BOOK REVIEW- THE EAGLE & THE CHILD by S. Khubiar

Shahla is two women: the American who works as a Research Specialist at a Federal prison, and the Israeli asset whose clandestine work is concealed by her American job. She tries to disengage from two governments that are ripping holes in her soul, but the unfinished business of her hidden life comes between her and the man she’d hoped could heal the wounds of her past. A mixed marriage is only the beginning of their problems as Persian Jewish and American Protestant cultures clash. Three nations’ intelligence services and one man’s dream of personal revenge draw Shahla into a war begun in a previous generation. Who are the Eagle and the Child?   AMAZON 5 STARS

The story starts out slower but not in a bad way.  This story gets INTENSE!  It's also Fabulous!
It also shows the intricate ways of one of the main characters, Shahla (Shah).  And how she meets the other main character, Philip and how their relationship develops over time.  It's not going to be an easy one.  Shah is complicated and intriguing mix of a kick-butt fighting woman when needed, skilled and ruthless.  But that has been trained deeply into her and isn't who she really is.  It's almost like she never really had a chance to be a normal child let alone a normal woman.  She was called a woman-child which turned out to be a good way to put it.
She had also lived under so much control, it was crazy.  It made for a crazy mix of skill in some areas and being so naive in others.  She was also a deeply religious  Jewish woman that often felt conflicted by what she was forced to do as a spook.  When I say the word religious here, it has a deeper meaning that just a rigid following of rules, its a heartfelt love of God,  and as a scholar she believes that Jesus is the Messiah that has already come.  We get to see where that clashes if the more rigid sects, which several of her family members are part of.   It was a great addition to see both of the Jewish cultures and I really enjoyed that.  It didn't feel hard to follow or too heavy.  I appreciated having the definitions of some of the Hebrew words.  It was also written in a way that some of the words were easy to guess pretty close what they meant.

Philip, Philip, Philip.   Now there is another very interesting, deep character.  Handsome, skilled as a surgeon and also skilled as a lover of women.  He has been a "hound dog" when it comes to women.   They seem to fall in line after him, chasing him and so often catching him.  He's spoiled and selfish and even his own mother told him so..to his face!  Now don't get the wrong idea because she loves him but she also tells him its time for him to grow up!  He's not all bad, it's not that simple.  He's also good to Shah except he's  kind of scary when that volcanic temper of his gets loose.  When it does, he's a jerk.  And he messes up big time more than once.  It's a serious flaw that he battles.  On the other hand, he is also a good guy too.

So many really great people in this book.  And there is a depth to them.  Every character was so much deeper than you realize at first.  Uzi was a good case in point.  Hated D.J. though.  Even though he's probably not ALL bad, he was easy to hate.
There is going to be violence, I hope you understand that.  The book blurb should have been a tip off.  But its such a great story and it's a trilogy, so remember it doesn't end with this book.  Still, it was worth it.

I received a copy of this book and I fell in love with it.  Edge of my seat reading.