Two agents' forgotten love is rekindled in USA TODAY bestselling author Debra Webb's Colby The Specialists series.
Someone was out to get Thomas Casey. His profession had taught him to trust no one. So when Johara di Rossi abducted him on his way to his beloved niece's wedding, Thomas assumed the worst—despite their intimate history.
Though attachments made him vulnerable, Thomas was haunted by regret for walking away from Jo years ago. No other woman had stirred such intense desire in him. Now, snowbound in an isolated cabin, with a determined enemy from his past closing in, suspicion begins to melt away as the embers of their passion reignite.
DEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 170 novels, including reader favorites the Finley O'Sullivan and Devlin & Falco series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel.
With more than four million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.
What could unnerve a “real life” version of James Bond? Someone who has faced down the most vile of villains, run covert spy missions, and lived to tell about it? How about having to walk his niece down the aisle on her wedding day and have to say a total of four words? Thomas Casey is now the head of the CIA and a blizzard is thwarting his chances to make it to his niece’s wedding on time. Well, a blizzard and an attempt to besmirch his legendary name and kill him in an act of revenge. When a beautiful agent from his past “kidnaps” him and saves his life, Thomas is still in danger, still far from the wedding, and unsure if he should even show up and possibly endanger the lives of those he loves. It doesn’t help that the one woman he ever loved is his savior, or that they walked away from each other so long ago. Can they rekindle their romance? Can he clear his name? Can he survive? Will he get to the wedding on time, if he survives?
Bridal Armor by Debra Webb is part intrigue, part thriller part “run for your life” and part romance, but a completely fun read. The pace is fast, the tension runs high and bless Thomas for being so worried about his niece’s wedding! I thoroughly enjoyed this light and easy read.
This ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Intrigue in exchange for my honest review!
Expected Publication Date: August 20, 2013 Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue ISBN: 9780373697106 Number of Pages: 224 Genre: Romance/Intrigue Age Recommendation: Adults-Sexual Content My Rating: 4 Stars for being an entertaining read! Available From: Amazon / Barnes & Noble For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
According to Goodreads, this is book #51 in the series. I did not realize how long this series was when I requested the book. I requested it because I like the trapped together trope.
The cast of characters in this relatively short book was huge. There are a lot of covert agencies to keep track off along with the members of those organizations. Had it stayed on Thomas & Jo and Jason Grant, the GR rating would have been higher.
The suspense part of the plot was executed well. I had no clue who was out to get Thomas or what the motives were. I was trying to piece the puzzle together along with Thomas, Jo & the rest.
The romance fizzled for me. Yes, Thomas and Jo had a past together. There were still undercurrents there. But the romance seemed lost in the midst of the action.
Having said all that, I am intrigued by Jason Grant. I will look for his book. Hopefully, when I read it, I will remember who is whom.
Very good book with the action starting from the first page. Thomas is in Colorado to give away the bride at his niece's wedding. He is met at the airport by Johara, an agent he had worked with in the past. She basically abducts him, letting him know that he is under investigation for treason. The two of them have to put aside their pasts and work together to find out who is behind it and clear his name.
Thomas is the head of his division. He has put his second in command in charge so he can have a few days off for the wedding. He has no idea about the investigation when he is met by Johara. First she tells him that she needs his help and he goes with her. When his rental car explodes he begins to wonder if he can trust her. As she fills him in on the fact that he is being investigated for treason he realizes that she is his best chance to clear his name. He also discovers that his feelings for Jo are still strong. He had walked away from her five years earlier because he knew that anyone he was close to would be in danger because of his work. While that decision had felt right at the time, now he is wondering if it was. I loved the way that they worked together, but also had their disagreements. Thomas was certain that a couple of his coworkers were trustworthy while Jo wasn't so sure. Thomas also had to decide if he really trusted Jo or not. One of my favorite things about Thomas was his determination to make the wedding, but also his extreme nervousness about his role. He is such a calm and controlled man in everything else that I found his fears really adorable.
Jo volunteered for the assignment to watch Thomas and catch him in treasonous activities. She is certain that the suspicions are false and uses her assignment to steal him away and find out his side of the story. I love how organized she is and how she seemed to be able to anticipate all kinds of problems. She had loved him years ago and discovers that those feelings haven't died. She also realizes that until they solve their problem there is no way that Thomas is going to trust her enough to admit to any feelings he has. One of my favorite things about Jo is her kick butt attitude and her ability to handle just about anything she encounters.
