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Red, White and Built #3
Bullseye: SEAL
A navy SEAL's mission is to protect a vulnerable target, not give in to temptation...
Saving Gina De Santos from attempted kidnappings is one thing. But navy SEAL sniper Josh Elliott's assignment requires getting close to the ravishing widow to ascertain what she knows. And that feels more dangerous than combat. In her presence, Josh has to remind himself she's not to be trusted.
Gina's drug-kingpin father had been negotiating with terrorists when a CIA raid killed him and Gina's husband. Now someone is after the vulnerable single mom and her little boy. While traveling to the Caribbean in search of clues, Josh and Gina find their sizzling desire overpowering. But when they're attacked again, they must overcome their mutual mistrust to survive at the hands of an unknown enemy.
Saving Gina De Santos from attempted kidnappings is one thing. But navy SEAL sniper Josh Elliott's assignment requires getting close to the ravishing widow to ascertain what she knows. And that feels more dangerous than combat. In her presence, Josh has to remind himself she's not to be trusted.
Gina's drug-kingpin father had been negotiating with terrorists when a CIA raid killed him and Gina's husband. Now someone is after the vulnerable single mom and her little boy. While traveling to the Caribbean in search of clues, Josh and Gina find their sizzling desire overpowering. But when they're attacked again, they must overcome their mutual mistrust to survive at the hands of an unknown enemy.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 22, 2017
25 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Carol Ericson
338 books125 followersBest-selling, award-winning romance author, Carol Ericson, has written more than 65 books, mostly romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue. Also indie pubbed, Carol is working on a spicy popstar romcom series about five members of a boyband. A California girl and graduate of UCLA, Carol lives near the beach with her husband and their giant dog. For more information about Carol’s books, please visit her website at www.authorcarolericson.com and follow her on Instagram @author.carol.ericson
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 30, 2018
Good book. It starts with a bang as Josh was part of a team sent in to stop a drug cartel leader who was negotiating with terrorists. A year later, he was sent to get close to the widow of one of the cartel members, to find out if she knows anything about her father's and husband's activities. There's something about Gina that gets to him, which makes him wary, as he isn't sure that he can trust her. But when he saves her from two kidnappings in the space of a few hours, he does know that she needs protection.
A year after the death of her husband, Gina begins receiving texts that appear to be from him. The texts ask her about the location of the drugs and the weapons. She's freaked out by the idea that Ricky might still be alive when all she wants to do is move on with her life. She's extremely on edge when a potential new client arrives to look at a house she is showing.
I liked the first meeting between Gina and Josh. She's on edge, but not paralyzed by her fears. I liked Josh's calm reaction and inner admiration for her presence of mind. There was a spark of attraction between them also, which disturbed each of them. Gina doesn't trust her instincts about men any longer, and Josh isn't sure that he needs the distraction. But he is willing to use those sparks to get closer if he needs to. Their later meeting for drinks was very awkward, as Gina second-guessed herself with everything she said, and Josh couldn't deny his suspicions about her. He does manage to maintain his cover for a while, but that falls by the wayside after the first kidnapping attempt. It was interesting to see Josh's inner struggle with how much to tell her.
I liked both Gina and Josh. Gina is a survivor. She's smart, persistent, and determined. When she realizes the depth of the danger she is in and is ready to trust Josh, she is all in. I liked the fact that she didn't gloss over the mistakes of her past, but admitted them and learned from them. Josh is a SEAL sniper who is good at his job but isn't all cocky about it. He is very protective by nature, and that protectiveness is evident when he's around Gina, even when he was still suspicious of her. There were also a couple of really sweet scenes with Josh and Gina's son, RJ, showing a softer side of him. The development of their relationship happened pretty quickly. The sparks that were between them at the beginning continued to grow as they worked together to track down the drugs and weapons that were missing. Those sparks turn into something deeper as they learn to trust and depend on each other. Though their declarations of their feelings are somewhat overpowered by the danger they're in, they are no less meaningful.
