Category Archives: Contemporary

Midnight Vengeance by Lisa Marie Rice

Morton “Jacko” Jackman isn’t afraid of anything. He’s a former Navy SEAL sniper, and he’s been in more firefights than most people have had hot meals. Lauren Dare scares the crap out of him.

Gorgeous, talented and refined, she’s the type of woman who could never be interested in a roughneck like him. So he’s loved her fiercely in secret, taken her art classes, and kept a watchful but comfortable distance. Until now.

Lauren had finally found a home in Portland, far from her real identity, far from the memories of her mother’s death, and outside the reaches of the drugged-out psycho who’s already tried to kill her twice. One tiny misstep—a single photograph—has shattered it all. She has no choice but to run again, but this time she’ll give herself a proper farewell: one night with Jacko.

Their highly charged emotional encounter changes everything. In Jacko’s arms there cannot be fear, there can only be pleasure. Anyone wishing her harm will have to pass through him, and Jacko is a hard man to kill.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, I thought Douglas from Midnight Angel would always be my favorite hero in the Midnight series, but Jacko has usurped his position.

There are many similarities in their personalities, but I still like Jacko better. It could just be that I’ve read his book most recently. Of course, I can’t even count how many times I’ve read Midnight Angel, so that tells you how much I love that book.

This one is even better.

Midnight Vengeance brings back all of the couples from the previous books. They mostly have walk on parts, but it is still nice to see them again. You don’t HAVE to have read the previous books to enjoy this one, but I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to read them.

It has a combination solid ending and cliffhanger which is hard to imagine. Lauren’s and Jacko’s story comes to a satisfactory conclusion, but we are introduced to the next book’s couple in the final page.

Midnight Promises is due out on January 19th, 2015. I think I will plan a reread of the series over the Christmas holidays. That will be a wonderful present to myself.

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Bound to Danger by Katie Reus

At a benefit dinner, community activist Maria Cervantes overhears two men plotting a terrorist attack that could rock Miami to its core. But before she can alert authorities, she’s almost killed in a massive explosion—and wakes up in a hospital with no memory of what happened. As the sole survivor of the attack, she is now a person of interest to the NSA—and especially to Agent Cade O’Reilly. Because Maria is the one woman Cade has never been able to forget.

Years ago, they were closer than either was willing to admit—until Cade disappeared when Maria needed him most. Now he’s sticking by her, whether she likes it or not. Because the memories locked inside her mind could hold vital clues to the next attack. Because terrorists want her dead—and because he never wants to let her go again.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book is the second in the Deadly Ops series by Katie Reus. I reviewed the first book, Targeted, on GoodReads (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show…) and could not wait for the sequel. I was sure I knew who the main characters were going to be and I really wanted to know their story.

I was so wrong.

Bound to Danger introduces two entirely new characters with their own past history. Cade was best friends with Maria’s brother when they served together in Afghanistan. He spent holidays with their family and he and Maria became friends. Through letters and emails, they become more than friends and Cade planned to return to Maria when his tour was up. However, when Maria’s brother is killed, Cade cuts off all contact with Maria out of guilt for not saving him. Not only does Maria lose her brother, she loses the man she loves.

Got all that?

Now, years later, Maria is in danger because she overhears a group of terrorists discussing their plans. Cade, who now belongs to a black ops organization, is sent in to protect her. They still care for each other, but neither one of them will admit it – Maria because she does not understand why Cade abandoned her and Cade because he feels guilty for her brother’s death AND because he abandoned Maria.

So, of course, they fall into bed with each other.

Okay, not at first. At least two to three days go by before they have sex, but from that point forward I felt the sex scenes dominated the story. They were really good sex scenes, but they didn’t do a lot to advance the plot.

That, however, is my only criticism. The book was engrossing with a unique to me plot line. Characters from the previous book had minor parts and I always enjoy seeing old friends. I definitely recommend this book, but be sure and read Targeted first.

I look forward to book three. Surely, the two minor characters from the first book will get their story. Maybe?

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