Nothing to Fear is the second book in the Final Hour series by Juno Rushdan. It continues right after the first book, Every Last Breath, and immediately immerses you into the aftermath and chaos of finding the mole deeply imbedded within their tight-knit team. All these operatives are like family and no one wants to believe someone considered as such has betrayed them but with the harsh truth staring them in the face, those vetted and trusted dive deeper into everyone’s lives to ferret out the traitor in their midst. When Willow Harper, a quiet, shy, brilliant cryptologist is at the top of the list of suspects Gideon Stone steps in, tasked with investigating her, and is determined to prove her innocence, whatever the cost. He has watched her from the shadows and been intrigued by the silent beauty and takes the opportunity of the mole hunt to reach out. He knows she is being framed and after an attempt on her life he realizes her only chance at survival is with him, on the run, to find answers and clear her name. With no choice but to trust Gideon, an operative she barely knows but whom she is drawn to and has watched from a distance, she is pulled out of her comfort zone, away from her stability, family, and everything that matters to her and thrust into a dangerous, deadly international conspiracy that runs deep and hits home. On a tight deadline, with time running out they race to find the truth and clear Willow’s name before it is too late. The more they dig, the deeper the conspiracy and threat to Willow grows. With an urgency and determination Gideon feels deep in his soul, he will fight to his last breath, even against his own team, to keep her safe and get her back to her life and Willow will fight just as hard to keep Gideon by her side.

I am loving this series and these characters, along with the well-written storyline. Rushdan has done a wonderful job with an intricately woven plot that is suspenseful and engaging and will pull you in and hold on tight. The scenes are descriptive, the action explosive, the danger pressing, the tight functioning unit impressive, the emotions strong, and the romance hot. A truly great read from start to finish.

*ARC received thru NetGalley, via the publisher and I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

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

I loved the first book in this series and expected this one to be great too, and it was. The characters that are not what you expect facing situations totally out of their experiences, "Nothing to Fear" is my kind of Romantic-Suspense and much, much more. Juno Rushdan is one of my new favorite authors. She writes hot romance and exciting action filed with tension and suspense that make it impossible to put the book down.

The Gray Box is a top secret, off the books, black ops outfit that reports only to the Director of National Intelligence and the President. Their operatives are all top tier and deadly, but none of them as dedicated and focused as Gideon Stone and right now he is laser focused on finding the mole in their midst.

Willow Harper is his focus, but he really doesn't believe she is the mole, even though she has the access necessary as an analyst and cryptologist. When the evidence starts pointing directly at her, Gideon does the only thing he can to protect her, he takes her and flees.

Willow is crazy smart, but has problems with social interactions. When Gideon starts paying attention and flirting with her she is at a loss as to what to do. She has had a thing for him for months, but is so out of his league as to not even be on the same planet with him. When they flee and are forced into tight quarters all the barriers come crashing down for both of them, but the only thing more dangerous than their emotions is the mole and the army who are after them.

The deeply embedded mole is causing havoc…

This is the second book in the Final Hour series that can be read as a standalone.

There’s a mole inside Gray Box, a covert organization, and the operative Gideon Stone has accepted the unpleasant task of investigating one of their own, a woman he believes innocent, a woman he’s often noticed yet kept his distance from. Before he’s made any headway damning evidence surfaces and he knows she’s being framed. His next move could cost him more than his reputation but the last person placed in the interrogation room was silenced before information was obtained, killed while on the premises and he’s not letting that happen again. With not much time before a lockdown would be instigated, using all his skills and knowledge of Gray Box security the two go on the run.

Because of her job for Gray Box, that of cryptologist, programmer, hacker, Willow Harper is aware of the existence of the mole and has been writing a software program to track the person down. She’s shocked when she learns that she’s accused of being the traitor, her only recourse is to trust the capable Gideon, a man she’s noticed but never expected the feeling might possibly be mutual. Together they follow the money trail in the hopes of exonerating her and bringing the true culprit to justice.

