Feature and Giveaway: Fatal Courage by Misty Evans

He ruined her career…

In twenty-one missions, CIA golden girl Ruby McKellen has failed only once. Thanks to Navy SEAL Jaxon Sloan, the man who stole her heart and forced her to choose between him and her partner Elliot, she’s on probation and Elliot is in prison for national security crimes. To prove Elliot’s innocence and save her damaged career, Ruby is running an unsanctioned mission—but the only way to get the proof she needs is to go to Jax with her tail between her legs.

She wrecked his heart…

Jaxon left the Navy after the mission with Ruby in Morocco went south, but that one hot, unbelievable night with her will haunt him forever. Working for Shadow Force International now, his new assignment has brought him full circle—the CIA operative Jax’s testimony sent to prison has escaped and Jax has been ordered to hunt him down. Just like in Morocco, the one thing standing in his way is Ruby.

A second chance at love could prove fatal…

When Ruby’s life is threatened and Jax stumbles on information that might prove Elliot is innocent, guilt over putting the man in prison compels him to join her unsanctioned mission. What really happened that night six months ago? Is Elliot an honorable spy or a mastermind at manipulation? Ruby is the only one who can help Jax navigate the world of undercover lies and betrayal to find the truth.

In a battle of wills—and of hearts—Jax and Ruby must have the courage to face the truth about themselves, their past, and what it really means to betray someone you love.

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ARC Review: Exposing Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

Exposing Justice is a part of a series but each part of the series is a standalone that focuses on members of the Justice Team. When the book begins, Brice/Hawk, the Hero in the story is not quite a member of the Justice Team but as the book progresses he gets sucked in. Just in case you're like me and you started the series here, from what I can glean, the Justice Team is a group of men who investigate high level conspiracies and crimes. The issues in which the Justice Team involves itself are those that our elected officials pass on because they tend to be a direct or indirect part of the wrongdoing. And now you're up to speed.

Hope is the female lead in this story. She works in the office of public information for the US Supreme Court and receives a call from Brice about what could be a conspiracy to murder the Chief Justice of the High Court. As the story progresses, Hope goes from trying to prevent Brice from running a story about the alleged conspiracy on his investigative blog to being wild attracted to Brice and his partner in hunting for the truth of what happened to the Justice.

I was intrigued by the set up for this story. The opening scene is gripping and pulls you right in. At the beginning it feels like this is going to be a high level conspiracy theory type of read. But as the book goes on, the story loses steam instead of gaining steam. The suspense drags a bit because there aren't enough revelations close enough in time. At some points it feels like the suspense side of things is just a throw in to provide context for the relationship between Hope and Brice....Which brings me to my next point.

I didn't feel the chemistry between Hope and Brice. I got that Brice wanted Hope because she was hot but I didn't get a sense of what drew him to her beyond that. In fact, Brice seemed totally cynical about Hope's entire optimistic outlook on life. Now maybe he was cynical and yet drawn to it because he needed some "hope" in his life (see what I did there?). I dunno if that's true or not, it wasn't clearly depicted in the story line.

And then there was Hope, I jusssst didn't like her. She is supposed to be smart but she does some stupid stuff. For example, the whole bridge investigation in the middle of the night. I was just staring at my Kindle going 'but why though?' And then I know this is petty but Hope's semi narcolepsy and consequent snoring was just not doing anything positive for me. Finally, Hope kept saying stuff that annoyed the sh!t out of me like "wowser." And she also referred to her attraction to Brice as her inner Hormona. Get it, like hormones...I HATED that. And that's all I have to say about that.

Also sex, there wasn't enough and it took too long to get there.

One side note: I didn't get why Toni Gerard was thrown into the investigation plot. I thought he stole some scenes that should have been just Hope and Brice.

So at the end of the day, this was a well written book that had a good premise and a strong beginning but didn't carry the day in terms of romance or suspense. I've read reviews that suggest the other books in this series are good and that this may not be the strongest representation of the series. I believe that. These authors are good enough that I would give them another chance.

**ARC provided by Authors**

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Feature and Giveaway: Exposing Justice by Misty Evans & Adrienne Giordano

Fans of the Justice Team Series will love this action-packed third installment!

As a Public Information officer for the US Supreme Court, idealist Hope Denby knows how to spin a story. A journalist at heart, she loves being in the middle of a juicy scoop and has her sights set on future Press Secretary for the White House. When the Supreme Court Chief Justice is accidentally killed in a road rage accident, and a high-profile conspiracy blogger claims it was premeditated murder, Hope has to shut down the paranoid blogger—which should be a slam dunk until she discovers he’s not as crazy as she thought and she has more in common with the secretive, hard-hitting investigator then she’d like to admit.

Cyber resistance against government corruption isn’t just a theory for Brice Brennan on his blog, The First Amendment Patriot. As a former ATF agent who blew the whistle on his superiors, he’s no stranger to government cover-ups and scandals. An anonymous tip on the Chief Justice’s death sends him searching for answers. What he finds is a sexy, young idealist about to blow his private, behind-the-scenes world to pieces.

Brice and Hope couldn’t be more opposite, but exposing justice makes them partners—and puts them on the track of a ruthless killer. As their investigation takes them into the dark underbelly of Washington politics and murder-for-hire, it also takes them into the bedroom where passion erupts and emotional walls crumble. But when the killer makes an attempt on Hope’s life, will Brice be able to keep her safe? Or will blowing the whistle on corruption and greed mean losing the one person he’s allowed himself to love?

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Feature and Giveaway: Deadly Force by Misty Evans

Some secrets can kill…

NSA agent Bianca Marx is determined to save her marriage, even if it kills her…which it just might do since she knows a secret about her estranged husband’s last mission that has put a target on her back. A highly-skilled assassin is hot on her trail and the only man who can keep her safe doesn’t want anything to do with her.
She’ll be dead in 24 hours…unless he can save her.

After his marriage failed, Navy SEAL Callan Reese threw himself into his work. On his last black ops mission, three of his men—three good men who counted on him—were killed. Now PTSD and a military investigation have sidelined him…until Bianca shows up. She claims someone high up in the US government wants her dead, and the assassin after her is also after him.

The couple that spies together, dies together…

On the run from the very government they serve, Bianca and Cal only have each other. When they uncover a deadly scandal threatening the nation, they’ll have one chance to save the day…and one last chance at love.

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Feature and Giveaway: Operation Paris by Misty Evans

CIA operative Zara Morgan—codename Tango—has a reputation in Conrad Flynn’s secret army as a renegade. Once held at gunpoint by terrorist Alexandrov Dmitri, she was seconds from saving herself and arresting Dmitri when Lt. Commander Lawson Vaughn, the sexy leader of a covert ops team, intervened. She’s never lived down the fact that everyone—including her boss—believes Lawson is her knight in shining armor.

Former Navy man Lawson Vaughn doesn’t consider himself anyone’s savior. He lives and breathes protocol and hates the fact that his latest assignment is to babysit Zara while she hunts down Dmitri and stops the terrorist from releasing a biological weapon on the world.

But from the time they touch down in Paris, Lawson can’t resist Zara’s sassy attitude and dauntless bravery in the face of danger. When Dmitri kidnaps Zara and injects her with the contagious and deadly virus, Lawson is once again forced to come to her rescue, whether she likes it or not.

With unflinching determination and steadfast courage, Lawson must break all the rules to save Zara, even if it means becoming the one thing he can’t stand…a renegade.

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ARC Review: Cheating Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

I’m a fan of RS authors Adrienne Giordano and Misty Evans individually, so having them collaborate on a series is a treat. After thoroughly enjoying the first book in The Justice Team series, I jumped at the chance to read its follow-up, CHEATING JUSTICE. Who doesn’t love the pairing up of a renegade ex-FBI agent on the lam, a strait-laced FBI SWAT sniper on administrative leave, and an ex-ATF-agent-turned-government-watchdog-blogger on a mission to expose a government cover-up? Genius, and Ms. Giordano and Ms. Evans deliver with compelling characters, a gripping plot, witty dialogue, and searing sexual chemistry.

CHEATING JUSTICE starts off with a bang, with fugitive hero Mitch Monroe—on the run for the past year after assaulting his superior in the FBI for trying to sweep a politically-sensitive case under the rug—clandestinely meeting up with a childhood friend and current presidential aide to get info on the suspicious death of their other best friend, FBI Special Agent Tommy Nusco, during an ATF-FBI gun-running investigation… only to discover his friend murdered and himself the #1 suspect the next morning. That kicks Mitch’s investigation onto what went down to end with Tommy dead and labelled dirty—and how high up the government hierarchy the conspiracy to cover up the case goes—into high gear, and he seeks out one-time fling, former colleague under the same boss he assaulted (and whose career he nearly wrecked), and badass sniper Special Agent Caroline Foster. Initially, Caroline wants nothing to do with Mitch or his career-suicide mission, but classified case files and a dressing down from her superior for trying to access them changes her mind, and the two of them—plus a blogger they pick up along the way—embark on a quest for the truth that gets more complex and surprising with every lead they uncover.

The fast-paced and superbly-written suspense plot drew me in, but what really kept me turning the pages and rooting for the clearing of Tommy’s name were the characters. We met Mitch in the first book, STEALING JUSTICE, and got glimpses of his charm, loyalty, and act-now-think-later personality. The murders of his two closest friends force him out of hiding to investigate—with the FBI after him for murder in addition to insubordination & assault—and right back to the fellow agent he shared an unbelievable night of passion with. One he hoped would be the start of something but that Caroline ran scared from (but has never forgotten) before his Bureau career imploded and nearly incinerated hers. Mitch is an all-around good guy who doesn’t see himself that way and doesn’t let people in, a protector loyal to a fault, and single-minded in his pursuit of the truth and justice for his friends—even at the (potential) cost of his own freedom. The burn-the-book renegade attitude that made him a fugitive in the first place adds an edge to his charm and flirtatious banter… and those T-shirts: Bad Cop never looked so good! It’s refreshing that he’s the one wanting more, being upfront about it, and putting the brakes on something purely physical (again) with Caroline. More importantly, he’s the perfect counterpoint to Caroline’s control-freak and meticulous by-the-book personality, and the push-pull of their relationship and their prior history make for some entertaining banter and situations as Mitch coaxes her over to the dark side. Ms. Giordano and Ms. Evans do an excellent job creating a heroine that is completely kickass—a female sniper!—without compromising her femininity, and watching her finally learn to let go enough to admit her feelings for Mitch was very rewarding.

CHEATING JUSTICE is an excellent continuation of The Justice Team series and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable page-turning read. Looking forward to seeing what these talented authors have in store next for the motley Justice Team crew!

**ARC provided by Authors**

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Feature and Giveaway: Cheating Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

The second novel in the exciting and bestselling Justice Team romantic suspense series!!

While investigating a government cover-up, former FBI agent Mitch Monroe is framed for murder. A wanted man, Mitch has no choice but to stay off the grid, and he needs Special Agent Caroline Foster—the FBI’s top sniper and a woman who wants nothing to do with him—to clear his name.

After sharing a single night of simmering passion with Mitch a year ago, Caroline hasn’t been able to get him out of her head. Or her heart. He's jeopardized her job once…helping him now could end her career. But a friend has been murdered, and no matter how Caroline feels about Mitch, he's not the killer. She needs answers, and she needs Mitch Monroe out of her life once and for all.

On the run and with no one to turn to, Mitch and Caroline can’t fight the reigniting passion between them. She’ll lose her career if she proves Mitch is innocent…he’ll lose his life if she doesn’t.

