An Operative's Last Stand - Juno Rushdan (HI #2052 - Feb 2022)

Series: Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit (Book 4)

A kill squad is closing in…
Now this team leader must risk everything for answers
 
Barely escaping CIA mercenaries, ex-agent Hunter Wright is after the person he thinks targeted his ops team, Topaz, for treason. Deputy director Kelly Russell is still the one woman he can't resist, but she believes Hunter went rogue. Now she's his only shot at getting the answers they need. Can they trust each other enough to save Topaz -- and each other?
 
Terrific conclusion to the series. For the last eighteen months, the members of the Topaz Unit have been on the run. Accused of betraying their country for money, they know they are innocents of the charges and are desperate to clear their names. Meanwhile, the powers-that-be at the CIA have sent hit squad after hit squad to silence them. Hunter Wright, Topaz's team leader, has done his best to protect his teammates who have barely escaped their pursuers. All of them and their significant others have joined Hunter on his sanctuary island, where they decide it is time to return to the US and get the answers they need.
 
Two years earlier, Hunter and the team's handler, Kelly Russell, grew very close. After one passion-filled night, Kelly pulled back, insisting on returning to a professional relationship. Not long after that, Topaz Unit was sent on the mission that started their troubles. They suspected something was off but carried out their orders, only to discover that they had killed the wrong person. When they were declared traitors, Hunter believed that Kelly had set them up, and when he learned of her promotion, he was sure of it. In previous books, we have seen Kelly's determination to exterminate the team vehement in her characterization of them as traitors. Hunter is understandably hurt and angry that she could believe him capable of such heinous behavior.
 
Thanks to discovering a tracking device at the end of the previous book, the team knows their days on the island are numbered. As the story opens, they await the next attack. I was on the edge of my seat as they lay in wait, trap baited. I loved watching them kick butt while Kelly and the others followed the events in horrified disbelief. Kelly's frustration is palpable, and her frustration with her coworker is evident. That was my first inkling that everything might not be what it seemed. I loved seeing the team make a clean getaway, and advance their plans to discover the truth.
 
The story's suspense built from event to event, chapter to chapter, as the team grew closer to uncovering the truth. Hunter's first step was a confrontation with Kelly, and I loved how he set that up. Face-to-face for the first time since that fateful mission, their exchange was heartbreaking and satisfying. Though she was skeptical of Hunter's claims, he raised just enough doubt that she promised to look into it. Those inquiries stirred up a hornets' nest, and the team worked hard to protect themselves and, eventually, Kelly. Bombs, snipers, mass shootings, made for non-stop action as Hunter and Kelly raced to uncover the who and why of the set-up. Just when I thought I knew who was behind it, an unexpected twist proved me wrong. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with Kelly caught in the clutches of the mastermind. The motivations behind it all shocked me, and the steps taken to ensure success were horrifying. I was glued to the pages as Hunter, the other Topaz members, and some of John's SEAL friends arrived in time to save the day.
 
Much of the relationship between Hunter and Kelly happened off-page at the beginning of the book. Despite her being his boss, their time together deepened the attraction that grew between them. I was as frustrated as Hunter was at Kelly's lack of faith in Hunter's honor. I'm not sure I could be as forgiving as he was. I could feel Hunter's pain when he kidnapped Kelly and tortured her to get her to listen. Kelly's guilt was evident as she uncovered the manipulations that made her believe in Hunter's treachery. Once she saw the truth, she allowed herself to pursue her growing feelings for him. The epilogue was terrific with finding out the results of their work and seeing the happiness of the four couples. I loved the twist in the big moment between Hunter and Kelly. 

 
 

Alaskan Christmas Escape - Juno Rushdan (HI #2041 - Dec 2021)

Series: Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit (Book 2)

With a death squad in pursuit…
A fugitive needs the help of a wounded warrior.
 
An elite CIA kill squad has located hacker Zenobia Hanley's Alaska wilderness hideout. With commandos hot on Zee's heels, she's saved from capture by her neighbor John Lowry. Zee has kept her yearning for the SEAL, who has a disability, in check to shield him. But, despite her secrets, John's determined to protect Zee regardless of the risks. Because there's more at stake this Christmas than just their lives.
 
A fantastic book full of non-stop action, many twists and turns, and a terrific romance between two hurting people. Zee is the computer hacker member of Topaz Unit, a former CIA unit whose last mission didn't go as planned. It quickly became apparent that they were set up, and the only questions were who and why? To make matters worse, the CIA sent a hit squad after them, determined to stop them from asking questions. In this book, Zee has settled in a remote cabin in Alaska, where she keeps to herself. The only exception is the wary friendship she's built with her next-door neighbor, John.
 
John is a former Navy SEAL, injured in the line of duty, and medically retired. He has PTSD and prefers to live his life away from people. The Alaskan wilderness suits him perfectly. He first got to know Zee as he helped the city girl learn to deal with the Alaskan challenges. He senses that she has secrets, but he doesn't pry since he does too.
 
The story's suspense was outstanding and kept me hooked from beginning to end. Zee uses her hacking skills to search for what went wrong with Topaz Unit's last mission. As good as she is, a too-long dip into the CIA's system raised flags and gave away her location. The latest kill squad has an unexpected complication. The group leader also has personal reasons for wanting Zee dead, and nothing will stop him. His ruthlessness is evident the first time we see him and his horrific actions at the computer club. The intensity ramps up when John spots the squad as they arrive near Zee's cabin, warns her and immediately jumps in to help her escape. I was on the edge of my seat as I wondered how they would get away, but Zee's abilities and John's SEAL skills made it happen. Though Zee tried hard to push John away to protect him, including a harsh exchange of words, John refused to give up on her.
 
The action never lets up as Zee and John struggle to stay ahead of the kill squad. An added complication came when Zee insisted on retrieving her daughter, Olivia, from her school. The shocking revelation of Olivia's father's identity added to the tension of the pursuit. The twists, turns, and intensity of the killers' intent kept me glued to the pages as each confrontation increased the pressure. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Zee faced off against her pursuer. The conclusion was not unexpected as Zee, John, and Olivia used team leader Hunter's "parachute" to get away. The epilogue indicates that a showdown is coming and that the team is ready to bring the fight to their accusers.
 
I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Zee and John. After months of sharing dinners, watching movies, and just spending time together, their attraction continues to grow. Neither one does anything about it because they don't want to risk their friendship. When trouble comes, Zee tries to put distance between them to protect John from those who are after her. However, John refuses to be pushed aside. I loved his protectiveness and how he insisted on helping her. Once Zee accepted that he wasn't going anywhere, their partnership was fantastic. I loved seeing them trust each other enough to share their secrets and depend on each other to have their backs. Burned by a past relationship, Zee resists the feelings stirred up by John. I loved watching John's unwavering care begin to break down her walls. John's instant connection with Zee's daughter, Olivia, also went a long way toward helping Zee trust her feelings for him. I loved the epilogue and seeing how much closer John and Zee are. There's an adorable scene between John and Olivia, followed by an emotional one with Zee and John. 

Disavowed in Wyoming - Juno Rushdan (HI #2046 - Jan 2022)

Series: Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit (Book 3)

He'll put his own life on any line
If it means keeping her away from the danger stalking him
 
Fleeing from a CIA kill squad, former operative Dean Delgado is hiding out back in Wyoming, where the terrain -- and the people -- are all too familiar. He befriends veterinarian Kate Sawyer while working undercover -- the woman he was once forced to leave behind. But when an emergency call brings Kate under fire, Dean must blow his cover to save her. Now, despite the risks to his own life, protecting Kate is the only mission that matters.
 
Wow-what a rollercoaster of a ride this book was. The action began almost immediately and didn't let up even at the end. The story opens as Kate, a veterinarian with a mobile clinic takes a late-night call. But instead of a client with a sick animal, her caller is a desperate young woman in labor and standing outside Kate's apartment. When the terrified mother-to-be refuses to allow an ambulance to be called, Kate realizes she'll have to deliver the baby herself. With the help of the elderly bartender, DJ, from the bar under her apartment, Kate gets Cheryl into her mobile clinic with minutes to spare. But as Kate is in mid-delivery, two gun-wielding men burst in, threatening their lives, and demanding to take Cheryl and the baby.  In the first of many surprises that night, the elderly DJ takes out one gunman and chases down the other.
 
Unknown to Kate, DJ is not precisely what he seems. Dean Delgado, a native of Laramie and her high school boyfriend, walked away when they were seventeen without a word to anyone. Since then, he lived on the streets, spent time as a Marine, then joined the CIA, where he was a member of Topaz Unit, an assassination squad. When his team's last mission went horribly wrong, they found themselves the targets of a CIA kill squad. A master of disguises, Dean returned to Laramie, where he's lived undercover for seven months, always looking over his shoulder. When he breaks cover to help Kate, he knows he'll have to leave again, but how can he go when she's in danger?
 
I loved the reunion between Dean and Kate. While grateful for his help, the last thing she wants is to have Dean stirring up old feelings. I loved how she ripped into him for the way he left, his selfishness in not getting in touch, and his current plan to disappear again. His explanation doesn't wholly convince her of the danger he's in, and she wants him to stay and help her figure out what was going on with Cheryl. Dean attempts to persuade her to leave it alone, as he suspects something terrible is going on, and he wants her to be safe. Of course, she refuses to back down, and though Dean leaves, his guilty conscience sends him right back - just in time to rescue Kate again.
 
I could not put the book down as Dean and Kate investigated what Cheryl was involved in. Strange numbers found on a thumb drive led them to a dark underbelly in their small town and put both in further danger. I loved Dean's actions, proving he knew the right thing to do, but it also left Kate vulnerable. An unforeseen twist put her at the mercy of a dangerous man, leaving Dean to figure out how to save her. Help came from an unexpected source, and though Dean is wary, he can't turn it down. The rescue scene was a nail-biter, but their troubles aren't over yet.
 
At the same time, all of this is going on, the kill squad finally got the break they needed to locate Dean. A disturbing scene at CIA headquarters shows a ruthlessness on the part of several people to eliminate Dean and the rest of his team. They deploy a "secret weapon" to get their information while reiterating their expectations. I was especially intrigued by the news about Topaz Unit's former boss and can't wait to see what comes of that. I was on the edge of my seat as the killers came closer to Dean and Kate. The final confrontation was heartbreaking, but I hold out hope that some good may come of it.
 
I loved seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Dean and Kate. Neither had forgotten each other in the fifteen years they'd been apart, and it didn't take long for their feelings to resurface. I liked watching them talk about what happened back then, the repercussions for everyone involved, and the effects that still linger in their lives. Kate's trust issues have impacted attempted relationships in ways she only just begins to understand. Dean has trouble believing he deserves anything good in his life. As they work their way toward safety and sanctuary, they have some time to get to know each other again.
 
The epilogue was excellent, and I loved catching up with the people from the first two books. But an unpleasant surprise arrives along with Dean and Kate and serves as a lead-in for the next book. I can't wait to finally find out the truth of what happened with that failed operation and the who/what/why behind the attacks.