Customer Reviews

Tough Enough

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

 

 

Will is an art mercenary assigned to determine who at an art reproduction company is planning to abscond with the fakes to sell on the black market. He works undercover as a reporter interviewing the three employees and discovers that his former college flame Mia, who cheated on him and broke his heart, is one of the three suspects. Not above wooing her for the good of the investigation, the two are soon rekindling their passion. Will quickly learns that it is not Mia behind the theft, but will his deception mean the end to their second chance for romance?

Albert's latest installment in the Avalon stories has the usual baddie, Rainert Van Lahr, and savvy readers won't be a bit surprised at the identity of the forger working with him. Albert's knack for creating sizzling duos, subject matter knowledge, and ability to plot keeps this one afloat. Though it's not as strong as the other novels in the series (and each can stand on their own merit as a separate story), it is still an above average novel, and provides more insight to the shadowy organization of the Avalon art mercenaries.

Quote from Harriet:
"this is worth reading by sub-genre fans is the doubt whether Mia is a crook hiding in plain sight of love, an unsuspecting dupe, or something else as Michele Albert leaves ONE WAY OUT for her lead couple."

Therein lies the problem as a reader: does Mia Dolan even represent the face of white collar crime? This is a second chance at love story set under the umbrella of a potential art heist. Haddington reproductions is set to reproduce fake artwork to be sold to a reputable company while the real thing gets sold to the black market for millions more dollars. Will Tierney is given this assignment by Avalon (another secret Agency fighting for the good of the world), only to learn that his former flame is a suspect in the eyes of Avalon, along with two other employees.

As a reader, I just couldn't suspend disbelief on a lot of things the author presents in her story. Like the rekindled feelings after 12 years apart and they had a nasty break up, too. Didn't buy it. Will's doubt of Mia, granted it's been 12 years since they've seen each other but he should know from background check that she's probably in the dark. Yet the doubts "linger" leaving him to say things about Miea that annoyed me. Will is duping Mia and using her past feelings for him to help him bring down her employer. Why they just couldn't work together and say, hey, your employer is so and so and so and go from there. Also, Haddington company makes Will's job just too easy! Never once are they suspicous of his character, or his questions that I found were not very discreet. All in all, I just couldn't believe Ms. Albert wrote this book. The dialogue was a bit stilted, the chemistry between characters was forced and the suspense was rather weak. The book started off well but after the first chapter things went downhill quick. I was anticipating a good read but came away disappointed. My grade was a D for this effort and I hope Ms. Albert next book will be better but alas, every author is allowed their bad book on occassion but I have only two books on my keeper shelf: All Night Long and A Great Catch and I have enjoyed Off Limits but that's been about it.

As an agent of Avalon, Will Tiernay knows you can't pick your assignments, but this one he wonders if he should claim a conflict of interest. His superior at the privately owned and funded agency that recovers stolen art has tasked Will to go undercover to learn who at Haddington Reproduction plans to switch the authentic priceless Eudoxia Reliquary collection with apparent realistic fakes. His fears is that Mia Dolan, the only woman he ever loved, is one of the bad guys.

Will and Mia realize from the first moment of their second time around, the attraction remains stratospheric. As they explore their feelings, he worries foremost that she might be a thief and if not that she will never forgive him for his deception as she will wonder if he used her to get at the con artist(s). As they fall in love again, both have their doubts, but first they must deal with the issue of a clever felon whose replacement plan is foolproof as the fakes look so much like the real that most people would fall for switch.

The art theft is the prime story line of a terrific romantic mystery although the second chance at love augments the dilemma facing the hero. The action-packed story line never slows down while leaving a few dangling threads for more Avalon thrillers. However, the reason this is worth reading by sub-genre fans is the doubt whether Mia is a crook hiding in plain sight of love, an unsuspecting dupe, or something else as Michele Albert leaves ONE WAY OUT for her lead couple.

Harriet Klausner