Danger and Desire: A Romantic Suspense Anthology

The Intelligence Unit #1

by Janie Crouch, Rachel Grant, Cristin Harber

The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid
Police recruit Xander Matthews has two goals: to keep his head down and his dark and dangerous past where it belongs—behind him. He never thought he'd see brash, beautiful ADA Tara Kingston again. But now they must catch a brutal killer before it's too late.

Scout by Janie Crouch
Linear Tactical’s Wyatt Highfield is running for his life with intel that will break up a human trafficking ring. The last thing he wants is to bring danger to Nadine Macfarlane’s door. The gentle beauty has been through enough, and has the scars—physical and emotional—to prove it. But she’s his only option.

Night Owl by Rachel Grant
Jenna O’Donnell wants only three things: to live in Tamarack, Alaska for the rest of her life; for Ted Godfrey to fall into a glacial crevasse; and Brad Fraser.
Brad Fraser wants only three things: to leave Tamarack, Alaska and never return; for his coworker, Ted Godfrey, to be fired; and to never, ever fall in love.
But Brad tempts fate when he takes Jenna out for a night of owl watching, and once he spends time alone with her, his carefully planned escape from both frigid north and fiery waitress is no longer simple.

The Guardian by Cristin Harber
After a rollercoaster of headline-grabbing family tragedies, Roxana Carter couldn’t have said yes any faster when her perfectly predictable boyfriend proposed marriage. But the arrival of a mysterious gun-wielding couple reveals that Roxana’s steadfast man isn’t who he seems.

Breaking Away by Elle James
Delta Force Operative navigates dangerous territory when he’s assigned to protect a hotshot war correspondent with a price on her head, who also happens to be the girl who got away.

Levi by Maryann Jordan
Heading from Wyoming to Maine to take on his new position with Lighthouse Security Investigations, Levi was ready to get off the highway and take the backroads. Offering to help a stranded woman seemed like a good idea until he discovered the secrets she was hiding. With the help of the LSI Keepers, can Levi untangle Claire's problems in time to save her life?

Desire in DC by Cat Johnson
They couldn't be more different, but sometimes opposites attract so strongly, there's nothing that can keep two people apart. Not even a deadly terrorist hijacking.

Lawson & Jill by Caitlyn O’Leary
When Marine Raider, Lawson Thorne is goaded into grief counseling by his Navy SEAL brother, he never expected to meet the woman of his dreams. When he and Jill decide to ditch the group and form a group of their own, sparks fly. But what happens when Lawson realizes Jill has been targeted by a madman?

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Amazon, Novella, Suspense

791 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2020

About the author

USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense.

After a lifetime on the East Coast—and a six-year stint in Germany due to her husband's job as support for the U.S. Military—Janie has settled into her dream home in Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. She loves engaging in all sorts of adventures (triathlons! 200-mile relay races! mountain treks!), traveling, and surviving life with four kids.

Heroes exist. Let a Janie Crouch book prove it to you.

Check out Janie's updates and more on her website at http://www.janiecrouch.com

Reviews

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to be one of the authors included in this romantic suspense collection. I hope you enjoyed it!
If you did, would you please take the time to leave a review for my individual story? The Goodreads link for Desire in D.C. is below.

Desire in D.C.: A Hot SEALs Origin Story

Get DESIRE IN D.C. (A Hot SEALs Origin Story) by Cat Johnson in eBook & Print at:

APPLE BOOKS https://apple.co/344deCK
GOOGLE PLAY https://bit.ly/3cJRFf3
KINDLE mybook.to/DesireDCKindle
KOBO https://bit.ly/3kJ7jd8
NOOK https://bit.ly/36gv0p4
AMAZON PRINT http://mybook.to/DCPrint
BARNES & NOBLE PRINT https://bit.ly/2RjKLDd
WEBSITE at http://catjohnson.net/desire-in-dc

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Danger and Desire boxset was a collection of short stories and novellas that were quick and easy to power through. Some I enjoyed more than others, but I cannot claim any of them wowed me.

The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid was a three-star rating. It was a story that easily pulled me in, although I did find the information dumps a bit distracting. Despite this and the fact I had to suspend my belief about certain details, the story had me eager to see how the pieces would come together. I enjoyed watching the story play out and the characters come together, although I would have liked a bit more depth and for there to be a bit more to the ending.

Night Owl by Rachel Grant was a three-star rating. It was a story that had the potential to be interesting, but it failed to deliver what I had expected. It was an enjoyable romance between the main characters, but I was expecting more from the suspense in this one. In many ways, this felt like it provided a prequel for details of the main series but did not quite give enough for this to be a powerful standalone novella.

Desire in DC by Cat Johnson was a three-point-five-star read, and I ended up rounding down to a three-star rating. The first half of this story hooked me, and I was quickly pulled into events and fell for the characters. Although I enjoyed the second half of the story, things happened too quickly for me to love them. After the build-up of the first half of the story, I had expected more. As it was, I enjoyed watching the events play out, but I had been hoping to see more action. The fact this had some four-star moments, however, has me curious about the rest of the series.

Levi by Maryann Jordan was a two-star rating. It was a story that had the potential to be interesting, but it was too underdeveloped for me to fall for it in the way I had hoped. There was no real suspense to this one, and the relationship between the characters was insta and without the chemistry I had hoped for.

The Guardian by Cristin Haber was a two-star rating. This was a story I feel would have worked better if I had read the other books in the series. As it was, I felt like I stepped into the middle of a story and was lacking in the information to understand it. That would have been fine, except I felt like nothing happened with this one.

Scout by Janie Crouch was a two-star rating. There were a few moments where I contemplated giving this one a three-star rating, yet there were not enough of those for me to decide to round my rating up. I think, in some ways, I would have enjoyed this one more if I’d read the other books in the series. It felt like a bonus for fans, giving the story of a side character, and did not have enough depth for me to feel any real connection with it.

Lawson & Jill by Caitlyn O’Leary was a two-star rating. This was a story that had me conflicted. I enjoyed the first half of the story, even though it did not quite have enough depth for me, which left me eager to see how everything came together. Unfortunately, the way things came together was lacking for me. Things happened far too quickly, and I never quite felt the danger I had expected with such a story. Although an interesting idea, it came together too predictably and quickly for me to enjoy it in the way I had originally anticipated.

Breaking Away by Elle James was a one-star rating. I wanted to enjoy this one, as there was a lot of potential for edge-of-the-seat moments, yet it failed to grab me in the way I had hoped. This one felt much too flat for me, filled with characters explaining things that were obvious, and never quite packed the emotional punch it could have. A part of me questions whether I would have enjoyed this more if I’d known the characters better from other books, but I’m unsure – no one was fleshed out enough for me to have an interest in them.

All in all, this was easy reading that has me curious about some of the authors, yet it was not quite enough for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received for review

2.85 stars
These are all parts of series. Some were good, some were okay, and some were meh. I've only read the all books in one of the series.

The Rookie - 2.5 stars
It was okay. I liked their chemistry.

Night Owl - 2.5 stars
There were lots of holes, and the bad guy part was left open.

Desire in DC - 3.5 stars
This is a prequel to the book Saved By A SEAL. It is set in the 80's. It was fun seeing the world that I grew up in in a book. I loved the epilogue with a hint of who their daughter will wind up with.

Levi - 3 stars
Levi helps Claire who's on the run. There's lots of chemistry plus intrigue and action. He's got a bunch of great new co-workers who've already had books in guessing.

The Guardian - 3.5 stars (only one where I've read the other books)
I'm still confused about where this book/series fits into the Titan world. This one feels like it's in the middle. Loved the drama, action and chemistry between Roxana and Jason. Didn't really care for any of his co-workers. He needs to ask Jared for a job.

Scout - 3 stars (I've read the first book, but didn't remember it)
Again he has great co-workers with books. Wyatt and Nadine were great. I loved their interaction and all the drama and adventure to get the box to safety. Now I'm really curious Dorian and Ray and what they are hiding from.

Lawson and Jill - 2 stars
The bad guy part could have been better done. It just lacked something in that area. Jill and Lawson were great, but their hooking up was meh.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rookie
Kimberly Kincaid has been able to create a complete, intriguing story in just a few chapters. Xander Matthews is a quietly intense man, who thinks his past doesn't make him worthy of the beautiful, driven Assistant District Attorney Tara Kingston. You get passion, drama and your HEA in a few hours of reading. 5 stars

Night Owl
Jenna O'Donnell, waitress and free lance photographer in the wilds of Alaska finally manages to catch the eye of special ops trainer Brad Fraser after years of wishing for his interest to turn to her. Rachel Grant is a new to me author and while I enjoyed reading Night Owl, I don't know if its enough for me to pick up the next installment in the Evidence series. 3.5 stars

Desire in DC
Enjoyed the 70’s throwback and the way historical events were woven through this story. Peter Greenwood, shy senator’s aide with future political aspirations and Martha “Marty” Vanderbilt, independent, activist and one of “the” Vanderbilts, meet at a local watering hole where Peter crashes in his attempt to woo Marty. Their next meeting helps open Marty’s eyes beyond her initial first impression. Thus begins the trip through a recent history lesson with their romance blooming in its midst. 4 stars for Cat Johnson’s Desire in DC.

Levi - Lighthouse Security Investigations
Levi Armory encounters Claire Loman on the side of the road, stranded with a blown tire, while traveling country for a new job. Maryann Jordan managed to convey a complete story without the insta-love typically found in a short story. I will be adding the rest of the series to my tbr list. 4.5 stars

The Guardian - Cristin Harber
Secretive protection agent, Jason Green, falls in love with a former client, Roxanna Carter. Interesting start- main characters already involved and he proposes in the first chapter. But then things get a little far fetched from there as he tries to quit his secret job and his boss goes off the deep end. 3 stars.

