Best romantic suspense anthology I've ever read!! 5 STRONG STARS!! This was hands down the best romantic suspense anthology I've ever read! I absolutely recommend this set. Most of the authors were new to me and I'll definitely look for more of their books.
Book 1- Poison Evidence (Evidence Series) by Rachel Grant - 5 stars
I loved this edge of your seat romantic suspense. Especially the multiple POV which were really necessary to fully understand the history behind, and during, the story. Rachel Grant is extremely skilled at weaving a twisted, in depth, story that will keep you guessing right to the last page. The surprises just keep coming!
Extremely intelligent Ivy MacLeod is barely dealing with her ex-husbands arrest for treason and espionage, leaving her to deal with reporters claiming she is a traitor by association. Having just finished 'CAM', a Computer-Aided Mapping device that she was developing, she is sent to test it by mapping a World War II battle site in the paradise islands of Palau. But once she arrives it quickly becomes clear there are nefarious plots at hand to steal her device and Ivy is left to figure out who to trust with both the device and her very life as well.
When Air Force pilot Jack Keaton comes to her rescue Ivy is quickly enamored, but soon learns nothing is as it seems, no one is who they say they are, and she has no idea who to trust. If she chooses right she saves her countries secrets. Choosing wrong, she risks all out war.
Book 2- Colder Than Sin (Cold Justice - The Negotiators) by Toni Anderson - 5 stars
This book was the best romantic suspense I think I've ever read. With more hang-on-to-your-seat twists and turns than a roller coaster ride, you won't see the end coming, or multiple twists throughout the rest of the book either.
Chief of the FBI Crisis Negotiation unit, Quentin Savage, is glad his speech at the symposium on the small island in Indonesia is over. But he has no idea how his life, or lives of the other attendees, is about to change. Quentin will find himself using every negotiation strategy and technique he ever learned before the week is over.
Haley Cramer didn't see the end of this symposium ending so horrifically but thankfully she has FBI agent Quentin Savage to help get them out of this nightmare. Yet, the danger and suspense just keep coming. And when all seems lost Haley and Quentin will find themselves unable to ignore the pull they feel for each other, especially if they have nothing else to live for.
Nail biting, action packed, edge of your seat suspense that will keep you up late guessing to the end.
Book 3 - Resurrection (Redemption Harbor Series) by Katie Reus
Fourteen months ago they were new CIA partners, which quickly became more. Eight months later Skye faked her own death to save Colt and everyone he holds dear. But when she comes out of hiding just long enough to help one of Colt's best friends escape kidnappers she sets in motion a chain of events that will put all of them in danger. And there is one person who will hunt her down for her betrayal if he finds out she's still alive.
Colt has been a spy for the CIA for several years but he lost the best partner, and love of his life, months ago. When intel shows that the kidnapped wife of one of his best friend's may still be alive in Mexico Colt boards the next flight, unwilling to let his buddy go through what he did. But someone else beats Colt to it and this has all the earmarks of a certain woman they all believed to be dead.
As a group of spies and best friends come together to help two of their own, the greed of one man will put all their lives in danger.
Book 4 - Strikethrough (Strike Zone Series) by Louise Dawn - 5 stars
This was one of the best didn't-see-that-coming suspense novels I've ever read. Filled with angst and drama, sexy military men, and an ending that will shock you, I could not put this book down!
As a trained diplomatic security agent, Gage Hendrix finds himself in Sri Lanka as part of the security detail for the Ambassidor's daughter, Dr. Chantal Durant. When an unseen danger appears to be lurking nearby Gage finds his feelings for the obsessively organized doctor increasing beyond what they should and placing her in even more danger.
The worst day of her life left Chantal's father dead, her mother severely injured and Chiropractor Chantel Durant obsessed with helping everyone but herself. So when her best friend and young daughter are in danger she doesn't hesitate to help them. But now an already angry madman is out for blood and the lives of Chantal and her mother are at risk as well as their extensive security detail.
While several teams, including Gage's, have already been dispatched to protect the Ambassador and her daughter it is clear there is more than one source of danger, and the last person you would suspect may be the last one you should trust.
Book 5 - Off the Edge (Undercover Associates) by Carolyn Crane - 5 stars
This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride of drama, suspense, and gritty unexpected twists. With excellent writing, wonderful characters, and edge-of-your-seat plot you won't be able to put this one down.
Laney moved to Bangkok hoping to hide out from a dangerous and abusive ex-husband but when familiar people begin showing up in the hotel where she's been living it looks like she may not be as safe there as she thought she was.
Secret agent Mac is a linguist specialist who experienced loss beyond belief ten years ago. It stills tears him apart and keeps his heart completely locked down. But one night in a Bangkok hotel while he was supposed to be working he was being pulled in by a woman in disguise singing at a piano.
Book 6 - Shielding Gillian (Delta Team Two) Susan Stoker - 5 stars
All event planner Gillian Romano wants to do after finishing an event in Costa Rica is to go home to Georgetown, Texas when her plane is suddenly hijacked to Venezuela. When the six hijackers kill several passengers, then force Gillian to be their spokesperson with the authorities it's her connection with hostage negotiator Walker Nelson that helps her maintain some sense of hope for herself and the rest of the passengers. But as time goes on the lifeline between her and Walker begins to feel so much more personal. If she makes it through this ordeal alive she hopes they get the chance to explore it.
From the time hostage negotiator Walker Nelson hears Gillian's frightened voice he's amazed and impressed with her clever calmness in getting intel to him about the kidnappers. Even though Walker feels an instant attachment to her, making him even more determined to meet her face-to-face, time is of the essence with the ruthless killers on board the plane.
Even though the big surprise was obvious to me it didn't detract from the overall suspense of the book. I was hooked from the beginning and loved Gillian and Walker's story. Great plot, wonderful characters, and an author I look forward to reading more of.
Book 7 - Midnight Fever (Men of Midnight) by Lisa Marie Rice - 5 stars
Exceptional writing with well developed characters and a nail-biting plot that will keep your eyes glued to the pages, this book will have your nerves on edge to the very last didn't-see-that-coming page!
With the parents and grandparents scientist Kay Hudson comes from it's no surprise she has a PHD and two masters in the fields of biochemistry, virology, and genetics. As a member of the CDC she takes her job very seriously, but when co-workers and others around her begin to die it isn't long before Kay begins to put the pieces together. With a deadly bio-weapon in the hands of evil men, the only way Kay can bring them to justice will mean giving up the man she's falling for and permanently disappearing.
Ex Navy SEAL Nick Mancino is now an FBI Special Agent with Alpha Security International and with the crew of bad ass people he works with he can't imagine why Kay didn't trust him to help her. But once he gets her to safety he is determined to keep the woman that has stolen his heart safe. He just never imagined the danger they would face.
Book 8 - Deeper Than the Ocean (The Deep Six) by Julie Ann Walker - 3 stars (only disappointing book in this anthology)
My biggest issue with this book was that it ends without a full resolution!! It appears as though it is a series that keeps dragging some portion of the story along into the next book. Unfortunately, this one fell flat in several areas. It had a slow start due to the lengthy back story of the missing treasure from the Santa Cristina, although it finally got moving along once the present day part of the story began to take place. But there was no real mystery since we got so many points of view that it was pretty obvious who the bad 'guy' was, and the bumbling idiots working for her were a complete joke! Be prepared for the not-so-dramatic crime portion to be resolved but not the mystery over the treasure. That was a huge let down.
Book 9 - Jagger Steele Shadows Investigations by Amanda McKinney - 4.5 stars
Ex Navy SEAL turned homicide Detective Max Jagger has barely left the burial of his lieutenant when he finds himself dealing with a voodoo tree, a Moon Magic Festival that is drawing Wiccans from all over the country, an art stealing bandit, a chief that wants his badge, and a woman he can't get off his mind that is embroiled in his murder case. But Jagg knows things are seldom as simple as they seem.
Sunny Harper has lived through one horrific nightmare and come through it stronger than ever but an attack on a jogging path leaves her covered in blood and holding the weapon. While the entire town is looking for someone to blame will the local detective believe her and help her prove her innocense?
As Jagg struggles with the pull he feels toward Sunny while trying to solve multiple murders that she seems to be entwined in he will face secrets, lies and deception within his town and the people he thought he could trust. Including the woman he's falling for.
I liked this book but I was surprised by the amount of errors it contained. There were definitely plenty of twists and turns that surprised me and which kept the book interesting right down to the last suspense fllled page.
Book 10 - Nixon’s Promise (Gemini Group) by Riley Edwards - 5 stars
Another incredible addition, they saved the best for last in this anthology! From the first time Nixon Swagger sees her trying to heft fifty pounds of dog food into the back of her truck he knows there is something about McKenna Wilson. Then he sees her bent over the hood fixing her truck and his feelings are doubling down. No matter how determined he is to keep his emotions from getting involved Nix is falling fast. So when his former SEAL teammate shows up needing help with a serious national security issue the last person Nix expects to add to his team is the feisty, talented and intelligent McKenna Wilson.
McKenna can't believe the netorious Nixon Swagger is flirting with her. From his over the top last name he constantly proves he's earned, to his skills in dealing with teenagers, McKenna is learning that sometimes an alpha male is nice to have around. From her pony who has a pet goat, to her kiddy pool playing ducks, to her incredible computer coding skills, McKenna keeps proving she is no ordinary woman. Smart and kind-hearted, she took in her younger siblings after the death of their parents. But when she uses her knowledge of coding to assist Nix and his team in a dangerous mission will Nix be able to keep her safe from danger?