4.5 stars!

Book #3 in the Deep Ops series, I was so excited to delve back into this world! Featuring a ragtag team of operatives ‘sort-of’ working under the arm of the US Government, they are a fantastic bunch – skilled, badass and uniquely quirky in so many ways. The biggest badass of them all, Clarence Wolfe and investigative journalist, Dana have been dancing around each other over the last couple of books, and OMG, I loved seeing them finally come together!

You could read this book as a standalone, but the character crossover is pretty significant, so reading the previous books will give you a better understanding of each of them and how they all fit together.

Wolfe is the big, broody, ex-SEAL with a head injury, a taste for sugary lattes with whipped cream and sprinkles, and he carries a kitten around in his pocket. And while he’s devoted to his team, he’s also got his own mission - he’s out for vengeance, knowing that it could ultimately cost him everything. And it’s because of that, that he keeps himself mostly withdrawn from others.

Dana is a brave and spunky freelance journalist who has been working with the Deep Ops team for a while now. She has her own mission of sorts – to find out what happened to her best friend and fellow journalist who disappeared while undertaking an investigation. Following her friend’s footsteps leads her to a collision course with Wolfe, when it turns out that they are investigating the same person.

Their collision while undercover in the middle of a sex club, of all places, is a surprise to both of them, but when they start getting shot at, it brings them together like never before. With Dana in danger, Wolfe promptly moves her into his home (always a fun situation, heehee), and the two of them begin working together to hunt down the bad guys.

“I’m not sure I should stay with you.”
…
“I’d rather have blue balls than you dead, sweetheart. Get in the truck.”
Her face flushed. “Wofe. Geez. You’re not supposed to say everything that pops into your head.”
He reached for her arm, assisting her into the truck. “Hazard of a brain injury, I guess.”

Between Wolfe’s no-nonsense snark, Dana’s stubborn feistiness and the raging attraction blazing between the two of them, it’s a recipe for awesome, and we get an intense, exciting, banter and chemistry-filled story as Wolfe tries his best to keep his distance, and Dana refuses to let him.

“I want you, and you want me, and the way we’re going, one of us will probably be shot within the week. So, why not?”

It’s so much fun, and I think I actually cheered when Wolfe finally gave in and let Dana in. It’s passionate and intense, but there’s an element of sweetness to them which is gorgeous to see. Wolfe may be a mostly solitary man, but he has a huge heart and he cares deeply, and we get to see that over and over again in the way he treats his teammates (and his kitten), and as he goes all out to protect Dana.

Wolfe has always kept to himself, but Dana brings him out of his shell, not only with her, but with the rest of the Deep Ops team who are on board to help their friend. My heart ached for all that he’d been through and the impact it had on him and the way he lives his life, but it made it all the more beautiful as we got to see him finally fall in love.

"With her, and only with her, he wished he could be different from the man he’d become."

The love story unfolds right alongside Wolfe and Dana’s investigation. There is mystery, action and thrills as the story plays out, and I was kept guessing right up until the end how it was all going to end. The entire team is there to help, as well as a couple of new, and very welcome, additions, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the ride.

A fantastic addition to the series, I’m so excited for more.

4.5 stars!

Broken is the third book in Rebecca Zanetti’s Deep Ops Series. This is a romantic suspense novel with a fantastic storyline, great characters and a happily ever after.

Former Navy SEAL Clarence Wolfe has been drawn to reporter Dana Mulberry from the moment he met her and threw her umbrella into the river.  But his mission to take down an enemy from his past means he has to keeps his distance from everyone around him. Dana is on a mission to uncover the reason behind the death of a fellow journalist which leads her to a sex club where she runs into Wolfe. Coincidence or fate throws Wolfe and Dana together, and they soon discover that their missions are actually linked together.  Revenge, danger and death surround them, but will their growing feelings for each other and help from the Deep Ops team be enough to ensure they survive the upcoming battle? Read it and find out!

All the books in this series contain a happily ever after and can be read as a standalone, however, reading it in order will give you a better appreciation for the characters and the series itself.  Zanetti does a fantastic job creating this world of suspense and intrigue, and each of her stories provides readers with glimpses of the characters introduced in the previous stories within the series. 

I can’t wait to read her next story!!! I’m looking forward to reading Angus and Nari’s story in Driven, the next book in the Deeps Ops Series.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced readers copy.

I cannot tell you how much I FREAKING LUUUURRRVVVEEDDD THIS STORY! I fell in love with Wolfe from the very first day and while everyone thought he was crazy and may have needed being put down, I cheered for this deeply scarred man. Dana was the perfect mate for him. A journalist who can't seem to stop getting into trouble and Wolfe, our hero who saves her every single time?  Just perfect! Wolfe doesn't believe he will survive because he needs to avenge his fallen team and therefore doesn't want to make any commitments to Dana.  Well, Dana had other plans for him, lol. Filled with all of our Deep Ops motley crew, make for an action pack ride! My heart almost broke for Roscoe, thank God he pulled through. Some old and new characters were introduced, Selena and Jethtro and Frost is back too...I wonder who is going to be with whom, lol. 5 STUPENDOUS, AWESOME, TERRIFIC AND FANTABULOUS STARS🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

P.S. I cannot wait for the next book, Force and Nari? Now that is going to be something extraordinary 😍 😍😍😍


****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley*****

Broken by Rebecca Zanetti is  the third book in Deep Ops. (although there are two novellas in there too)  It is clear from the beginning of the book that there are prior books, but I didn’t find it hard to jump it.  Wolfe is a man who is not only working on the cases given to him, but he is also working on a case from his time in Afghanistan.  He is determined to find the one man that seemed to set up his team for death.  He knows who and why, but he does not know where this person is and how he is going to find him.  

Dana Mulberry is a reporter who is skilled at looking for people and finding the story. She has been looking for her missing friend. It is clear she is known to the people of Deep Ops and while it is not clear how, there is a level of trust. 

Somehow Wolfe and Dana end up looking for their suspects at the same party and he shows up dead while they are both there.  That is when they decide to leave quickly and they are chased and shot at.  Now Wolfe needs to protect Dana but he isn’t sure if it is her case or his case.  Dana is not a shrinking violet and does not want to be “protected.”  I love the back and forth between Wolfe and Dana fighting over who needs to protect who.  

This is the first book I read in this series (Deep Ops) and I loved it.  I have added the prior books to my TBR list.  I liked the characters and the plot line.  I found the “oddness” of the Deep Ops fun to read about. The dog is perhaps the most interesting character.  The book is definitely a thriller with the seriously creepy psychopath.  Broken by Rebecca Zanetti is a good read.

4.5 stars
Clarence Wolfe is a loner, but loyal to his black ops team. He has lost most everyone important to him including the loss of a team in the past, so he does not take them for granted. He is burly, tough, and intense, but enjoys lattes with sprinkles and is always willing to share. But he is a bitter man still bent on revenge for his fallen comrades and does not want to ask for back up and risk any of his new friends.

Dana Mulberry is a reporter and has been mixed up in some of their missions. And now she is on a quest of her own to find out who killed one of her friends. She is smart, brave, and sometimes impulsive. Wolfe has already clearly friend-zoned her. But now they find themselves undercover in the same place, at the same time, and someone is after one or both of them. She seems to find herself in dangerous situations, so Wolfe insists he needs to watch out for her.

Sexual tension and attraction, two missions, and a need to keep each other safe complicate matters. Wolfe does not think he has anything good to give her except protection and does not want distractions. And she wants answers for her own case and also still wants more from him. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they can be good together when he lets his guard down. He trusts her more than most, but that also riles up his protective instincts and he can only be pushed so far.

As the story progresses they keep tying more and more things together and eventually he is going to need more back up than just Dana. But Wolfe is stubborn, loyal, and very protective. He is not afraid to sacrifice himself for others or for revenge. Dana is equally as strong-willed and is determined that there is a way for them all to come out of this situation alive and maybe hope for a real chance with Wolfe. But there is an enemy that will stop at nothing to win.

This is a fast-moving, action-packed romantic suspense story but it also has humor, camaraderie, and passion. I will admit I own the other books in this series and planned on binge reading them before this, but ran out of time. But I was able to read it as a stand-alone and understand what was going on. I really liked Wolfe and Dana, and the whole quirky and intense team. Even the dog and cat had personalities. They all have their skills and are loyal and willing to jump in when needed. I am looking forward to Angus Force's book next.

This series is turning out to be better than i expected. The latest installment is about Clarence Wolfe and Reporter Dana Mulberry tracking down how her fellow reported was murdered. Great flow and world building, I still think the dog is the best character of them all though.:)

Dana and Wolfe end up at the same BDSM club on the same night both looking for different people because of their jobs. Wolfe was dressed as a Dom while Dana was dressed as a sub and to protect Dana, Wolfe slapped some pink cuffs on her so other Doms wouldn't mess with her. But she was just about to throw a fit when the men they were there to find ended up dead. 

Wolfe makes her come back to his place to keep her safe but she's a reporter on a story and staying there under his protection doesn't sit well with her. Once they find themselves in danger again and it looks like not only are bad guys after him but they're after her too, she realizes that she needs to stay with him and his team to stay safe. But staying safe is hard to do when there's more than one bad guy after them. It seemed like no matter where they went, someone was there to try and kill them. Plus there's one guy that Wolfe is talking to and taunting to come and fight him. That guy ends up being a bigger player than he thought he would be in the danger they've been facing but he's determined to keep Dana safe. 

Wolfe never wanted to fall for her and doesn't seem to think he's worthy of her or his life is too dangerous to have someone like her in it but they do fall for each other and I'm glad because he's actually a really nice guy underneath it all. 

Once Dana finds out what happened to her friend and Wolfe finally gets the fight that he has wanted with his enemy, the danger picks up and they find themselves and parts of his team in some seriously dangerous situations. The action was great, the romance was wonderful and now I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ve really wanted the author to write a story for Wolfe and I’m so happy that we finally get to know so much more about him ! Wolfe is on a mission all of his own and he is determined to save his team from his violent past. Tracking down the man who betrayed both Wolfe and his fallen comrades though takes him further towards a woman he might want but knows for her own safety he can never have !
Dana is determined to find out what has happened to a fellow journalist and her latest lead takes her to a rather salacious and very private party . Dana might have felt uncomfortable in her sexy get up but that’s nothing compared to how she feels when she realises that Wolfe is a sexy as anything, leather clad Dom ! They quickly realise that they are both hunting the same man and together become entangled in an explosive game that will challenge Wolfe to not just confront his past but perhaps look forward finally to his future.
I really like Wolfe but honestly think he should have been a little less secretive and a whole lot more honest with his fellow operatives. Perhaps he’s a little too ready to sacrifice himself but nevertheless this larger than life protective man was such fun to read about. 
Dana is a light touch in this story as she’s not particularly kick ass or anything but doggedly determined and the author uses both her and indeed her family to bring warmth and humour into this story. I think that’s why this series is one I enjoy so much because along with the danger, suspense and steamy romance there’s always absolutely crazy bouts of things to make the reader smile. Wolfe has always stood out with his adorable kitten but there’s even an alcoholic dog and in this story things get very messy indeed. These books are best read in order and always keep me happily turning the pages.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Broken by Rebecca Zanetti 
3rd book in the Deep Ops series. Romantic suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone. But don’t miss the full series. 

Intense and captivating. Gripping and suspenseful. Sexy hot and emotionally satisfying. An amazing read with a mischievous dog that will cause laughter and gasps. 
This author writes great depth into the characters and storylines. 
The hero is strong and motivated with a soft heart for the heroine. Sigh.
I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Excerpt:
“It’s not the nineteen hundreds.” 
   One of his dark eyebrows rose. “Dana, I’m the muscle for the Deep Ops Unit because I’m good at it. It’s my job to protect and defend and diffuse. You’re nuts if you think I wouldn’t protect my woman with everything I have, especially my life.” 
   His woman. She shook her head, even though her heart rate seemed to be perking up considerably, and not from irritation. “I think you’re behind the times here.” 
   “Maybe,” he allowed. “But it’s a dangerous world, and you and I know that better than most. In this world, we give ourselves to the people we care about, and with that comes responsibilities. I’m all for independence, equal pay, and all of that, but a man’s job is to protect women and children, and that reality transcends any time.” Kat took that moment to jump from the back seat and land on Wolfe’s shoulder. “Animals and the elderly should be protected, too,” Wolfe added, opening his door and somehow jumping out without dislodging the kitten. 
   “How does somebody argue with that?” she muttered as she exited the truck without waiting for him to open her door. 
   He shrugged. “Why would you argue? However, if you someday end up with a guy who doesn’t agree with that sentiment, you’ve ended up with the wrong guy.” 
   “Like you care who I end up with,” she said, stepping lightly over a puddle.
   “Well, I’d hate to have to kill him for not protecting you.” Wolfe patted the kitten, slowing his stride to match Dana’s. It was sometimes difficult to tell if Wolfe was joking or not. 
   “Discussions like these throw me off kilter,” she said. 
  Excerpt from Broken by Rebecca Zanetti 

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

I love Rebecca's work but this is the first book in this series I've read. I loved it. Wolfe and Dana were great characters and I loved them together. I'll definitely be reading more in this series now.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2020/05/21/broken-by-rebecca-zanetti/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
&nbsp;

<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I'm enjoying the romantic suspense in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/227577-deep-ops" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Deep Ops series</strong></em></a>. There is a new couple in each story. The characters and situation is rather over the top, not quite realistic or believable. Although the humor is a bit ridiculous with quirky characters, the violence is gritty. There's a dog and a cat on the team.

Since the team is being built, and their connections developed, I would read these books in order.  Each book has a new couple, with someone always in real danger.  They are all wounded by bullets, knives, burns, bruises, and the like in each book. I love the team bonding and how they gradually learn to work more together, with the group supporting whoever is in trouble.

<strong>Broken</strong> is the story of Wolfe and Dana.  We know them from the previous books and that they are attracted to each other.  Dana is a journalist and one of her friends, also a journalist,  has gone missing. She gets a lead on someone who might know where she is and goes "undercover" at a sex party to talk to him. Wolfe is there on a lead for his case.  The action and danger, as well as the sexual tension, take off.

These two aren't stupid, but they are so determined to handle everything themselves, without confiding in anyone, especially each other. I understand <strong>why</strong> they think they need to do it this way but it is wrong and STUPID, not to mention dangerous.

Luckily, as they become more personally involved, they share a bit more with each other. Dana breaks first on wanting the whole team involved because she knows they deserve to be aware of the danger, and she wants them to have Wolfe's back.  She still is a bit TSTL  and Wolfe is a little too caveman for me.

They are perfect for this unusual team, though. All of them are so messed up, one can't help caring for them. I enjoyed meeting Dana's family; they were awesome.  I can't wait to see where things go next as there are some new team members, and a long time case Force has been working.  <strong>Driven</strong> is coming next January, and finally, we will get to know Angus Force better.

Wolfe and Dana have been circling around each other since the beginning of the series. I normally don't like books with a journalist as many become TSTL to get their story. Dana has never been like that and always a great unofficial addition to the team (now official!). Not much phases her which is surprising when everyone seems to be trying to kill her.

