Operation Hero

by Miriam Minger

Unspeakable tragedy and cold-blooded murder conspire against Clare Carson when her six-year-old son is kidnapped after a heart transplant and his abductors want her dead. A dying cop’s last words lead her to former Special Ops Jake Wyatt, who helps her discover the horrific truth behind her son’s abduction and offers to help her get Tyler back. With nowhere else to turn, Clare entrusts her life to Jake not knowing he has a deadly agenda of his own that could destroy them.

"Miriam Minger is an amazing storyteller and this book is an absolute GEM! Operation Hero grabs you right from the start and will leave you thinking of the sheer power of it long after you've finished. Five stars!" - The Top Shelf

“Miriam Minger is a master storyteller who illustrates the full gamut of emotions felt by her characters. Emotions so strong that you are pulled into the pages and into their lives.” - Inside Romance

“With Miriam Minger, you’re assured of a good read!” - Heartland Critiques

*Originally published by Walker Publishing under the title Ripped Apart.

PLEASE NOTE: This book contains love scenes, strong language, and some violence. If you'd prefer to read sweet & clean romance, look for Kari, Walker Creek Brides, Book 1 by Miriam Minger.

Historical Romance by Miriam Minger

The O’Byrne Brides Series

WILD ANGEL
WILD ROSES
WILD MOONLIGHT
ON A WILD WINTER'S NIGHT

The Man of My Dreams Series

SECRETS OF MIDNIGHT
MY RUNAWAY HEART
MY FORBIDDEN DUCHESS
KISSED AT TWILIGHT
MY FUGITIVE PRINCE

Captive Brides Collection

TWIN PASSIONS
CAPTIVE ROSE
THE PAGAN’S PRIZE

Dangerous Masquerade Collection

THE BRIGAND BRIDE
THE TEMPTRESS BRIDE
THE IMPOSTOR BRIDE

Contemporary Romance with a Historical Romance Twist

THE MAIDEN AND THE BILLIONAIRE
THE GOVERNESS AND THE BILLIONAIRE
THE PIRATE QUEEN AND THE BILLIONAIRE
THE HIGHLAND BRIDE AND THE BILLIONAIRE

Specially Priced Box Sets

CAPTIVE BRIDES: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
DANGEROUS MASQUERADE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
THE MAN OF MY DREAMS: THE COMPLETE SERIES
THE O'BYRNE BRIDES: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TO LOVE A BILLIONAIRE: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

OPERATION HERO

About Miriam Minger

Miriam Minger is the bestselling author of emotion-packed action adventure historical romances that sweep you from lusty medieval times to Regency England—and with some dangerously seductive 18th century tales in between. With two dozen books published in five languages, Miriam is also the author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, inspirational romantic suspense, and children’s books. Her novels appear in multi-author boxed sets with such acclaimed talents as Kathryn Le Veque, Tanya Anne Crosby, Eliza Knight, Kimberly Cates, and Glynnis Campbell. Miriam Minger is the winner of several Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards—including Best Medieval Historical Romance of the Year for The Pagan's Prize—and a Romance Writers of America RITA Award Finalist for The Brigand Bride and Captive Rose.

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Romance

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2011

About the author

Miriam Minger is the bestselling author of sweet to sensual historical romances that sweep you from Viking times to Regency England to the American West. Miriam is also the author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, inspirational romance, and children's books. She is the winner of several Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards--including Best Medieval Historical Romance of the Year for The Pagan's Prize--and a two-time RITA Award Finalist for The Brigand Bride and Captive Rose.

Miriam Minger says: It's been a wonderful experience to have all my novels published as eBooks, but the greatest thrill for me as a writer is when readers take the time to let me know they enjoyed my stories...

"I have read hundreds if not thousands of books in my lifetime and not once have I ever been moved to comment on one until now. This is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read. I laughed. I cried. I remained at the edge of my seat devouring every single word you wove with this incredible story. I just wanted to let you know how deeply this story moved me and to thank you for creating it."

Wow. This one left me speechless, and thankful. I had done my job, which is to make you feel like you've dropped feet first into a world that captures your imagination and emotions so vividly you might be living and breathing the story. And that's one of the purest joys of reading, isn't it? I know it is for me, and it is my hope to continue to write books that make you live and breathe the adventure, laugh and cry, and that touch your heart.

