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Avalon Investigations #5
Hide in Plain Sight
"APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING Fiona Kennedy can tell a forgery from the genuine article in a snap. Drop-dead-sexy Grif Laughton, however, is not so easy to read. He's clearly a masterpiece of the male variety -- and the attraction he sparks is definitely the real thing. But Grif is a man of secrets, and the potentially priceless manuscript he's asked her to appraise is just one of them. PASSIONS ARE DEADLY But someone is willing to kill for the manuscript, and Grif reveals that he's a mercenary, hired to protect Fiona. Is he really who he seems, or is he just using her as bait? On the run from an unknown enemy, Fiona gives in to her all-consuming need for the man who may be her one chance for survival -- or her final chapter.
ebook
First published May 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
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About the author
Michele Albert
12books20followersMichelle Jerott was born on 17 January 1961 in Wisconsin, USA. Her very first romances she ever read, way back in high school, were Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's "The Flame and the Flower" and "The Wolf and the Dove" (published by Avon in the mid-70s). She said: "I fell in love with Heather and Brandon, Wulfgar and Aislinn--and have been hooked on romances ever since. I like nothing better than to curl up with a good book and a hot cup of coffee, and romances will always be my books of choice. Unlike some authors, I didn't come out of the womb wanting to write books. In fact, from about the age of 14, I wanted to be an archaeologist."
Michelle graduated with a classical Archaeology degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and even attended a summer program at University of London's Institute of Archaeology. She remembered: "My first dig, in high school, was a Mississippian Indian site not far from Terre Haute, Indiana, and my last was a Roman fort outside Newcastle in Great Britain. There, standing up to my knees in mud and swinging a pick ax, I decided that maybe archaeology wasn't my calling in life, after all. A career fast track was fine and dandy, but I wanted to take the scenic route through my own life instead. So, I had a baby and eventually went to work in a research lab, which allowed me time to write. When I sat down to write my first story, I had no doubt it would be a romance. As a kid, I was disappointed that girl oriented stories rarely had the same sort of fun, excitement or dangerous adventures as the boy oriented stories. Consequently, I re-wrote a lot of those books in my head. As I grew older, I discovered the books I liked to read (and write) were those in which the heroine has all sorts of fun and excitement... and yes, even adventures, dangerous or otherwise. On July 31, 1997, after three years of writing and shopping my manuscripts around, I sold my first book to Avon. A couple days later, I won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award for that same book, an award given to manuscripts written by unpublished writers. All in all, 1997 was an exciting year! Becoming a published writer has been a long-time goal, and I'm so excited to have this chance to make my dream come true. More importantly, I hope to share with you, through my characters and their stories, a little magic, a little fun, and a whole lot of romance!"
She signed her firts four books with her real name, Michelle Jerott, and later she used the pen name Michele Albert to continued a Series that started with "Absolute Trouble", her debut novel. Her novels: "Her Bodyguard" and "Getting Her Man" were both nominated for Best Mainstream Novel by Romantic Times and "Off Limits" appeared on the Waldenbook's National Bestseller List.
Married with a father of theee, Michelle lived with her husband, her son, his three children, and two lazy cats in a small town outside Madison, Wisconsin. She passed away on 5 July 2021 in her native Wisconsin.
Michelle graduated with a classical Archaeology degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and even attended a summer program at University of London's Institute of Archaeology. She remembered: "My first dig, in high school, was a Mississippian Indian site not far from Terre Haute, Indiana, and my last was a Roman fort outside Newcastle in Great Britain. There, standing up to my knees in mud and swinging a pick ax, I decided that maybe archaeology wasn't my calling in life, after all. A career fast track was fine and dandy, but I wanted to take the scenic route through my own life instead. So, I had a baby and eventually went to work in a research lab, which allowed me time to write. When I sat down to write my first story, I had no doubt it would be a romance. As a kid, I was disappointed that girl oriented stories rarely had the same sort of fun, excitement or dangerous adventures as the boy oriented stories. Consequently, I re-wrote a lot of those books in my head. As I grew older, I discovered the books I liked to read (and write) were those in which the heroine has all sorts of fun and excitement... and yes, even adventures, dangerous or otherwise. On July 31, 1997, after three years of writing and shopping my manuscripts around, I sold my first book to Avon. A couple days later, I won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award for that same book, an award given to manuscripts written by unpublished writers. All in all, 1997 was an exciting year! Becoming a published writer has been a long-time goal, and I'm so excited to have this chance to make my dream come true. More importantly, I hope to share with you, through my characters and their stories, a little magic, a little fun, and a whole lot of romance!"
She signed her firts four books with her real name, Michelle Jerott, and later she used the pen name Michele Albert to continued a Series that started with "Absolute Trouble", her debut novel. Her novels: "Her Bodyguard" and "Getting Her Man" were both nominated for Best Mainstream Novel by Romantic Times and "Off Limits" appeared on the Waldenbook's National Bestseller List.
Married with a father of theee, Michelle lived with her husband, her son, his three children, and two lazy cats in a small town outside Madison, Wisconsin. She passed away on 5 July 2021 in her native Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 26, 2011
A completely new author for me, and though it didn't blew me away, it delivered quite a punch. The difference was in the fact the hero was using the heroine to gain his goal, she found out pretty quickly, he admitted the whole thing, and he spent the rest of their time together acting like a bastard and pushing her away.
So what is so different, you ask? He almost succeeded in pushing her away. He thought he actually didn't deserve to be happy, that he deserved the life he was living, and didn't want anything to do with her, because she was a distraction...There was no "maybe I'll convince her to give me a chance". Nope, he told her he was a bastard, that he was only using her, she hated his guts, and that was almost it...If it wasn't for that bullet and the hero realizing he was getting "too old for this shit", if I'm allowed to quote the dynamic duo from Lethal Weapon.
Though the whole "I hate you, you prick" didn't sound that convincing from her mouth, when she couldn't wait to get naked with him again, and the "reversion back to self" didn't sound that convincing either, due to the whole "I hate you, you prick" from before, this was still a pretty good ride, story-wise...And I'm rather curious as to the series after this prequel, because the big boss intrigues me. A lot. The whole thing is very similar to Justine Davis' Redstone Incorporated series, but that's probably why I'm intrigued as much as I am.
And the bad guy was a beauty to read as well. I really hope he makes an appearance in latter books as well, because I don't think he's said his last words yet (seeing how he got away and all).
So what is so different, you ask? He almost succeeded in pushing her away. He thought he actually didn't deserve to be happy, that he deserved the life he was living, and didn't want anything to do with her, because she was a distraction...There was no "maybe I'll convince her to give me a chance". Nope, he told her he was a bastard, that he was only using her, she hated his guts, and that was almost it...If it wasn't for that bullet and the hero realizing he was getting "too old for this shit", if I'm allowed to quote the dynamic duo from Lethal Weapon.
Though the whole "I hate you, you prick" didn't sound that convincing from her mouth, when she couldn't wait to get naked with him again, and the "reversion back to self" didn't sound that convincing either, due to the whole "I hate you, you prick" from before, this was still a pretty good ride, story-wise...And I'm rather curious as to the series after this prequel, because the big boss intrigues me. A lot. The whole thing is very similar to Justine Davis' Redstone Incorporated series, but that's probably why I'm intrigued as much as I am.
And the bad guy was a beauty to read as well. I really hope he makes an appearance in latter books as well, because I don't think he's said his last words yet (seeing how he got away and all).
January 22, 2025
เปล่าค่� แม็กซ์ไม่ได้เขียนถึงหนังสือชุดอวาลอนของคินลี่ย์ แม็คเกรเกอร์ นักเขียนที่มีปัญหาในชีวิตกับการเขียนหนังสือให้จบซี่รี่ย์ คราวนี้แม็กซ์ไม่ตกเป็นเหยื่อของเธอหรอก หลอกคนอื่นให้ตามหนังสือชุดของเธอได� แต่หลอกแม็กซ์ไม่ได้หรอ� เพราะแม็กซ์รู้ว่าเดี๋ยวแม่คุณก็จะเปลี่ยนไปเขียนหนังสือชุดใหม่ ทั้งที่ชุดเดิมยังเขียนไม่จ�
อวาลอนที่พูดถึงเป็นองค์กรลับที่ตั้งขึ้นมาเพื่อปกป้องงานศิลปะ และของมีค่าทางประวัติศาสตร� เพราะหน่วยงานรัฐไม่มีกำลังมากพอที่จะปกป้องงานเหล่านี้จากบรรดาโจรหัวขโม� ได� มันไม่ใช่เรื่องคอขาดบาดตาย จึงไม่ได้รับความสำคั� แต่ก็มีเศรษฐีที่รักศิลปะสร้างองค์กรแห่งนี้ขึ้นมา
แม็กซ์ชอบเล่มแรกของชุดนี้อย่างมา� Hide in Plain Sight ถือเป็นหนังสือที่สนุกมากที่สุดเล่มหนึ่งที่แม็กซ์เคยได้อ่า� แม้ว่าพระเอกจะไม่อาจเอาชนะตัวร้ายใหญ่ได้ก็ตาม และในเล่มสองนี� Tough Enough เป็นเรื่องราวของวิว อดีตตำรวจหนุ่มที่ผันตัวเองเป็นนักปฏิบัติการณ์แห่งอวาลอน
ในงานที่เขาได้รับมอบหมา� เขาต้องกลับไปเผชิญหน้ากับถ่านไฟเก่� มีอา ผู้หญิงที่ทิ้งเขาไปสมัยที่ยังเรียนมหาวิทยาลั� เพื่อสืบดูว่าเธอเป็นตัวการปลอมแปลงงานศิลปะหรือเปล่า นี่เป็นหนังสือไม่กี่เล่มที่นางเอกเป็นฝ่ายทิ้งพระเอกไปหาผู้ชายคนอื่น
ความบกพร่องของมีอาทำให้แม็กซ์อยากอ่านเรื่องนี้ค่� เพราะคิดว่าน่าสนใจด� เธอเสียใจตลอดเวลาถึงความโลเลของตัวเอง ที่ไม่เลือกวิ� การที่ได้พบกับเขาอีกครั้งจึงเป็นเหมือนโอกาสที่สองให้กับเธอ
หนังสือเรื่องนี้ถือว่าอ่านสนุก แต่ช่วงท้ายเรื่อ� แม็กซ์เกิดอาการเครียดแค้นตัวร้ายอย่างรุนแร� ขอด่าหน่อยเถอะน� "นังชั่� เกลียดมันโว้ย"
ถือว่าเป็นตัวร้ายที่สร้างความน่ารังเกียจให้แม็กซ์ได้มากที่สุดในรอบหลายปี โอ้ย เกลียดมันมา� แถมดันไม่ตายอีกต่างหาก
ห็ȨึϹชัึϸ่าจะต้องกลับมาแก้แค้Ȩละสร้างความวุ่Ȩายให้กับอวาลอนต่อแȨ
เรื่องแปลกอีกอย่า� แม็กซ์รู้สึกชอบตัวร้ายใหญ่ (อีกตัวนึงนะค�) อย่างมาก แม้จะดูยังไงก็ไม่มีรัศมีพระเอก แต่มันดันเก่งกว่าพวกพระเอกอ่� ก็เลยอดชอบไม่ได� อยากให้เป็นพระเอกค่� แต่คงยาก (ยกเว้นเอามาให้แอน สจ๊วตเขียนนะ อาจมีสิท�)
สรุปสรุป
อวาลอนที่พูดถึงเป็นองค์กรลับที่ตั้งขึ้นมาเพื่อปกป้องงานศิลปะ และของมีค่าทางประวัติศาสตร� เพราะหน่วยงานรัฐไม่มีกำลังมากพอที่จะปกป้องงานเหล่านี้จากบรรดาโจรหัวขโม� ได� มันไม่ใช่เรื่องคอขาดบาดตาย จึงไม่ได้รับความสำคั� แต่ก็มีเศรษฐีที่รักศิลปะสร้างองค์กรแห่งนี้ขึ้นมา
แม็กซ์ชอบเล่มแรกของชุดนี้อย่างมา� Hide in Plain Sight ถือเป็นหนังสือที่สนุกมากที่สุดเล่มหนึ่งที่แม็กซ์เคยได้อ่า� แม้ว่าพระเอกจะไม่อาจเอาชนะตัวร้ายใหญ่ได้ก็ตาม และในเล่มสองนี� Tough Enough เป็นเรื่องราวของวิว อดีตตำรวจหนุ่มที่ผันตัวเองเป็นนักปฏิบัติการณ์แห่งอวาลอน
ในงานที่เขาได้รับมอบหมา� เขาต้องกลับไปเผชิญหน้ากับถ่านไฟเก่� มีอา ผู้หญิงที่ทิ้งเขาไปสมัยที่ยังเรียนมหาวิทยาลั� เพื่อสืบดูว่าเธอเป็นตัวการปลอมแปลงงานศิลปะหรือเปล่า นี่เป็นหนังสือไม่กี่เล่มที่นางเอกเป็นฝ่ายทิ้งพระเอกไปหาผู้ชายคนอื่น
ความบกพร่องของมีอาทำให้แม็กซ์อยากอ่านเรื่องนี้ค่� เพราะคิดว่าน่าสนใจด� เธอเสียใจตลอดเวลาถึงความโลเลของตัวเอง ที่ไม่เลือกวิ� การที่ได้พบกับเขาอีกครั้งจึงเป็นเหมือนโอกาสที่สองให้กับเธอ
