Devil and the Deep

Deep Six #2

by Julie Ann Walker

He knew he had to forget her
But when the woman who stole his heart is kidnapped
This former SEAL will do whatever it takes to steal her back

Maddy Powers's life revolves around cocktail parties, political fundraisers, and charity events-but she can't forget the daring former SEAL who came crashing into her life a few months ago...or the scorching kiss they shared before he disappeared into the deep blue sea.

Bran Pallidino carries a dark secret-one that forced him to push Maddy away. But when she's taken hostage during a trip to the Caribbean, the men of Deep Six Salvage embark on a dangerous mission to save Maddy. Passion boils in the sultry sea breeze...but what good is putting their hearts on the line if they don't survive the dawn?

The Deep Six Series:
Hot as Hell (FREE novella)
Hell or High Water (Book 1)
Devil and the Deep (Book 2)
Eye of the Storm (Book 3)

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Military Fiction, Suspense, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2016

About the author

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA award. Julie loves to travel the world looking for views to compete with her deadlines. And if those views happen to come with a blue sky and sunshine? All the better! When she's not writing, Julie enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, fishing, cooking, petting every dog that walks by her, and... reading, of course!

Be sure to sign up for Julie's occasional newsletter at: http://julieannwalker.com

Or follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/julieannwalkerauthor and/or Instagram: @julieannwalker_author.

In Moonlight and Memories:
#1 IN MOONLIGHT AND MEMORIES: VOLUME ONE
#2 IN MOONLIGHT AND MEMORIES: VOLUME TWO
#3 IN MOONLIGHT AND MEMORIES: VOLUME THREE

Black Knights Inc.:
#1 HELL ON WHEELS
#2 IN RIDES TROUBLE
#3 REV IT UP
#4 THRILL RIDE
#5 BORN WILD
#6 HELL FOR LEATHER
#7 FULL THROTTLE
#8 TOO HARD TO HANDLE
#9 WILD RIDE
#10 FUEL FOR FIRE
#11 HOT PURSUIT
#12 BUILT TO LAST

Deep Six:
#0.5 HOT AS HELL
#1 HELL OR HIGH WATER
#2 DEVIL AND THE DEEP
#3 RIDE THE TIDE
#4 DEEPER THAN THE OCEAN
#5 SHOT ACROSS THE BOW
#6 DEAD IN THE WATER

Black Knights Inc: Reloaded:
#1 BACK IN BLACK
#2 BLACK HEARTED
#3 MAN IN BLACK
#4 BLACK MOON RISING
#5 BLACK WIDOW
#6 FADE TO BLACK

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Cheesy Stars



This is the first time I've read anything by Julie Ann Walker. I have a few of her books on my TBR list so when this book came up on Netgalley I thought I'd try her out. Although parts of this book showed me she has talent and skill as a writer, this book just wasn't my jam. The first part of this book was brutally boring. It was rough I didn't think I was gonna make it. It did pick up around the 9% mark and the action kicked in making it a little better. The biggest problem I had with this book is I didn't care for the main couple Bran and Maddy. I found them kinda lame. The way they talked at times was super cheesy and threw me off. Here's a few quotes:

I might be bluffing, you miserable, vomitous mass!" Bran yelled. oh, for heaven's sake. Really? He's quotin' The Princess Bride? "But if you wanna test me," he added, "I'm your huckleberry!" And now he's quotin' Tombstone.-Bran and Maddy


"You sure you can do this?" he asked. "Does the Tin Man have a sheet-metal dick?"-Bran and Maddy


Ticktock went her internal clock. Lubdub went her thundering heart. Dripdrop went a bead of sweat from her temple to her shoulder. -Maddy


"Tit for tat, dicksmack, since I recall you pointing that SCAR-L at me on the beach."-Bran


"That being the case, let's make like a stumptailed cow at fly time, and get busy gettin' it done."-Maddy


And even though I warmed to them a little as the book went on I never full connected to them or really cared about their relationship. There was 2 saving graces about this book that helped me while reading this. 1. All the action. Livened it up and gave me the strength to carry on. 2. Mason and Alex. I loved both Alex and Mason and I hope to God they get their own book. Now that's a book I will be reading. Alex was quirky and cute and Mason was strong sexy and damaged. A man of few words. They had very little parts in this book and yet I connected to them quickly and I already feel invested in their relationship. The epilogue really ticked me off it was a history flash back and not a glimpse into the couples future. So overall not a great read for me but I will be trying this author again especially if she writes a book for Mason and Alex!



http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker is a 2016 Sourcebooks Casablanca publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Deep Six series.


After such a great start to the series, this second installment stumbled out of the gate, but did manage to find its footing after a time. However, it was an uneven and rocky ride until the last few chapters, where it solidified nicely, but was almost too little, too late.

Coming from a moneyed background, due to her father’s oil dealings, Maddie and Bran seem like an unusual couple, but after surviving a harrowing experience together, the two forged a tight bond. So, even though the adventure is over, they are still emailing each other, keeping the chemistry alive, but Maddie is hoping for another searing kiss from Bran, so she devises a plan to lure him in for a visit, only it backfires terribly when they find themselves under attack with lives in danger.

Bran is addicted to the email communication he shares with Maddie. He knows he can never have more than a friendship with her due to his dark background, but not only that, this is the first time he has ever had a friendship or relationship with a woman and doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize it. But, when he sees Maddie again, face to face, he finds it harder than ever to keep his hands off her.

“He was beginning to imagine himself a rodeo cowboy on a bucking bull. And if she kept gyrating, it wouldn’t be long before his eight seconds were up.”

Maddie and Bran exchange some corny, but hilarious dialogue sometimes, and I couldn’t help but laugh. But, the tone is just a little too light in contrast to some of the heavier issues addressed in the book and the dire circumstances the couple finds themselves in. With teenage girls in grave danger, the humorous banter and sexual innuendo seemed inappropriate and implausible.


“Regrets were like chicken. They always came home to roost. And right now, Bran’s coop was full”


Bran’s reasoning for avoiding relationships is understandable since statistics do show a possibility that history will repeat itself, but someone who is disciplined, as a SEAL would be, and who is perhaps hyperaware of his background, probably wouldn’t become one of those statistics. Not only that, it seemed like an excuse to rationalize his promiscuity, which is what I found disconcerting. But, his story is indeed horrifying and my heart did break on his behalf.


But, Bran and Maddie are not the only couple featured in this story, as Alex and Mason are battling their own attraction to each other, with Alex in hot pursuit while Mason is playing hard to get. Obviously, this couple will get their own story someday, and I can’t wait to see how that one turns out. Alex is a hoot and I liked her honesty and non-stop prattling which held a few gems of wisdom for us all.

However, this thread did take up a little too much space this this installment, especially since their full story is still waiting in the wings.


The suspense element was a bit uneven as the action was intense early on, but then fell to the wayside, only to pick back up in the final few chapters, where it really did get pretty intense and emotional.

While this story did have some tense moments, some light humor, and was enjoyable as far as it goes, the characters were not as developed as I would have liked, the dialogue relied on banter, movie quotes, and humor, which kept the depth at arm’s length. The suspense level was unbalanced and did not build throughout the story, with the finale being its only saving grace.

Sadly, this one didn’t work out for me as well as the first book did, but I am still invested in the series and will see how the next book fares.

3 stars

[XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sad to rate so low but I can't bring myself to rate higher. I should have DNFed but I didn't so I rate. I found myself very annoyed by Maddy. She had so much meaningless talk. The metaphors were overused to the point I was cringing every few minutes. Bran had the sexy former military protector thing going but I didn't find he was developed. His continued denial of what he felt made him just meh for me. There's a lot of action going on but the pacing had me getting whiplash. The worst parts for me were the things that were happening while girls were being held hostage or had just been recovered and people around them were dead. For example is it important to talk about crushes after rescuing some girls who saw men die and were held at gunpoint and who knows if they had anything done to them? Why don't you know? Because you didn't ask. You were too busy talking about crushes. Again. Annoying. I am pretty sure I won't be reading the rest of this series despite having liked the first one. It's not for me. Safety: No OW/OM/Sharing, though there's a guy attracted to Maddy. No abuse/rape. Neither are Vs. they use condoms. H pushes away.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

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.

Maddy first met Bran when he rescued her and ever since then they have been emailing and calling each other. Their relationship started off as friendly but their connection has grown deeper. With a chance to meet up in person, Maddy is excited but Bran fears getting too close. A kidnapping attempt though might just force Bran's hand. It's life and death and while Bran has the physical courage, he's going to have to decide if he has the emotional as well.
 
Second in the Deep Six series about a group of veteran Navy Seals searching for sunken treasure, this could be read as a standalone as the only part you would be missing information on is the continuing tale of the Spanish captain and his treasure in the 1600s. The first in the series had amazing action scenes, an area I think this author excels in, but this one, unfortunately, fell short in that regard. Our villains seem very inept and besides two of them, come off feeling very paper thin. The two that were given more background, well, their motivation and explanation for why they wanted to kidnap Maddy was a bit murky; we don't get the full explanation until the very end. The action plot was severely lacking in credibility, understanding, and excitement.
 
With the action plot failing me, I tried to focus more on our main couple and romance. While Maddy and Bran met, briefly, in the book before this one, the meat of their relationship should have been here in their own book. Again, unfortunately, this fell short for me too. There was talk of how they grew close over their emails and phone conversations; we aren't shown any of them, just told about them. What we do get shown is how much they have the hots for each other, physically wise, although any bedroom payoffs are left to the very end, during extremely awkward life and death situations. Maddy is in charge of the welfare of three teenage girls who are captured by the kidnappers, Bran has been shot in the leg, and they’re running for their lives but oh hey, look how smooth and muscular Bran's back is. There wasn't much depth to this couple and this awkward lusting during fight and evade scenes gave a pretty corny feel overall.
 
The over exaggerated speech stereotypes of the characters, southernisms, and very prevalent pop culture add-ins added to the hokey feel. Example:
 
"I might be bluffing, you miserable, vomitous mass!" Bran yelled.
Oh, for heaven's sake. Really? He's quotin' The Princess Bride?
"But if you wanna test me," he added, "I'm your huckleberry!"
And now he's quotin' Tombstone.
 
This, of course, being said during a bullets are flying action scene; a bit eye-rolling. I never felt like I knew our heroine Maddy as her background consisted of rich girl, has brothers, and a short blonde haircut. Bran had a little more to him but even his deeper abusive father background felt completely overdone and with lack of emotional depth to it, a gimmick to have him try to keep Maddy at arm’s length. As the resolution for his feelings on this came at, literally, the end of the story, 96% or so, it felt brushed over and insulting to use such a heavy topic like this.
 
The first book fascinated me with its descriptions of a new fun locale and intense action scenes. Sadly, this one fell way short with no building of the main couple's relationship, paper doll secondary characters, lacking action plot, and awkward dialogue. Like I said, this author can write amazing action scenes, but she needs to leave home the gimmicks and awkwardly placed lusting next time.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a rather frenetic meeting, Maddy and former SEAL Bran Palladino have become “penpals,” emailing witty banter, newsy stuff and dancing around the growing feelings they each share. It’s Bran’s past that stands between them and Maddy would do anything to find herself in his arms, in his bed, showing him that the past is gone and the future can be whatever they make it.

When Maddy takes three deserving girls on a trip to a remote island, her mission is two-fold, to show the girls things they would never see and to be closer to Bran, after all, he would only be a boat ride away. Little did she know that there are men gunning for her, and that a campout on a beautiful island is about to become a deadly nightmare of hellish proportions.

When Bran discovers Maddy is in trouble, he is on the move, going all uber military ops in an effort to save her. While he will give his all as a soldier, he is still unwilling to give her his heart. Can she cajole him to admit what he feels? Her Texan charm is a finely honed toll in her arsenal of charm, but the dark part of Bran’s past is practically on perma-resist. Will their journey through the depths of hell at the hands of murderous mercenaries looking to hold Maddy hostage finally break through the wall that keeps them apart?
Julie Ann Walker is back with Devil and the Deep a romantic suspense with a lot of heat, a lot of bloodshed and a cast that fits perfectly into the role they play. The sex is carnal, graphic and mature, until Maddy throws out some “Southernese” at what to me were poorly timed. Maddy is a good soul, a kind soul, but her constant overuse of “Southernisms” would probably make an ear of corn pray for deafness; hey, best I could do on short notice.

Bran is just too secretive, his big reveal was VERY important and somewhere I needed this sooner. The rest of the main cast? LOVED them!

Second couple entering the arena of romance, Mason and Alex were a dynamic duo of comedy, but where will their attraction go?

For me, this was like taking my Corvette over the potholes of my home state…bumpy, dangerous and never a smooth ride to the finish. There was almost a feeling of two stories, one romantic comedy and one erotica. Still, this is good, fast read with lots of sizzle and pop.

I received an ARC edition from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Deep Six - Book 2
Publication Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN-10: 1492608939
ISBN-13: 978-1492608936
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Humor
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well the Deep Six crew are back and you just know that there's trouble to be found! These hard commitment phobic guys might be enjoying ther lives searching for treasure but so far all they seem to do is get involved with kidnappers and terrorists and what do you know the woman Bran helped rescue previously is about to need his help yet again!
Maddy might be an heiress but she doesn't seem to get everything she wants. No the one thing that is out of reach is Bran. Sure he has been supportive and there's many a night they've exchanged emails that have helped her get over her recent traumatic experience but he is firmly putting her in the friend category. Yet here is Maddy yet again taken hostage , trapped on an island and what do you know? Yes Bran and his friend Mason are the only ones around who just might be able to help.
I do like these books but they are well perhaps just a little cheesy so my advice is go with the flow and just enjoy these ex military characters and the mayhem that seems to follow them. I particularly liked the way the story seems to unfold in real time . I thought Maddy had a lot of spunk when it came to dealing with the bad guys but when faced with Mother Nature acted like well dare I say a girl? Yes I just wanted a bit more from her at times I guess. Bran has had a traumatic childhood and I know a lot of readers enjoy a tortured hero but the thought of losing Maddy kind of hits him hard and then of course there's Maddy's idea of 'benefits'! Bran may be in salvage but he's definitely going down hard when it comes to Maddy!
If you enjoy reading about rugged action heroes then this author should be on your reading list. I do find this series to be over the top at times but hey that's not always a bad thing. I love the way she starts these stories as we are teased about the treasure that might be buried but I do want more of that if honest. Plus in this book we see Mason shall I say interacting? Oh yes there's a book calling that guy and if you want fun alongside your action these Deep Six men are set to deliver
I was gifted a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK, I'll get right out in front and say this book pushed some buttons and in a very negative way.

If I had to summarize my reaction to this book in three words it would be Death by Dialogue. The plot is good, for the most part the characters are good, but the dialogue was so over the top slapstick, downhome colloquialisms, quotes from books and movies in lieu of talking, absolute ridiculous conversations that it killed the book for me.

One of the negatives about Ms. Walker's writing style would be that all conversations are followed by internal one-liners or mega sexual angst. The first 100 pages would have been a great deal tighter if we didn't have to read the characters' mental reviews of every word out of their mouths. It did get to be a bit much.

In addition, by only 100 pages in I was already tired of Maddy constantly referencing her grandma's and daddy's sayings/colloquialisms. I feel the author was trying way too hard to make her sound like a down home heiress but she came off like Elly Mae of the Beverly Hillbillies. If they hadn't been sprinkled so often it would have been OK, but sometimes it felt more like a downpour than a sprinkle and that's just too much.

If you got rid of the ridiculous dialogue, the cheesy dialogue and the repetitive mental angst you would have a really good novella. Yeah to get rid of the ridiculous parts you would probably reduce the 374 page book down to a 70 page novella. And this is the really sad part, the story had so much potential and Ms. Walker can write really well. There were sections that I truly enjoyed. The backstory of Bran's youth was done really well, it was just his current development that was lacking. I never got a feel for Maddy, but I think it's because all of her talking became too much and I was just seeing Ellie Mae Clampett and cringing. The bad guys felt really flat and undeveloped. I was really starting to like Mason and Alex but sometimes their dialogue had issues as well. Some of the action scenes were done really well and you could tell Ms. Walker has a flair for them.

The other issue I have is when the heroine has to be involved in something they aren't trained for. Mason and Bran took Maddy on the rescue because she knew the island and the fort. Although it seems to me like she could have just told them at the get go about the location of the water tunnel into the fort and she wouldn't have been needed. It always amazes me how on one hand we build up the superiority of SEALS and other special forces, but then we throw in a heroine who says I want to come and I can too. So my reaction is either the author is writing the heroine as TSTL and don't worry if you're not vested in her or the author has just downplayed the training and skill of a SEAL. How can I support that?

The final nail on the coffin for me was the timing and location of the sex scenes. The first sex scene had almost a Saturday Night parody of a romance novel feel to it. Hey the kidnappers could come back at any time with more guns and people (at this point we are presuming they were professional mercenaries), but an ex-SEAL and a chaperone to three girls are OK with leaving the safety look-out to three 17 year old girls who should be slightly traumatized by the death and gunfire already exchanged and a wet behind the ears park ranger. And they announce they are going to take care of their mutual itch and head to the dark, deserted lighthouse which in real life would be probably have some little critters scurrying around in it.

This is sexy? This is romantic? Maddy is the chaperone to these girls. This would be like if a high school went in to lock down mode due to a shooting and two teachers with the hots for each other decide to get down and dirty in the supply closet while there were kids outside in the classroom cheering them on. It was like saying "Hey, we don't know where the bad guys are and we know you just saw someone get shot and die, but we really need to get our rocks off." This was just so inappropriate even in a romance novel that I couldn't read the scene, I was just gagging. Romance novels are known for having their characters jump into sex thoughts, talk and scenes at ridiculous times but this really takes the cake for the most stupidest, ludicrous and disgusting timing ever.

So do they have better timing for the second sex scene? Uh, no. They are on the coast guard ship with coast guard personnel around and at 11:37pm they go to the captain's cabin and heat up the sheets on his twin bed. And at 12:02am - did I mention we get to see the timing of things - it just adds to the romance factor. I don't remember reading anything about them changing the sheets for the captain to come back to and this is just too much. DO NOT INVITE THESE PEOPLE TO YOUR HOUSE.

So unfortunately this was my first exposure to Julie Ann Walker. I was looking for some awesome romantic suspense and instead feel like I need to vent my frustrations and a breath of fresh air.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heiress, Maddy, takes three young girls to an small island in the Caribbean where they quickly become targets in a much grander scheme for power.

Bran rescued Maddy on her father’s yacht, hit her with a scorching kiss and left her in the friend zone, only exchanging witty emails. When he hears Maddy is coming close to his dive recovering site, he heads off to see her, where he quickly becomes involved with a rescue mission once again. But this time it is Maddy, her three charges and a park ranger that have gotten caught in the cross fire.

Betrayal runs deep in this mystery, romance, thriller. Maddy and Bran must uncover the plot before desperation leads to death.

Good story, a little slow going followed by intensity that didn’t really fit. Overall 3.5 stars.

I received this ARC copy of Devil and the Deep from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication July 5, 2016

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

[Debra Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I really like this author and this series was good, there were also some problems with it.
It tends to ramble and be repetitive. Not a lot, but enough to slow down the flow of the story when it does happen.
That said, her characters are very interesting. Her world build is most definitely well done. There is great action and suspense. The romance is hot and steamy. There is also humor.
This means I will be reading more of her books in the near future.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cuppa. As a southerner, nothing is more irksome to me that an over abundance of "southernisms" It borders on condescending. But that's just me and my opinion. I just couldn't form a connection with these characters.

I hate to be negative as SOOOOO many friends love this authors books. Maybe I just need to try another series?

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. It is one of my favorite genres and yet I just could not get past some of the crazy talk the author had to put into this story. I seriously wanted to stop reading because it was so annoying. As it was, I skipped through a ton of pages in this book.

Making goo-goo eyes and having day dreams about a women in the middle of a kidnapping and during a shoot out.... really? That stuff gets people killed in real life.

I honestly did not care for Maddy's character at all. She talked way to much. Pushed her way into serious situations that could get people killed. Had sex on the brain in the middle of fire fights and rescue situations and a host of other irritants. Plus she had a quirky saying for everything that made me nuts. Alex was another odd ball that I found annoying in many ways...just not as bad as Maddy.

In between the lines, the author has a great talent for writing great scenes that will heat up the night, but placing Maddy's constant chatter and those scenes in weird places in the book, I just could not deal with. It seriously took away all of the potential this book had for me. Take away some of the issues, and the author will have a winner on her hands.

I would give this a 2 star but I think the author was trying to be humorous and her writing skills are there. It just didn't work for me.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a formula book, start to finish, but, this is a winning formula and I love it. Lots of sexy romance and suspense. Just great. We met Maddie and Bran in the last book and they had a bit of unfinished business. Do yourself a favor, read book 1 first, it sets up this relationship and it's a great book.

Maddy Powers, wealthy socialite was held captive on her father's yacht a few months ago and was rescued by a Tall, Dark and Handsome former SEAL. They have been in constant communication since and Bran has been a real help in getting Maddy through her PTSD. Maddy has a very supportive family and her job working with father's philanthropic interests is fulfilling for her. She has set up a camping trip to Dry Tortugas for three scholarship girls, both as a reward for them and as a chance to see Bran again.

Bran Palladino doesn't do relationships. His early home life and years as a SEAL have convinced him he can't be trusted to keep his inner beast leashed, so he has never gotten so close to a woman as to care deeply for her. That is until Maddy. The woman is everything he could ever want, and everything he needs to avoid. When Bran and Mason show up on Dry Tortugas and are greeted with the sound of gunfire, Bran knows he will do anything, even kill to keep Maddie safe and that is a problem for him.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***

Review Originally Appeared on I'm A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore: http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore....

I enjoyed this book as much as I was hoping to…which is always nice. I like Julie Ann Walker, she can be counted on for a book that mixes suspense with characters you believe. Bran and Maddy didn’t disappoint. Their chemistry was amazing, his reasons for not thinking he could have more with her were understandable, and it was such fun to watch him let her break down his walls and let her in.

The suspense portion is believable, the reasons that Maddy is involved, yet again, in a hostage situation make sense. Although, you don’t really get the full details on this until closer to the end, and I think while you are reading, a little more clued in to the “why” on this would have made it more realistic…it is one of those books that make total sense at the end, and toward the end, but you kind of wonder on the way through.

I appreciate that Walker writes her heroines as capable. No, they are not (for obvious reasons) Navy Seals, or ex-Seals as the case may be, but that doesn’t mean they are helpless and must spend the book crying in the corner. I like that Walker writes heroes who respect this, while still wanting to protect their women. She lets them be the Alpha-male hero, which you want in a novel like this, while still being a character you can like and relate to, which is a miss in some romantic suspense stories. Walker is so consistent in this that she has become a go-to author for me.

The scene at the end with the coffee cup was so perfect…I am not going to spoil it, but let me say that it was perfect, it was so him, and it was so them…you just had to be thrilled.

There is a little bit of a tease of things to come with Alex in different places in the book, which has me wanting to read her book, RIGHT NOW. That one is going to be fun. I wasn’t able to find any actual info on it, but there is no way they are going to leave us hanging!

I definitely recommend this book. I also recommend the first in the series (and the novella) as while this is a standalone, knowing the previous events add a lot of depth to the story.

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way that this author balances suspense with romance, chemistry with history, and friends with moments that will never be forgotten. All the while, she develops an intricate story that kept me on my toes and set it in such a manner that I could picture all of it. I love the way that the Santa Christina was integral to the lives of these characters. The way that it actually served to increase the suspense of the tale, adding a second storyline for readers to become enmeshed in. It also ties the series together through more than simply the characters that Walker creates.

The characters in this novel were larger than life, but at the same time very real. They were hard to look away from and easy to love, while always being less than perfect. This humanity made them so endearing. The dynamic between Bran and Maddie had me in stitches, followed in a close second by Mason and Alex.

Walker has created a fantastic second instalment in this series. She seamlessly draws everything together while keeping me on my toes. It was a lot of fun and I definitely can’t wait for more.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha)]

DNF by Chapter 5
This book wasn't bad; but there was no way I was going to make it through with all the over done southern twang and Boston sayings. By chapter 5, it was kind of feeling like a satire of a Southern girl and a Boston guy. I rolled my eyes so hard I got a headache.
The story was pretty good up to that point-the kidnapping and all, but I just couldn't keep going.

[Norwyn Schäfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Sterne
Deep Six - Gefahr der Entscheidung
von Julie Ann Walker
LYX
„Selbst ein Ex-Navy SEAL kann sein Herz nicht immer schützen
Der Ex-Navy SEAL Bran Palladino ist attraktiv, mutig, stark und hat eigentlich keine Probleme, bei Frauen zu landen. Aber bei Maddy Powers hilft ihm seine Fähigkeit, in gefährlichen Situationen einen kühlen Kopf zu behalten, nicht weiter. Seit er geholfen hat, sie aus der Gewalt von Terroristen zu befreien, kann er die toughe junge Frau einfach nicht vergessen. Und Maddy scheint es ähnlich zu gehen, immerhin stehen sie seit ihrer Rettung in häufigem E-Mail Kontakt. Die Versuchung sie wiederzusehen ist groß, doch Bran weiß, dass Maddy ihn verlassen wird, wenn sie sein größtes Geheimnis erfahren würde. Um ihnen beiden diesen Schmerz zu ersparen, hält er sie auf Abstand. Doch dann wird Maddy gekidnappt und nur Bran kann sie retten ...
"Wer aktionreiche Abenteuer und heiße Alpha-Männer liebt, wird von diesem Buch begeistert sein." Romantic-Times-Book-Reviews“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem LYX Verlag für das kostenlose Rezensionsexemplar des Buches. Ich gebe hier meine unabhängige und unbezahlte Meinung zu dem Buch ab.
Ich habe bereits einen Roman aus dieser Serie gelesen und war schon damals begeistert vom Schreibstil der Autorin. Dieses Mal überraschte sie mich, indem sie das Buch im Stil der Serie „24“ geschrieben hat. Denn der größte Teil des Plots spielen sich innerhalb von nur 12 Stunden ab, es ist also ein rasanter und actionreicher Trip durch dieses Buch, welches wirklich in der Lage ist den Leser mitzureißen. Allein schon dieses Tempo der Handlung fesselt den Leser förmlich an das Buch.
Wer Thriller mag und auch noch Liebesgeschichten dazu, es rasant und heiß liebt, der ist hier genau richtig beraten mit diesem Roman. Die Autorin scheint dieses Buch wieder einmal perfekt inszeniert und durchdacht zu haben, sie spart nicht an Spannung und durchaus knisternder Sinnlichkeit auf ihren Seiten, die an dem Leser förmlich vorbei zu fliegen scheinen. Zum Erfolg des Buches dürfte aber auch die hervorragende Übersetzung ins Deutsche beitragen, denn dadurch gehen weder die Wortgewandheit der Autorin noch deren Humor und Einfallsreichtum beim Schreiben verloren. Leider ist dies selten genug der Fall bei Übersetzungen ins Deutsche. Ebenfalls fand ich die eingebauten Zitate aus Filmen sehr gelungen, auch wenn ich wahrlich nicht alle dem passenden Film zuordnen konnte, aber ich habe mich bemüht.
Zu den Charakteren kann ich eigentlich nur so viel sagen, entweder man liebt sie oder eben nicht. Aber ich liebe sie definitiv, denn sie sind nicht nur facettenreich und durchdacht, sondern auch was ganz Besonderes. Die Crew, wird für den Leser wie eine Gruppe von engen Freunden. Schon im ersten Teil fand ich den Zusammenhalt untereinander einfach toll und auch hier beweist es sich wieder einmal wie intensiv die Freundschaft ist.
Ich kann dieses Buch wieder einmal nur empfehlen zu lesen, man verschlingt es eigentlich förmlich und die Serie geht hoffentlich auf dem gleichen hohen Niveau weiter.
#liebesroman #newadult #erotik #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #julieannwalker #lyx_verlag #lyx #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #DeepSixGefahrDerEntscheidung #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookworm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - 3 Flames

I've got to admit that I REALLY liked this installment. I'm even going to admit that I liked it more than the first. I mean, we pretty much get a "two-for" with this one...sort of.

This installment picks up roughly 3 months after Maddie and Bran shared that incredible kiss at the end of the Hell or High Water. During those 3 months, they have been emailing each other constantly, forming a friendship and "relationship" with each other that, quite honestly, has Bran scared to put a label on it. But when Maddie emails him, inviting him to the neighboring island, while she chaperones, he's even more conflicted in his feelings and how to move foreword. Good thing the historian Alex and Bran's other Deep Six brother Mason decide to "join the fun", because this chaperone trip becomes a mission. Didn't Maddie just go through this in the first book? Poor girl.

I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that the chemistry between Maddie and Bran is hard to miss. It's so obvious that every single person around them can feel the tension building between them. So why is it so hard for Bran to "pull the trigger"? And we though women were the only ones with "daddy" issues. But here's one of the awesome parts about this book, we don't just get to experience the chemistry between Maddie and Bran, we get to watch the train wreck that's Alex and Mason. And when I say train wreck, I mean the oil and vinegar kind of train wreck that, although doesn't quite fit together, is oh so good.

I enjoyed this installment so much because it had just about everything I needed. The damsel in distress, the hero, the suspense, the anticipation and boy oh boy, the humor. If you're a movie buff, than you'll absolutely love the tongue and cheek, back and forth, dialogue Maddie and Bran share with each other. It's truly entertaining in it's own right. As much of a sucker as I am with romance, the suspense and action REALLY kept me engaged. Ok, Ok...I'm also a Navy SEAL sucker too.

I highly recommend this installment and can't wait to dive into the Deep with Alex and Mason!

* I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. This one centers on Maddy, who was a secondary character in Hell or High Water, and Bran, another member of the Deep Six team. There were obvious sparks between them previously, ending with a toe-curling kiss, but Bran doesn't follow up the way Maddy expects. Instead, there are three months of friendly email exchanges as Bran helps her through the aftermath of the previous events but ignores the signals she sends. Maddy decides to be a little more proactive and, using a field trip for some interns as an excuse, shows up on an island close to the team's dive site. She then invites Bran to talk to the girls about their treasure hunt.

Bran is in a quandary. There is nothing he'd like more than to spend more time with Maddy. But he also has some very personal reasons for avoiding the closeness he knows that she wants. Bran grew up with an abusive father and is convinced that he carries the same darkness in him. He refuses to put himself in a position where he could hurt someone he cares about. He's just about made up his mind to ignore her invitation when Mason and Alex get involved.

As it turns out, Bran, Mason, and Alex arrive at the island at just the right time. Maddy is at the center of a kidnapping plot, and she and her charges are held at gunpoint. I had to chuckle a bit at Maddy's reaction as it is happening again. Things get pretty intense as Bran and Mason come to the rescue, but it doesn't go quite as planned, with the three interns still in the hands of the kidnappers.

What follows is a good mix of action and romance. Bran, Maddy, and Mason must find a way to free the girls from the men holding them. Bran has his ideas, and none of them include Maddy, but she refuses to be left behind. There is a terrific scene of Maddy standing up to his protectiveness, with information that will give them a better chance of success and the need to help those she feels responsible for. As they whittle down the number of bad guys and regain possession of the girls, there are some moments of down time. Bran and Maddie take advantage of these times as their movie-quote-laced banter is interlaced with some serious conversation. Bran is determined to make it clear to Maddy that he isn't relationship material and she is just as determined to show him that he is. I ached for them both as Bran opens up about his past and Maddy sees just how deep his fears go. Maddy proposes the idea of friends with benefits as a way to get at least some of the closeness she wants with Bran. And though the scene was intense, I thought the timing was illogical, with them not knowing if there were more bad guys out there.

There are still a few more twists and turns before Maddy, and the others are truly safe. The final confrontation was not unexpected in how it happened. Even Bran and Mason can see the writing on the wall as the setup reminds them of what happened in the previous book. However expected, the fight is intense and deadly. I ached for Maddy when she found out who was behind the kidnapping attempts.

When it's all over, Bran does his usual escape and deny, but something has changed. I rather enjoyed his misery as he fully deserved it. It takes his friend Leo to snap him out of his self-pity by pointing out some things about all of them that Bran hadn't considered. I loved his "aha" moment as he realized the truth. His reunion with Maddy was sweet and romantic and exactly what you'd expect from them.

There was also a secondary story going on between Mason and Alex. The two of them have been antagonistic from the moment that Alex arrived on their island. It was fun to see the extremely untalkative Mason deal with the motormouth Alex. Under the antagonism are sparks of attraction that start to burn hotter the more time they spend together. Mason isn't happy about what he is starting to feel, while Alex wants to explore it. I'm looking forward to their story, which should be another good one.

We don't get much about the treasure hunt. The first and last chapters are flashbacks by the captain of the ship, and we learn a little more about the wreck and the treasure. In the present day, Alex continues to search the records for more information, while the others find the occasional artifact.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3/5
(I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
***Minor spoilers***

Previously, Madison Powers had been held hostage on a yacht and is still dealing with the literal nightmares of the aftermath. Unfortunately for her, action is coming her way again. Fortunately, though, ex-Navy SEAL Bran Palladino is on her way along with one of his partners, Mason. The plan is to kidnap Maddy and the three scholarship recipients she's with and offer ransom to Maddy's dad, a rich owner of an oil company. Now Maddy and the ex-SEALS along with a young park ranger need to find a way to get everyone off the island alive, while also finding out what the hell is going on.

Before I say anything, I just wanted to note that my Netgalley kindle version of this book was formatted horribly and sometimes made reading this book feel strange, and that may or may not have affected my rating. Sometimes new paragraphs were indented, and sometimes not. Sometimes new paragraphs weren't started for a new person speaking, and sometimes made it look like it was the same person speaking again. While this definitely couldn't have drastically changed my rating, it is possible that it may have lowered it, even though I did my best to ignore it.

This started off a bit shakily to me. This may have been because I never read the first book in the series, but to me it was mostly because I didn't really like Maddy or Bran that much. That changed, but right off the bat I didn't find them very interesting. I would say my main criticism of this book was the dialogue. It was cliche and cringy at times, and personally I'm not a big fan of when authors write dialogue, then rewrite how the sentence is supposed to sound in the person's accent. It was constantly noted how Maddy changed pronunciations with her Texan accent, and how Mason did this or that because of his Boston accent. It happened so much around the beginning of the book it felt annoying and pointless. I usually don't mind if it's once or twice just to establish how they speak, but again and again is annoying. I also feel like Maddy was so stereotypically Texan that it felt unrealistic. The things she said sounded like something own of some Southern soap opera. While I haven't personally been to Texas, nor have I had more than 5 or so friends from Texas over my whole life, but I seriously doubt they speak the way Maddy does all the time.

The good thing about this book was that the action kept things moving quickly. Even at the times when I didn't like how a character was acting, there was shooting and a kidnapping plot to keep things moving well. In a lot of books centred around action like this, I find that at times the fighting scenes are hard to follow and sometimes inconsistent. I didn't have a problem with that in this book, which is admirable considering so many people in the fight, as well as a somewhat complicated setting for the fights.

Overall, I thought the action was great, the romance was good, and the characters were alright. However I think it would've been more suspenseful if we didn't get a few areas where we had the perspectives of the people behind the plot, but I can see why it made the plot make more sense, and may be significant due to knowledge from the previous book, or knowledge needed for the next book. I thought this was a good action-romance book, so if you're interested you can request it from Netgalley here: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars

Ex-Navy Seal and current treasure hunter, Bran Pallidino, and Petroleum heiress, Maddy Powers, shared a hot kiss when he saved her from a hijacking on her Daddy's boat a few months ago. They have shared some emails since then and are both harboring hidden crushes.

When Maddy finds a way to get near Bran's general vicinity for a hopeful in-person visit, she never expected that they would find themselves in a situation where he has to come blazing in to save her again. But that just seems to be her luck.

Bran is charismatic, tough, cocky, sarcastic, and outspoken. But he feels he has a dark part of him that makes him leery of getting close to anyone. His past left a lasting impression on him and he does not feel worthy of a real relationship or love.

Maddy could easily be a spoiled rich girl, but she does not act like it. She takes on charitable causes and scholarships. She's sassy, tenacious, brave, and tempting. But Bran feels like he needs to keep her at arm's length. But any time they touch or get near each other, sparks fly and it is hard for them to contain themselves.

Another man trying to avoid temptation is Mason McCarthy. He and Alex Merriweather have a love-hate relationship, but it is beginning to start to turn more towards the like, love, can't-stop-thinking-about-the-other side. Mason is gruff, quiet, no-nonsense, and moody. Alex is vibrant, goofy, highly intelligent, and talks non stop. They are quite another mismatched pair.

They all find themselves in a middle of a big, chaotic, life-threatening mess with danger around every corner and emotions running high. The girls have some propositions for these stoic tough guys. And the guys have a lot to handle.

But can these two men who do not do relationships admit that maybe they want to try something different? Is it lust, love, or just an emotional adrenaline high?

This has the characteristic camaraderie, banter, and humor that Julie Ann Walker is known for in her series. This one also had a lot of pop culture references and famous movie lines peppered throughout. But it also had serious sexual tension, and some hot scenes. It was full of danger, suspense, action, and had a pretty hefty body count.

This did not really center that much on the treasure hunt, but was more about hostage situations and mercenaries. I got pulled into the first quarter pretty easily, but the action seemed to overtake the middle, but then I got sucked back in towards the end. I really enjoyed the personal scenes between the two sets of main characters more than the battle and action ones. It was told in multiple points of view allowing us to get into quite a few character's heads and understand all that was going on and just how confused some of them were. And yes, feelings and romance tended to really confuse, bother, and bewilder this group.

I am looking forward to more in the series especially more with Mason and Alex. A little teaser was thrown in with Wolf as well.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sherwood Smith]

Copy received courtesy of NetGalley


This second in a series about a bunch of super-hot ex Navy Seals, all with concomitant emotional baggage, centering around a couple who I guess were the secondary pair in the previous book: Bran Palladino, who has some very traumatic childhood history that keeps him from wanting to get too close to a woman lest he turn into his father, and Maddy Powers, rich daughter of a Texas oil man, who is shepherding some teenagers to the Dry Tortugas as a field trip.

She chose this place because it’s close to where Bran and his buds are preparing an exploratory dive for a sunken treasure ship from the days of Spanish galleons.

Maddy and Bran first met when she was kidnapped—and it happens again. And Bran and Mason go to the rescue, taking along geeky little Alex, the scholar who first led the boys to the site.

I was impressed by Walker’s diligence in researching Seal training and tactics, and the emotional bonds created among teammates who have seen a lot of mayhem together. I also liked the guys, and Maddy and Alex. I enjoyed Bran and Maddy’s swapping obscure quotes from movies.

But I had some problems with the pacing. The book seemed to lurch between heart-pounding action and very long banter, flirtation, and then sex scenes, during which the tension line dropped to zero. This was not helped by the fact that when we did pick up with the bad guys again, the narrative voice would fill in with quick summary what ought to have been action scenes woven in to keep the pacing tight.

I also felt at points like Bran and Mason were too busy horndogging after their ladies to put in some fairly standard defensive scouting and prep, which gave the bad guys the chance to rally and attack. It was also annoying that the chief baddie got away; he was less a character than a plot device, and so not very interesting. I assume he’ll be back again.

Further, I had some issues with the handling of the three teenage girls. They were so blasé about being attacked, tied up, and held hostage, that it was hard to believe in the tension line while they were cheering Maddy and Bran on.

I also hoped there would be more about the treasure exploration, but I expect that subject is to be played out over the series—the next to center around Mason and Alex, if the pattern holds true.

Again, the romances were fun, the sex was hot, the banter enjoyable. I suspect the best audience for this would be romance readers who want more romance than action and body count with their romantic suspense.

[T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received Devil and the Deep as a review copy from NetGalley. The gifting did not determine the review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.

This was a hard story for me to finish. Unlike the blurb, Maddie never attends a cocktail party, nor is there a reference to a carefree heiress lifestyle; therefore, with no character background or context on her, she never solidified as a person I cared about.

The story contained too many cliches, movie/book quotes, and slang terms, sometimes used without adding to the story, and in one case, made no sense where used. There was very little fresh/original dialog, and the author tried to cram as many movie quotes as possible into the story. The segues were clumsy, for example action scenes were broken up with monologues of internal speaking which takes the reader out of the story. Pages later, I had to go back to find the question the character was finally answering after we got a lengthy background.

While the writing itself was technically fine, the book read like a high school creative writing paper with overtly dramatic flare and flowery phrasing. While there were a lot of holes in the plot, the worst parts were the obscure references and bad jokes the author's characters had to constantly explain to other characters (e.g. Paula Abdul, Colonel Sanders). Jokes aren't funny if no one gets them right away.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced, exciting story filled with drama, adventure, and passion! I was on the edge of my seat as everything unfolded and Bran and Maddy came together!

Bran and Maddy were awesome, I loved the back and forth playfulness they have going on. I really liked how they're trying to keep their friendship in check but there was this sizzling desire between them that couldn’t be tamed. It had a lot of great dialogue that was witty and fun and I really enjoyed it. I liked Bran working through some personal issues as well and the emotion and vulnerability he showed.

There were multiple POVs and I enjoyed the different perspectives. I really liked the antagonism between Alex and Mason and their underlying attraction. I loved Alex and her personality and how that will be challenging for Mason. Their story is next in Ride the Tide and I am looking forward to it.

This was a really great, easy read, and I liked the flow and build. I liked the overall story that was happening, there was a good amount of action, intensity, and heat that kept things moving along. I also really like how the prologue and epilogue are shared adding a different layer to the story. Devil and the Deep was just an exciting and action-packed story and I thought it was super entertaining and witty. It was a great story to lose myself in and I had fun reading it!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"DEVIL AND THE DEEP reads like a block-buster film."

Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction

[Bambi Unbridled · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 22%. This one wasn't for me - it was a little too hokey for a romantic suspense. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot ex Navy SEALS on the hunt for Spanish buried treasure... what's not to like?? An enjoyable romp filled with adventure and romance, I'm really enjoying the Deep Six series.

[Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy to be back with the crew on Wayfairer Island. This one is fast paced and full of sexual tension. Having said that, it is a REALLY slow build to the actual coming together. Maddie and Bran have known each other for awhile. Bran wants to keep things int he friend zone. Maddie does her best to convince him they would be good together.

Most of the book revolves around the attempted kidnapping and the fact that the unknown kidnappers are still hanging around. This adds some interest because the reader gets the sense Maddie and Bran are a done deal once they stop dancing around. What makes the story are the secondary characters. Chapters are told in different points of view. I found myself really looking forward to Alex and Mason chapters. That book is going to be epic enemies to friends to lovers I think!

The catch with the series is the crew's ability to find the lost treasure. The prologue and epilogue suck the reader in to the premise and make it worth wanting to read more.

*Complimentary copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I had lukewarm feelings about the romance in Hell or High Water I was totally on board for the romance and couple in Devil and the Deep. I think I've put the finger on my issue with the first couple in a series. They don't have the time to build up to their HEA, it can come off too instan-a-love for my taste. But with Maddy and Bran meeting in the first book and then having a long-distance friend over the three months since the events in Hell or High Water I feel like their romance doesn't have that instan-a-love feel to it.

Devil and the Deep picks up about three months after Hell or High Water and the group of ex-Navy SEALS is still looking for the legendary lost ship, La Santa Christina, and the treasures it holds. Bran is part of the team and he the biggest player when it comes to women. He's never been in love and doesn't want to be. He had a rough childhood watching his father beat his mother because he loved her some much that he got jealous every time she even spoke to another man. Bran swore he would never turn into his father and that if love did that to a person he wanted no part of it.

Maddy is a plucky Southern gal who lived a different life than Bran. She had loving home life and a rich father. But she's not a snobby rich girl, she down to earth and has a huge heart. One that she hopes she can trust to Bran's hands.

My only complaint with Devil and the Deep is the same one I have with other books that feature a lead Southern character who has over the top stereotype speech. As a Southerner, it drinks me nuts. Most of the "my momma/daddy/grandma etc. say" that Maddy used, I've never heard of and a few had me rolling my eyes.

"If he believed that, he was crazier than a catfish carrying a canteen, as her grandma used to say."

Bran and Maddy is a classic case of opposites attract and their romance was fun to watch develop. It was sweet, funny, and sexy as hell.

"I will always fly to your side with all the courage and destruction in my heart."

You could read Devil and the Deep as a stand-alone but if you're like me and what to see the couple's relationship build, then I highly recommend you read the first book, Hell or High Water to see how Bran and Maddy first met. And speaking of watching a couple met, you have to read Devil and the Deep before you read the third book (untitled at this time), that will surely be about Mason and Alex. They shared page time with Maddy and Bran and their HEA will be great to read.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Finally book two of Julie Ann Walker's Deep Six series, it came out last month and man it is a fast paced Adventure Romance. Bran of course drool worthy and the story makes you think, "Damn can't that girl catch a break" because once again someone is after Maddy; heiress to billionaire oil tycoon the same Maddy they tried to kidnap in the first book. Bran I liked, Maddy not so much I liked her more when she wasn't the main focus of the story. I found her annoying at times, it's that Texas stereotype and those old sayings, Maddy just gets annoying with those stupid colloquialisms; in stressful times they do not have a place not even to relieve tension.

Since the events of the previous book Bran and Maddy have been emailing back and forth. Maddy eventually sets up a field trip for some scholarship hopefuls to one of the many islands, and one that just happens to be near Bran so of course she invites him to speak about the treasure hunting. But someone else has other plans. They were suppose to kidnap Maddy and demand ransom get the money and that's it easy right? Well Bran, Mason, and the linguist they brought on at the end of book one Alex get to the island just as they hear gun fire. Bran and Mason as former SEALs flip the switch and immediately go into rescue mode. Alex stays on the boat and waits for the signal. Bran heads them straight on while Mason flanks them. They manage to separate Maddy and the park ranger from the hostage takers but not the three girls that Maddy brought along. I loved the action and Bran is so cheesy when he starts to quote movies in probably the most inopportune times, but I would probably do the same, I love that he is a movie buff. I really loved Mason and Alex! I really hope the next book is theirs. The romance between Bran and Maddy was just okay. Bran is fighting it but he keeps getting jealous and it's messing with Maddy until finally boom they have sex and Bran still is hesitant to call it a relationship.

Overall, I loved the action part of the story and the predictable twist at the end, Alex and Mason I loved too but i kind of wanted more of the treasure hunt which just touched a little on that in the beginning.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker

A fantastic addition to the romantic suspense and action Deep Six series. I was immediately engaged with the characters and along for the ride. The book does stand alone if the first hasn't been read.

While the men are strong, hunky and real heroes here, I love the women, the crazy conversations, the movie quips and the southernisms in this book. The women are confident in some ways but unsure in opposite aspects. They know themselves and what they want. And they go for it. No timid characters here.
Maddie has been through some traumatic events, and has survived by becoming stronger and more apt to go after a goal. "There's no harm in asking for what you want" seems to be her current outlook. She gets her lips on Bran. No spoiler since it's a romance - there's a few hot sex scenes in this book. Former SEAL and all man after all. She's a bit snarky and a complete movie buff just like him.
Alex is brainy and a talker. She's very funny but not intentionally. This is not her story, but a great lead in for when it is her turn. I can't wait to read more about her.

Brando Pallidino and Madison Powers have been exchanging emails and phone calls since he helped rescued her. She's ready for more. He's willing to walk away because of scars from his past.

"She pushed out of Bran's embrace and rolled in her lips, savoring the taste of him. Her heart was doing its damnedest to out-flutter a hummingbirds. And, if she weren't mistaken, at some point during their exchange, a puppeteer had connected strings to her knees and was now tugging on those strings, making her legs shiver and shake."
Excerpt from Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.