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The Circle #1
Circle of Desire
She Knew How To Fight But Not To Love ...
As the top assassin at The Circle, a shadowy group of mercenaries, Olivia St. Vincent can hunt down anyone. She's been trained since she was a teenager to kill without feeling, to interact with men without love. But when she's kidnapped by the enigmatic leader of a rival organization, she learns she's been lied to for years. She never worked for the good guys.
Collin Ryker believes the sultry woman he's abducted knows more than she's telling about The Circle and its plans for complete domination. Over time, as they work together, Olivia's tenacity and vulnerability captivate him. But if he isn't careful, Collin will fall into the biggest trap of all: caring for a woman who can betray him to his greatest enemy.
Previously published by Avon Impulse
As the top assassin at The Circle, a shadowy group of mercenaries, Olivia St. Vincent can hunt down anyone. She's been trained since she was a teenager to kill without feeling, to interact with men without love. But when she's kidnapped by the enigmatic leader of a rival organization, she learns she's been lied to for years. She never worked for the good guys.
Collin Ryker believes the sultry woman he's abducted knows more than she's telling about The Circle and its plans for complete domination. Over time, as they work together, Olivia's tenacity and vulnerability captivate him. But if he isn't careful, Collin will fall into the biggest trap of all: caring for a woman who can betray him to his greatest enemy.
Previously published by Avon Impulse
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2011
5 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Carla Swafford
21 books139 followersCarla Swafford loves romance novels, action/adventure movies, and men, and her books reflect that. And that’s not all, she’s crazy about hockey, and thankfully, no one has made her turn in her Southern Belle card. Carla is married to her high school sweetheart and lives in the southeastern U.S.
Be sure to check out her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and BookBub.
www.carlaswafford.com
Be sure to check out her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and BookBub.
www.carlaswafford.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 19, 2011
Love it!
Olivia is the kind of herione I like. Strong willed and takes no crap. She's had a hard life and makes some mistakes but when she realizes she not working for the good guys she tries to make amends.
Colin is yummy. Tough as nails but soft spoken. What girl wouldn't fall in love with him.
READ THIS BOOK!
Olivia is the kind of herione I like. Strong willed and takes no crap. She's had a hard life and makes some mistakes but when she realizes she not working for the good guys she tries to make amends.
Colin is yummy. Tough as nails but soft spoken. What girl wouldn't fall in love with him.
READ THIS BOOK!
October 31, 2011
Right from the very first page, Circle of Desire was captivating, mysterious, suspenseful, and hot! With this debut book, I was surprised by how much I was hooked with the action-driven unfolding of the plot and anticipating the interactions and developments between the hero and heroine.
The character of Olivia was interesting. Living through a childhood nothing short of hell, Olivia's teenage years are filled with just as much trauma and pain when she is taken in by the perverse and ruthless leader of The Circle, a shady group of militant mercenaries. It is during this time that Olivia is trained to become an expert assassin with one hell of a harden exterior, the only thing that is able to keep her surviving in a harsh world and under the leadership/ownership of her boss. But when she is kidnapped by the sexy leader of the rival group, she learns that the world she's always known is not what it seems and that her heart is not as immune to the ideals of love and family as she thought.
Olivia is a survivor and her personality resonates that on the pages. She's bold in her language and uses her body to get her way -- something that she's learned throughout her childhood that has allowed her to survive as long as she has. She tough on the exterior, but as the story unfolds, her vulnerability and secret desires of having a love and family of her own, as well as the need to be loved, protected, and cared for, are slowly reveled. Oddly, I have no idea what this character looks like due to a lack of detailed information, but it didn't hinder my ability to create my own image of what she should look like. I liked Olivia. I felt for Olivia and all the horrible hardships of her childhood, and the continued hardships and betrayals of her present. I was rooting for her to find that connection, love, and acceptance from Collin. I felt for her when she shed her "first" tear for feeling affection and rejoiced for her at the end.
Collin Ryker ... hmm, where to start? This is another complex character. He, too, is part of a militant type of organization, in fact he's the leader, which creates for some "harsh" decisions and personality traits. However, with that said, Carla Swafford allowed for his own "softer" desires and personality traits to shine through enough to know that he was just as environmentally hardened as Olivia, seeking love and peace just as much as she, but not necessarily knowing how to attain it with the type of work they were in. This allows for the characters to understand each other better -- including the meanings and reasons behind their actions and words.
Was there apparent chemistry between the hero and heroine? Absolutely!! I was left feeling as though I couldn't imagine both the hero and heroine with anyone else. Their dynamics are not "mushy", they mirror the atmosphere that one can only imagine comes with the territory of assassins. The lust they feel for each other is more than obvious -- and this lends to some serious hotness!! The sex scenes are graphic and are semi-frequent, but fit into the story perfectly. There is also a lot of sexual tension between them prior to them finally coming together about half way through the story.
The plot is definitely action-driven! While I had an idea of what may be coming at each turn of the novel, there was always a little twist that kept me on my toes and turning the pages. It was fun and engaging to always be held in that suspense of what would happen next.
Which leads me to what will happen next! The story ends with a little introduction into the next book -- which takes the lead of a hero that was introduced in book one and a character which I was hoping to find out more about!! I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment!
Overall, this was a great romantic suspense debut!! It was very sexy, with characters that don't follow the typical swoon-romance mold but leave the reader feeling satisfied in their relation dynamic and their HEA. Readers will find lots of action, hotness, a couple killings, a few twists, more hotness, and more action.
The character of Olivia was interesting. Living through a childhood nothing short of hell, Olivia's teenage years are filled with just as much trauma and pain when she is taken in by the perverse and ruthless leader of The Circle, a shady group of militant mercenaries. It is during this time that Olivia is trained to become an expert assassin with one hell of a harden exterior, the only thing that is able to keep her surviving in a harsh world and under the leadership/ownership of her boss. But when she is kidnapped by the sexy leader of the rival group, she learns that the world she's always known is not what it seems and that her heart is not as immune to the ideals of love and family as she thought.
