Operation Sheba [Paperback]

STORY BRIEF:
Julia and Conrad are CIA agents in Europe. Conrad fakes his death and disappears for 17 months. Julia was in love with him and grieves. Because her life is in danger, her boss Michael brings her in from the field and gives her a job as an analyst at CIA headquarters. He also gives her a new identity. Michael helps her heal, and they fall in love. There is a mole at the CIA. Conrad has been trying to find the mole for 17 months. He comes to town with some evidence and asks Julia for her help. She is furious that he caused her to think he was dead. Now she is torn between the two men she loves. The mole is dangerous and plans to kill Conrad, Julia and others.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
This is a good CIA thriller with lots of heroic action and suspense. There is no relationship development because we meet the three characters after they've fallen in love. Julia loves both Michael and Conrad. The reader will find out later if she ends up with one of them or not. Read this for action and suspense. It has a happy ending. There were none of my pet peeves. The plot and characters were good. I liked it, but I wanted to be a little more surprised or delighted (or maybe a little more romance) in order to give it more stars.

A small part of the story talked about Julia's abusive childhood. I liked the author's insight into the effects of abuse and how Julia survived it, described on page 46. "Having grown up with an abusive stepfather, Julia had learned at a young age the cost of showing emotion. Emotions were not to be trusted. Emotions got you another punch from a hard fist. Instead she learned to tap down the emotions so she could analyze and control the situation in her favor." I was intrigued with Julia's character as having "a high level of introversion. She craved solitude, preferred to work alone, and sought companionship on a one-on-one basis. A lone wolf to whom isolation was comfortable." (page 43). This, a consequence of abuse.

DATA:
Story length: 295 pages. Swearing language: strong (including religious swear words). Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 5. Setting: current day Berlin, Virginia area, Prague, and Mexico. Copyright: 2009. Genre: suspense thriller with romance.

This is the absolute best romantic suspense story that I have ever read! Do not miss reading this treasure. Keep an eye on this author because Misty Evans is going places!

Julia and Conrad are CIA operatives who are working on an overseas undercover assignment together, and they are also personally involved. Con is a former Navy Seal who took Julia under his wing during her CIA training, and for the past 5 years they have been living and working together. Julia feels intuitively that something is off with their current mission, something is just wrong with it, but she does not know what it is that has her so concerned. She expresses her thoughts to Con, but he just minimizes her feelings, tells her that everything will be fine as he departs for his dangerous assignment, leaving Julia waiting for him in their apartment. Conrad dies in an apparent premature explosion during his mission, leaving a devastated Julia to return home to America to work at CIA headquarters, and to try to heal her broken heart.

A year and a half pass and Julia has become involved with the new CIA director, Michael Stone, who is the youngest chief ever appointed to that position. Awakening in Michael's bed one morning, Julia senses someone is in the bedroom with her and she knows instinctively that it is not Michael. Carefully pulling her gun out from beneath her pillow, Julia fires 2 shots before being disarmed, and finds herself enclosed in Conrad's arms again. Conrad swears her to utmost secrecy about his existence and presence there at Michael's home, tells her that he will see her soon, and slips out of Michael's house through the many alarm systems without being detected. Michael returns from his morning run to an empty bed, the smell of gun powder, and 2 bullet holes in his bedroom walls. Frantic with concern, Michael spots Julia sitting on his balcony with her hand still clutching the gun. Julia, deeply shaken by the unexpected arrival of her "dead" lover, makes up an excuse and leaves Michael's home to return to her own apartment before going to her work as an analyst at CIA headquarters.

Thus begins the most romantic suspense story that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Julia's lost love Conrad tells her of a traitor within the CIA, and that her life, and the lives of many others are in grave danger. Together Julia and Conrad, along with some trusted friends, set about unmasking the traitor within the organization. Who stands to replace Michael if he dies, or is discredited somehow? Why is Julia's name on a Kill List?

While I was reading this story my hubby and I were alone in the car together traveling from Kentucky to Texas , and I kept exclaiming "This is the best book that I have ever read", "Oh, Wow", laughing, saying "please don't hurt the dog", "someone please save her" as I busily scribbled notes for my review. Finally hubby asked if he could read it also after I told him about the plot. He said it sounded like a book that anyone, male or female, would enjoy, and he is absolutely correct.

This is truly the best book that I have ever read. I adore this story, and I sincerely hope that Ms. Evans will continue to write more fabulous stories such as this one. Operation Sheba is not at the head of the class, it is in a class by itself. The adventure never stops, it is really sexy, and the reader will go from laughter to terror as the plot is uncovered and the traitor is exposed.

Operation Sheba by Misty Evans is a Keeper..I rated it 5 stars because I cannot go any higher. Privately I say 10 stars out of the 5 stars possible...It is that fantastic. Enjoy!
Written by Susiq2, reviewer, for Cata Romance

Flat out, I love this series! Opertion Sheba is a must read for anyone who likes romantic suspense. This book has it all, characters to root for, a returning soul mate, a love triangle and it's a political thriller that gives the reader a peek into the world of the CIA. I am wildly impressed with the author's attention to detail regarding the CIA.

Also impressive is the love triangle. Misty Evans does a brilliant job at dealing with a woman in love with two exceptional men. We know one of these guys is going to lose the girl, but Misty handles a delicate situation with the ease of a master. And yes, I did cry when Julia/Abby lets one of these men go. Just fabulously done.