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Alpha Ops #5
Going Deep
SHE’LL ROCK HIS WORLD
After weeks on a sold-out tour, singer Cady Ward is coming home for the holidays. But after one too many episodes of fan-craziness, Cady’s manager decides that she needs protection—in the form of muscled cop Conn McCormick. Longing for peace and quiet to prepare before her next album drops, Cady doesn’t need a bodyguard just to deal with some vague email threats…though she can’t deny that close proximity to Conn’s body is a very nice place to be.
Conn is in the midst of a career scandal when his boss assigns him to pop-star guard duty. It’s a poor use of his skills, even though Cady’s feisty nature proves the perfect distraction for Conn while Internal Affairs investigates his case. What begins as a sizzling attraction becomes something deeper than either Conn or Cady could have expected. But when Conn uncovers the sinister plan behind the threats to Cady, he’s faced with a professional To save her life, will he risk having a future with the only woman who’s ever touched his soul?
After weeks on a sold-out tour, singer Cady Ward is coming home for the holidays. But after one too many episodes of fan-craziness, Cady’s manager decides that she needs protection—in the form of muscled cop Conn McCormick. Longing for peace and quiet to prepare before her next album drops, Cady doesn’t need a bodyguard just to deal with some vague email threats…though she can’t deny that close proximity to Conn’s body is a very nice place to be.
Conn is in the midst of a career scandal when his boss assigns him to pop-star guard duty. It’s a poor use of his skills, even though Cady’s feisty nature proves the perfect distraction for Conn while Internal Affairs investigates his case. What begins as a sizzling attraction becomes something deeper than either Conn or Cady could have expected. But when Conn uncovers the sinister plan behind the threats to Cady, he’s faced with a professional To save her life, will he risk having a future with the only woman who’s ever touched his soul?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
32 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Anne Calhoun
53 books656 followersAfter doing time at Fortune 500 companies on both coasts, I found myself living in the suburbs of a small Midwestern city. The glamour of various cube farm jobs had worn off, so I gave up making a decent living to take Joseph Campbell’s advice and follow my bliss: writing romance.
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October 4, 2016DNF @80%, no rating. Review posted October 3, 2016.
Anne Calhoun has rocked my book world many, many times over the last five years and it saddens me very much to say that Going Deep just didn't go deep enough for me. After a nice beginning, I completely lost interest and had to throw in the towel. From the lack of real suspense, to the boring storyline itself, to the main protagonists whom I could not care for, and last but not least, the incredibly annoying and self-centered twat of a younger sister (Emily) who, big surprise, did not crush under her HUGE ego and even survived her seriously stupid case of whiny-titis, Going Deep just failed to deliver on several levels.
A few examples of Anne's very good writing and her classy smexy bits…
What I actually truly enjoyed was the long shower sex scene. That, I know, is no surprise at all. As expected, the writing was very good, I sure won't deny that fact, but it's hard for me to finish a book, let alone enjoy it, when I don't connect with the main protagonists or when I end up bored by a storyline that provided too many mundane occurrences. I thought the heroine to be way too bland and uninteresting. Also, I really wanted to smack Emily, Cady's younger sister. No, let me rephrase that: I wanted to remove her entirely from the story. She was just awful and got on my last bloody nerve. Even her young age could not serve as a lame excuse.
Bottom line
In my book, Going Deep lacked the usual and anticipated Anne Calhoun magic. Regardless of this unexpected letdown, I'm looking forward to her next novel.
I'd recommend you to check out The Muse, my absolute favorite gem by Anne Calhoun. As I see it, it remains unequaled.
**ARC provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review**
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
Pre-reading Going Deep:
Hmm…how deep is deep enough? Dang. Baba, get your mind out of the gutter.
The cop hero is protecting a singer/songwriter. And I'm happy that my favorite author is releasing a new full-length novel coz Anne is rocking my book world. Always. <333
#gimmegimmegimmeeeeee #theanticipationiskillingme #authorwhowritesthebestsexscenes
Anne Calhoun has rocked my book world many, many times over the last five years and it saddens me very much to say that Going Deep just didn't go deep enough for me. After a nice beginning, I completely lost interest and had to throw in the towel. From the lack of real suspense, to the boring storyline itself, to the main protagonists whom I could not care for, and last but not least, the incredibly annoying and self-centered twat of a younger sister (Emily) who, big surprise, did not crush under her HUGE ego and even survived her seriously stupid case of whiny-titis, Going Deep just failed to deliver on several levels.
A few examples of Anne's very good writing and her classy smexy bits…
Another kaleidoscope spin of emotion in his eyes, then they went dark, pupils blowing wide as he gripped her upper arms and bore her back against the wall. The impact drove the air from her lungs. A gasp followed as her senses kicked into overdrive, recording impressions, volatile emotion held in check by strength and power harnessed in service of control. For a second she wondered if the promise of a walk on the edgy, barely restrained side was more than she could handle. But she felt alive, more alive than she had in weeks, maybe months.
Performing plugged her into the vast, creative energy swirling around her, but she’d been slowly withering away in the downtime. She wasn’t withering now. Her body swelled with hot, saturating desire. She stretched into his grip, rolling her shoulders back, shifting against the power in his hands, all that he was using to hold her against the wall. She came up against the edge of what her body could do, felt his thumb press down into her shoulder joints. She lifted her hands, felt the constriction of movement, flattened them against his torso, and pushed.
(…)
It was gently brutal, or brutally gentle, the way his body caged her, restrained her. She wasn’t sure which, only knew that his mouth was soft, almost tender while he used his body, hands and hips and chest and thighs, to hold her exactly where he wanted her. He wanted her pinned, helpless, and completely at his mercy. She gave a hitching little sigh that could have been a sob if he’d let her breathe, then surrendered. “There you go,” he murmured. “There you go.”
Then Conn let out a rough growl, hoisted her right off her feet, and walked her backward, into the wall. Head, shoulders, and hips hit at the same time, knocking the wind from her. His kiss left her no chance to get it back, deep and thorough and definitely, definitely caring about something. Wanting something. “What is it with you and walls?” she gasped when he came up for air.
“Gotta make sure you’re not going anywhere,” he replied.
“You like to tease,” she said.
“I like to take my time. Enjoy it.” He kissed her then, quick and soft, no tongue, just the pressure of lips against lips. “I like to have.” Shaping the words moved his mouth against hers, a different form of contact. She inhaled his breath, the intimacy of the air drawing from his lungs into hers, an intimacy she’d not considered before.
Under normal circumstances the language was old-fashioned, a euphemism for sex, for casual, for fucking. But she meant it in a different way, offering herself to him the way she used to build rapport with an audience at a personal show, starting with something softer, slow tempo, drawing them in without the crutch of an upbeat, driving song, a top-ten hit, a recognizable number. Back when she put herself out there through her music rather than “performed.”
What I actually truly enjoyed was the long shower sex scene. That, I know, is no surprise at all. As expected, the writing was very good, I sure won't deny that fact, but it's hard for me to finish a book, let alone enjoy it, when I don't connect with the main protagonists or when I end up bored by a storyline that provided too many mundane occurrences. I thought the heroine to be way too bland and uninteresting. Also, I really wanted to smack Emily, Cady's younger sister. No, let me rephrase that: I wanted to remove her entirely from the story. She was just awful and got on my last bloody nerve. Even her young age could not serve as a lame excuse.
Bottom line
In my book, Going Deep lacked the usual and anticipated Anne Calhoun magic. Regardless of this unexpected letdown, I'm looking forward to her next novel.
I'd recommend you to check out The Muse, my absolute favorite gem by Anne Calhoun. As I see it, it remains unequaled.
**ARC provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review**
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
Pre-reading Going Deep:
Hmm…how deep is deep enough? Dang. Baba, get your mind out of the gutter.
The cop hero is protecting a singer/songwriter. And I'm happy that my favorite author is releasing a new full-length novel coz Anne is rocking my book world. Always. <333
#gimmegimmegimmeeeeee #theanticipationiskillingme #authorwhowritesthebestsexscenes
November 2, 2016
Anne Calhoun definitely has a way with writing chemistry between characters; Cady and Conn had some electrically charged scenes, enough to get me hot and bothered, and that was the best part of Going Deep to me. I can't say that the story knocked my socks off or that is was particularly compelling, but it was entertaining. The romance was low in frustrating relationship drama, a plus for me.
When a story is categorized as "romantic suspense" I look forward to some exciting twists and turns, some danger, and while it was a surprise to find out the identity of the stalker/saboteur I was a little disappointed. The ending just sort of fizzled out for me, both with the mystery and the romance, even though I was happy about how things turned out between Cady and Conn.
Going Deep was an uncomplicated, nice romance, easy to fly right through.
A copy was kindly provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When a story is categorized as "romantic suspense" I look forward to some exciting twists and turns, some danger, and while it was a surprise to find out the identity of the stalker/saboteur I was a little disappointed. The ending just sort of fizzled out for me, both with the mystery and the romance, even though I was happy about how things turned out between Cady and Conn.
Going Deep was an uncomplicated, nice romance, easy to fly right through.
A copy was kindly provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2016
Rocker Cady Ward is finally home. After a long tour, all she wants to do is get home, close the door and relax. That is, until a fan with a bit too much zeal has her publicist demanding a body guard.
Conn McCormick is a full time cop that works security part time. That’s how he made an impression with the rocker chick that he helped save from a rabid fan. It’s also how he is now spending his time during an Internal Affairs investigation against him.
I must be honest in telling you that I love the Alpha Ops Series. I really enjoyed Conn and Cady together in and out of the sack. It’s a fun read filled with some personal drama, a little danger, and a whole lotta sexy!
It’s a solid 4 star read for me.
Tanja~
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Book Babblers
Conn McCormick is a full time cop that works security part time. That’s how he made an impression with the rocker chick that he helped save from a rabid fan. It’s also how he is now spending his time during an Internal Affairs investigation against him.
I must be honest in telling you that I love the Alpha Ops Series. I really enjoyed Conn and Cady together in and out of the sack. It’s a fun read filled with some personal drama, a little danger, and a whole lotta sexy!
It’s a solid 4 star read for me.
Tanja~
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KT Book Reviews
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November 6, 2025
Cady, aka Maud, is a singing superstar returning home for the holidays. The one thing she loves about returning home was returning to a “normal” life and seeing her mom and sister. Due to resent threats, her manager insists that she hire a body guard, changing the dynamics of homing and upsetting her creative flow.
Conn is an officer that is assigned to Cady’s protection and instantly there is chemistry between the characters.
While Conn is protecting Cady, he is also under investigation for beating a criminal in lock up.
Both Cady and Conn are facing mysteries that they must uncover to bring them peace of mind and safety.
This story is touted as a romantic suspense but I felt it was more mystery because there wasn’t a lot of action. The romance was predictable and the story contained a lot of dialog that didn’t seem to pertain to the plot.
Overall, the story had an easy flow with writing that has a way of describing you into the scenes.
I received this ARC copy of Going Deep from St. Martin's Press in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication November 1, 2016.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Conn is an officer that is assigned to Cady’s protection and instantly there is chemistry between the characters.
While Conn is protecting Cady, he is also under investigation for beating a criminal in lock up.
Both Cady and Conn are facing mysteries that they must uncover to bring them peace of mind and safety.
This story is touted as a romantic suspense but I felt it was more mystery because there wasn’t a lot of action. The romance was predictable and the story contained a lot of dialog that didn’t seem to pertain to the plot.
Overall, the story had an easy flow with writing that has a way of describing you into the scenes.
I received this ARC copy of Going Deep from St. Martin's Press in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication November 1, 2016.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
October 7, 2016
In the fifth book of the Alpha Ops series, Anne Calhoun follows around a Cady Ward aka Maud, a well-known singer as she returns to her hometown. She’s going to need some extra security so she hires a cop named Conn McCormick to make sure she’s safe.
I was a little surprised that Calhoun decided to take the rockstar trope. It’s not something I thought she would do but it is something different for her readers. While I liked Conn, I wasn’t completely sold on Cady’s character just because I found some part of the book to be unbelievable. If she really was as big and famous as she claims to be, wouldn’t she already have bodyguards to protect her? Why does she suddenly need Conn? I think the reasoning was a little weak but it did bring the hero and heroine together.
I’m glad Calhoun wrote this as a full length novel because although I do like the shorts, I believe her writing is much better when she has the time to explore and expand. I will say though that parts of the dialogue had be scratching my head. Sometimes I didn’t really think what the characters were saying pertained to the book or furthered it in any way so I could easily do without that and just stick to the bare bones of the story. Nevertheless, I do enjoy Calhoun’s writing style. It’s very eloquent and easy to follow.
I think this series title is a little misleading because it implies that there’s going to be a lot of action and suspense. Many readers would probably assume it’s going to be Romantic Suspense, but I would probably just categorize it as Contemporary Romance. Calhoun is known for her sexy Erotic Romances but I don’t think sex is the focus for this series. It is definitely more of a Contemporary with some fun action scenes so I would just keep that in mind while reading.
I was a little surprised that Calhoun decided to take the rockstar trope. It’s not something I thought she would do but it is something different for her readers. While I liked Conn, I wasn’t completely sold on Cady’s character just because I found some part of the book to be unbelievable. If she really was as big and famous as she claims to be, wouldn’t she already have bodyguards to protect her? Why does she suddenly need Conn? I think the reasoning was a little weak but it did bring the hero and heroine together.
I’m glad Calhoun wrote this as a full length novel because although I do like the shorts, I believe her writing is much better when she has the time to explore and expand. I will say though that parts of the dialogue had be scratching my head. Sometimes I didn’t really think what the characters were saying pertained to the book or furthered it in any way so I could easily do without that and just stick to the bare bones of the story. Nevertheless, I do enjoy Calhoun’s writing style. It’s very eloquent and easy to follow.
I think this series title is a little misleading because it implies that there’s going to be a lot of action and suspense. Many readers would probably assume it’s going to be Romantic Suspense, but I would probably just categorize it as Contemporary Romance. Calhoun is known for her sexy Erotic Romances but I don’t think sex is the focus for this series. It is definitely more of a Contemporary with some fun action scenes so I would just keep that in mind while reading.
October 16, 2016
*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ***
This book was likeable but I didn't love it. I was really annoyed by Cady's little sister Emily. Even with her young age I really disliked her behavior.
It also lacked the suspense I hoped to find. I somehow expected more of it ...
And then last ... I'm not a real big fan of Insta-Love BUT I do want to read more from this author because she writes great. I guess this book just wasn't for me...
This was the second book I read from this author. The first one was part 4 in this series with the story of Matt and Eve which I loved. So any suggestions on other books from this author are welcome!
I also loved both main characters so that with the excellent writing kept me reading.
This book was likeable but I didn't love it. I was really annoyed by Cady's little sister Emily. Even with her young age I really disliked her behavior.
It also lacked the suspense I hoped to find. I somehow expected more of it ...
And then last ... I'm not a real big fan of Insta-Love BUT I do want to read more from this author because she writes great. I guess this book just wasn't for me...
This was the second book I read from this author. The first one was part 4 in this series with the story of Matt and Eve which I loved. So any suggestions on other books from this author are welcome!
I also loved both main characters so that with the excellent writing kept me reading.
May 2, 2017
Four rock my world stars!
I think this is the best Alpha Ops book yet. When I read the first chapter of this book at the back of the last I was intrigued and when I was offered an ARC? Well I jumped at the chance.
Cady Ward (aka Maud the latest pop sensation) has just finished a nine month tour and just wants to kick back and relax in her home town of Lancaster. She's bought a new house and she just can't wait to spend time with her mother and baby sister Emily. But when an over-friendly drunk fan tries to maul Cady after her concert at Lancaster's Field Energy Centre her manager Chris insists that she get a new bodyguard, and who better than Matt Dorchester's mysterious friend who stopped the fan in his tracks?
Conn McCormick is a beat cop, reliant on his hunches he doesn't think he is material for detective or promotion, too quick-tempered and built like a brick shithouse he intimidates too many people. When a guy he arrests turns up beaten to a bloody pulp and blames Conn he knows no-one will believe he didn't do it, so when his Lieutenant gives him the job of being Cady's police bodyguard while she is home he accepts with a bad grace.
I've tagged this as thriller romance because someone appears to be trying to victimise Cady but really this is an opposites-attract romance with a leetle bit of suspense. I guessed who had been playing with Cady's mind quite early on but it didn't spoilt the story for me.
I do get tired of saying that characters are grown-ups but Conn and Cady just are adults. They talk things through, they don't fly to assumptions or go off in a huff over some imaginary slight. I just loved Conn, he felt unworthy but who wouldn't when put up against a pop princess? Cady was down-to-earth and a lovely person, I fell a bit in love with her myself.
With this book Anne Calhoun has now become a "read anything by this author" autobuy.
EDIT: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I think this is the best Alpha Ops book yet. When I read the first chapter of this book at the back of the last I was intrigued and when I was offered an ARC? Well I jumped at the chance.
Cady Ward (aka Maud the latest pop sensation) has just finished a nine month tour and just wants to kick back and relax in her home town of Lancaster. She's bought a new house and she just can't wait to spend time with her mother and baby sister Emily. But when an over-friendly drunk fan tries to maul Cady after her concert at Lancaster's Field Energy Centre her manager Chris insists that she get a new bodyguard, and who better than Matt Dorchester's mysterious friend who stopped the fan in his tracks?
Conn McCormick is a beat cop, reliant on his hunches he doesn't think he is material for detective or promotion, too quick-tempered and built like a brick shithouse he intimidates too many people. When a guy he arrests turns up beaten to a bloody pulp and blames Conn he knows no-one will believe he didn't do it, so when his Lieutenant gives him the job of being Cady's police bodyguard while she is home he accepts with a bad grace.
I've tagged this as thriller romance because someone appears to be trying to victimise Cady but really this is an opposites-attract romance with a leetle bit of suspense. I guessed who had been playing with Cady's mind quite early on but it didn't spoilt the story for me.
I do get tired of saying that characters are grown-ups but Conn and Cady just are adults. They talk things through, they don't fly to assumptions or go off in a huff over some imaginary slight. I just loved Conn, he felt unworthy but who wouldn't when put up against a pop princess? Cady was down-to-earth and a lovely person, I fell a bit in love with her myself.
With this book Anne Calhoun has now become a "read anything by this author" autobuy.
EDIT: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
November 6, 2016
3.5 stars
Going Deep was an OK read.
The writing was well done, the storyline interesting, the characters Cady and Conn were likable and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop.
Overall, Going Deep was entertaining and held my interest until the end.
I'm enjoying the An Alpha Ops series by Anne Calhoun, each book can be read as a standalone, and I highly recommend them.
My fav is still Under the Surface :)
Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.
Going Deep was an OK read.
The writing was well done, the storyline interesting, the characters Cady and Conn were likable and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop.
Overall, Going Deep was entertaining and held my interest until the end.
I'm enjoying the An Alpha Ops series by Anne Calhoun, each book can be read as a standalone, and I highly recommend them.
My fav is still Under the Surface :)
Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.
November 1, 2016
Going Deep is book five in Anne Calhoun’s Alpha Ops series and can be read as a standalone.
I liked both Cady and Conn immediately. Cady was a strong female lead who didn’t shy away from going after what she needed. And though Conn was her bodyguard and very protective of her, ultimately it was Cady who saved him in so many ways.
I really enjoyed this well written story. The characters were loveable and fully fleshed out, the storyline was interesting and the sexy times were scorching.
I liked both Cady and Conn immediately. Cady was a strong female lead who didn’t shy away from going after what she needed. And though Conn was her bodyguard and very protective of her, ultimately it was Cady who saved him in so many ways.
I really enjoyed this well written story. The characters were loveable and fully fleshed out, the storyline was interesting and the sexy times were scorching.
December 7, 2019
ARC received for review
Conn and Cady are smokin' hot from the minute they meet. He's hired to be her body man. There's someone out there messing with her. He's trying to break his dad's record on the track, and clear his name. They get a happily ever after, but there's no conclusion to getting his name cleared.
Conn and Cady are smokin' hot from the minute they meet. He's hired to be her body man. There's someone out there messing with her. He's trying to break his dad's record on the track, and clear his name. They get a happily ever after, but there's no conclusion to getting his name cleared.
June 15, 2021
Love, love, love Anne Calhoun! This was no exception.
September 19, 2016
3.5 Stars. Nice story, well written as always; with an interesting if well-worn storyline. Cady is a rising star singer just come home from tour. She is being hassled by an over-zealous fan or perhaps stalker; so the local police department assign a detective to be her bodyguard while she is in town.
Her detective/bodyguard Conn is lying low per orders of his lieutenant after an altercation during an arrest. Cady and Conn begin a relationship, and that part is nice, pure Anne Calhoun gold. Where the plotline faltered was in the handling of both Cade and Conn's storylines. Both these subplots showed promise; but neither plotline played out well. Something would just periodically happen to remind the reader that the subplots were there, and both just kind of fizzled out in the end with no real resolution.
A little disappointing that Calhoun didn't spend as much time fleshing out Conn and Cady's individual stories as she did on their relationship.
Her detective/bodyguard Conn is lying low per orders of his lieutenant after an altercation during an arrest. Cady and Conn begin a relationship, and that part is nice, pure Anne Calhoun gold. Where the plotline faltered was in the handling of both Cade and Conn's storylines. Both these subplots showed promise; but neither plotline played out well. Something would just periodically happen to remind the reader that the subplots were there, and both just kind of fizzled out in the end with no real resolution.
A little disappointing that Calhoun didn't spend as much time fleshing out Conn and Cady's individual stories as she did on their relationship.
February 5, 2017
I'm unlikely to finish this. 2 stars because I don't think it's very good and isn't going to get better.
Tl;dr - this book seems kind of dumb to me. Like it's about kind of dumb people with kind of dumb problems. Nothing is real. All of it is shallow and unrealistic. I don't care about the characters. I don't care that they're about to go to the bone zone. In fact I'm kind of grossed out by them. I don't respond to the way the author is setting up her ideas about celebrity culture, cop culture, masculinity, body image, and so on.
Longer: I used to think I really liked Anne Calhoun's work, but after a while I started to think that actually I liked just two of her books - Liberating Lacey and Uncommon Passion (aside, Uncommon Passion has a cover I find TOTALLY RIDICULOUS! In what situation is a dude going to be shirtless but have time to put on a Kevlar vest?) - and maybe they were outliers.
Things that have previously made me think "Hey... maybe you don't actually like Anne Calhoun's books?" are the frequent occurrence of EXCEEDINGLY TINY HEROINES, GIANT CONAN HEROES, CAN SOMEONE ADD A TRIGGER WARNING FOR EATING DISORDERS, and MY PARENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND ME.
All of those seem to be developing in this book:
*the heroine's in Calhoun books are generally a specific body type (short and thin and elfin-faced) which is fine, except for the fact that the heroes are then monster beefcakes. The dude in this book is 6'6" or whatever. He's a GIANT. I feel like when people make their heroes this big they don't actually know how big that is, how you don't fit in regular beds or many regular cars, how you have to buy your clothes from specialty internet retailers, how men who are this tall duck a little when going through doorways. Romance authors never ever ever write about any of this, it's only this weird fetish stand-in for "big/hot/manly". But the authors who do this tend to oversell how huuuuuuuuuge the guy is until I imagine basically Conan the Barbarian, with the thighs straining against the jeans.
*the heroine being petite and elfin and slender is cool, I am not into body shame bullshit. BUT THEN Anne Calhoun does this thing where she talks about what they eat and how they have to be careful to watch their weight. Within the first few pages of this book the heroine is thinking about how when she's touring she can eat anything she wants because performing burns so many calories and the hero is appreciatively thinking that the heroine is skin and bones. So I am not really joking, be cautious about this book (and several other Calhoun books) if you deal with disordered eating or body image stuff.
*the hero is a cop. The blurb implies that he is blindsided out of nowhere by a false claim of brutality filed against him. But then the book is like - oh also, he has a couple of other cases filed against him, he has a little bit of a reputation, and then the hero justifies the physical harm he admits he did to prior suspects in this shallow, casual way. I don't know. I just feel like, circa 2016 and the stuff that has been going on in the US about police violence against people who are being arrested, maybe the glib handling of this is not really what feels good if you're reading about this topic.
*the heroine is, I think, sort of like a short Taylor Swift? She's a pop princess who goes by "Queen Maud" (which seems odd but okay) and who wants to reinvent herself as a more serious artist? The way Calhoun writes about her performances and her work and her understanding of herself as a "brand" seems so dumb. It just feels... super duper fake. There's a lot of stuff like "Cady (her real name) scrolled through social media to interact with her fans and solidify her brand". It's like someone heard about the internet but isn't totally sure what it's about.
*the heroine immediately wants to bone the hero. She meets him pages into the book when he is working security at her concert and he keeps a random creep away from her backstage. She so immediately wants to bone him that I at first did not realize that the hero was being introduced and thought it was... some other guy who was a random character...? Confusing. It's so rushed, so unreal, so shallow. It doesn't feel organic. It feels like her outline said "Page 3: characters meet" and she had a deadline, so she forced it.
*Anne Calhoun really seems to like backstories for the characters that involve parental trauma. Here the hero had a crappy childhood and has a daddy complex and I am basically just standing by waiting for the drama about the heroine's father who left his family to emerge.
*the heroine has an annoying kid sister who is immediately annoying, from the moment she enters the book in the first chapter. It's like a plot moppet, except she's - 17? She wants to get into fashion, but their crappy dad is like "You should do pre-law instead" and then the heroine gives the spectacularly bad advice "You can always go to law school later", which makes me feel like these people live in some alternate universe where nobody worries about student loans and the legal market did not implode and it's EASY to get into a good law school.
*the heroine is being possibly stalked, and the hero is sort of blackmailed into working for her as her bodyguard. All of my information about bodyguards comes from the Whitney Houston sleepover classic THE BODYGUARD and even I was kind of "???" at each piece of information the book asserts about how bodyguards operate and how Conn (the hero) in particular will operate. Like he's going to be her only bodyguard and he's going to be on duty 24/7. I get that that's handy for the boning, but it seems like maybe it's safer to have a bodyguard who is, how do you say, awake? And why does this medium-sized-town cop even know how to do close protection? When he comes to her house he does that nonsense where he spouts some vague lingo I assume was retrieved from a JASON BOURNE movie, he's like "Gotta do a security sweep" and then he - walks around her patio? Wow, I feel so safe.
Geez, reading this, I see that I liked nothing and disliked everything. I feel like this book is dumb and I'm angry that I'm reading it. I started it after a glowing 5-star review on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, but I think it is not for me, and I really hope next time I foolishly think "But maybe I DO like Anne Calhoun books" I will remember this.
*shakes fist at dumb optimistic brain*
Tl;dr - this book seems kind of dumb to me. Like it's about kind of dumb people with kind of dumb problems. Nothing is real. All of it is shallow and unrealistic. I don't care about the characters. I don't care that they're about to go to the bone zone. In fact I'm kind of grossed out by them. I don't respond to the way the author is setting up her ideas about celebrity culture, cop culture, masculinity, body image, and so on.
Longer: I used to think I really liked Anne Calhoun's work, but after a while I started to think that actually I liked just two of her books - Liberating Lacey and Uncommon Passion (aside, Uncommon Passion has a cover I find TOTALLY RIDICULOUS! In what situation is a dude going to be shirtless but have time to put on a Kevlar vest?) - and maybe they were outliers.
Things that have previously made me think "Hey... maybe you don't actually like Anne Calhoun's books?" are the frequent occurrence of EXCEEDINGLY TINY HEROINES, GIANT CONAN HEROES, CAN SOMEONE ADD A TRIGGER WARNING FOR EATING DISORDERS, and MY PARENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND ME.
All of those seem to be developing in this book:
*the heroine's in Calhoun books are generally a specific body type (short and thin and elfin-faced) which is fine, except for the fact that the heroes are then monster beefcakes. The dude in this book is 6'6" or whatever. He's a GIANT. I feel like when people make their heroes this big they don't actually know how big that is, how you don't fit in regular beds or many regular cars, how you have to buy your clothes from specialty internet retailers, how men who are this tall duck a little when going through doorways. Romance authors never ever ever write about any of this, it's only this weird fetish stand-in for "big/hot/manly". But the authors who do this tend to oversell how huuuuuuuuuge the guy is until I imagine basically Conan the Barbarian, with the thighs straining against the jeans.
*the heroine being petite and elfin and slender is cool, I am not into body shame bullshit. BUT THEN Anne Calhoun does this thing where she talks about what they eat and how they have to be careful to watch their weight. Within the first few pages of this book the heroine is thinking about how when she's touring she can eat anything she wants because performing burns so many calories and the hero is appreciatively thinking that the heroine is skin and bones. So I am not really joking, be cautious about this book (and several other Calhoun books) if you deal with disordered eating or body image stuff.
*the hero is a cop. The blurb implies that he is blindsided out of nowhere by a false claim of brutality filed against him. But then the book is like - oh also, he has a couple of other cases filed against him, he has a little bit of a reputation, and then the hero justifies the physical harm he admits he did to prior suspects in this shallow, casual way. I don't know. I just feel like, circa 2016 and the stuff that has been going on in the US about police violence against people who are being arrested, maybe the glib handling of this is not really what feels good if you're reading about this topic.
*the heroine is, I think, sort of like a short Taylor Swift? She's a pop princess who goes by "Queen Maud" (which seems odd but okay) and who wants to reinvent herself as a more serious artist? The way Calhoun writes about her performances and her work and her understanding of herself as a "brand" seems so dumb. It just feels... super duper fake. There's a lot of stuff like "Cady (her real name) scrolled through social media to interact with her fans and solidify her brand". It's like someone heard about the internet but isn't totally sure what it's about.
*the heroine immediately wants to bone the hero. She meets him pages into the book when he is working security at her concert and he keeps a random creep away from her backstage. She so immediately wants to bone him that I at first did not realize that the hero was being introduced and thought it was... some other guy who was a random character...? Confusing. It's so rushed, so unreal, so shallow. It doesn't feel organic. It feels like her outline said "Page 3: characters meet" and she had a deadline, so she forced it.
*Anne Calhoun really seems to like backstories for the characters that involve parental trauma. Here the hero had a crappy childhood and has a daddy complex and I am basically just standing by waiting for the drama about the heroine's father who left his family to emerge.
*the heroine has an annoying kid sister who is immediately annoying, from the moment she enters the book in the first chapter. It's like a plot moppet, except she's - 17? She wants to get into fashion, but their crappy dad is like "You should do pre-law instead" and then the heroine gives the spectacularly bad advice "You can always go to law school later", which makes me feel like these people live in some alternate universe where nobody worries about student loans and the legal market did not implode and it's EASY to get into a good law school.
*the heroine is being possibly stalked, and the hero is sort of blackmailed into working for her as her bodyguard. All of my information about bodyguards comes from the Whitney Houston sleepover classic THE BODYGUARD and even I was kind of "???" at each piece of information the book asserts about how bodyguards operate and how Conn (the hero) in particular will operate. Like he's going to be her only bodyguard and he's going to be on duty 24/7. I get that that's handy for the boning, but it seems like maybe it's safer to have a bodyguard who is, how do you say, awake? And why does this medium-sized-town cop even know how to do close protection? When he comes to her house he does that nonsense where he spouts some vague lingo I assume was retrieved from a JASON BOURNE movie, he's like "Gotta do a security sweep" and then he - walks around her patio? Wow, I feel so safe.
Geez, reading this, I see that I liked nothing and disliked everything. I feel like this book is dumb and I'm angry that I'm reading it. I started it after a glowing 5-star review on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, but I think it is not for me, and I really hope next time I foolishly think "But maybe I DO like Anne Calhoun books" I will remember this.
*shakes fist at dumb optimistic brain*
May 2, 2017
I really like this series. Hot, hot romance and a mystery/suspense in each book. The books are loosely tied with characters recurring in the books, but each is definitely a standalone. "Going Deep" is no different. My only major problem with the book is Conn's failure to move on from his lousy childhood and the way it is constantly used as a crutch throughout the book. Cady also has some intense decisions to make. Does she eschew fame and fortune and follow her own path or does she sell out and make a pile of money with her second album.
Cady Ward is an emerging pop star with a successful first album and tour behind her. She has come home to Lancaster to rest and recharge and make some decisions about the future direction of her career. some strange things have been happening and her manager, Chris, arranges for her to have around the clock police protection (just accept this plot device).
Conn is a police officer who has had a really rough childhood and had finally found a family in the Lancaster Police Department. He has also been accused of brutally beating a Stryker gang member he arrested and is put on leave from duty and assigned as Cady's protection. Now, Conn is not one to take no action when he is threatened and this is one mother of a threat to his career and his very life. But he takes Cady's safety seriously especially when it appears that someone is stalking her and has entered her home. Conn's problem takes a backseat where her safety is concerned.
Cady Ward is an emerging pop star with a successful first album and tour behind her. She has come home to Lancaster to rest and recharge and make some decisions about the future direction of her career. some strange things have been happening and her manager, Chris, arranges for her to have around the clock police protection (just accept this plot device).
Conn is a police officer who has had a really rough childhood and had finally found a family in the Lancaster Police Department. He has also been accused of brutally beating a Stryker gang member he arrested and is put on leave from duty and assigned as Cady's protection. Now, Conn is not one to take no action when he is threatened and this is one mother of a threat to his career and his very life. But he takes Cady's safety seriously especially when it appears that someone is stalking her and has entered her home. Conn's problem takes a backseat where her safety is concerned.
October 27, 2016
On the surface, the pairing of this stoic, hard-ass cop and soulful, easy-going singer is unexpected. However, what they do have in common, is that they are often judged by their appearances instead of the content of their character. Conn McCormick is a hard charger. He's a pro-active officer and that occasionally gets him into trouble. He's also a guy who is values loyalty; he just has to be sure that it is not blind loyalty. Recently, he is being asked work security for Cady Ward, a breakout singer dealing with the consequences of growing fame and a hit debut album.
My favorite part of the book is reading Conn's development. I like learning about his past and how that makes him the gold-hearted, yet misunderstood, man. His pursuit of his father's record reveals the heart of his dysfunction. The awkward, bad-boy side of this character appeals to me.
If Conn is a bit on the dark side, then Cady is in the light. She is naturally optimistic, maybe it's the artist in her who can see the beauty in every day moments. But she is a nice foil for Conn. She has her own challenges in making choices for her own career.
My biggest critique is that there is a lot going on in this story and the ending is wrapped up a little too neatly. However, it is minor distraction to a good read.
My favorite part of the book is reading Conn's development. I like learning about his past and how that makes him the gold-hearted, yet misunderstood, man. His pursuit of his father's record reveals the heart of his dysfunction. The awkward, bad-boy side of this character appeals to me.
If Conn is a bit on the dark side, then Cady is in the light. She is naturally optimistic, maybe it's the artist in her who can see the beauty in every day moments. But she is a nice foil for Conn. She has her own challenges in making choices for her own career.
My biggest critique is that there is a lot going on in this story and the ending is wrapped up a little too neatly. However, it is minor distraction to a good read.
November 4, 2016
Although I enjoyed the story, Cady and Conn's characters seem to skim the surface, never going deep enough to make this a real page turner. Very little excitement or suspense! I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.
June 19, 2017
Once again Anne Calhoun has given her readers a wonderful story with great writing and unique characters.
November 3, 2016
Originally posted at Smexybooks-http://smexybooks.com/2016/11/review-...
Famous pop singer Cady Ward, Queen Maud to her fans, has come home to rest and recuperate after a long grueling tour. When an overzealous fan is able to make it backstage after her last concert, her manager demands she hire a bodyguard.
Police officer Conn McCormick has his own problems with a potential scandal that could ruin his career. His captain decides to place Conn on bodyguard detail while IA investigates his case.
Not looking for a relationship, their close proximity only fuels the flames of their chemistry and soon Cady and Conn give into their desire. But someone is messing with Cady and when Conn’s investigation reveals who the culprit is, he will have to choose his heart or his job.
Going Deep is the 5th book in Anne Calhoun’s Alpha Ops series. Each book can be read comfortably as a standalone though there is character and scene cross over from previous books. Though this is listed as a romance suspense, It is more contemporary romance with a suspenseful/mystery element running through it. The evolution of the romance takes precedence. While well written with a smooth pace, a steady stream of reveals at appropriate intervals, and the expected steamy scenes; there is a curious sense of disconnect in here. The characters and the storyline develop and progress as expected but with none the emotional intensity and sense of anticipation I usually experience while reading her books. The spark that would have brought it all to life is not in evidence. The full novel length helps evolve the storyline but not enough to save it.
The beginning introduces us to our protagonists and has a promising start. Cady is a famous musician who has come to her hometown to relax for a couple months before beginning another tour to promote a new album. Having fired her last bodyguard, she bulks at needing a new one in her hometown. When a drunk fan sneaks backstage to profess his love and a string of bad luck begins to plague her, her manager demands she hire a bodyguard. Here we meet the super sexy, super broody Conn McCormick.
Conn McCormick, a former soldier turned police officer, is a quiet self-contained man who’s being accused of assaulting a prisoner in his care. His lieutenant decides to get him out of the office and public eye while they investigate the charges brought against him. As Conn has some documented anger issues, he suspects he’s being set up. His lieutenant refuses to allow him to look into it, instead loaning him out as Cady’s bodyguard and asking him to trust the system he pledged to defend.
Calhoun spends time showcasing the contrasts between Cady and Conn and slowly introducing their compatibility. I enjoyed getting to know Cady and Conn as individuals. They seem very different on the surface yet deep down they want the same thing. Love. Respect. Commitment. Choice. Cady had a decent childhood with some mild angst while Conn was shuffled around, unwanted, from relative to relative after his deadbeat father disappeared. Cady isn’t naive but she also isn’t as jaded as one would suspect for a rockstar. She accepts the negative along with the positive aspects associated with her career choice. I liked that she while she wasn’t a pushover she also wasn’t a diva. She’s very comfortable in her own skin. Conn, on the other hand, is a mass of contradictions. A solitary figure, he is most comfortable surrounded by his brothers in blue- his family. A family that wants him, is proud of him, and will never desert him. Being accused of a crime he didn’t commit hits him on a multitude of levels. He feels betrayed and abandoned.
Where I would have expected more friction here (Cady is famous, rich, and very mobile while Conn is middle class and firmly settled in his job and the town) it’s very minimal. Every possible stumbling block is easily resolved with little to no fanfare. This couple is excruciatingly affordable. Nothing really seems to phase them. We see some raised emotions from time to time but overall they roll with the flow. Watching them come together is nice and sweet but nothing momentous. There is quite a bit of downtime as Calhoun works to put this couple on the same page together.
As Calhoun is the queen of erotically charged romances, I’d be hard pressed to find fault with the physical scenes in here but again, it’s all very circumspect. There is a faint push and pull in the beginning as Conn seeks to talk himself out of wanting anything personal with Cady but easily overrides himself at every available opportunity. Some hot and heavy love scene adds to the chemistry we feel from the beginning, they didn’t do much to solidify this as a viable romance. It has insta-love all over it and while I could see understand Conn falling for Cady-she offers him stability and family- I wasn’t sure what tipped the scales for Cady.
A cast of secondary characters flirts in and out of the storyline, adding to the suspense and mystery of behind both conflicts. No one really stood out beyond their place settings with the exception of Cady’s sister. Her scenes are some of the strongest aspects of foreshadowing I’ve seen in a long time. Calhoun excels at making her an unlikable character.
The two main conflicts set up nicely but fail in delivery and development. Calhoun seems to lose interest in them early on and they stay in the background until she pulls them out to remind us they are there. I was disappointed in the resolutions. They were flimsily constructed and their lack of development has them falling flat once we get all the facts behind them.
While Anne Calhoun remains an erotic siren whose couples and romances are a literary feast for the eyes and senses, this particular book seems to deviate from Calhoun’s usual fare and just wasn’t what I expected.
Grade: C-
Famous pop singer Cady Ward, Queen Maud to her fans, has come home to rest and recuperate after a long grueling tour. When an overzealous fan is able to make it backstage after her last concert, her manager demands she hire a bodyguard.
Police officer Conn McCormick has his own problems with a potential scandal that could ruin his career. His captain decides to place Conn on bodyguard detail while IA investigates his case.
Not looking for a relationship, their close proximity only fuels the flames of their chemistry and soon Cady and Conn give into their desire. But someone is messing with Cady and when Conn’s investigation reveals who the culprit is, he will have to choose his heart or his job.
Going Deep is the 5th book in Anne Calhoun’s Alpha Ops series. Each book can be read comfortably as a standalone though there is character and scene cross over from previous books. Though this is listed as a romance suspense, It is more contemporary romance with a suspenseful/mystery element running through it. The evolution of the romance takes precedence. While well written with a smooth pace, a steady stream of reveals at appropriate intervals, and the expected steamy scenes; there is a curious sense of disconnect in here. The characters and the storyline develop and progress as expected but with none the emotional intensity and sense of anticipation I usually experience while reading her books. The spark that would have brought it all to life is not in evidence. The full novel length helps evolve the storyline but not enough to save it.
The beginning introduces us to our protagonists and has a promising start. Cady is a famous musician who has come to her hometown to relax for a couple months before beginning another tour to promote a new album. Having fired her last bodyguard, she bulks at needing a new one in her hometown. When a drunk fan sneaks backstage to profess his love and a string of bad luck begins to plague her, her manager demands she hire a bodyguard. Here we meet the super sexy, super broody Conn McCormick.
Conn McCormick, a former soldier turned police officer, is a quiet self-contained man who’s being accused of assaulting a prisoner in his care. His lieutenant decides to get him out of the office and public eye while they investigate the charges brought against him. As Conn has some documented anger issues, he suspects he’s being set up. His lieutenant refuses to allow him to look into it, instead loaning him out as Cady’s bodyguard and asking him to trust the system he pledged to defend.
Calhoun spends time showcasing the contrasts between Cady and Conn and slowly introducing their compatibility. I enjoyed getting to know Cady and Conn as individuals. They seem very different on the surface yet deep down they want the same thing. Love. Respect. Commitment. Choice. Cady had a decent childhood with some mild angst while Conn was shuffled around, unwanted, from relative to relative after his deadbeat father disappeared. Cady isn’t naive but she also isn’t as jaded as one would suspect for a rockstar. She accepts the negative along with the positive aspects associated with her career choice. I liked that she while she wasn’t a pushover she also wasn’t a diva. She’s very comfortable in her own skin. Conn, on the other hand, is a mass of contradictions. A solitary figure, he is most comfortable surrounded by his brothers in blue- his family. A family that wants him, is proud of him, and will never desert him. Being accused of a crime he didn’t commit hits him on a multitude of levels. He feels betrayed and abandoned.
Where I would have expected more friction here (Cady is famous, rich, and very mobile while Conn is middle class and firmly settled in his job and the town) it’s very minimal. Every possible stumbling block is easily resolved with little to no fanfare. This couple is excruciatingly affordable. Nothing really seems to phase them. We see some raised emotions from time to time but overall they roll with the flow. Watching them come together is nice and sweet but nothing momentous. There is quite a bit of downtime as Calhoun works to put this couple on the same page together.
As Calhoun is the queen of erotically charged romances, I’d be hard pressed to find fault with the physical scenes in here but again, it’s all very circumspect. There is a faint push and pull in the beginning as Conn seeks to talk himself out of wanting anything personal with Cady but easily overrides himself at every available opportunity. Some hot and heavy love scene adds to the chemistry we feel from the beginning, they didn’t do much to solidify this as a viable romance. It has insta-love all over it and while I could see understand Conn falling for Cady-she offers him stability and family- I wasn’t sure what tipped the scales for Cady.
A cast of secondary characters flirts in and out of the storyline, adding to the suspense and mystery of behind both conflicts. No one really stood out beyond their place settings with the exception of Cady’s sister. Her scenes are some of the strongest aspects of foreshadowing I’ve seen in a long time. Calhoun excels at making her an unlikable character.
The two main conflicts set up nicely but fail in delivery and development. Calhoun seems to lose interest in them early on and they stay in the background until she pulls them out to remind us they are there. I was disappointed in the resolutions. They were flimsily constructed and their lack of development has them falling flat once we get all the facts behind them.
While Anne Calhoun remains an erotic siren whose couples and romances are a literary feast for the eyes and senses, this particular book seems to deviate from Calhoun’s usual fare and just wasn’t what I expected.
Grade: C-
October 30, 2016
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
I really, really enjoyed Going Deep by Anne Calhoun. It’s an excellent blend of romance and mystery, and it features a bodyguard hero, which I love. In addition, it’s pretty much free of violence, so if you’re iffy on romantic suspense because you don’t like violent themes, then this book is for you.
The characters in this book really sold the story for me. They’re nuanced and felt real and relatable. Despite being a celebrity, Cady is a real person who longs for normalcy sometimes, but acknowledges she’s given that up to achieve her dreams.
The thing I really, really loved, though, was how this book managed to have a great suspense plot with zero violence. There are references to the person Conn was accused to of assaulting, but nothing happens on stage. I’m not opposed to violence (you guys know what I read), but this is an excellent book and it’s perfect for readers who don’t want scary shit.
The mystery is well done, too. I totally thought I had figured out who was tormenting Cady and I was completely wrong. It’s always fun to be surprised.
So if you like romantic suspense, I cannot recommend Going Deep enough. If you want to like romantic suspense but can’t handle the murdery-ness, then you really, really need to get your paws on this book. I’ll certainly be checking out the previous books in this series.
- Elyse
I really, really enjoyed Going Deep by Anne Calhoun. It’s an excellent blend of romance and mystery, and it features a bodyguard hero, which I love. In addition, it’s pretty much free of violence, so if you’re iffy on romantic suspense because you don’t like violent themes, then this book is for you.
The characters in this book really sold the story for me. They’re nuanced and felt real and relatable. Despite being a celebrity, Cady is a real person who longs for normalcy sometimes, but acknowledges she’s given that up to achieve her dreams.
The thing I really, really loved, though, was how this book managed to have a great suspense plot with zero violence. There are references to the person Conn was accused to of assaulting, but nothing happens on stage. I’m not opposed to violence (you guys know what I read), but this is an excellent book and it’s perfect for readers who don’t want scary shit.
The mystery is well done, too. I totally thought I had figured out who was tormenting Cady and I was completely wrong. It’s always fun to be surprised.
So if you like romantic suspense, I cannot recommend Going Deep enough. If you want to like romantic suspense but can’t handle the murdery-ness, then you really, really need to get your paws on this book. I’ll certainly be checking out the previous books in this series.
- Elyse
December 27, 2016
***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***
This book is a romantic suspense and is action based. And, yet it isn't. While there is the action, and the tension you would expect, there is also a lot more character development than I was expecting. In some ways, this was great...but in others, it left me not entirely positive how I felt about it.
Calhoun also writes with impressive detail and is very precise in the way she tells the story, so you are not only able to follow along but you also feel like you are getting a lot deeper story than the usual for the genre.
Conn and Cady were both interesting and developed characters, which was different from a lot of romantic suspense, and it resulted in my feeling very connected to the people who were being stalked and having their jobs threatened.
I recommend this book, for the writing, the pacing and the characters. It is the 5th in the series, but it does function as a standalone.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
This book is a romantic suspense and is action based. And, yet it isn't. While there is the action, and the tension you would expect, there is also a lot more character development than I was expecting. In some ways, this was great...but in others, it left me not entirely positive how I felt about it.
Calhoun also writes with impressive detail and is very precise in the way she tells the story, so you are not only able to follow along but you also feel like you are getting a lot deeper story than the usual for the genre.
Conn and Cady were both interesting and developed characters, which was different from a lot of romantic suspense, and it resulted in my feeling very connected to the people who were being stalked and having their jobs threatened.
I recommend this book, for the writing, the pacing and the characters. It is the 5th in the series, but it does function as a standalone.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
February 10, 2020
3.5 stars
This is basically The Bodyguard, a police corruption mystery, a musician romance and a Christmas romance all wrapped together. A very satisfying romance, and despite the thriller/mystery bent, has very little physical violence in it. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Very well paced and plotted, lovely characterization, not just of the MCs but also of the secondary characters. Loved the bits about music and being true to your creativity. Can stand alone, but I enjoyed references to book 4, which I've read.
Source: the library
Trigger Warnings:
This is basically The Bodyguard, a police corruption mystery, a musician romance and a Christmas romance all wrapped together. A very satisfying romance, and despite the thriller/mystery bent, has very little physical violence in it. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Very well paced and plotted, lovely characterization, not just of the MCs but also of the secondary characters. Loved the bits about music and being true to your creativity. Can stand alone, but I enjoyed references to book 4, which I've read.
Source: the library
Trigger Warnings:
October 3, 2016
I loved Cady that girl amused me to no end, “I’ve got an idea for the song ,” she said, then did a double take. He was standing in the doorway, one shoulder braced against the frame, magnificently naked. “Do you want to cuddle?” she asked, torn." I loved Conn, the man was alpha and sexy.
February 20, 2018
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.
Originally posted on Adria's Musings and Reviews
What’s it About? Singer Cady Ward is used to dealing with the pitfalls of fame but after one too many encounters with crazy fans, her manager thinks it’s time to hire protection. In the form of Conn McCormick. He’s in the middle of a possible career ending scandal when his boss assigns him to protect Cady. Though he feels it’s a waste of his training, Conn has no choice. Then Conn starts to unravel the mystery behind the threats to Cady and suddenly he’s faced with protecting her or his career.
Overall reaction to the story? Going Deep was an entertaining read for me, it just wasn’t an overwhelmingly amazing one. The characters were nice and likable, the chemistry was there, and I had a few chuckles now and again with some of the scenes. I think that had this book been an actual romantic suspense it might have rated higher and been more memorable. I was pretty disappointed to see that yet another book in this series is called romantic suspense and yet there was no suspense to be had outside of the usual “whodunit.”
Conn and Cady were enjoyable as a couple though I found some of the reasoning behind Conn’s appearance in Cady’s life to be a bit flimsy in the believability department. I overlooked that though in favor of the way these two built a relationship in a pretty chaotic and stressful setting. It wasn’t ideal but Anne Calhoun made it work and I did believe in their romance after my initial skepticism.
Going Deep was definitely not a rom-suspense book though. It was more a contemporary romance with a dollop of suspense to add a bit of flavor. There’s nothing wrong with that but in my opinion categorizing it as a romantic suspense is misleading to readers. I was expecting a romantic suspense and was disappointed that it wasn’t. However if you’re looking for just a smidge of suspense in your romance then I say pick this book up and enjoy.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. Despite the lack of suspense, Going Deep is still a good way to pass the time.
Originally posted on Adria's Musings and Reviews
What’s it About? Singer Cady Ward is used to dealing with the pitfalls of fame but after one too many encounters with crazy fans, her manager thinks it’s time to hire protection. In the form of Conn McCormick. He’s in the middle of a possible career ending scandal when his boss assigns him to protect Cady. Though he feels it’s a waste of his training, Conn has no choice. Then Conn starts to unravel the mystery behind the threats to Cady and suddenly he’s faced with protecting her or his career.
Overall reaction to the story? Going Deep was an entertaining read for me, it just wasn’t an overwhelmingly amazing one. The characters were nice and likable, the chemistry was there, and I had a few chuckles now and again with some of the scenes. I think that had this book been an actual romantic suspense it might have rated higher and been more memorable. I was pretty disappointed to see that yet another book in this series is called romantic suspense and yet there was no suspense to be had outside of the usual “whodunit.”
Conn and Cady were enjoyable as a couple though I found some of the reasoning behind Conn’s appearance in Cady’s life to be a bit flimsy in the believability department. I overlooked that though in favor of the way these two built a relationship in a pretty chaotic and stressful setting. It wasn’t ideal but Anne Calhoun made it work and I did believe in their romance after my initial skepticism.
Going Deep was definitely not a rom-suspense book though. It was more a contemporary romance with a dollop of suspense to add a bit of flavor. There’s nothing wrong with that but in my opinion categorizing it as a romantic suspense is misleading to readers. I was expecting a romantic suspense and was disappointed that it wasn’t. However if you’re looking for just a smidge of suspense in your romance then I say pick this book up and enjoy.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. Despite the lack of suspense, Going Deep is still a good way to pass the time.
June 8, 2017
I struggled with this book; from the beginning I had difficulty getting into it. I struggled to even finish the book which is why it took me longer than normal to even get through it.
The story had so much potential, but it truly dragged on. As another reviewer stated, the book truly lacked any suspense. While the "who did it" was not immediately known (which I appreciated it), it was a very slow time in getting us to find out who actually did it. And the worst thing that was happening really wasn't all that terrible to begin with (no real danger).
I thought Cady and Conn fell into bed way too quick. I wanted the sexual tension to draw out for a little while...you know more than a few hours. After that though it was just like reading bits and pieces of their daily lives. BORING.
That said, the ending felt very unfinished. There was no real closure to Conn's job issues. I would have loved to read an epilogue about how Conn handled the crazy obsessed fans in the future. And did he find that Maud changed who Cady was when she was on tour? And what about the next album? We're given a little hope but again no closure.
** ARC received from Netgalley **
The story had so much potential, but it truly dragged on. As another reviewer stated, the book truly lacked any suspense. While the "who did it" was not immediately known (which I appreciated it), it was a very slow time in getting us to find out who actually did it. And the worst thing that was happening really wasn't all that terrible to begin with (no real danger).
I thought Cady and Conn fell into bed way too quick. I wanted the sexual tension to draw out for a little while...you know more than a few hours. After that though it was just like reading bits and pieces of their daily lives. BORING.
That said, the ending felt very unfinished. There was no real closure to Conn's job issues. I would have loved to read an epilogue about how Conn handled the crazy obsessed fans in the future. And did he find that Maud changed who Cady was when she was on tour? And what about the next album? We're given a little hope but again no closure.
** ARC received from Netgalley **
October 30, 2016
3.5 stars
about the book: Release Date: November 1, 2016
SHE’LL ROCK HIS WORLD
After weeks on a sold-out tour, singer Cady Ward is coming home for the holidays. But after one too many episodes of fan-craziness, Cady’s manager decides that she needs protection—in the form of muscled cop Conn McCormick. Longing for peace and quiet to prepare before her next album drops, Cady doesn’t need a bodyguard just to deal with some vague email threats…though she can’t deny that close proximity to Conn’s body is a very nice place to be.
Conn is in the midst of a career scandal when his boss assigns him to pop-star guard duty. It’s a poor use of his skills, even though Cady’s feisty nature proves the perfect distraction for Conn while Internal Affairs investigates his case. What begins as a sizzling attraction becomes something deeper than either Conn or Cady could have expected. But when Conn uncovers the sinister plan behind the threats to Cady, he’s faced with a professional dilemma: To save her life, will he risk having a future with the only woman who’s ever touched his soul?
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.5 stars---GOING DEEP is the fifth instalment in Anne Calhoun's contemporary, adult ALPHA OPS erotic, romantic suspense series. This is twenty five year old pop star Cady "Maud" Ward, and police officer/ part time security guard Conn McCormick's story line. GOING DEEP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed were necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Cady and Conn) GOING DEEP focuses on the threats against our story line heroine. Cady Ward is a pop star professionally known as 'Maud when a recent series of email threats, and an over zealous fan spark concern for Cady's safety. Enter police officer Conn McCormick who is assigned as Cady's full-time, 24/7 live-in security. Conn is on leave while an investigation looks into the accusations against Conn of assault on a suspect. What ensues is the building relationship between Conn and Cady, and Conn's need to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love.
GOING DEEP follows two paths of investigation: the search for the people responsible for the threats against our story line heroine; and Conn's own investigation into the assault allegations he knows not to be true. The relationship between Cady and Conn begins as a working arrangement but quickly develops into something more. Conn believes he is not relationship material, and Cady agrees to a friends with benefits association-for now. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense-who doesn't love a great shower $ex scene.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Detective Matt Dorchester and the love of his life Eve Webber (Under the Surface #4), as well as the introduction of Cady's manager Chris Wellendorf who has an attraction for Eve's co-worker Natalie; Conn's friend and auto mechanic Shane McCool; Shane's nephew Finn; and Cady's self-centred and immature younger sister Emily Ward. Seventeen year old Emily struggles with her place in her sister's new-found fame, and Cady is quick to defend her sister's actions. There are also a large number of fellow police officers who work with and against our story line hero; and Eve's bouncer Cesar at 'Eye Candy' who offers some information about the accusations against Officer McCormick.
GOING DEEP is a romantic, suspense story line that lacked a little in the suspense department. I guessed the source of the 'threats' immediately although the investigation never once looked in that particular direction. The accusations against Conn McCormick never amounted to much, and in the end, the revelations were a bit of a let down, hard to believe and a slightly convoluted. There are always dirty cops in each jurisdiction. The premise is engaging; the characters are animated and energetic ; the romance sexy and hot.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
about the book: Release Date: November 1, 2016
SHE’LL ROCK HIS WORLD
After weeks on a sold-out tour, singer Cady Ward is coming home for the holidays. But after one too many episodes of fan-craziness, Cady’s manager decides that she needs protection—in the form of muscled cop Conn McCormick. Longing for peace and quiet to prepare before her next album drops, Cady doesn’t need a bodyguard just to deal with some vague email threats…though she can’t deny that close proximity to Conn’s body is a very nice place to be.
Conn is in the midst of a career scandal when his boss assigns him to pop-star guard duty. It’s a poor use of his skills, even though Cady’s feisty nature proves the perfect distraction for Conn while Internal Affairs investigates his case. What begins as a sizzling attraction becomes something deeper than either Conn or Cady could have expected. But when Conn uncovers the sinister plan behind the threats to Cady, he’s faced with a professional dilemma: To save her life, will he risk having a future with the only woman who’s ever touched his soul?
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.5 stars---GOING DEEP is the fifth instalment in Anne Calhoun's contemporary, adult ALPHA OPS erotic, romantic suspense series. This is twenty five year old pop star Cady "Maud" Ward, and police officer/ part time security guard Conn McCormick's story line. GOING DEEP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed were necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Cady and Conn) GOING DEEP focuses on the threats against our story line heroine. Cady Ward is a pop star professionally known as 'Maud when a recent series of email threats, and an over zealous fan spark concern for Cady's safety. Enter police officer Conn McCormick who is assigned as Cady's full-time, 24/7 live-in security. Conn is on leave while an investigation looks into the accusations against Conn of assault on a suspect. What ensues is the building relationship between Conn and Cady, and Conn's need to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love.
GOING DEEP follows two paths of investigation: the search for the people responsible for the threats against our story line heroine; and Conn's own investigation into the assault allegations he knows not to be true. The relationship between Cady and Conn begins as a working arrangement but quickly develops into something more. Conn believes he is not relationship material, and Cady agrees to a friends with benefits association-for now. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense-who doesn't love a great shower $ex scene.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Detective Matt Dorchester and the love of his life Eve Webber (Under the Surface #4), as well as the introduction of Cady's manager Chris Wellendorf who has an attraction for Eve's co-worker Natalie; Conn's friend and auto mechanic Shane McCool; Shane's nephew Finn; and Cady's self-centred and immature younger sister Emily Ward. Seventeen year old Emily struggles with her place in her sister's new-found fame, and Cady is quick to defend her sister's actions. There are also a large number of fellow police officers who work with and against our story line hero; and Eve's bouncer Cesar at 'Eye Candy' who offers some information about the accusations against Officer McCormick.
GOING DEEP is a romantic, suspense story line that lacked a little in the suspense department. I guessed the source of the 'threats' immediately although the investigation never once looked in that particular direction. The accusations against Conn McCormick never amounted to much, and in the end, the revelations were a bit of a let down, hard to believe and a slightly convoluted. There are always dirty cops in each jurisdiction. The premise is engaging; the characters are animated and energetic ; the romance sexy and hot.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
October 31, 2016
An enjoyable sexy romance, a nice variation on the bodyguard theme…
This is the fifth book in the Alpha Ops series that can be read as a stand-alone.
Superstar Cady Ward, known as Queen Maud on stage, is home for the holidays after an exhausting performance tour. She’s paid her dues in the music industry, finally making it big but for how long is always the question in this business, you’re hot so long as your next album is hot. Cady needs time out of the limelight to consider the direction of her career which bothers her, write new songs plus spend quality time with family and friends. Her manager, worried about security after a crazed fan sneaks on the set of a local concert arranges for round the clock protection with the local police and Cady is not happy about it. Though there have been email threats, as she sings under an alias, Cady feels the extra protection is not necessary at home until she meets the sexy cop she’d noticed earlier who has been assigned to her, she cannot deny the lustful attraction she feels for him so this might be interesting.
Learning of charges being brought against him by a man he recently arrested Conn McCormick is given no choice by his boss when he’s assigned to protect the town’s resident pop-star, it’s either that or desk duty while the department investigates the allegations. Guard duty is so not his thing and the fact that he’s attracted to the woman can only lead to problems but the assignment will keep him out of the spotlight and distract him from going rogue on his own case. Protecting the sexy, feisty singer is not what Conn expected but then she’s not the typical superstar in the gossip pages, she’s an intriguing woman who rapidly captures Conn’s attention and brings out his protectiveness.
This story is more romance than romantic suspense as the series title would lead you to believe. The emphasis is on the blossoming relationship between Cady and Connor that began as a needed bout of lust to relieve frustration between two people with strong chemistry sharing a space and the connection that that sex unexpectedly brought them. Though there are two mysteries to be solved, who is out to harm Cady and who is framing Conn, the story is more of a psychological piece, the characters learning about each other, evaluating the lives they’ve led to date, the issues from the past that define them and the growth that comes from meeting that person who gives you pause, the desire for more and whether it’s even possible or deserved. I enjoyed learning about these two as their history was unraveled for the reader, these characters had emotional depth; they were down to earth people with relatable flaws and vulnerabilities. The supporting cast was interesting and surprising at times. Though slow in spots, overall this was quite an enjoyable sexy romance, a nice variation on the bodyguard theme.
An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.
4.5 stars
This is the fifth book in the Alpha Ops series that can be read as a stand-alone.
Superstar Cady Ward, known as Queen Maud on stage, is home for the holidays after an exhausting performance tour. She’s paid her dues in the music industry, finally making it big but for how long is always the question in this business, you’re hot so long as your next album is hot. Cady needs time out of the limelight to consider the direction of her career which bothers her, write new songs plus spend quality time with family and friends. Her manager, worried about security after a crazed fan sneaks on the set of a local concert arranges for round the clock protection with the local police and Cady is not happy about it. Though there have been email threats, as she sings under an alias, Cady feels the extra protection is not necessary at home until she meets the sexy cop she’d noticed earlier who has been assigned to her, she cannot deny the lustful attraction she feels for him so this might be interesting.
Learning of charges being brought against him by a man he recently arrested Conn McCormick is given no choice by his boss when he’s assigned to protect the town’s resident pop-star, it’s either that or desk duty while the department investigates the allegations. Guard duty is so not his thing and the fact that he’s attracted to the woman can only lead to problems but the assignment will keep him out of the spotlight and distract him from going rogue on his own case. Protecting the sexy, feisty singer is not what Conn expected but then she’s not the typical superstar in the gossip pages, she’s an intriguing woman who rapidly captures Conn’s attention and brings out his protectiveness.
This story is more romance than romantic suspense as the series title would lead you to believe. The emphasis is on the blossoming relationship between Cady and Connor that began as a needed bout of lust to relieve frustration between two people with strong chemistry sharing a space and the connection that that sex unexpectedly brought them. Though there are two mysteries to be solved, who is out to harm Cady and who is framing Conn, the story is more of a psychological piece, the characters learning about each other, evaluating the lives they’ve led to date, the issues from the past that define them and the growth that comes from meeting that person who gives you pause, the desire for more and whether it’s even possible or deserved. I enjoyed learning about these two as their history was unraveled for the reader, these characters had emotional depth; they were down to earth people with relatable flaws and vulnerabilities. The supporting cast was interesting and surprising at times. Though slow in spots, overall this was quite an enjoyable sexy romance, a nice variation on the bodyguard theme.
An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.
4.5 stars
November 3, 2016
I am not a fan of the rock star trope, which means there has to be a compelling reason for me to want to read a book with such a story-line. In this case, the law enforcement/suspense angle was what interested me, plus I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series, so I figured why not.
Cady Ward has returned home for some rest and relaxation after months on tour and part of coming home is that she needs some space to figure out what direction she wants her career to go, but a fan's crazy antics provide her manager with the perfect excuse to get her some personal security. Not that she's complaining or anything because her bodyguard is all sorts of hot.
Police officer Conn McCormick in trouble at work and needs to keep a low profile while the department investigates and the security gig, while not exactly exciting is what he needs at the moment.
This book started out very well for me in part because of Cady and Conn. Cady was very far from a diva, but was very assertive about what she wanted, which I liked. But while she was smart and knew when to yield to Conn's expertise in keeping her safe, she was also stubborn in her refusal to give him full control in determining the best ways to do so. Conn, for the most part was the strong and silent kind and his past shows why he was who he was.
Cady and Conn were a very unlikely pair, but they were perfect for each other. Cady pulled Conn back from the edge and Conn made sure Cady had what she needed to succeed, even if it got him in trouble with her.
The end of this book was something of a letdown for me. After all the drama and suspense of the previous book, I expected more of the same here. While the beginning looked like it would live up to that promise, it didn't end that way. The story was slow, the suspense turned out to be nothing and what I got was a case of annoyance at a teenage girl who felt entitled and thought the world owed her everything.
This is only the second book I've read by Ms. Calhoun, so I don't have a lot to compare this to, but I like how she takes the time to flesh out her characters, even to the point of adding details that are unrelated to the story, but which give readers a better understanding of the characters and what drives them. That may actually be my favorite thing about this book.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Cady Ward has returned home for some rest and relaxation after months on tour and part of coming home is that she needs some space to figure out what direction she wants her career to go, but a fan's crazy antics provide her manager with the perfect excuse to get her some personal security. Not that she's complaining or anything because her bodyguard is all sorts of hot.
Police officer Conn McCormick in trouble at work and needs to keep a low profile while the department investigates and the security gig, while not exactly exciting is what he needs at the moment.
This book started out very well for me in part because of Cady and Conn. Cady was very far from a diva, but was very assertive about what she wanted, which I liked. But while she was smart and knew when to yield to Conn's expertise in keeping her safe, she was also stubborn in her refusal to give him full control in determining the best ways to do so. Conn, for the most part was the strong and silent kind and his past shows why he was who he was.
Cady and Conn were a very unlikely pair, but they were perfect for each other. Cady pulled Conn back from the edge and Conn made sure Cady had what she needed to succeed, even if it got him in trouble with her.
The end of this book was something of a letdown for me. After all the drama and suspense of the previous book, I expected more of the same here. While the beginning looked like it would live up to that promise, it didn't end that way. The story was slow, the suspense turned out to be nothing and what I got was a case of annoyance at a teenage girl who felt entitled and thought the world owed her everything.
This is only the second book I've read by Ms. Calhoun, so I don't have a lot to compare this to, but I like how she takes the time to flesh out her characters, even to the point of adding details that are unrelated to the story, but which give readers a better understanding of the characters and what drives them. That may actually be my favorite thing about this book.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
Like my page on Facebook.
September 22, 2016
My standing weakness for Anne Calhoun’s writing isn’t exactly a state secret, but good language and the beauty of precision and pacing can make or break a story for me. ‘Going Deep’ isn’t any different from the rest of Calhoun’s Alpha Ops books: slow-going and rather predictable with her stories reading more like a meditative character study than an action film straining at the edges to burst free into explosions and non-stop action.
And that is in itself, unusual enough for me to slow down and savour the descriptive and very introspective story of a bodyguard assigned to an up and coming pop singer whose several weeks of hiatus will change everything they know of each other.
I had however, expected more action and suspense and thought that the ending was an anti-climax when we were given a cursory resolution of the so-called mystery and Conn’s own conflict at work, which somewhat curtailed my enjoyment of the book.
But perhaps what really appeals and what I remember most after the last page is turned-and this is admittedly not for those who want a healthy mix of action and steam—is how Calhoun cracks open her characters, and displays them at their rawest and most vulnerable. More surprisingly though, it’s not during sex when that happens, even if these scenes are more erotic than dirty.
I liked Conn and Cady immediately; they are characters who don’t seem to play the usual games, are strangely honest with with each other minus the usual issues that flare so brightly until one hurts the other unspeakably and needs to grovel for the damage done. Instead, there’s a sort of melancholy stamped into both of them, and whose attraction to each other somehow seem natural—like a long-forgotten spark, a connection that’s rare but to be cherished for the moment—, which I find all the more remarkable for a pair as mismatched as Cady and Conn.
Throughout the book there’s this constant moody lyricism that calls into the question of home, that elusive something that Cady and Conn both can’t seem to find in their own respective lives. Calhoun expounds this yearning as excellently as she did in the first book of this series, leaving an ending that's bittersweet, like the closing of a chapter without a glimpse of how their new path together would go, while leaving me wanting more of their lives together in the future.
*ARC by netgalley
(always grateful, mind)
And that is in itself, unusual enough for me to slow down and savour the descriptive and very introspective story of a bodyguard assigned to an up and coming pop singer whose several weeks of hiatus will change everything they know of each other.
I had however, expected more action and suspense and thought that the ending was an anti-climax when we were given a cursory resolution of the so-called mystery and Conn’s own conflict at work, which somewhat curtailed my enjoyment of the book.
But perhaps what really appeals and what I remember most after the last page is turned-and this is admittedly not for those who want a healthy mix of action and steam—is how Calhoun cracks open her characters, and displays them at their rawest and most vulnerable. More surprisingly though, it’s not during sex when that happens, even if these scenes are more erotic than dirty.
I liked Conn and Cady immediately; they are characters who don’t seem to play the usual games, are strangely honest with with each other minus the usual issues that flare so brightly until one hurts the other unspeakably and needs to grovel for the damage done. Instead, there’s a sort of melancholy stamped into both of them, and whose attraction to each other somehow seem natural—like a long-forgotten spark, a connection that’s rare but to be cherished for the moment—, which I find all the more remarkable for a pair as mismatched as Cady and Conn.
Throughout the book there’s this constant moody lyricism that calls into the question of home, that elusive something that Cady and Conn both can’t seem to find in their own respective lives. Calhoun expounds this yearning as excellently as she did in the first book of this series, leaving an ending that's bittersweet, like the closing of a chapter without a glimpse of how their new path together would go, while leaving me wanting more of their lives together in the future.
*ARC by netgalley
(always grateful, mind)
October 29, 2016
An awesome read! Not a new story but it is very well done and very enjoyable to read. The characters are great and well developed with a nice pace to the story. This was a little more steamy than action packed but it did have it's suspense filled moments.
Cady Ward is looking for a little quiet down time as she takes a break from her hectic touring schedule. Being home for the holidays should be just what she needs but because of the fan craziness that surrounds her she has a bodyguard thrust upon her for the duration of her break. That bodyguard Conn McCormick has had some trouble in recent times and isn't that excited about babysitting the pop star but one look at Cady and he can't deny the crazy intense attraction. Keeping her safe is now is number one goal. Especially when he discovers a real threat looming against her. What will he have to give up to keep her safe??
Definitely a recommended read.
Cady Ward is looking for a little quiet down time as she takes a break from her hectic touring schedule. Being home for the holidays should be just what she needs but because of the fan craziness that surrounds her she has a bodyguard thrust upon her for the duration of her break. That bodyguard Conn McCormick has had some trouble in recent times and isn't that excited about babysitting the pop star but one look at Cady and he can't deny the crazy intense attraction. Keeping her safe is now is number one goal. Especially when he discovers a real threat looming against her. What will he have to give up to keep her safe??
Definitely a recommended read.
February 4, 2017
1.5 stars - Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
A very meh/blah read for me.
A very meh/blah read for me.
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