like to know more about him. For those who read the first book, Dark Deceptions, the overarching storyline involving the mysterious mole sabotaging A-Tac missions continues in this book and I am anxious to see more about that in the next book.

I admit I wasn't a big fan of the first book so I was a little iffy about starting this book but Dangerous Desires surprised me as it is a lot better than Dark Deceptions. I thought this book was well-written with great characters and the pacing was exciting as there is always something going on. This book, which can be read as a standalone, began with a bang and doesn't let up until the very end. This book is a non-stop, edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense with plenty of action that is hard to put down until you've read the end.

4.25 out 5 stars

Regardless of your profession in life most of us have some sort of plan which gets us through the day with some semblance of organization. This would especially be true for the big, bad group of covert operatives known as A-Tac with Drake Flynn being the man that thrived on Plan A but always has a Plan B.

When Drake is assigned to retrieve Madeline Reynard from the Columbia drug cartel king pin who is holding her, Drake soon realizes he is going to need a whole alphabet of plans to get her out of there because she is one stubborn female who trusts no one. This is one trait he can relate to as he has had issues with the people in his life stabbing him in the back and on some occasions literally. Madeline is a whole other type of woman who for some reason makes him want to protect while bringing to light deep feelings of lust and passion. As the story unfolds as to why she was with the cartel and why she keeps running from him every chance she gets Drake starts to realize that some women are worth the risks you must take even if it means it could break his heart yet again.

After Drake gets Madeline out of the drug cartel's house they are unfortunately left behind by the other members of his team. So Drake must find their way out of the Columbian jungles to a place where A-Tac can rescue them. As Drake and Madeline get through the jungles both of them show how strong yet vulnerable they can be when they let down their guard and expose their emotions to one another. Madeline explains how she came to be the pawn in the cartel's business to save her drug addict sister and Drake understands this loyalty as his brother died a noble but horrific death while serving in the military. But by coincidence or sheer good luck it turns out Madeline has encountered a very much alive man who she believes is Drake's brother - is that possible? Is the main clue a simple playing card with the Queen of Hearts on it going to explain everything? Maybe, but right now Plan A is to get out of this jungle, destroy the drug cartel's other stash of guns and try not to fall in love with one another. Everything but not falling in love seems to be the working out because once Madeline falls into Drake's arms the rest of the journey seems almost bearable. Plan A might have been rescue of the person but Plan B seems to be taking over their hearts. Drake is not fond of Plan B not working as he can't see himself surviving without Madeline.

This second book in the A-Tac series is as action packed as the first and some of the characters from the first book are pulled in to help which always makes for a nice addition. The jungle scenes are so well written you can feel the rush of the water and develop a fear of night time creatures to the point you heart is anxiously racing. It takes a good author to keep a series fresh with each book and Dee Davis absolutely has done this with this latest book.

Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer at [...]

Drake Flynn distrusts women. He wants nothing to do with females as all they do is betray men and, for that matter, women too. Thus he wants to refuse his assignment to rescue Madeline Reynard from a Columbian drug cartel, but he end up doing the mission.

Drake is stunned by his attraction to Madeline. Still she worked for a drug lord and her gender adds to his distrust of her. Madeline has spent much of her life trying to save her sister. This has meant going to San Mateo Prison in Colombia and working for an abusive crime lord. When her drug addicted sibling Jenny dies, Madeline wants out so she flees and ends up with Drake. She distrusts men as much as he distrusts women; still he is her only hope out, but she also knows he loathes wanting her. As they trek through the jungle to a rendezvous rescue point, Drake suspects she will betray him to her former employer to save her skin if circumstances warrant it.

The latest A-Tac "Dee-lightful" romantic suspense (see Dark Deception) is a fast-paced, exciting action-packed jungle adventure. The lead couple makes the thriller fun as each is a misanthrope trusting no one and expecting their associate on the run to betray them at the first opportunity. Filled with plenty of twists and spins, fans will want to join (as an armchair potato) Drake and Madeline as they flee for their loves.