I'd love for you to visit my website where you can sign up for my newsletter and read more about my books: www.miriamminger.com.

Reviews

[Misty Rayburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brutal accident causes a mother to lose her son. Mad with grief, she asks her husband to do the unthinkable, kidnap the little boy who has her son’s heart beating in his chest.

Clare Carson’s world becomes a plummeting rollercoaster in an instant. Her son has been kidnapped after a heart transplant and his abductors want her dead. They already killed the cop that was helping her but with his dying last words, he sends her to former Special Ops Jake Wyatt. He helps her figure out the truth and offers to help get her son back but little does she know that he has his own agenda that could destroy them both.

Miriam Minger is an amazing storyteller and this book is an absolute GEM! It grabs you right from the start and whisks you away into an amazing thriller that has everything you could possibly want: Tragedy, heart pounding moments, shootouts, escapes, characters you love, characters you feel sympathy for and characters you absolutely hate. The only thing it didn’t have was an explosion but one was talked about so I guess that counts. It will leave you thinking of the sheer power of it long after you’ve finished.

Thank you to Miriam Minger and Walker Publishing for the review copy. It in no way influenced my review.

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced suspense--so fast-paced that it's hard to believe so much action could take place in just a few days. Some of the supposed good guys turn out to wear black hats; some of the villains are evil to the core, but some that would be expected to be pure evil turn out to have a heart of gold--or at least a soft gold spot in an evil heart. I would have found the ending more satisfying had Jake and Clare resolved the situation rather than the resolution coming from an unexpected source.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting and heart pounding drama awaits you in this book by prolific author Miriam Minger. Clare and Wyatt are two people who are determined to achieve their goals even at the cost of their deaths. They start out at cross purposes and find that their destinies have become intertwined forever. They have to fight for their present and their future where everyone it seems is trying to kill them. I read this book from start to finish in one sitting and was mesmerized. You will be awed, scared and cheer them on when they succeed.

[Shellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author is new to me and I thought the story started out slow with a ton of characters. The story certainly picked up and I had a hard time putting it down. I wish there had been a little more of the story as it all wrapped up. I thought Jake was tough to like - his character was so very hot and cold and I think all of the chemistry between he and Claire faded mid-story. Overall I enjoyed the story and would read another book by this author

[dianne gittings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

It was a great strory ,it had me flipping pages. I recommend this book for for a good weekend read

[TBA66 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action and suspense were good, but felt no connection between hero and heroine. No passion. I give it three stars as an action-suspense story, but as romantic-suspense, I give it only two.

[Melissa Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!!

[Angela Covarrubias · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me say that this type of book is not my usual read, but I decided to give it a try. I am not at all disappointed with this book. While this book did have some bad language in it, and violence, it is very well written, action packed and pulls at the heart strings. The story is about a mother who has a son with a bad heart and without a transplant, he will die.

There is a tragic accident involving students on a school bus, and 2 little boys lose their lives. Of course the family of one little boy that dies donates his heart and the little boy (Tyler) that needs the heart gets it. This is when the action and more tragedy starts.

One of the little boys killed in the accident is accidentally mistaken for the other, and the wrong child’s heart is taken in the confusion. The parents of the boy that heart that was donated by accident are heart broken and furious that their son was cut open and his heart given to another. The father of that little boy happens to be a drug lord in Mexico, and the mother demands her husband get her son back, even though he is dead.

Tyler is kidnapped by the drug lord father of the little boy who’s heart he now has. He is taken to Mexico and this sets off a chain of events that carry on through the rest of the book. Tyler’s mother desperately wants her son back, so she goes to Mexico to search for her son, and is determined to not leave without him.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ripped Apart was a gripping physiological thriller with a dash of romance. This tale had me riveted from page one. Minger’s plot is filled with danger, suspense, lots of twists and a storyline you aren’t sure to forget.

The protagonist Clare Carson has a six year old son named Tyler. Tyler suffers from a heart defect, which will one day require surgery. When he stops breathing at the mall, he is rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, a bus load of kids on their way to camp are hit by a semi-truck. Two little boys die on the bus that day. One boy’s parents donate his organs; the other's realize there has been a mistake. The doctors are able to revive Tyler, and miraculously a heart is available. I really liked Clare. She is one tough cookie and no one messes with her little boy. The tale that unfolds involves the drug cartel, a sexy, rugged, ex-militia man named Jake, two mothers who undeniably love their sons and a man who lives by greed and control. The action and chase scenes were intense and genuine. I couldn’t put this book down. The romance that develops between Jake and Clare is honest, heated and believable.

I highly recommend Ripped Apart to fans of psychological thrillers and romance. This novel is currently available in eBook format.

I want to thank the BookRooster team for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miriam Minger has penned a steamy and suspense filled romance in Operation Hero. Minger introduces readers to Clare Carson, a single mom and third grade teacher raising her son Tyler when a tragic accident occurs leaving Tyler in need of a heart transplant and catapults Clare into seeking help in retrieving her kidnapped son. That's when Jake Wyatt, a former Special Ops and ex-Marine enters the scene. I enjoyed the way Minger reveals the true nature of these two characters. Her plot line is basically a character-driven one and as such we witness how these two journey from being perfect strangers to a loving couple. I love the way Minger uses of suspense through the child's kidnapping to add plot twists.

Minger masterfully incorporates literary devices, such as dialog, point of view and descriptive language, to smoothly move her plot forward. The dialog, internal dialog and banter are well developed and at times quite witty and humorous. The dual point of view provides insight to Jake and Clare. The descriptive language creates vivid scenes. All of these literary devices contribute to pulling the reader into the story. while endearing them to these characters. This age play romance is a worthy read and I recommend it. Happy Reading.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is loaded with action, suspense and drama at page 1 and never lets up. The reader is taken into the mind and soul of all the main characters - the young boy who is kidnapped after he recieves a heart transplant, his frantic mother who will do anything to find him and bring him back, the rogue ex-Marine who assists the mother and also to answer demons from his past, the embassy "official" who is the mastermind of the crime, the drug lord funding the operation and his wife, whose son provided the heart used in the transplant.

The action is intense, the stories into the minds and souls of the characters are both touching and analyzed, and it never lets up. If there is anything critical to mention, in my opinion, the emotions between the mother and ex-Marine seem to change so fast. Especially hers - seems like she went from hating him to loving him in 2.3 seconds! But even that is minor, and it happens in stories that are not as complete and well written as this one. Thank you, Ms. Minger for publishing such a great story.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was extremely good and barely any errors, either !!! That alone made it worthwhile reading !
It's about a young lad of 6 who is kidnapped after a recent heart transplant. I won't share the reason WHY he's kidnapped but it's an interesting story and full of action. His mum gets help from an ex military attache guy whose wife was murdered some years ago in Mexico. It seems the cases could be entwined so they both travel there for their different reasons.
It was very good indeed and one I'd recommend.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tragedy and murder conspire against Clare Carson when her six-year-old son is kidnapped after a heart transplant and his abductors want her dead. A dying cop's last words lead her to former Special Ops Jake Wyatt, who helps her discover the truth behind her son's abduction and offers to help her get Tyler back. With nowhere else to turn, Clare entrusts her life to Jake not knowing he has an agenda of his own that could destroy them. A good read that keeps your attention, but is very predictable and at times gruesome.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! It was extremely fast paced and had me sucked in and wanting more from the very first page. I found myself feeling extremely sad for some characters and extremely angry at others. It was so easy to feel for everyone in the book, which is very unusual for me. This was a great book and I hope Miriam writes more thrillers in the future!

[Pam Chaffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced and packed full of action. The story almost goes too fast though, and the resolution to the conflict wasn't what I expected, which in this case I'm not sure is a compliment or criticism. Overall, main characters are very likable and the premise of the story draws you right in, and doesn't let you go until the end.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad. Took a few tries to really get into it but then it was okay. Nothing great.

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good action-packed story. There were some predictable moments thst I had guessed pretty early on but there are some surprises tucked in there as well. A real page-turner!