"Things aren't what they seem in this one!"

Jared Sullivan has officially retired from ARIES but Sam Hatch, the director keeps thinking up one more case that only Jared can do justice to which comes to the reason for this story. Sam flies out to Jared's ranch and convinces him that he is the only man who can get Dr. Alexander Morrow away from General Bruno DeBruzkya, the Rebelian dictator. Jared repeatedly tells Sam no but finally Sam convinces him. There's just something in Sam's demeanor about this case that Jared just can't figure out.

Jared risks life and limb to get Dr. Morrow out and is shot twice for his trouble. As he's helping Dr. Morrow up the rope to the roof where the helicopter is waiting, he accidentally grabs Dr. Morrow in the crotch and is shocked when he doesn't feel the right equipment. He figures that he'll find out what this is all about later. When they finally get to the helicopter, Jared thinks they are home free but as they fly high and low in order to confuse the radar, Dr. Morrow passes out on him and Jared can think of nothing but having the helicopter put them down before they get to where Jared wants to go. When he runs into the forest with Dr. Morrow, he can't understand why he can't get a heartbeat until he opens his shirt and finds a prosthetic chest. When Jared figures out how to get the fake chest off, he realizes what he has subconsciously figured out already. Dr. Alexander Morrow is a woman in disguise. She tells him that she's one of the best-kept secrets that ARIES has. She also tells him that she can't remember what happened to her the night she was kidnapped.

Then Jared has to tell her that they aren't finished with the mission yet. Sam has something else in mind for them to do before they can come home. Alex tells Jared that there's nothing she can do but go along with the mission. The problem is Jared and Alex have quite a few secrets between them. Could these secrets jeopardize the mission or will they put everything aside to get done what has to be done?

Wow, Candace Irvin's books just get better and better. Her books are such a joy to read because I can just lose myself for a couple of hours and am in another country in yet another adventure. Actually, adventure is a mild way of putting it! Jared and Alex are both wonderfully flawed characters who think they have nothing going for them, but find out there's much more going for them than they ever thought! Every one of Candace Irvin's books is on my keeper shelf in a place of honor!

Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted April 9, 2003

Read an Excerpt

FAMILY SECRETS: No one is who they seem.

Summary

Agent: Jared Sullivan

Mission: Rescue missing agent Dr. Alex Morrow and discover Rebelian Dictator General DeBruzkya's plan for his collection of stolen gems.

Deepest Secret: Jared believed nothing could restore his belief in the future, until he met the woman he wanted to build one with.

Retired search and rescue specialist Jared Sullivan had gotten out of the secret agent game-a fact that meant nothing to ARIES director Sam Hatch. Against his better judgement, Jared agreed to his mentor's request to take on one last mission. He had no idea doing so would lead him to Alexis Warner, a beautiful but unknown ARIES agent determined to discover what was hiding behind Jared's dark amber eyes.

But Alexis has shocking secrets of her own. Somewhere in her missing memory is the key to DeBruzkya's insidious intent. And if the truth doesn't surface soon, not only will Jared and Alexis lose their chance for a life together, they might not have a world left to live it in.