The suspense of the story was good. The partnering of drug cartel and terrorist is believable in today's world, giving the book an extra edge of realism. The escalating attacks on Gina and Josh kept me glued to the pages as I waited to see how it would work out. There were several twists and turns on the way to the final confrontation. Their time on the island seemed to have bad guys popping up right and left, with some more unexpected than others. I was impressed by Josh's creativity during some of those situations, and also by the fact that Gina was smart enough to know when to stay back. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved the part that Gina had in it. The immediate problem was solved - keeping the drugs and weapons out of the terrorists' hands. Unfortunately, another part of the mission - capturing the leader who has a vendetta against Josh's SEAL team - remains unresolved. I expect that it will continue through the rest of the series. I'm looking forward to how it turns out.
A year after the death of her husband, Gina begins receiving texts that appear to be from him. The texts ask her about the location of the drugs and the weapons. She's freaked out by the idea that Ricky might still be alive when all she wants to do is move on with her life. She's extremely on edge when a potential new client arrives to look at a house she is showing.
I liked the first meeting between Gina and Josh. She's on edge, but not paralyzed by her fears. I liked Josh's calm reaction and inner admiration for her presence of mind. There was a spark of attraction between them also, which disturbed each of them. Gina doesn't trust her instincts about men any longer, and Josh isn't sure that he needs the distraction. But he is willing to use those sparks to get closer if he needs to. Their later meeting for drinks was very awkward, as Gina second-guessed herself with everything she said, and Josh couldn't deny his suspicions about her. He does manage to maintain his cover for a while, but that falls by the wayside after the first kidnapping attempt. It was interesting to see Josh's inner struggle with how much to tell her.
I liked both Gina and Josh. Gina is a survivor. She's smart, persistent, and determined. When she realizes the depth of the danger she is in and is ready to trust Josh, she is all in. I liked the fact that she didn't gloss over the mistakes of her past, but admitted them and learned from them. Josh is a SEAL sniper who is good at his job but isn't all cocky about it. He is very protective by nature, and that protectiveness is evident when he's around Gina, even when he was still suspicious of her. There were also a couple of really sweet scenes with Josh and Gina's son, RJ, showing a softer side of him. The development of their relationship happened pretty quickly. The sparks that were between them at the beginning continued to grow as they worked together to track down the drugs and weapons that were missing. Those sparks turn into something deeper as they learn to trust and depend on each other. Though their declarations of their feelings are somewhat overpowered by the danger they're in, they are no less meaningful.
The suspense of the story was good. The partnering of drug cartel and terrorist is believable in today's world, giving the book an extra edge of realism. The escalating attacks on Gina and Josh kept me glued to the pages as I waited to see how it would work out. There were several twists and turns on the way to the final confrontation. Their time on the island seemed to have bad guys popping up right and left, with some more unexpected than others. I was impressed by Josh's creativity during some of those situations, and also by the fact that Gina was smart enough to know when to stay back. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved the part that Gina had in it. The immediate problem was solved - keeping the drugs and weapons out of the terrorists' hands. Unfortunately, another part of the mission - capturing the leader who has a vendetta against Josh's SEAL team - remains unresolved. I expect that it will continue through the rest of the series. I'm looking forward to how it turns out.
September 8, 2018
Once you get past Carol Ericson's penchant for having her characters meet under patently ridiculous circumstances, and her characters' obsession with food, this is a pretty good romance with some decent action set pieces. The plot has Navy SEAL sniper Josh Elliott going on assignment to get close to Gina De Santos, whose husband and father were killed in a raid that Josh was part of. However, her drug dealer father was in cahoots with terrorists, and now both factions are of the belief that she holds information that her father took with him to the grave!
Although this is part of a mini-series, it can easily be read as a standalone story. Many thanks to Carol Ericson for that! Too many Intrigue authors have difficulties with that. All the references to Vlad and Ariel are admittedly a tad tiresome, but the plot remains clear on what is going on, and the motivations of all the main players are clearly established. I might have to wait for the next 3 (!) books to find out Vlad's end game, but it didn't spoil Gina and Josh's story. For a while, it seemed like Gina wasn't going to be given much to do other than be a damsel in distress or sit around and worry about Josh, but she took on a stronger role later in the proceedings.
