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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9780373389810
ISBN number: 0373389817
Label: Silhouette
Manufacturer: Silhouette
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 288
Printing Date: May 13, 2008
Publishing house: Silhouette
Sale Popularity Level: 845863
Studio: Silhouette
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Rated by buyers 
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Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
Shannon Connor is the only girl to ever have been expelled from the Athena Academy and has never forgotten the slight and the successive alienation by all others from the Academy. After all, it was the daughter of the head of the Academy that set her up all those years ago. Now Shannon is brilliant reporter who is set on taking down the Athena Academy. For years she has been receiving anonymous tips that led to career-making stories. Now her anonymous benefactor wants to meet in person. All seems fine until it becomes apparent someone wants to kill Shannon.
Rafe Santorini is a former CIA-agent dealing with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being imprisoned in North Korea for a year. Allison Gracelyn, daughter of the head of Athena Academy, has hired Rafe to shadow Shannon. All of Shannon's breaking stories have had ties to Athena Academy and Allison suspects her mother's old arch nemesis, Arachne, has something to do with it. When Rafe rescues Shannon from attempted murder they become reluctant partners to track down the elusive tipster and determine why someone wants Shannon dead. They never expected the immediate attraction lurking Beneath the Surface that would complicate things.
Having not read previous books in the Athena Force series, I did not have the ingrained dislike of Shannon that long time readers would have developed. While it becomes apparent very quickly hat Shannon has always been the underdog and was not intended to be a well-liked character before now, without knowing of events in past stories I did not have any preconceived notions about her and was able to enjoy her story of growing from Black Sheep to heroine. The tension between Rafe and Shannon builds strongly as we see Rafe struggle with his loyalty to Allison and his attraction to Shannon. He's not supposed to be sympathetic to her but can't resist Shannon's strength. I love Rafe as a reluctant hero. He has his own demons to battle, especially those brought on by the memories of his incarceration in North Korea. The agonies he faced would be enough to destroy the strongest willed of men and Rafe is made all the more human by his PTSD. I cheered for him as he faced each day and found himself healing under the force of Shannon's love.
Beneath the Surface is a fast paced, edge of your seat adventure ride. Revelations abound that shed new light on the past events that have colored Shannon's entire adult life. Shannon has two missions in life; build her career as a reporter to the highest echelons and to take down the Athena Academy however she can. How convenient for her that her two greatest desires have gone hand in hand with each other for so long. While she does often wonder who her mysterious contact is, Shannon likes that all the leads help her to get some dirt on the Athena Academy. It is only when her current case puts her in the line of fire that she really begins to question things. The mystery is well done as Shannon and Rafe dig up what hides Beneath the Surface. The conclusion beautifully sets up the subsequent couple books in the series and makes me eager to continue reading.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, July 2008. All rights reserved.
Rated by buyers 
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Meredith Fletcher's BENEATH THE SURFACE, part of the ATHENA FORCE continuity series, is a wonderful read both as a stand alone and as part of a series. As the tenth book in a twelve book continuity featuring the Athena Academy, Meredith Fletcher's BENEATH THE SURFACE adds a new dimension to ongoing series by taking a look at the grey sheep of the Academy. Past and present merge giving new depth to series and the intrigue of the Athena Force's battle against Arachne's evil. BENEATH THE SURFACE works well as a stand alone read thanks to the author's careful presentation, revealing enough to entice both those familiar with series and new readers. Recaps do detract from the current story for series readers and yet new readers do not feel lost. (I jumped ahead in the series because I couldn't resist a grey sheep story.) BENEATH THE SURFACE renews enthusiasm for the series itself.
Years ago, Shannon Connor's family sent her off to the prestigious Athena Academy. The school's ultimate bad girl, Shannon finally had to pay the price for her actions. Branded as a traitor, Shannon's very name inspires contempt. Academy history remembers her as the only girl to ever be expelled from the Athena Academy. Fifteen years ago, Shannon swore revenge on all those responsible. Now Shannon's past has come back in ways no one ever expected possible. A top notch reporter in Washington, D.C., Shannon's lead Vincent Drago lures her to a seedy bar. Over and over again, Shannon has broken stories about politicians and other leaders. Every time, someone has resigned or otherwise lost their position. Athena graduate Allison Gracelyn can't help but notice that Shannon's key stories all have some connection to the Athena Academy. With the finest computer networks at her disposal, Allison plans to hunt down the answers behind Shannon's stories. Who is the mysterious source trying to bring down the Athena Academy? Has Shannon allied herself with the Academy's enemies and upped her bad girl status? Shannon's new story places her at more risk than she has ever known before. Shannon's chase for the truth places her in the line of sight of mysterious figures who will stop at nothing and a sexy, rugged government agent now on her trail. With her life and heart at risk, will Shannon finally get her revenge on Allison? Will she join the fight to protect the Academy against this new evil or has she found a story that must be told whatever the consequences?
Meredith Fletcher's brilliant characterization and intricate layers of suspense make BENEATH THE SURFACE a fast-paced action read full of emotional depth. Shannon's history adds depth to her current struggle. Once unable to get at the truth, she now dedicates her life to a search for the truth. She may have been the Academy's bad girl, but the terrible events of the past did not squelch her independence or her career. She had no need of fancy credentials to get ahead in the world --- she did it on her own! Rafe Santorini, once an agent for the National Security Agency, is no desk man. Field work is his strength and he has the rugged body and good looks to prove it. When Rafe shows up in that seedy bar, she can't tell whether she can trust him. Will their attraction for each other complicate alliances? Rafe has a job to shadow Shannon and discover once and for all her connection to the current crisis. Rafe owes Allison. Knowing Allison is a master at tracking down information, something bothers him about his current assignment. Could Shannon possibly be an innocent or has his heart and attraction clouded his intuition?
Meredith Fletcher creates a multi-dimensional richness in both the hero and heroine that leaves the reader loving them both. A well-placed bathtub scene exemplifies this author's ability to bring richness to both the hero and heroine in the romantic part of this book of romantic suspense. BENEATH THE SURFACE is has wonderful innocent, playful, mischievous and downright sexy chemistry between the heroine. Meredith Fletch captures the best of romance when it comes to physical attraction with characters both innocent and mature, who experience each other without contrivance but in the pure joy of each other's presence. BENEATH THE SURFACE has fast paced suspense without sacrificing characterization. Allison and Shannon's past pit them against each other as both seek out the truth. Meredith Fletcher lays a careful groundwork of clues, revealing just enough so the reader is one step ahead of the characters at times while reserving some extra special surprises to please suspense enthusiasts as all three main characters unveil the shocking truth behind the identity of the source and the details behind Athena Academy's current nemesis. Action, suspense and romance all integrated so well, it just doesn't get any better than Meredith Fletcher.
Rated by buyers -
Shannon Connor has harbored a grudge against the Athena Academy ever since her expulsion fifteen years ago. Her career as a reporter has skyrocketed, thanks to tips from a mysterious benefactor. Now, someone claiming to be her tipster wants to meet her while others appear intent on killing her. Just how does the sexy Rafe Santorini fit into this picture? His ties to the Athena Academy make him an instant suspect in Shannon's eyes but is he really trying to get her killed?
I really didn't think anyone could make Shannon likable. She has been such a dark figure throughout the series, always dogging the footsteps of the other women of the Athena Academy and putting a negative spin on things. Meredith Fletcher proves that Shannon is redeemable, even heroic, in BENEATH THE SURFACE.
Shannon's character is one we've seen through the eyes of her foes as this line has progressed. It is refreshing to see her story told through her own eyes. Shannon has no idea of just how much of a pawn she has been. The revelations in BENEATH THE SURFACE give a whole new perspective on the depth and time length of the malicious plotting against the Athena Academy. In fact, BENEATH THE SURFACE takes the entire Athena Force series to a whole new level!
Meredith Fletcher always writes a phenomenal story and BENEATH THE SURFACE is no exception. The fast paced action coupled with the fantastic character development make for one spectacular storyline.
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
Rated by buyers -
In DC freelance information specialist Vincent Drago tells television news reporter Shannon Connor that he will kill her for exposing his stealth ninja operation to the Feds. Although frightened she is stunned when he mentions the government as she is having a difficult time accepting the Feds are cyber feeding her negative information on the Athena Academy that expelled her.
Athena graduate Allison Gracelyn assigned Rafe Santorini to watch Shannon, who appears to have a grudge for her wrongful expelling; evidence points to Shannon aligned with Arachne. He prevents Vincent from further harming her but is upset that he wants her because he fears she works for the enemy. However as they fall in love she persuades him of her innocence and they team up to try to expose who in Arachne's crowd is using the reporter and find out why although they think they know the answer to both questions.
Shannon refreshes the latest Athena story as she is the one female kicked out of the academy and since she believes unfairly has a motive for revenge. Rafe knows all this while falling in love with her; he struggles to remain open-minded, but fears his heart is hiding the truth about his beloved. That grey mark from her salad days stands between them and with clever manipulation could lead to an Arachne sucess while definitely leading to a great entry for fans of the series.
Harriet Klausner
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