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Aegis #3
Fatal Pursuit
Five years ago, Aegis Security op manager Marley Addison’s lover died in a South American raid gone horribly wrong…or so she thought. When she receives a phone call telling her that he is still very much alive and in danger, she vows to bring him home safely, even if Aegis CEO and former Navy SEAL Jake Ryder has kept her out of the field for the last few years. Then Jake shows up in Colombia to help her, leaving Marley annoyed…and more than a little distracted by her alarmingly handsome boss.
As things between Marley and Jake heat up in the wilderness, they discover their rescue mission is filled with treachery. Now the domineering Jake has to rely on Marley for survival. But can she depend on him when their mission takes a shocking and deadly turn?
Fatal Pursuit is the pulse-pounding third book in Elisabeth Naughton’s scorching Aegis series.
As things between Marley and Jake heat up in the wilderness, they discover their rescue mission is filled with treachery. Now the domineering Jake has to rely on Marley for survival. But can she depend on him when their mission takes a shocking and deadly turn?
Fatal Pursuit is the pulse-pounding third book in Elisabeth Naughton’s scorching Aegis series.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2015
319 people are currently reading
1100 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Naughton
75 books3,155 followersBefore topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—award winning author Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Elisabeth now writes full-time.
Though primarily known for her romantic suspense work, Elisabeth has penned over thirty books and continues to write in multiple genres, including paranormal romance and contemporary romance. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have earned several award nominations, including three prestigious RITA® nominations from Romance Writers of America. In 2017, REPRESSED, the first book in her Deadly Secrets series, won the RITA® for best romantic suspense.
Elisabeth's work has been praised by the Chicago Tribune as being filled with "deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion.” Kirkus calls her "a writer talented enough at weaving a yarn to get her readers ensnared in it.” When not dreaming up new stories, Elisabeth can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home, wrangling two cats, or chasing after one very rambunctious Dalmatian.
Learn more about Elisabeth and her books at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.
Though primarily known for her romantic suspense work, Elisabeth has penned over thirty books and continues to write in multiple genres, including paranormal romance and contemporary romance. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have earned several award nominations, including three prestigious RITA® nominations from Romance Writers of America. In 2017, REPRESSED, the first book in her Deadly Secrets series, won the RITA® for best romantic suspense.
Elisabeth's work has been praised by the Chicago Tribune as being filled with "deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion.” Kirkus calls her "a writer talented enough at weaving a yarn to get her readers ensnared in it.” When not dreaming up new stories, Elisabeth can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home, wrangling two cats, or chasing after one very rambunctious Dalmatian.
Learn more about Elisabeth and her books at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.
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June 17, 2015
“I want to say a little something that's long overdue, the disrespect to women has got to be through. To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends, I wanna offer my love and respect till the end.” - Adam Yauch
That. Is. IT. You work your fingers to the bone, set everything up just so, design and plan and make sure that everyone is as safe as can possibly be expected given the fact that the people you work with are security experts with darn dangerous jobs, complete with guns and knives and things that go boom. Oh, it isn’t bad enough that your boss, a domineering jerk with a superiority complex and an ego so overinflated he had to buy a whole other building to store it in, won’t let you go out on field work, because apparently since your reproductive organs are on the inside and not the outside, you aren’t good enough – even though your father spent every hour or your life from the time you were big enough to haul a rucksack and pull a trigger teaching you to be good at field work (although, once you got old enough to actually DO said field work, see above…) NOW the unmitigated JERK changes the whole game on you DURING an op – and leaves you sitting there with your thumbs up your bum and feces on your face while he waltzes in and does what he likes. OH! And yes, apparently everyone else knew he changed up everything – and didn’t even tell her… Well, yep. That. Is. IT.
After three and a half years of working to keep Jake Ryder’s teams safe in the field, of being patient and banging her head against the wall, all the pent up frustration of being shoved to the back of the room, disrespected, ignored, and refraining from pointing out Jake’s idiocy, biting her tongue to keep the peace, well. Anything can happen in a split second in the field – lives depended on being able to be fast on her feet as the Ops Manager, on being on site to handle any of a million complications that can cost lives – but Ryder’s determined that “her place was anywhere besides in the field”. Gender bias, anyone? But this is the very last straw on a very large pile of straw that caused the whole thing to fall down. Marley is out of there – maybe he expected her to do what he wanted, when he wanted, no questions asked. And yeah, maybe she had put up with it for long enough that she had nobody to blame but herself. But this sort of disrespect? Holding her back. Treating her like she is expendable, a mindless tool, after all she has done to keep them safe? Just down right not trusting her? This is finally IT.
“You know what, Jake? You want to do things on your own? Go ahead and do them. Be my guest and do them all. I’m done with this.”
And just as she is walking out the door, who should ring her up but her ex-boyfriend. Her dead ex-boyfriend. Well, everyone thought he was dead, killed on an op gone bad in South America. What perfect timing. In a cold fury, Marley borrows Jake’s jet and pilot and soon finds herself in the jungles of Columbia on a rescue mission. Gray McKnight was alive – and her own father had lied to her about his death – had left Gray behind.
How much more betrayal can a woman take?
Let’s call a spade a spade. Jake Ryder is one of the more obnoxious jerks in the annals of obnoxious jerkhood. Spoiled rotten, self-centered and totally clueless. He works Marley like a slave, gives her no respect, no positive input, basically blows her off and just expects her to be there, like a good little lap dog, when he needs her. And then, when she finally is “done with this” . . . He is shocked?!?!? Where is his good little lap dog, fetching his slippers and pipe and waiting for him to kick her across the room when she is done??
Garg. I wanted to punch them both in the face – Jake for being Jake, and Marley for putting up with it! Because, you know, she isn’t really done, she plans to come back to heel as soon as her rescue is done. It’s not like she couldn’t find a better position, with a boatload more respect, somewhere away from Jake and her dad, someplace where she is appreciated for her excellence at what she does. Nah, she is sure she will come back and, yep, things won’t change, she is just taking a little vacation. In Columbia. In the Jungle. Amongst the drug runners and cartel members and armed psychos. Have I mentioned the armed psychos? Oh, and let’s not forget Grey. There is something odd there – but that is to be seen, because Marley can’t leave him down there, not like her father did.
And then, here comes SuperJake. (Insert 1970’s Superman theme music here.) Convinced Marley is just “playing a little game” (how demeaning is That, I ask you?) he blows into Puerto Asis, Columbia, all filled with sanctimony and enough pomposity I wanted to kick his ya-ya’s up between his eyeballs . . . And oh, Doy, “One thing registered. That she was still mad. But he couldn’t tell if it was because he’d changed that op, or if there was more going on.” Ya THINK?? Sigh. And, OMG!! When he finally find her in Pureto Asis – GASP – she is With. A. Man!! Well, he certainly didn’t want her for a girlfriend – “He’d sure as hell never pick Marley”.
So, why’s he got his panties in a twist?
Of course, unable to keep his nose out of things that are definitely NOT his business, Old Jakey has to get all up in her business, and she has to drag his incompetent backside through the jungle on her quest to rescue McKnight. And he really is the most incompetent supposed Special Forces dude I have ever come across in a long history of loving suspense and thrillers. Marley actually has to elbow him in his side to get him to shut up when they are within feet of paramilitary soldiers armed with automatic weapons who are determined to track them down and kill them. Really? His lack of jungle skills, fear of creepy crawlies and general incompetence had me rolling my eyes nearly out of my head.
The shame is, the story could have been a lot better. The concept was good, even though there were many times when I found myself screaming at the characters. “Even after everything they’d already been through on this trip, he still thought she couldn’t hold her own.” She showed him up, time and again, in jungle survival, in pulling his ignorant backside out of the fire more times than I cared to count, and he still disses her. The thing is, it really is her own fault. . . . would she forever be stuck in this role-standing on the fringes, waiting for someone to view her as capable, waiting for him to see the real her?” Well, sister, you let everyone push you around long enough without standing up for yourself, why should you be so surprised when they just keep doing it? Jake spends all his time calling other people dumb, idiots, etc… but his actions pretty much proved that posts have a bit more savvy than he does, and yet she still allows herself to be treated badly.
There were many other things that irritated me about the book, most especially the idiocy that occurred after they return to the States. There is the completely obnoxious, “I don’t want her, but you can’t have her, and by the way, I am going to boink her against a wall during your engagement party – you know, the one where you are celebrating your engagement to her - and she is going to let me” thing going on that drove me to drink.
Oy. I put this review off for three days, thinking I would calm down and write a ‘fair and balanced’ review. Nah. There were some spots that were well done, some spots that weren’t too irritating, and a lot of things that just made me yell and throw things and wind up with a killer migraine.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. Definitely a disappointment to me, though ooey-gooey, starry-eyed romantics will probably find it to be just dandy.
That. Is. IT. You work your fingers to the bone, set everything up just so, design and plan and make sure that everyone is as safe as can possibly be expected given the fact that the people you work with are security experts with darn dangerous jobs, complete with guns and knives and things that go boom. Oh, it isn’t bad enough that your boss, a domineering jerk with a superiority complex and an ego so overinflated he had to buy a whole other building to store it in, won’t let you go out on field work, because apparently since your reproductive organs are on the inside and not the outside, you aren’t good enough – even though your father spent every hour or your life from the time you were big enough to haul a rucksack and pull a trigger teaching you to be good at field work (although, once you got old enough to actually DO said field work, see above…) NOW the unmitigated JERK changes the whole game on you DURING an op – and leaves you sitting there with your thumbs up your bum and feces on your face while he waltzes in and does what he likes. OH! And yes, apparently everyone else knew he changed up everything – and didn’t even tell her… Well, yep. That. Is. IT.
After three and a half years of working to keep Jake Ryder’s teams safe in the field, of being patient and banging her head against the wall, all the pent up frustration of being shoved to the back of the room, disrespected, ignored, and refraining from pointing out Jake’s idiocy, biting her tongue to keep the peace, well. Anything can happen in a split second in the field – lives depended on being able to be fast on her feet as the Ops Manager, on being on site to handle any of a million complications that can cost lives – but Ryder’s determined that “her place was anywhere besides in the field”. Gender bias, anyone? But this is the very last straw on a very large pile of straw that caused the whole thing to fall down. Marley is out of there – maybe he expected her to do what he wanted, when he wanted, no questions asked. And yeah, maybe she had put up with it for long enough that she had nobody to blame but herself. But this sort of disrespect? Holding her back. Treating her like she is expendable, a mindless tool, after all she has done to keep them safe? Just down right not trusting her? This is finally IT.
“You know what, Jake? You want to do things on your own? Go ahead and do them. Be my guest and do them all. I’m done with this.”
And just as she is walking out the door, who should ring her up but her ex-boyfriend. Her dead ex-boyfriend. Well, everyone thought he was dead, killed on an op gone bad in South America. What perfect timing. In a cold fury, Marley borrows Jake’s jet and pilot and soon finds herself in the jungles of Columbia on a rescue mission. Gray McKnight was alive – and her own father had lied to her about his death – had left Gray behind.
How much more betrayal can a woman take?
Let’s call a spade a spade. Jake Ryder is one of the more obnoxious jerks in the annals of obnoxious jerkhood. Spoiled rotten, self-centered and totally clueless. He works Marley like a slave, gives her no respect, no positive input, basically blows her off and just expects her to be there, like a good little lap dog, when he needs her. And then, when she finally is “done with this” . . . He is shocked?!?!? Where is his good little lap dog, fetching his slippers and pipe and waiting for him to kick her across the room when she is done??
Garg. I wanted to punch them both in the face – Jake for being Jake, and Marley for putting up with it! Because, you know, she isn’t really done, she plans to come back to heel as soon as her rescue is done. It’s not like she couldn’t find a better position, with a boatload more respect, somewhere away from Jake and her dad, someplace where she is appreciated for her excellence at what she does. Nah, she is sure she will come back and, yep, things won’t change, she is just taking a little vacation. In Columbia. In the Jungle. Amongst the drug runners and cartel members and armed psychos. Have I mentioned the armed psychos? Oh, and let’s not forget Grey. There is something odd there – but that is to be seen, because Marley can’t leave him down there, not like her father did.
And then, here comes SuperJake. (Insert 1970’s Superman theme music here.) Convinced Marley is just “playing a little game” (how demeaning is That, I ask you?) he blows into Puerto Asis, Columbia, all filled with sanctimony and enough pomposity I wanted to kick his ya-ya’s up between his eyeballs . . . And oh, Doy, “One thing registered. That she was still mad. But he couldn’t tell if it was because he’d changed that op, or if there was more going on.” Ya THINK?? Sigh. And, OMG!! When he finally find her in Pureto Asis – GASP – she is With. A. Man!! Well, he certainly didn’t want her for a girlfriend – “He’d sure as hell never pick Marley”.
So, why’s he got his panties in a twist?
Of course, unable to keep his nose out of things that are definitely NOT his business, Old Jakey has to get all up in her business, and she has to drag his incompetent backside through the jungle on her quest to rescue McKnight. And he really is the most incompetent supposed Special Forces dude I have ever come across in a long history of loving suspense and thrillers. Marley actually has to elbow him in his side to get him to shut up when they are within feet of paramilitary soldiers armed with automatic weapons who are determined to track them down and kill them. Really? His lack of jungle skills, fear of creepy crawlies and general incompetence had me rolling my eyes nearly out of my head.
The shame is, the story could have been a lot better. The concept was good, even though there were many times when I found myself screaming at the characters. “Even after everything they’d already been through on this trip, he still thought she couldn’t hold her own.” She showed him up, time and again, in jungle survival, in pulling his ignorant backside out of the fire more times than I cared to count, and he still disses her. The thing is, it really is her own fault. . . . would she forever be stuck in this role-standing on the fringes, waiting for someone to view her as capable, waiting for him to see the real her?” Well, sister, you let everyone push you around long enough without standing up for yourself, why should you be so surprised when they just keep doing it? Jake spends all his time calling other people dumb, idiots, etc… but his actions pretty much proved that posts have a bit more savvy than he does, and yet she still allows herself to be treated badly.
There were many other things that irritated me about the book, most especially the idiocy that occurred after they return to the States. There is the completely obnoxious, “I don’t want her, but you can’t have her, and by the way, I am going to boink her against a wall during your engagement party – you know, the one where you are celebrating your engagement to her - and she is going to let me” thing going on that drove me to drink.
Oy. I put this review off for three days, thinking I would calm down and write a ‘fair and balanced’ review. Nah. There were some spots that were well done, some spots that weren’t too irritating, and a lot of things that just made me yell and throw things and wind up with a killer migraine.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. Definitely a disappointment to me, though ooey-gooey, starry-eyed romantics will probably find it to be just dandy.
July 18, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Marley has been the glue that keeps the Aegis group together for the last three and half years but with Jake still not letting her go out into the field and changing up missions without including her, she is done feeling under appreciated. When an ex-boyfriend from the past is resurrected, Marley decides that now is the time to prove to Jake and her father that she has what it takes to get the job done. Jake is not familiar with this lost feeling and anxiousness that has dominated his feelings ever since Marley took a little vacation. When he finds out she went to Columbia, he just knows he has to get there. At his arrival, finding Marley with another man, witnessing her capabilities, and not able to keep his usual professional distance, has his Pandora's Box of feelings cracking wide open. Their jungle adventure is about to become more dangerous than they ever imagined.
After getting a hint of Jake and Marley's boiling pot relationship in the last book, Lethal Consequences, I was highly anticipating their story and I was not disappointed. Marley had somewhat of an unconventional childhood with following her father all around the world as he built up his security company. She grew up with the knowledge of how to run operations and is good at her job but while her father let her travel with the team, he never let her go directly into the field. Wanting to branch out and grow, Marley quits and joins Aegis, Jake Ryder's new and upcoming security company. Unfortunately, Jake turns out to be even more of a brick wall and even after three and half years of proving herself, refuses to not only let her go out into the field but doesn't even let her travel with the team. Their story starts here when Marley finally pushes back at the domineering men in her life and Jake gets a taste of his own medicine when Marley leaves.