For this book both are working on personal cases that have now crossed and have them working together. Dana is investigating what happened to her missing friend and the story she was working on. Wolfe is confronting a betrayal from a teammate during his military days.

I love the amount of action that kept the book moving. Given that, I was surprised how much had already happened, thought it was wrapping up, and then realizing I was only at 47%. Maybe it's stretched out too much? A few scenes would cut down it dragging out?

Regardless, it continued to draw me in with the action and bonding of old and new characters. Serenea (cryptologist) and Jethro (former MIC6 and now a professor) have joined to help. It's been awhile since I read the last book and don't remember her, but Agent Millicent Frost (their version of James Bond's Q) is there with her tech and gadgets. All are great additions to the misfits. I loved that Pippa has several scenes! We also meet Dana's three sisters. Her family was great and I'd love to see a series with them.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. If you haven't read the other stories in the series I don't think you'll understand or get the most out of some of the background. By the end it's set up the long awaited Angus and Nari's book.

Loved Wolfe and Dana so hard❤️

I have been waiting for Wolfe’s book and let me tell you I did not want to put it down❣️It was full of suspenseful mystery, steamy times, action and some HILARIOUS Roscoe moments🤪 I also loved the new “consultants” and I’m hoping we get some more Deep Ops stories with their HEAs🤩 I’m especially looking forward to reading Force’s story next as I feel it’s going to a bone-chiller🥶 

I received an advanced copy via Netgalley, also a thank you to the publisher and author, and voluntarily leave my honest review😍

”I’m not gonna let anybody hurt you, and that’s all I have to give.”
.
If you enjoy:
•Romance Suspense
•Interwoven Series
•Special Ops Hero
•Action packed
•Multiple, third person POV
Then this may be the one for you!
.
Wolfe is a former military, deep ops agent. Dana is an investigative reporter. There paths cross again when they appear to be investigating the same person, but for different reasons. With her life in danger, he assumes a protective role, determined to keep her safe. But the attraction is too much to deny. And that could be what keeps her in even more danger.
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While I have read many of this authors books, this is my first full read of this series (I have read Pivot- the anthology). And I believe this to be why I had trouble connecting. The storyline seems to pick up from the previous books, so I felt like I was missing out on some information. It wasn’t hard to pick up on the story after a bit but I still wished I had read the previous books to have more background information going in.
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The story started off slow for me. But got better as it progressed. The action, dialogue and chemistry picks up as you go. I adored the push pull relationship Wolfe and Dana had. And the way in which Dana got to him like no one else could. There was plenty of action in this one. Overall, a good read. Definitely look forward to reading more by this author. 
.
Thank you to the author, Zebra Books and NetGalley for this ARC for my honest review.

I love Rebecca Zanetti but hadn't previously read any of the Deep Ops books so I was very excited to pick this one up. To sum it all up, I simply loved it!

Broken is fast-paced and action-packed right from the beginning. Within the first few pages, there is a dead person-of-interest to Wolfe and Dana's cases and throughout the rest of the story, these characters deal with car chases, shooters and so much more. This story was full of mystery and intrigue and I couldn't get enough!

I adored meeting Wolfe and Dana. Wolfe is the strong, silent type who likes to keep his feelings close to the vest until he just can't any longer. Then all bets are off and Dana will have to keep her wits about her if she wants to resist his charm. And that man is charming! Dana was also a great leading lady. She's steadfast and determined, and the perfect match for Wolfe. I enjoyed watching these two characters circle each other and fall in love immensely!

While I definitely think this story could be read as a standalone, I think it would probably be a better reading experience to read the series in order. This is simply because the story really is very fast-paced and the beginning almost felt like the middle for me when I realised the two main characters already had a history from the previous stories that I didn't know about. It didn't negatively impact my feelings towards this story but I did stop and think "I may need to pick up the previous books and then do a reread of this one again after"; which is fine by me because I'm keen to go back and visit the other characters in more depth too - especially Mal.

