Josie Jade

Terrific story that picks up where the previous book, Montana Heat, left off. Hunter and Jada played major roles in that story. Hunter is a cousin of Resting Warrior Ranch's Lucas. A former Special Forces soldier, Hunter has severe PTSD. He has been on the move for two years, trying to outrun the memories that haunt him. Lucas wants him to rest and heal at RWR, but he isn't ready. However, Hunter is there for him when Lucas needs help on an op.

This book opens at the end of that operation, show more where the men of RWR rescued Kenzie from a stalker. Hunter finds Jada badly beaten and being attacked. He knows who she is but can't leave her behind. On the other hand, Jada's memory is completely blank. She doesn't know who she is or why bad guys and police are looking for her. She desperately wants to know the truth, and Hunter is the only one she can trust to help her.

I ached for Jada. The more she learns about her past, the more horrified she is by her actions. Her guilty feelings increase when she meets the person who was the target of those unremembered actions. She wonders if it is possible to put the past behind her and build a new life as the person she wants to be.

I liked watching Jada and Hunter's relationship develop. The trauma of their pasts makes each reluctant to get close, afraid of more pain. Hunter is a tough nut to crack, convinced it is safer to remain alone. However, their experiences make it easier to see the other's pain, and by helping each other, they overcome their own.

The suspense kept me hooked from the first page to the last. The opening with Jada's blank memories, the search for information about her past, and whether those memories would ever return kept me turning the pages. The escalating attacks kept me on edge, and the final confrontation had a terrifying twist. The resolution was fantastic, and the epilogue was a terrific look at Hunter and Jada's progress in their relationship and healing.

I loved catching up with the RWR family. The deep ties between the men and women continue to expand and embrace others. There were a few rough moments because of Jada's earlier actions, but redemption and acceptance were never really in doubt. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. show less

Terrific book that caught my attention from the beginning and kept me hooked to the end. At just over one hundred pages, it was the perfect length to make a short flight go by even faster. I loved that the main characters are older (late forties and early fifties), showing that love and adventure aren't just for the young.

Vanessa is a successful real estate agent who has been ordered to take a vacation by her doctor. She needs rest and relaxation to destress and lower her blood pressure. show more Heartbreak Key should be the perfect location with its lack of internet and cell service, and she plans to lie on the beach and read. Almost falling off the boat as she arrived was not the start she wanted, but being rescued by a good-looking bystander wasn't so bad.

Hoss is a former SEAL who retired to Heartbreak Key after his last mission went horribly wrong. He's haunted by the memories of his lost friends and tends to keep to himself. He's unexpectedly drawn to the tourist he rescued and isn't too happy about it.

I liked watching the relationship develop between Hoss and Vanessa. The sparks were there from the moment they met and grew even stronger when they shared a dance later that evening. But Vanessa is wary and pulled back before it could go any further. Her life becomes more complicated when she witnesses some drug traffickers at work, and she suddenly finds a target on her back. Hoss is in the right place at the right time to save her life, and they take refuge in his house while a tropical storm batters the island. They know the bad guys are still out there, and Hoss is determined to keep her safe. While trapped together during the storm, the sparks between them burst into flame, and they give in to their attraction. They grow closer as they deal with the danger, and when it's all over must decide if they want to end things or see where their blossoming relationship goes. I loved their drama-free discussion and frank talk about what they each wanted. The ending was terrific, and I loved their big moment.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. Stumbling over the drug traffickers was terrible luck, and trying to do the right thing got her into even more trouble. I felt her fear as she tried to escape from the men determined to kill her. I loved how Hoss happened to be there when she needed to be rescued. There were some tense moments as they evaded the gunmen and took refuge in Hoss's house. They had to wait out the storm while they figured out how to get Vanessa off the island safely to report to the authorities. The intensity ramped up after the storm, and I loved how Hoss and Vanessa worked together. The twists and turns of their escape kept me on the edge of my seat as I watched them struggle to make their getaway. The final confrontation was a nail-biter.

Hoss's friend and fellow SEAL Cameron plays a significant role in the book. I loved how he teased Hoss about Vanessa and gave him some good advice. I liked how they used their SEAL experiences to work together during the trouble. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better during the next book. show less

Fantastic book. Travis fascinated me from his first appearance in the books, and I looked forward to learning more about him. His backstory is heartbreaking. Formerly a CIA agent, he had a romantic relationship with his partner, Naomi. When she died during an operation, he left the agency. The grief and guilt develop into agoraphobia and cause him to lock himself away in his specially built home. He works with Warrior Security when they need his specialized help. Even then, he keeps a show more certain distance from them. None of them know about Travis's lone missions to protect innocents.

Sera is a contract analyst for the FBI, a job she took after her sister's death to find a way to take down those responsible for her death. She is a mathematical genius who can spot patterns that no one else notices. When she assembles information on the child traffickers, her boss at the FBI blows her off and tells her to stick to her assignments. Frustrated, Sera decides to take her data to the one person who might be able to help - her sister's former boyfriend, Travis.

I loved how Sera breached Travis's security. His reaction to finding her in his pool was terrific and quite a wake-up call. I liked how he listened to her story, but was frustrated at his initial reaction. Fortunately, his conscience got the better of him, and he was able to redeem himself spectacularly. It also made Sera a guest in his home and a partner in their joint mission to stop the trafficker. I loved their teamwork. Travis said it best: "Sera's mind didn't just fill gaps in my analysis. It worked the way mine did, from a different angle. The two perspectives together produced something neither of us could build alone." I also enjoyed watching Sera become a part of his life, though he fought it all the way. There were deeply emotional exchanges as each opened up about their pasts and the effects on who they are now. There were also some lighthearted moments (frequently involving kittens). The question becomes whether they can let go of their fears enough to build a life together. I loved the ending - it was so perfectly Travis.

The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Travis's lone excursions, carried out despite the physical effects on him, showed the depths of his commitment to his mission. Sera's determination to do her part to bring down the person responsible for her sister's death led her to take risks that could turn deadly. When they teamed up, the intensity increased, as the bad guys' frustration with the interference reached explosive levels. I cheered when Travis finally confessed to his Warrior Security brothers and asked for their help. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that could have gone wrong in so many ways, and nearly did. I loved the part of the epilogue that got Travis out of hot water - you have to love small towns and how they look out for their own.

I loved the involvement of the rest of the men of Warrior Security. It's always great to catch up with the characters from previous books. I love how they are included as logical, vital parts of the plot, not just thrown in willy-nilly. I laughed out loud when Lark showed up with the three kittens, and Travis tried to get out of taking them. But my favorite secondary "character" was Maude, the AI companion that runs Travis's house and his life. I loved her snark, her habit of understatement, and how she looks after Travis. His threats to donate her to various kitchen appliances were hilarious. show less

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately, but it didn't take long for this book to put an end to that. This is a gripping suspense story with the bonus of a second chance at love.

After leaving the Marines, Coop went to work for Warrior Security and is working undercover to bring down a weapons trafficking ring. Six weeks into the mission, and it is coming down to the wire. The last thing he expects is to run into an old girlfriend while scoping out a drop zone with three of the show more traffickers. His shock and fear for her life are immediate and intense, leaving him no choice but to claim her as his to save her life.

It's been six years since Coop walked out on her with no explanation. Between heartbreak and a traumatic accident, Mia struggled to rebuild her life. Shocked to see him again, she barely recognizes the cold and violent man in front of her.

The suspense of this story was intense and kept me hooked. From watching Coop face down those who would take her from him to watching him walk the fine line between good and evil, the tension remained high from start to finish. The trafficker underlings are nasty enough, but the leader is a whole other level of evil. I was on the edge of my seat as Coop and Mia played their parts. Mia truly impressed me with her resilience and strength in everything she went through. The "hunt" kept me glued to the pages, wondering if Mia would make it. Just when I thought they were in the clear, an unexpected twist put them both back in the bullseye. The final confrontation was an impressive demonstration of determination and faith.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Cooper and Mia. They had been happy together until Cooper's final deployment. Haunted by the events and losses, Cooper believed he was too broken for her and walked away. Now they must trust each other if they are going to survive. I could feel Cooper's anguish at the things he had to do to keep their cover. Mia must overcome her wariness of him and trust him to keep her safe. I liked seeing them talk about their pasts, the regrets, and work their way back to each other.

The supporting cast was great. The bad guys deserved everything they got and more. Of the good guys, my favorite was Travis. I'm intrigued by whatever in his past made him who he is now, and I'm excited to know that his story is up next. I love his tech-guru status and his unexpected care of Mia. I loved the "family dinner" at Resting Warrior Ranch and catching up with previous couples. I also laughed out loud at the antics of Al Pacacino, the llama. show less