Willing Target

by Kathleen Mix

The last thing covert operative Mitch Weaver wants is to be partnered with a gorgeous, reckless newbie. Still reeling from the death of his former partner, Mitch doesn't need the responsibility of keeping anyone else alive, especially when they volunteer to be a killer's target. Not to mention, his attraction to the too-perky blonde is the kind of distraction that could get them both killed in their line of work. Andrea Carnegie's first assignment isn't going quite as she planned. Her partner might be sexy but he's completely frustrating with his determination to keep her out of danger. Masquerading as a billionaire's sister to bait a possible killer is her chance to shine. But if she wants to catch the person threatening their client, she'll have to find a way to work together with Mitch while still keeping her distance. Even as the air between them sizzles, Andrea knows the worst possible thing she could do is fall for her partner.

Genres: Romantic Suspense

300 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2016

About the author

Kathleen Mix writes stories with a thrilling mix of romance and suspense.
She took an indirect route to becoming an author. After her three sons started school, she returned to college and earned a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. Working as a software engineer, she consulted on applications ranging from submarine combat systems to biological research databases.
Weekends and vacations were always reserved for boating. And as an avid sailor and licensed charter boat captain, the itch to sail away into the sunset soon became too strong to resist. She and her husband moved aboard their sailboat and headed south. By the time they reached the Caribbean, they were hooked on a cruising life. Since then, Kathleen has spend many years roaming the U.S. coastline, exploring the Bahamas, and enjoying the tropical islands of the Caribbean and the coastal countries of South America.
She began her writing career with non-fiction sailing and travel articles. But she was sailing to lush, exotic islands under starry skies and walking on the most beautiful, white-sand beaches in the world. She started imagining stories of romance and adventure and turned to writing romantic suspense.
Kathleen now sails on Chesapeake Bay. But her heart remains far away in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. For her thoughts on life and books, follow her blog at http://kathleenmix.wordpress.com or to read excerpts from her books, visit her website at http://www.kathleenmix.com

Reviews

[C.M. McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in one sitting.

Andrea's an operative in training, but when a billionaire's sister gets a credible death threat, Andrea, who's the spitting image of the socialite, gets shoved into duty. Now she's undercover as a pampered girl. The plan is simple: the assassins will go for Andrea instead of the rich girl, and the other operatives will arrest the bad guys before they kill her. Andrea SHOULD be focused on her mission, but that partner of hers is...well...sexy as hell. He's also damaged goods and no matter how attracted he is to Andrea, he won't go for her. He has to protect her, and that's his only focus. (His last partner was killed in the line of duty, and there's no way he'll let that happen again)

Told in dual POV, this was a delightful story, and I really loved the Miss Congeniality thing that Andrea had going on. I'll admit, the romantic climax left me misty-eyed and with a lump in my throat. That doesn't happen very often as I usually find genre romance too predictable. There was something about Andrea's character that really got under my skin, though. Maybe it was because she's a small female trying to prove herself in a male-dominated career (I can relate). Whatever the reason, I absolutely loved her.

I think readers who liked SOMETHING ABOUT YOU (FBI/US Attorney #1) by Julie James will like the dynamic in WILING TARGET, which also features two agents who don’t really want to work together, yet sparks fly when they do. :-) <3

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first: I received this book through NetGalley.
I really recommend it.

I finished this book today and I have to say that I loved it way more than I expected.
In the beginning, until the middle of the book, I wasn't really sold on anything, I loved the whole idea behind it, but I just couldn't really connect with the characters. But oh boy, that changed a lot in the second half.

The mix between romance and the case work was perfect. Loved it.
The pace of the romance was very well done, until the end. There were some things happening at the end, that just felt rushed and just happened too quickly, for me personally. But I love these two idiots, so I'm kinda okay with it.

Also, I REALLY love the whole setting. Just give me all the stories about covert operations (seriously, if you know an amazing story that's about stuff like that, it doesn't have to involve romance.).

The writing was really great and overall it was a really fast read that kept me entertained until the end.

