Dangerous Illusion

Rating:
Summary: :)
Review: "Non-official hunter-gatherer spies in a network only the top brass of any government knew existed, in a world few dared enter. The shadowy world of the Nighthawks."

Dangerous Illusion is the third book in Melissa James NightHawk series.

From the back of the book:
Secret agent Brendan McCall had only a few days to find and protect beautiful Elizabeth Silver, the love he'd lost ten years ago, now on the run from an international killer. Yet when he found her, she denied her true identity, forcing McCall to resort to more seductive tactics to get to the truth-before time ran out.

Life on the run had changed Beth, formerly known as wealthy politician's daughter Delia de Souza. Years spent in hiding had destroyed her ability to trust, yet being in Brendan's arms once again made it impossible to lie. But how could she confess the truth when that would put the man that she'd always loved right in a killer's crosshairs?

In my opinion:

Delia de Souza is the wife of the bad guy in Can you Forget? (the second book in the Nighthawk series). It is Brendan's assignment to find Delia and her son, protect them and get the evidence she is hiding that will send Robert Falcone (the bad guy) to the electric chair. There was just one big problem--once Brendan finds Delia he has to confirm that it is her and not her cousin Ana. This is were the story gets a bit frustrating.

Brendan and Delia met many years ago when they were both young. Brendan has always carried a torch for Delia, so this assignment is personal to him. When his boss tells him to go find a woman going by the name Elizabeth Silver and identify her as Delia de Souza, it should be a piece of cake right? Well, no that is so wrong. You see Delia has a cousin named Ana and apparently they look exactly alike. So, Brendan has to determine if this woman is really who she claims to be-Elizabeth (Beth) Silver, or if she is really Delia, or even Ana. I can go along with this, but not for almost a hundred pages. Around fifty pages I was thinking, enough already just tell the man who you are and move on. Finally, Brendan and the rest of the Nighthawks decide to just assume that she is Delia since they are almost sure that she is--and that's when the action picks up and the page turner begins.

"Beth" is determined not to trust anyone, not even Brendan, until he proves he is telling the truth. But, even when she is almost sure she can trust him she decides she can't tell him to protect him. She repeatedly tries to escape without him noticing, of course, she doesn't realize that escaping is impossible, hello, he is a Nighthawk. (By the way all of this is on the back of the book, so I am not giving anything away)

Once the action picked up I truly enjoyed this book. A real touching moment for me was when Beth realized what her choices had cost other people. That by hiding out and protecting herself and her son--other people were paying the price. It was such a shattering moment for her--very touching and finally I felt connected to Beth in a way that I hadn't so far in the story. In the end I believe that Danny and Brendan where the real scene stealers--I loved this "father/son" duo. Danny is so cute and you could feel this little boys desire to just have a normal life with both a mummy and a daddy.

Despite my reservations at the beginning of the story this book was a great addition to the Nighthawk series. It also wrapped up the "mission" that started in Who Do You Trust? or did it? (hmm, I wonder if this mission is actually complete). It was also good to read about some of the past operatives, especially the ones that have had previous books. Getting a glimpse of Mitch and Lissa as a family was something that I was definitely glad to see. I am curious to see who will be the next operative to get their own book.

--After completing the book I now realize the beginning of the story was an attempt to explain the life that Beth has had to lead in order to protect both her and her son because of one man's obsession. Every move she made was to keep them safe. It was also a chance to explain the history between Beth and Brendan and a chance for the two of them to connect again before the action heated up. So, if you get frustrated as I did, hang in there because it's worth it.

--Another conclusion I came to was that this author seems to have a major James Bond fetish, but in a good way. Brendan's plan to test Beth was brilliant (if a bit underhanded), it was a major James Bond moment. :)

Rating:
Summary: :)
Review: "Non-official hunter-gatherer spies in a network only the top brass of any government knew existed, in a world few dared enter. The shadowy world of the Nighthawks."

Dangerous Illusion is the third book in Melissa James NightHawk series.

From the back of the book:
Secret agent Brendan McCall had only a few days to find and protect beautiful Elizabeth Silver, the love he'd lost ten years ago, now on the run from an international killer. Yet when he found her, she denied her true identity, forcing McCall to resort to more seductive tactics to get to the truth-before time ran out.

Life on the run had changed Beth, formerly known as wealthy politician's daughter Delia de Souza. Years spent in hiding had destroyed her ability to trust, yet being in Brendan's arms once again made it impossible to lie. But how could she confess the truth when that would put the man that she'd always loved right in a killer's crosshairs?

In my opinion:

Delia de Souza is the wife of the bad guy in Can you Forget? (the second book in the Nighthawk series). It is Brendan's assignment to find Delia and her son, protect them and get the evidence she is hiding that will send Robert Falcone (the bad guy) to the electric chair. There was just one big problem--once Brendan finds Delia he has to confirm that it is her and not her cousin Ana. This is were the story gets a bit frustrating.

Brendan and Delia met many years ago when they were both young. Brendan has always carried a torch for Delia, so this assignment is personal to him. When his boss tells him to go find a woman going by the name Elizabeth Silver and identify her as Delia de Souza, it should be a piece of cake right? Well, no that is so wrong. You see Delia has a cousin named Ana and apparently they look exactly alike. So, Brendan has to determine if this woman is really who she claims to be-Elizabeth (Beth) Silver, or if she is really Delia, or even Ana. I can go along with this, but not for almost a hundred pages. Around fifty pages I was thinking, enough already just tell the man who you are and move on. Finally, Brendan and the rest of the Nighthawks decide to just assume that she is Delia since they are almost sure that she is--and that's when the action picks up and the page turner begins.

"Beth" is determined not to trust anyone, not even Brendan, until he proves he is telling the truth. But, even when she is almost sure she can trust him she decides she can't tell him to protect him. She repeatedly tries to escape without him noticing, of course, she doesn't realize that escaping is impossible, hello, he is a Nighthawk. (By the way all of this is on the back of the book, so I am not giving anything away)

Once the action picked up I truly enjoyed this book. A real touching moment for me was when Beth realized what her choices had cost other people. That by hiding out and protecting herself and her son--other people were paying the price. It was such a shattering moment for her--very touching and finally I felt connected to Beth in a way that I hadn't so far in the story. In the end I believe that Danny and Brendan where the real scene stealers--I loved this "father/son" duo. Danny is so cute and you could feel this little boys desire to just have a normal life with both a mummy and a daddy.

Despite my reservations at the beginning of the story this book was a great addition to the Nighthawk series. It also wrapped up the "mission" that started in Who Do You Trust? or did it? (hmm, I wonder if this mission is actually complete). It was also good to read about some of the past operatives, especially the ones that have had previous books. Getting a glimpse of Mitch and Lissa as a family was something that I was definitely glad to see. I am curious to see who will be the next operative to get their own book.

--After completing the book I now realize the beginning of the story was an attempt to explain the life that Beth has had to lead in order to protect both her and her son because of one man's obsession. Every move she made was to keep them safe. It was also a chance to explain the history between Beth and Brendan and a chance for the two of them to connect again before the action heated up. So, if you get frustrated as I did, hang in there because it's worth it.

--Another conclusion I came to was that this author seems to have a major James Bond fetish, but in a good way. Brendan's plan to test Beth was brilliant (if a bit underhanded), it was a major James Bond moment. :)