Emeralds & Espionage by Lynn Gardner

Title: Emeralds & Espionage
Author: Lynn Gardner
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Mystery/LDS Fiction
Rating: Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings: Some violence related to international espionage
Premise: Allison Alexander, home in California on a brief vacation from her work at the United Nations, is shot at and pursued by mysterious intruders who have taken over the estate on which she and her mother have lives as caretakers since Allison was a child. Thus beings a terror-filled week during which she discovers that nearly everyone she loves is involved in some way with an international espionage ring--but are they the good guys or the bad guys? Is Bart, the man she has loved since they played together as children, a secret government agent--or does he answer to an underworld crime boss? If she doesn't go along with his unbelievable scheme, will it cost them their lives? Does he really love her, or is he just using her?
Opinions: Emerald & Espionage is the first in a series of mystery novels written by author Lynn Gardner that focuses around United Nations interpreter Allison Alexander, and all of them are focused around jewels and international intrigue. This was the second time I have read this book, and I enjoyed it so much that I could not put it down...finishing it in under a day. I LOVE books with strong female characters who do not wait for a man to save the day. Allison is a brilliant, intelligent character, plagued by fears of past abandonment having to deal with family and friends that suddenly return into her life after years of absence. Allison has to deal with the turmoil of emotions that arise as a result, the whole time that she is dodging bullets, saving a pair of royal hostages, traveling across the world in order to save loved ones and to find out the truth about herself and her family. This book is an amazing read that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end and on to the remainder of the series. Please, please read this book.