[Ashley N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willing Target by Kathleen Mix has a promising premise and setup. I'm usually down with romantic suspense involving covert ops, and the cover blurb was intriguing. The technical aspect of the writing is sound. What didn't work for me was the pacing, plot development, and characterization of the heroine. I would categorize this book as very "light" romantic suspense. Good setup, poor execution. The plot unfolded so, so slowly, with very little action. I didn't feel any real sense of danger or suspense. Any information that moved the plot along suddenly appeared, rather than evolving naturally. My interest waned, and I struggled to stay at all invested.
On the character side, the initial setup and background on the hero/heroine was detailed and provided good info for their motivations, etc. As the story progressed, inconsistencies in Andrea's character were distracting for me, and I just didn't like her. She vacillates between strong agent, timid girl, and bitter woman. In one scene she's eager to please and goes along with everything, then the next scene she makes rogue, really dumb decisions. She repeatedly purposely ignored pertinent information, coming very close to TSTL territory. I understand her character is on her first mission, and is trying to figure it all out, plus impress her supervisors, but I wish she had been smarter. Andrea's family is set up as a very negative influence in her life, the reason for her distrust of men, but we never meet them to see for ourselves. We have to rely on her telling instead of showing, which was another crutch device throughout the book. The hero Weaver was ok, but nothing about him made him stand out, and his condescension of Andrea was unappealing. No significant character development for any of the supporting players. There was potential with the real Karli, and I was disappointed that there was no re-visit with her at the end.
For a suspense book, the plot was very simple. All the details were telegraphed or flat out given away. My first (early) guess at the "bad guy" was ultimately correct. One slight twist about two thirds in was a surprise that got my attention, but it wasn't enough to save this book for me. I wish the author had dug deeper.
The romance was, sadly, as boring as the plot. Not enough time or interaction to make it plausible or authentic. I did not feel any heat or chemistry. The insta-love at the end had me literally saying blah.
I really like the vibe of the cover, it's sexy and draws me in. Unfortunately, this book did not. If I had checked this out from the library, I likely would have DNF'd - had to push to finish it. 2-2.5 stars.

*ARC received from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamie Kline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book. A sexy mix of romance and suspense is just what I was looking for. Unfortunately, this missed pretty much all of the marks for me and left me incredibly disappointed.

Mitch is a seasoned Ranger who very recently lost his partner under tragic circumstances, so he's understandably dealing with grief and self-doubt. Andrea, on the other hand, is new to the Rangers and unproven. When she gets the chance to work on a real case (albeit one where she basically acts as bait and no one expects her to do anything), she jumps at the opportunity. "Great!" I thought to myself. "We're going to go on this adventure with an independent, strong woman protagonist and it's going to be an awesome read." Even after halfway I was still hoping it might turn itself around. Can you guess what happened?

If you're wondering if I finished the book, of course I did! I'm not quitter...most of the time. Let's focus first on what I liked about this novel, which (spoiler alert) will be a shorter list than what I didn't like.

The overall plot seemed, in theory, to be interesting and held the promise of suspense. The character of Mitch was a bright spot in this book, although he had his moments of dumb too. Mostly he was very much a gentleman and it was understandable that he was so hellbent on keeping Andrea safe. I mean, Andrea knew what she signed up for, she knew it was going to be dangerous. He probably could have loosened the reins a LITTLE, but considering the death of his partner I couldn't really blame him. So...that's about it for positives.

Andrea killed this book. No, seriously. Check out my Goodreads updates I made while reading Willing Target. I kept waiting for her to redeem herself, have just a moment of self-inflection where she realized she was acting like a moron. Here are some of her offenses:

1). Started lusting after a guy, the Rangers' client, while dressed up as his sister. Andrea's whole job is to pretend to be the client, Dillon Stone's, sister because she looks so much like her. And then she's worried that something might happen between them. Eww, really? There is more to this story, but to avoid spoilers let's just all agree that based on what she knew at the time, this was weird.

2). In the midst of trying to be a convincing stand in for Dillon's sister, she hears loud noises coming from outside and rushes to investigate. Yes, she is part of this job, but her job is to be Karli Stone, not botch the thing for everyone involved. I highly doubt a socialite would go running toward danger when someone has threatened her life, but Andrea will be damned if someone steals the spotlight from her. She wants, no NEEDS, to be a real Ranger. And so, instead of being smart, she runs right in and risks her life and her teammates because she wants to be the one to take down the bad guys. Good job. *slow clap*

3). Mentally accuses Mitch of not treating her like a "capable ranger" because she's a woman. Um...based on what they've seen of her "skills" so far, she hasn't proven in any way, shape, or form that she is a dependable member of the team.

4). More stuff related to Dillon and lust. And OMG what are you even doing?

5). I don't think this is going to be a huge spoiler, since this is a romantic suspense novel and the two main characters do usually hook up at some point, but Andrea and Mitch have sex several times. Ok, cool, nothing wrong there (although he seriously needs his head examined, not sure what about her he's attracted to except her looks - that must be it). This whole novel she bemoans the fact that no one's taking her seriously, she wants to be a Ranger and have this awesome career, yadda yadda. Then she goes and has unprotected sex! With a guy she's only known a couple weeks. And it wasn't just once, in the heat of the moment. It was several times! I'm all for career women having babies, I mean go for it, but I know it takes sacrifices. But in Andrea and Mitch's line of work, seriously, how do you think a baby would fit into those plans if both mom and dad were both traveling around on insanely dangerous missions? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

I feel like the stereotypical basic white girl when I talk about Andrea, she just makes me so furious. I. CAN'T. EVEN.

