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Mackenzie Cienfuegos is Elite Team’s original badass—a hard-living, high-voltage, adrenaline junkie. A formidable Delta Force operator and a legendary black ops specialist, he burns through his enemies like wildfire.
No wonder his teammates call him Blaze.
Danika Kos is an American diplomat with more secrets than most people could hold. She’s refined, cultured, sophisticated, and exacting about everything she does. After landing her dream job as a cultural attaché in Europe, she’s on top of the world.
That is, until war breaks out, she’s given a dangerous assignment that could be her last, and her secrets begin to unravel.
Now, her only hope to protect everything she holds dear and survive her mission lies with Mac, the unfiltered, high-spirited Delta she once had an unforgettable fling with, the one person she can’t control, and the man who changed her life forever.
Rescuing her from a mission gone wrong is not the most dangerous thing that Mac has in mind.
No wonder his teammates call him Blaze.
Danika Kos is an American diplomat with more secrets than most people could hold. She’s refined, cultured, sophisticated, and exacting about everything she does. After landing her dream job as a cultural attaché in Europe, she’s on top of the world.
That is, until war breaks out, she’s given a dangerous assignment that could be her last, and her secrets begin to unravel.
Now, her only hope to protect everything she holds dear and survive her mission lies with Mac, the unfiltered, high-spirited Delta she once had an unforgettable fling with, the one person she can’t control, and the man who changed her life forever.
Rescuing her from a mission gone wrong is not the most dangerous thing that Mac has in mind.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2022
32 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Anna del Mar
64 books235 followersAnna del Mar writes hot, smart romances that soothe the soul, challenge the mind, and satisfy the heart. Her stories focus on strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who defy the limits of their broken bodies to protect the women they love. She is the author of The Asset (Carina Press), the first novel of her Wounded Warrior series and three other novels scheduled for release during 2016.
A Georgetown University graduate, Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.
A Georgetown University graduate, Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 23, 2022
Let me start by admitting to loving this series since Anna del Mar doesn't seem to ever disappoint, so I strongly suggest you start to read this series from the beginning, although all the novels do work as standalones. If you've already read Kane (Alpha Heroes Book 8), you now know that Mackenzie Cienfuegos, former Delta Force, and total badass operative, fainted when he was confronted by his 7-year-old daughter, Kenzie, who refers to him as her sperm donor. In this novel, Mac goes off in search on Kenzie's mom, Danika Kos, to discover why the woman he could never forget, never contacted him to let him know she was pregnant with his child. But that's just the beginning of this tale, which is far more an action thriller than a romance, and because I wished for a bit more romance, I'm giving this novel 4.5 rather than 5 stars.
Danika is a diplomat, working in Prague, but she's a whole lot more than that, as you'll soon discover. Kudos to Ms. del Mar, who dedicated this novel to the brave people of Ukraine, and who, in the course of this novel, not only covers the horrors of the occupation and war there, but she isn't afraid to name names or blame the monster(s) responsible for the pain, suffering, torture, depravity and death due to the war being waged there, and the possible threat of a third World War, that any sane person in the free world so rightly fears.
This was a hard novel to read because of the high level of violence and more than one mention of rape and murder, but it gave a much clearer picture of the horrors of war than any newspaper account I've ever read. As always, Ms. del Mar has also given us characters who come alive in these pages, who have issues, who have fears, and who now have to face not only the realities of war, but their own value systems, their own motives, their fears, and their own feelings. This is a tale masterfully told, but to tell you more would be telling you too much, so I'll only recommend that you start reading this series, because it is, in a single word--exceptional.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
Danika is a diplomat, working in Prague, but she's a whole lot more than that, as you'll soon discover. Kudos to Ms. del Mar, who dedicated this novel to the brave people of Ukraine, and who, in the course of this novel, not only covers the horrors of the occupation and war there, but she isn't afraid to name names or blame the monster(s) responsible for the pain, suffering, torture, depravity and death due to the war being waged there, and the possible threat of a third World War, that any sane person in the free world so rightly fears.
This was a hard novel to read because of the high level of violence and more than one mention of rape and murder, but it gave a much clearer picture of the horrors of war than any newspaper account I've ever read. As always, Ms. del Mar has also given us characters who come alive in these pages, who have issues, who have fears, and who now have to face not only the realities of war, but their own value systems, their own motives, their fears, and their own feelings. This is a tale masterfully told, but to tell you more would be telling you too much, so I'll only recommend that you start reading this series, because it is, in a single word--exceptional.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 10, 2022
A heart pounding read
There are so many things going on in these pages!
As a huge fan of this series, I was thrilled to get my hands on this one. Mac has been an easy character to love, and the Elite team has benefited from his strengths. Without doing spoilers, his world is upended and the new mission he starts will be more dangerous than anticipated.
This author consistently delivers engaging and gripping stories that are full of dangerous situations and heartbreaking circumstances. Every story in this series is absolutely addictive and impossible to stop reading. Her exceptional skills and style of writing is an absolute joy to read. The descriptions are crafted well and it is easy to become invested, and inserted into the story. The relationships between these characters and the chemistry between the couple (Mac and Danika) are easy to connect with and enjoy.
With every one of these reads, I always find one line that hangs with me, after the pages have stopped turning... and this time, it's this one:
"I just met full-on happiness."
Bravo!! Love it!! Thank you for sharing your creativity with all of us!! ❤
There are so many things going on in these pages!
As a huge fan of this series, I was thrilled to get my hands on this one. Mac has been an easy character to love, and the Elite team has benefited from his strengths. Without doing spoilers, his world is upended and the new mission he starts will be more dangerous than anticipated.
This author consistently delivers engaging and gripping stories that are full of dangerous situations and heartbreaking circumstances. Every story in this series is absolutely addictive and impossible to stop reading. Her exceptional skills and style of writing is an absolute joy to read. The descriptions are crafted well and it is easy to become invested, and inserted into the story. The relationships between these characters and the chemistry between the couple (Mac and Danika) are easy to connect with and enjoy.
With every one of these reads, I always find one line that hangs with me, after the pages have stopped turning... and this time, it's this one:
"I just met full-on happiness."
Bravo!! Love it!! Thank you for sharing your creativity with all of us!! ❤
May 20, 2023
This was my second read by Anna and the story was a bit better than my last one. I haven't read a secret baby (more like kid in this case) in a long time, but I don't agree with Danika's methods of what she did to Mac. That is grounds for entrapment. This felt kind of boring and drown out in places.
Narrated by: Guillaume Dubois has a nice voice but I just feel he read it instead of acts. He's ok, but the style isn't preferable to me.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Narrated by: Guillaume Dubois has a nice voice but I just feel he read it instead of acts. He's ok, but the style isn't preferable to me.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 14, 2023
Reading Mac was like reading a newspaper with the latest current events: war in Ukraine, the Russian Dictator, the deadly private army of mercenaries out of Russia. Anna del Mar jammed so much danger, suspense, action and drama into this book that I couldn't put it down. I was often at the edge of my seat during the action sequences in anticipation of what would happen next. Aside from all 9f that, the romance elements were superb. Mackenzie Cienfuegos and Danika Kos are both remarkable characters. Add to that a precocious seven year old prodigy who is smart beyond her tears who adds a lighter humorous note to the story and you've got an extraordinary reading experience.
Mac is knocked on his butt literally when he finds out he has a child. He certainly didn't see that coming. He and Danika had a hot and heavy albeit brief fling eight years ago when they worked together. Once the mission was over so were they although she was never far from his mind. Finding out that she voluntarily went on an intel gathering mission in Ukraine had him seeing red. He goes after her with the intent of removing her immediately. Danika knows that she's put herself in danger but her work is important and has already helped to save lives. Having Mac show up when things are about to go sideways is both a shock and a lifesaver. Thus begins a danger filled extraction that has so many pitfalls it's like swimming in a minefield. Which they literally do. Reconnecting means she owes him the truth but once she tells all, he'll never understand or forgive her. But first, they have to escape a madman bent on exacting revenge. Hold on to your hat because things go fast and furious as the bodycount adds up. Ultimately, it's some sage advice that allows Mac to let go of his anger and the past and look to the future. A future of being a husband and a father.
Mac is knocked on his butt literally when he finds out he has a child. He certainly didn't see that coming. He and Danika had a hot and heavy albeit brief fling eight years ago when they worked together. Once the mission was over so were they although she was never far from his mind. Finding out that she voluntarily went on an intel gathering mission in Ukraine had him seeing red. He goes after her with the intent of removing her immediately. Danika knows that she's put herself in danger but her work is important and has already helped to save lives. Having Mac show up when things are about to go sideways is both a shock and a lifesaver. Thus begins a danger filled extraction that has so many pitfalls it's like swimming in a minefield. Which they literally do. Reconnecting means she owes him the truth but once she tells all, he'll never understand or forgive her. But first, they have to escape a madman bent on exacting revenge. Hold on to your hat because things go fast and furious as the bodycount adds up. Ultimately, it's some sage advice that allows Mac to let go of his anger and the past and look to the future. A future of being a husband and a father.
