Echo - Janie Crouch (Calamity Jane Publishing - Oct 2019)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 7)

Sometimes the deepest scars are the ones that can't be seen.

Single mom Peyton Ward works hard to make ends meet. At Linear Tactical she's surrounded by heroes on a regular basis...but none of them are hers. She thought she'd found one in Linear's silent partner, and country music superstar, Cade Conner.

She was wrong.

Unintended wounds still cut as deep.

Cade may not work day to day operations at Linear, but he takes the mission of the company he helped create--teaching survival and self-defense skills to the people who need them most--seriously. And finding out he's wounded Peyton in the worst way possible weighs on him.

So when danger closes in on her, he will damn well be by her side, making sure they survive so he can right his personal wrongs.

He might not have been a Special Forces soldier, but Cade Conner knows how to fight. And Peyton is a woman worth fighting for.

I loved this book. The series gets better with each installment. Peyton has been a character hovering in the background during the earlier books, with her adorable daughter Jess getting far more page time. I had a feeling that Peyton's story would be an interesting one when it was her turn, and I was right.

Peyton and Cade knew each other in high school when she was a freshman, and he was a senior. Both were involved in the high school's arts program, Cade on the music side, and Peyton on the film side. Peyton did her best to keep a low profile because she wasn't in that high school's district, and had pretty much lied her way in. She saw the arts program as her only way out of her abusive family life. Cade knew the truth but kept her secret. He graduated and went off to Nashville to pursue his singing career, while Peyton continued her efforts. By the time she graduated, she had won a full scholarship to a London film school. A few weeks after she graduated from high school, her car broke down, and she took refuge in Cade's lake cabin. He showed up and the attraction they'd fought for years became too much. There were consequences to that night together, but miscommunication and outside interference kept them apart, leaving each believing that the other had turned their back.

Five years later, Cade returns to Oak Grove for a visit and runs into Peyton, the woman he's never been able to forget. Something in that encounter seems off, and it takes some effort for him to track down Peyton and find out why. Peyton is terrified to see Cade, afraid of him finding out what she hid all these years. I was impressed by Cade's determination to get to the bottom of the mystery, and his patience and kindness as he tried to get through to Peyton. I ached for Peyton, who truly believed that he had turned his back on her when she needed him most. I loved that, once she understood what happened, she didn't keep the truth from him. Cade's reaction was priceless, and I loved seeing his joy in the news.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the relationship between Peyton and Cade. There was no doubt that the attraction and feelings between them were just as strong as they'd been before. Cade is determined to show Peyton that she and Jess belong in his life. It was sweet to see how well he still understood her and the confidence he had in her. His insistence that she be in charge of his music video and documentary gave her confidence quite a boost, once she believed it was really happening. I loved watching her bloom, especially standing up to the guy who always put her down. I also adored the scene in the bar during the girls' night out, as he and the LT guys watched their ladies have fun, though it didn't take long for Cade to stake his claim. It was easy to see that Cade was all-in, but Peyton was still a bit wary. She wasn't sure if Cade wanted her, as well as Jess, and was hesitant to fully trust him with her heart. It took two brushes with death for her to finally accept the truth. The ending was fantastic.

Peyton's daughter Jess has been one of my favorite characters throughout the series, and I loved getting to know her even better. She is an adorable mixture of little girl and teenager/young adult. Her relationship with Peyton is fantastic, and the love they share leaps off the page. I loved her stated intention of becoming the "Empress of the Elementary School" and her apparent confidence in her ability to do so. I loved watching her wrap Cade around her little fingers, and laughed out loud at their bonding over bad choices. Her friendship with Finn's son Ethan is as strong as ever. I love Ethan's protectiveness toward Jess, even more so since the events in the previous book. Ethan totally stole my heart with his man-to-man talk with Cade at the end, and I loved how seriously Cade treated Ethan's concerns. I can't wait to see the two of them grow up.

This wouldn't be a Linear Tactical book without danger coming to the main characters. In this book, the threat comes from two directions. Cade has picked up a stalker, one that has escalated from nuisance attacks to something more dangerous. He and his security team have tried to find out who it is, but the stalker seems to stay one step ahead of them. It is disturbing to realize that the stalker seems to know far more of the inside workings of Cade's life than any of them are comfortable with. As the story went on, I had several suspects in mind, but it took me almost to the end to figure out who it was. The final confrontation was terrifying, as the stalker seemed utterly convinced of the necessity of his actions. The second danger focused on Peyton. Five years earlier, her stepfather had nearly killed her and went to prison. Unfortunately, she and her mother learn that Dennis will be released early from prison. Though there is a restraining order to keep him away from them, we all know how that usually works out. When Peyton is attacked, there are questions about whether it is Dennis. Peyton's mother, an alcoholic, believes it is, but there is no evidence. I was on the edge of my seat when Dennis made his move, as there were so many things that could go wrong. I loved Peyton's ability to keep a cool head, and Jess's quick thinking also helped. The deciding factor was the help from an unexpected source, which surprised both Peyton and me. Another surprise was the connection between the two dangers.

