LIE TO ME by Tori St. Claire

Black Opals, #2
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Date published: July 2012
ISBN: 978-0-425-25307-6
Romantic Suspense
Paperback
Reviewed by T.Barringer


Tori St. Claire’s second Black Opal romantic suspense, LIE TO ME, is filled with lies, betrayal, secrets, intrigue and heated passion.

CIA elite Black Opal operative Alexei Nikanova was recently part of a team that helped break up a Russian human trafficking ring. As part of the operation, he spent an incredible night with a woman he then kidnapped and sold to a Sheik. He has been unable to get her out of his mind. Now he is tasked with rescuing one of the trafficked women and returning her to her father. Imagine Alexei’s surprise when he discovers the women he is sent to rescue is the same woman he can’t seem to forget. Sasha is reluctant to be rescued, but Alexei has his orders. Somehow among all the lies and deceptions, passion reignites for Sasha and Alexei. While running from others seeking Sasha, Alexei must protect her, not knowing who to trust and who to believe.

Tori St. Claire knows her way around romantic suspense. Of this there is no question. LIE TO ME has all the makings of a great romantic suspense; a tortured alpha hero, a strong but confused heroine in need of saving, heavy action and romance, surprise reveals and a fast paced adventure. The scenes were well developed and easy to picture. The storyline has many surprises and moves at a nice clip. The characters are strong and likable. The romance is hot.

On the down side, the romance sort of comes out of nowhere. For this reader, it was difficult to understand how Alexei could kidnap a woman he found an emotional connection with and hand her over to human slavers even if he was doing it as part of a mission. And having done that, she is glad to see him when he comes to “save” her from the only friend she has ever had?? But this is fiction, and in fiction the absurd often becomes understandable and somehow this romantic pairing does work for this book.

Readers who enjoy excitement, surprise, intrigue, romance and red hot sex scenes are sure to enjoy Tori St. Claire’s LIE TO ME. And that is no exaggeration.


THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW