The Agent's Surrender - Kimberly Van Meter (HRS #1821 - Oct 2014)

Series: Sniper (Book 3)

Rival agents uncover a monstrous conspiracy

From the moment they met, sparks had flown…and not the good kind. Agent Jane Fallon would rather chew nails than work with arrogant -- and much too good-looking -- Holden Archangelo. But, convinced his brother was no traitor, Holden had Jane's investigation reopened. And now Jane is forced to partner with him.

As new leads come to light, Jane's certainty about the case is shaken. But the assassin's bullet whizzing past her head convinces her they are onto something. Jane's determined to keep things professional, but as the danger around them intensifies, so does the fierce attraction they try so hard to deny….

Wow. The third book in this series is as action packed as the first two, and at times eerily realistic. Holden's twin brother has been accused of treason stemming from events that took place in the first two books of this series. As Miko is no longer alive to defend himself, Holden feels it is up to him to get to the truth. Jane Fallon is the agent who was in charge of the investigation and she stands by her conclusions, until Holden claims to have new evidence. She doesn't believe it will make a difference to her conclusion, but she can't stand the idea that she might have missed something. Their boss assigns them to work together on the case. There are major sparks between Holden and Jane, and not always good ones. They have a history together, but Jane is determined to ignore it.

Holden and Jane had had a brief relationship months before that had not worked out. Holden blames it on Jane's need to win her father's approval, and Daddy did not like Holden at all. Holden had cared deeply for her and couldn't believe that she hadn't cared enough to stand up for herself and their relationship. He's still carrying around his hurt from her rejection and it makes him rather testy around her. Jane hasn't forgotten the way he made her feel, but thinks that there is no chance for a future between them. Being together almost 24/7 puts a strain on her determination to keep things professional between them, especially when Holden seems to be equally determined to get her back in his bed. 

I loved Holden and his determination to prove his brother innocent. They were twins and he knew his brother would never have done the things he was accused of. Knowing Jane had been the investigator on the case was just one more part of the problem he had with her. I loved seeing him push at her about he relationship with her father as it was that which had broken them up. It was fun to see him push her buttons and get some real emotions out of her. Jane was a great character, even though she frequently annoyed me. She is strong, independent and very good at what she does, but she lets her father and brothers walk all over her. She let her father break up her relationship with Holden even though she did have feelings for him. Even now it's her fear of what her father would think that makes her reopen the case so she can be sure she didn't mess something up. Outside of her father's influence, I loved how, once she realized that there was something else going on, she was just as determined as Holden to figure it out. It was also fun to see her fighting her feelings for Holden, but succumbing to them all too often. I loved seeing her come to accept that what they had was real and how it gave her the strength to finally stand up to her father. That scene was great fun.

The suspense of this book was amazing. At the end of the previous book, it looked like they had caught the person who had engineered the use of the dangerous drug for illegal purposes, but it left Holden's brother accused of treason. Holden is determined to prove his brother innocent, and is certain that there is more going on than the investigators discovered. Holden knows Jane well enough that he was able to goad her into reopening the investigation. As soon as they start investigating they begin getting people telling them to give it up, that there is nothing new to learn. This makes them suspicious and more determined than ever to get to the bottom of it. Even Jane has to admit that there may be something she missed. Every lead they get leads to more questions and the feeling that there is something really big going on. When someone takes a shot at Jane, their suspicions are confirmed. I was glued to the pages as more of the plot came to light and I wondered how they were going to stop what was planned. The road to the final confrontation had a couple unexpected twists which added to the intensity.

I enjoyed the involvement of the couples from the previous books. It was great to see them again and catch up on how they are doing, especially Jake. I liked seeing James the computer guy work his magic again. I definitely did not like Jane's father or brothers, and could not understand why Jane put up with their crap for as long as she did.

