Review: Targeted (Deadly Ops #1) – Katie Reus

Posted 16 October, 2013 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review: Targeted (Deadly Ops #1) – Katie ReusTargeted by Katie Reus
Series: Deadly Ops #1
Published by Penguin on 1 october 2013
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Thriller
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon | |
3 Stars

Hidden in plain sight…

Former Marine sniper and current NSA agent Jack Stone has a new face to go with his new identity. But he still has the same tortured memories— which include the woman he let get away years ago, when they were teenagers. Now his new assignment in Miami will put him so close to the woman he’s never been able to forget, he could reach out and touch her— if only she weren’t under suspicion.

When Sophie Moreno uncovers evidence linking the medical supply company she works for with arms smuggling— and worse —she doesn’t know who to turn to. After a shocking betrayal, she realizes the only person she can trust is a mysterious new person in the company —a man with hauntingly familiar eyes.

As Sophie questions her intense attraction to this man and Jack struggles not to blow his cover, the two of them must race against the clock to stop terrorists from killing scores of people—starting with them.

*I received a free ARC of Targeted from Penguin Group Berkley via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*

Targeted is an extremely fast-paced romantic thriller, with awesome characters, an exciting plot and some very hot and steamy scenes as well. Sophie and Jack has a lot of things working against them, especially that little detail from Jack’s past, the one where his name wasn’t Jack, and he was Sophie’s first boyfriend. And the only boy she’d ever loved. When Jack is sent to Miami to find out more about a medical company that seems to be involved with drug and arms trafficking, he doesn’t want to go at first, because he feels that seeing Sophie again is the biggest mistake he could ever make. Ever since he left her behind thirteen years ago, and now that she thinks he’s dead, he can’t get her out of his mind or his heart.

From the very beginning, Targeted brings the readers on a ride that is wild and fast, with villains hiding in the bushes, following the heroes by car, and shooting at Jack and Sophie every chance they have. And while adrenaline is all that keeps her standing, Sophie has this very strong feeling that she knows Jack from somewhere. But he can’t be the one she’s thinking about, because Sam died in Afghanistan years ago. There is something uncanny about Jack, though, and Sophie can’t stop the memories that flood her again.

The way Jack handles himself shows that he’s been in the line of fire before, and he’s also pretty distanced from everything, he has been ever since he left for the army the very first time. Sophie has also been just coasting along in her own life, no close relationships apart from that with her best friend. Neither of them trust easily, but now they have to spend time together. Sophie because she thinks only Jack can save her life, and Jack both because it’s his job, and because he can’t bear to leave her ever again.

The writing is good, but there are some inconsistencies, like when Sophie talks to her best friend, explaining she can’t meet with her that night, but when she hangs up she says ‘see you tonight’. Or when Jack thinks about when he first got to know Sophie, and how he finally understood that she wasn’t a snob, only shy. Then later, ‘Where most people had thought she was a snob growing up, he’d figured out early that she was just quiet.’

The story only spans over a few days, and it’s very fast-paced the whole time. Luckily in some moments, Jack and Sophie are holed up in hiding, so that the readers get to know them a little bit, because if not, the frantic running around would have been the main focus. I enjoyed both the thriller aspect, which was very well done, and the romance aspect, which was extremely hot! I am glad Targeted is the first book in a new series, because I enjoy reading about alpha characters, military black ops and the women who make them tick! The secrecy, the betrayal, the traitor, the international gangster – it all makes me tick as well! And the cherry on top is, of course, the romance.

He’d seen and caused so much death that sometimes he wondered if God would ever forgive him.

A cupcake was yummy. This man was like a decadent triple chocolate truffle cake with chocolate shavings sprinkled on top. Considering the crap she needed to deal with, noticing someone in such a sexual way – someone she clearly couldn’t trust – was beyond stupid.

Sophie opened her eyes and groaned, banishing the long-buried dream she’d been having. What the hell was that about anyway? She hadn’t dreamt about Sam in a while, and she didn’t like that she was doing so now. It made her feel vulnerable and edgy.

[B]ut he didn’t respond. Just palmed the keys to the most recent SUV he’d stolen. The man was certainly good at that, and while she didn’t want to be impressed by his thievery, watching him in action was pretty hot.

Once they’d packed up what little they had, they were in the stolen SUV cruising down the road.

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Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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0 responses to “Review: Targeted (Deadly Ops #1) – Katie Reus

  1. I was hoping this would really knock your socks off, Lexxie. Its premise was promising. I’m glad you did like it and that it was a good intro for a series. I’ve only read a few romantic suspense books…hmm, whether to put in on my TBR?!? It does sound like it delivers suspense and romance, so I think I’ll give it a shot…someday. 😉 Great review, Lexxie! *hugs*

    Bookworm Brandee recently posted: **Sweet 'n Steamy Blog Tour**
    • Yeah, the premise was promising, and I have hope for the rest of the series as well 🙂 Can you imagine how we will spend our time when we retire? Yup, we’ll be reading!

      Thanks for stopping by, Brandee! *hugs*

    • Yeah, I ended up going back to see if it was me just thinking something was different. It really is still working as a story and as a romance, and man, the foreplay!!

      Thanks for stopping by Braine 🙂

  2. This is a book that I would love to read if I am craving for action packed romance stories. But what really draw me to this is the fact that Jack is a black ops. Is he CIA or FBI or SEAL? I just <3 these types of heroes. Gorgeous, lethal and rough. Hahaha.

    And oh my, I am glad that the twists really worked for this book especially that it's already an overdone genre. I think the twists, the betrayal and the sizzling romance are already enough to make me overlook the inconsistencies you've spotted…what do you think, Lexxie? I want to give this book a try.

    Another great review, Lexxie! 😀

    • He’s hidden even from the CIA, FBI and the SEALs! It’s so black op he’s almost inexistant…

      You should definitely try it out, Charlotte, and I know I’ll pick up the next book in the series as well.

      Thanks for stopping by!

    • I haven’t read the Bourne trilogy, but I have seen the movies… And yes, action packed with hot and steamy scenes makes for a fun read!

      Thanks for stopping by, Jeann 🙂

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