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A Year of Loving Dangerously #4
Her Secret Weapon
THE AGENT: Burke Lonigan, weapons expert and world-class charmer
THE MISSION: To destroy a dangerous traitor, while defending his woman and child!
Facing off with a deadly menace was easy for Burke Lonigan—until a beguiling beauty stepped in danger’ s path. The only way Burke could protect Callie Severin was to make her his wife. Then Burke discovered his new bride was the beautiful stranger he had taken to his bed one passionate night long ago—and the mother of the child he’ d never known! Now Burke was determined to defend his family—and damn the consequences to his heart!
a year of loving dangerously
Where passion rules and nothing is what it seems….
THE MISSION: To destroy a dangerous traitor, while defending his woman and child!
Facing off with a deadly menace was easy for Burke Lonigan—until a beguiling beauty stepped in danger’ s path. The only way Burke could protect Callie Severin was to make her his wife. Then Burke discovered his new bride was the beautiful stranger he had taken to his bed one passionate night long ago—and the mother of the child he’ d never known! Now Burke was determined to defend his family—and damn the consequences to his heart!
a year of loving dangerously
Where passion rules and nothing is what it seems….
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
About the author
Beverly Barton
298 books711 followersBeverly Marie Inman was born on 23 December 1946 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA. Daughter of Doris Marie and Walter D. Inman Jr. A born romantic, she fell in love with The Beauty and the Beast epic at an early age, when her grandfather bought her an illustrated copy of the famous fairy tale. Even before she learned to read and write, her vivid imagination created magical words and fabulous characters inside her mind. Movies fascinated her, and by the time she was seven she was rewriting the movies she saw on television and at the local theater to give them all happy endings. By the age of nine she'd penned her first novel. She wrote short stories, TV scripts, poetry, and novels throughout high school and into college.
After her marriage to Billy Ray Beaver, the "love of her life", and the births of her two children, Beverly continued to be a voracious reader and a devoted moviegoer, but she put her writing aspirations on hold until her children were teenagers. At every age of their lives, from infancy to adulthood, the children had been a true joy to her. She devoted herself to her husband and children and considered herself one of the many selfless "supermoms" who put their family's needs first. She believed she had had it all, just not all at the same time.
In her mid-30s, Beverly returned to her former passion — writing — as a hobby, but before 40, she decided that she wanted to make writing a full-time career. And when she rediscovered an old dream — of becoming a published writer — no one was more supportive of her aspirations than her family. Her children were her greatest cheerleaders and her husband was her biggest supporter. After writing over 40 books and receiving numerous awards and nominations, as well as having books on the USA Today list and consistently on the Waldenbooks bestseller list, her career was indeed a dream come true. Having a fantastic family and fabulous friends, as well as making a living doing the one thing she had loved doing since childhood, she considered herself truly blessed. Beverly died suddenly of heart failure on 21 April 2011.
After her marriage to Billy Ray Beaver, the "love of her life", and the births of her two children, Beverly continued to be a voracious reader and a devoted moviegoer, but she put her writing aspirations on hold until her children were teenagers. At every age of their lives, from infancy to adulthood, the children had been a true joy to her. She devoted herself to her husband and children and considered herself one of the many selfless "supermoms" who put their family's needs first. She believed she had had it all, just not all at the same time.
In her mid-30s, Beverly returned to her former passion — writing — as a hobby, but before 40, she decided that she wanted to make writing a full-time career. And when she rediscovered an old dream — of becoming a published writer — no one was more supportive of her aspirations than her family. Her children were her greatest cheerleaders and her husband was her biggest supporter. After writing over 40 books and receiving numerous awards and nominations, as well as having books on the USA Today list and consistently on the Waldenbooks bestseller list, her career was indeed a dream come true. Having a fantastic family and fabulous friends, as well as making a living doing the one thing she had loved doing since childhood, she considered herself truly blessed. Beverly died suddenly of heart failure on 21 April 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 21, 2008
If you enjoy a good, short romance with a bit of intrigue, Her Secret Weapon should interest you. It is a fast-paced story with likeable characters.
Two years after spending one glorious night with Burke Lonigan, Callie Severin knows she has to decide if she will let him know he is a father and include him in their son's life. Burke was inebriated during their time together, and he doesn't recognize his new personal assistant as the woman with whom he spent a night. After hearing rumors that Burke's import business is a cover for illegal arms dealing, Callie is very hesitant to reveal their connection. The choice is taken from her when she accidentally intrudes as he is making an arms deal with a very dangerous man. Callie's life and that of her son are threatened, so in order to protect her, Burke announces that she is his fiance. To keep her safe, Burke marries Callie within a few days, and whisks her away for a weekend honeymoon that unexpectedly turns very passionate. Upon returning home, Burke meets Callie's son, and is shocked to discover the resemblance that establishes the boy as his child. Burke is hurt and angry with Callie for not coming to him sooner, and he is also confused as to why he has many memories of the night two years ago, but can't remember her face. Callie knows that she can never trust herself and her son to an unscrupulous arms dealer, but she has strong feelings for Burke. Burke and Callie must learn to trust and rely on one another and to admit to the love that is between them.
I enjoyed this book, and thought it was well worth the time spent reading. The suspense played a small part in the story, as the villian was a very minor character who only really troubled the hero and heroine in a small portion of the story. The main part of the intrigue was in Callie learning that Burke was more than what he seemed. Most of the book focused on the relationship between the hero and heroine. The only problem I really had with this book was the prologue where Burke and Callie met and spent the night together. I have a hard time understanding how Callie could have found a man who was so inebriated that he could hardly walk to be so appealing. Oh well, I understand that there had to be some underlying reason that he wouldn't remember what Callie looked like, so I accepted this and enjoyed the rest of the story.
Two years after spending one glorious night with Burke Lonigan, Callie Severin knows she has to decide if she will let him know he is a father and include him in their son's life. Burke was inebriated during their time together, and he doesn't recognize his new personal assistant as the woman with whom he spent a night. After hearing rumors that Burke's import business is a cover for illegal arms dealing, Callie is very hesitant to reveal their connection. The choice is taken from her when she accidentally intrudes as he is making an arms deal with a very dangerous man. Callie's life and that of her son are threatened, so in order to protect her, Burke announces that she is his fiance. To keep her safe, Burke marries Callie within a few days, and whisks her away for a weekend honeymoon that unexpectedly turns very passionate. Upon returning home, Burke meets Callie's son, and is shocked to discover the resemblance that establishes the boy as his child. Burke is hurt and angry with Callie for not coming to him sooner, and he is also confused as to why he has many memories of the night two years ago, but can't remember her face. Callie knows that she can never trust herself and her son to an unscrupulous arms dealer, but she has strong feelings for Burke. Burke and Callie must learn to trust and rely on one another and to admit to the love that is between them.
I enjoyed this book, and thought it was well worth the time spent reading. The suspense played a small part in the story, as the villian was a very minor character who only really troubled the hero and heroine in a small portion of the story. The main part of the intrigue was in Callie learning that Burke was more than what he seemed. Most of the book focused on the relationship between the hero and heroine. The only problem I really had with this book was the prologue where Burke and Callie met and spent the night together. I have a hard time understanding how Callie could have found a man who was so inebriated that he could hardly walk to be so appealing. Oh well, I understand that there had to be some underlying reason that he wouldn't remember what Callie looked like, so I accepted this and enjoyed the rest of the story.
February 7, 2018
I actually thought this book might be a little cheesy because it's almost 20yrs old. I found myself getting into the characters and enjoying :)
April 30, 2019
One one hand, most parts of the story were completely conceivable. For them all to happen in the one story . . . Well that’s just what makes romances with a bit of intrigue so fascinating!
Honestly others reviewed it, feel free to read their longer reviews, but here’s just a couple thoughts!
For me, it will probably remain in my favorites category!
For her first time writing this type of book, the author did an awesome job creating the journey of ups and down of a complex story then had me hooked before I even finished the prologue!
I will definitely check out more of her other books!
Ok - so was going to leave it at this point - for everyone one else to share but now that I got here. I can’t help but share myself!
My quick synopsis:
He had just came back from a mission. Finding out, His father, Seamus, was on his deathbed, and died before Burke could see his father . . . His wasn’t allowed to show emotions. . . At least he learned that one thing from his step-father! Real men, don’t cry. But Burke’s drowning his sorrows and does so by getting complexly drunk. Having just learning the father that never wanted him, called for him on his deathbed, only to have his legitimate children tell their father he hasn’t wanted to see him. He hasn’t made it back in time . . . And he WAS NOT allowed to cry, to grieve the father he never had but wanted.
She had just quit her job, heading over to the hotel/bar to find get cousin, she needed to talk as she couldn’t work for that scumball, especially after she learned that afternoon that her boss, her cheat of a fiancé decided he loved someone else, really? She should be thankful, their predicable passionless courtship rather left her wanting and yet it still stung.
But then as she looks for Enid, she sees a man sitting by himself, she’s drawn to him, but stops and then their eyes meet, and he’s motioning for her to join him, she can’t seem to stop herself from walking over to him. It seems as if they are two people who both seemed to have the worst of days, well they could share some time together. She could see if she can get him to stop drinking and maybe they can share in their misery for just a few moments.
After spending time with Burke, She decides, her heart is breaking and she is going to have to see him home, he’s snookered, and she. Callie, is just going to enjoy the flirting and talking in the car, and then head on to her home . But the man called Burke just cried on her lap, how can she leave him and not make sure the man got inside safely?!
9 months. . . Seamus was born to Callie
14 months later. . . Callie finds a job as a personal
assistant to a very important
man who ran an
import/export business . .was he
also a gun runner? How can this
man be a gun runner, then, he’ll
just never find out her secret!
16+months later. . . Burke’s still doing missions,
He still can’t seem to
figure out the name of the “one
girl he meet 2 years ago” that
almost broke him, but most
alarming, he just couldn’t stop
thinking all these lustful thoughts
about his PA, she was
definitely going to bring him to
his knees if he wasn’t careful. .
He wasn’t sure what it was about
her, but despite working for
SPEAR, trying to complete his
mission to broker a deal with
Simon to lure him out so they can
catch him, despite all of that, he
just. wanted. her! The beautiful,
simple and yet so complex Callie,
he didn’t understand it himself,
and why now, in the middle of
someone trying to bring down his
secret boss, but beyond that
mountain he had to climb, he
really wanted to try and be a
better man just for her!
Within 2 years. . . well I suppose I could tell you, BUT what would be the fun in that? Suffice to say. Ms. Barton weaved a fantastic story of intrigue, desire, danger, and finally love into one unique and beautiful love story! Definitely going on “My Favs & Want to read again” shelves.
Let’s just say, if you don’t read it, you’ll miss a beautiful story of a man and woman, who it seems no matter what comes their way in life, is destined to be together no matter how much they fight it or life tries to get in the way.
Despite their stupid decisions of secrets and problems of not sharing what they really feel and want to one another, [and] besides a couple of [huge] secrets they each were keeping from another. . . And Be Warned Folks, I wanted to smack them a couple times each, myself, for not saying what they should,
but man. oh. man.
what a way to fall
in love that is!
Honestly others reviewed it, feel free to read their longer reviews, but here’s just a couple thoughts!
For me, it will probably remain in my favorites category!
For her first time writing this type of book, the author did an awesome job creating the journey of ups and down of a complex story then had me hooked before I even finished the prologue!
I will definitely check out more of her other books!
Ok - so was going to leave it at this point - for everyone one else to share but now that I got here. I can’t help but share myself!
My quick synopsis:
He had just came back from a mission. Finding out, His father, Seamus, was on his deathbed, and died before Burke could see his father . . . His wasn’t allowed to show emotions. . . At least he learned that one thing from his step-father! Real men, don’t cry. But Burke’s drowning his sorrows and does so by getting complexly drunk. Having just learning the father that never wanted him, called for him on his deathbed, only to have his legitimate children tell their father he hasn’t wanted to see him. He hasn’t made it back in time . . . And he WAS NOT allowed to cry, to grieve the father he never had but wanted.
She had just quit her job, heading over to the hotel/bar to find get cousin, she needed to talk as she couldn’t work for that scumball, especially after she learned that afternoon that her boss, her cheat of a fiancé decided he loved someone else, really? She should be thankful, their predicable passionless courtship rather left her wanting and yet it still stung.
But then as she looks for Enid, she sees a man sitting by himself, she’s drawn to him, but stops and then their eyes meet, and he’s motioning for her to join him, she can’t seem to stop herself from walking over to him. It seems as if they are two people who both seemed to have the worst of days, well they could share some time together. She could see if she can get him to stop drinking and maybe they can share in their misery for just a few moments.
After spending time with Burke, She decides, her heart is breaking and she is going to have to see him home, he’s snookered, and she. Callie, is just going to enjoy the flirting and talking in the car, and then head on to her home . But the man called Burke just cried on her lap, how can she leave him and not make sure the man got inside safely?!
9 months. . . Seamus was born to Callie
14 months later. . . Callie finds a job as a personal
assistant to a very important
man who ran an
import/export business . .was he
also a gun runner? How can this
man be a gun runner, then, he’ll
just never find out her secret!
16+months later. . . Burke’s still doing missions,
He still can’t seem to
figure out the name of the “one
girl he meet 2 years ago” that
almost broke him, but most
alarming, he just couldn’t stop
thinking all these lustful thoughts
about his PA, she was
definitely going to bring him to
his knees if he wasn’t careful. .
He wasn’t sure what it was about
her, but despite working for
SPEAR, trying to complete his
mission to broker a deal with
Simon to lure him out so they can
catch him, despite all of that, he
just. wanted. her! The beautiful,
simple and yet so complex Callie,
he didn’t understand it himself,
and why now, in the middle of
someone trying to bring down his
secret boss, but beyond that
mountain he had to climb, he
really wanted to try and be a
better man just for her!
Within 2 years. . . well I suppose I could tell you, BUT what would be the fun in that? Suffice to say. Ms. Barton weaved a fantastic story of intrigue, desire, danger, and finally love into one unique and beautiful love story! Definitely going on “My Favs & Want to read again” shelves.
Let’s just say, if you don’t read it, you’ll miss a beautiful story of a man and woman, who it seems no matter what comes their way in life, is destined to be together no matter how much they fight it or life tries to get in the way.
Despite their stupid decisions of secrets and problems of not sharing what they really feel and want to one another, [and] besides a couple of [huge] secrets they each were keeping from another. . . And Be Warned Folks, I wanted to smack them a couple times each, myself, for not saying what they should,
but man. oh. man.
what a way to fall
in love that is!
June 2, 2023
I have loved this story since I read it 22 years ago. I love it still.
October 23, 2008
Her Secret Weapon (Silhouette Intimate Moments #1034) (A Year of Loving Dangerously) by Beverly Barton (2000)
September 27, 2010
This was actually a really good read. I enjoyed it!
February 2, 2014
So so aja
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews