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Targeted
Deadly Objective
When it comes to love, some lines are meant to be crossed
True, US Secret Service Agent Liam Harper is charming, handsome, and absolutely devoted to the people and things he cares about--including his job protecting the vice president's moody son, Mason. But Emily Harper can't let Liam's good qualities cloud her judgment. As the sister of a Secret Service agent, she knows that Liam's job could mean taking a bullet, and she's vowed never to get romantically involved with someone in that line of work.
Agent Harper knows he's been friend-zoned, but that doesn't stop him from falling for Mason's petite and plucky physical therapist. She never fails to put the privileged teen through his paces, yet she manages to make the kid like her all the same. And that Southern drawl is nearly intoxicating when she lays it on thick.
But when Mason enters the crosshairs of a killer, Emily and Liam will find the lines between professional and personal are about to get awfully blurry.
True, US Secret Service Agent Liam Harper is charming, handsome, and absolutely devoted to the people and things he cares about--including his job protecting the vice president's moody son, Mason. But Emily Harper can't let Liam's good qualities cloud her judgment. As the sister of a Secret Service agent, she knows that Liam's job could mean taking a bullet, and she's vowed never to get romantically involved with someone in that line of work.
Agent Harper knows he's been friend-zoned, but that doesn't stop him from falling for Mason's petite and plucky physical therapist. She never fails to put the privileged teen through his paces, yet she manages to make the kid like her all the same. And that Southern drawl is nearly intoxicating when she lays it on thick.
But when Mason enters the crosshairs of a killer, Emily and Liam will find the lines between professional and personal are about to get awfully blurry.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2023
About the author
Lynn H. Blackburn
23 books1,733 followersLibrarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Lynn Huggins Blackburn.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this. I like that Emily got her own story, though I didn't completely buy the romance. Mason's storyline and his growth throughout was what I liked the most. All in all, a really good read.
March 17, 2023
I enjoyed this novella! Emily is one of my favorite characters from this series and I loved seeing her take the lead in this story.
October 10, 2026
This is my first time reading something from Blackburn, and the only reason I read it is because it was part of a set of novellas where the first one is by an author I know and like (Lynette Eason). That being said, I'm not disappointed, as I do love a good thriller-mystery (even if it is also a romance) and it was just fast paced enough to not be boring...she definitely writes a bit differently then Eason, but overall, still loved the story and may look into reading another by her.
However, there was one thing I did not like about the story *possible spoiler warning*. The MMC did not know the FMC outside of professional capacity, and they had not even talked of dating yet, and he was already calling her by nicknames such as "baby". It may be a cultural difference (the author, vs me) but that was WAY too soon, and whenever I've dated, if the guy starts saying that right away, it speaks "red flags" to me. Like narcissist's love bombing. In fact, I would not have been surprised if the MMC had turned out to be a bad-guy, at that rate...However, I'm from western NY/PA and farm country (and raised by a narcissistic mother, which can also be triggering). I wouldn't appreciate such affectionate terms, unless we've already had the conversation and given consent about nicknames, or we're already married/close. LOL. (I suspect the author is from the south, though, and maybe that's more normal down there? Or it could be simply, some people like that? I don't)...
That being said, this is my first book/story from this author, and I'm still looking forward to reading more from her. And finding out if all her MMC's move this fast with affectionate/endearing language, or if it's just trying to move along a novella?
However, there was one thing I did not like about the story *possible spoiler warning*. The MMC did not know the FMC outside of professional capacity, and they had not even talked of dating yet, and he was already calling her by nicknames such as "baby". It may be a cultural difference (the author, vs me) but that was WAY too soon, and whenever I've dated, if the guy starts saying that right away, it speaks "red flags" to me. Like narcissist's love bombing. In fact, I would not have been surprised if the MMC had turned out to be a bad-guy, at that rate...However, I'm from western NY/PA and farm country (and raised by a narcissistic mother, which can also be triggering). I wouldn't appreciate such affectionate terms, unless we've already had the conversation and given consent about nicknames, or we're already married/close. LOL. (I suspect the author is from the south, though, and maybe that's more normal down there? Or it could be simply, some people like that? I don't)...
That being said, this is my first book/story from this author, and I'm still looking forward to reading more from her. And finding out if all her MMC's move this fast with affectionate/endearing language, or if it's just trying to move along a novella?
August 31, 2023
This was a difficult novella for me.
The leading man, who was a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the VP’s son, seemed hyper-focused on Emily to the detriment of his job. He also called his coworkers “yahoos,” which was highly unprofessional. He also called Emily “baby” long before the relationship felt stable and established. The term was also way overused throughout.
Emily was sweet but quite pampered, so the way she easily accepted the camping trip seemed out of character, particularly since she said early on that there was no way she’d ever go camping. I expected her to throw a fit or complain or something, but she simply slipped into the outdoorsman role instead. She also seemed to ask the questions of the situation that Liam, the Secret Service agent, ought to have been asking. Their roles seemed quite reversed at times. And how dare she tell a teenager that he was toasting marshmallows wrong! There is no wrong way to toast marshmallows, as far as I’m aware, and it was just plain rude to degrade the kid in such a fashion.
Mason was quite spoiled and bratty at first, but his character had the best arc of the entire story. He gained so much maturity through the misadventure he went through. His growth was the highlight of the story for me.
Content: crude nickname, crude sexual terms, replacement expletives, vaping, replacement profanity
The leading man, who was a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the VP’s son, seemed hyper-focused on Emily to the detriment of his job. He also called his coworkers “yahoos,” which was highly unprofessional. He also called Emily “baby” long before the relationship felt stable and established. The term was also way overused throughout.