Scout - Janie Crouch
Nadine Macfarlane, hiding out from her tragic past, runs into Wyatt Highfield, who unbeknownst to her has been secretly protecting her from afar for a year. Lots of action and drama in just a few chapters. Lots of code names used made it difficult keeping track of all the players in the game. 4 stars

Lawson & Jill - Caitlyn O'Leary
Grief over losing loved ones brings Lawson Thorne and Jill Keiler together in the final novella of this anthology. Good intrigue and world building, vanilla on the love scenes. 4 stars

[... Lost Bookland... · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that will be able to keep your attention, intoxicate you with sweet love, and at the same time bring a certain dose of drama and suspense, then Danger and Desire - an anthology of 8 wonderful novels by well-known authors will certainly not disappoint.Not a book, you will get a whole collection of them.
Each one of these stories is well-written, has a amazing storyline, great characters, and full of the best things in romance books – action, suspense, romance, fun, drama, and chemistry, and each story will have you wanting to seek out other books by these awesome authors.
The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid is a great love story where Xander Matthews, a handsome and intense man, but with little problems with self-confidence will win your heart as he tries to reach his will happily ever after with The Assistant District Attorney Tara Kingston. Passion, love, drama, intrigue ... are mixed in perfect proportions to create a great read.
As you read Rachel Grant's Night Owl you will meet the beautiful Jenna O'Donnell, waitress and free lance photographer in the wilds of Alaska that finally manages to catch the eye of special ops trainer Brad Fraser after years of desiring him. A story that will touch your heart and guarantee you several hours of enjoyable reading.
Desire in DC, a story that will take you to the past. The taste of the seventies is great to get away from everyday life. The story of Peter Greenwood and Martha "Marty" Vanderbilt will simply make you laugh. He, the hard working young lawyer, she, quite the opposite of him. They together, a fantastic couple, whose story you just cannot but enjoy.

Levi - Lighthouse Security Investigations by Maryann Jordan - a story that simply has a bit of a down-to-earth touch. There is no fatal love that happens at first sight Levi Armory encounters Claire Loman on the road and here begins their amazing journey to a common goal – their happily ever after.
The Guardian by Cristin Harber - A fast-paced story in which the action moves so fast that you just can not get bored. Sexy agent, Jason Green, falls in love with a former client, Roxanna Carter. It contains moments that are a bit unreal, but at the same time interesting enough to keep your attention.
Scout by Janie Crouch - How to escape from the past? It is the story of Nadine Macfarlane, who escapes from her past and encounters Wyatt Highfield, a seemingly unknown man who knows much more about her than she thinks. Action, drama, love are intertwined in several chapters of this interesting story. Read it carefully so you can follow it.
Lawson & Jill by Caitlyn O'Leary is all about love and loss. How to deal with the loss of a loved one? Can anyone heal that wound? Yes, that's the story of Lawson Thorne and Jill Keiler, two characters in the same pain who find something in common. Great descriptions and love scenes, enough intrigue to keep your attention until the very end.
The perfectly arranged stories in this great anthology are a great choice for all those romance-book readers who would like to relax after a busy day and enjoy stories that is easy to read, and does not burden you too much.

[Reading Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am writing reviews for each story as I finish them. First book is The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid. It is set in her Remington world and was a good novella. It is the story of D.A. Tara Kingston and her quest to bring local underworld criminal Sansone to justice. After her C.I. is attacked in her safe house she runs into Officer Xander Matthews. These two have a past but she will not let that keep her from protecting her C.I. This was a good, quick story that kept me engaged. It had action, heat and was told from dual POV. It stood alone but I will be going back to read some more of the stories set in Remington. I give this one 4*.
The second novella was Night Owl by Rachel Grant. It takes place right before her book Incriminating Evidence and was also a good story. Jenna O'Donnell is a local photographer and waitress at the only bar in Tamarack Alaska. She has lived here all her life and loves her small town. Brad Fraser is one of the local operatives working for Raptor and her crush for the past 3 years. Brad has always had his eye on Jenna but never made a move because he is determined to leave and he knows that she never will. With a little gentle nudging from their friends and some local owls these two finally get the push that they need. This story was cute and easily stood alone but light on suspense. I am going to read some of the evidence books now because the author is quite talented and kept me engaged. Night Owl was told from dual POV and was a light, easy read with a bit of heat. I give this one 4*.
The third novella is Desire in D.C. by Cat Johnson. This is set in 1976 and is the story of Republican senate aide Peter Greenwood and the feisty reporter Marty Vanderbuilt that catches his eye. Peter is a hard working young lawyer who is just beginning his career. He has big plans for his future but knows that he needs to work his way up. Marty is Peter's exact opposite in some ways. She has been born into one of the wealthiest families in the world, is a reporter with the Washington Post and a big believer in liberal causes. Marty thinks that she will have a fun interlude with Peter and doesn't plan on more even though he feels that she is the one. When Marty is taken hostage on a flight from Greece to Paris she spends a week reflecting on her choices. Their story was okay but not great. I don't think that it was because it was set in the past but basically boring. I haven't read this author before and after reading this story I probably will not. It was told from dual POV and has some heat and a bit of action but the storyline was weak in my opinion. 3* for this one.
The fourth novella is Levi by Maryann Jordan. Levi Amory is taking a road trip to Maine after deciding to leave his job with the FBI and join Lighthouse Security in Maine. It is definitely a time for reflection on his life so far. He wants calm and no complications for his future. On his journey west he runs into a stranded driver. Claire Loman has troubles, a lot more trouble than her damaged car that just had a blowout. When Levi stops to help her, she is cautious but knows that she needs assistance. Levi doesn't realize how much trouble Claire is in and wait until he finds out that his whole plan for calm and no complications is going to get tossed into the wind! This is connected to her Lighthouse series but it was not necessary to have read the other books because the story stood alone however if you enjoy this novella I recommend reading the rest of the series because then you get to meet all of the characters. Levi is a story with action, heart and a bit of heat. 4* for this one.
The Guardian by Cristin Harber is the fifth novella and so far my least favorite of the books. I felt as if I was dropped into the middle of a story because the characters Jason Green and Roxana (whose last name wasn't mentioned that I can remember) are already a couple and the story begins with him proposing. Roxana loves Jason and especially the fact that he is an accountant which she feels is a safe, boring job unlike her brothers who were in the military and later worked as operatives. She doesn't want an another adrenaline junkie in her life. Well Jason hasn't been quite upfront with Roxana and when he goes to his employer to let him know that he is leaving the company, things take a bad turn and end up at Roxana's doorstep. That was probably the most interesting part of the novella. So The Guardian has some heat, action and quite a few grammatical errors which the editor should have easily caught and fixed prior to publishing the story. 3* and I am being generous.
The sixth novella is Scout by Janie Crouch. This is set in her Linear Tactical series which I happen to be a huge fan of. Nadine MacFarlane has been living the past year in rural Idaho after a terrifying and life changing experience. She has little contact with people and knows that she needs to change that but just doesn't have the self confidence that she once did. She does have a great cyber social life. She works as a virtual assistant and has also been corresponding with Wyatt Highfield. Wyatt works with Linear Tactical and helped rescue Nadine and has been infatuated with her ever since. He knew that she needed time and space to heal so he has been giving it to her but now he's going to have to invade her life because he is in danger. Wyatt doesn't want to involve Nadine but he has no choice. Janie Crouch takes these two into a dangerous situation that was full of twists and turns. I absolutely loved their story for many reasons. It has lots of action, danger, heat, heartache and a HEA! This romantic suspense novella was my favorite so far! 5 amazing stars!
The seventh novella was Lawson and Jill by Caitlyn O'Leary and I absolutely loved this one! Caitlyn O'Leary gives us two great characters that each have been suffering their own personal loss and connect after a grief therapy group meeting. It says a lot about an author's talent when they can write a story that is uplifting, emotional, funny and intriguing. This novella contained every one of those things and has some action to boot! It was told from dual POV and would have been a definite 5 stars however there are a few grammatical errors that stood out so I cannot possibly give this more than 4 1/2 stars. It was told from dual POV and besides everything else that I described there's a bit of heat too!
The 8th and final novella is Breaking Away by Elle James. Reporter Kylie Adams travels the globe covering dangerous stories in war torn areas. Her current story has taken her to the Logar Province of Afghanistan and into a dangerous firefight. The last person she expected to see let alone rescue her and her cameraman is her ex-boyfriend Sean "Mac" McDaniel. They had fallen in love when she was a young college journalism student and he was a new Army recruit. After a whirlwind courtship Mac asked Kylie to marry him but she declined because she knew that they were so young and knew that they both wanted to accomplish so much in their chosen careers. Now fate has given them the chance to reconnect at the worst possible time in the worst possible place so what will happen? The concept of the story sounds good however I had a few issues with the story. First there were quite a few glaring grammatical errors that detracted from the story. One was during an intimate moment and was so wrong that if you read it you will be laughing at what the author described Mac doing to himself because she used the wrong pronoun. Also the story is told from dual POV however the author's writing style keeps hopping around within the chapter which is not my preference. I can't give this story more than 3 stars.
All in all Danger and Desire was definitely worth reading and some authors I will look for their books while other authors I will avoid.