I always love the secondary characters. As always, the LT members wander in and out of the book as needed, and have our characters' backs in times of trouble. I liked seeing more of Baby in this book and loved the close friendship between him and Cade. I liked how he gave Cade a kick in the seat when he needed it. I enjoy his self-deprecating humor, his way with the ladies, and have the feeling that there is something important going on with him. I liked seeing more of Girl Riley and loved her support of Peyton. I liked the way she tore into Cade at the beginning. I can't wait for her story because I think she has some trouble ahead of her from a few hints that were dropped along the way. I liked Peyton's mother and felt terrible for her, as her fears of her ex created deeper problems with her alcoholism. I was impressed that she held it together as well as she did during the final confrontation. But it was Cade's Aunt Cecilia that had the most significant secondary role, in my opinion. I did not like her at all at the start of the book. She came across as a snob, cold, and without an ounce of human kindness in her soul. I hated the way she treated Peyton, even more so as her role in keeping Peyton and Cade apart was revealed. She grew on me a little during the scene at the gas station and redeemed herself at the end.

 

Shadow - Janie Crouch (Calamity Jane Publishing - Aug 2019)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 6)

Heath Kavanaugh lost years of his life working for a covert agency that ended up being the enemy. Knowing they put something inside his head -- constant, incomprehensible whispers -- is driving him crazy.

He needs answers, but they're nowhere to be found.

What he definitely doesn't need is to fall hard for his Linear teammate's younger sister, Jacquelyn -- the adorable linguistics doctoral student who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Especially when Heath's attention puts her directly in the path of a danger he thought was gone for good. To stop it, they'll have to figure out what's in his head. And hope it doesn't destroy them all.

Another short night's sleep thanks to the literary talents of Janie Crouch. Once I starting reading this book, I could not put it down until I finished it. Heath was mostly in the background of the previous books until he took on a major role in Ghost. Like Dorian and Ray, Heath was a victim of Project Crypt, left with voices inside his head that he couldn't understand and couldn't get rid of. He's desperate for answers, but his only lead is literally a dead end. So he buries the voices in the work of a new mission, stopping the sale of government secrets, by going undercover as a janitor at a local college. He doesn't expect to be drawn to shy linguist Lyn Norris.

Lyn is the youngest in her family, with three over-protective older brothers and an equally protective father. Having a heart condition hasn't helped matters either. Determined to live life on her own terms, she hasn't told them about her change in majors from hospitality (SO not her) to linguistics (her passion). She'd rather have her nose in a book than have to talk to people, but she finds it surprisingly easy to talk to the new custodian.

There are sparks between Lyn and Heath from the beginning, though Heath tries to resist them. He needs to concentrate on the mission, but he can't keep her out of his mind. Lyn is drawn to the handsome and friendly janitor who is so different than the other men in her life. When Lyn inadvertently ends up in danger, Heath will stop at nothing to protect her. The danger also intensifies the chemistry between them, and things get steamy very quickly. But Heath discovers that he's not the only one with secrets. The morning after scene was pretty funny as he discovers that he slept with his best friend's little sister and how much trouble he'll be in when Gavin finds out. Lyn isn't any too pleased either. I loved seeing Heath, Gavin, and Lyn work their way through all the obstacles and ramifications. However, the danger isn't done with Heath and Lyn, and tragedy nearly parted them forever. The epilogue was great and showed how far they'd come.

There was so much I loved about Heath and Lyn. Heath is loyal to his friends. He is observant and friendly. And he is unstoppable when someone he cares about is in danger. There is also a softer side to him that is obvious in the way he treats Lyn. He thought she was beautiful in both mind and body and had no trouble telling her so. Lyn was great. She is smart and determined. She loves her family and hates causing them distress, but she is also frustrated by their treatment of her. I loved her unusual field of study and laughed at her extensive collection of foreign cuss words. I loved seeing her blossom under Heath's attention and the confidence that grew with it. Watching her stand up to Gavin and Heath was fantastic.

The suspense was gripping throughout the book. From Heath's pursuit of answers about what Crypt did to his brain to the final showdown over biological warfare, there was never a dull moment. There's a brief period where it looks like the danger is over, but it comes roaring back with even more intensity. The final showdown was a nail-biter, with a couple of twists that took me by surprise. I always love it when I don't see something coming.

The secondary characters were all great. I loved the appearances of the men and women from Linear Tactical. The downtime scenes were wonderful, from the football game to the picnic. I especially liked seeing Dorian and Ray. The scenes with Gavin were a riot, especially the sparring match. As always, the teamwork is incredible, and I love how they all come together to help. Kenneth, aka Blaze, had a big part in this book. I'd love to see him get tangled up with a woman. I liked the crossovers also, as Noah Dempsey from the Risk series made an appearance, as did mention of Bree and Tanner. I also liked Jenna Franklin and was impressed with her strength and attitude. I hope she'll make an appearance in a later book.

Ghost - Janie Crouch (Calamity Jane Pub - May 2019)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 5)

Everyone eventually breaks under torture.

It’s a truth elite soldier and government agent Dorian Lindstrom, codename Ghost, knows firsthand. His body may have recovered from what was done to him in that Afghanistan prison six years ago, but his mind…not quite so much.

He’s seeing dead people.

Grace Brandt, government codename Wraith, knows her past can’t be forgiven. She has stayed “dead” for as long as she could, but now the forces she’s been fighting, the secrets slowly suffocating her, won’t stay hidden any longer.

And the man she helped break is the only one she can trust.

When it comes to keeping the people he loves safe, including the one who thinks she’s not worthy of it, there is no danger—past, present or future—Dorian won’t battle.

The Ghost will rise.

I have been looking forward to Dorian's story since the first book, and I was not disappointed. I saved it to read on a transatlantic flight, and I have never had one go by so fast! Dorian intrigued me from the first book. He is an integral part of the Linear Tactical team, but he also holds himself a bit apart. He is always there when he is needed, but works quietly in the background. Bits and pieces of his story were revealed in earlier books. He is haunted by his past and suffers from severe PTSD that frequently sends him off into the woods alone. In this book, we finally learn that during a black ops mission in Afghanistan Dorian saw the woman he loved die in an explosion just before he was captured. He survived 41 days of torture before his teammates found and rescued him, leaving him broken in mind and body. It was the love and support of his LT teammates that brought him as far as he has come. But lately, he has wondered about his mental stability as he seems to feel Grace's presence in the forest around him. He was somewhat relieved when there was evidence that she is alive and determined to get some answers.

Grace has remained "dead" for six years as a way to keep the man she loved alive. She discovered some horrifying information that threw everything they had done and endured into question. She made decisions and sacrifices that affected her to the point where she doubted her own humanity. When the members of their black ops unit started dying under suspicious circumstances, Dorian was the only one she trusted to help her find the killer. But there are things that he doesn't know, and she was determined to protect him from them.

While this is one of the most heart-wrenchingly emotional books I've ever read, some moments serve to relieve the tension. One of those scenes is when Grace/Ray is watching Dorian as he teaches the teen boys their survival skills. She is convinced that he has lost his edge because he doesn't appear to realize that she is out there watching him. I loved how intensely aware he actually was, and the confrontation between them when he caught up with her. It did go a little dark then, as his methods to get answers were a bit forceful. There are some intense, sometimes scary and sometimes amusing back and forth encounters before they finally reached the point where they could work together. One thing that hadn't changed was the intense chemistry and depth of caring between them. I was moved to tears when Dorian had one of his PTSD episodes when he was alone with Ray, and the lengths she went to to help him. I ached for her and the torment she endured over the information she kept from him, and his reaction when he found out. At the same time, nothing could kill Dorian's love for her, and the depth of that love was evident as Grace faced the greatest betrayal of her life. I loved the ending, and how the life they build together shows them as the soulmates they were always meant to be. "You and me. Always. Everything else is secondary."

The suspense of the story was riveting. Ray's belief in Dorian's inability to be the killer, but with just a modicum of doubt, got the story off to a rip-roaring start. Each fact Ray revealed about Crypt and their missions was more horrifying than the last. The twists and turns as Dorian and  Ray closed in on the killer kept me glued to the pages. The closer they came, the greater my suspicions were about who was involved. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with some fantastic action on the part of Dorian and others. Ray both blew me away and broke my heart with everything she experienced before it was all over. There are still unresolved problems, though, and I can't wait for Shadow's story to see what happens.

Once again, one of the most significant parts of the book is the tight bond between the men of Linear Tactical, which now includes the women they love. One of my favorite parts about this one is the support and understanding that Dorian gets from all of them. No one looks sideways at him or tells him to get over it when he has to retreat to the woods during his dark times. I adored the part when Dorian brought Grace to the bar, and the women went all protective on him until he made his feelings for Ray clear. Then she immediately became one of them. Even when the guys were suspicious of Ray's actions and disappearance, they showed up when Dorian needed them most. "We're family. Family fights, but we don't turn our backs on each other when we're needed."