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ARC Review: Operation Sheba by Misty Evans

I really like Misty Evans and the thrills and intrigue of spy books, so putting the two together in the Super Agent series is like book catnip. OPERATION SHEBA is the re-release of Ms. Evans’s debut novel with new editing and some bonus material, and it’s interesting to see the growth and maturity of her storytelling voice (much more polished in her later work) in the face of a newbie author’s growing pains. Though the story is a bit slow to get started, laying the operational background for the rest of the series, once it picks up it’s full of intrigue and high-stakes action layered atop a finely crafted political plot and a chillingly manipulative villain. The bulk of the romantic development—though central to the characters’ motivation—occurs prior to the start of the novel, so the balance is definitely shifted toward the suspense.

The story opens with CIA-analyst-turned-explosives-field-expert Julia Torrison and former-SEAL-turned-CIA-operator Conrad (Con) Flynn on an undercover mission in Germany to flush out and eliminate an arms dealer. The mission ends in a fiery explosion with Con in the middle of it and Julia is yanked back to Langley and given a new identity and job as an analyst in the CIA’s Counterterrorism Centre to protect her from enemies made in the field. But all is not as it seems and Con’s ‘death’—which Julia blames herself for, since she prepped the explosives—is part his elaborate plan to protect her and go deep undercover to hunt down a mole within the CIA that threatens to bring the Agency down. All the evidence points to Julia’s new lover and boss, and so Con must break cover after seventeen months to recruit his former lover and partner to help him investigate her current lover and bring down the traitor. Misdirection, subterfuge, disparate agendas, spy-on-spy spying, and attempts to frame and/or kill the good guys ensue and make for an intense, high-stakes game of cat and mouse that is well written and superbly paced. The CIA mole is chillingly Machiavellian with multiple backup plans to ensure a favourable outcome for a plan over a decade in the making but feels completely realistic, keeping the reader engaged and turning pages to see if (and how) the mole will get his/her comeuppance.

Whilst the action and suspense portions of the book were well done, the weakest link in the story for me was the romance. The love triangle is an extremely tough sell for me—a matter of personal preference—but props to Ms. Evans for making the reasons believable and the emotion genuine. When your partner and lover of five years is (supposedly) blown up in an explosion of your own making and a solid, all-around great bloke helps you piece your life back together, falling for him is inevitable. The sudden reappearance of the supposedly dead love of your life—who’s been keeping an eye on your for the past 17 months—is bound to bring back old feelings and cause significant confusion, and Ms. Evans does a good job portraying that. But since both of Julia’s romantic relationships developed before the start of the book, little page time is devoted to them, which made it hard for me to become emotionally invested in either relationship or feel like there was much relationship development. Part of that probably comes from my feelings about Julia: whilst I liked her well enough as a character (highly intelligent, kickass, with a tough past and a great reason to have chosen her career path—what’s not to like?), her behaviour in the context of the love triangle drove me mad. The flip-flopping and ‘whom should I choose?’ nature of triangles likely draws many readers to the trope, but it generally gives me reader whiplash, and this was definitely the case with Julia’s. I also found the two male vertices of the triangle to be almost laughably cliché: the edging-on-loose-cannon badass love of her life vs. the rock-solid good guy you bring home to meet your parents, complete with an all-out brawl to settle their claim on Julia.

Overall, OPERATION SHEBA was an enjoyable romantic suspense read that will delight readers who enjoy their thrills and espionage with a touch romance and creates a well-crafted world full of intriguing characters whose stories—the other books in the Super Agent series—will likely be equally satisfying reads.

**ARC provided by Author**

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ARC Review: The Perfect Hostage by Misty Evans

I’m not the biggest fan of novellas, since their short length generally leads to some often-unbelievable insta-love and minimal characterization that always leave me wanting more. When THE PERFECT HOSTAGE came across my desk, I didn’t even realise it was a novella (and one coming after four books in a series, to boot): all I saw was ‘Misty Evans’ and thought “done”. Especially when the premise is as intriguing as this one: an everyday woman who ‘kidnaps’ the ex-spec-ops operative she’s got a crush on for a weekend of no-strings-attached sexytimes (that will hopefully turn into more). THE PERFECT HOSTAGE is a fast-paced novella with scorching chemistry and nonstop action, but I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of the action without knowing all the players and would have benefitted from reading the previous books in the Super Agent series.

From what I could piece together, heroine Lucie Morgan is the illegitimate and foreign-raised child of billionaire financier Charles Morgan. In a previous book, she and her CIA operative half-sister were kidnapped by terrorists and rescued by hero John Quick and his partner and Lucie’s soon-to-be brother-in-law Lawson Vaughn. Attraction and shenanigans ensue before they part ways for reasons unknown to me, and now they’re back in the same place under the guise of Lucie’s sister’s baby shower but really as part of Lucie’s master plan to seduce him into getting over his relationship issues. The way John sees it, Lucie belongs in the rarefied world of the jet set that goes hand-in-hand with her surname and trust fund, and not with some middle-class bloke with a dangerous job that could be the death of him any day and no idea how to deal with emotions. But Lucie doesn’t care about money or social standing: all she wants is a family (especially since the only Morgan who doesn’t treat her like a leper is her half-sister) and to belong. Preferably to John, star of her fantasy sexcapades since the rescue. Even though we only get a short time with Lucie, I really liked her: she’s not afraid to go after what she wants (namely one sexy operative—see the entire premise of the weekend), but her need for her father’s approval and a sense of belonging also give her a relatable edge of vulnerability. John is your typical alpha hero with a crappy childhood: badass, a (former) player with commitment issues, and an innate protector, but I really liked how he stood up for Lucie to her wanker of a father and called him on his snobbery. And the two of them have great chemistry that’s equal parts hot and fun and that Ms. Evans writes with great aplomb (getting caught in the middle of a major snogfest by Lucie’s father? Hilarious).

The entire story takes place over a weekend, so the unrealistic insta-love of novellas comes into play but is mitigated by John and Lucie’s pre-existing ‘relationship’. In the middle of their idyllic weekend, a villain from their shared past breaks in and all hell breaks loose, kicking the story into high gear. The villain’s motivation is a bit hokey and John practically turns into Superman when facing the bad guys, but suspend your disbelief and hang on for the over-the-top thrill ride. Ms. Evans does a great job writing fast-paced action scenes that are a blast (no pun intended) to read: you won’t blink an eye when someone full-body tackles a gun-toting villain after being stabbed in the back with a cake server because you’re having so much fun rooting for the good guys.

As with all novellas (for me), THE PERFECT HOSTAGE didn’t have enough substance to make it a top-notch read, but it has everything I love about Misty Evans and makes for a quick read with enjoyable characters, humour, and hot sexytimes in novella-sized doses. It piqued my interest in the Super Agent world, so I’m off to check out the rest of the series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Stealing Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

I'm always on the lookout for new romantic suspense reads, and having enjoyed Adrienne Giordano's Private Protectors series, picking up her new RS collaboration with Misty Evans (whose solo books I haven't yet read, but will surely check out now) was a no-brainer. Renegade ex-FBI agent(s) hell-bent on justice and righting wrongs, a mission to infiltrate a high-priced escort ring, and political intrigue? Sold! I thoroughly enjoy RS that's lighter on the romance if the suspense storyline is strong and the characters compelling, and STEALING JUSTICE-- the book that kicks off the new The Justice Team series-- thoroughly delivers on its promise.

STEALING JUSTICE is very much a suspense book--lighter on the heart-pounding action than a thriller and less a whodunit than a mystery-- but still manages to throw in a few curveballs. Hero Justice "Grey" Greystone, former Army Ranger and FBI agent whose law enforcement career is in the toilet for insubordination, is hot on the trail of a serial killer known as The Lion and determined to prove it's a powerful Lebanese diplomat who hunts in a private DC club frequented by the political glitterati and high-priced call girls. The investigation and its potential political fallout cost Grey and his partner Monroe (the hero of the next book in the series) their FBI careers, but Grey is obsessed with catching The Lion and returning to the FBI. Heroine Sydney Banfield runs a shelter for victims of domestic violence and (undoubtedly illegally) helps some of the women 'disappear' to escape their abusive husbands. The Lion's last three victims were women that passed through her shelter and supposedly moved on to government jobs but were instead recruited into the escort ring. In Syd, Grey sees the perfect bait to trap The Lion: a smart, sexy woman who can infiltrate the call girl ring to catch The Lion's attention but hold her own against him. And in Grey's off-the-books mission, Syd sees a way to keep a vicious predator from hurting any more women. In true suspense fashion, most of the book is spent setting and springing the trap, building the tension and wondering if The Lion will take the bait and be caught-- and the quality writing and pacing keep the tension taut throughout. There is also enough action and an unexpected twist to keep the reader thoroughly engrossed in the story and eager to keep turning pages.

I'm one of those people who can't fully enjoy a book--no matter how good the plot-- unless I m emotionally invested in the characters. I really, really liked both Grey and Syd, and who they were together. They're both beautifully and realistically flawed characters whose pasts have defined who they are, and bringing those flaws together brings out the best in each other. Grey is a natural protector, alpha without being autocratic (though he likes to be in control because that lets him protect those he loves better-- that Rules of Engagement scene is both incredibly touching and hilarious), and incredibly loyal-- characteristics I love in a hero! He carries a boatload of guilt for having been unable to protect his younger sister from being killed by her stoned-off-his-ass boyfriend, and that crushing guilt and sense of failure drive him and fuel his singleminded determination to stop The Lion by any means necessary. That mile-wide protective streak and unwavering loyalty put him at odds with himself over throwing Syd into the lion's den, and he spends the bulk of the book torn between selfishly using Syd to get what he wants and keeping her tucked safely away. I'm a sucker for a man that bears the weight of the world on his shoulders and learns to unload some of the burden aided by the love of a good woman, and Grey has that in spades. And he's just so sweet and steady--exactly what Syd needs-- that I just want to take him home... oh, those cupcakes!

Syd is equally flawed and shaped by her past: her mother's sexual assault by the powerful diplomat she worked for that left her confined to a psychiatric hospital is the reason Syd is incredibly mistrustful of men and does the heartbreaking work she does. It's also led her to develop this tough-chick, in-your-face-sexy façade that Grey immediately sees through--and it's equal parts heartwarming and hilarious to watch him try to resist and redirect when Syd goes into full seduction mode. Given her experiences, Syd is also incredibly strong, independent, and smart--my favourite type of heroine!-- and, like Grey, is willing to do whatever it takes to bring a monster down. She and Grey continually butt heads over how to go about catching The Lion, and watching their interactions, their budding emotional intimacy, and how each learns to open up to the other is really satisfying. This was a couple I was rooting for from the beginning, and the ending was incredibly sweet.

I thoroughly enjoyed STEALING JUSTICE, from the writing to the plot to the wit & humour to the characters, and look forward to reading Monroe's story and seeing what else these two talented authors have planned for the Justice Team series.

**ARC provided by Author**

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Feature and Giveaway: Stealing Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

If you love Scandal, you’ll love Stealing Justice.

Justice “Grey” Greystone was fired from the FBI for insubordination. Now the FBI wants him to use his renegade skills to take down a serial killer who’s above the law. To trap the Lion, Grey will need to send the perfect woman undercover.

Sydney Banfield runs a women’s shelter and bends the law daily to help victims of abuse escape their painful lives. Three of the women she’s recruited for government jobs have become victims of the Lion. If Syd has her way, the vicious killer will never touch another woman again.

Grey and Sydney set a trap—with Sydney as the sexy bait—but the Lion adds a complex twist to his homicidal agenda. With Sydney’s life on the line, Grey must race against the clock to catch a killer who’s as unstoppable as he is evil.

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