[Diane (Books and Tequila Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome collection of novella length romantic suspense. All of them are complete stories that standalone and have a Happily Ever After (although one might really be considered ‘Happy For Now’)
I was already familiar with some of these authors and others were new to me, but all are going on my must read list. I enjoyed every single one of these entertaining tales of Danger and Desire!
-5 Stars!-


The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid

I loved this exciting story. ADA Tara Kingston is trying to take down a killer. She is suddenly having to work closely with a former defendant and currently a rookie cop, Xander Matthews.
Tara and Xander sort out their pasts as they navigate danger. The novella length was a perfect bite sized story. It was my first book by this author and decibels could be read as a standalone but left me excited to read more stories in this world.
-5 Stars!-

Night Owl by Rachel Grant

Night Owl was really good. It felt more like a prequel than a standalone but definitely drew me in and left me wanting more.
I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll be looking up this authors books and reading more about these characters. I’m hooked!!
-4.5 Stars-

Desire In D.C. by Cat Johnson

I’ve read a few Cat Johnson books including Saved By A SEAL, so I was excited to read this novella. It is a standalone but tells the story of the parents of Missy Greenwood, Saved By A SEAL’s heroine.
Peter is aide to a republican senator and clashes with Marty the first time they meet. But when Marty is in danger, they both realize life is too short. I enjoyed this exciting story and liked the tiny Missy & Zane teaser at the end.
-4 Stars-

Levi by Maryann Jordan

I loved this short, sweet insta-love story. It had a touch of danger and plenty of desire.
Levi Amory was on his way to start his new career with Lighthouse Security Investigations in Maine. He is looking forward to a new but uncomplicated life. When he stops to help out a stranded motorist, he lands smack dab in the middle of Claire Loman’s complications.
My only complaint is that I really want more of Levi and Claire and I hope to catch them in the next LSI series book.
-5 Stars!!-

The Guardian by Cristin Harber

I really loved smart and spunky Roxana. She wanted quiet, safe accountant Jason and found out the hard way that she ended up with way more than she had bargained for.
This story is a standalone, but there were several times that I felt like I was missing something because I wasn’t familiar with the previous books in this series. But even when I felt a little lost, I was always entertained especially by Roxana’s brand of snark!
The only problem here is that now I NEED to go back and read the whole Aces series!!
-4 Stars-

Scout by Janie Crouch

Nadine Macfarlane has been through a lot and the last thing she needs is for more danger to be brought right to her doorstep. Especially in the form of her crush, hunky Wyatt ‘Scout’ Highfield showing up like fate was involved when he is really right in the middle of an extremely deadly mission.
Scout is part of the Linear Tactical series, a standalone story with an hea, but not everything is tied up in a neat bow. It is my first book by Janie Crouch but I was able to follow along and never felt lost. This is definitely a series and author I want to go back and catch up on.
-5 Stars-

Lawson and Jill by Caitlyn O’Leary

Lawson and Jill met when they are both grieving and they are able to connect and help each other through the healing. But when Jill is in danger they need to really trust and rely each other.
I really fell in love with these characters and hope there will be more stories where they will show up.
-5 Stars-

Breaking Away by Elle James

I really liked Kylie and Mac’s story. Kylie is a reporter who becomes a target while trying to get her story. Mac and his teammates have to get her safely home.

“I’ve dreamed of holding you just like this for so long, I think I might still be dreaming.”

This story was action packed from page one! It is a second chance romance set amid danger in the Middle East.
-4.5 Stars-

[Jane A · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited to read this anthology of eight novellas mostly written by some of my favourite authors and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. All are well-written, perfectly contained short stories containing everything I love - good plot, great characters, heat, action, drama and suspense. There is nothing better than seeing characters from previous books getting their own story, having favourite characters’ check-in or simply meeting brand new characters but make no mistake these are all standalone stories with no cliff-hangers. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the stories contained in this anthology and recommend you grab it to read.

The Rookie (The Intelligence Unit) by Kimberly Kincaid.
A new author to me who has brilliantly constructed an excellent suspenseful story in just a few short chapters. Rookie cop Xander Mathews has risen above his dark past and simply wants to serve and protect and sees himself as poles apart from smart, sexy and driven ADA Tara Kingston. Working together on a case brings them closer but can Tara persuade Xander he is everything she wants and needs? Drama, heat and building suspense and a host of interesting characters for the future, a definite 5 star read!

Night Owl (A Raptor novella) by Rachel Grant
I have love the Evidence and Raptor stories so was delighted to learn Jenna and Brad’s backstory. Waitress and photographer Jenna O’Donnell and Raptor Operative Brad Fraser have danced around each other for 3 years but their lives are on different trajectories. Jenna never wants to leave Tamarack Alaska and Brad doesn’t want to stay a second longer than he has to. Brad thinks he’s protecting Jenna by refusing to give in to their attraction but a night of owl watching changes everything as the sexual tension between the two ignites. This story takes place just before Incriminating Evidence in which Jenna and Brad both appear. A good read.

Desire in D.C. (A Hot SEALs Series Origin Story) by Cat Johnson.
An interesting trip down a historical memory lane cleverly woven into the story of Missy Greenwood’s parents. Peter Greenwood is a hard-working political aide when he sets eyes on Martha ‘Marty’ Vanderbilt. A definite case of opposites attract for quiet, conformist Peter who keeps his head down and rich liberal Marty who’s loud and opinionated and jumps into what she believes in head first. A case of the heart wants what the heart wants with a protest rally that turns violent, a terrorist hijacking thrown in and of course an early Seal making an appearance to complete this fun story.

Levi (Lighthouse Security Investigations) by Maryann Jordan
We met former FBI agent and latest LSI recruit Levi Amory when he helped Tate save Nora. Levi is driving cross country to take up his new job when he offers stranded Claire a lift. There is an instant spark of attraction between the two but Levi senses there is more to Claire’s story than she is letting on. Claire is on the run and being hunted, slowly her secrets come out and she has to trust Levi to keep her safe and, with the help of the LSI Keepers, solve the mystery she is involved in. I love the LSI series and this complete short story with its intrigue, passion and action is a great addition. Strong, honourable and dependable Levi fits the Keeper mould perfectly and finds his match in warm, beautiful Claire. 5 stars!

The Guardian (An Aces Series Novella) by Cristin Harber
Fabulous and fun! This story follows on from The Survivor (Aces #3). After a series of family tragedies feisty Roxana has found stability and happiness with boyfriend Jason but suddenly that happiness unravels when she discovers nothing is as it seems and Jason isn’t who she thought he was. Jason loves Roxana and wants out of his clandestine life but finds extracting himself isn’t straightforward. Can Jason keep himself and Roxana alive long enough for her to forgive his deception? A brilliant short story with wonderful characters, heat, humour and action packed. 5 stars.

Scout by Janie Crouch
A wonderfully crafted novella bringing us the story of Nadine and Wyatt who we first met in Survival Instinct. Nadine has hidden herself away from the world desperately trying to recover from the physical and emotional trauma she suffered, helped in her healing process by her warm email friendship with Linear Tactical operative Wyatt. Wyatt has been biding his time with Nadine waiting for her to be regain her strength before pushing her for more. Nadine thinks fate has brought them together but Wyatt is on the run for his life with vital information, he doesn’t want to deceive her or bring danger to her door but desperately needs her help. Beautiful, troubled Nadine is stronger than she thinks but can she free herself from the past and trust Wyatt with her feelings? Another fantastic story in the Linear Tactical series, action, passion and drama all delivered in a few chapters, Wyatt is a typical alpha protector but Nadine is a glorious heroine who proves she can more than hold her own! A definite 5 stars!

Lawson and Jill (A Night Storm Legacy Novel #1) by Caitlyn O’Leary
I loved this brilliantly written, sexy, funny novella. Wonderful characters, action, heat, humour and the added bonus of some of my favourite Night Storm SEALs. Lawson Thorne and Jill Keiler are both struggling with grief and loss but when they meet the spark of attraction is instant, did fate bring them together or is there a higher force at play? Can these two help each other lay their ghosts to rest and heal? As a couple they are perfect together, Jill is strong and sassy and what’s not to love about a woman who uses her flowers as a sounding board. Marine Raider Law is everything he should be - alpha and protective so when Jill is threatened by a madman Law races to save her. A truly great 5 star read!

Breaking Away (A Delta Force Strong Novella) by Elle James
Action packed from the start this novella tells the story of war reporter Kylie Adams and Delta Operative Sean 'Mac' McDaniel from Elle James Delta Force Strong series. Kylie and Mac loved and lost each other years ago when different dreams and careers won out against their young love but neither has forgotten. Brought together again by fate in Afghanistan, both older and wiser they realise the love didn't die but can Mac protect Kylie from the threat hanging over her as they battle for their second chance at HEA? Definitely on the short and sweet side but has everything I like - action, drama, some heat, alphas and a strong heroine. Looks like I've found a new series to read!

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scout (Linear Tactical Series) - Janie Crouch. One traumatised and self-confessed hermit heroine and an on the run warrior, attempting to keep her safe but brings her into danger anyway! Wyatt is so Alpha but impossibly caring at the same time. Nadine is still traumatised but trying to cope with her new life. She is stronger than she knows! (Pepper spray is my fave scene)

Night Owl (Evidence Series) - Rachel Grant

Jenna local, small town girl but lusts after Brad, one of the Falcon team who is determined not to stick around. But one hot night owl watching may just break his resolve. (Get ready to loathe Ted!)

The Guardian (Aces Series) - Cristin Harber

Roxana loves that her boyfriend, now fiance, is a predictable CPA. Not for her the adrenaline-fuelled nutters like her brothers turned out to be. Ummm, she may have to review that summary! Unhinged drunken bosses, gun-toting home invaders and tunnels that go for miles!

Levi (Lighthouse Security) - Maryann Jordan

Levi is ready for a new challenge. Driving from Wyoming to Maine for his new job is a great way to unwind and act like a tourist. But never one to leave a damsel in distress he soon has a travel buddy. One who is keeping secrets! (I hadn't read any of the other books but they are now on my gargantuan TBR!)

Lawson and Jill (Night Storm) - Caitlyn O’Leary

Lawson is still struggling with the death of his older brother and has been goaded into grief counselling. But he never expected Jill to be the light in his darkness. They share grief over the loss of a loved one but there is danger lurking in the darkness! Jill is smart cookie and cool as anything under pressure!

[Laney Birkla · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a whole, this anthology rocks! Each author had a unique voice and I really enjoyed reading each of them. I got this book to read Janie Crouch's story, "Scout", however, I also read the 6 other stories in the book.

"The Rookie" by Kimberly Kincaid
Part of the "Station Seventeen" series, Alexander 'Xander' Matthews and Tara Kingston have a history. When they meet again after Tara's star witness was attacked, they must work together to keep her safe. I normally don't read trial/court romances often, however, I still enjoyed this story!

"Night Owl" by Rachel Grant
Prequel to "Incriminating Evidence" in the Evidence series.
This ended up being one of my favorite books in the anthology! I will definitely read more by this author. Set in Alaska, Jenna O'Donnell and Brad Fraser have a simple love story. No one is really attacked or hurt, it's just two people coming together after a long time..and it was so nice to read. I was laughing in the first chapter.

