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Countermeasure #1
Countermeasure
In the first novel of the COUNTERMEASURE SERIES, Trevor Bauer is haunted by the mystery surrounding his parents' disappearance. His dreams for his own life have been put on hold. While searching for clues about them, he crosses paths with Cassandra James, a tough ex-CIA agent who derails every one of his best laid plans to avoid a relationship until he can find the closure he desperately seeks.
Suspicious and determined never to fall into the love trap, security specialist Cassandra James takes on a chase to recover files stolen right out from under her nose. In an effort to prove to her father--also her boss--that she is a capable woman, she follows the digital trail--a trail that leads her directly into the arms of Trevor Bauer, an NSA analyst who appears to have more secrets than she has scars...
When he accepts her request for help in recovering the files she's hunting, they embark on an adventure that takes them across the ocean and into a world of intrigue and violence. As things between them begin to heat up, Trevor realizes that, if he is ever to win Cassandra's heart and the future he craves, he has no choice but to reveal all his secrets.
Suspicious and determined never to fall into the love trap, security specialist Cassandra James takes on a chase to recover files stolen right out from under her nose. In an effort to prove to her father--also her boss--that she is a capable woman, she follows the digital trail--a trail that leads her directly into the arms of Trevor Bauer, an NSA analyst who appears to have more secrets than she has scars...
When he accepts her request for help in recovering the files she's hunting, they embark on an adventure that takes them across the ocean and into a world of intrigue and violence. As things between them begin to heat up, Trevor realizes that, if he is ever to win Cassandra's heart and the future he craves, he has no choice but to reveal all his secrets.
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Chris Almeida
29 books132 followersChris Almeida (also known as C. Almeida) began writing children’s stories at a very young age. Born in Brazil but currently living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Chris’ life took a totally different course when technology came into play, and the following 17 years were spent delving deep into the world of programming and web design.
It was in 2010, when Chris began role playing online as a hobby, that writing wormed its way back into the picture. This time, writing storylines for the role playing group.
The ideas and plots created for the game awoke the inner writer and a few months later, together with partner in crime C. Aubrey, began writing erotic romance.
Now, still together, they have written a number of short stories and novel. They are currently working on book three of their series as well as several short stories. Through it all they have continued to enjoy role playing through their favorite characters.
Chris welcomes feedback, input and comments from readers. You can get in touch via FB, email, Linked in and Goodreads. Links below:
https://www.facebook.com/Chris.Almeid...
calmeida@caduobooks.com
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/chrisalmeid...
It was in 2010, when Chris began role playing online as a hobby, that writing wormed its way back into the picture. This time, writing storylines for the role playing group.
The ideas and plots created for the game awoke the inner writer and a few months later, together with partner in crime C. Aubrey, began writing erotic romance.
Now, still together, they have written a number of short stories and novel. They are currently working on book three of their series as well as several short stories. Through it all they have continued to enjoy role playing through their favorite characters.
Chris welcomes feedback, input and comments from readers. You can get in touch via FB, email, Linked in and Goodreads. Links below:
https://www.facebook.com/Chris.Almeid...
calmeida@caduobooks.com
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/chrisalmeid...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
June 21, 2012
Quick review:
Cover: Nice
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess Hot!
Thumbs Up: 4
Overall: I was really impressed with this one.
Characters: Solid
Plot: A plot that keeps moving and me interested.
Page Turner: Yes.
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Ye
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
This story is well crafted and took me by storm. I was sucked in and really enjoyed this one. The mystery was solid, the romance was sweet, the sex was hot and yeah. For those of you who like mystery and crime solving novels, check this one out.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
http://passionatebookdivas.com/?p=2780
Cover: Nice
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess Hot!
Thumbs Up: 4
Overall: I was really impressed with this one.
Characters: Solid
Plot: A plot that keeps moving and me interested.
Page Turner: Yes.
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Ye
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
This story is well crafted and took me by storm. I was sucked in and really enjoyed this one. The mystery was solid, the romance was sweet, the sex was hot and yeah. For those of you who like mystery and crime solving novels, check this one out.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
http://passionatebookdivas.com/?p=2780
September 26, 2014
First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the authors, who have granted me free access to the Kindle edition of this book, in order for me to review it.
More importantly, this book was so much better than I expected, that I won't even hesitate in giving it the maximum rating of 5 stars, and I would gladly add more to it if I could.
Cassandra James was by far the character that I loved most during the time that I have read this amazing book. She is a very confident, strong woman, who never gives up on anything at all, no matter how difficult or dangerous things might get for her. She is assigned by her father (also her boss at James Security) to be the lead of the project of securing a Pharmaceutical Company's files for a revolutionary new medicine. However, while protecting the database from external attacks (like hackers), the formula is copied on a hard drive by one of the employees - Allison. Her father, a very tough man, gives the case to another of his employees, giving Cassandra a "vacation". However, Cassandra does not give up, and she starts working on her own at the case. She soon discovers that someone from NSA had infiltrated in the servers and she takes Nathan (a former colleague of hers, from the time when she was working for CIA) with her to the NSA headquarters to find out why. She then meets Trevor Bauer, and they fall in love at first sight. She realises he is hiding something, but that it has nothing to do with the theft of the formula. So, after escorting Nathan to the airport, she goes at Trevor's place and she asks for his help on the case.
"People say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Looking into the window of his eyes, she could only find a deep sense of honor, respect, and integrity shining through. It was a huge risk, but she was willing to take it. If he agreed to help her, she would still keep her guard up, her eyes trained on his every move. She wouldn't be making any more mistakes."
I forgot to mention that I hate this Nathan, with whom Cassandra makes the awful mistake of sleeping with, even though she doesn't love him in that way. But that you will discover yourselves if you read the novel (and I highly recommend you to do so).
Anyway, Trevor and his friend, George, find out that Allison is in Paris. Cassandra is determined to recover the hard drive from her, but she has to take Trevor with her (the price that she promised to pay for the help he gave her). There, things start to get crazy, but I can't exactly tell you why withouth ruining the book's charm. All I can say is that, apart from the case, Cassandra and Trevor are going to discover that they are made for each other. And there is a specific chapter that will make you blush, and smile and cheer the characters up in your mind.
"You were right. I was scared, but not anymore. I love you Trevor. Believe it or not, I've loved you since the first shite you said in front of me."
Trevor is also a very interesting character. He is from an Irish family, so imagining his accent while I was reading his lines was simply... delicious. As geek as he is, I found him lovely, not to mention funny.
What I liked most about this book was the vivid description of the characters' feelings, and the RPG style was definitely a bonus, as I got to know the story from different characters' point of view. Every chapter had a twist and turn of events, which made everything more interesting and, more importantly, it made me read pages after pages, without breathing at times. The end was a total cake for my soul, as I hadn't expected that to happen so soon, but I loved it all, from the first page, to the last words. So I look forward to reading the second novel. It's a mystery for me why this book isn't popular, as it is by far better than anything I have recently read. So I urge you to stop hesitating and read it!
-----------------------------------------------
În primul rând, aș vrea să-mi exprim mulțumirea autorilor, care mi-au oferit acces gratuit la ediția pentru Kindle a acestei cărți, pentru ca eu să îi fac recenzie.
Dar mai important de atât, această carte a fost cu mult mai bună decât mă așteptam, astfel încât nu voi ezita nicio clipă în a-i da un rating maxim de cinci steluțe, ba i-aș da și mai mult dacă aș putea.
Cassandra James e de departe personajul pe care l-am îndrăgit cel mai mult în timpul pe care l-am petrecut citind această carte. E o femeie foarte puternică și sigură pe ea, care nu renunță niciodată la nimic, oricât de dificilă sau periculoasă ar putea deveni situația. Tatăl ei (de asemenea, șeful ei la firma de securitate James Security) o face liderul proiectului de securizare a fișierelor unei companii farmaceutice, care a descoperit un medicament revoluționar. Însă, deși a protejat baza de date de atacurile externe (ale hackerilor, de exemplu), formula e copiată pe un hard drive de unul dintre angajați - Allison. Tatăl ei, un bărbat foarte dur, îi dă cazul unui alt angajat, dându-i Cassandrăi „o vacanță”. Dar Cassandra nu renunță și începe să lucreze de una singură la caz. Curând descoperă că cineva de la NSA s-a infiltrat în servere și îl ia cu ea pe Nathan (un fost coleg de-al ei, de pe vremea când lucra pentru CIA) la sediul central NSA ca să afle de ce. Așa îl întâlnește pe Trevor Bauer, iar cei doi se îndrăgostesc la prima vedere. Ea își dă seama că el ascunde ceva, dar că nu are de-a face cu furtul formulei. Așa că după ce îl conduce pe Nathan la aeroport, ea merge acasă la Trevor și îi cere ajutorul la caz.
„Se spune că ochii sunt oglinda sufletului. Privind în oglinda ochilor lui, găsi strălucirea unui profund simț al datoriei, respect și integritate. Era un risc imens, dar era gata să și-l asume. Dacă el ar fi fost de acord să o ajute, și-ar fi ținut garda sus și ochii atenți la orice mișcare a lui. Nu ar mai fi făcut greșeli.” (Traducere neoficială a citatului, făcută de mine)
Am uitat să menționez că îl urăsc pe acest Nathan, cu care Cassandra face oribila greșeală de a se culca, deși nu îl iubește în acest fel. Dar asta veți descoperi voi dacă citiți romanul (și vă recomand să o faceți). În fine, Trevor și prietenul lui, George, descoperă că Allison e în Paris. Cassandra e hotărâtă să recupereze hard drive-ul, dar e nevoită să-l ia pe Trevor cu ea (prețul pe care a promis că-l va plăti pentru ajutorul pe care el i l-a dat). Aici, lucrurile încep să o ia razna, dar nu vă pot spune exact de ce fără să stric farmecul cărții. Tot ce vă pot spune e că, în afara cazului, Cassandra și Trevor vor descoperi că sunt făcuți unul pentru altul. Și un anume capitol vă va face să roșiți, să zâmbiți și să le faceți galerie personajelor în gând.
„Ai avut dreptate. Mi-a fost teamă, dar acum nu îmi mai este. Te iubesc, Trevor. Crede-mă sau nu, te-am iubit de la primul „shite” pe care l-ai spus în fața mea.” (Traducere neoficială a citatului, făcută de mine)
Trevor este, de asemenea, un personaj foarte interesant. Provine dintr-o familie irlandeză, așa că să-mi imaginez accentul lui în timp ce citeam a fost pur și simplu... delicios. Așa tocilar cum e, l-am găsit simpatic, dar și amuzant.
Ceea ce mi-a plăcut cel mai mult la această carte a fost descrierea intensă a sentimentelor personajelor, iar stilul RPG a fost cu siguranță un bonus, pentru că am reușit să aflu povestea din prisma punctelor de vedere ale diferitelor personaje. Fiecare capitol a avut o întorsătură de evenimente, care a făcut totul mai interesant și, mai important, m-a făcut pe mine să citesc pagini după pagini, fără să respir în anumite momente. Sfârșitul a fost ca o prăjiturică pentru sufletul meu, pentru că nu mă așteptam să se întâmple așa ceva atât de curând, dar am iubit toată cartea, de la prima pagină, la ultimele cuvinte. Așa că de-abia aștept să citesc al doilea volum. E un mister pentru mine de ce cartea asta nu e populară, pentru că e de departe mai bună decât tot ce am citit în ultima vreme. Așa că vă recomand să nu mai ezitați, și să o citiți și voi!
More importantly, this book was so much better than I expected, that I won't even hesitate in giving it the maximum rating of 5 stars, and I would gladly add more to it if I could.
Cassandra James was by far the character that I loved most during the time that I have read this amazing book. She is a very confident, strong woman, who never gives up on anything at all, no matter how difficult or dangerous things might get for her. She is assigned by her father (also her boss at James Security) to be the lead of the project of securing a Pharmaceutical Company's files for a revolutionary new medicine. However, while protecting the database from external attacks (like hackers), the formula is copied on a hard drive by one of the employees - Allison. Her father, a very tough man, gives the case to another of his employees, giving Cassandra a "vacation". However, Cassandra does not give up, and she starts working on her own at the case. She soon discovers that someone from NSA had infiltrated in the servers and she takes Nathan (a former colleague of hers, from the time when she was working for CIA) with her to the NSA headquarters to find out why. She then meets Trevor Bauer, and they fall in love at first sight. She realises he is hiding something, but that it has nothing to do with the theft of the formula. So, after escorting Nathan to the airport, she goes at Trevor's place and she asks for his help on the case.
"People say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Looking into the window of his eyes, she could only find a deep sense of honor, respect, and integrity shining through. It was a huge risk, but she was willing to take it. If he agreed to help her, she would still keep her guard up, her eyes trained on his every move. She wouldn't be making any more mistakes."
I forgot to mention that I hate this Nathan, with whom Cassandra makes the awful mistake of sleeping with, even though she doesn't love him in that way. But that you will discover yourselves if you read the novel (and I highly recommend you to do so).
Anyway, Trevor and his friend, George, find out that Allison is in Paris. Cassandra is determined to recover the hard drive from her, but she has to take Trevor with her (the price that she promised to pay for the help he gave her). There, things start to get crazy, but I can't exactly tell you why withouth ruining the book's charm. All I can say is that, apart from the case, Cassandra and Trevor are going to discover that they are made for each other. And there is a specific chapter that will make you blush, and smile and cheer the characters up in your mind.
"You were right. I was scared, but not anymore. I love you Trevor. Believe it or not, I've loved you since the first shite you said in front of me."
Trevor is also a very interesting character. He is from an Irish family, so imagining his accent while I was reading his lines was simply... delicious. As geek as he is, I found him lovely, not to mention funny.
What I liked most about this book was the vivid description of the characters' feelings, and the RPG style was definitely a bonus, as I got to know the story from different characters' point of view. Every chapter had a twist and turn of events, which made everything more interesting and, more importantly, it made me read pages after pages, without breathing at times. The end was a total cake for my soul, as I hadn't expected that to happen so soon, but I loved it all, from the first page, to the last words. So I look forward to reading the second novel. It's a mystery for me why this book isn't popular, as it is by far better than anything I have recently read. So I urge you to stop hesitating and read it!
-----------------------------------------------
În primul rând, aș vrea să-mi exprim mulțumirea autorilor, care mi-au oferit acces gratuit la ediția pentru Kindle a acestei cărți, pentru ca eu să îi fac recenzie.
Dar mai important de atât, această carte a fost cu mult mai bună decât mă așteptam, astfel încât nu voi ezita nicio clipă în a-i da un rating maxim de cinci steluțe, ba i-aș da și mai mult dacă aș putea.
Cassandra James e de departe personajul pe care l-am îndrăgit cel mai mult în timpul pe care l-am petrecut citind această carte. E o femeie foarte puternică și sigură pe ea, care nu renunță niciodată la nimic, oricât de dificilă sau periculoasă ar putea deveni situația. Tatăl ei (de asemenea, șeful ei la firma de securitate James Security) o face liderul proiectului de securizare a fișierelor unei companii farmaceutice, care a descoperit un medicament revoluționar. Însă, deși a protejat baza de date de atacurile externe (ale hackerilor, de exemplu), formula e copiată pe un hard drive de unul dintre angajați - Allison. Tatăl ei, un bărbat foarte dur, îi dă cazul unui alt angajat, dându-i Cassandrăi „o vacanță”. Dar Cassandra nu renunță și începe să lucreze de una singură la caz. Curând descoperă că cineva de la NSA s-a infiltrat în servere și îl ia cu ea pe Nathan (un fost coleg de-al ei, de pe vremea când lucra pentru CIA) la sediul central NSA ca să afle de ce. Așa îl întâlnește pe Trevor Bauer, iar cei doi se îndrăgostesc la prima vedere. Ea își dă seama că el ascunde ceva, dar că nu are de-a face cu furtul formulei. Așa că după ce îl conduce pe Nathan la aeroport, ea merge acasă la Trevor și îi cere ajutorul la caz.
„Se spune că ochii sunt oglinda sufletului. Privind în oglinda ochilor lui, găsi strălucirea unui profund simț al datoriei, respect și integritate. Era un risc imens, dar era gata să și-l asume. Dacă el ar fi fost de acord să o ajute, și-ar fi ținut garda sus și ochii atenți la orice mișcare a lui. Nu ar mai fi făcut greșeli.” (Traducere neoficială a citatului, făcută de mine)
Am uitat să menționez că îl urăsc pe acest Nathan, cu care Cassandra face oribila greșeală de a se culca, deși nu îl iubește în acest fel. Dar asta veți descoperi voi dacă citiți romanul (și vă recomand să o faceți). În fine, Trevor și prietenul lui, George, descoperă că Allison e în Paris. Cassandra e hotărâtă să recupereze hard drive-ul, dar e nevoită să-l ia pe Trevor cu ea (prețul pe care a promis că-l va plăti pentru ajutorul pe care el i l-a dat). Aici, lucrurile încep să o ia razna, dar nu vă pot spune exact de ce fără să stric farmecul cărții. Tot ce vă pot spune e că, în afara cazului, Cassandra și Trevor vor descoperi că sunt făcuți unul pentru altul. Și un anume capitol vă va face să roșiți, să zâmbiți și să le faceți galerie personajelor în gând.
„Ai avut dreptate. Mi-a fost teamă, dar acum nu îmi mai este. Te iubesc, Trevor. Crede-mă sau nu, te-am iubit de la primul „shite” pe care l-ai spus în fața mea.” (Traducere neoficială a citatului, făcută de mine)
Trevor este, de asemenea, un personaj foarte interesant. Provine dintr-o familie irlandeză, așa că să-mi imaginez accentul lui în timp ce citeam a fost pur și simplu... delicios. Așa tocilar cum e, l-am găsit simpatic, dar și amuzant.
Ceea ce mi-a plăcut cel mai mult la această carte a fost descrierea intensă a sentimentelor personajelor, iar stilul RPG a fost cu siguranță un bonus, pentru că am reușit să aflu povestea din prisma punctelor de vedere ale diferitelor personaje. Fiecare capitol a avut o întorsătură de evenimente, care a făcut totul mai interesant și, mai important, m-a făcut pe mine să citesc pagini după pagini, fără să respir în anumite momente. Sfârșitul a fost ca o prăjiturică pentru sufletul meu, pentru că nu mă așteptam să se întâmple așa ceva atât de curând, dar am iubit toată cartea, de la prima pagină, la ultimele cuvinte. Așa că de-abia aștept să citesc al doilea volum. E un mister pentru mine de ce cartea asta nu e populară, pentru că e de departe mai bună decât tot ce am citit în ultima vreme. Așa că vă recomand să nu mai ezitați, și să o citiți și voi!
August 27, 2012
I'd even go as far as 4½♥'s. I received a free ARC eBook in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. My thoughts are my own.
"Someone once joked about what it meant to be an NSA emploee: 'You do no exist; you do not have a job. Any questions? Don't ask questions.'"
It was a wonderful 'ride' reading this book! Romance, imperfect characters, Irish brogue, high-tech, espionage thriller... nothing paranormal like my other books except for that almost magical moment of meeting your perfect love.
"Who are you, and where is that mad woman who accosted me yesterday?"
The characters were vivid and endearing, drawing me in with each of their personal pains and making me root for their HEA. Who knew Geek could be SO titillating! Everything felt natural, the dialogue, the mystery, suspense. I was whisked away into the story, cheering the characters along when something went well, and wanting to chide them like a best friend when they were making bad choices. I also like that Cassandra was a strong, capable women who still made stupid life choices at times. It really brought her character to life and gave such depth that you still can't hold her bad decisions against her.
"His spidey senses were going haywire. If that wasn't a sign, he didn't know what was."
The near soul-mate insti-love was handled with just the right amount of the characters fighting against it to stay this side of the line between reality. And in all honestly, I was putty in Trevor's hands at the first "Shite!"
"I've known you forever and love you like a sister. If you think you've met someone - for the record, picture me doing a happy dance - go with the flow."
I am doing my own happy dance right now! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this gem of a book! If you enjoy romantic suspense/thriller, then I would highly recommend giving this series a try. I will most definitely be looking into book 2 for my next fix of Trevor!
"Someone once joked about what it meant to be an NSA emploee: 'You do no exist; you do not have a job. Any questions? Don't ask questions.'"
It was a wonderful 'ride' reading this book! Romance, imperfect characters, Irish brogue, high-tech, espionage thriller... nothing paranormal like my other books except for that almost magical moment of meeting your perfect love.
"Who are you, and where is that mad woman who accosted me yesterday?"
The characters were vivid and endearing, drawing me in with each of their personal pains and making me root for their HEA. Who knew Geek could be SO titillating! Everything felt natural, the dialogue, the mystery, suspense. I was whisked away into the story, cheering the characters along when something went well, and wanting to chide them like a best friend when they were making bad choices. I also like that Cassandra was a strong, capable women who still made stupid life choices at times. It really brought her character to life and gave such depth that you still can't hold her bad decisions against her.
"His spidey senses were going haywire. If that wasn't a sign, he didn't know what was."
The near soul-mate insti-love was handled with just the right amount of the characters fighting against it to stay this side of the line between reality. And in all honestly, I was putty in Trevor's hands at the first "Shite!"
"I've known you forever and love you like a sister. If you think you've met someone - for the record, picture me doing a happy dance - go with the flow."
I am doing my own happy dance right now! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this gem of a book! If you enjoy romantic suspense/thriller, then I would highly recommend giving this series a try. I will most definitely be looking into book 2 for my next fix of Trevor!
January 12, 2012
Cassandra James, an ex CIA agent and now a security specialist at her father's firm, is assigned the task of guarding a new pharmaceutical trial for a client. When those files are stolen right out from under her, Cassandra takes it personally. After doing some investigating, Cassandra comes across information that leads her to Trevor Bauer, a NSA geek. Immediately, the sparks fly between the two as they set out to get back the stolen files. Filled with tons of suspense, action, and romance, the couple find the missing files and love.
Perhaps the best thing about Countermeasure is how real the characters of Cassandra and Trevor are. Almeida and Aubrey have created these characters with such depth that you feel like you know Cassandra and Trevor. These are people you would meet on the street and become friends with. You care about these characters and when they finally get their HEA, you know it's meant to be.
The overall story is extremely intriguing and moves at a fast past. There is never a dull moment. Even when the authors delve into more technical aspects of corporate espionage, they do so carefully and give enough information so you don't feel lost.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, To Russia With Love!
Perhaps the best thing about Countermeasure is how real the characters of Cassandra and Trevor are. Almeida and Aubrey have created these characters with such depth that you feel like you know Cassandra and Trevor. These are people you would meet on the street and become friends with. You care about these characters and when they finally get their HEA, you know it's meant to be.
The overall story is extremely intriguing and moves at a fast past. There is never a dull moment. Even when the authors delve into more technical aspects of corporate espionage, they do so carefully and give enough information so you don't feel lost.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, To Russia With Love!
March 12, 2012
5+ stars! A recommended book!
Excerpt from my complete review, to be posted at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... March 14, 2012:
When computer files are stolen we find out quickly who the thief is and the motives but things do not go to plan after that. The plot is a series of twists, turns, red herrings, double and triple cross, that take Cassandra and Trevor all over Europe. You never know what will happen next until it does, and even then it may not be what you thought was coming. As our hero and heroine work together their antagonism turns to friendship and then to much, much more. Turn on a fan and find a private place to read when these two finally talk each other into bed. Mmm mmm.
The authors are very adept at description and dialog, bringing the reader into the story powerfully. As Cassandra and Trevor get closer and closer to their goal of rescuing the stolen goods and finding out who is behind the shenanigans, the story moves as fast as the bullet train they travel on between Monte Carlo and France. These two incredible writers know the power of the written word and have done their homework to set up a story that is electrifying from start to finish. To quote one of their characters, Mr. Almeida and Ms. Aubrey have “mad skills.”
The separate mystery that begins the book remains unsolved at the end, which means a spine-tingling sequel can’t be far behind. I can hardly wait for FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, book 2 in the COUNTERMEASURES series, promised at the end of book 1. Bring it on, Mr. Almeida and Ms. Aubrey! Just… bring it.
Excerpt from my complete review, to be posted at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... March 14, 2012:
When computer files are stolen we find out quickly who the thief is and the motives but things do not go to plan after that. The plot is a series of twists, turns, red herrings, double and triple cross, that take Cassandra and Trevor all over Europe. You never know what will happen next until it does, and even then it may not be what you thought was coming. As our hero and heroine work together their antagonism turns to friendship and then to much, much more. Turn on a fan and find a private place to read when these two finally talk each other into bed. Mmm mmm.
The authors are very adept at description and dialog, bringing the reader into the story powerfully. As Cassandra and Trevor get closer and closer to their goal of rescuing the stolen goods and finding out who is behind the shenanigans, the story moves as fast as the bullet train they travel on between Monte Carlo and France. These two incredible writers know the power of the written word and have done their homework to set up a story that is electrifying from start to finish. To quote one of their characters, Mr. Almeida and Ms. Aubrey have “mad skills.”
The separate mystery that begins the book remains unsolved at the end, which means a spine-tingling sequel can’t be far behind. I can hardly wait for FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, book 2 in the COUNTERMEASURES series, promised at the end of book 1. Bring it on, Mr. Almeida and Ms. Aubrey! Just… bring it.
May 20, 2012
I am normally an avid reader of Paranormal Romance, but Countermeasure has brought me to the other side. The story grabbed me from the beginning and I was unable to put it down. The evolution of Cassandra opening herself up to love grasped my heart. The way Trevor persisted at her and in putting himself on the line was amazing. The twists and turns that their story took were unexpected and exciting. The intensity of the situations Cassandra and Trevor found themselves in was exhilarating. I am both curious and excited to see the next chapter of their lives together and follow them as they move forward.
May 1, 2012
Countermeasure (Countermeasure Series)
by Chris Almeida (Goodreads Author), Cecilia Aubrey (Goodreads Author)
4.90 · rating details · 10 ratings · 4 reviews
In the first novel of the COUNTERMEASURE SERIES, Trevor Bauer is haunted by the mystery surrounding his parents' disappearance. His dreams for his own life have been put on hold. While searching for clues about them, he crosses paths with Cassandra James, a tough ex-CIA agent who derails every one of his best laid plans to avoid a relationship until he can find the closure he desperately seeks.
Suspicious and determined never to fall into the love trap, security specialist Cassandra James takes on a chase to recover files stolen right out from under her nose. In an effort to prove to her father--also her boss--that she is a capable woman, she follows the digital trail--a trail that leads her directly into the arms of Trevor Bauer, an NSA analyst who appears to have more secrets than she has scars...
When he accepts her request for help in recovering the files she's hunting, they embark on an adventure that takes them across the ocean and into a world of intrigue and violence. As things between them begin to heat up, Trevor realizes that, if he is ever to win Cassandra's heart and the future he craves, he has no choice but to reveal all his secrets.
The Summery of the novel tells it all. I start this review with a bit of truth. I have known the authors for a while now, having roleplayed with them. We met through FB, and I must admit to having enjoyed working with them. They have what all roleplayers dream of… a spectacular working relationship, this novel is proof of it.
Despite the fact that I know them, I feel that I can give an honest non biased review. I was, at first afraid to read it and not like it, so I delayed a bit. I regret having done that, now I find myself looking forward to the next book in this series, which is due out sometime in June. There is a lot of suspense, intrigue, romance, and technology in this, the first of the series, to entertain everyone. If you just cringed at the word technology…don’t. It’s all simply woven into the novel, so it doesn’t sound like a manual, and is essential to be able to tell the story. They took their time researching the stage and making things pop out and not just the scenery. These aren’t just words on paper being thrown at you, they are 3-D places being brought to life. Chris and Cecilia are most defiantly artist painting scenes for us to enjoy. Follow me into their world, which takes two normal sedate lives on a rollercoaster; twisting and turning until their work brings them together in the final crash of love.
Chris and Cecilia are an inspiration to any who want to make their dreams come true. Congrats on a job well done! This is most definitely a GOODREAD!!! *****
September 4, 2015
Alrighty, I think I should do a quick disclaimer here- originally I read this in 2012 - I received that eBook in exchange for a honest review. BUT - this is the audiobook, which I did NOT get for free. So this is a cat of a different color.
First off - props need to be given to the narrator. Just a touch of Irish brogue and an overall delicious accent and he didn't even half bad with the female voices. Probably the one main issue I had was it being a little odd a few times when an 'American' character would be speaking but I still was hearing Irish brogue.
Secondly - I like that the characters are flawed. You've got Cassandra: ex-CIA, stubborn, tenacious, and emotionally frigid. She totally makes mistakes but it's an endearing quality (for me at least.) And Trevor... lovely, geeky, Irish brogue NSA agent with hidden skeletons in his closet and a computer named Jack. He's the 'McHotpants' version of your average computer geek, but I'm not complaining about that at all. Though it all takes place over the time frame of a few weeks, the relationship development I thought was very realistic.
Why, you may ask, am I only giving this 4 stars instead of 5? It's a two part answer here... repetition - which I hadn't noticed as much in eBook form, but hearing it spoken in my ear really highlighted it. It's not a huge thing, just a minor irritation at times that make me want to quickly wave my hand in a movement of, "Yeah, yeah, we got that bit already - move on!" Even the high action scenes were almost so eager to give both sides of the events that I'd hear about the exact same action from two POV back-to-back, it seemed. Again, I really must stress how minor this was, but I had to mention it. Second part (I mentioned it was a two part answer) that was somewhat lacking for me was the descriptiveness of the various European locales. There are times where we get wondrous description (Monte Carlo comes to mind) but they spent at least a week or two in Paris and I never really felt I got a 'flavor' of the location in the writing. I must again stress how this is a 'small fries' issue in relation to the greater happy meal of the book. It just bothered me enough to drop a star.
Overall, if you're a fan of romantic suspense/thriller with some geeky overtones and a variety of locales, then I'd recommend giving this a try. I know I'm putting other books in this series on my TBR list and will happily continue.
First off - props need to be given to the narrator. Just a touch of Irish brogue and an overall delicious accent and he didn't even half bad with the female voices. Probably the one main issue I had was it being a little odd a few times when an 'American' character would be speaking but I still was hearing Irish brogue.
Secondly - I like that the characters are flawed. You've got Cassandra: ex-CIA, stubborn, tenacious, and emotionally frigid. She totally makes mistakes but it's an endearing quality (for me at least.) And Trevor... lovely, geeky, Irish brogue NSA agent with hidden skeletons in his closet and a computer named Jack. He's the 'McHotpants' version of your average computer geek, but I'm not complaining about that at all. Though it all takes place over the time frame of a few weeks, the relationship development I thought was very realistic.
Why, you may ask, am I only giving this 4 stars instead of 5? It's a two part answer here... repetition - which I hadn't noticed as much in eBook form, but hearing it spoken in my ear really highlighted it. It's not a huge thing, just a minor irritation at times that make me want to quickly wave my hand in a movement of, "Yeah, yeah, we got that bit already - move on!" Even the high action scenes were almost so eager to give both sides of the events that I'd hear about the exact same action from two POV back-to-back, it seemed. Again, I really must stress how minor this was, but I had to mention it. Second part (I mentioned it was a two part answer) that was somewhat lacking for me was the descriptiveness of the various European locales. There are times where we get wondrous description (Monte Carlo comes to mind) but they spent at least a week or two in Paris and I never really felt I got a 'flavor' of the location in the writing. I must again stress how this is a 'small fries' issue in relation to the greater happy meal of the book. It just bothered me enough to drop a star.
Overall, if you're a fan of romantic suspense/thriller with some geeky overtones and a variety of locales, then I'd recommend giving this a try. I know I'm putting other books in this series on my TBR list and will happily continue.
August 15, 2012
This book... There is no word that can describe how much I enjoyed reading it!
I felt like I was one of the characters. I felt what they felt. In my opinion, a book can be considered weel-written and great when you can feel your pulse quicken when things are getting hot and heavy between the characters, when you can feel a pain in your heart when something bad is happening to them, when you feel your heart break thinking they won't be able to be together, when you smile and beam when finally, you know everything is gonna be alright.
Thanks to this book, you feel like you could meet the character in real life (you hope people like that exist!) and you know you would become friends with them.
Cassie is a strong and independent woman. Trevor is a sweet, strong-minded geek, sexy and most importantly Irish (ahaha, that the best part!;))
This book has everything to be perfect.
Romance, Action, Mystery, Love, Friendship, Betrayal... And we have to admit that the sex part is just as great... if not more! (No, I'm not blushing...:D)
I felt like there was some kind of parallel between the chase for the truth, and the chase for love. It was perfect.
I know I will dream of this story for a long time, and I can't wait to read every other book of this serie!
Thank you to the authors, you did a great job at making us dream and smile. Your book is the reason why I love reading so much. Because sometimes, we come across a treasure, and your book is definitely one.
Megan.
I felt like I was one of the characters. I felt what they felt. In my opinion, a book can be considered weel-written and great when you can feel your pulse quicken when things are getting hot and heavy between the characters, when you can feel a pain in your heart when something bad is happening to them, when you feel your heart break thinking they won't be able to be together, when you smile and beam when finally, you know everything is gonna be alright.
Thanks to this book, you feel like you could meet the character in real life (you hope people like that exist!) and you know you would become friends with them.
Cassie is a strong and independent woman. Trevor is a sweet, strong-minded geek, sexy and most importantly Irish (ahaha, that the best part!;))
This book has everything to be perfect.
Romance, Action, Mystery, Love, Friendship, Betrayal... And we have to admit that the sex part is just as great... if not more! (No, I'm not blushing...:D)
I felt like there was some kind of parallel between the chase for the truth, and the chase for love. It was perfect.
I know I will dream of this story for a long time, and I can't wait to read every other book of this serie!
Thank you to the authors, you did a great job at making us dream and smile. Your book is the reason why I love reading so much. Because sometimes, we come across a treasure, and your book is definitely one.
Megan.
May 19, 2012
Move over, James Bond. The world of today is being saved by Geeks… Well, ok… not the whole world, just this one case. And yes, it is a GEEK that plays a major part in solving it. Despite facing his own demons with the disappearance of his parents, Trevor finds himself intrigued by that fierce beauty of Cassandra James after she found his digital footprint in the trail of missing clinical trial data which she was supposed to protect.
After a bumpy start, courtesy of Cassandra’s overprotective friend, the two find themselves in France, trying to recover the data and solving each other’s mystery.
The story itself keeps the reader drawn with its twists and turns that could give alpine roads a run for their money. But I also love the attention to detail just as much as the portrayal of the typical Irish charm by Trevor. That geek can save me any day. I am looking forward to the next installment due later this year.
After a bumpy start, courtesy of Cassandra’s overprotective friend, the two find themselves in France, trying to recover the data and solving each other’s mystery.
The story itself keeps the reader drawn with its twists and turns that could give alpine roads a run for their money. But I also love the attention to detail just as much as the portrayal of the typical Irish charm by Trevor. That geek can save me any day. I am looking forward to the next installment due later this year.
March 3, 2012
Perhaps a gal needs more than a romp with a vampire or a werewolf. Maybe a trip on the geek side is what the doctor ordered.
Imagine my delight in getting my claws on this absolutely brilliant story of a beautiful and alluring woman and a messy haired geek. Cassandra James and Trevor Bauer meet during an investigation of a breach that occurred on Ms James' watch.
The story is engaging and the characters are believable and fun to experience from the first "shite" to final butt kick. I highly recommend this story.
Imagine my delight in getting my claws on this absolutely brilliant story of a beautiful and alluring woman and a messy haired geek. Cassandra James and Trevor Bauer meet during an investigation of a breach that occurred on Ms James' watch.
The story is engaging and the characters are believable and fun to experience from the first "shite" to final butt kick. I highly recommend this story.
October 19, 2012
5 STARS
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you feel a part of the action this is a must read. It is beautifully written with the perfect mixture of action and suspense and in the midst of all that there is a beautiful emotional love story entwined.
Complete review posted here: http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you feel a part of the action this is a must read. It is beautifully written with the perfect mixture of action and suspense and in the midst of all that there is a beautiful emotional love story entwined.
Complete review posted here: http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...
March 7, 2012
Man! This book made Geeks look sexy! I'm gonna have to find me one now!
