Deep Deception by Cathy Pegau

Colonial Mining Authority agent Natalia Hallowell doesn't always play by the rules, but she wouldn't compromise a case either. Put on administrative leave under a cloud of accusation, with no support from her boss, Natalia seeks a little anonymous companionship at her favourite bar. But she's surprised when the woman who catches her fancy starts buying her drinks.

Desperate, Genevieve "Gennie" Caine had no choice but to seduce, drug and tie Natalia to the bed to get her attention. With the Reyes Corporation after something she has, Gennie needs Natalia to open an investigation and distract them long enough for her to get off Nevarro.

Natalia doesn't trust Gennie — despite the growing attraction between them — but the corporation's suspiciously high profits convince her that they must be hiding something. But she has no idea just how deep the deceptions run...

Natalia is framed, accused of sleeping with the enemy - until she can prove different, she's on leave. At the bar Gennie catches her eye, unfortunately Gennie has plans for Natalia - she needs her help. They go undercover to a mining colony to try and find the evidence that Gennie needs to get the Reyes family off her back but the close living arrangements don't help their attraction to one another.

This is the follow up to Caught in Amber (although I don't think the series actually has a name? Not that I can find anyway) where we first met Natalia & Gennie, the former helping Spencer and Sasha (who make an appearance in this book) while the latter first hindered then helped them.

I liked both leads in this, they both have their problems but don't let it get in their way. In fact, Gennie is risking everything to get Natalia's help - she's willing to risk her life to help her kids and get out from under the Reyes radar. Natalia is willing to help Gennie despite their initial meeting being a farce. I enjoyed the storyline, well paced and well written with a lot of action. And Natalia and Gennie's relationship is sweet, they're both scared and they both have their reasons for not pursuing it but, of course, they can't stop it from happening.

Recommended, and I discovered there was a book before Caught in Amber called Rulebreaker that I have just downloaded to my Kindle.


Amazon UK: Deep Deception

Caught in Amber by Cathy Pegau

Recently out of rehab, Sasha James is determined to keep her head down, complete her parole and never touch amber again. The chip in her neck controls her cravings for the highly addictive drug, but also tracks her every move. Not that she goes anywhere other than work and the halfway house she calls home — a far cry from her luxurious former life as lover of the mining colony's top drug dealer, Guy Christiansen.

Agent Nathan Sterling has no desire to see Sasha fall back into amber, but his sister has become Guy's latest conquest and the unexpectedly attractive Sasha is the key to getting her back. So in exchange for an introduction, he offers Sasha the one thing she can't refuse — her freedom. From the chip, her parole and even the planet if she wants. Though he would be sorry to see her go...

Torn between her growing attraction to Nathan, fear of Guy and the allure of amber, Sasha accepts. But who will save her if Guy refuses to let her go a second time?

Release Date January 28th 2013

Sasha just wants to go about her life, as mundane as it is, but when Nathan approaches her and asks for her help to save his little sister from Sasha's drug-dealer ex-boyfriend - she can't turn him down. To get back into Guy's good books, she has to play nice with him - which could hurt her and her probation status - all while resisting the call of Amber. Nathan and Sasha's growing feelings for each other could jeopardise the whole thing, if Guy suspects anything between the two of them - he could kill them both.

I always like books that make an entire new world, to someone like me (with little or no imagination) that seems like a herculean task so I admire that in an author. I liked Sasha - she was broken but determined to be strong and survive and that trait in her made me hate Nathan for forcing her into the situation above.

But, of course, Nathan manages to change my mind as we find out he actually has feelings for Sasha and isn't just in it for his sister's sake - he wants to help Sasha get on with her life.

Also, I hate Guy and Marco ... that's all I'm going to say on that.

Buy this book, it's a fun, quick read.


Amazon UK: Caught in Amber