Rescuing Zoe

Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists #2

by Ellie Masters

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here

The last thing Zoe expects during Spring Break is to be trapped in a shipping container with a dozen other girls.

One phone call changes my entire life.

My best friend’s little sister is missing, kidnapped off the streets of Cancun.

He needs my special skill set to bring her home.

A former Navy SEAL, I’m now a Guardian, a brotherhood of men dedicated to rescuing those who’ve been taken.

Rescuing Zoe should be just another job, but Zoe and I share a history.

One her brother doesn’t know about.

She’s been in love with me since she was five.

It began as an annoyance, but a year ago I set her straight.

She crawled into my bed and I broke her heart.

I walked away.

But now?

Now, I’ll do anything to bring her home.

Genres: Romance, Military Fiction, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Military Romance, Contemporary Romance

406 pages, ebook

First published January 14, 2021

About the author

Angsty, Steamy, Heart-Stopping, Pulse-Pounding, Can't-Stop-Reading Romantic Suspense.

Ellie Masters is a USA Today Bestselling author and Amazon Top 15 Author.

In addition, she's a wife, military mom, doctor, and retired Colonel.

She writes romantic suspense filled with all your sexy, swoon-worthy alpha men. Her writing will tug at your heartstrings and leave your heart racing.

Born in the South, raised under the Hawaiian sun, Ellie has traveled the globe while in service to her country. The love of her life, her amazing husband, is her number one fan and biggest supporter. And yes! He's read every word she's written.

Don't forget to sign up for her newsletter. Never miss another release, sale, or exclusive. https://elliemasters.com/NewsletterSi...

Reviews

[Ashleyjo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dark, detailed abduction of the FMC. It’s sad, but so wordy that it loses a lot of the emotional connection to the reader. Too much useless detail. Too much ‘look at how smart I’m being.’

Her father pays a search and rescue. MMC and his team save her. MMC is FMC’s brother’s BFF.

MMC is confusing. At 25%, she’s unconscious… and he says…

“Zoe’s mine. And just like that, it’s settled.”

At 28%, she’s still unconscious… and he says…

“Not sure I’d call her my girl.”

At 30%… “ The sooner I can dispense my duty and hand her into the waiting arms of her family, the better. She’s mine.”

I have whiplash. He’s a prick. Alphasprout, not alpha, and I’m far from impressed. He handles his words horribly.

Rescued, she enters this place called the Facility to heal. It’s weird as hell and is written like a damn cult. The final straw was that the facility sets up fake kidnappings….

This is the worst part of our job, but necessary, and beneficial. If they can evade capture in a realistic abduction, they’ll build the confidence to survive anything. I flick on the switch to the box at my larynx, which will disguise my voice.

WTF? Suddenly, this book turned into some weird off the wall psychological treatment. Yes, victims do well with empowerment tools, but no victim wants to relive the extreme PTSD of a realistic kidnapping they don’t even know is staged. That’s just beyond. Leaving the suicidal FMC on a cliff? Separating her from her family support?

The FMC is desperate for the MMC. Like obsessed in a very degrading way, and I don’t feel an ounce of love or romance. It’s as sad to read as the initial chapters of her abduction. It makes me feel sorry for her, and that’s not my idea of romance.

The writing is wordy and dry.

This goes up there on my top 10 list of books I hate.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that it’s is filled with action and reality but what I guess I really feel in love with besides Zoe and Axel’s story is the whole facility. Definitely an eye opener and one of those things that really make you think

