SAY I DO is the tenth book in Cynthia Eden’s “Wilde Ways” series. Dexter Ryan, CIA super operative and manipulative so-and-so, was first introduced. He has been annoying characters and fans like me ever since. I was initially skeptical about having him be a “hero” of his own book, but Cynthia Eden made it work. This story will appeal to fans of romantic suspense, spies, kickass heroines, and the “pretend fiancé/pretend relationship” trope. In SAY I DO, Dex maneuvers Wilde special agent Lacey Armani to masquerade as his devoted fiancé for an assignment at an exclusive Colorado lodge. This book is fab and was reminiscent, for me, of the 1960s adaptation of TEN LITTLE INDIANS.
Dex has used and abused Wilde agents before in his assignments, and he was captivated when he first saw Lacey. What’s not immediately clear, to her or to readers, are his reasons for specifically requesting her. Is it because he’s attracted and borderline obsessed with her and wants any excuse to be close to her? Or does he have some hidden and slightly more twisted motivations. Dex never does anything without everything planned out in advance. He is an expert at getting people to do what he wants and moves them around like chess pieces. Thankfully, SAY I DO is told from alternating perspectives, so that readers get a glimpse of the inner thoughts and feelings that Dex prefers to hide. While I may have found Dex insufferable in previous books, in SAY I DO, Cynthia Eden shows more depth to this hero. While he may be more of an anti-hero, at least you see that Dex has some self-awareness behind the cocky façade that Dex usually presents to others. He also is shockingly honest with Lacey about the strong feelings he has for her. I hate when a hero plays games with the heroine and hides his true feelings. Dex may not have trouble playing mind games with anyone, but he lays it all out for Lacey when it comes to how much he wants her and how important she becomes to him. Lacey initially plays along with Dex on this assignment because he dangles the lure of finding out more info about the death of her parents. She winds up finding out more than she ever imagined as the story progresses. The sexual tension is off the charts and the isolated and luxurious settings are terrific and add greatly to my enjoyment of this story.
SAY I DO is a phenomenal tale of spy-vs-spy, spy-loves-spy, and danger lurking everywhere. As always with books by this author, the love scenes are intensely erotic and scattered throughout the book like delicious hidden bonbons. I adore Cynthia Eden’s books and I especially look forward to reading future books about some of these superb supporting characters. After reading one Cynthia Eden book, you can’t help but crave more.
Dexter Ryan is smug. Arrogant. Manipulative. And he is also…Lacey Amari’s new partner. Well, her partner on one case. A case she doesn’t even want to take, but when Dex—CIA super operative and all around puppet-master—basically blackmails her, she has no choice. Then he asks her the big question…
Will you marry me?
The proposal isn’t real. It’s just an undercover assignment. Dex needs Lacey to be his fake fiancée for a case. Not exactly her dream job. But, she’ll do it. He wants her to pretend to be head over heels in love with him, he wants her help on a dangerous investigation in a remote ski lodge, and he…wants her?
Their desire isn’t pretend.
Dex doesn’t work well with others and handling a case with a partner in close proximity—as in 24/7 close—isn’t his normal style. He’s pulled Lacey into the investigation because she is smart and resourceful, and maybe because he knows a secret about her that could prove to be very useful to him. After all, Dex uses people all the time. It’s his thing. Yet the more he is around her, the idea of using Lacey suddenly doesn’t seem like such a good plan. But getting her into his bed? Stellar idea.
He wants her, but so do the bad guys.
The attraction between Dex and Lacey burns red-hot, hot enough to melt the snow around them. Except, just as he planned, Lacey’s presence draws in the enemy. Now the bad guys are after her, and Dex has to stick even closer to her. He’s playing the role of the obsessed lover, only it’s not just a role. Because for the first time in his life, Dex is falling hard. He’s losing his control.
He’s lied. He’s cheated. He’s about to give up his heart.
When Lacey finds out the secret he’s known, her rage and pain break his heart. Dex has to find a way to make things up to her, and he has to stop the enemies who are closing in. Nothing he can’t handle. Maybe. Dex is a master multi-tasker—most days, anyway. Dex will use every trick in his very large arsenal to win this case. Lacey melted the ice around what the whole world knows is Dex’s very, very cold heart, and Dex will fight like hell to protect her and to prove to her that even master spies can fall in love.
Author’s note: Dex loves playing games. Some would even say he enjoys playing with other people’s lives, but this time…it is Dex’s life on the line. His life and his heart. The longer his pretend engagement to Lacey lasts, the longer Dex finds himself longing for the real deal. Prepare for lies, tricks, dangerous enemies, and romance hot enough to melt some heavy snow…Dex’s story will burn like fire and things will get WILDE.
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