Conspire by Erin Noelle and S.E. Hall3.5 Stars Out of 5So I have to give a preface to my review: This was one of two co-authored books I've ever read and frankly I've always wondered how two people could truly write a story together and it not sound like two different people's voices, or have flow issues. With Conspire I had my question answered...it can't be written without sounding like two people's voices and it doesn't cause flow issues, at least not when the authors are Noelle and Hall. Graham is an NSA agent trying to prove his brother's death wasn't a suicide. After creating the "person" of Bryce, he goes in and closely mimics his little brother's old life so that he can uncover the “who” behind the death and hopefully discover the “why” at the same time. Being a controlled, focused, direct man he is completely caught off guard when love starts pulling him from his mission. Obviously he is exceptionally good looking, built, smart, and knows how to work the bedroom activities but he is also truly just a "good" guy. I found myself really enjoying the process of getting in his head and figuring out his quirks. Of all the characters in the book he seemed to be the easiest and most enjoyable character, not to say the others weren't interesting or enjoyable, they just didn't have the same organic feel to me. Reagan would be a close second, only because she is told through Graham/Bryce's voice.Jocelyn, our mission distracting heroine, is so used to being a "yes Daddy-Good girl," that she's lost herself in a relationship she doesn't want or enjoy, a job that is only mildly satisfying, and a sex life that is beyond lacking. But all of that changes when she decides to take life by the reins and hire Bryce without asking permission. When her father not only approves of, but encourages the acquaintance she takes that as the green light to really "get to know" the new hire! But sometimes learning about someone is different than truly knowing them and other times when you start snooping you find out way more than you ever bargained for. Now since I said Graham/Bryce was my favorite, I feel like I need to give Jocelyn the credit she is due and this is where the preface comes in. It was obvious that Noelle and Hall each picked a character and wrote from that POV...who picked which I will never know...however I loved the feel of having two truly different voices coming from the characters. As the book switched POV's between chapters, I found myself experiencing two different people, two different forms of speech, two different thought processes and sentence structures. This made it more true to life and true to what we all actually experience in relationships. So I'm not sure Graham's character was fleshed out any better than Jocelyn's or that he was more "likeable," I just think I enjoyed the author's style who wrote his POV a little more than I enjoyed Jocelyn's. She is a beautiful, intelligent woman who just needed a spark to start the flame (that concept is borrowed from the book itself). And I think that sums up the reader's or at least my experience with her, she starts out a little flatter than Graham but by the end they are both burning white hot and have truly intrigued me.I would really like to see a book for Reagan and Alyssa so I hope these two author's collaborate again and give these girls some men to match their pizazz and spunk! I will conclude by saying Noelle and Hall created in me a new appreciation for collaborations and a well-developed, well rounded story that kept me interested in the next chapter. Overall the flow, storyline concept, and building of characters is wonderful and full of possible twists that kept me enjoying their work.*A complimentary copy was given in exchange for an honest review*Pippa, My Secret Book Spot SE Hall is one of my go to authors. I sit patiently and wait for her to write new books. She's an amazing writer; funny, emotional, sexy, sassy, serious. Whatever it is, she can write it. What's even better than SE Hall? Her with a writing partner! Somehow they just meld perfectly together. That's not always the case, so I get super excited when she writes with someone else and she and Erin together are magic! Erin has her own unique way of writing and I'll be reading more of her books! This is a unique story of Graham who becomes Bryce to investigate his brother's death. He stumbles upon Jocelyn and is hit with her beauty, wit and smile. He wasn't expecting her but now he can't stay away. He has to be Bryce. He has a mission. Jocelyn has always done what's expected of her but she's done with that. She wants Bryce and she plans to get him. Will she learn his secret and walk away. Can he convince her that his feeling weren't part of his ruse. Can they work together to solve the mystery or will it tear them apart? Graham and Jocelyn have amazing chemistry. I was fanning myself then laughing. This story has it all: passion, love, loss, pain, humor and steam. Don't miss it!Turning around, I float off to the elevators, thinking, I'd open more than just doors for that man.Knowing so little about her, but feeling something insistently guiding me toward her like a light, I'm leery yet hopeful of where Jocelyn will end up standing. Next to me?"Now I'm gonna kiss ya goodbye like a man who's known you forever."The minute five o'clock strikes, I rush to my truck on an immeasurable high...in a mannish and stud-like manner, of course.Feeling surly, yet consistently, unavoidably captivated, I throw both fucks I still gave out the window."Be my spark, Bryce. Set me on fire."
What do You think about Conspire (2000)?
Amazing book! Loved the characters, the plot and the end. I read the whole thing in one sitting.
—Claire
LOVED this book. Had me from the very first page!!!
—vicki