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read. I would give it a “ten”. The story is filled with drama, suspense, danger, human trafficking, killing, and survival. Axel is a member of the Guardian which rescues people. The group has helped rescue many people from human-sex-trafficking, abuse and then helped them rebuild their lives. Axel’s best friend Austin calls to hire them to find and rescue his little sister, Zoe who was grabbed of the street in Cancun on Spring Break. When Axel finds this out he vows to bring her back. The story is filled with violence, death, and destruction. From all of this can there be love, hope, and rebirth? Axel is strong-willed, confident, arrogate, bold, and brawny. Zoe is in college - she is single, carefree, and never thought about being kidnapped. Zoe must endure all kinds of humiliation - beating, nakedness, stark living conditions, uncleanliness, mental and physical cruelty. This story hits every emotion and it is a well-thought, complete journey. Yes, there is passion, lust, caring, tenderness, and love. Love that encompasses and completes each individual. Fantastic storyline.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christine Axford · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading from this author and overall I was impressed. I thrive on dark romance novels and if you love dark novels, you won't be disappointed with this one and the sex scenes are great. There are a few reasons why I am only giving this read 3 stars.
***Spoiler Alerts***
1st - I'm still scratching my head with the IUD part. Not sure what the point of that was in the story if the girls were only being used to make snuff films....did I miss something??
2nd - I felt some parts were a little too wordy for my liking (but that's just me, I don't need every single detail).
3rd - I feel the ending was very rushed. After Zoe was saved again by Axel the 2nd time. It sounded like she might have had a broken rib and of course, a new laceration, but yet she and Axel have rough sex hours later....don't get me wrong, I love the sex scenes, but this one should have been prolonged and maybe a little more sensitivity coming from Axel. I get he's an alpha (dom) but he should have shown more regret for leaving Zoe and her having to go through all that crap again or maybe have him attend to her wounds in a loving intimate way....something like that, but that scene was totally overlooked and the story virtually ends.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is all too real. This actually happens in this world. Zoe is kidnapped and her father and brother move heaven and earth to find her. They hire Axel's team to find and rescue her. He is Austin's best friend and he's known his sister since she was in kindergarten. She's always had a crush on him. She has barely survived what they have done to her and in front of her and the others that were captured. This book may cause triggers for some. There's violence, danger and plenty of heat. They have a HEA but it's not over yet. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story about Zoe and Axel, written in the dual, first person point of view, which is always a deal breaker for me. This was a fast past action packed story, that pulled me in from the first paragraph. The writing is amazing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[gurlhasnoname · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 69%. Had a big problem with the way they “treat” victims.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was 100 times darker than my usual.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author sure knows how to write a gritty story that drags the emotions out of me. I realize human trafficking and all the horrors that go with it are too real. It's hard for me to read and even harder for me to get out of my head. The mark of a great writer is to draw a person inside a story and have you leave full to the brim with emotion. This story gives that in spades. I stayed a level of angry that was uncomfortable long after I finished this book.

Ellie Masters can weave words and book worlds together like a... well master. We get to see some of my favorites in this book, Skye and Forrest, as they fight against the atrocities of the world. We get to see the strength of the human spirit and also the healing that self defense and love can bring about.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Axel & Zoe’s Story Is A Romantic Thriller Steeped In Dark Violence And Action Scenes. Although It Largely Centers Around The Peaceful Setting Of The Facility, It Also Goes Deep Into Alpha Team’s Missions With Play By Play Action.


Trigger warning: violence, abduction, and captivity.

This is book two of The Guardians: Hostage Rescue Specialists series. Book one, Rescuing Melissa, was CJ Rowan’s story. He worked on Delta team for Sam, the boss, who is well-connected in the government and recruits only the best. The company assists the FBI on a contract basis with domestic off-the-books hostage extractions. Most clients are wealthy.

More is learned about the organization in this book. CJ has become a legend after bringing down a serial killer and his copy cat in book one. He still reports to Sam, but he has since been promoted to lead Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta teams. He is mission commander. Delta, his old team, appears to now be permanently led by Jenny. Their focus remains domestic, and they do not factor into this story. The other teams travel worldwide to take down traffickers and rescue victims. Forest Summers makes his first appearance in the series here. Sam reports to him.

Most Guardians are former military and slide into their roles with relative ease. They must perfect enhanced interrogation techniques, without which their missions would be doomed to fail. Unlike the military, they are not restricted by governmental standards. They have no qualms about taking out bad guys. There is also a medical team that stands on call for the teams and rescued victims alike.

This story revolves around Alpha team. It includes Max (Alpha One), Axel (Alpha Three), Griff (Alpha Four), Liam (Alpha Five), Knox, and Wolfe. Bravo team plays a small role here. They are led by Brady, Max’s best friend. Charlie team steps into the fold in this book, too. They include Tex (Charlie One), Hank (Charlie Two), Walt (Charlie Three), Blake, Jeb, and Gabe.

Forest Summers is a billionaire investor whose support funds many of the Guardians’ activities. His troubled youth has inspired him to help those in need. He is committed to rescuing youth from bad foster homes as well as liberating those swept up into human trafficking. Taking down the networks behind the business is a priority. Forest’s interests don’t just stop there. He operates The Facility, a huge complex where trafficking survivors and rescued youth can opt to stay while learning to overcome the trauma they have faced. While residents at The Facility, victims work to build self-confidence. There they learn to empower themselves by not being victims, but by becoming survivors.

Note that Forest Summers is a crossover character. An emotional prequel to his story gives readers insight into his early trauma and motivation. Read the novella Ashes to New to learn about him and his foster sister. Read Changing Roles (books 4-6), a book by Jet Masters (and Ellie Masters) that crosses several series in one book. It is also book two in the Captive Hearts series. It shows the human trafficking side of the story, and Forest’s involvement from that angle. He is also in the Angel Fire rock star series as their manager, where he finally gets his own HEA. Forest’s Fall is book six of that series.

That is not the only crossover. Noodles and Mitzy’s story is in book five of the Angel Fire series, Hearts Entwined. Mitzy is quirky and brilliant with a computer, and Forest snatched her up for the Guardians. She works in the background, digging up the information needed to ensure successful missions. It was through Forest that she met rock star Noodles. Noodles is mentioned as a mentor a few times here as well.

This is Axel and Zoe’s story. It has a different speed than book one, which had a more steady rhythm. This book starts out dark and twisted – be forewarned. It is horrifying. It then takes a step back and digs into the characters before finishing with another dark dive and a twist.

IN THIS BOOK:

Zoe Lancaster, nineteen, decided to head to Cancun for spring break this year to help erase the memory of what took place the year before. She had fallen for Axel when she first saw him. She was about four; he was about ten. He is her brother’s best friend yet today. The age gap posed a practical problem, of course, but when she came home for spring break freshman year to find him taking time off from the Guardians with Austin, she took a bold step in believing she could finally make him see her as a woman. It ended in her complete humiliation. Her seduction effort was unceremoniously dismissed. It would never happen. There had been two other guys along the way, but Zoe knew instinctively that she and Axel belonged together, even if he chose to deny it. She wouldn’t repeat the mistake, though. Determined to move on, spring break with her friends in a sunny paradise was the perfect escape.

Axel, twenty-five, serves as the Alpha team medic. A former Navy SEAL, he also happens to be the best sniper of all the Guardians. He enlisted following high school while his best friend Austin went on to college. Becoming a SEAL really changed his life. Working now as a Guardian gives him the same satisfaction of being part of a team that he got while still in the military, and the same adrenaline high he loves so much when out on a mission. The work is dangerous but the pay is good. He loves the tight relationship he has with his teammates. He and the Alpha team have been sent to Cancun to retrieve a package for their latest mission, but it is proving to be a challenge.

This particular package happens to be a bit unusual. The Guardians were hired by Mr. Lancaster, Austin’s father, to bring home Zoe. Axel still feels guilty for the way he pushed her away last year, but it had to be done. Austin’s annoying little sister had always followed him around. Though Austin never thought much of it, Axel never looked at Zoe as anything other than a nuisance. She was much too young to consider that way, and Axel had every intention of playing the field once he came of age. He hadn’t really seen or thought of her once he left home for the Navy, and hadn’t been prepared to see the woman that she had become when she forced his hand. His teammates all understand his connection to the mission, but he suspects his friend Griff knows that connection might be deeper than he lets on.

Abducted and sold from the streets of Cancun, Zoe was fortunate to survive. When she becomes aware of Axel’s presence, she is horrified to be the object of his pity. She pushes him away and accepts Forest’s invitation to stay at within the secluded walls of The Facility. There she meets other survivors and learns to take control of her life back. She befriends Andrew, twelve, and Moira, twenty-two. A few months later, their new skills are put to the test in one of Forest’s more unconventional methods. When Zoe comes face to face with Axel again, they finally confront the past. But Zoe is still fragile, and Axel has to be cautious in his role at The Facility. Neither knows then that the real test is yet to come. The couple eventually finds a happy for now ending, but the story ends in cliffhanger as well.

A few things merit mention. *Spoilers* First, Zoe’s injuries, as described, would be visible – and yet they are not mentioned much later. It almost reads as if they were totally healed but for a mention or two. It is confusing without further explanation, especially when she walks around in a bikini without a thought. Next, there are a few small spots where the dialogue feels a little clunky. Finally, sometimes the characters waver such that their thinking begins to feel inconsistent. This is particularly true of Axel, but Zoe also feels inauthentic at one point when talking with Moira.

Axel and Zoe’s story is a romantic thriller steeped in dark violence and action scenes. Although it largely centers around the peaceful setting of The Facility, it also goes deep into Alpha team’s missions with play by play action. The suspense mounts as the Guardians work to bring a human trafficking ring down. The story is nicely written and plot-driven. The details are complex. Although the books in the series are standalone, much is gained by reading them all in order. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Axel and Zoe. I rate this book four stars.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic military suspense is my go to genre and in this series I have found not only a brilliant series but an author that will be added to my automatic read listing. This book took off from almost the first page and really never slowed down and it my favourite kind of hero the all growly alpha

Zoe is on spring break in Cancun when she is snatched off the streets she is lucky in that her family quickly realised she was missing and they also had contacts her brothers best friend Axel worked for Guardian Security so they where quickly on the case. Axel soon has Zoe in his safe keeping and he also realises that in fact she is the woman for him but first she will have to get over the horror of what she has gone through. She has crushed on Axel most of her life but can she handle the fact that he now has feeling for her. This will be a wild ride as these two find their places in one another lives Will they get a HEA You will have to read to see

[natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say except that I loved it?
Ever since reading Rescuing Melissa, the first book of the Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists, I was hooked with the series.
I love books with action and romance bundled in one, but I never knew that before I read 'Edge of Fury' by Trish Loye. Ever since then, I've found myself jumping at the chance of reading books similar to that. Of course, I still read books that steer to romance and romance only, but sometimes a little bit of action in a story that keeps you jumpy and wondering what would happen next never hurts.

To summarize:
~ Great book 👍
~ Highly recommended

*I was given a free copy of this book through a BookFunnel link and voluntarily left this review*

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am aware of the depravity that exists among us, but I'm still amazed at the sick mind of humans and what they will do to other humans. Then I wonder about Author Ellie Masters. How her mind can write in such detail of such inhuman acts. And then, I wonder about myself, reading her words, allowing my heart to race (I'm not young anymore), and my breathing to accelerate in fear for the characters involved. This story is full of amazing characters; Forest, Sky, the Guardians, the kids at the facility (Andrew), and then Zoe and Axel. What a history, what chemistry, their story. NOW, I anticipate the next story in the Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists! I think I'm ready, but am I really?

[Audrey Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Man, this book was 🔥🔥🔥. It had everything you'd want in a book from suspense to a little bit of terror, to romance and passion. The harsh reality is that the author gives us a look into some really tough topics and some really terrible things that happen in the real world. I couldn't put this book down and read it all in a day.

We meet our main character Zoe, who gets abducted from her spring break trip to Mexico. She is sold into a sex trafficking and endures torture and seeing other girls murdered before her eyes. Meanwhile, she's saying goodbye to her dad, brother Austin, and Axel, who is Austin's best friend and life long crush. She thinks back to when she tried to give herself to Axel a year ago, and he was so mean to her and told her basically to get out of his life that they would never be anything, that she was just Austin's little sister. I really liked Zoe, she was a strong girl, who had fire in her, and after all the terrible stuff that happened to her, her flame never got blown out by all the bad things that happened to her.

We meet Axel when he and his Guardian Team are heading in to rescue Zoe and the rest of the group of girls. They finally reach them, and unfortunately for them, Zoe is the only survivor. Axel can't believe what they've done to Zoe, and is very protective of her. Throughout her recovery in the hospital, he comes and stays with her, although she is unaware of that. He knows deep down that a year ago when she tried giving herself to him, he made a huge mistake by sending her away and being such a jerk to her. He has always loved her, and she is the only girl for him.

