Series:
Zodiac Tactical (Book 4)
My code name is Pisces. The stars say I’m independent,
wise, and intuitive.
Still waters run deep.
I’m the leader of Zodiac Tactical’s guardian unit. We’re
the bodyguards—the ones who stand toe to toe with danger and refuse to give any
ground. We protect people who need it most.
But what if who needs it most is a spoiled diva?
I don’t normally take on movie stars. I don’t have time
for the drama nor their self-centered lifestyle. If they don’t take their
safety seriously, how can I?
But there’s something different about Alyse Peterson. On
the outside America’s Glamor Princess is everything I want to avoid. But behind
her perfect smile and sapphire eyes is a heartbreak she’s hiding from everyone.
She has secrets. And a stalker willing to kill to get to
them.
My code name is Pisces. And anybody who wants to get to
her, will have to go through me.
Once again, Janie Crouch has written a book that grabbed
me from the first page and kept me enthralled to the very end. The story opens as Alyse prepares for a
modeling job. We immediately see that she is uncomfortable with the number of
people around her and must work at being the person everyone expects to see. Matters
go from bad to worse when she receives a "gift" from a stalker. Her
fear was palpable, and I loved that her manager, Jared, knew exactly who to
call - Zodiac Tactical.
Tristan oversees the protection division of ZT. It is the
perfect place for him as he is a protector by nature. He has a few control
issues, thanks to an event in his past. He's not happy when the request comes
in to provide security for Alyse. He has a very poor opinion of movie stars,
thanks to previous experience, but Alyse is a special case. Tristan did a job
for her father years earlier and owed the man for his influence that helped
establish the business. He still hopes
to steer her toward another firm for her security needs.
The first meeting between Tristan and Alyse doesn't go well.
Tristan goes in with preconceived ideas about Alyse and her life, and Alyse is
clearly on edge. Tristan does not expect
the immediate swell of protectiveness he feels toward her, despite his beliefs
about her. His action with the food is sweet but freaks him out by being very
out of character for him. He then overcompensates by being harsh and judgmental.
I ached for Alyse, who was barely holding it together. His demand to have
someone staying in her house was the last straw. Her home is her sanctuary and
the only place she could be herself and maintain her sanity. Tristan's parting
words were obnoxiously rude and uncalled for, but Alyse got the last word. I
loved his friends'/coworkers' reactions.
I loved seeing the relationship between Tristan and Alyse
develop. It doesn't take too long for Tristan to realize that Alyse's perfect image
is carefully cultivated and used as armor against the outside world. As he
catches an occasional glimpse of the real Alyse, he becomes determined to break
through that perfect veneer. Meanwhile, Alyse's compulsion to maintain that
image around Tristan gets harder to sustain. The author did a stellar job of
showing how the events of her past drove Alyse's fears and insecurities. I
loved Tristan's patience and gentleness as he tried to break through that wall.
I cheered when it finally came down and loved Tristan's immediately stunned and
positive reaction. With the dropping of that barrier, the attraction that both had
been fighting was unleashed.
There are many sweet and moving scenes of the two getting
to know each other and growing closer. I loved seeing Alyse blossom under
Tristan's attention, though she still hid her authentic self from the public. As
the stalker's actions escalate, Tristan becomes more determined to stop him.
Unfortunately, this leads him to make a boneheaded decision that makes sense
security-wise but leaves Alyse feeling betrayed. I ached for them both - Alyse,
whose entire life was upended by what happened, and Tristan, who realized what
a terrible mistake he'd made. It also opened the window for the stalker. Tristan's
fear for Alyse leaped off the page, as did his love and desperation to save
her. There was no doubt about their love for each other when it was all over.
The bonus epilogue, which takes place in Oak Creek,
Wyoming, showcases the close ties between the Linear Tactical and Zodiac
Tactical characters. I laughed out loud at the conversation as Gavin, Baby, and
Ian gave Tristan a hard time about his feelings. Tristan's scene with Alyse and
the end was sweet, romantic, and - dare I say? - perfect.
The suspense of the story was gripping. From the first
moment of the stalker's appearance to the final confrontation, there wasn't a
minute that I wasn't glued to the pages. The audacity and creepiness of his
actions oozed off the pages. I could feel the frustration of Tristan and the
rest of the team as the stalker was scary smart and seemed to be one step ahead
of them at all times. I liked the inclusion of Callum Webb, the Omega Sector
operative who is so good at getting inside the bad guys' heads, and the insight
that helped them identify the stalker. Unlike some stories where it's easy to
figure out, this one kept me guessing to the very end. The final confrontation
was a nail-biter, with the stalker seeming to have every advantage. The
resolution was fantastic.
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