There were two things in the book that lessened my enjoyment of it a bit. They had no effect on the story itself, but are personal dislikes of mine. The first was in the description of Jane's father. He is called "The Major" and described as a retired major general. He is referred to as a "five starred major general" (p. 58 first, then other times). This is not possible. A major general wears two stars. There hasn't been a five star general in the United States since General Omar Bradley died, and there has never been a five star general in the Marine Corps. This mistake could have been avoided with a little research, and again if the editor had been doing their job. The other problem is one that I run into all the time with Harlequin books. Whether it is the authors or the editors, they refuse to accept that when speaking of a member of the Marine Corps, the word Marine is ALWAYS capitalized. Lower case marine refers to things having to do with oceans, Marine is a member of the Marine Corps.

Fatal Fallout - Lara Lacomb (HRS #1814 - Aug 2014)

Torn between duty and desire, two strangers must risk all for love

Nuclear physicist Dr. Claire Fleming has one rule: never get close to anyone. But when her colleague is murdered and she's targeted next, she must place all her trust in FBI agent Thomas Kincannon. Soon Claire forgets her tenet as she fantasizes about Thomas's touch.

Thomas is wildly attracted to Claire. But his life and his job are too complicated for any romantic entanglements. Despite this, they share a mind-blowing kiss, and there's no turning back. When Thomas's niece is abducted, the stakes become dangerously higher as Claire insists he trade her for the child. Somehow, Thomas must find a way to rescue his family and protect the woman who let her protective walls down just for him.

Good book with good suspense. Claire has been working with a Russian counterpart to help safely dispose of radioactive material from their decaying power plants. When her colleague is murdered and Claire receives a threat against her life, the FBI steps in to protect her. Thomas is much more than she expected.

I liked Claire. She is strong, independent and intelligent. She is also wary of getting emotionally involved with anyone. It hurts too much when they leave. Ivan's murder has left her feeling vulnerable and Thomas's presence makes her feel safer. She doesn't want to be attracted to him, but her body isn't listening to her brain. She is drawn to his strength, but also to his sense of humor and his love for his family. I loved seeing her open up to him about her past and how she realizes that it is still affecting her life now. Those issues create an opportunity for misunderstanding that sends her running when an old girlfriend of Thomas's shows up. 

Thomas is focused on his work and his family. His brother was killed in a car accident a few months earlier and Thomas feels as though it should have been him. He spends a lot of his free time trying to fill in for his brother with his sister-in-law and especially his niece. He doesn't expect the intense attraction that he feels for Claire. He tries to fight it as it is a distraction from what he should be doing to keep her safe. But something about her is healing the hole in his life and he starts to dream of a future with her. I loved his sense of humor and how he had a way of lightening the strain that Claire was under. I felt so bad for him when his niece was taken and he had to find a way to rescue her while keeping Claire safe. I loved seeing the way that he had some things that he had to think about and readjust his reactions to at the end before he was able to convince Claire of his feelings.

I really enjoyed the suspense of the story. There was a lot going on in a short period of time. Claire and Thomas had to figure out the meaning of the papers that Ivan sent to Claire before the bad guy could stop them and kill them both. The intensity of little Emily's kidnapping and rescue as it set up the final confrontation had me turning the pages as quickly as I could to see how it would turn out.

Evidence of Passion - Cynthia Eden (HI #1510 - Aug 2014)

Series: Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory (Book 3)

Trusting the wrong man had almost cost EOD agent Rachel Mancini her life. Now, years later, the killer's back to make the hit he missed. But he won't succeed while Rachel's gorgeous partner, Dylan Foxx, is on the case. He's been the sexy ex-lawyer's friend for years and will do anything to keep her safe. And though it could prove fatal, he wants her in his arms…and his bed.

But first he has to stop the madman obsessed with Rachel. Ex-SEAL Dylan has the skills and determination to meet every danger the twisted assassin can unleash. A relationship has never had a place in his life…until he senses Rachel wants him as badly as he wants her.

Very good book that started with action and never stopped. It starts with Rachel, a military lawyer, held captive by a man she thought she was in love with, but who had been hired to kill her. She was rescued by agents of he EOD, one of whom was Dylan Foxx. He swore to her then that she was safe and he would make sure she stayed that way. Shortly after that, Rachel herself joined the EOD and became part of Dylan's team. They became partners and very good friends.

What Rachel didn't know was that Dylan felt more than friendship for her. He has been attracted to her from the beginning, but has worked hard to maintain their professional relationship. He was doing a god job keeping himself under control until the killer returned, determined to finish what he had started. With the stress of knowing that she's in the crosshairs again, Rachel realizes that she's feeling more than just comfort from partner and friend Dylan. She's always known he was sexy, but suddenly her hormones are getting in on the action too.

I loved the relationship between Dylan and Rachel. There is definitely a mutual respect on their professional sides. Rachel is well aware of his capabilities as he has saved her life on more than one occasion. Dylan knows what Rachel can do, as he trained her himself. But when "Jack" returns and Rachel is in danger, Dylan's feelings for Rachel overcome his ability to see what she can do and he goes a bit overboard in trying to protect her. I loved seeing her insist on her own involvement in whatever actions are planned. When Dylan goes too far in his efforts to protect her, and Rachel finds out why, she feels hurt and betrayed. I really liked seeing Dylan realize what he had done and then try to figure out how to fix it. He learns a lot about himself thanks to her.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. The first encounter with "Jack" definitely shows just how awful he is. But there's also a hint that his treatment of Rachel is different than the way he handled his other victims. When he reappears three years later to finish what he started, that obsession is even more obvious. I liked the part that Noelle, the profiler, played in giving insight to the way that "Jack" was behaving. There were some very interesting twists to his actions and the motivations behind them. The final confrontations were intense and had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see if everyone was going to make it through to the end. I liked the epilogue and its setup for the next book.

Seduced by His Target - Gail Barrett (HRS #1781 - Dec 2013)

Series: Buried Secrets (Book 3)

For victims of violence, Nadine Seymour -- formerly Nadira al Kahtani -- is a savior in surgeon's clothing. But this time it's Nadira who must be saved…from her own corrupt family. Rasheed Davar -- a rebellious CIA agent seeking to avenge his wife's murder -- could risk his undercover mission to save her. But will he?

As a dangerous plot heats up in the nation's capital, Rasheed can't deny the mounting tension -- or his desperate need to tamp down his attraction. Nadira is beautiful. She is brave. And she's just the kind of high-stakes hostage who could awaken his own battered heart -- and lure them both into the terrorists' crosshairs….

Really good book. After escaping from her abusive home and living on the streets for awhile, Nadine went on to become a plastic surgeon. She specializes in helping battered women and children. When the book starts she is on a medical mission in Peru. There she is kidnapped by terrorists who are working for her father and brother. One of those terrorists is Rasheed, who is actually an undercover CIA agent. Rasheed is horrified by what Nadine expects to happen to her and tries to figure out how to save her without jeopardizing his mission.

Nadine was an incredibly strong woman. Her early life had created a sense of independence and ability to take care of herself. When she was taken she fought to escape, and kept her head when initially escape was impossible. She was also determined to save the other doctor who was taken at the same time. When Rasheed tells her who he is and why he's there, Nadine makes the decision to help him.

Rasheed had taken on this mission as a way to avenge his wife. He carries a great deal of guilt because he feels that she was killed because of what he was investigating at the time. The thought of another woman being in danger creates another layer of worry for him. Rasheed also cannot deny his growing attraction for Nadine. Her beauty and bravery have worked their way through the numbness he has felt since his wife's death. He tries to deny his feelings because he feels that the things he has had to do make it impossible to have a future with her.

The intensity of the emotion that grows between them matches the intensity of the danger they are in. Both know that they could be killed at any time, which makes their stolen moments even more potent. As much as they come to care for each other, both have heavy emotional baggage that needs to be dealt with before they can find a life together.

The action and suspense are nearly nonstop. All of the players are intent on their goals which creates some conflict between Nadine and Rasheed, as well as among the other characters. I was completely caught up in what was happening and found much of it felt very believable. The final confrontation was complicated and I was anxious to see how it would work out. The anticipation was worth every minute.

I loved the epilogue as the three couples got together to celebrate the New Year and new beginnings.

The Girl Next Door - Cynthia Eden (HI #1480 - Mar 2014)

Series: Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory (Book 2)

He pledged to protect his neighbor

When Gabrielle Harper's gutsy investigative reporting attracted a serial killer, her new neighbor began keeping an eye on her. But Cooper Marshall was more than his chiseled frame suggested. He was an Elite Operations Division specialist who thrived on adrenaline, who always took risks, whose every instinct was geared to protect. Even if it meant breaking cover. Gabrielle wasn't the sort to hole up in her Washington, D.C., walk-up, waiting to be the next victim. So when the time came, he'd throw her on the back of his motorcycle and ride with a vengeance to save her life. Until then, he'd watch and wait, and try not to get carried away with attraction to the girl next door….

This sucked me in from the first page and didn't let go until I'd finished.  Cooper was checking up on an ex EOD agent who had been out of contact for awhile.  With agents being murdered his job was to warn them what was happening.  In this case he was too late, arriving just after the man was killed.  As he was investigating Gabrielle showed up and Cooper was barely able to escape without being seen.  When she then showed up at yet another murder scene, Cooper realizes that she's investigating the same thing he is and it has put her in danger.  He's determined to keep her safe even if he has to reveal some of his secrets.  And it would be all too easy to do that as there is something about Gabrielle that is really messing with his focus.

I really liked Gabriella.  She is determined, focused, and very smart.  Because of the violent death of her father and the fact his killer had never been found, she uses her investigative powers to help the victims get justice.  She had a relationship with a local cop that didn't work out, but she shares what she finds out with the cops to help them solve their cases.  She figured out a connection between murdered women and the agents (though she didn't know they were agents) that Cooper and the EOD hadn't because she was looking at a different angle.  All she knew about Cooper at first was that he was there when she needed him.  When she started receiving threatening calls and attacks, she asked for his help in keeping her safe.  She begins to trust him as she goes about checking out leads for her story.  There's also an intense attraction between them that is trying to distract her.  I loved her focus and the way she wasn't going to let anything stop her from finding out what she needed to know.  She knows Cooper is hiding something from her and when she finds out what it is there is a certain amount of betrayal in what she feels.  I loved the way she stood up to everyone at the EOD office, including Mercer.  I liked seeing her give Cooper the chance to talk to her about his past as things started spinning rapidly toward the conclusion, and she realized that a lot of her anger toward him was because of the way she felt about him.  

Cooper really surprised me when it came to Gabrielle.  When we met him in the previous book he was the typical agent - cool, in control and ready to do whatever necessary to get the job done.  In this book there are definitely cracks in that exterior.  He has been frustrated by his inability to warn the agents in time to save them.  Finding Gabrielle in the middle of both scenes wasn't doing anything for his peace of mind.  He is also under orders to keep her from finding out about the EOD, though that doesn't work too well.  He's pretty impressed by what she has found out so far.  When she becomes the victim of several attacks his protectiveness ramps up.  I really enjoyed his confusion over the way that she has got him wound up.  He is not used to feeling so out of control around a woman and isn't so sure he likes it.  As much as he'd like to lock her up to keep her safe, he knows that's not possible.  I liked seeing the way that he supports her with what she needs to do with her job even though it's really hard for him.  There was a great conversation with Mercer that really opened his eyes to what he was feeling and doing.  The final confrontation put the finishing touches on them.  There was a nice twist at the end that had been hinted at during the end of the previous book and is fully explained by the end of this one.  

I loved the suspense.  From the beginning there was always something happening that added to the tension.  It was interesting to see the two approaches to the investigation and how important Gabrielle's information turned out to be.  I liked the bits of the story that were from the killer's point of view because we get a little of what is driving him.  It also adds to the chance to figure out who he is.  There were a couple possibilities and I was happy to see I had picked the right one.  I'm really looking forward to the next one.