Agent Zero - Lilith Saintcrow (HRS #1865 - Sept 2015)

Read December 8, 2016

After barely surviving an IED, former US Army soldier Reese was whisked away by a shadowy agency and genetically enhanced. Now a "Super Agent"--smarter, faster, stronger, deadly--Reese executes his missions with precision. But when he's inexplicably drawn to a down-on-her-luck waitress, Reese learns he's not the emotionless man he once thought.

One minute, Holly Candless is getting fifty-buck tips from her favorite hunky customer. The next, she's kidnapped, injected with something and rescued by Reese. Suddenly, they're on the run from the very government agency that wants Reese reprogrammed--and Holly dead. Keeping Holly alive is not only Reese's primary mission--it's his sole chance at love...and survival.

Good story, with a bit of a science fiction feel to it, almost a combination of Spiderman and the Six Million Dollar Man. Reese is a soldier/spy who has been genetically enhanced by the introduction of a virus into his system. His senses, intelligence, and strength are all incredible. He and several others like him are all part of a secret government agency. In this book, Reese has become fascinated by a waitress at a local diner that he visits between assignments. Something about Holly soothes him after particularly rough missions. He doesn't really talk to her, just watches her and leaves.

Holly is alone in the world after her father's death and her divorce from her husband. She hasn't had an easy life. Her military father died of cancer, likely caused by his time in the military. She watched him fight both the disease and the system that should have helped him. After helping put her husband through medical school, he asks for a divorce just as she finds out that there may be something wrong with her too.

Holly is a little freaked out by Reese and the way he watches her, but he's never actually done anything wrong. She gets the feeling that maybe he's just a bit shy. One day he finally asks her to have coffee with him somewhere other than the diner. Though wary, she says yes. Their plans are interrupted when a normal check-in/check-up turns into an attempt to kill him. Worried about Holly's safety after another attempt on him, he discovers that she's been taken, drugged and questioned, and is about to be killed to cover it all up. He rescues her and they go on the run.

I liked the development of their relationship. Reese is super protective and will do whatever he must to keep Holly safe. His supersensitive nose detects a scent about her that he just can't resist, like it is calling just to him. His feelings for her grow stronger, but he worries that the things he has done will make it impossible for her to return those feelings. Ever since Holly found out that she is sick, she has kept people at a distance. She doesn't want any of them going through what she did with her father. She quickly discovers that Reese won't be pushed away, and realizes that she likes the feeling of being cared for by him. A surprise event changes her prognosis, and makes it possible to think about a future, if they can get away from those who are after them. I loved the ending, as Reese is still endearingly awkward about expressing his feelings.

The suspense of the story is really interesting and intense. The agents are supposed to do their jobs without any "emotional noise", ie. conscience, feelings of love, sorrow, guilt, etc. Anyone who develops these tendencies gets reprogrammed or "liquidated". When a doctor who knew only a small part of what was happening learns the truth, he goes off the deep end and decides to eliminate the carriers of the virus. Of course, those in charge can't have that, but their attempts to fix the problem only make things worse. One of the other agents is sent to track down Reese and Holly, but he's actually on their side and has his own agenda. There is also a female agent whose point of view we also get, who really illustrates the effects and pitfalls of the program. She turns out to be much more important than suspected at the beginning. The pursuit of Reese and Holly is intense, and the final confrontation still leaves some questions unanswered. 

A Cowboy's Claim - Marin Thomas (HAR #1591 - Apr 2016)

Series: Cowboys of the Rio Grande (Book 3)

A DIFFERENT KIND OF HERO

Everyone knows Victor Vicario -- he's the scarred loner who's on his way to the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas. But no one knows about the guilt that drives him. And until he achieves his goal, there's no room in his life for attachments.

So when Vic is given temporary custody of his young nephew, he is torn. He can't turn his back on family, but how can he look after a kid when he's traveling the rodeo circuit? Then he runs into feisty barrel racer Tanya McGee and makes her an offer. She helps him with Alex, and he'll pay her rodeo expenses. The problem is their little "family" starts to feel all too real.

Very good book. I have been waiting for my chance to read Vic's story and it did not disappoint. Vic is one of three friends who grew up in the barios of Albuquerque. All of them had rotten childhoods, but Vic wears the scars of his on the outside. These days he is a rodeo bronc rider, doing his best to make it to the Finals in Vegas. He has a goal to win, and until he does there is no room in his life for anything else. Then he gets a call that his four year old nephew needs him. He's never met the boy, but he can't ignore him. So he takes Alex on the road with him, not realizing the challenges he will face.

Tanya is a barrel racer putting in her last season of competition. Her previous season ended when she was in an accident that took her a year to recover from. She wants to end on a high note, but she is having issues with her horse and is almost out of resources to continue. A chance encounter with Vic has him offering to help her continue competing if she will help him take care of Alex.

There were times in this book, and throughout the series, that I thought Vic was really selfish. It was his actions that got his friend Cruz sent to prison (A Cowboy's Redemption). He also avoided his old friends and ignored their attempts to reconnect with him. In this book, his quest to make the Finals seemed to come before everything else, including proper care of Alex. Instead, he takes the boy on the road with him, spending long hours on the road, staying in different towns and cheap motels every night. But partway through the book, his motivation is finally revealed, and I felt much more sympathetic toward him. I also loved how devoted he was to helping Alex. The boy had had a very traumatic life so far, and Vic is determined to make it better. Because of his own past he has a greater understanding of his nephew and his problems. I loved his patience in helping Alex overcome his fears.

His relationship with Tanya was a complicated one. He doesn't do relationships because of his intense focus. But from the moment he met her, he hasn't been able to get her off his mind. A hookup with her right before he found out about Alex scared him with the way he connected with her. He knows he should avoid her because of the distraction, but she's also the only one he is willing to trust with Alex's welfare. As he offers her a deal, he hopes he can keep his mind on his goal. It doesn't take long before their partnership starts to show results in Alex's behavior. But Vic can't allow himself to think of a future with Tanya and Alex when he doesn't know how or when his quest is going to end.

Tanya finds it very easy to fall for both Alex and Vic. In spite of his fearsome appearance and reputation, she sees the good in Vic. She would like nothing better than a future with both of them, but she's been burned once before. She's not so sure she can trust him with her heart, but she can't stop herself from giving it to him anyway. I loved how she got him to open up to her about his past, his motivations, and his hopes for Alex. Her support of him and his goals was just what he needed.

I loved the ending as everyone came together at the Finals in Vegas. I was just as nervous as Vic and Tanya as I waited to see how the competition would go. The scene under the bleachers between Vic and Cruz was heartfelt and incredibly moving. The emotion was intense, with just the right bit of lightness added to keep it from being too much. The icing on the cake was the follow on scene between Vic and Tanya. I loved her reaction to his question, which just showed that she had no trouble going after what she wanted. I see great things for him now that he has been able to let go of the past.

An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon (Delacorte - Sept 2009)

Series: Outlander (Book 7)

Jamie Fraser is an eighteenth-century Highlander, an ex-Jacobite traitor, and a reluctant rebel in the American Revolution. His wife, Claire Randall Fraser, is a surgeon -- from the twentieth century. What she knows of the future compels him to fight. What she doesn't know may kill them both.

With one foot in America and one foot in Scotland, Jamie and Claire's adventure spans the Revolution, from sea battles to printshops, as their paths cross with historical figures from Benjamin Franklin to Benedict Arnold.

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, their daughter, Brianna, and her husband experience the unfolding drama of the Revolutionary War through Claire's letters. But the letters can't warn them of the threat that's rising out of the past to overshadow their family.

Another outstanding entry in the Outlander series, covering the years 1776 to 1778, and 1978 to 1980 in modern times. Because of Claire's knowledge of the future, Jamie knows which side wins in the war. His intent is to return to Scotland to get his printing press and take up arms with a pen rather than a sword. But as is usual with this duo, things do not go smoothly. Thanks to an aborted sea voyage, Jamie, Claire and young Ian end up with the Continental army at Fort Ticonderoga and the Battle of Saratoga. The behind the scenes look at life with the army was fascinating. As the army moves south, other battles are fought and life and death are dealt with. The inclusion of actual historical figures such as Benedict Arnold and Nathan Hale add depth to the events. 

