I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Under the Wire
by
Cindy Gerard
romantic suspense in Paperback edition that was published by St. Martin's Press on December 28, 2006 and has 352 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Deadly Promises, Show No Mercy, Take No Prisoners, Whisper No Lies, Feel the Heat, Risk No Secrets, With No Remorse, Last Man Standing, To the Edge, To the Limit, To the Brink, Over the Line, Killing Time, The Way Home, Running Blind, Taking Fire
Fifth in The Bodyguards romantic suspense series. The couple focus is on Manny Ortega and Lily Campora.
My Take
Whoa, the start was intense with betrayals, and one thought kept crossing my mind…why is Manny so quick to believe that Lily betrayed him? It made sense with the first chapter, but then we meet her in the second chapter and…no. It just doesn’t work for me. Although…Manny’s seduction is amazing. What a sweetheart…sigh… All those chapters of their being together just puts the lie to that first one. Gerard does work a nasty bit of conflict in, aside from Manny’s betrayal.
It’s two different ways to tour the countryside: as a hostage and as a soldier prepared to rescue hostages. Personally, I’d like a third option…dumb, happy-go-lucky tourist!
I do like Lily. She’s coping brilliantly under horrible circumstances: her son taken hostage, Manny’s hostility, and how bloody long it’s taking to plan, to prepare, to reconnoitre. Although, I am curious as to why Lily would know about Kincaid Publishing. It’s not a fact the average person on the street would know.
The story itself is tense in so many different directions. Surreptitious back alley deals. A past history of illegal arms deals. An embassy that won’t help. Treachery and double-crosses. Tarzan swings. Elephant attacks. Underground caves. And then there’s Manny’s hatred.
Oh, crack me up…I just love Kavith and Rajah’s charge with the coconuts: “Go ahead; make my day!”
The Story
It’s Cougar who forces Manny out, and he takes refuge in the U.S. First in the army, then Special Forces, and now with the Boston PD.
It’s only chance that Lily learns he’s alive, but Adam’s foray as a volunteer into Sri Lanka forces Lily to take action. To contact Manny to help her rescue her…their…son.
The Characters
Lily Campora had volunteered as a nurse with Doctors Without Borders in Nicaragua until heartache, loss, and danger forced her to leave. Little does she know she’s taking home a little souvenir, by the name of Adam.
Manolo Ortega once served with Ethan Garrett, but before that he was an undercover Contra spy against General Jorge Poveda and his Sandinistas. These days he’s a detective with the Boston PD, but about to move down to Florida and join E.D.E.N.
Darcy Prescott is engaged to Ethan Garrett, also Special Forces (To the Brink, 3); they get married at the end. Dallas, the middle brother who’s a former Marine and former Force Recon, is along on this mission as well. Yeah, he’s still obsessing over Amy Walker’s whereabouts (To the Brink).
The Garretts make up E.D.E.N. Securities, Inc. founded by their father, Wes: Nolan is the youngest, a former Ranger married to Jillian (To the Edge, 1) and his twin, Eve, married Mac ((To The Limit, 2) are sitting this one out. Susan is their mom. Jason Wilson and Sweet Baby Jane, a.k.a., Mrs. Janey Wilson, are together (Over the Line, 4).
Amithnal Muhandiramalas is a member of the Sinhalese parliament; a position Lily thought would protect her son. Sathi is his wife; Minrada is their daughter, to whom Adam is very attracted.Emory is Adam’s student advisor. Kavith is a young poet herding Rajah, his grandfather’s elephant and accompanied by the thieving macaque monkey, Tito.
Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam
A minority ethnic group battling the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. General Ponnambalam Ramanathan is the leader of the Tigers whom Dallas did wrong in an arms deal.
Vice-Consul Griffin is with the U.S. embassy in Sri Lanka.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a band of blue at the top with a green veil lighting up the night as Manny and and Lily flee while someone [there are so many possibilities] glowers out at us.
The title is tight and Under the Wire as Lily, Manny, and the Garretts have so little time to rescue Adam.
