The Price of Grace is the second book in Diana's Black Ops Confidential series and while it's being listed as a standalone, there is an underlying second plot that ties the books together so I highly recommend them reading in order. I did not read the first book and while it doesn't hurt the story of Gracie and Dusty, I did like I wasn't getting whole story and that hurt the overall vibe of the book for me.

This is a very fast-paced, action-packed story with LOTS going on. Again, if you did not read the first book, there will be parts that will make the book feel confusing and hurt the flow for some readers because it deals with the underlying plot that is being pieced together through each book. However, the tension and chemistry between Dusty and Gracie help give another focus in the book and kept me wanting to see how things panned out.

I enjoyed this book due to the mystery and suspense and the gradual build between the characters. Nothing felt rushed even though the story does move at a fast pace. This book definitely has me intrigued enough into the main plot that I do want to go back and read the first so I have a better understanding of what is going on and be able to continue the series properly.

Overall, this series has a very interesting plot and I want to see how things play out and where the author takes us next. I am hoping that reading the first book will help clear up some of the confusing areas.

My first foray into Diana Munoz Stewart’s world of black ops was the first book in this series, I Am Justice. Featuring a family of sister vigilante assassins protecting the vulnerable and disadvantaged women of the world, the second installment of The Price of Grace focuses on computer whiz Grace Parish. She’s been distancing herself from the League and her adopted family, not sure if she wants to be a part of their illegal operations anymore—no matter how much good they covertly do. But someone seems to be gunning for her, and when her life is threatened, she has to find out if it’s from her long buried past coming back to haunt her or if it’s from one of the many enemies she has made due to her activities with the League.

FBI agent Leif “Dusty” McAllister has worked long and hard to get to the bottom of the Parish family’s hidden operations. He spent several months working undercover for a Mexican sex trafficker that the League was trying to take down while also working with the lone man of the assassins, Tony Parish. When that op goes sideways, Dusty is left with Grace, hightailing it out of the compound in a hail of gunfire. He soon sees Grace as his way into the Parish family, and he’ll do whatever he needs to do to get into their good graces. But he doesn’t anticipate being attracted to or intrigued by her, and that leaves him more vulnerable than he’d like.

Grace is head strong, smart, and owns a club, so she’s using that business as a front to distance herself from her family. When her conscience got the better of her, she sent a letter to the FBI about her family’s activities, and she knows that she can’t take it back. She doesn’t know that Dusty has that letter, and he wants to know the woman who is so conflicted about herself and her family. Both of them have enemies, with Grace’s family that she had to give up to be a part of the League along with any enemies that she’s made along the way, while Dusty has been undercover for too long to care what side he’s on anymore–just so he can make up his mind for himself what is right. While Grace’s loyalties to her family have been tested, Dusty knows that he will stand by her side no matter what, and that’s what counts.

I give The Price of Grace a four out of five. Fast paced and thrilling, I enjoyed the twists and turns of Grace and Dusty’s very different lives. Their relationship developed very slowly, with Grace reluctant to trust anyone around her–especially someone who has worked for the FBI and suddenly wants to be in her life. Dusty’s priorities change throughout the book as he gets to know Grace and those around her, as well as when he starts to see the true colors of those he has worked with in the past. The Price of Grace starts with the events at the end of the first book, but it’s told through the alternating points of view of Grace and Dusty. I really enjoyed the continuity from book one, revealing other sides of the final fight. I can’t wait to read the final installment and see how a lot of this story wraps up.

The Price of Grace is a fast paced, thrill ride of a romance novel!
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Gracie Parish, adopted by a family of vigilantes, has been living a life of extremes, when in walks a smoldering FBI agent who turns all she used to know upside down!
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Add into the mix her estranged son, a young orphan girl with something to prove, and a politician with an enormous secret and you’ve got an epic story filled with action movie sequences and romance novel fire.
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Diana Munoz Stewart has crafted an adrenaline fueled story, a tangled web of plot lines that comes together in a satisfying conclusion. The Price of Grace will keep the reader up way past bedtime.

Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Price Of Grace
By: Diana Munoz Stewart

*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟
Having not read the first book, I found The Price Of Grace confusing at times. It's a continuous story that will continue into a third book. I recommend reading in order. That being said, this story is suspenful, engaging and dramatic with some romance as well. Gracie is in a situation that is less than ideal. Dusty has a job to do, but he finds that it won't be as easy as he thought. Gracie is a strong woman who needs to watch out for herself. Dusty is a hottie hero type with a big decision to make. Will lies and betrayal tear this potential relationship apart? There is a lot going on in this story, and keeping up with everything was difficult at times. Overall, it's an average suspenseful story but not remarkable.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a decent undercover romance with a spunky heroine determined to save innocent people and finding her way back to her son. The hero is a hot, undercover cowboy who becomes protective and attracted to Dusty but the secrets between makes it hard to trust each other. Action packed and hot.

Summary from Goodreads:

"Gracie Parish knows the true cost of trust. Rescued as a child by the infamous Parish family, she became a member of their covert sisterhood of vigilantes. Gracie saw her most precious relationships destroyed by secrecy. She learned long ago to protect her heart as well as her family's secrets.

Special Agent Leif "Dusty" McAllister will do anything to uncover the truth about the Parish family's covert operations. Dusty knows Gracie is his ticket in. He'll use everything he's got—fair, unfair, and just plain wrong—to break through her defenses. But the more he gets to know Gracie and her family's mission, the harder he starts to fall. Neither one is sure they'll get out of this with their lives—or their hearts—intact."

My Thoughts:

This is the kind of romantic suspense read that I could not help but enjoy! It was fast paced and unexpected throughout the entire book which I couldn't help but love! This is actually the second book in the series but I decided to start with it first (and now will soon be going back to the first book to catch up on what I've missed). One of the main things that made this book stand out for me was Gracie's family and the things that she has given up to protect her family. I don't want to spoil anything for readers so I'll just leave it at that. As the book goes along, we get to see that she is struggling with the things she has given up and is wanting to make changes to her life. At the same time, she is dealing with Dusty's arrival back into her life after other certain events. Grace knows that Dusty is investigating her family for the FBI but she just can't seem to keep away from him herself. The chemistry between these two is definitely hot! Before I go any further, I have to tell you my one small gripe with this book. It starts off when these two first meet and there was such a huge case of insta-lust that I was immediately thrown off especially with the dangerous situation that they were in. I'm only telling you this because I think that there are other readers like myself that aren't quite as huge fans of insta-love or lust and might feel similarly. I'm super glad that those opening scenes didn't stop me from continuing because the rest of the book wasn't like that at all. Yes, they are still attracted to each other from the beginning but they both understand why a relationship between the two of them is a bad idea and probably wouldn't work. Gracie fights her attraction to Dusty which just made the moments when they finally came together (not a spoiler - this IS a romance) that much sweeter. I actually really adored both of their characters so I was rooting for them to find their happy ever after. The suspense portion was very well done and was why I just couldn't seem to set this book down! The way this book ended left me very curious to see what will happen next in book three. To make the wait seem shorter though, I definitely plan on going back to the first book I Am Justice!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and flew through the pages of it! One of the things that I'm most excited about with reading more books in this series is learning more about Gracie's family. They have me so intrigued so I can't wait to read more about them all. This book was also another really great reminder of why I enjoy romantic suspense so much! There is just something about a book with a romance and a mystery mixed together that I can't get enough of! It's like the best of both worlds when it is done right and this book definitely was! I would recommend this book to readers of romance and romantic suspense easily! You definitely don't have to read this series in order (I didn't). I didn't feel like I was missing out whatsoever. That being said, this book and series has me wanting to go back to that first book which should tell you all that you need to know!

Bottom Line: A romantic suspense that reminded me exactly why I love this genre so much!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book tour. Honest thoughts are my own.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Mystery, Romance

Gracie is trying to recover from a bad op in Mexico. The family member that was lost is a hole in her heart. But things need to get back to normal and after her mistake, she knows that she has to make up for what she did.

Dusty is still trying to figure out how to get to the mastermind behind Gracie's family of vigilantes. He knows that there is more to it but getting an invite into the inner circle is proving harder than he anticipated.

This is not as clear cut as the previous book. I found myself sometimes wondering where the characters were going. There was a lot to take in during this story and it wasn't always very clear.

I did like that there was a lot of mystery within the story, as well as the slow build of a relationship between the two main characters. Dusty had to work for it and Gracie had to learn to trust herself and those around her.

The next book is going to be even better with the answers coming. I am looking forward to seeing it pan out.

Potential Triggers: Blackmail, Murder


Sarah – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

In the best possible way, this strange series gets even more odd with this second book. Gracie is another of the children adopted by Mukta Parish and trained to be a vigilante warrior fighting for oppressed women everywhere. Dusty is an FBI agent sent undercover to investigate the illegal aspects of Mukta’s vigilante empire. It’s a complicated relationship from the start and it’s further complicated when neither Gracie or Dusty’s identities are quite what they seem – and when both of them work with shades of grey rather than black and white.

While Gracie and Dusty both try to unravel the layers of her identity, someone who knows more about Gracie’s identity than she does herself is trying to kill her. The story is a game of cat and mouse with Gracie’s would be assassin employing cyber warfare alongside more conventional weapons. Dusty doesn’t know whether to protect Gracie or dig deeper into her family’s vigilante activity. I like the complexity of the storyline (though it is very complex and I found myself going back and re-reading passages to make sense of some of the plot twists) and I enjoyed the blurry morality surrounding Gracie’s family.

I’m still not sure I ever fully invested in the romance aspect of this story. As readers, we know Dusty is investigating Gracie and using her to get to her family from the start. Gracie knows this pretty quickly, but it isn’t easy to like or trust Dusty for most of the story. I liked the sexual chemistry between Dusty and Gracie but I’m not sure I completely bought into the romance or relationship.

After this second book, my reaction to the series is just as muddled as it was before. The morality in this book is strange. I agree with many of Mukta’s aims and principles, but I struggle with the idea of adopting and grooming an army of warrior women prepared to stop the exploitation of other women. It’s a violent solution to a violent problem and it doesn’t sit easily with me. I’ve always enjoyed living in more socialist societies and these books pose politically difficult ideas for me. The exploitation of women is an important leftist cause, but Mukta Parish’s solution is a uniquely violent, far-right American solution. I’m glad that both Gracie and Dusty wrestle with the complexity of these issues more than the characters in the first book did but I’m still not sure I quite understand where this series is going.

Black Ops Confidential #2, this was so worth waiting a year for especially since the next one comes out next month (11-26-19). I really enjoyed this, it was non stop action packed romance. There is quite a bit that goes on but it all comes together in the end. Third person POV that jumps from certain people. You don't need to read the first one to be able to follow this one but it might help just to get the established characters down and the whole idea of the Family's true business.

When Gracie was younger she fell in love and had a baby but she believed Momma, the woman who adopted her when she was born, forced her to make the decision between her child and the Family. Grace has always resented that so she wrote a letter. After the events of the last book Gracie distanced herself from her family concentrating on her night club, Club When?, and keeping and keeping an eye on her, now, teenage son from, not so, afar.

SA Leif MacAllister, aka Dusty, has been trying to get inside the Parish Family for a while his first attempt didn't pan out but iti did introduce him to Gracie Parish. The only reason the FBI has any idea as to the Parish Family's true action is a letter written years ago. Using his attraction to Gracie as his new in now seems wrong, especially since the information his SAC is giving him doesn't sit right with him.

It isn't until after Gracie's biological father puts in his bid to run for president do the first assassination attempts on Gracie's life happen. Gracie is determined to get down to the bottom of it whether it truly is her father's doing or someone else entirely and the timing is just a coincidence. Someone is out to get Gracie and Dusty will stop at nothing to protect her even if that means turning against the FBI to do so.

