Roller coaster romantic suspense…

This was a James Bond-esque, roller coaster ride of a romantic suspense!

Carol was an intelligent and smart CIA analyst. Her job was everything to her and when it was threatened, she fought tooth and nail for it. Just because she was CIA though didn’t mean she had the field skills to keep herself, and her work, safe. Carol was the key to a puzzle that someone didn’t want her to solve and murder was just another day at the office… Unless she got some help.

Enter uber-capable Anderson. Handpicked, Anderson wasn’t sent to protect Carol but luckily he was as smart and intuitive as he was seasoned. A rocky start (ha!) didn’t stop the attraction, however, and little did either of them know that their enemies were not the biggest threat to their well-being…

The action was non-stop in this romance where survival was the focus. The bad guys were many and lurking in the darkness that Carol and Andereson raced to keep ahead of. They handled every threat with ingenuity and the real desire to stay alive keeping them going. They bounced from one dangerous situation to another yet found time to explore the desire and love percolating between them.

While I didn’t feel the romance as much as I wanted to, the characters were interesting and the plot even more so. Their story certainly had me dreaming of a lot more exciting things than Friday night at Costco.

Nicely done story. Good romantic suspense elements. I liked how the story started and all the rest. Good characters and dialogue.

I loved the setup of this book: an assassin kidnapping the woman he was sent to kill, to keep her safe. Very exciting, indeed! Character development and plot were well developed, but the pacing lagged a bit in places. Overall, an enjoyable read.

A brilliant read with a brilliant storyline and characters and i Will look forward to reading more from you

This is for me a great sequel from the previous book and I enjoyed this even more. A great story with great characters Andy and Carol are both likable and well developed. The author really great describes their chemistry and how they are easily drawn to each other and how they see the real her/him and not just the mask they are showing to the world. The story continues where the previous left us and that is finding the mole in the CIA. The story is full of mystery, unexpected twist, action, suspense and hot action between Carol and Andy. I loved how the story untangles and I hope that another will be just as good as this one.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

This is how romantic suspense should be done! I was lost in the intense action, but the romance was always present. Which is important because I lose interest quickly if there's no love story.

In the first pages of this book, we're told there is a mole in the CIA. As we listen in on a meeting between a few people who know of the problem, we learn how deep the mole problem goes.

I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure how to review this. I don't read books like this often. Typically, I stick to contemporary romance - just romance. There was so much suspense in this book and so many twists and turns.

Just when I thought things would be ok something else happened, or we were given another piece of information that turned everything around. I'm not sure how I can talk about the plot without spoilers and no one likes spoilers.

Both Anderson and Carol were well-developed and complex characters. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. We are also treated to glimpses into the moles head. It took a bit for me to get used to as I like my dual perspectives. However, once I got used to it I found it to be a valuable addition to the story.

Overall Assassin Games was an engaging read that had me sitting at the edge of my seat and biting my fingernails in nervous anticipation.

Sidney Bristol is one of my go-to authors when I want thrills and suspense. She hits the mark with Assassin Games, spy thriller with a slow burn romance. I love a slow burning relationship, it makes it ever-so-much-sweeter when they finally get together (I'm singing "Anticipation" as I'm writing this).

Carol works for the CIA and is quite content NOT being a field agent. She is beset by self-doubt and paranoia; the first because she is wondering if confiding her concerns about suspicious activity may have caused loss of life, and the second because it feels like people are watching her. Turns out that she actually is being watched by Andy and others, who will do whatever it takes to keep her safe and maintain national security. Except for the assassins...they are watching so they can kill her.

There is much to love about Assassin Games. Carol is smart and capable (two of my favorite characteristics in a lead character), and she is courageous without being foolhardy. Andy is a strong military man (of course) with an equally strong moral code. He isn't supposed to be involved (of course) with a woman he's protecting, but the chemistry between Carol and Andy is so hot that it's inevitable that the relationship blooms. There is tons of action, but it is action with a purpose. Sometimes I read romantic suspense and there seems to be gunplay and explosions merely for the purpose of adding action to a scene instead of it building the plot. That is far from the case here;  the plot grows and the reader will try to fly through the book so as to see what will happen next.

I give this a five star rating, which is what I think I award to every Bristol book that I read. She's that good of an author!

Andy is a decent guy, a bit rough around the edges but he’s good at what he does. A loner, but knows right from wrong.
Andy works at the moment for the CIA (a contract worker) he is watching Carol an analyst working on a code to pull out information on a string of deaths.

Carol’s character, when the when it got tough, she wasn’t a pushover, she was clever and definitely an asset.

The agency know they have a mole, they just don’t know who and how it’s connected. Her analysis can help tie things together.
And when the assassins figure out that Carol is getting to close, Andy is the one sent in to get close to Carol. And if she needs to disappear, then he’s there to help her.

Being kidnapped isn’t high on Carol’s list of things to do. And when the kidnapper explains that he’s here to help keep her safe, Carol isn’t sure who to trust.

The plot was interesting, a few twists and turns kept me reading until I was done.
The characters are well written, and the scenes followed each other really well.

I haven’t read any other the other books in the series, but I think I’ll have to go back and take a look



🦋

From the beginning this book grabs you with lots of action and a great cast of characters. I found the sex scenes a little bit much but overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in the series. If romantic suspense is what you like to read, you should give this book a try. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

I love romantic suspense books and this one was fast paced,great characters and a really interesting storyline.I loved Anderson and Carols characters,both strong yet entertaining dialogue made the a really enjoyable book.I read this book as an arc and this is my honest opinion.Will definitely look for more by this author.

Carol Sark never imagined finding herself on the run from the CIA, but when Anderson Gratney kidnaps her that's exactly what happens. Forced to work together for the greater good, Carol finds herself doing the one thing she shouldn't -- falling for a man all wrong for her. Yet, when things being to get more and more dangerous, Carol becomes determined to do anything to come out on top, even if it means putting her life on the line. Will Anderson be able to keep Carol safe, so they have a shot at happy ever after or will going separate ways be the best thing possible?

What an absolutely riveting, fast-paced, action-packed read Ms. Bristol has delivered in this second book of her Tarnished Heroes series where the main characters were incredible and had me loving the journey they take to happy ever after; and the dialogue was compelling and kept me on the edge-of-my-seat due to the suspense and action-packed moments these two deal with, as they go on the run to find answers. Will Carol and Anderson be able to discover what is going on inside the CIA and take whoever is responsible for what is going on?

With the dialogue, it was well-written and intense due to the main characters back stories and the obstacles these two face on their journey to happy ever after. Will Anderson and Carol be able to stay a step ahead of the bad guys? Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I loved her determination and willingness to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of what's going on with the CIA and who is determined to see her dead. I also liked how the heroine challenged the hero because it's palpable Anderson needs to open up about his past if he's to have any chance of healing and overcoming it to have a future with someone. Will Anderson's past be a bone-of-contention between them?While the hero, he's confident in his skills; a good guy, despite what he does to Carol in the beginning; and I liked how determined he was to keep Carol safe.

Overall, Ms. Bristol has delivered another fantastic read for this series where the chemistry between this couple was intense; the romance nicely-detailed and hot and had cheering for this couple's happy ever after; and the ending had me worried for the main characters because of what they're facing, but had me loving the way things work out for this couple. Really, Anderson and Carol are so good together, especially since she challenges him to want to be a better man. However, it was the epilogue that has me looking forward to more of this series because it sets up a very interesting and exciting direction for the series tot take. Will things ever get back to the way they were? I would recommend Assassin Games by Sidney Bristol, if yon enjoy romantic suspense or books by authors Tee O'Fallon, Tony Burrows, Jenna Ryan and Anita Devito.

Having finally gotten to crack one open from this author I quickly ventured in. The characters are Anderson and Carol who carry you through this high speed adventure. Being a covert is one that I like to read to see just how much they give me a rush. This one starts out a bit different with you quickly sitting back as these two give you the banter that keeps you entertained. It will also be fun as you go seeing where they do take you but it also has its share of rushes. The drama does come with you pulled to the edge at times. The heat will blast it through with this one giving all its got.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This book follows on the heels of Spy Games. Rand and Sarah are now in hiding, but the moles have still to be uncovered. There is a secret organization within the CIA, that is putting agents at risk to sell secrets. Carol Stark, daughter of a CIA agent who was murdered when she was younger, is an analyst with the CIA, taking a desk job, so she wouldn't worry her mother. She has developed an algorithm to search out other failed missions, to help ferret out who the leakers are. Now she is in danger and Anderson (Andy) Gratney, a CIA contractor is assigned to protect her. He was a SEAL, a sniper, very good at his job, until he came to the realization, that he was being used to further corporations' interests rather than keep America safe. For that he was court-martialed and put in prison. He is going to keep Carol safe, no matter what.