Intrigue isn't really the line to read if you want oodles of romance, but I did get a feel for Gina and Josh (although she seemed a little too happy about her first husband's death) as a couple. There were some good action bits to keep interest levels up. Probably one of the best I've read from Carol Ericson!
Although this is part of a mini-series, it can easily be read as a standalone story. Many thanks to Carol Ericson for that! Too many Intrigue authors have difficulties with that. All the references to Vlad and Ariel are admittedly a tad tiresome, but the plot remains clear on what is going on, and the motivations of all the main players are clearly established. I might have to wait for the next 3 (!) books to find out Vlad's end game, but it didn't spoil Gina and Josh's story. For a while, it seemed like Gina wasn't going to be given much to do other than be a damsel in distress or sit around and worry about Josh, but she took on a stronger role later in the proceedings.
Intrigue isn't really the line to read if you want oodles of romance, but I did get a feel for Gina and Josh (although she seemed a little too happy about her first husband's death) as a couple. There were some good action bits to keep interest levels up. Probably one of the best I've read from Carol Ericson!
August 28, 2017
Refreshingly original elements in a story where the lines between the good guys and the bad guys are faded by the family connections and lives are threatened because of the sins of the fathers.
Gina De Santos is a daughter of a drug dealer and a widow of an arms dealer. The government agencies are convinced she knows more than she is leading them to believe, that the secret she hides means she was part of the cartel, part of the criminal activities, and willing to let her young son be part of that world, as well. But nothing is as it seems, and the secrets that Gina is holding on to might now kill them all.
Gina is filled with spunk, determination, and perseverance. She is a protective survivor, smart and capable, and very much likable. The fact that she is not completely clean when it comes to her past just gave her more fascination and allure. She is not afraid to act when the need arise, yet she does listen to the directions of those who know better than she does and takes their advice.
Josh Elliott is a marvelous hero, a SEAL sniper who does not claim to know it all, who still has humbleness in him as well as courage, protectiveness, and kindness. He lost his mother in tragic circumstances, and the past comes to play a part of the present in an unexpected twist of the plot.
The attraction between Gina and Josh is tangible, yet the tension and fear from the current threats, and the tangled past connections constraint the budding feelings muddling the romantic possibilities between them.
A fascinating and entertaining story with blurred lines of good and evil. The charming characters won me over, and the constant menace and peril kept the action going and suspense elevated.
~ Four Spoons
Gina De Santos is a daughter of a drug dealer and a widow of an arms dealer. The government agencies are convinced she knows more than she is leading them to believe, that the secret she hides means she was part of the cartel, part of the criminal activities, and willing to let her young son be part of that world, as well. But nothing is as it seems, and the secrets that Gina is holding on to might now kill them all.
Gina is filled with spunk, determination, and perseverance. She is a protective survivor, smart and capable, and very much likable. The fact that she is not completely clean when it comes to her past just gave her more fascination and allure. She is not afraid to act when the need arise, yet she does listen to the directions of those who know better than she does and takes their advice.
Josh Elliott is a marvelous hero, a SEAL sniper who does not claim to know it all, who still has humbleness in him as well as courage, protectiveness, and kindness. He lost his mother in tragic circumstances, and the past comes to play a part of the present in an unexpected twist of the plot.
The attraction between Gina and Josh is tangible, yet the tension and fear from the current threats, and the tangled past connections constraint the budding feelings muddling the romantic possibilities between them.
A fascinating and entertaining story with blurred lines of good and evil. The charming characters won me over, and the constant menace and peril kept the action going and suspense elevated.
~ Four Spoons
September 16, 2017
Bullseye: Seal is the third installment of the Red, White and Built series by Carol Ericson. I was given this book for an hones review.
I would have given it 3.5 stars, but settled on 3 because all in all it was an okay read and I did like half of the book.
