Forever - Janie Crouch (Calamittie Jane Pub - June 2021)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 14)

Some loves are meant to be from the very beginning.
 
Jess O'Conner and Ethan Bollinger have known each other almost their entire lives and have loved each other from the start. The people of Oak Creek have watched them grow up, and everyone has always known what they are...
 
Soulmates.
 
But sometimes, fate demands a different path, derailing even the most carefully mapped plans.
 
Visit the Linear Tactical world one last time with the story of Jess and Ethan all grown up as they finally get their forever.
 
...if they can live long enough to enjoy it.
 
What a fantastic ending to the Linear Tactical series! I have been hoping and waiting for this book ever since four-year-old Jess claimed seven-year-old Ethan as "my Ethan" in Eagle. Like his father, Finn, Ethan protects those he cares about, and Jess had his heart from the get-go. Little Jess is a certified genius who has little to no fear of the world. She can outthink many adults and talk circles around the others. She can be obstinate and impulsive, frequently getting her into hot water, leaving Ethan to get her out.
 
Nothing changed as Ethan and Jess grew older. They belonged to each other, and everyone knew it. When Jess was fourteen, she earned an offer to attend a prestigious school, something she really wanted to do. But when she started talking about giving it up rather than leave Ethan behind, he knew he had to do something. Advancing his plans by a few months, he attempted to sneak away to join the military, removing Jess's reason to stay. Ethan's conversation with his father made me laugh (GO NAVY!). Over the next few years, Ethan and Jess don't see each other often, but their feelings for each other never change.
 
Then the two drift a little bit apart. Doubts arise about feelings. Neither Jess nor Ethan has any question about their own feelings. Each knows that there will never be anyone else. Misunderstandings and time apart lead to fears that the other wants something else. Just as Ethan makes decisions about his future and leaves the military, he gets tapped for a critical mission. Jess and three of her colleagues have been kidnapped while on vacation. Complicating matters, secret government research stolen from their lab may be up for sale to some bad people, and Jess is the top suspect for the theft.
 
From here, the suspense and action, combined with Ethan and Jess's relationship, kept me glued to the pages. With alternating viewpoints between Ethan and Jess, there was always something going on. The men who have Jess and her friends mean business and Jess fears for their lives. She's not the type to give up, having been raised around the men and women of Linear Tactical, and her brain runs a mile a minute searching for options. When Ethan and his team arrive, the race is on to get them to safety. Twists and turns, betrayals and renewals, kept the action moving. In the rare quiet moments, Ethan and Jess get to talk and clear the air between them. But will they survive to carry out that future they've waited so long for? The final confrontation was a nail-biter. Jess's strength in the face of almost certain death was incredible but not surprising. I wasn't sure how they would get out of it, but the author came through with a rip-roaring finish. The epilogue was fantastic and brought their story full circle, back to where it all began.
 
One of the things I loved about this book was the flashbacks showing the development of the relationship between Jess and Ethan. From their first meeting to their wedding day, the description of "soulmates" was never in question. Some of them were funny and sweet (mangoes, anyone?), some were steamy (hello, Paris), and some were heartbreaking (Happy Birthday, Jess). Ethan's strength of will and determination to do the right thing didn't surprise me, nor did Jess's attempts to get her way.
 
I'm sad to see this series end, but I can't wait to dig into the Zodiac Tactical series and fully expect to see some of the LT folks again. And yes, Janie, I would LOVE to see a Linear Tactical: The Next Generation series someday.

Blaze - Janie Crouch (Calamittie Jane Pub - May 2021)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 13)

Kendrick and Neo's love story, plus the exciting start of the family Dorian and Ray never thought they'd have...
 
Ivy League graduate and computer genius Kendrick Foster, aka Blaze, never expected to find himself putting down permanent roots in a tiny town in Wyoming.
 
But family isn't always blood, and the Linear Tactical team is very definitely his family. He's not going anywhere.
 
Neo LeBarre has always been a loner. Her computer hacking days brought her into contact with Linear Tactical, but she's never felt like she could fit in here. These people are good, decent, honest.
 
She's not.
 
When her past catches up with her, demanding more than she can possibly pay, Neo will have to turn to the heroes surrounding her, especially Kendrick, for help. If they'll even give her the time of day after what she's done.
 