I loved seeing so many previous characters as everyone gathered for the wedding. It was also great to see how they stepped up to find out what was going on with Thomas. I always love the low-key but intense way they approach things. While the immediate danger to Thomas is over, there is still the mystery of who is behind the attempt on his career and his life.
Bridal Armor is a Harlequin Intrigue publication and released in August 2013. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the DRC of this book.
Jo and Thomas had a personal and professional history together. But, their relationship in both instances had ended a while back. But, neither of them had fully gotten over each other. Now Jo is in the unfortunate position of having to investigate Thomas. It is believed that Thomas is selling a biological weapon in the form of a virus to the enemy. Jo just can not believe Thomas is capable of anything like that and is convinced he is being set up. So, she pretends to be going along with the investigation, but is really trying to figure out who might be framing Thomas.
In the meantime, Thomas is set to give way his niece at her wedding in Colorado. When he gets to Denver, a snow storm blows in that makes it impossible to get to the rehearsal in time. But, the shocker is meeting up with Jo at the airport and a car explosion that gets his full attention and has him and Jo on the run.
Thomas is convinced that an old enemy is out for revenge against him and is the responsible party in setting him up. But, he doesn't trust Jo right away. She is after all there to prove him guilty of treason. But, the chain of events that unfolds in the next 24 hours, has Thomas realizing in the twilight of his career, what is really important in life. He has many regrets about placing his family and Jo in the background, but maybe there is still time to make up for lost time.... If they make out of Colorado alive.
This is a really fast paced romantic suspense novel. We are dealing with an organization that is not even mentioned in government, it's so clandestine. Bio terrorism is a scary thought, I would rather not dwell on too long. The prospect of this being dealt with on some level as we speak is a sobering thought. Two people that had a strong working relationship that developed into a sexual relationship, then a deeper emotion, come together after a long time. The sad thing was that Thomas questioned Jo when it was obvious she still carried a torch for him and was putting her career on the line to save his butt. But, Thomas finds out right quick that Jo is his ally and the two of them and the entire world are at risk if the virus gets out.
I really enjoyed this one. The only thing I felt was left out, was more information about the agency they worked for. Perhaps, in future installments we will learn more about it.
I liked it but felt like the ending was rushed. I think it needed to be longer or something. It had a lot of different familar characters and some I had not read about. Lots of drama, action. romance and snow. Their is also a bomber on the loose and a Russian attack helicopter in Colorado.
For most of the book you are not totally sure who to trust. Who is setting up who? In fact I still am wondering parts of it. Thomas Casey niece is getting married. He is giving the bride away. Most of the guests are working for CIA, Specialists or for the Colby Agency. So security is tight and everything should be okay for the wedding. They have rented out the whole hotel for it.
When Thomas lands in Denver just beating a big snow storm that no one saw coming. He is met by Johara di Rossi a agent he worked with and got close years ago. She asks him to come with her. When they get to the car Thomas had rented it blew up. His quick reaction saved them.
They got in Jo's car and away they thought from the enemy. Every time you think they were safe something else happened. Jo saw one agent follow her and thought he might be responsible for it. Thomas trusts that agent that she saw at the airport.
Grant assignment was to follow Jo around and see what she is up too and report to the assistant director who was in charge while Thomas was on vacation. He thought it would be easy since she has been on a desk for the past 4 years. He lost her. He did find out that the car that was bombed was his director. Now he was missing too.
Everyone is worried when Thomas does not show up on time first because of snow. Then all calls go direct to voice mail. He has missed checks in. That is not normal.
Their are a few love scenes that I skipped over. If you have read most of the Colby Agency: Specialists than you would be glad to see all the characters from previous books. I have read some and know some of the back stories but their are a lot of them that I have missed.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley and Harlequin. publication: August 20th 2013 by Harlequin Intrigue 224 pages ISBN:0373697104
4.25 out of 5. A tense, multi-layered tale well calculated to please those who love to read nail-biters that involve espionage and mystery mixed in with romance. It's all here, folks. It's set against the backdrop of a family wedding at a mountain lodge in Colorado, starts out as some family time away for the director of a branch of the spy community in Washington and turns out to be a witch hunt that is intended not only to destroy his career but possibly to end his life. It's a doozy and a compelling read. If you have been reading the books in this series you will recognize some of the background characters featured in previous books. But Ms Webb has certainly done herself proud with this one. They don't come much better than this.
Bridal Armor by Debra Webb MacGyver meets James Bond in this high tension, action packed romantic suspense that will keep readers on their toes and wondering who to trust. These agents and spies are a real thriller. Ms Webb has a way of putting the audience in her story and fans will be peeking around doorways and tip toeing down halls in no time.
In Webb’s romantic suspense novel, Thomas Casey has a target on his back and when Johara di Rossi abducts him while enroute to his niece’s wedding, he assumed the worst. Haunted by regret for walking away from Jo years ago, Thomas has met no other woman that can hold a candle to her. Snowbound in an isolated cabin, with a killer closing in, suspicion regarding her actions begins to fade as passion is reignited between them.
A strong addition to the Colby Agency: The Specialists series.
Over the years as the director of Mission Recovery Thomas Casey had made enemies - now someone was trying to take him down both professionally and permanently. When Johara de Rossi an Initiative Committee member who oversees government shadow operations turned up at the airport as he arrived for his nieces wedding, Thomas assumed the worst in spite of their intimate history. If he had regrets this late in his career, it was that he had let Johara go so many years before. With an enemy determined to take him out, Thomas and Johara would brave snowstorms, dodge bullets, and come to terms with a passion their enforced closeness was re-igniting.
*** Webb has both a distinct style and the talent to write heart-throbbing, fast paced action with unique plot lines combined with romantic undertones that intensify the precarious and dangerous situations she dumps her leads into. In BRIDAL ARMOR the dangerous situations and the reawakened passions of her leads made this another of this authors intensely popular storylines within her Colby Agency series.
Johara knew Thomas and when she saw reports of his being a traitor to his country, they were so implausible she immediately took on this investigation herself. Webb’s description of the steps Johara had taken to throw off any tails that were following Thomas were part of her trademark ability to write scenarios which read like a movie in the mind of this reader. This, in and of itself, makes for an excellent read of any thriller and covert op suspense books I tend to pick up. I love the details!
I have found with this author that each book can be stand alone, but if you enjoy the relationships that develop in each book, as I do, the characters tend to become an extended family and you may enjoy seeing them pop up here and there in future and past books. With BRIDAL ARMOR, Webb brings together two characters that had a past to make way for a new future - and one hopes and expects future spin-offs of the same intense excitement that make BRIDAL ARMOR a book and series I highly recommend.
The Colby Series has been one of my favorite series since I started reading Debra Webb’s books many years ago (over 10 years ago). I started reading her books and realized it was a series and I always love to read series in order. I went to many used bookstores and searched online for the books that were out of print. I finally collected them up to the one I’d started reading and I’ve bought every one of them since including every book Debra has written. I’m hooked! This is a series that I will reread because of such great storylines and I bet you’ll feel the same way. Victoria Colby started the Colby Agency of the best private investigators and over the years it has expanded and opened another office in Texas. Victoria and her husband Lucas have planned to retire and leave the Colby Agency in great hands. Victoria’s son Jim opened the Equalizers and now they work together. I don’t want to ruin the storyline by going into great detail of the story. I wonder if Victoria and Lucas will be ever to fully retire. Thomas Casey just wants to make it in time for his niece’s wedding. He is going to have the honor of giving her away since her father died the year before. The weather turns bad unexpectedly and then several people are trying to save or kill Thomas. Someone from his past knows Thomas is being set up and will do anything to help him. But, with so many people after Thomas can they make it to the wedding in time and prevent the people after him from hurting his family by showing up at the wedding. Are those old feelings they both tried to ignore going to arise and distract them. They need to be in top form to stay safe and alive. Thomas’ CIA Specialists have the greatest respect for Thomas Casey and want to help him. Hopefully none of them have turned against him. I know you will love this book and the entire series if you choose to read all the books. Don’t miss her Faces of Evil series or any of her books. Debra has a writing style that draws you into the story and you don’t want to put the book down until you have finished it. I’ve stayed up way past my bedtime many nights. Enjoy the book and happy reading!
Um, BRIDAL ARMOR is forgettable. It's the 51st in a series and I can't imagine, if the 51st is an indication, wanting to read the first 50! It wasn't a terrible read: there are two spooks, there is a bad guy. The two spooks were lovers and the flame still burns, which adds some intermittent romantic tension. A family wedding is in the background. There's a lot of snow in the Colorado mountains and one car chase! The writing is competent, but not inspiring. If you've enjoyed the series in the past, or are keen on this particular category, then you might enjoy the book.
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Libro piacevole e romantico i due protagonisti mi sono piaciuti e proprio per questo avrei voluto che i loro fossero gli unici punti di vista usati nel libro, invece abbiamo altri personaggi che ci regalano la loro prospettiva. Inoltre tutto inizia con un intrigo di spie che però poi si riolve più o meno con un sms un tantino anticlimatico, sì c'è anche azione e un malvivente da uccidere, ma i protagonista non deve faticare nemmeno un pohino per dissipare i sospetti su di lui, il che è troppo anticlimatico.
