Break and Enter (Callahan Security Vol. 1)

Callahan Security #1

by Lori Matthews

Lui è il suo bersaglio.
Lei è la sua ossessione.
In un gioco di menzogne e seduzione… qualcuno finirà per bruciarsi.

Alexandra Buchanan infrange le regole per mestiere — e a volte anche la legge. Recuperando ciò che è stato rubato, si è costruita una reputazione fatta di fascino, astuzia… e del fatto di non essere mai stata catturata. Ma il suo nuovo obiettivo porta con sé una complicazione imprevista: Mitch Callahan. Ex Navy SEAL, esperto di sicurezza e tentazione vivente, con un ringhio capace di entrarle sotto pelle.

Lui è stato assunto per fermarla. Lei dovrebbe scappare. Invece, gli permette di avvicinarsi.

Mentre il pericolo li circonda e i segreti vengono a galla, Alexandra e Mitch sono costretti a collaborare. Ma con le scintille che volano e i corpi che cadono, mantenere un rapporto professionale diventa impossibile. E quando un nemico mortale entra in scena, il legame tra loro potrebbe essere l’unica cosa capace di salvarli… o di distruggerli entrambi.

Lori Matthews porta l’adrenalina alle stelle in questo romantic thriller enemies-to-lovers, ricco di chimica esplosiva, tensione alle stelle e un eroe che non gioca secondo le regole.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2025

About the author

I grew up in a house filled with books and readers. Some of my fondest memories are of reading in the same room with my mother and sisters, arguing about whose turn it was to make tea. No one wanted to put their book down!
I was introduced to romance because of my mom’s habit of leaving books all over the house. One day I picked one up. I still remember the cover. It was a Harlequin by Janet Daily. Little did I know at the time that it would set the stage for my future. I went on to discover mystery novels. Agatha Christie was my favorite. And then suspense with Wilber Smith and Ian Fleming.
I loved the thought of combining my favorite genres, and during high school, I attempted to write my first romantic suspense novel. I wrote the first four chapters and then exams happened and that was the end of that. I desperately hope that book died a quiet death somewhere in a computer recycling facility.
A few years later, (okay, quite a few) after two degrees, a husband and two kids, I attended a workshop in Tuscany that lit that spark for writing again. I have been pounding the keyboard ever since here in New Jersey, where I live with my children—who are thrilled with my writing as it means they get to eat more pizza—and my very supportive husband.

Reviews

[Ashleyjo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good bones, but it’s a frustrating and tedious read. 2.5 stars.

I like the premise, and the plot is all sorts of intertwined who done it. It’s security and cyber espionage sort of feel from the MMC and Robin Hood meets Cat on a Hot Tin Roof from the FMC. Mash it all up, and it should be engrossing…. But I struggled with the slow pace and over-tell everything writing style.

It’s slow moving like a disabled snail. A little action in the opening followed by a lot of meandering around… a little action in the middle… until a very anticlimactic ending.

Third person and very descriptive of scenery and mundane shit. EXTREME amount of sentences starting with “he” or “she,” which gives it a very amateurish feel.

Suspense is there, but it gets lost in the shuffle of long, useless scenes like this slowing the pace to a crawl….

Across the room were the weight machines, and in between was the free weight area. There were even yoga mats and exercise balls in the corner. Logan had been in charge of the remodel and putting the gym together. He’d done an excellent job. It rivaled a lot of the major chains in the city. Mitch didn’t want to know how much it had cost. Logan had said it was an investment. If they were going to be doing security work that involved personal security and things like kidnap and ransom, they were going to need their operators to be in shape, and it was cheaper to offer them a place to work out than to pay their gym memberships. Mitch got up and started walking toward the door to the showers. Logan hadn’t skimped there either. They were first rate, with a steam room to boot.

^ The gym in his office is the last thing I care about. Almost every page is full of this kind of fluff.
The character’ profiles are excellent, but they never get developed, and there’s so much fluff that I got to the point of just not caring about their plights. It’s trudging through mud to get to know them. Same inner thoughts over and over. Too much self-depreciation. Angst feels forced and dragged behind a donkey’s ass.

There are also a couple of nonsense plot devices to move the story forward. For example, if you feel danger is so extreme that you hire a personal security team and you know people are after something you have hidden, wtf would you throw an unnecessary party at your residence? You wouldn’t, and it didn’t make sense for the character to do it in this book.

FMC is brave, bold, and reasonably intelligent. But, she’s also a hypocrite. I mean she’s pissed at thinking she got played by the MMC when her own intent was playing the MMC… alrighty then. That said, I’d probably be pissed too if I thought I was the shit only to find out I was in shit.

MMC is cock-sure but my gawd is he self-doubting when it comes to himself as a security expert and how he stacks up against his brothers. Grow some balls to go with your MIA swizzle.

