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Mackenzie Family #2
Mackenzie's Mission
Night Wing — the revolutionary test plane with a top secret weapons system — was Colonel Joe "Breed" Mackenzie's number-one priority. And weapons expert Caroline Evans was his number-one distraction. True, the stubborn blonde was giving him the cold shoulder, but Joe hadn't become the best of the best by giving up. Then he discovered someone on the inside was sabotaging Night Wing, and with her late hours and specialized expertise, Caroline seemed the obvious choice. Now Joe had to choose between allegiance to his country and love for his prime suspect...
250 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published July 1, 2000
About the author
Linda Howard
235 books7,228 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
January 6, 2021
Ah, these Mackenzie men! 😍😍😍
Even in Mackenzie's Mountain, 16 year Joe had this whole Alpha Male persona groomed to perfection. Which is merely amplified in this book.. Unbelievably sexy!
The horrible time he spent in foster homes when Wolf was in jail is explained with all gory details in this book.. It made me want to curl up in a ball and cry. Still, to have reached the heights he had (literally and figuratively), says a lot about his mettle. Joe is my new book boyfriend.
The heroine was quirky and fun, but not as memorable as Mary. The plot was a bit overused but altogether a fine read this was. 4 stars.
Even in Mackenzie's Mountain, 16 year Joe had this whole Alpha Male persona groomed to perfection. Which is merely amplified in this book.. Unbelievably sexy!
The horrible time he spent in foster homes when Wolf was in jail is explained with all gory details in this book.. It made me want to curl up in a ball and cry. Still, to have reached the heights he had (literally and figuratively), says a lot about his mettle. Joe is my new book boyfriend.
The heroine was quirky and fun, but not as memorable as Mary. The plot was a bit overused but altogether a fine read this was. 4 stars.
August 9, 2020
And I’m out.
My cup runneth over with the misogyny and unconscious racism depicted in this book. I mean, wtf is a half-breed and did Americans actually use that term for a whole arse human being?
September 9, 2025
2025 Reread. 10 start. Absolutely the best, this one never gets old in rereading. I so miss these strong alpha males that are men of character and protective. Just don't make them like Joe Mackenzie anymore. And Caroline was a strong, smart, classy and sweet. She held her own beautifully with Joe.
Absolutely incredible reread. No words. LOVE me some Joe and Caroline. And she was perfect, absolutely perfect for him. And again, worth repeating, this definitely has the feels of Top Gun: Maverick, which I LOVED as well.
Another fantastic reread. I loved these two the first time but I think I loved them more the second time around reading there love story.
Definitely a "Top Gun" feel to it.
I loved, loved Caroline. She was strong, smart, sweet and a little quirky.
Oh don't get me started on Joe, now that is one all time favorite hero too.
Loved it and will reread again and again. I remember why I love this Mackenzie series some much.
And now to MacKenzie's Pleasure.
Highly recommended. :))))
Absolutely incredible reread. No words. LOVE me some Joe and Caroline. And she was perfect, absolutely perfect for him. And again, worth repeating, this definitely has the feels of Top Gun: Maverick, which I LOVED as well.
Another fantastic reread. I loved these two the first time but I think I loved them more the second time around reading there love story.
Definitely a "Top Gun" feel to it.
I loved, loved Caroline. She was strong, smart, sweet and a little quirky.
Oh don't get me started on Joe, now that is one all time favorite hero too.
Loved it and will reread again and again. I remember why I love this Mackenzie series some much.
And now to MacKenzie's Pleasure.
Highly recommended. :))))
December 9, 2018
3,5. Me ha parecido muy entretenido, pero teniendo a Joe como protagonista me esperaba más. Me gustan los personajes, son fuertes y con carácter, y me ha sorprendido la revelación de Joe, pero que se repitan algunas situaciones del primer libro, no tanto (¿otra virgen, de verdad?). Además, no me cuadran los años respecto al primero.
#RetoRita2 #RitaHoward
#campañaromantica: el libro con la portada más fea
#RetoRita2 #RitaHoward
#campañaromantica: el libro con la portada más fea
December 15, 2025
Joe is all grown up~
Did LH go a bit overboard with the credentials of her MCs? Maybe.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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Did LH go a bit overboard with the credentials of her MCs? Maybe.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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March 19, 2017
3.5 stars
This couple was basically:
and
With added Air Force uniform and a bit of a rushed relationship. Some might find the secret plane project talk too interrupt but I found it interesting/cool. I think we all deserve a Joe at some point in life to think back fondly of.
This couple was basically:
and
With added Air Force uniform and a bit of a rushed relationship. Some might find the secret plane project talk too interrupt but I found it interesting/cool. I think we all deserve a Joe at some point in life to think back fondly of.
September 27, 2018
3/5
Me esperaba algo más de la historia de Joe, no es que no me haya gustado, también lo he devorado pero me falta algo. Alguna de las partes en las que se pasa hablando hasta el infinito de aviones, programas, temas técnicos y demás me lo he leído en diagonal porque no me interesaba nada, la verdad. La trama del sabotaje estaba bastante clara desde el principio.
No está mal, Joe es un maromazo como su padre, pero ya.
Me esperaba algo más de la historia de Joe, no es que no me haya gustado, también lo he devorado pero me falta algo. Alguna de las partes en las que se pasa hablando hasta el infinito de aviones, programas, temas técnicos y demás me lo he leído en diagonal porque no me interesaba nada, la verdad. La trama del sabotaje estaba bastante clara desde el principio.
No está mal, Joe es un maromazo como su padre, pero ya.
February 9, 2025
My Review:
Mackenzie Mission was a book I was highly anticipating as I just LOVED the first book in the series "Mackenzie's Mountain" and quite frankly this book was sub par lol I am not sure if its because of the narration for it or if the heroine was just written badly. There is also lots of angst in this book that reminded me of old school bodice rippers and just didn't intrigue me that much. I did stick with it because I wanted to give this book a chance, and the second half was definitely way better than the first half. I think its because the first half was just kinda more slow burn and the tension between our pair just didn't quite work for me. I did love the intrigue and mystery in the plot of the second half of the story and seeing the heroine being under suspicion from the military. There are some elements of danger in this one that I was fascinated by and I do admit I couldn't put down the book once I got to about 50%. I am not sure if the author just didn't quite know what to do with this couple and the heroine was prickly and really an annoying feminist. She gave off the aura of me woman and I need no man lol It just rubbed me the wrong way at times. But she does get better though later in the story.
Overall while it had some promise, this book lacked what the first book contained. I will still continue the series but I hope the other books are much better. I might try book 3 physically and see if maybe it was a narrator issue lol
Mackenzie Mission was a book I was highly anticipating as I just LOVED the first book in the series "Mackenzie's Mountain" and quite frankly this book was sub par lol I am not sure if its because of the narration for it or if the heroine was just written badly. There is also lots of angst in this book that reminded me of old school bodice rippers and just didn't intrigue me that much. I did stick with it because I wanted to give this book a chance, and the second half was definitely way better than the first half. I think its because the first half was just kinda more slow burn and the tension between our pair just didn't quite work for me. I did love the intrigue and mystery in the plot of the second half of the story and seeing the heroine being under suspicion from the military. There are some elements of danger in this one that I was fascinated by and I do admit I couldn't put down the book once I got to about 50%. I am not sure if the author just didn't quite know what to do with this couple and the heroine was prickly and really an annoying feminist. She gave off the aura of me woman and I need no man lol It just rubbed me the wrong way at times. But she does get better though later in the story.
Overall while it had some promise, this book lacked what the first book contained. I will still continue the series but I hope the other books are much better. I might try book 3 physically and see if maybe it was a narrator issue lol
March 9, 2014
Another great story from LH and it even had an epilogue yay! In this Joe was 35 so set around 20 years on from Mackenzie's Mountain. In adulthood Joe is still that mesmerising person that everyone seemed to be slightly in awe of, but then he was known and respected as the best pilot in the country, and advanced through the ranks very quickly and at his extraordinarily young age had made the rank of Colonel. Joe was in charge of the top secret project involving a new all singing all dancing fighter plane. Caroline is one of the civilian people working on the project and sparks instantly flew between them when they first met.
There is an element of suspense in this story but the plot and story revolving around it is pretty weak so I wouldn't claim it to be, nor would I rate it as a RS. Remembering that this story was originally printed by Harlequin it very much has the usual Harlequin traits, such as the stereotype virgin, the strong and forceful male who judges her wrongly and suspects her of sabotaging the project. The whole plot wraps up very quickly and in typical style Caroline forgives him for mistrusting her almost immediately and I really wished she hadn't and made him grovel a bit more.
This story is what I have become to expect from Ms Howard, a well written and easy to read romance and I enjoyed it very much. I loved that at the end of the story she took us back to Mackenzie mountain and we got to catch up with Wolf, Mary and Joe's brothers and sister. It was great to read that even after 20 years Wolf still treated Mary like she was his whole world and still looked upon her with a mix of love and lust in his eyes. The epilogue leaps us eight and a half months into the future to when the first of the next generation of Mackenzie's is born.
There is an element of suspense in this story but the plot and story revolving around it is pretty weak so I wouldn't claim it to be, nor would I rate it as a RS. Remembering that this story was originally printed by Harlequin it very much has the usual Harlequin traits, such as the stereotype virgin, the strong and forceful male who judges her wrongly and suspects her of sabotaging the project. The whole plot wraps up very quickly and in typical style Caroline forgives him for mistrusting her almost immediately and I really wished she hadn't and made him grovel a bit more.
This story is what I have become to expect from Ms Howard, a well written and easy to read romance and I enjoyed it very much. I loved that at the end of the story she took us back to Mackenzie mountain and we got to catch up with Wolf, Mary and Joe's brothers and sister. It was great to read that even after 20 years Wolf still treated Mary like she was his whole world and still looked upon her with a mix of love and lust in his eyes. The epilogue leaps us eight and a half months into the future to when the first of the next generation of Mackenzie's is born.
June 14, 2025
5 Breed Stars!
Re-read (for the millionth time) and reviewed on 2.04.20
Joe Mackenzie is all grown-up (and Yowza!) and the former “jet jockey” is now Colonel 'Breed" Mackenzie. Joe has spent most of his life in a very controlled environment of his own making, it’s something he lives by as a fighter pilot, Officer, and man...it’s vital to him and nothing stirs him more than flying, until Caroline.
Caroline Evans is a part of the research team working on a new fighter jet, Caroline has always been an outsider due to her intellect, she’s a genius who was always ahead in school and college therefore she never fit in anywhere especially with her fellow students and later with her colleagues, she has always had a thirst for knowledge, but little experience in personal relationships.
Soon it appears that someone on her team is sabotaging the new bird and setting up Caroline to look like the guilty party. Joe is furious and feels betrayed, while Caroline is crushed at Joe’s accusations. Soon Caroline figures out who is setting her up which puts her in danger. Joe and Caroline make a fantastic couple, I love their fiery passion (hawt!).
*Originally read 2001
Re-read (for the millionth time) and reviewed on 2.04.20
Joe Mackenzie is all grown-up (and Yowza!) and the former “jet jockey” is now Colonel 'Breed" Mackenzie. Joe has spent most of his life in a very controlled environment of his own making, it’s something he lives by as a fighter pilot, Officer, and man...it’s vital to him and nothing stirs him more than flying, until Caroline.
Caroline Evans is a part of the research team working on a new fighter jet, Caroline has always been an outsider due to her intellect, she’s a genius who was always ahead in school and college therefore she never fit in anywhere especially with her fellow students and later with her colleagues, she has always had a thirst for knowledge, but little experience in personal relationships.
Soon it appears that someone on her team is sabotaging the new bird and setting up Caroline to look like the guilty party. Joe is furious and feels betrayed, while Caroline is crushed at Joe’s accusations. Soon Caroline figures out who is setting her up which puts her in danger. Joe and Caroline make a fantastic couple, I love their fiery passion (hawt!).
*Originally read 2001
May 9, 2018
*3-3'5*
Me ha gustado más que el anterior, ya no solo por la parte romántica porque Joe es yeah! y Caroline es genial con esa sinceridad aplastante en cualquier situación, sino también por la trama de los aviones y los científicos chiflados.
Tenía miedo encontrarme con un Topgun y no fue así (menos mal) eso si es un teleflín de principio a fin.
Me ha gustado más que el anterior, ya no solo por la parte romántica porque Joe es yeah! y Caroline es genial con esa sinceridad aplastante en cualquier situación, sino también por la trama de los aviones y los científicos chiflados.
Tenía miedo encontrarme con un Topgun y no fue así (menos mal) eso si es un teleflín de principio a fin.
February 17, 2021
Okay so Joe MacKenzie is DEFINITELY swoon worthy!
I read book 1 in this series almost 5 years ago. It was his dad Wolf’s story. I’m not sure why I didn’t move on to Joe’s story right away. It was probably a matter of so many books to read and so little time!
In book 1 Joe was only a school aged boy. My memory is awful (as I am sure y’all already know) and as I started this one I really didn’t remember that much about him. Towards the end though things come to light and brought me back.
In Mackenzie's Mission we see the man that Joe has become and I loved him! He certainly was an alpha male and a bit of a control freak in all aspects of his life. That is what I ended up loving the most about him.
Caroline Evans would be the one to push Joe to edge of everything. Desire. Vulnerability. Patience. The thing is, Caroline had no clue what she was doing to him. Which made for a great story.
I will leave it at that.
A couple of things kept this from being a 5 star read. While the reader knows something is brewing between these two in a sexual manner there was also something brewing on a professional level. I wish the reader was given more time to absorb the “professional something”. One more chapter covering this would have been better. And the other thing was the book ended at 85%. I hate that. Just a pet peeve of mine. :)
July 19, 2023
Like I said in my last review, this book is dated, and the Old School vibes are in full force here, so if 80-90’s soapy reads aren’t your thing…I’d pass. I thought it was quite similar to the first book minus all the racist half-breed tidbits. You have the quiet, powerful H partnered with a 30-yr-old outspoken virgin. Insta-lust-love with an overlapping mystery… and the CHEESY sexytime.
She was wild and pagan, even more the Valkyrie now when she lay naked, her thighs open to accept the male intrusion that would end her maidenhood. She challenged his domination, demanded his body and seed in this most ancient celebration of fertility.
Or cringy convos like these between the h and her MIL (h from book 1)
“Just looking at him gives me shivers,” Caroline admitted dreamily, “Oh, he knows. The thing is, you give him shivers, too.
And…
“Joe’s a Mackenzie, hardly a female sperm to be found. Mackenzies have to work really hard to have daughters.
Bottom Line- Ok, not as good as the first book for me. I’m stopping here.
She was wild and pagan, even more the Valkyrie now when she lay naked, her thighs open to accept the male intrusion that would end her maidenhood. She challenged his domination, demanded his body and seed in this most ancient celebration of fertility.
Or cringy convos like these between the h and her MIL (h from book 1)
“Just looking at him gives me shivers,” Caroline admitted dreamily, “Oh, he knows. The thing is, you give him shivers, too.
And…
“Joe’s a Mackenzie, hardly a female sperm to be found. Mackenzies have to work really hard to have daughters.
Bottom Line- Ok, not as good as the first book for me. I’m stopping here.
February 28, 2012
3 1/2
Mackenzie’s Mission is the sequel to the fabulously romantic and just about perfect Mackenzie’s Mountain and it had a lot to live up to and it didn’t quite do it. Yeah, I know it’s not fair to rate a book comparing it to its prequel but I read them back to back and I never claimed to be fair anyway. “Mission” is a perfectly serviceable category romance if you like the uber-alpha male and the virginal heroine and can stomach the dated-ness when it comes to women in a “man’s” place of work. It follows the same romantic formula as Mackenzie’s Mission (experienced alpha meets virgin, sparks fly, they have lots of pain-free stupendous sex and fall madly in love) but it just didn’t resonate with me the way the first book did. But honestly? There aren’t many books that resonate with me on that level.
This is Joe’s story and I really liked Joe in “Mountain”. He was just a kid with big dreams in the previous book and it was a thrill reading about him living out those almost impossible dreams of his and becoming an elite fighter pilot but he has grown into a bit of a cocky fella. He is a Colonel and in command of a team creating a new top secret fighter weapon. Caroline is a specialist on the team and the only female in this male oriented little world and they are not very nice to her. To protect her, Joe decides she’ll have to pretend to be “his”. Well, you know how all that pretending usually turns out in these books, right? Yeah, it happens here. Some drama and adventure and backstabbing stuff happens and there is some witty repartee that I absolutely loved and some super-hot sexual bits but the plot and characters, I’m sad to say, are really nothing to get all excited over.
Caroline was sort of a throw-away heroine. She was certainly not abrasive or obnoxious but she didn’t stand out to me in any way that moved me emotionally and I never really understood her. She was a brainiac who skipped grades, never fit in with her peers and thus was unable to relate to guys and edging close to 30 is still a virgin, even though she’s incredibly beautiful. All the man-boys she tried to date had octopus arms and it disgusted her so much she developed an ice queen demeanor with all men as a defense against their slimy lips and nasty tongues. But then Joe kisses her and the tinglies and swooning begins. Joe, for his part, seemed interested in her only because she didn’t react to him the way most hot-blooded girls did, all swoony and hot to get him out of his jeans. She was cool and distant and tried to brush him off. But not for long! Not even Caroline can resist Joe.
Near the very end we learn a gut-wrenching secret about Joe that helped me understand much of his behavior and his need for control. As painful as it was I’m glad Howard included it though I do wish she’d been able to sneak it in earlier so I would’ve been able to like him better earlier on. Still, there’s nothing that makes me crazier than an alpha guy who is a control freak just . . . because and Joe had a damn good reason.
Mackenzie’s Mountain is by far the better book but I don’t regret reading this one. I don’t know if I’ll bother tracking down Mackenzie’s Pleasure unless I can dig up a copy on audio.
Mackenzie’s Mission is the sequel to the fabulously romantic and just about perfect Mackenzie’s Mountain and it had a lot to live up to and it didn’t quite do it. Yeah, I know it’s not fair to rate a book comparing it to its prequel but I read them back to back and I never claimed to be fair anyway. “Mission” is a perfectly serviceable category romance if you like the uber-alpha male and the virginal heroine and can stomach the dated-ness when it comes to women in a “man’s” place of work. It follows the same romantic formula as Mackenzie’s Mission (experienced alpha meets virgin, sparks fly, they have lots of pain-free stupendous sex and fall madly in love) but it just didn’t resonate with me the way the first book did. But honestly? There aren’t many books that resonate with me on that level.
This is Joe’s story and I really liked Joe in “Mountain”. He was just a kid with big dreams in the previous book and it was a thrill reading about him living out those almost impossible dreams of his and becoming an elite fighter pilot but he has grown into a bit of a cocky fella. He is a Colonel and in command of a team creating a new top secret fighter weapon. Caroline is a specialist on the team and the only female in this male oriented little world and they are not very nice to her. To protect her, Joe decides she’ll have to pretend to be “his”. Well, you know how all that pretending usually turns out in these books, right? Yeah, it happens here. Some drama and adventure and backstabbing stuff happens and there is some witty repartee that I absolutely loved and some super-hot sexual bits but the plot and characters, I’m sad to say, are really nothing to get all excited over.
Caroline was sort of a throw-away heroine. She was certainly not abrasive or obnoxious but she didn’t stand out to me in any way that moved me emotionally and I never really understood her. She was a brainiac who skipped grades, never fit in with her peers and thus was unable to relate to guys and edging close to 30 is still a virgin, even though she’s incredibly beautiful. All the man-boys she tried to date had octopus arms and it disgusted her so much she developed an ice queen demeanor with all men as a defense against their slimy lips and nasty tongues. But then Joe kisses her and the tinglies and swooning begins. Joe, for his part, seemed interested in her only because she didn’t react to him the way most hot-blooded girls did, all swoony and hot to get him out of his jeans. She was cool and distant and tried to brush him off. But not for long! Not even Caroline can resist Joe.
Near the very end we learn a gut-wrenching secret about Joe that helped me understand much of his behavior and his need for control. As painful as it was I’m glad Howard included it though I do wish she’d been able to sneak it in earlier so I would’ve been able to like him better earlier on. Still, there’s nothing that makes me crazier than an alpha guy who is a control freak just . . . because and Joe had a damn good reason.
Mackenzie’s Mountain is by far the better book but I don’t regret reading this one. I don’t know if I’ll bother tracking down Mackenzie’s Pleasure unless I can dig up a copy on audio.
June 17, 2016
Joe and Carolyn are another perfect couple by LH. He is alpha he is tortured she is virginal, feisty and intelligent. Together they sizzle! I adored them and reading about the birth of their baby boy made me swoon! Adorable epilogue!
August 9, 2019
6.5/10
Una historia muy noventera con un prota bastante kromañon... ideal para un día de playa
Una historia muy noventera con un prota bastante kromañon... ideal para un día de playa
May 25, 2016
Air Force Colonel Joe "Breed" MacKenzie is busy with his military career and acting as a test pilot for the Night Wing Project, a new classified aircraft. When beautiful Physicist Caroline Evans comes to the base to work on the new Night Wing prototypes, Joe is immediately attracted to her. At first Caroline seems a bit flustered when Joe is around, but he finally succeeds in getting her to agree to a date. Everything is running smoothly in their relationship until it is discovered that one of the planes has been sabotaged and all evidence points to Caroline as the culprit. Joe must choose between his country or the woman he is falling in love with.
This is the follow up to Linda Howard's classic "MacKenzie's Mountain". Joe is the son of Wolf MacKenzie whose dream was to be a fighter pilot. Now he is all grown up with a successful military career. Caroline is a no-nonsense scientist who never had time for a relationship.
This was an entertaining story with lots of interesting information about the military project that is the background to the story. Joe was a typical 1990's hero, a little to alpha for me, but Caroline stood up to him nicely. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
This is the follow up to Linda Howard's classic "MacKenzie's Mountain". Joe is the son of Wolf MacKenzie whose dream was to be a fighter pilot. Now he is all grown up with a successful military career. Caroline is a no-nonsense scientist who never had time for a relationship.
This was an entertaining story with lots of interesting information about the military project that is the background to the story. Joe was a typical 1990's hero, a little to alpha for me, but Caroline stood up to him nicely. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
December 7, 2022
Re-reading a week later from a week later from a week later .. upping to 5 effing stars. Sigh
4.5 fabulous ⭐️
I’d be easy and could rate it 5 stars. The H was years ahead of your cookie cutter alpha. He was a top gun for real, very controlled and yet extremely aggressive and focused for his work. Tbh I skimmed through much of the flying legalese. I can never understand what the Gs are and some of the mission stuff was also beyond my interest.
Come the MCs. Holy hotness. I didn’t feel the connection right away but once the H switched on his sexy innuendos I was in smokes. This man could make you nervous and jittery with his body language alone.
There is a great plot like always from LH. Quite intense and fast paced. There wasn’t a moment’s rest I could take once I was deep in the book. I loved how the H drove his point home when they have a baby in the epilogue. Total closure and extreme happy feels from a winner of a book. Keeper!!
4.5 fabulous ⭐️
I’d be easy and could rate it 5 stars. The H was years ahead of your cookie cutter alpha. He was a top gun for real, very controlled and yet extremely aggressive and focused for his work. Tbh I skimmed through much of the flying legalese. I can never understand what the Gs are and some of the mission stuff was also beyond my interest.
Come the MCs. Holy hotness. I didn’t feel the connection right away but once the H switched on his sexy innuendos I was in smokes. This man could make you nervous and jittery with his body language alone.
There is a great plot like always from LH. Quite intense and fast paced. There wasn’t a moment’s rest I could take once I was deep in the book. I loved how the H drove his point home when they have a baby in the epilogue. Total closure and extreme happy feels from a winner of a book. Keeper!!
September 8, 2016
"She was the most beautiful bitch he'd ever seen, fast and seek and deadly."
Col. Joe Mackenzie, son of Wolf Mackenzie from Mackenzie's Mountain, is lead test pilot for Night Wing- a top secret prototype jet the military has been working on. The new weapon's expert hits his radar immediately and he's determined to take her out for a spin too.
Only she's a lot more dangerous- and harder to tame- then any challenge Night Wing ever presented. Still he's determined to get her in his bed. Passion explodes one weekend and they burn up the sheets- only to come back to the base and her under suspicion of sabotage.
Joe's a tough one to like. He needs to be in control, for good reason, and he's manipulative. But he's doesn't back down. Caroline Evans is super intelligent. She knows Colonel G.I Joe is a controlling bastard- but he's a sexy one.
THese two work well together and though I get pissed at him about 3/4ths in because he doesn't have her back at one point- I quickly forgave him when his as yet unrevealed past comes to light.
I love all of LH's Mackenzies. ::sigh::
Col. Joe Mackenzie, son of Wolf Mackenzie from Mackenzie's Mountain, is lead test pilot for Night Wing- a top secret prototype jet the military has been working on. The new weapon's expert hits his radar immediately and he's determined to take her out for a spin too.
Only she's a lot more dangerous- and harder to tame- then any challenge Night Wing ever presented. Still he's determined to get her in his bed. Passion explodes one weekend and they burn up the sheets- only to come back to the base and her under suspicion of sabotage.
Joe's a tough one to like. He needs to be in control, for good reason, and he's manipulative. But he's doesn't back down. Caroline Evans is super intelligent. She knows Colonel G.I Joe is a controlling bastard- but he's a sexy one.
THese two work well together and though I get pissed at him about 3/4ths in because he doesn't have her back at one point- I quickly forgave him when his as yet unrevealed past comes to light.
I love all of LH's Mackenzies. ::sigh::
February 24, 2019
“If he thought he could just pick up again where they had left off, now that it had been proven to his satisfaction that she was worthy, he was in for a nasty surprise. She wanted to scream at him, but instead she limited herself to a scathing retort. “We had a hot weekend in bed, but that doesn’t give you a deed to me. Boy, were my eyes opened. I knew you weren’t madly in love with me or anything, but you really can’t have much of an opinion of someone at all if you think they’re capable of betraying their country. It was certainly a learning experience—”
If she could keep herself falling in his arms just after the tirade, I would have given 4-4,5 stars.
If she could keep herself falling in his arms just after the tirade, I would have given 4-4,5 stars.
October 29, 2022
Este libro me gustó muucho más que el primero, me ha atrapado totalmente.
Joe había sido un personaje entrañable en el primer libro, en este ha sido irresistible. Quizás esa ha sido la gran diferencia con el anterior título. Wolf, el anterior protagonista, no acabó de conquistarme. Otro puntazo de este libro ha sido la fabulosa Caroline. Taaan sincera, leal, inteligente y con un carácter fuerte y fabuloso. Un personaje 10. Me ha encantado.
Por otro lado, la trama ha sido mucho más atrayente e interesante. Al principio pensé que la autora se iba a enrollar con temas técnicos de aviones, pero nada que ver, solo dio varias indicaciones para ponernos en antecedentes y la historia prosiguió de forma ágil. No voy a revelar nada para no spoilear, pero me gustó mucho.
En resumen, este libro me ha hecho decidir seguir leyendo esta serie. Lo he disfrutado mucho y me ha hecho pasar unos buenos ratos.
CONSEJO: Aunque son historias independientes y autoconclusivas, si no lees el primer libro hay información que pasarás por alto y no disfrutarás tanto este segundo título.
Joe había sido un personaje entrañable en el primer libro, en este ha sido irresistible. Quizás esa ha sido la gran diferencia con el anterior título. Wolf, el anterior protagonista, no acabó de conquistarme. Otro puntazo de este libro ha sido la fabulosa Caroline. Taaan sincera, leal, inteligente y con un carácter fuerte y fabuloso. Un personaje 10. Me ha encantado.
Por otro lado, la trama ha sido mucho más atrayente e interesante. Al principio pensé que la autora se iba a enrollar con temas técnicos de aviones, pero nada que ver, solo dio varias indicaciones para ponernos en antecedentes y la historia prosiguió de forma ágil. No voy a revelar nada para no spoilear, pero me gustó mucho.
En resumen, este libro me ha hecho decidir seguir leyendo esta serie. Lo he disfrutado mucho y me ha hecho pasar unos buenos ratos.
CONSEJO: Aunque son historias independientes y autoconclusivas, si no lees el primer libro hay información que pasarás por alto y no disfrutarás tanto este segundo título.
November 19, 2019
Adoro mucho a Joe Mackenzie, literalmente solo quería leer este libro porque sabía que sería el protagonista y tenía muchas ganas de saber qué pasó con él después del final de Mackenzie's Mountain.
Esta historia no me gustó tanto, o sea estuvo bonita pero no esperaba que la historia fuera así y como que me bajo un poco el ánimo conforme leía, me gustaron mucho los personajes principales y también el cameo de Mary y Wolf pero aún así siento que le faltó algo más.
Caroline me gustó mucho, wow, pensé que sería torpe y enamoradiza pero en realidad es muy inteligente y sensata, hubo una escena en particular que me dejó con la boca abierta, es muy directa con sus palabras y aparte no se deja minimizar ni entorpecer por otros, me encantó.
Casi lloro con algo que le ocurrió a Joe de niño, en el libro anterior te dan a entender que algo sucedió con él pero no se sabe qué y aunque no le tomé mucha importancia en su momento, cuando ya te narran su versión lo único que pude lograr fue quedar en shock.
El epílogo ha sido de lo más bonito, los genes Mackenzie son de lo más adorables y predecibles que hay🤪💛.
Esta historia no me gustó tanto, o sea estuvo bonita pero no esperaba que la historia fuera así y como que me bajo un poco el ánimo conforme leía, me gustaron mucho los personajes principales y también el cameo de Mary y Wolf pero aún así siento que le faltó algo más.
Caroline me gustó mucho, wow, pensé que sería torpe y enamoradiza pero en realidad es muy inteligente y sensata, hubo una escena en particular que me dejó con la boca abierta, es muy directa con sus palabras y aparte no se deja minimizar ni entorpecer por otros, me encantó.
Casi lloro con algo que le ocurrió a Joe de niño, en el libro anterior te dan a entender que algo sucedió con él pero no se sabe qué y aunque no le tomé mucha importancia en su momento, cuando ya te narran su versión lo único que pude lograr fue quedar en shock.
El epílogo ha sido de lo más bonito, los genes Mackenzie son de lo más adorables y predecibles que hay🤪💛.
December 22, 2016
I realize that a 2 star rating is not exactly a compliment, but for me it is really a neutral response to a book. I can understand why people like this book. I don't think it's so bad either. It's just.......well, the story isn't very special or memorable.
First thing first I am completely biased. Joe Mackenzie was a fight jet pilot. My DAD was a fight jet pilot before his commercial airline career. All those "pilot things" mentioned in the book were a little too real for me. Linda Howard built the character Joe using a lot of typical "pilot characteristics", which were, for the most part, true. I see them in my dad, the calm in crisis, the clear head, the logic, the discipline and absolute zero tolerance for security mishaps.
But that made it difficult for me to enjoy the book because well, Joe was this sexy lusty pilot who had found his true love. I mean I can't help it. I am a pilot's daughter whose parents have been happily married for over 38 years. When Joe and Caroline were getting it on, I had some interesting images in my head that any child would find disturbing hahahahaha. This book was entirely too close to my life.
Back to the story, from where I see it, Joe and Caroline had a shallow relationship. Yeah they were all hots for each other but I didn't get the impression that they had the opportunity for affection to grow into love. They had a lot of sex, which I suppose, was good for them. But what's so special about Caroline? I don't get it. Why would a popular sexy pilot all of a sudden find an awkward genius virgin exciting and irresistible? They hardly had any chance to get to know each other before Joe had to tell his little guy to stand down. The attraction did not have sufficient opportunities to turn into affection. So yeah the book was hot, but was it a great romance? Not in my eyes.
The contemporary setting really isn't my thing. I don't care for it. The story is alright, but in my opinion, Joe and Caroline were just 2 people who enjoyed sex together and somehow conveniently they believed that they were "'meant to be" and the readers have to take their words for it. Not a great book for me but it's not bad either. Can't really imagine myself rereading it.
First thing first I am completely biased. Joe Mackenzie was a fight jet pilot. My DAD was a fight jet pilot before his commercial airline career. All those "pilot things" mentioned in the book were a little too real for me. Linda Howard built the character Joe using a lot of typical "pilot characteristics", which were, for the most part, true. I see them in my dad, the calm in crisis, the clear head, the logic, the discipline and absolute zero tolerance for security mishaps.
But that made it difficult for me to enjoy the book because well, Joe was this sexy lusty pilot who had found his true love. I mean I can't help it. I am a pilot's daughter whose parents have been happily married for over 38 years. When Joe and Caroline were getting it on, I had some interesting images in my head that any child would find disturbing hahahahaha. This book was entirely too close to my life.
Back to the story, from where I see it, Joe and Caroline had a shallow relationship. Yeah they were all hots for each other but I didn't get the impression that they had the opportunity for affection to grow into love. They had a lot of sex, which I suppose, was good for them. But what's so special about Caroline? I don't get it. Why would a popular sexy pilot all of a sudden find an awkward genius virgin exciting and irresistible? They hardly had any chance to get to know each other before Joe had to tell his little guy to stand down. The attraction did not have sufficient opportunities to turn into affection. So yeah the book was hot, but was it a great romance? Not in my eyes.
The contemporary setting really isn't my thing. I don't care for it. The story is alright, but in my opinion, Joe and Caroline were just 2 people who enjoyed sex together and somehow conveniently they believed that they were "'meant to be" and the readers have to take their words for it. Not a great book for me but it's not bad either. Can't really imagine myself rereading it.
September 8, 2012
Love this series and really liked Joe's book! Caroline was funny and it was very HOT when Joe showed her what to do on a "date"! Exciting ending and I enjoyed going back to visit with Wolf and Mary, I adore those two!
March 30, 2019
Everything by Linda Howard is wonderful and this is no exception. I loved this book and getting to know Joe all grown up. Caroline was the perfect match for him. This book was romantic and Joe was the perfect Alpha male who finds himself turned inside out by the perfect woman.
My one complaint would be that the book felt rushed as a whole. The romance was rushed. They barely knew each other (had only had 2 dates) before they spent a weekend in bed. And the suspense aspect of the story felt rushed to the conclusion as well. I could have done with more character development and plot development.
My one complaint would be that the book felt rushed as a whole. The romance was rushed. They barely knew each other (had only had 2 dates) before they spent a weekend in bed. And the suspense aspect of the story felt rushed to the conclusion as well. I could have done with more character development and plot development.
June 14, 2017
Enjoyable story of lust and love.
I loved the character Joe, whose natural abilities and hard work take him to the top in his field of air force fighter pilots. He is in charge of testing and developing a new jet. Caroline is on the project team. He tells her she should pretend to have a romance with him so the other pilots will leave her alone. It was a nice story. There were also some bad guys.
Child abuse warning: In one scene someone recalls what life was like living in a foster home where the man beat, tortured and raped a six-year-old boy.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Dennis Boutsikaris was ok, but he is not the best for a romance novel. He doesn’t show feeling, desire or seduction in his voice. It’s almost like he is fast reading a book. Example: Joe says “I’m going to unbutton your shirt and slip my hand inside, all right?” Boutiskaris sounded like a doctor with a patient, not a man turned on and wanting to touch. The character Adrian “muttered” something. Boutsikaris said it in a loud voice. Carolyn asked a question “to the point, a simple request for information.” Boutsikaris said it in a wimpy fragile way.
Dennis Boutsikaris is better than some narrators, but he wasn’t five stars for me. I much prefer Will Patton, Richard Armitage, and Tom Stechshultz.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 216 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: 1992 Nevada plus Wyoming. Copyright: 1992. Genre: contemporary romance.