Entertaining first of the "Colby Agency: the Specialists" miniseries portion of Webb's huge Colby Series. Thomas Casey is an interesting character, and I haven't seen nearly enough of him during this story. There is a merry-go-round of characters interacting to save the wedding of Thomas' niece Casey. All the players get together, except for the protagonists, who can't get to the lodge where the wedding is being held, due to natural and other disasters. Suspense leads to a pretty anticlimactic finish for the bad guy, but there's always another in the wings, along with a cliffhanger.
Books 51 in a series? No wonder I felt like I'd been dropped into a story that was already half way through! Things eventually settled down, though, and I was able to follow what was going on! This was a diverting romantic thriller, but nothing special.
It breaks the cardinal rule of category romance - secondary characters! They get almost as much plot time as the main couple! I think it's because there wasn't enough plot to fill an entire book. Debra Webb is a good writer. She was able to distract me from how thin and padded out this really was!
I don't usually read Military/Spy book genres. I sure do appreciate the authors who do the research to do right for their characters. I know it will work out for the best at the end but it's like sitting on spikes until I finish the book. Debra had just the right amount of danger with enough love and laughter to see me through. Good Job! Don't be afraid to try this book. It's another good book for Harlequin.
It was wonderful to read about a couple who had to give each other up years ago and how they are able to reconnect and her faith in his integrity. I look forward to reading more in the Colby Agency series!
This is the 2nd book I read by Debra Webb 🕸. This book's storyline was okay. I liked the action in this story. I liked Jo's character. I liked Thomas's character. I liked the ending.
Filled with spine-tingling action and adventure, BRIDAL ARMOR will keep you gripping the edge of your seat. Debra Webb weaves gritty suspense with a tad bit of romance, making for a superb read. You will want to get your hands on all of the books in the COLBY AGENCY series.
Thomas Casey is on his way to his niece’s wedding, where he is to give away the bride, when he is unexpectedly intercepted in the airport by old flame and colleague Johara “Jo” De Rossi. Jo is in disguise, so at first Thomas does not recognize her. When Jo insists that she must speak to Thomas about an important matter, he agrees to leave the airport with her.
Upon exiting the airport, there is a cab waiting for them that takes them to a rental car parked in the long-term parking lot. As they get ready to load their luggage into the trunk, Jo decides to warm the car up using the automatic starter on the keychain. Suddenly the car blows up. Luckily, Thomas and Jo were able to get away uninjured.
Things only get worse from there. Next, a couple of thugs intent on shooting them are tailing Jo and Thomas. When they manage to get away safely, Jo heads for a cabin where she and Thomas can talk. Thomas is stunned to find out the he is being investigated for treason. Jo agreed to look into the matter because she feels certain that Thomas is not capable of such a crime.
Johara DE Rossi, she is a member of the Initiative Committee who knew Thomas Casey who is the Director of Mission Recovery .When Johara, saw a reports that Thomas Casey was being reported as a traitor to his country, she felted that this information wasn't implausible. So Johara decided that she must immediately take on this investigation herself. Johara had taken steps to throw off anyone who might be on their tails In the meantime; Thomas is set to give way his niece at her wedding in Colorado. After his arrival a snow storm blows in to Denver that makes it impossible to get to the rehearsal on time. But, the shocker is meeting up with Johara at the airport, and a car explosion that gets his full attention and he and Johara on the run. This book has lots of thrills and suspense, and Debra Webb does it every time. So if you enjoy this type of book, then this one is for you.
Thomas Casey is on the way to his niece's wedding. He is giving the bride away. At the Denver airport, he is abducted by a fellow agent bent on saving his life.
Eventually they sideline the the assassin, make it to the wedding, and and end up with a wedding of their own.
I really love this series and have read every one of the, (took me over a year to find all of them).
I have all of the Colby series. This one is as good as the first. I'm always looking for ward to the next book. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do. Debra Webb has proven to be one of my favorite authors.
Yes, the next installment of the Colby's is here. I found Deb by stumbling onto The colby's when looking for a long series to read. Now I read anything Deb writes. I hope the colby's continue for many more books.
I got hooked on reading harlequin because of Debra Webb this was the first one that was hard for me to get into. It was a good read twists and turns lots of action and ending with an extra marriage love the Colby series gotta find the rest