Battle Tested - Janie Crouch (HI #1686 - Jan 2017)

Series: Omega Sector: Critical Response (Book 6)
             Omega Sector (Book 10)

Someone WAS always watching her…

Everywhere she went, Rosalyn Mellinger had eyes on her. The Watcher followed her everywhere. It seemed hopeless, inescapable…especially when she met Steve Drackett on vacation. Another person to be hurt by her stalker. But Rosalyn didn't know Steve was part of Omega Sector -- there was literally no one better to protect her, if she'd just open up to him. He had years of experience, and while the Watcher preyed upon Rosalyn, Steve would beat him at his own game.

But Rosalyn had a secret even Steve couldn't see coming: a baby from their vacation romance…

Another entry into the "why did I start this at 10 pm?" category. Started reading this book and couldn't put it down until I finished it at 3 am. The tension began right from the first page as Rosalyn deals with the mental and physical exhaustion created by being constantly watched. She is about at the end of her rope, ready to call a permanent halt to the torment.

Steve is taking the first vacation he's had in years. After the death of his wife twelve years earlier he has devoted his life to his career, most recently as head of Omega Sector's Critical Response Division. The last few months have been especially stressful and he's enjoying the luxury of no responsibilities. He's also intrigued by the young woman who just walked into the beach bar.

I loved the protectiveness that Steve has for Rosalyn from the moment they met. His first impression of her, after her beauty, was that she was trouble. He couldn't stop watching her, even though she wasn't his problem. He was doing well until a couple of guys started pestering her and he could see her discomfort when they wouldn't leave her alone. Then "He hadn't become the director of one of the most elite law enforcement groups in the country by walking away from trouble." I loved how it just took a few words to resolve the problem. I really liked the instant connection they had, shown by their long conversation on the beach. It was sweet to see how surprised Steve was by how easy it was to talk to her. One thing led to another and passion took over. Then, in the middle of the night, another note from the Watcher appeared. Horrified by the threat to Steve, Rosalyn took off without a word to Steve.

I ached so much for Steve, who came back from his vacation feeling betrayed and used. He also couldn't stop thinking about her, still certain that she was in trouble. I loved seeing him get "profiled" by Brandon, who was scary accurate at diagnosing Steve's problem. The news from Pensacola of an unidentified body that looked like Rosalyn sent him zooming back to Florida. After identifying the body, Steve is shocked when he runs into a very much alive - and pregnant - Rosalyn. After hearing her story, Steve isn't sure whether or not to believe her until an attempt is made to run them both over. He can't deny that something is going on and is determined to protect both Rosalyn and the baby.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship, but there were several times when I thought that Steve was a major jerk. After learning the details of what has been happening to her, he's still not sure whether he can trust her. Rosalyn doesn't have that problem, and for the first time in more than a year feels safe. The attraction between them burns hotter and hotter, which creates some problems for Steve. He wants her, but he's also super-protective, not wanting to take advantage of her when she's vulnerable. I loved when she called him on it, as "idiot" was accurate in more ways than one. Steve's years in law enforcement have left him pretty cynical, and he tends to see the worst in people. He makes several terrible mistakes with her, and one in particular was heartbreaking. I hated the way he treated her and cried for Rosalyn and the way it hurt her. His remorse and guilty feelings were well earned, though I thought that Rosalyn forgave him a little too easily. I was glad when he finally got his head out of his butt. The ending was pretty sweet, and I liked his scene on the beach.

The suspense was incredible. To have a stalker like that, one whose actions don't appear threatening so that the police don't take it seriously, would be terrifying. It was bad enough before, but the escalation of the Watcher's actions after Rosalyn and Steve were reunited, kept me glued to the pages. Every time it looked like they had finally escaped the net, he would pop up again with a note, an attack, or both. I loved seeing the entire Omega team work together to figure out how it was happening. I must admit that I figured out the basics of it by the second time Rosalyn entered the Omega building, but the details had some interesting twists. I loved Rosalyn's courage and determination to help draw him out. The final confrontation was intense, with the race against time to find Rosalyn and the Watcher before it was too late. I absolutely loved the way it went down, showing how much Steve loved Rosalyn, and also how much his team cared about Steve.

Overwhelming Force - Janie Crouch (HI #1861 - Dec 2016)

Series: Omega Sector: Critical Response (Book 5)
            Omega Sector (Book 9)

He lost her once. He won't lose her again.

Despite an illustrious career as a top hostage negotiator, Joe Matarazzo is haunted by the past. It was a year ago that three innocent lives were lost under his watch. But Joe isn't the only one who remembers that day. When Joe's exes begin to fall victim to a violent stalker, Joe seeks the help of Laura Birchwood -- a lawyer and the woman he once loved. Despite old wounds, Laura agrees to help Joe find out who's framing him. And while they expect to be met with danger, they're unprepared for passion that still burns strong, and their determination to give what was between them a second chance.

Very good second chance romance combined with intense suspense. The story opens with Joe and the Omega team on the way to a hostage crisis. Joe is the target of some teasing because of his playboy reputation. He mostly ignores it because his mind is taken up with another hostage situation that didn't end well. He is haunted by the thoughts of the people who died and blames himself for not being good enough to save them. This situation turns out much better, and I loved seeing how Joe's mind worked as he talked circles around the bad guys. Joe was surprised to see that one of the hostages was a former girlfriend, one he hasn't been able to forget. He has deep regrets about the way he ended that relationship and wants a chance to apologize and maybe try again.

I liked Joe and Laura, though in this book it took a while for Joe to grow on me. He has a well-deserved reputation as a playboy, and it doesn't seem to bother him at all. He is very wealthy, which gains him a lot of attention from paparazzi, which he attempts to ignore. As the history between Joe and Laura came out, I was really disgusted by the way he broke things off with her and didn't blame her at all for not wanting to see him ever again. But as the book went on, I could see the way he changed and matured, which made me somewhat more sympathetic to him. In spite of his wealth, good looks, and charm, Joe also has some insecurities that he keeps well hidden. I ached for him and his feeling that he wasn't a full member of the Omega team. I liked Laura. She's strong and feisty and can hold her own when dealing with Joe. Unfortunately, she also has her own insecurities that were aggravated by Joe's words six years earlier. She has worked hard to get where she is, an attorney with an excellent reputation. I didn't blame her at all for not wanting anything to do with him when she first saw him again.

I enjoyed the rekindling of Joe and Laura's relationship. I liked his determination to apologize to Laura for being such an idiot, and how he wasn't going to give up. Laura was determined to protect her heart from being crushed again, but she couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. I liked the fact that, despite her personal feelings toward him, she knew he was innocent of the charges against him. As they worked together to prove Joe's innocence, Laura got a chance to see the man Joe has become. I loved seeing his protectiveness and how he understood her caution. The last chapter was sweet and romantic, as Joe found the perfect way to show Laura that she could let go of her fears.

The suspense of the story was outstanding. There's the quick realization at the beginning that Joe's problems are connected to the case that haunts him. The look inside the mind of the stalker is truly frightening as their obsession with revenge becomes clearer. I did have some moments when I wanted to smack Joe upside the head and ask what he was thinking. The first murder should have made him cautious. When the second had the same MO, he should have been suspicious about going. When the third happened the same way, I wondered how he could be so stupid. I also ached for him as he tried to go it alone, believing that the Omega people would not support him. I loved his stunned shock as first one, then another, and another of his team members stepped up to help. The intensity increased as it became obvious that Laura was the next target. I was on the edge of my seat as they raced to find the stalker before they could strike again. The final confrontation was gripping as Joe pitted his skills against the twisted mind of a psychopath. The action was heart-pounding as I wondered how they would get out of it, and my relief was huge as the Omega team pulled it all together.

Cease Fire - Janie Crouch (HI #1790 - June 2018)

Series: Omega Sector: Under Siege (Book 3)
            Omega Sector (Book 13)

One perfect weekend changed his life

And now he’d die to protect his unborn child…

Two months ago, Roman Weber and Keira Spencer spent a breathless weekend together. But her sordid past and his privileged upbringing conspired against any happily-ever-after. When Keira is targeted by a killer, Omega Sector assigns Roman to safeguard her -- and possibly win her back. Then Keira reveals she’s pregnant, and Roman knows the killer must be stopped…if they ever hope to become a family.

Excellent continuation of the series. This book opens with both Roman and Keira at the wedding of their friends Andrea and Brandon (Man of Action). They are immediately drawn to each other, spend an incredible weekend together, and start an intense relationship. Outside interference brings an end to it, but neither one can forget what they had together.

I liked both Roman and Keira. Having recently survived life-threatening injuries, Roman has made some changes in his life. He's no longer the light-hearted fun guy, all too aware of how short life can be. He is also from a wealthy and connected family, with a mother who has plans for his future, ones that he doesn't necessarily agree with. I loved his desire to do something good with his life, and that he is determined to choose his own path. Keira is an incredibly strong woman. Alone after the deaths of her parents, her desire for love and family led her into an early marriage. When that marriage turned brutally abusive, she escaped and went on with her life. I loved how she took what happened to her and used it to help other people.

I loved the development of Roman and Keira's relationship. When he discovers that Keira may be the next target of Damien Freihof, he is determined to keep her safe. Keira is equally determined to keep him out of her life, not wanting to get her heart stomped on again. Roman knows he was a jerk and is determined to win her back - even more so when she reveals that she's pregnant. I loved that Roman was immediately on board with becoming a father. Though stunned at the news, it makes him happy. His protectiveness also extended past keeping her out of danger to wanting to do anything to make her life easier. I liked how anything that was important to her was also important to him, including the ladies at the shelter. After having failed so miserably at standing up to his mother the first time around, he did much better the next time she appeared unexpectedly, especially considering who she brought with her. I ached for Keira, because she had to deal with the bad memories that were resurrected, but cheered at the way she stood up for herself. Those memories still have enough of a hold on her that she resists the idea of anything permanent with Roman. He won major points with me for his patience and willingness to go with whatever she was comfortable with. I loved his big moment at the end - it was so sweet and romantic.

The suspense in this one was another page-turner. Once again, Freihof uses the people they care for against the members of Omega. Some things jumped right out at me as having his fingerprints all over them, and others had me wondering. The snowstorm incident had me worried because I didn't know how far it would go. The escalating events at the salon/shelter had everyone's nerves on edge. There were several twists and turns that added to the confusion of who was behind each attack. I loved the methods used by Omega to get information from one of the suspects. The final confrontation of the book was one that was intense and frightening in what evil someone is capable of. Things looked very bad until Roman got some help from a very unexpected source. The team has also received undeniable proof that there is a traitor in their midst, but they don't yet know who it is. I have a suspicion but will have to wait to see if I'm right.

Daddy Defender - Janie Crouch (HI #1745 - Nov 2017)

Series: Omega Sector: Under Siege (Book 1)
            Omega Sector (Book 11)

He was a man on a mission, one that included a beautiful woman and a little girl he'd die defending…

What a serious case of mistaken identity. Ashton Fitzgerald is no unassuming handyman but a highly trained sharpshooter intent on protecting Summer Worrall and her baby daughter. The Omega SWAT member has a debt to pay and he isn't about to let Summer out of his sights.

For someone else has set their own sights on the lovely widow. Her unexpected relationship with Ashton has put Summer and her child straight into a madman's line of fire. Suddenly a mission to make amends becomes Ashton's quest to defend this little family with his very life.

Good mix of suspense and romance. Two years earlier, Summer's husband Tyler, a member of the Omega team, was killed during a hostage crisis. Since then, Summer has been raising her daughter and moving on with her life as best she can. She rents her apartment from the head of the team and calls on the attractive but shy maintenance man when she needs help.

Except the maintenance man isn't who he appears to be. In an amusing case of mistaken identity, Ashton had taken care of the first repair himself, after his coworker asked him to find someone to do the repair. Now Ashton is firmly planted in Summer's mind as that, and he hasn't been able to find a way to tell her the truth. He's fallen hard for Summer and doesn't want to lose those chances to see her. His coworkers at Omega know how he feels and tease him constantly. They also tell him he'd better tell her the truth soon before she finds out on her own.

I loved the relationship between Summer and Ashton. He is adorably tongue-tied around her, not shy, but afraid of saying the wrong thing and giving himself away. Ashton is haunted by what he sees as his fault in the circumstances of Tyler's death and doesn't know how to tell Summer about it. Summer is attracted to Ashton, both for himself and for the way he and her daughter have bonded. She has come up with multiple reasons to call the "maintenance man" so that she can see him. It was fun to see Summer take the initiative to go after what she wanted, and Ashton's realization that he's out of time to come clean. Luck being what it is, Summer ends up finding out the truth before he can do so. Her shock is understandable, and I loved the conversation when they were finally able to talk about it. I loved Summer's reaction once she has all the facts and has had a chance to process them. I ached a bit for Ashton, who was tied up in knots over what he thinks she'll do. I loved seeing them deal with this issue and how it brought them closer together. The ending was really sweet and I loved his "proposal."

The suspense of the story is great. Someone has it in for the people at Omega and is intent on making them pay via the people they love. In this case, Ashton is the target and Summer and Chloe are the vehicle. It was interesting to see how the one bad guy delights in pulling the strings of the others, making them believe they are partners. This includes "Fawkes" who has his own agenda.  I loved the teamwork of the Omega folks and how each has an integral part in the investigation. The intensity continued to build with each attack as they race to figure out who is behind them. The final confrontation was riveting, but even more so was the aftermath. The "wall of clues" put together by the bad guy as his way of taunting the Omega team was scary in its complexity. It will be fascinating to see how the rest of the series goes.