Deep Deception by Cathy Pegau is a fantastic book with a little bit of everything. It’s sci-fi, packed with action and intrigue, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. While it might be part of the same series as Rulebreaker, it can absolutely be read as a standalone.
Natalia Hallowell has been a respected agent with the Colonial Mining Authority for 12 years. While bending the rules might be necessary in her line of work, she’s never outright broken any laws, which is why it’s a shock when she’s put on administrative leave after being accused of bribery in one of her cases.
Natalia’s plan to drown her sorrows in booze and a beautiful woman are shot to hell when she finds herself tranqued and tied to a bed by the woman who picked her up in a bar. Genevieve Caine, the woman she thought would be her partner for the night, needs Natalia’s help and won’t let her go until she hears her out.
Gennie is on the run and needs help diverting the powerful Reyes Corporation’s attention so she can get off the planet. A complicated CMA investigation is just the ticket, but with time running out, can she truly trust Natalia to help her out?
The Characters
Natalia and Gennie are both badasses in their own right, and I love them. Given their first encounter, Natalia would be well within her rights to refuse Gennie’s request, but she doesn’t. She’s smart and thorough, drawing on her upbringing in a mining family to help them figure out what exactly the Reyes Corporation is up to. She’s intrigued by Gennie and the secrets that she’s clearly holding, but never pushes and stands up for her in all the right moments.
There’s very little I can say about Gennie without giving away major spoilers, but suffice it to say that I love her and I was totally able to identify with her motivation. Her enemies would do well to heed her warnings and she does an amazing job of siding with the few people she cares about.
The Writing Style
It’s no secret that I loved Rulebreaker, so the bar was high going into Deep Deception. This book knocked my socks off and I liked it even more than Rulebreaker. The story is interesting and compelling and the pacing is so good that it was agony to put my Kindle down for things like feeding my family and going to work (no, seriously, I was so into the book that I missed my transit stop on my way to work).
The Pros
Everything. Seriously, there was nothing I didn’t like about this book.
[tweetthis]Natalia was sweaty, her hair disheveled, dusted with grime, and Gennie wanted her.[/tweetthis]
The Cons
How about that Cathy Pegau doesn’t have anymore lesbian books out yet for me to read? That’s not a con? Okay, fine.
The Conclusion
Deep Deception by Cathy Pegau is so much fun, I can’t recommend it enough. And if you haven’t read Rulebreaker yet, do yourself a favour and grab that too.
Excerpt from Deep Deception by Cathy Pegau
“Being tied to a bed doesn’t exactly foster trust, or interest in anything you have to say,” Natalia said.
Gennie leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “I know, and I’m sorry, but I couldn’t just walk up to you and start a conversation. Not this conversation.”
“I promise not to arrest you. Let me go.”
Gennie shook her head. “Not yet.”
Natalia went still, her blue eyes as intense as twin laser torches. “Why not?”
“You have to understand that I didn’t choose this method lightly. Believe me. I have no intention of hurting you. In fact, I need your help.”
Gennie expected her to laugh. After being knocked out and tied up by a woman with criminal associations, how could she do anything but laugh at the insanity of the request?
Instead, Natalia stared at her. “Sterling let me in on a few things he didn’t include in his official report,” the agent said evenly. “He told me about you, about what you did to help him, Sasha and his sister. That is the only thing you have going for you right now. Luring me up here and doing this is negating all that good will.” Her hands fisted over her head, turning her knuckles bloodless white. Without changing her tone, she said, “Let. Me. Go.”
“Agent Hallowell, I’m going to be completely honest with you on this account. I have no plans to untie you until after you listen to me. Accept that now, or this is going to be a very long, very uncomfortable night.”
Other Books in this Series
Bits and Bobs
- AISN number: B00BED26VS
- Publisher: Carina Press
Cathy Pegau Online
Note: I received a free review copy of this book for review. No money was exchanged for this review. I will always review books as honestly as possible and on occasion I refuse to review books.