My code name is Aries. The stars say I'm aggressive,
dominant, first in line to lead.
The stars aren't wrong.
Zodiac Tactical is my company. It's run by those I've
chosen for their skills and ability to outmaneuver adversaries. We guard,
protect, rescue…assist on the side of the angels.
We eliminate the threat when nobody else can.
My pastime of putting bad guys out of business has
created powerful enemies, but I've always made sure there was nothing in my
life I couldn't live without.
Until now. Until her.
She's not a warrior, she's an artist. She sees colors
everywhere and greets the world—and me—with a smile. I knew I shouldn't come
near her from the beginning, but she's everything I've never been able to be.
And now a monster has taken her, caged her, to get even
with me.
My code name is Aries. And I will burn the world to the
ground to get her back.
Wow. Just wow. Outstanding start to the new series. As an
avid fan of Janie Crouch's books, I couldn't wait to read this book. Wavy is a
familiar character from the Linear Tactical series, where she is Finn (Eagle)
and Baby's (Baby) sister. Ian popped up in Blaze to help the LT crew.
Ian is the owner and leader of Zodiac Tactical, a private
company that provides security, hostage rescue, and other things that the
government/law enforcement can't or won't get involved with. At the core of his
mission, personal and professional, is the need to wipe out the group Mosaic
once and for all. Ian is an intense man, brooding, guarded, and super-protective
of those he cares about.
Wavy is an artist. She sees the world through a kaleidoscope
of colors and brings that light to everyone she knows. She is cheerful and friendly
and occasionally a bit mischievous (Electric Smurfs).
Code Name: Aries grabbed me from the first pages and
didn't let go until the end. Between the suspense of not knowing what would
happen from one moment to the next and the romance between two incredible
people, I was glued to the pages from start to finish. I loved the first
meeting between Wavy and Ian. Who else but Wavy would take on a suspected
Mosaic operative with a tray of pie? Ian's reaction was pretty mild considering
the circumstances, and I laughed out loud when Baby and Zac showed up. Even
better, I loved the effect Wavy had on Ian, "Especially when I didn't understand
it myself. It was something about her smile." Right there, you know Ian is
toast. Wavy isn't much better. After dreaming about painting him and
remembering the feelings he stirred the day before, Wavy decided to
"accidentally" encounter him in the city the next day. She never
expected to get caught up in his latest op and end up rescuing him.
I loved watching the relationship between Ian and Wavy
develop. Ian tries to resist, but it's impossible. Something about Wavy, her
smile, and the way she sees the world brings out a softer side of him. At the
same time, Wavy sees Ian the man, not the wealthy, dangerous operative. She
senses his torment and does what she can to relieve it. The chemistry between
them is off the charts, but so is the sweetness of some of their time together.
A revenge-seeking man from Ian's past sets his sights on
using Wavy to get to Ian. The terror Ian felt when Wavy disappeared broke my
heart as he threw everything he had at finding her. Seeing what Wavy endured
brought to mind Ray's story in Ghost and emphasized Wavy's determination to
survive. The twists and turns of the search kept the intensity high as every
minute counted to get to her before it was too late. I cried at her condition when
Ian found her and felt his heart ache for her. The author's description of Wavy's
"bubble" existence vividly showed the depth of her trauma. Ian's experience
made him the perfect person to help Wavy recover, and I loved seeing her
respond to him.
I loved how Wavy eventually calls Ian on his excessive
protectiveness. She fights hard for her recovery and pushes herself, desperate to
provide the information Ian needs. A stunning twist puts Wavy back in danger. I
loved watching Ian unravel the clues that Wavy unknowingly left behind and know
exactly what they meant. I ached for Ian, who had to face the nightmares of his
past to rescue her. The intensity of his confrontation with his nemesis kept me
glued to the pages straight through to its fantastic resolution.
I ached for Ian and Wavy because they still had some
obstacles to overcome. Ian won my heart with the depth of his love for Wavy and
his understanding of all she endured. My heart broke for Wavy as she struggled to
regain the ability to trust herself and pushed Ian away while she did it. Their
reunion at the end was fantastic. I laughed when Wavy threw everyone into chaos
by ditching her security so she could finally face Ian. I loved how Ian showed,
once again, that he understands her: "They're all pieces of you" and "these
allowed me to feel like you were with me, even when you weren't." I loved
seeing Wavy finally see that their love and trust will see them through
anything as long as they are together.
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