No Limits

Simon Baptiste needs to take a break from his SG-5 duties and reluctantly decides that this would be a good time to go to Louisiana to check on his property in Bayou Allain. The same homestead that he abandoned to the care of a property manager several years ago. Leaving Manhattan and the billboard facing his apartment that stunningly advertises Ferrer fragrances for a while should go far in clearing his mind of the recent mission that had gone terribly wrong. Imagine Simon's shock when he walks into his house to find a beautiful woman wearing nothing but wading boots and a sheer bra, rinsing her clothes in his kitchen sink. Especially when the woman turns out to be Michelina "Micky" Ferrer, the model he has secretly admired since the billboard went up across from his apartment. His surprise is nothing compared to the shock on her face though, and he immediately senses her terror. Learning the reason behind her unexpected visit to Bayou Allain, and the people behind the reason, he realizes that she has good reason to be frightened. When Micky Ferrer wakes up in her Manhattan bedroom after yet another night of hard partying and questionable behavior, she decides to leave town for a while to escape the disappointment, albeit justified, of her famous family. Her long-time friend, Lisa, has repeatedly invited her to visit her home in Bayou Allain, and having recently hinted at something troubling her, Micky decides to head to Louisiana to escape the tabloids and her family. Upon her arrival in the small bayou town, Micky is unable to locate Lisa and begins asking questions. Evidently she is asking the wrong questions of the wrong people because she soon finds herself forced off the road and barely escapes her rental car as it sinks into the murky waters of the swamp. Joining forces with Simon Baptiste seems a guaranty of her physical safety as they search for clues in Lisa's disappearance, but as the two begin to dig into the history of Simon's land and the tainted descent of Lisa's in-laws, connected secrets are brought to light and soon they're both faced with danger. Alison Kent never delivers a book that's anything less than brilliant. Her characters are always uniquely sharp, dialogue is snappy, and readers are guaranteed an emotionally rich story with precise layering. Simon is a familiar character from previous SG-5 books, and Alison's telling of his story is definitely worth the wait. Micky is initially reminiscent of a real-life heiress whose risque exploits make her a paparazzi favorite, but it doesn't take long to realize that she is sharply intelligent, fiercely loyal, and the perfect match for Simon. I couldn't give this book a stronger recommendation, especially for readers who have read the previous releases in this series.

Simon Baptiste was given a choice between jail and the army. Reluctantly he joined the military with plans to leave Bayou Allain, Louisiana and his enemies behind for now. However after a successful career, his last mission went badly. So after spending a few weeks looking at the Ferrer fragrance model on a billboard in Manhattan, he returns to his hometown to heal; although he knows he will not receive a hero's welcome. What he did not expect inside his home was naked Michelina "Micky" Ferrer, the model he was lusting for while healing in New York. She explains she came to town to see her college friend Lisa Landry who has disappeared. Her questions angered someone who wants her dead. Simon agrees to not just keep Micky safe, but to learn what happened to Lisa and who is trying to kill the model; he hides his other vow from her that he never thought he would ever fall in love with a Micky. Although the meeting between Micky and Simon is a Mount Everest level happenstance, fans will relish the latest SG-5 romantic thriller. The bayou is a fabulous place for secrets and intrigue as Micky learns the hard way while also a delightful locale for eccentric characters. The story line is fast-paced once Simon goes home and never slows down as the pair investigates the disappearance; ironically readers know the villains much earlier than the heroes. Fans of the saga will enjoy this exciting tale while newcomers will find this a solid entry into the exhilarating world of Alison Kent. Harriet Klausner