Customer Reviews

Decoy

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

 

 

I liked the plot of this book but it could have been better developed.

I didn't feel particularly connected to the characters. I also can't imagine how Melody could ever know if Nick was telling the truth, since he rarely did. I was disappointed at the way the book ended although I understand it's because there will be a sequel.

I liked "The Inheritance" much better, also "Dead Ringer".

The action, the characters, and plot were great. The action of becoming a secret agent to avenge your family, the characters were in depth and deep, fears and strengths that just not only touch the reader but make the characters believeable, plus there were unsuspected surprise and make me all the more excited about the sequel, coming later this year. I have read some of the harlequin/sihoulette books by Ms. Cresswell but these romantic suspense novels are my cup if tea. A fantastic must read

Former supermodel and socialite Melody Beacham discovers at the reading of her mother's will that Wallis Beacham, the man who raised her, is not her biological father. When Daddy Dearest learns of his ex-wife's duplicity, he is seeing red and will do anything to keep Melody from prospering. She moves to New York and works with her mother's good friend at an art gallery. And is soon recruited (or rather coerced) into joining a covert group hell bent on using her as bait to trap Wallis who is suspected of being involved in a partnership involving human cloning, terrorism, and murder.

To help her prepare for her assignment, she is trained by team leader Nikolai "Nick" Anwar, who has a covert identity as a Russian mobster for hire. Her first assignment is to pose as his lover, but soon there is no posing between the two as the enter into a passionate affair. But with a mole in the organization who can rat her out, will she be able to get the goods on her crooked daddy?

The suspense was great and just as I got to the end I realized that there were so many plot threads introduced and left dangling that there had to be a sequel - and sure enough, there are two. I for one like self-encapsulated stand alone novels - why make a reader purchase three books? Now I am hooked and have to wait for the other two to come in the mail!

When I read a customer review I wonder about their age and the reader's overall mood at the time they read the book. For this reason, I will not let a lone negative review sway my decision for buying a book to read. In this case, I was not sorry! It is a well written story and the on going tension of the main character's own personal conflicts added to the suspense. I would have given this book 5 stars, but the begining didn't personalize Melody well enough and she just sort of "dropped" out of the art world and became an over accomplished/overnight agent of sorts. BEAUTIFUL emotions and I loved the tension between Melody and Nick and can't wait until Nov. I give this four and a half!

Decoy is a must read book. It starts off with the murder of Rosalind Melody's Mother. Not only does Melody need to find her mother murderer but who her real father is. Suspects abound. There plenty of surprises as well. Also Unit One appears who are they and what do they want with Melody. This book is so exciting and you won't be bored. If you were disappointed by Dead Ringer This will more than make up for it. I can't wait for Full Pursuit.

While sailing on a yacht, Rosalind "Lady Roz" Beecham knows that she desperately needs money to fund her jet set lifestyle. She threatens several wealthy individuals with exposing the Bonita Partnership though she does not know anything about this venture beyond its name. Instead someone drugs Roz's wine and pushes her into the Atlantic.

Following her funeral, solicitor Nathanial Sherwin informs Roz's daughter Melody and her former husband Wallis Beecham that he did not sire their daughter; Roz also warns Melody that Wallis is dangerous. Secret DNA tests that Roz had done without permission or knowledge confirm her contention. Dad tells Roz to get lost and destroys her dream of opening her own gallery.

Roz decides to learn who her father is, which leads to her coming across something called the Bonita Partnership. Unbeknownst to Melody is that those two words mean death for anyone who begins even minor digging.

Though the dysfunctional relationships are difficult to follow and it takes too long to learn what Bonita is, fans will enjoy this taut romantic suspense. The story line is action-packed from the moment Roz is tossed off the vessel until Melody completes her journey of self understanding. Fans of exciting thrillers will enjoy this taut tale.

Harriet Klausner

Albeit the second book (Full Pursuit) is much better than this one, this book is also an extraordinary writ that won't let you close it till you finish it. This book has everything: mystery, love, science, slaughter and some jokes. Everything'll thrills you till the end.
If Unit One really exists or not that's a good question, and if they work as the book says is a better one. Now we have to wait until they release the last one of the sequel (Final Justice) to compare the three books.

If you can get past the first 40-50pgs then the book takes a turn for the better! I pretty much started out reading this book just to have background info for the second book 'Full Pursuit,' yet it surprised me because the book got much more interesting after the funeral, the will reading, etc. 'Decoy' is so much better than other similar books! Just try to get past the first part (skim it, like I did) and then you will be glad you read this book. Don't forget to read the sequel 'Full Pursuit!'

I liked this book very much. When Melody's mother dies mysteriously she finds out that her "father" is actually very dangerous and she is "convinced" to be a new recruit for Unit One, a covert government agency committed to taking down her father. She meets and falls for the head of the new recruits.

The characters are smart and sexy and they have hidden scars that they are wary of letting anyone see. They can't help the attraction but they are determined not to let anything deeper than that develop. But they can't help themselves. I enjoyed the missions and the intelligence of the agency and the characters. I definitely recommend this book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Those who remarked on the inconclusive ending to Nick's and Melody's romance can't have realised this is only the first installment of the trilogy. As such, Cresswell does a great job introducing the two protagonists and their attraction towards each other. With 2 more sequels to go, Nick's and Melody's relationship is not rushed through in this book unlike other stand-alone titles which need the HEA even though the entire plot may cover only 5 days. While their romance is strong so the reader is carried along by their chemistry, not having to rush the HEA means the action/suspense aspect is given a balanced treatment and when this first installment came to a close, I was so thankful I had all 3 titles and didn't have to wait.

If I have to complain at all, it's that the sex scenes are a bit of an anti-climax. Cresswell gave Nick and Melody great sexual chemistry but this did not translate into great sex. Cresswell is no Linda Howard and certainly not Gennita Low.

Despite the mediocre sex, I enjoyed Decoy very much and immediately started on Full Pursuit.