Eventually Jamie, Claire and Ian make it to a ship, thanks in great part to Jamie's relationship to British general Simon Fraser. Jamie is asked to escort the general's body back to Scotland. They arrive in Scotland only to discover that big Ian is dying of consumption and have arrived in time to say their farewells. There are some extremely emotional scenes, especially between Jamie and Ian as both come to terms with Ian's mortality. I especially loved the part with Jamie's finger and his request of Ian. I also loved young Ian's reunion with his parents. He has some excellent conversations with his father, and receives some much needed advice regarding his love life. There is also a wonderful scene with Laoghaire as she and Claire face off. Eventually Claire and young Ian head back to America ahead of Jamie, as she is needed for a medical problem with Fergus's son Henri-Christian.

Arriving in Philadelphia, not only does Claire have Henri-Christian to take care of, but Lord John also begs her help for his nephew Henry. John is in Philadelphia as a diplomat, but also as young Lord William's stepfather. William, who was captured as part of the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, is on parole in Philadelphia, marking time until he is sent back to England. Meanwhile, Lord John's niece Dottie arrives, ostensibly because she is in love with William, but actually as part of a deception cooked up between the two of them. She is actually in love with Denzell Hunter, the Quaker doctor we first met in the previous book. Meanwhile, Ian is in love with Denzell's sister Rachel, as they try to reconcile his part in the war with her Quaker beliefs.

Then word comes that the ship Jamie and Jenny were sailing on to return to America has been lost at sea. Stunned by the loss of her love, Claire moves through the days in a haze of grief. Then John brings the news that Claire is to be arrested on charges of treason. The only way to save her is for her to marry John, thereby becoming a British citizen (shades of Outlander!). Claire suddenly finds herself as stepmother to Jamie's illegitimate son, who has no idea of the truth of his paternity. Then in a confluence of events worthy of a comedic play, Jamie shows up at John's house looking for Claire, just a William arrives. One look at Jamie and the truth becomes clear even to him, and he doesn't take it well. At the same time, a British messenger comes looking for John and is followed by soldiers who had been looking for Jamie. Jamie takes John hostage and they escape the soldiers with John as his prisoner. There's a confrontation between the two as John makes a confession to Jamie, who retaliates as expected. Claire is left in Philadelphia wondering what is happening with both her husbands, and has to deal with the fallout.

Meanwhile, back in the twentieth century, Roger, Brianna and the kids have purchased Lallybroch and are living there. Mandy has had her life-saving surgery and is thriving. Roger is floundering a bit, trying to figure out what to do with his life now. Brianna has found a job working as an engineer at the local dam and is dealing with the attitudes of the men around her, especially Rob Cameron. Cameron befriends Roger, inviting him to join the local Lodge, and showing an interest in Roger's knowledge of Gaelic. But there's more to his actions than either Roger of Brianna suspects. 

Jem and Mandy, who love roaming the land around Lallybroch, are full of stories of the Nuckaleevee, and mysterious character hanging around the caves. Eventually Roger discovers that it is none other than Buckleigh MacKenzie, the man responsible for Roger's hanging back in Fiery Cross. He somehow eneded up coming through the stones and is desperate to find a way to get back to his own time. He is there when Jem turns up missing. They believe that Rob Cameron somehow found out about the stones and has kidnapped Jem in order to make him reveal the location of the Spaniard's gold. Roger and Buck head through the stones to try to find Rob and Jem. Then we see that Jem is made prisoner in one of the dam tunnels and Rob plans to hold him hostage to gain Brianna's cooperation. We are left with Jem in the tunnel, Rob threatening Brianna, and Roger and Buck gone to the past.

There are many threads woven throughout the book, making a complicated and endlessly fascinating story. I loved seeing the maturing of William as he experiences all the horrors of war. But there is still the hint of the boy who idolizes his stepfather and has vague memories of the groom who was a big part of his life. Finding out the truth of his parentage throws his whole sense of self into question. There is also young Ian's story, as he deals with the grief of the end of his marriage to Emily. His fledgling relationship with Rachel gives him a new hope, but it is tempered by the conflict of their beliefs. I really loved her pragmatic approach to life, and acceptance of her feelings for Ian. She knows there will be challenges but she accepts him for who he is. Then there is the whole Jamie, Claire and John triangle. There is no doubt of the love that is between Jamie and Claire. Their need for each other is bone deep. They are there for each other throughout their journey, battles and marches and all. Claire is fierce in her protectiveness, as is shown by her rescue of him from the battlefield scavengers. Her grief over his "death" is all encompassing, as she just goes through the motions of living, even after her marriage to John. The scene as they comfort each other is as heartbreaking as it is disturbing, and she has to deal with her feelings in the aftermath. I also enjoyed following the adventures of Roger and Brianna as they adjusted to life back in modern times. Brianna's strength of will can be good, but also can get her into trouble. I loved the link they had back to the past as they read the letters that they had found from Claire and Jamie.

I was quite frustrated by the cliffhangers of this book. Thank goodness with my second reading I can move right on to the next book and hopefully get resolution to some of them.

Delta Force Desire - C. J. Miller (HRS #1901 - June 2016)

From classified secrets to unleashed desires…

Elite hacker Kit Walker expects a safe desk job when the government taps her for a classified project. So when Kit's captured by a cyberterrorist group, she fears for her life and her work. But when gorgeous Griffin Brooks turns up to save her, it's not only her life that's in danger…

Griffin was assigned to Kit's case, but protecting the bashful beauty soon becomes so much more than a job to him. How can he do his duty to guard her when he couldn't keep his late wife safe from a nefarious killer? As a lethal threat closes in on them both, Griffin and Kit will have to untangle the deadly web of lies—and their growing attraction—if they want to stop their enemy in his tracks.

Very good book with great suspense and an emotional romance. Kit Walker is a computer hacker who had worked on a highly classified government project. Happy when it was over with, she has avoided any kind of computer job ever since. Then she is attacked by cyberterrorists who need her expertise to gain access to that project. She's saved by Griffin Brooks, but gets the feeling she's gone from the frying pan to the fire.

Griffin works as a "retriever" for the West security company. He's good at getting people out of danger, then turning them over to someone else to do the actual protecting. Years earlier his wife had been killed, and he blames himself for not keeping her safe. Because of it he refuses to have anything to do with the protection side of the business, feeling that he is not qualified. But when Kit refuses to have anyone except Griffin taking care of her, he has no choice.

I liked Kit. She's incredibly smart, but also socially awkward. She has always felt overshadowed by her supermodel sister, especially when it comes to attention from men. Her relationships have been online only, except for one that ended up being all on her side. She is attracted to Griffin, but has no confidence in her ability to attract him. I liked Griffin also. He has been hurt by the death of his wife and protects himself by keeping his emotions well buried. He's attracted to Kit, but getting involved with her would be a bad idea. 

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. They strike sparks from the first, as Kit initially resists Griffin's attempts to get her to safety. Once she has accepted her danger, she is determined to keep Griffin at her side, as she trusts him. As they work together, the attraction between them grows, but it is not a simple thing. Kit wants him, but has no idea how to go about taking advantage of the heat between them. Her attempts are awkward, adding to her feelings of inadequacy. Griffin's reactions are actually pretty sweet. He's honest about her effect on him, but also that doing anything about it is a bad idea. He is pretty sensitive to her feelings and does his best to protect them. The scene after the rave shows just how much effort he puts into that. I loved the way that they grew to understand each other and how that brought them closer. By the end of the book, Griffin has to decide if his need to have Kit in his life can overcome the fears that are holding him back.

The suspense of the story was great and felt like a fairly realistic scenario. From the first chapter, as the cyberterrorists try to capture Kit, the intensity continues to build. Once Kit understands the danger, she is determined to do her part. It often seems as if Kit and Griffin are barely one step ahead of the bad guys. I really liked the way that she and Griffin balanced each other. Her expertise is mental, dealing with the intricacies of the computer, while Griffin's is more physical. There are several situations where I wasn't sure how they were going to get out of it. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved seeing how Kit pulled off a couple of great surprises. While this story came to a successful conclusion, there were a couple loose threads that may lead into another adventure.

