Toni Vincent’s last relationship ended with violence. Since then, she’s decided she’s better off without men. But when she finds her young seventeen year old neighbor, Nathan, unconscious and beaten, this is one man she can’t abandon. But helping Nathan means trusting Detective Brian Barnes, another man who hurt her in the past. It’s something she’s just not sure she can do.
Detective Brian Barnes has seen one too many criminals beat the system. He’s burned out and regretting a lot about his life. At the top of that list is how he dealt with Toni Vincent when he was wounded. At the time, he couldn't stand to look at himself, much less have someone he failed care for him. Now she needs his help and he refuses to fail her again. But keeping her alive requires keeping his heart out of it. Something not easy to do when trapped in a romantic mountain retreat, even if it is the safest place for Toni and her unexpected charge.
With danger around every corner, it’s hard to know who can be trusted, especially for three people who have been burned before. But they may just find the best family is the one not tied together by blood.
As an avid reader her entire life, Christi Snow always dreamed of writing books that brought to others the kind of joy she felt when she read. But...she never did anything about it besides jot down a few ideas and sparse scenes.
When her husband retired from the Air Force, Christi decided it was time to chase her dream and she started writing. She hasn’t stopped since. With twenty-two published books in various romance genres, she’s found her passion. Now she spends her days with her laptop writing about sexy, alpha heroes and the loves of their lives.
Writing, Christi has fulfilled her dream... filling the world with more romance and suspense.
Her tagline is... Passion and adventure on the road to Happily Ever After. She loves this adventure and has truly found her tribe!
Note: I also have a book review blog...Smitten with Reading ( http://smittenwithreading.blogspot.com ) and most of my book reviews are also posted there.
Christi, I've said all there is to say, except go read these from the beginning, but the one thing left unsaid is how great your covers are! You just put together a complete package from deciding whether to buy, all the way through the last page. SO GLAD TO HAVE FOUND YOU!
From the moment I met Brian in the When the Mission Ends Series something about him made me root for him. Overworked and under appreciated, poor Brian needed sometime to go home to. I talked to Christi about this and not only did she listen, but she wrote Brian's story! Thank you, Christi!
I'm not going to summarize the story for you. You can read the author's above summary for that. What I will tell you is that Brian and Toni's story is everything I hoped it to be....and MORE! Full of angst and suspense, Christi Snow delivers a story worthy of Brian. The best part is that they interact with some of Brian's friends that will lead into another new series!! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about that!
If you loved the rest of the series, you definitely need to read this book! I hope you all love Brian and his story just as much as I do.
Un roman assez court que j’ai dégusté rapidement ! Après les événements du tome précédent j’avais hâte de découvrir l’histoire de Toni et Brian. Mais je suis mitigée !
Toni et Brian se sont éloignés après une désillusion. Mais quand la vie de la jeune femme sera en danger, l’inspecteur de police ne pourra pas rester de côté !
Toni est une jeune femme forte et déterminée. Elle sait ce qu’elle veut, elle est fidèle et prête à tout pour aider et protéger ceux qu’elle aime. Brian est fatigué et lassé de son travail. Il ne vit que pour protéger, mais il prouve que sa loyauté va à la jeune femme. Un héros fort et différent des précédents.
Un couple qui va se développer au fur et à mesure des pages. L’attirance a toujours été là, mais encore un manque de communication. Pour autant, je n’ai pas réussi à m’y accrocher. Que ce soit individuellement ou en couple. C’est bien la première fois dans cette saga !
Le point positif vient des personnages secondaires puisque cet opus lance le spin off Les hommes de Snowcroft que j’ai déjà envie de lire ! Je vais déjà terminer celle-ci, mais clairement je veux connaître l’histoire de Jamie et Trevor !
Un tome assez court donc une intrigue rythmée dès le début. Les rebondissements s’enchaînent et pour le coup, je ne m’attendais pas à plusieurs choses. Ça a rendu ma lecture prenante en dehors de mon désintérêt pour le couple donc c’était cool !
En résumé, un tome en dessous des autres, mais une lecture sympa. Je recommande sans Surprise !
This is the fourth book in When the Mission Ends series, but you could read it as a stand alone. The author does a nice job of catching the reader up from past events.
Brian and Toni have a history. The last time they saw each other, they were in a life or death situation, that didn't end how either of them would have wished. Brian, feeling as if he failed Toni in the past, is keeping his distance and a definite guard up, especially when Toni re-enters his life.
