3.5 Stars.
Not a bad addition to the series... I was looking forward to this book ever since finishing the last. I expected to really like it, and it mostly didn't disappoint. I did feel like the progress of the storyline was a little less exciting than previous books. I think I also find some of the details about the book world to be repetitive after reading the same things in the previous 6 books. This book really isn't a standalone, but I feel like SW tries half-heartedly to make it one. To clarify, we get tons of interaction with previous book characters, but also too many details that every series reader would know. I guess some people may find the reminders useful, but they just irritate me.
So this story, like all the rest, has a lot going on. The hero and heroine are anchors but he doesn't want to bond because of secrets. She's pissed at him and tries to push him out of her life completely, but he manipulates her into allowing some contact for safety. They begin to spend more and more time together as she suddenly finds herself the target of multiple attacks on both her person and her position at work. He freaks and does what every other SW hero does...he gets overprotective and forces his protection and presence on her. They start having sex because, why not? And then it's essentially all sex scenes and battle scenes until the end. I know I make it sound terrible, but it's really not.
Here's what I'll say about Ms. Wright's writing that I can really get behind: she's a bloodthirsty bitch, and I love it. She always has the bad guys get tortured for days. She doesn't give them an easy ending or a quick exit. I FUCKING HATE WHEN AUTHORS DO THAT! I want the evil-doers to get their comeuppance! I know, I probably need therapy, but I don't care!
On the other hand, there's always too much OM/OW drama. This book has some of both, but neither rates badly on my radar. The hero and heroine were not with these other people sexually in the past, so I didn't mind their presence. It's as simple as that for me! I hate when exes or random hookups hang around. How many times did OW tell Harper in previous books about how great sex was with Knox? Ewwwww!
So basically, this book was pretty damn good, I enjoyed it. I am a little disturbed by the hint given for the next book. JFC, I hope I'm wrong and it doesn't get written. There was some info about one of Knox's sentinels realizing that his anchor is his ex's sister. IF HE ENDS UP FUCKING THE SISTER?!?!?! PLEASE SUZANNE WRIGHT, DON'T DO IT.
Safety is good; no others during the book ofc, but also no exes popping up. A OW tries to hit on H a few times but he isn't interested. OM obsessed with h and causes some drama with her sister but it's not really a safety issue imo. No separations once they get together.