Riptide Vengeance

by Laura Breck

An attorney with ties to an international human trafficking organization is hiding on Florida's beautiful Sanibel Island. Ex-military operative Lottie Nightshade is hired to assassinate the lawyer, but it will not be easy. He is guarded by a heavily armed security squad and has placed an even more challenging obstacle in the way - a baby.

As Lottie arrives on the island, the lawyer's security squad mobilizes to track her every movement. Someone has alerted the squad to watch for an assassin, and she fears the leak is coming from within her own operations team.

Lottie has devised an ingenious disguise that diverts the squad's scrutiny from her while allowing her access to the lawyer's inner circle. But the disguise places her dead-center in the crosshairs of the traffickers.

After the lawyer attempts to kidnap her, Lottie must accelerate her mission's timeline. But how can she terminate the attorney without harming the infant? And will she be able to complete the assassination before she becomes just another trafficking statistic?

323 pages, Hardcover

Published August 17, 2021

About the author

Author - The Philanthropist Series: Gripping Suspense Outside the Law

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is part fo a series, I received an ARC from Book Sirens and I didn't feel it was necessary to start at book 1. Laura Beck created a thriller with all the right notes, especially if you want to feel you are part of the advance team. Lottie Nightshade is ex-military and being blackmailed (in order, I think, to protect her single-mom siter and three kids)) into performing assassinations of people a very wealthy man decides needs to be killed. Dane Harrington appears to be Mr. Attos' right-hand man, but in reality Attos is Harrington's valet. Lottie suddenly finds herself on location on Sanibel Island on the West Coast of Florida in a mansion on the Gulf of Mexico where she has been sent to assassinate a lawyer who defends human traffickers. Turns out the lawyer is actually a trafficker and is caught between warring factions in the EU and US. He's kidnapped his infant son from his ex-wife and is hiding behind a large security team in the mansion on the beach. The reader learns about all of the elaborate planning that goes into preparing for an assassination under such scrutiny and heavy security. Lottie also has two people who are embedded with her in the house the billionaire rents five houses down from Voden, the target. And she is backed up by a team of other security run by Attos/Harrington. And there appears to be a leak because the lawyer was expecting an assassin to arrive on the island. How Lottie plans to get close to her target, while protecting the infant and his nanny, and escape alive is a real page-turner. I really enjoyed being part of the team.

On a technical note, the author used the term to "hole up" three times (so it wasn't a typo) and the expression is to be "holed up." A good copy editor should have caught that.

[Adam Sequoyah · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I'd call the ARC I got of this book readable, I would not say it's worth reading.

MPA ratings:
R for language
PG-13 for violence
PG for sexual references

[S.M. Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an offering from Voracious Readers and again, an author new to me. In the first couple of pages, there is obviously a back story, but it did not affect reading this second in the series.

Lottie is ex-military with as assassination assignment and does not trust the team. Her creativity in tackling this assignment is intriguing and you have to wonder what exactly is going on here. Perhaps saying much more would spoil the story. All we know at the outset is that the target is despicable, compounded by the fact that he abducted his newborn from the hospital shortly after his wife gave birth. Still, who does Lottie trust?

The only problem with Voracious Readers is that the list of books to read next gets longer and longer.

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Hood who steals a baby from a criminal and gives it back to its mother.
Familiar characters from part 1 come back in this book. And a lot of new characters: criminal, friendly and innocents.
Even better than book 1 of this series!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and wow what a read.
Lottie's new assignment is a human trafficker but he is also a high powered lawyer who thinks he is above the law.
Will Lottie be able to complete the assassination before he takes her out and will she be able to save his child and return it to its mother.
Full of suspense and plenty of drama but can she succeed when he is heavily guarded.
A must read and I can't wait for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Lottie's new mission is a very risky one but Voden, a lawyer who defends human traffickers and also helps them, needs to be eliminated. He is holed up in a house in Florida and heavily armed but Nightshade wants to get it done and her idea for her undercover personality is ace!

This book was very entertaining and exciting to the end!

I received an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, excellent story. There are wonderful characters, awesome, non-stop action, amazing equipment for our heroes to play with, natural dialogue, a terrific family unit that gives the main character a steadying foundation, and it is written in my favorite genre-covert ops! What more could I ask for? Well, actually a little less profanity. I must admit that the profanity was not as prolific here as in the first book, but I still could have done with a lot less. (You notice that it isn't stopping me from reading Ms. Breck's stories because they are wonderful. I just wish there was a lot less of the gutter language!) I can't wait to see what Ms. Breck has in store for the team next. I have a feeling their target isn't going to like whatever it is. Oh, and I sure hope we see Artic again. I really like him.

I received a review copy from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. I want to thank them and Ms. Breck for the opportunity to read it.

[Maz Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read the first of this series and the prequel and loved them, so was looking forward to reading this the book in the series.
I was not disappointed, it was well written, the story flowed really well until the dramatic end. Lottie us great character and supported by lots of other well built characters.
I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Cathy Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series. I enjoyed the characters a lot. There's lots of twists and turns and plenty of intrigue. I enjoy the way this writer tells the story. It flows really well and although the main character has lots of character flaws, I can't help but root for her. Really enjoy this series and plan to read more when/if they become available

[Terri McClean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the series but Can definitely be read as a stand alone. Lots of action and twists to keep you reading. Lottie is a character that you find in too many other books. A strong female character that you want to root for even if you really shouldn't but you need to!

I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Deeksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly suspense with good character depth. I wish there was more I could read (a second part maybe ;)). I felt a little rushed through the climax but it tied all loose ends. In all, I would definitely suggest this book. It keeps you on toes and gives a good description of events.