Holy shit, where even am I now. Okay, so the suspense. Or more accurately, what suspense? The premise set the tone for there to be serious moments of edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting moments, but there honestly weren't any. One moment toward the beginning was I guess as close as you could come to saying, "Wow, I was worried there for a second." But then again, it was the beginning of the book so it was pretty clear the protagonists were going to come away mostly unscathed. The rest was just kind of slow and uneventful.

I really wanted to like this book. Romantic suspense was one of my first loves when I ventured out of the young adult and into adult fiction novels. Of course that means I've seen it done right, and I've seen it done wrong, and this was just plain disappointing. However, if you are looking for more of a light romance, you might find this book entertaining...that is if you aren't busy mentally strangling Andrea.

[April Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea's an operative in training , wanting to prove herself as a covert operative and make it out of of training and on to exciting cases but things take a turn. She is thrust into this case where she pretends she is a billionaire’s sister who has received a death threat. Why, you ask? She looks just like, exactly like the socialite so off she goes to play this girl while the tension between her and her partner, Mitch, skyrockets. He sees her as a liability yet he is so sexy and hot. He sees her as damaged and not worth being on this case for he would have to protect her because she is not a full agent yet well, that grates on Andrea and she is bound to show him different. The tension makes for some hot action and sexual tension. On top of trying to figure out who is trying to kill the billionaire’s sister. There is more to that than meets the eye. There is twists and turns before the ending of the book. I liked the HFN ending but I would have like a more resolute ending so I would know how they eventually ended up. Overall, this has a nice mystery/action/suspense/romance angle to it and I would be interested to see what the author has next out.

My rating: 4.0 stars ****
**I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced adventure novel with a steamy romance between a true hero and heroine.

Andrea is a new recruit to a high end security company, who is sent to impersonate the threatened sister of a billionaire. Mitch is a more senior agent, who has recently lost his partner and is not eager to go on assignment with an inexperienced agent. Andrea is a brilliant character, who is fearless in the face of danger and eager to prove that she can do what any man can do especially given the fact that her four brothers and father terrorize her for essentially being a girl. Mitch is the consummate gentleman, who appreciates Andrea's strength and bravery but cannot understand her need sometimes reckless to prove herself and her skills.

The story does have surprises and twists with limited danger until the end, but the story is well-crafted with some twists unrelated to the villain (who is fairly easy to guess).

This was a great read with characters so likable that I wish there was a follow-up to describe the next chapter in their story. Mitch and Andrea seem like the perfect modern day agent couple not unlike Jonathan and Jennifer from Hart to Hart.

[Anima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just what I needed was a smart adventure with intelligent characters and an exciting story line. Andrea is the new probationary Ranger working as the doppelganger for a wealthy woman being threatened. Her personality is likable and commentary about her NFL playing brothers is quite comical but yet disturbing. She is sharp as a tack and strong as an ox. Her boss and partner, Mitch, comes with a little baggage that makes him slightly more protective than normal. He understands Andrea as an equal but also recognizes her needs are not a weakness. Mix is a fantastic writer with stories that are edgy, smart and sexy. I look forward to more. My copy was given through Netgalley for my honest review.

[Dana Salinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the plot of this one! Good sexual tension, interesting plot outside of the romance, good romance. Enjoyed this read.

[Elizabeth Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**

Andrea, overshadowed by her older brothers, two of which are in the NFL, and her Dad, Coach Buck, just wants to make her own mark in the world, one completely separate from her family and to have someone see her, Andrea, not a bridge to meeting her famous family. She spent her childhood years idolizing her brothers, striving to be good enough to merit attention from them or their father, and instead was subjected to ridicule and mocking nicknames. Due to living with a Dad that openly cheated on her Mom, who eventually left him because of it, believing it was his right to do so, and three older brothers that gleefully discussed, in detail, all of their conquests, Andrea understandably has a skewed view of men and their behavior. Although she's still on probation, she's hoping to become a full-fledged Ranger at Airlandsea Security. When she's unexpectedly given an assignment, she knows it'll bring her closer to her goal. It seems Dillon Stone, CEO of Stone Industries, is dealing with threats due to a merger and some are specifically targeting his beloved sister, Karli, a woman that bears a striking resemblance to Andrea.