Overall, I loved this book. I enjoyed the writing, the plot I'm not usually one for political type drama in my books but this was so good. I love the characters, Grace and Dusty of hot together the sexual attraction is undeniable for them even when she thinks she can't trust him she's still hot for him. Off topic this is one of three books I have read in the last three weeks where a red headed woman falls for a guy with a southern accent. I had no problem picturing Dusty as a buff Timothy Olyphant-ish type with a Kentucky accent. The book did leave with one heck of a tease, not a cliffhanger per say because everything with Grace and Dusty was settled this was a giant tease about The Cost of Honor.

The Price of Grace is the second book in a series that although it can be read as a stand alone it has a lot of overarching plots connected to the first book that its best to read this series in chronological order. But the series itself is really great to read especially if you have a lot of anger about societal issues with regards to women and children being abused. This is one vigilante family you really want on your side. There is a lot of violence and sex but there is a strong plot and story as well. The Parish Family will definitely entice you to the vigilante side quite well and its not just violent revenge themes the female characters are smart and they can definitely hold their own in any given situation. The men besides them are great support for them. The romance between Grace and Dusty are more lighthearted in contrast to the heavy and dark themes of the series but it still is a great read.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.)

4.25 stars

Gracie Parrish is a computer expert, bar owner, & member of a secret vigilante group comprised mostly of women who target those who target the vulnerable. In a moment of doubt months earlier, she sent an anonymous email to the FBI telling them part of her story—how she came to be part of the group and her less-than-fond feelings about it at that moment, & it brought FBI agent Leif “Dusty” McAllister running to investigate.

McAllister has his own unconventional upbringing. The son of a faith healer, Dusty’s heavily suspicious of the leader of the vigilante group (and Gracie’s adopted mother), a woman named Momma. He wants to rescue the anonymous writer of the email & the other kids who’ve been adopted by Momma and deployed to do her dirty work.

Making the FBI investigation into Momma more complicated is the fact that that’s not the only danger Gracie faces: family secrets are popping up like whack a mole & someone tries to kill her. That’s not to mention what starts happening to her own son…

Maybe The Price of Grace gets complicated at times—with a lot of different threads to follow, possibilities mentioned, moments of the past explored—but I was able to keep up. Still, I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the series before this one because it would likely make The Price of Grace even easier to follow.

What’s abundantly clear throughout the book is the sizzling chemistry between Gracie & Dusty. But even as electrical as their attraction for one another is, it’s obvious to both leads that they’re lying to the other. That makes their mutual deception easier to bear & more touching when they finally start building trust with each other. Dusty’s point of view is particularly lovely throughout The Price of Grace; he’s open about how he feels about Grace, & his reactions to her presence, how she looks, how she is, are sometimes tender/sometimes sexy/sometimes amusing.

With riveting action scenes, steamy sex, & a sweet and satisfying conclusion, The Price of Grace is a high-stakes, high-octane, sensual ride, and I’m a big fan.

The Price of Grace was a unique romantic suspense with tough characters. This is the second book in Black Ops Confidential series from Diana Munoz Stewart.

The story follows vigilante, Gracie Parish. She didn't grow up in with the best childhood memories but was taken in by the infamous Parish family. She was trained with others to become part of a vigilante sisterhood. No one must know about this so keeping this a secret is key.

Special Agent Leif "Dusty" McAllister is determined to be the person to figure out more about this 'society' so he needs to find a way to infiltrate it from the inside. Gracie is his target. He weaves his way into her life and realizes that the Parish family isn't as bad as they are portrayed to be.

Dusty has to figure out if his end game is worth the heartbreak. It's a thrilling journey and a thrilling read. I did feel that the story was so jam-packed with events and information that it made it hard to follow at times. I wish the story would have stayed concise but I feel like the plot as a whole kept me engaged enough to enjoy the book.

Overall, I give The Price of Grace 3 stars. It was a good romantic suspense with twists and turns that were unexpected. I liked the romantic aspect and characters the most.

THE PRICE OF GRACE is the second story in the intense Romantic Suspense series, Black Ops Confidential by Diana Munoz Stewart. There are so many layers, twists, and turns to Gracie’s and Dusty’s story that both provide a tense, fast-paced story, but also that the reader needs to be paying attention as things might fly past without giving them the attention due. (and that is as close as I’m going to come to a spoiler).

There is a lot going on in THE PRICE OF GRACE. I enjoyed the story very much. We get some answers yet there is plenty left to discover in the upcoming THE COST OF HONOR story. I liked Gracie, she’s torn between the family “business” side of her life and simply wanting to be just Gracie at other times. Dusty could be a way to have both – if she could truly trust him, and she’s not certain that’s possible. There are so many shades of grey in this story, things that are neither right nor wrong but simply are a reality for these characters.

An intense, action-filled Romantic Suspense this story will grab your attention and keep you flipping pages. If you like your romance mixed up with suspense then this is a story for you. I’d not hesitate to recommend THE PRICE OF GRACE.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This was a fast paced action packed romantic thriller. Diane Munoz Stewart has spun a tale that was equal parts sizzle and suspense. Gracie was living a hard childhood until she was taken in by the Parish family. A family of badass vigilante assassin sisters. The family is full of secrets and Gracie knows it is her duty to hold onto them. Then Dusty enters the picture and he is determined to get to the bottom of this family’s secrets and missions. It isn’t long though before Dusty is caught up and won over by the family and even more by Gracie. There was a lot going on in this book and sometimes it over shadowed the story. I enjoyed the romance but the frantic pacing sometimes left me a bit frazzled. These were great characters with some great chemistry and an interestingly thrilling plot. It was also the second book in the series and there is a continuous story thread (even though these can be read as standalone’s) and I think that kind of cluttered this one up because they will be tying it all together in the next book. Absolutely liked this one enough to be eagerly anticipating the next one in the series.

This book in three emojis: 🔥 💥 💏

First of all, I absolutely adore this series and that's weird for me because I didn't think I would. It's about the daughters in a family of vigilantes and that's not usually my thing. But mix in some sad backstories and some good ol' fashion sexiness and you've got me hooked.

I'd sort of forgotten what happened in the first book in the series, I Am Justice, but Diana Munoz Stewart does a great job of refreshing the memories of those that read the first book while also explaining things for those that would prefer to read this one as a standalone.

I loved the love story between Gracie and Dusty and I have to admit his Southern charm totally did it for me. I also love the intrigue of who wanted Gracie dead and her back story as well. Once again another Black Ops Confidential book had me totally hooked till the very end!

If you're into danger and sex, this is totally read for you!

The Price of Grace is the second book in the Black Ops Confidential series. This is Gracie and Dusty's story. I have to say that I did enjoy this one a bit more than the first book. I liked Gracie and Dusty together. Their relationship was more believable. The book has a lot packed into it and is full of action. I'm not sure if I would say that this could be read as a stand alone. It has been over a year since I read the first book and it took me a while to reorient myself to the series. I would think that someone coming into this book first might be a bit lost. So I recommend reading I am Justice first. I look forward to reading the next one.

The story has just too much going on at once and feel as if the information is being thrown at readers. The book lacked forces needed for this type of genre.
The romance is hot and right away which takes over most of the book leaving the confusing story behind.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Diana Munoz Stewart The Price of Grace.

Big handsome hero ,beautiful,feisty heroine and a reasonable story..Add in some politics and jealous siblings and you're there.

She is a member of the infamous Parrish maybe not by birth but by upbringing and she is struggling with it. She owns a club but her on the side activity is to rescue abused woman and exact revenge on their behalf. She is trying to distance herself from he family as she just wants to be Gracie for a while not just a member of the Parrish family but can you ever walk away from family Then she meets FBI agent Dusty he is investigating her family and has she looks at them through his eyes she has to reevaluate how she feels about them and realise that things are not always cut and dried and there isn't always a right and a wrong but plenty of shades of grey in between

This is the second book in the series . I liked it as much as the first . I like that the central characters are women . Grace is torn between what her family does and what she believes is right. In the course of this story both her and Dusty come to the realization that it is not black and white.
The romance is instant and hot . It also keeps the story moving .

Such an amazing book. I loved book one so I knew book two was going to be amazing. This book was action packed from the first page. I'm excited to read more in this series