Still entangled within his embrace, surrounded by the peaceful cadence of the park, Liz watched how every word the caller spoke brought forth the Iceman. Darcy’s lips grew taut; his body went rigid in her arms. When he finally clicked off without even having voiced a word into the phone, the affectionate man, who moments before was about to seduce her beside the riverbank, was gone.
(from Without a Conscience)
Cat Gardiner has done it again! She knocks it out of the park with her latest release, Without a Conscience, which is book two in the Conscience series that began with Denial of Conscience. Elements of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice emerge again in this newest installment, as Fitzwilliam and Liz Darcy — six months into their marriage and living peacefully at their Virginia estate, Pemberley, training horses and riding their Harleys — seem destined to misunderstand one another. But in Gardiner’s world of drug lords out for revenge, CIA corruption, and contract killers, these misunderstandings can be deadly.
Darcy has retired as the stone-cold assassin Iceman, settling into a quiet and blissful existence with his new wife. Or so he thinks, until he receives a call that forces him back into Obsidian to extract his cousin from the jungles of Peru. He has no choice but to go and see Operation Macarena through to the end or the people he loves the most will be in danger. Meanwhile, back at Pemberley, Liz and her sister Jane are being taught self-defense skills — Liz because Darcy deems it necessary and thinks she has some serious skills that need only be teased out, while Jane dreams of being a Bond girl and joining Obsidian alongside her lover, Charlie Bingley.
Liz’s world is thrown into chaos with the arrival of Caroline Bingley to teach the sisters some of her ninja skills. Caroline is jealous of Liz and determined to steal back Darcy, and when Liz overhears a conversation that sends Caroline off to Paris and into her husband’s arms, Liz isn’t just going to sit idle. Already worried that Darcy has grown bored in the new life they have created, Liz is determined to fight for him — and leaves on what she doesn’t realize is a dangerous adventure.
Like Denial of Conscience, Without a Conscience is sexy (definitely for mature audiences only) and exciting from the very first page. Gardiner is a fantastic storyteller who weaves clever plots and navigates Darcy and Liz through the twists and turns while further evolving their relationship. In the midst of the danger and excitement, Gardiner provides plenty of humor, and the obvious rivalry between Liz and Caroline had me laughing out loud several times. The novel is perfectly paced, and there’s just something about Gardiner’s writing style that has me hanging on every word.
Cat Gardiner has quickly become one of my favorite authors, not just among Austen-inspired fiction. I’ve read several of her novels this year — Undercover, A Moment Forever, and Denial of Conscience — and all were 5-star reads for me. I’m sure one or more of these books will make my Best of 2016 list!
Disclosure: I received Without a Conscience from the author for review.
Ooo, that’s a snippet of info I haven’t come across before in connection with WaC. Caroline heading off into Darcy’s arms! Please say it’s not true!
Looking forward to finding out what happens. Not just with that, but with everything.
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Oh, you definitely have to see how that plays out!
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I read this and ALL of Cat’s books. There is a novelette, Guilty Conscience, which sets the stage for this book. I gave this 5 stars as I did with her other books. I have to go back and fill in details in my own review today as it was late last night that I finished. Action packed can’t put it down thriller.
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I enjoyed Guilty Conscience as well! Lucky 13 and Villa Fortuna are on my list of books to be read very soon!
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What a really great review of a book that’s sounds exciting,adventurous and romantic!
Have read Lucky 13 and Denial of Conscience which I thought were simply fantastic stories.
Am really looking forward to seeing what becomes of D&E in this,their latest adventure. Trust Caroline to stick her oar in!!!
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Although Caroline is thoroughly obnoxious, I do find Cat’s take on her to be fantastic. Glad to hear you loved Lucky 13, as I plan to read that very soon!
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Anna, your enthusiastic review is terrific! Cat Gardiner sounds like a must-read author.
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Oh, she truly is! Hope you get the chance, Suko!
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Great review, Anna! I can’t wait to hop on for the ride too.
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Thanks, Claudine! Looking forward to your thoughts!
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I am so glad that you loved this one as much as I did!
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It was a lot of fun! And racy! lol
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I’ve read all of your reviews of this author’s books and they all make me want to read her books!
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You really should! They are great!
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[…] Without a Conscience by Cat Gardiner […]
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