Speaking of swizzle, a blink-and-you-miss-it fingering near mid book is all the sexy you get here until almost 90%. Talk about slow burn. I expected a damn raging bonfire with half an oak tree, but it ended up being more like a few twigs briefly catching a spark. Okay, but not worthy of the massive WAIT.

The action scenes are good, but all that surrounds the action is just boring AF. Makes me skim. Skim. Skim.

The end is abrupt and not fulfilling. It’s a HFN and The Who done it only gets partially solved with a big question mark to follow.<< I wouldn’t call this a standalone.

Meh. Nice try, but this one flips and flops like a dying fish out of water. Pacing and wording make or break a book, and this one was broken.

[Tina Loves To Read]

This is a female Robin Hood retelling. This is the 1st book in the Callahan Security series. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, and I will post a honest review as soon as I read this book.

[Charissa Gracyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once A Thief

I really enjoyed this story and this is the first book by Lori Matthews that I've read. It was a fun cat and mouse game between the two main characters- a thief with a good heart and a former military man with a strong moral code. I'm always up for a protector romance with some fun action and this one gave me both! I'll definitely be reading book two and look forward to seeing uptight Logan loosen up down in the Bahamas with Lacy! 🏝

[Sydney Vrtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had potential

[Olivia Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love me a good romantic suspense. So much fun. This book was so interesting and captivating. It was just such an enjoyable read. I loved the pace and the back and forth between Mitch and Alex.
I also just loved the plot. Very interesting.
I did have some issues with the book but it wasn’t major. Still a solid 4 star read.
I didn’t feel the connection between Mitch and Alex. I did in the beginning but then it just wasn’t there cause we went from Alex feeling betrayed to jumping into Mitch’s arms. There wasn’t a good arc. It started so well but just fell flat later on. It was purely physical. They barely knew each other but were already in love?
I also did find the story very predictable. Literally from the start I knew it was Dan. Very obvious. Also I think the characters were a bit dumb when it came to suspecting people and security. A little short sighted. But it was actually a bit comical.
Also they kept on mentioning that she could handle herself but they never proved it. I would have loved a girl boss moment where she showed up the boys.
I did really love the humour in this book. It was lots of fun.
The first half was definitely my favourite. After Alex stole the car, the story felt very rushed. And very unfinished. I understand wanting to carry on the mystery into the next book but we could have gotten some closure or just wrapped things up better. It ended very rushed and abruptly. Alex and Mitch weren’t even in the epilogue. Also lots of loose ends. Obviously some things couldn’t have been revealed in this book but there were still things that could have been revealed or just stated? I think this book needed an extra 50 pages just to wrap things up better.
Also there weren’t a lot of things that came full circle. Like the problems Mitch has with his brothers was thrown in here and there but it never developed into anything.
I also really thought that Alex was Drake’s sister. It’s all so weird the way it was wrapped up. I was very confused.
I’m just nitpicking these things but all in all I had a really great time reading. It was just quick, feel good, low stakes palate cleanser. Lots of fun.
4 stars!

[Shannyn Shuklian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love loved this one! Intense and fast paced.

Alex is a thief - but think Robin Hood with a twist. Mitch is in security, and he comes across Alex on a job - though he doesn’t know it at the time, she’s on a job too!

He can’t get the way she moved out of his head. So when he thinks he sees her again, he believes she is going to rob his new client - this new client who could make or break his security businesses reputation.

Both are hilariously digging up dirt on each other while completely entranced with each other as well. Alex has a job to do, and so does Mitch but soon their paths align. Will they take that next step?

I’m excited for the next one!!

Hmm… character I want to smack…. I honestly don’t think there was one for this book but if I had to choose I’d say both Alex and Mitch for how they both act at different times. 🤦‍♀️🤣

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Broken, do not enter...

The premise is great: a woman who steals back possessions for her clients. In this book, the female MC gets caught up in retrieving a car only she gets more than she came for and thus mixed up in a caper.

So problems: the dialog lacked wit. The descriptions and narrative used far too many "was" to effectively build scenes and characters. And the third person POV switched up mid-chapter...making it difficult to stay with the characters. Add to that minimal steam and awkward, non-existent sexual tension and this book is kind of a poorly edited mess. I'm disappointed the story doesn't truly wrap with an HEA and to find out the real villain I have to read the next book. I can't suffer through that to get answers.

Skip this one.

[Elaine Lucky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex is a poor little rich girl who has remade herself into an "ARSE". She plays a cat and mouse game with security expert Mitch. I feel like I've read this story by another author. Alex was irritating as an "I don't need anyone's help I can do it myself" & flies off the handle when Mitch tries to help her. He is constantly described as an Ex-Seal. One time should've been enough. The falling for each other was kind of "insta-love" and the book ends without the villain being identified or caught setting up for the next book in the series. I'm not invested enough to read it

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange book. When I finished reading it, I thought about how to rate it and I ran the gamut from 2- to 5-stars; I settled on 3-stars. Here’s why….