Mitch is intent on enjoying his first day off after a seven month long undercover assignment in Colombia. His first order of business is to pick up his brand new car. Something that no one else has owned, nor maybe even been in, as he's had enough of living with hand-me-downs thanks to being the middle child. He's also struggling with adapting to being himself again after playing someone else for so long, not to mention the grief of losing his partner and close friend, Steve, is still there. However, Mitch's plans change when his employer, Airlandsea Security, albeit a different branch as Andrea, calls, cancelling his day off due to a new assignment.

When Mitch and Andrea, along with two other company employees begin their new mission, it takes some adjusting as they're surrounded by the epitome of luxury as they help keep Andrea, as she imitates Karli, safe. For Andrea, she has to become another person and cannot deviate from that role until she's alone or with the select few who know the truth. At first Mitch is unsure of Andrea's skills and abilities to complete this assignment, yet he quickly learns there's more to her than appears. It also appears his attraction for her is reciprocated, but both are wary of commitment. For Andrea, she's understandably hesitant to trust all men, thanks to her family and their actions, but there's something about Mitch that makes her believe she can trust him. Mitch is determined to avoid commitment as he saw how devastating it can be losing the one you love after witnessing the pain his Dad suffered upon his Mom's tragic death.

Can Mitch and Andrea complete their mission and uncover who's responsible for the threats against Karli? Are the threats to Dillon and Karli more personal than professional? Will both Dillon and Karli survive, allowing them to live their lives free of danger? Will Andrea prove herself to her employer, therefore solidifying her place as a Ranger? Can Mitch and Andrea admit they have feelings for each other? Are they willing to take a risk and see where it may lead? Can they have a HEA?

One-click now to learn all these answers and more as you follow along with Mitch and Andrea as they learn that embracing love is the greatest mission of all.

There are two things I wish had been different. The first, and this one is purely a personal preference, but yes, Mitch is a ladies' man and I would rather this not be the case. Yes, there are some, though very few actually, references to that aspect and his past sexual history, though none of them go into any specific detail, as they're more generalization type statements. I do think having just about every woman that was within the vicinity of Mitch hit on him was a little much. Women can admire a good-looking man, then go on about their day without flirting and/or hitting on him. However, these instances weren't that common and didn't take any focus off the main couple and their growing connection, it was just more of an irritant, like he has this superpower that makes women unable to resist. It wasn't necessary and didn't add anything you the story. We got it, he's hot, that covers it. Secondly, and this is due to the fact that the story felt a little incomplete without having such a scene, but I would've liked to see Mitch, Andrea, her Dad, and brothers together, allowing the reader an actual audience, so to speak, with how they treat her, therefore Mitch is given the opportunity to stand up for her and inform them he will not tolerate their treatment of her now that he's in her life. Just something to show them that someone puts Andrea first, above them, as no else has ever done so in her life.

**I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Isabelle MBTL · Rating 4 out of 5]

 

 



 

Cover - This is genius! It's so perfect this cover. It tells the story here. I love the color, the vibe. You can "feel"this book through its cover.
Plot- Oh! I love it! It's like Sandra Bullock's movie and it's perfect! The agents are not partners, but have come together for this case. Their attraction is undeniable, but they are focus on their job. It's told in duo point-of-view and this works really well with this story. It's fast-paced and it kept me wanting more until the end.
Characters - I love Andrea. She is a multi-dimensional character and we got to see her as a tomboy but also as a vulnerable woman. I've laughed with her and her impulsive ways of trying to prove she can make it. Mitch is also an amazing character. Totally hot, dangerous and focus. I would love to learn more about Karli and Dillon. Andrea's family are all horrible, which I consider great secondary characters, because they really made me feel angry.
heat and romance - The romance was good and it has some great sexual tension.
Addictiveness- This was a very easy read for me. In on sitting I've finished the book and I've ended hoping that Dillon and Karli get a book of their own.

 



 

Freshness- The plot was a bit predictable. There were a few plot twists, but I already knew who was behind everything early on the story but it didn't diminish my pleasure with the read.

 

You MAY read this book because you enjoy a light romance; you SHOULD read this book because you like your romance with a dash of mystery and suspense; you MUST read this book if you like me have enjoyed the movie Ms. Congeniality with Sandra Bullock!!!

This review was originally posted on More Books Than Livros

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description:
The last thing covert operative Mitch Weaver wants is to be partnered with a gorgeous, reckless newbie. Still reeling from the death of his former partner, Mitch doesn’t need the responsibility of keeping anyone else alive, especially when they volunteer to be a killer’s target. Not to mention, his attraction to the too-perky blonde is the kind of distraction that could get them both killed in their line of work.

Andrea Carnegie’s first assignment isn’t going quite as she planned. Her partner might be sexy but he’s completely frustrating with his determination to keep her out of danger. Masquerading as a billionaire’s sister to bait a possible killer is her chance to shine. But if she wants to catch the person threatening their client, she’ll have to find a way to work together with Mitch while still keeping her distance. Even as the air between them sizzles, Andrea knows the worst possible thing she could do is fall for her partner.



Review:

Willing Target by Kathleen Mix was a great read. A romance with a who dunnit twist.

The story was well written and although I guessed who was behind the death threats, there were a few ooooooh moments. The characters well very well written, and there wasn’t any time filling. All very smoothly flowing, a really nice read. The descriptive way the author writes, puts you right in the scene.

Mitch is a seasoned Ranger who loses a partner. He wants to work alone, but after meeting Andrea, he knows he will have his work out, in more ways than one. She’s a rookie for one, another she’s is totally his type. But as he lost a partner, he doesn’t want to risk getting to close to anyone in the line of work again.

I must admit, reading all about Mitch was fun, his mum was a party organizer, and for this cover, it works well, I had to chuckle as he is spouting off stuff that women or gay men will only really know about (colour coordinating the linens to match flowers and stitching)

He doesn’t want to fall for Andrea, because work and fun can get tricky, and he doesn’t want to do long term. Tthank you. But spending time with her, and kissing her, Mitch is coming to realize, that you can’t always plan for the future.

Andrea has grown up around men who don’t respect women, They use and boast about their conquests (including her father), so she is of the opinion that a work romance would be suicide, and the fact her brothers and father are all famous sportsmen don’t help either. It’s not the first time men have dated Andrea to get to meet their idols.

I liked Andrea. No way is she dating, and when she does, she never uses her last name. She had grown up jaded and alone, never quiet fitting in with the family.
So getting her first assignment means so much to her, she will finally be able to step out from under her male dominated family.

The plan is for Andrea to pretend to be a billionaire’s beloved sister; since he is getting threats, so why not use the sister as bait? Everyone but Mitch thinks this is a good idea, and as Andrea looks very much like the sister, they all think it will draw the blackmailer out. But things take a nasty turn, and Andrea has a few moments where she is facing her own mortality. And it has her wondering if she can actually do the job, and at the same time, both Mitch and Andrea are fighting their feelings for one another.

So ……. Will they find who is behind the death threats ? Will they be able to hide how they really feel about each other, once they’ve slept together? And will you guess who is behind it all ?

If you like a mystery with a little action on the side, then I’d recommend this book in an instant

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can not go wrong most times with operatives and drama they can attract. When Mitch pairs with Andrea, him being the senior in experience they will have to catch a bad guy while she plays the part of the honey that is for the bee lol. One of the interesting things in this is that they are rangers or at least one is with the other hoping to be. He is in need of healing and with that love can be the best even when least expected or wanted. The author does a fine job of mixing romance with the drama with action being a large part in this. She also has her path to forge in many ways too. He will get more than he planned in this. This has some rough edges but all in all something once you sit down with it you find it hard at times to put down.

[Ayekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea is in the last days of her probationary period with the elite protection force known as the Rangers. She's called to a special assignment by the head of the Rangers when a well known and wealthy businessman's sister receives death threats. Since he's in the process of a merger/takeover the assumptions are made that the source of his beloved sister Karli's threats stem from that. Andrea is called up to take the assignment because she's a dead ringer for his sister. So they spirit Karli away and place Andrea in Karli's shoes, aboard her brother Dillon's yacht anchored in the Virgin Islands. Enter Mitch, another Ranger operative just off a long mission in Columbia where he loses his partner and best friend and blames himself. He's not happy being saddled with new girl and makes it clear this is his show and she's to obey. Andrea's backstory was sad for me, a girl raised with a nationally renowned football coach for a father, three older brothers who treat her like she's non signif, and she grew up listening to their conversations about their conquest with women. Andrea doesn't trust men and has an understandable wall that she throws up, keeping her few sexual encounters to one night stands, leaving no one to talk about her with someone else. The group assigned with Andrea and Mitch were great guys, even though they remained in the background most of the time, they did their jobs and had a role in the story. Mitch and Andrea slowly fell for each other and finally ended up in the rack which was nicely done. I liked the minimal angst and slow easy sensuality of their encounters. Andrea felt she had something to prove, that she needed a place (this job) to call her own, to fit in. Not so much to her family but to herself. I pretty much pegged the culprit in the story early on, yet there were still so many unknowns, the suspense was just enough to keep you on edge.
I liked watching the story unfold and the twists and turns. I felt the characters were well developed and the plot was solid. And the end was perfect. This was a great read, my only peeve was that I felt it was a little slow at times, there's plenty of dialogue and you don't want to miss that. The story really lies within that. That's the kind of book I like.
Nice work Kathleen!! Hope we see a sequel to this book! I recommend this book highly.

**arc from NetGalley and Entangled** in exchange for an honest review

[Gigi staub · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last thing covert operative Mitch Weaver wants is to be partnered with a gorgeous, reckless newbie. Still reeling from the death of his former partner, Mitch doesn't need the responsibility of keeping anyone else alive, especially when they volunteer to be a killer's target. Not to mention, his attraction to the too-perky blonde is the kind of distraction that could get them both killed in their line of work.

Andrea Carnegie's first assignment isn't going quite as she planned. Her partner might be sexy but he's completely frustrating with his determination to keep her out of danger. Masquerading as a billionaire's sister to bait a possible killer is her chance to shine. But if she wants to catch the person threatening their client, she’ll have to find a way to work together with Mitch while still keeping her distance. Even as the air between them sizzles, Andrea knows the worst possible thing she could do is fall for her partner.




Review:




This book is a whirlwind of intrigue and suspense with a little romance thrown in. I am not going to rehash the story, the blurb is pretty good and telling exactly what the story entails. It is categorized as romantic suspense, with some super hot scenes between Andrea and Mitch. I am going to say this, I liked the book but I did figure out kind of early in the book who was behind all the attacks and why they sent Karli into hiding. I was a little surprised about the revelation about Karli and Dillon, nice twist. I don't think the story was meant to keep you guessing, just on the edge-of-your-seat. Andrea and Mitch were interesting and I liked their chemistry. Let me say this though, Andrea's brothers and dad are pigs! Poor girl, no wonder she has a skewed view on relationships and trust is a big issue. Mitch is good he seems to get over his issues rather quickly considering he was trying to keep Andrea at arms length and now he wants her to stay and meet the family. This is a total stand-alone story, so no worries about being lost. Now, I would love to read more about Karli and Dillon, that would make an interesting book. I have read one other book by this Author before and liked this one better.




3.5Stars




*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read that I could not put down once I started. There was suspense and action with romance all rolled up into one and this one left me on the edge of my seat a lot. I think Kathleen Mix did a very good job with the story line and the character development of this one. If you like suspense and action with a little romance, then this one is for you!

Andrea is a young lady that is in the last probationary stages of becoming a Ranger in an elite security group. When Andrea gets tagged as being a spitting image of a billionaire's sister, she volunteers to impersonate her since there has been a death threat put out on her. If they can have Andrea impersonate her for a little while, maybe they can bring out the suspect and get him (or them) before anyone gets hurt.

Andrea meets Mitch who is also on the detail of the sister and is assigned to help protect her at all costs. When Andrea and Mitch meet, there is something there between them immediately, but they both know that they can't let their feelings get in the way of their work because they will be fired. With them working in such close proximity during the case, feelings just begin to grow though. So, how will these two work things out to where they can still do their job and possibly act on their feelings, or not act on their feelings to save their job??

Mitch is a very reserved man and has no intentions of becoming involved with anyone. He is just getting over his partner being killed in the line of duty and is still grieving over that. When Mitch sees Andrea though and gets put in situations where he has to protect her and help her stay safe, feelings begin to develop. Andrea is no weak woman by any means and can take care of herself for sure, but the way that Mitch looks after her is so heart warming.

This story will keep you flipping the pages for sure! You need to read this one and find out what ends up happening with Mitch and Andrea. You will want to know for sure. That is what kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. This was a great job by Kathleen Mix for sure and I can't wait for what she has in store for us readers next!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Kathleen Mix's Willing Target is a really good read. It was a little slow for me to get into but it picked up pretty quickly and hooked me. It takes place in the topical Virgin Islands where two bodyguards/covert-ops who work for the Brisbin Rangers are working together to help protect a billionaire's younger sister, Karli, and ferret out who is behind the death threats. Andrea Carnegie isn't even a full fledged Ranger she still is technically a trainee but she is almost identical to Karli. Andrea is hoping that if all goes well with this assignment she will become a full Ranger. Mitch Weaver is still grieving the death of his partner, he's not ready to be assigned a new partner but he doesn't have a choice when he gets assigned the lead in this protection duty. The Rangers are going to send Andrea in as a stand in while Karli goes into hiding until they can track down who is trying to kill her. Andrea is going stir crazy and wants to go on the offensive, But Mitch is just worried about keeping her safe. But there is something strange going on with the attacks on Karli's life and Andrea is going to help figure it out.

Andrea and Mitch were a great couple to read. Mitch is hesitant to get attached to anyone because of the job he has and especially since his partner left behind a widow and kids. Andrea grew up not the pampered only girl of the family but the opposite. Her older brothers and even her father picked on her, tormented her. She grew up listening to their sexual exploits and just way to information for a little sister to hear. As a result she is hesitant to get into any relationship for fear that the boyfriend will tell everyone what they do or that they are just trying to get close to her so they can get close to her football star brother's and famous coach father. But once they let each other in it all falls into place.

Overall, this was a good read and very exciting, a little predictable as soon as the character was mentioned I called it I almost hoped it was a red herring but ehhh, it was still good.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received a copy of Willing Target by Kathleen Mix from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review**

Willing Target was a solid 4.8 star book with Andrea Carnegie wanting just one thing to become a Brisbin's Rangers and hoping that her new assignment will give her the coveted job.

But growing up with three older brothers who are now in the NFL and her Hall of Fame coach dad, who allowed the brothers to terrorize Andrea has made her want to be the best at her job for herself not her family. Going undercover on her first assignment as heiress Karli Stone who has been receiving death threats, of which Andrea is almost her twin. The location is on the US Virgin Island of St. Thomas and living aboard Dillon Stone's luxury yacht, she'll be with operative, Mitch Weaver and two others trying to find the person who is making the threats against Karli Stone.

Mitch Weaver is hoping for time to grieve the loss of his best friend, Steve, who was killed on their last job and is looking forward to some time off to unwind. He doesn't expect to be called back into work and be assigned to a newbie of all things. But can they manage to keep their distance until the sexual tension between them makes them both realize they have feelings for each other.

Will they be able to find the person who is threatening Andrea/Karli in time? After a bomb, snake, sniper attacks can Andrea and Mitch find out who has a grudge against Karli and Dillon Stone in time? After so many years of being tough because of her family, will Andrea decide that her goal of being a Brisbin Ranger is really her ultimate goal or will Mitch be the one her heart wants more than anything?

[Fizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a romantic mystery. I loved the story. There were enough twists and turns to keep one intrigued. Al the characters are also amazing. It's written in a lighthearted manner which is quite enjoyable.

Andrea is ready to prove herself. Living under the shadow of her father and brothers, she can't wait to show the world that she is more than just Coach's daughter or her famous brothers' sister. So she is willing to take some risk. She know that her job is dangerous but she also feels that she is ready. Now is is a willing target for someone who is trying to kill her look alike sister of a billionaire. Her job is to take her place and draw her to-be-killer out. The rest of the team will then catch him or them. But it's hard for her to play 'damsel is distress'. She will have to try though.

Mitch has lost one partner and he isn't about to lose another. It's his job to keep Andrea alive so that's what he is going to do. It doesn't matter that she is an extremely attracted woman who is having his thoughts jumbled. No matter what he must stay focused on the job. As soon as they can catch whoever is behind the threats the better.

Although things don't go as planned and there are many surprises they have yet to face...
Quite interesting story, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend to all readers.

[Jena · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a high-stakes fairytale of a ride. Willing Target constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat and rooting for Mitch and Andrea every step of the way. Once I finally had the time, I whipped through this book.

Andrea Carnegie is easy to like right from the beginning. She is a hard-worker who truly just wants to excel in her line of work. She's not petty and understands that you need to work for what you want. On the other side, Mitch Weaver also is extremely likable however for different reasons. Mitch has a tough exterior yet is super soft on the inside. His line of work has somewhat bruised him, yet he still gives it all he's got. I loved watching the scenes with Mitch and Andrea together and really appreciated that the author gave us dual viewpoints.

I'll admit I was definitely guessing who our "bad guy" was up until the end. I had to follow along with our characters and piece together the clues to figure out what they ultimately do. Overall, Willing Target was fun, suspenseful, steamy, and a super cute read that I adored. If you're thinking of giving this book a shot, you should!

Find this review at Shortie Says

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea is a newbie. She hasn't quite passed her training yet but due to a fluky coincidence she is a dead ringer for the sister of a billionaire who is being threatened. When she is sent to the Caribbean to impersonate her, she meets her gorgeous, if crotchety partner Mitch. Now posing at crew on the billionaires Yacht, Mitch and his fellow operatives have to keep Andrea safe from a killer and from leaping into danger before looking and blowing her cover!

This story is told in dual POV and is wonderfully sparky. Andrea has an unbelievably deep need to excel without the interference of her father and brothers. She is used to being the object of ridicule and has a MASSIVE chip on her shoulder. Mitch has a deep need to save Andrea from herself! He lost one partner and no doubts his abilities and so has gone way overboard to keep her safe. Andrea could have grated on the nerves but she was just to refreshingly ballsy I had to love her! I can't wait to read more in this series (please!!!!)