May 22, 2012
Lots of adventure as well as some romance, my kind of book. And it says something when i just sat and read the whole thing in one sitting last night:)
September 15, 2015
Cassandra James, former CIA, after having gone through a difficult mission when she was betrayed by one of her partners, decided it was time to leave that job and began working in her father's company, Robert James, James Security Agency.
She didn't have a good relationship with her father. Ex-SEAL after losing his wife and stay with a daughter, turned out to educate the girl alone as educates a soldier. Instead of playing with Barbies, Cassandra was trained in self-defense and survival techniques. She sought to be the best at her post, but everytime she needed to report to her father, she always felt like a little girl who sought his approval... and that didn't seem to come ever.
As one of her missions in the security company just showing problem of infiltration, Robert took the case from her hands and gave it to Jeff. It shook Cassandra's confidence, but gave her more determination to continue researching how an exemplary employee of Bristol Lab managed to gain access to a high-security area, which wasn't her area and simply vanish in the air with a copied file of a revolutionary new drug.
At the same time, this drug, code-named Morrígan, was linked to Trevor Bauer's father, the great scientist Conor Brennan, whose disappearance with his wife when they were on the yacht, was still a huge mystery in Trevor's life.
Trevor and Cassandra end up meeting and although they have different goals, they began working together to find out why the drug file had been copied and for whom it would be directed.
Throughout history much mystery comes up.
The plot is interesting and well described. The characters, all well trained in their duties, involve the reader in relation to the suspense.
On the romantic part of the book, I thought that the couple took a long time to meet each other (8 chapters!), and even from the very first moment they have met there was chemistry, at first I didn't feel that chemistry with them, except in the last chapter. But perhaps this was the authors' main point, prioritize action to romance.
No cliffhanger but still hung in the air a major issue to be resolved.
The place where the story takes place also leaves the common place (the famous NY-London axis), taking place in Maryland and Dublin.
A series directed to readers who expect more than just an in love nerd couple. Lots of action, suspense and a good reason to think.
4 stars
E-book provided in exchange of an honest review
She didn't have a good relationship with her father. Ex-SEAL after losing his wife and stay with a daughter, turned out to educate the girl alone as educates a soldier. Instead of playing with Barbies, Cassandra was trained in self-defense and survival techniques. She sought to be the best at her post, but everytime she needed to report to her father, she always felt like a little girl who sought his approval... and that didn't seem to come ever.
As one of her missions in the security company just showing problem of infiltration, Robert took the case from her hands and gave it to Jeff. It shook Cassandra's confidence, but gave her more determination to continue researching how an exemplary employee of Bristol Lab managed to gain access to a high-security area, which wasn't her area and simply vanish in the air with a copied file of a revolutionary new drug.
At the same time, this drug, code-named Morrígan, was linked to Trevor Bauer's father, the great scientist Conor Brennan, whose disappearance with his wife when they were on the yacht, was still a huge mystery in Trevor's life.
Trevor and Cassandra end up meeting and although they have different goals, they began working together to find out why the drug file had been copied and for whom it would be directed.
Throughout history much mystery comes up.
The plot is interesting and well described. The characters, all well trained in their duties, involve the reader in relation to the suspense.
On the romantic part of the book, I thought that the couple took a long time to meet each other (8 chapters!), and even from the very first moment they have met there was chemistry, at first I didn't feel that chemistry with them, except in the last chapter. But perhaps this was the authors' main point, prioritize action to romance.
No cliffhanger but still hung in the air a major issue to be resolved.
The place where the story takes place also leaves the common place (the famous NY-London axis), taking place in Maryland and Dublin.
A series directed to readers who expect more than just an in love nerd couple. Lots of action, suspense and a good reason to think.
4 stars
E-book provided in exchange of an honest review
Read
May 29, 2012Rhayne's review posted on Guilty Pleasures
5 Stars
Countermeasure is a fantastic combination of suspense and mystery. This is the first book in the Countermeasure series. It is one that grabs you fast from page one and leaves you wanting more. (Thank goodness that it’s a series)
Cassandra is a security specialist for her Father’s security company. After years of trying to prove her worth to him, he finally lets her take the lead on a security job overlooking the protection of a new pharmaceutical drug formula. After a few days on the job the files are breeched and a hard drive is missing. Her Father assigns the project to someone else and tells her to take some time off. She is convinced the only way to redeem herself in her Father’s eyes is to track down who is responsible and recover the missing data.
Trevor works for the NSA and has come across some information that he is hoping will give him some insight to his parents disappearance. It just so happens that files he went looking through are the same files that turn up missing.
Cassandra tracks down Trevor in hopes that he is the answer to recovering her stolen data. He is not the one responsible for stealing them, but does agree to be the one responsible to helping her find them. Thus their journey begins…
I don’t want to give too much away with their story, as it is mystery/suspense based. I don’t want to ruin any of it for you. I will say it is action packed and loaded with twist and turns that keep you guessing and keep you completely immersed in their world.
The characters were very well developed and there was enough of a background given on each to make them very believable. The dialog between Cassandra and Trevor is amazing. There is the perfect balance of humor, sarcasm, and love.
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you feel a part of the action this is a must read. It is beautifully written with the perfect mixture of action and suspense and in the midst of all that there is a beautiful emotional love story entwined.
Enjoy!
5 Stars
Countermeasure is a fantastic combination of suspense and mystery. This is the first book in the Countermeasure series. It is one that grabs you fast from page one and leaves you wanting more. (Thank goodness that it’s a series)
Cassandra is a security specialist for her Father’s security company. After years of trying to prove her worth to him, he finally lets her take the lead on a security job overlooking the protection of a new pharmaceutical drug formula. After a few days on the job the files are breeched and a hard drive is missing. Her Father assigns the project to someone else and tells her to take some time off. She is convinced the only way to redeem herself in her Father’s eyes is to track down who is responsible and recover the missing data.
Trevor works for the NSA and has come across some information that he is hoping will give him some insight to his parents disappearance. It just so happens that files he went looking through are the same files that turn up missing.
Cassandra tracks down Trevor in hopes that he is the answer to recovering her stolen data. He is not the one responsible for stealing them, but does agree to be the one responsible to helping her find them. Thus their journey begins…
I don’t want to give too much away with their story, as it is mystery/suspense based. I don’t want to ruin any of it for you. I will say it is action packed and loaded with twist and turns that keep you guessing and keep you completely immersed in their world.
The characters were very well developed and there was enough of a background given on each to make them very believable. The dialog between Cassandra and Trevor is amazing. There is the perfect balance of humor, sarcasm, and love.
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you feel a part of the action this is a must read. It is beautifully written with the perfect mixture of action and suspense and in the midst of all that there is a beautiful emotional love story entwined.
Enjoy!
April 13, 2014
In the first book in this series,
Countermeasure
, ex-CIA agent, Cassandra James throws herself into the spotlight as a gutsy, strong and believable heroine.
Cassandra was tenacious, beautiful, intense and courageous. Except with matters of the heart. Her brave facade hid a damaged and delicate heart eager for love and cherishing.
Trevor Bauer held a sad secret close to his heart. His identify. His loss. His pain. Yet, his warm, witty, intelligence and insightfulness earned him deserved trust with those he met.
When their paths crossed, Trevor believed it fate and the luck of the Irish. Cassandra feared their connection and what allowing him into her protected heart could ultimately do to her. Shatter her. Again.
Amidst the heartwarming and beautifully written love story was a very cleverly and intelligently constructed suspense and mystery. So, my favorite genre. The authors' attention to pertinent detail, and ability to credibly intertwine the intellectual suspense with the love story was impressive. Believable. Enjoyable.
Using supportive characters, in particular, Cassie's best friend, Jessica, perfectly timed moments of levity offset the intensity and at times, the sombre tone of Cassie's world.
Written in third person, past tense, swift yet fluid movement occurred between alternating POVs. I was impressed with the well constructed, plausible story arc, the character development, and the overall feel of the book. And for the romance lovers, yes, be warned, you will elevate the gorgeous, geeky and sexy Trevor high on your list of book boyfriends. The epitome of sensual and generous lover, the personification of Hero. Delicious.
So, I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a book that challenges your mystery solving mind, energizes your soul mate fantasies, and enthralls your scintillating taste buds.
With thanks to the authors for their gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cassandra was tenacious, beautiful, intense and courageous. Except with matters of the heart. Her brave facade hid a damaged and delicate heart eager for love and cherishing.
Trevor Bauer held a sad secret close to his heart. His identify. His loss. His pain. Yet, his warm, witty, intelligence and insightfulness earned him deserved trust with those he met.
When their paths crossed, Trevor believed it fate and the luck of the Irish. Cassandra feared their connection and what allowing him into her protected heart could ultimately do to her. Shatter her. Again.
Amidst the heartwarming and beautifully written love story was a very cleverly and intelligently constructed suspense and mystery. So, my favorite genre. The authors' attention to pertinent detail, and ability to credibly intertwine the intellectual suspense with the love story was impressive. Believable. Enjoyable.
Using supportive characters, in particular, Cassie's best friend, Jessica, perfectly timed moments of levity offset the intensity and at times, the sombre tone of Cassie's world.
Written in third person, past tense, swift yet fluid movement occurred between alternating POVs. I was impressed with the well constructed, plausible story arc, the character development, and the overall feel of the book. And for the romance lovers, yes, be warned, you will elevate the gorgeous, geeky and sexy Trevor high on your list of book boyfriends. The epitome of sensual and generous lover, the personification of Hero. Delicious.