Overall, I really loved this story and recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense (particularly with heroes that have a military background) and to fans of Katie Ruggle and Julie Garwood. Zanetti is a fantastic writer and creates a compelling story that'll leave you on the edge of your seat.

Anyone who has been reading this series as been waiting for Clarence Wolfe's story and believe me now that we finally have it you won;t be disappointed He is the muscle of the deeps op team a team that is compromised of members that have all failed in some way In Wolfe's case he feels responsible for the death of his entire seal team and he is determined to get revenge for them.  Reporter Dana Mulberry is also on a revenge trip though hers is for a fellow reporter who was killed The trials lead both of them to the same sex club now they will have to work together if they don't want to blow one another's covers. The only problem is that they are growing to like one another and their attraction to one another is growing The task is also becoming more dangerous as they realise it goes much deeper into the lives of some very important people Can they survive get justice and maybe have a future together You will have to read to see

Once again Rebecca has written a tight romantic suspense that has you engaged from the first page and she never ever lets the pressure down until you turn that last page satisfied but exhausted from the thrill ride you have been on

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.5 Hearts It’s Rebecca Zanetti of course the book was great! Zanetti is easily one of my favorite authors. She has written all genres except historical (I believe) and has never once disappointed me. And this one is no exception. I have been waiting for Wolfe’s story and it was worth the wait. 

Wolfe is the epitome of a Gemini. Wolfe can be deadly and focused. He can kill you practically with a look and then get a super sweet latte with whipped cream. He would do anything for his friends and those he cares about but if that means burying a body he will bring the shovel. Oh how I want a Wolfe of my own!

But in this care he has found Dana. Dana is a reporter determined to bring to justice the person who killed her friend. And when Dana and Wolfe combine forces they are unstoppable. And quite a story!

I loved the background characters of this story. Wolfe’s “family” of guys is who he cares about most and they care for him as much as he loves them. 

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve loved every one of the books in this series, but I’ve been dying for Wolfe’s story and I was not disappointed! 

Wolfe is an interesting character, he’s added a lot of humor to the previous books with his quirky ways and his mysterious past.  Although he’s the muscle behind the team, the way he thinks has often led me to think of him as almost innocent.  He’s got such a pure heart when it comes to those he loves.  And he’s fiercely protective of them as well, especially Dana.  

I wasn’t sure if I’d like Dana or not but I should have known better.  Ms. Zanetti did an incredible job of creating a heroine that could stand up to an alpha hero who wanted to control her, all while giving her the type of personality that made me want to be her friend.  

This book sizzles with adventure, danger, humor and passion.  Broken starts off fast and never slows down.  With all the other wild Deep Ops characters to help this couple along the way, this made for a great escape from all the things that were currently weighing me down.

My favorite of the Deep Ops series.  I was hooked from the start and read way past my bedtime because I had to see how it ended.  Wolfe has intrigued me from his first introduction and I couldn’t wait for his story.  

But Rebecca Zanetti totally made the wait worth it.  Loved learning about Wolfe’s past and how that impacted his present.   He and Dana had sparks from the start but they combusted in Broken.  They just fit together in this imperfect manner.  And just when I think I couldn’t love Roscoe anymore-he stepped up in a big way. Can’t wait for another visit with the Broken Ops family.

Wolfe and Dana are both looking for a villain who killed someone they loved.  In Wolfe's case, he's a retired SEAL who lost his unit to a land mine; in Dana's it was a fellow journalist.  Their paths cross, they join forces, and action and romance both ensue.  The charm of this novel (as with the earlier ones) is in the characters.  Wolfe has issues, sure, and he's a tough guy but he takes care of his friends up to an including buying them frothy coffee drinks.  Dana might talk tough but she's also got a soft heart.  AND then there's Roscoe the dog and Kat the kitten.  This is as much a romance (and a fun one) as it is a thriller.  It's nicely plotted and written.  It may be the third in a series but it's perfectly fine as a standalone.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.  A very good read.