Olivia is a survivor and her personality resonates that on the pages. She's bold in her language and uses her body to get her way -- something that she's learned throughout her childhood that has allowed her to survive as long as she has. She tough on the exterior, but as the story unfolds, her vulnerability and secret desires of having a love and family of her own, as well as the need to be loved, protected, and cared for, are slowly reveled. Oddly, I have no idea what this character looks like due to a lack of detailed information, but it didn't hinder my ability to create my own image of what she should look like. I liked Olivia. I felt for Olivia and all the horrible hardships of her childhood, and the continued hardships and betrayals of her present. I was rooting for her to find that connection, love, and acceptance from Collin. I felt for her when she shed her "first" tear for feeling affection and rejoiced for her at the end.
What had she truly expected? She'd just wanted him to be different. Just once she wanted someone to give a damn about her.
"Don't cry," he said as his thumb wiped a tear from her cheek.
The warmth running down her face felt so strange.
She blinked. Crying? She never cried. Angry and hopeless. Feeling sorry for herself wouldn't solve a damn thing. She hated feeling this way. This craziness running through her brain and making her so malleable around him drove her to believing in a future with him.
Collin Ryker ... hmm, where to start? This is another complex character. He, too, is part of a militant type of organization, in fact he's the leader, which creates for some "harsh" decisions and personality traits. However, with that said, Carla Swafford allowed for his own "softer" desires and personality traits to shine through enough to know that he was just as environmentally hardened as Olivia, seeking love and peace just as much as she, but not necessarily knowing how to attain it with the type of work they were in. This allows for the characters to understand each other better -- including the meanings and reasons behind their actions and words.
Was there apparent chemistry between the hero and heroine? Absolutely!! I was left feeling as though I couldn't imagine both the hero and heroine with anyone else. Their dynamics are not "mushy", they mirror the atmosphere that one can only imagine comes with the territory of assassins. The lust they feel for each other is more than obvious -- and this lends to some serious hotness!! The sex scenes are graphic and are semi-frequent, but fit into the story perfectly. There is also a lot of sexual tension between them prior to them finally coming together about half way through the story.
The plot is definitely action-driven! While I had an idea of what may be coming at each turn of the novel, there was always a little twist that kept me on my toes and turning the pages. It was fun and engaging to always be held in that suspense of what would happen next.
Which leads me to what will happen next! The story ends with a little introduction into the next book -- which takes the lead of a hero that was introduced in book one and a character which I was hoping to find out more about!! I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment!
Overall, this was a great romantic suspense debut!! It was very sexy, with characters that don't follow the typical swoon-romance mold but leave the reader feeling satisfied in their relation dynamic and their HEA. Readers will find lots of action, hotness, a couple killings, a few twists, more hotness, and more action.
February 26, 2013
Posted on Romancing the Books blog
Reviewed by Maria
Review Copy Provided by the Publisher
This novel is described as erotic romantic suspense. I’d consider it to be a whole lot more. It has a relevant message for our time and I don’t say that lightly.
With a name like Olivia St. Vincent you’d think she must be a film actress or an international ramp model. She’s neither. She’s a cold blooded killer who can track down and kill a man without giving the matter a second thought. For her, sex is merely a physical activity which relieves the tension which a stalking and killing mission builds up. As the story unfolds, we come to learn about her past. Her being found in a trash can and raised in an orphanage (St. Vincent’s). Being sent to an ill-advised foster home when she was barely a teen led to her walking the streets to earn her bread. Like sexually abused youngsters everywhere, she learns to separate herself emotionally from what she was compelled to do. This quality got her recruited as an operative in an undercover organization. She became the Circle’s most dreaded assassin.
Picking up a hot man for a night of tension relieving sex after a successful mission, she’s captured by the leader of the rival Onyx Sceptre (OS) organization. Collin Ryker is very much Olivia’s match and the one man she can’t overcome – with the exception of Theo, the Circle’s sadistic leader. Suddenly, mindless sex is not an option. She wants the real deal now – love, care, nurturing. Collin, however, is not about to drop his defenses. When Olivia is sent back to certain death at the Circle as the OS trades her for two of their captured operatives, it seems to be all over. Only it’s not. The novel hurtles towards a stunning climax where loyalty, stamina and every other quality in an operative is tried and tested. To the limit and beyond.
Olivia is by far the strongest female character I’ve read in fiction in a long time. So sure of her aim and so confident in her assignments that she is sent out by men to bring men down. Yet Swafford shows us her evolution as a lover not only of the man in her life but of children too. Her driving force is actually the protection of children, children like herself who are abandoned to the dangers of the world. A woman dreaded and feared by her comrades in equal measure yet, proving herself to be no way lacking as a loyal comrade. Yes, a complex character for certain, but not so hard and tough that you don’t find yourself rooting for her, hoping that she’ll get what she wants in life.
I feel that this work is a major achievement in getting inside the head of a terrorist, living as they do with the knowledge that every day could be their last and getting on with the fight for the cause – whatever it is! My two countries – Ireland and India – have grappled with terrorism, as has the United States and those shadowy operatives whom we love to hate and fear are after all men and women like ourselves. Swafford keeps her story out of controversy because all the operatives here are Americans with the cause to rid society of anti-social elements although they end up mostly fighting each other.
There is strong language used in this novel, but then it’s not a pretty story. The sex is graphically and erotically described. It helps us to see Olivia’s transformation from a near machine to a woman with feelings and emotions. We also need to remember that she got her initiation into sex at an early age and in a horrific manner. As in all romance novels, if the healing power of love gets the time and space to work its magic, then redemption is sure.
A stunning debut novel from Carla Swafford. The sequel, Circle of Danger, is due to release on the 5th of June, 2012. This will carry forward the story of the Circle and its operatives.
Favorite Quote: Did he really believe she would meekly do as he said? Hell, no! She hadn’t gotten to be the Circle’s lead eliminator without some guts.
“Is this how you thank the person who saved your precious doctor’s life?” Hands on hips, she huffed.
Reviewed by Maria
Review Copy Provided by the Publisher
This novel is described as erotic romantic suspense. I’d consider it to be a whole lot more. It has a relevant message for our time and I don’t say that lightly.
With a name like Olivia St. Vincent you’d think she must be a film actress or an international ramp model. She’s neither. She’s a cold blooded killer who can track down and kill a man without giving the matter a second thought. For her, sex is merely a physical activity which relieves the tension which a stalking and killing mission builds up. As the story unfolds, we come to learn about her past. Her being found in a trash can and raised in an orphanage (St. Vincent’s). Being sent to an ill-advised foster home when she was barely a teen led to her walking the streets to earn her bread. Like sexually abused youngsters everywhere, she learns to separate herself emotionally from what she was compelled to do. This quality got her recruited as an operative in an undercover organization. She became the Circle’s most dreaded assassin.
Picking up a hot man for a night of tension relieving sex after a successful mission, she’s captured by the leader of the rival Onyx Sceptre (OS) organization. Collin Ryker is very much Olivia’s match and the one man she can’t overcome – with the exception of Theo, the Circle’s sadistic leader. Suddenly, mindless sex is not an option. She wants the real deal now – love, care, nurturing. Collin, however, is not about to drop his defenses. When Olivia is sent back to certain death at the Circle as the OS trades her for two of their captured operatives, it seems to be all over. Only it’s not. The novel hurtles towards a stunning climax where loyalty, stamina and every other quality in an operative is tried and tested. To the limit and beyond.
Olivia is by far the strongest female character I’ve read in fiction in a long time. So sure of her aim and so confident in her assignments that she is sent out by men to bring men down. Yet Swafford shows us her evolution as a lover not only of the man in her life but of children too. Her driving force is actually the protection of children, children like herself who are abandoned to the dangers of the world. A woman dreaded and feared by her comrades in equal measure yet, proving herself to be no way lacking as a loyal comrade. Yes, a complex character for certain, but not so hard and tough that you don’t find yourself rooting for her, hoping that she’ll get what she wants in life.
I feel that this work is a major achievement in getting inside the head of a terrorist, living as they do with the knowledge that every day could be their last and getting on with the fight for the cause – whatever it is! My two countries – Ireland and India – have grappled with terrorism, as has the United States and those shadowy operatives whom we love to hate and fear are after all men and women like ourselves. Swafford keeps her story out of controversy because all the operatives here are Americans with the cause to rid society of anti-social elements although they end up mostly fighting each other.
There is strong language used in this novel, but then it’s not a pretty story. The sex is graphically and erotically described. It helps us to see Olivia’s transformation from a near machine to a woman with feelings and emotions. We also need to remember that she got her initiation into sex at an early age and in a horrific manner. As in all romance novels, if the healing power of love gets the time and space to work its magic, then redemption is sure.
A stunning debut novel from Carla Swafford. The sequel, Circle of Danger, is due to release on the 5th of June, 2012. This will carry forward the story of the Circle and its operatives.
Favorite Quote: Did he really believe she would meekly do as he said? Hell, no! She hadn’t gotten to be the Circle’s lead eliminator without some guts.
“Is this how you thank the person who saved your precious doctor’s life?” Hands on hips, she huffed.
February 7, 2012
I did not like this book. I also didn't read the last maybe 1/4 of it.
A heroine who is this elite assassin for a group called The Circle, who needs to let off some steam after her latest kill, plans on a one night stand with a random dude. However, this random dude is actually working for The Circle's enemy faction OS.
Problem is - she is making out with this guy and then it goes from kissing to handcuffing to the bed..and not in a sexy way. She actually fears he might kill her we get scenes like this:
...dipping and massaging areas as if he was searching or maybe testing for something. When his hands cupped her heaving breasts and squeezed, she groaned, hating how good his touch felt. Unable to resist, she arched her back, wanting more of his firm touch.
WHAT? He has tied her up, gagged her - she has no idea if he is going to kill her - he is looking for some locater thing that is suppose to be implanted in her and she is turned on?
And then (as he is still looking for the implant):
She'd never been as turned on in her life. He moved onto the bed and jerked her legs apart, and she gasped. Open and wet, she throbbed in answer to his stare.
She kicked and he quickly clasped her ankles. His gaze returned to her mons. She wanted to tell him to go to hell, yet his hungry look sent heat skimming over her body. She liked his attention.
A few paragraphs later:
The handcuffs rattled and began to cut into her wrists. For heaven's sakes, they weren't even fur lined. He needed to learn no one treated her this way, even if it did turn her on. In the end if she lived, he would learn not to mess with her this way. She would stake his life on that fact.
Sorry- but an elite assassin and the way she acted above - no.
A heroine who is this elite assassin for a group called The Circle, who needs to let off some steam after her latest kill, plans on a one night stand with a random dude. However, this random dude is actually working for The Circle's enemy faction OS.
Problem is - she is making out with this guy and then it goes from kissing to handcuffing to the bed..and not in a sexy way. She actually fears he might kill her we get scenes like this:
...dipping and massaging areas as if he was searching or maybe testing for something. When his hands cupped her heaving breasts and squeezed, she groaned, hating how good his touch felt. Unable to resist, she arched her back, wanting more of his firm touch.
WHAT? He has tied her up, gagged her - she has no idea if he is going to kill her - he is looking for some locater thing that is suppose to be implanted in her and she is turned on?
And then (as he is still looking for the implant):
She'd never been as turned on in her life. He moved onto the bed and jerked her legs apart, and she gasped. Open and wet, she throbbed in answer to his stare.
She kicked and he quickly clasped her ankles. His gaze returned to her mons. She wanted to tell him to go to hell, yet his hungry look sent heat skimming over her body. She liked his attention.
A few paragraphs later:
The handcuffs rattled and began to cut into her wrists. For heaven's sakes, they weren't even fur lined. He needed to learn no one treated her this way, even if it did turn her on. In the end if she lived, he would learn not to mess with her this way. She would stake his life on that fact.
Sorry- but an elite assassin and the way she acted above - no.
April 4, 2012
Love how feisty Olivia is! She kicks butt!!!
August 10, 2016
Intense, passionate and a real page-turner! Romantic Suspense is not a genre I usually read. I decided this year that I was going to step out of my comfort zone and try reading books that would not usually end up on my TBR list. I received the opportunity to review Circle of Desire and I took it! I am so happy I did! This story by Carla Swafford really hooked me from the first page!
Circle of Desire is the first installment in The Circle Series. This is the story of Olivia St-Vincent and Collin Ryker. Olivia is an assassin for The Circle and Collin is the leader of The OS. These two organizations are are sworn enemies. Collin kidnaps Olivia with every intention of bringing The Circle down. While she is held captive, Olivia finds out that The Circle is not at all what she always thought it was. Secrets are revealed about The Circle, which leaves her taking sides with The OS and helping them with their mission. What Olivia and Collin never expected was to fall for each other and for their pasts to come back and haunt them.
Like I mentioned before, it's the first time I read a Romantic Suspense novel. I did not have any expectations going into this book, and I must admit that it left me wanting to read more books in this genre. What I liked the most about this book is that even if it's a 300+ pages book it never felt like one. It was a fast-paced read filled with lies, secrets, betrayals, passion and romance. The storyline was very well developed and the twists and turns never ended. I was surprised a few times on how the story was unfolding. Olivia and Collin have crazy hot chemistry together. OMG!!! The sexual tension for the first half of the book was INTENSE!!! The more time they were spending together the more they grew has characters. Olivia and Collin have strong personalities, which I loved!!!! Both of their pasts were a big part of this story. Olivia's life has been hell. She lived in an orphanage and a foster home. She was sexually abused and she fell into a vicious circle. Everything that happened to her has made her the person she is today. When Collin reveals the real colors and intentions of The Circle, Olivia wants a different life for herself. Her connection to Collin makes her feel things she never expected. Collin really tries hard to stay away from Olivia, but she gets under his skin like nobody ever did. I really liked all the supporting characters in this story. I could already see which characters was going to get a story next and I'm really happy that the next installments in the series are already out.
I give, Circle of Desire, by Carla Swafford 3.5 erotic, intense, fast-paced, thrilling stars! Overhall I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Even if I really enjoyed this book, the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion and I really wanted to see more of Olivia in ''assassin'' mode.
Circle of Desire is the first installment in The Circle Series. This is the story of Olivia St-Vincent and Collin Ryker. Olivia is an assassin for The Circle and Collin is the leader of The OS. These two organizations are are sworn enemies. Collin kidnaps Olivia with every intention of bringing The Circle down. While she is held captive, Olivia finds out that The Circle is not at all what she always thought it was. Secrets are revealed about The Circle, which leaves her taking sides with The OS and helping them with their mission. What Olivia and Collin never expected was to fall for each other and for their pasts to come back and haunt them.
Like I mentioned before, it's the first time I read a Romantic Suspense novel. I did not have any expectations going into this book, and I must admit that it left me wanting to read more books in this genre. What I liked the most about this book is that even if it's a 300+ pages book it never felt like one. It was a fast-paced read filled with lies, secrets, betrayals, passion and romance. The storyline was very well developed and the twists and turns never ended. I was surprised a few times on how the story was unfolding. Olivia and Collin have crazy hot chemistry together. OMG!!! The sexual tension for the first half of the book was INTENSE!!! The more time they were spending together the more they grew has characters. Olivia and Collin have strong personalities, which I loved!!!! Both of their pasts were a big part of this story. Olivia's life has been hell. She lived in an orphanage and a foster home. She was sexually abused and she fell into a vicious circle. Everything that happened to her has made her the person she is today. When Collin reveals the real colors and intentions of The Circle, Olivia wants a different life for herself. Her connection to Collin makes her feel things she never expected. Collin really tries hard to stay away from Olivia, but she gets under his skin like nobody ever did. I really liked all the supporting characters in this story. I could already see which characters was going to get a story next and I'm really happy that the next installments in the series are already out.
I give, Circle of Desire, by Carla Swafford 3.5 erotic, intense, fast-paced, thrilling stars! Overhall I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Even if I really enjoyed this book, the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion and I really wanted to see more of Olivia in ''assassin'' mode.
October 29, 2012
Story:
Ms. Swafford's Circle of Desire is action-packed from the first page when we meet the heroine Olivia St. Vincent, a woman who has been trained to kill since she was "rescued" from the streets by The Circle. After knocking off a target, she eases the stress of her job as any female assassin today would (in an erotic romance suspense): she finds a man.
Meet the hero Collin Ryker, who plans to abduct Olivia and bring her into his mercenary organization, the OS, in order to destroy The Circle. The immediate sexual tension between the two characters sizzle and explode off the page from their first meeting on a plane.
Critique:
Olivia's past, present, future, and everything she cared about was clear by the first quarter of the book. I knew exactly how this woman ticked and how she would react. Ms. Swafford did a great job with Olivia, keeping her motivations consistent and her character development believable. I wished I could have seen that more with Collin. He's hot, he's brave, he cares about his organization...and he has this little family situation that left him...what? I wanted to know more about our hero and how his past affected him and it seemed Ms. Swafford spent more time on her heroine than her hero.
The romantic relationship between the hero and heroine was above average. They're killers. I'm not expecting professions of love and Ms. Swafford didn't disappoint me there.
The pacing of the book was great for the first half and waned a little bit toward the end. Goals and objectives of their characters were also clear. For an Erotic Romantic Suspense however, I began to wonder if there should be more "erotic" and maybe even just a bit more on the "suspense."
There were several characters I felt were inserted purely to set them up for future novels. That made me a little sad as I really wanted to know about them more. A few of the characters came in rather late in the story and given some of the significance, I wish they had shown up earlier. Other characters felt like throwaways.
I think my one complaint for the story was that I found the ending anticlimactic. I was reading and suddenly, it was over. The characters in the book seemed to feel the same way. As a reader, it let me down. I expected a big finish and it didn't happen.
(On an editing note, I found errors in the last quarter of the book. Unfortunately, there were two sentences within a few pages of each other with missing words. That took me out of the story as I read and reread.)
Overall, Circle of Desire was a fast read and one of the better ones I've read recently. I'm looking forward to reading her next installment, Circle of Danger.
4/5 for heat level
3/5 for romance
4/5 for overall
Ms. Swafford's Circle of Desire is action-packed from the first page when we meet the heroine Olivia St. Vincent, a woman who has been trained to kill since she was "rescued" from the streets by The Circle. After knocking off a target, she eases the stress of her job as any female assassin today would (in an erotic romance suspense): she finds a man.
Meet the hero Collin Ryker, who plans to abduct Olivia and bring her into his mercenary organization, the OS, in order to destroy The Circle. The immediate sexual tension between the two characters sizzle and explode off the page from their first meeting on a plane.
Critique:
Olivia's past, present, future, and everything she cared about was clear by the first quarter of the book. I knew exactly how this woman ticked and how she would react. Ms. Swafford did a great job with Olivia, keeping her motivations consistent and her character development believable. I wished I could have seen that more with Collin. He's hot, he's brave, he cares about his organization...and he has this little family situation that left him...what? I wanted to know more about our hero and how his past affected him and it seemed Ms. Swafford spent more time on her heroine than her hero.
The romantic relationship between the hero and heroine was above average. They're killers. I'm not expecting professions of love and Ms. Swafford didn't disappoint me there.
The pacing of the book was great for the first half and waned a little bit toward the end. Goals and objectives of their characters were also clear. For an Erotic Romantic Suspense however, I began to wonder if there should be more "erotic" and maybe even just a bit more on the "suspense."
There were several characters I felt were inserted purely to set them up for future novels. That made me a little sad as I really wanted to know about them more. A few of the characters came in rather late in the story and given some of the significance, I wish they had shown up earlier. Other characters felt like throwaways.
I think my one complaint for the story was that I found the ending anticlimactic. I was reading and suddenly, it was over. The characters in the book seemed to feel the same way. As a reader, it let me down. I expected a big finish and it didn't happen.
(On an editing note, I found errors in the last quarter of the book. Unfortunately, there were two sentences within a few pages of each other with missing words. That took me out of the story as I read and reread.)
Overall, Circle of Desire was a fast read and one of the better ones I've read recently. I'm looking forward to reading her next installment, Circle of Danger.
4/5 for heat level
3/5 for romance
4/5 for overall
December 14, 2014
First read in 2013.
As an elite assassin, Olivia (29) not only used her physical attributes to her advantage but also her feminine wiles. From the first chapter onwards, she was described as very sexual, not just as a means to relieve the tension from her job but also to take down any enemy. Collin also correctly assessed that she used sex as a means to cover up other insecurities or to deflect. On the outside she was tough, mouthy, unapologetic. But deep down, she never gave up the dream of finding someone who could love her and have her back.
Collin (30+) was a sexy jerk for most of the story, but I kind of liked that about him. He didn’t know how to act differently, nor had he had any prior experience with deeper emotions. Heck, even by the end it was like pulling teeth to get an ILY out of him. With that in mind, his feelings of lust, mistrust but also being intrigued by her were believable. As the leader of The Onyx Scepter, his utmost priority was the safety of his people. But he was generally kind to anyone who deserved it, including Olivia. That didn’t stop him from being cautious around her.
Olivia and Collin weren’t your typical romantic couple but they did have chemistry. Despite very different upbringings, neither of them really knew how to love or express feelings at all. With that said, a part of me really liked the emotional angst, the somewhat callous approach to their blossoming relationship, and the distrust everyone showed towards Olivia, pretty much up until the very end of the story. Some perverse part of me enjoyed seeing Olivia’s attempts to get Collin to sleep with her fail time and time again, and I enjoyed Collin’s hot and cold treatment of her. It almost seemed like a game between them – trying to get the enemy to cave first. His behavior wasn’t exactly hero material, but it was both true to his character, and it prompted the change in Olivia. Despite his constant rebuffs, she continued to help The OS where she could and unfortunately the distrust towards her continued.
He was intrigued by her different sides, he admired her capabilities and other assets, but he was horrible for making her feel like a pawn in the tug of war with The Circle, and also for making her feel unlovable. His willpower to not have sex with her was amusing most of the time, but once even that was out of the way, he often acted like she meant nothing to him. The sex was always hot with a raw, rough edge that suited their characters and lifestyle. I liked seeing Olivia fend for herself especially in the end. I’m looking forward to the next book.
October 19, 2012
The Circle of Desire reminds me so much of Nikita. Here is Olivia St. Vincent. She grew up as an orphan, sexual assaulted by her uncle and then terrorized and sexually abused by the Theo, leader of the Circle. She has so much anger yet she harnessed it against men who get away with brutal crimes.
She didn't learned the truth until she was kidnapped by Collin Ryker, leader of the OS. There is history between the Circle and the OS and the difference is the management style. The Circle demanded obedience while the OS cared about their employees.
It is spy vs spy. Theo with his delusion of power and Collin who will stop Theo's insane plan with the key, who happened to be Olivia. There is a physical attraction between Olivia and Collins. Olivia is willing to use seduction while Collin hold her hostage with the threat to harm her charity. Collin fought against the attraction until Olivia pushed him into his desire for her.
There are a lot of exotic and bondage sex scenes. They are hot and steamy. Believe me, I have fallen to the character Collin. What is there not to love about him.
Olivia knew that the Circle owned her and that as long as she is valuable, she gets to live another day.
For the author Carla Swafford's debut, the book is worth reading. Now if you are the kind who like clean love scenes, you will be shocked.
She didn't learned the truth until she was kidnapped by Collin Ryker, leader of the OS. There is history between the Circle and the OS and the difference is the management style. The Circle demanded obedience while the OS cared about their employees.
It is spy vs spy. Theo with his delusion of power and Collin who will stop Theo's insane plan with the key, who happened to be Olivia. There is a physical attraction between Olivia and Collins. Olivia is willing to use seduction while Collin hold her hostage with the threat to harm her charity. Collin fought against the attraction until Olivia pushed him into his desire for her.
There are a lot of exotic and bondage sex scenes. They are hot and steamy. Believe me, I have fallen to the character Collin. What is there not to love about him.
Olivia knew that the Circle owned her and that as long as she is valuable, she gets to live another day.
For the author Carla Swafford's debut, the book is worth reading. Now if you are the kind who like clean love scenes, you will be shocked.
January 17, 2012
Great book. First book by this author and can't wait for next book of series to come out.
This is a story of Olivia, a hitwomen. She is a paid assassin. She was forced as a girl and just kept at it because she new nothing else and had no other choices. After a hit she meets up with a man for some "relief". Instead of the "relief" she is looking for, he kidnapps her. The kidnapper is no other than Collin, another assassin organization. He wants her to work for them, because she is supposed to be the best, and is also the other organizations ex-mistress.
Olivia is determined to escape at first chance. Everytime she tries, she fails. Collin is right there to stop her. Collin likes her because of her spunk and her never-give-up attitude. Collin wants to merge the 2 assassin groups together like they used to be, but the other leader does not want that. Collin and his crew is determined to keep her at arms length because they feel she will betray them.
Great faced paced story that will definately re-read again and will recommend to others. Very sexy story with some great sex scenes and good secondary characters. Also a few twists and turns and some jar-dropping surprises.
This is a story of Olivia, a hitwomen. She is a paid assassin. She was forced as a girl and just kept at it because she new nothing else and had no other choices. After a hit she meets up with a man for some "relief". Instead of the "relief" she is looking for, he kidnapps her. The kidnapper is no other than Collin, another assassin organization. He wants her to work for them, because she is supposed to be the best, and is also the other organizations ex-mistress.
Olivia is determined to escape at first chance. Everytime she tries, she fails. Collin is right there to stop her. Collin likes her because of her spunk and her never-give-up attitude. Collin wants to merge the 2 assassin groups together like they used to be, but the other leader does not want that. Collin and his crew is determined to keep her at arms length because they feel she will betray them.
Great faced paced story that will definately re-read again and will recommend to others. Very sexy story with some great sex scenes and good secondary characters. Also a few twists and turns and some jar-dropping surprises.
December 16, 2012
I read this mainly because I have an ARC of the third book in this series and I could tell from it's blurb that I probably should read the others first. Boy, was I glad I did - partly because the books are really very connected (I would have been totally lost if I did not read them in order), but I really liked the books too!
There was definitely a lot going on in this book - lots of backstory and characters, and it did get a bit confusing at times. Plus, I just do not get why these badass assassins (and supposed good guys) would work for this total psycho child molester (The - the books baddie). I just find it hard that anyone not a really bad guy would follow him - and that really is not the case for these characters. There were a lot of ideas going on in this and not all the threads were picked up, but it still drew me in and I can say that the second book is not as complicated and ambitious.
So if anyone is interested in starting a new romantic suspense series that is a bit darker and pretty hot, The Circle series is a great choice. Plus, it is a lot of story for $2!
There was definitely a lot going on in this book - lots of backstory and characters, and it did get a bit confusing at times. Plus, I just do not get why these badass assassins (and supposed good guys) would work for this total psycho child molester (The - the books baddie). I just find it hard that anyone not a really bad guy would follow him - and that really is not the case for these characters. There were a lot of ideas going on in this and not all the threads were picked up, but it still drew me in and I can say that the second book is not as complicated and ambitious.
So if anyone is interested in starting a new romantic suspense series that is a bit darker and pretty hot, The Circle series is a great choice. Plus, it is a lot of story for $2!
November 12, 2011
I find really difficult to rate this book. It has so much potential, but at the end I had to read in pieces, because I wanted so much to like it, then got furious, had to stop, picked it up again [and repeat].
In no way I can say it's bad, though.
Pro:
-The plot is good, it's interesting and it wasn't so easy to guess (the suspense part, of course).
-The writing seems pretty good to me, too. I never noticed any single stumped phrases or mistake. It captivated me.
-It reads as a UF story, which to me is a bonus. First person's POV, kick ass heroine, etc..
Cons. Here comes my bigger problem.
- I believe there's no coherence in the characterization. We have this kick ass woman, who has a terrible past , and is now a terrific (as in great in what she does) killer.
She should be strong, a real survivor. But I never saw this. I read of a woman who is constantly weak . She never fights back. Oh yeah, she sustains strong physical damages. She kills without error. But this is not what makes her tough. There's no reason for her to bear with Collin's attitude and cruelty (nor captivity). At times she seemed to me more a battered wife who always defends her husband than this uber woman she is supposed to be. And this brings me to the second point...
- The "romance". I know love is supposed to be blind, but really I do not see how she could fell for the hero, Collin. They basically do not interact at all. She goes for a one night stand with him. He drugs and kidnaps her and from this moment onward he treats her with cruelty, lies to, mistrusts her, even sends her to her death. And he uses her time and again. I may see why he falls for her, but never the opposite. Even before "love", her lust is irrational. She isn't a sex starved nun, so even her obsession to have sex with him (he refuses her using sex as a carrot for the mule, his definition) isn't believable.
Again, the way the relationship is depicted goes against the way the female lead character is presented. [By the way has anyone understood why Rex is pissed off with her even after the Abby revelation?]
There are so many wtf moments that I forced myself to keep reading.
Again I can't say this isn't a good book, but I recommend it only to strong romance readers. I won't be buying the sequel, Ryker and Marie's story.
In no way I can say it's bad, though.
Pro:
-The plot is good, it's interesting and it wasn't so easy to guess (the suspense part, of course).
-The writing seems pretty good to me, too. I never noticed any single stumped phrases or mistake. It captivated me.
-It reads as a UF story, which to me is a bonus. First person's POV, kick ass heroine, etc..
Cons. Here comes my bigger problem.
- I believe there's no coherence in the characterization. We have this kick ass woman, who has a terrible past , and is now a terrific (as in great in what she does) killer.
She should be strong, a real survivor. But I never saw this. I read of a woman who is constantly weak . She never fights back. Oh yeah, she sustains strong physical damages. She kills without error. But this is not what makes her tough. There's no reason for her to bear with Collin's attitude and cruelty (nor captivity). At times she seemed to me more a battered wife who always defends her husband than this uber woman she is supposed to be. And this brings me to the second point...
- The "romance". I know love is supposed to be blind, but really I do not see how she could fell for the hero, Collin. They basically do not interact at all. She goes for a one night stand with him. He drugs and kidnaps her and from this moment onward he treats her with cruelty, lies to, mistrusts her, even sends her to her death. And he uses her time and again. I may see why he falls for her, but never the opposite. Even before "love", her lust is irrational. She isn't a sex starved nun, so even her obsession to have sex with him (he refuses her using sex as a carrot for the mule, his definition) isn't believable.
Again, the way the relationship is depicted goes against the way the female lead character is presented. [By the way has anyone understood why Rex is pissed off with her even after the Abby revelation?]
There are so many wtf moments that I forced myself to keep reading.
Again I can't say this isn't a good book, but I recommend it only to strong romance readers. I won't be buying the sequel, Ryker and Marie's story.
September 6, 2013
This book was really good, it reminded me of the TV series Nikita.
I really liked Olivia. I felt for her and all the horrible hardships of her childhood and the continued hardships and betrayals of her present life. I thought that the way her childhood was told was really well done and it did not make me feel sorry for her but made me want to cheer her on.
She is tough, strong, caring, sassy and deadly. Although I would have liked to have seen her more in action. I like the assassin theme yet Olivia was depraved of showing us exactly how tough and deadly she could be.
Olivia is a survivor, she's bold in her language and uses her body to get her way. I have no idea what she looks like due to a lack of detailed information except she has blonde hair, but this did not hinder my ability to create my own image of what she should look like -definitely Nikita(except blonde).
This isn't a typical love story with romance and a possessive alpha male. It starts off as lust & I liked how Olivia made it known that she wants Collin and how hard she made it for him and Collin's resistance was well played into the story. Their love was gradual and it did not feel forced. It isn't until much further into the novel that the two show a little bit more of the softer emotions towards each other. They don't deny their attraction to each other & I like how that sliver of mistrust and secrets lies between them.
Right from the very first page, Circle of Desire is captivating, suspenseful and hot. This is a solid book. I found the world building strong and I want to know more about the other characters, cannot wait for Rex & Abby's story.
I really liked Olivia. I felt for her and all the horrible hardships of her childhood and the continued hardships and betrayals of her present life. I thought that the way her childhood was told was really well done and it did not make me feel sorry for her but made me want to cheer her on.
She is tough, strong, caring, sassy and deadly. Although I would have liked to have seen her more in action. I like the assassin theme yet Olivia was depraved of showing us exactly how tough and deadly she could be.
Olivia is a survivor, she's bold in her language and uses her body to get her way. I have no idea what she looks like due to a lack of detailed information except she has blonde hair, but this did not hinder my ability to create my own image of what she should look like -definitely Nikita(except blonde).
This isn't a typical love story with romance and a possessive alpha male. It starts off as lust & I liked how Olivia made it known that she wants Collin and how hard she made it for him and Collin's resistance was well played into the story. Their love was gradual and it did not feel forced. It isn't until much further into the novel that the two show a little bit more of the softer emotions towards each other. They don't deny their attraction to each other & I like how that sliver of mistrust and secrets lies between them.
Right from the very first page, Circle of Desire is captivating, suspenseful and hot. This is a solid book. I found the world building strong and I want to know more about the other characters, cannot wait for Rex & Abby's story.
October 30, 2011
This one is more like 3.5 stars. This book had many facets of suspense involved, which I really liked. For a while, you weren't sure if Olivia was working for the good guys or the bad guys. The secondary characters were easy to like, Rex...I have a soft spot for him. The romance scenes were spicy and well written. I guess my complaint about it would be that the sex scenes seemed to be....forced. Like they were added just to have them in there. Some of them, I remember saying...huh? Like I said, they were well written, I just thought a lot of them were unnecessary and out of place. The budding relationship with Collin and Olivia was fun to watch. The unease of both of them, not sure who to trust, and the quips between them both, was very entertaining. I am curious to see where this series goes, there were lots of twists and turns in this one, and intrigue is high for me for the 2nd book.
August 8, 2012
This was a new-to-me author and series and I enjoyed it. I liked the concept; a female assassin kidnapped and drawn to the other side. I liked how strong Olivia was. She had no problems performing her duties and going after her targets but deep down she was just a young woman who wanted to feel loved. I enjoyed Collin as the hero, he had alpha down pat. My biggest issue with the story is I didn’t understand the organizations. Who does The Circle and OS target? Are either of them really good guys or bad guys? All I picked up from the story was that they were killing off each other’s operatives. Also, I don’t know if I really enjoyed the HEA. Even in the last few pages of the story, they were having trust issues. I like the action in the story, the back and forth between whom can you trust and who is a double agent. I’m interested enough to see where the rest of the series goes.
March 28, 2012
This is the first book I've read in this genre, so it is hard for me to rate it. I don't know how it compares to others. IMO the 'steam' level was really high and well written, but it's possible that someone used to reading this genre only finds it normal. I thought there were A LOT of hot scenes and sometimes wished for a bit more of the espionage and assassin parts, which, again, may not be what fans of this genre would be looking for. Most of all, I enjoyed Olivia and her beaux. They are strong characters with clear goals and strong personalities. Overall, an enjoyable read.
March 6, 2013
I mistakenly read the books out of order, however, the first in the series is by far the best. Circle of Desire was well written with lots of intrigue throughout. The main character Olivia is so typical of a strong willed yet vulnerable female that it is easy to understand her and her contradictions. This is the first book in the series so make sure you read it first otherwise, the other books spoil some of the surprises that you would have in the story line. Well written and worth the time to read. Great job Carla!
May 25, 2015
Olivia is not an easy woman to love. A killer and now the pawn between two dangerous men. Theo is insane and Collin Ryker is a driven, hard man and leader of the enemy group that splintered off from the Circle.
The chemistry between Olivia and Collin is melt the pages hot. The action is fast and it is a real page turner. Ms. Swafford is a talented author and I look forward to the other books in the series.
October 15, 2012
Great start to a new series. New author Carla Swafford has done a great job in creating super secret agencies. The book was a little bit jumpy in spots - but still kept the reader emersed in the book.
November 26, 2011
Loved this book.. HOT!HOT!HOT!
Can't wait for the next one
Circle Of Danger.
Write Faster PLEASE!!!
Can't wait for the next one
Circle Of Danger.
Write Faster PLEASE!!!
February 11, 2012
Loved it :)
June 11, 2012
I liked this book. Olivia is a kick ass kinda girl. She finally meets someone who is able to kick her ass. Of course they fall in love and the sparks fly.
December 27, 2012
Found this new author and love her books, enjoyed this one so much
January 25, 2013
pretty good
April 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and the relationship between the Hero and Heroine really hooked me.
October 28, 2013
Sexy, steamy, and suspenseful.
December 8, 2011
Fast & furious!
