I think what I really like best about this one was that it showed the characters from the first book, Raider especially in a different light. I liked that we got to see the unusual family, how blood didn't matter, but connection and choice. I especially loved that when Hunter learned about Jackson he was all in to save him as was his family.

This one ended about as good as it could for Jackson, but I have a feeling that his life going forward will be nothing but sunshine and puppies.

DNF at %48

It's a fast paced "second chance" suspense romance. But it was TOO fast paced to me, it lacked depth. The characters were unidimensional, they were "cartoon characters". I just couldn't connect with the story.


FUN FACT: This is a NOVELLA so that's why it's too fast paced BUT I love reading novellas and I definitely have read novellas with more depth than this one.

👇


And: "Raider was part Japanese, and his blazing black eyes had always fascinated her."

Please white authors 🙏 Asian people are not "exotic" and their eyes are not something to be fascinated about. You can do better 🤗😬

Taken by Rebecca Zanetti. Her books have great characters and a well put-together story line. Hunter and Faye have a bond that goes back, and it goes deep. Five years ago their world challenged them in a way that divided them, but now they need to come together for family. It's important, and they will do whatever they can for family.
The intense feelings, the true in depth characters who seem to leap from the pages and the funny stuff (yeah, it's in there) grabs me every time with Ms. Zanetti's novels. I had to read it the first time in one sitting, and then I read it again, slower this time to smile at the way this series is playing out. It's a great read, and one I'm sure I'll be reading again.

4.5 Stars

This is the perfect little fill in story while readers wait for Book 2 in the series. This book takes us away from the team a bit, but it focuses on Raider's "siblings" so we do get to see quite a bit of him in the story.

This one is cross country search and rescue for Hunter's half brother. Faye and Hunter used to be a thing and they fell apart. Travelling together brings back all the good memories and they decide to give it a go again. Older, wiser and more reflective on life expectations. These two seem destined for each other.

Nice humor steamy hotel moments. And freaking Dage and Talan! What??!! Way to work that one in Rebecca! Loved it!

Can't wait for Raider's book!

I really enjoyed this one, I liked the characters and the plot. I enjoyed the pace that the story was too. Overall this story wasn't fairly long and i really liked that. This is 1.5 in the authors series. But i found even with reading book 1 you can read this with out reading the 1st book. though as always i recommend staring any series from the beginning.

Another successful book written by Rebecca Zanetti! I loved reading the first book, Hidden, in her new Deep Ops series, and was excited to see this novella. When I first started reading the novella I wasn't sure how the story fit into the Deep Ops series because the main characters hadn't been introduced in the first book. That being said, if you haven't read the first book you can easily read this novella as a stand alone book. The story is about Hunter and Faye. Hunter and Faye were in the same foster home and ended up romantically involved. Unfortunately, they broke up 5 years ago and now are working together again to find a boy that went missing from the same foster home,. The boy turns out to be Hunter's brother that he didn't know about. The chemistry between Faye & Hunter is electric and as a reader you just want them to lay their hearts open to each other and be together ASAP. The tie to the Deep Ops series is with Raider, whom is introduced in the first book. Raider is family to Faye & Hunter and was in the same foster home with them. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the 3 characters and the addition of Wolfe from HDD to the 'family'. I loved getting to know more about Raider's back story and can't wait to read about him in the next book!! You'll love the surprise appearance by 2 truly loved characters from the Dark Protectors series too. Bringing Roscoe, Kat, and Force to the story also added more depth and connection to the Deep Ops series. Once again, Zanetti wrote a phenomenal and compelling story. I found myself crying, laughing, and rooting for ALL of the characters to either find their HEA OR, in the case of Louise, the justice that is deserved. I can't wait for the next book in this series, Fallen, and the sneak peek in the back of this novella makes it even more difficult to wait patiently. Excellent, excellent book... enjoy!!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hunter and Faye have a past, but are brought back together in order to save a teenager. They are reunited with other former teammates, that are truly their family. They must all work together to find this boy before time runs out. Will this be the mission that leads Hunter and Faye back to each other or years them apart for good.

I love the way Rebecca tells this story. It’s not necessary to read the first book in the series in order to understand what is happening. Definitely recommend!!!