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

+++ Arc provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, for an honest review +++
This is my second boob by Kathleen Mix and I must say that I preferred the first one, “Deadly Memories” (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...), a reunited lovers story with a wounded hero. "Willing Target" balances beween the suspense and the romantic plots and its main characters both have baggage; the hero lost his partner and best friend, the heroine’s family, a bunch of unsympathetic males related to the NFL, is selfish and self-centered.
While I enjoyed the characters as individuals and as a couple and liked how the romance bloomed, I thought that the heroine acted to impulsively to be a professional.
The suspense plot didn’t grab my interest and the trope of the threatened heiress is not really one of my favorites. All in all, an average romantic thriller, with good characterization.
I'm grateful to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy.

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Andrea is an undercover operative impersonating a socialite that's received death threats. Andrea's partner for the assignment is Mitch, an almost too sexy to be real operative that Andrea is instantly attracted to. Complicating things are her horrible upbringing and inability to trust men. Mitch is equally smitten and he wants to protect Andrea at all costs....even from doing her job.

While Mitch and Andrea are dealing with their attraction, the socialite continues to get threatening "gifts" and they have to keep their focus on solving the investigation and stopping the threat.

This is a quickly moving novel that kept me turning pages just as quickly as possible. This is a must read book that fans of the genre will love. I have added the author to my must read authors' list.

[Bridget]

I've been in a major reading slump as of late, so I really needed something different to bring my mood back around. Willing Target fit the bill perfectly! There are many elements to this romantic suspense title, and they all surprised me in the best way. The mystery was just different enough to keep my eyes glued to the pages in an effort to fit the puzzle pieces together.

Mitch was a nice change of pace in terms of heroes. Sure, he had his issues, but they did't take over the story, and he was able to address them reasonably without sticking his head up his butt. I admired Andrea's tenacity and independence, and it was fun to finally see her do her thing and save the hero in the end. I really enjoyed watching Andrea and Mitch's relationship progress from new partners in the field to forever partners in life. Their HEA is definitely cause for some swoons!

[Iris Chacon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not disparage the author's skill or competence in the least, but this was simply one of those novels that I had to force myself to finish. I couldn't stop putting down out of boredom or disinterest with the characters and the plot. Perhaps my expectations of the genre are wrong, but this seemed too slow to be a suspense novel, the characters too dull for an espionage novel, and the explicit sex too prevalent for a "romance" novel. Is "romance" the new literary code for "soft core porn"? This book may be just the thing many readers are looking for, and I wish them happy reading. It just didn't work for me.

I would be willing to try another novel by Kathleen Mix someday, in hope that my own life situation or incorrect expectations were the cause of my ennui.

The writer received an ARC in exchange for an honest and objective review.

[Celia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read much romantic suspense (romance suspense? suspense romance? What is this called???), but I found myself intrigued by this story. Andrea wants to be taken seriously in her job, and agreeing to play a billionaire's sister in order to bait a killer is going to help her climb up that career ladder. Mitch is a veteran of the force, but finds himself drawn to Andrea - a very dangerous mix.

I am a fan of mystery-thrillers by themselves, so reading this story brought together two of my favorite genres. I appreciated that the romance did not overwhelm the plot - it didn't make us forget what was going on. If you're like me and don't know much about this genre, but enjoy a good mystery - definitely try it out!

[Joanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willing Target has plenty to offer for anyone looking for a weekend getaway read. Fast-paced setting allows for an easy read straight through, with an idyllic Virgin Islands setting, you'll have a nice bit of adventure and romance (although the romance is more on par with Harlequin books).

While I'd figured out "whodunit" early on, I couldn't help but read through to see how the author would put together the story, how she'd manage to bring together the main characters. Based on the way the character, Andrea, was written, I thought the ending could have been stronger.

Regardless of my criticisms, I was suitably engaged to read through to the end and pass along the book to a friend.

[Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley/Entangled Publishing in exchange for my review.

It is a book I would absolutely recommend. It's a light romantic suspense that, though it starts out slowly, it blends all the expected aspects in the storyline well. I never found that there was too much of anything in the book.

Andrea was the real draw in the book for me, though. I liked her tough-girl attitude, and that her bite matched her bark. Mitch was iffy at some points, but he came through in the end.

The author kept me intrigued, even at the slow times, and even after I figured out who the villain was. I definitely look forward to reading more of her work.

[Gavinsmommaloves2read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mitch Weaver covert operative doesnt need a sexy frustrating newbie to be his new partner to catch a killer expecially women she volunteers to be the killers bait. Still reeling from his last partners death he cant. Andrea Carnegie first assignment isnt going well her partner is so infuriating and sexy and always trying to keep her out of danger even though its her job. Great book! Awesome storyline with sexy bits, funny parts, and a mystery thrown in. I loved Mitch and Andrea. Ill definitely read more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Review Copy of this book.

[poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

really liked this was a great read didnt want to put it down give it a read