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.

Armored Attraction - Janie Crouch (HI #1643 - June 2016)

Series: Omega Sector: Critical Response (Book 3)
            Omega Sector (Book 7)

One secret can change everything

It's been eight years since Liam Goetz has seen his ex-fiancé. Vanessa Epperson had everything: beauty, brains…and a family fortune. He chose her, while she chose a life of luxury and never imagined their paths would cross again. An unexpected phone call from Vanessa -- desperate for his help in a human trafficking case -- resurrects old longings. As they work together to save hostages and catch a predator, Liam begins to learn some shocking truths -- about himself and the woman he thought he once knew so well…

Very good book with intense suspense and a roller coaster of emotions as Liam and Vanessa reconcile their pasts and their present. I was hooked on their story from the very beginning. Vanessa was out for a walk on the beach, trying to decompress after a stressful day at work as a social worker, when she stumbled on a young girl washed up on the beach. It didn't take long to find out that she was most likely a victim of human trafficking. When she also discovered that local law enforcement might be involved, she can only think of one person who might be able to help her, and she hasn't talked to him in eight years.

Liam couldn't believe it when he received a forwarded voice mail from Vanessa. He's not too keen to see her, but he hoped it would enable him to finally put the past behind him. He was also curious about what kind of situation would cause her to reach out to him after so many years.

I loved their first meeting after so many years. Liam gets quite a shock when he sees her, as nothing is like what he expected. Vanessa is no longer the naïve, carefree, party girl that he left behind. Unknown to him, words he spoke to his friends before leaving town made their way to her, convincing her that she wanted to make changes in her life. No longer heedless of other's feelings, Vanessa has become a caring and compassionate social worker, turning her back on her wealthy lifestyle. Liam sees signs of pain and loss in her eyes, but she won't talk about it to him. Liam has gone through some changes of his own. After his breakup with Vanessa, he became quite the playboy, flitting from woman to woman, but never getting close to any of them. However, he's recently backed off from that life, after seeing some of his friends and coworkers finding love and settling down. But before he can find that for himself, he has to let go of his past.

I really enjoyed the rekindling of Liam and Vanessa's relationship. It's obvious from the start that the physical attraction between them is still alive and well, but neither one is happy about it. Liam is still hurt and angry over what he saw as her betrayal, and Vanessa is equally certain that if he had truly loved her, he never would have walked away so easily. I liked seeing Liam get to know the new Vanessa as they worked together. I loved his growing respect for her and his admiration of her strength. He was also determined to earn her trust so that she would tell him whatever it is he is sure that she is hiding. Vanessa is surprised by the depth of caring and protectiveness that Liam shows toward their young victim. It goes a long way toward softening her attitude toward him and encouraging her to tell him the truth of what had happened eight years earlier. I ached for Liam when he found out the details and how he blamed himself for not fighting for her. Once their pasts were dealt with, it became easier to give in to the growing feelings between them. I loved Liam's big moment as he confessed his feelings and showed Vanessa just how deep they were. The ending was fantastic with a couple of unexpected but wonderful twists.

The suspense of the story had me riveted throughout the entire book. Discovering Karine on the beach, then finding out that someone in law enforcement might be involved, made it imperative that Vanessa find help that she could trust. The arrival of the deputy practically on Liam's heels created quite a desperate situation, and I loved the way that he handled it. The tension of the encounters with law enforcement, wondering who could be trusted and who couldn't made their job more difficult. Knowing that there were seven more girls out there somewhere, in imminent danger, kept me on the edge of my seat, as Liam and the other Omega members worked feverishly to locate them.  The final confrontation was intense, with an unexpected complication adding to the danger. There was a surprisingly sweet moment with the youngest of the girls, in the middle of all the action, that really warmed my heart. I especially liked Vanessa's strength and courage as she stood up to the bad guys and then protected Karine in the aftermath. The ending was terrific, and I loved following what happened with the girls.