"Unguarded emotions tug your heartstrings"

In this latest addition to her Protector Series, Beverly Barton has engaged the help of fellow author Linda Howard to brainstorm - and the central protagonist Nikos Pandarus emerges irresistibly dark, haunted and every bit an archetypal alpha male. An SIS spy for the English, he has earned the hatred from Hakeem - the honcho of the fearsome terrorism organisation Al'alim when he killed his son. Hakeem's brother Omar has commandered his son Wasim to kidnap the daughter of Theo Constantine - a influential Golnar businessman and will set her free on the condition that they release their imprisoned brothers. Theo enlists the assistance of Ellen Denby who heads the protection agency and his best friend Nikos without knowing they were erstwhile lovers. The tension between them stems from a deep hatred when their short affair compromised Ellen's life -and caused unbearable grief for the loss of a loved one which is unknown to Nikos.

With searing poignancy and complexed characters, Beverly Barton brings a resonant drama on lost innocence, guilt and remorse that pulsates with the rhythm of frenetic action. Ms. Barton's scrupulous research on espionage and military operation breathes realism into the plot without forsaking on the romance and kinship. She makes every side- character including the grieving mother Dia, comrades Sawyer and Lucie textured and relevant to the plot and even concocts a beautiful secondary romance between the nanny Faith and tough-guy ranger Worth. Yet the element that excruciatingly tugs our heartstrings is the bittersweet romance between Nikos and Ellen where it shines with compassion, smoldering passion and ultimately forgiveness. The unguarded emotions found in this elegant and simple tale makes this one of the best read I have had this year.

Reviewed by Desmond CHan
Posted January 1, 2003

For those who have eagerly awaited the Ellen Denby story, your wait is over. In November Silhouette will release Ellen's story in my second single title "The Protectors" novel. Following this book will be a "The Protectors" novella in the Silhouette anthology SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS, also a November 2002 release.

Summary

SOMETIMES LOVE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME OF ALL

As the powerful head of one of the strongest protection agencies in the world, Ellen Denby believed she was invincible. Invulnerable. Until she came face-to-face with the one man who made her remember what it was to feel. To love...

He couldn't resist her, though he knew he could never truly have her. For anyone secret service agent Nikos Pandarus claimed as his own became fodder for his vengeful foes. But now that fate had brought his beautiful Ellen into his arms once more, he swore to protect her—and hungered to possess her again. But would their passion come at too high a price?