Designated Target - Karen Anders (HRS #1826 - Nov 2014)

Series: To Protect and Serve (Book 2)

Criminals want her mind... Her protector wants her love.

Special agent Vincent Fitzgerald's mission is to find missing naval scientist Dr. Skylar Baang. The brilliant Filipino American beauty has been kidnapped for her knowledge and research on top secret projects. But even after Vin rescues her from a dangerous group, he knows they'll be back.

A long-ago promise has kept Skylar committed to her work--love is a distraction she's never allowed herself. Now in the protective custody of a complicated NCIS agent who surprises her at every turn, Skylar wants to stop thinking and start feeling. But as the thugs come after her, she'll need everything she is--and smart, sexy Vin--to stay alive.

Good suspense and romance. Skylar is a brilliant scientist who has been kidnapped by those who want to use her intelligence for their own ends. Vin is the NCIS agent sent to find and rescue her. Though he saves her from immediate danger, he knows that those who took her will try again. When another attempt nearly succeeds, the only way to protect her is to take her into hiding while the rest of the team tries to discover who is behind it.

The cabin is isolated and the perfect place to hide out, but it is difficult also. Sky has made her work the focus of her life. She was kidnapped as a child and her parents gave their lives to rescue her and get her to safety. Since that time, her work has been her way of honoring their sacrifice. Because she was so focused on her education (college at ten, PhD by seventeen) and work, she never developed a social life. Her first impression of Vin blows her away with his good looks and determination to protect her. But as much as she is attracted to him, she can't let herself be distracted. Vin also puts a lot of himself into his work, but for him it is his way of being true to himself. He has never allowed a woman to distract him from his duty, but something about Sky has him in turmoil. 

I loved seeing the development of their relationship. Vin can't believe the way that Sky has shut herself off completely from living a full life. He does everything he can to show her what she has been missing. I especially loved the fishing scene. Sky really starts to get into all the new experiences but the things she starts to feel also scare her. She realizes that she is falling in love with him, but believes that love has no place in her life. Vin had been hurt before by a woman who didn't understand that what he does is a huge part of who he is. Since then he has kept tight control over his feelings, but Sky blows that control to pieces. He wants them to pursue the feelings and see where they go, but Sky can't let go of what she sees as her responsibility. I ached for them both as their differing attitudes ripped them apart. Those same attitudes ended up undergoing some changes as the other's influence opened their eyes to their own misconceptions. I loved the ending and seeing how they came together.

The suspense of the story was good. It started out with some intense action as they fought off the kidnappers. It then backed off a bit as they went into hiding, and the action became more mental than physical. There were some spots where we get the bad guys' point of view, and an idea of just how intent they are on getting to Sky. The action picked up again at the end, as Sky and Vin are captured and must find a way to stop the bad guy. Sky's brains and Vin's skills combine to create an unforgettable solution.

A SEAL to Save Her - Karen Anders (HRS #1902 - June 2016)

Series: To Protect and Serve (Book 5)

Running for their lives is imperative. Falling for each other is inevitable… 

The searing pain of navy SEAL Dex "Machine" Kaczewski's injury is a constant reminder of a mission gone wrong. Only the compassionate words of visiting US senator Piper Jones, his best friend's sister, help to clear Dex's dark thoughts -- and make his heart beat faster. So when insurgents storm a military hospital and target Piper, her protection is the wounded SEAL's only priority. 

As they flee for their lives in a hostile country, their mutual attraction smolders like the Afghan sun, but Piper's tragic past overshadows her surging desire. She tries to focus on keeping Dex alive and getting home safe. But until they know who wants Piper dead -- and why -- their only hope for survival is in each other's arms.

Excellent book, action filled and with an equally emotional romance. The story opens with Dex and his SEAL team ambushed on a mission, with three of his men killed and he and another one badly injured. Piper is currently serving out her husband's term as a US senator, after his death in an accident. When she learns of her brother's injuries, she immediately flies to Afghanistan to be with him. There she meets Dex, the man who saved her brother's life. There is an immediate connection between the two of them, but both try to ignore it. Besides being a SEAL, Dex is also Tyler's best friend, which means you don't get involved with his sister. On her part, Piper is still grieving the loss of her husband and unborn baby; getting involved with a man who has a dangerous career is just a bad idea.

Shortly after Tyler is evacuated to the hospital in Germany, the military hospital is attacked by insurgents. Dex is the only one there to protect Piper, who appears to be the target of the attack. Still dealing with his injuries, Dex and Piper go on the run. The intensity of the danger they are in, and the challenges presented by Dex's injuries, kept me riveted as they tried to escape their pursuers. Piper shows some amazing fortitude as she does what she must to help Dex as he has helped her.  With no idea who they can trust, Dex and Piper rely on each other, and find themselves getting involved.

I loved these two together, with their lighthearted wordplay even in the middle of some very intense situations. But both of them are wary of getting their hearts involved as they have been hurt before. Piper devoted her life to her husband's career and carrying on for him after his death. The growing feelings she has for Dex show her that she has been hiding without realizing it. Dex is known as "Machine" for his intimidating focus on a mission, but there is a softer side of him that comes out when he's with Piper. He's fiercely protective of her, but can also be amazingly tender in his comforting of her when she needs it. One of the things I loved about their relationship was the frank way they talked about their feelings and their fears. I ached for Dex at the end, when it looked like Piper was going to let her fears win. I laughed out loud at the way Tyler got her moving, and the reactions at the other end.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. At the beginning, the ambush looked like an intelligence failure, but with the attack on Piper, the complications just continued to pile up. Each time Piper and Dex learned something new, it only added to the questions they had. As readers we also see that there are others working on the same questions. I was just waiting to see what would happen when the NCIS guys finally caught up with Piper and Dex and I was not disappointed. As the people behind the attacks got more desperate, the action became more intense. The final confrontation was fast paced with different motivations coming to light before it was all over.

I really loved the two NCIS agents, Austin and Derrick. Their interactions were great, as they had respect for each other professionally, but also were very good at poking at each other's sore spots. I really hope they get their own books, as I suspect their stories are quite fascinating.