"Desire in D.C." by Cat Johnson
A "Hot Seals" origin story/ prequel to Zane and Missy's story in "Saved by a SEAL".
This story follows Missy's parents as they meet and fall for each other in Washington D.C. in the 1970s. This book had quite a bit of politics in it, which I normally don't read. However, with a book set in D.C. in the 70s, it's obviously going to have politics in it. Politics is also a huge part of who these characters are.

"Levi" by Maryann Jordan
Lighthouse Security Investigation Series
Levi Amory is making a huge decision to leave his FBI job and move to the east coast. He will join the LSI team and (hopefully) be able to settle down. As he is driving cross country, he meets Claire Loman, who is running from her own problems back in Chicago.
I enjoyed the characters and the story arc. The action was there, and the romance was there. I want to check out more of the LSI series.

"The Guardian" by Cristin Harber
The "Aces" series book 4
Jason Green and Roxana Carter started the book as a couple! I enjoyed this ^^ I was a little confused by some of the terms used, but I haven't read the first 3 books. If I did, I'm sure everything would make perfect sense! I wasn't crazy about how whiny Roxana was, but who knows how I'd react in her situation. There was action by chapter 3! I enjoyed it and I'm considering checking out the other books.

"Scout" by Janie Crouch
THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS BOOK! I have been waiting for Wyatt Highfield and Nadine Macfarlane's book for over a year! It did not disappoint. I recommend reading the "Instinct" series before this one..(more specifically "Survival Instinct") you'll get a lot of background on the characters and learn how Wyatt and Nadine first met. This was a roller coaster story! They were on the run together pretty quickly in the story and we got to see more characters from the Linear Tactical series..which is ALWAYS a treat for me!

"Lawson & Jill" by Caitlyn O'Leary
A Night Storm Legacy novel Book 1?
Lawson 'Law' Thorne and Jill Keiler come together in this book. I loved Kenny immediately, when you read his character, you'll know why ^^. I feel Law's background is one military families know too well. This was a very emotional couple.. some things they would say to each other we're a little ridiculous and would take me out of the story sometimes. I was confused because it says it's book 1 in the series, however, Asher and Eden don't get together in book 3, which hasn't released yet. However, not looking at that, I enjoyed the story and the characters.

Thank you for reading my review. I made sure there weren't spoilers. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did! I read all of them within 5 days (with a toddler and a full-time job), that's how much I enjoyed them!

[Madm007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Fantastic Anthology
"Lawson and Jill" by Caitlyn O'Leary ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved it! Immersed from the 1st page to the very last, I experienced Lawson and Jill's journey just as if it was happening live. I felt their connection, their empathy as it were my own. Their tragedies had come full force, but in true fashion, Ms O'Leary finds the positives.
Well written, super fast-paced, action, light heat, excellent characters all packed into a novella, dosed with enough realities to leave a lasting impact on me, along with a touching HEA.
"Scout" by Janie Crouch ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Exciting storyline with great characters. Being in danger gets the adrenaline pumping for Nadine and Wyatt. Started out a bit slow, then picked right up and I enjoyed reading this action romance. Loved both h/h's strength and willingness to do what's needed. I had to remember this is a Novella, so events were not fleshed out as well as I like, but still an entertaining read with a sweet HEA
"The Guardian" by Cristin Harber ⭐⭐⭐
Twisty, Action, Light on Romance. Jason, a watcher and Roxana have a relationship. Problem is, Jason has lied to her for 3 years. I didn't connect to this very well, actually I was lost at the beginning, though I did enjoy it more toward the end. I haven't read any of this series, and do think this may better suit if you know more about The Aces series.
"Breaking Away" by Elle James ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A high level action romance of second chances between Kylie and Mac, who meet up again in Afghanistan of all places. Loved this tough heroine/hero, they had both grown up and were ready for the next step. They just had to "not get dead". You can't help but become involved with this one all the way back to Texas.
"Levi" by Maryann Jordan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved it once I got past the first pages. Levi meets Claire on the side of the road. Both were at their own crossroads, though Claire's was forced and trouble followed her. Exciting journey with action, drama, and a beautiful love scene. Overall it hooked me and had a very HEA.
"Desire in D.C." by Cat Johnson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A neat little story of the origins of Peter and Marty Greenwood, back to the seventies. I think the good guy got the bad girl and it worked out beautifully, though not without some angst and drama in the political arena of D.C., and a harrowing hijacking. A prologue if you will (picturing parents doing the deed here lol) to Ms. Johnson's SEAL series.
"Nightowl" by Rachel Grant ⭐⭐⭐
This takes place in Alaska and I loved the descriptive scenes and wildlife. Jenna and Brad are the mains, and it was maddening to wait for him to remove his head from his posterior. There is an intriguing and awesome sounding backstory here, but kind of left me hanging when I was anticipating a fix through most of the read. I didn't exactly get the final warm fuzzies from Jenna and Brad either, though they are planning to be together. Borderline stand-alone here.
"The Rookie" by Kimberly Kincaid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was all action with a lovely bit of romance and I was swept along with the good guys trying to put away a psychopath. When ADA Tara meets up again with Officer Xander after two years, the sparks are there, but he doesn't think he's a good guy at all. She will just have to make her case. Great read with an even better HEA.
Now includes all eight stories.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger and Desire: A Romantic Suspense Anthology
By: Janie Crouch, Rachel Grant, Cristin Harber, Elle James, Maryann Jordan, Cat Johnson, Kimberly Kincaid, and Caitlyn O’Leary

Splendid way to sample authors you may not have read before ~ I have found more than one I want to read more books by and had never heard of some of them before reading this collection of stories. With four novellas read I am looking forward to reading the rest.

In the order I read them:

THE ROOKIE: Really liked Xander’s way of handling women whether a tense lawyer or scared informant. He and Tara were dynamite together. Fast paced fun read with a bit of sizzle and a truly bad guy or two to thwart.

NIGHT OWL: Jenna and Brad were right for one another and there was just enough about the Raptors that I am going to see if I can find more by this author to see what happens in the series. I loved the visit to the owls, the flirtation that took place before Brad realized what he really wanted and the way the story played out.

THE GUARDIAN: This one made me smile. I loved Roxana and Jason and the way the secrets came out as the story unfolded. This one was a fun read that had me wanting to know more about Jason’s team and especially about Roxana’s brother.

SCOUT: Wyatt and Nadine were made for each other. I am sorry I missed out on the book that must have come before this because it sounds like a doozy but LOVED this one. Loved the way Wyatt popped up at the market trying to be safe and the way Nadine was so happy to see him. Little did she know that they would have a rough time for most of the story. Enjoyed meeting Wyatt’s team and wouldn’t mind reading more in this series, too.

As you can see…four out of eight stories read and already hooked. I had to download the book to read the rest and can hardly wait to do so!

Thank you to NetGalley and Janus Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars—

DANGER AND DESIRE is a multi-authored romantic suspense anthology. My review covers THE ROOKIE by Kimberly Kincaid and SCOUT by Janie Crouch


RELEASE DATE: September 15,2020



The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid

Police recruit Xander Matthews has two goals: to keep his head down and his dark and dangerous past where it belongs—behind him. He never thought he'd see brash, beautiful ADA Tara Kingston again. But now they must catch a brutal killer before it's too late.

••••••••

REVIEW: THE ROOKIE by Kimberly Kincaid is the first instalment and novella in the author’s new contemporary, adult INTELLIGENCE UNIT erotic, romantic suspense series-a spin off from her Station Seventeen and Remington Medical series. THE ROOKIE focuses on ADA Tara Kingston and police recruit Xander Matthews. Xander Matthews was first introduced in Down Deep (Station Seventeen #5). You do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the current time line although several characters cross over for back story and cohesion.


Told from dual third person perspectives (Tara and Xander) THE ROOKIE follows in the aftermath of an attack against Tara’s confidential informant, an informant scheduled to testify against a gun running murder. Coming face to face with Xander Matthews, a man she once tried to prosecute for arson two year earlier meant facing down a man who stirred something deep within our story line heroine. As Xander and the Remington Police Force take the informant into protective custody, Tara finds herself falling for Xander Matthews. What ensues is the ongoing protection of Tara’s CI, and the potential fall-out as Tara becomes fodder in a game of murder and revenge.

THE ROOKIE is a character driven, fast paced novella that introduces the Remington Intelligence Unit. A detailed and intriguing story line THE ROOKIE is an impassioned tale of second chances, karma and love. The premise is suspenseful; the romance is seductive; the characters are spirited and inspiring.
_________

SCOUT by Janie Crouch

Linear Tactical’s Wyatt Highfield is running for his life with intel that will break up a human trafficking ring. The last thing he wants is to bring danger to Nadine Macfarlane’s door. The gentle beauty has been through enough, and has the scars—physical and emotional—to prove it. But she’s his only option.

•••••••••

REVIEW: SCOUT by Janie Couch is part of the author’s Linear Tactical romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Linear Tactical. This is former Special Forces Green Beret soldier Wyatt ‘Scout’ Highfield, and virtual assistant Nadine Macfarlane’s story line. You do not have to have read the previous story lines to understand or follow the current time line although several characters cross over for back story and cohesion.


Told from dual third person perspectives (Wyatt and Nadine) SCOUT follows the friends to lovers relationship between former Special Forces Green Beret soldier Wyatt ‘Scout’ Highfield, and virtual assistant Nadine Macfarlane. Several months earlier Nadine Macfarlane’s life imploded and she has lived on her own, off the grid in an effort heal both physically and mentally but the one constant in her life has been former Special Forces soldier Wyatt Highfield, the man who stars in her fantasies and dreams. On the run, trying to stay one step ahead, Wyatt lands in Idaho Falls, where a battered and beaten Wyatt will ‘accidentally’ run into our story line heroine, an accident Nadine attributes to fate but what our heroine doesn’t know is that Wyatt has been keeping an eye on Nadine Macfarlane for close to one year. Trouble has followed Wyatt to Nadine’s front door, and with it the possibility of the two not surviving. With Wyatt and Nadine on the run, our couple must call the team at Linear Tactical in an effort to make it home alive.

SCOUT is a quick read; a novella length story of danger, drama, friendship, love and a happily ever after. The premise is intriguing and inviting; the romance is passionate; the characters are energetic and spirited.

Own a copy

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to like anthologies, why? because you get to read about different topics and find a new author. There are a couple that I was not familiar but do this I found them and now can add them to my list, and get reacquainted with a couple of them. Grab a copy and find yourself someone new. Enjoy!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohh, so good. In this book you'll get to enjoy all of these wonderful authors' stories and their great characters. Some authors I have read before but some are new. I enjoyed every page and the differences with each one. So worth it.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lawson and Jill- 5 Stars
Scout- 4 Stars
Night Owl- 4 Stars
Levi- 4 Stars
The Rookie- 4 Stars
Reviews are under the individual books’ listings.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scout by Janie Crouch—Wyatt lands himself in a hot mess when he discovers a computer drive with damaging information. He drags Nadine in to it when he shows up unexpectedly on her doorstep, accidentally leading his pursuers to her. Action and suspense go hand in hand with this novella, making this a thrilling read.

Night Owl by Rachel Grant—yay! A Raptor/Evidence novella! Brad has time to reflect and ponder why he’s been denying his attraction to Jenna as he tries to clean house and move on to a new job. Jenna has decided to lay her heart on the line and hope for some answers. Events here take place before Incriminating Evidence.

The Guardian by Cristin Harber—okay, I found this novella pretty humorous. I don’t think I’ve read previous stories, but will have to change that! Poor Roxana isn’t getting a forensic accountant for a husband and Jason has a LOT of explaining to do!!

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

I love reading anthologies as they are a great way to find new authors and DANGER AND DESIRE in particular ticked all my boxes as the stories are from a genre I love: romantic suspense; and I truly had a great time reading the seven stories included in this eARC which were:

*The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid
*Night Owl by Rachel Grant
*Desire in D.C. by Cat Johnson
*Levi by Maryann Jordan
*The Guardian by Cristin Harber
*Scout by Jamie Crouch
*Lawson and Jill by Caitlyn O'Leary

And with varying amounts of romance and suspense not to mention a vast array of settings from the wilds of Alaska to the north side of Chicago to the nation's capital in the seventies there was something genuinely intriguing and enjoyable in every one.

Would happily recommend.

**eARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Karon Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I'm super excited this is an anthology of actual, full composed stories and not teasers for stories that aren't completed yet. I specific read this book for Scout, by Janie Crouch, but ended up reading all of the stories and was pleasantly surprised to find some new to me authors I will be checking out. Nevertheless Scout was my absolute favorite story. Nadine was broken from her previous relationship and had lost her faith in her judgement. I could so relate. After trusting someone and finding out they aren't trustworthy it's hard to put yourself out there again. Thankfully she had someone like Wyatt who was interested and willing to give her the time she needed. The Rookie by Kimberly Kinkaid had two characters who had known each other in other circumstances. I loved their chemistry and the secondary characters made me want to read her other books. Night Owl by Rachel Grant was one that reading the synopsis I wasn't sure about but then fell totally in love with Brad and Jenna. Again, I need to read the rest of these stories. Desire in DC by Cat Johnson was an origins story and drew me in from the very beginning. I absolutely love an origin story and this one, set in the 70s against some political backdrops was amazing. Levi by Maryann Jordan was a bit of instalove with a bit of I don't know if I can trust you because I don't really know you. What I liked was that the both came clean pretty quickly and didn't hide all their crap, thus allowing the story to move forward. The Guardian by Cristin Harber was a story I liked although I really did feel as if I was missing something and had to go back to re-read some parts. Probably my least favorite it was still 4 stars. Lawson and Jill by Caitlyn O'Leary was an awesome story of two grieving people coming together and finding their way through.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

DANGER AND DESIRE ANTHOLOGY
SCOUT by Janie Crouch is 5 star wonderful! Nadine is sweet and brave and Wyatt is sweet, brave, and tough. I love that neither of them do stupid things just to extend a plot line. Fully realized characters, a plot that makes sense, great dialogue, and romance.
THE ROOKIE by Kimberly Kincaid
3 Stars
Waaay too much gratuitous swearing along with an R+ rated erotic scene. Xander and Tara are good characters.
NIGHT OWL by Rachel Grant
3 Stars
Steaming hot X rated.
I prefer cleaner romances. Stopped reading here.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ROOKIE by Kimberly Kincaid
Series: The Intelligence Unit (Book 1)

My first romantic suspense by Kimberly Kincaid, and it won't be the last. The action and tension started quickly and never really let up. Tara gets a call from the confidential informant who is the crucial witness in an upcoming trial. Amour was severely beaten and threatened. Xander and his partner are the first on the scene. Tara arrives shortly after, and the sparks begin to fly. She and Xander have a history, and neither one can forget it. I loved the hospital scene, especially the part with the rubber ducks, and how it began the changes between Xander and Tara. Xander has put his dark past behind him and now wants nothing more than to serve and protect. He and Tara work together to protect the witness and take down the man responsible, bringing them closer. The sparks change from antagonism to attraction. Xander believes that he is nowhere near good enough for her, while Tara knows that he is all she wants. I loved watching the two of them open up to each other. Xander's compassion when Tara talks about her best friend's murder is heartwarming. Tara takes Xander's arguments about why he isn't a good man and demolishes them one by one.

The tension of keeping Amour safe while looking for the proof against Sansone remained high throughout the story. I ached for her and the fear she felt after the attack. I loved how Xander connected with her by telling his story and helped her regain the courage to testify. The team's protectiveness grew tighter as the trial neared. There was an unexpected twist in the attempt to stop the trial, and I was on the edge of my seat as it played out. I loved the scene in the ER at the end as Xander and Tara admitted their feelings.

NIGHT OWL by Rachel Grant
Series: Raptor

Good book, mostly straight romance with a hint of suspense. Jenna is born-and-bred Tamarack. She has no interest in leaving her hometown. In addition to her photography hobby and the pictures she sells, she works at the local bar. As the book opens, she serves drinks to a table of men from the local training facility. One of those men, Brad, is the object of her crush, though he doesn't appear to return the interest. That is until he offers to show her a nest of baby owls. There in the Alaskan twilight, he gives in to the attraction that burns between them. Brad insists it's a one-time thing because he will be leaving Tamarack and doesn't want to hurt her by starting something he can't finish. However, the heart wants more, and I loved seeing Brad and Jenna get to know each other over the next few weeks. Eventually, Brad must decide if he's going to stay or go. I loved his big moment at the end and how he felt about his decision.

There is a bit of background suspense. Jenna's friend Isabella is convinced that her brother, one of the Raptor operatives, was murdered, not killed in a training accident. She is determined to prove it. Meanwhile, another operative, Ted Godfrey, makes threatening remarks to Jenna. Brad is sure that something is going on with Godfrey and plans to watch him carefully. This mystery continues in the book Incriminating Evidence.

DESIRE IN D.C. by Cat Johnson
Series: Hot SEALs Origin Story

Nice story about the parents of Missy Greenwood (Saved by a SEAL) and how they met. Peter is an up and coming legislative aide who has political aspirations for his future. One night at a bar with his friend, Peter spots Marty Vanderbilt, who immediately catches his eye. While their first meeting doesn't go as he hoped, their second encounter is very different. Marty attends a Greenpeace rally as a reporter and supporter and runs into Peter, who is friends/roommates with one of the presenters. Marty is somewhat suspicious of Peter, but he gets her away safely when the rally turns violent. Sparks of attraction flare and Marty learns that first impressions aren't always the right ones.

I enjoyed their blossoming relationship as they get together whenever possible. Then Marty goes on vacation, and their worlds are turned upside down. She ends up on a hijacked plane, held hostage for days. Peter's fears for her prod him into actions he would never have considered before meeting Marty. I loved his vigil and the conversations he had. Both Marty and Peter take the time to consider their choices. I loved the assistance that Peter received from his SEAL friend Tim. The ending was terrific, especially Peter's "meet the parents" moment.

LEVI by Maryann Jordan
Series: Lighthouse Security (Book 6.5) Novella

Good story by a new-to-me author. Levi embarks on a new stage in his life as he leaves the FBI to work for Lighthouse Security Investigations. He plans to do a little sightseeing on his trip from Wyoming to Maine but doesn't expect to see a stranded woman along the way. There is an immediate connection between Levi and Claire, but he asks his new coworkers to run a check on her before he gets too involved. The results are disturbing, but he rescues her from an attack before he can ask her about them. I liked Levi's willingness to listen to her side of the story and how it rang true for him. Levi's protective instincts kicked in, and he asks for help from his LSI folks. The tension remains high as more information comes to light during their journey to Maine. The intensity picks up when an attempt is made on their lives. I was on the edge of my seat during that confrontation and loved how it went down.

I liked the development of the relationship between Levi and Claire. Levi left Wyoming looking forward to an uncomplicated trip. What he got with Claire was anything but uncomplicated. Claire was understandably wary at first, but she and Levi connected quickly. There was also an instant attraction, though Levi tried to resist it at the beginning, not wanting to take advantage of her. They grew closer quickly, and I liked their ability to talk honestly about plans and expectations. I loved the welcome they both received from the LSI people. The ending was terrific, and Claire's surprise for Levi was great.

THE GUARDIAN by Cristin Harber
Series: Aces

Good read. Jason and Roxana are already a couple at the beginning of the story. They've been together long enough that Jason is ready to propose. Roxana is thrilled. She loves her nice, boring CPA boyfriend, who is unlike her adrenaline junkie brothers. She's had enough excitement in her life. Her brother Dylan died in the line of duty, her father died shortly after of a heart attack, and her mother had an incapacitating series of strokes. She'll take boring any day of the week.

But there are things she doesn't know. Jason kept a huge secret from her, and it is about to blow up in their faces. Jason goes to break it to his boss that he's quitting, and it doesn't go well. He escapes with his life because the boss is drunk. Meanwhile, two gun-wielding people show up at Roxana's house, asking questions about Jason and making claims about what he really is. I felt for Roxana and her shock and adored the way she kept her cool. She did a great job of standing up to Spiker and Vanka, all while her heart was breaking. I didn't blame her at all for her thoughts on what she would do to Jason when she found him. I loved the bit about the basement, especially Jason's hidden-in-plain-sight instructions on escape.

It was sweet to see how desperate Jason was to show Roxana that he loved her and didn't want to lose her. He had to work hard to convince her, and she didn't make it easy for him. Confronting Spiker and Vanka was up next on the list. That didn't go at all as I expected. I thought the ending was a bit anti-climactic for everything that went on before.

SCOUT by Janie Crouch
Series: Linear Tactical

Nadine is a virtual personal assistant, enabling her to maintain her hermit-like life while still making a living. She first appeared in Survival Instinct as Chloe's best friend and was rescued from a dire situation by Wyatt. In the year since that event, Nadine has worked on healing from the emotional and physical trauma she experienced. Part of that healing is the email friendship she enjoys with Wyatt. Wyatt has waited patiently on her recovery as he longs to spend more time with her.

When Nadine encounters Wyatt at the local farmers' market, she thinks Fate has brought them together. She's finally ready to let Wyatt know of her interest in him. But Wyatt is in deep trouble, on the run for his life with information crucial to stopping a human trafficking ring. He dreads bringing danger to her door but desperately needs her help.

I loved this story. It was a tight, gripping tale of suspense, healing, and romance. I loved how comfortable Nadine and Wyatt were with each other, talking easily, and sharing activities. I felt bad for both of them when Nadine told Wyatt of her feelings, and he couldn't respond the way he wanted to because of the guilt he felt over what he was hiding. When danger comes calling, Wyatt has to come clean about those secrets. I ached for Nadine because she had just started to trust her judgment again, and now wonders if she was taken for a fool again. I loved how Wyatt worked so hard to show Nadine what an amazing woman she is. She soon learns that she's much stronger than she thinks she is, and I loved seeing her blossom under adversity. The ending was great with love and laughs, and happiness.

The suspense of the story was terrific. It began with Wyatt's arrival at the market and hurtled forward at a breathtaking pace. I could feel Wyatt's worry about bringing danger to Nadine while dodging the bad guys at the market and trying to keep the truth from her. That all fell apart the next morning when she dropped him off at a hotel but then got worried when he didn't answer her call. I thought she was incredible as she pulled off an unexpected rescue - loved the bear spray! - right under the bad guys' noses. From a house on fire to a chase through the woods, my heart rate never got a chance to settle. It was great to see the Linear Tactical folks get involved - a terrific scene at the diner - with their incredible teamwork. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, especially the last part. I can't wait to see what's up next.

LAWSON AND JILL by Caitlyn O’Leary
Series: Night Storm Legacy (Book 1)

Excellent story of love and loss and healing. The story opens as Marine Raider Lawson Thorne very reluctantly heads to grief counseling. He lost one of his brothers to suicide and has a hard time overcoming his guilty feelings. The opening is sweet as Law encounters a seven-year-old escapee from an arts-and-crafts class who schools him on talking about his feelings. This is followed by making it into the counseling meeting where he meets Jill. They connect right away and go out together after the meeting. Over the next few weeks, they spend every possible minute together, growing closer by the day. I loved that Law was a big, tough alpha Marine, yet had an old-fashioned sense of honor. As much as they were into each other, they got to know each other before moving to the next level. There were some emotional scenes as they shared their stories, and I loved how being together helped ease the pain.

But their lives get very complicated. A strange encounter with a man in her neighborhood puzzles her but doesn't trip any warnings right away, even after talking with her neighbor. It isn't until the neighbor rats her out to Law that she starts to get nervous, especially after a conversation with the grief counselor. Law's protective instincts roar into action when he finds out what happened. I loved seeing him get his friends and his other brother involved, though their arrival at Law's house to help came at a hilariously awkward time.

I was on the edge of my seat as Law and the others pulled out all the stops to keep Jill safe. I was very impressed with Jill's ability to stay calm and do what she needed to do to protect herself. I felt I was there as Law had his "gut feeling" and had to laugh when his friend stepped in to help. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I cheered to see the teamwork that made it happen.

BREAKING AWAY by Elle James
Series: Delta Force Strong

Good second chance story in the midst of war. Mac and Kylie knew each other years earlier. She was a young college student, majoring in journalism, and he was a fresh-out-of-boot-camp soldier. They fell fast and hard for each other, but when Mac proposed, Kylie turned him down. She had too much she wanted to accomplish first and knew that Mac had big dreams also. As the story opens, Kylie and her cameraman are caught in the middle of a firefight in Afghanistan. As she defends herself, Josh, and the soldier assigned as a "minder," Kylie succeeds in killing three Taliban attackers before a Delta Force team rescues them. The last person Kylie expected to see was Mac.

Kylie and Mac are thrown together when she needs protection from retaliation because of the men she killed. I liked watching them reconnect. It's clear that the sparks between them are still there and that neither has forgotten their love. During a harrowing time of escape and evasion, Mac and Kylie take time to talk and realize that they are older and wiser now. I liked the honest communication about their feelings and the possibility of a future together. I loved the ending and the fun twist on the team's homecoming.

All of these stories were very good. Many of them are new-to-me authors who have now been added to my TBR list.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anthologies like this because not only do I get to read extra books by my favourite authors but I also get introduced to new authors in this genre The only thing is that my bank balance doesn't like it because then of course I have to buy all the back stories I'm looking at you Kimberley Kincaid and Rachel Grant as you where the new authors for me this time and now my bank account needs time to recover. This is the perfect mix of stories set in world we already love and new worlds that I am sure we are going to love
THE ROOKIE
This is the first book in an new series set in the world of The Intelligence Unit and is the story of Alexander (Xander) Matthew a rookie cop who decided to become a cop after falling foul of the law and it was Assistant DA Tara Kingston who went after him years ago Now they are thrown together to protect witness Amour who is the witness in Tara's case against Ricky Sansone but Armor has bonded with fellow North Sider Xander and he is drawn into the case Soon the sparks between Tara and Xander are combusting but can they have a future together after all she tried to throw him in Jail
NIGHT OWL
Another new author for me and I loved this story of a young woman determined to stay in her small town of Tamarack Alaska even if that means she can't have the dream relationship she wants with the local Raptor trainer. he introduces her to a local Great Horned Owl nest and them been in the wild together leads to Brad finally giving into his attraction to Jenna Now he has to find away to stay in the town and solve the mystery of what Ted Godfrey is up to
DESIRE IN D.C.
I loved this story because it is the back story of Missy's parents who we met in Missy and Zane's story in the Hot Seals series and Peter and Marty take us on quite a ride She is the daughter of the Vanderbilt family while he is an young politician trying to work his way up the system But when she is put in danger on a trip home from Athens he will do whatever he needs to in an effort to find out what is happening and in the process he will win her heart and start top develop the connections that will lead to his career. loved how we met Missy and Zane at the end of the book
LEVI
The Lighthouse Security Investigations is one of my favourite series and it was wonderful to get Levi's story we met him as the FBI agent in Tate's story but now we get his own story He has decided to leave the FBI and is joining Lighthouse but on his trip across country he gets dragged into his first mission for his new employer when he picks up an accident victim at the side of the road. Claire has important information about embezzlement in the company she worked for and her former boss will do whatever he has to in an effort to keep her quite but Levi with help from his new team mates will keep her safe and bring her home.
THE GUARDIAN
Jason Greene has finally found love with Roxana Carter and he knows it is time to leave his dangerous work for GSI but his boss Buck Baer has no intention of taking his resignation and believes he has double crossed him and wants to join The Aces his competition. Meanwhile his new fiancee and sister to a Aces operative has her own problems as a kill team comes after her Can they both survive to have the fu\ture they planned together
SCOUT
I love Linear Tactical and this a great addition to the series Wyatt "Scout" Highfield is a Linear operative who was involved in the rescue of Nadine Macfarlane and her friend Chloe a year ago What Nadine doesn't know is that he fell for her the moment he met her in hospital after the case and has been keeping an eye on her ever since He was waiting till she was ready for a relationship but that decision has been taken out of his hands He is on the run with human traffickers chasing him and the only person he can go to is Nadine Soon they will both be on the run and hoping they can get to his team before they are captured
Lawson & Jill
They have both suffered loss she lost her best friend who was like a sister to cancer and he lost his older brother to suicide They meet at a grief counselling session and the attraction between them is instant Soon they are spending time together and starting to actually help one another to heal. Then danger threatens Jill when a husband that can't let go believes that she is his connection to his wife who has escaped him Will Lawson and his connections be able to keep her safe You will have to read to see

This is a brilliant box set and the best thing they are full stories not excerpts and not previously released this is the perfect way to introduce yourself to some wonderful authors in the romantic suspense genre

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of thrilling love stories!

This collection of seven short romances was a terrific read! Some authors were familiar, but most were new to me and all are now on my must-read list. A brief run-down of the stories:

THE ROOKIE by Kimberly Kincaid:

Tara and Xander come from opposite sides of society, but they are connected by their unyielding determination to see justice done. With a unique writing style that exudes feelings on every page, this story takes us inside the process of protecting a witness in an upcoming trial. I really enjoyed the way Xander learns to value his past, and the respect shown between these two was phenomenal.

NIGHT OWL by Rachel Grant:

This selection definitely had the best humor of them all, with Jenna's take-no-prisoners banter with the entire Raptor team and her forthright honesty with Brad. I had a hard time liking Brad at first, but warmed up to him as his priorities finally fell into place. These two had passion for days, and I loved every bit of it. This one also got me the most interested in the related book in the series, which I am reading next.

DESIRE IN D.C. by Cat Johnson:

I really enjoyed the bit of history in this one, as it's set in 1976 in D.C. and ties in closely with a lot of the political events of the period. I'm old enough to remember that time as current events, so it was refreshing to see the author get all the timeline issues right. A true opposites-attract, Marty and Peter challenged each other yet still connected on a visceral level. A very nice read.

