Forever Yours | March 1, 2016 | Military Romance
Alpha Ops, book 5
★★★★
SOURCE: BARCLAY PUBLICITY
It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. But when her wedding erupts in gunfire, Sadie Walker realizes this is not the life she wants - her fiancé’s work with Delta Force will always cast a shadow over their relationship. After leaving the hard-muscled hero at the altar, she thinks she’ll never see him again . . . until a chance encounter reveals that he still has a strong grip on her heart.On a covert assignment overseas, Simon Tennant is shocked when he spots Sadie with another man. Jealousy flares, as does an irresistible urge to keep her protected. Amid a dangerous game of international espionage, he’ll have to convince Sadie just how perfect they’ve always been together. This time, nothing will take precedence over winning her back, no matter the cost to his cover - or his life . . .
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{ about emmy curtis } .
Emmy Curtis is an editor and a romance writer. An ex-pat Brit, she quells her homesickness with Cadbury Flakes and Fray Bentos pies. She's lived in London, Paris and New York, and has settled for the time being, in North Carolina. When not writing, Emmy loves to travel with her military husband and take long walks with their Lab. All things considered, her life is chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. And if you get that reference...well, she already considers you kin.{ excerpt } .
He remained in the shadows as Sadie let herself into her tiny apartment. He wanted a second to watch her before making his presence known.When Simon had let himself in, all the shutters had been closed, leaving the room much cooler than it had been outside in the afternoon sun. But as soon as he had eyes on her, he felt the temperature rising uncomfortably.
He was about to step out of the shadows, but barely before she’d put her purse down, she’d stripped off her crazy Hello Kitty T-shirt and unzipped her denim skirt. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t say anything. Her body looked stronger than it had the last time he’d seen her naked. Dammit. His dick twitched in reaction to the new Sadie. Her shorter hair, the way it framed her face. Her long legs and full breasts. He blinked, thinking about the days and nights they’d spent together. It felt like years ago. It felt like yesterday too. His fingers itched to touch her; his mouth watered to taste her again.
Sadie flopped on the bed, arms and legs splayed to take advantage of the ceiling fan’s downdraft. She moaned as the air touched her skin. He watched as her nipples grew in the cool air. Goddamnit, this was obscene. He couldn’t stand here getting off. Why didn’t she stay in her freaking clothes? She stretched and…he couldn’t take any more.
He cleared his throat, and she jumped up.
“What the…?”
He stepped forward with his hands showing. Force of habit. He doubted Sadie had the wherewithal to shoot him.
“Who is…Simon? Simon? What the hell? What are you doing here…in my apartment? What?” She looked around her as if looking for something to hit him with.
He grabbed her silky robe from the chair in the corner and handed it to her, the other hand still aloft. All her questions were valid, for sure. He didn’t know why he’d been hoping for a slightly warmer welcome. Or even a welcome at all. He knew they’d parted on…if not bad, then awkward terms.
And he’d just witnessed her moving on with that young man.
“How dare you…” She struggled into her robe and tied it so tight that he was surprised she could breathe. He made the mistake of smiling at the thought. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing here? Did you”—she looked at the door—“did you break into my home? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Her eyes blazed with an intensity he’d never seen before. Especially not directed at him. “Get out. Get the fuck out.” She crossed her arms as if to punctuate the sentence.
She was so sexy when she was pissed. “I saw you in the street but didn’t want to interrupt you…” He let the sentence trail off just enough to let her know where he’d seen her. He didn’t really know why it was important, but somehow it just was. Why the hell was he here? He started to get that itchy feeling as if he were about to be ambushed. It was an instinct that had served him well in the field. He sighed. “You’re right. I just didn’t want to blow my cover by talking to you in public. I shouldn’t have let myself in. It’s just…almost second nature to me now. I’m sorry. I’ll go.”He waited a second for her to protest, but she didn’t. Her eyes just narrowed infinitesimally. Even her facial expressions had changed. Before, her whole face was open to laughter, sadness, happiness—everything was written clearly on her face. But now he hesitated. He couldn’t get a read on her at all. It was like she wasn’t the Sadie he’d known. Was she in some kind of trouble? Was that why she was in Athens? But no. Remembering her snuggling up to that…that boy—nothing about that had seemed stressful to him.
{ review } .
Sadie was excited to marry the love of her life.
...but when his job literally came knocking on their front door, she had more than serious doubts and called off the wedding. The one who got away, Simon was taken aback when he sees Sadie in a hotel lobby in a liplock with another man a year later.
When they left one another, Sadie was not CIA -- it was their breakup that had her wanting the major change in her life. Well, she got it. While her current mission is meant to be 'soft', it's going to blow up in a whole new way.
Ms. Curtis lost me a little bit in the last two Alpha Ops titles. I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry both couples had, but for whatever reason, the story-lines had me forcing myself to read. With Compromised, I feel that we are getting back to the writing styles, character styles, and plot line styles of the first two titles in the series, and I completely enjoyed the journey Simon and Sadie embark upon.
Equally, I enjoyed the moments of character re-introduction. While some of these character lines felt so far off from one another, it was fun seeing how Ms. Curtis interwove them. Sadie is good friends with Harry from Pushing the Limit; Harry was to be Sadie's Maid of Honor. And as Simon and Matt were friends and partners in crime, the (soon to be non-)wedding of Sadie and Simon was what had Matt and Harry meeting one another.
I enjoy second-chance romance stories, and found that Sadie and Simon's journey was a good one. There were some moments that felt a bit longer than others, but once the ball started rolling with their romance and the two of them trying to move forward, nevermind that year gap, their story was enjoyable. Sadie may have made a rash decision in walking away from Simon, but it was seeing him in his element that had her wanting to understand, and I found that to be the biggest character driven quality in her.
These two will certainly never be 'normal', but their normal was certainly beautiful.
...but when his job literally came knocking on their front door, she had more than serious doubts and called off the wedding. The one who got away, Simon was taken aback when he sees Sadie in a hotel lobby in a liplock with another man a year later.
Ms. Curtis lost me a little bit in the last two Alpha Ops titles. I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry both couples had, but for whatever reason, the story-lines had me forcing myself to read. With Compromised, I feel that we are getting back to the writing styles, character styles, and plot line styles of the first two titles in the series, and I completely enjoyed the journey Simon and Sadie embark upon.
Equally, I enjoyed the moments of character re-introduction. While some of these character lines felt so far off from one another, it was fun seeing how Ms. Curtis interwove them. Sadie is good friends with Harry from Pushing the Limit; Harry was to be Sadie's Maid of Honor. And as Simon and Matt were friends and partners in crime, the (soon to be non-)wedding of Sadie and Simon was what had Matt and Harry meeting one another.
I enjoy second-chance romance stories, and found that Sadie and Simon's journey was a good one. There were some moments that felt a bit longer than others, but once the ball started rolling with their romance and the two of them trying to move forward, nevermind that year gap, their story was enjoyable. Sadie may have made a rash decision in walking away from Simon, but it was seeing him in his element that had her wanting to understand, and I found that to be the biggest character driven quality in her.
These two will certainly never be 'normal', but their normal was certainly beautiful.
"I just want to always remember you like this. Beautiful, rolling your eyes, and suffering from a battle injury. You're perfect." --Simon
{ previous reviews in series } .
BLOWBACK 4★ { review }
and coming soon....
the conclusion to the Alpha Ops series - May 3, 2016
Abby Baston told herself it was a hit and quit, a one-nighter with a hot, handsome stranger whose hands were trained to take action. Working undercover for the CIA, she can’t risk anything more. But when an international crisis ignites, Abby must make a call: trust Mal with her secret—and her heart—and partner up, or lose everything in a split second . . .
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