My code name is Libra. The stars say I'm charismatic,
intelligent, charming.
The one with the easy smile.
Zodiac Tactical has been the biggest part of my life for
the past three years. We guard, protect, rescue...eliminate the threat when
nobody else can. And I've always been at the front lines -- first to help in
whatever way was needed.
Until I took a bullet to the chest.
Now everybody's worried about me. So I'm sent on what's
supposed to be an easy mission -- gathering intel about some potential bad guys
while on a tropical island for a wedding. Lay low, blend in, catch a little tan
while getting the job done. Can't be too hard.
Until I defend the bride's adorable sister against some
cruel cattiness and the next thing I know I'm mentioning I'm her fiancé.
Surprise.
When the mission takes a turn for the much more
dangerous, and my fiancée finds herself in the middle of it, I will do whatever
it takes to keep her safe. My wounds may have knocked me down, but a Navy SEAL,
even a former one with a couple extra bullet holes, always gets back up.
My code name is Libra. Don't let the easy smile fool you.
Another stellar entry in the Zodiac Tactical
constellation. I really must learn to start these books early in the day,
because once again I started reading after 9 pm and couldn't stop until I finished
the whole thing at 4 am. Like the others, it is told from dual first-person
perspectives - Landon and Bethany. It can be read as a stand-alone, but the
experience is richer if you read them in order.
This book begins six months after Landon nearly died from
a point-blank shot to the chest (Code Name: Virgo). He's been on desk duty ever
since getting out of the hospital, and he is champing at the bit to get back in
the field. Fortunately, a request comes in for an intelligence-gathering
mission at a wedding on an island resort. He has the skills to go undercover as
the baker's assistant for the bride's sister. It should be an easy assignment.
Bethany is the black sheep in her wealthy family. Rather
than live off daddy's money, she started her bakery and works for a living. She
is petite and curvy and frequently catches grief from her mother because of it.
Bethany is also aware that her father's business practices aren't always
ethical and maintains her distance because of it. But when her sister calls and
begs her to provide the wedding week treats, she can't say no. It will be a
chance to showcase her bakery and drum up some needed business. She never
expected her trusted handyman cake-stand builder to bail on her and send a stranger
to take his place.
I loved the first meeting between Landon and Bethany. He
is known for his handsome face and charming ways, and he lays it on pretty
thick when he meets her. Bethany is wary, but his easygoing way gets past her
defenses, while his skills as a carpenter earn him a place on her team. The
sparks between them are evident, but Landon is mission-focused, and Bethany
isn't interested in a fling. Landon finds himself unexpectedly protective of
Bethany when he sees how she is treated and cuts off some catty remarks when he
claims to be her fiancé. It was unplanned, but being her fiancé opened some
unexpected opportunities for his undercover work.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Bethany and
Landon develop. Between being dumped by her previous boyfriend and the negative
attitudes of the people around her, Bethany's self-esteem is pretty low. She
has difficulty believing that Landon a) likes her for herself and b) is
honestly attracted to her. Landon has difficulty keeping his eyes and hands off
her, but his mission must come first. He feels guilty about deceiving her and
does his best to maintain control of his actions until his task is completed.
There are some terrific scenes of their time together, both working and when
Landon coaxes her into relaxing. When they finally give in to their attraction,
their chemistry is explosive. But an unexpected problem with his mission plays
havoc with their developing relationship, and Landon fears she'll never trust
him again. A couple of twists bring them back together in some heart-pounding
circumstances, and honest communication solidifies their relationship.
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from beginning
to end. The most important was Landon's mission to acquire information on two
human traffickers. Landon is on his own except for some minimal backup from fellow
ZT Tristan. I liked their scenes together, which were intense with risk. Most
of the time, Landon must depend on quick wits and charm to create his
opportunities. He made me laugh with his Dodgers hat ploy. His scenes with his
quarry's security guards were nail biters. I was on the edge of my seat as
Landon's last chance came down to the wire. I loved how Bethany saved the day.
The tension wasn't over, though, as Bethany became the target of a vengeful
man. I loved seeing Landon call on his SEAL abilities and go from charming to
deadly in the blink of an eye. While Landon's mission was successfully
completed, some lingering issues will carry on into the next book.
Bethany's sister went against her mother's wishes when
she insisted Bethany be given the wedding week pastry job. I loved her
confidence in Bethany and her support of Bethany's dream. I wanted to shake their
mother for her confidence-busting comments. It was disheartening to see that
some people believed Bethany would mess up or purposely do something to ruin
the wedding. My heart broke for her when her nightmares became real the night
before the wedding. I loved Landon's support and how he helped get her past the
shock and into recovery mode. The culprit did not surprise me, nor did their idiotic
actions that reveal the truth. The unexpected outpouring of love and help she
got was heartwarming and encouraging for the future.
The epilogue was fantastic. I loved catching up with Ian
and Wavy, Sarge and Bronwyn, and seeing the progression of Landon and Bethany's
relationship. I liked the lead-in to the next book and can't wait to see
Tristan again.
No comments:
Post a Comment