May 10, 2023
Despite being 11+ hours, this felt like a quick listen—it features alternating POVs, lots of action, a bit of drama between ex-lovers, angst, warfare and more ... at least, to start. It didn't keep up. It even has a few dark spots—not super dark, IMO. Well, they are, but the darkest stuff is not depicted, if that makes sense.
The leads are ‘spies’, so there’s lots of potential.
For me, this one started out strong, but grew very dull. And I did predict everything that would happen in the first 5 minutes of the book, there’s not really any originality. It had potential, but didn’t really live up to it. Still, I wouldn’t call it ‘bad’ by any means. Just … not exciting.
3 stars.
Audio:
This narrator is okay—not one I’d seek out, but not one I’d pass up a book over. His voice is fine, he just more reads the book like a robot, than performs it. Just a personal preference. (If I could easily tolerate robotic voices, I wouldn’t need audiobooks! I’d just have Siri / Alexa read to me. But he’s not *that* robotic.) 3-star performance.
The leads are ‘spies’, so there’s lots of potential.
For me, this one started out strong, but grew very dull. And I did predict everything that would happen in the first 5 minutes of the book, there’s not really any originality. It had potential, but didn’t really live up to it. Still, I wouldn’t call it ‘bad’ by any means. Just … not exciting.
3 stars.
Audio:
This narrator is okay—not one I’d seek out, but not one I’d pass up a book over. His voice is fine, he just more reads the book like a robot, than performs it. Just a personal preference. (If I could easily tolerate robotic voices, I wouldn’t need audiobooks! I’d just have Siri / Alexa read to me. But he’s not *that* robotic.) 3-star performance.
May 1, 2023
Unputdownable.
I consider this book my favourite from the series. Kenzie has completely captured my heart. The child prodigy information fascinates me. There was just something extra about this story for me.
Throughout this story, there was banter, action, passion, and steam. At times, I felt like my heart was about to burst. This was especially true during the encounters with Kozlov. He is one tough sadistic SOB.
I found the entire story to be completely exhilarating, and I didn't want it to end. It will be hard to forget Mac, Danika, and Kenzie.
I cannot wait for Trevor's story. I hope my little prodigy will help to save him with brilliant mind.
I consider this book my favourite from the series. Kenzie has completely captured my heart. The child prodigy information fascinates me. There was just something extra about this story for me.
Throughout this story, there was banter, action, passion, and steam. At times, I felt like my heart was about to burst. This was especially true during the encounters with Kozlov. He is one tough sadistic SOB.
I found the entire story to be completely exhilarating, and I didn't want it to end. It will be hard to forget Mac, Danika, and Kenzie.
I cannot wait for Trevor's story. I hope my little prodigy will help to save him with brilliant mind.
January 8, 2023
I really liked this book. Mac was an amazing character who was such fun to read. Kenzie was a handful of a kid and hoot to read. Danika was feisty and smart, but could work with Mac to get them both home. I also thought the timeliness of the location for this book was so interesting. It was a fantastic setting to make the book more relevant. And the ending?!? Trev’s book is going to be awesome! I’m so looking forward to that!
December 15, 2022
Oh my god! Oh my god!! When I read a series, sometimes I find I get a sense of deja vu - repeat conversations or storylines... nu huh with this! Amazing content and detail. All of the drama, suspense and intrigue. Fantastic characters litter this book from start to finish... I CANNOT WAIT for the next installment :)
January 1, 2023
Mac
Alpha Heroes, Book Nine, this has been another really hard hitting military romance Well worth reading I do hope that this not the end of another Series I am really looking forward to the next one.
Alpha Heroes, Book Nine, this has been another really hard hitting military romance Well worth reading I do hope that this not the end of another Series I am really looking forward to the next one.
June 11, 2023
First person Flowery
I enjoyed the story. But the language was so flowery. Three words used instead of one. The inner monologue of both Danika and Mac eventually got on my nerves and distracted from the story.
I enjoyed the story. But the language was so flowery. Three words used instead of one. The inner monologue of both Danika and Mac eventually got on my nerves and distracted from the story.
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October 12, 2022Read an advance copy, and it's available for preorder.
January 1, 2023
Didn't really like the start of it where Mac acts like a 9 year old boy with his head up his arse. But the action scenes are mint and the relationship with Kenzie is cute.
February 22, 2023
This book was absolutely AH-MAZING! Typically, when I cannot put a book down, I get aggravated when I have to; however, as I waited to finish this book, I just became more and more hooked! 😍😍
May 20, 2023
Steamy! Ooooo boy was it steamy. Action pack from the beginning to the end! Mac finally got his Happily Ever After! Can’t wait for the next book! It’s my most anticipated one.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews