The Bane Affair

What do soldiers do when their country no longer needs them? They right the wrongs the rest of the world doesn’t see.

Hank Mackenzie has spent his life serving his country. When they tell him it is time to retire, he decides to take on one final mission. He brings together soldiers, a team of men that have been harshly abused but somehow find the strength to go on. Together they will fight the battles that most people believe have already been lost.

His first mission is for Christian. Christian was held hostage and tortured for over a year. Hank offers him the chance to infiltrate the organization and bring it down from the top. Christian is a little leery, but he can’t pass up the offer for justice to be done.

That is until Natasha walks in. Natasha is the goddaughter of the man Christian is sent to destroy and he believes that she is just as bad as her godfather. When she is placed at his “disposal”, Christian knows that to give in to the passion between them will put his undercover persona at risk. Instead he seduces her with the skill and rapacious hunger of his assumed role, because at this point in the mission, it's the only way he can have her.

When he learns that she is not involved with her godfather, he takes her back to Hank. Only their reprieve is short lived, as Natasha must use all that is within her to go back to her godfather and pave the way for Christian to get the information he needs. Only then will they have a chance at a future together. What is going to happen to them should her godfather find out what they are planning? And can Christian let the past go long enough to love the woman who obviously loves him.

Alison Kent has created a wonderful introduction for what hints to be an extraordinary series. The story is plausible and enjoyable, with a cast of characters that make this a series worth starting. The scenes between Christian and Natasha are...WOW! Being from the Brava line, there is no shortness of steam and spice. Yet Ms. Kent has more than just heat working for her in this work. I really like how Alison used Christian's tortured past to make us like him. What could be better than a tortured man and the woman who loves him? Christian hates himself for hurting her, but he knows he is going to. The mission has to be his priority, even if it is not the priority of his heart. Natasha is portrayed as loyal and naive for not knowing what her godfather is up to. She knows what she's supposed too and nothing else. The action flows smoothly as Christian works to resolve his inner turmoil as well as complete his mission. An added bonus for readers is that they get a glimpse of the other men that will hopefully be making an appearance in From the Files of SG-5.

Reviewed by: Jaymi