Deadly Testimony - Piper J. Drake (Carina Press - May 2016)

Series: Safeguard (Book 2)

The stakes have never been higher as an elite team member must outwit a dangerous killer and save the man she's sworn to protect.

Kyle Yeun didn't start out bad and he doesn't intend to end his life while on the wrong side of the law, either. His testimony to his former employer's environmental misdeeds has earned him a protection detail compliments of the US government. But due to a dark international conspiracy Kyle was unaware of, his former employers have made ending his life a top priority. Realizing he needs more protection than the US Marshals can provide, he turns to Safeguard after seeing the beautiful, deadly Lizzy Scott in action.

One look at Kyle, and sniper Lizzy Scott knows this isn't going to be an easy protection job. He's arrogant, irritating and almost irresistible. Instead of being put off by her hardened attitude, Kyle seems to thrive off the challenge. And she's slowly giving in to his charms. After narrowly escaping the latest assassination attempt, Lizzy starts taking dangerous risks to keep him safe. But the last thing Kyle wants is another life ruined because of his actions. He found his redemption in Lizzy's arms and he'll risk everything to make sure they both make it out alive. As will she, even if it means walking away from him to keep him safe.

Terrific book with excellent balance between romance and suspense. Lizzy is an ex-military no-nonsense member of Centurion, where she frequently serves as the sniper for her team. As this book opens, she has just finished an assignment and is about "peopled" out. She wants to get to her hotel room, take a hot bath, and relax, so she isn't thrilled to find the elevators blocked. Three goons have cornered a man and are doing their best to intimidate him. When they blow off her request for them to move, she takes matters into her own hands. Lizzy is relatively petite in stature and is accustomed to being underestimated. She handily defeats them, freeing the man from their clutches, and goes on her way.

Kyle is currently under the protection of the US Marshals and the Seattle police while he prepares to testify against his former employers. Unfortunately, Kyle doesn't like being confined and tends to slip away from his minders whenever he can. This puts him in additional danger. Kyle is impressed by Lizzy's actions and tracks her down, hiring her to provide extra security.

I loved both Lizzy and Kyle. Lizzy is a bit of a loner due to her place as a sniper, but she knows that to advance, she has to work with others. She is at a crossroads where she has to decide if she'll go back to Centurion on a fire team, or stick with the Safeguard division and take single- or two-person jobs. She is very professional, nearly unflappable, and hates distractions. There is also a feminine side to her that she keeps pretty well hidden from others, though Kyle figures it out pretty quickly. Kyle is smart, honorable, and a bit of a wise-ass. He first came across as a bit arrogant and even a little smarmy with his innuendo-laden comments. But mostly he's frustrated with his protectors for keeping him in the dark and simply telling him what to do with no explanation. He'd be a lot more cooperative if he were allowed to participate in his own safety.

The sparks between Kyle and Lizzy were there from the beginning. Lizzy wasn't too happy about it because there's no room for distraction when you're trying to keep someone safe. Kyle also feels the sparks and derives a great deal of enjoyment out of jerking Lizzy's chain with his blatant innuendos. I loved their banter as he implies, and she shoots him down. The pages almost burst into flame during their sparring session and I loved their honest talk about what is building between them. Over the next few days, as they are with each other 24/7, under stressful circumstances, I loved seeing them get to know each other and share some of the things that have made them who they are. They both acknowledge that there is something special there and that only time will tell whether it will last. I loved seeing both of them learn to let go of a little control and depend on the other. I especially liked that Kyle is willing to listen to Lizzy's instructions and doesn't get bent out of shape when he isn't in charge. The ending was great, as each decided what was best for their future, then found a way to make their relationship work with it.  

The suspense of the story kept me glued to the pages. Lizzy takes her job seriously and has no problem going off the grid when multiple attacks happen in a short period of time. Lizzy realizes that someone desperately wants to keep Kyle from testifying, leading her to believe that he knows more than he thinks he does. I loved watching the lengths Lizzy went to as they made their way through Seattle right under the bad guys' noses. I also liked how she was willing to consider alternate plans when they made sense. The scene at the charity gala was fantastic, especially with Kyle taking the lead with his "hide in plain sight" strategy. The intensity increased as the trial grew closer and the bad guys used Kyle's sister and nephew as bait. I was on the edge of my seat during the final confrontation as Plan A turned to Plan B on the fly. It did come to a satisfying conclusion, though I get the feeling we haven't seen the last of that company.