I found Marley and Jake to be (mostly) believable, likeable, and frustrating. Marley may have taken Jake's dominating attitude for too long but he was still her boss and she was building a reputation at a new company. Jake may have come off as an alpha-hole one too many times but he is a former Navy SEAL, head of a growing company, and man with years of training to take charge of situations, be a leader, and get things done. Jake respects Marley but as his buried feelings for her start to come to the surface, he also fears for her safety, in the way that people who have seen far too much do. Marley was a mixture of capability and a touch of naivety; she has the skills for the field but not the emotional experience. I thought the author did a great job of showing how all these factors swirled together to show why our couple is attracted to one another and how the tension between them is created.
The snarky dialogue between these two was fun and helped to create what I like to call a thunderstorm couple. When Jake arrived in Columbia, we could hear the rumblings of an approaching storm, then as they trek through the jungle and he sees how capable Marley is and he begins to become aware and address why he can't relax or settle down unless he is around Marley, the storm hits. Lightning cracks the sky when they meet a group of indigenous people and drinking their jungle juice had them having one heck of a night. The eye of the storm comes when Jake does his patent push away move and they rescue Marley's ex-boyfriend. Then things really come to ahead as lightning crashing, thunder booming, and swirling winds catch Jake and Marley up as anger, jealousy, hurt, impromptu and poorly timed sex against a wall, and love make up the storm's tail end.
I focused a lot on Marley and Jake's relationship for this review and that is because it is the main part of the story and worked the best. The story arc of Marley's ex-boyfriend needing rescuing works to start off our adventure and keep our leads together but was fairly weak with an obvious villain and the how and why of the ex being mad at Marley's father and all the manipulated story that came as a result of this; it was a bit of a stretch.
If you like some adventure in your books and a fair amount of hot and heavy scenes, you'll want to pick this one up. Marley may have started off naïve but after getting a taste of the field, she intellectually realizes it may actually not be for her and while Jake's capabilities may keep him headstrong, we do get to see him respect Marley's more and bend a little on letting her be in charge; great growth by characters. The leaders of the Aegis group didn't disappoint and I'm looking forward to future characters getting their story, particularly Marley's lone wolf brother.
Marley has been the glue that keeps the Aegis group together for the last three and half years but with Jake still not letting her go out into the field and changing up missions without including her, she is done feeling under appreciated. When an ex-boyfriend from the past is resurrected, Marley decides that now is the time to prove to Jake and her father that she has what it takes to get the job done. Jake is not familiar with this lost feeling and anxiousness that has dominated his feelings ever since Marley took a little vacation. When he finds out she went to Columbia, he just knows he has to get there. At his arrival, finding Marley with another man, witnessing her capabilities, and not able to keep his usual professional distance, has his Pandora's Box of feelings cracking wide open. Their jungle adventure is about to become more dangerous than they ever imagined.
After getting a hint of Jake and Marley's boiling pot relationship in the last book, Lethal Consequences, I was highly anticipating their story and I was not disappointed. Marley had somewhat of an unconventional childhood with following her father all around the world as he built up his security company. She grew up with the knowledge of how to run operations and is good at her job but while her father let her travel with the team, he never let her go directly into the field. Wanting to branch out and grow, Marley quits and joins Aegis, Jake Ryder's new and upcoming security company. Unfortunately, Jake turns out to be even more of a brick wall and even after three and half years of proving herself, refuses to not only let her go out into the field but doesn't even let her travel with the team. Their story starts here when Marley finally pushes back at the domineering men in her life and Jake gets a taste of his own medicine when Marley leaves.
I found Marley and Jake to be (mostly) believable, likeable, and frustrating. Marley may have taken Jake's dominating attitude for too long but he was still her boss and she was building a reputation at a new company. Jake may have come off as an alpha-hole one too many times but he is a former Navy SEAL, head of a growing company, and man with years of training to take charge of situations, be a leader, and get things done. Jake respects Marley but as his buried feelings for her start to come to the surface, he also fears for her safety, in the way that people who have seen far too much do. Marley was a mixture of capability and a touch of naivety; she has the skills for the field but not the emotional experience. I thought the author did a great job of showing how all these factors swirled together to show why our couple is attracted to one another and how the tension between them is created.
The snarky dialogue between these two was fun and helped to create what I like to call a thunderstorm couple. When Jake arrived in Columbia, we could hear the rumblings of an approaching storm, then as they trek through the jungle and he sees how capable Marley is and he begins to become aware and address why he can't relax or settle down unless he is around Marley, the storm hits. Lightning cracks the sky when they meet a group of indigenous people and drinking their jungle juice had them having one heck of a night. The eye of the storm comes when Jake does his patent push away move and they rescue Marley's ex-boyfriend. Then things really come to ahead as lightning crashing, thunder booming, and swirling winds catch Jake and Marley up as anger, jealousy, hurt, impromptu and poorly timed sex against a wall, and love make up the storm's tail end.
I focused a lot on Marley and Jake's relationship for this review and that is because it is the main part of the story and worked the best. The story arc of Marley's ex-boyfriend needing rescuing works to start off our adventure and keep our leads together but was fairly weak with an obvious villain and the how and why of the ex being mad at Marley's father and all the manipulated story that came as a result of this; it was a bit of a stretch.
If you like some adventure in your books and a fair amount of hot and heavy scenes, you'll want to pick this one up. Marley may have started off naïve but after getting a taste of the field, she intellectually realizes it may actually not be for her and while Jake's capabilities may keep him headstrong, we do get to see him respect Marley's more and bend a little on letting her be in charge; great growth by characters. The leaders of the Aegis group didn't disappoint and I'm looking forward to future characters getting their story, particularly Marley's lone wolf brother.
August 14, 2015
Fatal Pursuit by Elisabeth Naughton is a 2015 Montlake publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have enjoyed the last two books in this series and was eagerly anticipating Jake and Marley's story. However, I was a little frustrated by the story line in this one and struggled to get into it.
Marley has worked for Jake, a former SEAL and current CEO of Aegis, dutifully for over three years. But, her boss continues to hold her back, refusing to allow her to do field work, and it's slowly killing her inside. When Jake pulls a stunt that proves his arrogance and lack of appreciation of her, she throws in the towel. Right on the heels of that monumental decision, she gets a phone call from an old boyfriend, a man she believed was dead, begging her to help him. So, with no job, and nothing to lose, Marley travels to South America to rescue the man she once considered marrying.
When Jake discovers Marley is gone, he enlist Eve to help locate her, then takes off after her, thus beginning a fatal pursuit.
The previous installments of this series had a stylish quality to them this one lacked. The suspense wasn't nearly as tense and the action was muted. In fact, the mystery was flat and predictable, as it was pretty much spelled out for us that something was awfully fishy about this whole set up.
What was frustrating was Marley's gullibility which is something a person so well suited to field work could ill afford. I expected more from her than just an ability to survive in the jungle. She needed to work that brain of hers on all cylinders, and stop making impressing Jake the more important goal.
The foray the couple takes into a native village was a detour that took the story way off course, and while I am certainly not an expert on native tribes, or their rituals and ceremonies, this part of the story seemed highly implausible and a ridiculous way of getting Jake and Marley to loosen up around each other.
Finally, the story gets back to the original thread regarding the search for Marley's friend. Once the man is located the story really flounders. Jake and Marley only had a marginal amount of chemistry between them and Jake was not at all likable. He took liberties by looking into Marley's medical records, and various other invasions of her privacy, is sexist, controlling, and unapologetic about it.
I have also recently discovered that I can't stand the trope involving the female protagonist finally moving out from behind her controlling father's shadow, only to find herself falling in love with a man with those very same traits. But, at least Marley doesn't sacrifice her convictions to rationalize a relationship with Jake, accepting and putting up with his treatment of her, and folding to his will. No, Jake will have to redeem himself and it looks like he's going to drop the ball. Until.....
Well, I must grudgingly admit Jake really pulls off a 180, goes down grand gesture avenue, and I almost forgot about his prior behavior, as a result. He really did tone down his bossiness, although it still peaks through here and there at times.
So, while this was not the best book in the series, the conclusion offset some of the complaints I had with the story, but not enough to push the rating up to a higher level. This one gets 3 stars
I have enjoyed the last two books in this series and was eagerly anticipating Jake and Marley's story. However, I was a little frustrated by the story line in this one and struggled to get into it.