1) The story has good bones. The plot is well thought out but executed both badly and well. Badly because the pace of the story is so uneven: it starts out very slow, and this is anathema to a writer. Stories should reach out and grab a reader at the first sentence, never letting go until the very end. I stopped reading this book midway and left it alone for a couple months, then went back and finished it. But it was also good because Ms. Matthews led us into suspense and held us for several chapters.
2) Despite the strong plot, the beginning and end are both weak. It was a slow crawl towards the middle of the book when it picked up its pace, presented a bit of a mystery and some suspense for us to enjoy. Then it ended abruptly and unsatisfactorily.
3) The main characters were so-so, and without chemistry. The female lead, Alex Morgan (née Buchanan) and using other aliases, changes her mind so often, the reader could get whiplash trying to follow along. Initially, she doesn’t like men because they are terribly controlling, then she falls all over the male leading character, lusting after him pitifully. She insists she doesn’t need any man to take care of her; we’re told she’s had “years of kick boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga, and general self-defense training,” but not once does she use any of these skills. Instead, she needs to be rescued by the male lead and his brothers, the Callahans.
4) The male lead, Mitch Callahan, is never allowed much depth in his character. Instead, he seems conflicted in his relationship with his brothers, with whom he feels inferior and left out, and is so unsure of his abilities that he’s constantly second-guessing himself and his skills. He keeps losing the female lead; even with all his Navy SEAL capabilities, she slips away from him time and again, until the very end. We aren’t told how he found her after she ran away from him yet again. AND…this constant running away got very old.
5) The two main characters had lots of potential, but somehow it never got off the ground. The chemistry between them was lacking. If the writer hadn’t told us that they were hot for each other, we would not have picked up on it based on their behaviors when around one another. I was shocked when after running from Mitch, then having an excellent orgasm at his hands (literally), and running away again, Alex decided she was falling in love with him. Wait, what…? There is no rationale provided. What about him made her fall in love? We aren’t shown, nor told. She enjoyed the sex, but lasting love needs more than lustful attraction.
6) The sex scenes seem perfunctory. The after-sex scenes are practically non-existent, often because the female lead keeps running away for the oddest reasons. It gives the sex a mechanical feel, something to perform and get through. If the main characters had chemistry, they’d be blistering the pages with their heat.

There are not many errors, but at times they will pull a reader out of the story. For example:
 There’s a missing article mid-sentence: “The smell of women’s perfumes and men’s colognes, mixed with sweet scent of the dozens of flowers…” is missing the definite article, “the.” It should read, “…mixed with the sweet scent….”
 “’Is everything Okay?’ she asked.” The word, “okay,” doesn’t need to be capitalized.
 “Uh how’d you find that out?” needs a comma after the “Uh.” “Uh, how’d you find that out?”
 When a character is talking and the speech continues into subsequent paragraphs, ending quotation marks are not used until the final paragraph, where the speaker stops. The writer sometimes adds ending quotation marks, giving the appearance of another character responding in the next paragraph. For example:
“It was enjoyable to be sure. Still is.”
“I’m a natural, so it didn’t take a long time.”
These sentences read like two characters talking. Nope. Both sentences are spoken by the female lead.
 “…down the narrow passage way.” Passageway is one word.

I’m ambivalent about continuing the series. The next book features Lacy Carmichael, Alex’s best friend, and Logan Callahan, the next brother to get his own book. I didn’t care much for Lacy in this book. She wasn’t necessary, for all that she was a lawyer. She felt more like a device rather than a plot-essential character. Logan is presented as the well-organized brother and is also a lawyer; there’s more to him as a character than Lacy.

I liked the writer’s style. The slow pace was generally well written, but at times fell into trite observations that did not move the story along. While it’s good to show what a character is doing and feeling, it’s important to keep the pace quick and crisp. Parts of the book read well, nice style, good editing; and parts are deadly dull with material that could have been edited out. I’m still going back and forth on rating this book, hence the solid 3-star rating. I may pick up another book in the series, skipping the next one. I’d like to see how the writer’s style develops and her characters get more depth.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was completely putdownable. I normally read a book in 2 to 3 days tops. This took me weeks. I fell asleep several times, considered not finishing as well, which I don’t generally do. The foundation and idea is there, so I gave it a two. But literally nothing worth a damn happened 95% of the time. I have no idea why this is rated so highly. To each their own. Y’all can keep this.

[Laz the Sailor]

DNF at 25%. Not bad, but kinda flat. Potential, but didn't work for me.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the entire book but I don’t want to read the next book to figure out who the client was. The next book feels like a completely different story.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I rolled my eyes 27 times**

And yes, I actually counted.

Click here for all 27 of my eyerolls.