LEVI by Maryann Jordan:

I loved this "damsel in distress" story with Claire on the run without really understanding exactly why, and Levi literally coming to her rescue and roping in the team to help even before he begins to work for the new company. The way that the Lighthouse folks just dropped everything to help this sudden mission was admirable and made the story all the more intense.

THE GUARDIAN by Cristin Harber:

Jason and Roxana appear to be a typical couple with a lovely proposal scene to open their story. But the timing with that and his decision to leave his job blows everything wide open, making for an exciting story with layers of secrets that can no longer be hidden. The writing was intense and flowed beautifully, until the very end where the resolution fell a little flat, making the whole episode appear to have been nothing more than a huge overreaction to a minor misunderstanding. A wonderful build-up that didn't quite live up to its potential, but a lovely HEA nonetheless.

SCOUT by Janie Crouch:

All the longing and yearning can be found in this amazing story, tied for my favorite of the collection. Wyatt has been waiting for Nadine to be ready for a new relationship, but he's forced to speed things along when he finds himself running for his life. The story in this one was complex, well thought out, and brilliantly executed. Their tender romance was emotionally intense, and their battle against the evil forces was thoroughly captivating. I was honestly cheering at the final showdown.

LAWSON AND JILL by Caitlyn O’Leary:

This is my other favorite of the collection, especially since we got to see some familiar faces jumping in to help when one of their own is threatened. Jill and Lawson meet at a grief support group, where they hit it off instantly and are able to work through their individual tragedies on a more one-to-one basis. When Law finds out that Jill has been targeted because of her involvement in the group, he pulls out all the stops to ensure her safety and I loved every thrilling part of it. I was on the edge of my seat through the nail-biting conclusion, and rejoiced with the whole gang when justice was served and love won the day.

Each of these serves as a wonderful introduction to that author's world through interconnected characters. Every one of these has its own HEA, making this collection completely self-contained, with links to related books for those who want to read more. It's an absolute must-read anthology if you love tender but protective heroes who fight hard and love harder. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ROOKIE by Kimberly Kincaid
The humor drew me in, the suspense forced me to stay. Xander and Tara are complex characters with a lot history – both together and separately. I loved their chemistry, with each other and all the rest of the people around them. It was easy to get sucked into this story, and now I want to read about the rest of the Remington residents.
NIGHT OWL by Rachel Grant
I found this book to be all about what happens when willpower fails and you can no longer resist temptation. It’s also about finally giving in to what the heart truly wants. The chemistry between Jenna and Brad is extremely strong, and I’m surprised they resisted for as long as they did. This is definitely a companion story, as there are lots of questions that get brought up in this book that we don’t get to learn the answers to, yet.
DESIRE IN D.C. by Cat Johnson
This story is an emotional roller-coaster. Buckle up and prepare to be taken for a ride. Love at first sight is a real thing, and they say opposites attract. While that isn’t perfectly true for Peter and Marty, it certainly makes for an interesting Meet Cute for the pair. My initial reaction to Marty wasn’t altogether positive. Her strident ‘if you’re not with me, you’re against me’ attitude rubbed me the wrong way. Rather, I very quickly fell in love with Peter and his social awkwardness and peacemakers’ soul, and couldn’t understand how Marty could resist him. It hurt my heart to watch such a turbulent part of world history play out again, but I loved seeing how the heightened tensions brought our leading couple together.
LEVI by Maryann Jordan
I didn’t realizer how much I’d been missing LSI and the Keepers until I started reading this book. And discovered just how many more books are out there now since I read the series opener. This story kind of went by in a bit of a blur. The action and romance are fast-paced, but there’s something just so sweet about the connection between Levi and Claire. I know need to clear out some more free time so I can read all the books I’ve missed in the middle.
THE GUARDIAN by Cristin Harber
There’s a bit of a Mr. & Mrs. Smith feeling about this. Kind of like The Keystone Cops meet Mission Impossible. There’s danger, and action, and suspense, but there’s also an irreverent humor I wasn’t expecting. Roxana may be an innocent caught in the middle of a bunch of misconceptions, but she’s got a spine of pure adamantine that will serve her well. Jason’s living several different layers of secret lives, but when all the layers are stripped away, the only thing that matters to him is Roxana.
SCOUT by Janie Crouch
Action, drama, suspense, and humor. Everything I love best about the genre. There was just something so charmingly endearing about suave security operative Wyatt Highfield being turned into a tongue-tied schoolboy confessing his feelings to his crush. It was the cutest, sweetest, most awkward thing I have ever read. I loved it! And watching Nadine blossom under the pressure was a delight to behold. Now, I think I need to read/reread everything from this author, because there was some of the backstory here that wasn’t familiar to me at all.
LAWSON AND JILL by Caitlyn O’Leary
Jill and Law are both dealing with tragic family losses and having varying degrees of success for their efforts. A chance meeting at a grief counselling group opens up a whole new world of possibilities for the pair. This story could have been swamped with lots of big, dark emotions, considering the themes it dealt with. Instead, there’s a witty thread of humor that brightens even the darkest moments of the book and left me giggling even at the end.
BREAKING AWAY by Elle James
When Mac and Kylie stumble across each other in war zone, they discover that all those feelings they thought buried aren’t as dead as they’d believed. This was definitely a second chance with a twist. I loved that in the end neither one was trying to change the other and that they were simply committed to making it work from this point forward. There’s still a lingering question or two that I have about the price on Kylie’s head, but those might be answered in future books of the series.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of these authors and felt like a kid in a candy store when I got this book in my hands . Needless to say, I loved them all.
Here are a few reviews , but know that ALL the stories are worth your time.

THE ROOKIE BY KIMBERLY KINCAID
This story is the beginning of the author’s new series titled Intelligence Unit. If you are familiar with the author, it’s also a spin off of two of her series, Station Seventeen and Remington Medical.
The main characters in this story are Xander Matthews and Tara Kingston.
Xander is a rookie and Tara a tough as nails ADA. They have a past, one in which she tried to send him to jail. While he thought he had succeeded in staying far away from her, they meet again in a crime scene. Will the past be kept in the past while they work together? Or, will feelings develop in the midst of the danger ? What about the secrets that have been hidden deeply?
Definitely a very good start to this series.

SCOUT BY JANIE CROUCH
Wyatt Highfield is on the run. He has intel on a human trafficking ring but everywhere he goes, someone follows. Nadine MacFarlane was injured and burnt badly a year ago, and has since become a recluse. Her happy times are when she and Wyatt start corresponding online and a sort of relationship has formed.
In his desperation to hide, Wyatt shows up in a location he knew Nadine would be, knowing that he would likely put her in danger but he’s out of options.
As the story progresses, lies of omission come to light but the danger is greater than expected . Running for their lives becomes the primary goal. Will they realize that feelings have been building between them? If so, will they survive the danger?
For those that have read the previous stories in the author’s Linear Tactical series, you will enjoy reading Scout’s/Wyatt Highfield’s story. If you are new to the series, I highly recommend that you read the stories so you able to appreciate not only the story but also the secondary characters.

LEVI BY MARYANN JORDAN
Levy Amory, has decided to leave Wyoming and the FBI for a new life in Maine working for LIghthouse Security Investigations. He sets off on a road trip not expecting to encounter a woman by the road with a broken down car. Claire Loman is on the run and keeping secrets. But when those are revealed, Levy and LSI set out to help her. Neither expecting the attraction between them. But can Levy really trust Claire and can Claire trust LSI and her feelings for Levy?This is definitely another winner by this author .

BREAKING AWAY BY ELLE JAMES
This story is the perfect introduction to the author’s new series titled Delta Force Strong and its members, who are currently stationed in Afghanistan .
Breaking Away belongs to journalist Kylie Adams and Delta Force team member Mac/Sean McDaniel. They were a couple in their youth but each wanted a career and weren’t willing to settle for less. Over a decade later they meet by chance when Kylie survives an ambush in which she kills a key Taliban member, making herself a target for those seeking revenge.
Determined to keep her safe , Mac and his team dodge bullets, more insurgents , all while the romance is rekindled. Will they survive the enemy and if they do, are they both willing to open their hearts for a second chance.

The other stories by Cat Johnson, Caitlyn O’Leary , Cristin Harber and Rachel Grant are just as good. This is an anthology you will not be able to put down.

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for honest review with no compensation

Danger and Desire is a romantic suspense anthology by 8 amazing authors of which 2 are new to me authors and such great stories!

The Rookie is book 1 in the Intelligence Unit by Kimberly Kincaid and what a great start. Officer Xander Matthew and ADA Tara Kingston must work together to catch a killer while trying to keep their passion from getting out of hand...

Night Owl a Raptor novella by Rachel Grant, a new to me author. This story is about the Raptor operative training compound, Brad Fraser, Jenna O’Donnell and what happens when you don’t let the other person know what’s really in your heart...

Desire in D.C. is an orgin story by Cat Johnson and the premise to the Hot SEALs series. This is about Peter Greenwood and the beginning of his rise in politics, starting as an aide for a Republican senator, his hopes to finding his dream girl...who happens to be Martha “Marty “Vanderbilt, a liberal journalist, old family money rich and wants nothing to do with him...but fate has other plans...

Levi by Maryann Jordan is part of the Lighthouse Security series. Levi Amory has accepted a job with LSI and moving across the country to Maine when he comes upon a stranded lady, Claire Loman who is on the run. What happens next will keep you on the edge of your seat...

The Guardian is book 4 in the Aces series by Cristin Harber and if you haven’t read this series...it is a must! Up next is Jason Green and Roxana Carter, newly engaged but when Jason hand his resignation into his employer all heck breaks lose and things are not what they seem....

Scout by Janie Crouch is a new to me author and this book is part of the Linear Tactical Romantic Suspense series. This story is about Wyatt Highfield and Nadine Macfarlane...can these two help each other, stay alive and face the past in order to have a future...

Lawson and Jill is book 1 in the Night Storm Legacy series by Caitlyn O’Leary and what a way to start this series! Lawson Thorne is a Marine Raider and afternoon his brother dies needs to come to term with what happened. Jill Keiler has had personal tragedies and has closed herself off but at one of her grief counseling meetings she meets Lawson and knows he has had tragedies too. Can these to help each other to being joy, laughter and love back in their lives before a mad man destroys it all...

