Bulletproof Billionaire

by Mallory Kane

Book Overview

Bulletproof Billionaire by Mallory Kane released on Jul 25, 2004 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373227892
• ISBN13: 9780373227891
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

a strong tale from talented Kane

Mallory Kane impressed me with a recent book of hers I read, so I made it a point to track down more of her work. Again, she impressed me! Writing for Harlequin Intrigue, she is penning a story under the New Orleans Confidential - Ultimate Agents line. For those unfamiliar with this concept, often a writer has a series of books she does; other times, the publisher has a certain "bible" line and gives certain books to different writers to do one story out of the series. It's harder for a writer to really `strut their stuff' when they are slightly bound and gagged with the premise handed to them. A publisher will have the "bible" for the concept, each book already set up, and the writer has to hit certain points. Interesting, designed to make the readers seek out the other books in this arc. However, sometimes you almost feel the writer chaffing, wanting to break free and do their own ideas. Mallory Kane's talent feels these constrictions with this story, Bulletproof Billionaire, yet she comes through and delivers and engaging tale. Harlequin hurts the wonderful effort by sticking her with this sappy title. How they can believe it sells books is beyond me! So ignore the title and you will find Kane gives you one super story. The Ultimate Agents work undercover, by day they lead lives of New Orleans professionals; by night they are government operatives designed to put a stop to the corruption undermining the city. They are strong men, bound by honor, with a firm devotion to the law, and they have sworn an oath to keep their missions and their identities totally a secret. In Kane's tale, Seth Lewis is sent into crack the Cajun Mob. The New Orleans Confidential has sent Seth, a street-smart, rough-around-the-edges agent to assume the identity of a jet-setting businessman. His mission is to gain information and possibly entry to the Cajun Mob, by romancing mob widow, Adrienne De Blanc. Seth's target is to bring down Jerome Senegal, head of the Cajun Mob by seducing the beautiful widow, who is owner of the Cajun Perk coffeehouses, which serve as a front for Senegal's illegal drug activities. Seth makes the transition from wisecracking, tough guy to suave Continental charmer, and finds gaining the attention of the lonely socialite easier than he assumed. Only, he is shocked to find himself caring for the fragile woman, who is desperate to escape the control of the New Orleans crime syndicate. At first, he is puzzle, if she wants out from under Senegal's control, why does she just not walk, not stopping to comprehend she's held bound as Senegal is using her child as a pawn to insure her obedience. Though attracted to Adrienne, and surprised by the strong desire to protect her, neither of them are being totally truthful with the other, and their lies could see them both go down in flames. Their passion causes Seth's position to be a dangerous one, putting both of their lives at risk. Mallory delivers strong, sympathetic characters a

exhilarating romantic suspense

New Orleans Confidential leader Conrad Burke knew he needed a master of disguise who in daytime is a leading professional whom would feel comfortable amongst the wealthiest of the city; at night undercover and as at ease amidst drug dealers. He recruits Seth Lewis to pose as an international multibillionaire business mogul. The objective is to bring down Jerome Senegal, head of the Cajun Mob by seducing widow Adrienne Deblanc, owner of the Cajun Perk coffeehouses that serve as a front for Senegal's illegal drug peddling activities. Seth meets Adrienne and finds her nothing like the cool, aloof female he expect; instead she seems frightened and lonely, bringing out his protective feelings. Still he wonders why she does the mob bidding not realizing the threat of the "Knife" to her mom. As they fall in love, neither trusts the other though they share common goals of destroying Senegal, extracting Adrienne from the mess, and love. If they continue to hide truths because they remain suspicious of one another, they will fail. Inane title aside, BULLETPROOF BILLIONAIRE is an exhilarating romantic suspense that takes off from the moment Seth's siblings help prepare him for his assignment and never lets up until the final confrontation. Adrienne is a delightful Perils of Pauline heroine though the menace to her mom by the thug the Knife seems unnecessary as Senegal could get a hundred cooperative replacements in a flash. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy the second New Orleans Confidential and seek out the previous book, UNDERCOVER ENCOUNTER by Rebecca York as this reviewer will do and look forward to next month's entry by Joanna Wayne. Harriet Klausner