My code name is Virgo. The stars say I’m practical,
honest, stubborn as hell.
Guilty as charged.
Zodiac Tactical is the company that gave me a second
chance. We guard, protect, rescue...eliminate the threat when nobody else can.
And as a former SEAL, I’m good at those things. Good with weapons, good with
missions.
But with people...not so good.
So when a gruesome enemy takes Bronwyn Rourke, one of
Zodiac’s newest young recruits—with blue eyes that take up nearly her whole
damn face—I shouldn’t take it personally. Shouldn’t allow her to consume my
every thought and become my only mission.
They took her because they thought she was alone. Easy
prey. That no one would fight for her.
They were wrong.
My code name is Virgo. And I will grind my enemy to dust
to bring her home.
Yet another of the author's books that had me pulling an
all-nighter. I really must learn to start these books earlier in the day. I
know this, but somehow it doesn't stop me from reading as soon as possible.
This is the second book in the Zodiac Tactical series, and much of it takes
place concurrently with Code Name: Aries but from a different perspective.
There are some overlapping scenes, but not many, and those don't feel
repetitive.
The story starts with Sarge's first encounter with
Bronwyn. He's a SEAL whose team just finished a mission and is on leave in
Prague (terrific city - the descriptions took me back to my visits there). He
spots Bronwyn, a talented pickpocket, as she works the square. He doesn't
interfere until later when he rescues her from a disturbing situation. I loved
Sarge's protectiveness and honorable nature, something Bronwyn had no
experience with. The scene in his hotel room was both heartwarming and
heartbreaking. I loved the connection between them and how important that
connection became. I ached for Bronwyn when something she said after leaving
caused him harm and for Sarge, who believed she'd betrayed him. Despite the
circumstances, neither one forgot the other.
Five years later (current day), Sarge is back in Prague
and looking for Bronwyn. Nothing much has changed, but now Sarge works for
Zodiac Tactical. This time when he encounters Bronwyn, he offers her the means
to escape her current situation by recruiting her for Zodiac. When she shows up
at their Paris location, he keeps a watchful but distant eye on her. When we
see Bronwyn again, she is in the middle of a mission. I loved seeing her pride
in her work, and how she overcame the temptation she felt at a crucial moment.
Everything looks good as Bronwyn successfully completes her mission. But things
go downhill fast when she arrives back at her hotel room and is drugged and
taken.
When Sarge finds out that Bronwyn is missing, his
protectiveness goes into overdrive. Hw leaves no stone unturned in his search
for her. Even when others believe she left on her own, he doesn't give up. And
when video shows up of Bronwyn participating in robberies and other illegal
behavior, Sarge is the only one who believes that something is wrong. I loved
his determination to find her and his confidence in her when he does. In the
segments done from Bronwyn's point of view, we witness the devastating torture
she experiences at the hands of Mosaic and the excruciatingly painful methods
of mind control they use. I couldn't help but be amazed at her strength of will
as she fought against the darkness. I loved how her connection with Sarge gave
her the strength to endure and survive. Her mental conversations with him were
often the only thing that kept her from going over the edge.
I ached for Sarge on those occasions he caught up with Bronwyn.
He worked so hard to stop her without hurting her, but because of the
brainwashing, Bronwyn didn't hold back, though she could never bring herself to
kill him. The parallels and overlaps with Ian and Wavy's story helped build my
anticipation for some of the things I knew were coming. I loved it when Sarge
whisked Bronwyn away to the ranch to heal and recover. His patience and care
were terrific. I hurt for Bronwyn, who believed that she was broken, no matter
how often Sarge tried to tell her how amazing she was. The back and forth as
various groups fought for possession of Bronwyn made me ache for everything she
experienced.
I loved how Bronwyn's time with Jenna while Sarge was
away allowed Bronwyn to push her brain for memories that Sarge held her back
from. Bronwyn's determination to unlock the secrets shows how strong she is.
Her horror at what she learned was tempered by knowing that she has information
vital to stopping Mosaic. I loved her
plan, and though Sarge hated it, he had to admit it could work. I was glued to
the pages (and wide awake at 5 am!) as they carried it out. Of course, there's
frequently a monkey wrench thrown into the works during the process, and this
was no exception. I loved watching Bronwyn face off against the one responsible
for her troubles. Justice was served in the end.
During their time on the ranch, Bronwyn and Sarge had the
chance to get to know each other. Because of their age difference, Sarge was
cautious about how he treated her. It took a while for him to admit his
feelings for her, though Bronwyn knew hers. I could feel her frustration at
times as he kept that bit of distance between them. I loved when she finally
broke through his control, and they experienced what was meant to be. The
epilogue was fantastic.
I can't wait for the next Zodiac book, as well as the Resting
Warrior Ranch series.
No comments:
Post a Comment