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Book cover - The Defector by Michelle Donn, featuring a heavily muscled man with his shirt pulled back

The Defector by Michelle Donn – ARC Review

Posted on May 18, 2022May 18, 2022 By Barbara No Comments on The Defector by Michelle Donn – ARC Review

Published: 19 May 2022
Series: Miami Private Security
Pages: 156
Warnings: Language, mentions of suicide

Banner saying book cover blurb

An American spy on a simple mission to intercept a Russian courier. What could go wrong?

John Smith is a veteran agent. He has skills and won’t apologize for his old-school methods. That’s why the CIA assigns him when they need results. And this time he’s at a posh ski resort in Switzerland looking for a Russian with a package.

Kira Semenov is desperate. No more spy games. She’s ready to check out any way she can after this assignment. Only quitting the FSB isn’t as simple as giving her two weeks’ notice. Not when she takes a lifetime of Russian secrets with her.

When John looks at Kira he sees more than a Russian with valuable intel. As his attraction grows, he realizes helping her defect is about more than politics. He’ll risk his career and his life to bring her to America and offer her the hope of a new future with him.

Can two fortysomething operatives break down the walls of distrust and help each other? Or will their instant attraction leave them vulnerable when the Russians try to exterminate their rogue asset?

Spy games hot enough to melt the alpine snow.

The Defector is a fast-paced, smart, and exciting prequel to the NEW Miami Private Security Series featuring two characters in their forties. Expect thrilling escapes, tangled sheets, and a surprising future for a jaded CIA agent and Russian spy with nothing left to live for as they try to evade a team of FSB commandos in beautiful St. Moritz.

Please note this book contains steamy scenes, violence, and the mention of suicide.

Book cover - The Defector by Michelle Donn. Shows a heavily muscled man smiling, with his shirt open and pulled aside.

Book links:  Amazon  |  Goodreads

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The Defector by Michelle Donn is a well paced tale of espionage and intrigue, with a healthy dose of spicy romance to round out the story.

I really enjoyed both Kira and John. She is strong, intelligent and resilient, after a lifetime working for the Russian FSB. He is a chamelion that has spent his life working for the CIA. He is the man no-one notices. But underneath his quiet exterior, there lies a multitude of hidden depths.

I also love that these two are a little older than your standard romance main characters, with both of them being in their forties. It’s not a big issue in the story, it’s just a simple fact. And I like that it is simply a part of their story, no fuss, the best.

These two characters suit each other really well and their romance is entirely believable. I also enjoyed the pace that it all moved at. And I really enjoyed the way that the suspense side of the story grew. I can’t say I ever reached a point where I was particularly shocked by any of it, but it defintely kept my attention snared.

This isn’t an overly long book – I read it in two sittings over two days. But it is plenty long enough to build a really good intensity into the story.

The Defector is the first book in Michelle Donn’s Miami Private Security series and I’m looking forward to seeing what she has to offer us with the next book in the series, The Negotiator.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pink background with a hearts border. Ratings of 4 flames for romance, 3 chilis for spice, 3 hatchets for violence and 4 thumbs up for overall rating.
Banner on green background with stars to highlight, saying 'about the author'

Michelle introduced herself to romance novels by stealing them off her mother’s bookshelf. She got caught red-handed when she destroyed a new book by dropping it in the bathtub before her mom could read it. From stolen paperbacks to an overloaded iPad, Michelle’s passion for reading grew into her debut contemporary romance novel: Savannah Run.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and has written a popular food blog for years. You can find all her recipe creations at cookbetterthan.com.

She lives in South Florida with her real-life prince charming, three dogs, three horses, a cat, and Daisy the donkey. Most evenings, you will find her floating in the pool, enjoying a cocktail, and working out the plot of her next book with her husband.

Read the book. Eat the chocolate. Drink the Wine.

Follow the author:  Join mailing list |  Website  |  Facebook |  Instagram  |  Amazon |  Goodreads 

Barbara
Author: Barbara

Romance reader. Reviewer. Blogger.

Book Reviews, Author A-K, Book Reviews, Title L-Z Tags:4 Thumbs Up, Espionage, Michelle Donn, Spy

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