หนังสือเรื่องนี้ถือว่าอ่านสนุก แต่ช่วงท้ายเรื่อ� แม็กซ์เกิดอาการเครียดแค้นตัวร้ายอย่างรุนแร� ขอด่าหน่อยเถอะน� "นังชั่� เกลียดมันโว้ย"
ถือว่าเป็นตัวร้ายที่สร้างความน่ารังเกียจให้แม็กซ์ได้มากที่สุดในรอบหลายปี โอ้ย เกลียดมันมา� แถมดันไม่ตายอีกต่างหาก
ห็ȨึϹชัึϸ่าจะต้องกลับมาแก้แค้Ȩละสร้างความวุ่Ȩายให้กับอวาลอนต่อแȨ
เรื่องแปลกอีกอย่า� แม็กซ์รู้สึกชอบตัวร้ายใหญ่ (อีกตัวนึงนะค�) อย่างมาก แม้จะดูยังไงก็ไม่มีรัศมีพระเอก แต่มันดันเก่งกว่าพวกพระเอกอ่� ก็เลยอดชอบไม่ได� อยากให้เป็นพระเอกค่� แต่คงยาก (ยกเว้นเอามาให้แอน สจ๊วตเขียนนะ อาจมีสิท�)
สรุปสรุป
May 7, 2017
I've really enjoyed several books by this auther. This one, I downloaded the sample because the Kindle version was so expensive! And I found that the story had too dark an undercurrent for me. Also, I refuse to spend $15.99 for a Kindle version on Amazon. Whoa!
May 3, 2013
Overall Rating: 4.15 // Action: 3.5 / Emotion: 3.5 / Romance: 4.25 / Sensuous: 2.75 / Suspense: 3.0 // Laughter: 1 / Teary: ½
Michele Albert:
A truly gifted writer. There is just something about Albert's writing style that holds a strong appeal to me.
Hide In Plain Sight: 4.15
Albert draws her readers into this book and holds them spellbound as she weaves a fascinating story about a hunky, alpha hero and a seemingly ordinary, yet apparently brave-hearted heroine. If one were to write a headline that prefaced this book, it would be: "Legendary Super Agent is Felled by Bookworm During His Mid-Life Crisis."
Griffith "Grif" Laughton: 3.50
A skilled super agent who was gorgeous, charming, suave, and debonair who was dealing with his life choices. The lack of details about Grif's background made him feel like a half-developed character.
Fiona Kennedy: 3.50
The proverbial 'girl next door' who was leaving her cocoon to offer solace and compassion to a man who betrayed her. It was easy to identify with Fiona because she felt so ordinary. Fiona's sense of self-worth and her ability to stand up for herself made her an interesting heroine.
Action: 3.50
As appropriate for any book containing a special agent, Albert entertained with several action and adventure scenes in this book as Grif defends himself and Fiona as they are pursued by the bad guys.
Emotion: 3.50
Although there was an emotional connection to Grif and Fiona, the intensity did not reach that special level that Albert usually provides to make her books so outstanding.
Romance: 4.25
The romance factor was prevalent as Grif and Fiona immediately gave in to their attraction . . . and then fought about the feelings that arose within them for the remainder of the book.
Sensuous: 2.75
This book is peppered with hot, sensual, fiery scenes in which Albert reveals her talent as a writer who knows how to pen powerful lovemaking scenes.