After Zoe leaves the hospital, she goes to The Facility, where she learns to cope with what happened to hear and heal from it. She takes classes about self defense where she is paired up with a masked man, "Three", who is teaching her how to defend herself. Unknowing to her, it's Axel, and the rest of the Guardian Team who are the masked men training the survivors. After a few days training with Three, she feels something between them, as crazy as that sounds, and she figures out that it's Axel. She finally confronts him and tells him she knows it's him, and confronts him about being so mean to her a year ago, and why he never came back to see her in the hospital if she was ok. He tells her he was at the hospital many times but she was going in and out due to the pain meds. Finally Axel professes his love for her and things finally get all hot and steamy between them. I absolutely love these two together, their passion is off the charts! They spend as much alone time together as they can, and suddenly Axel gets pulled away to go on another rescue mission to save some more girls from the same sex traffickers they rescued Zoe from. Before he left, he encouraged Zoe to go on a group outing to the beach with others from the Facility and told her he believed with all her training, that she was ready to take that step. She decides to go with her friend Moira and several others, and after the first fun night back into the 'real world', Zoe and Moira are drugged and kidnapped again by the same men who captured Zoe the first time. Luckily she and Moira were given necklaces with tracking devices by the Facility that Zoe turns on. Axel and his team learn of their kidnapping again and is able to rescue Zoe.

We are left at the end of the book with a HEA for Zoe and Axel, as they both are finally together again, and Axel tells Zoe that he wants to be with her forever and that he will forever protect her (swoon). However, we are left not knowing what happens to Moira, as she was not rescued when Zoe was rescued. The Guardians looked everywhere for her, but the bad guys moved her before the rescue took place. Will Moira survive? Will the Guardian's be able to save her before it's too late?

[E Loprete · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Note: This review contains Spoilers***

Rescuing Zoe is book 2 in the Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists by Ellie Masters. This was a gut wrenching story that will have your emotions all over the place. This story was a fast paced read full of military drama, action, violence, sex trafficking with plenty of steamy moments added to the mix. We begin with Alpha team on a mission to rescue Zoe who has been abducted while on a trip in Cancun. Axel is outraged, as he knows he and his team are racing against time to locate Zoe, Axle's best friend's younger sister. These two have a past growing up, but for Zoe her crush for Axel never diminished even when he pushed her away breaking her heart. Axel has deep feelings for Zoe but do to the age difference and his bond with her brother and family thought it best to push her away. Now all Axel can think about is making Zoe his and hoping that she will forgive him for turning her away. Will he be too late and what condition will they find her in. The abuse and violations Zoe and the rest of the young women go through at the hands of these sick men is devastating as the cartel are making Snuff videos for their high price clients. Zoe is being tortured to witness the fate of the other women as she is chained and brutally beaten while being filmed. Zoe has come to terms that she may not get out of this as she is saying goodbye to her family and especially to Axel. When the Alpha team comes to the rescue, the site they witness as they take out these men is one that will leave each of them horrified. especially Axel. Now Zoe with the help from Axel and her family as she is recovering, is told that she will need to go to Forest's compound to heal as he and his team will train her and others like her to no longer see themselves as victims but as survivors as they will go through intense training to overcome the horrors they endured. Her time at the compound is allowing Zoe to learn to overcome her fears but she finds she is drawn to her masked trainer number 3. The interaction between Zoe and Axel is heartfelt when she turns the tables on Axel and informs him she knows he is her trainer, finally all of the desire and love between these two come to the surface as they talk about the past, the passion between them is explosive and all consuming as these two soulmates will be joined forever. While on a mission to retrieve the other women who were taken, Axel has a bad feeling about the mission or is it about leaving Zoe? Was this mission a setup? While Zoe and Moria are on an outing away from the compound, they are drugged and taken once more. Zoe will soon learn this is all about her and the man who payed millions of dollars to witness her demise. Bound and gagged, Zoe is able to set the alarm on her necklace to alert the Guardians that they have been taken, but will it be too late? With all of the twists and turns in this story, you will be on edge with another dramatic rescue by Axel and his team will he save the woman he loves in time? For one who was left behind, her nightmare is only beginning. Will Moria be able to survive this time? We now have to wait for the next book to find out what happens to this courageous young woman and will the Alpha team be able to get her back! This series may not be for some, but this action packed thrilling journey about love and survival is a must read and I highly recommend this story.

[Mary Brannian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescuing Zoe Ellie Masters

"She’s mine." - Axel

"We survive together, thirteen girls bonded by a nightmare." - Zoe Lancaster

Taken, shoved into a shipping container with twelve other young women, Zoe holds on to the fragile hope that her brother will find her... Save her from the terrifying reality salivating to take her, break her... Force her into a degrading hell from which she will never escape. Hope... The thinnest, unraveling thread....

