Books & Spoons Review for CONCEALED by Kate SeRine

29/3/2017

As the only female initiate of the elite undercover society, the Dark Alliance, former FBI agent Madeleine Blake has a lot to prove—especially to her former lover, Alliance operative Jack Grayson. Ever since joining Jack’s team, Maddie’s been keeping her distance, trying not to relive every moment they shared during their brief but passionate affair. Yet when a mission ends in tragedy, Maddie’s ready to walk away from the Alliance—and Jack—forever. That is, until Jack’s cover is blown, putting his life in danger and making it impossible for Maddie to deny her true feelings…

Before he met Maddie, Jack Grayson thought happiness was impossible for a man like him. After all, he has a price on his head that requires him to live in the shadows, concealed from everyone and everything he cares about. But now that they’re on the run for their lives and Jack has Maddie in his arms again, he realizes their love is the only thing in his life that’s real. And this time, there’s no way in hell he’s letting it slip away…

An explosive continues to the Dark Alliance series with constant action, breathtaking moments of fatal danger, and two lovers getting yet another chance to find a way to each other's lives and hearts.
The suspense and action of the story are based on the war between Alliance and Illuminati, and the old enemies hunting down Jack Grayson with revenge in mind, and death the ultimate goal. Collateral damage is not an issue to the ruthless killers, only achieving to dispose of their target in mind.
As many of the players from both sides in the tale get their chance to tell their point of view, the big picture of the war with its risks, manipulations, and lies even amongst their own troops comes to clear to the reader. I have read the book one of the series, yet it still took me some time to remember all the details and players in the dangerous games Alliance and Illuminati plays.
Jack Grayson and Madeleine Blake have been in love with each other since they first met. Yet the lives they have lived, the choices they have made has made them walk away from each other twice before and kept them apart until they are teamed to solve the latest crisis.
Madeleine Blake is making history, she is the first female accepted to the order of the Alliance. She is a truly kick-ass heroine, she is equal to the male counterparts, there's no fear, no hesitance as she faces the dangers and fights for what is right, and to keep the Alliance a secret society it needs to be to be able to accomplish their goals.
Jack Grayson was born to the order of Alliance. He is a young man, yet he sounds battle weary and drained. He believes the choices he has made during his service to Alliance has made him a person undeserving of love and happiness. His desire and adoration towards Madeleine are palpable, he barely manages to keep the distance between them, yet he has no intentions to put her in danger by claiming their feelings towards each other. The fragile relationship between them is tested in the most horrendous way. If they survive the torture and agony they might have a chance of a future happiness.
It is obvious as I read the story that the author has done her research. The story, with its details of Alliance and Illuminati, the nonstop power battle against each other and within the troops was fascinating, energetic, and brutal. Even with constantly changing points of view and scenes, the story had a seamless flow from one savage action scene and crisis to another. An entertaining and enchanting story with merciless action, relentless danger, a brotherhood that leaves no man behind, and tender loving and adoration that made me sigh.
~ Four Spoons