Willow is a loner by nature, a highly intelligent woman suffering from Asperger’s, a form of autism, which affects her social skills. Escaping Gray Box headquarters and placing all her trust in one person was stretching her boundaries but for all her issues the woman had inner courage and adapted with the unwavering support of Gideon, a man who doesn't believe he’s worthy of such a woman because of the dark deeds he has committed, though they were done for the greater good of humanity.

The conspiracy runs deep. The duplicitous mole trusted by everyone within Gray Box is working for an information broker whose tendrils reach into the many government clandestine organizations. Every move the Gray Box teams make is liable to turn on them hence why Gideon and Willow ran. Those not on the premises when the person interrogated was killed are keeping to themselves and giving Gideon and Willow the benefit of the doubt. But how long can that last if they remain on the run?

This was a fast-paced, action and suspense thriller with an intriguing complex plot, twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, multiple points of view and characters with depth. The main leads made an unexpected emotional connection while running for their lives. Each had personal issues to overcome, Gideon especially was defined by a past he had to make peace with. I did like the first book in the series better but this was a most enjoyable read, a good follow-up.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book was fast paced and I loved the storyline - maybe even more so than the first in this series, which I also flew through. Gideon and Willow were exciting to read about. Overall, I hope this series continues because it makes for intense romantic suspense!! The characters are all great and the plot keeps thickening! (Though this ended on less of a cliffhanger than the first, so it might be done - not sure!!!)

I am loving this series! I had high expectations after the first book, Every Last Breath, and Nothing to Fear didn't disappoint. I was glued to the pages as soon as I started! Gideon and Willow were amazing characters, and I really liked their interactions and seeing their relationship develop. This book starts off with a bang, and just keeps on going!

Gideon has quietly watched Willow from the sidelines, observing her mannerisms and preferences without actually approaching her, because he doesn't think he's worthy of someone so innocent and kind. He believes his soul is tainted due to the nature of his job, and that Willow deserves to live a life with someone better. My one quibble would be how often Gideon says something about not being good enough. I'm okay with some self-deprecation, an even enjoy it when it's sarcastic, but he really struggled with who he was. He was confident in his abilities -- and rightly so -- but I wish he had hated himself less, or at least thought he was deserving of love.

Willow may not have snuck glances at Gideon when they were in the same room, but she cyber-stalked the hell out of him. She read every file she could find, and even hacked her way into redacted versions of reports. She wanted to know everything about him, even if she didn't fully understand why. In any other circumstance, their stalking would have been super weird, but it really worked for these two. Neither saw it as a breach of trust (or thought it was super creepy), but accepted that both were observant control freaks that liked information.

Rushdan knows how to write adventure and suspense, and I was kept on my toes for the entirety of the book. I desperately wanted to know who Cobalt was, especially after how the author left things at the end of Every Last Breath. I had so many questions! Cobalt is skilled at masking their identity, so I questioned everyone's actions and words. Everyone was a suspect in my mind until I could confirm -- without a doubt -- that they weren't responsible. The author leaves a small trail of who it's not, but that only narrowed my list down to a handful of others. It was stressful! I couldn't figure it out. I kept thinking, "No, that's too obvious. Wait! Maybe it's supposed to feel obvious so I'll dismiss them?" I loved it!

The romance was remarkably well-written as well. I really enjoyed reading from Willow's perspective, since she has a unique way of viewing the world. I believe she has Asperger's... I think I'm remembering correctly, and she's very blunt and honest. She says what she wants when she wants it, and she offers personal details about her life without prompting. I think she was really good for Gideon, because he needed someone he could be completely honest with. Willow knows everything about him, the good and the bad, and she still thought he was worth loving. It also meant he didn't have to keep secrets from her, which had caused a strain on his previous marriage. He thought he was a monster, but Willow saw a hero willing to sacrifice parts of himself for the greater good. They were passionate lovers, but they also connected on a soul-deep level that was just as intimate.

I cannot wait to see where this story goes next! There's a lot of fighting, some descriptive violence, and even some torture in this one. It's not overly explained, but the picture and intentions are clear. It's part of working at the Grey Box and saving the country from the shadows, but it can also be a little graphic. Weak stomachs beware!

I was happy to see Cole and Maddox get cameos in this one! It makes me want to re-read their story!

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on August 27, 2019.

Nothing to Fear is Juno Rushdan’s second book in her Final Hour series and follows events of that occurred in the first book, therefore its best to start reading Every Last Breath to catch up. This book has everything that makes a great romantic suspense, plot twists galore, bad guys that are really deadly, scarred hero in the form of Gideon and a fantastic heroine in Willow. I love how this series has fully fleshed out and diverse characters and while it may appear that the romance elements seemed to develop instantly, it still makes sense since they’ve all known each other for sometime and the imminent threat in their organization just served as an impetus for it to come out. Needless to say I will be looking forward to the next book in the series.

I had thought that the first book in this Final Hour Series was as fast paced and action packed as a story could get but Nothing to Fear is even more so. This second book in Juno Rushdan’s amazing series has an unusual heroine paired with a Rambo type agent. It I can say it is a riveting, unable-to-stop-reading book.

Operative Gideon Stone is part of the Gray Box team that is searching for a mole within the secret government agency. There is much at stake as the team looks at the different people who are suspects. Being set up, Willow, a program code writer cryptologist is his investigating target. Together they must survive, find the mole and stop the shudder-worthy villains. A case of where Gideon and Willow, along with the rest of Gideon’s team, will do whatever it takes..

Need I add that the heart racing and nail biting scenes along with some sexy romantic ones made this a perfect blend of romance and thriller. I Had some suspects of my own as to who the mole was but was completely surprised when it was revealed. One of the master writers of romance suspense today having written one of the best romance suspense books, Nothing to Fear.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Juno Rushdan is my new favorite romantic suspense author! I loved the first in this series, Every Last Breath, and was very excited to see that this one centered Willow Harper. She is such a well-written character who I was really able to connect with, and I loved seeing her relationship with Gideon unfold. There was just the right balance of excitement/thrills/mystery to the romance, and both sides to the story were done impeccably. I enjoyed the changes in POV each chapter and the way readers are kept on their toes about who the mole will be until the last moment. I'm already very much looking forward to the next in this series!

Wow, this is a fast-paced thriller! It hooks you on page one and take you on a thrilling ride. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down.

I read the first book in the series a couple of weeks ago and liked it enough to be curious in the second book, and my prediction was right: this second book was so much better than the first. The writing is better and the story is more believable, even though the same characters are in both books.

Next year the third book will be published and I'm looking forward reading it!

Holy Hot Sizzling Bacon Batman!!! This book is on fire!!! 
5 RED HOT STARS!!!!!! If Goodreads would allow me to award more stars, this would be the book to get them.

Ok, Juno Rushdan, you have made me a believer!! I wasn't quite sure how I would like the romantic thriller genre. But after seeing many rave reviews on your first book in this series, Every Last Breathe, I decided to give it a chance. And you did not let me down. I loved it. I was so hungry for more when the book ended. It literally left me breathless and I couldn't wait to get my hands on Nothing to Fear. And again, you have knocked it so far out of the park we need NASA to locate this ball. You've opened me up to a whole new genre I didn't know existed or that I would like, but you also made me a believer in your writing chops. You can seriously write a book I want to read. 

Both of the books in this series can be read as stand alone books, but I highly recommend you read this as a series. Each book is building on the previous storyline and I am so excited to see where she takes us next. 

Just like in the first book, you become so invested and attached to the characters and their individual stories. You will fall in love with them, cheer them on, and hide behind your hands scared to see if they make it out alive. This author truly knows how to develop characters. Yes there is steamy hot romance in this book, but there is also a crazy hold on to the edge of your seat thrill ride you will take. In this book, we are trying to find the mole in the Gray Box special ops unit. It's insane! And it's wicked good! It's fresh, it's different, it's intense, it will get your heart racing in more ways than one. This book is a fast read. You will not want to put it down. And just like the first book, I am hungry for more!! 

Trust me, you have Nothing to Fear, you will love this book!! Pick it up!!! And keep your eyes on Juno Rushdan. This is an author going places. I can't wait to get my hands on her next book!!

