LauraD’s review of Whisper No Lies (Black Ops, Book 3) by Cindy Gerard
Contemporary romantic suspense released by Pocket 30 Dec 08

There is a lot to be said for pure escapism in literature, and for me a good contemporary romance/suspense is just about the best kind of candy. Cindy Gerard is currently writing some fun and juicy stuff.

Whisper No Lies is book 3 in the Black Ops, Inc. series, but since I hadn’t read the first two I was pleased to find that it succeeds quite well as a standalone. The operators of Black Ops, Inc. , also known as the BOIs, are a group of soldiers-for-hire who are (of course) like a close knit family. On the other hand, Crystal Debrowski is pretty much on her own.

Crystal is the head of gaming for a Vegas casino, and she and Johnny Duane Reed already have a history. They’ve known each other for awhile in the FWB kind of way, and both find the other more attractive than they want to admit, even to themselves. Their casual relationship is drastically changed when Crystal is kidnapped by a ruthless crime boss who wants to add her to his personal harem. She’s not the only woman Yao Long has abducted and taken to Indonesia, and soon both Crystal and the BOIs are trying to rescue a young girl and get safely home.

Crystal rocks. She is described early on as “sex on a stick”, but she’s also an intelligent and self sufficient woman with an expert set of self-defense skills and very smart mouth. She knows Johnny Duane is bad news for her heart, and does her best to cut ties with him before the action starts. Yeah, like that’s gonna happen! Once they are in Jakarta she does her own share of rescuing herself, and proves to be a good teammate to the ultra alpha males that comprise Black Ops. And please, Crystal Debrowski? What a great name for a romance heroine!

Johnny Duane is an interesting character, an inveterate and unrepentant lover of women and good times. He’s great with kids, and loyal to his friends. Apparently he was just waiting for the right woman, because once he learns Crystal has been kidnapped he becomes utterly focused on her. Of course he pulls a boneheaded move towards the end of the book, but he’s a very sexy hero and a very easy to like guy.

The suspense plot is tight, and the action sequences are well written and make sense. Be advised, Yao Long is a villain from the very eeeeeevil school, and like most of Gerard’s bad guys he is over the top. I was actually a bit discomfited by the author’s decision to make Long’s crew stereotypical of a bad movie — if they are Asian, they are bad guys, whether they are Chinese, Japanese, or Indonesian.

All in all, I really enjoyed Whisper No Lies. Crystal is the best character Cindy Gerard has written, and I wish more contemporary suspense heroines were as self assured and kick ass as she is. Johnny Duane proved a perfect foil; a tasty alpha male who is comfortable with a capable woman. This was pretty much a cover to cover read for me, and I look forward to seeing which of the BOIs will find his HEA next.

Grade: B+

Read more about this series by following its tag.

Summary:

In New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard’s fiery new romantic suspense series, when danger threatens, the seductive heroes of Black Ops, Inc. turn up the heat.

AN INDECENT PROPOSAL… When a high roller at the Vegas casino where Crystal Debrowski manages security makes a scandalous proposition, she flat-out refuses, especially given rumors of his shady overseas connections. But then counterfeit bills mysteriously flood the gaming tables, and her reputation — and her life — are on the line.

REVEALS A SIMMERING DESIRE… Despite his big, flirty grin, Texas heartbreaker Johnny Duane Reed can’t get sassy Crystal off his mind. When she is abducted by an international crime lord with a threatening obsession, Reed enlists his Black Ops, Inc. team to pursue a dangerous mission to rescue her.

…WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. Between Crystal and Johnny burns a scorching flame, but as they battle her relentless abductor, they uncover a malicious arms trafficking and white slavery ring. Together, they must destroy the tyrant’s wicked enterprises or face his reign of terror themselves….

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series: