FBI Special Agent Hunter McCrary hates everything Russian with a passion. His father was killed during the Cold War by the Dark Swan, a legendary KGB assassin, and McCrary has sworn to avenge his father's death. When a hacker believed to be a KGB agent breaks into a government communications line, McCrary needs Beryl's help. Unable to hide his xenophobia, their relationship starts on very bad note, but they can't help being attracted to each other. But as their attraction and respect for each other grow, McCrary discovers a dark secret in Beryl's past that might very well destroy any chance they have at happiness. I loved Guess Again. This book is a very interesting mix of genres: It's a romantic suspense with a serious and solid intrigue, but it's also very funny, and I've rarely seen an author mix these two genres as well as Santella did. It's intelligent, touching, and very gripping. I simply could not put this book down. And when I finished it, my major complaint was that the book was too short.
The intrigue is very well built and kept me guessing-again!-until the very end. Santella obviously researched her topic and created a very intelligent plot. Lynzee is a very interesting character: she's strong and bright with a wonderful sense of humor. McCrary is slightly too alpha at times, but Santella manages to make him fun and endearing. Their relationship sizzles from the beginning, and the love scenes are quite hot. I did find that some of the love scenes did not always flow really well, but I think that's to be expected from a first novel.
Nora Santella has a very interesting and refreshing voice, and I cannot wait for her next novel.
Ratings
Overall: 9
Sensuality: 8
Suspense: 9
Nathalie Laroche for Suspense Romance Writers, a Romance Designs Community Website
This is romantic suspense! An exciting, riveting, edge of your seat story. I couldn't put it down, even for a coffee refill.
Nora Santella pulls the reader along through the fast paced world of artificial intelligence, and probes into the middle of an espionage plot so detailed the reader will be looking over their shoulder for the KGB or the FBI.
When American-born Russian Lynzee Beryl, brilliant AI wizard at MIT, comes into direct contact with FBI Special Agent Hunter McCrary the romance sizzles. But they don't stop there, oh no, so many men, so little time.
Trey Petersen, Lynzee's reporter friend, who seems much too interested in her three-year-old daughter, Tovah. Andrei Kobrin, a Russian professor on the MIT staff who seems to know more than he should. And the main source of their problem, Lynzee's old flame and Tovah's father, Yuri Ivanov, a Russian operative whose gained access to US government communication lines.
Hunter knows his father was killed by The Dark Swan, a Russian operative, and his life's work has been to find out why. Lynzee has no memories before the age of four, but she owns a black cloisonné pin which belonged to her mother, and is now experiencing disheartening dreams - her past is oozing into the present. As Lynzee and Hunter grow closer together, they realize their ancestry is intertwined as danger rears up to haunt them.
This is one book you need to put on your to be read list immediately.
5 hearts, Mary Ann Carman, The Romance Studio
Years after a KGB assassin known as the "Black Swan" murdered his father, Special Agent Hunter McCrary finds himself face to face with a woman who stands for everything he despises. MIT Professor Lynzee Beryl's expertise is needed in dealing with a cunning hacker. The hacker appears to be Lynzee's ex-lover, a Russian man with KBG links, and he appears to have plans for Lynzee.
With Lynzee's mysterious past, her increasing nightmares that may be revelations of her origins, and a growing attraction for each other, Lynzee and Hunter find themselves in a dangerous web that could
threaten their lives. Can they discover Lynzee's heritage and find what Lynzee's ex-lover wants from her?
I am not a fan of the television show Alias, however my husband cannot get enough of it. As I began reading GUESS AGAIN, I realized that this is a story that will have huge appeal with Alias fans. Intrigue and passion join seamlessly on every page. Fans of spy/intrigue stories will thoroughly enjoy GUESS AGAIN.
Tracy Farnsworth, Roundtable Reviews