My thanks to Juno Rushdan, Sourcebooks Casablanca Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To date, Juno Rushdan has written two books, both in her <i>Final Hour</i> series, and they are two of the best romantic suspense/thrillers I’ve read. After reading the first, <i>Every Last Breath</i>, I was so impressed and thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of the second - <i>Nothing to Fear.</i> It did not disappoint!! I’m pretty stingy with five stars but four just wouldn’t do.

What puts this series at the top in this genre is simply the writing- followed by the strong plot and complex, interesting characters. Rushdan hit the trifecta! Her style is superior – no boilerplate text or cut and paste repetition to be found here! The non-stop action, cutting edge technology, and sizzling romance kept up an intense pace which was both gripping and entertaining. The characters, members of a covert, black ops team known as Gray Box, have unique personalities and skill sets and are all smart, passionate, powerful, and loyal.

The team was left reeling in the first book when they discovered that someone on the inside of their organization was a mole - a betrayal which was hard to accept and even more challenging to pin point. Based on several pieces of glaring evidence in the second book, all eyes turn to one of their own – Willow Harper. Willow is a highly intelligent and gifted crytologist who is quiet and keeps to herself. Tasked with getting close to Willow and determining whether she is guilty is Gideon – a field operative with a dark past. Circumstances reveal more of Willow’s true nature -not only is she the sole caretaker of her ailing father but she works diligently to compensate for her autistic spectrum disorder (previously known as Asberger’s syndrome.) The complexity of Willow’s character is just another example of what sets this series apart.

At nearly 500 pages, Rushdan was able to explore a variety of twists and turns in detail but never lost speed. Read the series or read <i>Nothing to Fear/i> as a standalone - either way, it is irresistible entertainment!

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/08/23/nothing-to-fear-by-juno-rushdan/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I found Juno Rushdan by reading the Sourcebooks sampler of romantic suspense novellas, <strong>Turn the Tide</strong> and went quickly on to request <strong>Every Last Breath.</strong> The <em><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/251229-final-hour" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Final Hour series</a> </strong></em> is about a covert black ops team with both analysts / computer hackers and tactical fighters / assassins. <strong>Nothing to Fear</strong> is about finding a mole within the group which is not only threatening national security, but also the lives of the team.

I enjoyed reading this sexy, action-packed story. Overall, the plot and romance were predictable.  The technical details of the work and the battles was fascinating, though. I loved the characters of Gideon and Willow. Gideon was the usual amazing fighter / killer who thinks he isn't good enough for any woman. He is sure Willow is better off without him.

Willow is a fun piece of diversity.  She has some quirks, and is likely on the spectrum.  She is beautiful and brilliant. Her computer skills are first rate.  Her social skills have some limits and she is fairly uncomfortable in most relationships of any type.

A couple on the run, in a life-and-death situation, has the high emotional situation which allows an honesty usually not considered.  Gideon was very capable in a threatening situation. Willow did make it harder by acting TSTL in a few instances.    The identity of the mole was a shock.  I definitely want to read more about this team!  <strong>Until the End</strong>, book 3, is projected to release in May 2020.

Nothing To Fear is another excellent read by Juno Rushdan. Willow, the female lead, is being framed by someone within her own ranks. Gideon, the male lead, is investigating, but he knows she is innocent. The interesting thing about Willow is her diagnosis as a high functioning autistic person. I always like to see something that society labels as a disability being shown as the opposite of that. No one fits in a box with a label, and people are equal. Willow is intelligent and intuitive with just enough sass. Gideon doesn't feel worthy of her, and it's sad. It's not a romantic story, though. This is a suspenseful thrilling story that I enjoyed. I look forward to more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.25⭐
This is my first Juno Rushdan book and I didn't know what to expect. But I have to say I really enjoyed it. Even though it was a little hard to get to grips with in the beginning, but only because I've not read the first in the series. However, it was easy enough to get the gist of what had gone down, what the Gray Box is and what the team dynamics were. And once the first bit of action happened, I became quite hooked. Plus, there was plenty of thrills and suspense and I really liked the characters, especially Willow, who is not your typical female lead. Which made for a refreshing change, and highlights nicely that people should never be labelled or looked upon differently just because they are different to you.

As for the romance it was nice, a little steamy and there's no denying it added another layer to an already engaging and action packed story. Which I would happily recommend to others.

That fresh, new-book smell coming from the shelf wafts of diversity, and there hasn't been a debuting (or established) contemporary romance author I've read yet this year that delivers books with this sweet aroma as well as Juno Rushdan.

Today I'm reviewing Nothing to Fear, the second book in the Final Hour series, following Every Last Breath, which I had the privilege of reading and reviewing a few months ago. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casa for again allowing me to read this advanced copy of what had promised to be and has now solidified itself as my favorite contemporary romantic suspense series of the year.

This is, in my opinion, character development at its finest. No glass ceiling is left intact, no demographic left behind, and the emotional firestorm that rages from both protagonist and antagonist leaves nothing to be desired. Juno Rushdan delivers likable, relatable characters who are forces to be reckoned with—no small feat when you consider how unrelatable these characters might be considered to those of us who are not employed by covert branches of the CIA. Steel-toed boots, I wear not.

In this second book of the series, which could be read as a stand-alone (but is enhanced by the first book), the Gray Box stands as a black-site covert subsection of the CIA, where the killer elite work to fight against threats foreign and domestic. Led by Director Bruce Sanborn, the Gray Box is threatened by a mole inside their ranks. All the evidence points to cryptologist, programmer, hacker, and analyst Willow Harper.

Gideon "Reaper" Stone is a member of one of the Gray Box's elite teams, and he's not buying the evidence stacked against Willow. When push comes to shove and it becomes clear that Director Sanborn is being pressured to catch the mole sooner rather than later, Gideon decides to do whatever it takes to pull Willow out of the fire, prove her innocence, and find the real traitor. Only he could never imagine the political nightmare he's stepping into that could end all of their careers.

The fight for Willow's reputation becomes a fight for both of their lives as they are tracked down by not only the entity framing Willow, but by their own team. Gideon's soft spot for Willow only increases, but he can't allow the man he is—a killer, an assassin—to ruin Willow's chances for a happy future for herself, no matter how badly he wants her.

Willow is highly intelligent, awkward, straightforward, and honest, and as she uncovers who Gideon really is, she learns more about her own strength and place in this world of espionage and digital ones and zeros, and she's in no mood to be told who is and who isn't good enough for her—even by the man she's come to realize is her everything. They both just need to stay alive long enough for her to convince him of the truth.

I absolutely loved this book. While I hold a special place in my heart for Maddox and Cole in Book One, this sequel did not disappoint. The characters deal with very real issues, both internal and external, and follow Rushdan's arc of badass characters. There were times I thought the similes and puns were a bit overdone, but it's a style and flare I admire from an author I know has extensive military history. As a military wife, I know for a fact that, yes, they do talk and think like this, and, yes, it is sometimes a bit much.

Overall, this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ novel was thrilling, sexy, and beguiling. I've already added Until the End, Book Three of the series, to my TBR pile, and it doesn't even have a published cover yet!

Catch Nothing to Fear on the shelves on August 27th, 2019!

I just finished reading this book. It took me about 2 days to complete. Its a brillant romantic suspense novel for those who love a little bit of heat with their mystery. There were a lot of characters, but this book focused on two and lended some perspectives of the other characters throughout the course of the plot. Overall, the book was well written. There were times where I found there to be a lot of description to the point where it could have been overwhelming. But otherwise, it was a great read and would love to see the other characters developed into more books. :)

Nothing to Fear by Juno Rushdan

2nd in the Final Hour series. Can be read as a standalone but takes off immediately after the first. Romantic suspense thriller.
Intense, enthralling, and entertaining.

Gideon is a real life James Bond (ok, in book form!) and he has set his eyes on Willow. She has intrigued him since she started at Gary’s Box. His assignment to get to know her makes his heart trip in anticipation.
Willow doesn’t know what to do when Gideon starts chatting with her. What are the rules? Willow is an analyst and a dweeb according to her sisters.

