As a side-story of Rebecca Zanetti’s Deep Ops series, ‘Taken’ is pretty much a compact standalone as Raider Tanaka’s old friends take the stage in a short, second-chance romance.

In this case however, the brevity of the story probably made me less engaged than I could have been, since this felt as though it could have been a full-length book and had lost so much because it wasn’t. All we know is that Hunter Holt and Faye Smith had once been together; she’d split five years ago and is now back to get him to search for his teenage half-brother he’d never known existed. In fact, I felt as though I’d been missing a big chunk of their backstory—the breakup, the —even though it was sort of told in a few lines what had happened to Faye and Hunter.

Coming back together in the midst of the search, then pledging themselves to each other again after scorching sexy times or talking things through to re-cement their broken bond just seemed too easy, too soon…too coincidental. Would Faye really have searched Hunter back out had it not been for this incident when she’d done nothing for five years? As a result, Faye/Hunter were a pairing that seemed to happen only again because unexpected circumstances forced them back again, rather than a pairing that actively wanted to solve the problems that had first rent them apart while finding their way back to each other again—a rather common occurrence in the second-chance romance trope that typically leaves me feeling scratchy on the inside.

There’s no denying that Zanetti writes pretty well though, but what constantly threw me off were the strange and awkward inserts of humour that broke the intensity of what would have been otherwise an enthralling narrative. In here, it come in the form of out-of-the-blue humour, even odder animal behaviour and weird pick-up lines that bad-ass characters spout, incongruous to what you think they might behave.

In short, ‘Taken’ was pretty much what I thought it would be—no big surprises and not entirely a let-down either but not something I could really get excited about…at least not while Raider’s story is in the making.

This book is a novella that is part of a series, but really is a stand alone. It is a quick and easy read, and I really felt the pain Hunter and Faye suffered in their relationship. But also the closeness, how thoroughly they knew each other. I would really like to know what happened five years ago, and hopefully we will learn more in other books in this series.

Received an ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

The infusion of serious subject matter and humor make up this romantic suspense. Its amazing the those two things work together but the author manages it in such a way your both on the edge of your seat and laughing.

This novella gives us Hunter Holt and Faye Smith story who grew up in foster care with Raider Tanaka (a main character from her new Deep Ops series). Both Raider and Wolfe (also from Deep Ops) play a big part in the story so you definitely get a feel for what the series is about even though Hunter and Faye are not part the Homeland Defense Department. This could be read as a stand alone and it was very enjoyable having all the elements of suspense, serial killer, and a rekindled romance. But for me it was even more so because of having the connection to Raider and the Deep Ops team.

this is a novella that follows the first book in this series. I loved the first book and I loved this one too. Lot of emotion and humor. The only complaint that I have is that the dog only shows up briefly in this book. I am waiting anxiously for the next book in this series. I highly recommend this series.

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review

While I really enjoy books by Rebecca Zanetti, I have to admit I was a bit confused by this book as far as it being part of the Deep Ops series. Having read the first book in the series, I was expecting a novella about some of the characters from that book. Or even a story that set the stage for book two. However, this book was about Hunter and Faye that actually grew up with Raider a character from the first book and hopefully the hero of the next book in the series. So while the novella was enjoyable and there was a brief scene with the Deep Ops team in this story, you definitely can read this book without having read Hidden. In fact, I would have just left it as a totally separate novella.

Faye and Hunter were both in the same foster home. They broke up five years ago but Faye has came back to help find a foster kid. Faye was a psychologist and Hunter went into the military. A teacher takes her student on a robbery spree and the student happens to be Hunter’s half brother he never knew about. Can they get along long enough to find him before something bad happens?
Short, sexy, and action. Two damaged souls find their way back to each other. A couple of surprises, which made me love the story more. A little funny.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

Not gonna lie I am starting to become a fan of Rebecca Zanetti and her new series Deep Ops.

This is a side story between the first and second story. As a readers of the series I will admit I was a little lost at first trying to figure out how it connected to the Deep Ops series. Once it became clear the humor from the first book arrives almost with the goofy characters from the first book.

I think it will impossible for readers of Rebecca Zanetti to miss this story as well as the series. Faye is a lost soul who knows her soul mate but can't seem to keep her temper in check long enough before she hits Hunter. Hunter is you Rebecca Zanetti Alpha Male with a heart that have readers wanting more of the two lead characters.

The story has heat and soul that new readers will be able to fall in love with Rebecca Zanetti characters and books

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Zebra for the advance copy of Rebecca Zanetti Taken.

This is a can't miss read.