Heat Factor: They both definitely want it (a lot) but when they finally have time to hop in the shower we jump to the next scene.
Character Chemistry: They get over the past really quickly, but that’s because they’re soulmates, obviously
Plot: The cartel has issued a kill order on an innocent woman as a blood debt, and her ex (who has special skills, as one does) rushes back into her life to protect her
Overall: If you want to read an OTT action movie (or show) this is that

Juno Rushdan is very good at writing action. I started all “la la la” and then the next thing I knew my husband scared the crap out of me because I didn’t hear him walk into the room at all, I was so invested in reading. For me, she’s the kind of author who can get me so wrapped up in the story that I’m constantly going, “uh huh, uh huh, of course, WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN?!” I don’t have time to second guess if things make sense because I’m enthralled.

So the deal is Wendy has a hit put out on her because her brother (the hero of book 3 in this series), a US Marshal, seduced the cartel leader’s secret daughter and turned her against him. I did not read that book so I’m sure it’s all complicated. But the villain is a piece of work, let me tell you. Anyway, as everyone knows, family is important to organized criminals, so Don Emilio is going to retaliate against the US Marshal for stealing his secret daughter by killing Wendy. She has no idea, but her ex boyfriend/soulmate, Jagger, who went to jail for killing someone for her when they were in their early twenties, and who is now very shadily involved with the assassin branch of the cartel, learns of the hit and drops everything to rescue her. So then of course they both have a hit on them because betrayal equals death.

Everything is fast paced, which reels in the reader and keeps things intense and exciting.

So if you’re interested in a book where a guy gets shocked with a defibrillator while he’s alive and then gets up to fight the leader of a cartel right afterward because you really want to lean into the bonkers suspense, look no further.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Who is Wendy and where is she at? Why? Who is Jagger? How does or did she know him? Who is Tripp? He seems to be prett astute when it comes to Wendy. Wow, the things that I learned about Jagger floored me! How does he know Emilio? Who is Dutch? Why is Wendy being hunted? I could not believe when I learned Wendy made a call after promising not to. What happened because of that short call? Oh my, definitely some unexpected twists happened in this suspenseful romance.

Wendy and Jagger had a history that ended up with a dead person and Jagger being sent to jail. Its been ten years since then and imagine her surprise when he's there and now it appears her life is in danger. Jagger will do everything he can to protect Wendy and figure out why they are after her in the first place.

This was such a fun nonstop book and I loved it. There was so much going on from the moment this book started and if there wasn't action there was at simmering attraction that seemed to never have left the two. Both of them had a past and I was curious to see why things ended. Then theres this whole thing with Wendy wondering why she got a hit out on her when she seemed to be straight laced as it comes. I loved watching the adventure unfold and overall it was an enjoyable book.

My fellow reviewer Lynn Spencer has favourably reviewed a few of Juno Rushdan’s books here, and as I’m also a fan of romantic suspense, I was keen to try something of hers. I picked up Ms. Rushdan’s latest release Unsuspecting Target for review and enjoyed it; it’s a quick and easy read featuring likeable characters that packs a lot of action into a relatively small page-count. It’s the final book in her Hard Core Justice series, but it worked fine as a standalone; I haven’t read any of the earlier books and didn’t feel the lack – the author incorporates the necessary backstory skilfully and without lots of tiresome info-dumps.

The last person Wendy Haas expects to see at a high-profile New York gala to promote youth literacy is her former lover, Jagger Carr – especially as he’s ten years into serving a fifteen year prison sentence for murder. A decade earlier, she and Jagger had been very much in love and planning a future together, until one fateful night when saving her life had cost Jagger his freedom. Wendy has worked hard to rebuild her life and has made a successful career in PR; the last thing she needs is Jagger reappearing and ruining it all.

While he was in prison, Jagger became involved with the powerful Los Chacales cartel in order to survive, and after they broke him out three years back, he has risen to become one of the Brethren, the cartel’s unit of elite contract killers. He’s done whatever he’s had to do to survive, but when a hit is put out on Wendy Hass, he knows he’s got to save her at any cost – and that in doing so, he’s going up against the entire cartel and its leader, Emilio Vargas.

The first third of the book is non-stop action, after Jagger ‘interrupts’ one of the Brethren who has cornered Wendy, and the two of them hightail it out of the gala and start to make their way out of the city. It’s a breathlessly exciting sequence of high-octane chases and last-minute, daring escapes and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.

Once Wendy and Jagger have managed – temporarily – to elude their pursuers, they have a little time to try to work out why she’s been targeted (if you’ve read High Priority Asset, you’ll probably have an idea) and to decide on a plan of action. It also gives them the chance to talk about their shared past, to own to some long-held truths … and to realise that their intense connection has never waned. But with an implacable, seemingly unstoppable enemy intent on murder, it’s going to take an incredibly audacious plan if they’re going to live long enough to enjoy their second chance.

