Customer Reviews

Deadly Seduction

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

 

 

STORY BRIEF:
This is the sequel to "Dead Right." CIA type agents were imprisoned in Thailand. They were tortured and used as test subjects for mind-control drugs. "Dead Right" has Dante escaping. This book "Deadly Seduction" is about Max and Taz. There is a fair amount of time spent with them as prisoners. Then they are rescued and brought to the U.S. The bad guys still need them for research and hunt them. Max and Taz are separated and are on the run. Erin is a Doctor specializing in hypnosis. She helped Dante in the past and was brought in to help Max and Taz. She and Max have a connection, and he takes her with him while he is on the run and hunting for Taz.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
You don't need to read Dead Right to follow this, but I would suggest reading it first, primarily because it was a better story. This book was ok, but not as good. It seemed to take forever for the couple to develop a relationship. Then as soon as I felt they had a relationship and I was ready for the next thing to happen, I was unpleasantly surprised to see the word "Epilogue" - the book was over. The story of their romance was missing something. The Taz story was also missing something and felt undone. I wanted to see more of what was in his mind, what could happen to improve it. I wanted to see more interaction between Taz and Max while in the U.S. There was none. I was also disappointed that something happened between Taz and a woman that was not explained. At the end, Taz's story was unfinished. The agent Harry has a part in this book which was unexplained and unfinished. The author presented a mystery concerning Erin's father which was never resolved. More information was also needed about Winchette's past roles and connections. Maybe the author plans to do a sequel about certain characters, but as far as this book goes, too much was missing and unfinished. I think she was dealing with too many characters and events and couldn't do justice to each one.

DATA:
Story length: 341 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 4. Total number of sex scene pages: 6. Setting: current day various locations in the Far East and U.S. most significant: Thailand, California and Virginia. Copyright: 2010. Genre: romantic suspense.

OTHER BOOKS:
I've reviewed the following Cate Noble books.
3 stars. Deal With The Devil (in anthology Baddest Bad Boys). Copyrt 2008. Review Date 5-17-08.
4 stars. Dead Right. Copyrt 2009. Review Date 2-7-09.
2.5 stars. Deadly Seduction. Copyrt 2010. Review Date 2-9-10.

In response to the previous reviewer, this is book two of a trilogy, so, of course, there are unanswered storylines. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the conclusion.

The CIA mission in Thailand went badly. Several agents were captured, tortured and experimented on by the enemy. For two years these operatives were prisoners before they were rescued. Max Duncan was one of the CIA agents tested with mind-control brainwashing to turn him into an amoral assassin controlled by the enemy. He survived mentally only due to brief contacts with imprisoned Taz.

Max is home in San Diego, but struggles with thoughts that he knows did not originate with him. "Prisoner" of his mind, CIA sends Langley's Dodd Treatment Center's Dr. Erin Houston to help him and Taz. However, each flees separately with Max taking Erin with him. Although she was assigned to help them regain their mental balance, she has her own issues re her father's recent suicide that makes no sense to her. They team up seeking to find and insure Taz is okay as they flee enemies of both of them including someone at Langley.

The sequel to Dead Right is an exhilarating romantic suspense thriller that is entertaining but leaves several dangling threads; One of them Taz's tale is probably a future sequel, which makes sense as Deadly Seduction is Max's adventures. More germane to this story line is her father's death remains unresolved. Still this is an enjoyable thriller as the relationship between the doctor and her patient nicely over time on the lam evolves into capture-captive and ultimately loving couple. Fans will relish going on the run with Max and Erin.

Harriet Klausner

The problem with this book was that I never quite got my teeth into it. The background idea was very interesting - that an abducted CIA operative is being 'reprogrammed' to turn him into a killer, when he escapes. He has suffered so much torture and drug treatment that he's rather unstable and Dr Erin Houston, a psychiatrist, is brought in to help this man, Max Duncan. The problem is that those responsible for Max's torture want him and his companion back and that people Erin thinks are safe may be involved.

This book is part road trip, part overseas operation, part romance. The romance is probably a long way down the list in importance and felt rather like an afterthought. I thought there was a great deal of potential in showing how Max overcomes his reprogramming but somehow this never quite worked. There were a number of changes of point of view, sometimes into fairly minor characters, which I felt made the book lose pace.

I think this is the middle book in a series of three although everything was explained for the reader starting with this one. However I found myself unable to get seriously gripped by the story and felt the lack of characterisation made it feel rather unrealistic.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2010

CIA operative Max Duncan barely survived the unimaginable hell of mind control experiments, only to run for his life once he is saved. Dr. Erin Houston is called in and attempts to help Max recover from his ordeal and gain his memories back. Erin is dealing with a plight of her own, though. Her father's supposed suicide is looking more and more like a homicide, but who can she trust? Erin and Max have to trust each other. Will it be enough to keep them alive?

Deadly Seduction has an intriguing plot where mind control, murder, and deceit outline every page. Erin and Max are on the run, fleeing for their lives while realizing there is an undeniable connection between them that extends beyond the physical. The atrocity that was done to Max has a few benefits, like reading a villain's mind and creating an intense bond with Erin. Because of that bond Erin is willing to trust Max. The plot is riveting, the characters engaging, and the romance endearing in Deadly Seduction. Some questions are answered, but much is left unsaid in Deadly Seduction. While I anxiously await the next in this series, I'll read the first, Dead Right.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed