The first half of this book drew me in and kept me wanting to read even when I didn't have the time. Unfortunately the last half of the book dissolved into the usual bodyguard in love with the target scenario. It wasn't a bad ending, but it just didn't hold up to the promise of the first half of the story. ( )

The first half of this book drew me in and kept me wanting to read even when I didn't have the time. Unfortunately the last half of the book dissolved into the usual bodyguard in love with the target scenario. It wasn't a bad ending, but it just didn't hold up to the promise of the first half of the story. ( )

First I have to say that I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for early review. This is also my first ever review.

This being the second book in the Deadly Ops series, I was eagerly awaiting its release. When I started reading, it was a very familiar story that I could have sworn I read before. It may have been in the preview snippets or that the explosion story line was linked to another of Katie's books. I love how Katie brings in characters from other series to tie the story together for those of us left scratching our heads with deja vu that we read this somewhere before! The story was delivered in Katie's awesome way of tangleing a suspense/romance story with modern day news worthy headlines. Without giving too much away, the Hero protects the girl from the bad guys, and all hell breaks loose in the middle. Perfect mix of everything!

I'm most sure if it was an editing issue with the Kindle Paperwhite or not, but some of the emails in the chapters between Cade and Maria were mixed up, as were some of the paragraphs. Not a big deal once you figure out how to read them. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A deadly race against time with a former Marine and sister of his fallen friend.

Opening Sentence: “Cade O’Reilly ran full force through the triple-canopy jungle, the unbearable summer heat and giant mosquitos barely a blip on his radar as he dodged low-hanging vines and branches.”

The Review:

Maria is at a benefit dinner when she gets ill, she’s taken to a back bedroom where she overhears a conversation about a deadly terrorist attack in Miami, before she has a chance to react there is a deadly explosion and she wakes up in the hospital remembering nothing. Cade is the best friend of her brother and he shows up to help protect Maria, as they try to figure out who set off the explosion that killed her mother and many others.

Maria can’t understand why Cade cut her out of his life when Riel died all those years ago, and she can’t remember what happened before the explosion at the benefit dinner. As things begin to heat up between them and another attempt is made on her life, they realize they are in a race against time to figure who is behind the attacks and why they want her dead. Will Cade be able to save Maria, or will the terrorist kill her first?

I haven’t read this series before or anything by this author. I have always enjoyed history between main characters in romance novels, it almost always makes the relationship feel more believable! This was a fast paced read full of action. The mystery wasn’t too much of a mystery because some chapters are told from the bad guy’s point of view. So you as a reader have almost all of the knowledge upfront, and you know what she has forgotten. That doesn’t detract from the story, it really adds to it because you are on the edge of your seat wondering if they are going to figure it all out before it’s too late.

I also really loved how a majority of the chapter’s end with emails that Maria had messaged to Cade when he was a Marine deployed to Afghanistan. It really allows you to get a feel for their previous relationship without to many flashbacks or time wasted in the past. It is super cute and just enhances the present relationship as they try to get past the past and make things work now! Cade is a total badass, and he really takes the time to work on regaining her trust and apologizing for what happened.

I am not giving that way because it may not be too much of a spoiler, but it is one of those things you enjoy finding out and appreciate when it is all revealed to Maria. I have to say that I loved, loved her reaction to it! It was superb!!! And on that note go forth and enjoy, I will also add that I didn’t feel lost, so this appears to be the kind of series you can jump in wherever you feel!

Notable Scene:

“He hadn’t planned on needing the extra firepower, but as a United States Marine, he was always prepared for an apocalypse-type situation.”

“With one act Mihails was going to remind them they were just like everyone else.”

“Then when the time was right, he’d strike and eliminate her.”

“Even if he hurt her, she wasn’t going to walk away before they had a chance to see if things could work between them.”

“The bastard had come to her mother’s funeral when he’d been involved.”

“She tried to respond but was cut off as two big hands reached through the broken window and started choking her.”

FTC Advisory: Signet/Penguin provided me with a copy of Bound to Danger. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Vivacious Valkyrie - Marta
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

This is the second book in Ms Reus' series called Deadly Ops, and is set to be yet another fast paced and action packed book. This series features all American alpha heros who work in the military and for the government protecting their country and it's citizens. Each book works very well as a standalone but characters from previous stories do reappear so it's fun to catch up with all these delicious specimens of manhood . When you pick up a Deadly Ops book you are guaranteed adventure with a capital A ! Not to mention romance to get your heart racing!

Maria is at a party when she overhears terrorists plotting to bomb Miami but before she can make sense of what she's heard an explosion rocks the residence and Maria wakes up in hospital with memory loss! She has survived but so many others were not as lucky and the tragedy puts Maria in even more danger . The men who set the explosion realise she knows too much to be allowed to live and are determined to find her. The NSA have to protect Maria but the agent assigned to the task is one who Maria knows only too well!

Eight years ago Cade dropped out of Maria's life and she's never quite understood why. Cade had been a friend to her deceased brother but to Maria he was something more or so she thought. Now he's back in her life and there's still unresolved issues between them but Cade seems determined to keep Maria at a distance. As Maria struggles to come to terms with the aftermath of the explosion she's desperate to remember all that she heard but time is running out. The terrorist organisation have a long reach and there's a traitor close to home who puts Maria in the firing line!

I do enjoy this authors work and if you are a fan of romantic suspense then this new series is bound to please. As usual Ms Reus gives us a hero to drool over as Cade is just so protective and yummy! The complicated past that the couple share is told in a very interesting way as we are treated to snippets of emails that they exchanged before the death of Maria's brother which is very inciteful and adds depth to the characters history. In some ways it's a story of star crossed lovers as events have kept them apart but sometimes things are just meant to be. In romance timing is everything and it's certainly time for Cade to realise that Maria feels like home to him! As for Maria well she's so much stronger than she realises and a very loyal and brave heroine. Whilst she may not be the most kick ass female in fiction she's no cry baby either and I liked that we see both her vulnerabilities and also her strengths.

This is an action packed story, a roller coaster of emotion . If you enjoy a plot that leaves you breathless then prepare to buckle up as it's going to be a bumpy ride! There's so much happening in this book with villains who need to be stopped and yet the author even brings them to life as their motives are explained which stops them being one dimensional. I think to do that takes real talent as so often bad guys in books can just be caricatures but not here. Ms Reus has written a great story filled with romance and her signature heat! Her leading men are always on my wish list and Cade can be my lethal protector anytime! ( )