Protective Assignment - Janie Crouch (HI #2310 - Sept 2025)

Series: Warrior Peak Sanctuary (Book 1)
 
He's not the man he used to be
He's the man she needs now
 
Cade Thatcher is on his way to a mountain retreat when he picks up a hitchhiker. Skittish and withdrawn, River Robertson is obviously running from something. Cade is supposed to be rehabilitating from injuries he endured in Afghanistan, not taking on new duties. But he feels responsible for River, and his instinct to protect her overrides his fears about what he can do with his shattered body. When the cult leader obsessed with River tracks her down, Cade will push himself to the limits to keep her safe.
 
Great start to the new series, which centers on a rehab facility in North Carolina. Cade is former military, recovering from injuries he received in Afghanistan. His brother, Carter, works at Warrior Peak and invited Cade to continue his recovery there. He isn't sure what the future holds for him, and this will give him a chance to explore his options. On an isolated road, he encounters a young woman hitchhiking. With an intensifying storm, he picks her up and takes her with him to Warrior Peak.
 
River is on the run, staying as far from people as possible. She is about at the end of her rope when she accepts Cade's offer of a ride. Wary of the welcoming people at Warrior Peak, she hesitates to stay.
 
I liked how the people at Warrior Peak welcomed River. They realize that something is going on, but are willing to wait for her to open up. I loved Cade's protectiveness and his efforts to make her feel safe. I liked watching River come out of her shell as her sense of safety increased, allowing her to form friendships with Hannah and the others. I enjoyed watching Cade and River grow closer, wary of trusting their feelings, but unable to deny them. I liked seeing them look at the future possibilities together.
 
The suspense was good. We learn early on that River escaped from a Florida cult leader who was determined to make her his wife. Keeping to herself is the only way she sees to avoid discovery. We see her hope that she has finally succeeded, only to discover that the cult has expanded its operations while the leader continues to hunt for her. The suspense intensified when local law enforcement identified the new criminal activity. I was glued to the pages when River was abducted. Cade's worry and desperation to find her leapt off the page. The nail-biter final confrontation had a twist I didn't expect but loved. 

Travis - Josie Jade (Calamitte Jane Pub - Apr 2026)

Series: Warrior Security (Book 4)
 
Travis Hale has four computer monitors, a caffeine addiction, and zero interest in human interaction.
 
He hasn't left his compound in two years. Whatever the CIA did to him—or made him do—sent him underground, literally, into a Montana bunker disguised as a ranch house where the surveillance system is military-grade and the man who once ran field ops now doesn't leave his own driveway.
 
Or so everybody thinks.
 
He's vital to Warrior Security operations from within his fortified walls. He'd die for them and knows the feeling is mutual. But even his brothers-in-arms don't know the truth...
 
When predators slip into the shadows, Travis follows.
 
He fights the battles that never make it to daylight. The system has rules. He doesn't. And no one ever traces anything back to him.
 
It costs him more than anyone knows. So be it.
 
But when a ghost from his past shows up on his doorstep—soft where he's sharp, open where he's guarded—Travis will learn that even men who choose the dark can still step into the light.
 
Fantastic book. Travis fascinated me from his first appearance in the books, and I looked forward to learning more about him. His backstory is heartbreaking. Formerly a CIA agent, he had a romantic relationship with his partner, Naomi. When she died during an operation, he left the agency. The grief and guilt develop into agoraphobia and cause him to lock himself away in his specially built home. He works with Warrior Security when they need his specialized help. Even then, he keeps a certain distance from them. None of them know about Travis's lone missions to protect innocents.
 
Sera is a contract analyst for the FBI, a job she took after her sister's death to find a way to take down those responsible for her death. She is a mathematical genius who can spot patterns that no one else notices. When she assembles information on the child traffickers, her boss at the FBI blows her off and tells her to stick to her assignments. Frustrated, Sera decides to take her data to the one person who might be able to help - her sister's former boyfriend, Travis.
 
I loved how Sera breached Travis's security. His reaction to finding her in his pool was terrific and quite a wake-up call. I liked how he listened to her story, but was frustrated at his initial reaction. Fortunately, his conscience got the better of him, and he was able to redeem himself spectacularly. It also made Sera a guest in his home and a partner in their joint mission to stop the trafficker. I loved their teamwork. Travis said it best: "Sera's mind didn't just fill gaps in my analysis. It worked the way mine did, from a different angle. The two perspectives together produced something neither of us could build alone." I also enjoyed watching Sera become a part of his life, though he fought it all the way. There were deeply emotional exchanges as each opened up about their pasts and the effects on who they are now. There were also some lighthearted moments (frequently involving kittens). The question becomes whether they can let go of their fears enough to build a life together. I loved the ending - it was so perfectly Travis.
 
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Travis's lone excursions, carried out despite the physical effects on him, showed the depths of his commitment to his mission. Sera's determination to do her part to bring down the person responsible for her sister's death led her to take risks that could turn deadly. When they teamed up, the intensity increased, as the bad guys' frustration with the interference reached explosive levels. I cheered when Travis finally confessed to his Warrior Security brothers and asked for their help. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that could have gone wrong in so many ways, and nearly did. I loved the part of the epilogue that got Travis out of hot water - you have to love small towns and how they look out for their own.
 
I loved the involvement of the rest of the men of Warrior Security. It's always great to catch up with the characters from previous books. I love how they are included as logical, vital parts of the plot, not just thrown in willy-nilly. I laughed out loud when Lark showed up with the three kittens, and Travis tried to get out of taking them. But my favorite secondary "character" was Maude, the AI companion that runs Travis's house and his life. I loved her snark, her habit of understatement, and how she looks after Travis. His threats to donate her to various kitchen appliances were hilarious. 

Lyon in Disguise - Reginia Jeffers (Dragonblade - Dec 2025)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 101)
 
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
 
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
 
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman's plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the "Marquis of Honfleur's" schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
 
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
 
This is the third book in a miniseries set in the larger Lyon's Den world, with the events of the books overlapping and told from differing viewpoints. There is one mystery running throughout the series, with an additional mystery that concludes in each book. The overarching mystery begins in the first book with the shooting of Lord Duncan and the efforts of his six adopted sons to discover who and why. It may or may not have something to do with an investigation into the flood of counterfeit notes happening in London. Mrs. Dove-Lyon is only peripherally involved, as the shooting happened at the Lyon's Den, where Lord Duncan enlisted her help in the investigation.
 
The investigation has focused on a man claiming to be a French marquis, his daughter, and his niece. As a result, Lord Duncan and his sons have set up a constant surveillance of the Frenchman's residence. One of the watchers, Lord Navan Beaufort, finds himself drawn to the niece, Audrey. He met her once before beginning the surveillance and hasn't been able to forget her. As he witnesses more of her uncle's treatment of her, his protective instincts awaken. I enjoyed watching their clandestine friendship develop. Audrey is both naïve and worldly, as her tragic past reveals, yet despite everything, she still wants to believe in people's goodness. Navan, on the other hand, is rather cynical and has the reputation of a rake. The focus on the Marquis reveals his involvement in the counterfeiting scheme. The subsequent investigation becomes dangerous before it is resolved, and several incidents kept me glued to the pages until it was resolved.
 
After the danger passes, Navan learns the truth about Audrey's past. I laughed out loud at the scene between Navan and his "brother" Alex. The strain doesn't stop Navan from pursuing Audrey and gaining her hand. But Navan still has things to learn about relationships, and manages to put his foot in it when he takes his new wife to his lands in Ireland. His behavior exacerbates Audrey's fears of abandonment, and it takes desperate action by her to open his eyes to the truth. Matters become complicated by the ongoing danger posed by the counterfeiting scheme and a shocking confrontation and revelation. There is another hint in the mystery of who shot Duncan that leads into the next book in the series.
 
Overall, I enjoyed this book. However, there was far more overlap than I expected. There were times when I felt I was reading a regurgitation of the previous book instead of something new.

 

Hot Nights with the Paramedic - Carol Marinelli (HMED #1509 - Jan 2026)

The hottest mistake of her life?

 
Obstetrician Monica Hamilton loves her job, yet with every tiny baby she delivers, she longs for her own even more. When she's poised to explore single motherhood, it's terrible timing to notice sexy Argentinean paramedic Luke Arias. All he can promise is no strings and scorching hot nights. He's already had to bring up his orphaned siblings -- children are 100 percent off his agenda. Usually cautious Monica is powerless to resist Luke's charisma…but will their temporary fling break her heart or unlock everything she's ever wanted?
 
Good story. Monica is an OB doctor, and Luke is a paramedic. They met when Luke brought a pregnant accident victim to Monica's hospital. The connection between them happened quickly, though neither wanted to admit it. After several professional encounters, they decided to spend time together "just for fun." It doesn't take long for their attraction to become something more, but there are obstacles. Monica yearns for a child of her own, while Luke is equally adamant that he doesn't want children.
 