Emily was sweet but quite pampered, so the way she easily accepted the camping trip seemed out of character, particularly since she said early on that there was no way she’d ever go camping. I expected her to throw a fit or complain or something, but she simply slipped into the outdoorsman role instead. She also seemed to ask the questions of the situation that Liam, the Secret Service agent, ought to have been asking. Their roles seemed quite reversed at times. And how dare she tell a teenager that he was toasting marshmallows wrong! There is no wrong way to toast marshmallows, as far as I’m aware, and it was just plain rude to degrade the kid in such a fashion.
Mason was quite spoiled and bratty at first, but his character had the best arc of the entire story. He gained so much maturity through the misadventure he went through. His growth was the highlight of the story for me.
Content: crude nickname, crude sexual terms, replacement expletives, vaping, replacement profanity
April 22, 2023
Novellas can be a hit or miss for me, but I didn’t want this one to end!
Deadly Objective follows Gil’s sister, Emily. While there’s cameos from characters in the Defend and Protect series, you don’t need to read the series to enjoy or understand this novella. Although that series is great, so I would add it to your TBR pile!
I enjoyed Emily and Liam together and loved their relationship with Mason. This novella packed in romance, action, and suspense in only 127 pages!
I do wish there was a little more of Mason towards the end, but overall I really enjoyed this novella.
*This novella is connected to the Defend and Protect series. This novella can also be found in the Targeted novella collection.
Deadly Objective follows Gil’s sister, Emily. While there’s cameos from characters in the Defend and Protect series, you don’t need to read the series to enjoy or understand this novella. Although that series is great, so I would add it to your TBR pile!
I enjoyed Emily and Liam together and loved their relationship with Mason. This novella packed in romance, action, and suspense in only 127 pages!
I do wish there was a little more of Mason towards the end, but overall I really enjoyed this novella.
*This novella is connected to the Defend and Protect series. This novella can also be found in the Targeted novella collection.
July 23, 2023
Why wasn’t it longer! It was just such a good branch off to the “Defend and Protect” series
This is a story about Emily Dixon (Gil Dixon’s twin sister) and it is set only a couple months after the second book in the “Defend and Protect.” Series ended.
The whole gang was mentioned!
Even Hope Malone (Faiths sister) who also has a novella about her.
Liam was so sweet ahh and his relationship with Mason!
Mason was sweet and I can understand his attitude a bit but I love his relationship with Liam.
Emily was great as always.
I loved how Gil got brought up and how the whole group kinda assessed Liam! Cause obviously Emily is a part of their family and no one is good enough.
Faith and Luke’s wedding!
This is a story about Emily Dixon (Gil Dixon’s twin sister) and it is set only a couple months after the second book in the “Defend and Protect.” Series ended.
The whole gang was mentioned!
Even Hope Malone (Faiths sister) who also has a novella about her.
Liam was so sweet ahh and his relationship with Mason!
Mason was sweet and I can understand his attitude a bit but I love his relationship with Liam.
Emily was great as always.
I loved how Gil got brought up and how the whole group kinda assessed Liam! Cause obviously Emily is a part of their family and no one is good enough.
Faith and Luke’s wedding!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2025
4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this novella! It grabbed me from the beginning and kept my interest all the way through. There was good character development for a novella, which seems to be difficult to achieve for most authors. Although multiple characters were mentioned from other books by the author, it wasn't intrusive to this story - something that I've seen happen in other novellas and have found annoying.
This was my first book by this author and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
I really enjoyed this novella! It grabbed me from the beginning and kept my interest all the way through. There was good character development for a novella, which seems to be difficult to achieve for most authors. Although multiple characters were mentioned from other books by the author, it wasn't intrusive to this story - something that I've seen happen in other novellas and have found annoying.
This was my first book by this author and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
April 18, 2023
Short
This is the second book in a row that has been too short for the cost. It was a book to tie up loose ends in the Targeted Collection by Lynn Blackburn. Emily & Liam bond while protecting the vice president's son. Trouble finds them on a camping trip & firepower it's needed to protect Mason. It's a good novella but should have been marketed as such.
This is the second book in a row that has been too short for the cost. It was a book to tie up loose ends in the Targeted Collection by Lynn Blackburn. Emily & Liam bond while protecting the vice president's son. Trouble finds them on a camping trip & firepower it's needed to protect Mason. It's a good novella but should have been marketed as such.
October 2, 2023
Liam and Mason's relationship was super sweet, and I love how they both love Emily. Having met Emily first through Gil's story, it was really nice to see her get her own, along with finally getting to meet Liam more than just a mention here and there. And we got Luke and Faith's wedding at the end!
April 8, 2023
It was nice to get Emily's story, but the insta-love was REALLY creepy.
May 15, 2023
Loved Liam and Emily's story! Loved his Royal Hiney. This author does a superb job with romantic suspense. Makes me want to reread the series. Looking forward to more. Keep writing!
July 2, 2023
An enjoyable quick read with some romance, banter action and suspense!
August 22, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2⭐️
September 22, 2024
Enjoyed it
April 3, 2025
Loved it
Love Lynn Blackburn! She is a great writer. I can't wait for more from her. I loved that Emily got her story.
Love Lynn Blackburn! She is a great writer. I can't wait for more from her. I loved that Emily got her story.
June 30, 2025
4.5 stars
August 3, 2025
Review appears under the title Targeted. It is three novellas.
February 12, 2026
Another enjoyable book in the series… some nice surprises and humour…
August 26, 2026
Ich liebe Lynn's Bücher ,auch die kurzen
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews