The Manhattan Encounter - Addison Fox (HRS #1810 - July 2014)

Series: House of Steele (Book 4)

Will the mighty Steele fall?

He'd faced down madmen with guns, hunted thieves and jumped off buildings for fun. So why is Liam Steele at his wit's end when Dr. Isabella Magnini needs his protection? The brilliant and beautiful scientist's work is revolutionary, and someone wants to keep her insights secret--no matter what it costs.

When the House of Steele comes together to protect Isabella, Liam realizes just how isolated he's truly become. And as he and Isabella dodge bullets, fires and even an invasion, he knows he's in more danger than ever. Because how will he ever let her go?

Fantastic conclusion to the series. Liam is assigned to protect Isabella by his grandfather. She has done some ground-breaking research and someone is trying to stop her from going public with it. It started lightly with someone searching her home and office, but the threats have become more physical. 

Liam has never had trouble concentrating on his job before, but Isabella has really thrown him off his game. As the oldest in the family, after his parents' deaths Liam considered himself responsible for his siblings, even though they had their grandparents. He has also kept himself apart from everyone else, preferring to to get too close to anyone, which even bled over into staying away from his family as much as he could. The case with Isabella, however, requires that they all work together, and Liam begins to realize just how much he has missed his family. He has also become more emotionally invested in keeping Isabella safe.

Isabella has always had a brilliant mind. She has no family and has devoted all her time to her research, causing her to be isolated from other people too. Her mentor had left her a lot of money which she uses to continue her research into ways to cure disease using DNA manipulation. When the attacks begin, she realizes that her research can also be abused, and goes to the Steeles for help. She is surprised by her attraction to and fascination with Liam. She had never experienced feelings like that before. One of the things I liked best about her was her fantastic skills of observation. She saw beyond Liam's surface coolness to the man underneath. I loved the way she could call him out on his attempts to keep her at a distance and make him talk to her. I occasionally got frustrated with the way she felt responsible for all the bad things that happened, but that was the type of person she was.

I loved the way that they were open with each other. Though it started with Isabella, she dragged Liam into it also. She had no trouble speaking her mind, and if she didn't like something she said so. She also didn't let Liam hold back from her. Liam was often surprised by the things she said, but soon came to appreciated her bluntness.

The suspense part of the story was excellent and very well done. Isabella's research felt like it was something that could exist now, and the threats against her felt very realistic. It was interesting to see how the person(s) responsible carried out their actions and to hear their motivations. Just goes to show how selfish and warped people can be.

I also loved having the entire Steele family involved in the case, including the new members. The interactions among them were fascinating to see. I also loved Isabella's clear view of them all and their roles in the family.

The Paris Assignment - Addison Fox (HRS #1762 - July 2013)

Series: House of Steele (Book 1)

"I DIDN'T HIRE YOU TO BE MY BODYGUARD."

It was obviously an inside job -- and security expert Campbell Steele figured he'd have to get very close to his new client, CEO Abigail McBane, to uncover the traitor. But when an electronic blip led to a bullet, he had to move fast….

Suddenly the commitment-shy expert is posing as Abby's lover and jetting off to a conference in Paris. The city of lovers should be the perfect cover to trap the enemy. As the stakes keep rising, they soon realize it isn't just her company the traitor wants, but Abby herself. And Campbell isn't about to lose what he's claimed as his own….

Very good start to the series. Abby is the CEO of a large telecommunications company. When someone breaches their security, she goes to her college friend Kenzie Steele for help. Kenzie puts her brother Campbell on the case. Campbell is a computer geek who is fantastic at what he does. He isn't thrilled about babysitting Abby, but the computer issues make it more interesting. But when the security problems escalate into physical danger to Abby, Campbell moves from geek to bodyguard.

I really liked both Campbell and Abby. Their common interest and expertise with computers helps them bond quickly, even as they try to resist the growing attraction between them. I loved some of the conversations between them as they dip into geek speak.  I loved the way that Campbell and Abby clashed at the beginning, but got closer as their respect for each others' abilities grew.

Abby has been at the head of her company for a long time and trusts her employees. She isn't happy when Campbell suggests that her problems are an inside job. But as time goes on she can't deny that he may be right. In order to disguise his real purpose for being around, they put out that he is her boyfriend, which adds another layer to their interactions. She can't deny that she wants him, but she isn't very happy about it, until the threats escalate. Then Abby finds herself leaning on him in ways she hadn't with anyone else. She also discovers a previously unknown desire to have a permanent connection with someone, and her heart has decided on Campbell. He has made no secret of his resistance to any kind of commitment, so she thinks that it will go nowhere.

Campbell has always been more into computers than people, especially after losing a good friend when he was a teenager. He holds himself back as a way to protect himself. He's not happy about being assigned to take care of Abby, especially when his attraction to her starts to interfere with his concentration. When the threats against Abby escalate into the physical, he realizes that she has begun to mean more to him than just a job. He accepts his feelings for her pretty quickly, but has to convince Abby that they have a future together.

The suspense in the story was very well done and kept me hooked from the beginning. We meet the bad guy fairly early, but identity and motivations are revealed a little at a time. Campbell's assertion that it is an inside job is shown early, and that identity is pretty obvious. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse tactics as Campbell and Abby worked to find the culprit without tipping their hand as they got close.The final showdown was intense as Campbell tried to get to Abby in time.

The Rome Affair - Addison Fox (HRS #1793 - Mar 2014)

Series: House of Steele (Book 3)

Two security experts must work too closely for comfort

Jack Andrews has once again snatched a covetable job from the House of Steele. But now that the assignment has gotten complicated, he must call upon the last person he wants to ask for help: Kensington Steele. Jack never flinches at danger, but working side by side with his fascinating, sexy competitor might be more than he can handle.

When the assignment brings them to the Italian vineyard of a corrupt diplomat, Kensington vows to keep things professional, even if working as a team fans the flames of their mutual desire. But once a murderer begins stalking them, they realize getting close may be the only way they'll survive....

Really good book.  Kensington starts off the book really ticked off.  The House of Steele security firm has just lost another job to Jack Andrews.  So when Jack shows up at her office she's not inclined to listen to anything he has to say - until he tells her that he needs her help.  She's still wary but he's pretty much challenged her to accept.  I loved the sparks that flew from the moment he arrived.  She is definitely attracted to him but there's something about him that irritates her too.  Jack is attracted and intrigued.  He takes her to a jewelry store he's investigating and is very impressed by her quick thinking.  Jack enjoys flirting with her and making no secret of his attraction to her, while Kensington tries her best to keep him at arm's length.

The Italian government has asked their help in investigating a corrupt diplomat who is suspected of drug trafficking and diamond smuggling.  Kensington and Jack each have specific strengths that they will have to use to determine what is going on.  I especially liked Kensington's abilities to find out almost anything via the computer.  She really surprises Jack with some of the things she finds out.  There are quite a few twists and turns to the revelation of exactly what is happening and who is behind it.  I have to admit I had my suspicions fairly early and couldn't understand how they had neglected to suspect that person.  

From the investigation of the first murder to the final confrontation the danger keeps increasing.  I was pretty sure who was behind it all, but there were times I wondered about whether certain other characters were involved.  There was one that kept me wondering until the very end.

Both Jack and Kensington occasionally have a hard time keeping their minds on the case.  The heat between them keeps increasing even as they battle the issues that could keep them apart.  Kensington fears the loss of loved ones because of losing her parents when she was young.  She tends to use work to keep people at a distance and protect herself.  Jack works alone, also not letting people get close.  His mother abandoned him and his sisters when they were young and he still blames himself.  His coping strategies are pretty interesting and I loved Kensington's reaction to them.  Neither of them shares their pasts easily but it means more when they do.  One thing that both had in common was their love of and closeness to their families.  I really enjoyed Jack's sister's comments to him about Kensington, and Kensington's siblings all had a few things to say also (loved Rowan's comments about Jack's butt).  The epilogue was a nice conclusion to the book.