Desperate Play: Thrilling FBI Romantic Suspense: A thrilling novel of espionage, danger, and romance!

Barbara Freethy

Jun 2018 · Off The Grid: FBI Series Book 3 · Fog City Publishing, LLC

About this ebook

"Words cannot explain how phenomenal this book was. The characters are so believable and relatable. The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat and flying through the pages. This is one book you should be desperate to read." Caroline 

Special Agent Wyatt Tanner has always worked undercover. He thrives in the dark of the night. He survives by turning himself into someone else. But living so long in the shadows can make a man forget who he really is. When people start dying, when he finds blood on his own hands, he questions the choices he has made, the people he is with. 

Can he find his way back to the light? Can he trust the beautiful woman who needs his help? Or does she also have a secret life? 

He'll have to make one desperate play to find out…

Don't miss this undercover, suspenseful tale of espionage and unexpected romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy! For fans of Allison Brennan, Lisa Gardner, Iris Johansen, Sandra Brown and Nora Roberts

Note: THE FBI SERIES takes readers on thrilling, romantic, and suspenseful adventures! While an overarching mystery plays out over the first five novels, every story stands completely on its own and there are no cliffhangers! The books feature complex and exciting storylines ranging from kidnapping to organized crime, terrorism, and espionage. Personal stories often play out against a bigger, broader storyline, and surprising twists will keep you up all night. Start reading today!

Check out more books in the series!

Perilous Trust #1

Reckless Whisper #2

Desperate Play #3 

Elusive Promise #4 

Dangerous Choice #5 

Ruthless Cross #6

Critical Doubt #7

Fearless Pursuit #8

Daring Deception #9

Risky Bargain #10

Perfect Target #11

Fatal Betrayal #12

What the readers are saying about DESPERATE PLAY…

"Barbara Freethy's books never disappoint, and this one will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the tangled web Avery and Wyatt find themselves in." Stacey – Goodreads on DESPERATE PLAY

"DESPERATE PLAY is the 3rd book in Barbara Freethy’s Off the Grid series and it did not disappoint! I’ve read all the books and each one is amazing!" Mindy – Goodreads

"DESPERATE PLAY is fast-paced and full of suspense. You find yourself second guessing the characters’ actions, trying to piece together the clues and find out who the traitor is." Polly - Goodreads 

"What a brilliant story! Couldn't put it down. It had so many twists and turns." Noreen – Goodreads on Desperate Play

"DESPERATE PLAY is so good! If you like suspense, lies, betrayal, action, and love then you will love this book." Becky - Goodreads

"An excellent romantic thriller filled with plenty of action, I didn’t know who the killers were until the end. Makes for a really enjoyable read. Can’t wait for another in this series." J. Stryker – Goodreads on DESPERATE PLAY

Ratings and reviews

Barbara Freethy has once again delivered an incredible romantic thriller with Desperate Play. I absolutely loved Desperate Play, the third book in her Off the Grid series. Each book in the series keeps getting better and better. I think that Desperate Play is my favorite in the series so far. It had me guessing who was behind the dramatic events the entire book. I was truly surprised when the culprit was revealed and the reasoning behind their actions. I could not out it down. I loved every page. I have read some of Barbara Freethy's other books, both her romances and other romantic thrillers and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I really enjoyed how the book was told from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. Barbara Freethy has shown that she is a master storyteller regardless of the genre. Desperate Play is the story of Wyatt Tanner, an undercover FBI agent who takes on various assignments where his undercover skills are needed and Avery Caldwell an astrophysicist and in charge of the education department at Nova Star. Wyatt is working undercover as the newly hired security director at Nova Star investigating issues involving national security. Avery's childhood friend is murdered in the fun house on the Santa Monica Pier and Avery wants to know who killed her friend. Avery goes to Noelle's apartment the following day searching for clues, when an armed man comes out of the bathroom. Wyatt arrives in time to save Avery, but the gunman gets away. While they are searching for clues about Noelle's murder and the attempts on their lives, Wyatt and Avery share secrets from their past and begin to explore their feelings for one another. My favorite line describing their relationship is "They'd shared and shown their true selves to each other." I really enjoy the poignant and bittersweet moments, the plot twists and the surprises that I have come to love and expect in Barbara Freethy's books and Desperate Play did not disappoint. One of my favorite parts of the story are the poignant moments that Avery shares with her father, Brett and the moments she shares with Wyatt. I love that Bree Adams, was also a character in Desperate Play and the role she played in the story. I love how all Barbara Freethy's epilogues, wrap up the ending of the story. Never would I have guessed who was behind the murder of Noelle and the attempts on Avery's life, that was truly a surprise plot twist. I love how all the lose ends got tied up. I loved the characters and the way she describes the locations in and around Los Angeles. My favorite location was the beach where Wyatt takes Avery to let out her emotions following Noelle's murder and how that same location is used for Noelle's memorial. It was really an incredible story and I loved every page. So looking forward to reading Parisa Maxwell's story in Elusive Promise.

ARC for honest review with no compensation Desperate Play is book 3 in the Off The Grid:FBI series by Barbara Freethy that is filled with suspense, twists, turns, emotional and keeps you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages to find out what happens next. Wyatt an FBI agent (who we met in the other books) is a loner and undercover agent and has been since he joined the FBI. He has been undercover so long he is not sure who he really is...Until he meets and has to protect Avery (an Astrophysicist) after she discovers her friend is dead and needs to know what happened and why...can Wyatt keep Avery safe? Find out who killed her friend? Who is behind it? Once you start reading you will not want to put it down though it is a standalone, reading the previous books in this series will give you a better understanding of the agents and how they interact..can't wait for the next book in this series!!!

LOOK OUT! There's danger up ahead. Off the Grid is a labyrinth. Each tale pulls readers deeper into the abyss. Desperate Play amplifies the chill factor. Wyatt finds himself at the center of a scary situation. Who do you trust, when it seems like the whole world is against you? Freethy intensifies the fear as the danger level rises. Unpredictability is a seductive aphrodisiac. Barbara Freethy uses it in a way that will chill, thrill and appeal. Avery and Wyatt will leave you breathless.

About the author

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of 82 novels ranging from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and mystery thriller. Thirty-six of her books have hit the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller Lists. More than 14 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. For more information, visit her website at www.barbarafreethy.com