The author skillfully creates captivating characters in an puzzling scenario. Lots of action and intrigue and with the current revelations of chicanery in the upper echelons of both the CIA and FBI, totally believable.

Wow, it's an amazing action-packed novel that kept me on my toes from the very beginning. I loved both Andy and Carol, and the romantic chemistry between them was perfect.
Carol's life is in danger. She isn't a field agent and she has no way of defending herself. But the good news is that the very person who is supposed to kill her, is going to save her. She just hopes this doesn't turn her carefully crafted life upside down.
Andy isn't supposed to get involved with Carol. He only needs to save her life and uncover the conspiracy that has them all worried. However, staying emotionally detached is turning out to be a very difficult feat, he may not succeed at it.
If you are looking for suspense, romance, conspiracies, and action then this book is just what you need. I'd definitely recommend it!

With this installment in her Tarnished Heroes Series, Sidney Bristol keeps the tempo going. Carol works for the CIA through she is just an analyst, her father was a legend in the bureau. And was murdered doing his job. Carol has been working on an undercover assignment. Only her boss knows about her involvement. There is a mole in their ranks and it's her job to find out who. Somehow that mole has found out about her. She needs protection until she can complete analyzing the data. When Andy is given the assignment. Something about her even from a picture intrigues him. He decides the best plan is to do what's called a soft meet. Meet her as someone else to get a feel for her. Hoping that this will help when he kidnaps her. She ’ll at least recognize him even if it is as Mark. He meets her as Mark and then they start texting. Andy can’t help himself and Carol feels the same pull. So when she wakes up in a strange place she starts to put things together. She's been taken and not sure if Andy who met her as Mark is a good guy or a bad one. This is where the fun begins. They now can trust only each other. Him being a spy and her being to him a pencil pusher is going to make this interesting. On top of everything else, they are falling for each other. So hang on because this just became a very bumpy ride. The characters are well developed and the flow is perfect. The ending is a surprise I did not see coming.

the latest tarnished heroes novel has cia contractor anderson gratney working to protect cia analyst carol sark from the group within the cia that has been leaking and compromising government missions for years. carol has a program that might connect all the dots, but she's not a true coder. andy, however has skills. he's got assassin skills, he's got covert spy skills, and he's got hacker skills. he's the full package. and so assassin games kicks off in high gear.

with carol, andy breaks protocol in small ways. when they first make contact he pretends to be a flirtatious guy named mark. and he wants to believe that mark isn't real. that the guy carol falls for isn't him. but over time carol sees that mark is andy and andy is mark. that underneath the badass super spy there is a sweet guy who she could easily love. and that to be loved by that guy, the badass super spy with the sweet guy buried deep, would be life-affirming.

given the stakes, life-affirming is good. there are casualties in these covert spy games. hard, difficult truths are revealed. and at the end of the day, it's still not clear who the bad guys are really. but i'm looking forward to the next installment, which i strongly suspect will be mitch and irene. the heat between those two characters is as unmistakable as the heat between andy and carol. at some point it will boil over, and i can't wait.

**assassin games will publish on july 23, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.

Assassin Games is a fabulous book. Great plot with lots of action. I enjoyed the author’s writing and will be reading more of their books. Highly recommend this book.

Wow!

I could not put this book down! It had non-stop action, drama, suspense and a great love story. There are so many pieces and parts my head is spinning but I can't wait to read what comes next.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Assassin Games was an enjoyable read. That had a nice sprinkling of romance and a storyline that had plenty of intrigue, pockets of action and a couple of twists.
Yet, I did struggle to get into it, and I found the first half particularly allow going. But the pace certainly picked up as the story progressed and it was an engaging read, but honestly, I was expecting more.
Still, I never once felt lost or confused by having not read the first book in this series, and I would certainly read the next one. And I'd happily recommend this story to others. Especially if you like good spy story, with a touch old romance thrown in.

Damn! That was fantastic. Nail biting doesn’t begin to describe how good it is. I am on edge waiting to read the next in the series and I just finished this one. I think I found a new favorite thriller author to add to my list. Sidney you rock girl! It is even better with spies who fall in love, how decadent!