“As long as we’re alive , there’s hope.” I give her hand a squeeze and try to believe my words. The problem is— I don’t. Death is preferable to what waits for us out there. - Zoe

Zoe is at first shocked then horrified to realize what she thought was happening, isn't... No, the reality is so far beyond comprehension that it staggers her; breaks her..... And then it's her turn to face a dire and deadly fate...

"I want her to know I rescued her. Something shifts inside of me, needing her to know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. I’d walk through hell if I thought it would lessen her pain." - Axel

Discovering Zoe on the brink of death nearly destroys Axel. Eliminating those who had damaged her was just the beginning. But first, Axel had to get Zoe to safety, to help... Even if it meant walking away once more... The sudden and immediate realization the Zoe was more than just his best friend's little sister... That was going to take some getting used to....

"“You will be hunted. They will find you and they will kill you. Enjoy what time you have left." - Zoe

Another enthralling tale by the incomparable Ellie Masters! Zoe and Axel must battle their way to their true destiny, but Oh! What a ride! A tale that will leave you gasping at the action and unexpected twists, yet keep you captivated until the final word. **WARNING** CONTAINS TRIGGERS**

"Remember, there is always light in darkness. It’s up to you to find it, but it’s there." - Skye

[Roxs Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense is intense and never stops in this riveting story. Author Ellie Masters which gives us a bird’s eye view of the real-life horrors surrounding human trafficking. Her accounts of the treatment of the kidnapped victims and how they might be chosen or targeted was frightening – a real eye-opener for sure. The action scenes are non-stop excitement and absolutely thrilling. My naïve brain found many scenes to be unpredictable and had me on the edge of my seat.

Rescuing Zoe was shocking at times. I think perhaps I was living in a bubble before reading this story and was oblivious that these things are really happening in the world today. I loved the story, even though there were disturbing moments. Even so, swirling around all the violence, is a very hot and somewhat forbidden romance. The chemistry between Axel and Zoe is generally off the charts and I loved the secrecy they had to endure while their feelings for each other were blossoming. In true Ellie fashion, she rips the rugs out from under us just when we think everything is ok in the world and in the story.

I love how this story and the characters are interwoven with Ellie’s other stories and if you’ve read them, it just ups the appreciation value and if you haven’t read them, that’s ok. You are never lost and you can still go back and read any of the others and appreciate how beautifully interwoven they really are. This series is a must-read and there is no doubt in my mind that you’ll be hooked to Ellie Master and her sexy alphas.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel went into action as soon as he was informed that Zoe, sister of his best friend, Austin, had been stolen off the street in Cancun. She was shoved into a shipping container with 12 other girls and her horror story began. The rest of the book describes what Zoe suffered as her captors prepared the women for their delivery to Columbia to be sold, not as the usual sexual commodity, but for the “snuff” films where sick degenerates get the jollies by watching someone viciously murdered for their entertainment. Axel won’t stop until he saves her and retaliates for the way she was abused.

Axel is a former Navy SEAL, now one of the Guardians, a group of men dedicated to rescuing those who have been taken like this. This time, it was personal because he and Zoe had an almost-relationship before he broke her heart. Now he will be her only hope. He will do whatever he has to in order to bring her home. And then the long road to healing will be attempted. Will he get to her in time? If he does, will she be broken beyond all hope?

This is not a book to be read lightly. It’s serious and all too vividly true out in the “real” world. If you do plow through the story, take breaks if only to relax your tensed muscles. The book was written well and the author will put you right there to know what Zoe has to survive before she has any hope of getting home. Read at your own discretion.

[S Huizenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a woman you hear that to be safe you need to stick with a buddy, don’t wander off alone especially in an unknown city, be aware of your surroundings because “bad things” are out there. What happens when you let your guard down? For Zoe it means being abducted while on vacation with friends in Cancun and finding herself confined in a shipping container with a dozen other women, on her way to an unknown location. Once their destination is reached it is nothing like what she thought it would be.

Meanwhile Zoe’s family has reached out Guardians HRS to help find her. Axel who is on the Guardian’s team charged with finding Zoe and the other women, has known her since she was a little girl and is her brother’s best friend. The Guardians are mostly ex-military who now work in the private sector on rescue missions such as this to rid the world of human traffickers.

This book is action packed but be warned, Rescuing Zoe is a dark story with triggers.
If you have read any of Ellie Masters other books you will see familiar characters such as Skye, Tia, Ryker, Mitzy and of course, Forest. If you haven’t read any of her other books you don’t need to as this is a stand-alone story BUT if you really want to get into the Ellie Masters world you should read the Angel Fire series to understand why the Guardians were established.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I'm always happy when this Author writes a new series, her books are engaging, suspenseful and steamy with plenty of fantastic characters to love and hate. These Guardian Protectors are pure Alpha males and I love them already.  

What I really loved about this book was how the author managed to cross over the story with characters from her other series, tying them all together. 
It takes a lot of skill to cleverly intertwine plots to fit together perfectly, yet still deliver separate books that can be enjoyed on their own. 

Axel is a Guardian, his mission becomes very personal when his best friends sister is kidnapped. I loved his character straight away, I felt his inner turmoil as he tried keep a clear head and be professional. Axel wants to fix things between him and Zoe, the thought of losing her makes him admit what he's always tried to deny....Zoe is his. He will do whatever it takes to get her back. 

Zoe and Axel don't have an easy time their story was a very intense, sometimes brutal and highly emotional journey. Zoe went through a terrifying ordeal that changed her and could've easily destroyed her if it wasn't for the Guardian's. 
I loved Zoe, she was so brave. I liked her fire when it came to Axel, she wasn't going to let him back in without him admitting what she's always known. 

I absolutely loved Axel and Zoe's story, they have captured my heart. 
I'm so excited for the next book....That ending has left me very anxious but OMFG!!! I can't wait to see Griff in action. He's one Guardian that already has ALL my attention. 

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We hit the ground running with Zoe being stolen off the street in Cancun. The descriptions of the h**l she goes through as she is taken through the different stages to get to Columbia where she is readied to be sold, she believes, is heartbreaking. The author had me crying, literally, through a lot of the story. She gets you so involved in the story that you feel for the characters as if they were real.

Axel and Zoe have known each other most of their lives. He has considered her a brat, tagging along after him and Austin, Zoe's brother. When Zoe is rescued by the Guardians, Axel comes to realize that he does love Zoe, even though she was that annoying brat for most of his life. The problem is that he hurt her badly when he told her off when she tried to seduce him a year ago. He has a lot of making up to do.

Even though this book is a standalone, I liked catching up with characters from previous stories; Forrest, Skye, Mitzy, and many others. There are a lot of triggers in this story, so be aware going in. Axel and Zoe have their HEA and the teaser for Rescuing Moira is there. I highly recommend this author and these stories.

I received an advance copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, Gritty and Fabulous!!

This will keep you on the edge of your seat!!

The chapters alternate between Zoe’s & Axel’s point of view. Zoe is Axel’s best friend’s little sister. She has had a crush on him for years until he was purposefully cruel “for her own good”.

Zoe is captured and held with many other young women held in a shipping container. It is brutal. Axel is on a crack team sent to rescue them. After rescue it doesn’t magically get easier. Forest (yes, that one) has a rehab system where young people learn to become survivors instead of victims.

Axel is part of a team that stays at the rehab for a week to assist in training for self-defense, and awareness to prevent being kidnapped again. Axel purposefully asks to be Zoe’s trainer. He wears a mask and a voice modifier, but when you grow up with someone, those items cannot hide your body language and mannerisms. Axel has changed his mind about keeping his distance.

The action never stops. An amazing series of events, and you get under the skin of these characters. Another stunning story from this talented author.

**I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book**

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, the heat is HOT, and the physical chemistry is captivating so be careful you may just get burned all the heat coming off these pages. There were some "oh no" "oh wow" " what the what" moments and add in uncanny mishaps, and shenanigans the good kind that makes you keep turning the pages till last page has been turned. I haven’t read a book from Ellie Masters that I didn’t really enjoy she goes into subject that most shy away from. Zoe is kidnapped while walking to her hotel while on spring break but once her family realizes she is missing they call Austin who was/is part of a special team. He calls his friend Axel who Zoe has loved since she was little, but he was too old for her and broke her heart but will do anything in his power to get her back. Zoe like any women, child or man traffic must endure unspeakable things at the hands of her abuser and all she has left is her believe that her brother and his friends will get to her in time, can Axel save her and will there any type of happiness for either of the two?

[Michele McMullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Ellie you never cease to amaze me with your dramatic story telling and captivating characters.
This is a story line ripped right out of the real world. Zoe Lancaster is a college student on break and she is kidnapped and held for sale. Placed in a shipping container with 13 other women/girls they are no longer in charge of their fate. It is gritty, riveting with heartbreaking reality mirroring the world that we know is around us. My heart ached for these characters.
Axel is Zoe's brother Austin's best friend and also a military specialist in recovery. When he is hired to find Zoe this is too close to home and his heart. Axel is about to find out how much he take before he feels as though he may break. Zoe and Axel ripped my heart to pieces and then Ellie found a way to put it together in a whole new way to deal with their new normal. I hope your are prepared for an emotional ride because Rescuing Zoe is all that and so much more.
~~Michele McMullen ~~

[Carolyn Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action from page one. Typical scenario, younger sister craves older brother's best friend, but that's all that is typical about this story. What happens to Zoe and how Axel fits in, is one wild ride. "I retrieve the fallen, the broken; those who've been taken. I'm a Guardian." It's an interesting concept that Forest has created and the suffering that is out in the world is toxic, but when Axel says "These scars speak to where you've been. They say nothing about who you are, or where you're headed", it really resonates with me. Once Axel figures everything out, "She's my one. Always has been. Always will be.", he's all in and he shows it to Zoe. The further you get into the book, the more intense it gets, total page turner and had me thinking about the book long after I finished it. Highly recommend any books by Ms. Masters.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love love love Ellie Masters books.. All of them.. I have read her other series that include the Guardians, Forrest, and the compound where they all work out of.. It is amazing in the conception..
All of the characters involved are dedicated to saving people who are or have been trafficked.. It is hard to realize that this happens daily to way too many people. I had to close this book a few times and dry my tears or to simply rest my mind from the horror. Axel and Zoe have history. Being on the team that is sent to rescue the girls who have been taken, Axel is adamant about finding her. He does........... and that was a have to take a break moment. Thank you Ellie Masters for another intense story, I look forward to more.

I received this book free and am leaving an honest review.

[Nickie Sale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie has written yet another mind blowing page turner. Not an easy read, right from the start your drawn in and spitting blood at human traffikers and just what levels they sink to and all for money !! This book is about Zoe and Axel, Zoe is Axel's best friends baby sister and yip she's been in love with him since they were small, not that Axel was having any of it. But when Zoe is kidnapped, Axel is called on along with the rest of Alpha team to find her and rescue her and the other women who have been kidnapped. I'm not saying much else for fear of spoilers but those first chapters will not only horrify you but draw you in to read on, without putting this one down. This book is brilliantly written and i need the next book in this series like right now and i mean NOWWWW !!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely emotional book but oh so good, written with sensitivity about an issue that is all too common in today’s society.  I cried during the beginning chapters, again in the middle and I thought my heart would break at the end and I also felt myself getting angry all signs of an author who knows how to portray emotion and have their reader become one with the characters. Just make sure you have tissues to hand, you may also need a fan as the sex scenes between Zoe and Axel sizzle off the page.  Forrest and Skye are so calm and so caring it is hard to imagine what they went through in their earlier lives and it is good we see this side of them.  There is a sweet sweet ending for Zoe and Axel, but then hold onto your heart as we find out what happens to Moira.

[Karon Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

This second installment in The Guardians: Hostage Rescue Specialists was even better than the first book. Zoe's abduction is the first part of the book and the twist was one I certainly didn't see coming. Almost all the rest of the book was Zoe's recovery and redemption. I felt this was very important to see her growth and how she overcame her own issues. The only thing I didn't like about this book was how she struggled with her own self-image (especially in regard to Axel), but I know I've never been in her situation so I really can't judge. Axel was such an enigma, a man who spurned Zoe and then totally realized what he almost lost. The ending set up the next book and I'm super intrigued to know who the man behind the camera is. Looking forward to the next story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am aware of the depravity that exists among us, but I'm still amazed at the sick mind of humans and what they will do to other humans. Then I wonder about Author Ellie Masters. How her mind can write in such detail of such inhuman acts. And then, I wonder about myself, reading her words, allowing my heart to race (I'm not young anymore), and my breathing to accelerate in fear for the characters involved. This story is full of amazing characters; Forest, Sky, the Guardians, the kids at the facility (Andrew), and then Zoe and Axel. What a history, what chemistry, their story. NOW, I anticipate the next story in the Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists! I think I'm ready, but am I really?