I loved how open and honest Willow was in dealing with her feelings. She’s on the higher functioning spectrum of autism and the author described this with habits of touching the pearls at her neck, drumming her fingers or pinching the back of her hand. These habits and Willow’s acknowledgement of them make her extremely likable and sympathetic.

I am thoroughly loving this series and will be on of the first in line for the next book.

Excerpt of Gideon trying to chat with Willow:
“I-I’m going to be late.” She scrambled into the aisle avoiding him. “I have to go.”
He strolled alongside her for some unfathomable reason. His strong physique and weightless stride—propelled by athletic grace—projected his lethal ability to handle anything.
“I’ll walk you out to your car.” A declaration, not a question.
Her stomach somersaulted. “What? Why?”
It took nine minutes to get from her desk to the parking lot, depending on the wait for the elevator. An extra two to her car since she parked on the far end. That meant for eleven minutes, she’d have to talk. With him. Concentrate on the rules to seem nice. She wasn’t unfriendly, but things got lost in translation.
Her rib cage tightened, making it hard to breathe. “There’s no need to walk me out.”
“I’m leaving anyway. It’s no trouble.” Gideon peered down at her and the intense look in his piercing blue eyes sent butterflies dancing in her belly.
She stared at him, trying to recall why it was a bad idea, and tripped over her feet. Gah! Tearing her gaze away, she focused on what was going on around her, determined to pull it together and not fall flat on her face.”
Excerpt from Nothing to Fear by Juno Rushdan

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to keep.

Gray Box operative Gideon Stone is tasked with investigating Willow Harper, a cryptologist suspected of selling deadly bio-agents on the black market. He knows she’s innocent and that she’s being framed.
Thrust into the crossfire of an insidious international conspiracy, Gideon will do anything to keep Willow safe…even if that means waging war against his own.
This book has intrigue, romance, action, drama, it was non-stop from beginning to end. I absolutely loved this book, it had me guessing for most of the time. I will definitely be waiting to hear from this author again.
My only very very minor complaint was that the characters could have been filled out a bit better earlier on in the story as I had a hard time telling them apart for a while but I got it about midway through the book. But other than that the book was amazing.

This is the second book in a series. I actually did not read the first book, and this is my first book with this author. Even though it is a series, I was able to read it and not feel like I was completely missing something by not having read the first book.

I really liked the story and the characters. I especially love that Willow is high functioning autistic. The author does a brilliant job of showing just how differently autism affects women. I was diagnosed as ADD, but have always thought that had I been born now, I would have been classified on the high end of the autism spectrum. So for me, it was really interesting to read Willows quirks and see how closely they mirror my own.

Gideon is a manly man who loves Willow for who she is. A true hero. I was a little disappointed in how long it took him to finally realize that he was worthy of Willow's love. I would have liked to have their relationship blossom and grow earlier in the book, instead of having to wait until the end.

Really a great book and I look forward to more books in this series.

Aaaagggghhhh!! It’s finally here!! Book 2 in the Final Hour series.

Can I just say, I am loving this author. I’m 2 books in and hungry for more.

Nothing to Fear picks up where Every Last Breath left off. Someone on the inside of Gray Box is a traitor. I was not ready for this book. At times I didn’t even feel like I was reading. I felt like I was watching a movie or an episode of Jack Ryan (my current fave).

I fell in love with Willow. Her absolute honesty about everything was so refreshing and well… honest. Insta girl crush.

Gideon? What can I say? He’s a man’s man and takes no prisoners. He is one of Gray Box’s best interrogators, which sometimes means, torturer. He doesn’t believe he deserves love. His wife died there were things he found out about their relationship after her death that greatly affected him. He’s had to hide his true self from everyone and doesn’t know how to handle Willow’s frank openness. What he doesn’t understand is that he doesn’t have to keep her safe from him. She understands him better than maybe he understands himself.

I absolutely loved this book and look forward to more books in this series.

ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review.