Angel - Janie Crouch (Calamity Jane Pub - Feb 2019)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 4)

Even angels have their demons

Jordan Reiss is well aware that if she was on fire the entire town of Oak Creek would probably go inside and make a sandwich. She can't blame them. Her father scammed half the town out of their retirement funds, and then she...

She did so much worse.

She doesn't expect forgiveness. But she's back in town with no other options and just wants to be left alone to live on the fierce Wyoming land she's missed so much during her six years in prison.

Former Navy SEAL Gabriel Collingwood's callsign may have been Angel, but he'll be anything but to protect his sister. Especially from a pretty ex-con who has somehow weaseled her way into a job at his sister's new bakery.

He doesn't trust Jordan, even with her big gray eyes and quiet smile.

But when someone decides it's time for Jordan to leave Oak Creek--preferably in a body bag--Gabe will have to put his distrust aside. Jordan needs her own guardian angel. And he happens to be one.

Janie Crouch, you will be the death of me yet! I downloaded this book a little before midnight on Monday and told myself I could read a couple of chapters, then go to sleep. Yeah, right. Next thing I knew it was 4 am, and I was on Chapter Seventeen and face-planted on my e-reader. Up again a few hours later and champing at the bit to start reading again, I could not put this book down. I've been intrigued by Jordan since her first appearance and hoped that she would get her own story. When she and Gabe (brother to Violet in Shamrock) met in the previous book the sparks flew, and I couldn't wait to see what happened.

The beginning of this book overlapped with the end of Shamrock, but this time from Gabe and Jordan's points of view. Gabe is protective of his sister and suspicious of ex-con Jordan and her motives for working at Violet's bakery. He was pretty obnoxious in his attempts to bribe Jordan to leave. I loved seeing her stand up to Gabe and do what was right for her. Underneath all that antagonism was attraction, and it burst into flame with an explosive kiss that neither knew how to deal with. Nor could either one forget it. Though he tried, Gabe couldn't stay away, intrigued and curious to find out more about her. There was a sweet, romantic scene involving a sunset and good conversation that exploded into unexpected passion. But when Gabe's desire to treat Jordan the way she should be treated ran into the demons of her past and present, his frustration caused some very boneheaded actions on his part. I ached for Jordan and the hurt she experienced, and even for Gabe because he knew he'd been a jerk.

Jordan is amazing. She has been through so much, but she is determined to have the life she wants. A tragic mistake, when she was seventeen, sent her to prison for six years. Added to the fact that her father stole the retirement funds of most of the people in town, she wasn't surprised by the way she was treated when she came back. All she wanted was the chance to live in peace on her little patch of Wyoming paradise. I ached for her over all the acts of bullying, large and small, that she endured, believing that she doesn't deserve to be treated kindly. I loved how the men and women of Linear Tactical slowly worked past her defenses and gave her the love and friendship she craved.

I loved the development of the relationship between Gabe and Jordan. Though he was suspicious and antagonistic at first, it didn't take long for Gabe to admire Jordan's strength, intelligence, and humor. Jordan was wary. It took a little while for her to trust him, especially when he made some stupid mistakes. He came through brilliantly after the fire at the bakery. I loved seeing him in all his protective glory at the hospital, from the alpha avenger after he saw how she was treated, to the sensitive, observant man who was there when she needed him most. I loved seeing Gabe take care of her, showing her through his actions that she deserved everything he could do for her. The depth of thought and feeling that went into the date he took her on showed just how much he was starting to care about her. I loved watching Jordan blossom under his attention and support.

Just when it looked like life couldn't get any better, Jordan's past comes back to haunt her. With her friends' lives threatened, Jordan found herself in a position that would test Gabe's trust in her. I was on the edge of my seat as I watched Jordan forced to betray him. Intensified by the memory of another recent betrayal, Gabe's reaction was extreme, and I wanted to clobber him with a baseball bat. It was so satisfying to see him realize how big of an ass he had been when he found out what had actually happened. I was glued to the pages as Gabe, Jordan, and the Linear Tactical guys teamed up to bring an end to the threat. The final confrontation was a complex dance that had the potential for either disaster or success. Of course, you know it will be a success, but the process was intense. All that was left was for Gabe to regain Jordan's trust and get her to believe in a future together. I loved his "go big" moment at the end. That hint of vulnerability made it so much sweeter as he found a way to make all of Jordan's dreams come true.