Veena’s review of The Wild Side by Fern Michaels
Romantic Suspense published by Zebra Books 26 Mar 24
Melanie Drake has had an exciting career in Covert Operations but has moved on to a second career as a school guidance counsellor post-retirement. But criminals don’t retire, and soon Melanie is back in the thick of things, playing to her strengths as she works to bring down a group of ruthless billionaires.
The story has a slow buildup through Melanie’s childhood trauma and the cultivation of the traits that hold her in such good stead in her job with the FBI. Having successfully navigated her way up the ladder and putting away the requisite bad guys, she has since retired and started counseling students. Now she puts her keen observation skills to work, along with her contacts, helping children navigate difficult home situations.
Then the FBI comes calling again, and she transforms herself into a high-class escort, working her way into the rich and wealthy world of billionaires, who have their hands in all kinds of illegal pies. Her FBI liaison is someone she’s worked closely with during her time with the agency. As danger surrounds her, the friendship begins to deepen into something more.
The author does not explicitly draw out the romance, but it simmers in the background as little more than friendship. I enjoyed the edge of danger and suspense, as the story moves along at a slighter slower pace than I might have liked.
I truly enjoy these suspense titles from Ms. Michaels and always put them in my auto-buy list, though this particular title was provided free of charge for review purposes through NetGalley.
Grade: B
Summary:
For Melanie Drake, school guidance counselor in a small Virginia town, the day’s challenges typically involve a playground scuffle or a student skipping school. It’s worlds away from her previous career as a vital part of the Office of Special Investigations. There, she devoted herself heart and soul to covert operations, the riskier the better.Since leaving, Melanie has cherished her peaceful, calm existence, with her two beloved retired service dogs for company. Then a call comes from her former supervisor, Rich Patterson. He needs her back for a highly specialized assignment. An international group of billionaires is known to meet regularly for decadent dinners, and they always hire high-class escorts for the occasion. Only the most elegant, well-educated, and sophisticated women will do. Infiltrating those meetings could yield information vital to national security.
Melanie’s loyalty is indisputable. She’s willing to pose as an escort and glean every scrap of intel that she can. But these men aren’t just wealthy and powerful, they’re also exceptionally ruthless. One slip, and they won’t hesitate to eliminate Melanie, by any means necessary. . .
No excerpt available.