Toni, trying to move on, has basically sworn off men, but cannot sit idly by when her young neighbor, Nathan, needs her help. She takes him and his problems under her wing. Toni soon finds that she can't handle the intense situation on her own. She and Nathan need protection. Brian Barnes is the man who will go to any length to keep them safe.
Escaping to a cozy cabin in the mountains sets the stage for a re-connection between Brian and Toni.
I really loved the characters. They were well developed and I could definitely feel for their situations. The author did a wonderful job of weaving their pasts into the present story, bringing it all together and helping the reader understand how they mesh together.
There really weren't any things I disliked about this book. The story line was interesting and action packed with the right touch of romance. The story flowed freely and it was well edited.
If you like interesting characters, a story that will keep you guessing and a bit of romance, this is a book you would enjoy.
Brian Barnes a Detective on the police force is back at work after being shot and having a long recovery. He goes on a call that puts him face to face with the one person who tried helping him during his recovery, Toni Vincent. She's not entirely happy seing him after he basically told her to go away and the feelings she had for him that she thought she was finally getting over, is not over.
Toni does know that Brian will protect her neighbor Nathan and will do everything to find out who assaulted him. Unfortunately for Brian he is being pushed back at every turn by the higher ups in the police department. Not knowing who he can trust he does the one thing he never thought he would do, he quits the force.
Taking Toni and Nathan away to a moutain cabin trying to keep them both safe, he finds the one thing he never thought he would ever have. A family. Brian realizes his feelings for Toni are still as strong as ever and he enjoys Nathan's company. He just needs to find out who is pulling the strings and keep all three of them alive.
Brian has been a factor in the Mission Ends series. I didn't really think I would like him so much. As usual Christi has you pulling for him, and hoping that he finally gets to have what he's wanted all along.
Non stop suspense that will keep you up all night reading.
This is the fourth book in the When The Mission Ends Series and the author brought her A game for sure. You don't have to read the first three to understand what's going on in this one, but I recommend you do because they are great reading!!
Toni and Brian weren't doing so great the last time we saw them. Actually, Brian was almost dead, but sorry you'll have to read the first three books if you want those details. Let's just say that between Endurance and When Love Intrudes, Brian had some healing to do and things between he and Toni became a little strained.
When Toni's young neighbor is attacked, Toni's protective instincts kick in. Being a victim of violence herself, she can't stand by and let Nathan fend for himself. Toni turns to Brian for help and despite trying to keep his distance, he still has feelings for her. Suspense and Romance my favorite combination- and this book has it in spades. The romance is interwoven into the story perfectly, and the sex is as always Hot! Hot! Hot!
The action and suspense part of the story is done so well!! I loved that Brian and Toni got their own story, and you will not be disappointed. This book also introduced a few more characters that I hope we can look forward to hearing more about.
Disclaimer: I know Christi as a fellow reader and book blogger in addition to being an author. That said, my review is completely my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.
Why I Read this Book: After reading Operation: Endurance, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the book that would give Toni the HEA she most certainly deserved. After what that woman went through in the previous book, and trust me when I say that she was put through hell and back, she needed to find some happiness in her life. And I knew Brian would be the perfect candidate. Even he went through some tough times during this series.
What I Liked: Since When Love Intrudes takes place a few months after Operation: Endurance ended, I was grateful for the prologue. Not only did I get a bit of a recap of the events that took place in the last book, I also got it from Brian’s POV.
The suspense story arc went in a different direction than what I was expecting, and I liked that. I like being kept on my toes. I prefer the suspense aspect to be unpredictable, something I don’t find often enough in romantic suspense. Just when I thought I knew where the author was going with the story, it flipped. What I had thought was going on was in actuality only just the tip of the iceberg. It was a clever plot, one I didn’t see coming.
This story wasn’t just Toni and Brian’s; Nathan (and even Toni’s dog, Sam, for that matter) played an intricate part in this book. It was this trio of characters that I enjoyed reading about.
There were some new characters introduced in When Love Intrudes, and potential for new material, which was a bit surprising as this book is the last in this series (as far as I know). I want to follow these new characters and read their stories. But this was addressed at the end of the book in the author’s note. You see, there’s going to be a spinoff series, the Snowcroft series, which will be a m/m romantic suspense series. The first book will feature Jamie and Trevor, Brian’s friends from high school. I could sense a sort of tension between Jamie and Trevor and there’s definitely a story to be told there. I would also like to see that Nathan gets his own HEA. (This author loves to put her characters through hell!)
Christi Snow has grown as a writer and it shows in this series. There were some things that didn’t mesh well in the earlier books but with When Love Intrudes, I didn’t stumble on anything. She’s honing in on her craft. She also got her feet wet in the m/m romance genre in When Love Intrudes.
What I Didn’t Like: I’m still not sure how I feel about Toni trusting Brian so soon after what transpired in the the previous book. Granted, it has been a good 5 months since what went down in the previous book but I feel conflicted. Part of me wonders if she should have had some trust issues to sort through.
The cover. If only the guy’s arm wasn’t squishing her boob.
Memorable Moment:
“Damn, Alpha, you need to go without clothes more often. Who knew what was hiding under those tacky suits?”
Overall Impression:When Love Intrudes was my favorite book in this series. I’ve said this before but I’ll mention it again – you can tell how much I enjoy a book based on how long it takes me to read. I read this book within 24 hours. I didn’t want to put it down and when I did, I was anxious to pick it up again.
I received When Love Intrudes in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Another un-put-downable read by Christi Snow.... (yes, her books really do make me make-up words)
I loved this series! To be honest, I was sad to see it come to an end, but I could accept that Operation: Endurance was the last book and I was happy with where things were left. However, that doesn’t mean that I was any less than ecstatic when I found out that Christi Snow had one more book left for her When the Mission Ends series.
Brian Barnes played a pretty big role in Operation: Endurance, especially at the end. With everything that he and Toni went through, I’m glad that they got their chance at an HEA. It definitely wasn’t easy to come by though. When Love Intrudes takes place a while after Operation: Endurance ends. Enough time has passed that both Tony and Brian should have had enough time to get over each other. That is if they both didn’t have stronger feelings for each other than they were both willing to admit. If not for an attack on Toni’s neighbor they could have probably kept avoiding each other, than goodness fate stepped in. I love fate.
I loved getting to know these two characters better. Toni was beyond strong, given everything she went through in her past relationship. I really wanted to be mad at Brian for the way he treated Toni, but when you get the whole story, he was so easy to forgive… and fall in love with.
As with all the books in this series, Texas turned out to be a pretty dangerous place to be. In When Love Intrudes the action and danger took a road trip. There was plenty of mystery, drama, tears, humor and romance to keep just about everyone happy. And just like all the other books, the characters made this story. I absolutely loved Nathan. He was broken, but strong, witty, adorable and his love for Toni was obvious. I loved how the three of these characters (four if you include Toni’s dog – and he definitely needs to be included for more than a few reasons) just fit together. Yes, family is more than blood and sometimes the family that chooses each other can be just as stronger, if not more so than families that are tied with blood.
Even though When Love Intrudes is part of the When the Mission Ends series, the Robertson clan isn’t really a part of this one. Colton has a short appearance, but Toni and Brian are the definite focus in When Love Intrudes. That’s okay though because their story was great. Turns out it was also a perfect segue. That’s a good thing because Christi Snow left me wanting to know more about the rest of the supporting characters as well and I’m really glad that readers will get that chance. There was more than one character introduced in When Love Intrudes that we will be seeing more from in future books. (This reader, for one, can’t wait until Nathan is old enough to have his own HEA.)
If you haven’t picked up any of the books in When the Mission Ends, start with Operation: End Game. This series has had me hooked since the Prologue in the first book and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
I have to say when I started this book I thought I knew what to expect, not in a bad way at all. Like when you come home with a cold as a kid you know your mom will make that delicious chicken soup and put a comfy blanket over you. I've been following this series and have loved every bit of it. The great suspense, the romance and attraction that starts to build from page one, and the crazy little twists Snow manages to sneak in are always a comfort because I know when I sit down to read one of her books I'm going to enjoy it. So when I settled down to read this one I was fully prepared (or so I thought) to see Toni and Brian again and watch their relationship blossom after the ending of the last book. But when I started reading I quickly realized I was sadly mistaken and instead felt a confused and sad. Something happened and they hadn't seen each other in months, one equally as broken as the other. Nooo! Whyyyy? What happened? Of course that just made me read more though.
And the feels didn't stop there. As soon as Nathan, Toni's younger neighbor appears in the stories you just want to hold this kid in your arms. He's been through so much in his young life and...unfortunately it's about to get a hell of a lot worse. I have to say I felt like I shouldn't be surprised, expecting great suspense from Christi, but I still found myself guessing how everything was tied together in this book until the moment she wanted me to know. And while the romance between Brian and Toni didn't start how I thought it would, it was, as usual, a satisfying, sexy, fun read that will leave you wanting more. Another thing I loved was seeing new characters pop up. When Trevor and Jamie appeared while they were in Snowcroft, it only made me more excited to read their story, which will be out soon (just not soon enough. I love the cross over and seeing more series springing from this one like these character's worlds are just building themselves. Thanks again Ms. Snow for yet another great read and when I think I know what's going to happen, flipping everything upside down. It was a a fun ride.
I was so pleased to see that Christi Snow gave Brian Barnes a happily ever after of his own. Readers have seen how caring he is in every single one of the When the Mission Ends books. He is the detective that has worked with Robertson family and the troubles that have seemed to find them. Trouble also appears to be following Toni. Readers will remember her as Julie’s friend from the previous book and also as fellow victim and assistant rescuer. That will make sense if you’ve read Operation Endurance and won’t reveal spoilers to those who have not. Toni is still the same caring woman. This time her compassionate nature lands her in a bit of trouble when she finds her neighbor and friend Nathan severely beaten. Toni and Brian find themselves spending time together again even though both believed it would never happen. Thrown together under horrible circumstances they find that they are in serious danger still. Brian vows to be the protector he believes he failed to be five months ago. Toni and Nathan are in more danger than they imagined possible and Brian is certainly the only one who can protect them. When Love Intrudes is full of non-stop action. Just when I thought Toni and Brian were going to have a tiny reprieve something else is thrown at them. The danger causing problems that seemed obvious at first glance turn out completely different than expected on multiple occasions. Snow definitely kept me guessing with this one. Christi also introduces fans to several new characters that will leave you wanting her to write faster just so you can see their happily ever after. I’m excited about a new series that she has planned for some of these new characters! February 2014 will not get here soon enough.
I’ve come to have a certain expectation when I read CHRISTI SNOW, but she threw me a curve ball. Except for strong characters and DANGER serving as a catalyst for our couple to give into their hearts’ desires, WHEN LOVE INTRUDES had a new feel. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it is there. And it should have a different energy, because it is a bridge novel to a new spin-off series. Though I won’t hide my disappointment that we aren’t going to be hanging out with Cassie and her gang in Lubbock, I was pretty excited to have a new beautiful location and lots of great new characters to get to know.
I left OPERATION ENDURANCE pretty pumped about something developing between Toni and Brian. They both suffered so much and could use some loving, protective hands to put it behind them. But DANG YOU, CHRISTI SNOW! I freaking walk into a gut-wrenching heart-break on page one. Even though there is sound, realistic reasoning behind it, it hurt and I felt Toni’s pain all the way to my core. But SNOW won’t let us roll around in our pity party for long. WHEN LOVE INTRUDES has one of the best, heart-aching, realistic, and action-packed conflicts of the whole series.
I was completely ripped open from the moment Toni discovers Nathan’s beaten body. I love how she unofficially adopts him and fights to protect him. Of course, Brian risks it all as he fights for what is right and to protect them both. Lucky for us, he has nothing left in order to fight off what his heart wants most. Brian and Toni don’t disappoint. They live and love completely. I can’t wait to see what CHRISTI has in store for us from this little community tucked in the mountains of New Mexico.
Oh, I was happy to dive into Toni and Brian's story. Their budding relationship had fallen apart since book 3 -- understandably, given the things they both had to get past -- and seeing them reconnect again worked. Throwing Nathan into the mix, a young man who hasn't had the greatest home life and who's now trying to make it on his own, forced them into working together and once they started dealing with their issues, sparks started flying.
This book brings some big changes for Brian. He's been a cornerstone in the series as he works tirelessly to keep the Robertsons and their various partners (whether in work or love!) safe. He's worn down by some of the things he's seen. He's walking the thin edge of disillusionment with what he and the police force can do to protect people. Nathan's case is the last straw for him and he takes some big steps to put himself where he can do the most good for Toni and Nathan.
Meanwhile, Toni has a good support group with the Robertsons but she's still in love with Brian -- for all she tries to convince herself otherwise. Do you remember me mentioning their sparks? THEY ARE A FLYIN'!
Christi Snow gave us plenty of danger, introduced some fun new characters (ones I'll be excited to meet up with again!), and gave Brian and Toni the happily ever after they deserved.
As an aside, I love love loved the setup for the upcoming Snowcroft Lost series. Lots of dudes. Lots of lovin'. Lots of fresh mountain air. *slow thumbs up*
Voilà l’ultime épisode de la série de Christi Snow se déroulant dans une ville texane et si vous avez lu les tomes précédents, les deux personnages principaux sont loin d’être des inconnus. Brian est le flic qui a enquêté dans toutes les affaires qui ont fait les beaux jours dans premiers livres. Harassé, toujours sur le pont, nous avons appris à voir ce personnage secondaire, résoudre chacune des affaires qui lui sont confiées. Quant à Toni, elle a joué un rôle fondamental dans le dernier tome. Brian et elle ont chèrement payé leurs liens avec le criminel de ce livre d’ailleurs. le tout début du roman se déroule d’ailleurs pendant la scène dramatique de la fin de cet épisode.
Nous allons ensuite les retrouver quelques mois plus tard. Toni et Brian partageaient une attirance qui n’avait jamais pu se développer. Elle a été étouffée dans l’oeuf par Brian, grièvement blessé, encore hospitalisé. Toni a donc accepté de prendre le large et nous la retrouvons, célibataire, mieux dansa peau. Evidemment, une histoire de Christi Snow a toujours un élément de mystère et il va arriver cette fois de façon apparemment anodine. Le voisin de Toni, un jeune homme homosexuel est agressé dans leur immeuble, visiblement pour des causes homophobes. Il ne semble pas y avoir matière à un suspense haletant. Mais Toni a rencontré les hommes coupables de l’agression et va se retrouver prise au piège dans une histoire peut-être plus complexe qu’il n’y paraît.
I am big fan of Christi Snow's "When the Mission Ends" series. I like that she writes her alpha characters with the perfect mix of strength and vulnerability. Brian Barnes is no different. I was always interested to see where this characters story would lead so was happy to see she was writing his story. Toni Vincent is a perfect compliment to Brian. She is strong when he is weak and her quick wit reminds him that he isn't alone. I like that the characters realized that they had to be strong apart before they can be strong together. I also liked that she kept Nathan and Sam in the story. I think they added humor and levity to the story like only a teenager and a dog can.
I gave this book five stars for two reasons, one that she did not shy away from the subject of hate crimes and prejudice. And second because she introduces characters but lets you know that there story doesn't end after the last page of the story. I am looking forward to seeing where these characters go.
Gah, I waited too long to write my review and now I've got it all mixed up in my mind with The Protector.
I didn't recall these characters too well from the preceding books - but that was ok, I didn't need a total recap.
Brian rejected Toni after they underwent a traumatic ordeal at the hands of Toni's ex. They have both been rebuilding their (separate) lives until they are thrown together when Toni has crucial evidence about a homophobic attack on her young neighbour.
The plot was good - so often with these suspense novels the plot becomes fantastic (not in a good way) and is there simply to serve the romance, not here.
A great read which (and I do recall this) segues into a new series.
Oh My Stars! She has done it again. Christi just keeps getting better. The suspense in this read was thrilling and the love story rocks, not to mention her humor. Her writing literally han me laughing out loud. This entire series is a must read.
My only problem is having to wait for her next release;) I can't wait for the new series and eventually Nathan's story.
Another great addition to The Mission ends series. I did go back and read some of the past in the series to keep me up to speed. This book was intense. Lots of action, suspense, love and very hot. Such a wonderful story for Toni, Brian, and Nathan. Loved it!
another great book in the When the Mission Ends series. I was glad to see Brian finally finding his love and Toni is great for him. I am looking forward to many more books from Christi Snow
So glad that Detective Brian Barnes and Toni finally get their HEA!! I can't wait for the next set of books involving Jamie and Trevor!! As always, great book Christi!
I have enjoyed this series so much. This book has enjoyable, well-drawn characters, including a wonderful dog. The mystery and action scenes are exciting, and the romance has a happy ending. I enjoy Christi Snow's writing.
This is the third time now reading this book and I just love this series these characters are well written and you feel what they're going. Love the book
En bref : j'ai passé un très bon moment avec ce tome. Une histoire haletante et captivante. Cependant, la chute est trop rapide, trop courte : elle me laisse sur ma faim !!