The Rescue

Team Zulu #0.5

by Julie Weaver

One night. One Christmas wish. One killer on the loose.

Unlucky in love, Lilly Hart regrets volunteering to cover the New York CIA intelligence desk on Christmas Eve. That is until field operative Dylan Fox—the swoonworthy spy she’s spent far too many hours daydreaming about—dials in requesting her assistance. But before Lilly can explain his life is in imminent danger, their call is cut short, and it’s up to Lilly to dash through Manhattan and find him before it’s too late.

Dylan Fox can’t believe his luck when a gorgeous brunette crashes into him on the sidewalk and drags him into a crowded, dark bar. But when he realizes it’s none other than Lilly Hart, the intelligence analyst with the sweet voice he’s fantasized about for three long years, he thinks all his Christmases have come at once. Although, with an assassin on their heels, it could be a rendezvous to remember for all the wrong reasons.

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

72 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Julie Weaver is a RWAus Emerald Award winner and author of spicy, action-packed romantic suspense novels.
Her Team Zulu series features morally gray, ex-elite military heroes and the feisty, kick-ass heroines who challenge them.
Get your free Team Zulu Christmas novella here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hvreeguzny

Find me here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/juliewe...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie.weave...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieWeaverA...
Website: https://www.julieweaverbooks.com/

Reviews

[taylor :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this on tik tok, which can be super dangerous because you can’t trust tik tok, but this was super cute. I really enjoyed it.

[Julie Weaver]

Welcome to the Team Zulu Series! The Rescue is a fun, action packed, spicy prequel novella set in Manhattan on Christmas Eve.

You can read it for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hvreeguzny

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE RESCUE was a sexy Christmas novella featuring a charming CIA spy and the analyst whose voice has captivated him for 3 years. I really liked Lilly, especially how confident and determined she was; and she can kick some butt, which I always appreciate in a FMC.

This was a quick read that just spans a few hours but Dylan and Lilly have a strong connection through the high intensity nature of their work. I enjoyed this one and it has me excited to read more from this author!

[Cailen Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too short to be as bad as it was

[Luli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super short.
I liked the beginning. The first interactions were cute.
Around the middle lost me a bit and the end was a bit cheesy.
So... On the fence with this author.
I'll try more by her.
I got this story at the author's website for free.

[Denise H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I smiled through the entire story – it’s a great read!

The Rescue is fun, exciting, and sexy with charming characters, suspense, danger, and action. I was hooked from the first page. Lilly and Dylan are easily likable and their story is a great introduction to the Team Zulu world. I can’t wait for The Hit!

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet! I loved their banter and how they just clicked. Super short, so we don't get a lot of time, so I hope they are brought back in other books in the series ^_^
Takes place on Christmas Eve.

[Hollee Mands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas came early with this short and spicy novella! Action and romance all tied up with a yummy heaping of steam. Great introduction to the world of Team Zulu. Can’t wait for The Hit!

[Luna Lovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please tell me why I did not stop smiling the whole time I was reading this book!

I guess I’m like the hero, Dylan, and I like unwrapping a Christmas gift early 😄

I love the cover, I love Christmas romance novellas, and I love the I-thought-my-love-was-unrequited trope, so I had a feeling this was going to hit the spot, and it definitely did.

This novella is focused on the romance and brings all the feels. Even though it’s short, I felt and believed the deep connection between Lilly and Dylan and the angst of their attraction to each other. It’s gorgeous writing, which made it an easy read. I am so excited to have found this author and can’t wait to read more Team Zulu!

[b ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗]

no rating bc I don't rate novellas! (most of the time)

this was super cute and exactly what i needed to cure my derek morgan and penelope garcia heart

[__enki-- · Rating 3 out of 5]

its a short novella and I loved it the entire time.(because it is a novella i rated it 3 stars which is high for me for a novella)

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and fun, would also fuck the shit out of agent Dylan

[Buffyanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lilly Hart is covering the New York CIA Intelligence desk on Christmas Eve when she uncovers a threat to her favourite operative, Agent Dylan Fox. Exceptional circumstances lead to her unprecedented entry into the field to save his life. This novella is amazingly captivating and well written. From the witty flirting to the red hot declarations, Lilly and Dylan had my total attention for this brief reading snack.

[lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

One tiktok was all that was needed to make me dump my tbr and impulse-read this.

I NEED THIS TO BE A FULL LENGTH NOVEL. There was so much potential in the story. Show us their first call. How they slowly both fall for each other over the years. HIS pov.

The story idea sounds like a clear 5 star book. Especially because the writing was great too!

But as a novella? It did not reach its full potential. I just needed more.

3🌟

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars--THE RESCUE is the introductory novella in Julie Weaver’s contemporary,adult TEAM ZULU romantics suspense series focusing on a group of former Black Ops specialists known as Team Zulu, a group recruited by the CIA. This is CIA intelligence analyst Lilly Hart, and CIA operative Dylan Fox’s story line.

Told from first person perspective (Lilly) THE RESCUE comes in the wake of CIA operative Dylan Fox’s hunt for an international art thief but with the help of CIA intelligence analyst Lilly Hart, Dylan will quickly discover that said art thief is an international assassin and Dylan is at the top of his list. For three years Dylan and Lilly have flirted with one another but our couple never met in person until the day Lilly was determined to protect the man that had starred in all of her fantasies and dreams. Christmas Eve meant both Lilly and Dylan were working overtime, and with their target down, our couple endeavor to explore one another for the foreseeable future.

THE RESCUE is a fast paced, intriguing introduction to the author’s Team Zulu series The premise is short and sweet; the romance is hot and sexy; the characters are energetic and animated.

THE RESCUE is a free novella available through Bookfunnel.

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another recommendation from my very bookish friend and it did not disappoint. This was a really great romantic suspense. You have Lily who is an intelligence operative that mans the communications behind a desk for the field operatives on the ground. She's guided Dylan for a couple years now and they've connected over their phone conversations while she was providing him with important intel. The op he's on this time ends up having Lily dust off her field operatives skills in order to save Dylan from potentially being assassinated.

Both Dylan and Lily were super cute. Their romance was believable and the chemistry between them was hoooooot! It was really refreshing to see Lily able to handle herself under pressure and thinking quick on her feet to get them out of a dangerous position but also seeing Dylan praise the hell out of her was even more fantastic.

This was a new to me author and I definitely recommend if you like romantic suspense.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so I read the Hit, book 1 before this book which is classed as number 0.5, both are described as part of the Team Zulu Series. There is no connection to these two books, I thought we’d have an introduction to Team Zulu when in fact there’s different characters, and no reoccurring characters in the two books.
It’s short and sweet and to be honest I didn’t feel any connection to Dylan and Lilly as the story started, I blinked, then it was over.

I highly recommend reading The Hit, book 1, but personally I feel this could be missed as it didn’t add anything to the series (unless these characters appear in future books? 🤔) we shall see.
The writing was good, story was ok, it was just too short, meh 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

lilly hart to the tech girl behind the scenes. think penelope garcia from criminal minds. field operative, dylan fox, has had lilly in his ear for years but has never met her in person…until one night where lilly can’t get ahold of him and has to save him herself. it’s a whirlwind from there. they have an immediate connection since they have been talking for years and the rest is history. such a fun start to the zulu series!

[Gerka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the idea.A spy and the CIA(camera girl, basically her job is to protect the spy while watching and searching for someone's id via face,so a spy too).
I have a few complaints tho.
Why the hell did he kiss her while not knowing who she is and still stating he is not a player🤨.He says she is an angel but he hasn't seen her yet?🤔🤔
But it wasn't really that big of a deal.

[Dotty Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will absolutely love these characters and their story! Lilly and Dylan have such great chemistry from the very beginning and they haven't even met in person yet! If you need a pick me up, laugh out loud story, this is it! Please keep them coming Julie Weaver!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great start to a new series. I loved Dylan Fox and Lily Hart. Lily is a security analyst who support agents. She's working Christmas Eve so those will families can have time off. She is supporting Dylan Fox and discovers an assassin is after him. Lily has field training and rushes to save him. I love strong women characters and men who love them. I will definitely continue to read this series.

[Jade Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little novella.
A CIA asset is in danger on Christmas Eve and the only person who can save him is the office-bound CIA analyst he has been fliting with for 3 years. It's a face-paced read (obviously) with enough steam and excitement to keep you turning the pages in anticipation.

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and sexy little novella 👌🏼

[Rue · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little quick and easy novella read for a nice pallet cleanse 💅🏼 Wish it was a whole book tbh would have been fun to have more of their story

[Kayla Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was real good!!! I would have loved a full version but I loved the little short novella!!! Lilly and Dylan were so cute!!! She was pretty bad@zz when it came to protecting Dylan!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not realize that this was a novella until half the book, made me real confused for a while there. Good story though

[Alexis Landrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and cute! I mean why not, it was only 60 pages.

[Wine About Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great start to a series. Can not wait to dive into the rest.

[farzana ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute, quick read!!