June 21, 2012
I loved this book! I stayed up way too late to finish it:)
October 21, 2016
1st book in series. It's the story of Collin & Olivia. Olivia is one of the head assissians in The Circle. Run by madman Theo her master. Collins father and Theo had started the group years ago. Theo killed Collins parents and took over the company. Collin has split from the Circle and formed the OS. Same type of organization but with more morals. Collin kidnaps Olivia after one of her missions, thinking that she has killed other OS agents in the past. Collin ends up with feeling for Olivia and She ends up helping to kill Theo her master.
March 13, 2012
Have you read the premise of Circle of Desire??? As soon as I read it, images of one of my all time favorite shows, Alias, started coming to my head! I knew I just had to read this one, so before anything else, I have to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her book.
As I said, reading the premise, I thought I had something amazing in my hands, a non stop Romantic Suspense title, with enough twists in the plot to blow my head. And although is some departments it delivered exactly what the premise promised, in others I found it, not exactly lacking, but underdeveloped a bit.
Let me explain. Circle of Desire has all the potential to be a mind-blowing book, a book, considering you are a fan of the genre, you won't soon forget. The writing style is fairly good, the sex scenes well delivered and the plot was unpredictable and with enough twists to keep you turning the pages. But unfortunately that wasn't enough for me. And it really saddens me to say so, because firstly I was certain that this book would be amazing and secondly, because as I said, the potential for it to be amazing was there.
I'll start with the plot of this book. As I said, it was unpredictable, with many twists while at the same time hot and engaging. But the fact that it was mostly focused on the sexual play between Olivia and Collin and less on more crucial parts of the story was a turn off for me. There were chapters after chapters, focusing solely on Olivia's sexual frustration over Collin and how much she wanted to have sex with him, while he was trying really hard not to succumb to her charms. I really get the necessity of those chapters, I just wished that along with them there were also some chapters focusing on the why's and how's of Olivia's capture. I mean there were times in this book, were whole weeks or even a month would pass by in the blink of a chapter and the only crucial thing we got to learn was how much Olivia lusted over Collin and vice versa. I just needed along with that some more details about how Olivia adjusted to working with a rival organisation, how she finally decided to be more cooperative apart from her being blackmailed. Since she was portrayed as a really strong woman, I kind of find it hard to believe that she just happened to fully cooperate.
We have some rather huge gaps in the timeline of the story. At one point, 5 months are skipped from one chapter to another, 5 months I may add that would have shown exactly how Olivia adjusts to her new status and life while at another point we are informed that Olivia will be used to frame The Circle, while on the exact next chapter we are already a week ahead and right when the whole plan is set into motion without any details whatsoever apart from the absolutely necessary. As you can guess, in many cases, I struggled to understand the motives of the characters and adjust to the omission of details.
Apart from the time gaps in the story, there are also a number of questions that by the end of the book, I hadn't gotten my answers to. For instance, what exactly, apart from a secret organisation, is The Circle? Why all that fuss around that sword? I know some answers were given but they didn't satisfy my curiosity, not by a long shot.
That being said, although I may had some issues with Circle of Desire, I have to admit that for the better part of it I really enjoyed it. I liked how Olivia was portrayed and how the action scenes were delivered. It's just the fact that this book could easily have been so much better that frustrates me.
All in all, Circle of Desire, was a fun book, one that I enjoyed for the better part of it, but I really think that if a couple of things were better delivered it could easily have been one of the best romantic suspense titles I have ever read. After all, I really love the idea behind the universe Carla Swafford has created.
As I said, reading the premise, I thought I had something amazing in my hands, a non stop Romantic Suspense title, with enough twists in the plot to blow my head. And although is some departments it delivered exactly what the premise promised, in others I found it, not exactly lacking, but underdeveloped a bit.
Let me explain. Circle of Desire has all the potential to be a mind-blowing book, a book, considering you are a fan of the genre, you won't soon forget. The writing style is fairly good, the sex scenes well delivered and the plot was unpredictable and with enough twists to keep you turning the pages. But unfortunately that wasn't enough for me. And it really saddens me to say so, because firstly I was certain that this book would be amazing and secondly, because as I said, the potential for it to be amazing was there.
I'll start with the plot of this book. As I said, it was unpredictable, with many twists while at the same time hot and engaging. But the fact that it was mostly focused on the sexual play between Olivia and Collin and less on more crucial parts of the story was a turn off for me. There were chapters after chapters, focusing solely on Olivia's sexual frustration over Collin and how much she wanted to have sex with him, while he was trying really hard not to succumb to her charms. I really get the necessity of those chapters, I just wished that along with them there were also some chapters focusing on the why's and how's of Olivia's capture. I mean there were times in this book, were whole weeks or even a month would pass by in the blink of a chapter and the only crucial thing we got to learn was how much Olivia lusted over Collin and vice versa. I just needed along with that some more details about how Olivia adjusted to working with a rival organisation, how she finally decided to be more cooperative apart from her being blackmailed. Since she was portrayed as a really strong woman, I kind of find it hard to believe that she just happened to fully cooperate.
We have some rather huge gaps in the timeline of the story. At one point, 5 months are skipped from one chapter to another, 5 months I may add that would have shown exactly how Olivia adjusts to her new status and life while at another point we are informed that Olivia will be used to frame The Circle, while on the exact next chapter we are already a week ahead and right when the whole plan is set into motion without any details whatsoever apart from the absolutely necessary. As you can guess, in many cases, I struggled to understand the motives of the characters and adjust to the omission of details.
Apart from the time gaps in the story, there are also a number of questions that by the end of the book, I hadn't gotten my answers to. For instance, what exactly, apart from a secret organisation, is The Circle? Why all that fuss around that sword? I know some answers were given but they didn't satisfy my curiosity, not by a long shot.
That being said, although I may had some issues with Circle of Desire, I have to admit that for the better part of it I really enjoyed it. I liked how Olivia was portrayed and how the action scenes were delivered. It's just the fact that this book could easily have been so much better that frustrates me.
All in all, Circle of Desire, was a fun book, one that I enjoyed for the better part of it, but I really think that if a couple of things were better delivered it could easily have been one of the best romantic suspense titles I have ever read. After all, I really love the idea behind the universe Carla Swafford has created.
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