Having only 256 pages to tell a fairly complex story AND deliver a romantic HEA necessitates cutting a few corners, and here those corners are mostly to do with the romance. Because Wendy and Jagger were lovers before and have known each other for years, it’s possible to cut out the getting-to-know-you phase of the relationship, but second-chance romances generally need a getting-to-know-you NOW phase, and this is lacking. Wendy and Jagger learn some things about what happened in each other’s lives in the years they’ve been apart (and some of what Jagger had to do wasn’t pretty – but it’s okay because – as he hastens to assure Wendy – he only killed scum who deserved it) but other than that, they pretty much pick up their relationship where they left off.

The suspense plot fares much better; the action sequences are slick and well-written, and wouldn’t be out of place in an action movie, and there’s some really inventive problem solving going on. There are also a few eye-rolling moments of ‘too convenient’, where things fall into place just a bit too easily; but probably no more easily than you’ll find in the average film or TV show of this type.

With all that said, I’m putting Unsuspecting Target in the ‘win’ column, because I’ll certainly read this author’s work again. I do wish she’d had a few more pages to play with in order to more fully develop the romance, but on the whole, this is a fast-paced, entertaining way to pass a couple of hours.

Grade: B- / 3.5 stars

Needing a good romance with suspense this fit the need. Jagger and Wendy knew each other before they are brought together again under circumstances with drama. She is in the vision of a assassin so she needs someone to watch her back. Now they must work together but there is something else at work. The time has also brought a second chance of love if they can remain alive. This will have the pages turning in anticipation for the answers.

Good action-packed second chance romance. Ten years earlier, Wendy and Jagger were a couple until he killed a man saving her life, and the aftermath tore them apart. Jagger went to prison, and Wendy went on to become a well-known PR specialist. While attending a charity fundraiser, Wendy sees Jagger in the crowd and, as she attempts to avoid him, finds herself the target of an assassin. In a heart-pounding series of events, Jagger arrives in time to save her and whisk her away. But their troubles aren't over as he reveals that Wendy is the subject of a hit from a powerful cartel leader.

Jagger is an intriguing character. As the son of the cartel leader's lawyer, Jagger grew up familiar with the cartel but not part of it. He escaped to the military for a short time, but his father's death profoundly affected him. When Jagger went to prison, he had difficult choices to make. I ached for him as he explained those choices to Wendy and why he stayed away from her. But his feelings for her never died, nor had his need to protect her.

Heartbroken when Jagger went to prison and blamed her, Wendy concentrated on school and then her career. Smart and quick-thinking, she's a wiz at rehabbing people's images. She has some choice words for Jagger when she learns how long he's been out of prison and has not contacted her.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Jagger and Wendy. Thrown together under highly stressful conditions, it's no surprise that their emotions become equally volatile. Each of them must learn to trust the other as they work together to avoid their pursuers. Jagger's protectiveness sometimes runs up against Wendy's determination to be part of the solution. I liked seeing her stand up to him and his growing acceptance of her capabilities. The depth of their feelings for each other is evident, but Jagger's belief that he's not good enough for her creates an obstacle. I liked how Wendy overcame his objections and how Jagger felt hopeful for the first time in a very long time. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up.

The suspense of the story was fantastic and kept me glued to the pages far into the night. Multiple twists kept me guessing as to how Jagger and Wendy would free themselves of the threat against them. Each step they took had its dangers, and I was never sure how it would work out. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a surprise complication. The resolution was great and brought the series to a satisfying end.

The best part about Harlequin Intrigue books is that readers can pick them up and finish them in a few short days or hours. The story are fast pace, easy to follow and the characters have enough information to keep readers finishing the book and every once in a while a pops out and readers might find themselves looking for more from this author.
This author is almost there but the story as a few editing issues and possible redundant moments in the story.

The female lead is likeable and the story has a same old feel but the author added a little extra that will hook readers. The bad guys are really bad and the good guys walk the gray line.

Thank you to Harlequin Intrigue for a advance copy of Juno Rushdan Unsuspecting Target.

Wendy and Jagger were a couple ten years ago until Jagger killed a man protecting Wendy. Jagger tells her she’s the reason he is in jail and he never wants to see her again. Now Wendy has her own PR firm and is at an event when an assassin tries to kill her. Jagger saves her but he’s also one of the assassins sent after her. Jagger gets Wendy out and they have to run to keep her safe. A drug cartel has put a blood debt on Wendy and the only way to get it off her is by bargaining with the Don or kill him.

This was a nonstop action story. Second chance at love. A convicted felon and a powerful woman. An evil cartel leader. Double crossing friends.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

Great book!! A real thriller! This book was a fast read! It was filled with intrigue, suspense, action, A real thriller! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth the read! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!