Both are dealing with some heavy emotional baggage. Monica's best friend, Jess, has been in a coma for three years and is approaching her final days. Her grief for her friend becomes complicated by the actions of Jess's husband. Luke raised his twin siblings after their parents died when the twins were twelve, and isn't interested in going there again.
 
I enjoyed the development of Monica and Luke's relationship. I especially liked Luke's sensitivity and care for Monica as she navigated Jess's passing and its aftermath. Luke's relationships with his siblings were great, especially with his brother Daniel. His happiness over Daniel's fatherhood was evident, and I enjoyed the babysitting scenes. But eventually, the differences in Luke's and Monica's dreams for the future put a strain on their blossoming relationship. It takes some time and external encouragement for them to break free of their fears.
 
The epilogue was good, and I laughed at the surprise they had waiting for them.

Cold Hearted Lyon - Tabetha Waite (Dragonblade - Dec 2025)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 100)
 
Love doesn't mean anything when no one wants it—until they realize they do.
 
Lady Catherine Cecil wants to strike out at her parents for an arranged marriage, but her target turns to the lady responsible for her recent union instead: Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the proprietress of the Lyon's Den. When she contrives an opportunity to tarnish the Black Widow's reputation for matchmaking, Lady Catherine is set on the course.
 
But that is before she meets her intended bridegroom.
 
Baron Benjamin Fontaine is a man Lady Catherine does not trust, nor does she consider him a friend, but a foe. However, when she learns that he also wishes to settle a debt with the Black Widow, she decides it's time for the villains to work together. Already expecting a child Lady Catherine conceived with a former lover, the couple conspires to tackle one of London's most notorious ladies.
 
Together, they have found a common ground, but who will be crowned victorious at the end of the day? Will Mrs. Dove-Lyon's reputation be in tatters at long last? Or will love intercede and prove that it will not be denied, after all?
 
Mrs. Dove-Lyon strikes again, pairing two unlikely people in a match that seems destined to fail but results in a deep love. Catherine's parents are high-ranking nobles with low morals and no interest in their daughter. Believing that what is good for them also applies to her, Catherine embarks on an affair with one of the stable hands and winds up pregnant. Intent on preserving the family name, her parents enlist the Black Widow to find Catherine a husband immediately.
 
Benjamin is the son of a lecher and was on that road himself when tragedy struck. He lost his mother, wife, and unborn son in rapid succession. Haunted by the loss and the poor choices he made, he spent his time drinking and gambling. When Mrs. Dove-Lyon offers him a way out, he reluctantly accepts it.
 
Married the next day, Catherine and Benjamin find common ground in their desire to get back at Mrs. Dove-Lyon. As they settle into married life, they discover that they actually like each other. I enjoyed seeing Benjamin encourage Catherine to make his estate her own and support her as she did so. Meanwhile, Catherine helps him overcome his guilt and set out on the road to making amends. Neither expected the depth of attraction that grew between them, nor the love each was reluctant to admit. I liked seeing them finally show enough trust to share the truth.
 
I smiled when Benjamin hired a detective to investigate Mrs. Dove-Lyon's matches to prove that she was a fraud. The result was no surprise to the reader, though it was something of a shock to him and Catherine. The epilogue was good. 

The Wild Card - Carolyn Brown (Montlake - Dec 2025)

When Lady Luck deals her a roadside diner in small-town Texas, a professional poker player discovers home may be the best win of all.
 
Professional poker player Carla Wilson's luck runs dry in Tucson, leaving her with nothing but an SUV running on fumes and a deed to the Tumbleweed Bus Stop and Diner in small-town Texas. Her plan to sell the café and move on seems simple enough—until she meets the motherly cook who rules the kitchen with an iron skillet and the sunny waitress who treats her like a sister.
 
Then there's Jackson Armstrong. The ex-military heir of a wealthy oil family has green eyes that make Carla forget her cards and a smile that suggests he's playing for keeps. With a pair of matchmaking senior citizens and the café's morning regulars cheering from the sidelines, Carla's wandering soul begins to feel at home.
 
Now she's discovering everything she never knew she needed—true friendship, a place to belong, and a love worth going all in for. Maybe Lady Luck knew exactly what she was doing from the start.
 
Fun book. Carla is a professional woman gambler. After her mom's death when she was eight, Carla traveled the country with her gambler father. By fourteen, she was playing in games herself, and on her own by the time she was sixteen. As the story opens, Carla has lost everything except her SUV, some change, and the deed to a diner in a small Texas town. She plans to sell the diner for what she can get and use the proceeds to continue her chosen profession. The last thing she expects is an instant connection with Rosie the cook and Scarlett, the waitress, and a feeling of belonging she's never had before.
 
I enjoyed seeing Carla settle into life as a diner owner. As a gambler, she developed excellent instincts about people, and I loved watching her interactions with Rosie and Scarlett. The closer she grows to them, the less appealing her former life becomes. The growing trust among them leads to sharing their stories and realizing what they have in common. It isn't all rainbows and unicorn farts, to quote Carla, as there are occasional stresses and dustups, but the undercurrent of support is always there.
 
Jackson was a complication that took Carla by surprise. Handsome, wealthy, and former military, Jackson is in the area for a long-term drilling job. He's immediately taken with Carla. Carla has never had a relationship longer than forty-eight hours, so Jackson's attentions are a whole new experience for her. He has the patience to hang in there while Carla gets used to the idea. There are a few minor road bumps when Carla's independence clashes with Jackson's wishes, but both have the maturity to talk it out. There's a great scene where Carla meets Jackson's parents that initially rouses her fears, but she comes back from it stronger.
 
I liked the underlying themes of women helping each other through situations such as gambling and abuse, grief and loss, and believing in oneself. The romance was good, but the heart of the story lay in the multi-generational friendship among the women characters. The epilogue was a lovely wrap-up to the story. 

The Cornish Lyon - Fil Reid (Dragonblade - Dec 2025)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 99)
 
Orphaned heiress Miss Georgiana Frampton is in a pickle.
 
Not only has she allowed the handsome, young naval officer who'd asked her to marry him untoward liberties—which left her in a delicate condition that will soon be impossible to hide—he's also had the bad luck to drown at sea. Her aunt, disgusted at her behavior, has thrown her out onto the street. When Georgiana's best friend suggests she should go to the Lyon's Den to request help, off she goes. She's happy to bestow her fortune, or maybe some of it, on a man who will give her unborn child a respectable name. Having been taken advantage of before, she never intends to let her heart rule her head again.
 
Captain Fitzwilliam Carlyon is a lesser scion of a ducal household with no money to his name other than his military pay. When he finds himself with pockets to let and heavily in debt after a night of injudicious gambling at the Lyon's Den, he can hardly believe his luck when Mrs. Dove-Lyon offers him a way out: the rich heiress he's longed for. With no intention of anything other than funding the rakish lifestyle he considers his due, he leaps at the chance to marry Georgiana, despite her looming problem.
 
But the best laid plans can go wildly astray, and their feelings begin to become engaged, although both of them deny this to themselves—until the night of the ball his sister has arranged for them.
 
Georgiana has a problem. After her father's death, she went to live with her reclusive spinster aunt. Despite being socially restricted, she managed to meet and fall for a young naval officer. Now she is pregnant, and the young officer is lost at sea. When her aunt finds out, she kicks Georgiana out of the house. Fortunately for Georgiana, she has come of age and can claim her substantial inheritance. What she needs now is a husband who will give her child a name. At her friend Fanny's suggestion, she goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for help.
 
Fitz Carlyon is a British soldier recently returned from duty in Cornwall. Though related to a duke, his only income is his army pay. After a night of gambling at the Lyon's Den, his extensive losses bring him to Mrs. Dove-Lyon's attention. His relief is evident when she offers him a way out of his problem - marriage to a wealthy heiress in need of a husband. He jumps at the chance.
 
I liked both Georgiana and Fitz. Though a bit naïve because of her sheltered life, Georgiana has a good head on her shoulders. Her father trained her well in the family business, and she has no trouble standing up for herself. I loved her honest insistence that Fitz knows her circumstances before they marry. She insists that the marriage be in name only. She won't allow her emotions to take the lead again. Fitz is fine with her rules. He intends to continue his rakish lifestyle.
 
Neither expects to discover that they actually like each other. Their time together shows that they have more in common than they expected, including a simmering attraction. Fitz finds that his former activities no longer hold the appeal they once did. Instead, Georgiana fascinates him, and his feelings for her grow. He decides he wants to woo her, and worries that he won't succeed. I liked how he supported her with his family and her aunt. Georgiana realizes that her previous relationship was more infatuation than love as her feelings for Fitz change. Each is wary of confessing their feelings, afraid they won't be returned. The scene at the ball was terrific as both finally let go of their fears.