Mara Caldwell made a clean break from her old life, never imagining her secrets could come back to haunt her. When an old enemy surfaces and threatens the world she’s created for herself Mara is prepared to give up everything, including the husband she loves if it will keep him safe.
The truth might destroy them…
Harrison knew his wife had secrets when he married her, but when he discovers the truth, it’s far worse than he imagined. He’s determined to protect her from a deadly enemy who wants to destroy her, but her lack of faith in him infuriates and wounds him. They must work together to keep her safe, but the man they’re up against seeks to destroy everything they’ve built together. Including their lives.
Katie Reus® is the USA Today bestselling author of the Endgame trilogy, the MacArthur Family series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom's stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn't always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.
Married couple. Heroine dose not communicate. Tries to be a martyr. Stupid...
I liked the quick story, but it lacked emotional depth and therefore, I had a tough time with it. I do not like liars and I find it hard to forgive. This time it was the heroine; so that makes it even harder to recover. But her heart was in the right place.
This book was quiet a bit shorter than I expected but I actually think I've liked it the most so far. It kind of had a little bit of a "Mr. And Mrs. Smith" feel to it. I usually don't like to read about already married couples, lol, because I like to read about them falling in love first or I'm always afraid there will be cheating but I really liked this one and would actually like to read another book with this sort of story line.
Review to come Mara has kept secrets from her husband, Harrison. She thought she'd left behind the trauma and lies of her past when she moved to Miami and met Harrison. But Mara's discovered her past is looking for her and it's looking for revenge.
Harrison knew Mara had her secrets, but he figured she's open up to him in time. But when her past catches up with them, he discovers that the secret is not even close to what he thought and he wonders if he knows his wife at all. But he'd do anything to protect her, even if her secrets threaten to tear them apart.
We saw snippets of Mara and Harrison in the other two books, so I wasn't sure what to expect of them. Unfortunately, I didn't really like either of them (which is so hard to say because I loved Porter, Lizzy, Grant and Belle). I could understand why Mara would keep her secret, but given who she's married to and the information they have at their disposal, why wouldn't she have used it to keep track of Neville? Honestly, as torn up as she was about what her deception was doing to her marriage (before Harrison found out) I would have spilled the beans and hid behind my strong, silent, ex-spy husband.
As for Harrison, he seemed too forgiving at times, cold and/or wishy washy at others. He was pissed she lied to him. Questioned if he even knew her at all, but then he's having sex with her in his office and then giving her the silent treatment? WHAT? I wanted to shout at him to man up either forgive her and move on or dump her ass and forget what was happening. It was frustrating. He finally got there, but by that point I was done.
The suspenseful part of the story was good. I liked how Neville managed to sneak in the US to go after his target. Makes you wonder if that good looking guy at the grocery store is an ex-international sex ring leader who is out to get his revenge on the government agent who took him down.
Not my favorite of the series, but the suspense is enough to keep it going.
I definitely think there was room to grow in the romance. Mara clearly had trust issues and I don't think she and Harrison really worked it out much in this book. Though the book did say they're going to see a therapist I would've liked more emotional development in the story. I didn't mind so much that the two were already married, I just wish there had been more flesh to the romance side of the novel.
The suspense was pretty weak. I would've expected Neville Perdue, the antagonist who wants revenge on Mara for turning his lover against him, to be more skilled and dangerous especially after escaping from prison. There wasn't much of a sense of danger because the book was so fast-paced, and not in a good way.
Overall, this was rather disappointing. I think the idea was nice, and I would be willing to read similar books in the future but the execution was pretty subpar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
FATAL DECEPTION (Red Stone Security #3) by Katie Reus
FATAL DECEPTION is the third novel (October 3, 2012 release) in Katie Reus’s romantic suspense Red Stone Security series. Katie has written this series so that each storyline can be read as a stand alone or as part of the whole. Red Stone Security is a high tech firm owned and operated by the Caldwell family. Each son is a former CIA, Navy Seal or Special Forces agent who will eventually need his training when the love of his life faces danger and death. Fatal Deception is Harrison and Mara’s story.
Harrison and Mara’s relationship is already established so there is no character development. They are married and we are not privy to their courtship or how they met. Harrison is a dominant alpha male who requires submission in the bedroom and the only thing they seem to have in common is great sex. Both use sex to detract the other from problems or stress. Mara, on the other hand, is slowly pulling away from her Harrison and he fears that she is either going to run or is having an affair with another man. The couple’s relationship developed quickly and they were married within a short period of time and Harrison finally realizes he doesn’t know his wife as well as he should. Mara is hiding something about her past and it has finally caught up with her life.
