BOOK REVIEW: A Covert Affair (Deadlly Ops #5) by Katie Reus

A Covert Affair (Deadly Ops #5)

by Katie Reus (Goodreads Author)

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Published March 1st 2016 by Signet

Goodreads synopsis: After being wounded in action, NSA agent Nathan Ortiz comes home to Miami, eager to return to duty. But he doesn't expect his newest mission to lead him straight to the one woman he loved, lost, and has never gotten over.

   A beautiful, successful restaurateur, Amelia Rios enjoys giving back to her community, especially to struggling women. Then a woman she recently hired stops showing up for work, and, unfortunately, she isn’t the first to go missing.

   Soon Amelia finds herself thrust into a shadowy, dark world, working side by side with Nathan, the only man she’s ever loved. They must confront old feelings as they battle a ruthless enemy preying on the poor and weak. The heat simmering between Nathan and Amelia could mean a second chance for them—but first they have to survive.

***

4 Stars

Nathan Ortiz  has been working undercover with an alias for so long that he had forgotten how odd it would be for someone he knew from his old life to see him play acting as someone else. Of course, the one person he ran into isn't just anyone from his past. Ameila Rios is the one he could never forget, the one that haunted his dreams for years. Now she was smack dab in the middle of his current assignment. I found this book to be an easy read, was easy to get into and the text flowed well.

Every book I have read to this point by author Katie Reus has been excellent and of the highest quality. The characters are well-rounded, easy to follow and learn to love. I sometimes wish I could see some of them more often in other books. But I am appeased they will make cameo appearances in other Deadly Ops books in this wonderful series. 

There was quite a bit of sizzle in the romantic scenes and if I am honest, maybe a bit too much at times, for my taste but that did not take away from the awesome-ness of the book. The rest was just the right mix of action and mystery. If you love a good spy book but want a bit more behind the scenes action concerning their lives, then this is for you.  I will definitely be picking up the other books in this series right away.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank the publisher, author and Net Galley for allowing me to read this title.

Book Review: Curse Breakers by Denise Grover Swank

The Curse Breakers (Curse Keepers #2)

by Denise Grover Swank (Goodreads Author)

Paperback, 394 pages

Published April 29th 2014 by 47North (first published April 8th 2014)

Goodreads synopsis: For more than four hundred years, the Curse Keepers guarded the barrier between the human and spirit realms. All that changed the day Ellie Lancaster met Collin Dailey. Prophecy demanded they defend the world from evil?even as it ignited a passion that threatened to consume them both.

Now Ellie faces a frightening new life, abandoned by the man she loves and tormented by malevolent spirits unleashing their vengeance upon the earth. Her only shot at protecting humanity?and herself?from the demon scourge is to claim the mark of the god Ahone as her own. Finding it means trusting Dr. David Preston, a handsome professor of Native American studies whose skepticism is surpassed only by his attraction to Ellie. Together they must finish what the Curse Keepers began, defying the forces of darkness to face hell on earth?and unlock the truth of Ellie's destiny.

My Thoughts: 4 Stars

I was a fan of book one in the series, Curse Keepers, so I knew I would enjoy a follow up book, but sometimes the sex scenes were just much too steamy. The author did manage to jam-pack the novel with a ton of native American history. It was no different with book two. Lots of history and steamy scenes. I could have done with a lot less steamy and more action. I know not everyone thinks along those lines. 

I found the character of Collin wishy-washy. In book one he was a strong guy walking around with purpose. In book two he was hiding out most of the time and waffled between saying he was protecting Ellie but going out of the way to keep her from the truth. Sometimes things just didn't make sense, but such is how it goes in real life, huh?

Now that the gate is open and the gods have escaped, Evie needs to find a way to trap them all again. The mark Collin put on her back in book one is fading and she must choose sides in this war of good verses evil before her current protection runs out. During her quest to find the truth and any details about the curse, she comes across Dr. David Preston, a British professor of Native American studies who at first blows off Evie's concerns. Then when he shows up to study the reappeared Roanoke Colony, David is drawn to Ellie. Ellie finally decides to trust someone and spills the truth to him.

If you are looking for an exciting read that packs a lot of history into the mix, then this book is for you.

I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this title.