There's a danger closing in—one that will threaten to rip them all apart.
 
The Linear Tactical family has deep roots.
They're going to need them to survive what's coming.
 
Fantastic conclusion to the Linear Tactical series and introduction to the upcoming Zodiac Tactical books. In a continuation of Scout, Kendrick (aka Blaze) now has the hard drive that nearly cost Wyatt and Nadine their lives. He is brilliant with computers, but the urgent need to get into this drive has him requesting help from fellow hacker Neo.
 
I loved Kendrick. He is smart, confident without being arrogant, funny, and charming. I've watched him go from a sometimes helper to a vital part of the LT team and family. From the moment he appeared in Shamrock and wondered if he could get a "cool nickname," I had a feeling he would be important. With Kendrick's involvement in Capture the Flag with the others, the beginning of this book shows how much things have changed for him. I laughed out loud as I read his exchanges with Neo.
 
Neo has been an intriguing character from her first appearance in Ghost (loved that scene!). She is Kendrick's greatest computer rival and also the woman he loves. He knows that she has secrets that hold her back and exerts great patience as he waits for her to be ready for more. Watching her at the bar after the game shows that she feels the same about him. But her secrets could change things in a heartbeat.
 
From the moment Kendrick received the hard drive, with its connection to Mosaic, he knew there was no time to waste. And if his one head was good, two heads would be better if the other one was Neo's. Unfortunately, the bad guys got to Neo first, using threats and blackmail to coerce her into getting information for them and foiling Kendrick's attempts to access the drive.
 
From the get-go, this book had me glued to the pages, following every twist and turn. I could feel Kendrick's frustration as everything he tried came to a dead stop, foiled at every turn. Neo's fear was palpable while she tried to satisfy the bad guys, who ramped up the consequences when she didn't produce fast enough for them. Her guilty feelings ate at her even more after she found out what Mosaic was. I understood her attempt to remove herself from the equation, her desperate goodbye to Kendrick, and her heartbreak at their parting. To top It all off, another encounter with the bad guys left her in pain and fearing for the life of someone she loved.
 
I ached for Kendrick when he figured out what the problem was. He was hurt, angry, and felt betrayed. I wanted to shake him when he confronted her and smack him for being so blind. Fortunately, knowing Neo so well quickly broke through his anger. I loved that Kendrick went back and felt every bit of his horror at what he discovered. I loved his determination to take care of Neo and do whatever necessary to keep her safe. The tension kept increasing until a break from an unexpected source got Kendrick and Neo a step closer to where they needed to be.
 
This is where the intensity went off the charts. Neo desperately needs LT's help but doesn't believe she deserves it after everything she did.  I loved her shock over their insistence on helping despite her transgressions and how they all shared their own mistakes as illustrations. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I loved how it went down - especially Neo's last word. In the end, seeing Kendrick and Neo finally be able to look at a future together was a perfect ending to the series. The epilogue was a gripping introduction to the new series, and I can't wait to read Ian and Wavy's story.
 
A secondary story involved Dorian and Ray. Because of their pasts, they live off the grid, deep in the woods. They are stunned to discover two young children living in one of the cabins on their property. After a period of observation and seeing no adults, with a Wyoming winter looming on the horizon, they know they have to intervene. I loved how Ray, who believes she has no maternal instincts, knew exactly what to do and connected with them right away. Ray's struggles with banana bread made me laugh. The two children Theo and Savannah were wary at first but quickly came to trust the two adults. The more Dorian and Ray learned about what happened to bring them there, the more they realized something had to change. I loved seeing Dorian go through all the options when it was obvious what the only right one was. I loved everyone's easy acceptance of the kids' presence in their lives. 

Scout - Janie Crouch (Calamittie Jane Publishing - Mar 2021)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 12)

Linear Tactical's Wyatt Highfield is running for his life with intel that will break up a human trafficking ring.
 
The last thing he wants is to bring danger to Nadine Macfarlane's door. The gentle beauty has been through enough, and has the scars—physical and emotional—to prove it.
 
But she's his only option.
 
Trying to heal from wounds caused by trusting the wrong person, Nadine has spent the past two years hiding from nearly everyone. The only exception has been her online relationship with Wyatt. So when they meet face-to-face by sheer chance, she thinks it's a sign from the universe that it's time to start living.
 