Marley has worked for Jake, a former SEAL and current CEO of Aegis, dutifully for over three years. But, her boss continues to hold her back, refusing to allow her to do field work, and it's slowly killing her inside. When Jake pulls a stunt that proves his arrogance and lack of appreciation of her, she throws in the towel. Right on the heels of that monumental decision, she gets a phone call from an old boyfriend, a man she believed was dead, begging her to help him. So, with no job, and nothing to lose, Marley travels to South America to rescue the man she once considered marrying.
When Jake discovers Marley is gone, he enlist Eve to help locate her, then takes off after her, thus beginning a fatal pursuit.
The previous installments of this series had a stylish quality to them this one lacked. The suspense wasn't nearly as tense and the action was muted. In fact, the mystery was flat and predictable, as it was pretty much spelled out for us that something was awfully fishy about this whole set up.
What was frustrating was Marley's gullibility which is something a person so well suited to field work could ill afford. I expected more from her than just an ability to survive in the jungle. She needed to work that brain of hers on all cylinders, and stop making impressing Jake the more important goal.
The foray the couple takes into a native village was a detour that took the story way off course, and while I am certainly not an expert on native tribes, or their rituals and ceremonies, this part of the story seemed highly implausible and a ridiculous way of getting Jake and Marley to loosen up around each other.
Finally, the story gets back to the original thread regarding the search for Marley's friend. Once the man is located the story really flounders. Jake and Marley only had a marginal amount of chemistry between them and Jake was not at all likable. He took liberties by looking into Marley's medical records, and various other invasions of her privacy, is sexist, controlling, and unapologetic about it.
I have also recently discovered that I can't stand the trope involving the female protagonist finally moving out from behind her controlling father's shadow, only to find herself falling in love with a man with those very same traits. But, at least Marley doesn't sacrifice her convictions to rationalize a relationship with Jake, accepting and putting up with his treatment of her, and folding to his will. No, Jake will have to redeem himself and it looks like he's going to drop the ball. Until.....
Well, I must grudgingly admit Jake really pulls off a 180, goes down grand gesture avenue, and I almost forgot about his prior behavior, as a result. He really did tone down his bossiness, although it still peaks through here and there at times.
So, while this was not the best book in the series, the conclusion offset some of the complaints I had with the story, but not enough to push the rating up to a higher level. This one gets 3 stars
February 15, 2017
2.5 Stars - So do I round up or down?
Thanks to Ms. Naughton, Montlake Romance Publishers and First Reads for the gift of a book. (This is my first "win" via the Goodreads giveaway!)
Even though I had a few issues as the story progressed, I was going to rate this a 3 Star read as for the most part I was enjoying it. Ms. Naughton writes well and I enjoy her writing style. I like strong heroines and Marley was showing competence and strength.
Then the plot did a couple of turns that I simply couldn't take. Yeah...I have to insert spoiler because the items I list tell some plot lines...
So, the story, the plot, the writing had so much potential, but a couple of bad plot points and character derailments really ruined the end of the book for me.
Thanks to Ms. Naughton, Montlake Romance Publishers and First Reads for the gift of a book. (This is my first "win" via the Goodreads giveaway!)
Even though I had a few issues as the story progressed, I was going to rate this a 3 Star read as for the most part I was enjoying it. Ms. Naughton writes well and I enjoy her writing style. I like strong heroines and Marley was showing competence and strength.
Then the plot did a couple of turns that I simply couldn't take. Yeah...I have to insert spoiler because the items I list tell some plot lines...
So, the story, the plot, the writing had so much potential, but a couple of bad plot points and character derailments really ruined the end of the book for me.
July 28, 2015
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Fast paced jungle rescue, jungle sex and a mystery all wrapped up in a romantic-suspense that is extremely enjoyable. Fatal Pursuit is #3 in the Aegis series, but reads very well as a standalone.
Marley left her father's security firm because he treated her like a girl. She went to work for Jake at Aegis Security thinking that he would use all her talents. Instead, Jake treats her like his Girl Friday and after one particular op, Marley has had it. Her last words to him "I'm done with this..." echo in his mind as he discovers she has taken off for South America and God only knows what trouble.
Marley received a call from a man she dated and thought had been dead for 5 years. He desperately needs her help to get out of Columbia and he needs her now. Marley takes off and Jake, being a good boss, follows. Nothing romantic, he just needs to make sure she is okay. He gains a whole new appreciation for her talents as they get stranded in the jungle and is stunned that he never even had a clue how resourceful she is or how hot.
When Marley and Jake are guests of a village of natives the men want to mate Marley and kill Jake. Marley saves him and they are "mated" by the village. A wild, passionate night follows after which Jake does his withdrawal thing and Marley slowly realizes that Jake may never be able to express his true feelings. They find and rescue Gray and return to civilization and things between Jake and Marley go from bad to worse, with Gray ready to step right in. Jake hasn't like Gray from the moment he met him and now that he is putting the moves on Marley he downright hates the guy. something is off about him.
Fast paced jungle rescue, jungle sex and a mystery all wrapped up in a romantic-suspense that is extremely enjoyable. Fatal Pursuit is #3 in the Aegis series, but reads very well as a standalone.
Marley left her father's security firm because he treated her like a girl. She went to work for Jake at Aegis Security thinking that he would use all her talents. Instead, Jake treats her like his Girl Friday and after one particular op, Marley has had it. Her last words to him "I'm done with this..." echo in his mind as he discovers she has taken off for South America and God only knows what trouble.
Marley received a call from a man she dated and thought had been dead for 5 years. He desperately needs her help to get out of Columbia and he needs her now. Marley takes off and Jake, being a good boss, follows. Nothing romantic, he just needs to make sure she is okay. He gains a whole new appreciation for her talents as they get stranded in the jungle and is stunned that he never even had a clue how resourceful she is or how hot.
When Marley and Jake are guests of a village of natives the men want to mate Marley and kill Jake. Marley saves him and they are "mated" by the village. A wild, passionate night follows after which Jake does his withdrawal thing and Marley slowly realizes that Jake may never be able to express his true feelings. They find and rescue Gray and return to civilization and things between Jake and Marley go from bad to worse, with Gray ready to step right in. Jake hasn't like Gray from the moment he met him and now that he is putting the moves on Marley he downright hates the guy. something is off about him.
March 9, 2024
I don’t read a ton of romantic suspense but I think I might have to read more because I really liked this one! I liked both Marley and Jake and there was a good balance of the action scenes and the steamy/romance scenes (and there were quite a few of the latter!). Also, major bonus points for a blue diamond engagement ring!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2015
I was provided with an ARC of this novel in exchange for a fair review. As a huge fan of Ms. Naughton's Eternal Guardians, I jumped at the opportunity even though I had not read any of the previous books in the Aegis Series. It wasn't necessary to read the preceding stories, but after having LOVED Fatal Pursuit as much as I did, it would seem I have some catching up to do.
Marley is a highly capable woman, and even though Jake doesn't see that, the reader is made aware of it from the beginning. The story jumps right into the action and it isn't long before Jake's lack of appreciation for Marley is more than she is willing to take. But as soon as she leaves, that's when the fun really begins...
I loved seeing Jake continually surprised by Marley- whether because of her abilities or her thoughts. There's nothing quite like an alpha man who doesn't know what the heck he's supposed to do next.
But now, I need to go back and read the others...
Marley is a highly capable woman, and even though Jake doesn't see that, the reader is made aware of it from the beginning. The story jumps right into the action and it isn't long before Jake's lack of appreciation for Marley is more than she is willing to take. But as soon as she leaves, that's when the fun really begins...
I loved seeing Jake continually surprised by Marley- whether because of her abilities or her thoughts. There's nothing quite like an alpha man who doesn't know what the heck he's supposed to do next.
But now, I need to go back and read the others...
June 23, 2015
amazing, I have been waiting for Marley and Jakes story since the second book, it is far and beyond what I could have imagine. Jakes a man that doesn't believe in commitment, and lasting relationships, after his childhood misery he didn't believe in marriage or anything close to falling in love. Marley had always wanted to proof to her father that she was able to go on the field on ops, but after working for Jake for 3.5 years and she had the same problem with Jake that she had with her father neither believe she could handle the field, at the end she proof them wrong. When dead ex boyfriend calls her from Colombia re very thing changes in hers and Jakes relationship. Note I received this as an Arc copy and loved the story.
July 20, 2015
Amazing book! I love the Aegis Security Series. Marley and Jake's story is without a doubt my favorite one.
Him....
Jake is a man dark past who's struggling to find his way, fighting to make something of himself. After a disappointing childhood his biggest fear is to be just like his father.
Her.....
After being raised all around world seen a black ops group in action all Marley ever wants is to be seen as a capable field agent. When she is not able to accomplish that in her father's black ops team she decides is best to give it a try in the Aegis Security Company.
They seem to have everything planned and then the unexpected happens. A moment in a Colombian jungle, a bracelet and a brew called Ayahuasca will change their lives forever.
Him....
Jake is a man dark past who's struggling to find his way, fighting to make something of himself. After a disappointing childhood his biggest fear is to be just like his father.
Her.....
After being raised all around world seen a black ops group in action all Marley ever wants is to be seen as a capable field agent. When she is not able to accomplish that in her father's black ops team she decides is best to give it a try in the Aegis Security Company.
They seem to have everything planned and then the unexpected happens. A moment in a Colombian jungle, a bracelet and a brew called Ayahuasca will change their lives forever.
July 24, 2015
This story of Jake and Marley had everything! Sizzling chemistry, emotional drama, secrets and lies, murder attempts and covert operations! It was entertaining and drew me in so deeply I stayed up way past my bedtime reading! I fell in love with Jake and Marley.
December 18, 2015
Two-haiku review:
She works for his firm
Gets call from ex she thought dead
Goes to rescue him
She makes bad choices
He has serious issues
Perfect together
She works for his firm
Gets call from ex she thought dead
Goes to rescue him
She makes bad choices
He has serious issues
Perfect together
January 26, 2020
OHHH Wow, What to say about this book. I wasn't crazy about it. It was an okay book to read but I just didn't think it went with the other two books before this in the series.
I didn't like Jake. Jake was a jerk. He never really recovered from being a jerk through the whole story.
Marley's dad was a jerk too. What kind of advice was that?
Marley comes off very capable and smart. She's quick to think and is a problem solver. She’s so beaten down from first her father and then Jake that she ended up making really stupid decisions. Like really the wedding?
And then Marley's friends? They are helping her pick out pink roses? I happen to know her friends from other books and KNOW they should be kicking her ass.
The best decision Marley makes is quitting her job. She should have kept going.. Run Marley, Run !
AND WHAT !! The jungle chapters felt like they were from a different book. What the heck. Do jungle people just hang out waiting for white people to come around so they can kidnap then, get them drunk, get the white people to have sex? SNORT…
Well, not every book is for everyone. But there are some really good parts here. Like Ms Naughton is a solid story teller. Her dialog is always spot on. And even though I didn't like Jake and thought Marley was a fool, they were well developed characters and okay, they deserved each other.
And a final thought. Try to write a book. It's not easy. I hate when a book doesn’t work out for me. I can’t imagine the time it takes to put a story together and get it published. Just because I didn’t like one book by someone doesn’t mean I don’t like the author. Ms Naughton is on my Auto Buy List… Forever.. Just love her. And look at the other reviews there are plenty of people that like the story just fine. So pay no attention to me !
#FavoriteAutoBuyAuthor
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hello.
I didn't like Jake. Jake was a jerk. He never really recovered from being a jerk through the whole story.
Marley's dad was a jerk too. What kind of advice was that?
Marley comes off very capable and smart. She's quick to think and is a problem solver. She’s so beaten down from first her father and then Jake that she ended up making really stupid decisions. Like really the wedding?
And then Marley's friends? They are helping her pick out pink roses? I happen to know her friends from other books and KNOW they should be kicking her ass.
The best decision Marley makes is quitting her job. She should have kept going.. Run Marley, Run !
AND WHAT !! The jungle chapters felt like they were from a different book. What the heck. Do jungle people just hang out waiting for white people to come around so they can kidnap then, get them drunk, get the white people to have sex? SNORT…
Well, not every book is for everyone. But there are some really good parts here. Like Ms Naughton is a solid story teller. Her dialog is always spot on. And even though I didn't like Jake and thought Marley was a fool, they were well developed characters and okay, they deserved each other.
And a final thought. Try to write a book. It's not easy. I hate when a book doesn’t work out for me. I can’t imagine the time it takes to put a story together and get it published. Just because I didn’t like one book by someone doesn’t mean I don’t like the author. Ms Naughton is on my Auto Buy List… Forever.. Just love her. And look at the other reviews there are plenty of people that like the story just fine. So pay no attention to me !
#FavoriteAutoBuyAuthor
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hello.
November 6, 2021
Elizabeth Naughton’s writing is exquisite. Her heroes are perfect. Emotional and alpha. Her plots are great. Just amazing in a nutshell.
July 27, 2015
4.5 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28 , 2015
Five years ago, Aegis Security op manager Marley Addison’s lover died in a South American raid gone horribly wrong…or so she thought. When she receives a phone call telling her that he is still very much alive and in danger, she vows to bring him home safely, even if Aegis CEO and former Navy SEAL Jake Ryder has kept her out of the field for the last few years. Then Jake shows up in Colombia to help her, leaving Marley annoyed…and more than a little distracted by her alarmingly handsome boss.
As things between Marley and Jake heat up in the wilderness, they discover their rescue mission is filled with treachery. Now the domineering Jake has to rely on Marley for survival. But can she depend on him when their mission takes a shocking and deadly turn?
Fatal Pursuit is the pulse-pounding third book in Elisabeth Naughton’s scorching Aegis series.
•••••••••••••
REVIEW:4.5 stars-- FATAL PURSUIT is the third installment in Elisabeth Naughton’s adult, contemporary Aegis Security action, suspense series focusing on a group of former CIA operatives and military personnel. This is Aegis Security CEO owner and former Navy SEAL Jake Ryder, and Aegis Security operations manager Marley Addison. FATAL PURSUIT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Jake and Marley) FATAL PURSUIT follows Marley as she attempts the rescue of her former lover Grayson McKnight- a man she believed had died in a military-style operation five years earlier. A frantic phone call from Gray saying he was in trouble finds Marley on a plane bound for Columbia –alone and wondering where everything went wrong. Working for Jake Ryder left Marley emotionally exhausted between Jake’s inability to see Marley for the woman she was, and the head games he played while on assignment. No longer able to suffer in the face of constant rejection and her apparent super power of invisibility as it pertained to Jake Ryder, Marley made the decision to rescue her former boyfriend-all on her own-proving to herself and anyone who cares that she is just as capable in the field as everyone else. But Jake wasn’t having anything to do with Marley’s one woman rescue operation, and finds himself in the middle of the Columbian jungle facing gun toting militants and frustrated local natives.
Jake and Marley’s relationship is a friends to lovers to enemies to friends to lovers….well, you get the picture. Jake believes he is not worthy of any woman’s love; he doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t want anything long term as his job takes him to dangerous locations for extended periods of time. Marley is a woman whose attraction to Jake is apparently one-sided, and in this Marley is no longer able to face the man with whom she is falling in love. The push and pull, back and forth, and angst of their relationship is a continuous loop of frustration, miscommunication and impassioned $ex. The attraction to one another is intense, undeniable and intoxicating but Jake’s inability to commit finds Marley on the outside one too many times. I felt the characters created too much drama in their personal lives thus rendering their relationship difficult and tense. Unfortunately for Jake, Marley makes a decision that will affect all of their lives leaving Jake lost without the woman he loves.
Elisabeth Naughton will captivate your imagination with her style of writing, her characters and her addicting storylines. The Aegis series of romance, action and military style action pulls you onto the pages and behind the scenes of rescue operations and security nightmares. The premise is engaging, fast paced and dramatic; the characters are colorful, inspiring and spirited; the romance and sexual seduction a ping pong game for the mind.
Copy supplied by Netgalley.
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28 , 2015
Five years ago, Aegis Security op manager Marley Addison’s lover died in a South American raid gone horribly wrong…or so she thought. When she receives a phone call telling her that he is still very much alive and in danger, she vows to bring him home safely, even if Aegis CEO and former Navy SEAL Jake Ryder has kept her out of the field for the last few years. Then Jake shows up in Colombia to help her, leaving Marley annoyed…and more than a little distracted by her alarmingly handsome boss.