Breaking Away is book 3 in the Delta Force Strong series by Elle James and what a great read!

Up next is Kylie Adams, a war time journalist and Sean “Mac” McDaniel, a Delta Force operative, who have know each other in the past but went their separate ways only to reconnect in Afghanistan where Kylie kills a Taliban leader’s brother and the Taliban puts a bounty on her head. Can Mac keep her safe until she can get back to the states away from the Taliban, finally show her they belong together and start on the life they missed out on all those years ago...

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no better way to meet a new author than in an anthology in my opinion. I prefer a mix of familiar favorites and new to me authors so I'm sure to like at least some of what I find. Usually, there will be at least one author or story that will be the draw for me. In this case, I was pretty sure I'd like most, if not all, of the stories enclosed since they're all romantic suspense - one of my favorite genres. This one has 8 novella length books in one, and it amounts to somewhere around 800 pages of - well, as the title says, Danger and Desire. Some are heavier on the danger, and others lean more toward the desire, but they all have some level of both.
The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid starts with a good bit of excitement and doesn't let up. It's fast-paced, and Xander and Tara have great chemistry. It's a good mix of suspense, danger, and attraction, and ended up being one of my favorites in the collection.
Scout by Janie Crouch was the one that drew me to this collection, to begin with, and another favorite in the collection. As a fan of the Linear Tactical series, I'm always ready to gobble up anything that includes those characters. This one gives us Wyatt and Nadine, along with a few others from the Linear Tactical team. The romance moves a little faster than is typical for the series, but this is a novella, and it's done in a way that is kind of perfect for this couple and their story. It also has the author's usual flair for action and intrigue mixed with some well-timed wit. Many of the characters are from the Linear Tactical series, but Scout can be read as a standalone. I will warn that once you meet any of the characters from this series, you'll want to know them all.
Night Owl by Rachel Grant takes us to Alaska for a bit of romance and owl watching. This one starts as kind of a lust from afar type of thing with it being implied that the attraction has been there for some time but neither Brad nor Jenna have acted on it until now. Brad was a little too wishy-washy for me with his back and forth, 'I want her, but I shouldn't start something with her,' and it grew tedious even in a novella. Of course, that can't hold so we do get some romance, but it's not as suspenseful as I expected. This one also has a sort of open-ended conclusion with a mention of the series, so there is that. This is the only one in the series that had that open-ended vibe. I will say that other than Brad's indecision, the characters and storyline did hold my interest, and the series sounds promising.
The Guardian by Cristin Harber is loaded with secrets that Jason and Roxana are going to need to overcome to get their happily ever after - if those secrets don't kill them first. This is another fast-paced story with a solid mix of romance and suspense. The story is entertaining and engaging, and I will be checking out more of Cristin Harber's work.
Levi by Maryann Jordan starts out a little bit slower than I prefer, especially in a novella, but that doesn't last long, and then we're off and running. The premise is interesting, and I love the idea of a romance blooming during a cross-country trip. Of course, that's not what Levi had planned as he set off for a new job, and he and Claire have plenty to deal with. This is another one with some great characters and an entertaining storyline.
Desire in D.C. by Cat Johnson is another favorite in this collection. I do love me some political intrigue, and this has plenty of that. There's also a romance that blooms despite different political beliefs and some heated debates, at least on one side of that debate - of course, the heat isn't all about different sides of the political arena, and it burns even hotter with the attraction between this couple.
Lawson and Jill by Caitlyn O’Leary was a little harder for me to read. Not because it isn't good, but because I've had my own grief to deal with these past few weeks. At the same time, it was a story that pulled me in, and I ended up liking it a great deal. This pair fits so well together and they do have their own danger to deal with.
All in all, we have 8 stories of romantic suspense, and while I liked some better than others, they were all well worth the read, and in addition to enjoying an author I know and love, I've also found a few more to check out.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid

Xander is a cop and Tara is an attorney, the meet when an Tara’s informant is attacked. There are plenty of twists in this story it will keep you turning the pages . What a fantastic book I loved their story

Night Owl by Rachel Grant - A Raptor Novella

Jenna and Brad’s story is set in Alaska, I loved how their romance blossomed and how brad made the right choice.

Desire in D.C. by Cat Johnson - A Hot Seal’s Series Origin Story

Peter and Martha story is one of adventure and intrigue. Peter is a senator’s aide and Martha is a reporter. Their relationship is full of twists and is a great page turner.

Levi by Maryann Jordan - Lighthouse Security Investigations

Levi & Claire meet when Levi stops to help Claire. Their relationship develops on their road trip. Levi is called to use his contacts in Lighthouse Security Investigations I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

The Guardian by Cristian Harber - The Aces Series

Roxana and Jason story gets off to a great start then comes the intrigue, a great read.


Scout by Janie Crouch

Nadine & Wyatt story. Wyatt meets Nadine at the local market which Nadine thinks is a chance meeting , it isn’t. Their story takes off from there, brilliant book.

Lawson & Jill by Caitlyn O’Leary - A Night Storm Legacy Novel

Lawson & Jill ger engaged and it looks like a peaceful future but that soon changes. Lawson also deals with his brothers suicide Xavier . Their romance has a bumpy ride with plenty of adventure.

[Nicole ReadingBetweenTheSheets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger and Desire definitely sums up this anthology!

THE ROOKIE by Kimberly Kincaid is an enemies-to-lovers romantic suspense. I loved seeing Xander Matthews from the Station 17 books by this author! He and Tara Kingston get to work together instead of against each other as they did years ago. Very well written storyline! (This was my favorite!)

NIGHT OWL by Rachel Grant is a wonderful Alaska romance. Brad Fraser and Jenna O’Donnell’s romance story is an opposite’s attract romance. I really enjoyed the storyline and writing!

DESIRE IN D.C. by Cat Johnson was an opposites attract romantic suspense! A terrorist hijacking featuring Peter and Martha…a political romance of sorts.

LEVI by Maryann Jordan was an introduction to this author for me! I really enjoyed this Keepers romance! Levi and Claire’s road trip was a rescue-type storyline and I liked the flow of the storyline! I will be checking out more from this author!

THE GUARDIAN by Cristin Harber is a romantic suspense, engagement disaster type story…one where someone isn’t who she thought he was.

SCOUT by Janie Crouch is a human trafficking romance. Wyatt and Nadine both have to work through some tough situations, but learn to rely on each other.

LAWSON AND JILL by Caitlyn O’Leary is another romantic suspense, featuring Lawson and Jill who meet under similar circumstances…grief counseling. This is a military romance of sorts.

I really enjoyed these short stories written by these wonderful authors! Overall 4.5 stars.

[K B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I received a copy of the steamy novella The Rookie: The Intelligence Unit: Xander and Tara by Kimberly Kincaid in the Danger and Desire eight book anthology and this review was given freely.
Intense and action packed from the beginning this fast paced novella has vivid descriptions but low graphic violence and steam levels.
1 year police rookie Xander Matthews finds himself team up with the woman who almost got him convicted two years ago, Remington, North Carolina District Attorney Tara Kingston when her key witness is attacked.

5 stars
I received a copy of the steamy post military novella Night Owl: A Raptor Novella: Brad and Jenna by Rachel Grant in the Danger and Desire eight book anthology and this review was given freely.
Easy flowing containing a touch of poignancy and hints at danger involving the Tamarack, Alaska Raptor's military training compound which are never fully revealed. This is an excellent introduction to Raptor's elite Falcon Team operatives blended in with the romance finally realized story of Brad and Jenna. The ending is a little anticlimactic for the danger part but heartwarming fr the romance.
After three years of fighting his attraction to nature photographer and Tamarack Roadhouse bartender Jenna O’Donnell, her random comment just as the Raptor's elite Falcon Team leader Brad Fraser gets ready to leave Alaska sets off a chain reaction.

5 stars
I received a copy of the steamy post military novella Desire in DC: A Hot Seals series Origin Story novella: Peter and Marty by Cat Johnson in the Danger and Desire eight book anthology and this review was given freely.
Just as the title suggests, this is a fast paced literary flashback to the controversial 1970's and the origin of the Hot SEALS series and crossover series. A well written opposites attract romance with touches of suspense and steam this novella has a heartwarming ending while providing a hint into the future.
Pennsylvania transplant now career focused Washington D.C. Republican legislative aide Peter Greenwood egged on by his highschool best friend and Navy SEAL Tim meets the woman of his dreams, The Washington Post's liberal journalist Martha "Marty" Vanderbilt only to almost lose her twice.

4 stars
I received a copy of the steamy former military Special Ops based series novella Levi: A Lighthouse Security Investigations Novella: Levi and Claire by Maryann Jordan in the Danger and Desire eight book anthology and this review was given freely.
An easy flowing fast paced romance with wonderful characters, a touch of scenic history, a few moments of danger and a little steam.
Tired of the solitary and career focused life of an FBI agent and missing the Team comradery of the Army Rangers, 32 year old Levi Amory sets off across country from Wyoming to Maine to start his new "Keeper" position with Lighthouse Security Investigations only to have his peaceful drive interrupted by a roadside stranded Claire Loman.


> The Guardian by Cristin Harber
> Scout by Janie Crouch
> Lawson and Jill: A Night Storm Legacy Novel by Caitlyn O’Leary

5 stars
I received a copy of the steamy military based novella Breaking Away: A Delta Force Strong Novella Mac and Kylie by Elle James in the Danger and Desire eight book anthology and this review was given freely.
Intense and action packed from the beginning, this easy flowing fast paced second chance at love story has a few steamy scenes and although set in the Middle East during war time, with a fair amount of violence,the graphic level is low. A good introduction to the Fort Hood/Killeen, Texas Delta Force Team and a happy ending for Mac.
Cornered while trying to escape during a mission gone wrong and trying to protect her wounded guard and her cameraman,Texas born war correspondent Kylie Adams finds herself
rescued by her first love Delta Force operative Sean "Mac" McDaniel.