Risk Everything - Janie Crouch (HI #1883 - Oct 2019)

Series: Bree and Tanner (Book 4)

The wedding is two weeks away

If they survive until then…

Following a fire at the New Journeys women's shelter, Deputy Tanner Dempsey is on high alert, and his fiancée, Bree Daniels, fears that one of the shelter's clients is being targeted. Outmanned and outgunned, Tanner and Bree must make a last stand for justice and unravel the twisted plot of a dangerous sociopath. Will it be “'til death do us part” before they can say “I do”?

Terrific book and conclusion to the Bree and Tanner series, and another one that kept me up well past bedtime to finish it. After a year together, Bree's wedding to Tanner is only two weeks away. The book opens as Bree is spazzing over wedding preparations. All she wants is to be married to Tanner, but the wedding has taken on a life of its own thanks to her friends. Looking back over the year, Bree sees the progress she has made toward becoming more "normal," but there are days she wants to hide away. Meanwhile, Tanner is beyond ready for the wedding and to show the world how much he loves her. I've loved seeing the development of their relationship, from wariness and distrust to incredible teamwork and belief in each other. That teamwork is called upon yet again as they face off against a dangerous opponent.

Bree is at the women's shelter late one night when a suspicious fire breaks out. She and Tanner are confident that one of the residents, Marilyn, is the target of the attack. The uncertainty is intense as they and others attempt to find the truth and stop the attacks. The frustration is evident as everything points to Marilyn's abusive husband, but nothing can be proved. Hoping to give Marilyn, her kids, and two other residents a pleasant break, Bree, Tanner, and his brother Noah, head for the woods for a camping trip. When the group is attacked and becomes separated, it's up to Bree and Tanner to protect the kids until help arrives. The suspense is intense as Bree and Tanner race to stay ahead of their pursuers. I was on the edge of my seat as the hours passed and the players shifted, leaving Bree and Tanner to play decoy. The tension continues to build even after arriving home, with a feeling of impending trouble. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that had me glued to the pages until it was all over. I loved the strength and courage that both Bree and Marilyn showed as they took control of their fates.

I loved the ending. It was so emotional to see the town pull together to make sure that the wedding happened just the way Bree and Tanner wanted it. I especially loved what the women did for Bree that made the wedding so much more special for her. And after all of Bree's angst over writing the perfect vows, she came up with the perfect lines. Tanner's were great, but Bree's were quintessential Bree. I also enjoyed the conversation that Tanner had with his brother Noah about Marilyn. I hope to see more of them in the future. There were also a few cross-series mentions of both Linear Tactical and Omega Sector books, which always makes me happy.

 

Constant Risk - Janie Crouch (HI #1879 - Sept 2019)

Series: Bree and Tanner (Book 3)

The hunters

Become the hunted.

Deputy Tanner Dempsey and Bree Daniels are tasked with unraveling a deadly mystery in Dallas -- one that involves transmitting live feeds of victims trapped in tanks as they fill with water. Bree's computer genius is their only hope at solving the crime. Knowing the darkness in Bree's past, Tanner is determined to make sure she comes out of this emotionally unscathed. Especially once they both become a killer's next target…

Terrific continuation of the Bree and Tanner series. I was hooked from the beginning in this fantastic combination of heart-pounding suspense and deeply felt emotions. I read it in one sitting and far too late into the early morning hours. In this book, the relationship between the socially awkward geek Bree and the charming deputy Tanner progresses quite well. Bree has learned a lot about relating to people and is getting better at showing her emotions - especially to Tanner. Tanner has fallen even deeper in love with Bree. He understands her quirks and finds her "big brain" sexy. He is very protective of her. He is also ready to take the next step and is adorably nervous about it.  

But before Tanner can follow through, a call comes in from Detective Whittaker. Bree is desperately needed in Dallas to help find a killer. He transmits live feeds of his victims trapped in watery coffins, and they need Bree's computer skills to track him down. There is no way Tanner is letting Bree do it alone, so he's right there to back her up and take care of her. I loved how he was so tuned to her and the needs that she ignores when lost in her work.

The suspense of the story was a nail-biter. The feeling of the clock ticking as the team watched the coffin fill with water was intense. I could feel the Dallas team's frustration as they ran into dead end after dead end. Bree's arrival added to the intensity as we see her totally lose herself in the quest to save the woman's life. Just as it looks like they have it solved, an unexpected twist shows that it's more complicated than they anticipated. I was on the edge of my seat as they raced to thwart the diabolical plot.

There was an added layer of complexity as Bree's past continues to haunt her. Though her nemesis, Michael Jeter, is in jail, there is a strong feeling that he has plans in the works to alter that fact. That suspicion hovers in the background, and I spent the book waiting for that shoe to drop. When it did, it dropped with a vengeance that had me glued to the pages until it was all over. There had been no doubt in my mind from the earlier books about how evil Jeter was, and this book reinforced that. It also showed how deep Bree and Tanner's love for each other was. The ending was fantastic, with Tanner's "perfect moment" just right for them. I love that they can move forward now without the fear that Bree had felt for years. I can't wait for the conclusion of the series.

Though this book can be read as a stand-alone, the experience is much richer if you read the first two books before this one.

Security Risk - Janie Crouch (HI #1871 - Aug 2019)

Series: Bree and Tanner (Book 2)

Risking it all—again.

Now his past is threatening both of them.

Deputy Tanner Dempsey paid a high price for an undercover op gone wrong. Nobody understands a dangerous past better than Bree Daniels. Together they have to take on those real-life demons in order to stay alive. Keeping one step ahead of ruthless killers is their only option and risk is their constant companion.

Continuing the adventures of Bree Daniels and Tanner Dempsey. This book begins about three months after the previous book ends. Bree continues her work at the diner and has made progress in acquiring social skills. She is still insecure about those skills and worries a lot about saying or doing the wrong thing. Fortunately, everyone around her is very understanding of her occasional gaffe and give her plenty of encouragement. Tanner is still her number one cheerleader. He is head-over-heels in love with her, but also has the patience to let things develop at a pace that is comfortable for her. What he hasn't shared with her, as yet, is the PTSD from an undercover op gone wrong. His attempts to protect her from his issues exacerbate her fears that she is doing something wrong in their relationship.

The peace that they've enjoyed since The Organization was brought down comes to an end when Bree discovers a dead body in her yard. The man was a criminal that Tanner had helped put away and was recently released from prison. There are no clues as to who killed him or dumped the body in Bree's yard. Things get a little more complicated when a second man is killed who also has ties to Tanner. He is put on administrative leave while the two murders are investigated. It quickly becomes evident to Tanner and Bree that someone is setting him up. The question is who and why?

The suspense is intense and fast-paced from the first scene to the last. The story opened with Tanner reliving an incident from the past that continues to haunt him. As the evidence piled up against him, those issues are one more mark against him. The best chance for Tanner to clear his name is to evade arrest, and he and Bree go on the run. With Bree working her computer magic and Tanner applying good old logic, they work to find the truth. There are any number of possible suspects, and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Just when I thought I knew who it was, someone else would move to the head of the line. The final confrontation was unexpected and intense, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was the continuing progression of the relationship between Bree and Tanner. Each is protective of the other, which becomes more evident as the danger increases. In the first book, we saw Tanner's sensitivity to Bree's trauma. In this one, Bree gets her chance to be there for Tanner as he finally opens up about the devastating events of three years earlier. I loved the way that Bree stood up to him, reminding him that she is not fragile and kept herself out of danger for many years. It was heartwarming to see Tanner realize his mistake and promise to do better. I loved the end of the book and seeing Tanner's mom help Bree know the truth of his feelings. I can't wait to see what is up next for them.

Calculated Risk - Janie Crouch (HI #1864 - July 2019)

Series: Bree and Tanner (Book 1)

She thought she was finally safe,

But her past won't let her go.

Sheriff's deputy Tanner Dempsey is just doing his job when he stops a shoplifter trying to steal diapers and formula. But something about this frightened young woman makes him want to do more. Bree Daniels is grateful for Tanner's help, but there's so much she can never tell him… The truth is dangerous to everyone she lets into her life -- and could be lethal to Tanner.

Fantastic book with a frighteningly believable premise. Bree is a brilliant woman with a knack for computers. She has been in hiding for years after escaping from a terrorist organization that had been grooming her to work for them since she was a child. When she realized what they were doing, she destroyed what she could and ran. She keeps a low profile and moves often. But when a blast from her past arrives with a warning and a plea, Bree knows she has to run again. This time she has the added complication of her cousin's newborn twins whom she has to protect. Completely overwhelmed and out of her element, Bree eventually ends up in Risk Peak, where she is caught trying to steal diapers and formula.

Tanner is a law-and-order guy, but he can't bring himself to arrest the desperate looking young woman. He can tell she is running from trouble, something he doesn't want coming to his town, but he still wants to help her. I liked what he did for her, even though he hoped she would keep going on out of town.

There is an instant attraction between Bree and Tanner, but there is also suspicion and distrust. Bree hasn't trusted anyone in years, always aware that word of her whereabouts could get back to The Organization at any time. Bree is very self-contained, doesn't share her feelings with anyone, and keeps everyone at a distance. Tanner is suspicious of Bree from the moment they met, more so when she resists any attempt to unlock her secrets. As Bree is taken in by the town and given the help she needs but doesn't want to admit, Tanner realizes that Bree is more in trouble than trouble itself. He can't stop thinking about her and worrying about her, even while suspicious. He's determined to wait her out, using kindness and patience to work past her walls. I liked that Bree was able to trust Tanner enough to ask for help when she needed it. Working together allowed them to get to know more about each other and become friends. It's easy to see that there is the potential for more, but there is no rush to declare love. With a four book series with the same couple, there is a much more realistic feel to the progression of their feelings.

The suspense of the story is gripping and scarily believable. A terrorist organization has plans to dominate the world, and they are going to use people's cellphones to do it. As a child, Bree's computer brilliance was used to advance the software to do it, but when she eventually realized what they were doing, she took steps to stop them. However, they want her and her brilliant mind back in their clutches. Bree is determined to stop them, and the intensity of the story builds as she races against time to find a way to do so. I loved seeing how Tanner stepped up to help, also getting his Special Forces brother Noah to help. I liked the connections to both the Linear Tactical and Omega Sector books. There are some hair-raising twists and turns on the way to the final confrontation. I loved the brilliance and strength that Bree exhibited as she faced off against her nemesis. The ending was immensely satisfying and left me wanting to see more of Bree and Tanner.

I loved the small town of Risk Peak and the way that the people look out for each other. Tanner showed it by his determination to keep his town safe from trouble. I loved the café owners, Dan and Cheryl, and the way they took Bree and the twins in, no questions asked. It was fun to see how the townspeople would congregate in the café just to play with the twins. I laughed out loud at the hell they put Tanner through when they thought he ran Bree out of town.