A few quickies... and who doesn't love a quickie?

Last Man Standing by Cindy Gerard

Special operative Joe Green has gone vigilante. His mission: avenge his Black Ops, Inc., brother’s death during a bloody ambush years ago in Sierra Leone. He refuses to drag the BOI team or his lover, Stephanie Tompkins, into the hunt for the man responsible, so when he finds himself beaten, starving, and alone after being falsely imprisoned for the murder of a Freetown priest, he knows he’s as good as dead. Joe meant to protect Stephanie when he walked out on their relationship, but he can’t stop her now from executing his escape. Breaking him out of prison is the easy part. After Joe’s explosive theory pans out and his cunning enemy emerges as the front runner for a high-level presidential appointment, he and Stephanie must race to derail the traitor’s conspiracy if they are to save their loved ones, the nation, and each other.

I really liked the last installment of the BOIs. I'm so sad to see it end. Joe and Stephanie have quietly been establishing themselves as a couple over the series. So subtly that you could miss it if you blink. What kept this from being a 5-star read was that even though reference was made to Joe being exhausted, he still seemed to recover if not all his strength & stamina, certainly far more than I found believable so quickly. Within a week of being rescued he was running around in the snow. It just seemed too quick for me.

Having said that, I absolutely loved his vulnerability. And thought Stephanie was a great heroine.

Gerard is an auto-buy for me, and this book is the perfect reason why. Strong, believable characters, fast-paced action, great camaraderie, and a hot romance to boot? Count me in. A lovely end to the series.

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Guardian Agent by Dana Marton
When Gabe Cannon's commando team is tasked with bringing down a rogue solider, he doesn't expect to come face-to-face with the target's sister at the showdown instead of the man himself.

Jasmine is trying to lead the team away from her injured brother. Recognizing one of the hunters as her teenage crush is definitely a shock to her system. To save her family, she must convince Gabe that her brother was framed. But can she stop from falling in love with him all over again?

A decent story, and the suspense plot intrigued me. But it was so short that the romance (over a few hours) was not believable. Sure, Jasmine had loved Gabe when she was a teenager, but there was no basis for an adult love there. Especially on Gabe's part, since he hadn't had any romantic feelings for his friend Jake's sister back in the day. If the next book (Jake's) is a full-length, I would be willing to read it. I'd like to see if Marton can deliver a good romance with a higher page count. And I'm interested in how the suspense arc plays out.

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Edge of Midnight by Leslie Tentler
The writer becomes the story when crime reporter Mia Hale is discovered on a Jacksonville beach—bloodied and disoriented, but alive. She remembers nothing, but her wounds bear the signature of a sadistic serial killer. After years lying dormant, The Collector has resumed his grim hobby: abducting women and taking gruesome souvenirs before dumping their bodies. But none of his victims has ever escaped—and he wants Mia back, more than he ever wanted any of the others.

FBI agent Eric MacFarlane has pursued The Collector for a long time. The case runs deep in his veins, bordering on obsession…and Mia holds the key. She'll risk everything to recover her memory and bring the madman to justice, and Eric swears to protect this fierce, fragile survivor. But The Collector will not be denied. In his mind, he knows just how their story ends.

4.5/5 stars. Each book gets better than the one before it. Eric is an FBI agent investigating a serial killer, and Mia is a reporter investigating the same set of crimes when she becomes a victim. The suspense was tight, the backstory was great, and the romance that was as believable as it was inappropriate. A terrificly evil villain. Vicious murders. Cops & FBI that actually work, and work long hours (this is a pet peeve of mine when it doesn't happen). Well done. I'll definitely be on the lookout for another release from Tentler.