| Reviews - Facing Fear |
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Romance Review: ================ Facing Fear- Gennita Low - Avon - 2/04 - Gennita Low’s world is of Navy SEAL’s, secret agents and government operatives. It’s a world of danger and covert missions, a world where agents are assets not human beings. With Facing Fear Ms. Low delivers a much anticipated follow-up to her debut release Into Danger. And let me assure you, it is just as enthralling and intriguing. Once more she’s created a heroine strong and independent. Nikki Taylor might not be as mysterious as Marlena Maxwell in Into Danger, but she certainly takes her time in revealing her secrets. Nikki is a secret government agent; send in to investigate CIA Operations Chief Rick Harden. Rick is a disillusioned field agent turned bureaucrat, looking for answers about the disappearance and murder of his late wife. His character and his position make him the perfect scapegoat in a case of national security. It’s to be Nikki’s last assignment, the one to reward her with long searched for answers about her past. It’s not an easy task, as the closer she gets to Rick—and he does want her very close—the harder it becomes to fight the ghosts of her past. His attraction for Nikki is crucial in bringing down her inner barriers, in revealing a woman that resembles his late wife in more than just her looks. It is his passion and her grandmother’s Chinese wisdom that keeps her sane and allows her to face her fears. Facing Fear is an intriguing romantic suspense. For the first half it is a steamy and seductive romance. Remember the pearls in Into Danger? This time it’s seatbelts that find a whole new use. The second half concentrates on the suspense. Too much emphasis on it leaves not enough room for the romance to further develop. It didn’t keep me from enjoying the story though. However, its many twists and again the introduction of too many secondary characters left me a little distracted. It is still up there though with the Adair’s, Brockmann’s and Howard’s. And with all the secondary characters being obvious hero and heroine material I’m sure that we won’t have to go without Gennita Low’s books for a very long time. And that is good so!. Kris
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Book Barn Gazette Review: Secret operative Nikki Taylor returns to Washington seeking answers to 10-year-old questions. She's accepted one last job in return for those answers. She's to investigate Rick Harden, a CIA Operations Chief suspected of treason. Nikki resembles Rick's late wife. This aids (or hinders) everyone involved in cover-ups. These two connect on many levels, and their attraction for each other is electrifying. Ms. Low's FACING FEAR is everything I have been waiting for since reading her first novel, INTO DANGER. This story examines political cover-ups, life and death issues, and the sensual, explosive power between a man and a woman. I guarantee the dialog and events of this plot create anticipation and excitement for the reader on many planes. An exceptional read! Sabrina
Marino |
The Romance Readers Connection: Ricardo "Hard On" Harden, Operations Chief of CIA Task Force Two, was at best, a hard nose, by the book bureaucrat. To most, this was not a bad thing. To Rick, it was the worst possible situation. For the past ten years, he had been living the straight and narrow to prove his worthiness and to one day be able to take the revenge he wanted desperately. Now, just as he is on the edge of giving up, his life takes a new direction and once again, not necessarily for the best. At the top of the list, Nikki Taylor. She has entered his life and he can't seem to shake the feeling she is not all that she appears to be. Even her uncanny resemblance to his dead wife shakes him to the core of his being. Nikki Taylor wants answers. She needs to know what happened to her ten years ago and just who she really is. The only assignment that could have brought her out of retirement from being a GEM operative was the one that would answer all her questions. The answers all lie within her. Years ago, as a child, her grandmother had told her stories of the prophecies and the pathways to finding her center, her good inside. By accepting this case, by agreeing to confront her past, she will be able to finally find her inner peace and the answers to all her questions. No one had ever guaranteed the path would be easy. Rick and Nikki have an instant attraction that shocks them both. He wants to know what her motive is for trailing him and she wants to know his secrets. Their chemistry is out of this world. The sparks they strike whenever they are in each others space is sure to cause a big explosion. However, before they can start the fire, they have several obstacles to pass through. Rick must learn to accept who Nikki really is and she must get past her fears and doubts about him. The two are strong willed people that hide behind their hard exteriors and keep their vulnerable sides locked away. In the end, they each have to learn to overcome their own inner struggles. FACING FEAR is Ms. Low's second book, following INTO DANGER, (3/03). It details the lives of government operatives and the roadblocks they face in life and love. Written with excellent detail, the characters stand out as you read about their challenging lives. Their circumstances and their reactions are very real and not of superhero proportion. There is a good balance between the strong and vulnerable sides of the main characters. It is helpful to have read the first book, however, though not necessary. While the story can get confusing if you don't give it your full attention, it is worth concentrating on. Intriguing, intelligent and emotional are the best words to describe this book. A great book to settle down with on a relaxing day. To the top of the keeper shelf for this one! Thia McCain Rating: |