So, I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a book that challenges your mystery solving mind, energizes your soul mate fantasies, and enthralls your scintillating taste buds.
With thanks to the authors for their gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2012
Meet Cassandra James. Lost to love. Since her mother's death during her childhood, love has seemed to have disappeared. Raised by her Ex-Navy Seal of a Father, he raised her as if she were in basic training rather than as a child. Smart to the bone, she graduated college early, found a job at the CIA. She found a friend in Nate there, and during the line of duty, she was shot, ending her career. She now works at her Father's security agency. After working there to prove to her Father that she has what it takes to lead a project, he finally gave it to her, making sure that the security for a new drug was as secure as they come.
Meet Trevor Bauer, and he laptop, Jack (24?). Geek to the max. Trevor grew up in Ireland, and then moved to the US to make it on his own. Graduating from MIT, he took up a job with the NSA making sure that the bad guys stayed away. He works with his roommate, George. George and Trevor work side by side (literally!). They have a great relationship working together, as well as hanging out. His parents disappeared four years ago in a mysterious boating accident. He had never found out what really happened to them, but it has never left his mind.
Will they aid each other as they go in search of stolen data? Will they get along? Who gets to throw the first punch?
Countermeasure is an exciting, run your fingers through your hair, bite your fingernails, or pacing the floor book about finding love, finding the bad guy, and loving modern technology.
Meet Trevor Bauer, and he laptop, Jack (24?). Geek to the max. Trevor grew up in Ireland, and then moved to the US to make it on his own. Graduating from MIT, he took up a job with the NSA making sure that the bad guys stayed away. He works with his roommate, George. George and Trevor work side by side (literally!). They have a great relationship working together, as well as hanging out. His parents disappeared four years ago in a mysterious boating accident. He had never found out what really happened to them, but it has never left his mind.
Will they aid each other as they go in search of stolen data? Will they get along? Who gets to throw the first punch?
Countermeasure is an exciting, run your fingers through your hair, bite your fingernails, or pacing the floor book about finding love, finding the bad guy, and loving modern technology.
November 3, 2015
4.5/5.0
The authors kindly sent me the book for an honest review at a Brazilian Booktour of the series. Thanks again!
Oh well, what can I say? Countermeasure is a sexy and engaging read, that’s sure. And I am honest when I say that I really liked it!
Sexy and engaging, Countermeasure is a romantic thriller packed with action and romance.
Cassandra James is a former CIA agent who works in her father’s security technology company, a retired military. Despite the relationship, her life in the company is not easy at all, and when a leak occurs (data leak) and a major pharmaceutical formula is stolen, she decides to investigate and recover the formula.
That's when her path crosses that of Trevor Bauer, a NSA’s analyst. Trevor lives miles away from Cassandra, however, in a conversation intercepted by the NSA he overheard a possible link between this formula and the disappearance of his parents. And like Cassandra, Trevor decides to go after the formula and try to found out what is the relationship of it and his parents’ disappearing.
In the beginning, their relationship is almost like “officer and suspect”, but gradually they discover how useful each other can be and how their personal and professional expertise are very welcome.
The first thing to note in the book is that, unlike many others “romances”, here some values are reversed. Cassandra, although a former agent, is a woman of action, weapons and fighting; Trevor, on the other hand, is a perfect geek , much more at ease with a console in hand than a gun.
It’s precisely this difference and uniqueness that makes the couple (and story) adorable and engaging. Cassandra and Trevor completes each other.
Trevor is a playful and loving Irish, but he could never cope with the disappearance of his parents. He does his work, while an outlet and a means of trying to find out more. On the other hand, a Cassandra isn’t a open person, she is still psychologically recovering from an injury in service. Working with her father more than an attempt to prove her worth and competence, it is a way (to try, at least) to approach the father figure. She was raised under a strict military regime and , since childhood, after her mother's death, has learned to live with a father emotionally distance.In the beginning, the relationship with Trevor is a little troubled, but trust is soon present. The trust is an important thing, because, despite the strong physical attraction that soon settles down, confidence is something much more valuable.
The authors build in Countermeasure a precise plot , full of twists. Despite the high romance content, the “action” side is never left out. The plot is, at its core, a breathtaking thriller. As the story unfolds, we are surrounded by a scenario full of action-and more, a coherent storyline and great development. The case presented is never left at a second plan- it * is * the main factor of history. The pace is gradual, intensifying as things are happening and as surprises are occurring.
It was great to see that despite of the sexual attraction, Trevor and Cassie’s relationship doenst happened “out of blue” and, more important, its never becomes more important than the thriller side of the book. At some point, romance and action merged. Both are important.
The only think I didn’t like too well was the final solution. The motivations. I found it a bit bland, but nevertheless, it made sense.
Honestly I had never heard of these authors but I was pleasantly surprise with the literary quality I found. Countermeasure is wonderful thriller , with amazing characters. A story full of action and romance..
Oh, Trevor has already become a favorite of mine!
***Sorry for any English mistake***
***I posted a review, in Portuguese, at my blog Uma Conversa Sobre Livros
The authors kindly sent me the book for an honest review at a Brazilian Booktour of the series. Thanks again!
Oh well, what can I say? Countermeasure is a sexy and engaging read, that’s sure. And I am honest when I say that I really liked it!
Sexy and engaging, Countermeasure is a romantic thriller packed with action and romance.
Cassandra James is a former CIA agent who works in her father’s security technology company, a retired military. Despite the relationship, her life in the company is not easy at all, and when a leak occurs (data leak) and a major pharmaceutical formula is stolen, she decides to investigate and recover the formula.
That's when her path crosses that of Trevor Bauer, a NSA’s analyst. Trevor lives miles away from Cassandra, however, in a conversation intercepted by the NSA he overheard a possible link between this formula and the disappearance of his parents. And like Cassandra, Trevor decides to go after the formula and try to found out what is the relationship of it and his parents’ disappearing.
In the beginning, their relationship is almost like “officer and suspect”, but gradually they discover how useful each other can be and how their personal and professional expertise are very welcome.
The first thing to note in the book is that, unlike many others “romances”, here some values are reversed. Cassandra, although a former agent, is a woman of action, weapons and fighting; Trevor, on the other hand, is a perfect geek , much more at ease with a console in hand than a gun.
It’s precisely this difference and uniqueness that makes the couple (and story) adorable and engaging. Cassandra and Trevor completes each other.
Trevor is a playful and loving Irish, but he could never cope with the disappearance of his parents. He does his work, while an outlet and a means of trying to find out more. On the other hand, a Cassandra isn’t a open person, she is still psychologically recovering from an injury in service. Working with her father more than an attempt to prove her worth and competence, it is a way (to try, at least) to approach the father figure. She was raised under a strict military regime and , since childhood, after her mother's death, has learned to live with a father emotionally distance.In the beginning, the relationship with Trevor is a little troubled, but trust is soon present. The trust is an important thing, because, despite the strong physical attraction that soon settles down, confidence is something much more valuable.
The authors build in Countermeasure a precise plot , full of twists. Despite the high romance content, the “action” side is never left out. The plot is, at its core, a breathtaking thriller. As the story unfolds, we are surrounded by a scenario full of action-and more, a coherent storyline and great development. The case presented is never left at a second plan- it * is * the main factor of history. The pace is gradual, intensifying as things are happening and as surprises are occurring.
It was great to see that despite of the sexual attraction, Trevor and Cassie’s relationship doenst happened “out of blue” and, more important, its never becomes more important than the thriller side of the book. At some point, romance and action merged. Both are important.
The only think I didn’t like too well was the final solution. The motivations. I found it a bit bland, but nevertheless, it made sense.
Honestly I had never heard of these authors but I was pleasantly surprise with the literary quality I found. Countermeasure is wonderful thriller , with amazing characters. A story full of action and romance..
Oh, Trevor has already become a favorite of mine!
***Sorry for any English mistake***
***I posted a review, in Portuguese, at my blog Uma Conversa Sobre Livros
August 6, 2012
OK, first, I need to admit that I didn't realize what kind of book this was when I started it. Apparently, this is from the "Romance/Suspense" genre. So, I may have lost a few masculinity points in even admitting that I read this book. However, I must say, it didn't read like what I thought a romance novel would read like. Instead, it was a thoroughly engaging story of high-stakes industrial espionage.
The main characters are an ex-CIA operative and a current NSA analyst. Cassandra James is the ex-CIA agent who now works for her father’s private security company. She has an interesting past that includes being shot in the line of duty. While working there on her first big case, she crosses paths with Trevor Bauer who is the NSA top “techno-geek”. And sparks fly from the moment they meet. They are sparks of anger. And they are sparks of something else.
Cassandra’s relationship with her father and boss is strained following her mother’s death. She is intensely suspicious of men and determined never to fall hard and suffer the intense pain of loss that her father did. After failing to protect a top secret drug formula, Cassandra takes on a chase to recover files stolen right out from under her nose. And in an effort to prove to her father, who is also her boss, that she is a capable woman, she follows the digital trail. And this trail that leads her directly into the world of Trevor Bauer, the NSA analyst who appears to have his own interesting past.
Trevor Bauer is haunted by the mystery surrounding his parents' disappearance. And Trevor’s recurring nightmares have forced him to use some of the assets at his disposal to look into a death that seems to have more than a few missing pieces. In doing so he has put aside any personal dreams and goals until he has some answers.
The initial clues in the industrial espionage case point to Trevor and Cassandra jumps into the case with enthusiasm abounding. Cassandra James confronts Trevor Bauer and derails every one of his plans to avoid a relationship until he can find the closure he desperately seeks. Bauer, intrigued by her beauty and inner strength, he accepts her request for help in recovering the files that she's hunting. This begins an adventure that takes them across the ocean and into a world of intrigue and violence in the lucrative market of stolen industrial secrets.
As things between them begin to heat up, they both realize something very important. Trevor realizes that, if he is ever to win Cassandra's heart and the future he craves, he has no choice but to reveal all his secrets. And Cassandra realizes that if she will ever experience the joy of real love, then she must be willing to risk some pain.
This book held my attention the whole time. I thought I knew “whodunit”. But I was wrong! The action is fast paced and the technical aspects of the book make it believable if you have any kind of IT background. I thought some of it was a little too “steamy”. But, I guess that goes with the genre.
The main characters are an ex-CIA operative and a current NSA analyst. Cassandra James is the ex-CIA agent who now works for her father’s private security company. She has an interesting past that includes being shot in the line of duty. While working there on her first big case, she crosses paths with Trevor Bauer who is the NSA top “techno-geek”. And sparks fly from the moment they meet. They are sparks of anger. And they are sparks of something else.
Cassandra’s relationship with her father and boss is strained following her mother’s death. She is intensely suspicious of men and determined never to fall hard and suffer the intense pain of loss that her father did. After failing to protect a top secret drug formula, Cassandra takes on a chase to recover files stolen right out from under her nose. And in an effort to prove to her father, who is also her boss, that she is a capable woman, she follows the digital trail. And this trail that leads her directly into the world of Trevor Bauer, the NSA analyst who appears to have his own interesting past.
Trevor Bauer is haunted by the mystery surrounding his parents' disappearance. And Trevor’s recurring nightmares have forced him to use some of the assets at his disposal to look into a death that seems to have more than a few missing pieces. In doing so he has put aside any personal dreams and goals until he has some answers.
The initial clues in the industrial espionage case point to Trevor and Cassandra jumps into the case with enthusiasm abounding. Cassandra James confronts Trevor Bauer and derails every one of his plans to avoid a relationship until he can find the closure he desperately seeks. Bauer, intrigued by her beauty and inner strength, he accepts her request for help in recovering the files that she's hunting. This begins an adventure that takes them across the ocean and into a world of intrigue and violence in the lucrative market of stolen industrial secrets.
As things between them begin to heat up, they both realize something very important. Trevor realizes that, if he is ever to win Cassandra's heart and the future he craves, he has no choice but to reveal all his secrets. And Cassandra realizes that if she will ever experience the joy of real love, then she must be willing to risk some pain.
This book held my attention the whole time. I thought I knew “whodunit”. But I was wrong! The action is fast paced and the technical aspects of the book make it believable if you have any kind of IT background. I thought some of it was a little too “steamy”. But, I guess that goes with the genre.
July 16, 2015
The Ex-CIA and NSA connection…
After having been shot on a mission that went bad and finding that she could no longer trust her fellow agents CIA security professional Cassandra James quit the agency and now works for her former Navy Seal father’s security company. Raised by her father after losing her mother at a young age, she seeks to impress him since they aren't close. When the project that she’s in charge of is compromised by the theft of important system files she’s removed from the job. Now she goes it alone to get back the files and prove that she’s capable. The best lead she has is the intrusion into the client’s system by the NSA. She didn’t expect to find a handsome, confident Irish geek who attracts her sexually as the intruder. Disappointed that the hack wasn’t connected to the theft she asks for his help as she could use his resources.
The Irish born and raised NSA analyst Trevor Bauer spends his days analyzing information using the best technology available. He’s the son of a biometrics software and hardware engineer, a fact not known to many. Four years ago his parents mysteriously disappeared, thought to have perished at sea but there are many unanswered questions that haunt him. When he runs across the name of his parents boat used as a codename for a pharmaceutical formula he's intrigued enough to hack their servers. His incursion into the system was almost invisible. When Cassandra visits the NSA to confront him he's stunned by the attraction he feels for the beautiful sassy woman. He accepts when she requests his assistance in finding the missing files to spend more time with her and to be involved in field work.
Cassandra and Trevor are very likable compelling characters, both with reasons not to pursue long term relationships yet unable to stop themselves from becoming involved due to an intense sexual attraction. Their connection is steamy and it’s not limited to the physical for they really like each other. They find themselves wanting more but before they can have a future they will have to share their secrets, the pains of the past that they’ve kept inside. I liked how their relationship evolved, it was as if they were destined to meet and then couldn’t let go of each other for they belong together, they fill the voids in each other’s souls.
This book is nicely done romantic suspense with a strong romance that wasn’t overpowered by the action and suspense of which there is plenty of and that crosses the globe. The interesting storyline that contains two mysteries kept me guessing what would happen next and who the master villain really was. There are multiple points of view and emotional depth to the characters. The inclusion of the bonus story “Uncharted” at the beginning served to enhance the mystery of the missing parents. The pacing was slow at the beginning but there was much information being disseminated. The supporting cast was interesting and the humor that was interspersed throughout had me smiling often. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
After having been shot on a mission that went bad and finding that she could no longer trust her fellow agents CIA security professional Cassandra James quit the agency and now works for her former Navy Seal father’s security company. Raised by her father after losing her mother at a young age, she seeks to impress him since they aren't close. When the project that she’s in charge of is compromised by the theft of important system files she’s removed from the job. Now she goes it alone to get back the files and prove that she’s capable. The best lead she has is the intrusion into the client’s system by the NSA. She didn’t expect to find a handsome, confident Irish geek who attracts her sexually as the intruder. Disappointed that the hack wasn’t connected to the theft she asks for his help as she could use his resources.
The Irish born and raised NSA analyst Trevor Bauer spends his days analyzing information using the best technology available. He’s the son of a biometrics software and hardware engineer, a fact not known to many. Four years ago his parents mysteriously disappeared, thought to have perished at sea but there are many unanswered questions that haunt him. When he runs across the name of his parents boat used as a codename for a pharmaceutical formula he's intrigued enough to hack their servers. His incursion into the system was almost invisible. When Cassandra visits the NSA to confront him he's stunned by the attraction he feels for the beautiful sassy woman. He accepts when she requests his assistance in finding the missing files to spend more time with her and to be involved in field work.
Cassandra and Trevor are very likable compelling characters, both with reasons not to pursue long term relationships yet unable to stop themselves from becoming involved due to an intense sexual attraction. Their connection is steamy and it’s not limited to the physical for they really like each other. They find themselves wanting more but before they can have a future they will have to share their secrets, the pains of the past that they’ve kept inside. I liked how their relationship evolved, it was as if they were destined to meet and then couldn’t let go of each other for they belong together, they fill the voids in each other’s souls.
This book is nicely done romantic suspense with a strong romance that wasn’t overpowered by the action and suspense of which there is plenty of and that crosses the globe. The interesting storyline that contains two mysteries kept me guessing what would happen next and who the master villain really was. There are multiple points of view and emotional depth to the characters. The inclusion of the bonus story “Uncharted” at the beginning served to enhance the mystery of the missing parents. The pacing was slow at the beginning but there was much information being disseminated. The supporting cast was interesting and the humor that was interspersed throughout had me smiling often. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 24, 2015
This delightful book gets off to a bit of a slow start as the background of the characters is revealed, something I normally dislike. But this was very well done, and in the context of the current action. Plus, knowing their history and motivation is vital in this thrilling book.
Cassandra has a near compulsive need to impress her father. Trevor has his own issues with his missing parents. Neither one wants the distraction of the other. Sparks fly when the two of them have to cooperate.
I can't say enough great things about this steaming hot spy mystery. It is one of the rare books I couldn't put down. Well, until I was so exhausted as dawn approached and I dropped it on my face. The characters are beautifully crafted with consistent actions and reactions that make them seem so real. The plot builds at a good pace with enough jolts to keep you on your toes and a nerve-wracking final confrontation. Everything gets neatly tied up in the end.
This is a fantastic weekend read. A weekend when you don't have anything else to do because you won't be able to set it aside.
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/Countermeasure-...
BARNES AND NOBLE
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/count...
Or look for it at your favorite bookseller.
Cassandra has a near compulsive need to impress her father. Trevor has his own issues with his missing parents. Neither one wants the distraction of the other. Sparks fly when the two of them have to cooperate.
I can't say enough great things about this steaming hot spy mystery. It is one of the rare books I couldn't put down. Well, until I was so exhausted as dawn approached and I dropped it on my face. The characters are beautifully crafted with consistent actions and reactions that make them seem so real. The plot builds at a good pace with enough jolts to keep you on your toes and a nerve-wracking final confrontation. Everything gets neatly tied up in the end.
This is a fantastic weekend read. A weekend when you don't have anything else to do because you won't be able to set it aside.
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/Countermeasure-...
BARNES AND NOBLE
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/count...
