The book had a good plot and good characters. I thought the chemistry between Charlie and Jon was hot. I always love stories where single moms (like myself) can find their happily ever after and HOT COMBAT definitely delivers!

Hot Combat is the first novel in Elle James' "Ballistic Cowboys" series, and I found it somewhat confusing for several reasons. First, The title--the hero, Jon "Ghost" Caspar, isn't a cowboy, he's a Navy SEAL, who has returned to his former home in Grizzly Pass, Wyoming to recuperate from a shrapnel wound to his leg. Second, there's not much in the way of combat in this story, most of it deals with terrorist threat assessment on the Internet under the aegis of the Department of Homeland Security, and the combatant in this case isn't Ghost, it's Charlie McClain, the heroine. For these reasons and several others, I could only give this novel 3.5 stars.

Charlie is the single mother of a 7-year-old daughter, Lolly. As such, we're told that she's struggled to make ends meet, so, in addition to her regular job as a software engineer, she's accepted at part-time job as a social-media analyst for the aforementioned Homeland Security, and while doing that and investigating a suspicious post, the person posting it manages to hack her webcam and blow her cover. In addition, he's threatened her, and when she reports it to DHS they send her a protector/bodyguard--Ghost, with whom, 7 years ago, at age 19, she had a brief, no-strings, no-love affair (although Charlie fell in love with him anyway) an affair that resulted in a pregnancy and her now 7-year-old daughter, a daughter that Ghost didn't know he had.

When Ghost realizes that Lolly is his daughter, he wants to be part of her life. Charlie, who was heartbroken when he left her to join the SEALs, doesn't think she could possibly survive that kind of heartbreak again, but despite her protestations, the spark is still there between them, although much of that heat is rather subdued and totally unlike any of the other romance novels I've read by Ms. James. While Ghost still believes that he loves Charlie, and Charlie still loves him, the passion just didn't come across as genuine or heartfelt, although I did like Ghost's quickly developing love of his daughter.

I'm also surprised by how flat the setting in this novel seemed. Although it was described, again, Ms. James didn't make me feel that I was in Wyoming. The most real character for me was Lolly, who was adorable and spunky and charming. Ghost and Charlie were likable characters, but again, compared to other second chance at love romances, I didn't feel connected to either of them. I kept wondering why neither of them asked what the other had been doing for the past 7 years. Ghost, at first, wonders about where Lolly's father could be, and Charlie wonders if Ghost has a wife somewhere, but they never actually ask those questions, nor does Charlie ever ask Ghost where they go from here. He mentions wanting to be in Lolly's life, but doesn't say how he intends to do that, since he's stationed in Virginia, 2,000 miles away.

As I mentioned earlier, there is some actual conflict late in the novel, yet again, while Charlie and Lolly are in danger, and Ghost wants to rescue them, I didn't feel his panic at the possibility of losing them. Yes, he's a SEAL, but he's also a father and in love with Charlie, so his lack of emotion struck me as odd.

This was just an okay read for me, and lacked the heat and depth of emotion I've come to expect from Ms. James' novels.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this novel.

I do enjoy romantic suspense and this one hit the mark for me. This is the first book in a new series by Elle James called “Ballistic Cowboys”. Readers are introduced to a cast of strong, likeable characters to cheer for. Ghost is part of a group of men assigned to a task force to protect the country from terrorists. Ghost and Charlie have a ton of chemistry. They are a couple readers can truly care about.

Ghost’s first assignment is to protect Charlie and her young daughter who are receiving threats. He’s shocked to discover Charlie is no stranger to him. They must put their past aside to figure out the current danger threat.

The storyline is jam-packed with action, adventure, mystery and much romance. This book is so fast-paced, I felt as if I were on a never-ending roller coaster ride. To add to my enjoyment of the book, I was surprised by the ending. I didn’t see it coming.

This is a continuing series and I, for one, am looking forward to the next one. In fact, it’s already downloaded to my e-reader.

Jon was injured on duty as a SEAL, now on recovery he is set on getting better to go back on duty. Until then he works as a Homeland Security, little did he expect to be put on an assignment that sends him to protect a women he loved in the past along with her daughter. There is a terrorist attack being formed and his ex Charlie stumbled upon so information that leaves her life at risk.

I really enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful, wondering what was really going on with the terrorist, who they can be and when and if they were going to strike. Then there that second chance at a romance between Jon and Charlie. I loved seeing the interaction between Jon and Charlies daughter. I loved how resourceful Charlie was, in thought situations she really wasn't the type to back out but knew her limits at time to ask for help when she needed it. Overall this was a pretty good book and I really enjoyed it.

So I just found out that there is going to be a series connected to it. Probably a bunch of standalone connected as a whole as a branch of that terrorist group that was going on. (That's just what I'm assuming so don't hold me to that.) I look forward to seeing any books that come after this one is what I'm trying to say.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I did a bad. I'm reading this way out of order. It is not even on my reading list for January, 2017. So much for being more organized in 2017. One resolution already down the crapper. Oh, well... In my defense I was in Sears waiting and waiting and.... waiting for customer service. I pulled out my I-phone and brought up this Elle James book. Not the one I need to read in January, but a book with a February publish date. This book is a great start to what will be a wonderful series. Sweet 2nd chance romance, a SEAL in action and a threat on home soil. You just can't ask for much more.

Charlie is working part time for the Department of Homeland Security monitoring social media and chat groups for baddies stirring up trouble. She finds a group making threats against a government facility. Where? When? She is trying to track that when she gets a personal threat for doing that. With a six year old daughter to protect, Charlie is plenty spooked.

Jon (Ghost) Casper is a Navy SEAL on loan to DHS while he recovers from an injury. He wants nothing to do with this assignment and his posting to his hometown of Grizzly Pass, Wyoning. He has nothing there anymore, except the girl he loved and left seven years ago.

Ghost is assigned to protect Charlie while DHS contains the threat to her. Well, let's just say that he is more than a little shocked and surprised to find Charlie and her daughter, Lolly, as his assignment and his family.

Now, I have to wait until February 1 when the to "officially" post this review. I just hate when that happens.

Hot Combat has such an energetic, intense feeling in it through the story. The action is brutal and cruel and it hits at the most unexpected times. The boisterous passion between Jon and Charlie is reignited as soon as they meet again, yet the feelings between them are deep and rooted.
I loved this story. I loved the vitality of it, it was flowing off the pages with such drive I was lost in it, the rest of the world not existing.
Jon and Charlie have nurtured the fire between them for years deep in their hearts. Jon is kind, caring, protective, and has tenderness in him that made me swoon. He is wounded, in a crossroads in his life, and the chance meeting with Charlie changes everything.
Charlie is tough, capable, independent, and makes things happen. I loved how she took charge and was willing to make compromises and sacrifices if needed when facing the malice and danger. They were so perfect for each other, it was a joy to watch them fumble into love, wishing they would live long enough to have a chance with a future together.
I loved how the team was set up, how there wasn't that 'staging' that sometimes comes with the first book of a series. All fell into the place naturally, the team is skillful and competent and I am looking forward getting to know them better. The action they engaged in wasn't only against the homegrown terrorist and angry townfolks, it was also against the elements, nature, and wildlife. It set my heart raising, the danger and death coming right at them with rancor. A perfect mix of suspense and threat, delightful family bonding, and luscious passion and sweet loving.
~ Five Spoons

4 1/2 STARS!

An exciting kick-off to a new series, Ballistic Cowboys, from Elle James! We meet a handful of military guys from various branches who are being pulled in to work on a task force for Homeland Security. Each book will center on a different guy, and to kick it off, we have Ghost's story! The characters are down to earth guys who are serious about their jobs and protecting the innocent. I enjoyed the reunion story for Ghost and seeing him soften when he interacts with her little girl.

Navy SEAL Jon "Ghost" Caspar is on temporary assignment with a Homeland Security task force that has brought him back to his hometown of Grizzly Pass, Wyoming for the first time in seven years. He's being sent to protect a single mother and her daughter after some threats have been made on her since she turned in some intel.

Charlie McClain never thought she'd see her former lover again after he left town, so when he comes knocking at her door, she's shocked. She's still drawn to him the same as she ever was, but she knows if he hangs around too long, he'll figure out the secret she kept from him. Seeing him interact so sweetly with her young daughter makes her heart melt though, and has her second guessing whether she was in the right with her previous decisions in life. Will he decide she's worth sticking around for this time, or will the end of this mission see him taking off again?