Shot Through the Heart - Nicole Helm (HI #2005 - June 2021)

Series: North Star (Book 2)

She's spent her life concealing her identity.
Now she must trust an undercover agent to survive.
 
Willa Zimmerman grew up as the daughter of spies, so she's always known her life could be in danger. That's why, when North Star undercover operative Holden Parker follows her to her home, seeking a lead on a hit man, she captures him. But soon they learn they're actually on the same side -- and they're being pursued by the same relentless foe. Together, can they stop a deadly hunter before they end up as the next victims?
 
Fast-paced book full of action and suspense, with a bit of romance. The North Star Group learns of two hitmen with specialized weapons that must be stopped. Holden goes to Evening, Nebraska, after one of them. He follows Willa to her home, believing she either is the hitman or knows who he is. Willa grew up as the daughter of operatives and was always prepared for trouble. When she spots Holden following her shortly after receiving a warning of danger from her parents, she takes steps to protect herself.
 
I had to laugh when Holden found himself chained hand and foot to an old iron bed in a barn. He's not used to coming up on the short end of a confrontation. His frustration increases when faced with a young woman whose resistance to questions matches his own. Their back-and-forth demands were fun to watch, as neither got any satisfaction. One unsuccessful escape attempt leaves Holden biding his time. Meanwhile, Willa isn't quite sure what to do with her captive, especially without further guidance from her parents. Things go from bad to worse when Willa awakens to find a free Holden searching her house, just before someone takes a shot at them. Suddenly finding themselves on the same side, Holden and Willa need to find a way to work together.
 
The pace of the action increases dramatically as Willa and Holden dodge attackers at every turn. It doesn't help that Willa resists telling Holden everything, leaving him at a disadvantage. It helps when she finally reveals all, but Holden's gut feeling is that something is off. The feeling intensifies when the team he left at Willa's farm comes under attack. The final confrontation is a nail-biter with a twist I never saw coming.
 
The relationship between Holden and Willa develops as quickly as the action does. Neither expects it. After watching a fellow operative fall in love and leave the company, Holden is adamant that it will never happen to him. With his background, love has never been in the cards for him. For Willa, the secrets she has and the constant threat of danger make it impossible for her to trust anyone enough for a real relationship. Willa quickly gets under Holden's skin, as he admires her as much as he is frustrated by her. At the same time, Willa finds herself wanting to trust Holden and struggling to maintain her distance. Neither of them wants to acknowledge their growing feelings for each other. When the final confrontation comes, Holden's sudden realization that he has someone to go back to terrifies him with the intensity of his desire to do so. Willa knows she loves Holden, but their lives are so different she doesn't think it possible. I loved Holden's nervousness at the end as he made his case to Willa and the brilliance of the plan put forward by his boss. 

Summer Stalker - Nicole Helm (HI #1998 - May 2021)

Series: North Star (Book 1)

Someone's watching them.
 
Someone they'd never suspect.
 
Reece Montgomery's on an undercover mission to learn what unsuspecting B and B owner Lianna Kade knows about her husband's murder. However, the workaholic North Star agent finds himself in serious danger, not the least of which is his unprofessional need to protect Lianna and her son, Henry. When the fearless widow proposes an ultra-risky plan to lure a killer, it will test Reece's resolve not to fall for Lianna and her fatherless child.
 
Good book. The suspense kept me turning the pages, and the romance built nicely through the story. After her husband's murder, Lianna moved to Wyoming to take over her grandparents' bed-and-breakfast. She needed to get as far away as possible from the agencies' constant questions about what she knew of Todd's activities. She lives in a continual state of anxiety, worrying that someone will come after her and her son, Henry.
 
Reece works for North Star, an agency hired to find out what Lianna knows about her husband's murder. After seven years with the agency, he ranks as one of their top agents. He poses as a nature photographer and stays at her B & B as a guest, hoping to uncover some information.
 
I enjoyed the combination of suspense and romance. Neither Lianna nor Reece expected the connection they felt when he first arrived. Lianna no longer trusts her judgment and is wary of the feelings Reece stirs in her. Reece, who had a loveless childhood, doesn't know what he's feeling, but he doesn't like it. The inner turmoil is a distraction he doesn't need. A need to protect Lianna and Henry rather than just uncover information complicates matters even further.
 
It doesn't take long for Reece to discover that someone bugged the inn and is monitoring Lianna's life. The question is who, and for what purpose? A last-minute reservation sparks Reece's suspicions, and he breaks cover to warn Lianna of the probable danger. Furious at being deceived again, Lianna refuses to believe Reece and orders him to leave. His protectiveness won't let him go far, and the next morning he takes extreme measures to remove her and Henry from harm's way, taking them to North Star headquarters.
 
Lianna impressed me with her refusal to just sit back and be protected. I loved how she came up with a plan to draw the bad guys out. I ached for Reece, who was so discombobulated by his feelings for Lianna that he didn't know which way was up. I had to laugh at his coworkers' astonishment at his emotional reactions to her plan. Lianna had already begun to suspect her feelings for Reece and watched as he struggled with his. I loved watching her realize that he had no idea what those feelings were or how to put them into words.
 
I was on the edge of my seat as Lianna and Reece returned to the inn to put their plan into motion. An unexpected visitor the following day immediately roused Reece's suspicions, though Lianna took a little longer. She got the picture when her visitor showed an inordinate interest in Henry. Meanwhile, Reece faced trouble of his own, leaving him unable to help Lianna. There were some intense moments as Lianna escaped one hazard only to run headlong into another. I loved Lianna's efforts to save herself, which paired with Reece's timely arrival freed her, but left Reece fighting for his life.
 
The scenes at the hospital were heartwrenching. Being inside Reece's head while he battled his injuries and seeing what he wants more than anything else was an emotional experience. His conversation with his boss held no surprises. Even better was his talk with Lianna. The epilogue was wonderful. I loved that the people of North Star are still part of Reece's life, though in a different way.
 
Henry was my favorite secondary character. I loved how he took to Reece right away and pulled him into his circle of people he loves. His hero-worship of Reece was sweet, and so was his effect on Reece. Henry is protective of his mother, which showed in his dilemma at the end of the book. I also liked Reece's coworkers and can't wait to read their stories.