Harriet Klausner

Overall Rating: 4.90 // Action: 5 / Emotion: 4.5 / Romance: 4 / Sensuous: 4.25 / Suspense: 4 // Humor: 2 / Teary: 2

"Dangerous Desires" is the second book of 'The A-Tac Series.' The entire book is full of adventurous non-stop action. So many questions kept arising as the story progressed. Why was Madeline so important that the government called in A-Tac? What is villain Hector Ortiz hiding? Who is the traitor on the A-Tac team? Davis kept readers in nail-biting suspense throughout the entire book.

Drake Flynn, Archaeology Professor and Extractions Expert, is a totally alpha male. When the A-Tac team is sent to Colombia to rescue the mistress of narco-terrorist Jorge di Silva, Drake is forced to travel through the jungles of Colombia with Madeline Reynard, a strong-willed, self-reliant heroine.

Drake and Madeline were immediately attracted to each other. Strong emotions were drawn from the reader as Drake and Madeline had to learn to trust one another to get through the jungle alive. The road to their happily-ever-after was full of emotional road blocks because both Drake and Madeline had betrayal and abandonment issues because of difficult childhood traumas. Nevertheless, the sexual tension between Drake and Madeline is constant. When they make love, steam is almost rising from the pages.

Davis also included little tidbits of information about each A-Tac team member, which causes the reader to want to know more about that person -- and hope that each will have his or her own book. A more detailed, spoiler-ridden review of "Dangerous Desires" can be found on my blog 'Wolf Bear Does Books'. "Dangerous Desires" is a must read.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
Why are the conflicts not interesting? That's the main question I had during and after reading this book. I will try to answer some of it. Drake and his armed buddies rescue Madeline from Ortiz' private compound in the Columbian jungle. (Ortiz is a drug lord.) They are being chased by Ortiz' soldiers. They are surrounded and being shot at. She sneaks away from Drake thinking she will be safer on her own - running in the jungle from the soldiers without supplies or a weapon. Of course she gets caught by a bad guy. Later she and Drake are in a safe house. She decides to take all their money and go shopping - even though soldiers are still chasing them. She tells him she wanted to "surprise" him. Later she goes shopping again because she was antsy. Of course something bad happens. As they continue on their long journey of escape, Ortiz always knows where they are because there is a mole in Drake's group feeding him information. Therefore they are always fighting for their lives where ever they go. Unfortunately the author never shows anything about the mole. We never learn who the mole is or how he knows where the group is going.

I'm ok with making things up in fiction. In fact I encourage it. But I'd like made-up-things to be creative, not convenient to the plot. The convenient computer hacking annoyed me. Drake and Madeline rescue a prisoner from a prison which is in the middle of the jungle. It is run by an offshoot of the Columbian government, not a rich drug lord. Do you think they might have online computer systems which lock and unlock cell doors? So a hacker could hack into the system and open doors from a remote location? That's what happens.

I wasn't interesting hearing them think and talk about things and worry about what to do next as they were on the run in the jungle. I skimmed some of this to get to the conflicts. The sex scenes didn't move me. Their relationship was more on the odd-side than on the drawn-to-you-side. She kept running away from Drake. She wanted to be on the run by herself, yet she was incompetent at it. She kept getting in harm's way, and he repeatedly had to follow her, find her, rescue her, and save her.

STORY BRIEF:
Madeline shot and killed a man who was attacking her sister. The man was a prominent politician so Madeline was put in a remote jungle prison. Ortiz is a Columbian drug lord and arms dealer. He offers to get her out of prison if she will work for him, seducing men to get information. She agrees. The CIA wants her rescued and brought to the US to provide evidence and information about Ortiz's boss. Drake and his group work for the CIA. They rescue her, but she runs away from them. Drake stays to search for her while the rest of his team leave on the helicopter. Meanwhile Ortiz sends soldiers and mercenaries to find her and bring her back.

DATA:
Story length: 353 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 3. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 10. Setting: current day mostly Columbia and Ecuador, with a little time in Hungary and the U.S. Copyright: 2010. Genre: romantic suspense.