The potential was there, but nope. Fell flat. The extra star is literally me being generous for the one plot development about halfway through the book involving a mysterious event that effectively threw a wrench in the plans of the main characters. It was essentially when things went very awry in the story, when it all started picking up and getting interesting, and when I actually dared to think that the story would actually come together into something grand despite a shaky beginning. The moment that tells me whether a story will be good or not. It's happened before and I'm sure it'll happen again.

Not this time, though.

Unfortunately, that big plot point, while still maintaining its intrigue, was still too overshadowed by one glaring nuisance, which was the flimsy romance involving a hell of an unlikable heroine (Alex) and a generic hero (Mitch), both of which are inexplicably drawn to the other for reasons unknown, other than possessing opposite genitalia. Neither character is well-developed enough to justify why love even became a thing between them. It was awkward. Rushed. Uncompelling. One of those romances that exists strictly because the author says so.

I found myself getting annoyed pretty early on, mostly (as I said before) with Alex. Alex is the nauseating "independent" type woman, declaring about not needing a man and that she can take care of herself (until later in the story of course when she needs them and is taken care of, to her very horror). She automatically assumes that a man who may actually care about her wellbeing means he wants to control her or that he sees her as weak. She declares men not being worth women throwing themselves at them, then proceeds to pretty much throw herself at one for her own personal gain. She sexually objectifies a man and even bragged about ways to manipulate them. A hypocrite through and through and I didn't like her one bit.

Mitch was a bit less irritating than Alex but was still a painfully bland character with no real personality that made him stand out against the countless other heroes in other romances who are the exact. Same. Way. He's essentially there to be a penis with a face. Or, as the heroine calls him, "sex on a stick" or "catnip." Literally. I wish I was joking. Mitch is essentially only allowed to be fawned over by the heroine (or so that's what it feels like), but God forbid he want to take measures to protect her. Any time the man does something for her wellbeing she chastises him for it because girl power, blah, blah, blah. To me, it just felt like Mitch was there to fall for the heroine for no reason whatsoever. He's just told to.

All in all, this was just not a good read for me, even despite the one intriguing plot point (which actually didn't even close out properly by the end). There was just so much cringe. So many clichés. Nothing was compelling to me, not the characters, not the story, and now, not even the remainder of the series. Oh well. Moving on.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Break and Enter” is the first in Lori Matthews’s newest series Callahan Security. This swoon worthy, Charlie’s Angel-esque, female robin hood read is an extraordinary debut of what appears to be an action-packed series.

Kicking off in Italy and quickly moving to the Hamptons the scenery is almost as captivating as the story within.  Author, Lori Matthews creates an exquisite narrative as she flips between Mitch and Alex’s point-of-views as they both vie for success in their endeavors.

Alex is a thief, or as she likes to call herself an asset repossession specialist extraordinaire, ARSE for anyone paying attention.  Specializing in returning assets to recently single women.  She’s returned anything from family heirlooms to expensive watches, but her most recent job requires her to return a one of a kind sports car to a scorned woman, and it is proving to be a bit more than she bargained for.

Alex comes from money and knows what it is like when women can’t seem to get over an ex. As a strong female, benevolent lead, Alex is committed to never using women for her own gain in her own line of work, making her an instantly likeable heroine.

Mitch Callahan is ex-military.  Along with his brothers, Mitch has recently taken over the family’s security business and as head of the newly formed personal security division he is committed to making a splash with his first big client, Jameson Drake.  But, he’s up against a formidable foe that has seemingly targeted his client. Alex and Mitch can’t both be successful, so who will come out on top?

Matthews nailed it in this series kick off!  The romance was steamy, the action was jaw dropping and the characters all provided an edge that kept the pages turning.  As a longtime fan of Jason Bourne, “Break and Enter” hit all the right notes and gave readers an independently strong and wealthy female lead.  However, this book should not just be limited to fans of action and thrills, the several romantic scenes within are enough to make the most weathered romance reader blush.  This book packs so much punch within its storyline, readers will be running for the next in the Callahan Security series.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well ... it is what it is
18+

SPOILERS AHEAD

This book doesn't get interesting really until the 150 mark but that's really being generous. It's not the smut filled romance novel you might expect it to be so keep those expectations low.

It's a lot of slow moving cat & mouse games, which can build a lot of sexual tension but let me tell you these two did NOT need it. One look and they were horny as hell, truly incredible.

Both characters were kind of shit at their jobs, easily screwing up when they were in each others presence because they were so focused on wanting to bang they couldn't keep it together - HORNY 👏🏻 JAIL 👏🏻

The plot line actually wasn't bad in the grand scheme of it all but tbh the ending was super rushed. Not to mention the romance had no emotion build up, only sexual tension. But I guess you finger bang a gal once on a yacht and that's love baby!

The authors writing could've used a little fine tuning, there was chapters in Alex's POV and then Mitch's POV but SOMETIMES it would be both, just randomly without a break the POV would change. Not only that but some backstory details didn't add up?? Leo said he met Alex trying to steal his wallet but then later she said they met when he caught her stealing cheese?? Math ain't mathing.

We also could've seen a lot more growth from both main characters! She was constantly telling him she could handle herself but then he would swoop in and save the day. Then they would fight. I would've liked to see her actually handle herself and then them have a discussion on why he needed to trust her to take care of herself and how she needed to realize he cares about her and it's okay to let him into that vulnerable place. have them form a more mature connection that way ya know? But we did not get any of that.

Anyways ... I can't wait to read the next one, i expect it to be just as ridiculously horned up as the first lol

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit I lost interest in this book fairly quickly. I read about 5 books in between before I came back to finish it because it was an ARC. Things did eventually start picking up about midway through the book, which in reading lingo is a long time.

In the beginning Alex had me intrigued and was hoping for so much more from her. She did so many things that didn’t make sense with her international property recovery MO. While many of her repossessions wont be reported to the police that doesn’t mean that she wont hit their radar at one time or another. She took some stupid risks along the way that screamed amateur. For me she had a bit of a wishy-washy persona.

We knew right from the start that Mitch was a straight shooter. He had high expectations of himself and as such also of others. Unfortunately his clients didn’t understand that while they may color in the gray he did not. His struggles with starting a company and making sure it succeeded because of the financial backing of his family came across as genuine.

When these two finally got together it felt more mechanical than this blinding passion. Unfortunately for me the sexual build up just had something missing and it never made more than a passing flicker of heat.

Both characters came across well, there was just something lacking, maybe the pacing that made this a bit of a bland read. Others may enjoy it for me it wasn’t bad nor was it something I would remember after the next book.

I received an ARC from Hidden Gems and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the ARC of this book from Hidden Gems in exchange for the below review. The story has a Thomas Crown Affair vibe that I thought was an interesting premise. That said, it took me some time to really get into the story, but since I knew something was coming up, I stuck with it. I would just say the buildup and establishment of characters took a bit of time. This is the story of Alex, who is a notorious thief or as she calls it an Asset Recovery Specialist Extraordinaire. This means that if you give your fiancé a family heirloom, but he cheats on you and breaks your heart, Alex will get it back and help you get closure. I thought it was an interesting concept and Alex seemed passionate about her cause.
When we meet Alex, she is in Venice getting a watch back for a client and as she is escaping runs into a security guy, who she later learns is Mitch. He is there to protect someone else, but he is curious and suspicious of her. Then they both end up in the Hamptons, where she is trying to get a car back from Mitch’s major client. They finally meet and there is combustible chemistry between them, even though they both know they should not be together. It is a great action and adventure story with this hot couple that builds very well into the next book and continuation of the series. Mitch and Alex have a good romantic ending, but the mystery will continue into the next story that will focus on his brother and her best friend.

[Angela Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Alexandra Buchannan – the woman who uses her talents as a professional criminal to equalize the scales of what she likes to call, romantic justice. -Break And Enter - Book 1 Callahan Security Series - Lori Matthews.

Let me start by telling you..this book is hard to close. Absolute page turner! A perfect balance of suspense and romance. The perfect blend of an adrenaline rush from a dangerous cat and mouse chase to a slow build of sexual tension between the characters.

In the beginning I’m thinking..a criminal for a heroine? Yet as the pages turned, I loved this character.
The author brilliantly created Alex’s righting the wrongs; while creating a woman with a past who put her heart and soul into the jobs she took. One job that places Mitch Callahan in her way, risking her identity, freedom, and her heart. One that instantly places his heart at risk.

He’s security. She’s a thief. But there are other players that could make this a deadly game. The adventure begins. Pulling you into a story of mystery, intrigue, twists, and an explosion of chemistry that will keep you up late. Hey...sleep is underrated! Especially for lovers of romantic suspense. And best of all...there’s more! Book 2 is hitting the Kindle next! 5 hearts for this one 💗💗💗💗💗

[Carissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at 61%

I couldn't get into the story and it felt like a lot of running around? The story's pace wasn't to my liking.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Break and Enter" is the first in Lori Matthews's series Callahan Security. Self proclaimed Asset Repossession Specialist Extraordinaire (ARSE), Alex Morgan uses her talents as a thief to equalize the scales of romantic justice. Stealing back family heirlooms, priceless possessions to their rightful owners. When completing a repossession in Venice Italy, Alex runs into an attractive man on the balcony that she was to use as her escape. Little did she know this man would make another appearance in her next job.

The next job takes place in the Hamptons, she was hired to repossess a vehicle that was gifted to Drake Jameson by his former fling Diana Sterling. When the couple split ways, Drake refused to return the vehicle to Diana, and now she wants it back. Drake was a well to do business man, who required personal security at all times due to the recent threats that have been coming his way.

While Alex is doing her due-diligence scoping out her newest target, she recognizes one of his security detail. Could it be the same man from the balcony in Venice? No. YES! It was him, she could recognize those smoky gray eyes anywhere. Mitch Callahan, the youngest of three brothers who owned Callahan Security, ex Navy SEAL.

I really enjoyed this book, it took me a little longer to read than I was hoping, but only because life gets in the way. The plot line is fantastic, I love the cat and mouse back and forth between Mitch and Alex. They had instant chemistry, but were both hesitant to get too close to the other. This was a little frustrating, but paid off in the end. I loved the shows White Collar and The Catch, this book gives off similar vibes, which is why I didn’t want to put it down. Character development was high on this author's priority list, I felt like I knew the main characters in real life. I could feel their emotions with the details she provided. There were 2 spicy scenes in the book, both of which were done very tastefully - I wanted more, hopefully as the series continues the spice does too.

I have to say that the amount of detail written was both great and annoying at the same time. I loved being able to imagine the scene, but then there were parts where I was questioning, why?! Specifically the scene where Mitch is in the gym. I don’t really see any reason for that entire section. It isn’t relevant to any of the story, other than the fact that Mitch worked out in there 1 single time. The storyline started out pretty slow, it wasn’t until about 35% in that it started picking up, once it did, I literally finished the book before putting it down again.

I give Break and Enter an overall rating of 5/5 - I’m reading reviews now about it and see many people didn’t like it, but I honestly really did.

The spice rating is 1 /5 - with only 2 very short scenes this isn’t a book you read if that’s your main goal. The scenes were very well written - [THE YACHT !!! ]

I would recommend this book to any reader that can stick to a slow start and enjoys romantic thrillers.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did an outstanding job of keeping you guessing for sure. Introducing Alex Buchanan (alias is Morgan). She is obtaining items for other people that was theirs to begin with but what she is truthfully viewed is a thief. She is spending her life running away from her past because she came from a bad childhood, not for lack of money but lack of good parents. She's going to extravagant lenghts to disguise her appearance so her identity is hidden. The reasoning being she is afraid that if her true identity is exposed, then it will result in a storm of paprazzi and media due to her famous last name. Her father left her mother when she was a child and her mother went on later to commit suicide. Alex gets a letter from her mother stating that she hopes that she will do better in life than she had which is cold in the least. Alex is all for being on her own until she meets Mitch Callahan, head of a security business. This is where the pivotal point to the story comes, she meets him on a balcony at a party where she is doing some recon work for a job she is hired to do by the party host's ex wife. She is hired to retrieve a car that the ex-wife is needing back so it can then be gifted to her new significant other. When Alex manages to retrieve the car, chaos ensues. A bomb goes off where she was supposed to be driving with the car, and little does she know before she exits the car when she gets it safely parked at the owner's house, she takes something that is not her's. It is a prototype of a facial recognition software that the client's ex-husband had designed. Come to find out, Tolliver, one of the ex-wife's ex-husbands was attempting to purchase the prototype to no avail. Tolliver ends up dead, Dan, one of Mitch's security agents is dead as well. In the end, the device is back in the safe hands and Mitch and Alex come to know one another's real selves and live happily ever after. This book definitely had me guessing, I read this in 2 sittings and could not put it down. I look forward to reading more of her novels in the future. She definitely keeps you on a twisty rollercoaster ride of emotions leaving you guessing until the end.

[Nae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genres, settings, categories, themes: romantic suspense, contemporary romance (M/F), action, thriller, heist

💗 Tropes: 💗
> Danger
> Hidden Identity (a bit)
> Thief
> Note: It's billed as "Enemies to Lovers" but honestly he was into her from the start and never *really* was against her, so it was more like "misaligned goals" than real Enemies to Lovers or Hate to Love
all about tropes here

Series/Sequencing Style: 1st in an anthology series, can be read as standalone, no cliffhanger
understanding series types: dynamic, static, anthology - source 1, source 2

Format: ebook

🔽🔽🔽

Overall ratings

Heat level: 🌶 3/5 spicy seduction 🌶
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)

~ Heroine (Alex) ~ 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 badass woman who helps other women, can take care of herself; she does annoy me when she rushes to do a job she obviously shouldn't be doing, just bc she's pissed or whatever (that doesn't fit with how smart she is overall)

~ Hero (Mitch) ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 he's a pretty good guy overall, but overbearing and doesn't have much depth

~ Plot ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Pacing ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Romantic connection ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 found their relationship felt a bit clichéd at times, but they did have sparks

~ Action/thriller ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Writing ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Depth & tone (light & fun --> more serious, addresses heavier topics?): med light 2/5
~ Angst level: 2/5
~ Sadness level: none 0/5

🔽🔽🔽

🤠 Recommended for: fans of romantic suspense

[R Huiszoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lori Matthews, ‘ Break and Enter’.
A Callahan Security Novel.