Romantic Times Review: It is also a RT TOP PICK, which is beside the review, as well as the book being listed on Page 3 with their other top selections for the month. When his despised boss is arrested, CIA Operations Chief Rick Harden is torn between satisfaction that David Gorman is finally getting his and the knowledge that he too will also come under suspicion. Rick's career was derailed once before, when 10 years ago he demanded answers regarding his wife's death in the field. Since then, he's made bargains with the devil in his quest for the truth. Although semiretired, specialized secret government agent Nikki Taylor agrees to take on this last job for two reasons: the promise of answers to her own past and to make sure that Rick is not a scapegoat. Politics and covert operations are a deadly and dangerous business. From the moment he spies Nikki, Rick knows she is there to investigate him, but can he trust her to dig for the truth? Never one to be passive, Rick boldly approaches Nikki with a proposition--one that may lead to both information and passion. Proving that her outstanding debut was no fluke, hot new author Low is back with more thrills and sizzle. She has an amazing voice that is unique, exciting and gives her suspense tales an unexpected edge. An author destined for really big things! Jill M. Smith Rating: 41/2 stars - Fantastic - Keeper |
Romance Reviews Today: Washington D.C. - Present Day Rick Harden is in trouble, but somehow, he doesn't seem too bothered by it all. Yes, his boss has been arrested for multiple counts of treason. As his second-in-command, Rick knows they are looking at him now as the logical accomplice. The bureaucratic hoopla has just started. The Department of Justice has promised an internal overhaul; anyone who is even remotely close to being suspicious will be taken care of. The irony is that Rick has turned into a bureaucrat himself, so much so he never suspected his own boss was a traitor. Nikki Taylor is being sent in to figure out what happened. Under the guise of gathering information for a romance book, she is let into headquarters, and told to start digging. Nikki is also back at the CIA to right a wrong done to her many, many years ago and to figure out some answers to a few questions of her own. She knows she looks remarkably similar to Rick's deceased wife, and she intends to use that. What she doesn't expect is the searing attraction to the man. As for Rick, his many years at Task Force Two and his own past don't exactly make him a patsy. Things aren't adding up with Nikki Taylor, but he has a difficult time getting past the woman's appeal. After he is directed by Internal Investigations to turn over all his office files, he sees the noose begin slipping around his neck. Now it's time to do a little work of his own, and what better place to start than with Nikki? FACING FEAR is a taut, suspenseful thriller, that doesn't let loose with any answers right away. The main characters are multi-layered and highly conflicted. Rick has a personal disaster in his life that has prevented him from moving up the ranks in his job, and it has cost him happiness on many levels. Nikki is a fascinating woman; brilliant and entirely capable, her past does not allow her to move forward, either, but for entirely different reasons. There is a pervasive aura of danger in FACING FEAR from beginning to end that makes the book a real page-turner. As the main characters unleash their passion for each other, the sensuality level also goes way, way up. (Is there an NC rating in books?) As with Gennita Low's earlier novel, INTO DANGER, FACING FEAR is dramatic romantic suspense at its best. I highly recommend it to those who like fast-paced and sizzling romances. Astrid Kinn |
Round Table Reviews: CIA Deputy Director David Gorman has been charged with committing espionage and selling secrets. His subordinate, Ricardo (Rick) Harden is the next target for investigation. Admiral Madison, U. S. Navy SEAL Commander, has hired Nikki Taylor, an independent subcontractor, to learn the truth behind the suspicions cast on Rick. Nikki is the image of Rick's late wife, who was killed on a mission some ten years ago. Oddly enough, Nikki's past is not a matter of record. The characters in FACING FEAR are thoroughly authentic and contribute to a fast moving scenario. Gennita has done a great job of researching what appear to be the inner workings of the CIA. The final chapters of the story move very fast and leave the reader with the satisfaction of a great story. While I am not usually a mystery fan, I enjoyed this book. Apparently, FACING FEAR is the follow-up story to INTO DANGER. I feel that FACING FEAR stands alone perfectly. Robert H. Goss |
Jenn@gennita-low.com