Customer Reviews

Hide in Plain Sight

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

 

 

I am a big fan of Michele Albert's books and I have always admired her character development. Though I liked both Fiona and Grif, they are not as fully realized (IMO) as I've come to expect from this author. I think perhaps this book suffers because it is a "transition" book. It closes out the (very) loosely connected trilogy of three friends introduced in GETTING HER MAN, continuing with ONE WAY OUT and now concluding with HIPS. It also serves to kick off a new series about a shadowy organization called Avalon which specializes in recovering stolen works of art, antiquities and busting forgers.

Five years prior, Griffith Laughton ran an op that went bad and several of his team were killed. Grif feels guilt over their deaths as well as a burning desire to finally put art and antiquities trafficker Rainert von Lahr (also seen in prior book OWO) behind bars where he belongs. He finally has another chance to catch his nemesis with a "lost" Christopher Marlowe manuscript. The bait must, unfortunately, also include an innocent civilian, Fiona Kennedy-MacMahon. She's an expert on Marlowe and Grif approaches her (in the guise of an attorney) with a proposition to appraise the manuscript for his client to determine if it is real or a forgery. Grif liberally pours on the charm to convince her, but then it's not so hard to flirt with this warm and very pretty redhead.

Prior to Grif entering her bookstore, Fiona had been in the process of planning a vacation in the Bahamas to kick-start her life. Her husband has just been declared legally dead (he disappeared years ago) and after five years in limbo, Fiona wants to finally live again. And now here's this gorgeous charmer offering her the opportunity to authenticate a possible Marlowe manuscript! He's the second gorgeous man to enter her shop (and flirt with her!) today what with that blond German gentleman who came in earlier. And now the charming Griffith Laughton has invited her to dinner. Perhaps her luck is changing?

Well perhaps not, for after spending a long, blissful night with Grif, Fiona learns the truth of what is going on. When they must go on the run from von Lahr and others, their forced time together allows them to get to know one another. Fiona discovers that Grif already knows pretty much everything about her while Grif reveals his growing disenchantment with the job and his desire for someplace to call home. Fiona's anger toward Grif for using her diminishes as she comes to understand and like Grif. Their mutual attraction was clear from the start, and now the question is, if they can stay alive long enough to get von Lahr, will she ever see him again?

While I enjoyed the story, I must agree with another reviewer that there were several things that were sort of left hanging and agree that perhaps there were things the reader is not meant to know? For all it's mention, in the end the manuscript did not seem to be very important. The person or persons that head up Avalon seemed to be important though I've no idea why. The revelation of what really happened to Fiona's husband was kind of anti-climatic. And the period of time that Fiona and Grif spend together is extremely short (like two or three days) so their attachment seemed a tad unrealistic. And I did wonder if Grif would be happy in the long run with the choice he made at the end.

Not her best, but still enjoyable. I look forward to her next book and to learning more about Avalon.

Her husband disappeared and is now declared dead, so book store owner Fiona Kennedy finally feels closure and is ready to fly off to the Bahamas for sun, fun, and a no-strings fling. When not one but two sexy men darken her door in a single day, she's not sure what to think of her luck. But one of them is Rainert Von Lahr, a slippery thief and murderer who has eluded capture. The other is Griffin Laughton, a mercenary of sorts that will do anything to catch his man, even if it means seducing the widow and using her for bait when he discovers her husband might not be dead after all. Under the guise of authenticating a long lost manuscript by Christopher Marlowe, Griff worms his way into Fiona's store, then her bed, and soon her heart. But when she discovers his duplicity, will she be able to forgive him?

Albert's follow up to the great "One Way Out" maintains the suspense, action, and sizzling action of its predecessor. Griff and Fiona have excellent chemistry that sizzles off the pages - and the inclusion of other key characters from her previous novels aid in moving the story along instead of marring an otherwise good story. Albert's forte is her witty use of dialogue to bring life to her characters. She's a new and not to be missed author for me!

This book is wonderful,I just began reading this author and even though I apparently missed the first book I understood the plot with no problem. I love the fact that Fiona the female lead is strong and independent. She supports and incourages the heroe to stop blaming himself for past mistakes. But she also, goes toe to toe with him when she finds out he lied to her. This is a fabulous book by a wonderful author. I am a fan for life!!! I can't wait for the start of the new Avalon series!

Griffin is a mercenary. He is trying to capture von Lahr who has managed to escape custody several times now. Griffin is in possession of a manuscript containing a secret code that Fiona McMahon can spot. Griffin goes undercover to get Fiona to interpret the code and in the process drag von Lahr out of hiding.

Fiona owns an antique bookshop. Her husband died in a car accident five years before, but his body was never found and he has just been declared legally dead. Fiona is attempting to move on with her life now.

Griffin approaches Fiona in her shop about the manuscript. They quickly fall into an easy and flirtatious banter that leads them straight into Fiona's bed. Griffin needs to keep Fiona safe and seducing her is the most pleasurable way to get the job done.

A mysterious caller warns Fiona against helping Griffin and a mysterious visitor to her shop has Fiona wondering what is really going on. Von Lahr is keeping an eye on Fiona and it's possible that Fiona's supposedly deceased husband may be involved somehow as well.

The game is up for Griffin when Fiona is targeted and he has to reveal his true identity. Fiona, feeling used and betrayed, is taken somewhere safe to hide out for a while. She attempts to act civil towards Griffin but he has become a stranger to her now.

Fiona's safety is Griffin's top priority. While he attempts to keep her at arms length, Fiona discovers that there is much more to Griffin than what he portrays. Griffin finds himself wanting to do more than just to keep her safe and Fiona wonders about what could be, providing they can get out of this alive.

Hide In Plain Sight is terrific. The mystery kept me guessing, the action is thrilling and the romance is hot! Griffin's good looks, charming personality and the aura of danger that surrounds him, make him so desirable. Fiona is a beautiful and strong woman. She held her own no matter what was thrown at her. I really enjoyed how their relationship grew and changed. Hide In Plain Sight has an ending for Griffin and Fiona but with the villain still on the loose, I am eager to see what might happen next.


Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Michele Albert delivers another page-turner in Hide In Plain Sight.

Griffith Laughton mission five years ago went seriously wrong. He is still dealing with the aftermath today. His newest assignment is to guard Fiona Kennedy. The man who caused the deaths of Griff's fellow agents is circling around Fiona. Griff takes to Fiona a rare manuscript knowing she will be intrigued by it.

Fiona Kennedy has decided to finally get on with her life. Its been over five years since her husband had disappeared and he is now officially declared dead. She wants to get away on vacation and have a wild fling. But when stunningly handsome Griff walks into her bookstore the men as well as the manuscript fascinate her. Can she forgive him when she finds out the truth behind is appearance in her life??

The chemistry between these two is instant and explosive. Barely has the steam cooled off the sheets Griff and Fiona are in mortal danger. They can barely stay one step ahead of the danger.

Hide In Plain sight is a fast paced, fly by the seat of your pants suspense. The storyline is compelling in its intensity. Griff and Fiona's verbal repartee is funny and sexy. It was a treat to see old friends from previous books make an appearance. I would highly recommend this book. Looking forward to the next book by this talented author.

Fiona Kennedy is a bookstore owner. She is a delightful mix of humor and temper. She is also an expert on Christopher Marlowe. Her husband has just been declared dead after 5 yrs. He drove his car off into a river and his body was never found. Now she is thinking of the Bahamas as a place to restart her stalled life. But before she can decide anything Grif appears in her life with a mysterious manuscript for her to appraise.

Grifford Laughton is a mercenary with Avalon, one of those secret agentcies, who is on the hunt for her husband, who he knows is not dead. Grif will do anything to catch her husband who can lead him to the man who killed three of his men and a woman five yrs ago. Fooling and seducing Fiona come at the top of his list. However Rupert von Lahr has plans for her, her husband, and the manuscript too.

This story is really about the relationship that developes between Fiona and Grif. Mostly Grif, he is very burned out, he seems to care for nothing but revenge on von Lahr. When fubar happens he and Fiona are thrown togather and through her he comes to some very deep soul searching.

The plot was a little involved and was not totally solved to my satisfaction. Not to mention the addition of some characters who were not introduced fully. It seems there are things we are not ment to know. I feel there will surely be other books. This really felt a little unfinished.

I enjoyed the book enough to buy the next one. Maybe because I have enjoyed all her other books so much. But this one is not up there with them.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but how did this book even get published? There was practically NO story and what remained was confusing... I was also disturbed by the coldness of the romance - first the romantic male lead sleeps with the heroine to "get the job done", only to kidnap her and hold her hostage, THEN she falls in love with him???

I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the cat was the only convincing character!

Five years ago in Los Angeles her husband Richard apparently drove in to the river, but no body was found so Kennedy Antiquarian Books storeowner Fiona Kennedy was left to linger in a nowhere zone between married and single. Now her time is up in marital purgatory and she can officially have the court rule that her spouse is dead. She plans to celebrate her widow status with fun and sun in the Bahamas.

However, before she can leave town, Griff Laughton asks her to authenticate and appraise an old manuscript. Griff hides his real agenda from her, which is to capture his enemies von Lahr while also protecting the bookworm from enemies she does not know she has that her late spouse has brought her. He also conceals his work of fifteen years destroying art, artifacts, and antiquities smuggling rings. He is a bit disturbed to find he is attracted to the charming beautiful Fiona, but detachment is his middle name until someone tries to kill the woman he willingly would die for to keep her safe.

HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is a fabulous fast-paced tale starring a courageous female and the male champion risking all especially his heart to keep her safe. The story line is filled with action from the moment Griff hires Fiona and never slows down as her past comes back to haunt her in spite of her innocence from Richard's dealings. The changing relationship between the hardened agent and the bookseller is deftly handled in a believable manner that in turn augments the prime plot of a woman in peril over something she knows nothing about. Readers will appreciate Michelle Albert's superb romantic suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Michele Albert had a good idea for a plot and produced a dumb, badly written book. The only character that rang true was the cat!