Suspense: 3.00
Although not at a nail-biting level, a degree of suspense flowed throughout the entire story regarding Grif and Fiona and Avalon Investigations, it's operatives, it's leader, and it's number one villain.
Secondary Characters: 3.00
The secondary characters were minimally developed. Nevertheless, they were memorable enough to prompt an interest in reading the future books in this series to learn more about them.
See for a more in-depth, detailed review of Hide In Plain Sight.
Michele Albert:
A truly gifted writer. There is just something about Albert's writing style that holds a strong appeal to me.
Hide In Plain Sight: 4.15
Albert draws her readers into this book and holds them spellbound as she weaves a fascinating story about a hunky, alpha hero and a seemingly ordinary, yet apparently brave-hearted heroine. If one were to write a headline that prefaced this book, it would be: "Legendary Super Agent is Felled by Bookworm During His Mid-Life Crisis."
Griffith "Grif" Laughton: 3.50
A skilled super agent who was gorgeous, charming, suave, and debonair who was dealing with his life choices. The lack of details about Grif's background made him feel like a half-developed character.
Fiona Kennedy: 3.50
The proverbial 'girl next door' who was leaving her cocoon to offer solace and compassion to a man who betrayed her. It was easy to identify with Fiona because she felt so ordinary. Fiona's sense of self-worth and her ability to stand up for herself made her an interesting heroine.
Action: 3.50
As appropriate for any book containing a special agent, Albert entertained with several action and adventure scenes in this book as Grif defends himself and Fiona as they are pursued by the bad guys.
Emotion: 3.50
Although there was an emotional connection to Grif and Fiona, the intensity did not reach that special level that Albert usually provides to make her books so outstanding.
Romance: 4.25
The romance factor was prevalent as Grif and Fiona immediately gave in to their attraction . . . and then fought about the feelings that arose within them for the remainder of the book.
Sensuous: 2.75
This book is peppered with hot, sensual, fiery scenes in which Albert reveals her talent as a writer who knows how to pen powerful lovemaking scenes.
Suspense: 3.00
Although not at a nail-biting level, a degree of suspense flowed throughout the entire story regarding Grif and Fiona and Avalon Investigations, it's operatives, it's leader, and it's number one villain.
Secondary Characters: 3.00
The secondary characters were minimally developed. Nevertheless, they were memorable enough to prompt an interest in reading the future books in this series to learn more about them.
See for a more in-depth, detailed review of Hide In Plain Sight.
July 26, 2014
Fiona Kennedy is ready to celebrate. Years ago her husband drove his car into the river. His body was never found. Now that he has been declared dead, Fiona decides it's time to get on with her life. She sees her chance when a handsome lawyer approaches her, asking her to authenticate a manuscript for his client. But Grif Laughter is not really an attorney. He is a mercenary working for Avalon Investigations tasked with keeping Fiona safe while using her as bait to capture a trafficker of stolen art.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. Fiona is a strong, independent woman who has no TSTL moments. This is a bit unusual in a romantic suspense book. Grif may be a mercenary, but he isn't the cold emotionless guy you see in many of these type of books. The villain was in the previous book and I won't be surprised if we see him again in this series. My rating: 4 Stars.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. Fiona is a strong, independent woman who has no TSTL moments. This is a bit unusual in a romantic suspense book. Grif may be a mercenary, but he isn't the cold emotionless guy you see in many of these type of books. The villain was in the previous book and I won't be surprised if we see him again in this series. My rating: 4 Stars.
February 20, 2012
Was reading the author's blog at the time this book's writing was in progress so I, if I can remember them correctly, know what her influences probably were at the time but this really didn't work for me. Sadly--because I've loved the rest of her non-romantic suspense books. Now I know why it took me 5 years to pick it up after purchase.
June 30, 2010
The beginning was slow in a way, but it started to pick up its pace along the way. Although the ending was okay and had a feel good vibe, I wanted it to be different, like von Lahr making a comeback or something. Anyway, I liked it.
March 13, 2008
Very slow to start, but improved along the way.
April 14, 2008
Starts off fast and gets boring towards the middle. Characters felt a little flat, but still likable.
June 27, 2009
Well-rounded mystery but nothing special. 1.5/5 stars.
Read
January 9, 2010ereader ebook
May 10, 2011
An easy read.
July 27, 2012
Fast read, perfect beach read.
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