I liked it a lot. Though I am still up in the air on making a firm decision on this author.
This one seemed a bit on the rambling side. There are a lot of instances where the author over describes thoughts and feelings, using different words in the same paragraph to make her point. In other words, she comes close to beating it to death. Sometimes less is more. Too many words over describing a thought, feeling or action can interrupt the flow of the story for the reader. That is what happens in this book.
On the plus side, the characters are awesome and when the action is flowing it hits the awesome factor.
Other than the rambling tendency, the writing is really good. The world build is great.
So, with all that in consideration, I will be reading both book 2 in this series and the Black Knights, Inc series. ( )

After reading the first three books in the Black Knights series, I gave up continuing the series because I just couldn't connect with the characters or stories. I thought I would give Walker another chance with this new series especially since I like stories about SEALS and underwater salvage. Unfortunately, the characters in this story were impossible to like because all they did was make flip comments and reference pop culture ad nauseam. We don't really get to know their personalities or backgrounds until the end when the main characters of Olivia and Leo reveal a little about themselves to each other. The only character that I enjoyed was Maddy. Her pop culture references fit her character and the names she gave to each of the men were adorable. I really liked the idea of this story, and at the end there is a hint that they might finally search for the sunken ship that was their original goal. I'm not sure, though, if I want to invest any more time in this series. ( )

I loved the men of black knights. So I had to read this new series. I almost gave up at 26% but I hate to quit a book. The action eventually kicked in after an interminable amount of back story.
Julie Ann Walker once she gets out of their way presents interesting, quirky men and women you can't help railing at and rooting for...
And just like in Black Knights, she sucks you in to the need to read the next book by leaving trails of unfinished stories dancing out from the shiny new beginnings she spins for the lucky two around whom this book resonates. ( )

Hell or High Water was a fantastic start to a new series! It was fun, suspenseful, and sexy. The old saying location, location, location definitely was true here. We have the common elements of Navy SEALs and dangerous situations but all in a fresh new location of high seas adventure; the setting was a huge factor in how much I liked this.

I read this along with the other ladies of the blog and you can read and find out more what we liked about this at: Reading Between the Wines book club ( )

Very good book with fast-paced, intense action and well-done relationship building. Leo and his five former SEAL teammates are well on their way to keeping their promise to a dead friend. During a mission gone wrong, he told them to get out while they still could and start living their lives. The six friends have banded together to search for a sunken treasure ship.

I loved Leo, formerly the team leader and still the man they all look to. He feels responsible for making sure their new venture is a success. I really liked the way that he listens to what everyone else has to say before making a decision. He's calm in a crisis, focused and intense when the situation calls for it. He is also facing his inability to get CIA agent Olivia off his mind.

I also really liked Olivia. She is strong, confident, and independent. She is a risk taker, which sometimes comes back to bite her in the butt, which is what has brought her to Leo's doorstep. She owns up to her mistakes and does what she can to fix them. She hasn't been able to forget Leo, either, and he is the one she thinks of when she needs help.

I really enjoyed the development of Leo and Olivia's relationship. They had gotten to know each other during a previous mission. The chemistry between them was intense, but they were unable to pursue it. They haven't seen each other since the terrible end to that mission until Olivia shows up on Leo's doorstep. The heat between them is just as strong as it was before, and neither quite realizes the truth of why right away. Neither has considered any long-term relationship before thanks to incompatible careers. I loved their interactions as Leo's protectiveness comes up against Olivia's independence. I liked the way that Leo knew when it was a lost cause and accepted that Olivia could hold her own. There are also a couple of funny scenes as their chemistry heats up, only to have interruption after interruption throw cold water on it. Leo is the first to realize the depth of his feelings for Olivia and has to figure out how to convince her to take a chance on them. I ached for Olivia because she wants Leo, but is carrying a secret and a load of guilt from their last mission together. This secret comes out at the worst possible time, and Olivia pushes Leo away. They are pulled further apart by the aftermath of their mission. Leo is determined not to give up on her, and what they could have together. I loved the ending and their big moment as Leo is finally able to break through the last of Olivia's walls. The scene on the beach was heartbreaking, but also sweet and romantic. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them both in later books.

The suspense of the story was great. It was fast-paced and intense. From Olivia's arrival to the final battle, most of it takes place over the course of about twenty-four hours. Our heroes have to deal with terrorists, a hijacked yacht, rocket launchers, sinking ships and underwater battles before their mission is done. I was frequently on the edge of my seat as I wondered how they were going to get out of their current situation.

As the first book in the series, there was a fair amount of time spent on the backstory leading up to the beginning. The flashbacks experienced by Leo and Olivia gave a vivid picture of the events that have affected them so deeply. I also enjoyed meeting each of the other SEALs and seeing how each of them fit into the team. Each one has a unique personality and quirks that add to the story. I especially loved Bran and his ability to jerk Leo's chain on a regular basis. Beyond that, the teamwork and connection among them all made the action scenes even more exciting. I also enjoyed getting to know Maddy. She was calm and cool during the whole hijacking scene. I also enjoyed seeing her stand up to the guys and match wits with Bran. ( )