Mara’s love for Harrison is never questioned. But she isn’t the woman that Harrison thinks he married. She has a past that has resurfaced and has placed everyone she loves, including her new family, in danger. Hoping to spare their lives, Mara embarks on a series of covert missions to put distance between the Caldwell family and her former life. But when Mara is involved in a traffic collision she knows it is time to reveal the truth. The hidden cache of arms in the trunk could land everyone in prison and end the relationship with man that she loves. And everything will begin to crash around Mara when a co-worker is abducted and Mara is the only person who is able to negotiate her freedom-for a price.
FATAL DECEPTION takes a bit of a different path than Katie’s other Red Stone Security storylines. There is no angst or buildup of the relationship. We do not get any of the intimate details of their courtship or even the how and why’s of Harrison’s involvement with Red Stone Security or his former life. In fact, there is very little of the Red Stone storyline except for a brief appearance of the brothers and their mates as it involves Mara and her past. Fatal Deception is Mara’s story more than a story about the couple. Yes, the sex scenes are hot, but that is basically the only interaction we see between the couple until Mara reveals the truth behind her ‘deception’. Perhaps that is why I did not feel a connection to this couple, because they did not feel a connection to each other.
Harrison Caldwell was concerned. Living with Mara as her husband he could tell when something was wrong and something was definitely wrong now. Sure they met and married in less than a year because they couldn't keep their hands off each other but he did love her. Their physical relationship hadn't changed but it didn't mean something wasn't wrong because it was. He'd just have to ask.
Mara's not talking and especially not up for discussion are the healed scars on her back that Harrison's asked about and she's sure he recognizes them for what they are. Mara was already in her new life with distance from her past when she fell in love with her husband and hoped with enough time it would stay there. Now her past in the form of Neville Purdue was here threatening Harrison.
Harrison wasn't giving up the woman he loved without a fight, he didn't work at a premier security agency for nothing. Mara wasn't a helpless female but Harrison had no idea of her level of skill and her need to try to protect him even if it meant giving up what they had. There's a perfect mix of just enough character, romance, sexy time, suspense, action and drama in each fast paced short of the series. Rating: 4.25stars
Katie Reus writes another great action packed romance, this time about Harrison and Mara who we met in NO ONE TO TRUST. Now they are married but things aren't quite blissful for the newlyweds when Mara's past comes creeping back. She's kept a lot of secrets from Harrison, scared he'd never love her if knew about her former career and the things she did. A rough upbringing has taught Mara to never trust another person with everything she is and that's made it hard to open herself completely to Harrison, even though she loves him more than anything. Mara's struggle to open up was very emotional and you could tell how strongly she loved Harrison and how much it killed her to lie to him.
Harrison himself was also a great character, somewhat stoic, but so deeply in love with his wife that it was beautiful. He's devastated when believes Mara is leaving him and it strains their relationship for a bit but they eventually work through things. It is obvious that neither one wants to give up on the marriage but they're both confronting personal demons not to mention fighting a real life enemy. I especially loved the chemistry between these two and they spent plenty of pages burning up the sheets -- or whatever surface was close enough. Harrison is a dominant and possessive man but he's also incredibly sweet with Mara and their intimate scenes show that he might be in control in the bedroom but it's all about pleasing Mara. What more could you ask for in a guy?
I'm really enjoying this series and in particular I can't wait for Travis's book. We've seen him a few times in the series and I'm very intrigued by him and all his piercing and tattoos.
Fatal Deception is the third book in the Red Stone Security series. This is my favorite book yet in this series. Harrison and Mara are a dynamic, heartfelt couple. They prove that no matter what, love conquers all.
Harrison and Mara are married, but Mara has a deadly past full of secrets that Harrison knows nothing about. After a recent turn of events, Mara is forced to either run to protect Harrison or to tell him about her past and trust him. Unfortunately she has major trust issues because of past events and even tho she loves Harrison, trusting him with everything is a different story.
Katie Reus knows how to write a book that is full of action, suspense, and just enough hot romance to keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more.
I thought Fatal Deception was a little bit weaker than the first 2 in the series. I would of probably finished this a lot quicker had it not been for me going away in the middle of starting this. I loved the relationship between Maria and Harrison I wouldn't say that Harrison was my favorite out of the brothers but I deffo thought that Maria was one of the better chicks of the series. Fatal Deception had nice bouts of action to the story but I felt something was lacking a little I'm not particularly sure of what I thought was lacking but still Katie has manged to write another page turner and as usual I look forward to reading more of Katie's books :))
This story sounded promising. The suspense part with the villian was interesting. It was just too short of a book. Just when the suspense was getting to the meaty part, it was over. I liked the h because she was a caring, strong and had an interesting past. I like the H from reading Books 1 and 2, but there was too little of him in this to really get to know him. Whenever he and the h were together it was just about sex. I didn't feel the love between them. I didn't connect with them as a couple. I think it would have been an exceptional story if only it was longer.