Bane - Brenda Jackson (HD #2413 - Dec 2015)

Series: Westmorelands (Book 31)

The last Westmoreland bachelor is a navy SEAL on a mission to protect the woman who got away…

After five years, navy SEAL Brisbane Westmoreland is back home on his ranch and ready to reclaim the woman he left behind. But when he tracks her to Dallas, he's in for a shock.

Crystal Newsome isn't ready to forgive Bane for saying he loved her then vanishing from her life. Only now the beautiful chemist needs his protection. As their own irresistible chemistry takes over once again, can Bane keep Crystal safe and convince her they can have the second chance they both deserve?

Fantastic book. Bane is the last of the Denver Westmorelands to remain unmarried - or so everyone thinks. But during a visit home at the end of the previous book, Breaking Bailey's Rules, Bane drops the bombshell that he and high school girlfriend have been married for the last five years, and that he's ready to win her back.

Five years earlier Bane and Crystal had been deeply in love and determined to be together. But thanks to an old family feud, Crystal's parents were against the relationship. It didn't help that Bane was one of the family troublemakers. So they eloped, and no one knew that they had actually gotten married before they were caught and brought back home. With Crystal sent away, Bane realized that if he wants to give her the life she deserves, he's going to have to make something of himself. So he joined the navy, eventually becoming a SEAL. Now it's time to reclaim her.

You know that after five years of absolutely no contact, the reunion isn't going to go smoothly. Crystal is stunned to see Bane, and almost certain that he's just there to put an end to their marriage. She's still mad at him for disappearing for so long. But she has bigger things on her mind right now. The work she's been doing as a chemist has put her in danger, and she's about to go on the run.

This is where things get more complicated. Crystal is in danger and Bane's protective instincts are aroused. No longer the impulsive hothead he used to be, his trained mind immediately takes steps to get Crystal to safety. She's not sure what to make of the new Bane, but she's grateful to have him on her side. Bane's cool head, along with help from his fellow SEALs and his family, have them neatly avoiding the bad guys sent after them. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved how it all went down.

At the same time all of this is going on, Bane and Crystal are attempting to rebuild their relationship. I loved the realism of Crystal's hurt and anger over how long it took Bane to come back for her. It was easy to see that the attraction is still strong, and their feelings are still there. But both have changed a lot from their teenaged selves and they have to get to know each other again. I loved Bane's patience and how he showed her how he felt without pushing. There is also a deep vein of romanticism in him that is demonstrated by the letters he wrote and saved during the time he was gone. As they shared their feelings from the years they were apart, their love for each other became even stronger. I loved the ending and seeing Crystal confident enough in their love to handle his work as a SEAL. The Christmas Eve scene was great.

As always, the Westmoreland books have the theme of the importance of family. Though sometimes resentful of their interference when he was younger, Bane could always count on his family to be there for him. I loved seeing characters from the other branches of the family, as they came together to help. There was also more contact with the newly discovered branch, the Outlaws of Alaska. I'm really looking forward to reading their stories.

I only had a few minor quibbles with the book, which did not affect my enjoyment of the story too much. First, in the many mentions of Bane attending the Naval Academy, it was not properly capitalized. It is a proper name and should be. Second, the author also gave the impression that it was almost a training school for SEALs, as she said that when his shooting ability was discovered, strings were pulled to get him into the Academy. The Naval Academy is a four year college that educates men and women to be officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. SEAL training is done in Coronado, California. If Bane was nineteen at the time he joined the Navy, even if they sent him to the Academy immediately, it would have been four years until he graduated. Even if he was sent immediately to SEAL school, SEAL training takes another year. That takes care of the five years they were apart, without Bane ever going on a mission. It would have been better to leave the Academy out of the story entirely, and have him sent to SEAL school out of boot camp. Most people wouldn't know these details, so it wouldn't bother them, but it is an irritation to those that do.