"A tough hero with a good heart"

Undercover operative Alessandro Vellenti's mission in Europe is to gain the trust of General Viktor Zhukov and help find a way to stop him and his criminal activities. When Viktor's son is arrested in the United States, Sandro receives the assignment from the general that will prove his loyalty. He is sent to Portugal to kidnap Ambassador Carrington's daughter Miranda, and turn her over to Viktor so that she can be used as a hostage to set his son free. Sandro has a personal stake in seeing Viktor brought down, but he can't just hand an innocent young woman over to the monster. He has to find a way to get her away without blowing his cover.

Miranda Carrington is finally able to enjoy the freedom she craves. Having convinced her father to call off her bodyguards for a while, she is traveling incognito in Portugal under an assumed name, so she doesn't have to worry about reporters or photographers. When a dark, enigmatic stranger approaches her she ignores the instinctive alarm she feels and tells herself there is no harm in engaging in a flirtation with an attractive man.

Then violence erupts in a volley of gunfire and Miranda and Sandro find themselves running for their lives. Together, they stay one step ahead of the men who want to harm her, neither knowing whom they can trust. Sandro knows he can't let his feelings for Miranda interfere with his mission, and that in order to protect her he has to get her out of his life and his world. Miranda goes along with Sandro, thinking he is there to protect her, but fully prepared to turn the tables on him if need be, in spite of the fact that she is growing to love him.

THE PERFECT TARGET was a quick, entertaining read with an admirably strong, resourceful heroine and an attractive, scarred bad-ass hero with a heart of gold. The plot contained enough action to keep things exciting but leave plenty of room for Ms. Mills' skillful depiction of these two very likeable characters. With minimal appearances from minor players, the interaction between the two was the focal point, and I enjoyed watching them fall in love while on the run.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted February 23, 2003

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Summary

An international kidnapping attempt gone awry forces undercover special forces operative Sandro Vellenti to hustle free-spirited Miranda Carrington into a shadowy world where lies skirt dangerously close to the truth, and the truth could well get them killed. On the run through the countryside of Portugal—from crumbling castle ruins to haunting standing stones, musty wineries to walled cities—they learn freedom comes in many shapes and sizes. And sometimes, the greatest freedom of all comes in the form of surrender.