My Impressions: This is a fast paced story told in eight installments of about 85 pages told by several of Harlequin’s popular authors. Lara is an intense, attractive, and flawed FBI agent who, in a previous case, went undercover to infiltrate the Moretti crime ring. As the story continues, we learn that Lara made some serious mistakes on that investigation and actually had a child with the notorious drug lord. To keep the child safe, Lara gave her up for adoption but this decision has caused her enormous grief. It is unclear how long ago that was (or if there are books about Lara’s previous case) but since then Lara has continued to throw herself into her work and has a passionate on again/off again relationship with her partner, Nick Delano. As this story begins, Lara and her team are tasked with investigating a killer who is using homemade bombs to terrorize New York. This is just the first installment but Lara comes across as superwoman tough yet vulnerable.

The Crisis Management Unit has a confession--and a dead suspect. Could this mean the end of the bombing spree that's terrorized New York? Special Agent Lara Grant's instincts tell her that the danger has only just begun. And sure enough, the carnage continues as the bomber eludes them at every turn. Lara is just beginning to investigate a man taking selfies at each of the bomb sites when, suddenly, another CMU agent becomes a target..

* * * * *

I am really enjoying this episode! Now mind you that I did just say episode. These novellas have been written to be read in order or they won't make a lot of sense similar to a mini-series on television. Once you take that into account, they are quite enjoyable especially as they are so character driven.

I can't really say a lot without giving away spoilers but I will say that it's well written with great dialogue and much tension. I think that my readers who enjoy thrillers will enjoy this series.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Tough Justice: Countdown is the eight-part second season in the Tough Justice series with Carla Cassidy writing the first and second episodes, Tyler Anne Snell the third and seventh, Emmy Curtis the fourth and sixth, and Janie Crouch the fifth and eighth. Going into this, I had no clue that there had been a previously released season, and the eight episodes had individual titles. After having read this second season, I’m itching to read the first one because I’m curious about FBI Special Agent Lara Grant, who is part of the Crisis Management Unit, especially since the events in the first season were alluded to more than once in this new season. I’d also like to see how the CMU was established and how her relationships with her partners and fellow agents developed.
FBI Special Agent Lara Grant and the rest of the Crisis Management Unit are called to the scene of a second bombing, this time leading to the deaths of too many police officers. In both cases, one individual was spared. This serial bomber is going after powerful individuals in the city, and with each threat he makes, he gives them an option: confess your dirty secrets to the public or remain silent and watch others die with each bomb that’s triggered. Lara and the team are on borrowed time, but what happens when Lara becomes the latest target of the serial bomber? He says he knows her deepest and darkest secret, a secret Lara would prefer to keep hidden. When she’s the one who needs to decide, will Lara’s choice set her free or will it imprison her to her fate?
I have to give credit to the first episode, which was written by Carla Cassidy, because it had me absolutely hooked from the very beginning. Cassidy established this almost palpable feeling of suspense and tension and the three other authors—Tyler Anne Snell, Emmy Curtis, Janie Crouch—did amazingly well as the proverbial baton was passed on from one to the other and back until we were left with a complete story that was still able to tease us about what Lara Grant had to look forward to in the next season. It was actually difficult to tell the four authors’ writing apart because everything just came together so seamlessly, leaving me impressed and itching for more of Lara in season three and to meet her in season one. 4.5 stars for Tough Justice: Countdown. ♥

Another solid part of the story, the scene is getting set and the characters are re-building their current relationships, really enjoying this one already. Looking forward to part three.

Favorite Quotes:

Medical Examiner Dr. Ruben Sanders, affectionately known as the Sandman, entered the room. He had a head full of gray hair, a round, wrinkled face and drooping brown eyes that made him look like a Basset hound.

Even covered in dust, he was a good-looking kid… He also had the body language and a spark in his eyes that might indicate he was a bit of smartass.

My mom says I’m eleven going on twenty-five… I took a sick day… I woke up this morning and was sick of school.


My Review:

Part 2 brings more tragedy, more excitement, and a few promising leads that only result in more questions than answers. Lara’s double investigations are draining her reserves and distracting her focus. Memories, family secrets, and bodies are piling up. My favorite bits of this tale seem to be the colorful details and vivid descriptions used when introducing each new character.

Romantic suspense is not my usual genre, but I do love mystery/thrillers--especially FBI and police procedurals. A bomber has struck for the second time in New York City at the book's opening and Lara and the team are trying to find the bomber(s?) before there is another strike. The two bomb sites (a smoothie shop and a police precinct) don't seem to have anything in common, but the type of bomb and other evidence make it pretty clear that they are related.

In this segment, The FBI Lara and the CMU team further investigate the bombings and must face the fact that the brother of one of the team claimed responsibility before killing himself--but something about the confession isn't ringing true.

I am really enjoying this series but it will be hard to sell to my customers as it is written by so many authors. Customers who try to buy it in the normal stores will have a problem finding all the series before they are pulled from the shelves. Unless each customer comes in my store every month to buy the book in the series, it will be hard for me to sell the series

WOW! This installment starts right where part 1 left off and keeps running and twisting and turning. We are not only hunting a bomber but Lara is hunting her mother's killer and trying to keep that under the radar. The bomber now seems to have the CMU team targeted and this one ends in a super cliffhanger!

This is what keeps me moving on to the next one!!!!

**Received an ARC copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

Tough Justice:Countdown 2 is a serial by four authors Carla Cassidy and Tyler Anne Snell, Emmy Curtis and Janie Crouch. The first installment is written by Carla. We have a bomber that has blown up a smoothie shop, a police station and now a hospital. How do they link together? James is one of the members of the team and is brother committed suicide after the bomber threatened him. His suicide note causes even more confusion. Interesting interrogation with the owners of the rent house. We meet Jacob who is a witness at the hospital. I hope he shows up in more installments. Lara continues to be distracted by the murder of her mother that she is secretly obsessed with investigating.
Fword – 3, shit 6, bstard - 3

I was so thankful to get to read all 8 parts on Netgalley as I hate cliffhangers. I read them all pretty much back to back and enjoyed them all. From book 1 to 2 it was nice to have the continuity of the same author. I found myself totally hooked. I really do like Laura. And I like Nick. But never really felt connected with the other characters.

This book is better than the series starter. The characters are still not ones I like, but I find myself interested in finding out who is bombing and why. 6 more books to go.

Reading, or at least reviewing, a serial novel with one part at the time is much harder than I thought. Yet after reading the part two to the novel, I admit, it's official, I'm hooked. I got so immersed in the story I might have yelled 'NO' when I realized the part two was over. Yes, I have the next part downloaded, but that is beyond the point.

The FBI Crisis Management Unit has finally found some clues to the recent bombings that might give leads to the terrorist. Unfortunately, those clues come to their own doorsteps, as a family member of the team is oddly claiming responsibility. Nothing seems to be fitting, and the frustration of the situation is palpable.
The events at the crime scene bring Agent Lara Grant's own previous personal nightmares into her mind, and her mother's over twenty-year-old murder case gets a new lead, that has Lara on the edge, and losing more sleep.
In this installment, the members of the team seem easier to approach, not soft by any means, but the compassion and understandable fear and worry in the air gave them a new, more humane side.
The intensity is still as fierce, the danger and horrific possibilities of new bombings a constant thought in the minds of the agents. Can James' brother be behind the bombing? And what is the midnight emergency meeting all about? The cliffhanger at the end of the part two is riveting and unexpected, puts a completely new spin on the story and to the evidence so far collected, getting me hooked in an intoxicating way. Carla Cassidy did an amazing job with the parts one and two, can't wait to read the next part that is written by Tyler Anne Snell
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

So. . . I'm kinda liking this installment book format. It takes a slower pace and packs a lot more backstory for the characters than you normally get from a Harlequin Suspense or Intrigue book. Even without reading the first series, I don't feel adrift like I fully expected to feel. Still, reading the first series would give a lot more background instead of just being "told" in this one. Anyway, so far, so good. I'm fully into the mystery.

Someone is blowing things and people up in New York. A smoothie shop, a police precinct and now a hospital. We know the bomber wants public repentance from an individual and when they don't get it, innocent people are blown to bits. One individual, William, commits suicide after the bomber blows up the police precinct. William is the brother of James, an FBI agent on this case. The FBI have no clue what is happening or why. Terrorism or just a plain old nut case.

Distracting Lara from the case is her obsession with the 20 year old cold case murder of her mother. She has a new lead that opens up more questions than it resolves. She feels she must keep her investigation into this a secret. I think she could use another set of eyes on it, maybe Nick would help her our, if she would let him.