Disruptive Force - Elle James (HI #1906 - Feb 2020)

Series: Declan's Defenders (Book 6)

They'll have to trust each other in order to survive this mission.

After escaping Trinity, a terrorist organization, trained assassin CJ Grainger has insider knowledge about the group's plans, but she needs resources that Cole McCastlain, a member of Declan's Defenders, can provide. Yet they face a dilemma: they must either facilitate the deaths of government officials or become Trinity's next targets. CJ and Cole will make it out alive only if they can place their lives in each other's hands.

This was a fantastic conclusion to the series. While each book can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading them all, in order, to get the full effect of the overarching storyline. Each book is a complete story involving one couple and solves their immediate problem, but there is also the continuing story of bringing down a domestic terror group. I was fully invested in the whole thing from the very beginning, as Elle James writes truly gripping tales.

CJ Grainger played a large part in the previous book, Tactical Force, as the unknown informant who warned the Defenders about sleeper agents in the White House and an impending attack. In this book, we learn more about her as she joins forces with the group to bring down Trinity. CJ was kidnapped as a child and trained as an assassin by Trinity. When she refused to carry out her last mission, she became the target. CJ has been on the run for a year, trying to stay alive while looking for Trinity's leader. Having concluded that she can't do it alone, she has joined forces with Declan's Defenders.

Cole is the team's computer guy. Charlie tasks him with protecting CJ after she revealed herself in the previous book. Cole is a bit frustrated because CJ resists his help, believing that she is better off on her own. I liked his patience, as he understood that CJ had to think he could be trusted before she would accept his help.

It didn't take too long for Trinity's hunters to close in on CJ, forcing her to accept Cole's help. Now that they are constantly in each other's company, the attraction that flared between them from the moment they met grows stronger. I loved the interactions between them, as Cole's protectiveness grows, and CJ hangs on to her independence. I enjoyed seeing that, though Cole is protective, he also respects CJ's capabilities and doesn't try to hold her back. CJ is just as protective of Cole, especially knowing what Trinity is capable of. When everything was all over, I loved Cole's support of CJ and what she wanted for her future. I ached for her as she had trouble believing that he could love someone who was a trained assassin. I loved it when he told her, "Your past doesn't dictate your future. But it helps to shape you into the woman you want to become."

The suspense of the story was fantastic as the team continued its quest to stop Trinity. The intensity increased as the team uncovered pieces of the puzzle and raced to put them together before Trinity could strike again. The scene in the woods was heart-wrenching and showed the depth of CJ's caring, to the point of risking her life. I was glued to the pages as the extent of Trinity's plan was revealed. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was over. There was an exciting twist to the conclusion that I didn't see coming but made perfect sense once it was revealed.

Though there was no epilogue, the final chapter provided the perfect wrap-up for both book and series. I loved seeing how CJ's life changed and how she put her past to work for her. There were a couple of surprise announcements from members of Declan's Defenders. There was also a letter from the president with an unexpected result of their efforts stopping Trinity. As much as I liked that surprise, and the men's reaction to it, my favorite was the one about Charlie herself.

Tactical Force - Elle James (HI #1900 - Jan 2020)

Series: Declan's Defenders (Book 5)

Their search for an assassin makes her the next target.

Two attacks on DC staffer Anne Bellamy's life are just the beginning of a terrorist threat from a group that aims to assassinate the US president. It's all-out war for former elite Force Recon Marine Jack Snow, who is tasked with keeping Anne alive. As his mission takes him undercover into Washington's power circles, can he protect his country and the woman who's become way more than just an asset to him?

Good book. Charlie Halverson and Declan's Defenders continue their quest to find the person who murdered Charlie's husband, and to shut down the domestic terror organization, Trinity. This book opens with Anne, a DC staffer working for the National Security Advisor, receiving mysterious texts telling her that she is in danger. She was recruited by John Halverson to watch for suspicious activity at the White House, but with his death believed she was no longer needed. When an attempted attack followed the mysterious texts, Anne called the emergency phone number John gave her before his death. That number was answered by Charlie, who sent Jack Snow to the rescue.

Jack is the youngest of Declan's Defenders and, in their Marine unit, was a jack-of-all-trades. On this night, Jack deals with the memories brought about by the anniversary of his high school girlfriend's murder. Her death, followed by the deaths of several other women close to him, has left Jack convinced that he is bad luck for any woman. He's glad to get the call from Charlie, as it pulls him out of his dark memories.

The suspense of this series amps up as Anne receives warning that something big is about to go down. Declan's Defenders are on the case, as they throw all their resources into stopping it before it can happen. It was fascinating to see how they took disparate events and found the threads that tied them together. I loved seeing Jack go undercover at the White House as Anne's assistant (loved the role reversal!) as he both protects her and attempts to ferret out who might be working for Trinity. The tension built as the NSC meeting grew closer, with both the President and Vice-President scheduled to attend. There were multiple twists as the mysterious informant stayed just out of sight, the attacks on Anne continued, and Trinity made their move. I loved seeing Anne keep her head and use her brains to aid in her rescue. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Jack and the others raced to get to Anne and the VP before it was too late. I can't wait for the next book, and hopefully the discovery and end of Trinity.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Jack and Anne. Neither of them believes they are relationship material. Jack thinks he is a death curse for any woman he gets involved with. Since her husband's death, Anne has devoted all of her time and energy to her work. From the moment they met, Anne and Jack were drawn to each other, surprised by the sparks they felt. I liked the way that Jack respected Anne's intelligence and independence, even as his protectiveness wanted to keep her out of the line of fire. I liked how Anne's independence didn't keep her from listening to Jack when it came to her safety. The intensity of their situation amplified the feelings that grew between them. As Anne said to herself: "How many days had it been since she'd first met Jack? It hadn't been many, but it seemed like a lifetime."

Driving Force - Elle James (HI #1881 - Oct 2019)

Series: Declan's Defenders (Book 4)

With no identity, memory or past…

She must trust a stranger in order to survive.

When a woman is caught shadowing the team leader of Declan's Defenders, she slams right into the man's protection detail -- and a former elite Force Recon marine. Gus Walsh's instincts tell him she is dangerous in more ways than one. Yet when he discovers that she is a Jane Doe with no memory of who she is or why someone is hunting her, the pair must team up to find answers. But there's no guarantee they will survive the truth once the dust settles…

Terrific book that sucked me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages until the end. Jane woke in a small, cell-like room in Syria, beaten severely, and with no memory of who she is or why she is being tortured. An explosion enables her escape from the building. She believes she is an American, and using abilities she doesn't know the source of, makes her way back to the States. A tattoo on her wrist gives her hope that someone knows who she is.

Gus is one of Declan's Defenders, detailed to guard their benefactress at a charity gala. He is suspicious of a beautiful woman who then tries to take Charlotte "Charlie" Halverson away from her protectors. Though Jane gets away, she shows up again a short time later, this time lending a hand in saving Charlie from an attempted abduction. Grateful for the assistance, Charlie is intrigued by Jane's story and determined to help her. Gus isn't so sure and is determined to keep an eye on Jane.

I loved the blend of suspense and romance. There are sparks between Gus and Jane from the start. Gus isn't happy about it, as his suspicions war with his attraction. As the team looks into Jane's past, it becomes clear that someone is hunting her, and Gus finds his protective instincts kicking into high gear. Jane may be quite capable of taking care of herself, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to keep her safe. I liked seeing Gus's feelings about Jane change as he spent more time with her and got to know the woman beneath the kick-ass surface. I ached for Jane as her story unfolded, and for her horror at what she learned. I loved seeing how Gus and the others showed her that she was more than her past. I liked the twist at the end that allowed Gus and Jane to hope for a future together.

The suspense of the story was outstanding. There are two layers to the book. The first is discovering who Jane is, who is hunting her and why, and stopping them. The tattoo that sent her looking for Charlie showed that there was some connection with Charlie's late husband. There were some exciting twists and turns as more of John Halverson's secrets come to light. The intensity goes through the roof as the team learns of a planned attack on a preliminary hearing and races to stop it. I was on the edge of my seat as they faced off against the attackers. Jane and Gus had a final hurdle to overcome as they confronted a man whose voice she knew all too well. They got some unexpected help, and the revelation of the bad guy's identity answered a couple of questions. It also showed that there are more things to be discovered.

I loved Charlie's determination to continue John's work, and that Declan's Defenders will be right there with her. I can't wait to see what is next.