Don't miss the first in the all new Dark Alliance Series!
DECEIVED
Dark Alliance #1
Kate SeRine
Releasing June 28th, 2016
Zebra
Luke
Rogan's assignment is simple: secure young Elijah Scoffield and his mother and
bring them back to headquarters--just an ordinary mission for an operative of
the Dark Alliance. But Elijah is no ordinary kid. He's the grandson of one of
the country's most influential politicians--a man privy to the Alliance's most
valuable secrets, including its centuries-long connection to the Knights
Templar. And someone else is attempting to capture the boy--someone who's
proven he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage. . .
Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do
anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly
stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And
as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in
Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . .
BUY NOW
Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is
a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So
it's no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her
characters would always have a happily ever after.
Kate lives in a smallish,
quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her
love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is
even now working on her next project—probably while consuming way too much coffee.
Kate is also the author of the
award-winning Transplanted Tales paranormal
romance series and the Protect &
Serve romantic suspense series.
Connect with Kate at www.kateserine.com,
Facebook.com/kateserine, or on Twitter @KateSeRine.
Excerpt
“I thought we were safe
here,” Sarah said, her arms crossed over her chest.
“We’re as safe here as anywhere until we get to my
place,” Luke assured her.
She lifted a brow. “Yet you’re acting like you expect
someone to come barging in and attack us at any moment.”
He took a step closer and immediately realized his mistake
when his heart started pounding at the nearness of her. Shit. He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from touching
her. “If being paranoid is what’s going to keep you and your son alive,” he
said, “then guilty as charged.”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Luke,” she began,
edging closer, damn it all, “but why does it matter so much to you if Eli and I
are safe? You don’t know us. I get that you’ve been given an order, but I also
heard you talking to your commander and know you’d rather be somewhere else. If
you’d insisted that someone else watch over us, I would’ve understood. I can
just go to the police, tell them what happened. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Luke stared at her for a long moment, trying to figure
out the answer to her question. Hell if he knew why it mattered so much to him
that he keep them safe. In the technical sense, he protected people every day
and had for going on fifteen years when he added up his time in the military
and then working for the government and now with the Alliance. But she was
right—this assignment was hitting him on a level he hadn’t anticipated.
“I guess because, when I wasn’t much older than Eli,
someone took my mother and me in, watched over us when we needed it,” he finally said, not sure where the
explanation was even coming from. “And someone else did the same thing for me
again a few years ago when I was in a really dark place—except this time the
enemy I was up against was myself. If it wasn’t for that person stepping in, I
don’t know where I’d be. But dead is a damned good bet.”
Sarah straightened. “Oh. God. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Luke told her. He shook his head as his
vision went a little blurry. Suddenly too tired to stand, he leaned against the
edge of the sink. “I made a promise to keep you and Eli safe, Sarah. I’ll keep
it. There’s no way I’d abandon you, so don’t worry about it.”
The next thing he knew, Sarah’s arms were around his
neck, hugging him tightly. He resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her and
hold her close, to bury his face in her hair and let the warmth of her wash
over him. But when she pressed a kiss to his cheek and whispered, “Thank you,”
in his ear, he almost gave in.
Fortunately, before he could move, she stepped away and
hurried back into the room with Eli, leaving Luke gaping at the empty doorway
and wondering exactly what the hell he’d gotten himself into…
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Review:
Author Kate SeRine
Format e-ARC
Print Length 368 pages
Publisher Zebra
Published June 28, 2016
Luke Rogan's assignment is simple: secure young Elijah Scoffield and his mother and bring them back to headquarters--just an ordinary mission for an operative of the Dark Alliance. But Elijah is no ordinary kid. He's the grandson of one of the country's most influential politicians--a man privy to the Alliance's most valuable secrets, including its centuries-long connection to the Knights Templar. And someone else is attempting to capture the boy--someone who's proven he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage. . .
Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . .
My Opinion
Thank you to Zebra and Netgalley for allowing me to review this novel. This in no way influenced my review.
Deceived is the perfect blend of romance and suspense. Once you start Deceived you will not want to put it down- the action is just that intense!
Luke is on a mission that goes south, a mission involving Senator Hal Blake. He finds out later that his was an unsanctioned mission. Which is why when the Senator ends up in the Hospital, Luke is sent to protect his grandson Eli. Senator Hal had apparently named Eli, heir apparent to his Dark Alliance knowledge. Somehow, the Illuminate found out though and they are hunting Eli as well.
Sarah is a widow, who has been kept in the dark about her family’s allegiance to the Dark Alliance. That being said she is no weeping willow. Instead she stands tall like the mighty oak tree, trying hard to accept Luke’s story. Mainly she will do anything to protect her son. She is relatable, strong, and compassionate. She struggles with her attraction to Luke, something that takes her by surprise. Her husband has been dead for years, yet she hasn’t moved on. She knows that Luke is hard-core, he is protecting them and yet she will still go toe to toe with him is she feels he oversteps his boundaries with her or with Eli. How she demands answers and respect is a thing a beauty.
Luke has orders and he tries very hard to follow them. He is a sexy loner, a company man. He fights the attraction he feels for Sarah, the attachment that is developing with Eli. There are times though, that all Eli has to do is say please with hero worship eyes and he caves. Those were some of my favorite moments, like the one with Master Chief. Luke’s suspicious nature has him looking not only into this case, into Sarah’s past. Will he like all that he finds? Will she like all that he finds?
The big baddie is…. well they cause you to do a double take. Makes sense, they are playing both sides. They make you suspicious though of everyone in the Dark Alliance. Who else has also turned? Who else is a traitor? Not only that but what a great actor they must have been to never once give away their true emotions.
Deceived will hook you from the first sentence, luring you in by the end of the first chapter and leaving you captivated until the very end. At the end, is a tease for the next book in the series, Concealed which is scheduled to release in April 2017. The perfect bait to make you count down the days until you can re-enter the Dark Alliance series and once again be reunited with the a blend of romance and suspense is flawless.
My Rating 5 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote “I like the way you see me- even if it’s untrue.”
Other People
Eli- Sarah’s son
Finn- computer expert
Jack- Luke’s partner
Maddie- Sarah’s sister
Will- Luke’s commander
Mel- Luke’s step-sister
