Secret Soldier (Harlequin Intrigue) [Mass Market Paperback]

Dana Marton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harlequin Intrigue | Publication Date: January 1, 2005

Can this marriage under fire lead to love against all odds?

A member of the elite Special Designation Defense Unit, Jack "Spike" Logan had only days to secretly recruit an academic lost in the sands of the Middle East. Dr. Abigail DiMatteo was key to the mission, and Spike would do anything for his country--even marry her to keep his cover.

Plagued by desert bandits and a scorching sexual attraction, Spike and Abigail had more than their hearts at stake. The bomb was still missing, its clock was ticking...and this marriage born out of desperation had taken an unexpectedly explosive turn for the passionate!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A satisfying romance with explosive action and fascinating characters... And the ending is definitely too wonderful for words!" -- Elizabeth Benway, reviewer - angelfire.com

"An extremely well-written story. Fast-paced and engrossing, this is one book you won’t want to miss." -- Nicole Hulst, Cataromance

"Dana Marton introduces an irresistable couple who take the reader on a fast-paced, unforgettable military adventure." -- Romantic Times BookClub Magazine

"Dana Marton should be on everyone’s must-buy list. This is action romance at its best." -- Nicole Hulst, Cataromance

"This story is SO full of action I couldn’t even think about putting it down." -- www.aromancereview.com

From the Author

My favorite book so far. I love, love, love the hero, Jack "Spike" Logan. He's a special commando secret soldier, very much a ladies man, used to attention from women. When on a critical mission he is forced to share a small mud hut with a no-nonsense scientist, Abbigail DiMatteo, he doesn't know what to do with her. She considers him a nuisance! At first he thinks she's just shy, then figures something is wrong with her, then decides that the only way to neutralize her distracting presence is to seduce her and be done with it. Boy, is he in for a surprise.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037322821X
• ISBN-13: 978-0373228218
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,196,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

DANA MARTON writes fast-paced action-adventure romances that take her readers all over the globe. She is a RITA AWARD finalist and the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. She loves writing stories of intrigue, filled with dangerous plots that try her tough-as-nails heroes and the special women they fall in love with. Her books have been published in seven languages in eleven countries around the world.

--Okay, the above version is the glamour version for press releases. The truth is that my path to publication was nothing but unglamorous. I wrote for 13 years and completed 4 books (as well as having others in various stages of completion) before I finally received a call from a Harlequin editor. I was beginning to wonder if I was being tenacious or just too dense to know when to quit.

But it all worked out at the end! I love, love, love writing and would spend all day in front of the computer if I could just break my family of the habit of wanting to eat and wear clean clothes. What's up with that? But I must get up from the desk now and then, if only because my Internet connection goes down or my ancient PC overheats. Then I do enjoy cooking, knitting, hunting for treasures at the flea market, our Beagle, Peanut the Destroyer, and gardening.

I'd love it if you picked up one of my books and emailed me to tell me what you thought of it. I've been known to name characters after readers. Just ask Princess Judi.

Please visit www.danamarton.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot, hot, hot!, January 11, 2005

By 

Jenel "Book Lover" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret Soldier (Harlequin Intrigue) (Mass Market Paperback)

Hot desert locale, hot scenes fraught with excitement, and lovemaking hot enough to warm my blood as I read. Spike is a delicious hero. An ultra-masculine operative of the SDDU Defense Unit, who puts his life on the line to keep America safe. Talk about high stakes--no less than the fate of the world rests on Spike's muscular shoulders. At first, he sees Abigail as an extra burden, but in her own way, she's as strong as he. She has sacrificed comfort and safety in order to teach life skills to the orphans of a small desert village.

Sacrificing her singlehood is another matter, but she does it when she realizes it's the only way she can continue her life's work. The sudden marriage is just the start of a rollicking adventure yarn full of excitement and passion. Together, the couple fight the elements and terrorists, but they can't fight their attraction for each other.

This one goes on the Keeper Shelf!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is definitely one for the read again and again pile!, January 25, 2008

By 

KayLovesToRead (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret Soldier (Harlequin Intrigue) (Mass Market Paperback)

Secret Soldier by Dana Marton
Harlequin Intrigue # 821 - January 2005 - SDDU series Book #2

Spike is a member of the SDDU and his latest assignment is to go undercover into Beharrain to recruit an American aid worker to become a CIA operative. Abigail's mission in Beharrain is to help small villages relearn community; to teach the youth useful skills that they can barter for food and shelter; to teach the children to read and her acquaintance with a suspected terrorist makes her the perfect spy. When Spike shows up as a journalist assigned to film her work, he spends the night in her hut. The villagers insist that they marry, or Abigail may be stoned to death. Their trip to the city to marry brings them into danger, first from bandits and then from the targeted terrorist.

This is an intense story with violent scenes that may not appeal to everyone. Those scenes are integral to the story and are dealt with very well. There are some witty moments that make a nice relief. Abigail really knocks Spike's socks off. Not only is she attractive, but she's brave and smart too. Even though I knew there would be a HEA, there were some moments I feared for the brave duo. This is definitely one for the read again and again pile!

SDDU (Special Designation Defense Unit) series by Dana Marton

The SDDU is an elite group compiled of agents from all the US agencies; CIA, FBI, SEALs, Special Forces; the best of the best. The SDDU is Homeland Security's special weapon against terrorism.
Shadow Soldier / Secret Soldier
The Sheik's Safety / Camouflage Heart
Rogue Soldier / Protective Measures
These are all incredible reads! If you like action, adventure and romance, these will not disappoint you. I love that Ms. Marton writes her heroines to be equally as brave and strong as her heroes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars #2 of DANA MARTON'S - "SDDU" SERIES OPERATIVES, August 18, 2006

By 

M. Hartmann "abayyan" (Milan, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret Soldier (Harlequin Intrigue) (Mass Market Paperback)

Jack "Spike" Logan has been sent by Colonel Wilson to Beharrain to do damage control for the CIA.
He is supposed to turn this lady into a spy? Ha!

Dr. Abigail DiMatteo is working hard to help the orphans of Beharrain, that is until Gerald Thornton, the sneaky devil, tricks her into marrying him. Thearitcally he is supposed to be bringing her grant money for the orphans.

Tsernyakov is on the loose again and still dealing in stolen weapons. A very elusive villian.

While Spike is looking for El Jafar, their lives are in danger and they are on the run across a dangerous desert. Would they ever get out of this escape alive?

First Washington D.C. then the Desert, how much further can Spike go and still survive? Would he be able to give up his "wife"?

A year later -- Alex and Nicola have a son and Spike and Abby have . . . . .

[grin] Don't miss the next great installment of the "SDDU" operatives - Wow! what a collection of stories.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - GREAT cast of characters.