Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews

I wanted to watch this movie, but I know I have to read the book first!  And what a treat it was.

Jason Matthews is a retired officer of the CIA’s Clandestine Service.  He tells the story as if it truly happened. 

Dominika Egorova began her life as a prima ballerina, working towards performing with the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia.  Her parents encouraged her to believe in the mother country, which she did.

That’s until her career as a ballerina is ruined by a vindictive move.

She turns to a career with the Russian government, encouraged by her uncle.  The training is medieval in a sense.  Especially at the Red Sparrow school where Dominika is trained to exploit a target in the art of sex.

Nate Nash is exported from his position with the CIA out of Russia and to Helsinki.  He’s supposed to be semi-demoted and given a desk job.

Dominika is used and pushed around and she witnesses unfortunate deaths of friends.  Losing the respect for her country, she is intent on paying the country back for their cruelty and greed. 

Dominika contacts the CIA and is handles by Nate, not realizing the important and extensive information they would uncover together.

Dominika and Nate’s alliance is incredibly dangerous.  Along with close work together, the cardinal rule is snapped as their emotions and hearts tangle.

This is the ultimate of work and love mixing with an explosive outcome in espionage, thriller, and a dark romance.

Happy reading,

Dawn  

Centrifugal Force by Lisa J Lickel

Loved the complexity of this story.  The main plot is layered with multiple sub-plots leaving no room for idle pages.

Rachel Michels has a past she’d rather forget except for her daughter that came from it.

Yet, we all know the past catches up with us and isn’t always what it seems.

Rachel’s daughter left the house for college and her own life not far away.  Rachel dabbles in the idea of dating again and doesn’t truly trust her own intuition, but gives it a shot.      

Between a date with a colleague, Scott, and the arrival of her former lover and father to her daughter, Rachel finds herself in the middle of a global political battle. 

Gervas Friedemann has several reasons for traveling from his home in Germany to Wisconsin.  He wants his daughter from one of his wives to undergo experimental medicine, intends to see Rachel to get back an historic heirloom, and promised his brother who’s running for a high governmental position to help with an alleged blackmail scam. 

The story keeps us in suspense as to what’s really true, what’s most important, and who Scott and Gervas really are.

Rachel is thrown into the mix of political espionage along with a heart swelling and breaking along the way.  Rachel needs to play the game and find out what is truly right for her and her daughter, never leaving love behind because happily ever after is the most important component.

Happy reading,

Dawn