Suspicious Activities - Tyler Anne Snell (HI #1664 - Sept 2016)

Series: Orion Security (Book 4)

She's always been the boss -- now she's the target

As the newest member of Orion Security, Jackson Fields had a lot to prove. But he never expected his first assignment would force him to break every rule in the employee handbook. Nikki Waters has always put her clients' protection first…until a nightmare from her past resurfaces. Now Jackson must protect his boss to keep her life's work from crumbling. She'd headhunted Jackson for his raw talent, and is counting on his determination to make sure she lives another day. He has every intention of keeping her safe -- especially when his protective detail turns from professional to personal in the blink of an eye.

Fantastic conclusion to the series. I have been looking forward to this book since the beginning because Nikki Waters is a fascinating character. Anyone who can go from secretary to owner/operator of a successful security firm must be a powerful force, and so she proved in the earlier books. In this story, Nikki saw her best agents and friends finding love and settling down. Orion Security has been her life, but now she's ready to look for more. But her first attempt at a speed dating event was crashed by a man with a grudge. Andrew Miller was her boss before she left to start Orion and he holds her responsible for the loss of his job and reputation. He was blunt about his intention to make her suffer before he kills her.

Jackson is the newest member of Orion Security. The book opened with Jonathan standing up to Nikki in defense of his latest recruit. Jackson has a lot of baggage from his past, and Orion is likely his last chance for the life he wants.

I loved the first meeting between Nikki and Jackson. The sparks between them darn near set the room on fire, though both maintained a professional attitude. Nikki wasn't exactly thrilled with the feeling, as she was still not convinced of Jackson's suitability for the job. Her attitude was still pretty snippy when Jackson was tagged to pick her up because of her "car trouble." I loved Jackson's intuitiveness when it came to her, and how he immediately sensed that she was in more trouble than she would admit. He immediately felt protective of her. As the danger to Nikki escalated, Jackson's determination to keep her safe also increased, as did the attraction that burned between them. Though they tried to maintain the boss/employee relationship, when Nikki punched a cop who was abusing Jackson, he couldn't help but kiss her. I loved seeing the relationship between them develop. Each recognized in the other the same loneliness that came from the roads their lives had taken, and those similarities drew them closer together. The danger to them both accelerated the growth of their feelings for each other, and by the end, it was easy to see how much they cared. I loved the scene at the burned-out headquarters where Jackson showed just how well he knew and understood her. The chapter ended with the feeling of the potential between them. The epilogue was an excellent wrap-up to the series. I loved seeing each of the four couples and the changes to their lives.

The suspense and action of the story were fantastic. We know who the bad guy is from the beginning, as well as his motivations. This did not detract from the story, but instead gave it an extra layer of menace. Nikki wasn't too worried about the threats at first, but that changed quickly after the first physical attack on her. I loved how Jackson's instincts made sure he was there to save her from it, and that he wouldn't leave her side from then on. I was glued to the pages through the entire book, as Nikki and Jackson struggled to stay ahead of the danger. I liked the realism that showed both Jackson and Nikki suffering injuries, rather than coming through it all like superheroes. Andrew was much more devious than anyone gave him credit for, and there were multiple twists to the action that kept everyone on edge. The scene at the construction site was nerve-wracking, and the final confrontation at Orion headquarters was terrifying. The conclusion was well done, leaving me satisfied that everyone got what was coming to them.

Be On the Lookout: Bodyguard - Tyler Anne Snell (HI #1658 - Aug 2016)

Series: Orion Security (Book 3)

Protecting a woman who claimed she didn't need a bodyguard made his final case the most interesting of his career…

Before he settles down behind the desk, Orion Security bodyguard Jonathan Carmichael has one last assignment. One that might prove to be more than he bargained for. Because Kate Spears is adamant she doesn't need his protection. And a woman who doesn't want a bodyguard could be difficult, dangerous -- and terribly intriguing.

Kate is used to taking care of herself. Unfortunately, her most recent scientific discovery has made someone intent on taking her research and her life. Now only one man stands between her and death. And while Jonathan is more than capable of protecting her body, she fears he could be the one man to wreak havoc on her very soul.

Good book with plenty of action and romance. Jonathan was one of the original members of Orion and has had a satisfying career as a bodyguard. But as he watched his friends fall in love and settle down, Jonathan realized that he was ready to plant some roots of his own. Before his boss gives him the desk job he wants, Jonathan had one more assignment to complete.

Kate was a brilliant scientist who made a breakthrough that could change the face of law enforcement. As she prepared to present her findings at a special convention, Kate received letters threatening her work and her life. She didn't take them seriously and believed that there was no need for a bodyguard. Fortunately, her father disagreed and hired Orion to watch over her.

