Shamrock - Janie Crouch (Calamity Jane Publishing - Dec 2018)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 3)

Every mission has a price.

He never meant for her to pay it.

Aiden has never left anyone behind. Not a comrade and certainly not an innocent. But when an undercover mission goes wrong, he's forced to abandon a woman trapped in a human trafficking ring.

Violet learned brutally that no one is promised a happy ending. She knows Aiden blames himself for his part, but she refuses to let her abduction define the rest of her life.

She won't be a victim again. And she's going after what she wants: Aiden.

Watching Violet transform herself into a fierce warrior is the sexiest thing Aiden has ever seen. The honorable plan would be to stay away from her--let her heal and grow without the shadow of his mistakes clouding her progress--even though every instinct tells him to claim her for his own.

But when they discover the danger they thought they'd left behind is closer than ever, they'll have to face their deepest fears and fight side-by-side in order to survive.

This was a fantastic, complex story with multiple layers. Romance. Suspense. Friendship. Passion. The beginning of the story overlapped with the end of Eagle, this time showing events from Aiden's point of view. He was undercover in an attempt to bring down a traitor. In the process, he came across what appeared to be a human trafficking operation, and a young woman he called Firefly. Unexpectedly drawn to her, he was prepared to blow his cover to save her, but Fate intervened before he could. Devastated by his failure, he was haunted by his fear of what might happen to her.

I loved Violet. She is smart, practical, and determined. Her abduction came as quite a shock to her, and her fear was believable and intense. As afraid as she was, and mad at herself for it, I thought that she was much stronger than she gave herself credit for. I loved the way that she would mentally escape by working on her recipes. Her instincts were good also, and I liked how she recognized Aiden as a good guy in spite of how it looked. I loved how she tried to remain optimistic after the first encounter with Aiden.

I loved the development of Violet and Aiden's relationship. There was a connection between them from the moment they met. Though she didn't understand why Violet trusted Aiden immediately. He was there in that safe corner of her mind as she dealt with what was happening to her. Aiden's feelings of protectiveness surprised him, and I loved how that protectiveness showed itself during the rescue mission. And when it was all over, Aiden forced himself to step away, giving her a chance to recover without seeing him as a reminder of what happened to her. Meanwhile, Violet used her realization that nobody is guaranteed a tomorrow to pursue her passion for baking. She left her chemical engineering studies and work for the family company to start her own bakery, and put into action her plan to pursue Aiden. That encounter was fantastic and heartbreaking. I loved Violet's courage in going after him, and her pain at what seemed to be his rejection. I loved Aiden's total shock, and how it caused his complete bungling of the situation. I laughed out loud at the way their friends got them together. The bar scene was hilarious with Violet's drunk ramblings and Aiden's desperate attempts to be a gentleman. It was also the push they needed. I adored seeing them grow closer over the next two months, not just physically but also emotionally. There were still some bumps, caused by Aiden's honorable nature and the danger that still stalked her. I loved seeing Aiden come to his senses. It was their love for and belief in each other that got them through the danger to their happy ending.

The suspense of the story sucked me in from the beginning and kept me hooked to the end. I was already invested from the first page because of the overlap with the end of the previous book, except that now there is more detail. I was immediately curious as to why Violet was treated differently than the other captive women. Her fear and despair leapt off the page as she tried to cope with the actions forced on her. Once I was past the overlapping section, I was on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how Aiden and the others would pull off her rescue. The intensity was incredible, from the confrontation over Aiden's coat to the men's fears over reaching her quickly. The rescue wasn't the end of it, as the ringleader of both the arms dealing and the trafficking was still at large. Even after his capture, there were still feelings that it had been too "convenient," feelings that were borne out when Violet was attacked again. At that point, I began to suspect that the danger was a little closer than anyone suspected. The final confrontation was full of twists and turns, including one that I didn't see coming. I loved how Violet's work with Aiden and Gavin paid off, giving her the confidence and tools she needed for a truly satisfying resolution.

Besides the obvious physical passion between Aiden and Violet, there was also her passion for baking. I loved how that passion helped her survive her captivity by giving her mind a safe place to go. It was also great to see her channel that passion into convincing her brother that she hadn't gone off the deep end in reaction to what happened to her. I especially enjoyed the baking scenes with Violet and Jordan.

Friendship was another big theme. I loved how the ladies of Linear Tactical made Violet part of their group so quickly. It started with simple support after her rescue but quickly evolved into true friendship. I laughed out loud at their "help" in getting Violet and Aiden together. The bar scene, with the Electric Smurfs drinks, was inspired. I also liked the friendship that grew between Violet and Jordan after Violet hired her to work at the bakery. Violet's support of Jordan was great, and I loved seeing Violet stand up to her brother because of it. I also like the close friendships among the guys. They always have each other's backs, both professionally and personally. It's fun to see how that personal support often takes the form of intense teasing.

There were also some very interesting scenes between Jordan and Gabe. He came across as very judgmental and obnoxious in their first encounters, but it was also clear that there were other sparks flying between them. That became especially obvious in the hospital scene. I loved his protective fury when he realized what was happening. I'm looking forward to seeing more of these two in the next book.

 

Eagle - Janie Crouch (Jane Crouch - Oct 2018)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 2)

He's fighting for what's right...

She's fighting just to survive...

When former Special Forces soldier Finn Bollinger is asked to help with a deadly government mission, he's up for the task. His job teaching survival skills to civilians at Linear Tactical keeps him sharp, and he can still handle himself in the field.

But the Army damn well didn't teach Finn how to handle Charlotte Devereux. She's back and she's all sorts of bad news.

Charlotte can't change the past. Can't change the choices she made or the fact that they cost her everything. All she can do is endure the fallout. Even if that means putting her future in the hands of Finn, the man who has every right to want to destroy her.

And can in so many more ways than he thinks.

When the undercover mission goes impossibly wrong, they'll all have to depend on Charlotte's strength in order to survive. But everyone has a breaking point...

Fantastic second chance story with the added bonus of some gripping suspense. Charlie and Finn had been high school sweethearts, inseparable until Charlie suddenly decided to marry someone else. Devastated, Finn left town to join the military, later returning home to raise his son. He is one of the founding members of Linear Tactical and has made a good life for himself and his son. He hasn't seen Charlie since the day he begged her not to marry the other man.

Charlie's life is much different now than the one she had growing up. Far from being the town "princess," she works three jobs just to make ends meet. One of those jobs is helping children with learning disabilities, which is what brings her and Finn back together.

I liked both Charlie and Finn. Charlie is stubborn and independent. She accepts the consequences of the choices she made in the past but also has too much pride to let Finn see how desperate she is. She goes to great lengths to hide her circumstances from him. While her first two jobs are done to make the money she needs, the third job is her passion and what she lives for. Nothing makes her happier than working with kids who have learning disabilities and seeing them succeed. I liked the inner strength she displayed as she handled all the curveballs her life had delivered to her. She didn't whine or complain, she buckled down and did what she had to do.

Finn is tough, protective of those he cares about, and occasionally bitter about what had happened with Charlie. I loved the way he dropped everything when he found out about Ethan and threw himself into raising his son. The close relationship between the two was sweet, and I loved Finn's determination to do anything to help Ethan succeed.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Finn and Charlie. It started out pretty rough, with Finn's immediate and harsh rejection of Charlie as Ethan's tutor. I understood Finn's suspicion and wariness, as well as Charlie's unhappiness and acceptance. I loved Finn's eventual change of heart as he discovered that Charlie was, in fact, qualified to help Ethan. Underneath the antagonism is also the realization that the chemistry between them is just as strong as ever. Charlie also feels the attraction, and that attraction soon bursts into flame between them. Finn senses that there is something else going on with Charlie and his suspicions are aroused. Charlie is desperate to keep the truth of her circumstances from Finn until she is given no choice. I loved Finn's protectiveness and the way he cared for her. I was a little frustrated with how Charlie allowed her pride to hold her back from telling him everything that was happening in her life. When it became clear that there was more going on than just Charlie's financial problems, Finn's protectiveness went into overdrive. I ached for Finn and his fear for her, and his desperate hope that she would finally trust him. Finn's big moment at the end was fantastic as he found a way around all of her objections. The "epilogue" was great as it became Charlie's turn to go after what she wanted.

The suspense in the story was terrific. In Charlie's job as a bartender, she has found herself dealing with some very unsavory people. One night she stumbles into the middle of a dangerous situation and only quick thinking gets her out of it. However, it isn't long before danger stalks her, and people she knows start dying. Do the papers she found, with symbols like the ones she uses with Ethan, have anything to do with it? At the same time, Finn and the men of Linear Tactical have been approached by their former commanding officer to assist in stopping the sale of sensitive information. As they get closer to unmasking the villain behind it all, they discover an unexpected link between their case and what is happening to Charlie. It all comes to a head with a sting gone wrong and the bad guy getting away.  I was on the edge of my seat as an unexpected twist put Charlie at the center of the action and the bad guy went after Charlie for the information he knew she had. Charlie's strength of will was amazing through everything she endured. The tension and fear leapt off the pages as Finn and the others raced to the rescue. The resolution was perfect, capping off this book while leaving one thread dangling as a lead-in to the next book.

The secondary characters, as always, were also wonderful. We see a little more of Finn's partners, especially Aiden. I loved his commitment to the case they were working on and ached for the toll it took on him. I'm looking forward to getting to know him even better when his book comes along. It was great to see more of Zac and Annie, and Annie's assistance to Finn when Charlie collapsed. My favorite, by far, was Ethan. For a  kid who had as rough a start in life as he did, he is an amazingly sweet and kind little boy. My heart ached for him and his troubles. The changes in him after Charlie started working with him were fantastic, and I loved the connection that they shared. His relationship with his little friend Jess was sweet and showed how much he was like his daddy. I was astounded what he was able to do at the end and the critical part it played. I'd love to see a book about him when he's all grown up. I liked Jordan Reiss, who was mentioned in Zac's book in relation to the deaths of his wife and child. I liked Charlie's kindness to her, and the way the two women were able to help each other. I hope to see more of her in future books.

 

Cyclone - Janie Crouch (Calamity Jane Pub - Sept 2018)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 1)

He'd protect her from any threat...

But what if the biggest threat is him?

Doctor Anne Nichols is back in Oak Creek, Wyoming, only because she has no other options. Here, she was always the shy, stuttering girl, invisible to everyone.

Except Zac Mackay. The very reason she left in the first place.

Zac's years in Special Forces taught him survival skills, and he's created a company--Linear Tactical--to teach those skills to others, so they never have to live in fear.

Then why is Annie, the last person he'd ever want to hurt, afraid of him?

Zac's determined to wipe the fear from the eyes of the woman who has never been far from his mind. And fix the mistakes--his mistakes--that put that look there in the first place.

But a predator has set his sights on Annie. And now survival skills will become much more than lessons...

Terrific start to the new series, and one that had me hooked from the opening pages. The mix of sometimes heartbreaking emotion and pulse-pounding suspense had me glued to the pages well past my bedtime. I loved both Zac and Annie, who had realistic flaws and strengths, making them both easy to like and relate to. Zac, Annie, and Zac's late wife, Becky, had all been friends during high school. Zac married Becky, and never knew that Annie had a huge crush on him. Two weeks after Becky's death, both of them drunk and grieving, Zac and Annie had sex, an event that Zac remembers very little of. Zac went back to the army, and Annie left town. Six years later, Zac and his buddies have created a successful business teaching survival and safety. Zac is haunted by the events of that night and his feelings that he betrayed Becky. Annie has recently returned to Oak Creek as the new ER doctor at the hospital. She never planned to come back, but a recent divorce has left her broke and broken.

Zac and Annie's reunion came as a shock to both of them. Zac didn't know she was back until he ended up in her ER. In his shock, he wasn't particularly pleasant but didn't think he'd been bad enough to cause the fear he saw in her eyes. He has a sinking feeling it may go back to "that night," but he doesn't remember. I ached for Annie, whose memories are much more vivid. She's afraid of what he might say, not knowing that he doesn't recall what happened. The scene at the hospital was emotional, as both dealt with the influx of memories. Over the next few days, Annie and Zac encounter each other several times. Zac is haunted by the fear he sees in Annie's eyes and wants to know what caused it, while Annie doesn't want to remember or talk about it. Zac finds himself feeling very protective of Annie, which really surprises him. I loved the scene where he takes her to dinner after she treats the rape victim. I liked the way that they connected over their memories of Becky, and how it eased a little of the tension between them. I ached for Zac later that night, when the pieces of what had happened six years earlier finally came together. It was also quite satisfying to see how bad he felt about what he had done. His way of making amends was terrific, and I thoroughly enjoyed how he got the others involved also. I loved seeing his respect and admiration for Annie as he learned more about what she'd been through.

I loved watching them get to know each other as they are now. It was obvious that Zac was a goner over her. I loved his tenderness and his patience as he tried to control his attraction to her. Annie's insecurities made her blind to what was going on for the longest time. I had to laugh as Riley enumerated all the things that Zac had done for Annie. Seeing her finally believe was fantastic, as was watching her go after what she wanted. I loved the growing confidence in herself as a woman, and how Annie saw the various facets of her personality. When Annie gets into trouble, I liked the way that Zac gives her the support she needs to recover and also the tools to make her feel safe again. I liked how he feels so protective, but also knows her well enough that he doesn't smother her. The ending was sweet and romantic as they conquered their pasts and moved to a future together.

The suspense of this story was a page-turner. It started slowly, with both Annie and Zac involved in dealing with a sexual assault case. The tension picked up with a second assault and the realization that they may be dealing with a serial rapist. I was intrigued by the methods used by the Linear Tactical guys and loved their determination to catch the guy. My heart was in my throat when Annie was attacked, and I felt like I was right there with her. I suspected that there would be more to deal with as the LT men discovered the circumstances surrounding the attack. I had a couple of ideas of who the bad guy was, leaning toward one of them, but there were still some doubts in my mind right to the very end. The final confrontation was incredible. The bad guy was truly frightening in his determination. I loved seeing Annie's inner warrior, so well prepared by Zac, and how she dealt with the danger and terror. The ending was fantastic with an unexpected twist making the perfect resolution.