To Catch a Thief (Featuring Navy Seals)

As with all of Ms. Skye's books this one was great! I almost read it from cover to cover in one day. I love Izzy and hope she writes his story soon.

Pour your cuppa hot chocolate and put on your Pooh slippers...this is a good, satisfying read that lives up to its press.

Another SEAL, another chance to visit Draycott! Put the two together and you have Christina Skye's new book, To Catch A Thief. Tight, intricate plotting combined with tense action; a Skye trademark is found in this book. This is an action packed story, one that grabs you right in the beginning. There are betrayals where you didn't expect them and twists and turns enough to keep you turning the pages! One note to readers not familiar with this author; it would help if you have read any of the others in her Draycott and CODE NAME series to get the flavor of her writing style. I'm patiently waiting for Izzy's story and I sense we'll be seeing Dakota and Nell in a future installment. Write fast Christina!

Sussex, England, 1622. Viscount Draycott hid a piece of art, for safety. It was Leonardo's preliminary chalk sketch for the Mona Lisa, with probable oversketching by Michelangelo. With it was hidden a notebook from the hand of Leonardo da Vinci. The notebook stated, in poetry form, that the exquisite piece of art, as well as the notebook, was cursed. In the year 1785 the chalk sketch was stolen, but not the notebook. Few knew of the sketch's existence. Once stolen, it disappeared - until now. Lieutenant Dakota Smith is a Navy SEAL. He works for a government department with no name, in a location that has no address, on jobs with no description. Those in his department call it Foxfire. Word has it that an undiscovered da Vinci is to be privately auctioned off to carefully selected collectors. Currently the art piece is in the possession of a delusional and ruthless millionaire named Martim Gonsalves. Dakota's mission is to retrieve it. To do this, he needs Nell MacInnes, an art conservator. Problem is that Dakota is not one hundred percent sure he can trust her. Nell's father is Jordan MacInnes, a well known art thief. Jordan has recently been released from prison. Everyone from the FBI to the head of Foxfire believes that Nell's father had orchestrated the complex theft of the art piece from the museum within days of his release. They also believe Nell is somehow involved. Nell MacInnes is not a thief and refuses to believe her father has returned to his old life of crime. When Nell receives a quick call from her father, giving her strange numbers and telling her to contact their family friend for aid, she is confused. The family friend is Nicholas Draycott. Dakota and Nell travel to Draycott Abbey, where Nell begins to teach Dakota how to rock climb, without any safety equipment. The auction is due to be held at a castle on a small island north of Skye. It will take all of Nell's knowledge of art and climbing to help bring Dakota, and her father, out of the mission alive. ***** Christina Skye continues her exciting adventures with the men and women of the Foxfire group. This mission is just as dangerous, yet thrilling, as all the ones before it. I always find it fascinating to witness the fall of another SEAL into the web of love. Dakota put up a great fight though, I must admit. As for Nell, the author did a terrific job of creating the strong-willed female character a man like Dakota would need. The romance of Nell and Dakota blends in very well with the various phases of the mission. (Trust me, the mission keeps evolving and getting more complex.) Nell's personal life is just as difficult as Dakota's, especially her childhood years; therefore, she trusts people even less than Dakota does. Watching the clashes between this pair, in addition to their deep attraction for one another, is like watching a pressure cooker build up steam. Eventually, the explosion will occur. I guess what I am saying is that books by Christina Skye are hot and

When the Da Vinci sketch was stolen from the National Art Gallery, suspicion falls on art restorer Nell MacInnes and her father, a notorious thief just out of prison. Navy SEAL Dakota Smith is assigned to keep a close eye on Nell, which he knows is too easy to do as she is beautiful. They meet in the Isle of Skye where they work together to rescue stranded young climbers from treacherous Mt. Blaven. Soon afterward an unknown adversary arranges to abduct Nell. Although they fail, her worried dad tells her to obtain the help of Nicholas Draycott and his Foxfire team. Even if she does not trust authorities who insist they are there to help she feels she has no choice so Nell goes for help; there she encounters Dakota again with the mission to recover the art treasure linked to a terrorist group. Combining her "Code Name" saga with her "Draycott Abbey" escapades, Christina Skye provides her fans with the best from both. The story line is fast-paced and filled with non stop action from the moment the lead couple use body warmth on Blaven until the final dual rings. Readers will appreciate this fine romantic suspense thriller starring a strong capable heroine (just ask a Viet Nam vet about Nell's skills), a tough caring hero, and brilliant enemies. Harriet Klausner