As a Hidden Gems ARC reader I received a free copy and promised an honest review. Here it is.

Rating: 4 stars (of 5).

In general: From mistrust to love.

Main characters:
- Alexandra Buchanan (28). Pseudonym Alex Morgan.
She’s a female Robin Hood. A thief, stealing from wealthy people, who treated some people badly. She helps the victims and that often pays well for Alex.
But she not really needs the money, for her family is very rich. However she had a very bad youth with hardly any parental love, so stealing started as a search for excitement, attention and a silent protest against her self-centered parents.

- Mitch Callahan.
A former SEAL, who - with two brothers - just took over his father’s security company. One of his first important assignments was to protect Drake, a very wealthy, influential but also an annoying and sometimes cruel man.

Mitch and Alex accidentally meet for the first time - without knowing each other - during a masque ball in Venice. He’s there protecting Drake and she was at the party to return a precious family watch to a divorced wife. Alex was almost caught by Mitch, but narrowly escaped.
Then Alex accepts an assignment to steal a car from Drake. The man had a lover, a separated wife, who donated him a car. When Drake dumps her, the ex lover wants the car back. But Drake refuses to return the car and the wealthy ex lover hires Alex. So Alex and Mitch clash again.
Step by step Mitch and Alex learn who they really are. They like each other. And a great, mutual physical attraction grows but also a lot of mistrust, for Mitch has to protect his client’s interests against thieves and Alex wants to keep her incognito. It results in exciting action scenes, nice characters, some hot sex and a complicated story about Mitch’ security firm and Drake’s manipulations.
For me an interesting book to read.

R.Huiszoon.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://onebookmore.com/2020/02/15/rev...

I’m a little obsessed with Goodreads giveaways right now, but I’m not complaining because I win books like this! The first book in the Callaghan Security series, the story centers around the youngest Callaghan brother. Mitch is an ex-Navy Seal who is trying to prove his ability and worth to his older brothers. He is new to the Callaghan Security team, and his newest client brings all kinds of problems – including Alex.

Alex is hired to steal something from Mitch’s client. However, she didn’t expect to fall for Mitch in the process. And he didn’t think he’d ever let anything interfere with the job. Then he met Alex.

The romance between Alex and Mitch sizzles from their first meeting. They are a well-matched pair. Both are smart, ambitious, clever, and confident. They challenge each other, which I love! On top of that, the chemistry is super hot!

They try to resist each other. After all, neither wants the complications that come with a relationship. Ultimately, Mitch and Alex must decide if they can put their misgivings aside and take a chance on love. It is a risk that could jeopardize everything – including their lives.

This is a steamy romantic thriller that I enjoyed reading. The plot is fast-paced and action-packed, and the characters are interesting and likable. I like the unexpected twists and surprises in the novel. From unexpected moles and betrayals to explosions and attempted murder, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Favorite Parts:
- strong, independent female protagonist
- interesting and suspenseful plot
- super steamy romance

Recommendations:
Readers who enjoy sexy romance will love this book. Also, readers who enjoy romantic suspense with a bold and intelligent woman and a hunky alpha male will enjoy this read.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good thief who I can root for in a book and that is what Alex was. She would steal back sentimental items after a break up. I totally fell for the concept and I really enjoyed the e book. It didn’t get a full 5 stars because I felt like Alex had this huge chip on her shoulder when it came to men. She looked down on them. I know I might get bashed for that because she was all about empowerment of women and I’m all for that. However I don’t think you can act one way, have a man act the same way and then get all offended and how dare he. She was going to use Mitch and she knew by using him she would destroy his reputation. Yet she had qualms about using a woman, she flat out says she hates to do that. I don’t get it. If she had used the woman no one would have knows she was casing the place or who had stolen it but by using this man, the HEAD of security she felt better about it bc she wasn’t a women. Not all men are evil just like not all women are saints. Then she Finds out Mitch knew she was a thief the whole time

“From the beginning then. You were setting me up from the very beginning.” Horror raced through her body as she realized how badly she’d been played. She was an even bigger fool than she could have ever imagined. “Congratulations, well done,” she said in a strangled voice and then whirled around and ran down the steps.”

When this happened I laughed at her. SHE WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING!!!!! You don’t get to be righteously indignant when you are pulling the same scam!
That being said, her attitude towards men didn’t affect the story too much and it did make sense in places. It’s rather nit-picky or me to single this out but it is a pet peeve of mine.
Overall I enjoyed the characters, the movement of the story and look forward to the next one.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Morgan also known as heiress Alexandra Buchannan has been helping people retrieve their beloved belongings for years now as an Asset Repossession Specialist, but her handler, Leo, thinks it's time for them to retire. Alex believes he might be right when she is almost caught by security specialist, Mitch Callahan, during a job in Venice. Little does she know that she is going to run into Mitch again when she tries to repossess a car for her latest client. Mitch's security firm has been hired to protect the owner of proprietary technology in the field of facial recognition, who also currently has custody of the car. Alex tries to forget her attraction to Mitch, but he keeps showing up when she least expects it.

Break and Enter is a very entertaining beginning for the Callahan Security romantic suspense series. Alex and Mitch are likable characters, but even though we learn about their history, there isn't much emotional content to back up that information. There are moments in the story when the action and adventure are very exciting, but without thorough character development, the plot is a little repetitious and boring at times. Even though Alex and Mitch get their HEA by the end of the book, clearly the overarching mystery will continue in further entries in this series. Overall Break and Enter is an enjoyable romantic suspense romp filled with thrills and engaging scenes.

[Dani_b1821 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this story, but once I hit about 40% I was all in. I felt a bit disconnected to the characters, but the plot was an interesting concept that kept me reading. Once the action started I became engrossed.

Alex steals items for women who are heartbroken. She's an empathetic character who believes she's doing the right thing. I wasn't sure about Alex at first. I was annoyed with her at times and she seemed naive when she shouldn't have been. We don’t find out about her life until later on in the book, and even then I didn't feel satisfied. Alex was described as a badass. I would have loved to see her use her different fighting styles in the book.

Mitch, on the other hand, we learn everything about him right away. We see his struggles with owning his own security firm, and his frustrations with his clients. He was easy to relate to, he was just trying to be a good man. Mitch was realistic in situations, and I hated that his client doubted him. Many things wouldn't have happened if the client would have just trusted him.

Alex and Mitch's relationship started on lies, but they had that insta love scene. Once all the action happened, the plot became less about their romance and more on who wants them killed. The book ends on a romantic HEA, but the story is being continued in the next brother's book.


I received an ARC for a honest review

[An · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unexpected gem! From the synopsis it seemed good, but the actual story was so much better. Alex Buchanan and Mitch Callahan meet in Venice on a balcony. She is attempting to steal...or “repossess” an item for a client. He is on a security detail and notices she is in a place that is off limits to guests. She attempts to charm her way out of the situation, but he’s on to her. He’s distracted for a moment and she slips away. So begins the game of cat and mouse between these two personalities that love a good challenge, so game on!

Each time they meet, the attraction grows stronger until their game turns deadly. She’s running from her past, he should be moving toward his future, but will they be strong enough to make it together?

I loved Alex! She was fierce, independent, smart and cautious. Mitch was good, but I didn’t connect with him as much as Alex. Mitch’s brothers seem interesting, can’t wait to read about them in the upcoming books. Gage seems the most mysterious!

This book had romance, action and suspense all very good elements when the author knows how blend them. This author did a good job of doing just that. Although this is my first book by her, I already look forward to reading more.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this title.

[Tuweleme · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars - got better by the end

The first half was a little off. Too much time spent "talking" about the main characters being so great at their jobs, instead of "showing". Then each of them made ridiculously stupid mistakes, so the idea of them being competant went out the window. They also got to saying "love" a little too quickly. I am perfectly fine with insta-love, I don't think there is a certain amount of time associated with feelings. But this was quick even for me. Their interactions had been so minimal, that it stretched the imagination a bit to see them in love.

Thankfully the second half got better. The suspense was good, the relationship part was better, and I found myself genuinely enjoying the book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing how the author continues to develop.

The story arc that runs through the series is interesting and I want to see where it goes. I also want to know more about the relationship between the brothers and get more of the history there. There seems to be a lot under the surface so I am definitely willing to keep reading. But I took some stars off because of the issues at the beginning.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Break and Enter" is book one of the Callahan Security series by Lori Matthews. After his father died, Mitch Callahan talked his brothers into expanding the family business to personal security. However, the first client that Mitch Callahan signed up with for his new personal bodyguard branch was difficult. On top of that, Alexandra Buchannan, a beautiful thief, caused Mitch headaches. The readers of "Break and Enter" will continue to follow Mitch Callahan to find out what happens.

"Break and Enter" is the first book I have read by Lori Matthews and an enjoyable book to read. From the start, I engaged with the story and the characters of "Break and Enter," ensuring I read other books in this series. I love Lori Matthews's portrayal of her characters and how they interacted throughout this book. "Break and Enter" is well-written and researched by Lori Matthews, and I like Lori Matthews's descriptions of "Break and Enter" settings that complement the book's plot.

The readers of "Break and Enter" will learn about the role of a personal security officer or bodyguard. Also, the readers of "Break and Enter" will understand the consequences of software espionage on everyone evolved.

I recommend this book.