Rebecca Zanetti definitely caught my attention with “Taken”. I have enjoyed the overall premise of the story in which the lead characters, who were once in a relationship, join forces to find Hunter half-brother. With their past history, it became more than apparent the feelings of the past still longer and they must work around that to help find the foster kid before it's too late. With this story, I will say I was surprised how short the read was and was a little disappointed that the author didn't really include more background on Faye and Hunter tarnish romance and what lead up to it. I wished there was more or a built-up to the leads reconciliation but you can't win them all. In conclusion, this was a short decent read filled with a promising plot and likable characters.

Zanetti again delivers a great adventure/romance with this Deep Ops Novella. Foster Mother Miss A. needs the help of her past charges Hunter and Faye. Tough life has led these System Kids to become caring and savvy adults that just CARE!! Besides Hunter and Faye and their five year absence from each other; their sparks for each other are still sizzling. Narrative has a Bonnie & Clyde type plot staring an older teacher Louise and her student that has a damaged heart searching for love in the wrong place. My favorite part was played by Wolfe who had a furry animal in his pocket and a dog who rules the alcoholic table. "A copy of this book was provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." LOVE THE CUTE AND FURRY who make the reader go AHHHHHHHH!!

ARC received for review

Hunter and Faye had a relationship in the past and they both walked away from it. Now five years later they have to work together to find a missing boy. There's not a whole lot said about the past, and I didn't really like that. Then they got back together with out much said. I did love seeing Raider, Wolffe, Kat, Roscoe and Angus. Roscoe and Kat are still my favorites. Looking forward to Raider and Brigid's book.

Well I was sad that this was just a novella. Until I started reading it and then I was quite happy that I didnt have to read a full length book about a teacher sexually abusing a 15 yr old boy. I'm down for reading serial killer books but this was just really high on the creepy scale. I understand why the book was written. So we can get the backstory on the fbi guy before his full length book. But I would have preferred 1. A longer book with more details, into his backstory. It felt rushed. And 2. Not to have to read about the 15 yr old being abused.

This is an awesome little novella from the Deep Ops world. RZ does romantic suspense with such flare. This story line packs in the suspense while also providing us with some humor, heat and yes, heart. Hunter and Faye finally get a second chance after 5 years. They were in the same foster home as Raider, one of the Deep Ops team members. They are all reunited by Miss A their foster mom to save Jackson, who as it turns out is Hunter's half brother. Seems despite the bickering, Faye and Hunter's feelings may have only grown in all that time apart. I love their back stories and how they have shaped who they both are today. I also absolutely love the Easter Egg thrown in with two of my favorite characters from one of RZ' s other series!! The unusual antics of the Deep Ops team, like Roscoe, the drunken dog and Wolfe who keeps a kitten in his pocket was a bit of fun to break up the intensity of the situations they find themselves in.
Can't wait for what comes next!

Taken is a novella in the Deep Ops series and while Faye and Hunter aren't on the team they are childhood friends of Raider. Faye and Hunter were kids together and then they were so much more. Since I'm a sucker for second chance romances this was perfect for me. I loved that neither one had stopped loving the other and how although they both tried moving on during their 5 year separation they never could. I loved seeing the men from the team, Wolfe was great and Roscoe had me laughing. While I loved the cameo of two of my favorite characters I felt it was odd and honestly out of place. With that said it was a really enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to Raider's book.

Hunter and Faye, who were together since they were teens, broke up five years ago after suffering tragedies in their lives. Neither has been really happy since then.

Their former foster mother gets them together again to search for another one of her foster kids who has run away under dangerous circumstances. Jackson just happens to be Hunter's half-brother, whom he didn't know he had.

Hunter and Faye call in Raider, from the Deep-Ops team, to help. Raider was a foster kid with them, and they were all as close as family.

Jackson is on the run in a very bad situation, and there is some good suspense as they try to catch up with him before he gets hurt or gets in too deep. Along the way, Hunter and Faye have to face "us."

Wolfe, Roscoe and Kat make fun appearances from the Deep-Ops series. Even better, a duo from another series make a cameo appearance and are scary/hilarious. Zanetti fans won't want to miss it.

Taken
Rebecca Zanetti
4/30
Rebecca Zanetti has another winner in her novella for the Deep OPs series. Taken comes out at the end of April. Hunter Holt lives in a cabin near the river where he is a guide. As a foster child, now an ex-soldier he lives his life in solitude. Faye Smith was his one and only but since the split, have not seen each other in 5 years. She too is a foster kid from Ms. Angelina’s house. Those who have lived there have become family. They never ignore pleas of help from her, so when Faye gets a message from Ms. A to go visit Hunter to ask for his help with one of her new foster kids, she goes. Unsure of why she came, Hunter questions her visit until he learns of the request. He’s not certain why Angelina did not call instead of sending Faye but in finding out that this lost boy is his step brother, he starts the plan to rescue him.
He phones this brother, Raider who arrives that night with another member of the Homeland Defense Unit, Wolfe. They layout the plan and leave early the next morning to find Jackson, the young man who was captivated with his teacher, Louise Stockley. Louise a 40 year old woman who was insane enough to take the boy with her, then go on a spree of robbing convenience stores, killing the workers in each location.
It’s a good story and in typical Zanetti form becomes a page turner. In this series most of the usual Deep OPs are present. I found the storyline captivating and the characters a great bunch to follow.
I appreciate the opportunity from Kensington Books to read and review this novel. Rebecca Zanetti fans will not be disappointed. Those who enjoy a good romantic suspense read should pick this up as well.

This novella in the Deep Ops(1.5) series gives some background information on Raider from the first book, HIDDEN. He grew up with other foster children who are his brothers and sisters of the heart. Hunter Holt and Faye Smith are part of that family who also walked away from a relationship as adults with each other five years ago. Both were left wounded, but when Hunter finds he has a young half-brother who goes missing, they put aside their issues to track down the teenager on the run. The woman he is with being much older adds an ick factor. She’s a bit of a whack job doing a Bonnie and Clyde impression so things can easily turn deadly.

Clearly Hunter and Faye still love each other; but the question remains whether they can overcome the hurts of the past including the loss of one of their foster brothers. Each one carries scars along with a deep connection that has never stopped though time has passed so when Hunter and Faye work together, sparks fly.

Raider comes in to help them using his Deep Ops skills and with a team member, Wolf, who is quite quirky and entertaining as are most of his team. It’s not necessary to have read the first book in the series, but it does add to the enjoyment. For Dark Protector fans there is a fun Easter Egg scene. New readers will be introduced to some of the decidedly left of center Deep Ops team member including a very strange dog who has the habits of a frat boy. Raider and Brigid’s story is next in the series.

Advanced Readers Copy Courtesy of Netgalley...:)

This was a perfect little novella to keep us occupied while we wait for book 2. It has the guys from the Deep Ops series in, including the high heel wearing/ alcoholic dog and the cute little kitten, who sits in big bad Wolfe's pocket.

This is the story of Hunter and Faye. They met when they were kids having both come from horrible home situations. It's been years since they broke up after both having dealt with the death of one of their childhood friends in different ways. They have come together now as the lady who raised them has one of her foster children who has run away. She wants them to find him before he gets in trouble. It also turns out the kid is Hunter's half brother. Together with the guys from Deep Ops they set out to save the kid and along the way they realize they still love each other. Now, will it be enough this time around, or are there too many hurts in the past that they just can't get past.

Very suspenseful for a novella. I absolutely love the misfit dynamic of the team. It is amazing how easily it is described and played out within the story. The novella is absolutely action packed and you don’t loose anything in the condensed story but I have to say I hope for more full length books

This book was amazing. I just finished it and wasnt ready to leave Faye and Hunter. They were perfect for eachother and scorched my kindle. I loved when Talen and Dage made an appearance i alm3fell of the treadmill jumping when they appeared. It was perfect. Please hurry and relase Raiders book soon i cant wait!

The best thing about this book for me was the two main characters--Hunter and Faye. They both came from abusive homes and met in foster care. They were each others first love but broke up five years prior to the story starting (it wasn't exactly clear why they broke up). They are reunited when their foster mother alerts them that Hunter has a 16-year old half brother who is in danger. They have an interesting backstory and a lot of chemistry.

Because this was a novella, the story was really compacted to the point where everything seemed rushed or wrapped up too neatly. There were a ton of ancillary characters that kind of overwhelmed me. I think that is because this book is related to Zanetti's Deep Ops series which I haven't read. It seems like maybe the author is setting up the next full length book in the series. I could have done without all the extra characters and had a little more time developing Hunter and Faye's story.

Overall, I enjoyed the story though.