I really wanted to shake Kate at the beginning. She was adamant in her belief that the threats against her were not serious and made her feelings clear to Jonathan. He accepted her disbelief, but also made sure she knew that he would do his job regardless of her belief. Kate thought she was so clever when she ditched Jonathan until she ran into a situation when she felt threatened. Though her relief was real, she quickly convinced herself she imagined things.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kate and Jonathan. There was a connection between them from the start, one that Kate especially tried to resist as she preferred to concentrate on her work. Jonathan was intrigued by Kate, and his customarily detached attitude quickly turned personal. I loved the extra layer of protectiveness it brought out in him. I liked seeing them wiggle past each other's walls as they spent time together. But even though the feelings between them grew, neither believed anything could come of it because their jobs were half a country apart. I ached for Jonathan, who thought that Kate was way above his level, and missed her when he returned to Dallas. The scene at Mark and Kelli's wedding reception was sweet and romantic. I loved Jonathan's surprise and his realization that he now had everything he could wish for.

The suspense of the story was excellent. The intensity started pretty low but escalated rapidly once Kate arrived in New York. It seemed that no matter what Kate and Jonathan did, the bad guys were always right on their heels. I was glued to the pages when Jonathan had to trust an outsider to help when Kate was drugged. I loved the scenes with him and Jake and their uneasy alliance until Kate recovered. There were some unexpected twists as Jonathan, Kate, and Jake got closer to the truth. The final confrontation was fantastic and had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

 

Full Force Fatherhood — Tyler Anne Snell (HI #1634 - Apr 2016)

Series: Orion Security (Book 2)

Fatherhood was never in the cards…until an innocent family wrapped themselves around his heart…

Mark Tranton thought his bodyguard career ended the day he watched a client die. Now Kelli Crane -- the widow -- needs Mark to keep her and her little girl safe. Mark swears he's not the man for the job, but when the vulnerable beauty is attacked, there's no way he can deny the woman he failed two years before.

Being around Kelli again stirs something in Mark he could never admit. And spending time with her daughter makes him long to be more than just their personal protectors. But digging into the past riles someone who won't rest until Kelli pays the ultimate price. Mark refuses to allow that to happen. Even if he has to sacrifice their newly discovered happiness to keep her out of the line of fire.

Good book that had me hooked from the first chapter. A bodyguard situation went horribly wrong, leaving Kelli a widow and Mark suffering from intense guilt over not being able to save Victor. It was so bad that Mark left Orion Security, and cut himself off from his former friends. He never expected Kelli to show up at his door two years later, asking for his help.

Kelli grieved for her husband but made a new life for herself and her daughter Grace. When she found a hidden journal belonging to Victor, she realized that his death was more than just an accident. After a disturbing meeting with Victor's former editor, Kelli went to Mark. Mark was suspicious of the circumstances of Victor's death from the beginning but had never been able to prove anything. He was reluctant to get involved again, but when Kelli was attacked his protective instincts awakened.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Mark and Kelli. There were sparks between them from the first, though Mark tried to ignore them. The guilt he still felt over what he saw as his failure made him think that he was not good enough for her, though he was determined to keep her safe. The more time that he spent with Kelli and Grace, the more the walls around his heart began to crumble. I loved seeing him interact with Grace - the scene with the building blocks was adorable - and ached for him and the loneliness he felt. Kelli seemed to be more open to the feelings she experienced. She still grieved for Victor, but she also knew that it was possible to love again. I liked how Kelli was able to break through Mark's bonds of guilt and show him that he deserved a happy future. The ending was sweet, funny, and romantic.

The suspense of the story was excellent. From the moment Kelli discovered the journal the questions multiplied. As Mark and Kelli investigated, it was clear that someone wanted them to stop and would do anything to make it happen. I loved seeing Mark reconnect with his Orion friends and how they helped. The closer that Mark and Kelli got to the truth, the more the danger to them grew. The final confrontation was intense, with several surprises. I especially loved Kelli's strength and resourcefulness. Bad guys watch out when Mama Bear gets cornered! The resolution was highly satisfying. 

The secondary characters were terrific. I loved Kelli's friend Lynn, who was always there when Kelli needed her. She was a lot of fun and provided some light-hearted moments, especially in her interactions with Grace. She could also be as fierce as Kelli when it was called for. I liked seeing more of Mark's Orion friends and their support of him. Nikki irritated me at the beginning with her attitude towards Mark's pursuit of answers, but she came through in the end.