Not that it's time to start dying.
 
As Wyatt's secret comes out, Nadine realizes she has to face the past in order to save the future.
 
I first read this story in its novella format in the anthology Danger and Desire. Since then, it has been revised and lengthened, with several scenes added to fill in and clarify some of the action. I loved that one of those scenes was an expanded beginning, showing how Wyatt got the item at the center of his trouble. Some of the names and details have been altered, but it is still a pulse-pounding opening.
 
Nadine is a virtual personal assistant, enabling her to maintain her hermit-like life while still making a living. She first appeared in Survival Instinct as Chloe's best friend and was rescued from a dire situation by Wyatt. Since that event, Nadine has worked on healing from the emotional and physical trauma she experienced. Part of that healing is the email friendship she enjoys with Wyatt. Wyatt has waited patiently on her recovery as he longs to spend more time with her.
 
When Nadine encounters Wyatt at the local farmers' market, she thinks Fate has brought them together. She's finally ready to let Wyatt know of her interest in him. But Wyatt is in deep trouble, on the run for his life, with information crucial to stopping a human trafficking ring. He dreads bringing danger to her door but desperately needs her help.
 
I loved this story. It was a tight, gripping tale of suspense, healing, and romance. I loved how comfortable Nadine and Wyatt were with each other, talking easily and sharing activities. I felt terrible for both of them when Nadine told Wyatt of her feelings, and he couldn't respond the way he wanted to because of the guilt he felt over what he was hiding. When danger comes calling, Wyatt has to come clean about those secrets. I ached for Nadine because she had just started to trust her judgment and now wonders if she was taken for a fool again. I loved how Wyatt worked so hard to show Nadine what an amazing woman she is. She soon learns that she's much stronger than she thinks she is, and I loved seeing her blossom under adversity. The ending was great with love and laughs and happiness.
 
The suspense of the story was terrific. It began with Wyatt's meeting with the man with the computer drive and hurtled forward at a breathtaking pace. I could feel Wyatt's worry about bringing danger to Nadine while dodging the bad guys at the market and trying to keep the truth from her. That all fell apart the next morning when she dropped him off at a hotel but then got worried when he didn't answer her call. I thought she was incredible as she pulled off an unexpected rescue - loved the pepper spray! - right under the bad guys' noses. From a house on fire to a chase through the woods, my heart rate never got a chance to settle. It was great to see the Linear Tactical folks get involved - a terrific scene at the diner - with their incredible teamwork. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, especially the last part.
 
Another added scene came at the end of the book. In the previous book, Redwood, Gavin met and fell in love with Lexi Johnson. In the book Survival Instinct, Lexi's real name was Alexandra Adams, an actress. In that book, some of her actions were partly responsible for the injuries Nadine and her friend Chloe suffered. Lexi paid her debt to society for her actions and has since turned her life around. Nadine knows that to completely move on with her life, she has to face Lexi. I loved that conversation and the depth of emotion and understanding it portrayed.
 
Included at the end of Scout are three bonus epilogues. All three epilogues take place on the same day but involve different couples. The first one was originally published as part of Phoenix and centers around Girl Riley and Boy Riley. The second was part of Baby and concerned him and Quinn, while the third one is new and belongs to Dorian (Ghost) and Ray. All three are emotional as each couple receives unexpected and potentially worrisome news. The last one also had some intense moments with a surprise at the end. I loved how the Linear Tactical crew worked together to protect Ray's privacy.

Redwood - Janie Crouch (Calamittie Jane Publishing - Jan 2021)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 11)

Gavin Zimmerman. Military codename: REDWOOD. This former Special Forces soldier will protect Oak Creek from any threat.

Even one that comes in the form of a delicate blonde with haunted eyes.

A tiny town in Wyoming and the fake ID in her pocket are Lexi Adam's last chance. She's used all her resources to escape the danger that hounds her. A danger the whole world would agree she brought on herself.

She just wants a chance to start over, to rest for a moment, but the town's upstanding and oh so sexy sheriff is determined to get to the truth behind her lies.

Even if it gets them both killed.

Redwood grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until I reached the end. I should be used to it by now because each Linear Tactical book is better than the previous one. I have to be careful when I start reading because these books are impossible to put down, and this one was no exception.

Lexi is at the end of her rope when she stumbles into the bar in Reddington City. On the run from her past and a stalker, she has a flat tire and no money for a new one. Her only hope is to find a mark and liberate the cash needed to continue her journey. I was immediately caught up in her efforts, her self-loathing, and her desperation. There were three possibilities in that bar, one of whom she immediately ruled out. The warrior with the intense gaze would do her no good. But when she can't carry through on her plan, she ends up at the mercy of a drunken lech, and it's the warrior who comes to her rescue. It's a sweet scene when he comforts her, and she repays him by stealing his wallet and disappearing. Thanks to him, she makes it to the job waiting for her in Oak Creek.

Back home, Gavin joins his friend Zac for a drink, still bent out of shape at the way he was fleeced by a pair of pretty green eyes. He couldn't believe he'd been that trusting. He's furious and suspicious when he discovers that the little thief is the new waitress at the Eagle's Nest. His instincts tell him she's trouble and that she has secrets that could affect his friends.

I've liked Gavin in previous books, where his steadfastness and honesty are essential. He does get a little intense in his protectiveness of those he cares for, which has created some awkward situations in the past. However, those are nothing compared to his focus on Lexie. Competing with his suspicion is an intense attraction that he can't deny or fight. Gavin struggles to keep both his suspicion and his protectiveness under control, hoping to earn her trust.

I loved Lexi. She is much stronger than she thinks she is. She made mistakes in her past, which endangered other people, and she can't forgive herself. She also survived things that would have left a weaker woman a physical and emotional mess. I loved watching her make a place for herself in Oak Creek, even though she constantly looked over her shoulder, expecting the worst.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Gavin and Lexi. Gavin spends a month watching her every move but is oblivious to the bigger picture until Zac points out that she doesn't do anything except work. Things begin to change between them when Gavin comes to Lexi's rescue after she collapses from exhaustion. There's still a lot of push and pull between them as Gavin continues his quest for answers and Lexi shores up her walls against her desire to trust him. The sparks continue to build until even a blizzard can't contain them, kicking off a new level in their relationship.

I liked seeing Gavin make a conscious effort not to push Lexi for answers she isn't ready to give. It's easy to see that she begins to trust him because she's comfortable enough that little bits of information slip out. There is a fantastic scene where Gavin takes Lexi to his family's home on Christmas. I loved seeing Lexi hold her own against Gavin's ex, letting a little bit of the real Lexi out to play. Things take a bad turn though, when Lexi panics at the arrival of some photographers. I ached for Gavin, whose suspicions were riled up again, and for Lexi, who was sure she screwed everything up. A conversation with Anne helped Lexi let go of a little of her fear, and Gavin's continued suppression of his curiosity made a huge difference.

I loved seeing the change in Lexi, thanks to Gavin's care and attention. For the first time in years, she's happy, and when she realizes that, the guilt hits her hard. She still doesn't believe she deserves to be happy. Then something happens that brings Lexi's fears back to the surface and driving Gavin's need to protect her through the roof. While I understood his need, I wanted to shake him for doing what he said he wouldn't. When Mac and Gavin's brother arrange for Lexi to join Gavin at Zac and Annie's wedding, no one expects what happens next. Though Lexi is in the right place at the right time to prevent a tragedy, it comes at a high cost. I wanted to hit Gavin upside the head with a two by four for being such a complete jerk. I loved his conversation with Dorian as the depth of his idiocy hit home. It got even better when Wavy called him out. But things are about to go from bad to worse.

I ached for Lexi as all of her fears about the truth came true, and she ran from Gavin's anger and disgust. She had no idea what was waiting for her when she arrived back in Wyoming. Her fears about a stalker finding her came to pass, but with a horrifying twist. I felt her terror as she faced her worst nightmare and was impressed with how she kept her head. At the same time, Gavin's contacts come up with some information that shows Lexi is in extreme danger. I loved seeing the LT people spring into action to help one of their own - and Lexi has become one of their own. I was glued to the pages through the entire confrontation and loved how it all went down. Even Ethan and Jess played a critical part! A month later, the scene at the bar was fantastic, and I adored Gavin's drink concoctions for Lexi.