As things between Marley and Jake heat up in the wilderness, they discover their rescue mission is filled with treachery. Now the domineering Jake has to rely on Marley for survival. But can she depend on him when their mission takes a shocking and deadly turn?
Fatal Pursuit is the pulse-pounding third book in Elisabeth Naughton’s scorching Aegis series.
•••••••••••••
REVIEW:4.5 stars-- FATAL PURSUIT is the third installment in Elisabeth Naughton’s adult, contemporary Aegis Security action, suspense series focusing on a group of former CIA operatives and military personnel. This is Aegis Security CEO owner and former Navy SEAL Jake Ryder, and Aegis Security operations manager Marley Addison. FATAL PURSUIT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Jake and Marley) FATAL PURSUIT follows Marley as she attempts the rescue of her former lover Grayson McKnight- a man she believed had died in a military-style operation five years earlier. A frantic phone call from Gray saying he was in trouble finds Marley on a plane bound for Columbia –alone and wondering where everything went wrong. Working for Jake Ryder left Marley emotionally exhausted between Jake’s inability to see Marley for the woman she was, and the head games he played while on assignment. No longer able to suffer in the face of constant rejection and her apparent super power of invisibility as it pertained to Jake Ryder, Marley made the decision to rescue her former boyfriend-all on her own-proving to herself and anyone who cares that she is just as capable in the field as everyone else. But Jake wasn’t having anything to do with Marley’s one woman rescue operation, and finds himself in the middle of the Columbian jungle facing gun toting militants and frustrated local natives.
Jake and Marley’s relationship is a friends to lovers to enemies to friends to lovers….well, you get the picture. Jake believes he is not worthy of any woman’s love; he doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t want anything long term as his job takes him to dangerous locations for extended periods of time. Marley is a woman whose attraction to Jake is apparently one-sided, and in this Marley is no longer able to face the man with whom she is falling in love. The push and pull, back and forth, and angst of their relationship is a continuous loop of frustration, miscommunication and impassioned $ex. The attraction to one another is intense, undeniable and intoxicating but Jake’s inability to commit finds Marley on the outside one too many times. I felt the characters created too much drama in their personal lives thus rendering their relationship difficult and tense. Unfortunately for Jake, Marley makes a decision that will affect all of their lives leaving Jake lost without the woman he loves.
Elisabeth Naughton will captivate your imagination with her style of writing, her characters and her addicting storylines. The Aegis series of romance, action and military style action pulls you onto the pages and behind the scenes of rescue operations and security nightmares. The premise is engaging, fast paced and dramatic; the characters are colorful, inspiring and spirited; the romance and sexual seduction a ping pong game for the mind.
Copy supplied by Netgalley.
www.thereadingcafe.com
July 26, 2015
Fatal Pursuit was my first book in the Aegis Series, but it wasn't my first from Elisabeth Naughton.
Marley is a strong, independent woman, who left her job at her father's security company. Although she had been traveling around the world with him since she was little, and has more training and survival skills than most, her father wouldn't let her do field missions and tried to control every aspect of her life.
Feeling coddled, she left and started to work for the Aegis group - her father's rival - but she couldn't predict Jake was worse. For three and a half years, she did her work at Aegis without setting foot on a field mission. When a mission is changed and she's the only one left out of the changes, she feels under appreciated and pissed off. That's when she receives a call from her supposedly long dead boyfriend and gets a wild hair. He's in Colombia and in need of a rescue, so she goes.
Tired of being coddled and left out, Marley goes without telling Jake or her father. She just wants to prove them she's more than capable of handling herself in the field. Besides, it's just a grab and go mission, right?
Jake is the owner of Aegis. He's controlling, alpha as they come and reckless as hell in missions. When he finds out that Marley took an unannounced 'vacation' after the day they changed the mission without telling her, he gets suspicious, thinking she's still mad about them keeping her in the dark. He does a little digging and doesn't like what he finds, so he get's on a plain and goes to Colombia after her.
Join two people, which despite their attraction never had a relationship outside of work, in a jungle in Colombia. Add a more than capable woman that survives in the jungle like she's in the middle of the city and a pissed off boss who thinks she still needs coddling when in reality, she's the one helping him survive. Keep on adding natives and an aphrodisiac drink; Colombian guerrillas and paramilitary, and kaboom...
Marley and Jake explode in Colombia, but when they come back, nothing is the same. Jake has a problem seeing what's in front of him and Marley's ex-lover intervention doesn't help, so to the recipe above keep adding drama, mistrust and suspense until the very end of the book.
I have to admit that some parts were a bit of a stretch for me, but overall, the book was really good.
Arc provided by Amazon Publishing/Montlake Romance via NetGalley
***
Marley is a strong, independent woman, who left her job at her father's security company. Although she had been traveling around the world with him since she was little, and has more training and survival skills than most, her father wouldn't let her do field missions and tried to control every aspect of her life.
Feeling coddled, she left and started to work for the Aegis group - her father's rival - but she couldn't predict Jake was worse. For three and a half years, she did her work at Aegis without setting foot on a field mission. When a mission is changed and she's the only one left out of the changes, she feels under appreciated and pissed off. That's when she receives a call from her supposedly long dead boyfriend and gets a wild hair. He's in Colombia and in need of a rescue, so she goes.
Tired of being coddled and left out, Marley goes without telling Jake or her father. She just wants to prove them she's more than capable of handling herself in the field. Besides, it's just a grab and go mission, right?
Jake is the owner of Aegis. He's controlling, alpha as they come and reckless as hell in missions. When he finds out that Marley took an unannounced 'vacation' after the day they changed the mission without telling her, he gets suspicious, thinking she's still mad about them keeping her in the dark. He does a little digging and doesn't like what he finds, so he get's on a plain and goes to Colombia after her.
Join two people, which despite their attraction never had a relationship outside of work, in a jungle in Colombia. Add a more than capable woman that survives in the jungle like she's in the middle of the city and a pissed off boss who thinks she still needs coddling when in reality, she's the one helping him survive. Keep on adding natives and an aphrodisiac drink; Colombian guerrillas and paramilitary, and kaboom...
Marley and Jake explode in Colombia, but when they come back, nothing is the same. Jake has a problem seeing what's in front of him and Marley's ex-lover intervention doesn't help, so to the recipe above keep adding drama, mistrust and suspense until the very end of the book.
I have to admit that some parts were a bit of a stretch for me, but overall, the book was really good.
Arc provided by Amazon Publishing/Montlake Romance via NetGalley
***
June 24, 2015
4.5 Stars for Jungle Love--It's driving me mad! Making me CRAZY!
I’m a big fan of this series by Elizabeth Naughton! This is the third book in the series centered on the Aegis Security team. I have been waiting to see how the tension between owner Jake Ryder and his assistant Marley Addison was going to pan out. I am so happy the author decided to indulge us early in the series and get that itch taken care of!
Marley was raised in the security business, traveling the world with her father. She knows the ins and outs of setting up an op and making sure all the bases are covered. What she really misses is being in the field to experience the action first hand. She had a falling out with her father 5 years ago when her boyfriend was killed in action in South America. She eventually wandered over to Aegis. Her new boss is not appreciative of her skills in the field. He wants to keep her safe and running things at the home office. I liked Marley’s feisty spirit from the first book. She runs a tight ship. It seems as if she goes off half-cocked, but she does have a plan that included some muscle for back-up.
Jake, however, is an overbearing, sexy as hell, alpha male. He is REALLY not pleased that Marley put herself in danger! I liked that we got to see a bit of his vulnerability and that inner dialogue that battled his true feelings toward Marley. Best part of the book was the time they spent in the jungle. Sharp wit and humorous action. Oh and that ayahuasca—those meddling natives—made for some steamy, hot sexy times! LOVED it!
Through lots of twists and turns, Jake finally gets his head in the right place. He enjoyed the jungle adventure too as he tells Marley:
“All I want….the only thing I need, is to make you as happy as you were that night in the jungle when you danced around the fire for me.”
Awe…puddle of mush right there! I am sure we will see the overbearing, bossy Jake in future books-that’s how he runs a tight ship with his team at Aegis. But, it’s nice to know Marley gets the soft, sexy side. So happy these two ended up together! Loved seeing the rest of the Aegis gang again. Very much looking forward to the next book. I’d kind of like to see Marley’s brother get his HEA.
*I received and ARC from Netgalley for an honest review
Obsessive Reading Disorder www.obsessive-reading-disorder.blogsp...
I’m a big fan of this series by Elizabeth Naughton! This is the third book in the series centered on the Aegis Security team. I have been waiting to see how the tension between owner Jake Ryder and his assistant Marley Addison was going to pan out. I am so happy the author decided to indulge us early in the series and get that itch taken care of!
Marley was raised in the security business, traveling the world with her father. She knows the ins and outs of setting up an op and making sure all the bases are covered. What she really misses is being in the field to experience the action first hand. She had a falling out with her father 5 years ago when her boyfriend was killed in action in South America. She eventually wandered over to Aegis. Her new boss is not appreciative of her skills in the field. He wants to keep her safe and running things at the home office. I liked Marley’s feisty spirit from the first book. She runs a tight ship. It seems as if she goes off half-cocked, but she does have a plan that included some muscle for back-up.
Jake, however, is an overbearing, sexy as hell, alpha male. He is REALLY not pleased that Marley put herself in danger! I liked that we got to see a bit of his vulnerability and that inner dialogue that battled his true feelings toward Marley. Best part of the book was the time they spent in the jungle. Sharp wit and humorous action. Oh and that ayahuasca—those meddling natives—made for some steamy, hot sexy times! LOVED it!
Through lots of twists and turns, Jake finally gets his head in the right place. He enjoyed the jungle adventure too as he tells Marley:
“All I want….the only thing I need, is to make you as happy as you were that night in the jungle when you danced around the fire for me.”
Awe…puddle of mush right there! I am sure we will see the overbearing, bossy Jake in future books-that’s how he runs a tight ship with his team at Aegis. But, it’s nice to know Marley gets the soft, sexy side. So happy these two ended up together! Loved seeing the rest of the Aegis gang again. Very much looking forward to the next book. I’d kind of like to see Marley’s brother get his HEA.
*I received and ARC from Netgalley for an honest review
Obsessive Reading Disorder www.obsessive-reading-disorder.blogsp...
July 2, 2015
Ayahuasca
What can I say? This story was so very good.
Jake is a domineering man, with the personality of a stubborn egotistical self loathing human being. It's his way or the highway so to speak. But with all that being said he is also a man with passion. He goes to Columbia to make Marley come back to the United States where it is safe. He doesn't think she could survive out in the jungle. Low and behold she proves him wrong, it seems she is the one that is helping him survive. I loved how they both interacted and how the emotions over took them.
Marley is a stubborn woman won't listen to reason, and is not leaving until she saves her friend; regardless that she puts her life and other's in jeopardy. Marley decides to go her own way and prove she is a strong individual but she won't force an issue even if it's warranted, even if it hurts. Yes, she has feelings for Jake, but won't act on them.
The road is rough and with every turn and twist of their adventure they find that all things aren't what they seem.
I thought both characters were well written. There is so much deceit, lies, mystery, suspense, action, manipulation, and yes there is even romance.
Have you ever felt that words are just never enough to explain how a book or story is? I have found that to be true right now. My stomach flips and tightened when reading how Jake felt. It was literally ripping my heart and soul out. And Marley; I could feel her anguish, her heart compelling her to do what she needed to move forward.
Ms Naughton has proven she is an excellent writer in her own right. She knows how to pull on people's heartstrings, make their stomach do a flip-flop, and in the end smile.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful story.
What can I say? This story was so very good.
Jake is a domineering man, with the personality of a stubborn egotistical self loathing human being. It's his way or the highway so to speak. But with all that being said he is also a man with passion. He goes to Columbia to make Marley come back to the United States where it is safe. He doesn't think she could survive out in the jungle. Low and behold she proves him wrong, it seems she is the one that is helping him survive. I loved how they both interacted and how the emotions over took them.
Marley is a stubborn woman won't listen to reason, and is not leaving until she saves her friend; regardless that she puts her life and other's in jeopardy. Marley decides to go her own way and prove she is a strong individual but she won't force an issue even if it's warranted, even if it hurts. Yes, she has feelings for Jake, but won't act on them.
The road is rough and with every turn and twist of their adventure they find that all things aren't what they seem.
I thought both characters were well written. There is so much deceit, lies, mystery, suspense, action, manipulation, and yes there is even romance.
Have you ever felt that words are just never enough to explain how a book or story is? I have found that to be true right now. My stomach flips and tightened when reading how Jake felt. It was literally ripping my heart and soul out. And Marley; I could feel her anguish, her heart compelling her to do what she needed to move forward.
Ms Naughton has proven she is an excellent writer in her own right. She knows how to pull on people's heartstrings, make their stomach do a flip-flop, and in the end smile.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful story.
July 26, 2015
I hate to admit it, but Fatal Pursuit started out being the least favorite of all the books I’ve read so far in the Aegis series. Notice I said ‘started out’ – that means that if you feel the same way as you begin this book, just wait. I’m pretty sure your opinion will change.
So, I’m sure you’re wondering what I didn’t like in the beginning… In a nutshell, it was pretty much the way that both Jake and Marley acted. Jake was a domineering jerk most of the time. At least that’s the way Marley saw it. He didn’t recognize her ability and strength. He purposely kept her out of the field and away from danger without taking into consideration her background. In her eyes, he was pretty much a pompous ass.
The way Marley just jumped to her former lover’s rescue… no questions asked, almost made me agree with Jake. It was pretty obvious that things weren’t exactly as they seemed and as capable as Marley obviously was, it was still pretty reckless to take on the mission by herself. Honestly, before I was halfway through Fatal Pursuit I was ready to shake them both.
By the end of the book I was more frustrated with Marley than Jake. That didn’t mean that I wasn’t quietly routing for them. It was obvious that these two were meant for each other. I understood both of them a lot better when some of their past was revealed and Jake finally opened up. I just wish that it didn’t take risking both their lives to get to that point. But then… what fun would that be?
I received Fatal Pursuit in exchange for a fair and honest review.
So, I’m sure you’re wondering what I didn’t like in the beginning… In a nutshell, it was pretty much the way that both Jake and Marley acted. Jake was a domineering jerk most of the time. At least that’s the way Marley saw it. He didn’t recognize her ability and strength. He purposely kept her out of the field and away from danger without taking into consideration her background. In her eyes, he was pretty much a pompous ass.
The way Marley just jumped to her former lover’s rescue… no questions asked, almost made me agree with Jake. It was pretty obvious that things weren’t exactly as they seemed and as capable as Marley obviously was, it was still pretty reckless to take on the mission by herself. Honestly, before I was halfway through Fatal Pursuit I was ready to shake them both.
By the end of the book I was more frustrated with Marley than Jake. That didn’t mean that I wasn’t quietly routing for them. It was obvious that these two were meant for each other. I understood both of them a lot better when some of their past was revealed and Jake finally opened up. I just wish that it didn’t take risking both their lives to get to that point. But then… what fun would that be?
I received Fatal Pursuit in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 30, 2015
✦Review: Fatal Pursuit (The Aegis Series) by Elisabeth Naughton http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-2Ny
Genre: Romantic Suspense / Thriller
Release Date: July 28, 2015
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 3.5 Stars
REVIEW:
I dove into this story right away and loved Marley’s attitude and personality. The action flowed well with some real twists and turns. One part was a little improbable but that was part of the enjoyment and the catalyst to the hot and steamy romance with Jake. If you’ve read my reviews then you know I don’t care for long drawn out “I want you, I don’t want you” stuff and this book carried that through the whole thing. It got on my nerves but not enough to quit reading. I just had to find out what happened. I am looking forward to the next in this series.
*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Romantic Suspense / Thriller
Release Date: July 28, 2015
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 3.5 Stars
REVIEW:
I dove into this story right away and loved Marley’s attitude and personality. The action flowed well with some real twists and turns. One part was a little improbable but that was part of the enjoyment and the catalyst to the hot and steamy romance with Jake. If you’ve read my reviews then you know I don’t care for long drawn out “I want you, I don’t want you” stuff and this book carried that through the whole thing. It got on my nerves but not enough to quit reading. I just had to find out what happened. I am looking forward to the next in this series.
