Her Undercover Defender - Debra Webb, Regan Black (HI #1602 - Nov 2015)

Series: Specialists: Heroes Next Door (Book 4)

She's the perfect pawn

Covert CIA specialist David Martin has his orders. Keep a terrorist cell from using Terri Barnhart as leverage to get their hands on a nearly perfected biotech weapon. Falling for her could compromise his mission and turn the dedicated nurse into a moving target.

With her brother off the radar for three months, Terri fears the worst. Having the sexy Southerner to lean on helps -- except the hospital's new staff member isn't what he seems. To survive, she'll have to trust David with her life -- trusting him with her heart is something else entirely.

Very good book. David is one of a new type of operative, one who is given a permanent undercover assignment to be on the lookout for terrorist activity. In his case, he is sent to Charleston to keep an eye on Terri, a nurse who is connected to a research doctor. They are worried that someone could use her to get to the doctor.

I really liked David. He's a nice guy, who feels a little guilty about getting to know Terri under what he feels are false pretenses. It gets worse when he realizes that he really likes her for herself, not just his mission. When the action starts to heat up, his protective instincts really kick in. I really enjoyed seeing the way that he stood up for her against the way her brother was treating her.

Terri hasn't had it easy the last few years. Her parents were killed and her brother badly injured in a car crash. She devoted most of her non-working time to helping her brother recover, and finally got him off to college a couple months earlier. But then he disappeared without a word to her, and she's worried about him. David's attention has been a great distraction, and when Trey's return seems to coincide with some strange happenings, she's very glad to have David by her side.

I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between David and Terri. It started as a simple friendship, with them getting to know each other and doing some fun things together. David had the extra motivation of his mission, but he found himself attracted to Terri also. That worried him because of the potential distraction from what he was supposed to be doing. I liked the sweet things he did for her, like the flowers he sent and walking her to her door. As the time went on, David's feelings started to deepen, causing even more conflict within him, especially if she were to find out the truth of who he is. Terri starts out looking at David as just a friend. They have fun together and she enjoys his company without the added stress of a relationship. But after a couple months things begin to change, and David makes it clear that he's ready for something more. She's a little wary, but when her brother comes back, she finds herself leaning on David more and more, as things about Trey begin to scare her. I loved seeing her feelings for him grow as he is there for her through all the danger. When it was all done, I loved how they realized that they were stronger together than apart.

The mystery/suspense part of the story was fantastic. David's part in protecting Terri at the same time he needed to stop whoever was after her boss kept the action humming right along. Trey was a character that I had mixed feelings about by the end. When he came back, I did not like the way he treated Terri. He definitely had the attitude of a spoiled brat, and one that really had no idea of what he had gotten himself involved in. I enjoyed his confrontations with David, because he so obviously came out on the short side of them. His attitude toward David seemed to be a combination of suspicion because of what Trey was involved in, and jealousy because Terri cared for him. I loved David's ability to puzzle out just what was going on, and how he thought it was going to happen. The final confrontation was really intense and I wasn't sure who was going to come out of it at the end. I still wanted to shake Trey, but he redeemed himself a little bit. I thought that Terri handled herself and the things she found out very well.

To Honor and To Protect - Debra Webb, Regan Black (HI #1569 - June 2015)

Series: Specialists: Heroes Next Door (Book 3)

Before he could say "I do" on his wedding day eight years ago, former special ops soldier Drew Bryant was hustled away for a top secret mission. Everyone -- including the bride he left behind -- believes he's long dead. But now his former fiancée is on the run from a vengeful fugitive, and Drew is handpicked to bring her to safety. When he finds Addi Collins deep in the swamplands of Louisiana -- with the son he never knew existed -- he has to earn her trust to protect her from a vindictive desperado. And prove he won't break her heart a second time.

Very good book. Addi was horrified to discover her fiance was involved in something illegal. She sent the information to the authorities, then took her son and went on the run, looking for a safe place to hide out. She had never told him about her childhood in the deep south, so she headed for the bayous, hoping she'd be safe there until Craig was caught. She was stunned when Drew showed up, alive and well, and determined to keep them safe. 

Drew had fallen in love with Addi when he first met her. On their wedding day he was called away on a special operation that was supposed to be of short duration. Instead, he was captured and held for six years before escaping, then months more in the hospital. By the time he was well enough, Addi was engaged to another man, so he didn't tell her he was alive and back. When the head of the Specialists unit came to him for help finding Addi, he couldn't say no.

I loved Addi's strength and resourcefulness. I loved the way she had Drew at gunpoint before she knew who he was. Though she trusts Drew himself, she is reluctant to go along with his plans to evacuate them, since she isn't sure if his government connections could be trusted. The danger has a slow buildup, as things were pretty calm for awhile. When the bad guys started to make their appearance, I loved seeing the way that Drew and Addi worked so well together to make their evasion happen. The chase through the swamp was intense, and got more so when they were caught. The final confrontation was great and their natural teamwork was fantastic. I do wish there had been a little more detail on just what the bad guys had been involved in. 

I loved the way that Drew and Addi came back together. Their love was still there, but their lives had created so many changes that they had to get to know each other again. Addi had to learn to trust that Drew wasn't going to just up and disappear again, leaving her and Andy behind. Drew was really floored by all the changes in Addi's life, the biggest of which being Andy. He was stunned to discover that he was a father, and had to get over the anger that he had missed so much, even though it wasn't Addi's fault he didn't know. He was also fighting the fear that he might fail in protecting them because of what he had been through before. It took a lot for him to open up to Addi about his fear that he's too broken to be with them. Both of them were wary of risking their hearts again but the thought of being apart again was strong enough to overcome those fears.

I loved the little boy, Andy. He was so much fun with his Captain America watch and his curiosity. I really liked seeing how quickly he bonded with Drew and how much alike they were. He did great with all the danger they were in, and I loved his part in the final confrontation. 

Heart of a Hero - Debra Webb, Regan Black (HI #1546 - Feb 2015)

Series: Specialists: Heroes Next Door (Book 2)

Trapped with a madman…

Trail guide Charly Binali is alone in the Rockies with a madman and his armed mercenaries, and he's demanding she lead him to a powerful, hidden device. And when help comes in the unexpected form of her very hot neighborhood mailman, Charley discovers the "nice" guy she gave her heart to isn't who she thought.

Undercover CIA agent Will Chase hated lying to Charly, but getting to that dangerous device first is a matter of national security. It's seven bad guys against him and Charly, but between his training and her survival skills, they just might beat the odds -- if he can get her to ever trust him again.

Very good book. Will is the second operative to be assigned to a special, long term mission (The Hunk Next Door was the first). He is a former Navy SEAL, now working undercover as a mailman. He finds he likes the work, the town and the people.  He likes local trail guide, Charly, even more and has been enjoying getting to know her. When he discovers that the party of hikers she's about to take out are wanted criminals, he knows she's in trouble.

Charly has lived in those mountains all her life and is an excellent tracker and woodsman. A few hours into the trip the leader of the group has killed her partner and tied her up. He is determined to get to the device he's looking for and nothing is going to stop him.

I loved Charly. She was incredible. When her partner was shot and killed she didn't panic, but kept her head and made plans to get away. She is confident in her abilities and it shows. Seeing her get away that first night showed just how good she really is. I loved her encounter with Will after he witnessed her escape and came to help her and get her help. Once she is convinced that he is who he says he is, she's as committed as he is to the mission. They work together like they've been doing it for years. 

Will likes the job that he's doing, as it fits his solitary lifestyle. He's closed himself off emotionally ever since the death of his younger brother, who followed him into the military. His parents blamed him and he's been dealing with his grief on his own ever since. Since arriving in Durango he's gotten to know Charly pretty well and enjoys being with her. When he recognizes the man she's getting ready to take on the trail, it isn't just the mission he's thinking about as he prepares to follow her into the woods. When he found her, she had already gotten away on her own. One of the things I liked best about Will was how much he respected Charly's abilities and how he would follow her lead on certain things. 

There was definitely some serious attraction between Charly and Will. Much of it was seen during their encounters in town. Once they were in the woods together, the intensity of what they were going through ramped up the heat. Charly was determined to follow through on it, sure it would be her only chance to experience something like that with Will. She doesn't have much confidence in her own appeal, and fully expects him to disappear when the mission is over. What Will feels for Charly is unlike anything he's experienced before. After everything they go through, both realize that life is too short not to pursue what they want. I loved the ending, even as Charly almost messed things up. The only thing missing was see if Will and his parents really do get together.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. You could see that the bad guy was going to be trouble from the beginning. His intensity was pretty scary, and just the idea of what he was after is pretty chilling. After Charly's escape, his actions just got worse. I enjoyed seeing the way that Charly and Will were able to evade them and also work on taking out some of the bad guys.  The final confrontation was nerve wracking as power shifted from person to person. I loved seeing how it all went down.