Hidden Impact - Piper J. Drake (Carina Press - Nov 2015)

Series: Safeguard (Book 1)

Meet the men of Centurion Corporation - an elite group of mercenaries who will go to any extreme to complete a mission - even risk their hearts.

He's not the hero she's looking for As part of the elite Centurion Corporation team, military-veteran-turned-mercenary Gabriel Diaz is a natural defender. He'll do anything to ensure a mission is successful. Anything but get emotionally invested - he learned the hard way that can be deadly. Easy bodyguard jobs in between the more challenging missions are all he's interested in now.

Maylin Cheng is desperate and running out of time. Her younger sister has gone missing but no one seems to take her concern seriously. Her last hope lies in asking an aloof bodyguard for help. He dismisses her outright, but all that changes when she is almost killed in a not-so-accidental hit-and-run right before his eyes.

As Maylin leans on Gabriel, she begins to rely on him for more than just her safety. But as their attraction grows, so does the danger surrounding them. When the elaborate web they're trapped in unravels, Gabriel will do anything to protect them. Even if that means putting his heart in the crosshairs.

This was a good start to the series, with plenty of action and a terrific romance to go with it. Maylin is a caterer, working a high-end event. One of her goals is to talk to the security people working there. Her younger sister, a brilliant geneticist, disappeared during a conference in China, and Maylin can't get anyone to take her worry seriously. She's heard good things about the people of Centurion and desperately hopes that they can help her. Her hopes are dashed when Gabe turns her down flat.

Gabe and his team are on "light duty" after a mission that resulted in injuries. Working a charity event is almost boring, but it's better than sitting around doing nothing. When Maylin first approached him, he thought she was looking for a hook-up. When he heard her reason, he bluntly told her that her case was hopeless. First, she couldn't afford them, and second, her sister was probably dead anyway. But when he later witnesses her nearly run down by a hit-and-run driver, he thinks that there may be more to her sister's disappearance than either of them suspects.

I liked the interweaving of the romance and the suspense. There are sparks between Gabe and Maylin from the beginning, but Gabe prefers to keep his emotions well away from the job. A recent relationship with a coworker that ended very badly only reinforced that feeling. But there is something about Maylin that gets under his skin, and he can't deny the protectiveness he feels toward her. Though he is ready to help her find her sister, rescuing the girl is a different matter, once they get a good idea of where she is. Though he is willing, the boss is adamant that they can't spare the resources. That is until new information comes to light. It was interesting to see the abrupt about-face, and how suddenly everyone was all-in.

It was sweet to see how happy Maylin was when Gabe agreed to help her. One of the things I liked about her was her love of taking care of people, and how she expressed it with food. She has a stellar reputation as a caterer, and it shows. I laughed out loud at the team's reactions to the meals she cooked for them.

I liked seeing the development of their relationship. Though he tries to resist, Gabe can't help caring about what happens to Maylin. Though he is pretty gruff and practical on the outside, inside there is a core of kindness that really comes out around her. It was funny to see his mind keep drifting to the idea of keeping Maylin in his life, then coming up with reasons it couldn't happen. Maylin is a woman used to being independent and relying on herself, but she finds it very easy to lean on Gabe and to trust him. Her heart quickly gets involved, but she knows that anything permanent between them is unlikely. I loved seeing them grow closer and ached for them and their belief that nothing could come of it. I liked the ending, and how a little bit of foreshadowing came to pass and provided a chance for them to have that future - if only they were brave enough to take the opportunity.

The suspense was terrific. From the first attack on Maylin, it was evident that there was more behind her sister's disappearance. Things became even more complicated during a trip to DC and the Chinese embassy. Gabe makes contact with someone who has some interesting information to share. He is also confronted by his ex-girlfriend, the same one who betrayed their team, went over to a rival firm, and shot him in the back. Jewel's involvement proves that An-Mei's disappearance is much more complicated than they knew. I was impressed by the realism of Centurion's investigation, as they dealt with road-blocks and the knowledge that things might not go their way. The rescue mission was a nail-biter, especially with some of the twists they had to deal with. There was an extra twist at the end that I didn't expect, and I'm still not sure I fully understand. I do get the feeling that they aren't entirely done with the bad guys yet.