*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2015
Twists and turns and surprises, Oh My!
Elisabeth Naughton is one of my favorites, I automatically 1 click. Normally, I don't get much into contemporary romances but she's one of the few that has me reaching for this category. And yet again she didn't disappoint!
Marley and Jake are so well written that you are instantly drawn into their lives, turning the pages and not seeing the words you're instead thrust into a full motion picture adventure in your mind! It only takes one sentence to draw you from your everyday lives and into those of the Aegis company!
Everything I was completely blown away with this book, things I expected to happen never did. And while some of them DID happen, the way in which it took place and the events leading up to them were a complete (and wonderful) surprise!
You will not be disappointed in reading this; instead, you'll be jonsing for the next book in the series!
Elisabeth Naughton is one of my favorites, I automatically 1 click. Normally, I don't get much into contemporary romances but she's one of the few that has me reaching for this category. And yet again she didn't disappoint!
Marley and Jake are so well written that you are instantly drawn into their lives, turning the pages and not seeing the words you're instead thrust into a full motion picture adventure in your mind! It only takes one sentence to draw you from your everyday lives and into those of the Aegis company!
Everything I was completely blown away with this book, things I expected to happen never did. And while some of them DID happen, the way in which it took place and the events leading up to them were a complete (and wonderful) surprise!
You will not be disappointed in reading this; instead, you'll be jonsing for the next book in the series!
September 17, 2017
DNF. I don't normally give a rating on a book I don't finish but this was so bad I returned it. It's corny and the 2 main characters...the man is a jerk, a cardboard alpha male. The female is the damsel who just allows the hero to do whatever he wants. Junior high kids behave better. It was getting so ridiculous I couldn't read any further. Irritated that it's high reviews suckered me into buying it.
July 20, 2015
omg poor Jake and Marley... so glad they finally got things together
full review to hit the blog soon.
p.s. did anyone else laugh at the use of these names for he couples remembering A Christmas Carol? good thing it didn't release near December!
full review to hit the blog soon.
p.s. did anyone else laugh at the use of these names for he couples remembering A Christmas Carol? good thing it didn't release near December!
June 25, 2017
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.I really liked this book I guess reading it from the third one confused me but still a good read.
August 8, 2015
Really like this series
October 9, 2015
This book is absolutely fabulous.... And this is the first book in the series that i have read...
The first of Elisabeth Naughtons book, and will definitely be reading more of her books....
The first of Elisabeth Naughtons book, and will definitely be reading more of her books....
April 5, 2018
#3 in The Aegis Series
Elisabeth Naughton delivers in the third book of the Aegis Series. Marley and Jake’s story make this romantic thriller a fun read with their witty banter. The plot involves Marley’s quick trip to Colombia to extract Gray, her former boyfriend who supposedly died in South America five years ago. Her employer Jake, follows her there because she “borrowed” his jet without asking permission. His machismo is annoying and could be extremely off-putting but he’s clueless enough to not see the error of his ways until its almost too late. He doesn’t actually realize how much of a misogynist he is so his character isn’t “trying” to be dense, he just is. However Naughton brings him back from the brink of oblivion just before you want to wash your hands of him entirely. Marley on the other hand, is easy to warm up to. Her strength is her character but it suffers somewhat when she is too easily manipulated. The descriptive jungle settings felt authentic and the suspense was gripping. Oh, and did I mention the hot, sexy love scenes? Yep, they were HOT! All told, a very enjoyable read.
Elisabeth Naughton delivers in the third book of the Aegis Series. Marley and Jake’s story make this romantic thriller a fun read with their witty banter. The plot involves Marley’s quick trip to Colombia to extract Gray, her former boyfriend who supposedly died in South America five years ago. Her employer Jake, follows her there because she “borrowed” his jet without asking permission. His machismo is annoying and could be extremely off-putting but he’s clueless enough to not see the error of his ways until its almost too late. He doesn’t actually realize how much of a misogynist he is so his character isn’t “trying” to be dense, he just is. However Naughton brings him back from the brink of oblivion just before you want to wash your hands of him entirely. Marley on the other hand, is easy to warm up to. Her strength is her character but it suffers somewhat when she is too easily manipulated. The descriptive jungle settings felt authentic and the suspense was gripping. Oh, and did I mention the hot, sexy love scenes? Yep, they were HOT! All told, a very enjoyable read.
December 4, 2022
I loved this book too, but I must admit I was a little bit disappointed. Maybe because my expectations were too high for Marley and Jake.
The first half of the book was enjoyable. I wasn’t affected by Jake’s domineering behaviour because Marley proved herself so well that it didn’t matter what Jake thought. She was like MacGvyer. Story begins with action (as always) and all of a sudden we find our heroes in the middle of the rainforest in Colombia!
However, the second half of the book takes a turn and gets a little boring. No action happens. We try to underplot motives of people and wait something to happen. Jake has a serious commitment issue and he snaps at Marley for no reason at all a few times. This is Marley for chrissake! She is the perfect woman who is drop dead gorgeous, a genius and apparently a MacGvyer! Girl, you deserve waaay better than Jake.
Marley gets flat-footed a few times and I couldn’t believe that. I won’t give spoilers but while reading I said “wtf? Why don’t you say something? Why do you believe this nonsense? Why don’t you react?” All through second half of the book, Jake pushes Marley away, and Marley goes with everyone’s flow. Also the almighty Mason Addison (Marley’s famous father, the owner of Omega Intel) well, we see how good a judge of character you are. Huh.
The first half of the book was enjoyable. I wasn’t affected by Jake’s domineering behaviour because Marley proved herself so well that it didn’t matter what Jake thought. She was like MacGvyer. Story begins with action (as always) and all of a sudden we find our heroes in the middle of the rainforest in Colombia!
However, the second half of the book takes a turn and gets a little boring. No action happens. We try to underplot motives of people and wait something to happen. Jake has a serious commitment issue and he snaps at Marley for no reason at all a few times. This is Marley for chrissake! She is the perfect woman who is drop dead gorgeous, a genius and apparently a MacGvyer! Girl, you deserve waaay better than Jake.
Marley gets flat-footed a few times and I couldn’t believe that. I won’t give spoilers but while reading I said “wtf? Why don’t you say something? Why do you believe this nonsense? Why don’t you react?” All through second half of the book, Jake pushes Marley away, and Marley goes with everyone’s flow. Also the almighty Mason Addison (Marley’s famous father, the owner of Omega Intel) well, we see how good a judge of character you are. Huh.
August 7, 2019
Having just read a good, but long and very bleak, crime novel I felt in need of something lighter so hoped this might suit. It was a freebie which has been in my “to read” pile for eons and is by an author unknown to me. I hadn’t realised it was book #3 when I downloaded it but expected it wouldn’t matter. From the opening few paragraphs I disliked both the writing style and the central characters and by page 9, I was getting bored. I was only looking for an easy read but Elizabeth Naughton couldn’t even meet that low bar, she certainly is no Lynn Raye Harris or Cristin Harber. I used to feel obliged to finish a book but eventually I realised I have never loved a book I started out hating. It might improve later but not enough for me to feel glad that I didn’t abandon it so, even though I only made it to page 19 I’m quitting. No regrets. My first and last by this author.
June 10, 2018
3.5 Stars
This is a slightly above average romantic suspense novel. The hero and heroine weren’t my favourite (a pretty aggravating, somewhat emotionally crippled and angsty twosome who could have resolved everything with a good, open and honest conversation, but didn’t because romance novel pages). Overall, the writing was as usual very well done by the author and this was definitely a page-turner. Worth a read for sure, one of the best romantic suspense novels I’ve read on KU.
This is a slightly above average romantic suspense novel. The hero and heroine weren’t my favourite (a pretty aggravating, somewhat emotionally crippled and angsty twosome who could have resolved everything with a good, open and honest conversation, but didn’t because romance novel pages). Overall, the writing was as usual very well done by the author and this was definitely a page-turner. Worth a read for sure, one of the best romantic suspense novels I’ve read on KU.
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