Variations, Base Branch Series Book 9, by Megan Mitcham, is truly a great read. I’ve enjoyed all of the books by Ms. Mitcham that I have read, especially the Base Branch Series, but I honestly have to say this is my absolute favorite. The action, drama, and suspense start from page one and don’t stop until the very end. The chemistry between Oliver Knight, a special operative, and Marina Sorenson, a woman held captive in a foreign land, is dynamic. Ms. Mitcham penned such depth in Oliver’s character that you can’t help but fall for him. He truly understands Marina and how to relate to her not as a damaged soul with kid gloves, but as a woman with heart and a solid back bone. Oliver and his best friend and colleague, Hunter, are sent to rescue Marina and all three get tangled in a mess not easily sorted out. The characters are put through the ringer in this action packed plot. Variations is no light romance, as there is violence and strong language, and involves the sensitive subject of human trafficking, but all are handled in a manner true to the story line and characters. Oliver and Marina each have tragic pasts, though very different in nature, and I really enjoyed reading about how they fought to learn to trust each other. I also liked reading more about Cara and other characters introduced in previous books, and learning about Marina’s feisty sister. Oliver and I both were heart broken by an event in this one, so for my sake as well as his, I hope he finds what he’s looking for in a future installment to the series. That being said, although this is part of a long running series, it can be read as a standalone as the author provides enough history without being repetitive for new readers as well as those already familiar with Base Branch. And though the future is left open, this does not end in a dreaded cliffhanger, but a HFN.
I thoroughly enjoyed Variations and highly recommend it. The suspense in this one kept me up reading late into the night as I literally could not put it down. Variations is a true page turning romantic suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.