Series: Standalone
Traits & Tropes: heroine needs hero's help to save her adopted sister
Genre/Setting: Contemporary/Romantic Suspense/Thriller; Northern Africa
Publication Date: 09.01.20
Heat Level: 2.5/5
Rating: 2/5
When her adopted younger sister is kidnapped from boarding school, CIA operative Alisa Flynn throws all the rules out the window. She begins by circumnavigating top notch security to break into the residence of billionaire genius Gabe Korgan, only to be caught by the man himself. She knows she has to convince him to help, even if it costs her career.
When he learns of schoolgirls having been kidnapped in northern Africa, Gabe realizes he and Alisa now have a mutual enemy and Gabe has the means, skills, and equipment to help. There are many innocents to save so Alisa keeps her personal reasons for taking on this mission to herself at first, but soon the truth inevitably comes out and emotions between Alisa and Gabe become very charged.
Even after calling in backup from their very skilled friends, Alisa and Gabe’s carefully laid plans are impossible to perfect in an ever-changing situation. The whole team’s bravery will be tested if they have any hope of succeeding and saving the hostages.
This book was definitely a lot farther from my usual fare than I expected it to be. To be perfectly honest, this one was a bit of a slog for me. The action was rather few and far between with lots of buildup that just got tedious and didn’t hold my attention. I expected a lot more suspense from this as a thriller. Gabe was an interesting character with a ton of achievements, but he never came off as arrogant to me and was actually quite likable. Alias on the other hand, though skilled, had way too much arrogance and her ‘I can do things on my own, I’m the one in charge’ attitude was extremely off-putting, especially given the fact that she was the one begging for Gabe’s help. I didn’t really understand what he saw in her. Sure, Gabe and Alisa had chemistry and sexual tension, but I think that was mostly down to the danger and stress of their situation. I couldn’t really see them as a couple unless Alisa made some serious changes, but as it stood she seemed too determined to do things herself, just for the sake of saying she didn’t need help, to ever be a partner in a real relationship. Overall, Alisa was too petulant and conceited for me to like her or root for her, and all under the guise of her being a strong, independent woman. I just don’t buy it; independence and strength don’t have to be arrogant.
After all that buildup, I thought the ending was a bit flat and there was also an odd overuse of exclamation marks. I guess this was to tell me I should be thrilled because I really wasn’t. it’s very rarely in me to DNF, but it did take me a while to get through this one. Others may like this one, it just wasn’t quite doing it for me. As my first read from this author, I’ll probably still try something else of hers, but this will not a be a reread or a keeper for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3549639966
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1942857050
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