Risky Bargain (A page-turning ride into danger, romance, and murder!)

Barbara Freethy

Sep 2021 · Off The Grid: FBI Series Book 10 · Fog City Publishing, LLC

About this ebook

"RISKY BARGAIN is a fast-paced, action-packed Romantic Suspense that is both a complex thriller and a heart-warming romance. It’ll blow your socks off and make you feel warm and fuzzy, all at the same time." Toni Anderson, NYT Bestselling Author

FBI Agent Lucas Raines is a man on a mission, desperate to find a kidnap victim, the billionaire CEO of a video game company, who disappears during a horrific home invasion that leaves one person dead and others terrorized.

Kat Parrish never thought that sneaking into a billionaire's party would end with her hiding in a closet, her clothes spattered with blood, her ears ringing from the sound of gunshots. But her problems don't end with the arrival of the police. In fact, they are just beginning, especially when a handsome but ruthless FBI agent starts asking the hard questions. She has to decide whether a lie or the truth will not only save her life, but that of her friend.

As Lucas and Kat dive deep into the world of gaming, it quickly becomes clear that there are games being played on different levels. The players keep changing. The goal posts are constantly moving. No one is who they appear to be. There's a bigger mystery behind each door they open, and soon they can only trust each other. But should they?

Is their reality a game, or is the game their reality? Will love keep them alive or be their final play?

Don't miss this thrilling, twisting tale of romance, danger, and suspense with one surprise after the next! Readers who love books by Catherine Coulter, Susan Stoker, Nora Roberts, Molly Black, and Blake Pierce will enjoy this page-turning novel by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy!

Note: THE FBI SERIES takes readers on thrilling, romantic, and suspenseful adventures! 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!

Also Available in the Off The Grid: FBI 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

PRAISE FOR RISKY BARGAIN

"A great edge of your seat suspense with a healthy dose of romance we have come to expect from the FBI series, but the scenarios are original and a great read." Debbie, Goodreads

"The story is filled with nonstop action, a twisting road filled with clues…a lot of which lead in opposite directions, terrific character backstories, and a budding romance." Jane, Goodreads

"Lots of suspense and twists in this exciting story. You’ll never see the end coming." Cheryl, Goodreads

"Risky Bargain by Barbara Freethy is writing at its best. A can’t put it down thriller with love thrown in. Loved this book and proof is I stayed up most of the night reading it." J. Stryker, Goodreads

"I was riveted from the first page to the last." Peggy, Goodreads

"This book has everything I want in good romantic suspense. A compelling story and a couple to fall in love with!" Trude, Goodreads

Ratings and reviews

Barbara Freethy has done it again! I absolutely loved Risky Bargain by Barbara Freethy, it is an opposites attract r0mantic thriller. It is the tenth book in Barbara Freethy’s Off the Grid: FBI series. Barbara Freethy has once again delivered an incredible romantic thriller with Risky Bargain. Each book in Barbara Freethy's Off the Grid: FBI series continues to get better and better. I have loved all the books in the series, but I think that Risky Bargain is my favorite. Barbara Freethy has once again provided her readers with amazing characters; I love all the characters in Risky Bargain! Who doesn't love hot, sexy men and strong, passionate women? I love how Barbara Freethy somehow manages to find the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong woman on her own, to balance out the career focused FBI agent. Risky Bargain is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud. My favorite moments are the ones that pull at my heartstrings that cause me to sigh, as I read the heartbreaking moments. Risky Bargain is filled with such moments, and with so much emotion. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Barbara Freethy romantic suspense love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. Barbara Freethy continues to deliver all that and so much more. Risky Bargain had me guessing throughout the story as to who was behind the thrilling events that took place in this story. The identity of the villain was truly a surprise when it was revealed. I could not put it down. I loved every page. I really enjoy how the book is told from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. Barbara Freethy has once again proven that she is a master storyteller. Risky Bargain is the story of Lucas Raines, FBI Special Agent and Kat Parrish, video game artist. Lucas and Kat meet at the home of Spike Cabot, CEO of Spymaker Games, where a home invasion has occurred and Spike is missing. The following day, Lucas realizes that Kat did not use her real name when working as a server at Cabot’s house the prior evening. Kat is an employee at Cabot’s Spymaker Games, and she went to Cabot’s home to ask him questions regarding the disappearance of her friend Audrey Bell. After attempts are made on Kat’s life, Lucas takes her to his home to keep her safe. Together they work together to discover who is behind the game within the game, the attempts on Kat’s life, and the murders. Both Lucas and Kat share secrets with each other that they have never told anyone before. As they continue to spend time together, things change between them. I loved how the relationship between Lucas and Kat changes them, from hate and mistrust and that they are both willing to take a chance at love. I love the surprise plot twists that fill this page turner which Barbara Freethy includes in all her stories. 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 Risky Bargain did not disappoint. I loved all the secrets that Lucas and Kat shared with one another. I love how all the loose ends got tied up and the whereabouts of the missing characters are revealed. I love all the characters and the way Barbara describes the locations in and around Los Angeles. Reading Risky Bargain felt like a family reunion, because the reader was able to catch up with the other FBI agents in the series. It was really an incredible romantic thriller and I loved every page. It was an amazing story and I highly recommend it.

This is the tenth book in Barbara Feethy's Off the grid FBI series but it is the first one that I have read (hopefully it won't be the last), it didn't matter because it was completely standalone. When artist Kat Parish posed as a waitress at her billionaire boss's party in an attempt to talk to him, little did she know that it was to be the start of a chain of events that would change her life forever. Kat was an artist working for company owner, former soldier and ex CIA agent, Spike Cabot, Spike's games were top of the league and based on his and his teams experiences. Kat's friend Audrey, who also worked for the company , had disappeared and Spike was the last person she was seen talking to. The party didn't go as planned when gunmen entered and started shooting, a security guard was killed and Spike disappeared.......Kat was to witness this at close hand. FBI agent Lucas Raines specialized in missing persons, Kat had reason not to like or trust the police, she had come from a very poor background but fought her way up to a job that she loved. Lucas came from a very wealth background but he too had his ghosts from his past. Kat needed Lucas to help her find Audrey and Lucas needed Kat's knowledge of the computer game to help him find Spike. This is a fast action suspense thriller, the action game that Spike and his elite team invented was becoming real, the body count was escalating and it was difficult to know who were enemies and who were friends, Kat's life was in danger but Lucas would put his own life on the line to keep her safe. The blossoming love between Kat and Lucas was intense and emotional, could Kat trust Lucas ? could she break down the barriers round his heart ? Thank you Barbara Feethy for this thoroughly enjoyable ARC.

Another top of the line, who-done-it by Barbara Freethy. This newest addition to the Off the Grid FBI series has taken its place as my second favorite, right behind the first book Perilous Trust. We meet Kat and Lucas, who find themselves embroiled in a vicious mystery. Excellent read, with the signature HEA. Don’t miss this one.

About the author

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of 83 novels ranging from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Over 14 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Thirty-five of her titles have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists, including one title, SUMMER SECRETS, which hit #1 on the NYT and DON'T SAY A WORD, which spent 12 weeks on the NYT.