Innocent Hostage - Juno Rushdan (HI #1999 - May 2021)

Series: Hard Core Justice Thriller (Book 4)

They'll do anything to save their son's life…
 
Even work together.
 
Their marriage is nearly over. But then Deputy US Marshal Allison Chen-Boyd and FBI hostage negotiator Henry Boyd learn their eight-year-old son has been kidnapped. They'll work together -- temporarily, of course -- to capture the dangerous cartel hell-bent on vengeance. But as danger mounts and bombs lurk around every corner, they'll have to learn to trust each other again to save their embattled family.
 
Good book that sucked me in from the beginning and kept me hooked to the last page. As part of the joint task force working to stop a drug cartel, both Allison and Henry appeared in earlier books in the series. Even then, the tension between them is evident, and here we have their story. As this book opens, Allie and Henry have been separated for six months and are in the middle of a contentious divorce. When their eight-year-old son is kidnapped, they must put aside their differences and work together to get him back.
 
Allison is a deputy US Marshal who played a big part in separating the cartel leader from his daughter, and he vowed revenge. He demands the impossible, and Allie and Henry must find a way to save Ben. The suspense and action took place over just a few days, keeping the intensity high throughout. Not only did we get the good guys' point of view, but the villains also received enough page time to maintain the tension as the reader sees their plans. As Allie and Henry run into obstacles thrown up by their own side (especially Allie's - I really do not like her boss!), they realize their best bet is to depend on each other. Some of the chances they took risked everything but paid off in the end. Henry's coworkers seemed much more reasonable and provided critical help in finding Ben. Their methods fascinated me, and I loved seeing the process. The final confrontation with the kidnappers was a nail-biter, with an unexpected twist in the resolution. I liked the lead-in to the next book.
 
I enjoyed seeing Allie and Henry find their way past the issues that drove them apart. Miscommunications, misunderstandings, and misconceptions created conflict that they could have resolved if they'd swallowed their pride and talked to each other. Henry's inability to express his emotions about a tragic event in their past led to Allie thinking he didn't care. Add in a coworker of Henry's that ran up against Allie's insecurities, and you have a recipe for misery. Henry doesn't want a divorce. He loves his wife and son and will do whatever is necessary to make them happy. Allie still loves Henry, but her trust took a hit. As they put aside their differences to save Ben, they also began to talk about what went wrong. I liked that both of them admitted fault rather than one taking all of the blame. As they let go of their past hurts, the love they shared had a chance to resurface. Some great scenes showed them at their professional best, made possible by their rekindled trust. The ending was terrific as they found a compromise that worked for both of them.
 
The secondary characters were well done also. The cartel leader continues to show his ruthless side and makes it easy to root for his downfall. The kidnappers were more than cookie-cutter villains and had well-developed characters. I especially ached for Lourdes, torn between her love for her brother and her horror of his actions. I liked how she cared for Ben. She earned major points for her actions at the end. Her brother, Javier, was a scary guy from the get-go, with only his love for his sister giving him any humanity. I still don't like Allie's boss, who I find obnoxiously self-centered, more concerned with his advancement than being an effective leader. I liked Henry's boss and coworkers and seeing them go all-out to help one of their own. My favorite was Ben. He was a quick thinker for a kid and showed it early on. Thanks to his memory and observation skills, he also played a big part in the lead-in to the next book. 

Unsuspecting Target - Juno Rushdan (HI #2006 - June 2021)

Series: Hard Core Justice Thriller (Book 5)

Can they right past wrongs
when an enemy's out to steal their future?
 
Ten years ago, Jagger Carr saved Wendy Haas's life. Circumstances pulled them apart soon after, but when an assassin targets her at a Manhattan charity gala, Wendy has no choice but to trust Jagger, who's now deep undercover. Not even their warring feelings can stop desire from reigniting. But the vengeful cartel gunning for them could destroy any hope for a second chance.
 
Good action-packed second chance romance. Ten years earlier, Wendy and Jagger were a couple until he killed a man saving her life, and the aftermath tore them apart. Jagger went to prison, and Wendy went on to become a well-known PR specialist. While attending a charity fundraiser, Wendy sees Jagger in the crowd and, as she attempts to avoid him, finds herself the target of an assassin. In a heart-pounding series of events, Jagger arrives in time to save her and whisk her away. But their troubles aren't over as he reveals that Wendy is the subject of a hit from a powerful cartel leader.
 
Jagger is an intriguing character. As the son of the cartel leader's lawyer, Jagger grew up familiar with the cartel but not part of it. He escaped to the military for a short time, but his father's death profoundly affected him. When Jagger went to prison, he had difficult choices to make. I ached for him as he explained those choices to Wendy and why he stayed away from her. But his feelings for her never died, nor had his need to protect her.
 
Heartbroken when Jagger went to prison and blamed her, Wendy concentrated on school and then her career. Smart and quick-thinking, she's a wiz at rehabbing people's images. She has some choice words for Jagger when she learns how long he's been out of prison and has not contacted her.
 
I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Jagger and Wendy. Thrown together under highly stressful conditions, it's no surprise that their emotions become equally volatile. Each of them must learn to trust the other as they work together to avoid their pursuers. Jagger's protectiveness sometimes runs up against Wendy's determination to be part of the solution. I liked seeing her stand up to him and his growing acceptance of her capabilities. The depth of their feelings for each other is evident, but Jagger's belief that he's not good enough for her creates an obstacle. I liked how Wendy overcame his objections and how Jagger felt hopeful for the first time in a very long time. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up.
 
The suspense of the story was fantastic and kept me glued to the pages far into the night. Multiple twists kept me guessing as to how Jagger and Wendy would free themselves of the threat against them. Each step they took had its dangers, and I was never sure how it would work out. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a surprise complication. The resolution was great and brought the series to a satisfying end.