I loved the character Joe, whose natural abilities and hard work take him to the top in his field of air force fighter pilots. He is in charge of testing and developing a new jet. Caroline is on the project team. He tells her she should pretend to have a romance with him so the other pilots will leave her alone. It was a nice story. There were also some bad guys.
Child abuse warning: In one scene someone recalls what life was like living in a foster home where the man beat, tortured and raped a six-year-old boy.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Dennis Boutsikaris was ok, but he is not the best for a romance novel. He doesn’t show feeling, desire or seduction in his voice. It’s almost like he is fast reading a book. Example: Joe says “I’m going to unbutton your shirt and slip my hand inside, all right?” Boutiskaris sounded like a doctor with a patient, not a man turned on and wanting to touch. The character Adrian “muttered” something. Boutsikaris said it in a loud voice. Carolyn asked a question “to the point, a simple request for information.” Boutsikaris said it in a wimpy fragile way.
Dennis Boutsikaris is better than some narrators, but he wasn’t five stars for me. I much prefer Will Patton, Richard Armitage, and Tom Stechshultz.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 216 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: 1992 Nevada plus Wyoming. Copyright: 1992. Genre: contemporary romance.
March 16, 2015
First, despite the 3 stars I liked it. It was just the thing I needed, alpha male and an end twenties virgin in a fast paced book. It wasn't remotely believable, but if you, like me, just want some hotness, you'll have a good time.
You'll have to forget some things though;
- the heroin can be really obnoxious. She's suposed to be very smart, but it's only told not shown. Then she is obsessed (at least in the beginning) with how unfair women are treated compared to men, and that in reference to high heels and tight skirts women are suposed to wear. But then she insists on putting on lipstick...
- the sexistic remarks that would have the colonel fired in seconds: he suposedly had to keep her safe from the remarks from her collegues by pretending to be his lover...
- the h/h know they are soulmates within the space of 1 week. (It can be faster, I know now i've finished book #3 in this series)
There are a lot of other issues ofcourse, but i'll repeat that I did enjoy reading this. But then again I also like sciencefiction (lol).
Enjoy!
You'll have to forget some things though;
- the heroin can be really obnoxious. She's suposed to be very smart, but it's only told not shown. Then she is obsessed (at least in the beginning) with how unfair women are treated compared to men, and that in reference to high heels and tight skirts women are suposed to wear. But then she insists on putting on lipstick...
- the sexistic remarks that would have the colonel fired in seconds: he suposedly had to keep her safe from the remarks from her collegues by pretending to be his lover...
- the h/h know they are soulmates within the space of 1 week. (It can be faster, I know now i've finished book #3 in this series)
There are a lot of other issues ofcourse, but i'll repeat that I did enjoy reading this. But then again I also like sciencefiction (lol).
Enjoy!
March 20, 2017
This is my first Linda Howard and perhaps I didn't choose the right one. I liked it. I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
The H is pretty sexy in his alpha way. He's not an alphhole although he does act like one when he thinks the h has sabotaged the airplane project they're working on. I probably would have given this another star had that resolution been more satisfactory. He did say he was sorry, but suppose I wanted a bit more. The h was so determined not to get back with him after her innocence was proven, but she caves immediately.
ETA: Audio - narrator was decent. A bit monotone, but listenable (if that's even a word).
Also. All the fetishizing of the H's Native American heritage made me a bit uncomfortable in that white person's 'Should we be talking about this?' sort of way.
The H is pretty sexy in his alpha way. He's not an alphhole although he does act like one when he thinks the h has sabotaged the airplane project they're working on. I probably would have given this another star had that resolution been more satisfactory. He did say he was sorry, but suppose I wanted a bit more. The h was so determined not to get back with him after her innocence was proven, but she caves immediately.
ETA: Audio - narrator was decent. A bit monotone, but listenable (if that's even a word).
Also. All the fetishizing of the H's Native American heritage made me a bit uncomfortable in that white person's 'Should we be talking about this?' sort of way.
December 30, 2022
5 stars!
The Mackenzie series is my favorite romance series of all time. Wolf and Mary are one of my favorite couples, and this is Joe's book!
Caroline is the perfect match for Joe and I love that the follow-up to Mackenzie's Mountain does not disappoint. The rest of the books are just as good too!
If you have not read this series, I am really jealous of the reading that you have yet to experience. If you are familiar with this series, you know that I am speaking truth!
Enjoy!
The Mackenzie series is my favorite romance series of all time. Wolf and Mary are one of my favorite couples, and this is Joe's book!
Caroline is the perfect match for Joe and I love that the follow-up to Mackenzie's Mountain does not disappoint. The rest of the books are just as good too!
If you have not read this series, I am really jealous of the reading that you have yet to experience. If you are familiar with this series, you know that I am speaking truth!
Enjoy!
December 12, 2013
This one was slightly better than the first. I get that things were set almost 20 years later than the first book, but I want to know where Joe, the sweet kid, went. Instead we are left with a moody, almost belligerent man, that bares no resemblance to the Joe in book 1.
I didn't really care much for Caroline either, she was such an egghead and not in a likeable way. About the only thing I did like about her was that she pushed Joe.
With this book I am done with the series, too much I don't like to keep reading.
I didn't really care much for Caroline either, she was such an egghead and not in a likeable way. About the only thing I did like about her was that she pushed Joe.
With this book I am done with the series, too much I don't like to keep reading.
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