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Athena Force #12
Checkmate
A Middle Eastern capitol building has been captured by insurgents. The prime minister, his staff and a group of visiting college students have become disposable hostages. But what the rebels don't know is that someone is still loose in the building.... FBI legal attaché Selena Jones took the foreign post when her marriage hit the rocks. Now she's narrowly escaped becoming a hostage--but she's trapped. She has just hours to find out what the rebels are up to and outsmart their compelling leader. And her lone contact to the outside world is the one man she swore never to trust again....
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Doranna Durgin
115 books227 followersDoranna Durgin is an award-winning author (the Compton Crook for Best First SF/F/H novel) whose quirky spirit has led to an extensive and eclectic publishing journey across genres, publishers, and publishing lines. Beyond that, she hangs around outside her Southwest mountain home with horse and highly accomplished competition dogs. She doesn't believe in mastering the beast within, but in channeling its power--for good or bad has yet to be decided! She says, “My books are SF/F, mystery, paranormal romance, & romantic suspense. My world is the Southwest, and my dogs are Beagles!”
Doranna’s most recent releases encompass the three books of the Reckoners trilogy--a powerful ghostbuster raised by a spirit, her brilliantly eccentric backup team, a cat who isn't a cat, and a fiercely driven bounty hunter from a different dimension who brings them together when worlds collide.
Doranna’s most recent releases encompass the three books of the Reckoners trilogy--a powerful ghostbuster raised by a spirit, her brilliantly eccentric backup team, a cat who isn't a cat, and a fiercely driven bounty hunter from a different dimension who brings them together when worlds collide.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 1, 2019
This book works well (though not great) as action-adventure, with the able heroine facing overwhelming odds against a group of terrorists. Her peril is made to appear real, and her escapes not miraculous (though one at least seemed improbable). The romance element, though, detracts. The idea is sound -- both halves of a separated couple worrying about the other -- but its implementation is so frequent and heavy-handed that it gets in the way of the story more than it adds to it.
March 8, 2020
I've read a lot of the Athena Force series, but that was years ago and this one was in my TBR pile for a long time. Not so much a romance, but certainly suspenseful as Selena tries to avoid being captured, rescue the hostages, and figure out if her husband has betrayed her. Lots of kick ass action and I admire our heroine's heart and courage.
August 11, 2016
[I know this review is being posted *way* after the book was published, but it's more catch-up from the old book blog.]
I started this book about 9:00 p.m. one evening. I didn't put it down until I'd finished reading it at 1:00 in the morning. This is the second book I've read by this author, and it definitely didn't disappoint. There won't be much snarking in the following paragraphs.
Our heroine is Selena Jones, an FBI legal attaché and Athena Force (yep, it's one of a loosely connected series) graduate. She is married to Colin Jones, a CIA operative. Colin and Selena are going through a rocky patch--something to do with him kissing another woman--and Selena decides that a change of job scenery is order. So she takes an assignment to work at the embassy in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Berzhaan.
Berzhaan is on the verge of civil war, and a group of Kemeni rebels takes over the capitol building while Selena is there visiting the Prime Minister. Selena isn't taken hostage with every one else because she is in the bathroom throwing up and worrying that she is pregnant (she and Colin had been trying before she fled the country). Now it's up to Selena to stop the rebels and free the hostages. Kind of reminds me of Die Hard (the first--and only good--movie), but it does so without screaming "derivative".
Unlike many romance novel heroines--even ones in this series--Selena is realistically tough and vulnerable. She has some great kick-butt scenes, and her interactions with the lead villain, Tafiq Ashurbeyli, are interesting. Her fears about her possible pregnancy added a layer of depth, and I liked that fact that she didn't get overwhelmed by the distractions of Colin, baby, etc.
The author also does a good job of describing the world of the book--the weapons, the fighting, the lingo. Another book I read from this line ("Parallel Lies" by Kate Donovan) had a horribly constructed backdrop for the story. In this book, I bought it.
I think the weakness in this book is the romantic element (and hence only a 4-star).
First, the reason that Selena fled to Berzhaan turns out to be a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING. Remember that Colin was working undercover--and Selena knew that--when she saw him kissing the woman. So why did she automatically assume that the kiss was romantic instead of a just-doing-my-job kiss? That is never explained satisfactorily.
Second, Colin is not well developed, and most of the relationship scenes occur over the telephone, with Selena in the capitol building and Colin in the U.S. and later in Berzhaan. Late in the book, Colin and Selena do meet up in person under circumstances that had me saying, "Oh yeah, if it was that easy to [you'll have to read the book], then how come no one else did it?"
So overall, I can recommend this book to anyone who likes feisty heroines and lots of action. Ms. Durgin is definitely on my buy list in the future.
I started this book about 9:00 p.m. one evening. I didn't put it down until I'd finished reading it at 1:00 in the morning. This is the second book I've read by this author, and it definitely didn't disappoint. There won't be much snarking in the following paragraphs.
Our heroine is Selena Jones, an FBI legal attaché and Athena Force (yep, it's one of a loosely connected series) graduate. She is married to Colin Jones, a CIA operative. Colin and Selena are going through a rocky patch--something to do with him kissing another woman--and Selena decides that a change of job scenery is order. So she takes an assignment to work at the embassy in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Berzhaan.
Berzhaan is on the verge of civil war, and a group of Kemeni rebels takes over the capitol building while Selena is there visiting the Prime Minister. Selena isn't taken hostage with every one else because she is in the bathroom throwing up and worrying that she is pregnant (she and Colin had been trying before she fled the country). Now it's up to Selena to stop the rebels and free the hostages. Kind of reminds me of Die Hard (the first--and only good--movie), but it does so without screaming "derivative".
Unlike many romance novel heroines--even ones in this series--Selena is realistically tough and vulnerable. She has some great kick-butt scenes, and her interactions with the lead villain, Tafiq Ashurbeyli, are interesting. Her fears about her possible pregnancy added a layer of depth, and I liked that fact that she didn't get overwhelmed by the distractions of Colin, baby, etc.
The author also does a good job of describing the world of the book--the weapons, the fighting, the lingo. Another book I read from this line ("Parallel Lies" by Kate Donovan) had a horribly constructed backdrop for the story. In this book, I bought it.
I think the weakness in this book is the romantic element (and hence only a 4-star).
First, the reason that Selena fled to Berzhaan turns out to be a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING. Remember that Colin was working undercover--and Selena knew that--when she saw him kissing the woman. So why did she automatically assume that the kiss was romantic instead of a just-doing-my-job kiss? That is never explained satisfactorily.
Second, Colin is not well developed, and most of the relationship scenes occur over the telephone, with Selena in the capitol building and Colin in the U.S. and later in Berzhaan. Late in the book, Colin and Selena do meet up in person under circumstances that had me saying, "Oh yeah, if it was that easy to [you'll have to read the book], then how come no one else did it?"
So overall, I can recommend this book to anyone who likes feisty heroines and lots of action. Ms. Durgin is definitely on my buy list in the future.
November 9, 2012
The Athena Force Series from Silhouette Bombshell started off with a bang in June of 2004, and Doranna Durgin's current installment, CHECKMATE, continues the action-adventure style! Each book centers around a woman trained both mentally and physically at the Athena Academy, a school for women funded by the government. These women truly know how to kick butt and take names, and Selena Jones, the heroine of CHECKMATE, is no exception.
What starts out for Selena as a routine change of pace quickly becomes a taut engagement amidst military unrest. As an FBI legal attache, Selena has seen her fair share of danger. Running away to a post in Suwan, the capital city of Berzhaan that's been ravaged by war and civil unrest, was simply supposed to be her way to get away from the States-and her cheating husband Colin. Desperate to get away from the emotions she's not yet able to face, Selena sees her new position far away from home as a welcome respite.
Until Kemeini rebels take control of the United States Embassy in Suwan-and along with it hostages that range from the country's Prime Minister, the US Ambassador, and several visiting college students. Only Selena remains free, having escaped the rebels' notice, and she immediately makes use of her anonymity to rescue the hostages.
Even though outsmarting the rebels and their fearless leader is anything but a walk in the park, what weighs even heavier on Selena and her emotions, is the fact that Colin, her cheating ex-husband who she vowed would never get under her skin again, is her only link to the outside world. Colin knew something was wrong the minute Selena failed to return to their Washington, DC, home, but he's still clueless as to what exactly happened. All isn't what it appears to be, both in Selena and Colin's marriage, and the political envoys she's trying to rescue.
A true action-adventure thriller with a romantic undertone that shows the underbelly of marriage, love, and trust, CHECKMATE is Doranna Durgin-and the Athena Force-at its best.
What starts out for Selena as a routine change of pace quickly becomes a taut engagement amidst military unrest. As an FBI legal attache, Selena has seen her fair share of danger. Running away to a post in Suwan, the capital city of Berzhaan that's been ravaged by war and civil unrest, was simply supposed to be her way to get away from the States-and her cheating husband Colin. Desperate to get away from the emotions she's not yet able to face, Selena sees her new position far away from home as a welcome respite.
Until Kemeini rebels take control of the United States Embassy in Suwan-and along with it hostages that range from the country's Prime Minister, the US Ambassador, and several visiting college students. Only Selena remains free, having escaped the rebels' notice, and she immediately makes use of her anonymity to rescue the hostages.
Even though outsmarting the rebels and their fearless leader is anything but a walk in the park, what weighs even heavier on Selena and her emotions, is the fact that Colin, her cheating ex-husband who she vowed would never get under her skin again, is her only link to the outside world. Colin knew something was wrong the minute Selena failed to return to their Washington, DC, home, but he's still clueless as to what exactly happened. All isn't what it appears to be, both in Selena and Colin's marriage, and the political envoys she's trying to rescue.
A true action-adventure thriller with a romantic undertone that shows the underbelly of marriage, love, and trust, CHECKMATE is Doranna Durgin-and the Athena Force-at its best.
March 4, 2009
Extra 1/2 star.
July 28, 2011
this was actually one of my least ffavorite of the bombshell books
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews