Targeted

FBI Heat #2

by Marissa Garner

For San Diego's elite FBI agents, risking their lives is standard procedure when it comes to capturing the city's most dangerous criminals-but falling in love is the greatest risk of all.

RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES . . .

FBI Special Agent Marissa Panuska faces the most explosive case of her career when she impersonates a female terrorist to infiltrate an al-Qaeda cell. Her dark hair, olive complexion, and Arabic fluency make her the perfect imposter, but each passing hour raises the risk of discovery. Can she stop the dirty-bomb plot-alone-when the Feds don't even know the target? And should she trust the mysterious man who bursts into her life when her cover is blown?

SO CLOSE TO REALITY . . .

Former Navy SEAL Ameen Ali has a very personal reason for hating the terrorists and vowing to stop them. But when a beautiful woman joins the sleeper cell spreading death-to-America propaganda at his mosque, he doesn't want to believe she shares their evil goals. Can he convince her to join forces before it's too late?

Genres: Romantic Suspense

400 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2016

About the author

I’m Marissa Garner. I’m a wife, writer, chocoholic, and animal lover, not necessarily in that order. As a little girl, I cut pictures of people out of my mother’s magazines and turned them into characters in my simple stories. Now I write sexy paranormal romantic suspense, steamy contemporary romance, and edgy romantic thrillers. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband, but enjoy traveling from Athens to Anchorage to Acapulco and to many locations in between.

I write romance to titillate your mind as well as your libido. My stories appeal to romance readers who:

•Choose French Silk over vanilla

•Don’t always color inside the lines and don’t like being told no

•Think some rules are made to be broken

•Have the courage to push the envelope when they’re passionate about something

•Believe fiction should be as unpredictable as real life

If this sounds like your kind of romance, have fun exploring my website and stories.

Reviews

[Jara Beaubien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book with a promise of a fair review.

This story was more than I thought it would be. Strong characters and a great story line. Chases, hidden secrets and love. Who ever thought love would flourish amid such devastation that was to be unleashed. Page by page I was glued to it and wondering what the outcome should be. From DC to San Diego and down to Tijuana Mexico, I was totally rived by Marissa (Baheera) and how strong she was, and Ameen well what can one say about him, risking his own life to protect her against unimaginable terror. Loved the book and would love to read more of Marissa Garner books.

[Kara O'Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this. Wow! This was an awesome story. The heroine is amazing, courageous, affectionate, strong, hard-working....I could go on. The hero is an angel of the first order. But what was most awesome was the situation the heroine was in. There were so many moving parts, that I could NOT stop turning the pages. I was dying to see how everything worked out and how the heroine would manage such an intense situation. Loved, loved, loved it! Very real, as well. Ms. Garner seems to know her stuff when it comes to operations like these.

[Whispers From · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marissa is an undercover FBI agent in Counterterrorism department. She is undercover in a terrorist cell. Ameen is ex Navy SEAL and rescues Marissa when two of the terrorists almost behead her. She tries to keep him out of it but he keeps popping up. Now it's a rush against time to keep them from setting the bomb off. 
Heart pounding suspense. It took me a little while to get into the story. It's a little scary because it could actually happen. 
*RECEIVED A COPY FROM NETGALLEY*

[CatherineAA · Rating 4 out of 5]

TARGETED was an unexpected but scarily realistic depiction of terrorism and the efforts of law enforcement to counter it, with heroic and fearless characters and full of heart-pounding tension from the beginning to the end with no relief in sight. This is really solid and well-researched writing by Ms. Garner, with a different perspective, sure to get a reader thinking and in light of current world events, strikes a deep chord in me.

From Washington, D. C. to San Diego and further to Tijuana, Mexico, page after page is laced with an assortment of emotions and the author paints a very vivid but terrifying picture of life within a terrorist cell as well as offers a view into life as a Muslim in post 9/11 America.

FBI Agent Marissa Panuska is on a mission that could very well end in death for her and only the timely intervention of former Navy SEAL Ameen Ali prevents her from coming to an untimely end. With the cell floundering without a leader, Marissa steps lead it as a means of stopping to the plot.


Ameen has his own reasons for following the members of the cell and a shared objective with Marissa means that they can work together to destroy the terrorists and he can protect Marissa. While neither of them is looking for a relationship, their common goal creates a bond between them that grows into more but will it last beyond the conclusion of the mission?

Overall, this was a very interesting book and if you love Laura Griffin or Cindy Gerard, then you'll definitely enjoy TARGETED.


Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.



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[Books and Spoons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frighteningly realistic tale about terrorist cell infiltration to the society.
The book doesn't only give the picture from the American law enforcement point of view for the events and fight against the terrorist, but the Muslims of the States, and their fight against the terrorist penetration to their culture, religion, and neighborhoods, are in the center of the tale as well.
From the first page the fast action, horrid acts of terror, the danger, fear and daring acts of those fighting against them, is constantly present, and doesn't let up until the end.
The many historic, cultural, and actual facts of the fight, keeps the reader on their toes, and the focus of the story sharp. The author had a deep knowledge of the facts of this present war, and used them in a clever style through the book. With multiple characters and points of view, the tale felt at times cluttered, but the red line through the story is clear.
I found it intriguing how the author gave the American Muslims voice in the story, giving them a chance to fight against the use of their religion in the terror attacks. How Ameen and his family was affected by the attack on 9/11, and how it gave new purpose and focus for his life, was touching and eye opening.
Ameen and Marissa have amazing chemistry from the moment they meet. The romance is not on the center stage in the tale, but their feelings for each other has a strong presence in the story.
What makes this story so intimidating and alarming, is the reality of the tale, the fact that this could all be true, and happening right now, in many places in the world. Consequently, the romance and passion between Ameen and Marissa gave the story a lightening solace, welcomed glittering in the darkness of today's world.
~ Four Spoons

[C.A. Dufault · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book from this author that I've read and I definitely was not disappointed. There is a lot of mystery and intrigue, which is to be expected when the characters are FBI and CIA. Marissa is deep undercover in a terrorist cell when her cover is blown. About to be beheaded, Marissa is saved by a mysterious man named Ameen. Trying to discover where the dirty bomb is so it can be taken care of, Marissa returns to the remaining members of the cell who still don't know she's an imposter. Working together, Ameen and Marissa get closer but danger is always around the corner. Will they both survive to find out if their love is meant to be?

Both of these characters are innately strong in their own way and it makes them easily relatable. Ms. Garner does an amazing job writing a story that could very well happen tomorrow, and it's written well. The facts are on point and the story just drags you in so much you have to keep reading to see what happens. A definite must read!

[Mignon Mykel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biggest take-away I have from this book:

Kudos, Ms. Garner, for taking a subject and a hero, and making a taboo subject have a voice. One of the greatest aspects, I personally found, was Ameen and his voice when it came to being a Muslim living in not just the states, but at one time New York. I enjoyed his voice the most, I think.

This story was certainly cute. It's instalove and that jazz, but it was easily forgotten with the action and events of the story. In just a matter of days, Ameen and Marissa meet, work together, fall in love -- but of course, not without a few serious barriers in the way.

Targeted is definitely an enjoyable book for those who like the military romantic suspense line. I enjoyed our characters (and an uncle...), the emotional storyline (get an additional kicker at the end), and the suspense line. A well written book!

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second book in the FBI Heat Series and the second one I’ve read. The third and final waits for me in my reader. You might guess I find them entertaining reads. In this story, Marissa Panuska is an FBI Special Agent who is undercover in a terrorist organization. Yes, readers, edge of your seat suspense. With every page turn I was afraid she’d get found out. Ameen Ali is a former Navy Seal. He discovers Marissa is part of a cell spreading American hate propaganda at his mosque, he doesn’t want to believe she’s evil. When he saves her life, and is drawn into the nightmare of her undercover work…well you have to read the book to see what happens. Intrigue and suspense and romance. A great read.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book in Marissa Garner FBI heat Series and wasn't overly excited but I thought I would give book 2 a try and I found I like it much better than the first.

The author did her research on the terrorist organization and how they spread their propaganda and it showed. The story starts off with a bang and never slows down long enough for the readers to take a break.
Heart pounding from first to last page and how read this story feels is frightening things this could really happen
AC from Netgalley

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBI Special Agent Marissa Panuska knows that the undercover assignment she's on could very easily end with her being shipped home in a body bag. Still, nothing is going to stop her from risking her life to bring down those that wish to set off a dirty bomb and kill hundreds of people. However, it's getting harder and harder for her to maintain her cover when the group she's infiltrating is so filled with hate, until the mysterious Ameen Ali comes to her rescue when she gets herself into a precarious situation.

Former Navy Seal Ameen Ali lost the most important people in his life when terrorists killed his family during an attack on American soil. He's determined to take down those that threaten people's lives, even at the cost to his own. Saving the life of the gorgeous woman that seems to be part of the group he's looking to take down, he's determined to take advantage of her gratitude. Except she's more stubborn than he could have imagined, and convincing her to join forces may prove harder than he thinks.

Having really liked the first book of this series, and being introduced to Marissa in it, I was looking forward to reading what Ms. Garner would put the strong and brave woman, through in this story on the road to happy ever after. And honestly, it was everything I'd hoped for and more. Right from the beginning, this book was highly entertaining and gripped my attention immediately with it's strong plot, solid characters as well as a narrative and dialogue that kept me flipping the pages wanting to see how this story would develop. Especially after what happens to Marissa in the opening chapter, and the danger than Ameen saves her from.

I really liked both the main characters as well as the secondary ones, even though I thought that there were too many characters narrating the story. However, in saying that, all those characters narrating was necessary, as it illustrated how big of an investigation Marissa was on was, and that she couldn't do it alone. The friendship the heroine shares with her friend, Ben, proves that she needs someone she can trust to help her. Besides, they have a unique connection that was beneficial to her when she needed him most.

Marissa is strong, brave, determined, and stubborn. Being back in the field, she seems more alive than what she would be like working behind a desk. Her determination to take down the terrorist cell, even though everyone believes it's too dangerous for her to keep going, was what I liked best about her. She couldn't allow for the bad guys to hurt innocents without doing everything in her power to make sure she was the one that would take them down. Especially after all that she's witnessed infiltrating the terrorist cell, which seemed to be having more of an effect on her than she thought it would. As if a virus coursing through her that may prove difficult to get rid of.

While Ameen, he's confident and determined. No way could allow innocent lives to be lost when he could do something about it. Yet, what I liked most about the hero is that he didn't allow Marissa's stubbornness to get in the way of what he had to do. He was going to protect her, no matter what she threatened him with. They also have an incredible connection, which is proven by the fact that it's hard for her not to trust him. Until eventually, the strong chemistry they have spills over onto the pages in scorching sex scenes. Marissa needed Ameen, so she didn't feel so alone and to make her realize that there was light at the end of the dark tunnel she seemed to be caught in, if he was willing to explore their connection more when the case was over.

Overall, this was a very good addition to the FBI Heat series by Ms. Garner, and I can't wait until the next one, considering one of the secondary characters lost someone important. The way this story ended was perfect, despite what happened to the main characters and the fact that I thought all hope was lost when it came to the hero. I would recommend Targeted by Marissa Garner, if you enjoy the mysterious strangers trope or romantic suspense.

[Glenda Bettin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the story itself was okay, didn't care for the parts of Ben and Marissa, seemed more their story than seeing Amber and Ben together and Marissa and her man

[Hollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical romantic suspense. Nothing to write home about.