Review by Quinto -- Escape by Belle Ami

[Quinto]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Escape" by Belle Ami.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The novel Escape is written by Tema Merback writing under her pseudonym Belle Ami.
The backdrop of the story is in the Middle East where Iran is facing crippling sanctions imposed by the UN Security council for its nuclear non compliance. This has left its economy vulnerable and open to money laundering and other illegal machinations.

The author has written the narrative in third person and through the aid of monologues she reveals the thoughts of her characters.

Layla Wallace the main protagonist, is a beautiful auburn haired art history doctoral candidate in her final year at Harvard. She and her boyfriend Zamir have planned a visit to Dubai for their upcoming winter break, and where Layla will also have the opportunity of meeting her boyfriend's parents. Layla's father, and who is a renowned nuclear physicist at MIT, is however not pleased with the holiday plan. He does not think it is safe for her only daughter to be travelling to Dubai and secondly, being Jewish, to have an Arab for a boyfriend.

However, in complete disregard of her fathers counsel, Layla embarks on the holiday. What starts as an eventful and luxurious debut trip to Dubai, quickly descends to being her worst nightmare, and all in the first day. As fate would have it, shortly after a tense and terse meet-the-parents dinner, Layla and her boyfriend are abducted and taken overnight to a prison in Iran. Later it transpires that Zamir's father and who is a wealthy Saudi financier, ransomed out his son and left Layla to her own fate in a prison infamous for rape and even death, by the hands of unscrupulous guards.

Coincidentally, and out of fear for Layla's safety at the prison, a high ranking intelligence operative in Iran's secretive intelligence organization, also known as "Oghab2", is briefed and tasked with taking Layla out of the prison and placing her under his protection in a safe house.

Having successfully obtained the release of Layla, Cyrus Hassani finds himself at wits end. He awakens feelings for Layla that had otherwise laid dormant. The relationship between them quickly turns from one of a captor and his prisoner, to a racy and fast paced romantic adventure amidst the current and ever present danger from a closing in team of Iranian military elites, out to exact their revenge.

Layla's father meanwhile, devastated over his daughter's abduction, and not in the least expecting any help from the American law enforcement, plays out a wild card in form of a call to Israel's prime minister. The prime minister being his alumnus at Harvard, instigates the full force of Israel's intelligence service towards saving Layla. Subsequently, Cyrus becomes a key operative in the rescue plan because it comes to pass, that he has been Israel's undercover agent in Iran for a considerable amount of time.

In the novel, the author portrays romance in the classical sense, comprising idealized love,chivalry,obsessive association with someone and thrilling adventures. We find Cyrus keeping to the "gentleman's rule" of not imposing himself on Layla even after an opportunity presents itself, and further, respecting Layla's version of what she expects of her true love.

On the choice of characters, the author was to the point. The character of Cyrus has been portrayed as two sided. This doppelganger effect, sees Cyrus having the darker side that for many years has lived on the edge, making cold-blooded decisions, and that has resulted in many deaths, and on the other hand, there is the brighter side trying to love Layla, and one representing his future. Further, this doppelganger is reflected in his conversation with Layla. Here we find Cyrus' thought pattern not reflected in what he says. This leaves Layla confused as to his true motives or intentions, and which inevitably leads to conflicts between them.

On the other side of the scale, Layla is portrayed as an innocent young Jewish girl who was brought up by a conscientious and religious mother, and who bestowed her with ideals of her faith and culture. We find her struggling to live true to the promise she gave her mother on her deathbed because of peer pressure. Her other traits are that she is feisty and stubborn even to the point of disregarding her father's wisdom. This predisposition is also reflected in her dialogue pattern, where because of what she says, and how she says it, she and Cyrus end up getting on each other's nerves.

The author manages to create two kinds of atmosphere in the novel. Thus we experience suspense and excitement as we anticipate the chilling encounters the main characters will have with their antagonists. On the other hand, the romantic scenes are presented in such a way as to elicit an erotically charged atmosphere.

Moreover, it's not lost to the reader that the author has promoted positive traits in her work. These include the promotion of chastity,valor,family,honesty and even a current global concern, that is, the nuclear non proliferation. Her tone while approaching these themes is informal,cheerful and comic. Take for example the term "almost sex" that the main characters used to describe their intimate encounter, shortly after they met.

In conclusion, Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "the truest wisdom is a resolute determination". The author of Escape Belle Ami, lives to this quote in her resoluteness when writing a romance story and thriller of very high standards of narration, vividness and presentation. Perhaps it's because it's tied down to her mantra and which she has quoted Wilfred Peterson as saying "success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve".

Overall, everything is going well for this novel. The book is professionally edited and well formatted. There is no discernible typographical errors or spelling mistakes. What`s more, this being the author's first book of the "tip of the spear" series, I look forward to reading a sequel. Nevertheless, because of the adult themed content of the book I recommend it without reservations whatsoever, to a mature audience looking for a romantically charged adventure with hair-raising encounters and witty twists. My rating for the novel is a full 4 out of 4 stars.

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Escape
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Like Quinto's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Donatelloo]

I have also rated it 4 . It deserves so
Admirable review ???
Do check out my latest review ??

[readandsmile]

This book sounds very interesting because the reviews I've seen from other reviewers had a good rate. You have a good review. Nice one. Cheers!

[Quinto]

I have also rated it 4 . It deserves so
Admirable review ???
Do check out my latest review ??

Hi Nazir
I agree totally with you.This novel you can't simply get it off your hands once you hold it. And I didn't even see typo errors!! Just amazing. Thanks for your kind response.

-- 29 Aug 2017, 09:28 --

This book sounds very interesting because the reviews I've seen from other reviewers had a good rate. You have a good review. Nice one. Cheers!

Hi Readandsmile,
This book is just out of this world! The author has set the bar high. Thanks for your compliments.

[charlesjr2]

I would have to say that I just agree with you guys in the sense that the thrill of this novel is fascinating. Good review by the way.

[juliusotinyo]

I don't like this genre. But, your review makes me want to read.

[Quinto]

I would have to say that I just agree with you guys in the sense that the thrill of this novel is fascinating. Good review by the way.

Hi Charles,
Yeah, its thrilling, you got to read it.
Thanks for the compliment

-- 31 Aug 2017, 11:11 --

I don't like this genre. But, your review makes me want to read.

Hey Julius,
Yeah i know you prefer historical fiction maybe memoirs? But try this for a change. As they say, a change is as good as a holiday.

[Jeremie Mondejar]

Nice review. I haven't read the book, yet it sounds interesting. "Hey Julius,
Yeah i know you prefer historical fiction maybe memoirs? But try this for a change. As they say, a change is as good as a holiday." I agree with this phrase.

[Quinto]

Thanks Jem

[ritah]

I really loved this book. It was so intense, I too gave it 4-Stars.

[Quinto]

I really loved this book. It was so intense, I too gave it 4-Stars.

So true Ritah. I wonder if the sequel is out.
Thanks for commenting.

[Kelebogile Mbangi]

Seems a bit too steamy for my tastes, but Im glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the review.

[Quinto]

Thanks Kelebogile for your assessment