Book Review: Conning for Keeps

Conning for Keeps

By:  Seleste deLaney

Publish Date:  February 3, 2014

Publisher:  Entangled Flaunt

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Series:  2nd in Agents of TRAIT series; 1st Book ~ Gaming for Keeps

Recommendation:  Smexy little romance story for you to enjoy. Agents on a mission...and more.

Synopsis:
Lovers undercover…Secret Agent Marissa Jones has a gift. A con artist to the core, after deep hypnosis she can turn into someone else entirely. Marisa’s gift has gotten her into hot water over the years, but now more so than ever. With her smoking hot partner by her side, she needs to convince him that not only is she her true self, but also that she can be trusted—even in spite of her past.

…or traitors to the cause? Trevor Harris has his own issues with the mission, he’s got revenge to seek, a cursed painting to secure, and Marissa’s sugary-sweet alter-ego to ignore. But when he releases Marisa from her mental cage and things get a little too hot, he ends up finding out what falling for a con artist really means—bigger trouble than ever before.

First Sentence:
When all the threads of life are inexplicably wound around a single spool, there are very few choices in how to respond.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

My Thoughts and Summary:
Marissa is teamed with Trevor, one she's partnered with for years now, on this mission to get a famous painting away from the deadly gangster like father. The kicker in the irony, she has deep feelings and desire for Trevor and this mission...to pose as engaged and a group wedding at the end of the week. Maybe their pasts will get in the way of the mission, or their desire for each other.

This is the second story in the Agents of TRAIT series. We pick up with Marissa and Trevor, which we meet in Gaming for Keeps with Cal. Marissa and Trevor are partners that worked with Cal at the convention. Cal is mentioned as he's off at a convention with his girlfriend. Marissa and Trevor are the couple we focus on here.

Marissa and Trevor have been flirting for years, but when she decided (after clues from him) to make the move he scowled at her and keeps their "relationship" that way - scowling. We learn of both Marissa's and Trevor's histories. Both are a little jaded and affect them now. Something they both hold on to hoping to escape it. Marissa, a thief with her family. Trevor, gangs and the murder of his best friend. Trevor, and Marissa quietly, worry that Marissa will slip back to the life of thievery as she's wanted this particular painting since before her and her parents were caught.

Seleste is talented in creating unique circumstances in her stories. In this book she's created a group wedding with a mobster like father coming to his son's wedding and handing down a priceless piece of art. This was a neat setting, but what caught my eye was the hypnotizing. Marissa is hypnotized and transformed into a character to play. She's not aware of it, but there are fall safes for things getting out of control in order to bring her out. This little twist reminded me a tad of Dollhouse. I liked that, but then I worried as Trevor does have feelings for Marissa and he doesn't want to take advantage of her when she's not herself.

This is definitely an adult read. Smexy all the way. A great little escape for you with a mission and love.

About Seleste:

Seleste started on her career path as a young child. Stories of talking animals soon gave way to a love of superheroes and science fiction. Her first foray into the world of romance came at age twelve when she envisioned a sweeping epic love story of two people thrust together and torn apart again and again by fate. As she recalls, the plan was for them to admit their love on his deathbed. But, as is often the case with pre-teen girls, a story of that depth gave way to other pursuits, and sadly it is completely lost other than vague memories.

After that, she occupied herself with short stories for a while, and then poetry until after she had earned a degree in chemistry, spent time as a high school teacher, and became a mother of two. Then she delved into writing fiction once more.

She never lost her love of the fantastic, and her stories now always reach into other realms. The worlds and people she creates occupy as much of her time as the real world, and she is most fortunate to have a family that understands her idiosyncrasies and loves her anyway.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

20 eBooks of GAMING FOR KEEPS International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week 1:

2/3/2014- Becky on Books- Review

2/3/2014- books blog- Interview

2/4/2014- The Reading Addict- Review

2/4/2014- Manga Maniac Café- Guest Post

2/5/2014- My World...in words and pages- Review

2/5/2014- Fade Into Fantasy- Interview

2/6/2014- ReadingRenee- Review

2/6/2014- Literary Escapism- Guest Post

2/7/2014- The Reading Room: Cozy, Romance, Mysteries And More With Reviews- Review

2/7/2014- Steamy Guys After Dark- Interview 

Week 2:

2/10/2014- Bookaholics Anonymous 101- Review

2/10/2014- Simply Ali- Guest Post

2/11/2014- a little fiction of every flavor- Review

2/11/2014- Caribbean Accent Book Reviews- Interview

2/12/2014- Aine's Realm- Review

2/12/2014- Sizzling Hot Book Reviews- Interview

2/13/2014- For the Love of Bookends- Review

2/13/2014- Ex Libris- Guest Post

2/14/2014- Aria Kane- Review

2/14/2014- The Book Bellas- Guest Post