Title: Best Kept Lies

Series: Shadow Play 01

Author: Helena Mauve

Genre: Contemporary, Thriller, Suspense

Length: Novella (109 pages)

Publisher: Pride Publishing (August 25, 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Blurb: What becomes of the Russian spy who lands himself in the crosshairs of a rogue British agent?

Grigory Antipov’s work within the intelligence community is exemplary, but attracting too much attention is against his interests as a spy—a lesson painfully learned the night he is abducted off the streets of Rome. Captivity is a dangerous thing and Grigory already operates under a cloud of suspicion, given his predilection for male company. Luckily, his stint in British custody is short-lived, a mere flex of muscle from Agent Karim Awad.

Karim’s objective is obvious. Lure Grigory into Section’s clutches and turn him against his own people—expose him to the wrath of Moscow if he refuses. His mission brief may not specify the methods to be used, but Grigory soon discovers that Karim is a man of many talents. With powerful interests at play and the threat of deadly force in the air, Grigory faces an impossible choice—surrender to his fate or sacrifice the only man whose touch makes him feel alive after so many years.

ISBN: 978-1-78430-735-6

Reviewer: Shorty

Product Link:  https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/best-kept-lies

Review: This is book one of the Shadow Play Series. This book has a lot going on it. I expected this as I started reading and discovered spy and espionage in it the further I read. I have to assume since this is the first book the reason why some of the book was confusing was due to many different things going on, the introduction of many characters to base the rest of the series on, plus the fact that it seemed like there was no real beginning to the story.

This book is well written, fast paced and action packed. Although I liked the story I felt constantly confused as it seemed there were too many characters introduced into too short a book. 

Grigory, a Russian spy is caught by the enemy, Karim is a British Agent sent to try and get him to come to their side. There was a lot of sex in this book. I have mixed feelings about the overall story as it would have been so much better if things were explained better and not quite so much thrown into the book at once. 

Title: Counterfeit Conscience

Series:  Shadow Play 05

Author: Helena Maeve

Genre: Erotic Romance, Thrillers and Suspense

Length: Novella (94 pages)

Publisher: Pride Publishing (January 5, 2016)

Heat Level: Burning

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Blurb: On the brink of retirement, a spy will risk all.

The writing’s on the wall. Will Rowe has no illusions about retaining his post as the head of the largest Section field office in South America. Private contractors, some more lawful than others, already see to most of their interests. It’s only a matter of time before Will himself is made redundant. He’d like to think he’s made peace with the inevitable, but when a figure from his past offers one last chance to make a difference, Will can’t resist.

Caught between his duty to the agency and his commitment to protect his operatives, Will must persuade the man who nearly wrecked his career to give up the one and only constant in his world—revenge.

Ignacio was a low-grade runner for the infamous Macias cartel the last time he and Will spoke. Now he is the head of the family and a direct beneficiary of MI6 cost-cutting measures. Will knows that approaching such a man without his superiors’ knowledge or approval is a perilous undertaking, but he doesn’t expect his body and heart to become forfeit. As events spiral out of his control, Will finds himself at the mercy of an old lover intent on awakening desires he long thought suppressed.

ISBN: 978-1-78430-960-2

Reviewer: Shorty

Product Link:  https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/counterfeit-conscience

Review: This is the fifth book in the shadow play series. Will is given a mission to is dangerous as he tries to put an end to assassinations. In the face of losing his business he wants at least one good mission. 

Ingonico has his fingers in a lot of unsavory things regarding a vicious feud with M16. These two men are past lovers and find themselves torn between their duty ad desires for one another. It is a game of cat and mouse as they both struggle to juggle both without letting on to others.

Although this book can be read as a standalone it would be better to read each book in order as everything in not revealed in each book. You get a better understanding into characters and unanswered questions the further you read the series. It was an o.k. read.