Hidden Steel by Doranna Durgin

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Mickey awakens in a room that she knows she doesn't belong in....even though her memory is missing. Due to a drug that was given to her, she finds herself having to figure things out as she goes along with the occasional memory making itself known. But when she finds Steve and then he turns around and finds her a couple of times, she finds herself drawn to the man but unable to do anything about it as the clock is ticking down and people are after her. Find the official description on Goodreads.

The writing of Hidden Steel was really good! I enjoyed it and it drew me into the book from the first page. It could also help that the suspense kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Especially because you were discovering things as you went along just as Mickey was. You didn't actually know more than her until you got to a chapter in which she wasn't the main character for that chapter. And then you knew at least a little more than her. It was a bit odd honestly but different and it certainly makes Hidden Steel stand out in my mind. 

The romance wasn't heavy in this book and that was obvious. There were sparks and occasional kisses but generally that was it. Which again was different at least for me. Generally I read a lot of Romantic Suspense and while I would loosely use that term to describe this book I would really prefer to use the label Suspense with just that touch of romance thrown in. The romance wasn't the main focus and yet there was still enough there for me to receive those happy romantic vibes.

I can't really judge the plot much as I've only really read a lot of Romantic Suspense. I'd say it doesn't stand out for the plot but it definitely isn't mainstream or overly used either. 

Hidden Steel  was a great read and I don't regret it for a minute.

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Hot Rebel by Lynn Raye Harris

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"She was safe, even if she wasn't entirely certain she would remain that way." -Lynn Raye Harris, Hot Rebel

Victoria's been labelled a traitor. And it doesn't help that she screwed up HOT's mission. Nick is not happy that she messed up his shot and chance to take out a terrorist. But he's also not sure that he wants to find her again. After all, it's been three years since they've seen each other in their sniper course. However, when bullets start flying Nick can't seem to help himself. Will Nick be able to protect her? Or will everything be for nothing? Find the official description on Goodreads.

I'm going to get this out of the way and just mention that I'm really happy that Lynn Raye Harris includes bits and pieces about characters who've already had their books(so like saying about kids,etc) and also includes some things that point to a book in the future. It just always makes me happy to pick up on those little connections in books. This means they could be read as stand alones but it also doesn't feel right almost to ignore the chance to understand these connections more deeply.

I liked both Victoria and Nick's voices throughout the book and it also helped to create a space where we don't think Nick is a jerk or idiot and vice versa with Victoria. Although occasionally even with their thought processes you do think they're idiots. But that's some of the fun of Hot Rebel and just in general the Hostile Operations Series.

The basics of their shared past comes out quickly but I was more curious about the details(such as whether they had hooked up before) so watching that emerge throughout the book was great, and kept me interested when things might have been a bit slower. Not that that happened much in this book.

I also like how many of the characters, are portrayed as black or white, there were also characters that were grey and the reader had to try and discern what side they would come down on at any given time. It kept me engaged and again, it kept me reading, because I wanted to find out if my predictions were right or if someone was truly on which side.

There were lots of places in which you seriously doubted that they would make it through or make it through together. It got my heart pounding and my excitement going.

Overall Hot Rebel was an amazing read and a brilliant addition to the Hostile Operations Series. It was actually just released today so make sure that you go buy it!

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Distraction and Desire by Kizzie Darker

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Joanne went through a bad breakup, and has lost all faith in the male gender, especially when her ex won't leave her alone. Enter Nathan Jones, CIA Agent undercover. He's already lost so much, he's not convinced he wants to lose more. But when the two meet sparks fly. Now it's just a matter of finding a way to last. Find the official description on Goodreads.

Kizzie Darker did a really good job at describing the emotions and thoughts that were going through 

Joanne's heads. I could see how she was battling upset and depression and how she was working through things. That being said, I also found Joanne was far from my favorite character. Her thoughts tended to be annoying to me a lot of the time, and then she seemed to run a lot. It bothered me.

I also felt that the whole CIA thing almost felt like it wasn't real. Honestly I thought it was fake for most of the book even when Nathan admitted it. I'm not sure it was just how it was introduced or whatnot but I just felt like he was just faking being a CIA agent for most of the book. Until one scene that really drove it home for me.

Distraction and Desire was a good book in other aspects, while others I really didn't like. 

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