As a K9 handler on the Search and Protect team, Arin Siri
needs to be where the action is--and right now that's investigating a
trafficking operation in Hawaii. When an enemy from her past shows up bleeding,
she's torn between the desire to patch Jason up or put more holes in him. Then
again, the hotshot mercenary could be the person she needs to bust open her
case.
Jason Landon's team had always been about taking the
contract, getting paid, and not asking questions. But after his last mission
went south, he started to get curious. His questions quickly drove him out of
his mercenary group and off the grid. Now, the only people he can think of to
help him are the Search and Protect team -- and the dark beauty who is as ready
to kill him as she is to bed him. And he's totally ready to risk the former for
the chance at the latter. But he isn't the only person with a target on his
back. Arin's in danger too, and he'll do everything he can to keep her safe.
Good book. It starts a few months after the end of the
previous book (Total Bravery). Though this one is connected to the last book,
it can be read as a standalone as earlier events are seamlessly explained. Arin
(Ah-rin) and her dog King are part of a team that continues to investigate
human trafficking in Hawaii. She's surprised to stumble across a former foe
unconscious and bleeding and not very happy to have to abort her mission to get
him to safety. But considering where she saw him last, he may have information
vital to their investigation.
When Jason comes to, he's surprised to find Arin standing
guard in his hospital room. The last time he saw her, they were on opposites
sides of a mission. But the things she told him made him question his actions
and ticked off the wrong people. Now he's on a quest to bring down a kidnapping
ring and maybe make up for some of those past actions. It's too much for one man
alone to handle, and the Search and Protect team are the only ones who might be
able to help him.
I liked the combination of personal and professional
relationships between Arin and Jason. Neither one was able to forget the other
after their last meeting, and Jason at least was happy to get to spend some
time with Arin. She isn't too sure that she can trust him, and the hoops she
made him jump through at first both annoyed and amused him. Jason will do
whatever he needs to to get their help in stopping the kidnapping ring. That it
meshes well with their trafficking investigation is a bonus.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between
Arin and Jason. She is tough, independent, and sometimes abrasive, but she also
has a vulnerable side that she hides well. Jason hasn't always been too
concerned about the morality of the jobs he took, but the last one made him
take a closer look at himself. Determined to do better, Jason puts himself at
Arin's disposal. He is smart, thinks fast on his feet, and is very observant. I
loved how well he understood Arin. He saw the vulnerability that she hid from
everyone else, but he also appreciated her strength and capabilities. It was
awesome to see that he could be protective without trying to hold her back.
Arin was stunned to realize that Jason had gotten under her skin. His
acceptance of her just as she was is something she'd never experienced before. Underneath
it all was an explosive attraction that neither one could resist. As they grew
closer physically and emotionally, each of them wondered what would become of
what they had. The ending had a twist I didn't see coming but was exactly right
for them.
The suspense was terrific. The wariness between Arin and
Jason at first added an extra layer of tension to the investigation. Their
partnership in the first rescue went a long way toward resolving their trust
issues. I was on the edge of my seat as they found the first set of victims,
and Arin had to rely on Jason's skills to prevent a tragedy. I liked their
teamwork as their investigation led them to the identity of the new head of the
trafficking ring. The actual takedown was a nailbiter as Jason went undercover
to get the proof they needed. But it wasn't quite over, as there was still
another "shipment" that had to be found. The author's descriptions of
that rescue were so vivid that I felt as though I was there, from the sights
and smells to the heart-pounding terror of the victims themselves. Once again
Jason and Arin made an outstanding team and brought all to a satisfying conclusion.
There was a neat bit at the end that looks like it may be the lead-in to the
next book and I can't wait to read it.
One of my favorite characters was Arin's K9 partner,
King. I loved the intensity of their bond. King was one of the few beings that
Arin trusted unconditionally. I enjoyed her surprise at the way King took to
Jason. This made it a little easier for her to start to trust Jason. There were
a couple of good scenes between Jason and King. I especially liked the one
where Jason took King out for a walk while Arin slept.
Another important part of the book was the continued repairing
of the relationship between Arin and her sister Mali. There were several times
when Mali irritated me with her attitude toward Arin. She really had a hard
time accepting Arin the way she was. Her instructions to Arin for the reception
made me think that she still didn't respect her sister's choices. It made me
understand why Arin always felt so out-of-step with her own family. I was doubly
glad that Jason was there to support her.