I've read the other reviews listed for this book and I agree in part with them. There were so good twists in the plot - who to trust and who not to, but overall, the book left me feeling pretty flat. It took me a couple weeks to finish it because I didn't feel compelled to read it straight through like I usually do with Carol's books. I think it was too slow going to begin with and I never really 'loved' either Gina or Josh which meant I really didn't care what happened to either one.
About halfway through, though, I thought the story and pace picked up enough that I completed the book in one sitting. The writing was good - great descriptions of the settings (enough so that I'd like to visit that little island). However, I felt too much was spent on what they wore, how they looked in it, etc. There was romance and that was better than the suspense. I never felt like the characters reacted correctly to the danger throughout the book. The bad guys were not quite ruthless enough for a drug cartel or for the mysterious Vlad and his organization that surfaces in this book.
I hope the next installment is a bit better because I generally really enjoy Carol's books. This one just didn't do it for me.
I would have given it 3.5 stars, but settled on 3 because all in all it was an okay read and I did like half of the book.
I've read the other reviews listed for this book and I agree in part with them. There were so good twists in the plot - who to trust and who not to, but overall, the book left me feeling pretty flat. It took me a couple weeks to finish it because I didn't feel compelled to read it straight through like I usually do with Carol's books. I think it was too slow going to begin with and I never really 'loved' either Gina or Josh which meant I really didn't care what happened to either one.
About halfway through, though, I thought the story and pace picked up enough that I completed the book in one sitting. The writing was good - great descriptions of the settings (enough so that I'd like to visit that little island). However, I felt too much was spent on what they wore, how they looked in it, etc. There was romance and that was better than the suspense. I never felt like the characters reacted correctly to the danger throughout the book. The bad guys were not quite ruthless enough for a drug cartel or for the mysterious Vlad and his organization that surfaces in this book.
I hope the next installment is a bit better because I generally really enjoy Carol's books. This one just didn't do it for me.
August 16, 2017
Great story, don't understand why others rated it low
September 11, 2017
Wonderful Story
Another great book by Carol Erickson, I really enjoyed Bullseye Seal by Ms. Erickson it was a wonderful story and very difficult to put down...
Another great book by Carol Erickson, I really enjoyed Bullseye Seal by Ms. Erickson it was a wonderful story and very difficult to put down...
October 11, 2017
Harlequin Intrigue....quick easy reads.
Action packed, hot body hero and not a bad story.
Action packed, hot body hero and not a bad story.
February 18, 2018
Predictable and read this same story line many times before. Was ok.
October 31, 2018
This book was pretty good lots of action an suspense
November 12, 2017
“Bullseye: SEAL”, Book 3 in author Carol Ericson’s “Red, White and Built” series has Navy SEAL sniper Josh Elliott feeling the pressure of trying to keep an emotional distance from Gina De Santos, the woman he must protect and investigate. Josh was part of the elite sniper team who took down Gina’s own father and also her husband and others as they negotiated with terrorists. Gina was left a widow with a young son, but her knowledge and involvement with the terrorist group must be ascertained and clarified—is she a victim or an insider? More than a year after the elimination of the men in her life, Gina is trying to make a new life in the real estate business for herself and her son in Miami, but she finds herself the recipient of mysterious text messages asking for the whereabouts of drugs and weapons. Josh originally finds his way into her world under the cover of someone interested in buying a property, but eventually he must reveal his assignment as the danger of the situation closes in on them. As the threat escalates, so does the flare of attraction between Gina and Josh. To keep them all safe, he must stick to his mission and his training—above all he must do his utmost to seek out and destroy the ultimate evil of the terrorist leader, Vlad. Can Josh and Gina find a way to make a new family with her son and keep the ever-present dangers at bay? If you love contemporary romantic suspense, you will greatly enjoy the “Red, White and Built” series from the intriguing imagination of author Carol Ericson.
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September 1, 2017Miniseries: Red, White and Built
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September 1, 2017Miniseries: Red, White and Built
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews