June 2017 -- 4 Stars

I've read most of Monica McCarty's books. I loved her historical romances. They were full of great details that added to the story. She creates great characters you'd love to be able to meet. She doesn't rely on silly and predictable themes.

Saying this, in the last few years, I've really not read many books with a historical theme. I'm not sure why, but just haven't had much interest. I was so excited hearing that one of my favorite authors was going to write a contemporary novel. I really enjoyed this book. If you've never read this author and aren't crazy about a historical background, try this one.

<b>What did were the top things I liked about this book?</b>
1 -- I really liked the concept and I love and trust this author. I wasn't sure if this would have some sort of "out of time" feel or element or not. It didn't. I felt her execution was spot on. She sets the background very well in the Prologue. My one negative comment here, was all the characters you have to digest so quickly in a chapter or so. Many of which don't show again in the remaining chapters. It tells you this could be a very long series.

Also, because she puts this together so quickly for us, when devastation strikes this team, we don't feel it much.

2 -- There was a feel of "realism" to this story. I could see this happening. I really like books that give me a good sense of logic. When I have to put my sense of logic aside, I struggle. This one fed that for me nicely.

The interactions between Annie and Dan/Dean worked for me. Both just normal people who have a bit of the extraordinary. Two people I think I'd like to know.

3 -- The very first pull for me was the title. Hmm... Looked closer at the cover. Saw who the author was/is .. read the synopsis. SOLD!!

<b>What were my issues?</b>
1 -- As mentioned before, the Prologue was loaded. Pay attention -- or be prepared to read it more than once.

2 -- There were places that I felt were there for filler. Didn't add to the story and just took up space.

3 -- I would have liked a deeper backstory on some of the secondary characters. But, typical of this author, I'm betting subsequent books will be much better. She has to settle into this new audience and contemporary theme.

Overall, enjoyable. I'd buy this one for myself and recommend it to friends. I'll be looking for other in the series. Nicely done.

Happy Reading!

<b>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Overall Rating = 4 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 4 / 4 = 3.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4 Stars
Character / Secondary Character Development = 4 / 3 = 3.5 Stars
“Did I like” Hero / Heroine = 5 / 4 = 4.5 Stars
Story / Background Story Development = 4 / 3 = 3.5 Stars
“Did I like the Damned Thing” = 4 Stars
Ending = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 4 Stars -- [$7.99 on Amazon, Sep2017 release]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Mild
352 pages
++++++
<i><b>First sentence:</i></b> Seals liked to say the only easy day was yesterday. 

<i><b>Last sentence:</i></b> Annie didn't doubt it for a minute. He was a guy she could count on to get things done -- always.


<i>ARC provided by the Author and Publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure how well McCarty would be able to transition from historical romances to military/SEAL romance but the answer is almost flawlessly.  There was a bit too much explanation of the squad/team/command structure which took me out of the story for a moment but then I was right back in.  The respectful debate/flirty banter worked for me and the heat between Dean and Annie was amazing.  McCarty struck just the right balance between action and romance and not only am I anticipating the next book in the series but I'll have to go check out her historical backlist, as well.

Monica McCarty knocked it out of the park with her first contemporary romantic suspense. Fourteen men make up Seal Team 9 who are sent in on a secret black ops mission in Russia. Only 6 walked away and had to go dark and pretend they are dead until they can figure out who betrayed them. 

The author kept the reader in the dark on who survived that fatal mission for most of the book so in my review other than the heroine I am not going to name any names. Just know it was a thrilling suspense ride with the present day story of ecoterrorist that Annie Henderson finds herself embroiled in and the slow reveal of the fate of Seal Team 9. 

Annie Henderson is a Marine ecologist who decides to join her boyfriend on a trip to the Isle of Lewis in Scotland to protest offshore drilling. She is a strongly against offshore drilling after seeing the after effects of a oil spill in Louisiana on the wildlife. Its not long after being in Scotland that she begins to see something is not right with her boyfriend and his friends and that is confirmed when they rent a dive boat captained by a another man who makes Annie uncomfortable but for totally different reasons.  Once out on the water Annie discovers that her boyfriend and his two friends are not planning a friendly protest but one far more deadly. She has to depend on the mysterious captain to save her life by getting them off the boat and trekking through a storm on a small craft along with being on the run once they hit land when they are accused of murder. 

There are lots of “and the plot thickens” moments through out this book. Both with the ecoterrorist plot and the side plots of the man who trained Seal Team 9 wanting answers about what happened to those 14 men, and a tenacious reporter who is the sister of one of the missing men also looking for answers all while the ones who survived are trying to stay invisible. There is just soo much going on your turning the pages soaking up as much info as you can and wanting more. This is going to be a kick-ass series and I cannot wait for the next installment..

I really liked this suspenseful book. 

This series starting book had action, intrigue and pure sexiness all over the place. After a covert mission went FUBAR, Dean had gone dark, that's Navy SEAL talk for laying low while everyone else thinks that you're dead. The absolute last thing he needed was to get mixed up with a group of eco terrorists. Naturally, this bad boy SEAL doesn't exactly follow orders whenever he sees evil being done not to mention when it involves an innocent woman. Annie was a too nice for her own good girl who finally figured out that her smarmy boyfriend was up to no good. Luck was on her side because Dean happened to be a real life hero who jumped in just in time to save the day. It wasn't insta love for them, though. They had loads of personal baggage and huge secrets that lay between them. 
I'm a big fan of Monica McCarty's writing style so I had to jump at the chance to read her new series. The rich character development and fast paced plot were amazing, as usual, and there were enough twists to keep me guessing right up until the end. I'm ready for the next book already.

An action packed SEAL adventure that portrays our elite warriors with the respect they deserve.  This novel also educated me in the new medical breakthroughs in identifying PSTD, brain injuries, and the help that is now available to our veterans.  My thoughts and prayers are with them.