Or look for it at your favorite bookseller.
July 8, 2012
This is the first book in a new series and I must say the authors have done a sterling job pulling me into this World of geeks, suspense and love!
Cassandra is a former CIA agent and a kick ass tough cookie, Trevor is a computer geek working for the NSA, who has oodles of Irish charm and is oh so sexy (rawr!). Their paths cross when Cassandra is investigating a cybercrime of which Trevor is implicated after leaving a data trail whilst making his own investigation into the disappearance of his parents.
Their first meeting is the start of this fantastic journey that takes you into the world of cyber, murder, betrayal, suspense and …oh lots of loving. Oh yes lots of hotness! High five!
I loved this book as it offered something different and was a definite page turner. The interaction between the characters was intense and drew me right in. I became emotionally involved with them as if I was right there, in the action, which was well paced and brilliantly written. The description of the visuals and sounds made you feel the atmosphere and tension which in some places had me on the edge of my seat!
An excellent start to a new series and I for one cannot wait for the next book. It left me yearning for more. Bring it on!
Cassandra is a former CIA agent and a kick ass tough cookie, Trevor is a computer geek working for the NSA, who has oodles of Irish charm and is oh so sexy (rawr!). Their paths cross when Cassandra is investigating a cybercrime of which Trevor is implicated after leaving a data trail whilst making his own investigation into the disappearance of his parents.
Their first meeting is the start of this fantastic journey that takes you into the world of cyber, murder, betrayal, suspense and …oh lots of loving. Oh yes lots of hotness! High five!
I loved this book as it offered something different and was a definite page turner. The interaction between the characters was intense and drew me right in. I became emotionally involved with them as if I was right there, in the action, which was well paced and brilliantly written. The description of the visuals and sounds made you feel the atmosphere and tension which in some places had me on the edge of my seat!
An excellent start to a new series and I for one cannot wait for the next book. It left me yearning for more. Bring it on!
January 6, 2015
The authors wrote the characters in such a way that it was impossible not to fall in love with them.
Meet Cassie, an amazing woman who has had life give her lemons from the time she lost her mother. She joined the CIA and then quit after critical information was not passed on, resulting in her getting injured.. She joins her fathers security company, and the first job she gets from him.. well you'll have to read to find out..
Meet Trevor, a geeky, physically fit, Irish man.. who has lost both his parents in what appears to be a boating accident. He hacks into Cassie's project after a hint of something from his past makes him curios.
Throw in a trip to Paris and to Monte Carlo and you have the basis of the adventure that Cassie brings to Trevor and Trevor insists on going on. This book is full of action and suspense. You literally feel yourself falling in love as the characters themselves do.
Meet Cassie, an amazing woman who has had life give her lemons from the time she lost her mother. She joined the CIA and then quit after critical information was not passed on, resulting in her getting injured.. She joins her fathers security company, and the first job she gets from him.. well you'll have to read to find out..
Meet Trevor, a geeky, physically fit, Irish man.. who has lost both his parents in what appears to be a boating accident. He hacks into Cassie's project after a hint of something from his past makes him curios.
Throw in a trip to Paris and to Monte Carlo and you have the basis of the adventure that Cassie brings to Trevor and Trevor insists on going on. This book is full of action and suspense. You literally feel yourself falling in love as the characters themselves do.
March 16, 2015
Countermeasure has been in my TBR pile for awhile now and I'm sitting here
wondering why I haven't read it sooner. Chris Almeida and Cecilia Aubrey
are a superb writing team and I really enjoyed this book.
Cassandra James is former CIA who know works for her father's security firm.
and Trevor Bauer works for NSA and is a computer Geek. How often do you
read about the computer geek being the hero? I can think of two and they were
both Vampires.
Countermeasure had the perfect balance of mystery, action and yes romance.
It was well written and to me it just seemed to flow. I loved the little
twists in the story that had me excited to read more. I'm usually a fast
reader and found myself almost rushing at times because I was just so into
it that I was missing little details and had to start over and slow myself
down.
I will say one thing. I really really really dislike "Nate"...
Read Countermeasure. You won't be disappointed. Honest.....
wondering why I haven't read it sooner. Chris Almeida and Cecilia Aubrey
are a superb writing team and I really enjoyed this book.
Cassandra James is former CIA who know works for her father's security firm.
and Trevor Bauer works for NSA and is a computer Geek. How often do you
read about the computer geek being the hero? I can think of two and they were
both Vampires.
Countermeasure had the perfect balance of mystery, action and yes romance.
It was well written and to me it just seemed to flow. I loved the little
twists in the story that had me excited to read more. I'm usually a fast
reader and found myself almost rushing at times because I was just so into
it that I was missing little details and had to start over and slow myself
down.
I will say one thing. I really really really dislike "Nate"...
Read Countermeasure. You won't be disappointed. Honest.....
May 31, 2012
3.5 Stars.
I downloaded this as a Kindle freebie and overall, I liked this book. I found the first 30% to be a bit slow. I understand the need for the story set up but it just seemed to drag a little. Once the H/h finally teamed up I liked it a lot.
The second half of the book was very good. Lots of action and the developing relationship between sexy geek Trevor and determined former CIA agent Cassandra kept me reading. The two make a good team and I wished there was more of them earlier on. Enjoyed the banter between the two and hope there will be more to come in future installments.
While it is the first of a series it can stand alone as it does wrap up the main storyline while setting up the continuation underlying, unresolved plot.
I downloaded this as a Kindle freebie and overall, I liked this book. I found the first 30% to be a bit slow. I understand the need for the story set up but it just seemed to drag a little. Once the H/h finally teamed up I liked it a lot.
The second half of the book was very good. Lots of action and the developing relationship between sexy geek Trevor and determined former CIA agent Cassandra kept me reading. The two make a good team and I wished there was more of them earlier on. Enjoyed the banter between the two and hope there will be more to come in future installments.
While it is the first of a series it can stand alone as it does wrap up the main storyline while setting up the continuation underlying, unresolved plot.
June 28, 2012
Contest Here: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
This is, quite surprisingly, a very entertaining read with fairly strong characterization and an intriguing and gripping hard-edged plot! I, for one, enjoyed this far more than I thought I would and thought it had much in common with Lary Kahn's King Of Paine but with a lot stronger injection of steamy sex scenes and a better chemistry between the two leads. For that is one thing, you should note before reading this; if graphically detailed sex scenes are not for you . There are only a few examples but when they do come (pardon the pun) then the heat really begins to boil!!
This is, quite surprisingly, a very entertaining read with fairly strong characterization and an intriguing and gripping hard-edged plot! I, for one, enjoyed this far more than I thought I would and thought it had much in common with Lary Kahn's King Of Paine but with a lot stronger injection of steamy sex scenes and a better chemistry between the two leads. For that is one thing, you should note before reading this; if graphically detailed sex scenes are not for you . There are only a few examples but when they do come (pardon the pun) then the heat really begins to boil!!
November 7, 2015
This book is the perfect blend of romance, adventure and mystery. The two primary characters(Cassandra and Trevor) are well drawn and three dimensional. Trevor is an intelligent, endearing, fierce, sexy Irish GEEK who works for NSA. Cassandra is a strong, fearsome and beautiful young woman who is oblivious to her looks and is former CIA agent currently working for her father's security firm. The story moves quickly and smoothly with some unexpected twists and turns. I would rate the story a 4 and assign a sexy score of 4.35 (good sexual tension but very limited sex scenes). I am looking forward to reading the short stories about this couple and will definately buy the next book in the series. The authors show a lot of promise!!
December 26, 2013
This was a book I downloaded when it was free and then forgot about it, which is a shame, but all is well that ends well...
This is just an awesome book. It has young, hot, bad ass lead characters working against nefarious enemies to unravel a mystery which is a recipe for awesomeness in itself but this book found a special place in my heart for some reason.
It takes quite a while for the two main characters paths to intersect and then a bit longer for things to really heat up between the two but it was worth the wait. I really fell in the love with the characters. They each had their own agendas, own skill sets, and own flaws but they really complement each other well.
This is just an awesome book. It has young, hot, bad ass lead characters working against nefarious enemies to unravel a mystery which is a recipe for awesomeness in itself but this book found a special place in my heart for some reason.
It takes quite a while for the two main characters paths to intersect and then a bit longer for things to really heat up between the two but it was worth the wait. I really fell in the love with the characters. They each had their own agendas, own skill sets, and own flaws but they really complement each other well.
December 27, 2013
Countermeasure is the first book in a series with the same name. The authors Chris Almeida, Cecilia Aubrey have done an amazing job with their characters and settings.
In the first book we meet the main characters Cassandra and Trevor. Cassandra is an ex CIA agent and Trevor a NSA geek. What more can you want from such combination? In almost every book I’ve read the female lead is almost always depending on the male lead and he is represented as a hulky, strong man, with desire to protect and fight ’till the end for his female. But here the picture is quite different.
For the whole review visit my blog - here
In the first book we meet the main characters Cassandra and Trevor. Cassandra is an ex CIA agent and Trevor a NSA geek. What more can you want from such combination? In almost every book I’ve read the female lead is almost always depending on the male lead and he is represented as a hulky, strong man, with desire to protect and fight ’till the end for his female. But here the picture is quite different.
For the whole review visit my blog - here
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews