Way of the Shadows - Cynthia Eden (HI #1516 - Sept 2014)

Series: Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory (Book 4)

Fifteen years ago, Noelle Evers was kidnapped. Two days later, her abductor was dead, leaving her with no memory of what happened. Now an FBI profiler, she uses her past trauma to get inside the minds of killers. But she can't read her new partner. EOD agent Thomas Anthony is controlled. Dangerous. And hauntingly familiar.

Thomas has been covertly watching Noelle's back. He wanted to tell her the truth, but couldn't blow his cover. Their latest mission just revealed a link to her past. With desire ramping up between them -- and a predator hunting Noelle -- it's time for Thomas to step out of the shadows. Or lose his second chance to save the woman he loves.

Fantastic conclusion to the Guts and Glory quartet. Noelle is an FBI profiler who is currently working for the EOD. The victim of a violent crime herself, she has found a true calling in helping catch killers. Currently she's been assigned to work with Thomas, investigating a man suspected of ordering the bombing of the EOD building (see Evidence of Passion). 

Something about Thomas bothers her. He's one of the few people she's never been able to read. He has an amazing amount of control over his emotions. In spite of the dangerous vibes she gets from him, she always feels safe around him, something that rarely happens with anyone else. And she frequently gets the feeling she knows him from somewhere else, but she can't be sure.

Years before, Thomas had stumbled on Noelle while he was working on another mission. While he was involved in her rescue, he couldn't stick around because it would break his cover. But there was something about that seventeen year old girl that made an impression on a man with far too much violence in his life. After that he made it his business to check up on her frequently, making sure she was alright. He always stayed in the background, never making contact with her. Now that they're working together, he really wants to tell her the truth.

I loved the connection between Noelle and Thomas. They tried to fight their attraction at first because of working together, but it was just too hard to resist. Thomas had been falling for Noelle for years, ever since the day he helped rescue her, but had never realized what he was feeling. Because of all the things he's had to do over the years he feels that she could never love him. Noelle's is a survivor. She was determined that her ordeal would not keep her from having a normal life, but it has caused her to be very wary of men. Except for Thomas. And as she gets closer to him while they are working their case, he is there for her when danger threatens. When her memories start to come back she insists that Thomas tell her the whole truth. After she gets over the shock, that connection with him stays strong. I love how she overcomes his concerns about his past at the end and shines light into his darkness.

The suspense of the story was gripping. The investigation into the senator, who was suspected of being involved in the bombing, revealed an unexpected connection to Noelle's kidnapping. Now there's a killer stalking Noelle and leaving a trail of bodies behind him and he does so. Thomas and Noelle are in a race to figure out who he is and stop him before he can get to Noelle. There are several times when it could go either way and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. There were several twists and turns to keep me guessing right to the very end.

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.

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.

Undercover Captor - Cynthia Eden (HI #1474 - Feb 2014)

Series: Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory (Book 1)

Get rescued by a hero in disguise

The man standing watch over Dr. Tina Jamison was an imposing, scarred figure. Even more frightening was what would happen when her kidnappers discovered they'd taken the wrong woman. Only she didn't realize this same guard was an undercover agent, or that Drew Lancaster left no fellow Elite Operations agent behind.

Running handcuffed together through Texas, Drew vowed to protect Tina against all dangers. For a man who'd fought so may battles, he couldn't afford to lose this one. She'd need to follow his orders to stay alive. But it didn't take a doctor to see that this wounded warrior she'd once feared needed some saving himself....

Fantastic book, a real page turner from the start.  Tina is a doctor who works for the Elite Operations Division.  She is used to patching up agents when they are done with a mission.  She doesn't expect to end up in the middle of a mission herself, but that's what happens when she is kidnapped.  Only, it's a case of mistaken identity, and if they discover the truth she'll be dead.  Drew has been undercover with this group for several months and is shocked to see Tina.  He knows he has to get her away, even if it means blowing his cover.  

Tina is a doctor.  She became a doctor after seeing her parents killed during a bank robbery and not being able to save them.  When she's kidnapped by men who think she's her boss's daughter she is terrified.  That terror is slightly relieved when she immediately recognizes Drew as one of her captors, as she knows that he will save her.  Drew is the one man that has fascinated her since she met him.  She is fully aware of what he is capable of doing and of his reputation for having ice in his veins, but that doesn't stop her heart from jumping whenever she sees him.  She has complete trust in him and that he will get them out of trouble.  That trust grows quickly into love as she gets to know more about him.  I loved seeing the way that what he has done in the past doesn't affect the way she feels about him.  Being on the run with him also changes the way she feels about herself.  She has always considered herself weak, because she can have asthma attacks when under stress.  She considers it a huge drawback to her desire to get closer to Drew, because a man like him doesn't need a woman like her.  I loved seeing her strength of will develop over the course of the book.  I especially enjoyed seeing her stand up to them all and insist on being the bait for a trap to catch the bad guy.  And I loved seeing her get to Drew at the end.

Drew had had a rough childhood, doing things he wasn't particularly proud of just to help support his mother and sisters.  After joining the army, then the EOD, there were many who thought of him as a killing machine.  He is always very coolheaded as he goes about his missions.  He had worked hard at his undercover mission to get to the leader of a terrorist group.  Finding Tina as the kidnapping victim is going to blow that cover all to pieces, because he can't leave her in danger.  He also discovers that his control also disappears around her.  His immediate jumping in to protect her from what the terrorists had planned to do to her got them handcuffed together waiting for unpleasant attention.  Drew wasn't sure he was going to be able to get them out of it, but he was going to try.  He had trouble believing that Tina had so much trust in him.  He believed that he wasn't deserving of all that trust, or anything else that she might be feeling for him.  That trust in him started working its way past his walls until he was feeling things for her that he'd never felt for another woman, and it really scared him.  He had kept his distance from his own family for fear of what he does coming back to hurt them, he could only imagine how much worse it would be if he allowed himself to love Tina.  I loved his conversation with Gunner (Sharpshooter) where he asked "Weren't you afraid? That what we do ... Weren't you afraid it would spill over on them?" "I was more afraid," Gunner admitted, "of trying to live my life without her." That went a long way toward making him realize he didn't want to live without her.  I loved their ending scene.

The suspense part of the book was outstanding.  The EOD people knew who it was that had taken Tina.  They had set up a sting to catch the guy, but he took the wrong woman.  The action was constant as Drew and his coworkers try to get away, with the bad guys right on their heels.  It becomes obvious that there is a traitor somewhere in the EOD, so they also have to make their plans and try to protect them at the same time.  I loved Drew's focus as he tries to protect Tina while fighting his growing feelings.  The final showdown was really intense with all the things that were going on.  I loved the part that Cooper played, as the author sets things up for the next book.