********* This 3rd installment is out of the ballpark!
Harrison knows something is wrong with his wife; she's private and evasive....... a combustible combination for sure. This one is a James Bond with all the right moves!!!!! I will not say more so as not to give anything away, but just know it's a KEEPERRRRRR!
Another 5-star rating for Katie Reus' book. . . Fatal Deception is a great addition to the series. Passion, deception, intrigue, suspense, action, drama. . . What more can you ask for? Harrison's and Mara's story is one you wouldn't want to put down until the last page.
Mara and Harrison Caldwell had trust issues at first in their relationship because both of them harbored secrets. We come to find out that Harrison was in the service and then was a member of the CIA like his father. Mara was a member of M-16 which is like the CIA in the UK. She was recruited by the M-16 organization right out of Cambridge College. They changed her name and she stayed with them until she was burn out. Mara lived in Boston the first 8 or 9 years of her life with her father until he died and then she was sent to live with her mother. Her mother sold her body for a living and her and her pimps were abusive to Mara so finally when she turned old enough to finish school she left and got a scholarship to Cambridge. We know that Harrison runs Red Stone Security since his father retired. He is the middle son with Porter being the oldest and Grant the baby. So, when one the men she helped put her away and made his way to Miami and she had to make choices she knew her husband might not like. This story had a lot of action drama and a lot of romantic suspense, and I loved it. I would highly recommend this book and naturally the series. It was definitely a good read.
Fatal Deception is the third book in the ‘Red Stone Security Series’ by Katie Reus. This is a thrilling blend of romance, suspense, and action that makes for some binge-worthy reading. With 21 books in the series, each installment introduces a new couple, weaving their love story among the high-stakes situations that involve danger, intrigue, and the ever-present threat of betrayal. Each book feels fresh, yet they all share a cohesive thread of loyalty, family, and the protective nature of the Red Stone Security team. The author proves to be a dynamic writer, cleverly choreographing all the many and varied elements into engrossing reads. Easily crafting the vibrant backdrop in which her stories are set, which results in the action sequences being much more vivid, so much so that it’s easy to imagine the scenes playing out like a movie. Fans of romantic suspense will appreciate the fast-paced plots, steamy romance, and the sense of danger that permeates the stories. Love conquers all Happy Reading…
Strong storyline, but wish better narrator for audio
I am reading the early books in this series after listening to the later Red Stone books narrated by the wonderful Sophie Eastlake, who brings those books alive. She also narrates Reus' wonderful Resurrection Harbor series. No offense, but the early books fall flat with a different narrator. The Kindle versions of the early works are fine, and set the scene for the later Red Stone books. I really love the Mara female character in this book. Have a mixed impression of the male lead, Harrison Caldwell, who is a bit too much in control mode for my taste.
Honestly, what was the point of Fatal Deception? The main couple is already married and suddenly, after their wedding, they discover that they have problems because of Mara. I thought it's stupid that Mara didn't want to tell her ex-CIA-agent husband the truth about her past because she wanted to protect him. Uhm, what? I still gave it 3 stars because it was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward the other books in the series.
A marriage in trouble and life or death situation is always a good recipe. As with the earlier books, I wish this was longer, but what's there is great!
More detail easily could've been layered on - especially the heroine's full backstory - but the two of them pulled at a lot of emotions. The suspense in her romantic suspense often falls flat, but if the love story is good enough, that's an easily overlooked issue.
Married but boy do they find some big secrets. The story picks up with another brother in the security company and his wife is acting different. The story quickly shares the why to us, but makes the husband work for the information a bit longer. Good blend of action and suspense while they handle an old enemy who has come for revenge. I liked the focus on emotions, trust, and family that went along with the romance and suspense!
A love so strong, she didn’t want to lose, so kept her past hidden. Until he was hunting her.she was willing to do what was needed to save her husband. When he finds out, he knew she had secrets, these were worse then he imagined. Who could win, the outcome was deadly, for a person or their marriage.
Mara and Harrison's story had me sitting on the edge of my seat through the whole book. This book is suspenseful, sexy, nail biting, fun read. I love this book and series. I can't wait to read the next book.
Wow....who knew Mara could be soooooooo exciting. Although, at times I wanted to shake some sense into her. Harrison and his intensity were hot all in itself. I loved the whole dynamics of the story. I always wanted to know her backstory. Loved it..
Parts of narration were weird: odd pronunciation, incorrect emphasis, timing of pauses. The book was short, and the characters were flat. Mara was really contradictory and her thought processes seemed a little immature for a former MI6 agent.
I can't get enough of this series right now.I was happy this book was about Mara and Harrison. I was curious about their backstory after they appeared in book 1.